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Looking for ideas on where to eat this upcoming long weekend? From rooftop parties to new restaurant openings to Miami Spice specials, we’ve got you covered.  Here are Miami Labor Day 2015 happenings.

Friday, September 4:

Gale South Beach

Gale South Beach Rooftop

Bubbles & BBQ at the Gale South Beach
Kick off the weekend right on the rooftop of the Gale South Beach {1690 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.673.0199} for a Bubbles & BBQ soiree. The party starts early—at 6pm—which means you’ll be there to watch the sunset while sipping a glass of Veuve Clicquot accompanied by delicious barbecue bites. Sounds from local band Psychic Mirrors and DJ Michelle Leshem will be bouncing off the rooftop pool until 11pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.

Saturday, September 5:

Torrijas Piripi

Torrijas from Piripi

Brunch Espectacular at Piripi
Merrick Park’s newest restaurant Piripi {320 San Lorenzo Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.448.2423} has now expanded its popular Sunday Brunch “Espectacular” to Saturdays. New Executive Chef Angelina Bastidas shows off her culinary prowess with a twist on traditional Spanish cuisine, offering a three-course prix-fixe brunch menu for just $27 per person. In keeping with the true meaning of Piripi (Spanish for “tipsy”) you can also enjoy bottomless sangría and mimosas for an additional $17 per person.

Cheesecake from Oceanaire

Cheesecake from The Oceanaire Seafood Room

Dinner for two at The Oceanaire Seafood Room
Head to Mary Brickell Village for dinner for a romantic evening at The Oceanaire Seafood Room {900 South Miami Avenue, Brickell; 305.372.8862}. For a limited time, the restaurant is offering a special three-course dinner for two plus a bottle of wine, all for just $75. Still full from brunch earlier in the day? Not to worry. This special is available from September 1-7.

Sunday, September 6:

american social

Sensation Sunday Party at American Social
Toast to having Monday off of work at American Social Brickell {690 Southwest First Court, Brickell; 305.223.7004} while enjoying tunes spun by DJ Madd Linx. Be sure to rock your best white attire, as it’s technically “unacceptable” to wear white after Labor Day. The party starts at 9pm, when ladies wearing all white will receive a complimentary glass of Champagne.

Monday, September 7:

Goat Cheese Salad from Brasserie Azur

Goat Cheese Salad from Brasserie Azur

Lunch at Brasserie Azur—Now Open
Brasserie Azur {3252 Northeast First Avenue, Midtown; 786.800.9993}, the highly anticipated sister restaurant to Miami Beach staple Villa Azur is finally open! Become one of the lucky firsts to experience a plethora of options, including a rotisserie station, a seafood bar, a massive wine list, a foosball table, hookah, and more. Oh, and the restaurant is offering a Miami Spice lunch menu, too (just $23 per person).

HYDE beach kitchen + cocktails

Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails

Mojito Monday at Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails—Now Open!
More brand-new culinary adventures await this Labor Day at Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails {111 South Surf Road, Hallandale Beach; 954.699.0901}. Mondays are dubbed “Mojito Mondays,” when you can enjoy $8 mojitos all night long. If you don’t make it in time for a table, you can enjoy your mojitos beachside. Watch the final sunset to the long weekend and toast to a delicious Labor Day weekend and the fall season ahead.

By Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

Miami Spice is in full swing and we still cannot contain our excitement. While we encourage you to visit ilovemiamispice.com for a full list of participating restaurants, we know that the sheer number of choices can be a bit overwhelming. Below, we’ve put together a quick guide to narrow things down for you.

Katsuya

Sushi and Sashimi from Katsuya

In the mood for sushi?
Try: Katsuya {1701 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.455.2995}
Spice menu available for dinner Sunday-Thursday

This sushi staple from SBE Entertainment Group has locations around the world—from Hollywood to the Bahamas to Kuwait—and is known for its modern Japanese cuisine by Master Chef Katsuya Uechi. For Spice, we recommend going with the Crispy Rice with spicy tuna to start, followed by chef’s choice of sushi. The dessert is always an assorted chef’s selection, so the decision-making process is narrowed down even more for you.

cipriani

Green Taglioni from Cipriani

In the mood for Italian?
Try: Cipriani {465 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 786.329.4090}
Spice menu available for lunch and dinner Monday-Thursday

