It’s every foodie’s favorite time of year- the highly anticipated Miami Spice and Dine Out Ft. Lauderdale restaurant programs featuring the most exquisite culinary offerings in SoFlo.
Throughout the months of August to September, Miami Spice showcases diverse cuisine from world-renowned chefs and local favorites across the Greater Miami Area. Enjoy new and unique gastronomic experiences with three-course meals being offered for lunch and brunch at $28, and dinner for $42.
During this same time, take advantage of Dine Out Ft. Lauderdale’s special pricing on three-course meals, priced at $35 or $45 per person. Here are some of our favorite places to indulge.
Miami Spice
Villa Azur: Located in the heart of Miami Beach, Villa Azur is truly a hidden gem. This chic French-Medditerannean supper club known for its avant-garde weekly vibe-dining dinner series is the perfect location to celebrate Miami Spice. Locals and visitors can take advantage of their delicious Spice offerings for dinner from Wednesday through Sunday. Diners can enjoy a choice of the vegetarian-friendly Roasted Beet Salad, a refreshing salad with apricots, cucumber, citrus labneh, basil salsa verde, baby spinach and olive oil, or the Mediterranean Crispy Shrimp, served with a Meyer lemon aioli, pickled red onions, haricot vert and herb de provence. For the main course, guests have a choice of either the Seared Salmon, with red quinoa tebouleh, smoked chickpea puree and lemon yuzu vinaigrette, or a vegetarian Ricotta Ravioli, served in a butternut squash puree, with sage, toasted hazelnuts and a red wine reduction. Wrap up the meal with one of Villa Azur’s decadent desserts like the Apple Tart, with crispy apple, dulce de leche ice cream and butter cinnamon crumbs, or the Pina Colada Flan, with pineapple foam and a rum compressed pineapple for the perfect closing to this unforgettable meal.
Address: 309 23rd St. Miami Beach, FL 33139
OLA Miami: Short for “Of Latin America,” OLA Miami has helped define the South Florida culinary scene while raising the bar for modern Latin cuisine. Located at The Gates Hotel South Beach, the waterfront dining destination is offering a special lunch menu for guests to enjoy every day of the week, Monday through Sunday, during Spice season. It includes delicious new menu items as well as classic OLA dishes featuring a combination of Pan Latin, Spanish and Caribbean flavors. Appetizer choices on deck include the Corvina Ceviche, made with with fresh lime juice, cilantro, red onion, limo peppers and peruvian crispy corn, the Short Rib Empanada, a black beer braised short rib empanada served with creamy habanero sauce and smokey orange marmalade, Wedge Salad, crispy bacon, blue cheese, red onion, grape tomato; and Chicharron, crispy calamari and shrimp in a sweet and spicy panca sauce topped with micro cilantro. Vegetarian appetizer options include the Corn Empanada, a vegetarian empanada served with mushroom salad, huitlacoche and sweet corn sauce; and Heirloom Tomato Salad, microgreens, red onion and goat cheese with a lemon-oregano vinaigrette. Appetizing entrees include a choice of OLA’s signature Roast Cuban Pork, served with garlic yuca mash, black bean broth, creole style pepper salad and mustard mojo; Skirt Steak, served with grilled asparagus and chimichurri; Mahi Mahi, served with arroz verde; Pork Sliders, slow roasted pork, crispy bacon, yellow tomato and pan asian slaw; and the vegetarian Quinoa Salad, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, shaved almonds and mint in a lemon vinaigrette. Treat yourself to one of OLA’s amazing desserts such as the Bread Pudding, an assortment of bread, vanilla and condensed and evaporated milk, or the Deconstructed Key Lime Pie, a key lime custard with toasted meringue and tuile.
Address: 2360 Collins Ave. Miami Beach, FL 33139
Café Americano: Miami Beach eatery, Café Americano serves up American comfort food with a Latin twist, as well as an all-day brunch. Located on Ocean Drive at the Hotel Victor, patrons can bask in ocean breezes while indulging in delicious bites from the restaurant’s elevated menu. During Miami Spice, Café Americano is offering brunch, lunch, and dinner Spice menus. Offered Friday through Sunday, brunch goers can enjoy a selection of Café Americano’s most popular dishes including a choice of vegetarian options including the Steel Cut Oatmeal, with blueberry compote and brown sugar; or Seasonal Fruit Platter, chef’s selection of the season’s freshest fruit served with honey and blueberry yogurt. Next up is either the vegetarian Southwestern Avocado Toast, with avocado slices, roasted corn, black beans, cherry tomatoes, cilantro and cotija cheese; or the decadent Carrot Cake French Toast, featuring three slices of thick cut brioche, griddled in spiced batter with candied carrots, raisins and a pecan cream cheese filling. For dessert, sip on a classic Mimosa, and upgrade to two hours unlimited for an additional $25. The lunch menu, which is available every day of the week, is filled with favorite starters such as the Caesar Salad, made with chopped romaine hearts, classic caesar dressing, house croutons and parmesan crisps; and Spiced Brined Chicken Wings, served with classic buffalo sauce, a smoked blue cheese dressing, carrots and celery sticks. Follow up with a choice of the Classic Burger, on a butter toasted brioche bun; the Poke Bowl, with your choice of salmon or tuna; or the Penne Sorrentina, imported penne with marinara sauce, cherry tomatoes, basil and fresh mozzarella. For dessert Miami Spice guests can enjoy Café Americano’s scrumptious Cheesecake. Available Sunday through Thursday, Café Americano’s dinner menu is not to be missed and features a mix of a small plates such as the Nola BBQ Shrimp, with guava, black pepper, charred lemon and butter toasted french bread; and Americano Chopped Salad, chopped romaine hearts, classic caesar dressing, house croutons and parmesan crisps. Large plates include Fried Chicken, buttermilk brined breast and boneless thigh served with cheesy steak fries and pickled green beans; Smoked St. Louis Ribs, slow-smoked St. Louis ribs, served with house BBQ sauce, french fries and corn on the cob; and Salmon served with an edamame puree, succotash and topped with fresno chile oil. Top off the meal with Café Americano’s delicious Chocolate Cake.
