634851 Wed Jul 08 08:06:31 -0700 2009 22 79 Miami - Ft. Lauderdale 0 4839271 Hubby & I are staying a few day in North Miami just off Biscayne Blvd. We are planning on spending most of our time on the beaches between Bal Harbour & Sunny Isles. We are looking for cheap, fast, good food that can be packed up and taken to the beach with us. I'd definitely love to find a cuban stand. We are also into anything latin/mexican/spanish, sandwichs, bagels. Really, anything really good and portable. We will also need any good recs for dinner. Nothing overly expensive, we're going cheap on this vacation. :) I like most anything but hubby won't do asian, chinese, sushi, etc...Again, cuban is always a hit with us! We'll have a car, and are willing to drive, so that's not a problem. We might venture to South Beach one night, but we are familiar with the restaurants down there. Thanks! Wed Jul 08 08:06:31 -0700 2009 158403 jcattles 1 4839348 Grab some tunafish sandwiches over at Epicure market in SI. Bagels&Co. is close and serves good bagels. Tuna is good too but not as good as Epi Little Havana is close for Cuban. Wed Jul 08 08:28:14 -0700 2009 4839271 229082 The Chowfather 2 4842733 Sounds like good recs. Thanks Chowfather! Thu Jul 09 07:36:54 -0700 2009 4839348 158403 jcattles 2 4846512 Not "beach-ready" food but Calafate Grill (pretty much right next door to Epicure) does $3 beer, sangria, and tapas for happy hour starting at 430p. The tapas portions appear to be large too for $3. Would be a great place for a couple o' tapas dishes and a few pops after a day at the beach. Fri Jul 10 10:07:07 -0700 2009 4839348 115383 Blind Mind 1 4840052 I have made a Google map of many worthy destinations just a bit south of you that ought to be helpful -> http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=114717104716217955697.00000111dca7091ec5330&z=13 As for Cuban, my favorite around that area is Sazon on Collins just north of 71st Street. Note that there's another El Rey de Chivito location up in Sunny Isles. www.foodforthoughtmiami.com Wed Jul 08 11:20:49 -0700 2009 4839271 35525 Frodnesor 2 4842739 Awesome map, I'm going to start reading up on them. I'll be spending some time reading your blog too! Thanks, Frodnesor Thu Jul 09 07:38:23 -0700 2009 4840052 158403 jcattles 2 5046973 You missed a good one. The Thai-Japanese place next to Oggi cafe. Real - Real good sushi and Japanese. The thai side of the menu leaves a little to be desired (Americanized) and a REAL fair wine list Mon Sep 21 14:07:19 -0700 2009 4840052 142666 phatface 3 5047071 I'm not sure what Thai-Japanese place next to Oggi Cafe you mean. The only one I can think of that's close to Oggi is Siam Bayshore (a/k/a Sushi Siam) which is on the map. If that's what you're referring to, I find their Thai food better than the Japanese (though not as good as Tamarind Thai), and can't imagine going there for sushi when there's Sushi Deli right down the street. Or is there somewhere else you are thinking of? The only other thai/sushi around there that I know of is Sawwadee off the Normandy Drive circle (which I was not impressed by). Mon Sep 21 14:39:59 -0700 2009 5046973 35525 Frodnesor 4 5047137 Oh thanks for the note. I only go to visit and don't see much of the hood. Yes that is the place I'm referring to, and have found the sushi-sashimi very fresh and fairly priced. We usually split the "boat" for $26, and a bottle of wine Mon Sep 21 15:02:07 -0700 2009 5047071 142666 phatface 1 4840277 eat at the gourmet diner 142 and biscayne.Their eggs benedict on weekends is awesome,and their fruit tarte is a winner.Good salads,escargot,etc. Wed Jul 08 12:13:17 -0700 2009 4839271 14069 travlnmike 2 4841278 I like gourmet diner but not really cheap (reasonable though) or beach appropriate Wed Jul 08 16:56:46 -0700 2009 4840277 229082 The Chowfather 1 4841049 Hiros Yakko San for dinner Wed Jul 08 15:32:31 -0700 2009 4839271 50328 tpigeon 2 4841116 hubby won't do asian. Wed Jul 08 15:57:59 -0700 2009 4841049 35525 Frodnesor 3 4841192 go without him :) Wed Jul 08 16:27:13 -0700 2009 4841116 50328 tpigeon 4 4841260 now there's some good advice. Wed Jul 08 16:50:31 -0700 2009 4841192 35525 Frodnesor 5 4842741 Y'all are funny! Let's see I don't like tuna sandwichs, but hubby does, I like asian , but hubby doesn't, maybe we could work it out....... Thu Jul 09 07:39:08 -0700 2009 4841260 158403 jcattles 1 4843243 Little Havana at 12727 Biscayne fits the bill for cuban with a pretty good lunch special that you could get to go. For sandwiches and bagels, Bagel Bar East is on 125th and San Souci (a little east of biscayne on the way to the beach). It's not the best deli, but better than what you are used to in Denver. The Bridge restaurant just opened a little further east of the Bagel Bar and they should have a few decent options to go. My wife and I really like the homemade pate, and have gotten that to go to take with us on the boat a few times. For a great sub, Football Subs at NE 2nd and 84th (not the best neighborhood) is really good and fresh (I'm heading there for lunch right now). There is an argentinian place a little further west of the Bagel Bar (between biscayne and sans souci, not sure the name) that has pretty good empanadas and sandwiches that are always a good option for beach food. Nothing in this area will blow you away, but these are a few decent options all for under $10. If you are a member of Costco, there is a Costco at about 145th and Biscayne and you can get a pretty good rotiserre chicken for $4.99 that is big and juicy. Enjoy. Thu Jul 09 09:59:07 -0700 2009 4839271 15914 scscr 2 4843289 Is the Bridge in the old Mark's Place (briefly Two Chefs Too) location? Thu Jul 09 10:11:34 -0700 2009 4843243 35525 Frodnesor 3 4845859 Yep. That's the one. It's actually not bad for what it is, and very affordable. Fri Jul 10 07:19:12 -0700 2009 4843289 15914 scscr 4 4849175 Actually, I retract that last post. The Bridge is bad. Went last night and the meal was an all around disaster. The pizza might have well been Red Baron. The best part of the meal was the bread and the $9 two for one top shelf cocktails. I really want this spot to work, but it is becoming a black hole. Sat Jul 11 10:51:07 -0700 2009 4845859 15914 scscr 5 4849298 Appreciate the update. I hate when people post, you go and it's awful, and when you say so they respond "Oh, yeah, I went back a couple more times and it really stunk but I never said anything." Thanks! Sat Jul 11 12:09:09 -0700 2009 4849175 35525 Frodnesor 1 5047014 Il Piccolo at 2112 NE 123rd St. in N. Miami, telephone 305.893.6593, has an extensive menu and many specials. They do lots of take out. Large portions and reasonable prices. Very good wraps and sandwiches. Great for dining in also. Donna is my favorite waitress there. Casual and very friendly. Tourist free zone. Mon Sep 21 14:19:29 -0700 2009 4839271 13850 rebus1805 1 5047023 Correct telephone for Il Piccolo is 305.893.6538. Mon Sep 21 14:20:49 -0700 2009 4839271 13850 rebus1805