The Resy Hit List: Where In Miami You’ll Want to Eat in Oct. 2024
There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
We’ve designed it to be your essential resource for dining in and around Miami: a monthly-updated (and expanded!) guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Five Things In Miami Not to Miss This Month
- Outdoor Dining Is Back: Here’s to hoping for cooler weather! We consider October the unofficial return of al fresco dining season in Miami (that’s right, when everywhere else in the country is getting too cold for patio seating). Mind to flip through this guide to outdoor dining as inspiration. You can never go wrong with easy breezy Mediterranean cuisine on the bungalow patio at Mandolin Aegean Bistro. We also love the indoor-outdoor feel of the open-air stained glass Cathedral terrace at Branja.
- Sunny Days: You know what they say — as one door closes, another door opens. And on the heels of Jaguar Sun’s sudden closure, the team has debuted the highly anticipated Sunny’s in Little River. This modern take on a white-tablecloth steakhouse is the permanent home of the pandemic pop-up, formerly held in an outdoor lot. Expect impeccable cocktails, steakhouse classics, raw bar bites, and handmade pastas, including some of the old favorites from Jaguar Sun. Peak dining times are already booked for a few weeks so grab your Resy ASAP, and check out all the other new openings on Resy.
- Stone Crab Szn: Mark your calendars: Oct. 15 is the start of Florida’s stone crab season. That means it’s time to make a Resy at dock-and-dine spot GG’s Waterfront in Hollywood Beach. Our recommendation: Book a sunset seating and ask for a table on the dock overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. Order a glass of rosé and crack into those fresh-caught claws once again.
- Shake It Off: Miami Swifties, brace yourself for Eras Tour Weekend and all the punny food and drink specials coming with it. Of note, Americana Kitchen will be hosting a Swiftie Sunday Brunch on Oct. 20 with an afternoon of live music: Taylor Swift covers, plus Swiftie cocktails, mocktails and themed dishes. Plus, they’ll have their own requisite friendship bracelet making station, and a poet penning complimentary prose for guests in honor “The Tortured Poets Department.”
- OktoberFeast: Get into the Oktoberfest spirit at rustic German restaurant Checkers Old Munchen in Pompano Beach. For over 40 years, they’ve been serving up an authentic taste of Germany with homestyle favorites like schnitzel, bratwurst and more. It wouldn’t be Oktoberfest with a beer (or several), so order yourself a 1-liter boot of any of their 30+ German beers.
New to the Hit List (Oct. 2024)
El Bagel, Silverlake Bistro, Torno Subito, ViceVersa.
1. Boia De Buena Vista
Photo courtesy of Boia De
Look for the neon pink exclamation mark hovering as a marquee over an unassuming strip mall in Little Haiti, and you’ve found one of Miami’s hardest-to-book restaurants. Chef duo Alex Meyer and Luciana Giangrandi offer a modern take on Italian plates so good that reservations sell out the day they go live. Which should come as no surprise when you consider their culinary training in kitchens ranging from Scarpetta and Carbone to Eleven Madison Park. It’s an intimate and adorable space, where you’re as likely to be seated at the counter as you are at a table. Your servers will keep it fun and friendly while you partake in some of the best pasta and Italian-ish plates in town.
Photo courtesy of Boia De
2. ViceVersa Downtown Miami
This modern aperitivo bar from award-winning bartender Valentino Longo has it all: best-in-class drinks, neo-Neapolitan-style pizza that’s in the mix for Miami’s best, plus an off-menu burger special that packs the house on Monday nights. In true Miami fashion, the Downtown drinking destination was designed to be the type of place where you can start the night or keep it going. Come pre-dinner for Italian craft cocktails paired with the perfect light bites (think pizza pies with a crisp, airy crust and raw crudos curated by the former Jaguar Sun team). Or vice versa, extend your evening after dinner nearby and grab a scoop of house-spun gelato and digestif.
