"Dogma" is defined as a set of principles laid out by authority as absolute truth. The folks at Dogma Grill refer to this as their "Frank Philosophy." There are divine laws such as "Bring respect and creative culture to the hot dog" and "Create an urban oasis and a nostalgic place to celebrate the hot dog." If that sounds a little hippy-dippy for your ordinary Oscar Mayer wiener, just wait. This place aims to "offer the freshest ingredients," "focus on details," and "answer the demands of the vegetarian clientele." By this dogma, the hot dog abides. The results are pretty fantastic, and while others may compete, these are the hottest dogs and buns in town. The best of the best is the Pitchfork ($4.50), with barbecue sauce, bacon, grilled onions, and cheddar. It's more than the snap of a hot dog in your mouth; it's a religious experience. Peace, love, and hot dogs, man.

You can taste the difference between fresh and frozen fries. You can also make out the distinction between those cut in factories and the ones that are hand-sliced a few at a time. Rok:Brgr takes great pride in slicing its potatoes by hand every day. The result is thick-cut fries that are crisp on the outside, creamy on the inside, and can withstand any adventure like an intrepid explorer. You can take them for a dip in the house-made ketchup or dress them up with truffle oil and Parmesan flakes. You can even weigh them down with Wisconsin cheese curds and brown gravy. (They will keep their structural integrity.) Also check out the sweet-potato fries and the truffle fries — and don't forget the trio of dipping sauces.

Have you been to Naples? No, not the town across Alligator Alley — the one in Italy in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. If you can't make it there, Baccano might be the next best thing. An homage to all things Italian, including a classic red Fiat impossibly parked inside the entrance, Baccano (née Café Babbo) serves pizza made with double grade-00 dough and topped with San Marzano tomatoes, cheese, and subtle spices by a pizzaiolo from Napoli. The pies are quickly fired in a wood-burning oven imported from Milan to form a crisp, charred crust. For nine bucks for a classic Margherita pizza, your wallet will say, "Grazie mille." Pair the pie with vino from owner Antonio Chia's family winery in Montalcino, and you'll have yourself one hell of an Italian vacation — in Wynwood. Dolce, dolce, dolce.

Readers' choice: Steve's Pizza

Thick, pillowy dough; oozing, melty cheese; earthy sautéed mushrooms and onions — this is the stuff of a mouthwatering Mellow Mushroom pizza. The one that's best, however, isn't your average pie; it's a veganized version of the spot's popular Holy Shiitake. Like many of the eatery's specialty pizzas, the HS can be altered for vegans. Skip the aioli, leave off the butter, and switch out the regular cheeses for Daiya and — voila! — you're in pizza heaven. Though not a vegan establishment, Mellow Mushroom goes out of its way for plant-based eaters. The kitchen staff stocks the nondairy Daiya, tempeh, tofu, and fruits and veggies in every color and flavor. Guests can even build their own creations. Beginning with the dough, the pizza masters slather each pie with Daiya ($1.50 extra on a small pie, $2.50 on a medium, and $3.50 on a large). Then they pair pineapple with jalapeños, artichoke hearts with sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli with tempeh — the sky's the limit. And it all tastes just as delicious as the meaty alternatives. Traditional pizzerias, eat your hearts out (but not really, because vegans believe in nonviolence).

Mac 'n' cheese might be universally loved, but not all is equal. By far, the most delicious variety is the traditional Southern kind. Rich in cheddar and baked piping-hot, this is a robust, casserole-like dish brimming with different textures. Open your individual crock at Yardbird and you'll find a multi-layered mac 'n' cheese. A semiburnt cheese crust is topped with cornbread crumbs for added texture. Poke it with a fork and you'll discover the creaminess within. You'll find no lobster bits or morel mushrooms. It is simply one of the most pleasurable experiences you'll ever consume. It will take you back to Sunday supper in the South — no matter where you're from.

