Ethnic and Italian Supermarkets and Restaurants near Aventura

[Paulustrious]

Hi Folks.

I am an ex-Miami-ite Torontonian and am staying for 2 weeks in the Northern boondocks, right by Aventura Mall. (The Marriott Residences to be precise)

I will be with my Italian 75 year old Father-in-Law who thinks a day without pasta is a day wasted. I know Lorenzo's, but are there any other Italian or ethic supermarkets nearby? In Miami it was difficult to find any decent reasonably-priced Indian restaurants. Is the same true of Aventura? And while on the topic, are there any Cambodian, Korean or Vietnamese restaurants around worth visiting.

Living in Toronto I am somewhat spoilt, as it is most ethically diverse city in North America. Apart from the 18 inches of snow and 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

And I will have a car.

[mialebven]

Or you could try Argentinian at La Estancia (mainly a deli, but some Argentinian goods), just south of Aventura Mall on Biscayne. And I also like Sarah's Tent in the Waterway Shoppes for some ethnic shopping (Kosher and a little bit of Middle Eastern goods)

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

You should take him to Laurenzo's Italian market, on West Dixie Hwy in nearby North Miami Beach. They have a bakery and cafeteria. Probably the best such place in that area.

[tarepanda]

Heelsha is good but only open for dinner.
For Italian I think Timo on Sunny Isles is very good according to review though I have never personally been there.

There is a decent Korean Kyung Ju on 163 St. Lunch is especially a good deal. A Vietnamese place Little Saigon behind an Amoco gas station but not really great. Tatay a Filipino cafetaria where you can get lunch for around $5. If you want Chinese I'd say King BBQ also on the same street. Yakko San is great, authentic Japanese but you can likely get it better and cheaper in Toronto.

I do agree w lax2mia. With a much larger and diversed Asian population in Toronto, you definitely get much higher quality, variety and value there. I doubt you would be happy with what we have here.

[Paulustrious]

Thanks for those. I ask because those are the foods I love. The place I am staying has a kitchen, so that was why I was asking about supermarkets. I lived in Miami for 6 years, so I know Lorenzo's. We would make the trip there occasionally, and pop into our favourite fish market in little Haiti. However I do not know Aventura, so thank you for that information.

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

I apologize for suggesting Laurenzo's when you had clearly stated you knew Laurenzos in your Original Post!

Aventura has changed a lot in the past few years (it's become a bona fide municipality, whereas it used to be unincorporated) and I'm sure a lot of the places around there are new, newer than when I've been there last.

[mialebven]

Yeah, I didn't have a great experience at Little Saigon. Makes me wonder if L.E. Tapioca is any better?

[lax2mia]

Heelsha for Indian/Bangladeshi food. But if you can get Cambodian, Korean and Vientamese in the most ethnically diverse city in North America, why are you looking for them here and not looking for Miami's strong suits?