Impress Out-of-Town Visitors With Hot Dining Spots
It's all here from pasta and tacos to ribs and oxtail
If you’re hosting visitors from out of town, you want to make sure they have a great time. And one way to do that is to eat – a lot. Whether your guests are here for the first time or the fifth time, there are some restaurants that are always a must in Miami.
At the top of the list: Macchialina (820 Alton Rd., 305.534.2124). The humble Italian eatery on Alton Road has dazzled guests with exquisite pastas and other specialties for years, and you’ll constantly find it on “Best Of” lists. Chef Michael Pirolo and his team deserve every accolade, as selections like spaghetti cacio e pepe, cavatelli, eggplant parm and Mediterranean branzino will make your jaw drop.
Be on the lookout for daily specials like lobster fra diavolo and lasagna – the kitchen likes to keep diners on their toes. Is your group the adventurous type? The chef’s tasting menu is one of the best deals in town.
Another spot to impress your out-of-town guests is Red Rooster (920 NW 2nd Ave., 305.640.9880). The Overtown eatery boasts an extensive menu of hearty comfort food. Think chicken-fried green tomatoes, pig rib griot, shrimp and grits, mac and cheese, and jerk sweet potato. The food is exceptional, and the restaurant hosts live music almost every night; there’s always something going on. One night, you and your guests might find some awesome hip hop. Another night, you’ll find yourself enjoying supper and jazz. Red Rooster is a vibe.
Food halls are all the rage now, and if there’s one food hall you need to visit with your guests, it’s one of the originals: 1-800-Lucky (143 NW 23rd St.). Not only is this Wynwood favorite home to a bevy of Asian cuisine, but their programming is also top notch with renowned DJs and other musical artists. Offerings include Poke OG (poke), B-Side (sushi) and Taiyaki (Japanese ice cream) among much more.
Start with a few rolls from B-Side like the Verzuz (shrimp tempura; torched salmon) and Seeing Sounds (crispy white fish; spicy tuna) then get a bowl from Poke OG and finish off with some ice cream in a fish-shaped red bean cone from Taiyaki. Afterward, take a stroll through Wynwood to get a closeup look at the neighborhood’s famous street art. You can easily spend a day in the area.
Finally, no trip to Miami is complete without Cuban food. While you could grab some Cuban coffee and croquetas from just about any street corner (and you should), there’s something to be said about Café La Trova (971 SW 8th St., 786.615.4379) in Little Havana. At this lively neighborhood spot, you and your crew will feel as if you’re stepping into a time machine with all the retro Cuban décor.
Enjoy empanadas galore, sweet corn and chicken, mushroom risotto and more – along with bites like skirt steak ropa vieja, oxtail stew, crispy snapper, and braised mojo-marinated pork shoulder. These selections are complemented by classic Cuban cocktails like mojitos, daiquiris and presidentes. Plus, there’s almost always live music. Café La Trova has it all.
OPENINGS
The Miami food scene continues to show no signs of slowing down. One of the biggest openings lately is Bodega (19129 Biscayne Blvd., 305.704.3670) in Aventura. Unlike its Miami Beach counterpart that’s equal parts taco joint and speakeasy, this location is focuses on the former. The taqueria-only concept is serving up favorites like chili queso, ceviche, rice bowls, and all sorts of tacos with proteins like fish, roasted pork, avocado and ribeye steak. For the late-night lounge vibes, you’ll still need to head back to the beach.
Another concept making the trek up: Doral’s Macondo Coffee Roasters. The brand has opened a new North Miami café (1821 NE 123rd St., 786.755.4946), which offers an assortment of Colombian coffee drinks as well as breakfast and lunch fare. Sip on a cappuccino or macchiato while digging into signature items like arepas, egg and cheese sandwiches, avocado toast and vegan pancakes. Should you visit later in the day, the café also has a ton of lunch selections like wraps and salads.
Geoffrey Anderson Jr. and Dianne Rubin-Anderson are co-founders of Miami Food Pug, an award-winning South Florida food blog that fuses the couple’s love of dogs and food.