Leticia
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I still find myself at the Bar at Michael’s Genuine occasionally. When they have it, I like the wood-oven roasted eggplant with tahini. When they have simple vegetable soups at lunch, I really enjoy it too- broth and veggies. Whisk Gourmet when I’m craving a 3-D, satisfying sandwich. Chef Brendan makes the best ones in town. He and his sister Kirsten are really special people, and that makes everything taste even better.
Amy
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Lately we are more conscious about what we put in our bodies and being responsible for where we choose to eat. We love Cafe Pastis for our neighborhood haunt. The salad with goat cheese, the soups, and the mussels are to die for. And my son of course, gets the Steak au Poivre with extra French fries.
Keren
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
We don't go out to eat much because I cook most of what we eat. But the one thing I don't ever make is Sushi. I like Obba Sushi off of Brickell. I also like Zuma, but usually when somebody else is paying. I work downtown and do sales for a living, so I get to eat out at restaurants and come home and share with everyone how amazing the food was. Capital Grille is always a pretty good staple. Whenever it's Miami Spice month, we like to try new places. Also - Le Petite Maison. I get their yellow tail carpaccio and the mixed mushroom gnocchi. It has black truffle. It is by far the best gnocchi I've ever had in Miami. It's only seasonal. They never rush you. They offer you fresh hot bread from the oven. It's just a pleasant experience.
Ilene
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
In Pinecrest: Daily Bread, Cheese Course, Joanna’s. Brickell: River Oyster Bar, the new Fleming's and for French food, Le Petite Mason. We love Crust on Miami River. It is an Italian restaurant with great food. I get their angel hair pasta with olive oil and garlic, and an arugula salad. The portions are huge – so you have to share everything.
Nando
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
My favorite restaurant to go to right now is a Jaguar Sun. I love what they do with the limited amount of space they have. I have a tremendous respect for Chef Carey and Will, I think they provide one of the best experiences in Miami. Another favorite place is Ariete, I love what Mike does. I love his commitment to excellence. I love NIU kitchen. Also, La Mar. I know we do something similar with Peruvian food. But, because we don't have a kitchen, whenever I'm missing good Peruvian hot dishes, it's my favorite place to go. I think Diego is always pushing the boundary on Peruvian food.
Mitch (round 2)
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Paulo Luigis for pizza. It's on Bird Ave. And there's the new Kush, where Spillover was.
Sam
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Matsuri. Put any sushi in front of me, I'll eat it.
Luis and Natalia
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
For Thai:Bangkok City – everything is good. Especially the fried rice and the peanut sauce. The peanut salad is incredible. Origins on the Key is also great. They have a bunch of different cuisines - Thai, Malaysian, Japanese – but it’s not fusion. They have different dishes from each style. The Malaysian roti is really good. For Tacos: El Toro Taco – we get everything, it’s all well made, and you can’t go wrong. Las Carnitas – the mole is real. You would never pull over and think to eat there. It is a little window with seating on 8th street. You need to be taken there.
Danny
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
With kids we cook a lot. Sage has been a place that we frequent - either their special of the day or their veggie burgers are good. It's kind of a no-frills place, but the food kind of speaks for itself. Also, Daily Bread is a go-to for us.
Anthony
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I'll give some shout outs. My friend Josh from Premium Meats is in the wagyu business. He's gone from being an incredible host where you would get meat from his house. And now, he's in the Bird Road Arts District. He started by ordering wagyu beef for himself, and then thought his friends would like some too. He's got a real passion for it and he's happy to talk any cut of cow. I want to frequent places where the passion is coming from the owner like that because it's gonna bleed into the bite or the sip that you have.