The Resy Hit List: Where In Miami You’ll Want to Eat Right Now

Slim’s knows exactly where it is: inside Bal Harbour Shops, surrounded by designer bags and people who came dressed for dinner. Stephen Starr’s new steakhouse takes over the original Makoto space and goes full Old Hollywood. Think pale leather banquettes, checkerboard floors, Art Deco murals, cold martinis, and just enough drama to make a weeknight feel expensive. The menu is classic steakhouse with whimsical touches, like crab-stuffed avocado brightened with citrus and the infamous $100 cheesesteak with wagyu, black truffle, foie gras, fried onions, and American cheese on a sesame roll. Save room for the pink Champagne cake or the tableside bananas Foster, because subtlety is not really the point here. Go when you want steak, martinis, and people-watching that feels almost too perfectly cast.

Stepping into Mutra’s dining room feels deeply personal. Named after chef-owner Raz Shabtai’s grandmother, this homey restaurant centers around an open-kitchen with a wraparound chef’s counter, where the aroma of warm spices and bubbling stews lures you in. The menu delivers on updated takes on ancient Middle Eastern cuisine, drawing from the rich flavors of the multicultural melting pot that is Jerusalem, where Shabtai grew up cooking beside his grandmother. Each dish feels like a love letter to his homeland, and that personal touch resonates, which is why it was recently the first strictly kosher retaurant to receive a Michelin star. Its kosher status is rarely mentioned, of course, as Shabtai’s talents are the focus. So trust your intuition (or a friendly server), and keep an eye out for Shabtai behind the counter, perhaps sharing how long it took to braise the beef cheeks ,or how many days went into baking the Yemeni bread from scratch.

The Macchialina duo, chef Michael Pirolo and beverage director Jacqueline Pirolo, brought their Italian instincts to gritty Little River and opened something that feels refreshing: part pizzeria, part wine bar, part Italian provisions shop, all counter-service and zero reservations. The naturally leavened pies have a blistered crust that can hold its own against any in the city, and shelves lining the walls are stocked with imported pantry staples and low-intervention wine bottles. A recent James Beard nod confirms what the neighborhood already knows. The vibe fits everything from date night to family dinner, and as the train rumbles past mid-meal, it all feels right. Pop-up programming like Pizza with Friends chef takeovers keep things lively and unpredictable. Follow their Instagram to catch what’s coming next. 

Find more info here.

Just a few doors down from its Michelin-starred sibling, Walrus Rodeo shouldn’t be underestimated. Boia De’s rowdy little sister restaurant has carved its own spot in Miami’s dining scene. Known for wood-fired fare, Walrus Rodeo is bold and offbeat, with pops of color, retro details, and a lively open kitchen anchored by an imported pizza oven from Naples, Italy. The menu revolves around that roaring oven, turning out pies and vegetable-forward dishes with a smoky edge. Think charred cabbage with burnt garlic gastrique, mustard green lasagna, and standout pizzas that are both playful and expertly prepared.

Dinner at Palma is a bit of a gamble — in the best way possible. Chef Juan Camilo Liscano, who trained in Michelin-starred kitchens across Europe and the U.S., brings those techniques home to Miami, using them to showcase local farms and ingredients. The tasting menu changes monthly, so we can’t tell you exactly what’s coming beyond the signature sweet plantain brioche and butter served mid-meal, but expect compact, ingredient-focused plates that range from inventive to knockout-delicious. Their unexpected pairings might not always sound like they should make sense — but that’s exactly what makes this experience so satisfying. The nine-course menu runs $115, though you can also cautiously dip into this culinary adventure on your own terms with new à la carte options.

At Emelina in West Palm Beach’s up-and-coming Flamingo Park District, a 16-seat counter frames a focused, ambitious take on Cuban cuisine. Chef-owners Osmel González and Camila Salazar draw on deep fine-dining experience (including SingleThread, Disfrutar and Miami’s former EntreNos pop-up) to ask a thought-provoking question: what if Cuban cooking kept evolving? The answer arrives across a 10-course tasting menu that shifts with the season. Dishes like rabo encendido (braised oxtail) with Carolina Gold rice or a tempura-fried black drum fish as an interpretation on the classic minutiae display restraint and precision over nostalgia. Expect close interaction with the chefs as they present plates and explain the dishes across the counter, and genuine service from the hospitality heavyweights behind Hiyakawa and Ogawa.

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What started as a six-seat pop-up hidden in the back of a ramen shop has settled into its current 30-seat home on Ponce de Leon. Here, husband-and-wife team Pedro and Katherine Mederos have built one of Miami’s most personal dining experiences, with an open kitchen and a hyperseasonal menu that rewards repeat visits. The Kojin Caesar made with local greens, nori, and smoked trout roe — a riff on the version served at local sports bar chain Flanigan’s — confirms this is a chef with serious technique, a Miami sense of humor, and zero interest in taking himself too seriously. Rotating desserts like the chocolate miso tart and fermented chicken sauce and caramel ice cream confirm that Katherine’s pastry program is operating at the same level.

Seia brings serious altitude — and equally serious backing — to Brickell, pairing a 54th-floor vantage point with the global polish of the Bastion Collection, the group behind Michelin-starred restaurants like L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Le Jardinier. The elevator ride sets the tone, opening into a dining room lined with glass and skyline views that stretch to the water. The menu reads contemporary Italian, but with a lighter hand: crudos and classic antipasti lead, followed by housemade pastas and composed mains that favor simplicity over heft. Expect plates like delicate pastas and risottos with Italian-sourced ingredients and roasted or pan-seared fish that lets citrus and olive oil do the work. It’s a natural fit for a dressed-up dinner when you want both a panoramic perspective and precision.

