You read our recommendations here at The Leftovers all the time. And for that, we thank you. But now, you can experience our recommendations in real time, when you join the team on our new Airbnb Experiences food crawl!

On August 15, you can join Olee Fowler and Matt Meltzer as they take you through four of our favorite breakfast spots in Downtown Miami and Brickell. The tour starts at Josh’s Corner Deli at Brightline’s Miami Central Station, where you’ll sample bagel sandwiches before stepping aboard Miami’s fabulous Metromover.

Then, you’ll glide across Downtown and Brickell, enjoying pastries at Café Bastille, pastelitos at Bored Cuban, and cafecitos at Cortadito Coffee House. All your food is included, as is the invaluable knowledge you’ll gain about food, Miami history, and public transportation from Miami’s leading transit influencer.

The fun starts at 10:30 am at Miami Central, and you’ll be done by 1pm. Sign up here. As an added bonus for reading all the way to the end, the first 5 people to DM us on Instagram will get a code to experience it for free!

See you all on Saturday!

Central Fare

Brightline relaunched the food hall Central Fare inside MiamiCentral last summer with ten local vendors featuring plenty of tacos, sushi, cheesesteaks, Ecuadorian empanadas, and Neapolitan pies. You can find Miami favorites like Stanzione 87, Wolf of Tacos features half off select tacos every Tuesday after 5 p.m., Josh’s Corner Diner covers the burger-and-breakfast end of things, and Cotoita’s cheese empanadas hold up fine if you’re eating on board.

Pro Tip: Brightline Rewards members get 10 percent off at select vendors. Just show your digital card at checkout.@centralfare // 550 NW First Ave., Suite 240, Miami

Mangrove

Kingston-born chef Wayne Sharpe and the Jrk! crew run Mangrove, a Jamaican restaurant and lounge hidden near Government Center (next door to Tam Tam), and the menu offers twists on Jamaican classics like curry oxtail, whole fried snapper, jerk mac and cheese, and a guava bread pudding with Scotch bonnet cream. I’m a fan of sliding up to the bar and trying whatever crazy new rum they got in from the Caribbean, then letting that pick my order for me.

Pro Tip: Go a little later at night when Mangrove’s dining room transforms into a cool Jamaican party, sometimes with live music, after the dinner crowd dies down. @mangrove.miami // 103 NW First Ave., Miami

Mr. Omakase

Pick between 10, 14, and 18 courses ($89, $109, and $149) and let the chefs at Mr. Omakase handle the rest with courses of sashimi, nigiri, a hand roll, miso soup, and a dessert from Superbon Bakehouse to close things out. A5 wagyu and shrimp topped with uni sit on the add-on list if you’re feeling decadent. With about ten seats, it is one of the calmer, more affordable ways to do omakase in this city.

Pro Tip: The 14-course menu hits the sweet spot. Long enough to feel special, short enough to keep you standing upright. @mromakase // 163 SE First St., Miami

Niu Kitchen

Niu Kitchen fits a handful of tables, and chef Deme Lomas uses them to serve what I still think is the most interesting Spanish cooking in Miami. The Catalan menu includes branzino tartare with cold garlic soup, an octopus carpaccio with garbanzo spread, and a rabbit-and-escargot paella, plus a rotating list of natural wines. If it’s full, Niu Wine, their wine bar down the block with no printed list, is a fine place to wait it out.

Pro Tip: Order the clams, made from Deme’s mom’s recipe with jamón ibérico and tomato sofrito.@niukitchen // 104 NE Second Ave., Miami

Over Under

Over Under bills itself as a subtropical honky tonk, and the food certainly reflects that crispy gator, fish and grits made with Florida catfish, shrimp skewers with warm roti, and a sour orange pie in a saltine crust. The cheeseburger is what everyone orders anyway, a smashed patty with American cheese, shredded lettuce, griddled onions, pickles, and housemade thousand island. For your drink, ask for your bartender to make a bartender’s choice – where they will make a bespoke drink made on flavor profiles you enjoy – or if that decision is too much, a frozen drink is always a good choice.

Pro Tip: Happy hour runs every day from 5 to 7 p.m., with $2 Florida oysters and two-for-one frozen drinks. @overundermiami // 151 E. Flagler St., Miami

Tam Tam

Saigon-born chef Tam Pham and husband Harrison Ramhofer grew their Phamily Kitchen supper club into Tam Tam, set in a former Cuban diner downtown and built around quán nhậu, Vietnam’s culture of eating while you drink. He cooks fish sauce caramel wings, scallops with pomelo, betel-wrapped lamb, and a steak tartare finished with fire ant salt, while Ramhofer handles the wine. This restaurant is perfect for taking someone you want to impress but also want to have a fun night out.

Pro Tip: Pick your karaoke song before you excuse yourself. Yes, there’s a working machine in the bathroom. @tam.tam.mia // 99 NW First St., Miami

ViceVersa

Bartender Valentino Longo opened ViceVersa inside the Elser Hotel with the team behind Sunny’s Steakhouse and the dearly departed Jaguar Sun shutter, and the Negroni list the star, starting with the house Mi-To blend. Chef Justin Flit leads the kitchen with a raw bar, house charcuterie, and neo-Neapolitan pizzas like clam with lemon, mortadella with ricotta and pistachio, and spicy pepperoni with hot honey.

Pro Tip: The ViceVersa Burger only exists on Mondays from 5 p.m. until it sells out. Go early. @viceversamiami // 398 NE Fifth St., Miami

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If you know me - or not, you will now know that I lived in Mexico for four years. And so for all intents and purposes, I am an expert of sorts according to myself.

So for storytelling purposes - let me rewind to last week when my girlfriend Kelly and I discovered a Tacombi location that I had no idea existed. Across from Casa Tua Cucina - or shall I just say Saks is a cool location that’s part of a chain. But let me be clear - it doesn’t seem as such. And to be location specific, this one boasts a tequila garden. It also has some insane bites while maintaining chill simplicity. I ended up there on a Tuesday. It happened to be Taco Tuesday, too, hence the major crowd. I loved it. It was my first time, not Kelly’s. She guided me as did the stellar staff and all I will say is go. It’s easy. It’s fresh. And its subtly chic.

