Romantic BD dinner in Miami, no Miami Beach, please.

[keysrat]

Looking for a nice spot to take the missus for her birthday.
No Miami Beach, please.
Thanks!

[FloridaFoodie]

No Miami Beach.... let's see. If weather permits, Red Fish Grill. It is outside and on the water; quiet and nowhere near the beach. Perhaps Jakes Bar; it's intimate and cozy.

[mikek]

If you are referring to Jake's in South Miami then I would steer clear. Not that romantic and very average food. I would say Romeo's Cafe. Small restaurant, chef comes out and asks you about your likes/dislikes and creates a 6 course dinner around each diner's tastes. Azul is beautiful as well.

[Frodnesor]

I must not be a very romantic type, these requests always have me a little flummoxed!

- Red Fish is a great setting but I've always been disappointed in the food.
- Baleen also has a great view but the food is mixed. I had one very disappointing meal there (though it was an event, not the regular restaurant - still it's the same kitchen), though I recently had a nice meal at the sister restaurant in Naples.
- I have not been to Palme d'Or in the Biltmore Hotel in ages, but it's a beautiful hotel and the menu on the website is pretty intriguing. I'd probably take a chance on it for a special occasion meal.
- I have not been but have friends who rave about Romeo's Cafe (on Coral Way) for "omakase" style Italian (no menu, chef makes a 6 course meal supposedly based on diner preferences).
- Pascal's on Ponce is an elegant but not stuffy French place in the Gables.
- I recently went to Le Provencal in the Gables for lunch and was completely charmed. I'll do a short write up in a separate post.
- in North Miami, I really like Timo. Great food, menu changes often, place is modern and classy looking, lots of banquette seating.

[Blind Mind]

Ive posted this a hundred times, but Ill say it again. I love Baleen for a romantic date. Food is good (although there are people here who disagree and thats their opinion) and atmosphere is killer. Plus, its a private island so you make a rez and then dont have to be hassled by passerbys, etc. Here's a couple more I listed previously for someone who asked a similar question

Baleen - Grove Isle - Coconut Grove (Great date place, tad pricey, incredible view from outdoor dining deck, even better if full moon, guaranteed to end with some luvin)

French Kiss - Coconut Grove - great food, escargot and duck are the bomb, intimate setting

Ristorante D' Il Frasca - Coconut Grove - authentic Italian (not heavy), intimate setting, eat in or out, nice atmosphere, pop into Christabelle's for a nightcap afterwards.

Tropical Chinese - 79th and Bird (Kendall or S. Miami?) - yes, they do other things besides Dim Sum and they do them very well.

Francesco - Coral Gables - Incredible Peruvian food, intimate setting, must make reservations as its small and fills up fast

Have fun whatever you do!

PS - Hey Fro, how do you do those little dot link things?

[Frodnesor]

I like Tropical but my wife would probably slap me if I took her there for her birthday. It's actually pretty nicely appointed for a Chinese restaurant but not exactly the knd of place I'd pic for a romantic dinner.

The "little dot links" are a product of the "Link to a place" option below the box where you type in your text. Once you've typed your post but before you click "post my reply," click on the "link to a place"; a box will open, type in the name of the restaurant and city, state in "location" (I find using only a part of the name works best as its search mechanism is unpredictable); press search; ideally, your restaurant will then pop up in the list; click it and you're there. If it doesn't come up there's an "Add a Place" button. You'll get a confirming message, then you can click the "post my reply."

Here, watch ->