Lunchtime hunger pangs often show up unexpectedly. But even when you’re hard at work, it’s best not to ignore them. Take a much-needed lunch break and head over to Cipriani, located along the bay at the bottom of the Icon Brickell. Start off with the Baby Artichoke and Avocado Salad with shaved Parmesan, followed by the Baked Green Taglioni with Praga ham. Dessert is the delicious Vanilla Meringue Cake. You’ll return to work feeling full, refreshed, and satisfied.

a fish called avalon

Baked Escargot from A Fish Called Avalon

In the mood for seafood?
Try: A Fish Called Avalon {700 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.532.1727}
Spice menu available for dinner Sunday-Thursday

Located at the classic Art Deco Avalon Hotel just steps from the sand, this award-winning restaurant is a South Beach tradition. Executive Chef Kal Abdalla has created a seafood-dominated menu with tropical influences using local, seasonal ingredients and fresh-caught seafood delivered daily. Start off with the Baked Escargot with garlic butter, fresh herbs, and Pernod. Next, we recommend the Macadamia-Crusted Snapper, served with spinach risotto and raspberry Beaujolais beurre blanc. End on a sweet note with Chef Kal’s Signature Cheesecake with sugar glaze and blackberry purée.

Wolfgang's Steakhouse

Filet Mignon from Wolfgang’s Steakhouse

In the mood for steak?
Try: Wolfgang’s Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener {315 South Biscayne Boulevard, Downtown; 305.487.7130}
Spice menu available for lunch Monday-Friday and dinner Sunday-Thursday

With successful steakhouse locations all over the world, it’s fair to say that Wolfgang Zwiener knows a thing or two about how to impress his guests. Impeccable service, an expansive wine list, and a vast selection of expertly prepared 28-day dry-aged steak (not to mention an unbeatable waterfront location) all combine to make Wolfgang’s Steakhouse a must-try dining experience. Our advice for Spice? Keep things simple. Start off with a classic Caesar Salad, which will whet your appetite for your Petit Filet Mignon; then finish with a slice of tangy Key Lime Pie.

Milos

Greek Salad from Milos

In the mood for Greek?
Try: Milos by Costas Spiliadis {730 First Street, Miami Beach; 305.604.6800}
Spice menu available for lunch and dinner daily

If you’re looking for a flavorful Mediterranean-inspired meal, look no further than Milos, a South of Fifth neighborhood gem. It’s one of the few restaurants in North America that lays claim to seafood flown in daily from the Aegean Sea. Hearty and healthy, it’s the perfect spot for a leisurely lunch or elegant dinner. For dinner, begin with the Greek Salad with vine-ripened tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and barrel-aged feta. Next, opt for the grilled Dorado Royale: Mediterranean Sea Bream, of course. Desserts are all served family-style and include the Karidopita (a Greek walnut cake) with homemade honey ice cream and what the restaurant calls “The Real Greek Yogurt”—something you don’t want to miss.

By Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

The Dog Days of Summer are here, and we’re certainly feeling it! But good news: Miami Spice is here as well. Check out ilovemiamispice.com to see the full list of nearly 200 restaurants throughout Miami that are offering special lunch and dinner prix-fixe menus from now through September 30. We also put together two previews of some of our favorite Miami Spice menus–check those out here and here. In addition to Miami Spice specials, here are our top Miami August events to help keep your mind off all this heat and humidity.

MO Bar + Lounge

Bar Spice at MO Bar + Lounge
When:
Through September 30
Where: MO Bar + Lounge at Mandarin Oriental, Miami {500 Brickell Key Drive, Brickell; 305.913.8288}
What: Miami Spice is in full swing, which means that Mandarin Oriental, Miami’s signature restaurants will be offering unbeatable prix-fixe menus (La Mar by Gastón Acurio for lunch and dinner; Azul for dinner only). But that’s not all. The five-star resort’s MO Bar + Lounge is getting in on the action by adding a twist to three signature cocktails: the Aji Rocoto and Pineapple “Margarita” with tequila reposado, rocoto-pineapple marmalade, house citrus cordial, lime, and a tajin rim; the Ancho Chile and Chocolate “Manhattan” with ron añejo, Chinato vermouth, Ancho Reyes, crème de cacao, and orange bitters; and the Jalapeño and Tamarind “Pisco Sour” with pisco acholado, tamarind falernum syrup, lemon, and muddled jalapeño.

