Sports bar boasting the largest selection of beers on tap (400) in Merrick Zpark Village.
What we had:
I had the pineapple burger--medium to mid rare burger with diced pineapple, pepper jack cheese & a light teriyaki-based sauce on a potato roll--the burger was really good with clean flavors, good sweet to seasoning ratio and a great meat taste.
I had sample tastes of two beers as well ($1 each). Lost Coast Raspberry Brown was a good, light wheat, with a nice smell and pleasant fruit taste. Woodchuck Pear Cider is crisp, clean, and I couldn't taste the alcohol. Dangerous.
My DH had the French dip. The beef was good quality and the sandwich was nicely balanced.
He had the Highland Gaelic Ale--a well-balanced, smooth red and Jupiter Monk In The Trunk, which he liked, but I did not. this beer was really complex, and kinda hits you over the head with a hammer.
Décor:
Open, dark woods, lots of beers on tap, TVs.
Service:
Not bad. Our server was knowledgable about beers and enthusiastic.
Overall impressions:
A great place for lunch, happy hour apps, or any time you want to try a new beer.
Rating:
4 out of 5 salamanders
China Palace
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Locked up tight when not open Chinese on Biscayne in MiMo. I've walked past this place many times, and it smells great when walking past.
What we had:
Sechuan pork and kung po chicken. Both dishes were really salty with unnaturally-thickened sauces. The pork and chicken were both cooked well and the balance of veggies to meat on the plate was roughly 50/50.
Décor:
Someone took great pains to make this place special a long time ago, then proceeded to paint the walls (badly) yearly and indulge an addiction to cheap table decor.
And with the cloying stench of air freshener, it smelled like the potty.
Service:
A grandmotherly woman waited on us with efficient service.
Overall impressions:
I wanted to love this place. It smells so good from the street, and it's generally busy looking when open. I wouldn't go back. The inside smell and salt level just killed it for me.
Rating:
2.5 out of 5 salamanders
What we had:
Sechuan pork and kung po chicken. Both dishes were really salty with unnaturally-thickened sauces. The pork and chicken were both cooked well and the balance of veggies to meat on the plate was roughly 50/50.
Décor:
Someone took great pains to make this place special a long time ago, then proceeded to paint the walls (badly) yearly and indulge an addiction to cheap table decor.
And with the cloying stench of air freshener, it smelled like the potty.
Service:
A grandmotherly woman waited on us with efficient service.
Overall impressions:
I wanted to love this place. It smells so good from the street, and it's generally busy looking when open. I wouldn't go back. The inside smell and salt level just killed it for me.
Rating:
2.5 out of 5 salamanders
Flora's East Side Pizza
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NY-style pizza on the 79th Street Causeway.
What we had:
Pepperoni and eggplant pizzas. Nice spice balance in the sauce; good quality cheese & toppings; good crust.
Décor:
We got delivery.
Service:
Fast.
Overall impressions:
Great pizza. A good new go-to for delivery.
Rating:
3.5 out of 5 salamanders
What we had:
Pepperoni and eggplant pizzas. Nice spice balance in the sauce; good quality cheese & toppings; good crust.
Décor:
We got delivery.
Service:
Fast.
Overall impressions:
Great pizza. A good new go-to for delivery.
Rating:
3.5 out of 5 salamanders
Yiya's on 79 Street
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Gourmet Cuban bakery on the 79th Street Causeway.
What we had:
We've been here for both breakfast and lunch. The breakfast sandwiches (we had eggs, cheese and ham or bacon on Cuban bread) were great--really fluffy eggs, a good balance of pork and cheese on a fresh, slightly chewy Cuban roll. What's not to like? And at $4 with the best cafe cubano I've had, a great deal.
The Cuban sandwiches are good, too. I still think Latin American Cafe is my favorite cuban, though. Yiya's bread is better quality, the cheese and pork are even, but Latin's ham quality is better.
Décor:
Cute. Small but comfy and cute, and with Food Network on both times I went.
Service:
Good.
Overall impressions:
Must go back for more.
Rating:
4 out of 5 salamanders
What we had:
We've been here for both breakfast and lunch. The breakfast sandwiches (we had eggs, cheese and ham or bacon on Cuban bread) were great--really fluffy eggs, a good balance of pork and cheese on a fresh, slightly chewy Cuban roll. What's not to like? And at $4 with the best cafe cubano I've had, a great deal.
The Cuban sandwiches are good, too. I still think Latin American Cafe is my favorite cuban, though. Yiya's bread is better quality, the cheese and pork are even, but Latin's ham quality is better.
Décor:
Cute. Small but comfy and cute, and with Food Network on both times I went.
Service:
Good.
Overall impressions:
Must go back for more.
Rating:
4 out of 5 salamanders
Siam Rice
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Thai/Sushi joint in MiMo.
What we had:
Chicken Pad Thai and a light chicken dish with red and green peppers and onions.
We've gotten delivery from here twice now, and it's been super fresh and fast both times. Nothing has been heavily sauced and the pad Thai is really good. So far, this is the best Thai place we've been to in Miami.
Décor:
My living room is quite nice, thank you.
Service:
Quick.
Overall impressions:
I'm dying to try the Sushi and sample more of the umpteen menu items.
Rating:
4 out of 5 salamanders
What we had:
Chicken Pad Thai and a light chicken dish with red and green peppers and onions.
We've gotten delivery from here twice now, and it's been super fresh and fast both times. Nothing has been heavily sauced and the pad Thai is really good. So far, this is the best Thai place we've been to in Miami.
Décor:
My living room is quite nice, thank you.
Service:
Quick.
Overall impressions:
I'm dying to try the Sushi and sample more of the umpteen menu items.
Rating:
4 out of 5 salamanders
Metro Organic Bistro
|
Fresh organic menu in MiMo.
What we had:
I had the line-caught mahi with microgreen and shaved fennel salad and my DH had grass fed skirt steak with fries.
The fish was perfectly cooked and just what the evening called for. The steak was pretty great, too.
Décor:
We ate outside on oversized white vinyl couch with hair-on cow pillows. The outside lounge is luxuriously lit with well-placed floor candles. The dining room is tiny but open and fresh looking.
Service:
Good.
Overall impressions:
We would go back.
Rating:
4 out of 5 salamanders
What we had:
I had the line-caught mahi with microgreen and shaved fennel salad and my DH had grass fed skirt steak with fries.
The fish was perfectly cooked and just what the evening called for. The steak was pretty great, too.
Décor:
We ate outside on oversized white vinyl couch with hair-on cow pillows. The outside lounge is luxuriously lit with well-placed floor candles. The dining room is tiny but open and fresh looking.
Service:
Good.
Overall impressions:
We would go back.
Rating:
4 out of 5 salamanders
Bagels and Company
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Fresh bakery & deli.
What we had:
Bacon, egg & cheddar bagels with hashed browns. Really good bagels. I loved the large chunk-style hashed browns, though my DH did not.
Décor:
I've only ordered takeout.
Service:
Great at the takeout counter. Friendly and fast.
Overall impressions:
Yum. I want to try lunch next.
Rating:
3.5 out of 5 salamanders
What we had:
Bacon, egg & cheddar bagels with hashed browns. Really good bagels. I loved the large chunk-style hashed browns, though my DH did not.
Décor:
I've only ordered takeout.
Service:
Great at the takeout counter. Friendly and fast.
Overall impressions:
Yum. I want to try lunch next.
Rating:
3.5 out of 5 salamanders
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