Sometimes I travel for relaxation and other times it’s for an adventure, but the one thing that remains a priority on every trip is indulging in some of best local eats. All of my pre-trip research is not spent searching for the adorned statute of some historic saint riding a dead horse (yes this exists in Prague), it’s spent googling the flavours of donuts I’m going to try at the local bakery hot-spot. I mean, let's be honest, sightseeing is just something to fill the time between meals right? Some might call me excessive when they see my printed out word document list of cafes, breweries, lunch and dinner spots, but I like to call it practical AF. Instead of stumbling upon tourist traps and paying for a bland and overpriced meal, I’ve got my list of affordable and praised eats to keep my belly content while on vacation.
My most recent trip was to Miami, Florida. I spent 5 days on South Beach and took in a lot of beach time, wandering up and down Ocean Drive, shopping on Lincoln Road, browsing the amazing street art in Wynwood, reminiscing about Cuba in Little Havana and of course, eating my way around the city.
When most
people think of South Beach they think of expensive dining, clubs and beautifully
tanned models. But those notions have diminished and you can find a ton of affordable restaurants,
low-key bars and lounges and some of the most interesting looking characters I have
ever witnessed (the good and bad kind).
After five days
of eating out in Miami, here are my top 5 recommended places for affordable and
DELICIOUS food:
1. Juice
& Java
If you're
looking for fresh and nutritious meals, then this is the place to visit on
South Beach. Their small space is the ultimate wellness-haven with beautiful
plants situated on the walls and the smell of fresh juice permeating the air. Everything on the menu is full of nutritious
ingredients, with plenty of vegan, gluten-free and low carb options.
The first day
I discovered this place was for breakfast.
I had the Kale Loco Juice which was a blend of kale, cucumber,
pineapple, ginger and lemon and the organic granola bowl with fresh fruit and
yogurt. My sister had the bagel ring
with cream cheese and jam and the mango, papaya & orange smoothie. All of our items were fresh, satisfying and
affordable. It was nice to eat clean so
early in the morning, leaving us feeling energized and ready to take on the 28
degree weather!
I came back
to this place at least two more times within my five day trip for more smoothies,
snacks and breakfast and will be back again next time in Miami! Juice &
Java lives by the adage "you are what you eat" and caters to those
who are looking for a healthy meal where taste is never compromised.
Location:
2. Yardbird Southern Table & Bar
Yardbird
Southern Table & Bar caters to everything I want in a dining experience;
farm-fresh ingredients, big portions, incredible taste and an inventive take on
classic dishes. The fact that it is
Southern cooking also adds mega bonus points.
Restaurant
group, 50 Eggs Inc., owns and operates Yardbird and has done an excellent job
in staying true to its Southern roots.
The menu consists of classic Southern fare with a creative twist to make
you happily say goodbye to your calorie intake for the day. Dishes like Fried
Green Tomato BLT, Skillet Cornbread, Mama’s Biscuits, Chicken n Watermelon n
Waffles, and Shrimp n Grits are just a few of the stand-out items at
Yardbird. These guys don’t mess around
when it comes to portion size either.
The appetizers are like meals and the meals are like, REALLY BIG. Make
sure to split some of the main dishes as it's a real feat to finish one on your
own.
Not only does
the food really shine here, but the hand-crafted cocktails, extensive bourbon
selection and whisky are all top-notch as well.
Chicken & Waffles
The service
also deserves high-praise. Our server
was incredibly friendly and informative, describing each dish that we had
inquired about. The manager of the restaurant
also stopped by our table numerous times to chat and to make sure we were
enjoying our meal. This type of service
is what brings people back!
If you’re
ever in Miami, it would be a sin not to make a stop at Yardbird Southern Table and Bar. Bourbon, blues, and Southern American fare, at an affordable price,
in an appealing farmhouse-centric atmosphere is your perfect destination while in
Miami. They also
do a foot-stompin’, soul-healin’ brunch on the weekends. Be sure to make a reservation!
Location: 1600 Lenox Ave, Miami Beach, FL
Location: 1600 Lenox Ave, Miami Beach, FL
3. Versailles
The worlds
most famous Cuban restaurant, Versailles, has been serving up tasty Cuban cuisine
for decades. Versailles first opened its
doors in 1971 and it quickly became the hub for Miami’s Cuban exiles. Today, it remains to be ground zero for Cuban
political banter, protests, parades and festivities.