Address: 1144 Ocean Drive Miami, FL 33169
Dine Out Fort Lauderdale
Casa Sensei: Las Olas waterfront favorite Casa Sensei is offering an especially elevated Pan Asian and Latin fusion menu for this year’s Dine Out Lauderdale. Guests can enjoy al fresco waterfront dining and a three-course meal with options at both $35 and $45 per person, available Mondays from 4PM to 6PM, Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11:30AM to 6PM, and Fridays 11:30AM to 5PM. The Dine Out Lauderdale menu features a choice of appetizers including the restaurant’s vegetarian Truffle Edamame, steamed edamame, with a truffle oil drizzle; Ahi Poke, Ahi Tuna served with red onion, truffle oil, seaweed salad, soy sauce, cilantro, and veggie wonton chip; and Argentinian Beef Empanadas, two beef empanadas, served with pickled red onion and chimichurri. Additional starter options include the Pork Dumplings, three pan-seared pork dumplings, served with cabbage, shallots, scallions, and soy; Charred Octopus, a chargrilled octopus served with tropical, papaya-mango salad, drizzled w/fresh basil vinaigrette; and Salt and Pepper Prawns, wok tossed prawns, topped with salt and pepper, and cayenne pepper. For the $35 entree menu, guests have the choice of either miso soup or the house salad with any one of the menu’s tasty sushi roll selections including the Truffle Butter Crunch Roll, with Yellowtail, soy paper, shredded kana, lemon pepper, veggie tempura flakes, and truffle clarified butter drizzle; the Fish Burnt Roll, fresh Wahoo, Thai sriracha sauce, avocado, kani, sesame oil, cilantro, I/O topped with seared spicy smoked Tuna and cajun spices; or Casa Sensei’s Russian Roll, shrimp tempura, avocado, asparagus, topped with fresh tuna, green tempura flakes, jalapeño, spicy mayo, eel sauce. Diners can also indulge in the Sesame Chicken, with crispy chicken in a blood orange caramel sauce, green beans, bok choy, and sesame seeds, served on a bed of jasmine rice; Chicken, Beef, Shrimp, or Crispy Tofu Pad Thai, served with gluten free rice noodles, scallions, egg, onions and bean sprouts; Special Fried Rice with grilled chicken breast, pork belly, shrimp, egg, bean sprouts, peas, and jasmine rice; or the Kung Fu Chicken Lo Mein, lo mein served with chicken, mushrooms, bean sprouts, scallions, green beans, bell pepper, and shrimp. Entrees on deck for $45, which also include the option of either miso soup or the house salad, include sushi rolls such as the Las Olas Roll, with smoked salmon, shrimp tempura, asparagus, avocado, tempura flakes, eel sauce, and spicy mayo; and the Shogun Roll, with spicy Tuna, Wagyu beef, cilantro, red onion, and a touch of kimchi sauce. Other entrees include the Mongolian Beef, with tender fillet tips in Casa Special Sauce served with baby bok choy over a bed of jasmine rice; Grilled Salmon, served with tomato cucumber salad, vegetable medley; Mongolian Duck, a tender and juicy duck in a sweet soy glaze, served with vegetable fried rice; and the Shrimp Curry Curl, with shrimp and vegetables in red curry sauce, served over a bed of white rice. End the meal on a sweet note with one of Casa Sensei’s decadent dessert items such as the Coconut Cream Cake, the Cheesecake Dulce de Leche, or the Chocolate Lover Cake.
Address: 1200 East Las Olas Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Unit B Eatery + Spirits: A hidden gem inside of The Shops of Pembroke Gardens, Unit B Eatery + Spirits is a speakeasy-inspired, dining destination that serves new American plates alongside hand-crafted cocktails. This lowkey gastronomic nook is the perfect lounge for those looking to kick back to lo-fi beats, imbibe in quality libations, and enjoy delicious bites carefully curated by Executive Chef Yasemis Gomez. The restaurant’s Dine Out Lauderdale menu showcases the fusion of international flavors and techniques. Priced at $45 per person, guests pick a choice of starters including Curried Lamb and Potato Empanadas, served with a cilantro yogurt dipping sauce; Charred Octopus, charred octopus served with chorizo, guajillo vinaigrette, crispy potatoes, and shaved fennel; or Arugula Salad, citrus, fresno chili, sicilian pistachio, goat cheese, and sherry-lime dressing. For the main course, foodies can select from the Pan Seared Salmon, served with carrot stew, caper, and raisin sofrito; or the Spiced Lamb Chop, crispy polenta, blackberry wine sauce, and lamb jus. Guests looking to satisfy their sweet tooth at the end of the night can choose from the Date Cake, a creme fraiche ice cream with toffee sauce; or Chef’s weekly homemade Ice Cream.
Address: 610 SW 145th Terrace, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027