The Scene: Think of outdoor benches upon entrance in a t triangle shaped courtyard. With an inside that explodes with +52 vibes, silver chairs, and decor that just makes sense. It’s not overdone. It’s not the first date, it’s the fifteenth date because you’re not there to impress your partner. You just want to kick back, chill, relax, watch a game on the TV’s or have a lil tequila, an agua fresca or a casual dinner.

What to Eat and Drink: So let me break this down in a few words. Get the large guac. It’s not salty. It’s perfect. Order the esquites (the corn). It’s sliced down for your veneers and perfectly seasoned. On Taco Tuesday, its BOGO - so have a field day. The chicken was stupendous. And the Pineapple and Watermellon Agua Fresca’s were like the best juice you ever sipped on in your existence. The tequila was divine (naturally). And the beer selection is on point. They have Mexi beers like Modelo & Tecate!

Don’t Miss: The corn.

Perfect For: If you want easy, no frills, cool and casual, this is your spot.

Expect to Pay: $20 - 60 pp, depending on the day and the deal and your libations!

How’s the Parking: Not easy. Brickell City Center is expensive, so try for street parking if possible. We did one lap and succeeded just two blocks away!

@tacombi // 69 SW 7th St. Miami.

All You Need Cafe

A year back, I had a lovely meeting at this cafe in a RK shopping center. And like its name - it’s All You Need! I still dream of their Honduran coffee. Feeling very ‘Tel Aviv,’ its menu blends Mediterranean, European, and global influences, hence a menu that offers everything from naturally fermented sourdough to the Truffle & Mushroom Scramble layered with truffle tartufata, roasted shimeji mushrooms, cream cheese, and Japanese style scrambled eggs on (you guessed it) - toasted sourdough! While the AVO Toast combines avocado mousse with feta, caramelized onions, fresh herbs, and seeds for a vibrant start to the day, don’t miss the borscht (beet lovers take note) or the the Chicken Kyiv with garlic parsley butter, the rich Mushroom Gnocchi with porcini mushroom sauce and crispy shallots.

Pro Tip: Coffee lovers, go! I do not know why the Honduran coffee is best - but it is!

@allyouneed.cafe // 18090 Collins Ave. #T19

Avra Miami

The most fancy yet fantastic Greek resto in Miami just so happens to live in Acqualina. It was also my formerly favorite date spot when I was single because I always knew that if I didn’t like the man - that the food at Avra Estiatorio would be worth getting dressed for. With their fish literally fresh off the boat, their apps were always my go-to. Even their EVOO is splendid. From silky tzatziki to smoky melitzanosalata, don’t miss the crispy zucchini and eggplant chips, lightly fried calamari, shrimp in tomato sauce (OMG) and their Greek salad which is somehow better than anywhere else.

Pro Tip: Dress up, and wine lovers, check out their Greek whites!

@avraestiatorio // 17945 Collins Ave

Kabobji

For a divine Lebanese meal that’s simple in all the right ways yet SO good - enter this humble joint that was once half the size. Having opened their doors around 15-years back when I was actually living in between Beirut and Miami, we discovered this spot by chance and have since been returning. Kabobji’s fatoosh salads and shawarma are for the win. As are the wraps. To be clear, everything is actually excellent and it’s a fabulous spot for to-go!

Pro Tip: They have a pomegranate drink. Get it. And the bread is baked in-house.

@kabobjirestaurant // 3055 NE 163rd St.

Miami Juice

Miami Juice basically invented Sunny Isles. I am not kidding. The OG of juice bars, it’s been open for over 30-years and it’s generally outstanding as is the crowd. From their fresh pressed juices to their lentil and veggie soup, their assortment of fresh salads are beyond words. Speaking of salads, the tuna salad and the chicken salad are essentially famous, low-mayo and can be served in a sandwich, pita or as a platter. The BBQ chicken is also divine over the brown rice, the salmon with sesame seeds is delectable and juicy and their fruit salads are now overpriced but so worth it!

Pro Tip: They have a mini-market and it’s well curated with snacks and healthy treats.

18880 Collins Avenue

Portovino

A hidden gem in a strip center next to Dunkin, Portovino is simple - feeling very Florentine trattoria. Tasting like Tuscany, they have a location in Italy and together the small group brings generations of Italian culinary tradition to South Florida through recipes rooted in the family’s hometown of Pistoia. TIn the mood for homemade pastas, wood fired pizzas, fish (they have bottarga), meats, and classic antipasti prepared with exceptional ingredients, from San Miniato truffles and porcini mushrooms to imported olive oil - check out their extensive selection of Tuscan wines. Signature dishes such as squid ink spaghetti with octopus, handmade ravioli, branzino, langoustines, and perfectly grilled steaks embody the restaurant’s philosophy that great food is crafted with patience, simplicity, and amoreeeee.

Pro Tip: You can buy bottarga to-go if you are a fan and it’s legit authentic!

@ristoranteportovino // 3439 NE 163rd St.

Rose Cafe & Restaurant

Rose Cafe & Restaurant is located in an office building. But - it’s a hidden gem that’s so damn charming and delicious that it’s worth exploring. Owned by the Milton family, its menu is a celebration of Mediterranean and Italian cuisine that is built around fresh seafood, handcrafted pastas, seasonal salads, premium meats, artisanal sandwiches, house made pastries (YAS), and indulgent desserts. Everything was so good, and PS - they intentionally do not cook with refined oils or processed sugars. And they are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So take your pick. It’s perfect for a date or a biz meeting, too - and lord knows we love versatility.

Pro Tip: Try the Yellow Chicken Curry! And valet has an entrance on Collins Ave. to make your life easier.

