Barton G. - The Restaurant

1427 West Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-672-8881

Description: SOUTH BEACH. Former figure skater and production designer Barton G. Weiss has distinguished himself for years as a Miami event planner. Now his penchant for spectacle makes its way to the culinary world. Within the sleek dining room, showmanship joins flavor and innovation, resulting in a menu of reinvented American favorites that relies as much on appearance as on taste. Popcorn shrimp is served in a popcorn box on a bed of popcorn, and sea bass is steamed in a paper bag and then unveiled at the table. Lamb chops, a NY strip, glazed duck, fried chicken and a trio of seafood pot pies also figure into the broad menu. Plus, intriguing desserts are as dramatically plated as any you'll find.
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Big Fish

55 SW Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33130 305-373-1770

Description: DOWNTOWN. Big Fish is located in the dockside warehouses, and you never know who you might run into here, as the diverse clientele ranges from buttoned-down professional types to the older weathered characters who can spin a great yarn about their days at sea. The menu is limited, focusing on ­ you guessed it ­ fantastic fresh fish. The owner is friendly and accommodating and will make sure you walk away happy. The decor is full of personality, with a tin roof and tables of different sizes, shapes and styles. Most of the seating is on the sprawling outdoor deck, making this an ideal spot for a unique lunch on a sunny day. Casual to business casual attire.
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Blue Sea

1685 Collins Ave, Delano Hotel, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-674-6400

Description: SOUTH BEACH. This seafood restaurant is found inside the hip, stylish Delano Hotel. A sibling to the hotel's Blue Door restaurant, which attracts upscale scene-makers, Blue Sea caters to a more low-key clientele, who don't want to spend a fortune on dinner. However, the cuisine is still incredibly fresh and modern, with a focus on creative seafood. Try dishes like barbecued eel, stone crabs with coconut, or sushi rolls stuffed with unique ingredients like almonds and olives. The family-style seating at this restaurant makes it a fun place to meet locals and fellow travelers.
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Bond St. Lounge

150 20th St, Townhouse Hotel, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-398-1806

Description: SOUTH BEACH. Tucked inside the basement of the "shabby chic" Townhouse Hotel, this slick, trendy restaurant has a relaxed, lounge-like vibe. Perfect cocktails and wonderful sushi are the top attractions. The menu features exotic Asian-fusion dishes such as lobster roll with yellow tomato and yuzu pepper dressing, live Maine lobster sashimi, and sun-dried tomato and avocado roll with garlic ponzu oil and green tea salt. Everything is painstakingly prepared and beautifully presented. A good wine list is available, but check out the interesting sake selection. Reservations recommended.
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Chef Allen's

19088 NE 29th Ave, Aventura, FL 33180 305-935-2900

Description: AVENTURA. This local hotspot has a reputation for serving some of South Florida's finest meals, thanks to Chef Allen Susser's creativity. The seasonal menu borrows from the classic American repertoire and adds exotic Caribbean flair. Seafood is a specialty, as seen in pan-roasted diver scallops with couscous and saffron tomato broth, pistachio-crusted black grouper, and Meyer lemon-roasted Florida shrimp. Colorful decor and solicitous service also contribute to an out-of-this-world dining experience.
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China Grill

404 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139-6600 305-534-2211

Description: SOUTH BEACH. This bustling Asian-fusion favorite is known for its satisfying, family-style portions of fantastic seafood and other Asian favorites. Celebrities, millionaires, and other jet setters often make a night of it here. The vivid decor features transcripts of Marco Polo's diaries on the floor, but there is usually too much people-watching going on to notice. Tantalizing menu options include seared rare tuna with spicy Japanese peppers or delicate rolled lobster pancakes. The side dishes are as excellent as the main dishes, especially the wasabi mashed potatoes. (Insider tip: Oprah recommends the crispy spinach.) Finish your evening with a bang by ordering the dessert sampler, which features a small portion of every dessert on the menu, from crème brûlée to flourless chocolate cake, served complete with a festive sparkler. Reservations required.
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Fish Joynt

