Tag Archives: Miami Restaurants

First Watch…The Daytime Cafe

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It seems as if my family is always on the hunt for new breakfast/brunch places. We try our best to eat “somewhat healthy” during the week, so naturally, when we wake up on the weekends, the first words out of my husband’s mouth are “where are we going for breakfast?” Because of this I am always on the lookout for new restaurants (thanks Instagram). Last weekend, we woke up very late so that immediately limited many of our breakfast choices in town. I decided to search on Yelp and came across First Watch (a chain with 15 locations throughout South Florida and over 200 locations throughout 29 other states). The name is a nautical reference to the first work shift aboard a ship as First Watch restaurants are only open from 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM. I had never heard of them and the one here in Miami is in the Blue Lagoon are, which we rarely frequent, so this was all new to us. Well, we were pleasantly surprised. First of all, the place is pretty large, so there was still ample seating even with the social distancing of tables. They seemed pretty busy, but since we got there around 1PM, we only waited 5 minutes for a table. All items are made to order. The restaurant does not use heat lamps or deep fryers, only the finest ingredients possible for the freshest taste around. Also make sure to try one of the yummy freshly squeezed juices.  A kids menu is also available.

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We started with the Holey Donuts, cinnamon sugar-dusted cake donut holes served with chocolate sauce and mixed berry compote for dipping.  I know that doesn’t sound too healthy but we just had to try these, and it was worth it! Then hubby ordered his usual waffle with eggs and decided to try the million dollar bacon (four slices of their signature hardwood smoked bacon baked with brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne and a maple syrup drizzle). I ordered the avocado toast, with 2 eggs, and a freshly squeezed orange juice.

donuts

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avoado toast

The restaurant also makes delicious fresh salads and sandwiches for lunch, take a look at all these goodies (all photos courtesy of First Watch):

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Cobb Salad

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Ham & Gruyere Melt

Market Veggie

Market Veggie Sandwich

And here are a few more delectable breakfast items:

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Floridian French Toast

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Farmhouse Hash

fritatta rustica

Frittata Rustica

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Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

We will definitely be back!  Which dish appeals to you most?

First Watch Cafe
5799 NW 7th Street
Miami, FL 33125
Open Daily: 7am – 2:30pm
Closed on Thanksgiving & Christmas
786-605-5050

My Signature

Honey Uninhibited

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Searching for a new brunch place recently, my husband suggested we try Honey Uninhibited. Owned by former Florida Gator Carlos Dunlap, Honey is one of the latest eateries to open up in the Brickell Avenue district of Miami.

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Outside of restaurant

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Entryway to the restrooms

inside hallway

Doorway leading into the kitchen

The menu is mainly comprised of Dunlap’s top soul-food picks, many of which are a result of his eating experiences throughout his extensive travels. I ordered the “Challah Berry,” (nod to Halle Berry), challah bread French toast, strawberry ricotta cheese stuffing, strawberry compote, Chantilly cream, raspberry glaze and mixed berries. This was more dessert than breakfast!

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Challah Berry

My husband had the waffle topped with Chantilly cream and chocolate chips (you can choose from a number of toppings on the waffles and pancakes). Other breakfast yummies include the Red Velvet square pancakes, served with chocolate chips, strawberry mascarpone, Chantilly cream and fresh strawberries, as well as any of the “Bennies” or various other egg dishes.  And if you’re in the mood for lunch, look no more.  The menu offers many items such as the Uninhibited Burger and Truffle Mac-N-Cheese (you can add either chicken or lobster). Naturally, honey is on all tables as the go-to condiment. This is a great place to experience in a large group so you can order many of the items and share. Take a look at some of these delectable dishes.

