South Beach for 5.5 Days

[rempi]

Hi All,

I will be in South Beach at the end of the month for a Bachelorette weekend. I put myself in charge of scouting food because I don't want to be eating at chain restaurants the entire time. Preferably not at all! :)

I've been scouting various sites, doing much research and I have a list of restaurants I wanted to run by the Miami Chowhounders. I'd love any thoughts - avoid, must go or some new recs! I think I need some more breakfast/lunch options and have a good selection fro dinner. I've tried to spread it out a little bit between south beach and downtown (in case we go in 1 or 2 nights).

Puerto Sagua - good cuban
The Dining Room - saw good recs
Pinnochio Café - good breakfast/coffee/lunch option
Scarpetta - we're going, it's already booked
Otentic - breakfast option
Front Porch - breakfast option, but looks touristy
Indomania - seemed like interesting fusion, dinner option
Barceloneta - looks to be must try for dinner
Pubbelly - looks to be must try for dinner
Pubbelly Sushi - looks to be must try for dinner
The Tudor House - Maybe for brunch one day?
Yardbird - looked very tasty, maybe dinner?
Sardinia - possibly for lunch
Las Olas Café - cuban, probably better than puerto sagua
La Perrada de Edgar - if we're in the area
Garcia's Seafood - if we're downtown
Michae's Genuine - if downtown, this is the must try
S&S Diner - if in area, cheap lunch eats
The River - if downtown, maybe
The Room - hangout

Thoughts?? Thanks in advance guys!

[tpigeon]

In general, you have chosen many smaller/low key places. You should be aware of this - my input on many of them is below:

Other suggestions-
across the bay:
Sustain - brunch, dinner or both - their brunch is very good and it is a great scene
Sugarcane
Zuma
Sra. Martinez

Sobe:
The Dutch
Haven
Joe's - Takeout for breakfast, Restaurant for dinner -- stone crab season ends in 2 weeks though

Puerto Sagua - hole in the wall you should do for lunch
The Dining Room - very low key and small - how big is you party?
Scarpetta - we're going, it's already booked - great but expensive italian
Otentic - breakfast option - food is good - small - never had breakfast there
Front Porch - breakfast option, but looks touristy - decent breakfast, is touristy
Indomania -not fusion, it is indonesian - very good but low key
Barceloneta - looks to be must try for dinner, sunday brunch is also great- they don't take reservations
Pubbelly - looks to be must try for dinner - small place, no reservations - depending on your party size it may not be easy for sitdown dinner
Pubbelly Sushi - looks to be must try for dinner - see pubbelly
The Tudor House - Maybe for brunch one day - better option than front porch
Yardbird - looked very tasty, maybe dinner - you can do lunch or dinner here I would do dinner as they get a good crowd - definitely need reservations
Sardinia - possibly for lunch - very good italian
Las Olas Café - cuban, probably better than puerto sagua - I don't think so, but would not quibble over this. I think many people think it is better because it is less well known so they sound smarter... tiny hole in the wall kind of place - I would do lunch only - not sure how big your party is.
Garcia's Seafood - garcias is good but I would do other places
Michael's Genuine - not downtown so I assume you mean across the bay
The River - very good food
The Room - hangout - low key

[rempi]

Thanks for your reply! I will definitely look into your suggestions. I was concerned it was a little too low-key as well. I tend to like searching out for good food, not matter what the scene. But this is not the right trip for that and it's not all about me!

Our party is about 11 people.

thx.

[tpigeon]

11 people is a lot to try for a bunch of the restaurants. Of the pubbellies, only barceloneta might be big enough to handle your party at primetime.

Here are some other places you should look into:
Asia de Cuba - just revamped their menu - so I have no idea about their food - before it was decent - but is a very nice scene
Juvia - Very expensive - very overpriced, good but forgettable food but the views and scene are unbeatable in south beach now. Perhaps have an overpriced drink while enjoying the view.
Nobu - there is one in every city now but it is a good place for bachelorette parties.

[rempi]

Thanks so much. I've added your suggestions to the list....just depends on how much everyone wants to spend!

Will Dining Room accommodate us?

thx.

[tpigeon]

They might and the food is very good but it is not a bachelorette party kind of place.

[rempi]

Noted.

Though I'm more about a good meal than the "party." But I'll run this by the group!

Thanks again for all your help :)

[tpigeon]

Sushi Samba is another option. It is fun, the food is good and they actually have some interesting dishes on the menu. By the way, tuesday is their best night. They have a costume thing going.