Village Tavern, Miami

After learning how to finesse French cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu, Jeff Tamayo applied his refined skill set as a chef for a catering company, then made the move to Kings Creek Village Tavern, where he's been the head chef and manager since the tavern opened in 2006. At Kings Creek Village Tavern, Tamayo puts a healthy spin on many pub favorites, including chicken wings that are baked rather than fried before being tossed with the customer's choice from eight sauce options. A dozen draft beers offer a variety of thirst-quenching options, perfect for washing down bites while watching a sporting event on TV or celebrating a local little-league team's victory.

Kings Creek Village Tavern's wood floors, stools, chairs, and tables reverberate every other Saturday from the boom of a live band. Patrons also regularly pack the tavern on Thursdays, when karaoke allows them to showcase the songs they practice in the shower while their voice-coach sits in the sink.