South Beach Weekend

[nolavoigt]

Hi y'all...my husband and I are going to be in South Beach tomorrow-Sunday and are looking for new restaurant ideas. We're staying at the Standard (our 4th time - a fan of the soothing pool and yoga, not of the overpriced poolside food). Have tried Sardinia - liked it. We like great food, good wine or creative drinks, local finds, price not a huge consideration (as long as it's worth it) late night dining, and were not afraid to eat somewhere that looks like a dive if the food speaks for itself - we're 32, newly married, no kids, very social, if that helps. possibly considering Spiga, Escopazzo, Touch or Talula based on reviews. any opinions?

[gingersnap]

i second the smith & wollensky rec. such a beautiful location, especially with the new park just opened! view of government cut and all the boats coming and going is certainly a highlight of south beach!

[Frodnesor]

I'd go to S&W for drinks and the view but the food is no great shakes IMO.

www.foodforthoughtmiami.com

[Blind Mind]

I disagree. Ive never had a bad meal at S&W. I dont think its as good as Capital Grille, nor do I think its anything thats going to blow your mind, but Ive always found it to be a good meal. Its a steakhouse chain, so you know what youre getting. The view is sweet and there's always a nice breeze on the deck outside. Ive had some good times there.

[dmo305]

Occasionally they would have a watermelon salad on the specials that was damn good.

[Frodnesor]

I don't know that we actually disagree. In my mind, "not as good as Capital Grille nor anything that's going to blow your mind" = "no great shakes." I'm not suggesting it's actively bad or anything, but it's just a steakhouse chain and a lower tier one at that. I'd just as soon go for the drinks and the view and then go elsewhere for dinner.

[Blind Mind]

Yeah, I guess if you wanted to do that you could. Id just as soon eat there and walk away saying, "that didnt suck" haha.

[Rondo]

Have to agree w/you about the bar scene at S&W. We go there just about every time we are down there and it is consistently pleasing. Def not as good as Cap Grille or the other high end steakhouses, but if you stick to the bar menu you can't go wrong. Last trip (this past February), wife had the mini burgers which were mighty tasty and I had one of the flat bread pizzas which was really good. My only regret was that my Grey Goose martini (up, three olives) wasn't quite as good as in the past, but I put that down to bartender variance. As you said, if you can walk away from S&W and say "well, that didn't suck", I think you are way ahead of the game.

[suncloud27]

Me and 2 girlfriends are going to South Beach in May, staying at The Strand at 10th & Ocean... any info you can give is greatly appreciated - overview of the area, food, places to eat, bad things, etc. Hope you are having a fantastic trip!!! Amber

[hollys]

I think the newly re-opened Smith & Wollensky's outdoor patio and bar is delicious - the water view with the cruise ships passing by can't be beat! Go for lunch they have a new lunch and bar menu - great mini burgers, crabcake sandwiches, wondeful flatbread pizzas. On Sunday afternoons - try La Piaggia - a local scene - with a beachy St. Tropez feel and well executed French bistro favorites. For dinner check out the newly opened Fountainebleu Hotel - gorgeous. The Italian restaurant Scarpetta serves divine Northern Italian dishes in a setting reminscent of an old luxury cruise liner. Enjoy!

[tpigeon]

I just had a burger at S&W a few weeks before they opened the patio and while it was not bad, it was nothing to write home about either. Clarkes makes a better burger.

[Frodnesor]

Talula is my favorite on the beach for the food. I also like Sardinia (which you know from), have not tried Spiga or Escopazzo (recently enough to venture an opinion as to the latter). Touch is gone, however, the same team is now running a steak-house-ish type place on Lincoln Road called Meat Market which has decent food and a nice scene. Not exclusively steak-house food, many items (particularly apps) with a lighter touch and more of a seafood focus.

The Peruvian restaurant mentioned above must be Chalan on the Beach.

I just went back to Indomania recently, a Dutch-Indonesian place around 23rd & Collins, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

www.foodforthoughtmiami.com

[tpigeon]

Indo is on 26th actually on the east side of the street. I would consider creek 28 as well - great place.

[nolavoigt]

hi there...went to indomania last night and loved it! the personal service (we had a glass of cava with the owner), the food was fantastic, and our bill was 150 for dinner for 2 and 2 bottles of wine...amazing. thank you so much for the recommendation.

[MDub]

i highly recommend Escopazzo. My wife and I are in your demographic and absolutely loved the place. We did the chef's tasting menu with wine parings. Out of this world.

For lunch, there is a good little Peruvian restaurant on Washington, a few blocks north of Escopazzo. The head waiter at Escopazzo recommended it (his wife is from Peru). The ceviche is really good and reasonably priced.

If you haven't tried it yet, you may want to stop for sushi at Nobu. A little pricey, but damn good.

[nolavoigt]

Thanks MDub...will look into it!

[tpigeon]

Whatever you do don't do sushi at nobu. There are a million posts on what to get and I will sum it up.

Sashimi salad -- only cold dish to get
rock shrimp tempura
black cod miso
creamy spicy crab (more of a personal favorite - the other stuff is well documented)

follow these rules and don't do anything else at nobu.

The sushi at nobu is not outstanding but it is priced as if it is so you will be disappointed.