86 June 27- July 3, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times b e s T o f m i a m i ® 2 0 2 4 BEST RESTAURANT (DESIGN DISTRICT/MIDTOWN) Tablé by Bachour 180 NE 40th Street Miami, 33137 786-842-0551 tablebachour.com Upon its early 2023 arrival in the Design Dis- trict, Tablé by Bachour was a breath of fresh air on many levels. First and foremost, walking in and seeing an expanse of the most pizzazz-ed French petits gateaux is truly breathtaking. It should be expected from the restaurant’s name- sake, Antonio Bachour, who is a true pastry icon in and beyond Miami. And dare we say it, com- pared to its high-dollar neighbors, Tablé by Ba- chour is a bargain for its quality. Offerings include an $18 truffle butter-dashed breakfast sandwich and $42 king salmon with avocado hummus. As the Design District blossoms, Tablé by Bachour truly feels like it will be part of the neighborhood’s fabric for quite some time to come. BEST RESTAURANT (MIMO/ LITTLE RIVER) Phuc Yea 7100 Biscayne Boulevard Miami, 33138 305-602-3710 phucyea.com Being able to say you’re one of the longest- standing restaurants in any area of Miami is a feat unto itself, but managing to be the best — that’s quite an accomplishment. Phuc Yea is ex- actly that in MiMo. Owners Cesar Zapata and Ani Meinhold have crafted a menu that seam- lessly blends Vietnamese and Colombian fla- vors with dishes like caramel chicken wings or the pho-spiced, hickory-smoked whole beef short rib. Let yourself be engulfed in the warm and welcoming environment enhanced by a hip-hop playlist, inventive cocktail program, and top-notch service. Whether you opt to sit on the patio with its red lanterns overhead or inside with stylish wallpaper and large, eclectic artworks, Phuc Yea looks and feels as cool as its quirky moniker would suggest. On that point, “phuc” actually means blessings and prosperity in Vietnamese. So, I guess, a phuc you to you, friend. Phuc you. BEST RESTAURANT (DOWNTOWN) Bali Cafe 109 NE Second Avenue Miami, 33132 305-358-5751 balicafemiami.com instagram.com/balicafemiami There are certainly swankier, trendier, and pricier restaurants in downtown Miami, but Bali Cafe still manages to outcompete them all by combining the simple pleasures of a reason- ably priced neighborhood restaurant with the bold flavors of Indonesian food, a rare cuisine in this city. The lure is as much its interior, decorated with Barong masks and ephemera, as its delicious and artfully plated food. The nasi goreng platter, delivering several small dishes like shrimp crackers, rendang beef, and the namesake fried rice in a sumptuous bento box, is a beautiful signature. BEST RESTAURANT (COCONUT GROVE) Sereia 3540 Main Highway Coconut Grove, 33133 305-967-8152 sereia.miami You may not think of naming a new kid on the block as the “best,” but Sereia really is that girl. Lauded Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa of two Michelin-starred Alma opened Sereia in May, and has it all. Guests are greeted by a serene ambiance with subtle, subliminal nods to the ocean. Sereia does mean siren, after all, and the dining room does a great job of showcasing that. But you’ll be writing home about the food. Sá Pessoa’s bacalhau à brás, a salted cod concoction with shoestring potatoes and egg, is a thing of beauty. And the arroz de pato, a duck rice with smoked bacon chorizo, will have you booking a flight to Lisbon. BEST RESTAURANT (BRICKELL) LPM Restaurant and Bar 1300 Brickell Bay Drive Miami, 33131 305-401-9133 lpmrestaurants.com/miami Forget your passport. LPM offers an easier way to transport you to the French Riviera with its bold 20th-century artwork, 19th-century gilt and harlequin mirrors, floor-to-ceiling win- dows, and niçoise cuisine. The fine dining here is centered around fresh ingredients, tastes, and textures central to the Mediterranean and Southern France. The menu may sound some- what simple compared to nearby hotspots, but the focus is on quality and authenticity. There’s the buttery escargot, cauliflower salad with caraway dressing, carpaccios galore, and housemade veal ragout and pappardelle pasta, to name a few. The cocktail menu is steeped in creativity, like the bon tai, featuring Coconut Cartel rum, Cointreau, and raspberry and pista- chio flavors. Each table has a fresh tomato and lemon centerpiece for guests to cut up them- selves and pair with olive oil and a freshly baked baguette.
