Bâoli Miami recently launched Tempting Tuesdays, a way to get the full Bâoli experience for less. Now through October 29, the entire menu -- abounding with new Asian-inspired dishes courtesy of a July revamp -- is half-off on Tuesdays.
Short Order was invited to try out the menu with some new Asian delicacies, and we're here to guide you through it all and help you choose the best options.
See also: SoBeWFF: Mexican Hangover Brunch at Bâoli With Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette
When sushi chef Fnu "Danie" Armandani joined the Bâoli team in March, an entire section of sushi rolls were added on. This inspired the management to up the Asian ante throughout the rest of the menu. "We changed 70 to 80 percent of the menu. There is a real Japanese touch right now," says general manager and partner Michael Ridard.
As real as the changes are, so is the discount itself. A lot of restaurants will reduce the size of the plate with promotions like these, but Ridard assured us that these are "actual menu items at 50 percent off." And with the beyond reasonable portion sizes in front of us, it sure looked like it.
At half-off, try a range of appetizers and share with your group. The burrata & tomato (red and yellow heirlooms drizzled with olive oil and served with a hunk of creamy mozzarella), roasted beets (an artistic and tasty mosaic of red beets, yellow beets, and feta cheese squares), and ceviche mixto (hamachi, tuna, scallops, and shrimp in a lime sauce) are all great. In fact, the ceviche comes with an actual chunk of Maine lobster in the center, carefully guarded by a ring fence of plantain chips. Grab it first.
If you have to pick just one, go for the toro tuna tartare. Diced tuna and avocado are tossed in a kimchee lime dressing, with sesame stick accents, and a spoonful of caviar on the side. The fact that the tuna and avocado are mixed together (with much more tuna than avocado) gives the raw bar appetizer a more organic feel. As delicious as a typical tuna tartare dish can be, that traditional blocky layered look gives us the willies.
Steaks range from $29 all the way up to $95 at regular price, and the Australian rack of lamb, which is parmesan herb encrusted, was a crowd pleaser. Many main dishes come a la carte. Be sure to pair them with the truffle mac and cheese. (The restaurant also offers truffle french fries, truffle mashed potatoes, and the truffle risotto we mentioned earlier, for you truffle-crazed readers.) But the definite entree to go for is the Chilean sea bass, broiled in miso and served atop a bed of bok choy and shitake mushrooms. It's a flaky fish dish that's browned and crisp, going for less than $20 on Tempting Tuesdays.
Desserts at Bâoli are decadent. The warm chocolate fondant ($12) is a hot fudge lava cake with luxurious French varlhona. The banana rum pudding ($14) is a surprisingly moist and pleasing treat topped with homemade Nutella ice cream. French crème brulèe ($12) is a delightful classic topped with fruit plus light and airy macarons. Speaking of light and airy, the raspberries millefeuille ($12) is the newest pastry on the menu -- white chocolate mousse, mixed berries, chocolate, and pistachio-filled perfection. If you haven't noticed by now, this restaurant served primarily French cuisine before the welcomed Asian takeover.
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The real news here is that you can now get it all (the sweets anyway). You came to party, so start acting like it and order the premium chef assortment of desserts. It's a whopping $95, but for less than $50 on Tempting Tuesdays, Short Order says skip the meal and let the server bring you an entire edible sculpture of sorbet scoops, chocolate decor, fruit accents, and pastries, all set aflame by sparklers. Because it's Tuesday night, your last hoorah before Hump Day, and what's better for dinner than dessert?
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