17 Restaurants That Define Miami Dining

A Miami staple and one of the first restaurants to open in the Design District, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink has been a reliable spot since 2007. James Beard Award-winning chef/owner Michael Schwartz is known for his fresh takes on classic fare using local ingredients and a comfort food approach, with many dishes made in a wood oven. Standout dishes on the global menu are the stracciatella with heirloom tomato, olive oil, basil, and sea salt; and the pan-roasted half chicken served with red onion, potato, and red chimichurri. Don’t overlook the “snacks” section of the menu, especially the kimchi — it’s the menu’s sleeper hit, a non-fermented, non-traditional take on the Korean classic topped with crushed peanuts.

Some of Miami’s freshest food can be found at Ghee Indian Kitchen in Dadeland, where James Beard Awards finalist chef/owner Niven Patel is known for growing a large portion of the restaurant’s menu in his own Homestead backyard, fondly named Rancho Patel. Ghee’s menu includes seasonal takes on traditional Indian dishes available a la carte or as a family-style tasting menu. Highlights include ghost pepper cheddar naan, chana masala, and kerala lamb (roasted lamb in a tomato and coconut milk sauce served with steamed basmati). Stop in for lunch where the tiffin (an Indian lunchbox) special of the day is one of the best deals in the area — under $20 for a three-course meal.

Dine surrounded by opulence inside the former Versace Mansion. This South Beach hot spot is known for its wild history surrounding the colorful lifestyle of its previous owner, fashion mogul Gianni Versace. The mansion is now an upscale fine dining establishment with an Italian-Mediterranean menu that features a large selection of seafood-focused appetizers including a raw bar, pastas, and an entree section with both land and sea options. A simple but delightful dish is Gianni’s spaghetti pomodoro with housemade pasta, San Marzano tomatoes, basil, and olive oil. Those who choose to dine outside will have a prime view of the iconic pool that’s made with Italian mosaic and 24-karat gold tiles, creating a stunning backdrop for a memorable dining experience.

Prime 112 is always one of the busiest restaurants in town with long lines of patrons hoping to snag a table as it’s the place for those who want to see and be seen. The South of Fifth restaurant is as well-known for its rich, indulgent dishes as it is for its celebrity clientele. A classic steakhouse with a bit of a twist, the massive menu has all the greats and a bit more. Feast on large dry-aged steaks paired with truffled lobster mac and cheese, tuna tartare, and lobster or stone crab cocktail. The portions are large, making sharing several dishes with the table a breeze. Save room for dessert as the oversized slices of cake are worth the extra calories.

Miami’s first beach club boasts casual boho vibes as one of the city’s most laid-back places to dine. Reserve a cabana table to take in everything this hidden gem has to offer. Known for its Sunday brunch ($65 per person), diners take advantage of a buffet like no other featuring charcuterie, raw bar, sushi, salads, an omelette station, waffles, carving stations, make-your-own pasta, and a full bakery selection — all while basking in the ocean breeze, sipping on mojitos, and taking in the live music and weekly performers.

Komodo is one of Miami’s most stylish restaurants, and that’s to be expected as it’s the first opened by nightlife guru Dave Grutman. High-end Southeast Asian cuisine in a luxuriously sexy atmosphere is the deal here. The stunning large bar is a focal point upon arrival, but once diners step a bit further they discover the large open restaurant and its various elements of seating, including the ever-exclusive nests perched above ground floor diners. No visit to Komodo is complete without the Peking duck served traditionally with cucumber, scallion, pancakes, and hoisin. Other popular dishes include the tuna and toro roll, lobster dynamite (spicy lobster piled high on bite-sized pieces of crispy quinoa and topped with scallions), and baked Alaska for dessert.

Diners can take in the passing yachts and gorgeous Miami skyline while at Seaspice Brasserie, located in the heart of the city along the Miami River. Taking a cue from its waterfront surroundings, the Mediterranean menu is heavily focused on fresh seafood. The sea salt-crusted daily fish is a can’t miss staple that’s oven baked and served with black truffle risotto, lemon, capers, and brown butter sauce. Head there for happy hour — Tuesday through Friday from 5 pm to 7 pm — for an array of seafood staples including stone crabs, shrimp cocktail, oysters, and Osetra caviar while watching the sun set over the Magic City.

An upscale Chinese-Japanese restaurant located in Downtown Miami, Novikov has an extensive menu featuring all the greats from dim sum to sushi to Peking duck. The space is beautifully decorated with a bright red accent wall and large cozy booths throughout the dining room, and there’s a fresh fish display case at the center of the dining room highlighting the daily catch. Weekend brunch is especially popular, with bottomless beverages and unlimited access to roughly a dozen appetizers, plus a choice of entrees. Those who want an impressive lunch during the week should check out the business lunch special, with a choice of three courses for $23.

