Cinco de Mayo is this weekend! Looking for a festive drink for the occasion? Try the Casa Picante from Kiki on the River {450 NW North River Drive, Miami; 786.502.3243}. We’ve got the recipe, below!
Here’s how it’s made:
Mix 1 1/2 ounces Don Julio Blanco, 1/2 ounce Pamplemousse liqueur, 1/2 ounce mango habañero hot sauce, 1 ounce lime juice, and 1/2 ounce guava purée in a shaker. Shake and strain into a rocks glass with crushed ice. Garnish with 4 cilantro sprigs and a dehydrated lime wheel.
Miami will be pouring a lot of tequila this Sunday, May 5
Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina
Don’t know where to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this weekend? We’ve got you covered.
Enjoy a Big Fiesta at Diez y Seis
This Cinco de Mayo, head to Diez y Seis {1901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.455.3872} for “The Big Fiesta,” a joint Cinco de Mayo and One-Year Anniversary party! During this festive afternoon, expect $3 Tacos, Cheese Quesadillas, and Red Velvet Churros; $4 housemade Guacamole; $5 Pilsners; and $10 Margaritas and Frozitas. DJ-extraordinaire Damaged Goods will be on the turntables for most of the afternoon, and just for the occasion, a live mariachi band will put on a good show. Olé! This event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Have a very happy day at M House
The Khaleesi (Photo credit: Patrick Dolande Photography)
M House {2524 Le Jeune Road, Coral Gables; 786.369.5155} might be a chic, coastal European restaurant—but on Cinco de Mayo, it’s heading southwest. In honor of the special day, go there for an all-day happy hour that starts with brunch and runs until close. While you’re there, get some of the spot’s most popular cocktails at half the menu price, like the tequila-infused The Khaleesi: a mix Patron Silver, Solerno blood orange, and fresh lime juice. This happy hour will run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Get quite the garden party at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach
This year, celebrate Cinco de Mayo at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach {40 Island Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.245.0880}. At its “Fiesta en el Jardin” party, you can wander the gardens while feasting on self-serve stations with guacamole, nachos, and steak, chicken, and veggie tacos. To really get in the fiesta spirit, Casamigos Tequila will be on hand whipping up festive, Mexico-inspired cocktails: like the Garden Agua Fresca with Casamigos Silver, hibiscus tea, orange, and Peychaud’s Bitters; the El Diablo with jalapeño-infused Casamigos Silver, cucumber, aloe, lime, and sugarcane syrup; and Tan Lines, which mixes Casamigos Reposado with pineapple, cilantro, and Limeade. This event will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.All-inclusive tickets are priced at $50 per person and can be purchased here.
Make it a Taco Sunday at The Taco Stand
Photo credit: Bien Media
Who says you can only have tacos on Tuesday? This Cinco de Mayo, head toThe Taco Stand {313 NW 25 Street, Wynwood; 786.580.4948} and get your Taco Tuesday specials on a Sunday… all day long. Think: $2.50 Grilled Chicken, Al Pastor, and Veggie Nopal tacos, $3 cervezas, and more. To really make it a party, go between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and catch a live mariachi band.
Go brunching in Mexico at CORSAIR kitchen & bar
When Cinco de Mayo is on a Sunday, celebrate with weekend brunch! AtCORSAIR kitchen & bar {19999 West Country Club Drive, Aventura; 786.279.6800}, enjoy a Mexican-inspired brunch both Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5. Rumor has it there will even be a “Michelada bar.” Brunch will run from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is priced at $52 per person, plus an additional $8 per person for the bottomless Michelada bar.
Play all day long at Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina
The Cuban Frita
Enjoy a Cinco de Mayo fiesta with tequila, food, a photo booth with props, a foosball table, and music all day long atPizza & Burger by Michael Mina {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.4636}. Order food from the a la carte menu, and enjoy specially-priced Passion Fruit, Mango, Strawberry, and Spicy JalapenoMargaritas for just $10 each. For those who really want to party, shots of Revolucion Silver will be available for $5 apiece. This event will run from Noon to late.
