Stacy
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Maria Corona Produce. It's a local farm and they have a really killer selection. It's close you your warehouse at 184th and 157th ave. If you're willing to take a drive out to eighth street street, Taquerias El Mexicanos is one of the best taco places in Miami. It's one of the few restaurants that get something different every time. There's Miwi, which is a local good Cuban place. There's Al Rancho Grande, another great Mexican spot. And, there's El Tambo Grill for Peruvian rotisserie chicken, rice and beans.
Kate
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Right now, my favorite restaurant and the only restaurant we've been going to right now, is La Natural. They have a sourdough made with a really old starter and they make amazing pizza. When I first started going, they had this grilled pineapple, and it was so good. It was seasonal, but now they have these mushrooms with green sauce. My husband and I are both very particular about food and there's certain places where it might taste good, but you don't feel good afterwards, so you don't end up going back. But I feel great after I eat at La Natural. There's another little place that I really love that my husband has been going to since he was a teenager, called Tarragon Middle East Market. It's owned by two Lebanese brothers who are twins and they're just so kind and so nice. The dates they sell are like no other date I have ever tasted in my life. They just melt in your mouth. All their food is really good.
Michael
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I like Coyo Taco, especially the octopus tacos. With my daughter, we go out for pizza – as it gives me a reason to have pizza. I love Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza.
Stephan
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Not surprisingly, I’m interested in Indian food. One of my favorites is on South Dixie – called Saffron. I’ve eaten Indian food all over the world, and they have some of the best I’ve ever had. I get the paneer makhani – fried cheese with spicy sauce, malai kofta – dumpling with Indian cheese, chickpea flour and gravy. They adjust the spice level to your taste. There’s also a great appetizer with baby spinach leaves, coated in chickpea flour and fried. Another recommendation, if you need quick and cheap Indian food, there’s a place called Bollywood Masala – near the quick stop on Red Road. I get the Dal and Sambar soup. Sometimes they have fresh dosas. It’s a good deal. One dosa is really big and my wife and I can split it for a meal. They have some tables, but it’s mostly take out.
Galia
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
We're so spoiled in Coral Gables and South Miami. The Ritz Carlton in Coconut Grove just opened up a new restaurant called Isabelle's - It's fantastic. Doc B's is a new restaurant, sort of like Hillstone's, that is good and close by. They have an angry meatball that is delicious. And, Bombay Darbar or Strada in the Grove. I've recently started going back to Christie's steakhouse, which is ironic because of course that's where I grew up going for special occasions. It's so special to walk in there and it's so familiar. The service is great. The food is great.
Gretchen
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I love Ghee. I think Niven is doing Indian food like nobody else in this country. And the fact that he's growing much of it is just so special. We went to the opening of Salumeria 104's second location. They've had one in Midtown for a few years. It's very Italian, and it's reasonable. You can get three different kinds of prosciutto. It's just terrific.
Vanessa
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
For clothing, there's a small boutique near Pinecrest that's wonderful, called Indigo Republic. I love going there with Aly and just getting a few things. As far as restaurants, Guadalajara is a Mexican spot that's family owned that we enjoy. We also like Anacapri, the Italian spot. Those are our go-to places.
DP
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
There's a Mexican restaurant in Florida City, called Taqueria Morelia. It's literally connected to a gas station and it's the best Mexican food that I've had ever in my life. Every time I've gone it's been nothing but exceptional. I really enjoy the tacos. Coyo Taco is really cool because it's a restaurant in front, but in the back they have like a hidden club. One of my good friends spins every weekend and they throw a really good party. It's called Lovers and Friends and it's really nice. Also, there's a nice little bar called Gramps.
Ariel
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Alaines Osteria for Italian. There's 1111 Bistro in Palmetto Bay. We used to live in Brickell and we used to go to 1111 Brickell. We moved because of the pandemic and everything that was happening during that time and coincidentally so did 1111. We don't know if they followed us or if we followed them. It's very well run. It's Peruvian with an Asian twist. You get really good service and really good food. Also, Pig Floyd for BBQ.
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.