Questions on the Rascal House and David Cafe in South Beach

[amyr]

We're going to SB in July and would like to eat at the Rascal House and David's Cafe. However, I've heard that both are closed or closing. Does anyone have the scoop on these two? I know there is a David's Cafe II on Meridian Avenue but I'm interested in the one on Collins (I think it's Collins). I realize the Rascal House is not a diner's paradise,but I remember it when I went to Miami Beach with my parents many..........years ago and I wanted to visit it again. Thanks for your help. We're staying at the Loews so if you have any suggestions for good breakfast places nearby, let me know. Amy

[amyr]

Thanks for the great info. Yes, yes, yes,boy do I remember the muffin/danish basket at the Rascal House when I was child and my parents took me to Florida.I'm going to miss that the most. I know we're in a great spot(Loews Hotel) so I'm sure we'll be able to get great food. I never like to eat breakfast in the hotel we're staying in. Trying the different cuisines in the area makes the vacation fun. Keep the recommendations coming. Amy

[phneale]

Rascal House just got a reprieve and will be open for another year according to an article in the Feb 28 Herald. They are going to redevelop the building for a high rise, just what Miami needs, another high rise. The same family that owns Rascal House and its building owns the Epicure Market on Miami Beach, a great store.

[lax2mia]

If ever in Los Angeles at least stop by a Jerry's Deli (there's quite a few). It's night and day compared to the Collins location.

[tpigeon]

Agreed. I went to one in LA about a year before this one opened and liked it. I was hoping for something like that here...

[tpigeon]

I never bothered with breakfast there. I had the deli and I stand by my comments.

[Frodnesor]

Oh, come now - awful is a bit of an overstatement. It's mediocre, and it's overpriced, but I don't think I'd say awful. I usually get a nova eggs & onion which is perfectly servicable, even if the potatoes are always greasy and soggy. I also like the chicken schnitzel BLT. Although one of my most amusing (and potentially offensive) dining experiences did happen there.

We used to fairly regularly go for breakfast with our kids, who loved the chocolate chip pancakes. One morning we were there around 9-10 am (and this was when both of the kids were under 7), and there was an expediter back in the kitchen who seemed to be experiencing 'roid rage or something. He was yelling, screaming, and cursing at everyone in the kitchen to get dishes out faster - and let me tell you, the place was not terribly busy for a weekend morning at Jerry's to justify the craziness. Well, Jerry's is a big, noisy place, and it doesn't exactly have an open kitchen, but this guy was screaming so loud that you could hear it through the whole restaurant (and quite clearly at the table we were sitting at, which was a good 30-40 yards from the ktichen door): "Gimme those f@!#ng eggs!" "Table 24 needs their g*d#*m french toast!!"

Now my sensibilities are not so precious, but we did have our kids with us. I first asked our waitress if she could go back and ask him to quiet down - which presumably only resulted in her getting cursed out, since it had no effect on the ongoing monologue. So after another 5-10 minutes of hearing the Lenny Bruce of the kitchen, I finally had to go back there myself. I went back to the kitchen door and told them I really didn't care about the language, but asked if they could please at least quiet down, because if it kept up my 7-year old was going to start asking me where his f*@king pancakes were!

You could almost sense everyone else in the kitchen trying to stifle their laughter as Angry Expediter finally quieted down.

[netmover]

That's classic Frod!!! Hillarious in fact...

It's no wonder the LA store is better than the one here in MIA. It ain't easy for operators down here...I'm not saying it is out in LA, but I do remember being quite happy with my meal out there, I cannot say the same about their eastside incarnation. With a menu that size, it's got to be tuff task to turn out top quality dishes day after day, expeditor after expeditor.

Front Porch on 15th & Ocean Drive is very close to Lowes and is head and heels above Jerry's. Although, I must say you got me thinking about that Chix Schnitzel BLT! There must be some gems on a menu that size...finding them is the challange.

[Frodnesor]

Agree that Front Porch is a much better call than Jerry's. Was walking down that way recently and there's something new in the Betsy Ross that didn't look half bad.

[tpigeon]

Jerry's is awful. Actually I just insulted awful places everywhere by saying that. Go to front porch or cafeteria for breakfast.

[smartie]

that's it Jerrys. It has the most enormous menu.

[Frodnesor]

Jerry's Deli is the place right across from the Loews. Now owned by the same group that owns Rascal House (they bought Rascal House, not vice versa). It's servicable, not great but rarely awful.

You can also go to Front Porch Cafe on Ocean Drive (very good granola pancakes, fresh fruit, egg dishes are decent, generally a nice breakfast), or go to Lincoln Road and there's Cafeteria and Van Dyke Cafe. A little further west down Lincoln Road (actually on a side street) is Icebox, which does very nice breakfast but doesn't open till around 10am if you're an early riser.

[smartie]

There is a huge deli across the street and a bit further south from Loewe's whose name I cannot remember. Anyone know what I am talking about?

[zook]

Funny that you should post this, as I was thinking the same thing! Also can't remember the name; but when my family and dog camped out at the Loews immediately after Hurricane Wilma, we all traipsed over to that deli for breakfast and it did the trick for us; however, no muffin/danish basket with breakfast.

[amyr]

Thanks for the info. We'll have a car so maybe we'll take a ride to Rascal's in Sunny Isles. Any recs for breakfast places near the Loews?

[onthelam]

Wolfie's was on Miami Beach, on Collins, and Rascal House is still up in Sunny Isles, also on Collins, but a bit of a haul, especially if you're cabbing it. The Wolfie's down on the Beach had great neon and atmosphere, but lousy food and service, in it's last days. Along with much else here, being redeveloped.

[diane419]

I don't think they are there any longer. You have chosen a great location for your visit. I am not a big fan of Loew's, way too big for Miami Beach, you are in a perfect location.

[9lives]

AFAIK, Rascal House is gone.

The David's Cafe on Collins was demolished when I was there in Dec. People here said the owners are devloping the building and that it will reopen at some point.