Update on 15 New Restaurants

1.      Lure Fishbar at Loew’s Miami Beach Hotel – 10/10. New York based. Sushi, seafood and meat. Great scene. Great food.

2.      Lorenzo’s  at Redbury Hotel on Collins and 18^th – 8/10. Nice ambiance. Not very full. Great meatballs and steak.

3.      Lippi on Brickel. Same owners at Zuma. 8/10. Bautiful restaurant and great food.

4.      (Petit) Miami Beach on Purdy. 8/10. Very quaint and nice outdoors. Food was great. Portions medium size.

5.      Michael Mina 74 at Fountainbleau – 7/10. Nothing special. Where Blade used to be.

6.      Milo’s near Joes – 9/10 only because they serve you too fast. Food 10/10.

7.      Petit Rouge on Biscayne near 125^th. 7.5/10. Very small. Everyone loves it but me. Too many Montrealers.

8.      Macchialina at 820 Alton. 7.5/10. Used to be part of Pubelly. Scarpetta chef. Small. Good food.

9.      Barceloneta at Purdy. Another Pubelly restaurant. 7.5/10. Spanish tapas.

10.   The Butcher Shop Beer Garden in design district. 7/10. Different menu.

11.   Ice Box at Purdy. Moved from Lincoln Road. 8/10 for brunch, breakfasts and salads.

12.   Burger and Beer at Purdy. 10/10. Great burger experience.

13.   Burger Fi at Hallandale and second one on Biscayne. 9/10. Almost as good as Shake Shack. A knock-off of Shake Shack.

14.   Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza on Biscayne. 10/10. Best pizza and wings in Florida. Better than Steve’s Pizza.

15.   Yakko-San at 163^rd St mall. 7.5/10. Crowded. Food not great. I’m told sushi is great.

Michael Schwatrz's at The Raleigh Hotel

Last night we went to Michael Schwartz's ( same as Michael's Genuine)  new restaurant in the Raleigh Hotel on Collins and 17th.

 This was formally The Royal at the Raleigh and the setting is at the pool. Next to Barton G, it has the nicest outdoor setting.

 The food was typically and fairly priced. The grilled lamb pizza was amazing and the chicken and sides were great. If you like Michael's Genuine you will like this restaurant and the setting is much nicer.

 

 

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7538726370334343446#editor/src=sidebar

Bill was $160 for 2 with 2 drinks and tip but valet was $15.

Service was great but restaurant was very empty.

 

Big negative was the uncomfortable seating. Had to change twice and was still lousy for eating.

8.5/10

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Wolfgang's Steakhouse, Downtown Miami

We recently went to Wolfgang's Steakhouse in downtown Miami. It is in the same complex as Il Gabbiano and not far from Zuma. This IS NOT a Wolfgang Puck restaurant. If you have ever had the pleasure and experience to dine at Peter Lugar's Steakhouse in Brooklyn you know you had the best steak experience ever. Well Wolfgang Zwiener, who was at Peter Lugar's for decades duplicated the Lugar experience. He now has 7 restaurants including his latest in downtown Miami.

 http://wolfgangssteakhouse.net/miami/

This IS NOT your standard steakhouse like Joe's or Prime 112 or The Palm. IT IS SIMPLY BETTER. The best steak experience you will ever have.

It starts with their amazing bacon appetizer which I have never seen at any other steakhouse. You never thought bacon could be this good.

 And then there is the steak. Simply amazing. Melted in our mouths. We had the steak for two and couldn't finish it. It could easily be for 3 and it includes both the filet mignon and sirloin.

 And the apple strudel dessert with their famous 'shlog' was beyond belief.

 The decor, outdoor seating and service was equal to the food.

 Easily a 10/10 and my favorite steakhouse.

 It was expensive. $230 for 2 including 2 drinks plus valet parking of $8.

CATCH Miami at James Royal Palm Hotel at 15th and Collins

Went to Catch Miami at the James Royal Palm Hotel at 15^th and Collins. Catch is a hot New York restaurant from successful restaurateurs and nightclub operators, the EMM Group. The chef is Hung Huynh who won Top Chef in 2007.

 http://emmgrp.com/restaurants/catch-miami/

We got there at 8 pm and it was not full at all and as such we were able to sit at their outside terrace. By 10 pm the place was roaring. We had front row seats to an amazing contest as to who can wear the shortest dress with the longest heals and legs. It made Prime 112 look like a convent dinner. What a scene!

And the food was also amazing. Those who had sushi said it was the best they had ever had. Everything was great. They did have 2 steak dishes and 1 crispy chicken dish for those who do not like fish. And the desserts looked absolutely amazing also but I was still on my New Year’s diet resolution so I did not partake.

I was worried about the service, as they just opened and a friend told me the service was terrible a few nights earlier, but our service was amazing with great servers.

The bill was $195 per couple including tip and lots of drinks by the group. I parked across the road for $10 in public parking.

I’m giving it a 9.5/10 which is heavily weighted by the ‘show’ although the food was amazing.

Had to deduct a half point for the bathroom attendant which I hate!

 

 

 

PB Steakhouse in old Joe Allen's location in South Beach

Last night I tried the 5^th Pubbelly restaurant called PB Steakhouse at the former location of Joe Allen’s on Purdy.

http://www.urbandaddy.com/mia/food/21147/PB_Steak_Pubbelly_Steaks_in_South_Beach_Miami_MIA_Restaurant

It is clearly the largest and nicest of the Pubbelly restaurants. It was loud, good music and packed. Great décor with 4 outside tables.

The salads were just OK and the oysters were lousy. Not Joe Beef quality oysters despite the fact that they came from Canada.

The sides were great and the steak was just OK. Not as good as Sardinia next door.

Not sure if I will go back.

7.5/10 when compared to other steakhouses.

$135 per couple(no drinks) and $15 valet parking although you can park across the street for $3.00.

Betto's Ristorante Italiano in Bay Harbour

Last week we went to Betto's Ristorante Italiano in Bay Harbour around the corner from The Palm where Davinci’s used to be, next to Asia Bay.

It is owned by the once former partner at Riggazi and they do not as yet have a website. His father owns Emelio’s across the street.

The food was really good but the service was slow as the just recently opened.

Everyone loved their food and my veal chop stuffed with mozzarella was amazing.

It is not as good as Casa D’Angelo or Valentino’s but I will definitely go back due to its proximity to me.

8.5/10

$140 per couple with $5.00 valet parking

 

Khong River House on Meridian off Lincoln Road

On Friday we went to Khong River House just off Lincoln Road.

These are the same owners of Yardbird and Lime.

http://www.khongriver.com/

A spectacular 2 floor, Thai tapas restaurant and quite a scene!

The food was really good but the restaurant was simply too damn cold!

Lots of good dishes and some average ones. The chicken and spicy chicken wings were great.

8/10

$120 per couple with $15 valet parking.