Miami Beach for Art Basel
Beginning to plan my weekend as I'm flying out on a red-eye tonight for five days! A first-time visitor to Florida, as a retired professional critic here in San Francisco, I have had my fill of high-end, multi-course tasting menus. I'm looking for Florida-specific cuisine and besides Joe's, would love suggestions as to where to eat. I've looked at Michy's and thought it too close to what I can get here on the West Coast, but have to admit, Ortanique might be a thought as the West Indian curried crab cakes seem a bit different.
I am traveling and dining alone which is not a problem for me whatsoever. It means that at more exclusive restaurants, they will often be able to accommodate a one-top but sitting and eating a bar is also fine.
Where can I go to be wowed ?
By Carrie 218
on Dec 5, 2007 09:19 AM
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Someone wrote with a request similar to yours. Here's the response I gave him.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/466305
That request was limited to South Beach. Seeing as you're willing to venture out a little more makes it easier. The bulk of Michy's menu is made up of items you could probably get in SFO, but there are some items that lean towards a Latin and Caribbean bent (blue cheese & serrano croquettes, conch escargot style, etc.). Note that not all of them work.
Ortanique is fairly unique to here as far as dishes, ingredients and preparations go. As cliche as it sounds, I believe they have the best mojitos in the city. It can get a little loud so be forewarned. OLA in South Beach is run by Douglas Rodriguez who, along with a handful of other chefs, began the Nuevo Latino movement at his Yuca restaraurant. OLA has a good ceviche selection and the dishes run the gamut of inspiration from Peru to Cuba. I haven't been to the new location so I can't vouch for it, but I've enjoyed past visits.
A couple of places where you can eat at the bar and have some representative of Florida cuisine are Michael's Genuine and River Oyster Bar. The former is getting a lot of press and will probably be packed for Art Basel. The chef tends towards local ingredients and simple preparations. River Oyster Bar has some preparations with a Floridian or Latin bent, but it's mainly and oyster bar and grill.
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Thank you, lax2mia! That certainly helps... I also read Ultimate Epicure's recent rave about Sardinia Ristorante/Enoteca which might move up on my list.
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What is probably most "authentic" to Miami is the influence of Latin America which means not just Cuban food (which - and this may be committing a heresy - I find rather boring) but also Argentinian, Peruvian, Caribbean, etc. There is a surprising dearth of good seafood joints despite the fact that we are surrounded by water.
Ortanique is one of my top choices for its "nuevo" Caribbean influenced dishes. In addition, Ortanique has the advantage of being off the beach - South Beach is going to be mobbed for Art Basel and if you don't already have reservations you will probably struggle to get in anywhere, though as a solo you'll have some chance of finding bar seating. A friend called a semi-popular place on the beach for a reservation this weekend and was told the first table available was 11:30!
Michy's is probably similar in style to many SF places (small dishes, eclectic menu) but does carry some local influences in its cooking styles and ingredients. Michael's Genuine is also very reminiscent of a SF type restaurant - Zuni Cafe in particular (you'll see a very similar version to the famous Zuni roast chicken on his menu done in a great wood-burning oven - having had both, I will tell you that Michael's was my favorite) - but makes extensive use of local ingredients, especially local fish. Michael's will also be a tough reservation.
Sardinia is very good but I would surprised if it could hold a candle to La Ciccia (which I read raves about but didn't get to on my last visit to SF).
Ortanique, Michy's and Michael's all have bars where they serve the full menu which is always nice for solo diners.
For a good simple fish sandwich I'd suggest you make your way to Garcia's on the Miami River for a lunch. For good simple parillada, assuming you're a carnivore, head north up the beach a bit to Las Vacas Gordas (I like their skirt steak - entrana - and their blood sausages - morcilla), or for a more upscale version, Graziano's (I've only been to their Coral Gables location). For Peruvian, most folks rave about Francesco's in Coral Gables. I only went once and was underwhelmed but may not have ordered well.
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Thanks, Frod! Even the influence of Caribbean tastes is interesting and different than that which I can get in San Francisco (except on a limited, mediocre basis). I am going to leave a lot to serendipity and an unknown schedule, which is why I haven't bothered with reservations.
I'll definitely report back!
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Assuming you're staying in South Beach if in for Art Basel, I suggest you search this board for budget South Beach places where you'll find plenty of decent suggestions in a couple threads.
