The Top Restaurants in South Beach and Miami Area -- 2012 Update

Joe's Stone Crab ^{Edinformatics Select}    11 Washington Avenue / South Beach / 305-673-0365
(Zagat rating of 27)Stone crab season runs from October through May and this classic Miami Beach dining room serves the best crabs in town ---don't forget the lyonnaise potatoes, steamy clam chowder and key lime pie that has made Joe's Stone Crab famous. See Restaurant and take-out menus -- see yelp reviews -- This old restaurant remains amount the Best Restaurants in South Beach.

Casa Tua     1700 James Avenue / South Beach / 305-673-1010
(Zagat 25 rating) Restaurant is located in a romantic 1925-era palazzo in the heart of South Beach . This Italian restaurant also has a garden terrace area. See Menu -- see yelp reviews

Hakassan at the Fontainebleau
"This award-winning restaurant has made its US debut at Fontainebleau Miami Beach and offers diners authentic Cantonese fare complimented by a diverse menu of New World wines and sake. The restaurant, located on the fourth floor rooftop, is a seductive enclave of rich textures and hues". There is a long colorful bar where you can sample dishes. ..read more.... Dim Sum is also offered on Saturday and Sunday Lunch. . Dining Menu --see yelp reviews

Toni's Sushi Bar^{Edinformatics Select} 1208 Washington Avenue, South Beach -tel. 305-673-9368
(Zagat Rating 25) You can always find excellent fresh sushi at this place that is popular with the locals. It has been on South Beach for many years and remains one of the best places to get sushi on South Beach for fair prices. Daily special fish is always listed over the sushi bar. Don't expect the usual South Beach scene here. See Toni's Menu --see yelp reviews

Scarpetta at the Fontainebleau Hotel-- For reservations, call 877 326 7412.
(Zagat 25 rating) Scott Conant, former chef from L’Impero and Alto, is in charge of Scarpetta, Fontainebleau Miami Beach’s Italian restaurant. Scarpetta also has a branch in New York City. The restaurant has really nice ocean and poolside views, as well as casual dining areas and a cocktail lounge. --Dinner and Brunch Menus --- see yelp reviews

OLA ^{Edinformatics Select} Santuary Hotel  1745 James Avenue / South Beach / 305-695-9125
(Zagat rating of 27) Internationally acclaimed Latin Chef, Douglas Rodriguez, has brought the vibrant Latin American flavors to OLA Restaurant in Miami Beach. Chef Rodriguez is a master of ceviche using the freshest of ingredients...see menu below for sample ceviches. The restaurant has lots of energy, excellent lighting and a view of the kitchen. Located in the Santuary Hotel with an outdoor terrace is also available for dining. Chef Douglas Rodriguez was named by Newsweek Magazine as" one of the 100 Americans that will influence the coming millennium" and was named by Zagat as "The Most Important Latin Chef". We consider OLA to be on top of our list as one of the best restaurants in South Beach. See Menu --see yelp reviews

Osteria del Teatro    1443 Washington Avenue / South Beach / 305-538-7850
(Zagat rating of 26) This is a classic 20-year old Miami Beach Restaurant serving Italian cuisine. While the menu is a comprehensive collection of traditional pastas, seafood and meats. The daily specials are posted on the blackboard outside. Excellent daily pasta specials... very oversized so think about splitting. -- Menu -- see yelp reviews

Prime 112    112 Ocean Drive / South Beach / 305-532-8112
(Zagat rating of 26)This south beach restaurant is part of the group of restaurants owned by Myles Chefetz in including, Prime 112, Prime Italian, and Nemo. Prime 112 is a hot-spot that feeds both a local and international following with huge steaks, lobsters and truffled macaroni and cheese served in a noisy crowded dining room. While the steaks are considered among the best in Florida expect: to pay high prices even though 'tables are pack on top of one another'. The same steaks can be had across the street in their sister restaurant Prime Italian which has a more subdued atmosphere. -- Menu --see yelp reviews

Sardinia Ristorante   ^{Edinformatics Select}   1801 Purdy Avenue / South Beach / 305-531-2228
(Zagat 23) Regional Italian cuisine is a fairly new concept in south beach. You will find many Sardinian specialties cooked in an open wood-burning oven—roast suckling pig flavored with rosemary and the Sardinia's myrtle berry liqueur; homemade pasta dishes; salt crust-baked branzino (Mediterranean sea bass); numerous luscious vegetable antipasti (cippolline al forno, brussel sprouts with guanciale, among others). Next door same owners run Cassola's Pizza. -- Menu -- see yelp reviews

Spiga    1228 Collins Ave. /South Beach/ 305-534-0079
(Zagat rating of 26) Romantic front porch and side walkway area. Homemade pastas are excellent --green veal ravioli, sateed with porcini mushrooms.... -- Menu -- see yelp reviews

Aventura Mall and North Miami

Bourbon Steak -- Michael Mina -- 19999 West Country Club Drive, Aventura -- 786-279-6600
(Zagat rating 25) Michael Mina Group San Francisco is located right behind the Aventura Mall and only serves dinner. -- see Menu -- see yelp reviews

Chef Allen 19088 Northeast 29th Avenue Aventura, FL 33180 (305) 935-2900
(Zagat 26 rating) Chef Allen Susser was the winner of the esteemed James Beard Award for Best American Chef in the Southeast -- the Academy Award of cuisine -- and practically every other form of praise and honor awarded by the most discriminating palates. Chef Allen was one of the original creative Miami chefs and continues to do wonders. See menu -- see yelp reviews

Hiro's Yakko-San 17044 W Dixie Hwy North Miami Beach, FL 33160 (305) 947-0064
(zagat 26) -- This is the Japanese Restaurant where you will see the chefs eating at night. It's open late and prices are fair. Considered by many to be the best authentic Japanese Restaurant in the Miami area. The restaurant does not take reservations and you can expect a wait. We are expecting the move soon to a larger location at: Inter costal Mall. 3881 NE 163 rd street, North Miami Beach.
See Menu -- yelp reviews.

