The Strand Bar & Grill
Still firming up your Valentine’s Day plans? We’re here to help. Read below for 15 restaurants in Miami that you (and your love!) are sure to swoon over.
A Fish Called Avalon
This Valentine’s Day, enjoy a night of delicious food by Chef Kal Abdalla, live music, and breezy Atlantic Ocean views at A Fish Called Avalon. Bring your special someone and choose from the restaurant’s select a la carte Valentine’s Day dinner menu, where you’ll both find dishes like Bang Bang Shrimp with a cucumber pepper relish, Baked Brie with a berry purée, charcoal-grilled Spanish Octopus, and Tuna Tartare with American caviar. 700 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.532.1727
R House Wynwood
Head to this art-inspired spot and you can indulge in a three-course Valentine’s Day dinner for two! To make sure you feel the love, start with a half-dozen Canadian Beausoleil oysters, and follow that up with two Black Angus petit filets with lobster, saffron, and asparagus risotto. To end your romantic meal on a sweet note, nosh on bittersweet, chocolate-covered strawberries. The whole meal is priced at $120 per couple, which includes champagne. 2727 NW 2 Avenue, Wynwood; 305.576.0201
Palme d’Or
Priced at $135 per person, the Biltmore Hotel’s signature French restaurant will offer a six-course menu with lovers in mind, this Valentine’s Day. Specially prepared by Michelin-star Executive Chef Gregory Pugin, you can indulge in everything from Alaskan King Crab with golden Oscietra caviar, seared scallops with linguine and black truffle, and Mediterranean branzino, to prime beef tenderloin with a diable sauce, a cheese platter, and a Valrhona chocolate tasting. 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.913.3200
À la Carte
Don’t want to go out with your valentine? Order in! À la Carte, in Miami Beach, is making food delivery the new cool by creating a place where 12+ delivery-only mini-restaurants can work side-by-side. Much like a “virtual food hall,” this one-of-a-kind company lets you order everything from Mexican, sushi and fried chicken, to Chinese, poke, pizza, and even boxed wine, beer, and sake online. Order at least $20 worth, and you’ll give yourself an extra V-Day gift: no delivery fees. 1427 Alton Road, Miami Beach; 786-620-2295
Cantina La Veinte
This haute Mexican spot has options for both couples and singles this year. If you’re there with your special someone, order the made-for-two Miami Romance cocktail, a delicious combination of Tequila Silver, cointreau, strawberry purée, mint, and lime juice. If you’re a single gal, take advantage of Cantina La Veinte’s Valentine’s Day “Ladies Night” and get margaritas on the house. Single and ready to mingle? Let your clothes do the talking. At this Mexican-themed Valentine’s Day celebration, wear red if you are looking for love, black if you’re already taken, or white if… well, you’re just not sure. 495 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 786.623.6135
Villa Azur
Helmed by Executive Chef Philippe Ruiz, this French-Mediterranean hot spot will woo diners with a candlelit dinner, live music, and electric beats by DJ Stephan M. Start with appetizers like Steak Tartare “My Way”with crispy potato and Spiced Seafood Ceviche with jalapeños and fresh coriander. Then, move on to Exotic Black Grouper Fillet “En Papillote” with sweet and sour vegetables and a passion fruit beurre blanc, or the 42-oz Cote de Boeuf “Bone in Ribeye” for 2 with roasted fingerling potatoes, mushrooms, and a red wine sauce. Of course, you can’t have Valentine’s Day without a sweet ending, so share the Chocolate Lava Cake for 2 with bourbon vanilla ice cream, or the Rose Macaron with raspberries and litchi mousse. Either way, you can’t go wrong. 309 23 Street, Miami Beach; 305.763.8688
Coco Bambu
Priced at just $95 per person, Miami’s largest seafood venue invites you and your lover to enjoy a three-course dinner and a glass of bubbly. Begin your feast with your choice of Octopus Carpaccio, Stuffed Shrimp filled with cream cheese, or Salmon Tartare with avocado and soy sauce. For the main course, the Herb Crusted Salmon or Moqueca for One with peppers, herbs, coconut milk, and coconut fried rice is sure to please, as is the Mango Mahi with mango sauce, cashew pesto, and butternut squash purée au gratin. End on a sweet note with Flan, Brigadeiro, or Lime Pie, and it’ll be one happy Valentine’s Day, indeed! 955 Alton Road, Miami Beach; 786.348.0770
Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante
On February 14, this Sunset Harbour restaurant will offer guests a four-course, prix-fixe Italian feast! Choose from appetizers like Salmon and Tuna Tartare with fennel and orange, or Filet Mignon Tartare with a black truffle crostini. For the first course, indulge in either Spaghetti Lobster with basil and sea urchin or Fettuccine with a deconstructed veal shank; and for the second, opt for pan-seared Jumbo Shrimp with lemon-roasted eggplant and salmon caviar, or the Veal Chop with foie gras. You can’t leave without trying the Panna Cotta with wild berries or Chocolate Cake and strawberries, and wash it all down with $80 bottles of Veuve Clicquot Brut. By the time you leave, you’ll be more in love with each other and Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante. 1801 Purdy Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.531.2228
Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann
This Valentine’s Day, head to this Argentine-style, award-winning restaurant for a curated three-course, prix fixe menu. Perfect for couples looking for a lavish night out, expect dishes like Iced Seafood Caper and Grill Parrillada, all paired with a bottle of Ruinart Rosé NV. The price is $125 per person or $300 per couple, and the single-person tasting menu only includes one glass of Ruinart Rosé NV. Don’t want the prix-fixe menu? You don’t have to have it! An a la carte menu will also be available. 3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.655.5610
Sakura 736
Next Wednesday, say “I love you” with a five-course feast at South of Fifth’s celebrated new Nikkei concept, Sakura 736. Priced at just $139 per couple, you both can enjoy a chilled bottle of Perrier-Jouët Brut Champagne, fresh Oysters on the Half Shell, Sushi and Nigiri Omakase, Solterito de Quinoa salad, Waygu Sirloin, and Picaron with Chocolate-Covered Strawberries. 736 1 Street, Miami Beach; 786.607.0199
Pao by Paul Qui
When it comes to modern Asian cuisine, few restaurants compare to Pao by Paul Qui. On Valentine’s Day, grab a table on the restaurant’s fairytale-like terrace and enjoy a curated three-course menu of Kaluga Caviar, 72-Hour Wagyu Short Rib, and more. The dinner is priced at $125 per person or $300 per couple, and includes one glass or one bottle of Ruinart Rosé NV, respectively. 3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.655.5630
Scarpetta by Scott Conant
Love is always in the air in Italy! Celebrate Valentine’s Day 2018 with a five-course, prix-fixe meal in an elegant dining room, overlooking Miami Beach’s sparkling Atlantic Ocean views. Priced at just $150 per couple, start your night with an amuse bouche of Beetroot Tartare with goat cheese and walnut, and follow it up with an appetizer of Creamy Polenta with truffled wild mushrooms. For the main meal, indulge in Scott Conant’s signature Spaghetti with tomato and basil and a perfectly-cooked Beef Tenderloin with “Oscar Style” King Crab and asparagus. Dessert lovers will swoon over the Chocolate Zeppoles with brandied cherries and cherry amaretto gelato, a sweet way to end a romantic evening in Miami Beach. 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.326.7412
StripSteak by Michael Mina
This modern American steakhouse, tucked in the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, is the brainchild of none other than celebrity chef Michael Mina! On Valentine’s Day, head there for a four-course, prix-fixe menu with a Roasted Beet Salad with chevre and pumpernickel, Rhode Island Sea Scallops with green apple and Serrano ham, a Prime Chateaubriand with whipped potatoes and asparagus, and for dessert, two treats—Molten Red Velvet Cake with tonka bean ice cream and Chocolate Truffles. 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.326.7412
Boulud Sud Miami
Daniel Boulud’s newest Mediterranean concept is now open in Downtown Miami, and on Valentine’s Day evening, couples can enjoy a four-course dinner there for just $85 per person. Created by Executive Chef Clark Bowen, the menu will feature a mix of distinctly-Mediterranean dishes, like: Burratina with Black Truffle, Saffron Acquarello Risotto, Catalan Filet Mignon, Chicken Tagine for two, and the signature Grapefruit Givré dessert by Pastry Chef Saeko Nemoto. To wash it all down, let the sommelier pair a glass of wine with every dish. (It’s just an additional $50 per person!) 255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown Miami; 305.421.8800
Jaya at The Setai
If you’ve been to The Setai, Miami Beach, then we don’t need to tell you just how romantic it is. This Valentine’s Day, enjoy a decadent, four-course dinner at Jaya at The Setai for just $115 per adult and $57 per child. Specially prepared by the ultra-talented Chef Vijay Veena, indulge in his signature dishes; like Oysters, Tuna Tartar, Peking Duck Dumplings, Maine Scallops, Lobster, Rack of Lamb, and more. Dinner reservations will be available between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., and all ladies will get a complimentary Valentine’s Day gift that includes a rose and freshly-baked macarons. Giving you more reasons to fall in love with Jaya, the restaurant will offer a special cocktail just for the holiday: The Rose Martini, made with sake and champagne. 2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.520.6000
The Strand Bar & Grill
This New American restaurant, in the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, has become known for its seasonal, ingredient-driven fare. For Valentine’s Day, Executive Chef Stephen Ullrich has created a romantic, four-course menu with Bay Scallop Crudo, Beet Ravioli with Lobster, Lavender and Honey Glazed Duck Breast, and more. This delicious menu is priced at $150 per couple or $85 per person… and pairs perfectly with something from The Strand’s wine or cocktail menu. 6801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.514.7474
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor