Stimulate your senses as the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomes the return of its highly anticipated Miami Spice program! From August 1 to September 30, locals and visitors alike can indulge in decadent prix-fixe multi-course brunch, lunch and dinner menus at some of the city’s best restaurants, including Chef Brad Kilgore’s MaryGold’s, Bill Hansen Catering and more. Check out the article below for our ultimate Miami Spice 2023 roundup.
MIAMI SPICE DEBUT
MaryGold’s Florida Brasserie: A Chef’s Favorite Dinner
Arlo Wywnood, 2217 NW Miami Court, Miami, FL 33127
For Miami Spice, MaryGold’s Florida Brasserie, located on the ground floor of the stylish boutique hotel Arlo Wynwood, is offering a three-course dinner that perfectly encapsulates its brasserie concept while melding Miami’s diverse culture into each dish and drink. Guests can begin with Agnolotti, made with ricotta and brown butter; herby Squash Salad; or coconut-gouda mousse Oxtail Beignets. The main course includes a choice of Gnudi, gnocchi-like dumplings with preserved fire-roasted tomato jam; Mahi Mahi cooked with aji amarillo; or Short Rib Vaca Frita with roasted maduro purée. For dessert, diners can choose from Flan de Queso, Chocolate Turtle Fondant and Raspberry-Yuzu Sherbet.
Pricing/Availability: Dinner – $60 per person, available Wednesday through Sunday from 6 p.m. to close
Bill Hansen Catering Debuts Spice Catering
2023 will be the first year that catering companies will have the opportunity to participate in Miami Spice, allowing diners across the city to book their own private events at a discounted price. Bill Hansen Catering will come to your home or venue of selection and serve a farm-to-table menu that will change as needed based on the group. It is priced at $60 per person, with a 50-person limit, and is available from August through September. Celebrating over 40 years in South Florida, Bill Hansen Catering & Event Production continuously challenges the boundaries of imagination and breaks new ground as one of the area’s best full-service event design and production companies. Its sophisticated know-how, warm, personalized service and paramount commitment to its clients’ happiness exceed even the highest expectations. Corporate Chef Dewey Losasso was selected by The Miami Herald as one of the “Florida Food Fifty,” an intimate group of trendsetters in Florida. His custom-crafted farm-to-fork menus truly represent the Bill Hansen Catering philosophy of forward and evolutionary thinking. In all they do, Bill Hansen and his team strive to delight their clients and guests with passion, innovation, teamwork and quality.
RETURNING FAVORITES
The Deck at Island Gardens: Three-Course Dinner with Million-Dollars Views
888 MacArthur Causeway, Miami, FL 33132
Miami’s most treasured waterfront restaurant The Deck at Island Gardens is serving up a three-course Miami Spice dinner menu that blends delightful seafood bites with stunning views and live entertainment. Guests can relax in a relaxing cabana while enjoying a choice of appetizers: Octopus Ceviche, served with roasted boniatos and passion fruit leche de tigre; Beef Carpaccio, topped with crispy capers; or Tuna Tartare. The main course includes a choice of Branzino A La Plancha, with green olive and white bean salad; Roasted Top Sirloin, topped with spiced chimichurri; or white truffle Lobster Ravioli. To sweeten the meal, dessert features the House Signature Nemesis Cake, a flourless chocolate cake with red wine gel and edible 24-karat gold.
Pricing/Availability: Dinner – $65 per person from Thursday through Sunday
Negroni Bistro & Sushi Bar: A Latin-Fusion Brunch & Dinner
3201 Buena Vista Blvd., Miami, FL 33127
Negroni Bistro & Sushi Bar, Midtown Miami’s urban-chic Latin American and Nikkei hot spot, is serving up two exclusive menus for Miami Spice this year. Weekend brunch lovers can choose from four appetizers, including Ceviche Classic and Wagyu Empanada; four entrées, such as Truffle Eggs and New Avocado Toast; and two desserts, Choco Negroni or Coconut Flan. For dinner, guests can choose from starters, including Eggplant Burrata and Scallops Parmigiana, and entrées such as Stuffed Gnocchi and Short Ribs Risotto. Dinner dessert options include Coconut Flan and Cheesecake Brûlée.
Pricing/Availability:
Brunch – $28 per person on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
Dinner – $45 per person Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to midnight
Italica Midtown: Alfresco Italian Dinner and Weekend Brunch
3201 NE First Ave., Miami, FL 33137
Italica Midtown is adding a modern and colorful twist to traditional Italian cuisine this Miami Spice season. To the backdrop of the customized spritz bar and wood-fired pizza ovens, the Italian Mediterranean-inspired restaurant is serving a special weekend brunch and daily dinner package. Each three-course menu features four carefully chosen appetizers, four entrées and two delicious desserts. For brunch, kick off with Carciofi (grilled artichoke hearts) before moving on to Caprese Grilled Cheese or any of Italica’s Pizza Classicas, including Margherita, Parmigiana, and 4 Formaggi. End with creamy Affogato or Italian Gelato. Dinner guests can choose from appetizers such as Carpaccio Di Salmone and Mussels Alla Italiana, entrées such as Truffle Risotto Caccio Pepe and Pappardelle Al Sugo, and desserts such as Italica Lava Cake with Aperol orange reduction and prosecco gelato or Affogato with espresso.
Pricing/Availability:
Brunch – $30 per person from noon to 4 p.m. on weekends
Dinner – $60 per person from 5-11 p.m. daily
KAO Sushi & Grill: The Miracle Mile Staple
127 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134
KAO Sushi & Grill, the premier Argentine, Peruvian and Japanese fusion restaurant on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, has great options on its Miami Spice menus. For lunch ($30), guests can start with a choice of Citrus & Walnut Salad, Pork Buns or Sweet & Spicy Edamame. For the main course, options range from the hearty Pork Ramen with tonkotsu broth to the delectable Summer Sushi Combo, consisting of 12 pieces of sushi crafted by the chef. The menu also includes the enticing KAO Chicken and the flavorful Shrimp Chaufa Rice Wok. To conclude the meal, guests can savor the luscious 4 Leches or indulge in the traditional Argentinian Flan. The $35 menu builds upon the $30 offer, granting diners the choice of a glass of wine or beer to accompany their meal. The dinner menu includes a choice of a starter, such as the tantalizing Chorizo Buns, the zesty White Fish Ceviche or the flavorful Tango Sliders. Main course options range from the freshly prepared Poke Bowl to the Grilled Branzino. Alternatively, guests can choose two full sushi rolls from the chef’s selection or the Kao Wok, featuring chicken or beef, vegetables, rice, and KAO sauce. Dessert offerings include 4 Leches and traditional Argentinian Flan. To elevate their experience, guests can participate in the $60 menu, which comes with two glasses of prosecco, beer, or sake or a glass of house white or red wine.
Pricing/Availability:
Lunch – $30 or $35 per person from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Dinner – $45 or $60 per person from 4 p.m. to close daily
Mehzcla at The Balfour Hotel
The Balfour Hotel, 350 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Located at The Balfour Hotel in Miami Beach’s SoFi neighborhood, Mehzcla serves daily brunch and dinner with a menu that combines Latin recipes and ingredients in tribute to the hotel’s heritage. For Miami Spice, the restaurant will offer brunch ($35) daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring a choice of Baby Gem Caesar Salad or Yuquitas for the appetizer and a choice of Miami Benedict or Chicken and Waffles for the main course. Mehzcla’s dinner menu ($40), available daily from 5-10 p.m., includes a choice of Empanadas or Avocado and Charred Baby Heirloom Tomato for the appetizer and a choice of the Smash Frita Burger or Arroz Chaufa for the main course. Both Miami Spice menus will offer a tangy Key Lime Pie for dessert.
Pricing/Availability:
Brunch – $35 per person from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Dinner – $40 per person from 5-10 p.m. daily
Orno: Chef Niven Signature Dining Experience Debut
1350 S. Dixie Highway, Coral Gables, FL 33146
Orno at THesis Hotel in Coral Gables will be showcasing its first Brunch and Lunch ($35) menu and Signature Dining Experience ($95) alongside a delectable Dinner ($60) menu for the annual Miami Spice. Orno is a modern restaurant with an open-kitchen concept helmed by 5x James Beard nominee and Food & Wine’s “Best New Chef of 2020” Chef Niven Patel. The restaurant offers guests a true farm-to-table experience using locally sourced ingredients from Chef Patel’s very own farm, Rancho Patel. The menu consists of New American cuisine featuring the finest selection of meats and seafood. This year, Orno and Chef Niven will present the ultimate Signature Dining Experience with specially coursed-out selections to take Miami Spice diners on a culinary journey. The menu starts with an amuse of Daily Oyster topped with fresh mignonette and chili cocktail sauce to awaken the taste buds. The first course presents a Chilled Corn Bisque with crispy black-eyed peas and chow chow. For the second course, guests will find the Zucchini Chitarra with zucchini pesto, confit tomatoes and Calabrian chili bread crumbs for an added crunch. As guests move into the third course, they’ll be delighted by the delectable Hudson Valley Foie Gras, a melt-in-your-mouth addition served with Rancho Patel mango, cardamom and sourdough. To pair land with sea, the fourth course is the Red Snapper served with summer bean succotash and chorizo. Moving into the last course before dessert, guests will find the Middle Eastern Spiced Denver served with a smooth charred eggplant purée and saffron pickled cauliflower. To finish off the meal, the dessert includes a Mille Feuille with pistachio and orange blossom.