@rosecafeandrestaurant // 16690 Collins Ave

Treesome Natural Cafe

Treesome Natural Food Cafe’s menu proves that healthy eating never has to be boring. And that is SO our style. Have you ever tried Palm Ceviche? It’s a must. Just like the Farmers Bowl made with arugula, beets, cucumber, carrot, sprouts, red cabbage, garbanzo beans, hummus, sesame seeds, fresh lemon, and extra virgin olive oil.

Pro Tip: Breakfast lovers, try the Toast Royale with smoked salmon and avocado, the Super Duper Waffle topped with organic berries

@treesomefood // 17608 Collins Ave #2825

Calling a Miami restaurant legendary takes more than a good meal. The real ones opened before Miami knew what it was becoming and had a hand in deciding what it became. Some are still standing. Others are a bank branch or a condo lobby now, remembered only by the people who ate there before anyone else was paying attention.

In this month’s episode we deep dive into Miami’s most legendary restaurants and our thoughts and feelings about all of them. We break it down with our top 25 restaurants and even eight legendary imports that are basically considered Miami in their own right. Click the video above to watch, and tell us what you think in the comments.

P.S. We love feedback! If there are topics you want us to cover next time, drop them below.

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Well, Miami Spice is upon us again. Those precious couple of months when people go out to dinner in Miami and don’t immediately look at their check and say, “Hey, you misplaced a decimal point!” The time of year when restaurants craft special three-course menus called “prix-fixe,” which, according to Google translate, means “free scoop of gelato.”

It’s a special couple of months where restaurants who advertise fine imported seafood create a dish for their Spice menu called “jellyfish innards,” which sounds like a delicacy until you realize that jellyfish don’t even have outtards. It’s a time you can get a $35 plate of spaghetti for $50, with an optional $15 meatball supplement.

Spice was first created 24 years ago, when restaurants realized August and September were months most Floridians only left their houses to panic buy Fiji water. In order to lure locals out, restaurants began offering three-course dinner menus for $29.99, giving access to eateries usually only frequented by cocaine kingpins or, worse, visiting New Yorkers.

In the 25 seasons since, it’s become a hit, a time locals circle in their calendars to go places that now can only be frequented by Crypto billionaires or, worse, visiting New Yorkers. But somewhere along the way, Miami Spice went from a fun way to speed up the slow season to a chore many restaurants dread as much as refilling Diet Cokes.

“But if you can’t offer a good three-course menu for $55, then what are you even doing?”

But Miami restaurant OG Michael Schwartz – proprietor of Michael’s Genuine and Amara at Paraiso – says the naysayers are wrong, and still believes Miami Spice is a boon both for local diners and for restaurants.

“I think a lot of places just sort of begrudge it and they do it anyway because they have to,” he says. “And then they wind up polluting the staff. The staff hates it because it’s the ‘Spicers,’ they don’t tip and they don’t spend a lot of money. But if you can’t offer a good three-course menu for $55, then what are you even doing?”

Miami Spice is Good for Miami

Schwartz maintains Miami Spice is a win for everybody, a fact that’s gotten lost in the sea of “it ain’t what it used to be’s.”

“It’s been good for Miami,” he says. “It’s a chance for fancy restaurants to be exposed to people that might ordinarily not do so. It fills your tables in the summer, and you’re getting a check average that’s the same or a little bit higher than what you might normally get.”

Schwartz added that Spice gives him and his staff a chance to be creative, and perfect dishes ahead of season.

“It’s a new challenge, depending on the price point, of how to be creative and to offer value and creativity,” he says. “It gives us the opportunity to test stuff, to change the menu frequently, and then to refine it. Once we lock in a dish, it could become a staple menu item.”

Is a $95 Menu Losing the Plot?

Of course, this year, Miami Spice added a new $95 tier, which to the average person is like walking into the Balenciaga outlet and seeing a pair of shoes marked down to $900 from 1.2 gazillion. Schwartz has mixed feelings.

“It’s a chance for fancy restaurants to be exposed to people that might ordinarily not do so. It fills your tables in the summer, and you’re getting a check average that’s the same or a little bit higher than what you might normally get.”

“I don’t know, I guess with some of those omakase sushi places where you’d be dropping $200 a person that makes sense to me,” he says. “But what is (a steakhouse) gonna serve you for $95 a person that’s gonna be compelling? I’m not mad at $95, but you better be in a whole different category.”

For his part, Schwartz is keeping his Spice offerings reasonable. The $50 menu at Michael’s Genuine is ever-changing, as has become its hallmark over the years. Over at Amara, the price is $65, but that comes with a waterfront view and portions so big lineman leave with leftovers.

So poo poo Miami Spice all you like, those who know how it works still believe it’s great. And some spots still give good deals – we even rounded up the best ones so you don’t have to do math. We just can’t be held responsible if you misplace a decimal point.

It wasn’t so long ago that if you told someone you were “going shopping under the Coconut Grove Metrorail station” they immediately scheduled an intervention. Now? It’s got a Sprouts Market, a Panera Bread, and a hidden little Asian spot where you can get unlimited noodles.

Yes, I said unlimited noodles.

The place is called TastiGo Kitchen, and in addition to putting out some of the top soup dumplings in Miami, they also bring you noodles until you tell them to stop. It’s an Asian noodle lover’s dream, where the quality matches the quantity, and you can absolutely stuff yourself for under $20. And if you’re the type who enjoys ramen even in warm weather, it’s gonna be a new regular spot.

Unlimited noodles? In this economy? How’s somewhere not called Souplantation pulling this off?

Because eating more than one bowl of these noodles is tough, even for a person of size like myself. Sure, TastiGo Kitchen probably gets the odd gastropod and/or marathon runner who downs carbs like they’re tap water. But the portions are generous, and though I went in with the idea of making TastiGo go broke I had to tap out after one order.

The scene: Is a modern, laid-back noodle shop filled with families. One of the cooler aspects of TastiGo Kitchen is the dumpling window, where you can entertain yourself during dinner by watching the cooks stretch noodles and fold dumplings. If that’s not exactly your idea of Must See TV, you can watch any number of anime shows on the TV over the bar.

