It's been said that the first rule of real estate is location, location, location. That's the theme behind this compilation as well. At these restaurants, you will not only enjoy the food, but also the view, whether it's of a city skyline at night or a lush, natural landscape. The eyes have it at these top 10 view restaurants in Miami/South Florida, presented in alphabetical order.
It's been said that the first rule of real estate is location, location, location. That's the theme behind this compilation as well. At these restaurants, yo... more
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1
Azul
Mandarin Oriental, Miami, 500 Brickell Key Dr., Miami, FL 33131 / 305-913-8254
Since the Mandarin Oriental, Miami hotel is built on prestigious Brickell Key, it is not surprising that its high-end restaurant, Azul, offers unparalleled vistas of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline through floor-to-ceiling picture windows. Many sophisticated diners, however, find the view of the place’s extensive raw bar just as spectacular. But the main attraction is the cuisine of chef Clay Conley. Following a celebrity chef with the firecracker charisma of Azul’s former head honcho Michelle Bernstein is no cinch. But the smoothly polished elegance and ease with which Conley manipulates impeccable upscale (and often organic) ingredients into ultra-creative Asian, Mediterranean, New American and Latin-influenced combinations actually is a far better match for the sleek space. Playful reinvention is one of Conley’s strong suits---hence “steak ‘n’ eggs” with beef tartare and carpaccio, crispy egg yolk, and truffled artichoke vinaigrette; a deconstructed “New England clam chowder” with crunchy-coated clams, pork belly confit and malt vinegar; or a witty take on the old continental classic, veal Oscar, with Alaskan king crab plus crab meat “tater tots.” Also delightful are multi-part plates like a three-way Moroccan lamb (spicy harissa-marinated loin, grilled chop, and shank meat in a b’stilla pastry). Top-flight service and wine list, too, which makes Azul one of Miami's premier dining destinations.
2
Baleen
Grove Isle Club & Resort, 4 Grove Isle Dr., Coconut Grove, FL 33133 / 305-857-5007
There is crystal blue water everywhere as you drive over the brief causeway to exclusive Grove Isle for a dinner at that resort's swank Baleen restaurant. The indoor dining room is richly decorated steak house-style with oak-paneled walls, mahogany furnishings and cozy booths around the perimeter. Lovely space, but stuffy compared to sitting on the semicircular patio amidst diaphanous white linen curtains billowing in the breeze. The food provides a bold contrast to this soothing setting. Appetizers include wood-roasted shrimp with roast garlic and tomato confit, and good old American oysters Rockefeller, but don't neglect the wondrous raw bar selections like caviar, farm-raised oysters and tartare of the day. Main courses are also available dressed and undressed, the former featuring dishes like herb-crusted Pacific sea bass with fennel and leek stew, and Chinese fried snapper with coconut rice and black bean vinaigrette, the latter referring to various fish and shellfish that can be ordered simply roasted, grilled or sautéed. Desserts are likewise rewarding in a big way, especially the warm Valrhona Volcanic chocolate cake that is baked to order and served with freshly-churned vanilla ice cream and berries. Sunday brunch is one of the best.
3
Bice Ristorante
Le Meridien Sunny Isles Beach, 18683 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 / 305-503-6011
Seamlessly interred in the lobby of the ultra-modern Le Meridien, this South Florida location of Bice boasts a striated wood floor and lots of light coming in through the glass. Spare and polished, it's a perfect setting for the reflective if expected cuisine; ever-changing wine list; and slick service. The solid Italian fare hails back to its roots with quality ingredients, but also looks forward with a touch of nouvelle creativity; a dish of raw ahi tuna rolled around fresh crab and perched over a mixed salad of watercress, arugula, baby chicory, orange and grapefruit segments and shavings of ripe avocado, for instance, bodes well for the sushi bar. More traditional entrées include a pressed, roasted baby chicken that showcases skin as crisp as a tourist's and a juicy, mild flesh. Desserts run the gamut from tired tiramisu to a refreshing seasonal fruit platter with lemon sorbet. For a truly Italian experience, order the cheese plate for dessert, which comes with a trilogy of hard, soft and blue cheeses; a trio of chestnut, acacia and millefiori honeys; and freshly roasted walnuts. The textural and flavor counterpoints of these combinations energize rather than weigh down the palate.
4
Little Palm's Dining Room
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, 28500 Overseas Hwy, Little Torch Key, FL 33042 / 305-872-2551
A deliciously romantic setup (under 16 not permitted), the restaurant at the secluded Little Palm Island Resort & Spa is in a class of its own. The remote natural surroundings are a breathtaking backdrop for opulent outdoor dining. Located three miles offshore and accessible only by boat, The Great House offers Floribbean cuisine, with dishes like coconut-conch chowder, mojo-marinated duck, chile-rubbed grouper or local fish ceviche. Wines are exceptional, and the service, with a practically two-to-one patron-to-employee ratio, is attentive. If you're aching to splurge and be pampered---to experience the absolute finest ambience that South Florida has to offer---look no further.