stripsteak

New Sunday Brunch at StripSteak
When: Every Sunday, 11:30am-3pm
Where: StripSteak at Fontainebleau {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.326.7412}
What: Fontainebleau Miami Beach’s newest signature restaurant from celebrity chef Michael Mina has recently introduced an unbeatable Sunday brunch. For just $68 per person, enjoy a fabulous two-course plated menu (your choice of appetizer and entrée), a delicious signature cocktail, unlimited shellfish, charcuterie, and cheeses, freshly baked breads, breakfast pastries, and desserts, a Greek yogurt parfait bar, and complimentary valet parking. Unlimited mimosas, Bellinis, and Fizzy Bellboys (the restaurant’s signature cocktail) are an additional $25 per person.

Sardinia enoteca

Wine Tuesdays at Sardinia Enoteca
When:
Every Tuesday
Where: Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante {1801 Purdy Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.531.2228}
What: Every Tuesday from noon to midnight, guests at Sardinia enjoy 40-percent off select wines. It’s a vintage special you won’t want to miss. But that’s not all. Through September, Sardinia is offering Miami Spice menus for both lunch (everyday) and dinner (Sunday-Thursday).

seafood bahia four seasons

SPF Saturdays (Seafood + Pool + Four Seasons)
When: Saturdays, 1-3pm, through September 5
Where: Four Seasons Hotel Miami {1435 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 305.381.3030}
What: On Saturdays at 1:30pm sharp, Bahia, the Four Seasons Hotel Miami’s seventh-floor poolside restaurant and bar, is offering a Southern-style Seafood Boil featuring family-style servings of lobster, pink shrimp, Florida clams, mussels, and crawfish simmered in Cajun-style spices, accompanied by sweet corn on the cob, golden potatoes, and housemade smoked sausage. Tickets are required ($65 per person) and include access to the hotel’s two resort-style pools.

Those not wanting to purchase tickets can still join in the fun. From 1-3pm, Bahia is also offering what it calls The RAWBar, a special à la carte seafood menu featuring Freshly Shucked East Coast Oysters and Florida Clams, Peel-and-Eat Key West Pink Shrimp, Corvina Crudo, Lobster and Shrimp Ceviche, and an East Coast Mussel Salad.

Marc Irwin Piano concert in The Betsy Lobby

(mostly jazz) with Marc Irwin at The Betsy
When: August 19, 8-11pm
Where: The Betsy–South Beach {1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.673.0044}
What: On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, The Betsy hotel’s Lobby Salon welcomes some of the greatest live musicians for intimate performances. Dr. Marc Irwin is a pianist, composer, arranger, and recording artist who has played for and with a variety of top musicians across the country. He currently acts as musical director for The Capitol Steps, performing political satire throughout the United States and Canada. No cover; no drink minimum!

An added bonus: Adjacent to the Lobby Salon is the award-winning BLT Steak, which will be serving its unbeatable Miami Spice menu. Choose one appetizer (Roasted Peach Salad, Vadouvan Lamb “Porchetta,” or Local Cobia Tataki Sushi Roll), one entrée (10oz CAB Delmonico Steak or Local Seafood Bouillabaisse), and one dessert (Valrhona Chocolate-Strawberry Cake or Coconut-Lime Cheesecake) for just $39. And yes, the restaurant’s famed popovers are included.

db Miami Wine Cellar by B. Milne

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Dinner at db Bistro
When:
August 19
Where: db Bistro Moderne Miami {255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown; 305.421.8800}
What: Join Chef Jason Pringle and Sommelier Alan Feldman for a special dining event featuring wines from France’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape region in the Southern Rhône Valley. Chef Pringle will prepare a sophisticated meal paired with a unique selection of rare vintages from one of the most traditional winemaking appellations in France. The night will begin with a wine reception and light appetizers in The Lounge followed by a five-course dinner in the main dining room. Can’t make it to the dinner? The restaurant will be offering Miami Spice menus for both lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday all month long.

By Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

Roasted Peach Gazpacho Atrio Restaurant

Looking for the perfect dish to beat the heat? Try Atrio Restaurant & Wine Room’s Peach Gazpacho, made with ripe peaches and other fresh ingredients. Stop by the restaurant at the Conrad Miami hotel to try it for yourself, or make your own at home using this super-simple recipe.

Peach Gazpacho from Executive Chef Virgile Brandel of Atrio Restaurant & Wine Room
serves four

Ingredients

Gazpacho:
5 Roma tomatoes, quartered
3 ripe, fresh peaches, quartered and seeded
2 cucumbers, peeled and seeded
1/2 red onion, sliced
3 garlic cloves
1 red bell pepper
2 basil springs
1 c tomato juice
1/4 c red wine vinegar
1/4 c olive oil
salt and pepper

Garnish:
6 slices of roasted peaches
1/4 c of chopped Marcona almonds
micro-herbs

Method

In a container, place all the prepared ingredients together. Refrigerate and let marinate overnight.

In a blender, place the ingredients and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve chilled in a bowl and garnish with the peaches, almonds and micro-herbs.

By Sherri Balefsky | Photo by Jessica Gonzalez

Because we can’t get enough of Miami Spice, our original Top 5 list of restaurants new to the program somehow seemed to be lacking. So, here are five additional restaurants making their Spice debuts that are giving classic establishments a run for their money.

Market at Edition

1. Market at EDITION {2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.257.4600}
Spice menu available for lunch and dinner daily
The Miami Beach EDITION is South Beach’s newest spot to see and be seen, and its two dining options by Jean-Georges Vongerichten ensure that things will stay this way. The more casual of the two, Market at EDITION is a reinvention of a gourmet marketplace. The chic open space just steps from the hotel’s lobby features a series of bustling stations, including a raw bar, a charcuterie station, a sushi bar, and a gourmet pastry station featuring freshly baked treats and a create-your-own sundae bar.
Our Appetizer Pick: Three-Piece Charcuterie—chef’s selection of three gourmet cured meats and imported cheeses
Our Entrée Pick: Florida Snapper with bok choy and ginger dressing
Our Dessert Pick: Salted Caramel Sundae—salted caramel ice cream with candied peanuts and popcorn, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce

Red Ginger

Miso Sea Bass

2. Red Ginger {736 First Street, Miami Beach; 305.433.6876}
Spice menu available for dinner Tuesday-Sunday
This Southeast Asian concept from Menin Hospitality opened less than two months ago and it’s already making its Miami Spice debut with a three-course Japanese-inspired dinner menu. For an additional $10, pair your meal with a glass of Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, or Cava.
Our Appetizer Pick: El Mar Ceviche (tuna, salmon, octopus, wahoo, and aji limo)—it’s an extra $10, but well worth it
Our Entrée Pick: Miso Sea Bass with saikyo, miso, spinach, coconut foam, and garlic confit
Our Dessert Pick: There’s only one option here, and it’s the Mochi, a deliciously sweet Japanese rice cake

tamarina

Spinach Ravioli

3. Tamarina {600 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 305.579.1888}
Spice menu available for lunch Monday-Friday and Dinner nightly
Join Tamarina for a tour of Italy’s best coastal dishes while enjoying views of bustling Brickell Avenue on the cozy wraparound terrace. While dinner menus are often the highlight of most Spice menus, due to its proximity the many office buildings in Downtown and Brickell, we suggest trying Tamarina for lunch. It’s the perfect spot for a lunch with colleagues or clients to break up the busy work week.
Our Appetizer Pick: Arugula Salad with caramelized pears, candied walnuts, pecorino, speck, and apples
Our Entrée Pick: Spinach Ravioli with ricotta cheese in a sage-butter sauce
Our Dessert Pick: Any flavor of gelato is good by us

9beach miami

4. 9Beach Miami {1628 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.208.1988}
Spice menu available for lunch and dinner daily
Just two weeks after its official grand opening, 9Beach Miami may very well be the newest restaurant to make its first Miami Spice appearance. The fusion kitchen and lounge concept is the first U.S. outpost from 9beach Group, whose successful establishments can be found throughout Israel and in London. At the helm is Executive Chef Tal Aboav from the original 9beach in Tel Aviv, who places emphasis on top-quality ingredients, Mediterranean flavors, and artful presentations.
Our Appetizer Pick: Dorade Capriccio topped with garden vegetables, tomato seeds, and chile lime sauce
Our Entrée Pick: Frutti di Mare Fritto with Mediterranean red mullet, shrimp, and calamari served with ginger-cucumber aïoli and a creamy tzatziki sauce
Our Dessert Pick: Halvah Parfait—dark chocolate shells served on a sweet crumble with fresh berries