What to eat and drink: “Noodles” is kind of a broad term, I get it. Narrow it down by ordering the cold dandan noodles, which put the ones you grew up on at P.F. Chang’s to shame. The spicy beef and cucumber are a perfect complement, and the chili on the noodles gives it a nice kick. The spicy short rib noodles are the move for ramen lovers, and if one short rib isn’t enough you can get an extra protein with your noodle refill for a scant $8.

The soup dumplings are also a must. I’ve seen the social media’s crying for Din Tai Fung in Miami, and as one who’s been to a couple of their locations I can safely say TastiGo is just as good. And there’s no line.

Pro tip: Cut a hole in the top of the soup dumplings and slurp the broth out before biting in. Otherwise your first dumpling bite will send broth squirting eight feet in every direction, resulting in a dry cleaning bill that doubles the cost of your lunch.

Perfect for: Feasting, or carb loading. Or laid-back lunch with delectable food.

Expect to pay: Under $20 per person

How’s the parking: TastiGo Kitchen has its own parking lot. But this is your chance to take the Metrorail!

@tastigo_kitchen // 2770 SW 27^th Ave., Coconut Grove., Coconut Grove

Barra Callao

Barra Callao is the buzziest Peruvian spot in the city right now, and believe it or not, it’s in a small North Miami Beach strip mall. The chef builds every Nikkei-style dish in front of you, from the ceviche of the day’s catch with ají limo to hotate sashimi in yuzu leche de tigre with pickled goldenberries and truffle scallops au gratin under a parmesan crust.

Pro Tip: Walk-ins only during weekday lunch. After 5 p.m. it’s reservations only, and Sundays it’s closed. With all the tire-man spotlight as of late, plan accordingly. @barracallao // 17034 W Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach

Atomica

Some of the city’s best Peruvian food is coming out of a food hall in the Miami Design District. The chefs and owners learned their ways in kitchens like La Mar and Itamae, before opening inside MIA Market a few years ago. Stars on the menu include cebiche blanco with sunchoke leche de tigre, El Tigre with Peruvian bay scallops and creamy rocoto, and a braised lamb neck worth coming hungry for.

Pro Tip: The Beef Pocket, a short rib empanada with olivo sauce, is a great app option. @atomicamia // 140 NE 39th St (inside MIA Market), Design District

Jarana

Jarana is where I send people who’ve never really had Peruvian food: the menu covers everything, so you can be as adventurous or not as you want. Gastón Acurio opened it next to Aventura Mall in 2024, and it’s bright, colorful, and full of fun drinks, with all his energy but way more chill and family than La Mar ever was. Start with the tuna wantacos and a cebiche clásico, then move on to the Josper-grilled rotisserie chicken.

Pro Tip: Happy hour runs Monday through Friday, 3 to 6 pm, with pretty tasty pisco sours. @jarana.aventura // 19505 Biscayne Blvd, Ste 5150, Aventura

Aromas del Peru

Aromas del Peru is the spot to take the family or head to for a casual weeknight ceviche kick. The menu sticks to the criollo standards, lomo saltado, ají de gallina, chaufa, and I’m a sucker for the papas a la huancaína, potatoes covered in a spicy cheese sauce.

Pro Tip: There are locations all over from Coral Gables to Pompano. @aromasdelperu // 110 Giralda Ave, Coral Gables

Pollos & Jarras

During my single days, Pollos & Jarras was my ultimate go-to delivery: I’d grab a whole rotisserie chicken with fries and a salad and feast on it all weekend. It’s still one of my favorites today. Juan Chipoco’s restaurants have been local staples for nearly two decades, and because this spot is attached to his CVI.CHE 105, you get a solid two-for-one situation where you can order from either menu.

Pro Tip: You have to get the sauces with the chicken. It’s the best. @pollosyjarras // 115 NE 3rd Ave, Downtown Miami

5 Esquinas

Peruvian locals in South Beach will point you to 5 Esquinas, in the Alton Road shopping center with Apple a Day Market, and they’re onto something. The sandwiches are the star, a rarity at Peruvian spots in this city, and the Pan con Chicharrón, crispy pork and fried sweet potato with rocoto aioli on French bread, is the one to get.

Pro Tip: Get the Esquinas platter. For around $35 you get a taste of everything this place does well, and even split two ways it’s still a full meal. @5esquinasmiami // 1536 Alton Rd, South Beach

Dr. Limon Ceviche Bar

When the first Dr. Limon opened in Kendall in 2012, it committed to the bit: diners are ‘patients,’ ceviches are prescriptions, and, well, you get the theme. The Remedio Casero is the classic with hot limo pepper, Dr. Tokyo mixes tuna with pineapple and ginger, and El Charapa comes with mofongo for soaking up the leche de tigre. There are now locations in Miami Lakes, Homestead, Hallandale Beach, and FIU.

Pro Tip: The Quítate el Es-Tres sampler covers three ceviches in one order in case you can’t decide. @drlimonofficial // 13766 SW 84th St, Kendall

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For those uninitiated, Dine Out Lauderdale is basically Fort Lauderdale's answer to Miami Spice. It runs at the same time, August 1 through September 30, with similar price points: $35 lunches and dinners at $45, $60, or $75. We read through the menus, and these seven are the ones worth booking.

Casa Sensei

The Latin-Asian spot at the east end of Las Olas is doing three courses for $35 at lunch, Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 to 3, and $45 at dinner, Monday through Thursday from 5. Lunch leans sushi, with a shrimp tempura Las Olas Roll and Korean BBQ beef kimchi fried rice among the entrées, plus miso soup or a house salad on the side, while dinner features picanha with yucca fries and wasabi butter, Mongolian beef, or a sweet soy-glazed duck over fried rice. Plus, the dockside tables sit on the canal where Casa Sensei runs its gondola dinners.

