Do you often wonder what the hell a sanguich is? Are you tired of downing the same Publix sub every day? Do you consult your Spanglish dictionary every time co-workers rave about the ensalada César from the corner spot? Sounds like you need this: a re-initiation into all things lunch.
So put down the Amy's Kitchen Cheese Lasagna. (Really, that thing reeks.) Stop stinking up the office kitchen with frozen dinners and start taking folks out to lunch. Consider the networking possibilities! You might even make new work cronies AKA a staunch printer-jam support system.
Lunch can be a beautiful thing. Here are the top ten spots to score a good one.
10. Lemoni Cafe
You know that quiet but sweet administrative assistant? The one who snacks on hummus and pita chips at her desk? Take her to Lemoni Cafe. Order the Greek plate with homemade hummus, toasted pita, olives, and feta ($11). And your boss. Don't forget your boss. Remember those Nutella single serve packets you saw in her trash? (Creeper.) This wee Buena Vista spot has a Nutella sandwich ($8) stuffed with brie, basil, and toasted almonds. Lemoni Cafe is the ideal setting for the "Will you give me a raise?" chat. Nutella = leverage.
9. Whisk Gourmet Food & Catering
Whisk Gourmet Food & Catering has mastered the art of two lunch essentials: the sandwich and salad. Order a pimiento cheese and fried green tomato sandwich with arugula and pecan wood smoked bacon ($8.95). Hung over? Add avocado for $1.75. Try the buttermilk fried chicken salad. It already has avocado. It also has shaved red onions, chopped eggs, and mushrooms in a homemade honey-mustard dressing ($15.95). Bacon? Good. Avocados? Even better. Fried chicken? Yes. Lunch at Whisk tastes like deep-fried things and rainbows.
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8. La Latina
Here's a good word: arepera, a term with not one but TWO tricky rolly r's. So head on down to La Latina in Midtown. Order the arrrepa dominó ($5.95). Order another. Get an empanada de pabellón, filled with beef, black beans, and cheese ($3.95). Did you know they make arepas and empanadas stuffed with sweet plantains? Sample all of them. Because, research. Roll your r's. Keep at it. You'll get there.
Food truck? Yu-huh. Is it noon already? It is. Melty-gooey-queso-so-good-it-makes-all-other-sandwiches-bow-down-and-surrender-style grilled cheese? Yes. This is the food truck you join Twitter for. So go! Follow Ms. Cheezious. She gives us the gift of crisp bacon sandwiches, layered with bleu cheese and green onion ($7). And she also makes your favsies sandwich with spiced apple and Havarti ($7). Sweet potato fries! Don't forget the sweet potato fries.
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You know what's good at Buena Vista Deli? Croissants. And you know what makes croissants even better? When you order them stuffed with bacon and swiss ($6) and add extra mozzarella and goat cheese because you can. But maybe you hate butter. (Weirdo.) Then order homemade pate or rillettes. Don't know what that is? Don't worry too much. Get 'em anyway. You want rillettes. You just don't know it yet.
This is Miami. It's hot. But sometimes stubborn coworkers want old-school Thai curries, the kind that make you feel all sorts of wacky and blotchy and bloated. Not good. But fear curry no longer! Steer friends in the direction of Khong River House, a South Beach restaurant where curries are fiery but light. Get Burmese noodles ($12). Try that stuff called tofu in their Thai tofu salad ($11). Enjoy Thai done right. Oh, oh, oh! One more thing. They've got cocktails.
Want access to our Best Of picks from your smartphone? Download our free Best Of app for the iPhone or Android phone from the App Store or Google Play. Don't forget to check out the full Best of Miami® online at bestof.voiceplaces.com.
4. Sabor a Peru
People say this: eat only at busy restaurants. Well then, people, go ahead and wait two hours for a table at Ceviche 105. Us here folks will be at Sabor a Peru, a small spot on Biscayne Boulevard where the wait is short and the ceviche tastes as refreshing as angels and Justin Bieber. Fish not your thing? Feast! It's Wednesday at noon. Get the papa a la huancaína ($5.99) or lomo saltado ($12.99) -- sautéed steak with onions and tomatoes, served over white rice and covered with French fries. It's an indulgence, Pervuian-style. Wednesday done right.
3. Sushi Deli
If Sushi Deli were a meme, it would be chef Michio Kushi being all like not impressed at the other sushi restaurants in town. If Sushi Deli were a reality TV show, it would be Snookie & JWOWW and be all like "I don't care about the other cast members. JWOWW and I are gonna do our own thing." Sushi Deli takes no reservations, is only open until 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday and 5:30 on Sunday, and is best when you just stop being so cheap and order a combo and tell Michio to give you whatever's fresh. Otherwise, expect to spend about $20.
Want access to our Best Of picks from your smartphone? Download our free Best Of app for the iPhone or Android phone from the App Store or Google Play. Don't forget to check out the full Best of Miami® online at bestof.voiceplaces.com.
2. Blue Collar
Do you love Chanukah? EVERYONE loves Chanukah. At Blue Collar, you can get Chanukah latkes ($9) with homemade apple sauce year-round. Do you have $11? Then skip keeping Kosher and order chef Danny Serfer's ridiculously delicious pork and beans, with bacon and Berkshire sausage and white beans and a fried egg and toast. You could also get things from the $4 veggie chalkboard like curried cauliflower purée, roasted fennel, and caramelized Brussels sprouts. Then get a thermos of Panther Coffee ($3). Because everyone loves Chanukah, pork, and thermoses.
What to order for ten bucks or less at Frenchie's Diner: French onion soup ($7), escargots ($10), B.L.T sandwich ($7), cheeseburger ($10), or CROQUE FREAKIN' MONSIEUR ($10). The latter, an explosion of deliciousness and melted cheese and butter-filled béchamel in your mouth, is probably the best thing you will eat for lunch, like ever. And there's ham inside. And it comes with French fries. (Although their salad is pretty good too.) Go to Frenchie's. Go French or go diner. Whatever you do, get their awesome croque-monsieur.
Want access to our Best Of picks from your smartphone? Download our free Best Of app for the iPhone or Android phone from the App Store or Google Play. Don't forget to check out the full Best of Miami® online at bestof.voiceplaces.com.
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