Tantalize

Lamb Foie Gras Meatballs

5. Tantalize {330 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.695.1401}
Spice Menu available for dinner Tuesday-Saturday
If you still haven’t been to Tantalize, you’re in for a treat. Why not indulge your senses for the first time during Miami Spice, when can enjoy the restaurant’s signature dishes at prices up to 50-percent off.
Our Appetizer Pick: Lamb Foie Gras Meatballs with Sherry foie gras sauce, pistachio chimichurri, mushroom chicharrón, and everything crouton
Our Entrée Pick: Cuban Boxer—braised pork shoulder with yuca, black-bean purée, and pickled cabbage salad
Our Dessert Pick: Quinoa Coconut Pudding—lucuma ice cream and toasted coconut

By Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

La Mar Anticucho Bar LR

Although we celebrated our nation’s independence earlier this month, Peruvians are getting ready to celebrate theirs on July 28. And Miami’s leading Peruvian restaurant La Mar by Gastón Acurio {Mandarin Oriental Miami, 500 Brickell Key Drive, Brickell; 305.913.8358} is celebrating in style with a weeklong roster of culinary events and specials.

The festivities begin this Sunday, July 26, from noon until 3:30pm, with a special Paella Brunch featuring live Peruvian music; a live-action paella station of Arroz con Pato, made with confit duck, black beer, squash, corn cider, and cilantro; a Cebiche Bar with a delicious selection of seafood cebiches, causas, tiraditos, and Peruvian-style sushi rolls; and an Anticucho Bar that will offer hot specialties such as Grilled Anticucho Skewers, empanadas, sliders, and whole fish. Guests will also enjoy their choice of one Peruvian entrée specialty, Chaufa Aeropuerto for the table, unlimited brunch cocktails, and decadent desserts.

La Mar Cebiche Bar Chefs

For the rest of the week, diners can order off of Chef Diego Oka’s exclusive dinner menu that pays homage to traditional Andean cooking and the centuries of culinary fusion that have influenced modern Peruvian cuisine. Through August 1, Chef Oka will present festive family-style platters that will include Piqueo Frio with Cebiche Mixto, Causa Cangrejo, and Seafood Jalea, and Piqueo Caliente with Anticucho de Corazon, Aji de Gallina Empanadas, and Yuca with Ocopa Sauce.

La Mar Piqueo Frio

The flavorful dishes can be paired with La Mar’s special Peruvian Independence Day cocktails: the cucumber-basil Albahaca Pisco, the refreshing Eucalyptus Mule, and the Tiki Limeño with spicy-infused Pisco, rum, gin, passionfruit, fresh citrus, Falernum liqueur, and nutmeg.

On July 28, the live band will return, providing a fun, celebratory atmosphere all in honor the country’s 194 years of independence.

By Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

PM Fish & Steak House

Earlier this month, DiningOut had a fun opportunity to attend a special wine-pairing dinner at the upscale PM Fish & Steak House {1453 South Miami Avenue, Brickell; 305.200.5606}. The event was hosted by the prestigious Castillo de Argum winery located in Villarrobledo (Castilla-La Mancha), Spain, known for making 100-percent organic wines. We were joined by the winery’s winemaker, Fernando Santos Jimenez, who led us through each wine’s aging process from grape to bottle. Each wine was expertly paired with distinguished and mouthwatering dishes by PM’s Chef Mauricio Rocha.

We started off the evening with the Castillo de Argum Rosada, a fresh and fruity raspberry-pink rosé. It was paired with a colorful sashimi platter featuring cuts of salmon, tuna, and striped bass, along with PM’s signature Octopus Carpaccio, finely sliced pieces of fresh octopus topped with olive oil, ponzu sauce, and lemon and lime zest. The simplicity of the dishes paired with the refreshing rosé wine was the perfect beginning to what turned into an extravagant multi-course journey of food, fun, and friendship.

