Dina
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Red Rooster in Overtown. The original is in Harlem, New York. That's where I used to live and would frequent Red Rooster all the time. I'm excited that they brought it back here to Miami, in the same community where my family's restaurant is. It's like your soul food, but with a French / New Orleans infusion. They have this amazing shrimp and grits, or an oxtail, which is to die for. They even have something for vegans, which is a plant based fried chicken appetizers which is amazing. I didn't think I'd like it, but I do. And they have a DJ and it feels like New York.
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.
Michael
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
There is a little place called Java and Juice on 151st and Biscayne. We don't go out much now, but we like the energy there. I know the guy who owns the restaurant and he's a very conscious person. It's really a little hole in the wall, but we like it.
Ryan
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Club Space is my jam. It's right by Bicentennial. They have great after-hours parties and a nice crowd. It's a place that I can go and get lost in the music. Sometimes they have parties that go for two days and have DJs coming from around the world. I also love Churchills. It's their 40th anniversary on Saturday.
Alan
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I really like Charcoal in the Design District. It’s Ken Lyon's new restaurant, connected to Wynwood yard and across from the Rubell Collection. They do roasted vegetables really well, and you can’t beat their grilled fish. It’s simply excellent! I like Saffron in Pinecrest – everything is good and love Garcia’s in downtown Miami. Also, Grazianos in Coral Gables is great for Argentinian food. I like their sweetbreads and they have a great roasted chicken.
Barbara & Steven
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Michael Schwartz is our most serious chef. We like what Michael does because he is really committed to local ingredients – and for me especially, he is really committed to live fire. All his restaurants have wood burning grills, and I think he has been very successful in delivering wood grilled flavor in his food. When you eat his food you really know that someone was burning logs in a grill. We like Fi'lia his new Amara. We also like, The Petit Mason – Barbara especially likes it because it is so ‘adult’ and has white tablecloths. And, there are no television sets in the dining room – which is hard to find in Miami. They serve a baby chicken marinated in preserved lemons and garlic and grilled over a charcoal burning grill that’s fantastic. You’ll also find us at Stubborn Seed, Plant + Food, and Kyu in Wynwood.
Christopher
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Right in our same warehouse, a few doors down is an insanely great barbecue place called Hate Monday's Tavern. Their stuff is amazing - from briskets to Tomahawk steaks and smoked salmon. He has a big smoker right outside the front door. They come by and we'll do some wine tastings with them as well. I'm also a huge microbrewery beer fan. There's a great local warehouse brewery called Unseen Creatures. I love their styles, because they're very old school. They have a lot of farmhouse Saisons and lagers and then their IPAs are super delicious and clean. Also - The Eating House in Coral Gables is really good.
Robbie
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
People always ask us and it's a tough one. Boia De for sure. It's such a memorable experience because they actually care. The servers take time to know you and they're not trying to just pump you through. That was the last restaurant we ate at. We like getting takeout from Lobster Shack, south of fifth. One of our perfect afternoons is getting lobster roll takeouts, bringing a bottle of wine, and going to sit in the park with the kids. And, Michael's Genuine is always a crowd pleaser for us.
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.
Robyn
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Well, I'm super lucky because both my husband and my daughter are amazing chefs. We eat at home a lot and I get to eat the most amazing meals. When we do go out, I'd say the places we like to eat would be Mandolin, a Mediterranean restaurant with great outdoor seating. It yummy and fun. We like to eat at Lokal in the Grove. They have good burgers and I like their veggie burger and they have a delicious local IPA. Shibui is a great little Japanese restaurant. It's off of Sunset and 102nd. It looks like a little house. You can either sit at a table downstairs or sit on the floor upstairs.