The ambience
at Versailles is quite casual but very fast-paced. The capacity here is 350, so you can only
imagine the amount of staff and patrons that are packed in here at any given
time of the week. We stopped by at about
2 pm on a Tuesday and there was a line-up to get in.
The menu here
is again overwhelming, a bit of a trend here in America. So many food options,
and when you’re hungry, everything sounds equally tasty. We ended up going for Yuca Croquettes, Mixed Salad
and Cuban Style Roast Pork. The
service was quick and efficient, and within 10 minutes we were mowing down on
some of the most delicious Cuban food.
Sometimes you think ‘bland’ when it comes to Cuban cuisine, but Versailles
knows exactly what their doing and how to flavour each dish just enough to make
it incredible.
Versailles
has been featured on the Food Network, the Travel Channel, and CNN, and it was
named by Time as one of the top ten places to visit in Miami. Ana Quicences
from the Food Network even created a Versailles Cookbook that features some of
the most beloved dishes from the restaurant.
Location: 3555 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, FL
Location: 3555 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, FL
4. Novecento Brickell
If I lived
near Novecento Brickell, this place would be my go-to after work dinner and
drink spot. The patio space is enough to
get me here on a gorgeous sunny day, but the food and drink are what really
stand out at Novecento.
Novecento
takes the old mantra “mi casa es su casa” (my home is your home) to another level. It is an inviting and casual bistro with European style and Latin American influences. You really do feel like home here, it's a place to relax, unwind and enjoy meals cooked with love.
The food here is Argentinian-bistro style, with an extensive brunch,
lunch and dinner menu. Dishes like Ceviche con Tostones, Beef Empanadas, Grilled Skirt Steak, and Salmon a la Parrilla are
just a few of the Latin-American style dishes at Novecento. I was super impressed by the dishes I tried here as
everything exceeded my expectations.
The empanada dough was outstanding and the stew-like beef filling was rich and flavourful. The ceviche with tostones was perfectly fresh and really hit the spot on a hot day. The shrimp curry was cooked in a coconut red curry sauce with mixed peppers, banana and mango chutney and it was mind-blowing. I didn’t think an Argentinian-style restaurant would be able to make a mean curry but this was unlike any other red curry I’ve had. The addition of banana gave it a hint of sweetness and that mixed with the red curry spice was perfection.
The empanada dough was outstanding and the stew-like beef filling was rich and flavourful. The ceviche with tostones was perfectly fresh and really hit the spot on a hot day. The shrimp curry was cooked in a coconut red curry sauce with mixed peppers, banana and mango chutney and it was mind-blowing. I didn’t think an Argentinian-style restaurant would be able to make a mean curry but this was unlike any other red curry I’ve had. The addition of banana gave it a hint of sweetness and that mixed with the red curry spice was perfection.
The
restaurant features a lot daily promotions such as wine and dessert on your
birthday (with valid ID), 50% off wine on Tuesdays, $11 pasta dishes all day
Wednesday, happy hour daily from 4 pm to 7 pm with drink and small bite
specials, and much more.
Novecento
Brickell is worth the visit, especially to escape South Beach for a day and
enjoy a lively yet laid-back atmosphere with terrific food and drink.
5. The Front Porch Café
This Ocean Drive hot spot is your ideal destination for all-day breakfast. The wait for a
table around breakfast time is at least 30 minutes but if you’re on vacation,
you have all the time in the world right? We patiently caught some rays as we
waited for our names to be called at this happening restaurant.
Even though
breakfast is their most popular time, The Front Porch Café also serves up
lunch, dinner and a number of happy hour specials. They have indoor and outdoor
seating which is nice, with outdoor being the ideal option. The breakfast menu was quite big, with
everything from omelettes, eggs benedict, scrambles, yogurts, cereals and more.
The prices are great for Ocean Drive dining and there is definitely something
for everyone on the menu.
Since I don’t
eat eggs (shocker I know) I went with the granola bowl with fresh strawberries
and banana and my sister went for the beach breakfast burrito (3 scrambled eggs
with pepper jack cheese, scallions, and mushroom wrapped in a flour tortilla
served with salsa, sour cream and choice of fruit or potatoes). Everything was
quite tasty and the portion sizes were big.
Some of the most popular items are the Sicilian omelette and the French
toast, which everyone else seemed to order.
The Front
Porch Café is a no frills spot for a hearty and affordable breakfast right in
the heart of South Beach.
Location: 1458 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL
Site: http://www.frontporchoceandrive.com/
