Where to Eat in October: Joe’s Stone Crab, El Salón, Klaw, and More

This month’s dining plans call for a classic – none other than the 110-year-old Miami institution that is Joe’s Stone Crab. A must-have reservation as stone crab season begins in mid-October, Joe’s reopens with dinner service on Oct. 14.

For over a century, Joe’s Stone Crab has built its reputation on treating you like family, delivering best in class service and hospitality. And those amazing stone crabs. Locals and visitors alike mark their calendars for the annual opening of stone crab season.

But did you know that recently, Joe’s started accepting reservations exclusively on Resy? So get ready to don your bib and crack open those sweet, succulent crab claws and all the other signature items: the hash browns, the creamed spinach, and of course a slice of Joe’s famous key lime pie. Don’t like seafood?  Joe’s also has some of the best fried chicken you’ll ever eat.

Global superstar Bad Bunny has opened a new Japanese-style steakhouse and lounge in partnership with nightlife king Dave Grutman, and it promises to be Miami’s latest star-studded hotspot. Think Wagyu steaks and over-the-top sushi in a luxe Asian-inspired venue dripping in gold. In addition to steaks like the Wagyu Filet, Kobe New York Strip and A5 Flight, popular picks include the lobster dumplings, wagyu crispy rice, and A5 maki roll. And it wouldn’t be a true Groot Hospitality restaurant-meets-nightlife concept if there wasn’t bottle service. If you’re looking for celebrity sightings, you’re going to need a reservation to get into Gekkō, and make sure to plan ahead.

Call 305-423-8884 to make reservations.

Bodega Taqueria is already known for bringing a party atmosphere to most of its taco shacks with an adjacent speakeasy-style lounge, but upstairs at Bodega’s newest location in Coconut Grove, there’s also an intimate, upscale mezcal bar that takes reservations. The Mezcaleria at Bodega is inspired by the architecture of historic haciendas, or the expansive rural estates of Spanish landowners in Mexico. Open Wednesday to Saturday late into the night, Mezcaleria pours rare tequila and mezcals, rotating flights for sampling, and a menu of craft cocktails. If you need a bite to wash down your drinks, head back downstairs to order trendy tacos and burritos from their indoor Airstream trailer-turned-taco-truck. Look out for private pairing dinners and tasting series to come.

October is a great month for sports – football is in full swing, baseball’s postseason is here, plus basketball and hockey are back this month, too. There’s no better place to catch all of your favorite games than the new KUSH at Clevelander. That’s right, KUSH Hospitality has taken over the sports bar at the iconic Clevelander Hotel and reimagined it into a “305 fever dream” with memorabilia highlighting the greatest moments in Miami sports history, murals, pop culture references and more. Just like every Kush concept, the vibe is authentically local and they’ve gone all out with theming. Most importantly, there are plenty of panoramic TV screens for airing every game, craft beer on tap, specialty cocktails, Kush’s fan-favorite burgers, and a full menu of sports bar fare.

Call 305-532-4006 for more info.

Located on an alley off of historic Española Way, El Salón is tucked in the back of the new boutique Esmé Hotel, and if you didn’t know it was there, you might miss it. This dark and cozy bar with a secluded feel will make you think you’ve stepped back in time to an exotic locale. And aside from serving Latin-inspired small plates like empanadas, gazpacho and media noche sliders, the beverage menu here is like nothing else in Miami. The cocktail bar exclusively serves proprietary house-blended spirits, meaning there are no branded liquors, which makes for some truly original drinks. The entire bar menu of cocktails and spirit blends is tiered according to three categories: “traditional” for highball cocktails or one-to-one mixed drinks, “versatile” blends that are citrus-forward or strength-driven, and “extraordinary” drinks for clean-sipping neat or on the rocks.