5
Red Fish Grill
Matheson Hammocks State Park, 9610 Old Cutler Rd., Kendall, FL 33156 / 305-668-8788
If you’re not familiar with the area, finding Red Fish can be an adventure, but it’s worth the effort. It’s a majestic drive down willow-, oak- and banyan-canopied Old Cutler Road to Matheson Hammocks State Park. At the end of the winding drive, you’ll come upon a gorgeous old ’20s coral structure resting on the edge of the open bay, with a panoramic view unparalleled in the city. Innovative seafood dishes, sautéed, seared and fried, command the menu. Request a table on the patio, weather permitting.
6
The Restaurant
Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, 2800 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach, FL 33480 / 561-582-2800
The Restaurant exudes contemporary elegance and a soft, tropical feel with creamy travertine, floor-to-ceiling arched windows and an opulent, floral room centerpiece that matches table arrangements. Every seat in the grand dining room is within sight of the ocean. Three-, four- and five-course tasting menus are offered in place of à la carte dishes. The “Southeastern Regional” cuisine, with Caribbean and Old South influences running rampant, emphasizes organic ingredients, less butter and more vegetable sauces. Expect a glut of fresher-than-thou seafood ranging from Key West prawns to just-caught yellowtail snapper and a plethora of tropical fruits and vegetables that include not just your standard mango and boniato but make use of banana blossoms and sunchokes. We adore the daily-changing trio of crèmes brûlées (raspberry-vanilla cream, tiramisu and Bartlett pear-flecked, for instance) served in demitasse cups. The wine list names about 300 labels, including a 1955 Château Lafite Rothschild 1er Cru Classé for $2,700.
7
The Rusty Pelican
3201 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, FL 33149 / 305-361-3818
It’s the place with the view---or make that views. There are panoramas of Biscayne Bay, the city coastline and the downtown skyline. Key Biscayne’s tourist-driven seafood restaurant is a blast to the not-too-distant past of ’70s-style extravagance. It’s funky, with anchors and boat paraphernalia hanging from the rafters, artificial running water and make-believe bridges. The food’s been played up, though, to include nouvelle ingredients like balsamic vinegar, macadamia nuts and crispy won tons. The quality of the seafood is excellent. The execution of these aspiring progressive dishes is good. Shrimp and scallop scampi are just right. So are seared soft-shell crabs. It’s a smashing success of a place, with brunch crowds waiting up to an hour, even during the off-season. We can understand why. We, too, are hopelessly hooked on the view.
8
Smith & Wollensky
1 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 / 305-673-2800
This branch of the respected restaurant in Manhattan has a good location going for it: a colossal old house on the southernmost tip of South Beach. Be sure to reserve a window table, or one in the outdoor café, for the best view of cruise ships steaming by on adjacent Government Cut. Diehard carnivores and wine connoisseurs unite as America's reclaimed meal of choice, steak, continues as a time-honored standard here. Dry-aged porterhouse and tenderloin rule, but the sizzling pork loin is a standout. The $75 seafood platter includes tender shrimp and a feast of the day's raw-bar selections. Wine aficionados rejoice over the generous and premium inventory of international wines. And even novices will appreciate S&W’s occasional dinners (about one per month) presented in conjunction with selected wineries, that offer five courses with paired wines.
9
Taverna Opa
410 N. Ocean Dr., Hollywood, FL 33019 / 954-929-4010
There is the aroma of smoldering wood surrounding this place, no doubt coming from the 12-foot-long grill near the door, where oak-grilled quail and rib-eye tips are prepared. Those who don't come to make a meal of traditional Greek meze: taramosalata (prepared with a house-made yogurt), house made soft feta and marinated sardines with lemon and grilled octopus, visit to feast on oak-grilled snapper, spit-fired whole lamb or pig (by special order only) or the delectable moussaka soufflé. Still, there are those who stop by primarily for the scenery that features an A-plus view of the Intracoastal Waterway (Taverna Opa is accessible by boat). As the music volume increases, Greek waiters pull women onto the tables to dance something akin to the Greek lambada. It's a little too hip here for the gimmicky plate-throwing custom. Taverna Opa is one of Hollywood's trendiest spots, packed with patrons of all ages. Delicious Greek selections comprise the wine list (with explanations of each one's aphrodisiac qualities), and prices are comfortable.
10
Tony Chan's Water Club
Doubletree Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay, 1717 N. Bayshore Dr., Miami, FL 33132 / 305-374-8888
High-end Hong Kong fare with plates piled high with tiny, exotic delicacies rather than boring chunks of carrot has made Tony Chan's one of the town's most respected Asian restaurants. Hot-and-sour shrimp soup starts things off in a bright, bold manner. Seafood is handled deftly and duck is a specialty of the house any way you order it---the Peking rendition for two is memorable. Service is so attentive that customers feel as if they're members of the royal dynasty. The panoramic vistas of Biscayne Bay as seen through the ceiling-high windows is a stunning side show in its own right though some might find the view of chefs working at massive woks in a sunken open kitchen even more gripping than that of sailboats sailing by.
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