Let's play a little free association. When you think of Miami dining, you probably come up with terms like fresh, light, daring, and innovative. But what about great service? For years, snowbirds and recent transplants from parts north have bantered about how service was sooooo much better in New York than it is here in Miami.

They are full of baloney. First of all, there are more aspiring actors in the Big Apple who would rather be booking a Listerine commercial than helping you choose between a burger and a salad. Second, there are many people in the restaurant industry -- from chef to server -- who take great pride in what they do for a living, and many of them are in Miami.

See also:
- Azul, Naoe on Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star List