@casasensei // 1200 E Las Olas Blvd, Suite 101, Fort Lauderdale

Daniel’s, A Florida Steakhouse

A name many would recognize in Miami, Daniel’s, is running its three-course, Florida-sourced menu at $75, Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, plus early Golden Hour seatings Friday and Saturday. The meal starts with Sullivan Street sourdough, then to hamachi crudo with strawberries or a strawberry gazpacho, and finishes on Keys red snapper, a Florida wagyu bolognese, or a 6-ounce prime filet, with a 45-day dry-aged cowboy ribeye available for a $45 supplement. Dessert is soft serve or sorbet.

@danielssteakhouse // 620 S Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale

Le Bistro

The Lighthouse Point French stalwart — it survived Kitchen Nightmares and is still here 25 years later — prices its three course menus by entrée: $45 gets the slow-braised lamb shank, the mixed grill, or the dorade, $60 the lobster risotto, and $75 the whole Dover sole or a Beef Wellington for two. Every tier includes a first course and dessert, with a chocolate marquise among the choices at Le Bistro. Dinner runs Tuesday through Sunday.

@lebistrolighthousepoint // 4626 N Federal Hwy, Lighthouse Point

MAASS

Fort Lauderdale’s only Michelin-starred restaurant is running three Dine Out menus: a $60 three-course with burrata salad, brioche-stuffed chicken, and chocolate cake, a $95 five-course that brings in the Foie Gras Nutter Butters, Wellfleet oysters with plum mignonette, and a lamb belly with butter lettuce emulsion, and a $155 seven-course, with wine pairings starting at $55.

@maass_ftl // 525 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort Lauderdale

Timpano Las Olas

Timpano, the Las Olas mainstay, is doing three courses for $60, available every day of the promotion. Starters run semolina-dusted calamari, arancini, or a butter lettuce salad, mains are fettuccine alla vodka, the Pork Chop Florentina, or chicken marsala, and it closes with gelato or tiramisu.

@timpanolasolas // 450 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale

Vitolo

The Italian spot inside the Conrad, from Emilio’s Ballato’s Anthony Vitolo, features four courses on its menu instead of the standard three for $60, Sunday through Thursday. Vitolo goes from Caesar, polpette, or calamari into a house-made pasta course (tagliatelle bolognese, spicy paccheri alla vodka, or lobster ravioli), then chicken parm, pollo limone, or snapper piccata, closing with tiramisu, cannoli, or sorbet.

@vitoloitalian // 551 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort Lauderdale

The Wagyu House by Meat N’ Bone

The Hallandale Beach steakhouse from Miami butcher Meat N’ Bone has a $35 three-course lunch Tuesday through Friday, with filet mignon kebabs or glazed salmon at the center, and a $60 dinner Tuesday through Thursday plus Sunday. Dinner at The Wagyu House starts with burrata, tuna tataki, or wagyu picanha crostini, then a G1-certified ribeye or Mediterranean branzino, and ends with churros or tiramisu.

@thewagyu.house // 601 N Federal Hwy #113, Hallandale Beach

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Wynwood has hits and misses. And Sparrow Italia (which has temporarily been renamed Sparrow Italia until Labor Day) is a full fledged hit. Not only is it chic - I mean from the moment Sparrow opened its doors, it was just that, However, fast forward, to keep Miamians intrigued, they saved locals and tourists alike the flight to Italy.

Aside from its elevated menu, it’s an impeccably designed space with food to match. It’s pretty damn good. And ever since I left, I have been dreaming of that shallot vinaigrette and the Rocher desert. What to expect? Well, freshness is their priority as are seasonal ingredients that are incorporated into their fresh pastas, handmade pizzas, reimagined Italian favorites, and seafood dishes.

Don’t forget to make it over before Labor Day before the Amalfi experience regresses back to Sparrow Italia. Lastly, you are welcome.

The Scene: It’s a total vibe, especially since they transformed the original Sparrow Italia into a Miami version of the Amalfi. One would presume this could be tacky. However, it’s beyond cool, elevated and romantic courtesy of the lemons draped throughout and the sensually dimmed lights. They have live musical performances every night by a man who is rather Bruno Mars-ish and guests can choose to sit at the bar, at comfortable booths or at tables scattered throughout.

What to Eat and Drink: This restaurant is one with a beautiful wine list, cocktails and mocktails, too. The mocktails were extraordinary and my best friends loved their Super Tuscan. Once we received the mockys and the cockys, we selected an array of apps. And by far, the best starter was their ‘Sparrow Chopped’ salad. I could eat that every single day for the rest of my life and be satisfied. Made with cavolo nero, radicchio, romaine, chickpeas, chili, red onion, pistachio, provolone, it was the shallot vinaigrette that made my heart skip a beat. The ‘Artichoke and Parmesan’ was the runner up for arugula and artichoke lovers. And the JUMBO PRAWNS were just that. Coated with chopped parsley, garlic, lemon and Calabrian chili, they were absolutely delicious. And last but not least, they had some insane dessert called the ‘Sparrow Hazelnut Rocher,’ and if you like Rocher choco balls, I may have changed your life. Made with crispy feuilletine, toasted hazelnut, nutella cream, it was killer, insane, wow, delicious, divine and heaven on the tongue.

Don’t Miss: The Chopped Salad. Trust in me….

Perfect For: Dinner with girlfriends, a date night with your other half…not the best to bring kids. That said, it’s more of an adult dining experience - dinner and a show as I like to call it and when people go for a night out like this, it’s not ideal to hear young children throughout the evening.

Expect to Pay: $60 - $120++ per person, which is fairly reasonable.

How’s the Parking: Not an issue because there is a valet company out front. There is also street parking if your lucky and a garage down the street!

@sparrowitalia // 255 NW 25th St. Miami.

Downtown Hollywood isn’t exactly known for its upscale dining scene, or even its contemporary one, but things are finally starting to take a turn. The latest newcomer is Common Room on Harrison Street, a modern American restaurant bringing a moodier, sexier vibe to the neighborhood.