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Waffle with Chantilly cream and chocolate chips

Red Velvet Pancakes

Red Velvet Pancakes (Photo courtesy of Honey Uninhibited)

Truffle Lobster Mac

Truffle Mac-n-Cheese with Lobster (Photo courtesy of Honey Uninhibited)

Braised Short Rib Benny

Braised Short Rib Benny (Photo courtesy of Honey Uninhibited)

chickem benny

Sweet Chick Benny (Photo courtesy of Honey Uninhibited)

Have you been to Honey Uninhibited? I would love to know what dish you enjoyed most!
My Signature

Strada in the Grove

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My favorite type of food is Italian, always has been. I am always trying out new Italian places everywhere I visit. Thankfully, living in Miami allows me many options. My husband is not big on dishes with creamy sauces or cheese (don’t ask), however he loves seafood so he always finds a nice fish dish to enjoy. Miami has many amazingly delicious Italian eateries, however, Strada is one of my favorites, from the marvelous food to the side entryway, which reminds me of many restaurants in Italy, to the friendly wait staff. Its sister restaurant/pizzeria, Farinelli 1937, located directly across the street, is another great eatery in Coconut Grove, also not to be missed.

Outside

Side entryway of Strada

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Interior of Strada

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Sitting outside in the evenings. Photo courtesy of Strada.

At first glance it’s hard to choose from so many amazing dishes, but here is what we started with:

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Ricotta cheese and prosciutto appetizer, delicious!

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Fried calamari

Then on to the main dishes.  I ordered the pumpkin agnolotti which I always order here, it is amazing (I am a creature of habit), and my husband ordered the salmon.

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Agnolotti di Zucca al Burro e Salvia
Homemade roasted pumpkin and amaretti agnolotti in butter sage sauce.

salmon

Salmone al Ginger
Grilled marinated fresh Atlantic salmon, crunchy ginger and carrot salad.
Served with green beans and potato gratin.

For dessert we ordered the panna cotta, one of my all time favorite Italian desserts, and it was delicious.  Just the right texture too.  And it came in a cute tiny mason jar to boot:

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Panna Cotta served with fruit.

You basically cannot go wrong with this place.  All of the dishes we have tried have been excellently prepared and the ambiance is fantastic, located in Coconut Grove, with outdoor seating available as well. Makes for an enticing evening out.

Have you dined at Strada?  I would love to hear what you enjoyed most…

Strada in the Grove
3176 Commodore Plaza
Miami, Florida 33133
(305)444-1312
http://www.stradainthegrove.com

My Signature

Root & Bone Miami

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A few months ago, we tried out a new restaurant, Root & Bone, located in South Miami. I must admit I was a bit skeptical at first, as unfortunately restaurants (event some really good ones) do not bode well in this area.  However, I was intrigued and decided it to give it a try after seeing the crowds on a few occasions. The restaurant was created by Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth, owners of several other amazing eateries, including Root & Bone in NYC.  Root & Bone boasts a delectable southern-inspired menu, serving options such as tea brined fried chicken, shrimp and grits, lobster pappardelle, and cast iron seared yellowtail snapper. The restaurant also offers a weekend brunch (I have yet to try) which includes banana cream pie waffles, shrimp and grits, savory “everything bagel” waffle, the avocado toast and short rib meatloaf and eggs, just to name a few. A children’s menu is also offered for the kiddies, as well as, a full bar, craft cocktails and beers, a Bloody Mary cart during brunch and a Whiskey/Bourbon cart at dinner. I also love the décor, full of southern influences (drinks served in mason jars), makes you feel as if you’re dining in a modern, yet cozy farmhouse.  The restaurant also offers outside seating.  Take a look:

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Here are some of the dishes that we had for dinner (we had a tough time deciding):

Gooey Sweet Corn Spoon Bread – Cast iron baked spoon bread, cheddar & buttermilk cream, heavenly, but I love cornbread so I am a bit biased!

gooey corn bread

Sticky Pork Belly Bacon – Spicy bourbon maple, benne seeds & sea salt

pork belly bacon

Mac & Cheese – Big pasta, crunchy cheese & biscuit herb crust, this was my favorite dish!

mac and cheese

Barbecue Bruleed Spare Ribs – Smoky & burnt brown sugar crusted ribs, pickled fresno chilies & tangy barbecue, this was my husband’s favorite dish.

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 Have you eaten at Root & Bone?  I would love to hear what you enjoyed most.

