While the months of August and September are regarded as “low season” in Miami, it is actually a great time to be in the city for anyone who loves food. Miami Spice is a two-month-long restaurant promotion organized by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB). From August 1 through September 30, 2019, participating upscale and fine-dining establishments will offer three-course menus at reduced prices of $23 for lunch/ brunch and $39 for dinner (per person). These prices include an appetizer, entrée and dessert. (Tax, tip and service charges are additional, as well as libations, unless otherwise indicated.)
This is Miami Spice’s 18th year and its biggest to date with a total of 257 participating restaurants and 43 new additions, which include: Brad Kilgore’s Ember and Kaido; Michelle Bernstein and Julio Cabrera’s Café La Trova (Trivia: Cabrera was recently named American Bartender of the Year at the 2019 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards); Jose Mendin’s La Placita; Fabio and Maria Trabocchi’s Fiola Miami; Hemant Mathur’s Maska Indian Kitchen & Bar; and Javier Plascencia’s Pez Miami.
James Beard-nominated Brad Kilgore’s Alter has been part of Miami Spice over the years, and this year, his Japanese-inspired lounge Kaido and wood-fired American bistro Ember in the Design District are participating as well. “We are looking forward to Miami Spice at all the restaurants,” he says. “It’s a great opportunity for the restaurants to be able to show new local diners what we are all about.” Diners can expect to see signatures on the menu like Kaido’s yakitori chicken skewer. “When Daniel Boulud came to eat, he ordered a second one,” shares Kilgore, “[For Miami Spice] we are updating it with the addition of chargrilled and glazed house made baby bok choy kimchi.” Ember is offering its fried chicken (usually served with caviar butter) with Nashville hot style chicken fat and spicy chili dipping, especially for Miami Spice. “Chef Nick Graves worked in Nashville for years and has been waiting to bust this out.” By mid-August, Ember will be debuting lunch for the first time. “We will be offering a Miami Spice style menu with a few a la carte options like an All-American Double Burger with Special Sauce.”
Hemant Mathur—the first Indian chef to receive a Michelin star in the US via his (now-shuttered) Devi in New York—opened Maska in Midtown Miami last December 2018. “Miami Spice is an event that locals look forward to in order to try the best restaurants in town and we couldn’t miss the opportunity of sharing our concept given it is also our first year,” shares Hindi-speaking Portuguese restaurant manager Cristiano Azevedo (who worked previously at Indian Accent in both London and New York). “We decided to portfolio dishes we’re getting known for and [that are] representative of the various states of India so people could be exposed to the different regional cuisines within one menu.” These include Maska chicken, the restaurant’s version of a butter chicken (a must-order!), khoya mushroom (paneer stuffed portobello mushroom), crab tadka dumplings, and kulcha (get the one stuffed with mushroom and truffle). Maska’s Miami Spice offering includes a complimentary cocktail—the Aam-Chi martini, a gin-based cocktail topped with mango lassi foam, “an aperitif inspired by modern and classic India,” describes Azevedo.
Also in its first year, Pez, developed by Baja culinary movement founder Javier Plascencia, “will take guests to Baja with flavor combinations you won’t find anywhere else in Miami,” says owner Frank Neri. Apart from a selection of tostadas and tacos for lunch, hearty mains like pulpo en mole de aceintunas and pork belly al vesuvio can be had for dinner.
As for Novikov, the first US outpost of the London and Moscow celeb favorite, this is their second year. “Our first year participating in Miami Spice could not have been more successful,” discloses Philippine-born head chef Oliver Lustado. “While Novikov Miami debuted at the end of the season, Miami Spice was a great vessel to help grow our awareness within the community. For our second year participating in Miami Spice, we are thrilled to announce we will be offering a three-course dinner menu in addition to lunch. It will be our first year unveiling a specially priced evening menu.” Must-orders from the Japanese-Chinese outpost include chicken and morel siu mai, spicy prawn money bags, robata salmon and black bean chicken.
Speaking of the Philippines, while there aren’t yet any dedicated Filipino restaurants that have emerged in Miami proper per se, diners who would like to experience Filipino flavors can visit Pao by Paul Qui at the Faena Hotel, where head chef Benjamin Murray is serving cobia kinilaw and fried chicken with banana ketchup. Sister restaurant Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann is also in participation with mains like local snapper a la plancha, ribeye churrasco and cast-iron wild mushroom to look forward to.
