Restaurants in Miami

Though Chef Douglas Rodriguez's take on Latin cuisine is contemporary, he's no newcomer to the restaurant scene. SunPost Weekly credits him with propelling award-winning eateries including Wet Paint Cafe, the original Yuca, and Patria in New York to star status. At De Rodriguez Cuba, adjacent to the five-star Hilton's Bentley Beach Club, the executive chef channels his decorated career into a menu of Havana-inspired dishes and signature ceviches crafted from sustainable seafood. He steeps lobster, shrimp, and crab in the tangy notes of coconut milk, lime, and ginger for the thai coconut seafood ceviche and tops the popular vaca frita entree with avocado and tomato chimichurri. Complemented by Cuban cocktails or a sip from the large wine list, the dishes evoke images of the islands.

The eatery's decor also contributes Caribbean character, stealing the spotlight in a Miami Beach magazine piece. According to the article, "guests can sit poolside or in the lovely dining salon facing the sea," or they can set up shop at the 25-foot ceviche bar in a space "that's all dark woods and serene white curtains." Scattered palm trees and large green lounge chairs border one side of the pool, the other bank crowded with crimson-trimmed tan couches that melt seamlessly into the open dining room. The sweet notes of live music fill the age-worn slats above the bar, beside which an aquarium teems with fish like the fridge of a hibernating bear.

With the deft hands of a veteran baker, Vincent Benoliel keenly measures almonds, eggs, and sugar, because accuracy is essential when making macarons. The ephemeral sweets come in a rainbow of colors and might taste of chocolate, rose petal, or lemon, but every single one has that je ne sais quoi of a macaron made by a native Frenchman. Vincent grew up in France's ubiquitous restaurant industry, ascending to the rank of sous chef in a Parisian brasserie when he was only 18. In 2005, he brought the richness of French cuisine to South Florida by importing the Eiffel Tower in 3-pound chunks and by opening Le Boudoir in Miami. His handiwork includes delicacies such as escargot, steak tartare, and fresh pastries.

Chefs at High Steaks BBQ prepare barbecue classics from across the south. They expertly slice some cuts into brisket before slowly smoke roasting them in a red wine and BBQ spice marmalade; others they grill into juicy ribeyes. There’s Carolina-style barbecue pork—which chefs slow-smoke and hand chop from the bone—and Memphis-style ribs rubbed with natural spices and kissed by Elvis’s ghost. Drawing inspiration from the Lone Star State, the chefs also smoke-roast certified Angus brisket in a spiced red-wine marmalade. Organic-cornmeal hush puppies and a handful of homemade desserts round out each meal.

High Steaks BBQ accommodates guests in their main dining room or 60-seat private dining room, where visitors can watch the game on a high-definition TV or ritually torch the opposing team’s jerseys in the brick fireplace.

At a new West Kendall location, the culinary team at Latin Restaurant churns out authentic, flavorful Cuban dishes ranging from savory ropa vieja to sweet tres leches, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The menu comprises traditional beef, chicken, seafood, and pork entrees and showcases a selection of 25 sandwiches and at least twice as many slices of bread. Breakfast items such as french toast and omelets are available around the clock.