74 June 26 – July 2, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES 74 NEW TIMES B E S T º F M I A M I ® 2 0 2 5 50-seat bistro is a love letter to Italy, filtered through the legacy of third-generation res- taurateur Andrea Fraquelli, whose grandfa- ther famously turned veal and spaghetti into a one-plate legend. That same dish — rose- mary-kissed and perfectly pan-fried — an- chors a menu that’s both nostalgic and refreshingly simple: think seasonal antipasti, flourless chocolate cake, and a signature va- nilla affogato that doubles as your second wind. Add Northern Italian wines, fizzy aper- itif, and a waitstaff that remembers your name, and Cotoletta feels less like a new res- taurant and more like the neighborhood gem you’ve always needed. It’s intimate. It’s un- pretentious. And it’s the Grove’s newest must-book table — one that just happens to serve Milan’s greatest hits. BEST RESTAURANT (SOUTH MIAMI-DADE) Café Bonjour 6222 S. Dixie Hwy. South Miami 33143 305-661-4714 cafebonjourmiamifl.com For whatever reason, South Miami is blessed with excellent French eateries in strip malls, tucked away as if in the alleys of Paris. This time, it is the narrow and au- thentic Café Bonjour, placed between the Petco and Party City, where the Metrorail rings like the church bells of Notre Dame. The two chefs are from Lyon and Morocco, and they serve the classics done right: steak frites, café au lait, and a quiche du jour. But the showstoppers are the pastries and des- serts, especially the Concorde cake, where chocolate mousse is rolled up like cigars to form a beautiful geometric-styled dessert. And what makes this French spot especially American is that everything is served with a genuine smile. BEST RESTAURANT (MIAMI BEACH) A La Folie Café 516 Española Way Miami Beach 33139 305-538-4484 alafoliecafe.com @alafoliemiami A La Folie offers all the benefits of French dining without the jet lag. It’s located on the far end of the least Miami-Beach-like street in Miami Beach, Española Way, where you can sit on the sidewalk or in the charming interior. The menu, formatted like a folded-up newspaper, has a variety of authentic dishes from foie gras maison and tartiflette to soupe a l’oignon gratinée and nordique des lords salad — all of which will be fun to convey to the waiter. You can practice your français with Duolingo ahead of time. For a compact meal, get a sweet crepe with pears or Nutella, or savory crepe made of buckwheat flour that plays host to everything from salmon to ratatouille. And order the cold gazpacho, which always has “Folie” lettered out on the surface. They get an A+ for stellar use of soup for advertising. BEST RESTAURANT (CORAL GABLES) Frenchie’s Diner 2618 Galiano St. Coral Gables 33134 305-442-4554 frenchiesdiner.net If there were a crown for the best casual French cuisine in Coral Gables, Frenchie’s Diner would wear it effortlessly. Their French onion soup, with its dark broth and bubbling cheese, is comfort in a bowl, while the croque-monsieur boasts gooey Gruyère and silky béchamel that sets the bar impossi- bly high. From duck confit to crème brûlée, every dish shows how classic French cooking is done right. BEST RESTAURANT (DESIGN DISTRICT/MIDTOWN) El Turco 5026 NE Second Ave. Miami 33137 786-686-9797 elturcoturkishfood.com The energy at El Turco is distinctly not downtown. Tucked inside the lush, tranquil oasis of Upper Buena Vista with its tree can- opy and Mediterranean hippie vibe, El Turco feels miles away from the bustle of Miami, even though it’s like right there. El Turco brings the warmth of traditional Turkish hos- pitality to diners, offering them mezze plat- ters with imported olives and cheeses, house-baked breads, and flavorful grilled meats under a Chickee hut. It earned a place on the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list which means you get a great value for excep- tional food. Pro tip: while El Turco doesn’t sell alcohol, guests are welcome to bring their own, so pack your favorite bottle to round out your Turkish feast. BEST RESTAURANT (MIMO/LITTLE RIVER) La Natural 7289 NW Second Ave. Miami 33150 305-419-0377 lanaturalmiami.com La Natural has quietly become one of Mi- ami’s best places to eat. This Little River pizza place, from hospitality vets Javier Ramirez and Andreina Matos, has earned back-to-back Bib Gourmand nods from the Michelin Guide, and it’s easy to see why. Pizzas are built on a 48-hour fermented sourdough crust and topped with every- thing from burrata and basil