PM Sashimi

The rosé was soon traded in for the Castillo de Argum Sauvignon Blanc, which is made entirely from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The winemaker explained to us that young white wines sugar themselves, paralyzing the fermentation that’s obtained naturally. To fully soak up the flavor, the dish was paired with a mixed ceviche, which was prepared in a light tomato sauce with oyster and citrus juices.

ceviche

The white wine continued to flow before we switched over to the winery’s signature reds: the Cencibel Ecológic, made from 100-percent Cencibel (Tempranillo), and the Roble Cencibel, a Tempranillo, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend aged for just four months in oak barrels, but then kept six months in the bottle before it is even released.

Argum rose wineargum white

We were served even more delicacies from PM’s kitchen, including the restaurant’s homemade chorizo sausage and provoleta cheese, a thick, gooey slab of aged provolone served piping hot. Red wine was all around us before along came the dish we all were waiting for: a prime slab of New York Strip Steak cooked to perfection.

Pm steak

The meal ended on a sweet note with the Chocolatisimo PM, a hot decadent chocolate soufflé served over a coffee reduction with vanilla ice cream. Suffice to say, we were beyond satisfied.

dessert

Our takeaway from the evening was twofold.

  1. Castillo de Argum organic wines are by far superior to a majority of the wines that we’ve tasted in the past;
  2. PM Fish & Steak exudes unmatched sophistication and fine culinary prowess that we know we’ll be back to enjoy in the very near future. Oh, and the next time we’re in Spain, we know where we plan on staying. The winery gets its name from the medieval-like castle in which it sits, a space that doubles as an elegant hotel.

Castillo de Argum

 By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

Mandarin Oriental Spa

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Miami

By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Of course, you’ll do brunch. But wouldn’t an even better present include both brunch AND a sumptuous spa treatment from one of our city’s many luxury hotels? Here, we round up some of the best places in Miami that successfully offer both.

1) Mandarin Oriental, Miami {500 Brickell Key Drive, Brickell; 305.913.8288}
What’s for Brunch: La Mar by Gastón Acurio will serve up a sumptuous Peruvian meal that includes unlimited brunch cocktails with savory entrées such as Egg-Topped Lomo Saltado and Grouper Chorrillana with bacon-mashed yucca in addition to a seafood station with cebiches, tiraditos, and Peruvian-style sushi rolls and an Anticucho Grill station. A dessert carousel completes the meal while all mothers will receive a sweet surprise gift to take home.
Spa Specials: The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Miami is offering four rejuvenating Mother’s Day treatments throughout the month of May: Elegant Wellbeing, a half-day experience that includes a 60-minute Time Ritual massage and a Hydrating Oxygen Facial; Mom’s Escape, a customizable package with choice of massage, plus mini facial and Oriental Scalp Massage; New Beginnings, designed for moms-to-be; and Mother & Daughter, where moms and daughters can relax and reconnect in a VIP Couples Spa Suite with treatments for each.

Scarpetta at Fontainebleau

Scarpetta at Fontainebleau

2) Fontainebleau {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.538.2000}
What’s for Brunch:
 At Chef Michael Mina’s innovative steakhouse, StripSteak, guests will be greeted by the signature cocktail, the Fizzy Bellboy, and freshly baked breads and pastries. The feast continues with choice of appetizer, entrée, and dessert. Meanwhile, Scarpetta is offering a succulent Italian-inspired buffet-style brunch that includes choice of a Bloody Mary, Bellini, or signature cocktail along with a spread of hot and cold appetizers, live-action carving station, delectable pasta station, and a bevy of desserts.
Spa Specials: Give Mom the gift of relaxation with a day of renewal at Fontainebleau’s award-winning Lapis Spa. Select one of the signature Mother’s Day treatments, such as the Queen of the Day, an Instant Foot Relief Massage with Lapis Soak and a Take A Load Off My Back Massage, or A Mother’s Love, a Lapissage Massage with Radiance Express Facial.

Spa at Betsy Hotel

The Wellness Garden & Spa at The Betsy

3) The Betsy Hotel {1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; .305.531.6100}
What’s for Brunch:
BLT Steak at the Betsy is offering a special Brunch Blackboard featuring a tasty array of signature dishes, including Wild Smoked Salmon Salad with baby frisée, red onions, local radish, brioche crouton, and grainy mustard vinaigrette; Open Face Double Cut Bacon Jalapeño Biscuit with heirloom tomato, pickled red onions, and local arugula; Brown Butter Waffles with wild berries and honey Chantilly cream; and much more.
Spa Specials: The Wellness Garden & Spa at The Betsy—Miami Beach’s only outdoor spa—is designed to soothe the senses with Zen-inspired wood, stone, bamboo, and natural fibers all shaded by retractable sails and private cabanas. Choose from a number of unique spa therapies, such as the signature Wood Stone Ritual with chilled stones or the indulgent Coconut Hot Towel Facial.

The Biltmore Hotel

The Biltmore Hotel

4) The Biltmore {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 855.311.6903}
What’s for Brunch:
The spectacular Biltmore is famous for its sprawling Sunday brunch buffet, which continues to be ranked among the best in all of Miami. If you’d rather celebrate Mom later in the evening, The Biltmore Palme d’Or is offering an authentic French culinary dinner with Chef Pugin’s special tasting menu, while Chef Beppe at The Biltmore Fontana is offering a special three-course dinner in the courtyard.
Spa Specials: Let Mom pick out her own treatment with a $200 gift card to the award-winning Biltmore Spa. As an added Mother’s Day bonus, she’ll receive a complimentary Vosges four-piece Praline Truffle collection and Soy Delicious Travel Candle.

The Setai Courtyard

The Setai Courtyard

5) The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899}
What’s for Brunch:
The Restaurant at The Setai’s elaborate Sunday brunch features all your favorite brunch staples, bottomless Champagne, and a few surprises like caramelized legs of lamb; truffle-roasted chicken; and a raw bar with ceviche, shrimp, and muscles all to the cool beats of live Spanish and Flamenco jazz music.
Spa Specials: The Spa at the Setai by Thémaé is offering a special Pampering Ritual throughout the month of May. For just $300, you can treat Mom to hours of indulgence with this exclusive package, which includes the Aromatherapy Foot Polish, a 60-minute traditional Balinese massage, and a 60-minute Thémaé Rejuvenating Facial.

Moye MiamiBy Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

Mary Brickell Village has no shortage of great restaurants, but if you head two blocks northwest to the less foot-trafficked First Avenue, you’ll find one of the newest additions to the neighborhood: Moyé {829 Southwest First Avenue, Brickell; 305.372.5168}.

Moye MiamiThis quaint Italian eatery helmed by Owner Tony Gallo and Owner/Chef Pietro Vardeu keeps a modest street-front, but the food and service are anything but. Start off with the Polpette meatballs or the Parmigiana (zucchini Parm with tomato, basil, and mozzarella), then order one of the signature simple yet flavorful pastas, such as the Penne with beef ragu and stracciatella cheese, the Spaghetti with fresh seafood, or the homemade Lasagna, which is delivered to your table bubbling hot still in its pan.

moye lasagne

And don’t forget their extensive wine list, which features mostly Italian reds and whites sprinkled with some selections from Argentina, Napa Valley, and beyond.

Moyé, which translates to “this is the time,” currently has six locations throughout Italy in both Milan and Florence. And you know if their dishes have managed to impress Italians, then they must be doing something very right.

zuma

Zuma

By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

California Roll? Yum. Spicy Tuny Roll? Yes, please. Sex on the Beach Roll? You’ll have to keep reading. Here’s our list of the top 10 sushi restaurants in Miami, in no particular order.

1. Zuma {270 Biscayne Boulevard Way; Downtown; 305 577 0277}
Located at the Epic Hotel facing the Miami River in Downtown Miami, the world-class Zuma is often cited as one of the city’s best. The expansive menu features a seemingly endless array of signature dishes and sushi rolls featuring surprising combinations and flavors—a true treat for the senses. Be sure to make your reservations well in advance; last-minute tables here are hard to come by.

2. Nobu {1901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.695.3232}
Just two blocks down from SLS inside the classic Miami Beach Shore Club is another world-renowned sushi restaurant: Nobu. Executive Chef Thomas Buckley honed his skills at Nobu London and now brings Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s award-winning culinary interpretations to South Beach. Most dishes are served family-style, perfect for a groups and large parties, lending an even more lively atmosphere to the already festive space.