2570 NE Miami Gardens Dr, North Miami, FL 33180 305-936-8333

Description: NORTH MIAMI BEACH. This fabulous seafood house, located between North Miami and Aventura, specializes in homestyle cooking that features fresh-from-the-ocean sea bass, crabs, lobster, and shrimp, all coupled with fresh seasonal vegetable sides. You'll feel as though you're dining in somebody's home, especially since the atmosphere is casual and friendly and the superb waitstaff takes time to make sure that each person enjoys the food. Expect long lines on weekends.
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Garcia's Seafood Grille & Fish

398 NW North River Dr, Miami, FL 33128 305-375-0765

Description: DOWNTOWN. Offering simple Florida cooking at its best, Garcia's serves the area's freshest seafood at incredible prices. A location on the Miami River grants picturesque dining, complete with picnic tables and umbrellas, and the super-casual ambience is much prized by regulars. They also swear by the dolphin sandwich, hushpuppies and crab cakes. Some items sell out quickly, but the staff can steer you to other satisfying options, and daily specials are always reliable. And don't forget to sample the seafood dip!
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Grillfish

1444 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-538-9908

Description: SOUTH BEACH. Experience seafood at its best at this wonderful, classy restaurant that's a favorite of locals. Large windows expand the intimate space, and plenty of candles add romantic atmosphere in the subdued dining room. The seafood is grilled in an open kitchen, constantly tempting you with fabulous aromas. Grilled Fish is always crowded, so be prepared to hang out at the bar while you wait. The excellent food, cooked to your specifications, is definitely worth the wait.
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Joe's Stone Crab

11 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-673-0365

Description: SOUTH BEACH. This legendary restaurant, open since 1913, has become a Miami institution. They say you haven't visited South Florida until you have been to Joe's. Stick out the typical two-hour wait and you'll be amply rewarded with some of the best stone crab known to man, great side dishes like hash browns and creamed spinach, and the phenomenal, ultimate Key Lime Pie. If you don't like crabs, follow the lead of Bill Clinton and try the fried chicken. Joe's is open full hours during stone crab season, from October through May, and opens for 2-3 months during the summer with a limited menu in the bar area.
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Nemo

100 Collins Ave, Mercury Resort, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-532-4550

Description: SOUTH BEACH. This high-style, trend-setting eatery offers a fabulous setting for Miami's beautiful people, and for local movers and shakers to seal deals. Ornate wrought-iron furnishings, flattering light and modern hanging lamps add a funky touch to the interior, while the tree-lined courtyard provides more serene atmosphere. Pan-Asian seafood concoctions include wok-charred salmon with roasted pumpkin seeds and crispy prawns with salsa. Pastry chef Hedy Goldsmith has been called a "chocolate surgeon," and her intricate creations prove she deserves the moniker. Excellent global wine list. Reservations recommended.
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Pilar Restaurant

20475 Biscayne Blvd, Aventura, FL 33180 305-937-2777

Description: AVENTURA. Local chef Scott Fredel has opted for a relaxed atmosphere at stylish, upscale Pilar. Hardwood floors, comfortable seating and original art give the restaurant a modern bistro feel that completely belies its strip-mall location. Floribbean seafood is the specialty, prepared with a deft hand and perky island flavors. Try seared mahi mahi, sautéed yellowtail snapper or fried conch with hearts of palm slaw, and wrap things up with moist chocolate chip banana cake. Affordable wines are a great boon, as is early-bird dining from 5pm to 6pm.
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Provence Grill

1001 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33130 305-373-1940

Description: DOWNTOWN. This understated, romantic country bistro combines French and Italian cuisines with sublime results. Set away from the hustle of the city, the French-style former home is shielded by a grove of oaks, lending a woodsy, rustic feel. The menu offers a broad range of items, but seafood is the top choice for most patrons. Enjoy homemade pâté, sautéed scallops St. Jacques in creamy champagne sauce, or the always-excellent steak frites. The wine list includes superb French and international varietals. Reservations recommended.
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Quinn's