3. Sanguich Little Havana, Little Haiti, and Coral Gables
You can’t talk about Miami cuisine without mentioning the Cuban sandwich, and for the best, you head here. This Calle Ocho walk-up counter has perfected the Cubano. The bread is housemade and brushed with lard before being pressed, the lechon (pork) is marinated in garlic and spices for 24 hours, and the sweet ham is brined for a week. There are only a few sandwiches, snacks and shakes on the menu, but that’s because it’s what they do best. Order a batido and Cuban coffee while you’re there because when in Little Havana … or, if you want to avoid the legendarily long lines, there’s also a takeout-only ventanita in Little Haiti and a new larger location with plenty of seating at The Plaza in Coral Gables.
Find more info here.
4. Itamae AO Midtown
Itamae AO is the more intimate and interactive iteration of the original Itamae, which had become one of Miami’s best restaurants in its five-year run spanning from food hall stand to full-service restaurant. The new version run by chef and owner Nando Chang is a Nikkei-style omakase counter with only 10 seats, located right next to sister restaurant Maty’s (run by Nando’s sister Valerie Chang). Melding Japanese techniques with Peruvian influences, the eight-course omakase menu features plenty of seafood in the form of dry-aged fish, sashimi, and nigiri, alongside Peruvian bites like anticuchos (skewers) and aguadito (soup).
5. Dirty French Steakhouse Brickell
Dirty French is the steakhouse antithesis of the very stiff-and-standard Morton’s that used to occupy the same space. Over-the-top in the best possible way, the restaurant’s unapologetic decor makes you feel like you’re on a 1980s movie set, with the soundtrack to match. Yes, this is where you’re coming for a night out when you want to throw it back to the glam of the ‘80s in Miami. Gather the crew to indulge in a shareable menu of prime-aged steaks, French-influenced plates like chicken and crepes, and a must-order mushroom millefeuille of thin-sliced king trumpet mushrooms. The cocktails are a must too, so stop by the bar for an Instagrammable drink.
6. Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink Miami Design District
Michael’s Genuine is considered the trailblazer of seasonal cuisine in Miami, and it’s not overreaching to say that the Design District — and frankly, our city’s culinary scene — wouldn’t have taken off without this restaurant. After more than 15 years, chef Michael Schwartz’s flagship remains a gem. In the midst of the city’s most expensive stores, it’s a comfortable respite that feels as upscale or as casual as you want it to be. The American-style menu offers something for everyone — from raw bar plates to wood oven-fired dishes — and so does the restaurant space, with its open-kitchen dining room, cozy outdoor courtyard, and a bar that’s a happy hour hot spot.
7. Caracas Bakery Doral and MiMo
Venezuelan-French inspired baked goods might not familiar, but trust us when we tell you this bakery is worth going out of your way for. Run by the father-son team of Manuel and Jesús Brazón, here you’ll find expertly crafted croissants, sourdough and baguettes, alongside Venezuelan specialties like golfeados, cachitos, pan de jamón and pan de queso. Visit the MiMo location if you’re looking for a full-on cafe experience (i.e. sandwiches, toasts and actual seating) or Doral if you’re in the area, on the go, and speak at least enough Spanish to be able to order some of the best breads you’ve had in a long time. If you leave without trying a traditional cachito (a soft, golden ham and cheese-stuffed bread), you’ve done it wrong.
Find more info here.
8. Zak the Baker Wynwood
Zak the Baker has become synonymous with sourdough by pioneering Miami’s artisan bread revolution and giving rise to (no pun intended) new bakery businesses helmed by Zak Stern’s own protégés. At this iconic kosher bakery and café in the heart of Wynwood, the façade is splashed with blocks of bright colors, fitting of its location in the arts district. Drop in anytime for a loaf of naturally leavened bread and handmade pastries, or sit down for breakfast or lunch at the full-service cafe to order exceptional sandwiches, soups, and salads.
9. Walrus Rodeo Buena Vista
The rowdier little sister of Boia De, Walrus Rodeo might be more accessible but offers an equally fun and frankly delicious time when you can’t get a table around the corner. This quirky spot is located in the same nondescript Little Haiti strip mall with a similarly eclectic, Italian-influenced menu, but it’s truly its own concept. The focus is on wood-fired fare, thanks to the restaurant’s imported Italian pizza, oven used to cook everything from lamb ragu lasagna and charbroiled oysters to, well, pizzas. While the cuisine might not be something you can easily categorize, the Rodeo team makes food feel new and exciting, and the service is our favorite kind of skillful-yet-unpretentious.
