Insider Info: (Dining) Deals and Steals in Miami
[caption id="attachment_5088" align="alignnone" width="618"] Brunch at LT Steak & Seafood
Brunch at LT Steak & Seafood… with free popovers!
We all like to go out to eat and explore in Miami, but sometimes, we want to do it in a way that doesn’t break the bank. Fortunately for you, the Magic City has tons of standing discounts, at some of its hottest spots, designed to get you through every day of the week.
Want the inside scoop? We’ve got it. Read below for some Miami steals and deals that only the real locals know about.
The Betsy Hotel:
Head to The Betsy Hotel {1440 Ocean Drive, South Beach; 844.862.3157} on Thursdays, and you can immerse yourself in a taste of the local culture for free. At 10:30 a.m., start with Morning Culture Break, where visiting artists and creatives from the Miami community come and host “artist talks,” and move on to a 4 p.m. guided tour of The Betsy’s Art Collection with the hotel’s Visual Arts Specialist herself. From 6 to 10 p.m. that night, enjoy live jazz in the lobby as part of the hotel’s Live Music Series. All of the above are free to get into and there’s absolutely no drink minimum. All you do have to RSVP! (Pro tip: Get to the live jazz right at 6 p.m., and you’ll also be able to catch the last 30 minutes of the “Grape Escape” deal, where you can get glasses of wine for just $7 at the Lobby Bar.)
LT Steak & Seafood:
Head to LT Steak & Seafood {1440 Ocean Drive, South Beach; 844.862.3157}, Laurent Tourondel’s restaurant at The Betsy Hotel, and you’ll get a treat for all the senses. There’s free live jazz Tuesday through Saturday, from 6 to 10 p.m., and free popovers—or light, hollow bread rolls made from an egg batter—with every meal.
Cantina La Veinte:
Get ready, ladies! Every Wednesday, from 5 to 10 p.m., Cantina La Veinte {495 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 786.623.6135} gives girls free (free!) bottomless margaritas.
Café Roval:
With its rustic interior and lush, lantern-lit Japanese gardens, Café Roval {5808 NE 4 Court, Miami, Morningside; 786.953.7850} is one of the most romantic spots in town. If you want to impress your date, but don’t want to break the bank, opt for one of the Mediterranean restaurant’s set, prix-fixe menus. The cheapest one is $60 per person, but it gives you a three-course meal with standout options like Baking Bread with French feta, Lamb Meatballs with whipped ricotta, Beef Shawarma, Short Rib with garlic kale, Deboned Yellowtail Snapper with tabbouleh, Chocolate Marsala Cake, Warm Sour Cherry Strudel, and more.
Cibo Wine Bar Coral Gables:
Every Monday night, go to Cibo Wine Bar {45 MIracle Mile, Coral Gables; 305.442.4925} for Monday Pizza + Peroni. Here, you can get homemade pizzas and a cold Peroni for just $10.
Ironside Pizza:
Known for its Neapolitan pizza, Ironside Pizza {7580 Northeast 4 Court, Miami; 305.531.5055} is where you go for wood-fire oven pizzas made with only the finest organic products, homemade cured meats, and mozzarella fiordilatte. Here, you can get a real taste of Italy without buying a plane ticket to get there—in fact, you don’t even have to pay for wine. Grab your friends, split a few pizzas, and BYOB your favorite bottles (plural) of vino. Ironside Pizza as no corkage fee.
Sawa Restaurant & Lounge:
You’ve heard of happy hour… but have you heard of bonus hour? At Sawa Restaurant & Lounge {360 San Lorenzo Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.447.6555}, in Village of Merrick Park, there’s happy hour Monday through Friday, from 4 to 7 p.m. But, if you sit at the bar, you can take advantage of Bonus Hour; which is that same happy hour deal, but longer. It runs seven days a week, from 4 to 8 p.m., and has all of these deals.
Joe’s Stone Crab:
Most people go to Joe’s Stone Crab {11 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.673.0365} for the full experience; they want the expensive stone crabs, the white-glove service, the dolled-up waiters buzzing around them, and the perfect glass of wine. But as the locals know, you don’t need to pay hundreds of dollars for that same quality food. For a real treat, go to Joe’s Takeaway for breakfast or lunch, where you can get much of the same food to go for $30 or less.
Salumeria 104:
From 5 to 7 p.m., go to this Midtown Miami spot for food and see if you can “beat the clock.” There are three items on the menu that apply to this deal—Spaghetti al Pomodoro, Gnocchi alla Romana, and Tagliatelle Bolognese—and what you pay depends on the time you order it. For example, if you order one of those three dishes at 5 p.m., you’ll pay five dollars for it; if you order one at 6:15 p.m., you’ll pay $6.15 for it. Last orders must be placed by 7 p.m. at Salumeria 104 {3451 NE 1 Avenue, #104, Midtown; 305.424.9588}, and the deal is available Monday through Friday, for dine-in guests only.
Happy Dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor