The Spice Scene

The culinary scene in Miami increasingly resembles the economic one: there’s no middle class. While plenty of great options exist for poor journalists and A-list movie stars, there’s a dearth of sit-down restaurants that deliver without breaking the bank. Except for right now. Beginning Friday and running through the end of September, the tourists stay home and Miami is forced into remembering it has actual residents who wouldn’t mind a little au poivre in their lives. Enter Miami Spice, the annual culinary event that makes fine dining affordable.

This year there are 84 participating restaurants, including Table 8, Sardinia Enoteca, and Social Miami on South Beach; Michy’s, Domo Japones, and Fratelli Lyon on the Upper Eastside; and Acqua, Capital Grille, and Novecento in downtown and farther south. All of them will feature a $36 fixed dinner menu, and most of them will also offer a $23 lunch. Some places have black-out periods (such as Saturday night), so before you go, check www.ilovemiamispice.com, where you’ll also find sample menus, contact information, and special offers.
Aug. 1-Sept. 30, 2008