10. Tâm Tâm Downtown Miami
Photo courtesy of Tâm Tâm
Bonded by their love of Vietnamese food and culture, the husband-and-husband team of chef Tam Pham and GM and sommelier Harrison Ramhofer set out to showcase the vibrancy of Vietnamese cuisine beyond the standard pho and bánh mì. The result is a loud and lively Viet drinking food spot inspired by the quán nhậu of Saigon — nothing like other restaurants you’ll find in Miami. At these taverns, food is mainly meant to facilitate the drinking — think a Vietnamese take on an izakaya — and here that amounts to shareable plates like crispy fish sauce chicken wings, tamarind-glazed pork ribs, and betel leaf-wrapped lamb. You’ll wash them back with warm-weather wines or frozen mai tais and spiked Viet iced coffee for a guaranteed good time … especially if you find the karaoke machine in the bathroom.
Photo courtesy of Tâm Tâm
11. El Bagel Upper East Side and Coconut Grove
Be prepared to wait for Miami’s best bagels, whether you order in the shop or online for pick-up. Located in Miami’s MiMo neighborhood and Coconut Grove, El Bagel is known for slow-fermented, hand-rolled bagels — along with a selection of schmears and locally smoked salmon. But there’s no need to overthink your order. They’ve crafted all of the best combinations into a menu of super-stuffed bagel sandwiches, like the EB Original (scallion cream cheese, roasted jalapeños, and thick-cut bacon), BEC (bacon, egg and cheese), and the King Guava (guava marmalade, cream cheese, pepitas, and fried egg). Made with only five ingredients (no strange syrups or preservatives) and baked fresh daily overnight, these artisan bagels are worth that inevitable wait.
Find more info here.
12. Torno Subito Downtown Miami
Capping off the multi-story Julia & Henry’s food hall, rooftop restaurant Torno Subito is world-renowned Italian chef Massimo Bottura’s first stateside solo project and it’s right here in Miami. Expect elite Italian cooking with a twist of whimsy and fun. The menu transports guests all over Italy but proudly spotlights two key ingredients from Bottura’s native Emilia-Romagna: Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and balsamic vinegar. From the restaurant decor down to the dishware, Torno Subito is awash in a vibrant color palette that feels at home in Miami as much as coastal Italy. It’s a signal that you’re in for a fancy meal, but also a fun time. Of all the creative plates, pasta is a must here, especially Bottura’s signature tortellini in a luscious Parmigiano cream sauce.
13. Los Félix Miami Coconut Grove
With a menu of housemade tortillas, totopos, and tamales, Los Félix honors Mesoamerican tradition by spotlighting one of the most essential ingredients in indigenous cooking: heirloom corn. In their open kitchen, maize is ground daily using their in-house molino — or corn mill grinder — and then undergoes a process called nixtamalization to turn it into fresh masa. Be sure your order here includes plenty of maiz, whether that’s chilaquiles at brunch or a lobster arepa at dinner. Los Félix also brings all the vibes, with a DJ spinning vinyl records and a natural wine selection to pair with your plates.
14. Silverlake Bistro Miami Beach
From the same duo behind Hialeah’s La Fresa Francesca, this charming bistro in the quiet Normandy Isles neighborhood proves there’s still hidden gems left in Miami Beach. The menu leans toward American comfort food, but it’s rooted in French cuisine. On occasion you can find surprising menu specials like venison, quail and soft-shell crab, but you don’t need to stray far from two of their staples — duck fat-seared gnocchi mac ‘n’ cheese and their signature Silverlake Burger, made with two grass-fed beef patties, sharp cheddar cheese, and porcini mushroom butter. The vintage decor and wallpaper will make you feel right at home, and if that doesn’t do the trick, the friendly service and consistently delectable plates sure will.