Generally should avoid Ocean Drive except for the architecture - surgically enhanced hostesses, saran-wrapped plate displays, and lousy food.
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Ah, thank you... Money isn't really an object unless you think the budget places have better food than the high-end spots. I'd like to be within walking distance and I'm staying at The Wave.
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Francesco's - peruvian - don't think there is an equivalent peruvian in SF though I could be wrong...
The french toast at Ice Box is something you should eat.
You might want to try Caccao though others like it better than I do, it is certainly a Miami only type place.
The original Grazianos on bird rd - many believe it is the best argentinian steakhouse in the country. I am amongst them. The one in Coral Gables is also very good but it is not the same...
I am a huge proponent of Sardinia but you may find its match or better in SF as italian is a strong suit of that town.
I am surprised no one has mentioned Michaels - which again, I don't like as much as others but comes highly recommended and uses local ingredients.
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I steered toward budget b/c you started off saying you'd had your fill of high-end multi-course tasting menus. In any event, particularly if you're not making firm plans, it's worth looking at those threads so you'll at least have some idea of what places are worth popping into.
Anything off-beach mentioned here (Michael's Genuine, anything in Coral Gables) will obviously not be walking distance.
Focusing on the south end of South Beach where you'll be staying, Nemo is something of an old stalwart at this point but still good, especially if you haven't been before. Michael Schwartz (who is now at Michael's Genuine) was the original chef here and the menu still bears traces of his influence.
Prime 112 (upscale steakhouse) gets much love here - more for the side dishes than the steaks - but I've not been. Nothing particularly Miami about it other than that its pricey and scene-y.
Can anyone vouch for Wish lately? It's gone through a couple chef changes since I've been.
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Hey TP! I've already given Michael's its plug and for the same reason - the use of local ingredients.
I'd forgotten about Cacao, it's definitely a Miami-only (scratch that, you'll probably find a place like it in Caracas).
Agree with Sardnina. It's probably good for Miami, but if I was visiting from SFO it probably wouldn't be on my list unless I was craving carbohydrates or something from a wood oven.
Frod - since you brought up the budget places might as well go all the way and recommend El Rey del Chivito. A chivito is a sandwich originating in Uruguay and comes with either thin-sliced chicken or steak, canadian bacon, fried egg, lettuce, tomato... Miami is probably one of the only places you'll find it in the US. If that's not your style, they serve pizza with faina (a chickpea based bread). The restaurant is in a section that's become a "Little Buenos Aires" with bakeries and other restaurants close by (on Collins and approximately 71st St.).
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And now right across the street from El Rey de Chivito is La Perrada de Edgar, a Columbian hot dog place.
But OP was looking for walking distance places from SoFi and I don't think they're walking 70 blocks for a chivito (though that might be enough to work it off!)
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Figured if Ortanique was in the realm of consideration then why not.
Also, no one has mentioned Tap Tap. For OP: it's a low key Haitian restaurant on 5th St. (forget the cross St.).
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5th and Jefferson. Forgot about that one lax. I'd stay away from the goat and go chicken or fish. Goat is pot luck and can be very rough. They have the best mojitos in the universe there btw.
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What is "SoFi"? I am staying in the 300 block of Ocean and already walked to Joe's for lunch. Everything else (the Convention center) has been a cab ride (and I suppose I should learn to take that shuttle, huh?)
Regardless, the stone crabs were fabulous, accompanied with creamed spinach and a few mojitos, my weekend has begun nicely -- at least culinarily. Still haven't decided on where to go for dinner. Any one care to join me?
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You are in SoFi. It is the area south of fifth street. Good call walking to Joe's for lunch.
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I'd join you for dinner but I'll be flying in and heading straight to the Keys for the week tomorrow. Hope the hotel is ok.
The locals have given good advice. Michy's and Michael's Genuine usually sound good. 1 thing you definitely won't find in SF is an authentic Cuban place. Sort of midway between your hotel and the CC is Puerta Sagua..an urban diner with good food...maybe a breakfast?
We'll be in town next week and plan on hitting Sardinia and Graziano's or Michy's..depending on whether my friend feels like driving..:)..and possibly Tap Tap. We went once on a Sunday night and they had basically run out of food (the football game had gone into OT and it was late)...so haven't eaten there yet..fun, casual environment.
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I done gone blind in my old age lax, sorry.