Fresh Live Lobster with Ginger & Spring Onion from MR CHOW
serves one
Ingredients
1 3/4 – 2 lbs fresh live lobster 1/4 oz ginger (about 1 inch sliced) 8 – 10 scallion stalk stems) 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp sugar 1 tsp cornstarch 1/2 c chicken stock 2 Tbsp Chinese wine 2 Tbsp vegetable oil Corn flour, for coating
Method
Cut the lobster tail into 6 or 8 pieces and open up the claws. Save the head and tail of the lobster for garnish. Coat with corn flour and set aside.
Heat the vegetable oil in a cooking wok at 400℉. Deep fry lobster tail until it is 70% cooked through. Drain excess oil. Heat the wok again with vegetable oil. Add ginger and scallions. Stir fry for one minute, adding the chicken stock, Chinese wine, salt, and sugar. Add the lobster and cover for one minute. Add in cornstarch and scallions.
To serve: Place the lobster on a plate with the head in front, the tail at the end, the claws on each side, and the lobster meat in the middle.
Check out the latest dining news and events, all happening in Miami this week
The Tiki Bar at Café Roval
Here is this week’s Miami food news:
Tuesday, April 30: Tapas Tuesday at Boulud Sud Every Tuesday, head to Boulud Sud {255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown Miami; 305.421.8800} for Tapas Tuesday! From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., items from the Spain-inspired tapas menu—like Serrano Ham with pan con tomate, Lamb Meatballs with harissa and feta, and Falafel with pita and yogurt—are just $5 each. The same goes for rosé, which you can get three ways: sparkling, frozen, or Provençal.
Thursday, May 2: Poké & Beer at the Tiki Bar For one night only, head to the Tiki Bar at Café Roval {5808 NE 4 Court, Miami, Morningside; 786.953.7850} and get a special pairing of poké and beer! Grab a half-priced, local draft beer or one of the Tiki Bar’s special slushies, and choose from four a la carte poké bowls: Shoyu Poké Bowl, Spicy Tuna Poké Bowl, Salmon Poké Bowl, or the Salmon & Tuna Poké Bowl. Quantities are limited, so sign up to reserve your bowl here!
Saturday, May 4: Dim Sum Lunch at Hakkasan Every Saturday, between Noon and 3 p.m., go to Hakkasan {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.276.1388} and indulge in an extravagant dim sum feast. Priced at just $45 per guest (based on at least two guests per table), choose from either the three-course regular or vegetable dim sum lunch, and get a variety of dim sum, a main plate (like the BBQ Platter with smoked ribs and char siu, or the Taro Root Vegetable Fried Rice!), and dessert. Make it even more extravagant by adding a wine pairing; flights start at $25 per trio of wines.
Sunday, May 5: Sunday Brunch at Seaspice There’s no better place to have brunch than Seaspice {422 Northwest River Drive, Miami; 305.440.4200}. Whether you drive or arrive by yacht, you’ll end up in a glamorous dining destination with jaw-dropping water views, sexy diners, and a tasty brunch menu you can’t resist. Brunch runs from Noon to 3 p.m., and serves up a la carte dishes like the Power Waffle, Shrimp Avocado Toast, Seaspice Lobster Benedict, Short Rib Benedict, Wagyu Burger, and more. No brunch is complete without drinks, so do as the locals do and get bottomless Whispering Angel Rosé for just $35 per person.
Because work should never get in the way of a good meal
Imagine: It’s Monday. You’re at the office. It’s almost lunchtime, and you don’t know where to go.
You ask yourself, “Where can I get a good, satisfying lunch in Miami that won’t break the bank?”
Lucky for you, we have the answer! Read below for our top five weekday lunch deals in the Magic City.
Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante
Get a taste of the Mediterranean islands when you head to the charmingSardinia Enoteca Ristorante {1801 Purdy Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.531.2228}, in Miami Beach’s Sunset Harbour neighborhood. From Monday to Friday, you can enjoy the restaurant’s top-notch food at a reduced price when you go for lunch. Running from Noon to 4 p.m., just $24 gets you a three-course menu with some of the restaurant’s most popular dishes.