Options are the name of the game at Santiago Gomez’s Tacology at Brickell City Center, where the pioneer of modern Mexican cuisine in Miami has created a menu “where clients can choose from our different taco offerings,” in addition to a starter and dessert. His fine-dining Cantina La Veinte is also participating.
Long-time participant Soho House South Beach’s picturesque Cecconi’s is mixing new seasonal items and local favorites like bucatini topped with bottarga and pappardelle with lamb ragu. “It’s a great way to reach the local community and attract new foodies in the area,” says executive chef Sergio Sigala.
“Ariete loves the Miami Spice time of the year,” says chef-owner Mike Beltran, known for his progressive American cuisine influenced by his Cuban heritage, at his popular Coconut Grove location. “It really is an opportunity to introduce so many new guests to the restaurant. This year, we have actually changed the format completely. The first course and dessert course are completely family style so you get every dish!”
Here is the full list of participating restaurants for Miami Spice 2019:
- 107 Steak & Bar
- 1111 Peruvian Bistro
- 27 Restaurant & Bar
- 5300 Chop House
- 7 Spices
- 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant
- A Fish Called Avalon
- AD LIB
- Add!kt at the W Miami
- Alley, The
- Alloy Bistro Gourmet
- Alma
- Alter
- Amara at Paraiso
- Amare Ristorante
- American Social
- Amore Restaurant & Bar
- Anacapri Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar – Miami Lakes
- Anacapri Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar – Pinecrest
- AQ Chop House by IL Mulino
- Ariete
- Aromas de Peru West Miami
- Artisan Beach House
- Atlantikos – The St. Regis Bal Harbour
- Azabu Miami Beach
- Bakan
- Bagatelle Miami
- BALEENkitchen
- Bâoli
- Bar Collins at Loews Miami Beach
- Barsecco
- Bazaar by José Andrés, The
- Bellmónt Spanish Restaurant
- Bird & Bone
- BLT Prime
- Blue Collar
- Blue Matisse Restaurant & NAU Lounge
- Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill
- Boulud Sud
- BOURBON STEAK Miami
- Brasserie Brickell Key
- Brasserie Central
- Brisa Bistro at Hilton Miami Downtown
- Bulla Gastrobar Coral Gables
- Bulla Gastrobar Doral
- Burger Bar & Grill at The St. Regis
- Byblos Miami
- Café Catula Fine Restaurant and Art Gallery
- Cafe Prima Pasta
- Cafe La Trova
- Cafe Roval
- Caffe Vialetto
- Caña
- Cantina La Veinte
- Capital Grille, The
- Casa Faena Restaurant
- Casablanca Seafood Bar & Grill
- Catch Bar + Grill
- Cecconi’s Miami Beach at Soho Beach House
- Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar
- Chotto Matte
- Christy’s Restaurant
- Cibo Wine Bar Coral Gables
- Cipriani Restaurant
- CORSAIR kitchen & bar
- CRUST
- Cleo Miami Beach
- CVLTVRA
- Da Tang Zhen Wei
- Deck at Island Gardens, The
- Devon Seafood + Steak
- Diez y Seis
- Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar
- Donna Mare
- Dolce Italian Restaurant
- Dragonfly Izakaya & Fish Market
- Drunken Dragon
- EDGE Steak & Bar
- EMBER Miami
- El Cielo
- El Tucan
- Estefan Kitchen
- Estiatorio Milos
- Essensia Restaurant & Lounge
- Fi’lia by Michael Schwartz at SLS Brickell
- Fi’lia Miami Beach
- Fifi’s on the Beach
- Fiola Miami
- Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar Coral Gables
- Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse
- Fontana
- Fooq’s Miami
- Forte dei Marmi
- Gianni’s At The Villa
- Glass & Vine
- Graziano’s Bird Rd
- Graziano’s Brickell
- Graziano’z Coral Gables
- Grill on the Alley, The
- Grill at St. Regis, The
- Gusto Ristobar
- Habitat Miami Beach
- Hakkasan at Fontainebleau Miami Beach
- IL MULINO NY – Sunny Isles Beach
- International Smoke Aventura