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Well, last night's dinner was an impromptu visit with three guys who are sound and production engineers for a sound-artist. It was their recommendation so I tagged along to FLB - Fratelli la Bufala on Washington -- apparently they heavily promote the twice-weekly delivery of fresh Mozzarella.
We started with two salads; an asparagus salad which was far from a salad as it was served with a hot cheese sauce and cold lettuce. Very, very weird. One of the guys really loved the cheese sauce and cleaned the plate with the accompanying bread, but I found the asparagus to be far from fresh, overcooked, and very stringy. The second salad had oranges, hearts of palm, walnuts and greens. Interesting but unexceptional.
Between the four of us, we ordered two pizzas and two of the specials. One pizza was bedecked with fresh cherry tomatoes and rocket (which, honestly, I don't think *was* rocket) and the other was the "La Reale" which I remembering being the most interesting-sounding (with various meats and cheeses) but I did not get to taste. The other was mostly soft in the center and was a pizza that had to be eaten with utensils. However, when I got the crust, I was pleasantly surprised as the dough is obviously house-made.
The two specials were a fettuccine with a creamy mushroom sauce which (although it was my order), was the least of my favorites of the evening. It was pasty and thick but the guy who liked the cheese sauce on the asparagus really liked my mushroom pasta. The other special of the evening was a large platter of mixed grill; steak, sausage, vegetables. I only got to taste the sausage which was perfectly fine but hardly ground-breaking.
On the way out, I heard good things about Tap-Tap and may be stopping there today for lunch!
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Tried to go to Tap-Tap for lunch... but they are not open for lunch. A very kind woman there referred me to Puerto Sagua on the corner of Collins & 7th. While there, I met a handful of fabulous ladies and in the course of discussing our various meals, we shared a classic Cuban sandwich (fabulous), black beans and rice studded with pork. There was not enough pork and a tad dry - my bad that I didn't order them separately as I mis-understood the menu item. This was pre-mixed and a tad dry. We also shared a croquette which was light, crunchy, and very pork-tasting. Quite yummy. A fabulous Cafe con Leche and my dish came to just over $10.00 which was quite a bargain!
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If you don't hit Francesco's you might want to try El Chalan for lunch. It is a peruvian place with no ambiance but very good food and a great value.
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Bummer! I wish I could have caught you before you went to Puerto Sagua so I could have recommended the fried chicken chunks (delicious fried dark meat fried until crispy with a touch of vinegar) or the fried pork chunks (which comes with the arroz moro rice that you got and the yucca). I think the pork belly/bacon/fat back that's in the arroz moro is more for seasoning.
Sardinia is good for Miami and almost up to SF standards for italian. However, the bucatini with guancale and pomodoro is on par with SF's best pastas. The sardinian reds there are delicious and well priced (rare for Miami).
I like the Peruvian style fried rice at El Chalan. It's silly because if you judge it by chinese standards, it's horrible fried rice, but it's a huge tasty portion (most people share) with bits of chicken and skirt steak. For something more authentic, maybe the fish "macho" style.
I second Michy's and OLA for unique to Miami restaurants...
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Arroz moro?
I'm aware of basically two different styles of Cuban rice & black beans aside from the old-fashioned traditional black beans in one bowl and white rice in another.
"Moros" as I've always seen it used is short for moros y cristianos, which is black beans & rice (black & white, Moors & Christians ...). Doesn't have any pork products other than what's already been cooked in the beans.
"Congri" supposedly is traditionally made with red beans, through I've always seen it with black beans, but it is the one which in my experience also includes many bits of pork in it.
http://icuban.com/terms/index.html
The Peruvian/Chinese dishes are indeed nothing like their true Chinese counterparts but are appealing in their own odd way.
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Yes, it was Arroz moro.
Friday night's dinner was at Tap-Tap. I probably made a mistake by trying to taste too many dishes and sufficed by ordering all of their appetizers; a pumpkin soup which was redolent with mostly large chunks of cabbage and smaller bites of pumpkin but was overall WAY too salty and a platter of goat bits served with a red sauce that was (happily) not too spicy. Then there were the two platters of fried vegetables... One was a sampler platter which included three vegetables and two sauces; the same red goat sauce and a green salsa verde. The other was a duplicate plate of one of the same vegetables. Meaning? When I placed my order, it would have been nice if my server told me that I was ordering the same thing as it was made apparent that I was ordering this way to get a lot of tastes... To their credit, they WERE slammed and my solo meal at the bar took over two hours.
