La Gloutonnerie, Miami Beach

The past and present intermingle at La Gloutonnerie, which "brings the best of French old-school cuisine to the beach's more refined SoFi...neighborhood," according to Fodor's. Executive Chef Christian Testa leads the kitchen, drawing on the formal culinary education and international fine-dining experience he accrued over years spent living in Italy. Now in Miami Beach, Chef Testa continues to showcase his distinctly European technique while conceptualizing and preparing elevated renditions of rustic French cooking. This approach leads to a menu that Miami New Times described as "steeped in tradition, with only an occasional nod to modern sensibilities." A foie gras terrine with homemade chutney and fennel-tinged bread can help prime palates for complex entrées such as duck confit with plum sauce or Dover sole meunière with capers and lemon. The wine list runs to 17 pages wine list, comprising perennial favorites as well as rare gems from winemaking regions across all seven hemispheres.

This wine selection also happens to be one of the first things that diners see when they enter the restaurant and are confronted with a curving, illuminated wall of bottles that extends from the floor to the ceiling. Throughout the space, La Gloutonnerie exudes a vintage charm seemingly inspired by a chic French home. Geometrically patterned wallpaper complements various homespun touches, such as rustic wooden shelves filled with books, antique radio sets, and empty glass jars. At the same time, track lighting and spherical pendant lamps lend a more contemporary vibe to the dining areas.