to za’atar and Sichuan peppercorns, then fired in a wood- burning oven behind the bar. The vibe is laid-back but thoughtful: concrete floors, ceiling fans, natural wine on heavy rotation, and a playlist that leans alternative with global flair. Small plates like papaya with kumquat and grilled seasonal vegetables round out the menu, adding depth beyond the pies. What started as backyard dinners among friends now draws lines out the door. La Natural isn’t just a great pizza place; it’s a neighborhood anchor and a citywide desti- nation rolled into one. BEST RESTAURANT (AVENTURA) Perl 2420 NE 186th St. North Miami Beach 33180 786-654-2854 perlrestaurant.com Chef Isaac Perlman spent years cooking for Miami’s elite, and now he’s serving the rest of us. At Perl in Aventura, the acclaimed private chef brings his polished, globally inspired cuisine to a minimalist space just off Miami Gardens Drive. The sleek dining room, airy wraparound patio, and rooftop terrace set the stage for a menu that fuses Japanese and Mediterranean flavors. Highlights include grilled hearts of palm with Parmigiano-Reg- giano and truffle, confit artichoke hearts with charred leek remoulade, and a baby gem Cae- sar salad tossed with arugula, toasted pine nuts, and Chef IP’s signature dressing. Heart- ier plates like the Dijon Champagne-mari- nated roasted half chicken, served with chicken jus, herbs, and jumbo asparagus, round out the experience especially when paired with Japanese white sweet potato. North Miami Beach may not be a dining hotspot (yet), but thanks to Perl, it’s officially on the culinary map. BEST RESTAURANT (FORT LAUDERDALE) Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Bar Pizzeria 1032 E. Las Olas Blvd. Fort Lauderdale 33301 954-356-6699 louiebossi.com Louie Bossi’s is Fort Lauderdale’s go-to for hearty Italian comfort food with serious style (and crusty bread) on Las Olas Boule- vard. The pastas are creative and clearly housemade, the pizzas are discs of deli- ciousness, and the portions are generous enough that you could share, though you probably won’t. The space is bustling and everything you want out of a classic Italian restaurant plus a massive patio perfect for people-watching and a bathroom homage to Italian race car drivers. Swing by for the weekly specials — Martini Monday features 50% off martinis and $3.95 meatball sliders, while Roman Holiday Wednesdays offer 50% off any bottle of wine under $99. Whether it’s brunch or date night, Louie Bossi’s connects the old world and Fort Lauderdale. BEST RESTAURANT (HOLLYWOOD) Krakatoa Indonesian Cuisine 1910 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood 33020 954-921-1411 krakatoacuisine.com A stroll along Hollywood Boulevard reveals restaurants from around the world. It’s like a real-world Epcot, but surprisingly cheaper. And while there are plenty of options, you’ll want to snag a table at Krakatoa. The restau- rant is small but all Indonesian with its color- ful puppets and decorations, and the food is a total winner even for your pickiest littles who only eat rice and chicken. Krakatoa also in- troduces Hollywood to a variety of stand-out dishes like rendang, mie goreng, and satay skewers served with fragrant peanut sauce. Those in-the-know have already warmed seats and Krakatoa, which was featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri and PBS’s Check, Please! South Florida with Michelle Bernstein. BEST POP-UP Rare Beauty Café Pop-Up in Wynwood There’s so much to love about Selena Gomez — her role as Mabel Mora in Only Murders in the Building and her cuddly pairing with Benny Blanco are at the top of the list. This past March, Miami was able to add another line to that directory of ado- ration when Gomez’s makeup brand popped up with an immersive experi- ence in Wynwood that allowed visitors to try out the latest products in an Instagramma- ble setting. The pop-up café blended beauty, community, and sweet treats and fea- tured thoughtful local touches like compli- mentary iced coffees and colorful conchas. It served as a testament to Rare Beauty’s core mission of promoting self-love and mental well-being by creating a lovely space where people could connect and celebrate each other and their individuality. BEST RESTAURANT TO DIE IN THE PAST YEAR Sugarcane Raw Bar and Grill 3252 NE First Ave. Miami 33137 786-369-0353 sugarcanerestaurants.com Sugarcane Raw Bar and Grill was Midtown Miami’s original elevated dining destination, shaping the neighborhood’s culinary identity
