Restaurants in Olympia Heights

Marigold walls dotted with framed photos and chalkboard specials warm up the interior of La Patagonia Argentina. But with a menu that includes everything from fresh seafood catches of the day to housemade pastas and new york strip steaks, guests might not notice the color of the walls any more than Mr. Magoo notices anything.

La Patagonia Argentina's selection of red and white wines pairs with skirt steak and sweetbreads, chicken piccata, and grilled short ribs. Meals conclude with housemade desserts such as flan or chocolate soufflé with vanilla ice cream.

Fresh off a win for best burger at Florida’s inaugural Burgers & Beer festival in Hollywood, the Pincho Factory’s chefs are back manning the griddles in Miami. Sizzling away are their gourmet burgers, including the Pincho burger, topped with signature potato sticks and secret pink sauce, and the Fritanga burger, with white fried cheese, cabbage slaw, and crema.

Pincho Factory’s hot dogs and fries aren’t to be scoffed at either—the fries were voted the best in South Florida by Local 10, and Burgerbeast.com lauded its Vienna dogs by stating, “Just in case you live under a hot dog rock, this is the good stuff.” The Sunday brunch puts a creative spin on some old standbys, including the banana-bread french toast and red-velvet pancakes topped with peppermint cream-cheese frosting.

Bottega Grill's executive chef, Alex Escobar, oversees a menu that spans the globe with dishes and drinks hailing from a multitude of countries. As a native Brazilian, Alex brings expertise to the grilled churrasco steaks and caipirinhas flavored with fresh lime juice, and his jambalaya takes taste buds on a fan-boat trip through the bayou. Pastas, brick-oven pizzas, and paninis evoke memories of Italy, and southwestern spices add a piquant bite to several of his salads. The lengthy wine list assembles varietals from the United States, South America, Europe, and Australia, and the specialty libations hold passport stamps from Mexico, Scotland, and Saturn.

Calming breezes waft throughout Uvas Restaurant, emanating from the sea wind drifting across the patio lounge and the refreshing drafts from the dining room’s air conditioning. The aromas of chorizo simmering in spicy chardonnay broth and sizzling Angus beef mingle with these gentle gusts, filling the 1920s Mediterranean-style building with the robust fragrances of European dishes. Chefs swaddle burgers in focaccia, fill empanadas with sweet plantains and fresh mozzarella, and, for brunch, souse poached eggs in hollandaise sauce and top vanilla pancakes with strawberries and white chocolate shavings. They serve up mimosas and champagne with late morning dishes, while pouring an extensive selection of international wines at dinner.

The chefs at Julio's Natural Foods Restaurant concoct fresh, vitamin-packed dishes from healthy ingredients. They boil up pots of organic brown rice and quinoa to accompany grilled organic tofu and fish fillets, and they pack their turkey burgers and zero-fat tuna sandwiches with fistfuls of sprouts, alfalfa, carrots, and other veggies. Signature dishes include Julio's special quesadilla, a popular plate of tortilla, cheese, tomatoes, spinach, and secret sauce. Fresh squeezed juices and complex smoothies wash down these feel-good foods and make guilt-free filling for water balloons.

Like the red cape of a matador attracts a bull, the bright-red awning at 1401 Argentinean Bistro beckons to diners. Once lured inside, guests find plates piled high with "Argentinean dishes mixed with Italian inspiration," as noted by the Miami New Times. Patrons relax in the casual eatery as they nosh on housemade pastas, slow-cooked sauces, and that most sacred Argentinean meal: grilled meats. Dinner service gets an extra surge of energy on Thursday and Friday nights, when live music fills the room from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.