Common Room comes from BOL Hospitality Group, the Eric Douglas and Hai Nguyen operation behind Social Roomtwo blocks down at 1916 Harrison, plus Bae Korean Grill and The BŌL at the Seminole Hard Rock. It opened in mid-July in a 2,000-square-foot room designed by Jewel Toned Interiors that seats about 65, with executive chef Tanya Evans, who cooked at Barton G and with Major Food Group, running the kitchen. The Brooklyn Room, an invite-only speakeasy out back, opens in early August.

The Space: Green velvet banquettes, brass-framed mirrors lining the walls, floral wallpaper, all of it under an industrial ceiling. The lighting is doing intentional work, and the whole thing lands somewhere between neighborhood restaurant and date-night room. For a stretch of Harrison Street better known for casual, it’s a swing.

What to Eat & Drink: We started with the short rib tacos and the cavatappi mac and cheese, which is an interesting opening pair, and the mac won in a walkover. It arrives huge, easily enough for two or three people, with a tangy edge to the three-cheese sauce and a prosciutto crumble on top that I’d buy by the jar. Our server told us it’s a family recipe from chef Evans, passed down for years. The tacos were smaller than I’d envisioned, served in crispy wonton-style shells, and while the gochujang short rib had good flavor, the meat ran a touch dry.

The Southern fried chicken is the order. The collard greens are some of the best I’ve ever had, the half bird was moist with a proper crust, and the cornbread is nice and sweet, which is how I like it (I’m aware sweet cornbread has enemies, you know who you are). The prime rib French dip landed at good, not great. The au jus had solid flavor and the horseradish aioli added a nice kick, but the meat felt a bit one note and could have used some more seasoning.

For dessert, the carrot cake and the chocolate cake both have the flavors down, though each ran a touch dry the night we went.

The bar comes from Unfiltered Hospitality, whose partners include Ben Potts of the dearly departed Beaker & Gray, and the punny cocktail names made the trip with him (Tropic Like It's Hot, Cocoa Chanel). The martini service, billed on the menu as the Common Room Ritual, comes six ways, from a classic 2:1 to a savory build with ramp tincture and basil oil, and my martini was cold and correct. One stickler note that only a bar nerd will care about: it’s billed as martini service, but there’s no service to it, no sidecar with the extra pour, no olive tray, no accoutrements, etc. The martini is good, but it can’t claim “service” yet.

Then there’s the back bar. We got a tour of soon-to-open The Brooklyn Room, and it’s dark and moody with red brick walls, a big red-lit bar, portraits of famous Brooklynites hanging around the room. It opens in early August, entry comes through the alley behind the restaurant, and apparently is going to function mainly as invite only.

Perfect For: Date night. Broward friends you’d otherwise have to drag to Miami. Anyone playing the long game for a Brooklyn Room invite.

Pro Tip: We’re told being a regular at any BOL spot improve your odds of being invited back to the Brooklyn Room.

Expect to Pay: Around $75 to $100 per person with cocktails, more if the caviar dishes or the $55 short rib make an appearance.

How’s the parking? Common Room has its own free lot for guests, tucked behind the restaurant near S. 21st Avenue and Van Buren Street. If it fills up, there’s metered street parking on Harrison and a city garage a block east on S. 20th Avenue.

@commonroomhollywood // 2032 Harrison St., Downtown Hollywood

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Editor’s Note: Welcome to our third official The Leftovers Miami Collaboration piece that’s brought to you by a set of brilliant cousins who just so happen to be Miami natives. Erin Michelle Newberg - Co-founder of The Leftovers and Danielle Payton - Founder of Old Miami realized their collective videos were developing traction courtesy of their humor, style and unfiltered grace - so they decided to merge minds and get down and dirty to bring you OG Old Miami content with a F&B twist.

If you consider yourself to fall into the ‘Old Miami’ category like your favorite cousins who were born and raised in the Magic City - you certainly must remember The Beverly Hills Cafe. Not one, but all ten of them. My BHC was in North Miami Beach right near Greynolds Park, while Danielle’s was on Sunset in South Miami. Well, low and behold - similarly to many establishments, they sadly closed which is REALLY F’d up, because everyone had their go-to dishes, be it a salad, a soup or their rolls which had that notable, sensual doughy scent.

Well - guess what. Today, we have great news for you. The Beverly Hills Cafe is back, just under a different name.

One of their first hires' daughters decided to buy the rights to all of the recipes to spoil South Florida with a lick of history. Her name is Hillary and she’s a 42-year-old GODDESS from Hialeah brought the Hill’s Cafe, a modern version of the OG brand back to life. With that being said - she also revived all their beloved dishes. To be clear, it’s a humble joint with Bentley’s, Rolls Royces, Benzes and Beemers parked in front. Open for lunch and dinner on random days (check their IG for updates) the venue loaded with so much love for kids and adults alike. Pair that coziness with some of the most tasty, fresh soups, salads that are preservative-free and homemade by Hillary herself and voila, we welcome to heaven.

Last week, Danielle and I shlepped to Hialeah and sampled the entire menu hence referring to the heaven within. Let’s start this piece off with their beloved rolls… those hot, steamy chunks of bread. Did you know that Hillary and her mother make them themselves by hand every single day? Well, the gluten set the tone for the entire lunch. Once the butter melted (that took around 15 seconds), the experience felt as though it saved our souls. Danielle flipped for the Chicken Tortilla Soup. Growing up, she was never a soup chick, but a chicken fingers gal with fries extra crispy. On this specific journey, she fell head-over-heels in love with the soup. And then came the vegetable teriyaki. The sauce is also made in-house using just six ingredients. That had us at hello. Then - together we proceeded to explore every single salad on the menu. For the win, the Santa Fe Salad stole my soul. The secret? Well, that’s in the sauce meaning the dressing. Danielle and I also went crazy for the Cobb. Lastly - that club sandwich. HOLY YAS! We ate a quarter piece each and it’s most certainly 10/10. As were the fries and homemade chips! And to wrap this up, with high risks of Cyclospora these days thanks to the government - we both concur that Hill’s Cafe’s salads were worth the risk.