3. Kazumi {260 Crandon Boulevard #16, Key Biscayne; 305.361.2675}
Key Biscayne locals will swear by this modern Japanese concept from the owners of Costa Med. Expect to find all your Japanese staples, including sushi rolls and sashimi, and yakitori bites from the robata grill. You’ll also find some unexpected twists like the Sex on the Beach and Honeymoon rolls. Stop by for lunch for one of the many reasonably priced bento boxes, which allow you to combine a bunch of your favorites into one flavorful meal.

Katsuya

Catsup by Starck

4. Katsuya by Starck {1701 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.455.2995}
Miamians rejoiced a few years back when the trendy SLS brand made its hotel debut in South Beach. And we were even more excited when we found out that inside this chic hotel would be the acclaimed sushi restaurant, Katsuya. The brand is known throughout the world for its modern Japanese cuisine by Master Chef Katsuya Uechi and its cool design motif by design impresario Philippe Starck—and the Miami location is no exception. More good news: a Katsuya is scheduled to open a downtown location later this year.

3. Pubbelly Sushi {1424 20th Street, Miami Beach; 305.531.9282}
From the Pubbelly Boys, the same team behind Pubbelly Gastropub, Pubbelly Sushi is a hip Sunset Harbour neighborhood sushi den that packs the house nightly with its Asian-inspired pub grub from Partners Jose Mendin and Chef Yuki Ieto. Big anime murals accent the space’s exposed brick, large chalkboards, and floor-to-ceiling windows, while stainless-steel light fixtures and dark wooden tables complete the look.

Hannya

Hannya

6. Hannya {1063 Brickell Plaza, Brickell; 305.808.5833}
It seems that a new restaurant pops up in Brickell daily, making it hard to stand out from the pack. But Hannya manages to do just that. The new eatery is a concept by Larry Chi of Sunset Place’s Akashi, which was one of the first sushi bars in the area when it opened in 1993 and remains a local favorite to this day. A must-try: the Alex #2 Roll. It’s hard to resist this tasty blend of shrimp tempura, krab salad, masago, and cream cheese topped with avocado, spicy mayo, and eel sauce—especially since the word “AMAZING!” is included in its menu description.

8. SOHO Bay {520 West Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.618.2788}
It’s very rare that a brand-new restaurant makes a top 10 list right away. Although SOHO BAY is new to Miami (it officially opened its doors on April 7), it is no stranger to the restaurant biz. In fact, this modern eatery is already an established success in Brazil, with 15 years of experience and eight locations across the country. Executive Chef Ricardo Sauri, formerly of Nobu fame, has devised a tempting sushi and sashimi-focused menu, which is complemented by a sizable list of fine sakes and innovative cocktails.

7. 26 Sushi & Tapas {9487 Harding Avenue, Surfside; 305.570.2626}
Kosher sushi? The two words at first glance do not seem to go together. But that’s exactly what makes 26 different. The restaurant, which encompasses a main dining room, sushi bar, cocktail bar, and patio dining, is certified by Kosher Miami. Chef Fernando Chang brings over a decade of experience conceiving dazzling kosher sushi and Japanese cuisine—with a hint of Peruvian flair—making it safe to say that kosher never tasted so good.

26 Sushi & Tapas

26 Sushi & Tapas

9. Fung Kü {1720 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.534.7905}
Have you ever heard of naked sushi? We hadn’t. Until we visited at the Catalina Hotel in South Beach. Serving up fine Thai and Japanese cuisine, dinner is always a treat here. And once you’re done eating, stay right where you are. A delicious party ensues complete with a live DJ spinning tunes and fabulous drink specials. As for the naked sushi? Let’s just say you’ll have to come in to experience it for yourself.

10. Naoe {661 Brickell Key Drive; Brickell Key; 305.379.0903}
Nestled on the quieter, more subdued Brickell Key, just off of Brickell Avenue, NAOE is quickly becoming the must-visit sushi restaurant for those in-the-know. At the helm is Chef Kevin Cory, whose family has been making shoyu (translation: soy sauce) since 1825 in the small town of Oono, Japan. Monday through Saturday, he serves up his signature Chef’s Choice prix-fixe menu. It changes daily, which means that every time you visit this Forbes five-star eatery (one of only 38 in the United States), you’re in for a new surprise.