The first pop up in Miami, that years later became a thriving brick and mortar in MiMo, serves up Cajun-Vietnamese fusion soul food that’s full of flavor and inspired by the heritage of co-owner Ani Meinhold and culinary background of chef/co-owner Cesar Zapata. Popular dishes include the caramel chicken wings, PY noodles (house-made egg noodles, garlic butter, oyster sauce, parmesan cheese), smoked short rib pho, and coconut croissant bread pudding. It’s not only the food that draws a crowd, but also the fun cocktail menu featuring unique drinks with flavors that complement the Viet-Cajun fare.

Modeled after a WWI French farmhouse, 94th Aero Squadron provides one of the most unique dining experiences in Miami. Situated right along the outskirts of Miami International Airport’s runway, diners are able to enjoy their meal while watching the action on the tarmac. The menu is full of classic American fare influenced by other cultures, created by chef Gabriel Del Valles who pours his heart and soul into every dish he makes. Favorites include mahi mahi either grilled or blackened and topped with shrimp scampi or cowboy ribeye topped with a shiny demi-glace.

Those looking to be wined and dined by a Top Chef winner should make their way to Stubborn Seed, where chef/owner Jeremy Ford is serving skillfully plated high-end fresh seasonal dishes using as many local products as he can possibly source. The menu at this intimate South of Fifth restaurant rotates regularly based on what produce is available, with a selection of dishes that are available as a chef’s tasting or a la carte. As a protege of famed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Ford’s dishes are well-executed and often almost too pretty to eat. Though the menu is rarely the same, there’s always fresh baked bread, handmade pasta, a local fish, and an A5 wagyu dish available.

The brainchild of businessman Ricardo Young, Victory is a restaurant and lounge with a trendy ambiance — white tablecloths and chandeliers mix with a wood beam ceiling and long, prominent bar — and party vibes. Here, the real action occurs during the day parties, which include bottomless mimosas, DJs, and raucous vibes, but late-night visitors can still have plenty of fun with a variety of hookah flavors and specialty cocktails. To eat, the menu consists of elevated comfort food such as lobster fried rice and cilantro lime lamb chops, while brunch has shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles.

Open since 1982, Shooters Waterfront has established itself as one of Fort Lauderdale’s most infamous restaurants. Situated dockside with sweeping views of the Intracoastal Waterway, it’s the perfect spot for laid-back dining. The restaurant consists of three cocktail bars and a chic outdoor lounge where diners can enjoy the waterway breeze, with menu options including everything from raw bar to flatbreads to sushi and large-scale entrees. The baked seafood pasta with rock shrimp, bay scallops, PEI mussels, jumbo lump crab, and torchio pasta in a Champagne alfredo sauce topped with parmesan cheese and toasted goat cheese breadcrumbs is always a winner. Shooters Waterfront has 340 feet of open dockage space and complimentary valet parking allowing diners to arrive by land or sea.

Le Chick is an Amsterdam transplant that serves—you guessed it—great chicken. This casual hotspot has standout cocktails, delicious food, and an exciting late-night atmosphere. Menu highlights include the royale with cheese, or dry-aged brisket 3-ounce double patties with cheddar, chopped tomato, lettuce, house pickles, and secret sauce on a brioche bun; crispy buttermilk fried chicken served with spicy maple syrup and house made ranch; and street corn topped with truffle aioli, cotija cheese, and togarashi. Happy hour is where the major deals happen; head here on weekdays from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm for $8 cocktails, $5 beers, and discounted bites.

A casual dining hotspot inside the Westin Fort Lauderdale, Lona Cocina Tequileria serves soulful Mexican food by acclaimed chef Pablo Salas. Flavorful entrees include the brisket quesadilla made with slow roasted adobo peppers, white onion, melted Mexican cheese, cilantro, and guacamole or the arroz cremoso con langosta topped with butter-poached lobster and truffle oil. Daily specials such as $5 taco Tuesdays, $7 tequila Thursdays, and bottomless brunch on Sundays make for an appealing case to visit this colorful restaurant every day of the week. Plus, the specialty margaritas and wide variety of tequila selections are the ideal pairing to the chef's hearty-sized dishes.

An iconic Miami establishment that’s made its mark as one of Little River’s first establishments, Blue Collar is Danny Serfer’s comfort food spot that’s kept diners coming back since 2011 with no signs of slowing down. The menu features hearty plates of home-style cooking such as a parm (veal, chicken, etc) of the day, short rib that changes regularly, and a daily-changing list of vegetables to complement mains or as a group of four. While the portions are large, it’s always suggested that you save room for dessert, as the old-school, large slices of cake are something you don’t want to miss.

A brewery that got its roots in 1888 in Cuba has made its way to Miami with the help of years of research and a burning desire to recreate a family’s legacy. This full-service brewery and restaurant is a lively spot complete with live entertainment, a Caribbean-inspired menu, and lush tropical gardens that make a visit for a beer easily turn into a complete afternoon or evening. One of Miami’s most well known chefs, Cindy Hutson, creates dishes such as Cuban sandwich empanadas, lager-steamed mussels, and a Latin lovers pizza (pulled pork, chorizo, churrasco, and citrus onions). La Original (the beer that started it all) is an amber lager, but the menu features a handful of other beers from suave IPAs to high octane tropical-influenced delights.