640 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-673-6400

Description: SOUTH BEACH. Cuban-inspired décor accents this striking dining room, adjoined by an outdoor terrace. A tasty ceviche made with shrimp, snapper and calamari and chilled oysters on the half shell lures diners to the raw bar, and the kitchen cooks up terrific steaks and seafood. The spiced Caribbean snapper with grilled plantains, chayote and black bean corn salsa comes highly recommended. Roasted Florida lobster tail, jumbo stone crab claws, char-grilled filet mignon and New Zealand lamb chops are the among other delicacies available. Live music nightly.
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Sushi Rock Cafe

1351 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-532-2133

Description: SOUTH BEACH. Rock 'n' roll themed decor and a desirable sushi selection attract the young and hip to this dynamic joint.
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Talula

210 23rd St, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-672-0778

Description: SOUTH BEACH. Dark woods, brick walls, the glint of mirrors and rich, warm colors soothe diners at well-received Talula. The brainchild of Andrea Curto-Randazzo and Frank Randazzo, married chefs who have gained much recognition individually and together, the restaurant benefits from perfect ingredients and careful attention to detail. This quality is seen in grilled foie gras with caramelized mission figs, black grouper with preserved lemons and thyme, barbecued spiced duck breast, and yellowtail snapper with sweet potato-wild mushroom risotto. Desserts also benefit from the chefs' culinary expertise, and a lovely garden patio is sublime when the weather's mild.
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The Forge

432 41st St, Miami Beach, FL 33140 305-538-8533

Description: MIAMI BEACH. For American cuisine with a creative twist, try the elegant Forge. Chock-full of eye-catching antiques and vivid stained glass, it's a visual treat. The extensive menu draws you in, offering tantalizing herb-infused escargot, tropical sea bass with avocado salsa and prime rib grilled over aromatic Tuscan oakwood. Beef is a favorite, and the 16-ounce aged "Super Steak" has been named the nation's number one steak by "Wine Spectator." Speaking of wines, the cellar houses an enormous collection ­ more than 300,000 bottles of various vintages. Finish your meal with a gravity-defying Belgian chocolate soufflé. Reservations required. Jacket and tie suggested.
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The Oceanaire Seafood Room

900 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33130 305-372-8862

Description: DOWNTOWN. Classy, 1930s style decor ushers you back to the Band Era at this popular seafood restaurant, flanked with red leather booths, curving architectural details, and globe lamps. The menu is packed with all manner of treats ­ salmon, haddock, sea bass, rockfish, oysters, tuna, and more. Knowledgeable servers can advise you about the day's specials, which can be grilled, broiled, or Cajun-spiced.
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The Palm

9650 E Bay Harbor Dr, Bay Harbor Island, FL 33154 305-868-7256

Description: BAY HARBOR ISLANDS. Everything is BIG here, so make sure you show up with a hearty appetite. This New York-style chophouse has fashioned itself after the famous steakhouse in Manhattan. The fun, nostalgic decor includes clubby dark woods, comfortable booths and caricatures adorning the walls. Steak is the focus here, but the jumbo-sized Maine lobster tail is also one of the more popular menu options. They don't boast of being fancy, everything is plain and simple. But rest assured ­ the reputation has created legions of loyal followers who care more about savoring strip steak than spotting supermodels.
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Toni's Sushi Bar

1208 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-673-9368

Description: SOUTH BEACH. The elder statesman of SoBe sushi joints, Toni's has managed to stay hip, young, and trendy despite myriad competitors that have sprung up over the years. Indeed, locals and knowing tourists applaud the laid-back atmosphere and quintessential neon lighting they find here ­ of course, the splendid rolls probably win their share of loyal customers as well. From salmon carpaccio, California rolls, and Miami Heat rolls (tuna with scallions and sesame oil) to seaweed salad, sashimi, and Beach rolls (baked eel, salmon, avocado, and spicy mayo), everything is top-notch. On weekends, Toni's tends to be at its busiest, so expect to wait a bit for a table if you don't arrive early.
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