A triple threat: restaurant, sports bar, lounge. Order a gourmet burger (or design your own) and a boozy milk shake (from the soda fountain). The bar serves till late and the upstairs lounge has a chill, un-South Beach vibe.
Where you take out-of-towners to show them the Miami they expect. Brave the beautiful people and mortgage-your-house bill for a giant meatball with ricotta. Or go for a drink and take advantage of free bacon at the bar.
Brave the crowds Monday-Friday, 4-8 p.m., when you’ll get half-off drinks; cheap beer; and a raw bar with oysters, crab, and shrimp — all for less than five bucks.
An Aventura restaurant that’s not in a mall? How innovative! Get neighborly at this low-key enoteca. Pair rustic Italian dishes with the stellar wine list (more than 100 bottles).
This super-casual spot is on people-watching mecca Lincoln Road. (Sit outside. The inside’s a dive.) There are more than 80 varieties of brew — from Belgian to Japanese — all for just 4 bucks.
The Sunday brunch is a scene worth checking out. White beds. Sandy beaches. House music. Scantily clad ladies and gents. It’s everything you’ve read. Plus, ya know, food.
The battle for Miami’s best Indian rages on. This contender may be pricey (location, location, location), but folks rave about the naans, curries, and samosas. Service may be slow but, hey, it’s South Beach.