My Favorite Miami Restaurants

Judge my taste...But I think these stand out.

Starting off with a list of my favorite restaurants in Miami and why, since this is definitely my most FAQ. The criterion is sit down restaurants that I find myself craving to go back to and actually going back to. Of course I haven’t been to every restaurant, this list will change, and I’m missing a ton of gems, but these have occupied a spot in my heart & belly for some time now.

In no particular order:

Le Bouchon du Grove: A longstanding French restaurant in Coconut Grove since 1994. A rare find these days in a neighborhood so rapidly changing and getting shmancy while at it. Le Bouchon has a cozy atmosphere with a hodgepodge of artwork & photographs that transport you directly to Lyon, France. Guests are greeted with a free glass of sparking wine (FREE? In Miami?) by a server who has likely worked here for years. To eat, the Chicken Fricassée is required ordering. It is like a warm hug and the best thing on the menu without a doubt. It’s hefty so easily shared amongst two. It’s different than what most French restaurants typically offer…Get your steak frites somewhere else. Chicken Fricassée is the only way!

Café La Trova – This is at the top of my hit list for anyone visiting Miami. No one does it like La Trova. I come for the daiquiris, live Cuban band and the team that makes everyone feel like family. But occasionally, quiero picar. And that’s when I order the Lechon Sliders (pro tip: ask for the gluten-free option and you’ll get it on tostones instead of focaccia. My fam’s preference!) and the Calamari. I know, calamari at a Cuban restaurant? Seems out of place but the calamari here is some of the best ever. Maybe because they’re marinated in mezcal? Not sure. Just trust.

Krüs Kitchen: While everyone fawns over its newer sister restaurant Los Felix, I am loyal to Krüs Kitchen. Chef Sebastian can do no wrong in his experimentation and I find myself craving their Smoked Coconut Rice when I want something simple but interesting. Their small plates are packed with flavor and their natural wine selection is noticeably thoughtfully selected (the owner’s background is in wine after all). Sometimes the night calls for sharing plates and a bottle of wine in a casual yet elevated setting – this is where I go for just that. And the owners lead with the biggest hearts, always a plus.

Mandolin: Mandolin is much better experienced than described. This Turkish/Greek restaurant took a 1940s home in what was a very quiet neighborhood and created something special – an ambiance arguably better than any other restaurant in the city. I’m immediately at ease when I sit, as if I’m on vacation. Ready to grub on dips and other mezze, plus Whole Sea Bass, Manti Dumplings, and Stuffed Tomato & Pepper. Just a few of my favorite dishes. Pour up that Greek wine on a Wednesday afternoon. I’m OOO as long as I’m sitting here.

Versailles: With all the Cuban food in Miami, I still gravitate towards the OG. Whether it’s the bakery for pastelitos, croquetas, tequeños (not Cuban, I know) and a colada - don’t sleep on their pastel de pollo, dios mío it’s good - or sitting down at the restaurant for a ropa vieja, vaca frita or my go-to, bistec empanizado, Versailles is my numero uno for Cuban cuisine.

Sunny’s: The steakhouse is high design with hand-painted walls and on every best restaurant list. But it was special even as a pop-up with picnic tables in an empty patio. The atmosphere is unexpected, impossibly cool and well worth the drive to Little River. Is it the majestic banyan tree as centerpiece? Fluffy Parker House Rolls? Award winning steaks? Cold martinis or my new personal favorite, Guava Cosmo? Maybe it’s Jessenia, the hostess who greets you with song and dance (girl’s got moves). Or the whole team that stuck around through the uncertainty of openings and closings as the restaurant shifted into what it is today. That loyalty in hospitality is a testament and it’s palpable.

Flanigan’s: I’m kind of at a loss for words on this one. It’s Flanigan’s, the one and only (with 25 locations). THE “if you know you know.” There are days when you just want sloppy chicken wings or baby back ribs. You want to roll up looking like a mess and enjoy a beer and Rib Rolls. You might feel like a$$ the next day from eating too much, but not once do you lie to yourself and say you won’t be back. You’ll always be back. Their daily deals are unbeatable yet I find myself paying full price for the dish I want. These days that’s their Chicken Pot Stickers (medium) with fries. I haven’t tried their Lemon Chicken Pasta, and someone recently told me their go-to is a Caesar Salad with Chicken Tenders. What other sports bar can do that? FLANIGAN’S ROCKS. And the #1 location is Coconut Grove. There’s no argument.

The Gibson Room: A true neighborhood gem along Coral Way. You won’t find a tourist here unless they’re visiting me. Gibson is our go-to any night of the week for a cocktail or two. The bartenders are superior and have become our friends, and can be yours too if you come as often as we do. The live music is mostly jazz and fantastic - though my mom was ecstatic the other day with their ‘80s DJ. I’m usually having pre or post dinner drinks at the bar but the food is incredible. The kitchen is helmed by Michael Beltran who is notoriously a perfectionist. It shows here.

LPM: I owe it to my friend Dana for introducing me to LPM. Or more specifically, their Tomatini. It’s a martini made with tomato and it’s the only savory martini I’ll drink. Sit at the bar and enjoy it with escargot (dip your bread in its sauce, mmm) or snag a table and enjoy a proper French feast. The restaurant is on the fancier side and, come to think of it, doesn’t have much ambiance but they get it right anyhow. I’m not huge on white tablecloth but I will go to LPM every week. They just get it right.

Los Ranchos: The Nicaraguan steakhouse re-opened in Coral Gables and we didn’t realize how much we missed it. To be blunt, this location has no vibe. It’s your classic textbook restaurant. BUT the steak is so good. And you get so much food. It might be the only thing you do that night so make sure your company is fun. Who doesn’t love a good sleep-inducing meal with their favorite people? For ~27 dollars, you can get: starter salad, baby churrasco, gallo pinto (or white rice & black beans if you prefer), platanos, and plaintain chips. Salads alone cost the same these days. Plus, the complimentary toasted & buttered mini bread has no business being that good. They bring out three sauces with it and I go straight for the onion red sauce to dip my plaintain chips in. The meal is complete with a tres leches for the table.

Ceviche 105: This is a recent addition for me and I’m referring to the one in Coral Gables specifically. The place in bumpin’. Music blasting, epic portraits of the owner all over the walls (please make sure to notice them), the place is a spectacle. It’s in The Plaza which is a new development so it’s huge and sparkly. I tend to prefer cozier restaurants but sometimes you want a vibe. Ceviche 105 is a fun dinner before a night out. The dishes are made quick and flavorful. The menu is ginormous. Our table shares a Tiradito, Causa (with tuna), Ceviche, Lomo Saltado, and Arroz Chaufa. Salivating while I type.

Let me know your thoughts on this list and if there are any you’d fight me to get on (or off) here.