another new yorker in miami (but with a vegetarian and a toddler...)

[rose water]

i'll be coming to miami with a vegetarian and toddler in tow. we'll be staying at the eden roc in miami beach, and would be up for walking (within the limits of my 3 year old's limited patience) or short cab rides, but won't have a car.

ideally, we'd love a casual, inexpensive place with prompt enough service to not test the generally lovely three year old, where we could catch an early dinner (given the three year old) with seasonal fare, and good vegetarian options. Something like Shake Shack is clearly toddler appropriate, but please, we get enough of that here! inexpensive and casual fare is fine for most of our meals, but we also have a lot to celebrate and would love to get some real meals in as well.

Indomania, La Cofradia, Francesco's, Sra Martinez, and Otentic appeal--toddler appropriate? too much of a schlep from where we're staying? Other recommendations along those lines? Anything closer to the Eden Roc that's any good?

Thanks so much in advance!

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Indomania
131 26th St, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Sra Martinez
4000 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL

La Cofradia
, Miami, FL 33179

[tpigeon]

edit -- I just read short cab ride part -- that pretty much excludes going across the bay at all.

I would do sardinia (good veggie options there -- except for beets and brussel sprouts, they have pork in them), you could also do 1500degrees (right in your hotel) you should check the menu for vegetarian options there and see if you can hack it. It is very good except the desserts which are not good. If you want to throw down serious cash, hakkasan is very good very expensive chinese and it is in the fountainbleu right next door.

Scarpetta is also right next door in the fountainbleu but you may not be interested. It is excellent here...

Indomania is good.

el chalan (hole in the wall), otentic, a la folie, burger and beer (great mac & cheese, tuna burger, portabello burger are options I heard were good but never tried them), keeses (hole in the wall), miss saigon, bernies la cafe (nicer hole in the wall), jimmy'z (hole in the wall)

pubbelly is also an option but go early for dinner.

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Indomania
131 26th St, Miami Beach, FL 33140

[Frodnesor]

There is very little that's walking distance from the Eden Roc, other than the Fontainebleau, where Hakkasan would be very good for vegetarians, but expensive and arguably toddler-inappropriate. There is a more casual place in the Fontainebleau (Vida?) that I've not tried.

We did have a nice meal at 1500 Degrees, in the Eden Roc, and for a steakhouse there are actually a lot of good vegetarian options.

Indomania is a very good call - right atmosphere, vegetarian options, reasonably priced. Check and make sure they're open, they sometimes close for part of the summer.

Tpigeon as always has done a good job with the South Beach options.

I'm not sure I'd make a big trip to the mainland for either La Cofradia or Francesco's. If you want Peruvian food in a more casual and inexpensive setting, consider El Rincon de Chabuca in the North Beach area (Collins Avenue around 70th Street). In fact, for more casual meals there are several good options in this neighborhood. I like Sazon for Cuban food, El Rey del Chivito for their Uruguayan chivito sandwich, Moises Bakery and Buenos Aires Bakery for baked goods (Venezuelan and Argentinian, respectively).

For seasonal fare, vegetarian choices, and a casual setting, Red Light (Biscayne Blvd. & 78th St.) fits the bill. Lots of locally sourced foodstuffs, usually some good veg going on, and a very bohemian atmosphere - the only drawbacks are (1) place can get hot in the summers (though they've put in new A/C); and (2) service can be sloooowww. But if you can keep the toddler entertained (go down by the river and look for manatees) long enough, might be a good option.

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Indomania
131 26th St, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Red Light
7700 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138

Buenos Aires Bakery
7134 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL

Hakkasan
Miami Beach, FL, Miami Beach, FL

Sazon
2000 NW 92nd St, Miami, FL 33147

[tpigeon]

the cab ride is far to red light from eden rock -- I would nix it. Francesco and Cofriada are completely out of the question with cab rides.

[Frodnesor]

Eden Roc to Red Light is about 8 miles, which would be about a $20-25 cab fare (w/o tip) each way. If you were to go to Midtown / Design District area (Sra. Martinez, Michael's Genuine, Sugarcane, Sustain, Gigi) it might be about $5 less. Either South Beach or North Beach will probably be about $10-15 each way from the Eden Roc.

[mrmagee]

there are a load of casual, reasonably priced restaurants on Lincoln Road, enough to keep you going for a few nights. You sit outside, and watch the hustle and bustle without worrying about your kid making noise. Loads of Italians to chose from, but we like the Cafe at Books and Books. Kids menu, and a bunch of vege options.