Whole Foods type store in South Beach

[Frank_Santa_Monica]

I'm really shocked that a Whole Foods Market hasn't opened yet in Miami. I guess one is in development, which is good.

Is there any store similar to Whole Foods? I'll be in South Beach for a week, and was hoping to find a grocery store that offered high-quality organic fruit and natural prepared food (not vegetarian).

I appreciate all your help. Thanks.

[netmover]

They're wearing Whole Foods Aprons right now at Wild Oats South Beach. By 1/1/08, it'll have metamorphized into a WF right before our eyes!

[herbage]

I have a friend that works at the SoBe WO's. Now they can also wear their own clothing (not the WO's polo's anymore) and have up to one facial piercing, per WF's dress code.

[MIAfromSFO]

There is one in Aventura - North Miami area.

[mariekeac]

Aren't there a bunch of 'Fresh Markets' in Miami??

[Sobe]

One in Coconut Grove and One in Aventura but none in South Beach

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Fresh Market
2640 S Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL 33133

Fresh Market
18295 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami Beach, FL 33160

[rasmalai]

Is Fresh Market better than Whole Foods? I also just move to Miami Beach (Normandy) and am in need of good produce and a good butcher. Where are all the tasty Florida oranges? I'm from Canada where all the produce is shipped from Florida. I can't believe the state of things down here.

[Frodnesor]

I haven't been to a Whole Foods for a while so I'm not in a good position to compare. Fresh Market is decent but not exceptional. I do like their meat market. Their prepared foods are generally to be avoided.

Florida oranges are mostly juice oranges rather than eating oranges. There's a variety of other citrus that can be grown but most is not grown commercially. Curious what kind of produce you were getting from FL in Canada. There is a "Farmer's Market" on Normandy Circle on Saturdays but that's heavy on the quotation marks, as I've yet to see an actual farmer there yet. You typically will see 1 or 2 people who have bought fruit wholesale and are reselling, along with several folks selling flowers, orchids, and various tchotchkes. The Lincoln Road "Farmer's Market" is not much better.

Afraid to say the grocery options are pretty dismal. On the other hand, as far as restaurants go I think Normandy area is becoming something of a little international mecca. Here's my map of places worth checking out:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF...

[rasmalai]

Thanks for the map....extremely helpful. Is the Taj Mahal very good?

X that last question, I just saw your comments on the map.

[Frodnesor]

Indian food is not a strong suit in Miami so I can't be sure that it's not just as a result of deprivation, but I think it's pretty good. The restaurant at that location was originally run by the folks who are now at Heelsha off 163rd St. and it was great; it then took a real dive after they left, but new management has come in and brought the quality back up again.

Unless you really like dive-y places, I'd suggest take-out. It's "quaint" in its own way, I suppose, and backs up onto a little river that leads out to the bay, but the restaurant is pretty ramshackle. You won't believe the prices they're charging when you see the place!

Despite the high prices, now that they've gotten their act together again it is a regular rotation take-out place for us.

[Sobe]

You can also take a drive up to Hollywood Beach. There is an organic market on the Broadwalk every Sunday from 9-5:30. Josh’s Organic Market.

Here is a link to a story from a Californian looking for a farmer's market in SoFla.
http://www.rawfoods.com/articles/holl...

[mikek]

fresh market is minor league whole foods. by the way, the whole foods in south miami should be opening sometime this fall. the trees outside are in and they are working on the interior.

[miaedu]

the Whole Foods across from Sunset Shops opens Sept. 19th. At 48,000sq ft it's going to be the chain's largest in South Florida. Wonder how this is going to affect Gardner's right down the street.

[mikek]

I am not a fan of Wild Oats actually. The best market on the beach, if price is not a concern, is Epicure. It is small, but man is everything in there good.

[yomyb]

I have to agree wholeheartedly that the Wild Oats in South Beach is IMHO an embarrassment to the Wild Oats company. It is never really clean and the produce is not always fresh. It is extremely overpriced and I feel I always get better produce at Publix or Epicure. I vote for Epicure, especially if it is just to shop for a few days...