Novikov Miami
The brainchild of Russian restaurateur, Arkadiy Novikov, Novikov Miami {300 South Biscayne Boulevard, Downtown Miami; 305.489.1000} is aswanky Chinese-Japanese eatery that sits right on the water in Downtown Miami. Every weekday, from Noon to 3 p.m., it offers a prix-fixe, two-course meal for lunch! For just $23 per person, go there and choose from top menu options like Sweet Corn Dumplings, Salmon Avocado Roll, and Mango Cashew Chicken, as well as speciality pricing on dessert and cocktails.
Fi’lia South Beach If you’re on the beach for lunch, there’s no better bang for your buck than Fi’lia South Beach {1610 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.605.0819}. Choose from a two- or three-course, prix-fixe menu (priced at $19 and $23, respectively) and indulge in dishes like: Polpettine al Sugo with beef meatballs and pomodoro, Tuna Tartare, Orecchiette Salsiccia & Broccolini with a sausage ragu, Linguini Frutti di Mare, Polenta & Short Ribs, and more. If you chose the three-course option, you can round it out with dessert, like Fi’lia’s Tiramisu or Espresso Chocolate Mousse.
The Rusty Pelican
As every Miamian already knows,The Rusty Pelican {3201 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne; 305.361.3818} has a view like no other—and good food to match. And now, with its set lunch menu, the restaurant has another reason for you to make it your go-to spot. For just $35, enjoy a three-course, prix-fixe menu with options like Rusty Pelican’s Chicken Salad Wrap, Calamari, and Rum Tres Leches. As for those views? Well, those are complimentary.
Cibo Wine Bar Coral Gables
When you’re looking for a quality, relaxed Italian lunch in mainland Miami, head to Coral Gables and try Cibo Wine Bar {45 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; 305.442.4925}. Starting at 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, you can go and get its “Lunch in Fretta” deal, which offers a salad, either a pasta dish or a pizza, and a dessert of the chef’s choosing for $19. To start, pick either the Insalata Cesare or Organic Mixed Greens salad. The pasta menu has select plates like Penne Arrabiata with hot chilies and garlic, Rigatoni with a traditional Bolognese meat sauce and Parmigiano-Reggiano, Spaghetti Carbonara, and more. If you’re craving a pizza, Cibo’s stone-baked pies with homemade dough and sauces, like the Margherita or Quattro Stagioni pizzas (to name just a couple), won’t disappoint.
Three things you should remember: Arkadia Pool, StripSteak, and Havana Club Rum
Since it was first unveiled in 1954, the Fontainebleau Miami Beach {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 800.548,8886} has been a symbol of Golden Era glamour and modern luxury in Magic City Miami. The perfect fusion of striking design, contemporary art, music, fashion, and history, this see-and-be-seen hotel is the ultimate place to drink, dine, dance, relax, and seep into the luxurious lifestyle that has become synonymous with life on Miami Beach. For many, its dramatic oceanfront pool-scape—dotted with lush cabanas, Miami hotties, and A-list sunbathers—is reason enough to spend a day or night at this over-the-top destination. But next week, on Wednesday, May 1, you have a new reason to stop by: Moon Over Havana, a tropical evening soirée around the hotel’s trendy Arkadia Pool, powered by none other than Havana Club Rumand StripSteak by Michael Mina.
Gio Gutierrez, Bacardi Brand Ambassador
Designed to transport you straight to moonlit nights in Cuba’s vibrant capital, this experience is sure to turn your standard Wednesday evening into a fun, immersive escape like only Miami can. Starting at 7:30 p.m., the soirée will be guided by none other than spirited storyteller, Bacardi brand ambassador, and Miami’s favorite rum guru, Gio Gutierrez, who will whip up unique craft cocktails made with Havana Club Rum. Of course, great cocktails pair well with great food, and lucky for guests, Executive Chef William Crandall (of StripSteak by Michael Mina) has just the thing. While you dance to live Latin music and smoke legendary Montecristo cigars, you can indulge in Cuban-inspired bites like Chicken & Foie Gras Croquetas, Shrimp Ceviche, Wagyu Ropa Vieja, and Maine Lobster Cuban Sandwiches.
Intrigued? We thought you might be. Pack your clutch, grab your $60 ticket, and we’ll see you in Havana.
Tickets are nonrefundable and include all food and drink during the event. Moon Over Havana will run from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1. Guests will get $15 discount valet with validation. This event is 21+ only.