On that note, don’t forget the colada. They even knocked our socks off with that.

XO-

Danielle & Erin

In case you haven’t noticed, matcha — that bright green powder made from ground-up, shade-grown Japanese tea leaves — is all over everything everywhere all the time right now.

Every time I open Instagram or TikTok, someone is whisking green powder with a little bamboo broom in slow motion, set to lo-fi music, making an aesthetic latte. It’s on cafe menus from the Grove to Sunny Isles, and lately it’s even turning up even in…. cocktails?

I understand where the trend comes from, the whole Gen Z wellness “clean girl” era, and I am neither Gen Z nor a wellness girly, so maybe this was never going to be my moment. But somehow matcha has taken over an entire city of coffee (or better yet, cafecito) drinkers and….I can’t, for the life of me, understand why?

Whenever I tell people I don’t love matcha, the very first response is ALWAYS the same version of:

“Oh, Olee, you just haven’t had it made the right way!”

“You just haven’t tried the [insert wild name here] blend.”

“How it’s prepared is so important.”

The thing is, I have had it in the country that invented it, and back here at some of the places South Florida considers the best of the best, all names you would recognize. I’ve ordered the ceremonial grade. I’ve ordered the super rare unique version with toasted sesame in it. I’ve also ordered the versions with the banana bread syrup and the honey cold foam and whatever else they’re stacking on top these days. I could go on…..

And obviously, the syrupy versions taste better — mostly because they do a good job of covering up the matcha. Because matcha, to me, tastes like the wheatgrass shots we were all pounding in the early 2010s. (Elder millennials know what I’m talking about.) We’d close out the bar at lord knows what time, roll into work at 9am, and throw back a little green shot of lawn clippings for wellness reasons and tell ourselves it erased all of our sins from the night before. (It did not.) It was silly then, and we knew it. To me, matcha is that same grassy, vegetal flavor, except now it comes with oat milk and a $12 price tag.

And to be clear, none of this is a knock on the places making it. The matcha I've been served around town is clearly the good stuff, well sourced, made by people who take it seriously. I can tell I'm drinking a quality version of the thing.

I just don't like the thing.

Then there’s the whole wellness pitch. The claims of the gentler caffeine, the “clean energy,” the l-theanine, something about glowing skin. Turns out the science isn’t exactly on their side here. Coffee Intelligence looked at the research last fall and found that matcha’s health claims remain unproven — while unsweetened coffee, the drink matcha was supposed to save us from — has stronger scientific backing for cardiovascular benefits. And once you’ve added the syrups and foams that make matcha drinkable, whatever health math you were doing is out the window anyway.

Give me the coffee flavor profile any day of the week. It’s a million times better, and as it happens, it’s better for me too. And this isn’t coffee snob talk, I’m not out here lecturing anyone about single origin anything. But I do know a good cup of coffee from a K-cup version, and either one beats the grass matcha.

So drink your matcha, if you desire. If a wheatgrass latte is what you need to get through your afternoon slump, then you do you, boo. All I’m asking is that the next time I say matcha isn’t for me, you skip the speech about the matcha types and ceremonial preparations.

I’ve had the ceremony. I’d still rather have the cortadito.

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COVID was…a special time. Normally sane people decided hazmat suits were perfectly acceptable attire for the grocery store. Grown men were doing TikTok dances. And for some reason, we all got really, really into sourdough. Now, most of us let our sourdough starters die like a neglected house plant. But for a select handful, sourdough starters changed their lives.

Such is the case with Garett Goodman, who rather than walk-shaming his neighbors decided to devote his lockdown life to sourdough. COVID brain also convinced Garett and his wife Gabby to buy a backyard pizza oven. You see where this is going? Next thing you know, they’re getting a cease and desist order from their Boca Raton HOA, because the lines of cars for their pizzas were upsetting the neighbors.

Realizing their pizza’s popularity might cost them their house, the Goodmans’ opened a little pizza shop in Boca Raton called “How Ya Dough’n,” a name I dare you to say without doing a terrible Goodfella’s impression. I happened upon their location in Coral Springs, desperately looking for something creative in a sea of generic four-story apartment complexes.

OOOH…sourdough pizza?? Next thing you’ll tell me I should drive to Coral Springs for matcha too. Why’s this place special?

Look, we wouldn’t usually call a place with four South Florida locations and a fifth in Las Vegas a “hidden gem.” But when you’re surrounded by a desert of generic suburban awfulness, this place feels like an oasis of taste. But it’s not just “good-for-a-place-in-a-hideous-mixed-use-apartment-complex” good. It could make a claim as the best pizza in Broward county not owned by a former Panthers’ goalie.

The scene: Is like a neighborhood pizza shop, if that neighborhood was built by a multi-national homebuilder. While the surrounding blocks are painfully blah, How Ya Dough’n feels neighborhood friendly, with a few bench tables surrounding a pizza counter and open kitchen. Locals sit enjoying small pizzas for lunch, while the Goodmans – or whoever is in charge that day – converse with them between taking orders. Everything inside teems with the familiar aroma of baking pizza, much like you find in gritty slice shops. Except the place is Broward County new construction clean.

What to eat and drink: Every meal must start with the dough bites, to get an idea of how good Goodman’s dough really is. They could be a meal on their own, so be careful to save room for pizza.

The pizza’s a brilliant mix of Neapolitan and Brooklyn styles that brings to mind Miami spots like Eleventh Street Pizza, or a more-approachable version of Lucali. How Ya Dough’n is also unique in that it matches its cheeses to its toppings, rather than just covering everything in mozzarella.