Miami Spice diners looking to indulge in brunch and lunch at Orno will find a three-course menu with a selection of Chilaquiles with salsa verde, queso fresco, avocado and farm egg; Shakshuka served with a farm egg, Castelvetrano olives, goat milk feta and sourdough; and Green Chickpea Hummus with pickled beets, za’atar pita for the first course. The second course includes sweet and savory options like the French Omelette made with goat cheese, roasted garlic and fine herbs; Ricotta Pancakes served with fresh strawberries and Vermont syrup; and Bacon Potato Pave with Gruyère and sourdough. To finish off the meal, brunch lovers can indulge in dessert with options like the S’mores with dark chocolate, marshmallow and mezcal and Banana Bread with chocolate sunflower butter.
The dinner menu is equally as indulgent. The first course selection gives guests the choice of the Snapper Crudo, with cucumber aguachile, farm mango relish and cilantro; Roasted Eggplant Crostini with harissa, basil and crème fraîche; or Pork Confit with pickled peaches, Thai basil and cornbread. Guests also have an option to add on the Hudson Valley Foie Gras ($29+), a melt-in-your-mouth addition served with Rancho Patel mango, cardamom and sourdough. The second course consists of a selection of Braised Short Rib, with peperonata served alongside a bed of cilantro rice and jus; Grilled Skull Island Prawns, accompanied by a Thai mango salad, cilantro and chipotle glaze; or the Summer Corn Risotto, with charred corn from the wood-fired oven topped with black truffle and parsley gremolata. Miami Spice diners with a sweet tooth can choose from Orno’s dessert options, such as the Semifreddo with buttermilk, mango and tajin or the S’mores with dark chocolate, marshmallow and mezcal.
Mamey: An Island-Inspired Family Style Meal
1350 S. Dixie Highway, Coral Gables, FL 33146
Located inside THesis Hotel, Mamey is inspired by Chef Niven Patel’s travels throughout Asia, French Polynesia and the Caribbean and features locally grown produce, most of which is sourced from his own farm, Rancho Patel, in Homestead. This Miami Spice, Chef Niven is presenting Lunch ($35) and Dinner ($60) menus to satisfy any guest’s craving and showcase the exotic flavors and spices commonly found in the islands. The first course boasts a variety of options, including the seasonal Spring Farro Salad made with mangos from Rancho Patel, shaved asparagus, arugula, goat cheese feta, snow peas and pomegranate; the indulged White Truffle & Brie Grilled Cheese made with Florida mango jam and Sullivan Street bread; and the Local Daily Catch Ceviche, presented with coconut leche de tigre, red onion, avocado, cachucha peppers and fresh cilantro. Entrée options include the Glazed Lamb Ribs, with local honey, chives and pickled local fruit; Lemongrass Glazed Grouper with bok choy, heirloom carrots, bamboo rice and Thai curry; and Farm Vegetable Pad Thai with tamarind, peanuts and Thai basil sprouts. For the full Miami Spice experience, guests can indulge in the dessert menu that highlights the Jamaican Rum Cake with a sweet toffee sauce and creamy vanilla bean ice cream. Mamey’s Miami Spice dinner menu features a few different appetizers, including the Conch Fritters with a fresh cilantro aioli and habanero for a slight kick. The entrées include the Mishima Ranch Churrasco, accompanied by yucca and rainbow chard red pepper chimichurri, and Ghee Roasted Plantains with tamarind chutney, chaat yogurt, Zima tomato, cilantro chutney and crispy chickpeas.
Pricing/Availability:
Lunch / Brunch – $35++ per person
Dinner – $60++ per person
