16 September 19-25, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | September 19-25, 2024 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | with cucumbers, green peppers, onions, kala- mata olives, and feta cheese. The restaurant’s housemade Greek yogurt dessert is so thick and creamy that you’ll never believe you’re eating something good for you. Finka Table & Tap 14690 SW 26TH ST., MIAMI 305-227-8818 FINKARESTAURANT.COM Siblings Eileen and Jonathan Andrade de- scend from Miami dining royalty. Their grandparents founded Islas Canarias, the shrine of Cuban comfort food revered for its croquetas. Their parents carried on that tra- dition. It was on the sage advice of Mom and Dad that Eileen and Jonathan opened Finka Table & Tap — employing a funky spelling of finca, the Spanish word for “farm” — out in the far-western reaches of Miami-Dade. Gas- tropubs are a dime a dozen on the east side of the county, but Finka has a monopoly out west, and a crowd lines up nightly for the An- drades’ Peruvian-Korean-Cuban fare: Cuban fried rice, Korean fried chicken, and the famed croquetas from the old family recipe, available in ham, chicken, or fish. Fiola 1500 SAN IGNACIO AVE., CORAL GABLES 305-912-2639 FIOLAMIAMI.COM Coral Gables mainstay Fiola is a beautiful fine-dining experience with classic Italian fare in Coral Gables. A spinoff of Chef Fabio Trabocchi’s Michelin-starred spot in D.C., the Coral Gables Fiola boasts a Michelin recom- mendation, and after one meal there curated by executive chef Daniel Ganem, it’ll be obvi- ous why. Though anchored in rich tradition and authenticity, the menus change season- ally to highlight the best local ingredients. Simple white tablecloths, glassware, and wood floors allow the exceptional food to be the center of attention. Pricey but not exorbi- tant, Fiola is unpretentious, gimmick-free, and boasts excellent service. Fiorito 5555 NE SECOND AVE., MIAMI 305-754-2899 FIORITOMIAMI.COM An Argentine-inspired gem awaits in Little Haiti, identifiable by an unmistakable wel- come sign: the towering mural of soccer icon (and newly minted South Floridian) Lionel Messi above the entrance. Soccer is a major theme here — the name itself is a homage to Argentine legend Diego Maradona’s city of birth. It’s a relaxed and inviting space that creates an easygoing atmosphere perfect for families and locals looking to unwind. The heart of the menu is the meat: USDA prime beef cooked to perfection on the grill. The va- cio (flank steak) and churrasco (skirt steak) are standout options, but don’t ignore the juicy empanadas and hearty pasta dishes. Homemade desserts like flan and crepes offer a sweet ending. Whether you’re a diehard soccer fan or simply in search of great food and community vibes, Fiorito brings Argenti- na’s lively spirit to Miami’s dining scene. Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & Grill 2721 BIRD AVE., MIAMI 305-446-1114 FLANIGANS.NET Ask nearly anyone in Miami, and they’re likely to tell you that their favorite place to have an unpretentious round of drinks is Flanigan’s. Joe “Big Daddy” Flanigan opened the first Flanigan’s in 1959 in Pom- pano Beach. The nautical-themed bar was a hit for its ice-cold beer, fresh seafood, and baby back ribs. The only thing that has changed since then is that, with 24 loca- tions in South Florida, you could probably spin around and throw a dart and hit a Flan- igan’s. Now that’s progress. Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market 398 NW NORTH RIVER DR., MIAMI 305-375-0765 GARCIASMIAMI.COM Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market has been serving up a winning combination of fresh fish dishes and family hospitality for nearly 60 years. In-the-know Miamians flock to this indoor/outdoor restaurant overlooking the Miami River — overseen these days by brothers Luis Garcia and Esteban Garcia Jr., whose parents founded the local institution in 1966 — for the freshest catch reeled in daily and available for purchase on the menu or by the pound at the fish market next door. If you choose to stay, you can dine amid dark- wood surroundings or enjoy the laid-back vibe and river view outdoors. Choose blackboard specials or house favorites such as fried grouper fingers or blackened or breaded preparations of your favorite fish. The famous fish dip or crab cakes make tasty starters, and each entrée comes with your choice of two sides. Before you leave, pick up some fresh seafood at the market to cook