Rene
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
We go to a lot of family friendly restaurants around Pinecrest. The kids love the margarita pizza at Piola. I get the lasagna; it's heavy but delicious. We also go to Flanagan's, which is probably the most kid-friendly restaurant in Miami.
Spence
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
My kids are currently hooked on Pub Belly Sushi. They like to get the corn, edamame and the butter crab roll. My wife's birthday is coming up. We're going to Zuma for brunch. Definitely take Uber or Lyft because it's endless drinks.
David
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I like Atchana Thai, on Grand and Commodore Place. Also, Moon Thai - I've eaten there for 15 years. There's a sushi place on the east side of US1, south of Le June called Sakura. It's very good. I have pretty much gone plant based. I eat at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club, where I'm a member, and they actually make vegetarian sandwiches.
David
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
That list is supremely long. Do we go geographically...alphabetically? My buddy Niven, just opened up (Mamey) a new spot in Coral Gables. The food looks great, but I haven't been yet. The guys that Bar Lab cocktails opened up their natural wine popup on South beach, and it looks amazing. I still haven't gotten my hands on one of those pizzas that Brad and Old Greg's are doing in the Design District. I really miss the eating the ceviche at Itamae on an everyday basis. I still get my share of my EL Bagels - that's like my essential breakfast and brunch item. I still eat a ton of Stanzione's pizzas. I had an amazing lobster roll from Justin Flit and Mike Beltran at Nave. They're doing a New England style clam shack menu on the weekends. Aaron Brooks is doing a pop up at Stanzione 87. It's like a Turkish inspired pide and lahmacun. Aaron is supremely underrated. His food is incredible. One of the silver linings of the pandemic is all the creativity that's coming out of it. I've also had some random homemade things. There's a nice girl, that I met through the Miami food community, that's making homemade Armenian food every weekend. People are signing up and she's selling out every weekend. Her name is The Spicy Dolma. The guys from Kyu, Chef Raheem and his crew, are doing amazing barbecue right out of their front yard. It's impossible to list everyone. Jaguar Sun is doing amazing things right now in Little River. People are finding ways to survive. They're finding ways to thrive. They're finding ways to support their teams and to support their families. All of that is really amazing.
Thaddeus
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I love Raw South, which I know was mentioned in one of your recent interviews. And, Black Point has a great dolphin and salad. One of our locals is Alaine's Osteria in Palmetto Bay. It's usually packed, which is great for them, unfortunate for those waiting. But they do hand out wine on the house and make it as enjoyable as they can. I appreciate that. It's good Italian.
Jenna
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Whisk. I've never tasted a pork chop that's so consistently perfectly cooked. Salvatore D. It's unexpected because they're in a strip mall and the food is amazing. The grilled octopus is my favorite. Sometimes they don't have it on the menu. But, if you ask for it, they'll make it for you.
Lawrence
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
We'll do take out from Anacapri. We'll go to Joanna's. We like Captains Tavern. And, Wayside Market.
Jen
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
We're always on the hunt for cheerful, simple, delicious food. We like Root and Bone, we've been there a few times and kids like it. The biscuits are crazy good. On a night when nobody feels like cooking, we'll go to Lime. It's consistently good and everyone is happy.
Sandy
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Seasons 52. They always have stuff I can eat there. And Matsuri for Japanese - I avoid the rice and get sashimi and vegetable soup. They have a great conch that's sautéed with what seems to be green beans or maybe it's cactus.
Richard
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
We've been going to Fairchild Tropical Garden, especially during quarantine, it's really an incredible escape. The landscape there may not change, but it's different every time you go. It's a great place to just explore and for the kids to run around. You feel like you have the whole place to yourself, even if there's a lot of other people there. One place we love for take out it Fratellino on Miracle Mile. It's a very small Italian restaurant, two doors down from the Playhouse. The owner is this guy Beto, you will love him. My wife grew up on Miami Beach, and Beto had a restaurant in Bay Harbor that she and her family would go to at least once a week. When we went to his new place, it was as if no time had passed. He knows everybody in there, he's a sweetheart. My wife who had a crush on him openly when she was 10, I think still has a crush on him.