Miami's Best Eats and Drinks This Week: Miami Spice 2016, Happy Hour, and Dinner at Verde

Today isn't like any other Monday. It marks the start of Miami Spice 2016, when more than 240 restaurants will offer discounted lunch and dinner menus till the end of September. Whether you're on a budget or your favorite eatery falls on the expensive side, use the two-month promotion to dine at familiar favorites and sample new spots.

Visit Cleo South Beach any evening this week during its social hour. Food and drinks will be offered for $5 to $7 from 5 to 8 p.m. End the week at Verde for its last installment of its guest chef dinner series. This week, find Edge Steak & Bar chef Aaron Brooks in the kitchen with Verde's executive chef, Kaytlin Brakefield.
Miami Spice 2016
Beginning today, indulge in another edition of Miami Spice, when you can snag prix fixes at some of the finest restaurants at the reduced price of $23 for lunch and $39 for dinner. Now until the end of September, 243 restaurants will participate, up from 181 last year. Expect a mix of recently opened eateries and familiar establishments, including Ariete, Beaker & Gray, the Continental, Alter, and the Bazaar by José Andrés. For more information, visit miamiandbeaches.com. 
Social Hour at Cleo South Beach
Mediterranean restaurant Cleo South Beach at the Redbury Hotel has launched a social happy hour, taking place every weekday from 5 to 8 p.m. Expect a selection of $7 cocktails and $5-to-$7 small plates. Bites include wood-roasted cauliflower ($5), Wagyu skirt kebabs ($7), and eggplant and lebaneh flatbreads ($6). Along with handcrafted cocktails, find beer and wine selections for $5 to $6 too.
Beats and Bites at Bar Centro
SLS South Beach’s Bar Centro has officially launched "Bar Centro Unplugged," a Barcelona-style experience blending taste and culture. Expect a roaming cart featuring the restaurant's acclaimed liquid nitrogen caipirinhas, Padrón cigars, and specialty tapas by chef José Andrés. Plus, Atlántico Rum will feature a rum expert who will offer educational tastings. The evening begins at 9:30 p.m.  Guest Chef Dinner Series at Verde 
Edge Steak & Bar chef Aaron Brooks will join Verde executive chef Kaytlin Brakefield for an evening of food and drinks at Verde inside Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). The evening will begin at 6:30 with a reception on PAMM’s terrace and a welcome cocktail, followed by the main event — a family-style three-course dinner with wine pairings inside Verde. Guests can purchase tickets for $85 per person via eventbrite.com.

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