Because an easy pasta recipe is always a good idea
Photo credit: LibbyVision
Spaghetti Bottarga from Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante
serves four
Ingredients
8 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 Tbsp crushed red pepper 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 1 lb spaghetti 1/2 c Italian parsley, finely chopped 6 oz bottarga, tuna or mullet 8 cherry tomatoes, halved Zest of 2 lemons
Method
In an 12-to-14 inch sauté pan, heat olive oil, red pepper, cherry tomatoes, and garlic over low heat until just fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. In a pot, bring 6 quarts of water to a boil, salted with 2 tablespoons of salt. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain and pour into oil mixture. Add parsley and mix well over medium heat.
To serve: Serve in a warm bowl and top with shaved bottarga and lemon zest.
Check out the latest dining news and events, all happening in Miami this week
Lobster Feast at The River Seafood & Oyster Bar
Here is this week’s Miami food news:
Tuesday, April 23: Lobster Feast at The River Seafood & Oyster Bar If you’re craving lobster, you don’t want to miss this feast! Every Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m., head to The River Seafood & Oyster Bar{650 South Miami Avenue, Brickell; 305.530.1915} and choose from five lobster dishes priced at just $24 each, like Fried Lobster Curry, Roasted Lobster with Anchovy Bread Crumbs, and Lobster Fisherman’s Stew braised in a tomato-lobster broth, to name a few. All dishes are prepared with 1 1/4 pound of hard-shell Maine lobster.
Wednesday, April 24: Burger at the Bar at Three Head to Three Wynwood {50 NW 24 Street #101, Wynwood; 305.748.4540} and take advantage of its special burger series: Burger at the Bar. Starting at 5:30 p.m., diners can reserve a seat at The Chef’s Counter and order a curated burger and beverage pairing—either a select wine, beer, or a custom milkshake—for just $25. Since April is “Earth Month,” Three has partnered with Miami wellness blogger and plant-based recipe guru, Kruti Shah, to create the ultimate vegetarian burger and “milkshake.” The burger, which is served on a focaccia bun, tops a vegetable patty with guacamole and heirloom tomatoes. The dish will be accompanied by natural fries and paired with a vegan lychee-coconut “milkshake” with coconut flakes and lime zest. This pairing will be available every Wednesday in April, starting at 5:30 p.m. Only 20 burgers are made each week, and are available on a first come, first served basis. To reserve a seat, head to OpenTable and select “counter seating.”
Thursday, April 25: Margarita Thursdays Happy Hour at Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante Head to Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante {1801 Purdy Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.531.2228}and get $7 well margaritas every Thursday, all day long. You have three flavors to choose from: strawberry, mango, or regular!
Sunday, April 28: Sunday Brunch at Lobster Bar Sea Grille Lobster Bar Sea Grille {404 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.377.2675} has one of the best Sunday brunch deals on Miami Beach, and it comes as a $49 bottomless, three-course, prix-fixe menu. Choose a time between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and start with appetizers like House Smoked Salmon Tarte, Fresh Apple Kale Salad, Lobster Bar Lobster Bisque with cognac, or Ahi Tuna Tartare with red quinoa and avocado. Then, choose an entrée—like the Whole Butter Braised Lobster “Benedict,” Hass “Avocado Toast” with Osetra caviar, or Chicken Cajun Nouvelle Orleans. Since every great meal ends with dessert, finish with sweets like Profiteroles or the signature Tropical Pavlova, and wash the whole menu down with bottomless Bloody Marys, mimosas, bellinis, or Prosecco. An a la carte brunch menu is also available.
