The Resy Hit List: Where In Miami You’ll Want to Eat in February 2025

If you’re looking for an explosion of flavor and some unexpected fun, this dimly lit Jamaican dinner lounge delivers — bringing the Caribbean energy with electro and island music, plus Jamaican-inspired craft cocktails. The real star, though, is the food. Expect boldly flavored classics like Jamaican jerk wings and Haitian griot (pork chunks that get jerk-brined and then fried). But it’s dishes like curry oxtail and jerk mac ‘n’ cheese that put Mangrove in the category of our favorite type of Miami restaurant — the kind that honors the influence of local cultures by elevating traditional dishes with creative twists and new ingredients in a way that only Miami can.

Sometimes you want to meet up with friends (or a stranger, if it’s a first date deal) without committing to a whole meal. Enter Margot. You’ll want to settle into its dimly lit space with a glass and shareable plates for a relaxed evening. The ‘70s-inspired decor is awash in a sunset-like warm glow of pink and purple hues, and the retro soundtrack is an upbeat mix of old-school hip-hop, funk and disco. Low ABV cocktails, eclectic small plates, and of course, the essential charcuterie and cheese round out the list. And for those times when you’ve got a bigger appetite but still want the same vibes, its big sister Margot Bar & Bistro in South Beach has a full menu of mains including steaks, butterflied branzino, and chicken Parm.

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).

Proof that there’s enough room in town for two Carbones, this sister of the world-famous red sauce joint puts its focus on wine. Inspired by Italy’s enotecas, Vino offers a 600-plus bottle wine list alongside Carbone signature dishes like spicy rigatoni and tableside Caesar, plus new pastas exclusive to this concept. Of note, their housemade spaghettini Bambini is a grown-up version of the basic butter noodles that are a childhood staple, except made here with butter and aged Parmigiano-Reggiano. Don’t forget to end your meal with an enormous cannoli sundae for the table, made with cannoli soft-serve topped with chopped pistachios and shaved chocolate, plus a ring of freshly fried cannoli shells. Pro tip: The bar is open to walk-ins and serves the full menu.

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.

Rightfully referred to as the darkest bar in Miami, Fox’s oozes old-school charm with its wood-paneled walls and red leather banquettes. The nearly 80-year-old local dive bar has been restored to its original glory (the full interior had to be rebuilt from scratch by its new owners, since it was torn down after it closed back in 2015), and its revival serves a menu of hearty diner-style classics and stiff drinks. Don’t miss favorites like Fox’s Original Thumb Bits, which are tender beef tips served au jus, or the Thursday night prime rib special with horseradish. You also get daily happy hour in the form of $5-$7 drinks, which is another thing that makes us feel like we’re reliving Fox’s glory days.

Miami’s oldest steakhouse is still one of its best, and it’s where you go when you want a special night out that guarantees you’ll be treated like a VIP. For over 45 years, the local landmark has wined-and-dined some of the highest dignitaries, but the top-notch service extends to us common folk, too. Even after a refresh and change in ownership, Christy’s retains a warm, old-school feel. A meal at Christy’s must start with their signature Caesar salad and end with a baked Alaska flambéd tableside. (If we haven’t convinced you, watching the showy dessert appear at every other table at the restaurant should do the trick.) We’re always partial to the carved-to-order, slow-roasted prime rib.

Grab your spork and dive into a world of pure imagination. Palma gets creative with ingredients in ways that can be wildly delicious at best, and certainly memorable at the least. Palma’s chef Juan Camilo Liscano worked at Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe and the U.S. before returning to his hometown of Miami to highlight local flavors and farmers with culinary techniques he’s gathered from cultures across the globe. We can’t tell you exactly what will be on the tasting menu the day you’re dining at Palma (other than a signature sweet plantain brioche bread and butter course that comes out mid-meal), but we can predict the plates will be small, ingredient-driven jewels, ranging from overly inventive to explosively flavorful. Palma’s evolving multi-course menu runs $85 per person, which is arguably a steal these days in Miami.

The dining room’s almost-mystical undulating ceiling might be the most elaborately designed in Miami, but Hiyawaka’s approach to Japanese cuisine is deceptively simple: ingredients are imported daily from Japan’s Ibaraki prefecture and they prepare no more than 50 meals a night to ensure a flawless meal experience. Guests at Hiyawaka can opt for the nine-course Washoku tasting menu, which is as elevated as any rarefied omakase experience. The menu is designed by head sushi chef Hiro Asano, in collaboration with sister restaurant Ogawa’s Masa Komatsu, to offer rotating selections of sashimi sourced from Tokyo’s famed Toyosu Market, alongside appetizers, a signature temaki hand roll, dessert, and other surprises.

