Hi,

I'll be down in Miami for Superbowl week and am looking for some recommends on restaurants to go to with co-workers. I won't be going top-shelf, but mid-shelf, as I'll be on expense (cheap company). I'll be staying downtown.

Thanks.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: indybob,

Tuscan Steakhouse- have to try the gnochi and sliced sirloin.

Grazianos Parrilla argentina in Coral Gables, great food (pasta, rissoto and argentine style steak) Outstanding wine selection (one of the largest in Miami) also by the "quartino". Mid-high range prizes and generous portions.

Pascal's on Ponce., small place also in the Gables.The best french food in town; try the rack of lamb or the filet mignon with encrusted escargot. Wine list is ok. The place is a little pricey but worth it.

La Cofradia, also in the Gables. It is sort of a french/peruvian fusion place with an extensive wine list and excellent food. It is not cheap.

Best paella (valenciana) in miami-Casa Juancho in "calle ocho" eight street. Good spanish wine list and everything else on the menu is great (go for the seafood). Very reasonable prices especially if going on "mid shelf"

A very affordable place in cocconut grove is Las Culebrinas (mixture of cuban/spanish food).Wine list is limited and unimpressive but the food is good.

If in the mood for cuban go to Versailles in "calle ocho". Wine list as above, food is good and very affordable.

For good food and good wine stay away from South beach. I have yet to find a place that is worth the money they charge. In addition to that, most places in SoBe add the tip which in my experience lowers the quality of the service. I would definitely have a mojito though.

Have fun

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
Hi,

I'll be down in Miami for Superbowl week and am looking for some recommends on restaurants to go to with co-workers. I won't be going top-shelf, but mid-shelf, as I'll be on expense (cheap company). I'll be staying downtown.

Thanks.

If you are looking for value, try Graziano's Next Door, an enoteca and casual food cafe that is literally next door to their main restaurant on Bird Rd. You can pick the wine off the shelf and pay wine store price (about half the price charged in their restaurant) and no corkage. The food is fresh, informal, and very good value.

Excellent. The crowd I'll be with are more the "PF Changs is super gourmet" group, but these tips will give me some good ammo.

Thanks!

AltaMar on Lincoln Road

North 110 - Biscayne and 110th

Caffe Da Vinci in Bay Harbor

Personally, if you are a fish eater, I would avoid Pascal's, I have had problems there on at least 2 different occasions.

Saw this one late. So, where did you end up going?? Congrats on the win. The Phins should be so lucky.

We dined at Cacao in Coral Gables last night - it was excellent - My in-laws had been there once before and wanted to take us last night - Tuesday is free corkage night - normally $30 - they also have a very nice list, with some bottles that are not marked up too badly.

We brought:
2005 Sandler Wine Company Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2002 Bodegas Roda Rioja Roda Reserva

The sommelier, manager who also waited on us - brought us into their wine room/cellar which has a full bar and a table inside it to check it out etc, opened the Sandler in there while we chatted and let the Roda sit in there while we had the Sandler to bring the temperature down a little. I had checked the wine list on-line and they did not have any Roda wines on the list but the first thing I noticed when I opened the list was that they had the Reserva and the Roda I on their list from the same vintage - this has never happened to me before, and I was a liuttle embarrased but it was a non-isssue -he said he loved that wine, did we know that he carried it and I think it actually earned us points in his estimation - in any event happily it was not an issue.

He suggested we have dessert in the wine room - we had a chocolate souffle/molten cake - with white chocolate and rasberries and they gave us 4 glasses each of:
Viñedos de los Vientos, Alcyone, Atlantida, Uruquay
2006 Santa Julia Tardio

No charge at all for the dessert wine or the dessert. Totally cool and everything was quite good. The food and service were excellent - I can see it being quite loud if crowded on a weekend though.

I'll be in Pinecrest/Gables for a week, so if anyone is in the neighborhood, let me know.

Nice Burgundy tasting at Mike's tonight by the way.

quote:

Originally posted by redknife:
Grazianos Parrilla argentina in Coral Gables, great food (pasta, rissoto and argentine style steak) Outstanding wine selection (one of the largest in Miami) also by the "quartino". Mid-high range prizes and generous portions.

Pascal's on Ponce., small place also in the Gables.The best french food in town; try the rack of lamb or the filet mignon with encrusted escargot. Wine list is ok. The place is a little pricey but worth it.

Ate at both of these this week as I am in Coral Gables for two weeks on business. I was really impressed with the food at Pascal's on Ponce. I went there as the owner was on an episode of Late Night with Daniel (Boulud) recently. We went on a Monday night when they have free corkage and will be doing it again this Monday.

I had the Porterhouse at Graziano's and was somewhat disappointed as the meat was fatty and generally overcooked. The wine list is really good and reasonably priced. Wines you would enjoy drinking and may not have access to rather than the stuff at Fleming's like Silver Oak, Opus, etc. Worth going just for the wine list.

quote:

Originally posted by vinole:

quote:

Originally posted by redknife:
Grazianos Parrilla argentina in Coral Gables, great food (pasta, rissoto and argentine style steak) Outstanding wine selection (one of the largest in Miami) also by the "quartino". Mid-high range prizes and generous portions.

Pascal's on Ponce., small place also in the Gables.The best french food in town; try the rack of lamb or the filet mignon with encrusted escargot. Wine list is ok. The place is a little pricey but worth it.

Ate at both of these this week as I am in Coral Gables for two weeks on business. I was really impressed with the food at Pascal's on Ponce. I went there as the owner was on an episode of Late Night with Daniel (Boulud) recently. We went on a Monday night when they have free corkage and will be doing it again this Monday.

I had the Porterhouse at Graziano's and was somewhat disappointed as the meat was fatty and generally overcooked. The wine list is really good and reasonably priced. Wines you would enjoy drinking and may not have access to rather than the stuff at Fleming's like Silver Oak, Opus, etc. Worth going just for the wine list.

Funny - I hate Pascals. I have eaten there a number of times and they simply do not know how to cook fish. Have had numerous problems (I never have problems with fish anywhere else, am not too particular, eat sushi so don't have any real issues) just like fish like Grouper and Yellowtail cooked and not raw. The last time I went there, coincidentally also for my birthday (which is today) probably 2 years ago (not sure precisely) - I got my fish and as my fork did not penetrate it new there was a problem. My father-in-law's was also basically uncooked. When I informed them my fish was raw, they told me that is how they served it (so there was no mistake) and that they would cook it more if that is what I wanted. It came back totally overdone and dry - now mistakes happen - but do not lie - there is no way that they intended to serve snapper or grouper (I forget which) raw like that - we are not talking tuna or salmon here - I simply do not buy it - Admit there was a mistake and move on - As I said, this happened more than once and I have not been back since and will not go back - Their souffles are awesome though.

quote:

Originally posted by Jcocktosten:
Funny - I hate Pascals. I have eaten there a number of times and they simply do not know how to cook fish.

I had veal, and two others had filet mignon and duck which were all excellent. Can't speak to the fish dishes and I will definitely avoid after your experiences. I intend to have lamb this Monday with a bordeaux or CdP.

quote:

Originally posted by vinole:

quote:

Originally posted by Jcocktosten:
Funny - I hate Pascals. I have eaten there a number of times and they simply do not know how to cook fish.

I had veal, and two others had filet mignon and duck which were all excellent. Can't speak to the fish dishes and I will definitely avoid after your experiences. I intend to have lamb this Monday with a bordeaux or CdP.

Cool - enjoy sounds great.

quote:

Originally posted by Jcocktosten:

quote:

Originally posted by vinole:

quote:

Originally posted by Jcocktosten:
Funny - I hate Pascals. I have eaten there a number of times and they simply do not know how to cook fish.

I had veal, and two others had filet mignon and duck which were all excellent. Can't speak to the fish dishes and I will definitely avoid after your experiences. I intend to have lamb this Monday with a bordeaux or CdP.

Cool - enjoy sounds great.

Happy Birthday by the way!!

Thanks

Hey, happy birthday as well!!!

This last weekend I was at the Beach Club in Disney World and thought of you guys as I walked past the wine bar where we first met...

Thanks it was fantastic - Suffice it to say we come a long way re off-lining since meeting you guys that day at Disney

Another great meal at Cacao in the Gables last night. We brought

2007 Ketcham Viogner - very good - wish we had more than one bottel left
2003 Kosta Browne - Kanzler - Excellent.

We should definitely have an offline there some time