Daniella
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
In South Miami – No Name Chinese has fantastic tastes. My Ceviche – it’s part of a chain but really good and fast. Old Lisbon for Portuguese food. And, Marhaba for Arabic food. For special occasions: In my district, we go to a wonderful Italian place called Alaine’s Osterilla on 168th and Old Cutler.
Ben
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
My kids love Sports Grill. It's right down the street from our house. I loved Scotty's, before it left us. I like something with a water view outside with a breeze where you can get a good fish sandwich. While you don't quite have the view, I like the patio at the Spillover, and they have music on the weekends. We'll usually go to River Oyster bar. It's kind of a go-back to our old days of being single and no kids. And if it's a nice weather night, we like going to Mandolin.
Sharon and Jeff
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Trattoria Luna (next to Roasters) is our family go to. They will literally make you anything - whether it’s on the menu or not. I usually get the tuna steak or tortellini. Also, we’re boaters - so we go often to Boaters Grill which is at the end of Key Biscayne – in a place called No Name Harbor. They have the most amazing fish and rice – with ceviche, tostones and frijoles – my kids eat ceviche because of that place.
Leslie
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
There are so many places. Right now, we go to Bulla in the gables – it’s tapas and we get all types of different things there. There’s a restaurant on the Miami River that we like, called Crust. It’s Italian – Harvey likes their octopus salad a lot. And, their service is amazing - it’s a husband and wife team.
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.
Zach And Leigh
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Our go-to place with the kids is LAN in Dadeland station. The food is good, the kids love the chicken katsu and smoothies, and, most of all, the people are really nice and great with kids (the fast service helps!). We also think Anna Capri has wonderful Italian food. And recently we’ve discovered Ichimi Ramen near Miracle Mile. The food is great for adults and kids.
Marko
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
My wife and I usually cook during the week. If we go out, we'll do so over the weekend. The kids love anything Italian. My daughter's favorite is Villagio. Pura Vida, on the beach. They have a place now in Edgewater and the University of Miami as well. It's kind of fresh, healthy foods, and very good. When we go to the beach on Saturdays, we'll go there after for lunch and the kids love it. The last restaurant that I ate at that I really liked was KYU. I liked the octopus and there was a cauliflower dish that was really good. And from just from a casual perspective, something that's always consistent is Hillstone.
Tom And Elizabeth
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Tom: Two Chefs in Pinecrest is our numero uno. We brought so many wine makers from around the world to Two Chefs for winemaker lunches and dinners. They have all been blown away by the caliber of the cuisine in this little strip mall spot. Jan Jorgensen is Danish and classically trained and understands wine so much better than many of the younger chefs whose bold flavors really compete with wine. Try the fillet or pork chop – they are fabulous.
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.
Liz & Joe
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Hillstone for beef ribs and Joe’s for stone crabs