Hidden among the cacophony of high-rise buildings, warehouses, and even a CrossFit gym just off of Biscayne Boulevard, you’ll discover an oasis of serenity: The Sacred Space. Like a diamond in the rough, every corner of this Wynwood gem shines. For a day in paradise, grab a table indoors or outdoors at its wellness-driven concept, Plant Miami, and do as the locals do. Order a glass of (organic) rosé, eat to your heart’s content, and celebrate the beauty of South Florida with the restaurant’s surrounding outdoor lounge, gold-tiled reflecting pond, guava grove, and meditation garden. Trends come and go in the Magic City, but at Plant Miami, plant-based living is—and always has been—a lifestyle. Since it first opened in 2016, the restaurant has become known for its modern, plant-based dishes and emphasis on using vibrant and organic living foods. Here, dishes come alive with specialty microgreens, 57 varieties of edible flowers, a variety of superfoods, medicinal herbs, and ancient spices, all paired with a handpicked list of biodynamic and organic spirits, craft cocktails, and organic wines. From the setting to the menu, Plant Miami has created a restaurant, or something better described as a “gastronomic escape,” that is unlike anything South Floridians have had before. And creating this culinary magic is husband-wife duo, Horacio Rivadero and Veronica Manolizi. Having worked in the kitchens at Big Fish, OLA Restaurant, and the pan-Asian eatery The District, executive chef Rivadero is no stranger to the Miami dining scene. In 2012, Food and Wine magazine named him “Best New Chef: Gulf Region,” and in 2014, he earned a James Beard nod as a semifinalist for “Best Chef: South.” It wasn’t long after that Rivadero and Manolizi, the latter of whom reigns as pastry chef, joined forces at Plant Miami, where they took the skills they honed in non-plant-based kitchens and got creative with a whole new world of natural ingredients.
Executive Chef Horacio Rivadero and Pastry Chef Veronica Manolizi
“My background was being a traditional chef, and my knowledge of plant-based was minimal. The good thing was that by cooking that other food, I really got to understand the different flavors, which comes in handy,” says Rivadero. “Think of Freddie Mercury. He played rock n’ roll but when they wrote Bohemian Rhapsody, he had to study and understand classical music to be able to perform it. It was the same for my wife and I when we came to Plant Miami.” Inspired by South Florida’s tropical landscape, Rivadero and Manolizi have created an all-day menu—brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert— that even non-plant-based eaters crave. The Handcrafted Cheese Board, for one, is a popular start to every meal. As colorful as it is good for you, the board comes with activated white truffle, mixed peppercorn, and smoked cheddar cheeses—made from cashews—served with a papaya compote, pickled watermelon rinds, and sunflower seed crackers. Another appetizer, the Dumplings, are made with a sweet potato- coconut wrapper and ginger foam. As for mains, the Cauliflower Steak with dill chimichurri, pea shoots, and a lemon caper dressing and the Kofta + Curry with coconut noodles, mung beans, tomatoes, peppers, and a coconut curry sauce, are as nourishing as they are delicious. If you’re there on a Saturday or Sunday, don’t miss the revamped brunch, where plant-based Pancakes with banana, caramel, pecans, Vermont maple syrup, and a dollop of dairy-free vanilla ice cream tastes like the real deal. Replacing traditional huevos rancheros, the Tamale Ranchero uses an adobo squash filling, salsa verde, black beans, a pepper escabeche, and lime crema. With Manolizi at the helm, the desserts are top notch, too. Try the dairy-free Churros with Mexican chocolate and a caramel sauce, the Key Lime Brûlée with a housemade almond crust and vanilla ice cream, or the Halavah Squares with pistachio ice cream and almond-tahini halavah. Whatever you order, the result is the same: you’ll leave full, satisfied, and in awe of what talented chefs can do with plant-based ingredients. “It wasn’t always so easy. I was so lost for the first few months! The chef before me would tell me, ‘Just forget about what you’ve done in the kitchen before,’” Rivadero says. “The flavors from other proteins are so heavy and sometimes the fat covers your palate, so you really only get one or two flavors. In this case, everything is clean and most of the dishes are raw. In dishes that aren’t raw, like our Kofta + Curry, we cook the curry but dehydrate the koftas. I had to learn to find that balance so that you have many different flavors in one dish.” Under the umbrella of The Sacred Space, Plant Miami is part of a greater wellness community (or a “spiritual campus,” as founder and owner Karla Dascal calls it) that Miami serenity-seekers crave. Walk into the zen courtyard and meditation garden, and you’ll find instructors leading outdoor yoga classes and various wellness workshops, plus a retail shop selling CBD supplements and Moon Juice (the same product that is used in Plant Miami’s popular Moon Juice Lattes). In 2017, Dascal purchased Paradise Farms in Homestead as an extension of The Sacred Space. Working hand-in-hand, this biodynamic farm not only provides nearly all of the produce, herbs, and spices used at Plant Miami, but it gives The Sacred Space an extra seven and a half acres of programming. Dascal plans to make the farm a future destination for wellness and holistic retreats, something she believes South Floridians desperately need. “Miami has always been considered a city of excess and partying. The Sacred Space Miami provides a setting for a community that understands the importance of living a vibrant, organic life,” Dascal says. “It’s about living at your highest vibration and sharing it with the community. The idea is: as I help myself, I can help others.” And in the spirit of helping others, another service that Plant Miami offers is Plant Culinary. Through a series of one-off classes, budding chefs of all ages and skill levels can visit the kitchen to learn about plant-based cooking from the pros. Local culinary experts and visiting celebrity chefs alike educate students about the importance of a plant-based diet and show them how to recreate it at home—from “cheese” and chocolate-making classes to superfood bowls, kombucha, dessert classes, and more. On brand with the rest of the venture, the classes teach how to cook using only plant-based ingredients: meaning no dairy, no eggs, no meat, and no gluten.