- Isabelle’s Grill Room & Garden
- Jaguar Latin-American Kitchen
- Jaya at The Setai
- Jim and Neesie, The
- Joey’s Italian Cafe
- Juvia Miami
- Kao Sushi & Grill By SushiClub
- Katsuya Brickell
- Katsuya South Beach
- Kitchen 305
- Kaido
- Komodo
- KYU
- La Cerveceria De Barrio
- La Estacion American Brasserie
- La Fresa Francesca
- La Mar by Gastion Acurio
- La Moderna
- La Petite Maison
- La Placita
- La Rue Bistronomie
- La Sombra
- La Terraza Café & Bar
- Larios on the Beach
- Le Zoo
- Leynia at Delano
- Lightkeepers
- Lima
- Lobster Bar Sea Grille Miami Beach
- Local House, The
- Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann at Faena Miami Beach
- LT Steak & Seafood
- Lure Fishbar
- Malibu Farm Miami Beach
- Marfil Bistro
- Marion
- Mariposa Restaurant at Neiman Marcus
- Market at EDITION
- Maska – Indian Kitchen & Bar
- Meat Market Miami Beach
- MesaMar Seafood Table
- Michael’s Genuine® Food & Drink
- Mignonette
- Mondrian Caffè
- Mortons’s The Steakhouse – Coral Gables
- Morton’s The Steakhouse – North Miami
- Mr. Chow Miami
- National Hotel Tamara’s Bistro, The
- New Campo Argentino Steakhouse
- Ni.Do. Caffe e Ristorante
- Nikki Beach Miami
- O’lima Signature Cuisine
- North Italia
- Novecento Aventura
- Novecento Brickell
- Novecento Key Biscayne
- Novecento Doral
- Novikov Miami
- Obra Kitchen Table
- Oggi Ristorante
- Old Lisbon Sunset Drive
- Oliver’s Bistro
- Ortanique on the Mile
- Orange Blossom
- Osteria Del Teatro
- Pairings by Tomas Cuadrado
- Palat
- Palme d’Or
- PAO by Paul Qui at Faena Miami Beach
- Paon Eatery
- Pascal’s On Ponce
- Peacock Garden Bistro
- Pez Miami
- Phuc Yea
- Pied à Terre at the Cadet Hotel
- Pisco y Nazca Doral
- Pisco y Nazca Kendall
- Plant Miami
- Planta
- PM Fish & Steak House
- Prime Fish
- Prime Italian
- Pubbelly Sushi Aventura
- Pubbelly Sushi Brickell City Centre
- Pubbelly Sushi Dadeland
- Pubbelly Sushi Miami Beach
- Quality Meats
- R House Wynwood
- RED, the Steakhouse
- The Redlander at Schnebly Redlands Winery
- RWSB
- Rioja Grille
- Rooftop at E11even
- Root & Bone South Miami
- Rusty Pelican
- Ruth’s Chris Steak House
- Saffron Indian Cuisine
- Santorini By Georgios
- Salinity Restaurant & Terrace
- Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante
- Sawa Restaurant & Lounge
- Scarpetta by Scott Conant at Fontainebleau Miami Beach
- Seasons 52
- Seaspice
- Serafina Miami
- Sette Osteria
- Seven Dials, The
- Shula’s Grill 347 Gables
- Shula’s Steak 2 Steak & Sports
- Shula’s Steak House, The Original
- Silverlake Bistro
- Smith & Wollensky
- Stiltsville Fishbar
- STK Steakhouse
- Strada in the Grove
- Strand Bar & Grill, The
- StripSteak by Michael Mina at Fontainebleau Miami Beach
- Stubborn Seed
- SUGARCANE raw bar grill
- Sushisamba Miami Beach
- Sushi Garage
- Swan & Bar Bevy
- Table 55
- Tacology
- Talavera Cocina Mexicana
- Tanuki Miami
- Tap 42 Craft Kitchen & Bar – Aventura
- Tap 42 Craft Kitchen & Bar – Coral Gables
- Tap 42 Craft Kitchen & Bar – Midtown
- Tavolo
- Texas de Brazil Miami Beach
- Three
- Tigertail + Mary
- Timo Restaurant & Bar
- Toro Toro
- Toscana Divino
- Traymore by Michael Schwartz
- Truluck’s Seafood, Steak & Crab House
- Tuck Room, The
- Tuna’s Seafood Restaurant & Bar
- TUYO @ Miami Culinary Institute
- Two Chefs Restaurant
- Umi Sushi & Sake Bar
- Upland Miami
- Villa Azur Restaurant & Lounge
- Vista
- Wolfgang’s Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener
- Wynwood Kitchen & Bar
- Yardbird Southern Table & Bar
- Zest by Ortanique
- Zucca Restaurant
- Zuma Miami
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/cheryltiu/2019/08/01/miami-spice-2019-where-to-eat-from-august-1-to-september-30/#36fd98b13875