It's October, which means restaurants are gearing up for a busy season as tourists make reservations and snowbirds plan their imminent arrival.
For locals, October means a break in the weather, with cool nights enticing us into going out to enjoy our city before the barrage hits. Unfortunately, this good weather directly correlates with the end of Miami Spice and its meal deals.
Some Miami restaurants have heard our pleas and are offering special prix fixe menus in October. Deals include lunches, dinners, and wine pairings. With all of these restaurants offering deals in autumn, we're considering renaming the month Octoberfeast.
Tudor House in South Beach is offering a Just Like Spice three-course menu for lunch ($22) and dinner ($35). This offer is good seven days a week, which makes it a great value. According to executive chef Jamie DeRosa, the portions are the same size as on the regular menu, and dinner includes house specialties such as buttermilk fried chicken, black grouper cheeks, and braised short ribs. The offer is good through October 31.
All three signature restaurants at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach are participating in its Bleau Goes Pink event. This is the third anniversary of the event, which benefits the Miami/Fort Lauderdale chapter of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.
Gotham Steak, Scarpetta, and Hakkasan will all feature three-course prix fixe menus for $39, a portion of which will be donated to Komen. Each restaurant is also offering wine pairings for an additional $20 and $30 plus discounted valet parking ($12). The Bleau Goes Pink dinner menus are available Sunday through Thursday throughout the month of October.
Chef Cindy Hutson of Ortanique on the Mile is offering her Taste of the Sun menu.
A three-course dinner ($36) is available Monday through Sunday. Lunch is offered Monday through Friday. Choose from a two-course lunch ($20) or a three-course dinner ($36). The Taste of the Sun menu is available October through July.
Mercadito Midown is planning on extending its Miami Spice menu during lunch service.
For $22, two people can choose two guacamoles, two ceviches, and three tacos to share. A cocktail is included for each person, and a shared dessert makes this a good lunch value. Offer good Monday through Friday through October.
Truluck's on Brickell offers a prix fixe dinner and lunch. The Power Lunch ($25) features a three-course prix fixe menu and is available Monday through Friday. The Date Night menu ($39) is a three-course dinner, available seven nights a week. Offer good year-round.
Sardinia Enoteca in South Beach will continue to offer its Miami Spice menu. A three-course lunch ($22) is available seven days a week from noon to 4 p.m. Dinner ($35) is served Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to midnight. Offer good through October.
Fleming's in Coral Gables is offering the Memorable Meal for Two. This complete meal includes a spinach salad, an entrée of beef Flemington and shrimp scampi, and dessert. The Memorable Meal is $99 for two and is not listed on the restaurant's menu. Mention "Memorable Meal" when making reservations. The meal is available nightly through November 15.
China Grill in South Beach
is offering a Spice-like three-course prix fixe menu, available for lunch ($22) and dinner ($35) seven days a week. Call for details. Offer good through October.
Angelique Euro Café in Coral Gables will extend its Miami Spice menu for two weeks. Lunch ($22) is available Tuesday through Sunday; dinner ($35) is available Tuesday through Saturday. Offer ends Sunday, October 16.
The Trapiche Room at the J.W. Marriott on Brickell is offering a special autumn dinner menu. Three-course ($40) and four-course ($46) dinners are available. Wine-pairing dinners are also available: three-course ($57) and four-course ($63). Offer good seven days a week through October.
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