[Sobe]

I agree that Epicure is a better "gourmet" market but he asked for a store similar to Whole Foods for organic fruit and naturally prepared foods. That's Wild Oats

[Frank_Santa_Monica]

Is Epicure anywhere near The Shore Club?

[Frodnesor]

Frank -

Epicure is 17th & Alton Road, Shore Club is 19th and Collins Avenue. It's roughly a 1 mile east-west trek from Collins to Alton.

The comparisons of Wild Oats to Publix are testament to how lousy the South Beach Wild Oats is. The absence of local produce is endemic to most South Florida grocery stores though, and that includes Epicure.

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Epicure Market
1656 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139

The Shore Club Hotel
1901 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

[Frank_Santa_Monica]

I gotta be honest with you. Last time I was in Orlando (I know Orlando is not South Beach) I only had Publix as an option for a grocery store. And, let me tell you how NASTY the produce was. What's so disheartening is every piece of fruit was imported from California! And, the fruit section was so tiny... I couldn't believe it. All the fruit was rotten, and still they left them out for sale. When I asked one of the employees why even keep rotten fruit on the sales floor, she told me that Chinese tourists will buy it. Can you believe that!

So, that's the LAST TIME I will EVER set foot in a Publix. Please don't tell me Publix is better than Wild Oats!!

[netmover]

The "new" publix in South Beach is well worth a trip...it's WAY better than your description of the "Cow Town" version and the people watching cannot be beat, unless of course you got a nice table on Lincoln Road!

[lax2mia]

Net, sorry to say, but if the original poster is from Santa Monica, any Publix will be a disappointment.

[Frank_Santa_Monica]

Is the Publix on West Ave the new store you are referring to?

And, yes. Santa Monica, CA... we are very spoiled out here when it comes to organic produce. I know I can't compare the access to fresh produce. But, I'm hoping to find South Beach's best place. And, I think that's going to be this Publix and Epicure (I hope). Thanks again for the help.

[Sobe]

Wild Oats

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Wild Oats Markets
1020 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139

[nutrition]

I always stop into the Wild Oats, when I arrive in SO Beach for some nice snacks and fruit. It is one of their better stores. Great to go food counter, and bakery items.

When I am in FtLauderdale I go to the hugh newer Whole Foods for healthy comfort foods. Both are convenient and I would recommend them without hesitation. A stroll up and down all the rows makes for a nice shopping trip for new and tasty items.

[advisor_Girl]

Frank>

Shops:

Publix Supermarket - 1045 Dade Blvd 305-534-4621 (regular)

Publix Supermarket -1920 West Ave 305-535-4268 (deluxe)

Epicure Market - 1656 Alton Rd 305-672-1861 (gourmet)

Wild Oats Natural Market- 1020 Alton Rd 305-532-1707 (organic)

Good Karma Food - 710 Washington Ave 954-728-9692 (organic)

Apple A Day Natural Food 1534 Alton Rd 305-538-4569

Restaurants:

Pasha's Restaurant (Med - pita pockety)
900 Lincoln Rd

Ocean Drive Fusion (Indian - veg)
1501 Ocean Dr

Grill Med (Med)
209 11th St

Juice Zone
1451 Ocean Dr

Front Porch Cafe (all day - nice breakfast too)
1418 Ocean Dr

Fernandez Fruit Market
1407 Washington Ave

Athens Juice Bar (lovely fresh fruit salads!)
1214 Washington Ave

Juice & Java
1346 Washington Ave

Pita Pit (mid-eastern)
1321 Washington Ave

Smoothie Shop
1229 Washington Ave

Have a nice trip!

AG

[Frank_Santa_Monica]

Wow. Thank you for all the suggestions. Looking forward to shopping at some of these.

[netmover]

I thought I read where Whole Foods just got the feds ok to buyout Wild Oats, so it looks like there very may well be a few in Miami's future....

[tpigeon]

I like the pita place between 10th and 11th on washington a lot more than pita pit.