82 June 23-28, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times b e s T o f m i a m i ® 2 0 2 3 Norwegian king crab legs with melted butter, and dry-aged steaks. If you want to get even more intimate, Klaw has two private dining rooms perfect for planning the remainder of the evening or the rest of your lives together. B E S T R E S TA U R A N T F O R A F I R S T DAT E The Drexel 1436 Drexel Avenue Miami Beach, 33139 305-692-0992 drexelmiami.com Set a bit away from the glare of neon clubland on historic Española Way, the Drexel is the ideal place for people to feel comfortable in their surroundings. The Mediterranean set- ting is romantic but not too secluded, espe- cially for people who have never met in person. The coastal-inspired fare is simple and delicious without being too challenging, ranging from homemade pasta and pizza to whole grilled prawns and organic chicken, all easy to share if the evening’s going well. And it’s close to a valet, plus other restaurants filled with people, just in case you need to dip. It is a first date, after all. B E S T R E S TA U R A N T W H E N S O M E O N E E L S E I S PAY I N G Naoe 661 Brickell Key Drive Miami, 33131 305-947-6263 naoemiami.com Everything at Naoe is done with care, from the soy sauce that’s made at the chef/owner Kevin Cory’s family’s shoyu brewery in Japan to the sake, which is a family recipe imported from the town of Kanazawa. Cory and man- ager Wendy Maharlika host ten weekly seat- ings in the intimate Brickell dining room, where guests are encouraged to dress casu- ally to enjoy the meal. Service starts with a bento box of treasures before the sushi, bar- becue, and even a special ice cream is brought out over the next two hours. This is a place to appreciate the zen and the art of sushi, which has led to Naoe’s Forbes Five-Star Travel Guide rating and AAA Five-Diamond award. But it isn’t cheap: dinner costs $280 per per- son (before beverages, tax, and gratuity), making it the logical first suggestion when someone else is picking up the check. B E S T I N E X P E N S I V E R E S TA U R A N T Chug’s Diner 3444 Main Highway, Suite 21 Coconut Grove, 33133 786-353-2940 chugsdiner.com There are many places to get an incredible meal in Miami if you’re ready to plunk down a credit card and maybe skip a car payment. But what if someone told you that you could eat the food of one of Miami’s best chefs without breaking the bank? Chef Michael Beltran is best known for his Michelin- starred Coconut Grove restaurant, Ariete. But just a few blocks away, you’ll find his more casual restaurant, Chug’s Diner, which received a Bib Gourmand in the 2023 Mi- chelin Guide. Beltran, whose nickname growing up was Chug, pays homage to his Cuban-American roots. You won’t find fancy items, but you will enjoy chef-driven versions of filling classics like a burger, turkey club, short ribs, and a wedge salad. If you can’t de- cide, you can’t go wrong with Abuela’s plate, a heaping platter of lechón, pollo a la plancha, and masita that will instantly transport you to your own abuela’s house where she insisted on making you a heaping plate of with “a little of everything.” Sugar fiends flock to the sweet pastelito by Pastelito Papi and “Banana Carajillo,” a dessert drink made with rum, bananas, cacao, and café cubano. B E S T P L AC E TO D I N E W I T H D O G S Lokal 3190 Commodore Plaza Coconut Grove, 33133 305-442-3377 kushhospitality.com/locations/lokal The FDA recently amended its food code to “allow for pet dogs in outdoor dining areas, where approved.” And while most Miami res- taurants allow well-behaved dogs to enjoy al fresco dining, only a few go above and beyond to welcome four-legged customers. Coconut Grove’s Lokal is an outstanding choice for hounds. The experience starts with a water bowl offering refreshments. Once seated, pups are greeted with an amuse-bouche of dog cookies, baked fresh daily, and then own- ers can order dishes for Fido from a dedicated doggy menu that includes the “Chichi Get the Meatloaf,” a mini meatloaf made with egg and tomato puree, and “Yeyo’s” chicken and rice. Pups can also get a refreshing “Bowser” beer, a non-alcoholic craft beer brewed in Tampa specifically for the canine connois- seur. If you bring your dog to Lokal, you never drink and dine alone. B E S T H OT E L R E S TA U R A N T Zuma 270 Biscayne Boulevard Way (in the Kimpton Epic Hotel) Miami, 33131 305-577-0277 zumarestaurant.com The modern Japanese restaurant Zuma has 22 locations across the globe, some as far away as Istanbul and Phuket. But it’s here at the Kimpton Epic Hotel in Miami where the flag- ship Zuma opened in 2010. The appeal is easy to grasp on first bite, with signature dishes that include a spicy beef tenderloin with ses- ame, red chili, and sweet choy ($54) and black cod marinated in saikyo miso wrapped in a hoba leaf ($48). Over the past 13 years, a hand- ful of Japanese eateries have opened up in Mi- ami, but Zuma chef Rainer Becker continues to offer a modern take on izakaya dining to hotel guests and regulars near and far. B E S T C L U B S TA U R A N T Giselle Miami 15 NE 11th Street Miami, 33132 305-358-9848 gisellemiami.com Miami is one of the nation’s sexiest cities, and E11even is among Miami’s sexiest club. So it makes sense that the venue would launch a rooftop restaurant that embodies that same sultry vibe. Giselle is more than a swanky rooftop restaurant and lounge. It’s everything a clubstaurant should be: an extravagant space with high energy and a menu to match. Like any good supper club, Giselle has all the elements for a night out on the town, from a fully retractable roof and a 14-seat marble- adorned bar and curated lounge spaces to a lineup of top DJs and a menu of elevated food and drink. To remind you that this is a bona fide restaurant, the menu provides a number of seductively titled sections, from “First Glance” (appetizers) to “Finer Things” (e.g., steak, seafood, Champagne, tequila pairings) to “Seaduction, Indulgence, and Desire” (say, a flaming Australian Wagyu tomahawk that serves two to four). The signature cocktail, “Head Over Heels,” combines sparkling rosé, raspberry, and lemongrass and is served in a stiletto-shaped glass for Insta-worthiness. B E S T R E S TA U R A N T ( D OW N TOW N ) Brasserie Laurel 698 NE First Avenue, Suite G170 Miami, 33132 305-330-9048 brasserielaurel.com “Fresh from Scotland,” a Brasserie Laurel server confirms as he holds a platter of whole roasted guinea fowl with chanterelles and crème de champignons tableside before it’s whisked away to be carved. This is, of course, after you’ve consumed the stupendous seared foie gras dressed with a whole berry gastrique or the oxtail-stuffed squid. Even the simplest dishes, such as a bibb salad with vinaigrette or pommes Béarnaise (French fries that you can dip into the tart, rich sauce), are magnificently done and full of delightful surprises. One of Eat & Drink