at home tomorrow! Ghee Indian Kitchen 8965 SW 72ND PL., MIAMI 305-968-1850 GHEEMIAMI.COM In, of all places, Dadeland, chef Niven Patel and his crew have opened Miami’s eyes to the cuisine of western India, a culinary culture that comprises infinitely more than tandoori chicken and lamb rogan josh. At Ghee Indian Kitchen, which earned a Michelin Bib Gour- mand designation in 2022, you’ll find the sim- ple street snack of puffed rice called bhel, juiced up with sweet Florida avocado and meaty hunks of raw tuna. Though the restau- rant offers chicken tikka masala for the unad- venturous, do not miss the sizable vegetable section on the menu, for which many of the in- gredients are harvested from Patel’s own farm. Hiyakawa 2700 N. MIAMI AVE., MIAMI 305-333-2417 HIYAKAWAMIAMI.COM Alvaro Perez Miranda, the Venezuelan res- taurateur and art dealer who also owns Wabi Sabi, has created a sparse yet beautiful dining room for Hiyakawa in Wynwood. The scene feels like walking into a museum exhibit — the interior is decorated in Japa- nese wood architecture with curved ceiling arches that re- semble the unfinished frame of a sailing vessel or the inside of a giant whale. Either way, it’s a remarkable backdrop for a res- taurant that specializes in fish flown in daily from the Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo. The menu offers à la carte items, but order one of the many sushi plat- ters (or the omakase experience) to get the full effect of this palace of sushi. Islas Canarias Cafe, Restaurant, & Bakery 3804 SW 137TH AVE., MIAMI 305-559-0111 ISLASCANARIASRESTAURANT.COM Head to this beloved Cuban joint out west the next time you’re hungover or hungry and in need of caffeine. There are few better cures for either than Cuban coffee and hot croqu- etas. Opened in 1977 by Raul and Amelia Gar- cia, Islas Canarias has earned its spot as one of the best cafecitas — those adorable Cuban coffee shops/bakeries — in Miami-Dade County. People crave the kitchen’s made-to- order beef or chicken empanadas, medi- anoche sandwiches, pan con bistec, and those famous ham croquetas. Jackson Soul Food 950 NW THIRD AVE., MIAMI 305-374-7661 JACKSONSOULFOOD.COM In 1946, Jessie and Demas Jackson opened Mama’s Cafe in Overtown. The restaurant saw Miami’s historic Black community rise, fall, and rise again. Generations later, the family business had become legendary for its traditional soul food. In addition to Over- town, Jackson Soul Food has an outpost in Opa-locka; both locations offer traditional fa- vorites, including fried catfish, smothered wings, oxtail, and ribs. A proper soul-food restaurant is known for its sides, and Jackson delivers — from candied yams to fried okra, collard greens, and macaroni & cheese. Jimmy’s Eastside Diner 7201 BISCAYNE BLVD., MIAMI 305-754-3692 Jimmy’s Eastside Diner has the casual, been- there-forever feel of a neighborhood hang- out. The green-and-brown color scheme is oddly appealing, and the place looks bright and friendly — diner ambiance minus any dinginess. If Jimmy’s looks familiar, it’s prob- ably because the diner was used as one of the filming locations in Barry Jenkins’ Oscar- winning 2016 film Moonlight. Ready your camera because you’ll want to take a photo for the ‘gram. Seating is all booths, and break- fast is served all day, including monster om- elets and refreshing honesty from the waitstaff, as in: “Have the hash browns. The home fries have been sitting all morning.” Philly cheesesteak for Saturday lunch, tuna melts — the fare has all the authentic mark- ings of a classic diner. Joe’s Stone Crab 11 WASHINGTON AVE., MIAMI BEACH 305-673-0365 JOESSTONECRAB.COM You know Joe’s. The history. The gloriously sweet stone crabs. And, in season, the notori- ously long wait for a table. But often over- looked is the consistently good food, the truly professional service, the free parking, the sur- prising value (except the crabs, which are an extravagance wherever you find them), and the dining room’s stately ambiance. Visit and you’ll find tuxedoed waiters whirling through the dining rooms with oval trays held high above their heads while the buzz of diners subtly tinges the air like the intangible gath- ering of ions before a thunderstorm. Yet you’d be hard-pressed to find such a large space that’s as cozy as this one. Stone crabs are, of course, the mainstay of Joe’s menu, and somehow they seem to taste a little fresher TOP 100 RESTAURANTS Estiatorio Milos Estiatorio Milos photo