15. The Surf Club Restaurant Surfside
Amid a flurry of flashy and expensive restaurants in Miami, The Surf Club is the ultimate special occasion spot, where you go to treat yourself to an unforgettable meal that feels like you’re dining in a bygone era. That’s because when chef Thomas Keller takes on fine dining at a historic institution like the Surf Club — an iconic South Florida social club that opened in the 1930s — you get old-school cuisine that oozes glamor. Think classics like tableside Caesar, beef Wellington and lobster thermidor, with the top-notch service to match. It’s exactly what you would expect from a Thomas Keller restaurant that was made for Miami.
16. Luca Osteria Coral Gables
While Giorgio Rapicavoli might be known for his outlandish flavor combinations at Eating House, the chef honors his Italian heritage with his take on the classics at Luca Osteria. Sure, you’ll find us obsessing over the creativity of an antipasti dish like ‘nduja-style tomato spread, but Rapicavoli’s skill shines through in the simplicity of his housemade pastas. From pasta al limone to cacio e pepe, each plate is focused on only a few ingredients (bring some friends to share them with so you can try several!). To balance out that simplicity, know you can’t leave without ordering the crispy fried potato balls (patate fritte) smothered in silky Parmigiano fonduta. It’s full of rich black truffle flavor that’s as indulgent as it gets and a must-order every time.
17. Mandolin Aegean Bistro Miami Design District
Mandolin’s signature blue doors, whitewashed decor, and shaded outdoor tables transport diners to the Aegean coast. But it’s the combination of fresh ingredients and relaxed atmosphere that makes Mandolin a must-visit (if you can get a table). Known as the ultimate Miami outdoor dining spot thanks to its charming garden patio, Mandolin opened 15 years ago, serving some of the best Greek and Turkish plates in town. That not-so-well-kept-secret has turned it into one of the hardest reservations in town, even for locals. If you snag a Resy, order their famous manti dumplings and a handful of mezzes (you can’t go wrong with the Greek or Turkish samplers). Enjoy it with rosé, sangria, or a spritz, and you’ll know you’re doing Miami right.
18. Apocalypse BBQ Kendall
Miami’s barbecue scene has exploded in the last few years, and Apocalypse BBQ is arguably the best in town (so named, because it started as a pop-up in the middle of the pandemic). This is Miami-style barbecue, so you’ll find coffee-rubbed ribs and chicken wings, a wild boar burger with brisket bacon, and delicious sweet skull-shaped cornbread (remember, it started during what felt like the end times). A few things to know before you visit: Apocalypse doesn’t take reservations so be prepared to wait a while (lines often form before they even open, but hey, they’ll give you free beer to pass the time) and some of their smoked meats sometimes run out, so seriously, come early.
Find more info here.
19. Edan Bistro North Miami
Spain’s Basque country is known for being home to some of the best restaurants in the world, including the ones that the young chef behind Edan Bistro was trained at. At his first full-service restaurant, chef/owner Aitor Garate Berasaluze delivers exceptionally executed, ingredient-forward Basque dishes at surprisingly fair prices – a rarity in Miami (please don’t tell them). In fact, Edan Bistro at first appears quite unassuming, but its range spans from simple (European-style brunch plates) to finessed (an eight-course tasting experience available upon request every night). The talented chef is also trained as a sommelier and pastry chef, so trust him on his Spanish wine pairing recommendations and don’t miss out on a slice of his creamy Basque cheesecake, a contender for best in the city.
Find more info here.
20. L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Design District
Florida’s only reigning two-Michelin star restaurant for three years now, L’Atelier serves a modern French-inspired tasting menu, crafted with the late legendary Joël Robuchon’s culinary philosophy of elevating simple dishes with extraordinary ingredients and technique. (Fun fact: it’s also the only two-star Joël Robuchon location in the U.S.) The restaurant is designed with 34 counter seats so that every guest faces the open kitchen. Opt for the eight-course Evolution Menu, or a seasonal four-course for a more abbreviated experience. For those looking for a lighter indulgence, there are 3- and 4-course lunch menus available Friday and Saturday and à la carte offerings Sunday through Thursday.