Miami-style barbecue has a home deep out west, past the airport, and it’s worth every mile of the drive. Harry and Michelle Coleman, the self-taught husband-and-wife team behind neighboring Empanada Harry’s, built Smoke and Dough from the premise: what happens when serious pit technique meets Miami’s beloved Latin flavors? The answer arrives in dishes that feel inevitable and new. Smoked pastrami tequeños are pure Miami on a plate. A cafecito-rubbed prime brisket smoked for 15 hours comes served on 25-ingredient mole poblano — with a bark so pronounced it looks like it came off an oak tree. Save room for the smoked flan, cooked low and slow on the pits until the caramel top is glossy and faintly kissed with smoke. Yes, this barbecue spot takes reservations.

This Fuku is currently the only standalone location of David Chang’s spicy chicken sando shop — an offshoot of an off-menu secret at Momofuku Noodle Bar that sparked a national obsession — and somehow Miami landed it. The NYC East Village energy and Asian POV are fully intact, and the chef-driven quick-service concept still earns the hype. The OG Sando (crispy chicken, Fuku mayo, and pickles on a butter-toasted potato roll) is the anchor, but the party fries, chicken garlic rice, and all three dipping sauces make a strong case for going bigger than you planned. What sets this location apart is how deliberately it’s been planted in the community. Case in point: the ube key lime pie collaboration with Coconut Grove’s Fookem’s Fabulous — tart, sweet, and heightened by a sea salt Graham cracker crust.

Find more info here. 

Sunny’s feels almost improbable in Little River: a full-blown South Florida showpiece where you least expect it. The steakhouse centers around a sprawling banyan tree and a string-lit courtyard that does more scene-setting than many of its waterfront counterparts. And best of all, the food matches the setting: Parker House rolls with honey butter, blue crab agnolotti, raw bar staples, and dry-aged steaks you’ll want to share. Yes, it has become one of the city’s toughest reservations, but the move is not limited to a prime-time table. The walk-up terrace is a smart backdoor in, especially because it has its own burger available only to guests seated there, and the indoor bar is just as useful for martinis and a less scripted night. Go for the courtyard if you can get it, but don’t overthink the backup plan.

Bulla is a reminder that not every good meal needs to be a production. The original location of the Spanish tapas spot works because it always gets the basics right, in the most delicious way: fresh hot plates, quick service, fair prices, and classics that land exactly how you want. Order for the table and don’t overthink it. The Huevos Bulla are mandatory — crispy potato chips, fried eggs, jamón Serrano, creamy potato foam and a drizzle of truffle essence, all tossed together tableside into something much better than the sum of its parts. Add patatas bravas, garlicky shrimp al ajillo, and Serrano ham croquettes with fig jelly, then let the sangria or a happy hour cocktail do the rest. Brunch has its own clever detours, including a brunch paella with bacon, chorizo and sunny-side-up eggs. It’s casual, friendlym and reliably satisfying.

Pauline, inside the newly renovated Shelborne hotel, is a homecoming. Culinary Director Abram Bissell, a Florida Keys native who sharpened his technique at Eleven Madison Park and The Modern in New York, has returned to South Florida, cooking the coastal Latin and Caribbean flavors that shaped him. The Art Deco setting includes porthole windows, curved stone, and oceanic blues that nod to the city’s golden age of travel. Jonah crab claws and conch ceviche are the stars of the raw bar, while the lobster and mussel sancocho — a seafood-forward riff on the classic Latin stew — is rich, comforting, and exactly what this restaurant was made to serve. Save the Fior di Coco for last: a coconut dessert finished tableside in a flambé that earns every second of the show.

This is Midtown’s answer to the question nobody thought to ask: What if you just put some tables, chairs, and wine in an alley and called it a night? Sottovoce, the open-air Italian aperitivo garden behind Chimba, operates on that kind of beautiful simplicity. A few blocks from its more famous wine bar counterpart, Sottovoce is close enough to Lagniappe to lure in the overflow, but also different enough to offer a quieter alternative when you want one. The wine list is approachably Italian and the menu is mainly charcuterie made for sharing — a selection of cured meats, cheeses, and deliciously fatty lardo, served on toasted focaccia instead of boring crackers. Follow the red light to the outdoor speakeasy, choose a good bottle, and settle in with something salty to nibble.

Frankie & Wally’s is where you go when the quality of your sandwich truly matters. On a quiet side street in Coral Gables, this deli-market hybrid keeps things casual without cutting corners, turning out carefully constructed sandwiches that hold up from first bite to last. Mornings start with gooey cheese-laden BECs that sell out quickly, while lunch leans into standout sammies like the Frankie or Il Padrino, stacked with razor-thin sliced meats, sharp cheese, and balanced dressings. Inside, curated shelves of artisan pantry goods line the space, but there’s also a patio wrapped in greenery out back if you want to sit outside with your sandwich. Beyond the deli counter, the real take-home play right now is the frozen lasagna trays, ready to bake and worth keeping on standby.

Find more info here.

Don’t let the setting fool you: FreshCo Fish has been quietly earning national attention for years as one of the best seafood restaurants in the entire country. Now the Keys-rooted, family-owned concept has a Doral home, bringing its fish market-meets-casual-restaurant format to a broader Miami following. The premise is simple: pick your fish at the market counter up front, pick your prep, pick your format. The whole fried hogfish — deboned, flash-fried to a crisp, and genuinely hard to find anywhere in Miami — is reason enough to visit. So are the seafood sammies like Reubens and BLTs. Finish with the Key West conch fritters and the homemade key lime pie, and you’ll understand why people cross town for this one.