Best Key Lime Pie 2018 | The Dutch | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Miami | Miami New Times
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Photo by Noah Fecks

A slice of key lime pie at the Dutch is distinctive. Maybe that's because executive pastry chef Josh Gripper takes the classic recipe up a notch by sprinkling it with sea salt, adding a smudge of passionfruit sorbet, and serving a light raspberry sorbet alongside. Garnished with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce, his salted lime pie ($12) is a sweet, succulent, and citrusy explosion. Check it out from 7 to 11:30 a.m. and noon to 4 p.m. daily, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and 6:30 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday

Courtesy of Phenomenom

It's 2 a.m. and you're in the mood for a fresh-baked cookie oozing with chocolate and sprinkles. Cue the cleverly spelled Phenomenom. You might be familiar with the South Beach shop's owner, 26-year-old Chuck Woodard, who created Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream and opened the brand's first location in Pinecrest in 2012. He sold his ownership in 2014 to pursue Phenomenom. Visit the shop for cookies the size of doughnuts, weighing about six ounces each ($4). With a moist and gooey texture and a soft center, flavors include chocolate chip, M&M's and Oreo, s'mores, half-and-half, and sugar sprinkles. Opt for the milk and cookies, which pairs a cookie with a large cup of milk. Try it noon to midnight Sunday through Thursday and noon to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Contenti Cupcakes churns out more than two dozen uniquely flavored cupcakes. All are made from scratch. Favorites from this South Miami operation include a key lime cupcake topped with graham cracker crust and key lime buttercream; a sundae garnished with chocolate ganache, sprinkles, and a cherry; and a guava-infused cupcake crowned with a dollop of cream cheese frosting. Orders for mini or standard-size cupcakes, which must be placed three days in advance, cost around $30 for a dozen or more. There's also an option to turn a cupcake into a large cake. Or go for a pie, such as key lime, strawberry, or salted caramel apple.

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Big things are happening for Mojo Donuts & Fried Chicken in West Miami-Dade. The shop appeared on celebrity restaurateur Guy Fieri's Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Also, owners announced plans to double the size of the store and open two additional locations in Miami-Dade. Mojo's success can be credited to the doughnuts, which have made the shop a raging success since it debuted in December 2016. More than three dozen varieties are lightly fried and then garnished with sprinkles, creams, or chocolate. Flavors include Nutella bacon, banana cream pie, and salted caramel cheesecake ($1.49 to $3.95). Don't leave without a bite of the chicken brûlée sandwich — a hand-rolled, caramelized bun stuffed with a tender piece of fried chicken and cheddar cheese. Doors are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Courtesy of Edukos

Across much of the Western Hemisphere, corn is life. And in few places is it more vital than in Venezuela, where corn-based cachapas and arepas are staples of many meals. For Edukos' chef Manuel Cabeza, corn is just as important at the end of the meal as it is throughout. Today, in this Little Havana gastropub, Cabeza dishes out a corn-infused flan called quesillo ($6). The genius here is in how he shucks and carves fresh corn, then steeps the kernels in the milk that ultimately becomes this silky-smooth, caramel-coated delight. The process yields subtle, nutty notes that make it tops in town.

Courtesy of GLAM Vegan

Everything at midtown's GLAM Vegan is — well — glam. Though the name is actually an acronym (Green Living Animals Matter), the word applies to everything at this cozy, chic spot, from the glitzy gold flatware to the periwinkle-hued swag for sale. Everything has the touch of Janette Miller, cofounder and designer extraordinaire. From snacks and soups to flatbreads and bowls, the menu is omnivore-friendly and impossibly fresh. Cofounder/chef Todd Erickson sources locally, and almost everything is made from scratch, including the "meat" for the jackfruit tacos, which undergoes a lengthy marinating, roasting, and simmering process. On the sweet side, GLAM's signature dish is its rich and creamy ube pie ($7). Just like GLAM's gorgeous decor, the ube pie is gold-tinted and plum-colored and almost too lovely for its own good. The unique sweet treat is made with purple sweet potato, gingersnap crust, and allspice and comes topped with glittery gold-flake blackberries. The dish is entirely Instagrammable — and, honestly, who couldn't use a little more GLAM in their lives? It's open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Courtesy of Plnthouse

