Email Author Lee Klein

Miami New Times' restaurant reviewer for the past decade, and the world's indisputable master of disguise.

Awards

• 2011 - The Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards/Atlanta SPJ, published April 22, 2010

  "Style Over Steak"

• 2011 - The Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards/Atlanta SPJ, published July 1, 2010

  "Flapjack Flip-Off X"

• 2011 - The Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards/Atlanta SPJ, published October 7, 2010

  "Gigi Ingenuity"

• 2010 - Association of Food Journalists Awards, published July 2, 2009

  "Hakkasan's Haute Hong Kong Cuisine"

• 2010 - Association of Food Journalists Awards, published June 25, 2009

  "Flapjack Flip-Off IX"

• 2009 - Bert Greene Award/International Association of Culinary Professionals, published August 14, 2008

  "Kick the Bottle"

• 2009 - The Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards/Atlanta SPJ, published April 10, 2008

  "Doug Rodriguez is Back"

• 2009 - The Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards/Atlanta SPJ, published December 4, 2008

  "Joe the Restaurant"

• 2009 - The Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards/Atlanta SPJ, published August 28, 2008

  "Tap Tap"

• 2008 - Bert Greene Award/International Association of Culinary Professionals, published November 22, 2007

  "Eat Shit and Die"

• 2008 - The Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards/Atlanta SPJ, published November 22, 2007

  "Eat Shit and Die"

• 2008 - AAN AltWeekly Awards, published May 17, 2007

  "Flapjack Flip-Off VII"

• 2008 - AAN AltWeekly Awards, published May 10, 2007

  "Chew the Right Thing"

• 2008 - AAN AltWeekly Awards, published November 22, 2007

  "Eat Shit and Die"

• 2008 - Association of Food Journalists Awards, published May 17, 2007

  "Flapjack Flip-Off VII: Bananarama!"

• 2008 - Association of Food Journalists Awards, published May 10, 2007

  "Chew the Right Thing"

• 2008 - Better Weekly Newspaper Awards/Florida Press Association, published November 22, 2007

  "Eat Shit and Die"

• 2007 - AAN AltWeekly Awards, published July 13, 2006

  "Foie Wars"

• 2007 - Better Weekly Newspaper Awards/Florida Press Association, published September 7, 2006

  "The Wonder Boys"

• 2007 - Better Weekly Newspaper Awards/Florida Press Association, published September 28, 2006

  "Pure and Demure"

• 2007 - Better Weekly Newspaper Awards/Florida Press Association, published December 21, 2006

  "Last Chance Bistro"

More

2003 Stories by Lee Klein

• Raw: Live and Unadulterated!

  published July 3, 2003

  I recently poked gentle fun at Granny Feelgood's for its pseudo-approach toward health food, so I guess you could file my experiences at Food... More >>

• Debunkin' Donuts

  published June 26, 2003

  There were crullers and beignets aplenty in New England circa 1803, but Elizabeth Gregory, of Portland, Maine, added nutmeg, cinnamon, and lemon... More >>

• A Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood

  published June 19, 2003

  The post-9/11 climate, from SARS to orange alerts to worrisome economic conditions, has led to a dining trend toward affordable neighborhood... More >>

• Granny Feel Okay

  published June 12, 2003

  Perhaps it's time to start marking Miami restaurants on a curve -- this way I could say only nice things about Granny Feelgood's, because, in... More >>

• Two Chefs to the Fore

  published June 5, 2003

  The people of Pinecrest and South Miami don't go for a whole lot of fancy stuff. That's probably why hoity-toity eateries that open here, often to... More >>

• Rubber Ducks, Plastic Forks

  published May 29, 2003

  I don't deny that the reason I decided to eat lunch at this particular sandwich spot was because of its quacky moniker. I thought: Surely any... More >>

• The Opa Cabana

  published May 22, 2003

  Taverna Opa is perfectly named, the word "opa" being a carefree yelp of joy -- the Greek version of "yippee!" The place sizzles like lamb on a... More >>

• Third Annual Flapjack Flip-Off

  published May 8, 2003

  Some (me) liken it to the Super Bowl, Oscar night, and New Year's Eve all rolled into one. Others (my editors) see it as a self-indulgent waste of... More >>

• Little Italian Bargain

  published May 1, 2003

  Little Italian Tavern used to be housed in front of a Hallandale trailer park, and was critically and popularly acclaimed for solid, home-cooked... More >>

• Metro Pale

  published April 24, 2003

  Astor Place Bar & Grill, with chef Johnny Vinczencz at the helm, was not too long ago considered one of the Beach's better dining establishments.... More >>

• Well Hello Bali

  published April 17, 2003

  To say that Bali Café is the top Indonesian restaurant in Miami is just as true, and misleading, as lauding Robert De Niro for being the... More >>

• Greek for the Meek

  published April 10, 2003

  I don't make a habit of reading press releases or studying menus prior to reviewing, partly in the belief this leads to fresher, less studied... More >>

• Field Greens & Dostoyevsky

  published April 3, 2003

  Boats, beaches, bingo, and beer would all make the lengthy list of "Things Floridians Like More Than Books." Yet while we are not, overall, the... More >>

• Only Mind the Mollusks

  published March 27, 2003

  It has become apparent in recent months that Miami restaurants are finally catching on to certain dining trends that have long been established... More >>

• Home Sweet Home

  published March 13, 2003

  It's understandable if you haven't yet heard about Casa Tua (pronounced "too-ah"). After all it doesn't advertise, and there's no signage on the... More >>

• Sandwichology 101

  published March 6, 2003

  A great sandwich consists of great bread plus great filling (GS=GB+GF). What makes a great bread is freshness, flavor, and texture. The breads at... More >>

• Sunday, Bloody Mary Sunday

  published February 27, 2003

  I'd like to offer a big warm welcome to all you frigid foodies flying in from afar for the second annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival this... More >>

• Days of Wine and Poseurs

  published February 20, 2003

  I was sipping a glass of Australian Shiraz at Vin Amante, a new wine bar on Española Way, marveling at just how many crummy dining... More >>

• The 900 Club

  published February 13, 2003

  In 1991 Hectór Rolotti opened a modest little café in New York City called Novecento Soho. A few years later he instituted a more... More >>

• Get Sauced

  published February 6, 2003

  The better a barbecue sauce, the more likely you'll end up with it all over your hands, says a Southern rule of thumb. If it's an extremely... More >>

• New Level Of Dining

  published February 6, 2003

  As the original supervising architect of Coral Gables, Phineas Paist established a board of review whose approval was required for any new... More >>

• Med, White, & Blue

  published January 30, 2003

  It takes more than some gallons of blue paint and some gallons of white to make a Greek restaurant look authentic; you also need murals on the... More >>

• I Spy

  published January 23, 2003

  Restaurant reviewers and spies have a lot in common. We work covertly, report our findings, and get to attend the occasional cocktail party. True,... More >>

• Pacific Atlantic

  published January 16, 2003

  When Michael Schwartz jumped ship from Nemo last summer, this town's foodies practically choked on their sushi in shock. After all, as co-owner... More >>

• A Frank Philosophy

  published January 9, 2003

  Chicagoans overwork their hot dogs with relish, onions, tomatoes, peppers, pickles, mustard, and celery salt. New Yorkers are more circumspect in... More >>