Last night, I attempted to go to Cafe Maurice because it was an easy walk from my hotel and I had a full evening planned. But -- WTF? -- they don't start serving until 7:00 p.m.??? Sorry folks, you have a huge influx of people in town this weekend and your neighboring restaurants are already full of diners. Lots of folks like to eat earlier than 7:00!
Instead I caught a cab and hopped out at that Spanish corridor neighborhood. Again, wanting several small bites versus a single large plate, I decided to eat at Tapas and Tintos. As is a usual practice for me, I asked the server to bring me their favorite dishes. I was served three; a bowl of sauce-enrobed chopped sausages. Honestly, they *looked* like cheap baby weiners but their taste was more traditional and not that bad. There was also a platter of French fry-shaped slices of grilled calamari which was most definitely on the rubbery side. The best of the three was a croquette containing prosciutto and goat cheese, sliced in half and draped with a green sauce. These croquettes were decoratively displayed on a completely pointless tower of a sliced tomato and guacamole (huh?) but inter-spaced with overly grilled, but welcome asparagus. A decent capairina accompanied the meal. Far from the best tapas I've ever had, but being hungry, but sufficed.
Okay, readers... I have one blow-out meal left to me. I was seriously thinking of Ortanique but I don't have a rental car and don't really relish a 30-minute cab ride to and from. Price is no object! Give me your thoughts!
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Talula. Sit at the kitchen bar.
Please.
Miami really can't compare to SF as a culinary destination but you're not exactly hitting the high points so far.
ETA - I love the vibe at Tap Tap but have been underwhelmed by the food.
Edited further to add - link to Talula is below. I'd suggest particular dishes to order but the whole menu was updated recently and I don't remember much of it (website menu is not current).
http://www.talulaonline.com
Edited yet again to add link to thread giving some dish descriptions ->
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/372522
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I second Talula and would still consider Sardinia. Table 8 is another option. I'd also seriously consider taking the 15 minute cab ride to Michael's Genuine
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I second Michael's genuine. Sit at the kitchen counter, you will have a great experience.
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My 2c ->
Sardinia is good but SF has similar - probably better - restaurants.
I've been to Table 8 twice now and been underwhelmed both times. I don't recommend unless someone is fixated on eating on Ocean Drive.
I love Michael's as well but am trying to save poster a big cab ride. Talula keeps things on the beach.
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Okay, folks (and -- BTW -- thank you so much for all your help!)
I've got a lunch AND a dinner so I can do both Michael's Genuine and Talula. Is one better than the other for lunch/dinner?
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I have never been to lunch at Michael's, but the menu looks great. Definitely on my to-do list.
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well, my bad for not checking first! Michael's Genuine is not open for lunch on Sundays! This is not something an urban San Franciscan would even consider... Learned *after* a $25.00 cab ride to the area! So, instead I am eating (as I type this) at Brosia. Will report back with pics later!
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Brosia is literally brand new. It has gotten a good amount of hype so I look forward to eharing your review!
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To be honest, I find the Italian in Fort Lauderdale and Boca to far exceed the quality found in Miami. Cafe Martorano, Casa D'Angelo, etc. are all much better than what I have found down here. Osteria is fantastic, and I have yet to make it to Sardinia, but Vialetto is average, Abbracci is below average, etc.
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I find Casa D'Angelo overrated, never tried Martorano, but obvioulsly heard many great things and will probably try it next year sometime. Now that they have a vegas place has it affected the quality in the FL location?
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*as I've heard of too many wonderful Italian restaurants in Miami*
Other than Sardinia and Osteria del Teatro, possibly Romeo's Cafe, maybe Escopazzo, I don't know of a lot of Italian restaurants in Miami that are really described as standouts. What else?
In south beach I would add Grazie, Macalusos and Tuscan Steak to that list...
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"that honor would probably go to either Quattro Gastronomia or Casa Tua"
*Cough* Devito's *Cough*
Frod, do you think Sardinia is the best italian in Dade? If so, I guess I am mistaken as being the #1 Sardinia fan :). If you do, I would say you are incorrect, but not crazy :).
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Listen, I need to take my geritol and go to bed soon ...
Is Devito's an Italian restaurant or a steakhouse? I think of it more as a steakhouse but I've not gone.
Do I think Sardinia is the best Italian in Dade? Maybe not. I always struggle with "bests" anyway. I think it's the most interesting and the one I enjoy the most, which I'll acknowledge is probably a different thing.