Try finding a better lunchtime view than the brilliant blues you'll see from the patio at Plnthouse, chef Matthew Kenney's indoor/outdoor snack spot in 1 Hotel South Beach. The airy, sun-drenched eatery is all things bright and beautiful, from the sustainable wood decor to the lush hanging greenery. Once you're done gawking at the gorgeous surroundings and turn your attention to the menu, you'll find an array of whole foods, plant-based dishes, and raw items — so everything is colorful, fresh, and as good for you as it gets. Highlights include an iconic avocado toast with shaved veggies and chili oil ($14); a rich French lentil pâté with cashew-dill sour cream and rice crisps ($12); a crisp zucchini noodle bowl with pistachio pesto, cashew ricotta, and slow roasted tomato ($15); flavorful Thai paper wraps with red pepper, mango, red cabbage, chili almond butter, carrots, herbs, and tamarind dipping sauce ($12); and the lavish Golden One smoothie, packed with mango, pineapple, coconut meat, turmeric, aloe vera, MCT oil, camu camu, cinnamon, and pine pollen ($20). At Plnthouse, eating your veggies has never been so enjoyable. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Courtesy of Juicense

Vegans don't get enough protein from plants? Cue the epic eye roll. Such talk is nonsense in 2018, particularly given that Americans' addiction to animal protein is causing all kinds of issues, from chronic diseases to environmental devastation. Luckily, protein actually comes from plants (where do you think the animals get it?), and getting enough to grow big and strong isn't an issue, as evidenced by gorillas, bulls, and rhinos — all vegan, all muscle. At Coconut Grove's Juicense, the Get Strong smoothie ($11) is the perfect protein power punch to combat those silly myths. It's a mashup of almond butter, banana, dates, cacao, vegan protein, and almond milk. So you can pound one and hit the gym for some serious vegainz. Juicense also offers juices, healthy eats (such as superfood toasts), nut milks, and more if you need some extra fuel. Flex those plant-powered muscles! Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Courtesy of Planta

Patriots superstar Rob Gronkowski (AKA Gronk) and Hollywood hottie Mark Wahlberg flexing together in a rooftop garden? Yes, please. That's Planta for you. David Grutman of LIV fame is the man behind SoFi's hottest new spot — a plant-based paradise for celebrities, influencers, and Miami's sexiest so-and-so's. Cousin to Planta Toronto, the alluring, tropical-inspired restaurant is already drawing a hell of a following. The menu is extensive and on the culinary cutting edge, offering impressively creative dishes such as ahi watermelon nigiri ($3.50 per piece); melt-in-your-mouth cauliflower tots ($11.25); an omnivore-inspired meat lover's pizza ($19.25); and a trofie pasta with truffled mushroom bolognese and almond parmesan ($25.50). Many ingredients are sourced from the aforementioned rooftop garden — and it shows in freshness and flavor. At Planta, dress your best and raise a glass to the power of plants — vegan eating doesn't get sexier than this. Hours are 5:30 to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

One hundred percent organic isn't a phrase you see often these days. After all, chemical-free doesn't come cheap. But Edgewater's GreenG Juice Bar is 100 percent committed to clean eating. The colorful spot serves everything you need for bod goals, from açai bowls to alkaline waters to GreenG's specialty: cold-pressed juices. Try an Anti Ox live shot with ginger, açai, maca, and pineapple ($3.75) or a GreenG Lifestyle special, with kale, spinach, pineapple, lemon, spirulina, pink Himalayan sea salt, and cayenne ($11). If you're really feeling the bloat (from one too many Miami Vices or croquetas), juice cleanses are where it's at. GreenG offers one-, three-, and five-day options so you can flush those toxins and tighten up for swimsuit season (which, in Miami, is every season). Hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

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