Enter the atrium of the Melin Building in the Design District and you'll get a whiff of sweet, freshly baked pastries. Miami's culinary sweetheart, Michelle Bernstein, runs this cozy, shabby-chic café. Her mama is responsible for some of the baked goods. Because Bernstein is a longtime "friend in our head," we often imagine a life where we'd go to her house after school and her mom would make us grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, and chocolate chip cookies. Crumb on Parchment brings this fantasy to life. The Gooey Grilled Cheese ($7.50), with melted fontina on buttered bread, melts our heart and takes us back to this childhood memory that we never quite had. If you don't feel like being kosher, add bacon for $2.25. If you wanna go crazy, add wild mushrooms for a dollar and think about that time you and Michy got busted with magic mushrooms in high school. We know, we are delusional, but it's a damn good sandwich.

If there were ever a sandwich in need of an ingredient-driven overhaul, it would be the Cuban. Alberto Cabrera was just the man to do it. He bakes the pan cubano daily at his Coral Gables spot Bread + Butter. He slow-roasts the pork for a dozen hours in a hulking red smoker. He makes the whole-grain mustard every day. Getting a Cuban ($12) here can take more than ten minutes, but it's worth it. His Elena Ruz ($8) includes slow-roasted turkey glazed until it develops a crisp, crackly exterior. The Reubencito ($10) pairs house-made pastrami with pork belly in a combination that will silence even the chattiest visitor. These sandwiches can stand toe-to-toe with those of Italy, Vietnam, and even Greece.

Nestled among the shops and restaurants along Biscayne Boulevard lies a tiny escape from the city that leads to a cozy green pasture called Lulu's Ice Cream. Wooden panels cover the walls, and picturesque wooden tables delicately accented with fresh flowers fill the room. There's only one thing that could make this atmosphere sweeter: ice cream. Using all-natural ingredients, Lulu's Ice Cream combines the scientifically awesome power of nitrogen with delicious options like Nutella and coffee to create concoctions so rich and creamy it's a sin to have only one scoop. Not only is the shop both adorable and enjoyable, but also the food is all about being natural. Chalked on the blackboard wall beneath the pale light of a red lantern is the story: "We work with local farmers to bring you the freshest ingredients... We use liquid nitrogen to freeze your ice cream on the spot." Cool down one summer afternoon at Lulu's with some heavenly Nutella ice cream in a freshly made waffle. Two scoops are $5, and a pint costs $11.

Even before it reached Miami Beach, Freddo was a big deal. Its helado had tempted taste buds in Argentina with its hand-crafted creaminess since 1969. When the company announced its foray into Miami, locals swooned at the mere thought of this frozen perfection. So what makes Freddo so outstanding? It could be that it's made from fresh, hormone-free milk, pure cane sugar, fruits, and other natural and raw ingredients. No artificial flavors, colorings, or preservatives here! But it's really all about the taste and texture. The helado is far creamier than others. The flavors are rich and tasty without being overly sweet. So when you dig into your dark-chocolate cone, you're getting the flavor of the chocolate, not a sugar-masked substitute. But what really sets Freddo apart is its panini — a scoop of chocolate helado heat-sealed inside a Hawaiian roll. It's way beyond an ice-cream sandwich. It's the most delectable food-engineering marvel in the world.

The cupcake is the ideal dessert. It's a personal cake, not too big, nor is it too sweet and chewy like a cookie or brownie. But don't settle for the basic — that's so 2000s. In the 2010s, desserts come in weird mashups (cronut, anyone?). At Sweetness Bake Shop, the selection of cupcakes is not only unique (and uniquely Miami) but also impressive enough to put a smile on any kid's face. Cupcake flavors change daily, so prepare for the unexpected (or just check the website). One regular is the guayabera: a cupcake filled with guava and topped with cream-cheese frosting. For some extra mouthwatering sweetness, visit the shop's Instagram account, @sweetnessbakes.