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Re: Sardinia I will go with that, favorite and best are not always the same thing...Sardinia and Francesco's are my two favorite restaurants in miami, though their food is bested by other restaurants (in francescos place not for peruvian...). I will try Michaels again after the holidays and let you know if my stauts changes :).
Devito's is an Italian Steakhouse, they serve both regular italian food and steak.
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Frod-
You hit it right on the head. The point was recommending restaurants in Miami that would be unique to a visitor from SF or at least worth it for a visitor from SF to try. Miami has some good italian restaurants but certainly not *better* than would you would find in SF which is why those of us that have had great italian food in SF suggested Carrie save the meal for something else.
The other key point you make is that just because you say that SF's italian is *better*, doesn't mean you're saying that Miami's is crap. It's all relative. People get really touchy and take personal offense if you say "X" cuisine is better in "so-and-so" city even if they've never tried "X" cuisine in "so-and-so" city.
Finally, I do agree that "best" is too loaded a word. SF's Italian is decidedly Cal-Italian, Italian-Cal, etc while NY's is more red sauce Italian and chef's interpretations of regional italian cuisine (I really do love that Batali interpretation though and I couldn't be happier he's birthed twins in LA).
I've yet to figure out Miami's hyphen-Italian but there sure is a lot of American-Italian. Osteria has great housemade pastas but I would consider it more American-Italian than Northern Italian since they offer each pasta with a choice of red sauce, with olive oil, or with vodka sauce. The first two being more southern italian and the latter being, well, american-italian (although there is a claim that the original vodka sauce was invented in Bologna). Also regional/"authentic" italian cooking is usually pretty particular about certain pasta shapes with certain sauces and the practice of offering any pasta with any sauce is again, more of a sign of an American-Italian restaurant. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but this goes back to a prior comment you made about taste and palate in a particular city. It would be great if Miami could develop a few more regionally focused Italian restaurants.
Mia, if you know of any other regional italian places like Sardinia or restaurants you feel are better than Sardinia or Osteria (either directly or through your friends) please share.
Your Zagats list just puts Osteria back on the top of the heap after you declared it "not the best".
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Like you said, everything is relative. And I've seen people commenting that Sardinia's is not the best. And if you recall, there was even a debate here in Chowhound between Osteria and Sardinia not too long ago, on the title of "Best Italian." And according to the Zagat's 2006 rating of Italian in Miami-Dade, Romeo's Cafe even beated out Osteria (Sardinia wasn't rated in 2006 since it wasn't even there by the time of its publication).
And it's funny that Romeo's Cafe came out of the top, especially when you've totally ignored it - it's apparently the underdog in Miami's Chowhound. Additionally Romeo's Cafe is not even in South Beach - and there's several place I've named in the other thread - all of which I've never tried, and I cannot really say it's the "best" either - that have remained unranked by Zagat and may other review sources. I'm saying that I doubt that 1) Zagat covered in depth Miami's culinary scene well and that 2) I would not be surprised if there was a good Italian place that has been totally ignored by the public, save for a few locals that may be supporting the place, but not gossipping about it to prominent Chowhounders (which may unfortunately be the case). Plus, do you know if Zagat mentioned all of the good restaurants we've mentioned here in Chowhound in their latest book? I say - probably not.
But likewise, you're speaking of only a few restaurants in Miami. Do you think it's reasonable to assume that every SF tourist from SF has a chance to try the top-rated Italian restaurant in SF? They sure may have the capability, but for an average tourist, who may not have tried the top Italian restaurant in SF, there's plenty that would satisfy his plate in Miami. If you rather suggest something more ethnic, say "Lario's on the Beach," which probably won't wow as many people as say a better Italian restaurant (besides Sardinia & Osteria), then that's fine. But when people's suggesting that they should try Cuban and not Italian, simply because they have options back at home, that's also fine. But it's a bit irritating to hear that the options back at home is "better" which may in fact not be true. But I do like your differing analysis of Italian cuisines that you just mentioned - and probably it is true although I do think New York's Italian cuisine is also heavily American-Italian.
That being said, let's end the conversation and if you want to speak more about Italian restaurants, you can always go to the other thread that has been set up. :-)
Oh, and you can say that my motto is "A True Chowhounder Never Believes The Best Exists" because the culinary world is one of infinite possibilities. Isn't this what makes everything so exciting?!