My Signature

Root and Bone
5958 S. Dixie Highway
South Miami, FL 33143
786-785-1001
rootnbonemia.com

LUNCH
Mon-Fri | 11:30am to 4:00pm

SUPPER
Mon-Thu | 4:00pm to 10:00pm
Fri & Sat | 4:00pm to 11:00pm
Sunday 4:00pm to 10:00pm

WEEKEND BRUNCH
Sat & Sun | 10:00am to 4:00pm

WHISK Gourmet

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So, I finally got to eat at WHISK Gourmet. I had been hearing about this amazing restaurant, and was dying to try it out, but they don’t take reservations for parties smaller than six, and they’re usually pretty busy (they won’t even sit you down until your entire party is present). WHISK is owned by Brendan and Kristin Conner, a brother and sister team, who started the business in 2007 as a catering company in Coral Gables. The catering company evolved into a restaurant over the next few years and they relocated to South Miami in 2011, making it a true neighborhood restaurant. They have really put this place on the map, but it’s quite tiny, so you just might miss it if you’re not familiar with the area. Parking can be difficult, as it is throughout most of Miami, but don’t let this keep you away.

WHISK Restaurant

WHISK Restaurant

We recently went on the off-chance of getting a table on a Thursday evening, and we got lucky. First, I love the decor. It’s a cozy little restaurant that makes you feel as if you were in any other town, but Miami. Whisk has a certain charm and warmth to it and the atmosphere is very welcoming (oh yeah, and they serve their drinks in mason jars, my kind of place).

I wasn’t sure what to order, as everything sounded delicious, true southern comfort food. We started with their freshly baked warm Homemade Cornbread served with scallion-honey-buttercorn…yum! Then we ordered the Butternut Squash Soup and the Fried Green Tomatoes, as they are quite popular, and now I know why. Being a huge fan of pork, hubby had the Pulled Pork Sliders served with honey cider slaw, mustard barbecue sauce, and house pickles. I ordered the Lump Crab Cake served with sautéed spinach, crispy shallots and corn relish.

Warm homemade Corn bread and Butternut Squash Soup

Warm homemade Corn bread and Butternut Squash Soup

Fried Green Tomatoes & herb buttermilk dressing

Fried Green Tomatoes & herb buttermilk dressing

Pulled Pork Sliders

Pulled Pork Sliders

Crab Cake

Lump Crab Cake served with sautéed spinach, crispy shallots and corn relish.

Everything was delicious but we definitely took some home, as the portions are generous, and we made sure we left room for dessert. All of the desserts sounded heavenly, and in addition to the variety of desserts (which I believe changes quite often to keep the menu fresh and exciting), they offer a daily homemade cake (Sweet Annie’s Slice of Cake), which ranges from guava to plain vanilla, but they are all delicious and moist. Luckily for hubby, on the day we went they were also serving coconut bread pudding, one of his favorite all time desserts!

Warm Coconut Bread Pudding served with vanilla crème anglaise and toasted coconut flakes

Warm Coconut Bread Pudding served with vanilla crème anglaise and toasted coconut flakes.

Needless to say, we’ve been back a few more times, including a Sunday family brunch, and this place does not disappoint! Every Friday is Burger Friday, featuring a different burger every week, adding to the originality of their menu.  Here are a few more photos of the dishes we had on our other visits:

The Tuna Melt, fresh grilled tuna salad, melted havarti cheese, bacon, arugula, tomato, crispy shallots, mayo & dijon

The Tuna Melt, fresh grilled tuna salad, melted havarti cheese, bacon, arugula, tomato, crispy shallots, mayo & dijon.

Pan Roasted Snapper Filet, fingerling potato cake, grilled asparagus, beurre blanc, charred lemon

Pan Roasted Snapper Filet, fingerling potato cake, grilled asparagus, beurre blanc, charred lemon.

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PB&J Parfait layered on top of chocolate cookie crumbles.

Papa’s Buttermilk Pancakes served with pecan-caramel praline butter and maple syrup

Papa’s Buttermilk Pancakes served with pecan caramel praline butter and maple syrup.  
My daughter claims these are the absolute best pancakes she’s ever had in her life!

Fried Green Tomato Stack with bacon, pimiento cheese, baby arugula & egg.

Fried Green Tomato Stack with bacon, pimiento cheese and baby arugula, topped with an egg.

If you’re in the Miami area, make sure you stop by and check them out. I guarantee you will love their food!

WHISK Gourmet Food & Catering
7382 SW 56th Avenue
South Miami, FL 33143
786-268-8350

http://www.whiskgourmet.com