14 March 30 - april 5, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Fresh Catches The ten best seafood restaurants in Miami. BY NICOLE DANNA F rom Biscayne Bay to the Atlantic Ocean, Miami’s glorious proximity to open waters puts the city on the map as a prime destination for sea- food and summer vibes year-round. You can get both here, but selecting the best seafood places is no easy task. This coastal metropolis boasts an abundance of eateries that offer delightful sea treasures. Fresh fish? Check. Stone crab and lobster? Double check. Oysters, shrimp, and mussels? Yes, to all three. So where do seafood-loving locals and out-of-towners go to get their seafood fix in the Magic City? Well, we all have our favor- ites. But there’s nothing like cracking into gi- ant claws and discovering the sweetest meat at South Beach’s century-old institution, Joe’s Stone Crab, or digging into a fresh-catch fried fish sandwich at longtime North Miami fa- vorite Captain Jim’s. Listed alphabetically, here are Miami’s top spots for finding the ocean’s bounty on a plate. Captain Jim’s Seafood Market & Restaurant 12950 W. Dixie Hwy., North Miami 305-892-2812; captainjimsmiami.com When Captain Jim’s Seafood Market owner Jim Hanson realized his distribution center for fresh-caught local fish could do equally well as a restaurant, he opened the epony- mous eatery in 1996. It wasn’t long before people were lining up, ready to taste some of the freshest fish in Miami. Today, this beloved North Miami go-to for all things sea- food and stone crabs is operated under the direction of La Camaronera’s David Garcia, who contin- ues to source fresh catches from the same fishing boats his family has used for decades. The menu covers every- thing fish lovers crave, be it finned or shell- fish, prepared as soups (there’s lobster bisque and New England clam chowder) and salads (mahi Caesar anyone?), between buns, or even over pasta. The day’s catch — often mahi, hogfish, grouper, or snapper — is best when served as a sandwich. Don’t miss Dave’s Gulf Coast-sourced Buffalo shrimp, tossed in a homemade Buffalo sauce and topped with crumbled blue cheese, or the longtime favor- ite krab salad, imitation crab meat tossed in a seasoned mayo, an original recipe from Cap- tain Jim’s early days. Casablanca Seafood Bar & Grill 400 NW North River Dr., Miami 305-371-4107; casablancaseafood.com Delectable ocean eats, perfect views of the Miami River, and more than two decades of experience in commercial fishing — the slo- gan “fresh from our boats to your table” is pretty accurate — lands Casablanca on almost any seafood-focused list in the 305. Here, you can dine alfresco and soak up a Miami sunrise or sunset, as the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And if you don’t have time for a sit-down meal, visit the adjoining fish market to try your hand at cooking up the day’s fresh catch. Estiatorio Milos 730 First St., Miami Beach 305-604-6800; estiatoriomilos.com Some of the most pristine seafood can be found at Estiatorio Milos, renowned for its exceptional take on Grecian cuisine with an always fresh selection of Mediterranean fish known to be flown in overnight from coun- tries like Greece, Spain, and Portugal. The restaurant itself is an opulent, undersea world with glistening details and laid-back vibes, where you’ll have the chance to feast on not-so-average catches like milokopi, fagri, loup de mer, and dorado. The seafood here doesn’t come cheap, but you can’t find it like this anywhere else in Miami. Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market 398 NW North River Dr., Miami 305-375-0765; garciasmiami.com Part restaurant, part fish market, Garcia’s has been serving some of the best seafood sand- wiches in Miami since the 1960s. The unri- valed views of the Miami River and fresh seafood caught daily give Miamians a taste of the Florida Keys a little closer to home, espe- cially via hearty, handheld fish sandwiches made with favorites like locally caught snap- per or mahi-mahi. If you’re especially hungry, go beyond the sandwich bun for Garcia’s grouper-topped Caesar salad, octopus grilled to perfection, whole fried hogfish, or spicy conch salad —and don’t forget to throw in a slice of homemade key lime pie for dessert. Joe’s Stone Crab 11 Washington Ave., Miami Beach 305-673-0365; joesstonecrab.com No stone crab season or visit to Miami is com- plete without a trip to South Florida’s most famous restaurant, still family-run by descen- dants of Joseph Weiss, the “Joe” of Joe’s Stone Crab. Since its opening in 1913, Joe’s has remained consistent in quality, genuine hospitality, and — of course — its stellar sea- sonal selection of stone crab claws. Joe’s also offers more ocean-sourced fare, from mahi- mahi, ginger salmon, and sea scallops to sea- food paella, crab cakes, and fried lobster tail. La Camaronera Seafood Joint & Fish Market 1952 W. Flagler St., Miami 305-642-3322; lacamaronera.com La Camaronera is Flagler’s classic neighbor- hood fish-fry joint, the kind of old-fashioned, strip-mall seafood spot that serves no-frill fa- vorites at reasonable prices. Specialties in- clude La Camaronera’s famous fried shrimp, which you can order alone, as part of a combo meal with yellow rice and tostones, or in a sandwich. From conch fritters to coconut cream pie, these Cuban dishes are good enough to warrant regular visits. Lure Fish Bar 1601 Collins Ave., Miami Beach 305-695-4550; lurefishbar.com This New York-based restaurant lures in an eclectic mix of clientele, from business pro- fessionals to tourists and fashionable folks looking for an exemplary seafood feast in a nautical-themed setting. Located inside Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Lure serves sea- food standouts such as jumbo lump crab- cakes and seared diver sea scallops. The vast sea of oyster options offers picks from coast to coast, and a stellar sushi program presents a well-stacked roster of innovative creations. Mignonette 210 NE 18th St., Miami 305-374-4635; mignonettemiami.com Edgewater’s Mignonette is both plain and fancy. Its humble interior belies its high- quality menu, divided into sections “Plain” and “Fancy.” Although they’re anything but plain, some entrées in the former category in- clude crispy skin snapper or scallops with beurre blanc and vegetables. If your bank ac- count allows, order the “Fancy” Mignonette tower that gets you a plethora of fresh ocean finds, including oysters, clams, shrimp and crab cocktails, lobster tail, and king crab legs. Stiltsville Fish Bar 1787 Purdy Ave., Miami Beach 786-401-5254; stiltsvillefishbar.com Sunset Harbour’s Stiltsville Fish Bar, housed inside a quaint 1940s structure, is the perfect nautically inspired space to enjoy some of Miami’s best seafood. Here, just-caught fish are displayed in a bathtub filled with ice and vintage tackle boxes are used to serve raw bar picks like oysters, Florida lobster tail, royal red shrimp, and local snapper ceviche. Try the fish wings — the oft-forgotten part of the catch — served with a chili lime hot sauce and fresh limes. The River Oyster Bar 33 SE Seventh St., Miami 305-530-1915; therivermiami.com For oyster fans, the River Seafood Oyster Bar is a little piece of heaven in the heart of Mi- ami. This refined neighborhood spot special- izes in classic seafood cuisine with a modern twist, using the freshest local products avail- able and items from around the world. A glo- rious raw bar offers hand-shucked, cold-water oysters, ceviches, and fresh catches. This pristine seafood, carefully crafted cocktails, and a substantial wine list make this place a Brickell favorite for lunch, dinner, and happy hour. [email protected] ▼ Café Stiltsville Fish Bar photo Stiltsville’s tackle box of treasures STILTSVILLE FISH BAR IS THE PERFECT NAUTICALLY INSPIRED SPACE TO ENJOY SOME OF MIAMI’S BEST SEAFOOD.