For example, The Savage comes with mozzarella, fontina, smooth flavors to complement pepperoni, garlic, and hot honey. The Sausage and Garlic is covered with pecorino and parmesan, whose tang is offset by heat from Calabrian chilis and spices from the sausage. For Portnoy-style purists, The OG with mozzarella, Havarti, crushed tomatoes, and basil shows How Ya Dough’n knows what its doing without any fancy toppings.

Perfect for: Casual lunch or dinner if you’re in North Broward or southern PBC.

Don’t miss: The Drunken Balls pizza. It’s like a pasta dish on a pizza, where meatballs, basil, and vodka sauce topped with ricotta.

Expect to pay: $20-$25 per person, depending how much you eat.

How’s the parking: One upside of being in a generic apartment complex is you’ll find abundant retail parking in the complex’s garage.

@howyadoughn // 3260 N. University Drive, Coral Springs

There are those who would say Miami Spice has kinda lost the plot. With the introduction of a $95 menu option, one could argue it’s lost the allure of its $39, three-course heyday. But look hard enough, and there are still deals to be had, and we crunched the numbers on dozens of Miami Spice menus to find the ones that save you the most money. Here’s our picks for the best deals during Miami Spice 2026, and what to order to make your dollar go furthest.

Maple & Ash Miami

Is it getting hot in here or is that just me? Miami Spice just got a whole lot sexier with acclaimed steakhouse Maple & Ash making its Miami Spice Debut. Yes, it’s a $95 Spice menu, which feels like it should be against our religion. But you can’t argue with a $30 discount.

What you’re ordering: dry-aged Meatballs, 8oz filet mignon, chocolate cake

What it normally costs: $125

What you’ll pay: $95

Total Savings: $30. The ambiance and hospitality alone is well worth the price.

@mapleandash_miami …

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Remember having to read The Great Gatsby for high school English class? Me neither. If you’re anything like me, the Great Gatsby looks like Leonardo DiCaprio, and that’s all you know. But if you placed Flight West - South Miami’s newest dining hotspot - into the film, you wouldn’t question a thing.

Its signature Art Deco glamour, amber-lit whiskey display and roaring-twenties elegance make it the type of place F. Scott Fitzgerald might have gone for a pre-dinner cocktail. The New York transplant is bringing its live-fire cooking concept to South Miami, putting out New World cuisine, a standout bar experience. It’s also one of Miami’s most ambitious whiskey programs, with over 350 bottles on hand and incorporation of whiskey as both an ingredient and flavor enhancement.

The Scene: The dining room blends Miami’s signature Art Deco design with modern sophistication. The dramatic bar catches your eye with its low-lit rounded shelves and red-marbled backdrop. Deep burgun…

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Straight from Israel to Boston, Bakey, known for the best babka, ever, has just opened its doors in Hallandale Beach. And yours truly headed to the border of Dade County. Entering Broward to report back - I found it was worth the buzz. Bakey is the creation of legendary master baker and cookbook author Uri Scheft, who has transformed the traditional Eastern European pastry into a modern day obsession. Perhaps I have an obsession because we both share a passion for India and Israel, but after winning over New England with five Boston locations, this kosher bakery and café has taken over the former Kosher Bagel Cove space, with Fort Lauderdale and Aventura outposts already in the works.

And while the chocolate babka is absolutely the star of the show (I keep hearing my bestie Kelly Gold’s yenta voice moaning about that babka, ‘ohhh my gawwwwd the bawbkaaaahh) - let it be known that the menu extends far beyond it. Everything is made in house throughout the day, livi…

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People who aren’t from Miami sometimes say, “That city’s like going to another country!” Hot take, Gomer, thank you. But if you want to really feel like you’ve been transported south of the border in every way possible, spend an afternoon at the Redland Market Village. I’ve been in Miami over 30 years and I’d never even heard of this place until I was hipped to it by chef Jeff Budd from Apocalypse BBQ (our 2025 Chef of the Year, NBD), who suggested we meet there for lunch so he could show me, as he said, “the best tacos you’ll ever have.”

I got there and immediately realized the place is so much more than tacos. The 22-acre village is a chaotic combination flea market/produce market/taco truck cavalcade, where the only thing you’ll find less of than AC is English. If you’ve been to markets in Tijuana or Monterrey or certain parts of Mexico City, it will bring you right back, from the comforting heat to the sizzling smells.

It’s not just a cultu…

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Hey, nice lunch there.

Wait, is that your lunch, or are you moving your son into the freshmen dorms? There’s a plastic box for your salad, a plastic box for the nuts that come on top of your salad. Did they really deconstruct your chicken sandwich so the chicken, the bun, and the lettuce each got a plastic box?

I mean, I’m no climate scientist. But I’m pretty sure your lunch just raised the earth’s temperature by at least three degrees.

What’s that? Oh, you’re re-CYCLING! Oh, well then, carry on. I’m sure your containers are going to a facility somewhere in Oregon where they’re turned into shoes for underprivileged orphans. And definitely NOT thrown in the same landfill as every couch in Little Havana.

No, you’re right. Technically the restaurant is who packed your lunch in three triceratops’ worth of petroleum. But they have enough problems with influencers demanding free chicken wings. No, I think like with drugs, prostitution, and every show on Bravo, t…

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My girlfriend Gingi Beltran has stellar taste. She’s an expert in luxury and real estate. While my other girlfriend Lauren Foster is a food snob like me. Let me just tell you that both Gingi and Lauren have not STFU about San Marco for a few weeks. They go multiple times per week, and Lauren swears “I could eat this chicken every day of my life and be happy.” Well - they were correct.

Last Friday, the three of us headed to San Marco which is located South of Fifth. No PR. No advertising. And it was SLAMMED.

Thank god we had a reservation - but if we didn’t, it would have been worth the wait. This perfectly-lit hidden gem that was founded by Mattia Cicognani is out of this world and warm in all the right ways. And every dish was divine. I do have to say, I generally prefer appetizers at restaurants to entrees. But here - it was the San Marco table side pasta that had me at hello. As did their chicken. I’ve never tasted a juicer piece - so good that my la…

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