Plant Culinary
And while plant-based dining is a growing trend in Miami now, this O.G. Wynwood spot has long stuck to its roots to turn that trend into a permanent lifestyle. “We just focus on the food. We don’t need to have the ‘Miami’ scene. We don’t need to have celebrities. We don’t need to have a DJ. We don’t even have anything on the walls!” says Rivadero. “Our restaurant has a clean design because we don’t want anything to take away from the food on the table.” And no matter what happens, that commitment to simplicity remains. “Even in times where it’s been rough, like during Hurricane Irma or Zika, Karla [Dascal] always told us to ‘just stick to the plan,’” Rivadero says. “We want you to just walk into the restaurant, make yourself at home, and feel the respect with which we craft each dish and drink. It’s really that simple.”
Happy dining! By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor
Easter weekend is just days away! Still don’t know where you’re celebrating? Pick one of the tasty options listed below. Happy Easter! BOURBON STEAK Brought to Aventura by James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur, Michael Mina, BOURBON STEAK {19999 West Country Club Drive, Aventura; 305.932.6200} is a top option for a modern, American steakhouse in South Florida. This Easter, head there for a spring brunch buffet like no other! Perfect for the whole family, wander through a series of elaborate stations and find options like fruit, parfaits, baked goods, farm-fresh omelets, raw bar and antipasto stations, different salads, and even a butter-poached wood grilled sirloin carving station. Indulgent plates like Miso-Glazed Sea Bass, Glazed Beef Short Ribs, Truffle Mac & Cheese, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, and more will be available, along with desserts like Tres Leche, Milk Chocolate Passion Fruit Mousse, and Roasted Banana Cream Pie. As if that weren’t enough, you can add bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys for just $11 more, and follow it up with an Easter egg hunt for kids. This brunch will take place on Sunday, April 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It is priced at $79 per adult and $39 per child for just the brunch, and $90 per adult with the bottomless beverage package. The Easter egg hunt will begin at 2 p.m. for children under the age of 5 and at 2:30 p.m. for everyone else. Villa Azur Villa Azur {309 23 Street, Miami Beach; 305.763.8688} is where you go for a sexy, Miami dinner party! And on Friday and Saturday, April 19-20, the restaurant and lounge will cap off its haute dinner with a special Easter dessert: Fresh Lime Cheesecake Egg. Created by Executive Pastry Chef Abigail Tull, this Easter egg comes with a rum-roasted pineapple filling, is adorned in silver leaf, and is served in a nest of Kataifi. That’s one sweet ending that will have you hopping in no time. This dessert will be available on Friday and Saturday, April 19-20, only. It is priced at $15. Isabelle’s Grill Room & Garden Isabelle’s Grill Room & Garden{3300 SW 27 Avenue, Coconut Grove; 305.644.4680} is Coconut Grove’s chic new restaurant, and Easter 2019 marks the first time it will celebrate the holiday. In honor of the occasion, diners can indulge in an a la carte, bottomless brunch with live jazz music! Start with selections from the raw bar or appetizers like Roasted Beets with Greek Yogurt, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Beef Carpaccio, Burrata, and more. Then, move on to signature brunch plates like Chicken and Waffles, Challah French Toast, Eggs Benedict, and a Tuna Poke Bowl with pickled jalapeños. Pair it all with $22 bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosas, and you’re in for an Easter treat. This brunch will take place on Sunday, April 21, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dishes are priced a la carte. Jaya at The Setai Who’s ready for a Far East-inspired Easter? This year, head to Jaya at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899} for an extravagant Easter brunch curated by Executive Chef Vijay Veena