Outdoor Dining 10-14 ppl for co-worker bday

[esmalley]

Hello,

My girlfriend's co-worker want to go out for dinner this saturday. It will mostly be people from their office plus significant others. Outdoor dining and a fun ambience would be nice.

I recommended:

Talula, Barton G, Michaels, Texas de Brasil SB, Casa Tua

But apparently some in the party don't usually go out to dinner and much less to pricey places. Presumably we will all chip in and pay the b-day girls part, if not I will cover it. I really don't want a place where people will be put off by the prices and the menu should be somewhat diverse in case of any picky eaters. I think they would prefer entrees in the 15-25 range.

I was thinking maybe one of the following:

Red Light, Uva 69, Brosia, Cafe Ragazzi

I am drawing a blank! Do you guys agree with any of these picks or can you reccomend others? Thanks!!

[Frodnesor]

I love Red Light but I think they struggle to handle large groups. I don't know that Ragazzi has outdoor seating. I've not been to either Uva or Brosia enough to agree or disagree.

Pacific Time has great food, fairly reasonably priced, and lots of outdoor seating. With a group you can order the "whole shebang" which is all of their small plates (app size), which would probably be fun.

At Las Vacas Gordas you can sit outside and gorge yourself on platters of grilled meats; there are also some pastas and the like, but the menu may not be diverse enough.

If you want super casual and inexpensive, go to Scotty's Landing.

[dlgc]

Frodnesor your right, Ragazzi does not have seating outside.

[esmalley]

I was thinking Ragazzi since I've known Beto the owner for a few years and he always treats my group well. I think we're going to end up doing Las Vacas Gordas.
We are all in our 20's and from Latin America, so meat is perfect. I haven't been their in maybe 8 years, hopeflly it will be good.

On a side note, went to try Red Light last night. Place was at about 75% capacity, I see what you all mean when you say Kriss is a hard working chef. The guy was doing all the cooking alone. I was there 2 hours and he was going non stop. Unfortunately no BBQ shrimp but the mussels, quail and spiny lobster were very good! I am adding it my neighborhood haunts with Michael, Michy's and Buenavista.

[Frodnesor]

There's usually at least one more cook in the kitchen at Red Light on weekends at least, but it's still a lot of work for them when the restaurant is busy.

[Icantread]

Casa Tua and Barton G would be brutal for a party. also, I would recommend avoiding Barton G. I think you can do Michael's (carefully) for the price, and they are equipped to handle good size parties without missing a beat. Red Light's a great fun choice but you have one of the harder working chefs in Miami and one assistant manning the whole kitchen, so service could possibly linger. Prices definitely fit in your budget. The priciest items there are $18 and good portions at the price. I'm sure others can add recommendations for outdoor dining. I remember enjoying Ishq when it opened some time back and that restaurant was almost exclusively outdoors, but I guess Indian definitely does not qualify as diverse.

[esmalley]

Thanks for the reply, forgot to mention I called Michael's yesterday and they could fit such a big party this saturday. Any word on Creek 28? I see they have a 3 course dinner option but its not priced on the website. I'm thinking of trying Red Light tonight with the gf to scope it out. We both live in the high teen's so the closer the better!!

I have only been to Brosia for brunch, can anyone comment on the dinner menu?

[Icantread]

I went to Creek 28 once and thought the food was wonderful. A lot of careful, delicate flavors and decent portions. Also the bartender was pretty good. Whoever writes their menus lacks in the flourish department, so do not guide yourself by those descriptions. The food IS quite good. The outdoor patio backs the hotel pool I believe and was decent sized, though I believe the tables were round so I'm not sure you'll be sitting all in one large table but rather 3 bunched together. I may be wrong on that count.