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Porthos, try the meatball salad at Macaluso's (SoBe)
http://www.macalusos.us/index.html
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Mia-
I really like Sardinia and actually, I like it better than Osteria since it has a nice regional focus. However, while Miami has 1 restaurant like Sardinia, SF has many restaurants of that calibre and feel in Incanto, Delfina, A16, Perbacco, and Oliveto.
As I said, I think Sardinia's bucatini is as good as any pasta dish I've had in SF but the restaurant as a whole is easly a notch below Incanto, and definitely better than Perbacco in my opinion. However, Quince's (SF) handmade pastas are unrivaled by anything here and the house-cured meats at Incanto and Perbacco are just as good as what Sardinia has to offer (not sure if Sardinia's are house cured but they're still delicious...espeically the chinghiale sausage).
In terms of wine list, I really like Sardinia's list (Osteria's is horribly limited and horribly overpriced) but it's not even close.
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Porthos, thanks for putting into words what I was feeling about a comparison of Italian restaurants between the two cities. Quince is actually walking distance for me in SF and I have eaten at Incanto and Perbacco a number of times so why would I want to eat something remarkably similar?
So, finish up my time in Miami, here's the scoop on Brosia. Yes, they opened just a few days ago so the menu is not quite set. I was there for Sunday brunch because Michael's Genuine was closed. The "menu" was nothing more than telling you what was being served as there were no choices. You could have the small tapas platter for $20 or the large tapas platter for $35. Being solo, I opted for the small which was a platter that included chilled Mediterranean mussels with coconut curry, half of a three-onion smoked salmon tart with horseradish crema and "Beluga caviar", braised short rib piquillo pepper, and piri piri shrimp. After the platter was served, a Mediterranean salad was served which was lightly dressed greens with sliced avocado, tomato, avocado, and orange slices.
A few comments on Brosia's lunch. It was quite good but not especially filling. I accompanied my lunch with a glass of Moet Rose for $28 a glass (a bit pricey). Actually, the whole meal was a bit pricey for what was served as my lunch for one (pictures enclosed) came to $60.00. I also take a bit of umbrage at "Beluga" caviar. It is protected and not sold or available in the United States and there was no way the garnish on my half-a-quiche was Beluga. I do think the chef has talent as I enjoyed the tapas bites, but neither the shrimp nor the mussels tastes especially fresh (well, it WAS Sunday). The tart was mostly crust, but it was decent crust (not exceptional). The braised short rib in piquillo pepper was the best of the dish.
Thanks to those who recommended Talula for dinner! What an exceptional meal THAT was! I have a VERY lengthy post on that on my blog: http://www.feast-blog.com/my_weblog/2...
Apologies for the broken link on the photographs -- those will be fixed within 24 hours. I didn't post that whole review here because I can't add the ten different photos that I took but it was the best meal I had while visiting Miami.
I'm flying out in a few hours and looking forward to one last visit to Joe's for lunch before taking my cab to the airport. Thanks again, everyone, for their suggestions. I had a great time and look forward to coming back!
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My heart was going out to you. When I read about your adventure at Fratelli la Bufula I winced. Believe it or not the place was good when it first opened but it's gone downhill ever since. And for what it's worth, your Tap Tap experience may not be indicative of a normal, non-Basel night. Everytime I've gone I've enjoyed myself and was never rushed (nor was the meal drawn out to two hours). It's a shame about Michael's. They're only open weekdays for lunch since the Design District where it's located is pretty much dead on the weekends. I'm glad you ended up at Talula though and hopefully it'll give you an indication of what Miami is capable of culinarywise. Enjoy Joe's once again and we look forward to your return!
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Thanks so much, Lax2Mia. I'm just sorry I didn't do better due-diligence on the restaurants I did go to. But Talula made up for it and the photo slideshow is fixed on the blog so you can take a look at my fabulous dinner there. Next time, Ortanique!
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Off topic posts talking about San Francisco Italian food, as well as general discussions about the Miami dining scene versus those in other cities, have been removed. Some posts that were mainly about Miami Italian food were caught in the process. We have restored those postings where possible, though they may now appear somewhat out of context and we regret that. Please keep the discussion here on local chow - minor digressions about how places in Miami might compare to those in the OP's city are fine, and can be helpful. But general discussions about the whys and wherefores of different dining scenes in different cities aren't going to help anyone eat better now.
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