Design Area and Midtown

If you are interested in good cooking while in Miami and tasting the star chefs of Miami, then several trips to the Design Area are a must. This is where Miami's hot chefs Michelle Bernstein (Sr. Martinez), Michael Schwartz (Michaels Genuine Food and Drink), Jonathan Eismann.(Pacific Time) and Chef Kris Wessel of Red Light do their cooking.

Michael's Genuine Food and Drink   130 NE 40th Street / Miami / 305-573-5550
(Zagat Rating of 26) Michael Schwartz deserves the credit for transforming the Design Area into a restaurant destination. Michael uses locally sourced entrees. See Menu -- see yelp reviews

Michy's  ^{Edinformatics Select}   6927 Biscayne Boulevard / Miami / 305-759-2001
(Zagat rating of 27)James Beard Award Winning Chef Michelle Bernstein owns and operates this restaurant with her husband David Martinez managing the dining room is located in an area that used to be Miami's seedy red-light district. The restaurant features Michelle Bernstein's small plate presentations including crisp baby quail, grilled sweetbreads, truffled parmesan polenta . Portions are served in half of full orders Perhaps the top restaurant currently in Miami that reflects cooking from the region.. see Menu -- see yelp reviews

Pacific Time CLOSED - 35 NE 40th Street / Midtown Miami / 305-722-7369
(Zagat rating of 24) Jonathan Eismann's was a pioneer on Lincoln road but left after 14 years and moved to the Design District. Located across the street from Michaels. Chef Eismann's Asian-inspired flair still is found on the menu. See Lunch and Dinner Menus -- see yelp reviews -- Check back for his new restaurants ...Q American BBQ

Red Light   7700 Biscayne Blvd. (77th street) Motel Blu-- 305-757-7773
(Zagat rating of 26) Chef Kris Wessel --local seasonal cuisine with a touch of New Orleans style -- recommended is the excellent barbecue shrimp. Menus -- open for lunch -- see yelp reviews

Sra. Martinez ^{Edinformatics Select} 40th Street / MidTown Miami /
(Zagat rating of 24) Michelle Bernstein shines off her creative talents here designing small plates and tapas dishes in what was once an old post office. Check out the prix-fixe lunch, which includes cod with pomegranate and capers sauce over an elegant cauliflower puree...This restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Miami... Menus- Lunch-Dinner -- see yelp reviews

Mandolin Aegean Bistro NEW (305) 576-6066 Design District 4312 NE 2nd Ave Miami, FL 33137
Mandolin Aegean Bistro dedicates themselves to staying true to the same food philosophy by recreating dishes that are simple, rustic and authentic to the villages of Greece and Turkey. They use seasonal ingredients, local purveyors and growers and freshly caught fish. The menu covers a great selection of vegetarian options and all their food is made with the highest quality extra virgin Greek olive oil. see yelp -- Menu

Pizza Volante 3918 N Miami Ave Miami, (305) 573-5325.
Chef Jonathan Eismann from Pacific Time runs this pizza restaurant in the Design District. Pizza is cooked here in a wood burning oven. The restaurant also serves daily specials. They have the best wine prices in in town --by the bottle for $18, and $4 per glass. You will find many interesting creative pizza and calzones here. The pizzeria also sells buffalo mozzarella and burrata from Italy. The restaurant is small but there are several long rows community tables. Menu -- see yelp reviews

Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill -- NEW^{Edinformatics Select}   --3250 NE 1st Ave Miami, FL 33127 (786) 369-0353
This is a spinoff from the creators of Sushi Samba but food is quite good. Contains a long indoor/outdoor bar. Serves small tapas style plates. Food comes from either a raw bar, the robata or the hot kitchen. Chef is Timon Balloo who worked with Michelle Berstein and Alan Susser and has cooked at the James Beard House twice. Innovative dishes: Lamb sweetbreads with pumpkin puree and a sauce reduction; lobster bisque his way and wonderful bone marrow that has a veal cheek marmalade on top. We find this one of the best restaurants in the new midtown area. . home page -- see yelp reviews.

Downtown

Zuma Contemporary Japanese Cuisine NEW-^{Edinformatics Select}- 270 Biscayne Boulevard Way (in Epic Hotel Lobby) Miami, FL 33131 (305) 577-0277 see yelp --menu -Zuma has superb Black Cod --- Crab dumplings, grilled eggplant -- We rate this as one of the Top Restaurants in Miami.-

db Bistro Moderne NEW--JW Marriott Marquis Miami , 255 Biscayne Boulevard Way Miami, FL 33131 (305) 421-8800 Executive chef IS Jarrod Verbiak, The menu is French bistro with modern American influences. Dining available at bar - small plates. Signature fresh baked madelines served at the end of the meal.--- Menu --yelp reviews

CVI.CHE 105 NEW 105 N.E. 3rd Ave. Miami, FL 33132 305.577.3454 -- Many reviewer rate this as the best ceviche restaurant in Miami area. The menu offers dishes prepared by Chef Juan Chipoco, who adds knowledge and experience to every dish he creates. Throughout his culinary journey, he learned to infuse his dishes with a defined style that reflects his passion for peruvian food in which he manages to stamp an incomparable seal of peruvian pride on all his creations. see menu -- see yelp reviews