For a truly splurge-worthy meal, consider Klaw, a new high-end, high-quality seafood and steak restaurant with stunning views of Biscayne Bay. Located in the historic 5-story Miami Woman’s Club building, the luxuriously restored venue offers sky-high ceilings and sweeping waterfront views from Klaw’s main dining room, plus a rooftop bar and outdoor terrace with a more approachable menu.

The only thing more jaw-dropping than the setting is the quality of their beef cuts and crustaceans. When you enter the restaurant, you’ll see a tank filled with live Norwegian King Crab – making Klaw one of the few places that serves the delicacy fresh and never frozen – as well as sustainably sourced steaks on display, which your server can bring out to your table to help you choose your cut. We suggest arriving early to grab a drink on the rooftop bar (the only one in the neighborhood), and then head to the main dining room for the ultimate surf and turf dinner.

Call 305-239-2523 for reservations.

If you’re feeling in the Oktoberfest spirit, head to Pompano Beach for a visit to Checkers Old Munchen, where they’ve been serving up an authentic taste of Germany for 40 years. Dine on homestyle German favorites like schnitzel, bratwurst and sauerkraut in a warm, welcoming restaurant full of Old World character. Here the weathered wooden shelves are lined with a collection of over 400 decorative beer steins, and you can partake in any of their 30 German beers by drinking out of a 1-liter boot.

Make your Resy for Checkers’ Oktoberfest celebration from Oct. 21-23, featuring live music, outdoor beer garden-style seating, $40 bottomless German beer, and so much more. Play German beer pong, challenge yourself to the apple strudel eating and boot drinking contests, or come wearing your best lederhosen for the chance to be named best dressed.

For solid pasta in South Beach, Osteria Morini offers rustic Italian cuisine with canalside seating. With locations throughout New York, New Jersey and D.C., our local iteration can be found inside the Kimpton Hotel Palomar on the edge of the Sunset Harbour neighborhood. The menu focuses on the soulful cuisine of Northern Italy’s Emilia Romagna region – known as the birthplace of prosciutto, parmigiano and mortadella – and here, the housemade pasta is a must. The Cappelletti (truffled ricotta ravioli with prosciutto and melted butter) is their specialty, and other top choices include the wild mushroom rigatoni and the torcia nera: squid ink pasta with a ragu of shrimp and cuttlefish. Reserve a seat on the outdoor patio along the Collins Canal, sip on Osteria Morini’s private label Tuscan sangiovese wine on tap, and indulge in classic tiramisu or bombolini for dessert.

When you’re in a charcuterie kind of mood, head to La Jamoteca, a small Spanish market on Miracle Mile that’s the perfect spot for a casual lunch or happy hour meetup. This house of ham carries jamón iberico aged between 24-48 months that’s carved to order; a selection of cheeses made from cow, goat or sheep’s milk; and a variety of gourmet products from Spain (think olive and truffle oils, anchovies, chorizo, olives and more). You can order from a handful of appetizers and sandwiches or build your own tabla (charcuterie board). We can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than with a board of melt-in-your-mouth Jamón de Bellota paired with a bottle of wine off the market’s shelves or one of their Spanish beers.

Call 786-360-4376 for more info.

No matter how much Wynwood continues to change, you can count on one constant, and that’s the reliability of Kyu. One of the Arts District’s top restaurants, it offers an Asian-inspired menu of wood-grilled meats and veggies. In fact, it’s named for the discipline of Japanese wood-fired grilling known as yakiniku. As a nod to the neighborhood’s origins as a warehouse district, you’ll note the urban industrial vibe with fairly barebones concrete walls. And that rack of wooden logs on display? They’ll fuel the fire. (For every tree burned in the process of wood-fire grilling and smoking, the restaurant aims to replant five more.) Kyu’s menu is divided into sections like “fresh & bright,” “crispy, crunchy,” “wood-fired” and “smoked,” so choose your favorite from each to share with the table. Can’t-miss dishes include the Korean fried chicken, smoked beef short ribs, and roasted cauliflower, and it isn’t a visit without a slice of Mom’s coconut cake for dessert.