5 Places to Eat If You Want to Avoid SOBEWFF Traffic
[caption id="attachment_7661" align="alignnone" width="618"] Salumeria 104[/caption] Trying to escape the SOBEWFF madness? While we love all things SOBEWFF, that has its perks, too. Fortunately, Miami has a slew of great restaurants in and out of the festival!
Salumeria 104
Trying to escape the SOBEWFF madness? While we love all things SOBEWFF, that has its perks, too.
Fortunately, Miami has a slew of great restaurants in and out of the festival! Here are five of our favorites—none of which are anywhere near this weekend’s events:
Costa Med Bistro + Wine: If you’re looking for some peace and quiet while you eat, Key Biscayne is always a safe bet! And when you’re out there, there’s no better place to go for hearty Italian cuisine than Costa Med Bistro + Wine {260 Crandon Boulevard, Suite #46, Key Biscayne; 305.361.7575}. To celebrate sidestepping the SOBEWFF traffic, opt for the Pear & Gorgonzola Ravioli, the Pappardelle ai Funghi Porcini, or the perfectly-grilled Veal Chop with your choice of a side. (We recommend the Quinoa and French Lentil Salad.) And not that we need to tell you, but the restaurant’s extensive wine list pairs well with all of it.
BLT Prime: For good meat and an old-fashioned steakhouse dinner, BLT Prime {4400 NW 87 Avenue, Doral; 305.591.6606} is just what you need. Grab a seat outside, overlooking the golf course, and your perfectly-charred lunch or dinner will rival the views. Start with the restaurant’s famous Poppers, and take your pick of any of its specialty red meats. There are plenty to choose from—like a 28-day, dry-aged NY Strip and a 20-ounce Kansas City cut, to three cuts of American-style Kobe beef—and a range of house-made sauces, from steak, horseradish, and three-mustards BBQ, to peppercorn, bernaise, red wine, and chimichurri.
Caffe Abbracci: This iconic Coral Gables spot caters to locals and visiting A-listers (hi, President Obama!) alike. Owned by Nino Pernetti, a restaurateur from Lake Garda, Italy, Caffe Abbracci {318 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.441.0700} invites you to grab a streetside table and transport to Italy with just one bite of pasta. Favorites on the menu? Parma Prosciutto and Burrata; homemade Tortellini “Tatiana” with Asiago cheese, stewed pear, and a light Prosecco pink sauce; Risotto with Champagne and asparagus; Colorado Baby Lamb Chops with dry cherries and Cognac; and of course, Traditional Tiramisu with layers of ladyfingers soaked in espresso.
Old Lisbon: When you want good Portuguese, you go to Old Lisbon {1698 SW 22 Street, Miami; 305.854.0039}. Tucked away on Coral Way, and far away from all things SOBEWFF, this neighborhood staple serves plates like Carne de Porco à Alentejana—a pork tenderloin stew with potatoes, clams, pickled vegetables, and a white-wine garlic sauce—or Feijoada de Marisco, a white bean stew with clams, shrimp, mussels, squid, and sausage, in an open, rustic-style dining room. The wine cellar is filled with Old World bottles and Portuguese brews, all of which the knowledgeable staff can pair with whatever tasty dish you order.
Salumeria 104: Based on the Italian “trattoria” concept, set in the vein of a small neighborhood “salumi” shop, Salumeria 104 {3451 NE 1 Avenue #104, Midtown; 305.424.9588} serves up fresh homemade pastas and Italian products. Menu hits include: Spaghetti alla Bottarga, Lasagna del Salumiere with bolognese and Béchamel, Porchetta wrapped in crispy pork belly, Tiramisu with mascarpone cream and cocoa, and more. When you’re not eating (and we can’t blame you, if you are), peruse the unique cured meats, cheeses, Italian olives, baguettes, and more, all for sale in Midtown Miami’s own neighborhood “trattoria.”
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor