The sun and beach were cool and all, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that dining out in Miami was one of my favorite parts of this past weekend. The same goes for pretty much all of my travels, if we’re being honest 😉 Here are some of the highlights of what I ate in Miami.
Byblos
Turkish manti dumplings ~ eggplant + yogurt sauce + molasses
Hamachi ~ jalapeno labneh + sweet red onion + cucumber + lime
Black truffled wood fired pide ~ buffalo mozzarella + halloumi + tartufata
Middle Eastern fried chicken ~ tahini + za’atar + hot sauce
Roasted Brussels sprouts ~ halloumi + tahini + yogurt
Dessert ~ ice cream stuffed baklava + chocolate mousse cake
This was truly one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. The flavors were so unique! If I had to pick a favorite dish it would be the Middle Eastern fried chicken – it’s a can’t-miss at Byblos.
If I went back to Byblos I’d order this exact same lineup of dishes except for the ice cream stuffed baklava. I didn’t love it.
Taquiza
We wanted something quick and casual for lunch one day so went to Taquiza for tacos. The tacos were decent, but what was unforgettable was their blue corn chips. I’ve never had chips quite like them – they were so thick and fluffy, which sounds strange for chips, but trust me – they were incredible!
Juvia
Juvia is a restaurant that has mixed reviews, but I’m honestly surprised by that now that I’ve been there. The vibe is definitely on the more scene-y side, which isn’t usually my favorite, but it has great views and some dishes that I thought were outstanding.
Scottish Salmon Nashi ~ truffle oil, dry miso, micro arugula
Spicy tuna crispy rice ~ big eye tuna, masago, micro shiso
Wagyu beef gyoza ~ parsnip puree, shiitake mushrooms, Asian glaze
King crab risotto ~ aji amarillo lobster stock, green asparagus
Dessert ~ tres leches and chocolate tarte
The best dishes at Juvia are the crispy rice and wagyu beef gyoza – I’d go back just for them. The risotto was decent but tough to follow up on the starters, and the tres leches was heavenly.
Planta
I’ve seen and heard a lot of buzz around Planta, so it was high on my list of places to visit in Miami. I really loved the look and ambiance of the restaurant – it was bright and open with topical vibes – and they also had particularly great service. Everything on the menu is vegan (plant-based, I don’t think I even saw any soy ingredients), with lots of gluten-free options. What we ordered:
Volcano roll ~ cucumber, avocado, baked crab, spicy mayo
Cauliflower tots ~ truffle almond parmesan
Frenchie pizza ~ mushrooms, squash, arugula, cashew mozzarella, almond parmesan, truffle vinaigrette
Udon noodles ~ truffle mushroom cream
Flourless banoffee pie ~ almond crust, date, dulce de leche, bananas, coconut cream
I LOVED this meal! My favorites were the cauliflower tots, Frenchie pizza, and I was completely obsessed with the Udon noodles. The only thing I wasn’t crazy about was the banoffee pie, which I was surprised by because it doesn’t take a lot for me to love a dessert (ha). I thought the crust was dry and the whipped topping was watery. But back to those Udon noodles….
…and now here I am, about to head to the airport, wishing I could eat it all over again. But this sad little protein bar bar will have to do. Back to Brooklyn I go! xoxo GG
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