himself. At this buffet brunch, expect traditional and non-traditional tastes of the Far East, a raw bar, a decadent dessert table, and more. If it’s meat you crave, head to the carving station for dishes like Truffle Roasted Chicken, Roasted Strip Loin, and Caramelized Leg of Lamb with honey and ginger. If you’re in the mood for a taste of the sea, stop by the deep-sea delicacy station and opt for King Crab, Salt Crusted Fish, or something else equally fresh. The Easter Bunny and an Easter egg hunt will be on hand for all kids in attendance, while adults can take advantage of the free-flowing Louis Roederer Champagne, mimosas, and Bloody Marys, live jazz music from Vinyl Blvd, and more. This brunch will take place on Sunday, April 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It is priced at $145+ per adult and $65+ per child (ages 5-12). Reservations are required and can be made on OpenTable or by calling 855.923.7899. Kiki on the River Go toKiki on the River {450 NW North River Drive, Miami; 786.502.3243} and celebrate Easter 2019 the traditional way—the traditional Greek way, that is! On Sunday, April 28 (a week after most Easter celebrations), this trendy, Miami River spot invites all South Floridians to feast on typical Greek Easter plates. The special menu items include: a Whole Leg of Lamb roasted with garlic and herbs; Braised Lamb Shanks; a Trifecta of Lamb Sirloin, Rack of Ribs and T-Bone; and sides like Lemon Potato, Horta, Grilled Vegetables, or Tsoureki, a traditional Greek Easter sweet bread baked with red Easter eggs. Opa! These menu items will be available on Sunday, April 28, from 1 p.m. to Midnight. Dishes are priced a la carte. Boulud Sud Miami Celebrate Easter 2019 with fun for the whole family at Boulud Sud Miami {255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown Miami; 305.421.8800}. An Easter egg hunt will start at 10:30 a.m. for the little ones, during which parents can enjoy a complimentary cocktail. Don’t want to wait for food? Skip the egg hunt and head straight to the restaurant’s Mediterranean-inspired brunch, which includes a three-course, prix-fixe menu with two hours of bottomless mimosas, Bloody Marys, frozen drinks, and other brunch cocktails. Within those three courses, choose from dishes like a housemade Greek Parfait with a berry compote and almond granola, Andalusian Gazpacho with watermelon, a Mezze plate with a spicy Moroccan hummus and house-made babaganoush, “Cinco Jotas” Iberico Ham with pan con tomato and marinated olives, Eggs Benedict with Jambon de Paris, and Moroccan Shakshouka with kale, goat cheese, and a soft-poached hen egg. For a sweet ending, round out that prix-fixe meal with the third course: dessert. The Chocolate Fondant with bourbon caramel sauce and gingerbread ice cream or the Apricot Mousse Cake with poached yellow peach and Limoncello sorbet should do the trick. This brunch will take place on Sunday, April 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is priced at $65 per person. Lobster Bar Sea Grille Miami Beach This Easter, enjoy a a prix fixe feast at Lobster Bar Sea Grille Miami Beach {404 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.377.2675}. Here, get a three-course brunch with options like Nova Scotia Lobster Morsels and a Greek honey mustard aioli, All Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Benedict – Deconstructed onbrioche toast, Whole “Lobster Stuffed Lobster” with drawn butter and a creamless corn mash, and the restaurant’s famous Chocolate Dome with a hazelnut crunch, chocolate glaze, and chocolate mousse. For $10 more, start or end your meal with Bubbles & Caviar, which includes a half bottle of Taittinger Brut Champagne, one ounce of Kaluga Sturgeon Caviar, crème fraîche, chives, and mini blinis. This brunch will take place on Sunday, April 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It is priced at $65 per person for just the brunch, and an additional $75 per person if you want to add the Bubbles & Caviar. The a la carte menu is also available.
Happy dining! By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor
