(Courtesy of Abbalé Telavivian Kitchen)
The shakshuka at Abbalé Telavivian Kitchen is a must for a Mother’s Day brunch.
A special person deserves a special meal, so why not treat mom to some of the best food in Miami? These Miami restaurants pull out all the stops for Mother’s Day, and you can count on them to be consistently great – well past the holiday.
The first spot to keep an eye on: Abbalé Telavivian Kitchen (864 Commerce St., 305.902.3477) in South of Fifth. The Miami Beach restaurant pulls flavors from Israel, Turkey, Greece and Colombia, making for a diverse and delectable menu. On Sundays, the neighborhood gem offers an all-day brunch menu with selections like fire-roasted prawns, shakshuka, grilled lamb chops, Jerusalem bagels and pita sandwiches. Items are meant to be shared, so the more the merrier. Wine and beer are plentiful, as are fresh juices. Expect to be here a while.
Is mom more the party type? Good times await at Chica Miami (5556 NE Fourth Ct., 786.632.7725), a Latin hot spot in Little Haiti. Whether you bring mom for brunch or for dinner, the outcome is the same: good food and great vibes. On the menu you’ll encounter bites like Peruvian corvina ceviche, king salmon crudo, pepita-crusted New Zealand lamb rack and wood-fired mushroom barbacoa. Always be on the lookout for specials, too, as you might find lionfish jalea, baked “croquette” oysters and other creative fare.
(Courtesy of Grove Bay Hospitality Group)
Whether you’re craving something light or rich, Glass & Vine has something for everyone.
A great weather forecast for the holiday weekend should mean a trip to Coconut Grove’s Glass & Vine (2820 McFarlane Rd., 305.930.6975). The predominantly outdoor establishment is perfect for an open-air brunch or dinner when it’s not too humid or wet out. What we like the most about the restaurant is that there’s something for everyone – a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
Craving something simple? The shrimp and watermelon salad is divine and so is the charred cauliflower. Not counting calories? The surf and turf benedict, chicken and black truffle gnocchi, steak frites and deep-fried whole
(Courtesy of Corsair)
Corsair’s contemporary comfort fare is an Aventura favorite.
snapper are all worth a look. Just make sure to have a reservation – Mother’s Day or not, this place is always slammed.
Tucked inside the JW Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa up north in Aventura, Corsair kitchen & bar (19999 W Country Club Dr., 786.279.6800) is serving up contemporary comfort food that’s a bit on the lighter side. Look no further for an indulgent meal that won’t make you hate yourself afterward. Among the many stars on the menu: blackened shrimp tacos, golden beet salad, roasted Florida red snapper and a Hawaiian-style tuna poke bowl. No matter what, save room for the warm brown butter cake – you’ll be glad you did.
Openings
Miami’s food scene might be heading into slow season, but new openings show no signs of slowing down. One of the latest eateries to open its doors in the 305: Mehzcla (350 Ocean Dr., 786.257.3660) at The Balfour Hotel. Open all day long, it serves up approachable Latin-fusion cuisine. Expect to find medianoche croquettes, rock shrimp ceviche, ahi tuna tacos, pork belly skewers and coquito cheesecake, among the many offerings.
(Courtesy of Mehzcla)
Head to Miami Beach for elevated croquettes and other delicious Latin-fusion bites from newcomer Mehzcla.
Another notable opening is Bottled Blonde Pizzeria + Beer Garden (2838 NW Second Ave., Bldg. 2, 786.673.6925). As you can tell from the name, the Wynwood sports bar concept is big on pizza and beer, an ideal spot for watching your favorite teams. There are almost 50 televisions throughout the space, not including projectors and other viewing equipment, so there’s no bad seat in the house. After hours the whole place turns into a nightclub, so plan on leaving early if that’s not your scene.
For a more traditional pizza experience, there’s Old Greg’s Pizza (3620 NE Second Ave., 866.653.4734) in the
(Ruben Cabrera)
Pandemic pop-up Old Greg’s Pizza has opened a brick-and-mortar shop in the Design District and is serving up such delectable pies as the Shroomz.
Design District. The pandemic pop-up has finally opened its long-awaited brick-and-mortar shop in the former Ghee
space. The larger digs mean the team can crank out a larger menu, so hoagie sandwiches such as the meatball parm and chicken Caesar now join beloved pies like the O.G. Roni and Veggie Supreme. To complement all these offerings, the eatery offers an assortment of local beers as well as natural wines.
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.