With its paper-thin, crispy smashed patties, Cowy Burger in Wynwood asserts that smashburgers are actually just meant to be a vehicle for some delicious cheesy sauce and toppings. And their signature Cowy Burger is exactly that: topped with American cheese and stuffed to the brim with sweet caramelized onions, chunky bacon jam, and their Cowy sauce. The menu board at this burger joint consists of gourmet smashburgers (the most unique of which is the Cabrito, with chorizo sausage, goat cheese, sweet potato strings, and hot honey), waffle fries, and because this is Miami, they’ve also got a few extra snacks, like mini cheese tequeños and Parmesan-bacon jam croquetas. Order at the counter, take your table number and a seat, and then await Miami’s new smash fave.

Find more info here.

Calling Ossobuco a steakhouse would be an oversimplification. With an impressive wood-burning grill that anchors the restaurant, you might feel like it was made for meat eaters, but their selection of charred produce — from grilled carrots to smoked baby beets — makes it perfect for produce lovers, too. It’s all built around a central asador, used to cook dry-aged meats and seasonal ingredients over an open fire. In addition to Prime steaks and massive tomahawks, you’ll also find cuts uncommon to American steakhouses, like picanha, and grilled seafood (think dry-aged branzino). With a name like Ossobuco, we’d be remiss to mention that there’s also a whole section of the menu highlighting braised meat — from ossobuco croquetas and empanadas to ricotta gnocchi with a sauce of slow-cooked ossobuco ragout.

The Katherine is a love story in restaurant form. Run by beloved local chef Timon Balloo and his wife Marissa (whose middle name is Katherine), the restaurant nods to not only the couple’s heritage but also the places they’ve lived, worked, and traveled together, from San Francisco to Belgium. And as far as heritage goes, their cultural backgrounds are a beautiful blend — Timon’s parents are from Trinidad with Chinese, Black, Arawak, and Indian heritage, and Marissa is the daughter of a Thai chef. That means you’ll find comfort food dishes full of familiar flavors presented in foreign ways, like Thai red curry branzino, aji amarillo grilled chicken thighs, and the signature clam chowder fries. The Balloos’ love and connection shines through each dish, in a humble, cozy space that’s earned itself a spot as one of the best restaurants in Fort Lauderdale.

Considering many have likened the cosmopolitan coastal city of Tel Aviv to the Miami Beach of the Middle East, it’s no surprise locals are so fond of Abbalé. Inspired by Israeli cafes, Abbalé’s modern Mediterranean menu also leans into Latin flavors and the co-founder’s Telavivian roots. Breads are made in house, so you’re going to want to tear into their piping-hot, freshly baked pita and dip into their ultra-silky Israeli-style hummus. Add to that meat and seafood plates cooked on open-fire, or al ha’esh. We love the original South Beach location for its charming bougainvillea-wrapped patio, but the expansive Aventura dining room is equally inviting, lined with olive trees and cozy banquettes.

When you’re looking for sushi that’s anything but standard, Miss Crispy Rice is both fun and delicious. This sushi counter is known for their laid-back omakase experience that centers around our personal favorite part of any sushi menu — namely, the crispy rice and hand rolls. The fish is flown in from Tokyo’s markets and dry aged in-house to make every bite flavorful and tender, and the resulting plates range from simple to gourmet, like classic spicy tuna crispy rice or a signature hand roll of pork belly, fatty tuna, and caviar. For the full tasting menu experience, be sure to book a reservation at the 16-seat Omakase Bar for lunch or dinner. Alternatively, the Kaisedon Bar offers an express service which includes chirashi bowls and dumplings. 

We love a cozy gem of a restaurant that’s equally about the ambiance as it is about the food, and Jass hits all the right notes. You get romantic chandeliers, red brick walls, and vibrant Turkish flavors in an inviting space that comes to life at night with live jazz music. Amid a menu of cold and hot mezzes that are perfect for sharing, the specialty is a dish of slow-cooked lamb shank and vegetables topped with homemade brioche that feels like a Turkish pot pie. Check the live music calendar before you go: in addition to jazz crooners, you’ll find folk, Latin, and even Turkish acts.

It’s one of life’s few guarantees that when you’re sitting under a thatched tiki hut, looking out at the water, all your problems melt away. And thanks to the team at Gramps in Wynwood, we’ve now got Gramps Getaway, a casual waterfront locale in Key Biscayne that feels like it’s been a Miami staple forever. Here, under a palapa with a view of the city skyline and the bay, the beer is cheap, the frozen drinks are strong, and the throwback tunes make you forget what’s going on with the rest of the world beyond your seaside dock. And what about the food? You’ll find Miami bar essentials like coconut shrimp and jerk chicken wings, alongside amped-up options like charred broccoli salad and watermelon-cucumber salad with Thai basil and roasted peanuts.

Find more info here or call 305-465-2482.