Alisa’s Painted Bistro

This dual-purpose spot is a bistro and pottery workshop, so artists of all ages can get their paint on while inhaling eye-candy cupcakes and homemade baked goods. In fact, Alisa’s Painted Bistro cupcakes were such a hit, they even branched out into a food truck dubbed Alisa’s Cupcakery. The Aventura joint also serves up savory […]

Big Squeeze Juice Bar

Despite our proximity to the ocean, Miami suffers from a tragic lack of laidback shack-type spots to grab grub and an icy drink (no, Ocean Drive’s overpriced sidewalk cafes don’t count). Luckily, Big Squeeze Juice Bar in North Miami Beach fills in that gaping hole in our dining landscape. The bright, vibrantly painted interior counter […]

Chocolate Fashion

True Francophiles swoon when the words “Chocolate Fashion” are uttered. Just one look into the lighted pastry case is enough to make them sob. There are glazed super-size fruit tarts, delicate cakes and cookies as big as a baby’s face, and shot glasses of chocolate mousse topped with chocolate macaroons. Had a bad day? Your […]

The Daily Creative Food Co.

The Daily serves a familiar menu of light food, differentiated mostly by the journalistic theme reflected in its playful paperboy logo. Worthy signature sandwiches, almost all named for local and national newspapers, include the very tasty Wall Street Journal (smoked salmon, avocado, tomato, and alfalfa sprouts on thick slices of fresh pumpernickel, with an assertively […]

The Fresh Market

Fresh Market looks like an old-time general store with better lighting housed in swank digs right alongside Biscayne Bay. Tranquil music and aromatic produce seize your senses as soon as you enter (and, hey, the make-your-own-six-pack-of-beer cooler is definitely engaging), but the island in the center of the store is where the finest array of […]

Jimmy’z Kitchen

Jimmy’z Kitchen’s famous mofongo (fried plantains mashed with garlic) has become a foodie rite of passage for many a Miamian. If it’s available, get it – they don’t serve it every day. Otherwise, the Miami Beach outpost of this lauded local chain serves up lunchtime favorites with a Latin flair. Jerked chicken breast salad, Cubano […]

La Sandwicherie

Since this French-owned eatery began selling sandwiches, salads, smoothies, and shakes in 1988, a crowd has lingered along the lengthy counter at the flagship location that extends up an alley off 14th Street between Washington and Collins avenues in South Beach. The food is great, but the funky al fresco charm accounts for a large […]

La Sandwicherie Brickell

Since this French-owned eatery began selling sandwiches, salads, smoothies, and shakes in 1988, a crowd has lingered along the lengthy counter at the flagship location that extends up an alley off 14th Street between Washington and Collins Avenues in South Beach. The food is fine, but the funky alfresco charm accounts for a large part […]

Mty Smoothie

The choices here are overwhelming, the possibilities endless. You could spend days crafting a perfect smoothie – creamy, fruity, low-cal, herbally enhanced, or protein-boosted. Or you could start with a house specialty, such as the Yan & Jan (passion fruit, banana, strawberry, and raspberry) and build whatever elixir you crave. Need a little immune boost? […]

Panera Bread

Panera is nothing like Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell, or any of those old-style chains that are ever-so-slowly sliding into obsolescence. This national bakery shares more in common with corporate cafés such as Starbucks and Einstein Bros., but with a whole lot more than just coffee and bagels. Like, for breakfast, a spinach and bacon […]