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Area 31
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
Epic Hotel270 Biscayne Blvd Way, 16th Fl
Miami, FL 33131
(305) 424-5234
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 9 am - 12 am
Fri-Sat 9 am - 1 am
Sun 9 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Trendy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
124 reviews for Area 31
Review Highlights
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"The first happy-hour cocktail is FREE for ladies." In 25 reviews -
"...to go back for the rotating tasting menu and wine flight." In 7 reviews -
"The pork belly was amazing, so was the tomato, mozzarella..." In 5 reviews
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124 reviews in English
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Review from Samuel C.
Los Angeles, CA
4/12/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I came in for happy hour. Had a ceviche for like $9 bucks which is a deal in Miami... Beers were $5 and mixed drinks like $6...
Insane view of the bay, and view of the ginormous pool. You're like on the 16th level which kinda confused me... but whatever.
They only have like 4 things on the happy hour menu to munch on.
lots of local workers... I imagine bankers from the financial district winding down after a hard days work.
Staff is real friendly. And easy on the eyes.
Will definitely return. I came two days in a row. -
Review from Ute L.
3/27/2012
Beautiful venue overlooking the Miami river with an outside terrace on the 16th floor of the Epic hotel. The service was excellent but the food not memorable in any way.
First off, our server shared a little trivia- area 31 is a strip along the central Florida coastline where they get their seafood. My first thought was, why get seafood off a truck from Central Florida when you could just as easily buy it off local fishing boats and leave a smaller footprint on the environment? That's just nonsense.
Anyway, for a seafood restaurant, the lunch menu had surprisingly few seafood options and the ones that did sound good were priced well above $20. Too expensive when your boss is paying, at least for some people.
I opted for the soup of the day, creamed corn with crumbled cheese. Very delicious. My entree, the black bean tacos with goat cheese were good but not that special. I mean, come on, taco shells stuffed with beans and topped with creamy goat cheese and avocado, a 5-year old can hook that up. I do appreciate that the beans were cooked perfectly and made from scratch.
I would have liked to try one of their desserts but it was time to head back to the office, so we just left with a cookie. The cookie, by the way was crunchy and yummy. I would come back during Miami Spice or if they ever have any special pricing but not for the regular menu. -
Review from Steph D.
3/24/2012
Four Stars for Food and Drinks
Two Stars for Service
NO STARS for Valet Parking
The view from the 16th floor patio is breathtaking- it highlights everything beautiful about Miami. It's the perfect place to take out of town guests or to enjoy a romantic evening. We enjoyed inexpensive $5 Well cocktails and $7 bubbly at the chic bar to start.
Food: As a table we ordered the Frog Legs, Jumbo Lump Crab and Ceviche. All three were very well presented, prepared, creative and tasty. The prices were on the high side for the portion side. The red pepper sorbet with the crab was to die for- sadly there was only one small bite. For dinner, I ordered the app "Fish Fry" there was a great variety of seafood- shrimp, calamari, a white fish, fried olives. Very tasty, albeit, the seafood for cold. My dinner mates all enjoyed their food, but no one was raving.
Service: The waiter started strong and faded fast. He gave a great introduction to the menu, some awesome menu suggestions....and then disappeared. We saw him maybe 2 more times the entire rest of the evening. My water glass was completely empty several times....The bus boy wanted the clear the table, while people were still eating....Waiters at higher end restaurants should check in, after each round of food service, not just to get the check.
Valet: $13 to park with validation, plus tip....it's highway robbery! The valet is also SLOW, SLOW, SLOW...the driveway design is not conducive to moving traffic and the valet drivers are RUDE if you don't have a $50,000 car. Having been to Area 31 twice...the valet has been the low point each time.
Bottomline: pricey seafood restaurant with great views, good happy hour drinks, okay service and horrible valet. Unless, I move within walking distance of the Epic, I doubt I will ever return. -
Review from Rachel P.
Miami, FL
5/24/2012
Free champagne, amazing food, fantastic desserts. I LOVE THIS PLACE. The view is spectacular and the service was beyond perfect!
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Review from Natasha L.
Miami, FL
5/17/2012
Horrible food, even worse service. Nice view. Would only recommend to someone i didn't like.
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Review from Cherry B.
Miami Beach, FL
5/6/2012
This experience was by far the worst food wise. I have to be honest I was expecting more from a high end restaurant. The flavors were not satisfying at all the service was okay after waving down the waiter for a couple mins. Restaurant was absolutely beautiful but you are there to eat so that shouldn't be that important. I would never recommend this for a large party because there is barely a variety and they are pricey. And the drinks were ok not great.
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Review from Sami A.
Miami Beach, FL
3/16/2012
My boyfriend took me here for our one year anniversary. I couldn't have asked for a better spot. The view of Brickell was gorgeous, the outside dining area was spacious but not overwhelmingly large or packed, and the staff was very kind to us when they heard we were celebrating a special occasion.
I've never heard a more knowledgeable waiter than the one we had last night. Bobby started our dinner off with two complimentary glasses of bubbly and continued on to give us thorough and genuine suggestions of what dinner dishes he enjoyed the most. He was able to swiftly give details on what cocktails and wines paired well with dishes and answered any questions my boyfriend and I had. He was friendly, not stuffy and formal, and gave us perfect time between courses and to make decisions.
The menu was a crazy (but wonderful) mix of flavors and options! Confit Pork Belly had banana-lentils, and Jumbo Lump Crab had chili powdered seared watermelon. What?! Who thinks of these combinations? Well, whatever the process is, I'm thankful. Each course was filled with flavor and just the right portion size.
Overall, Area 31 has a great vibe. Plus, the prices are not over-the-top for the quality of food you get. Huge thumbs up from me and I plan to go back soon! -
Review from Brittany R.
Miami, FL
2/15/2012
We went here for Valentine's Day last night and it was excellent. The Epic that houses the restaurant is one of the nicest buildings in all of downtown Miami. The view on the water is amazing.
We were seated right away when we got there and they even gave me a rose when I walked in. (very festive) The restaurant itself is very large, it's not a super intimate place but the atmosphere is beautiful. It's very clean/trendy/modern. We chose to sit inside because I thought it was a bit windy and didn't feel like relying on a heater the whole night but I was glad we did. We sat by the window and still had great views. Our waitress was great, she was very pleasant and knew a lot about the menu.
We ordered the octopus and the wahoo appetizers. YUM. They were both good but the octopus was amazing. For our entrees, we ordered the yellowtail tuna and the scallops. We loved them both. It looks like a little bit of food but to be honest, we were so full by the end that I couldn't even order dessert. I did order a special drink, the mango fizz which was delicious.
The parking situation is super easy. Drive, valet, and get it validated at the restaurant. -
Review from Ana S.
Miami, FL
3/7/2012
I go often to this place, the view is amazing and it a nice day you could sit outside if you prefer. I have been to that restaurant for Miami Spice, for regular menu and the food is pretty good. I was not impressed with anything in particular it is just good. The service is very slow (i mainly go for lunch which is not that helpful when you are trying to hurry back to go back to work)
For happy hour is a different story. The place is very lay back, the happy hour is mainly outside so it has an amazing view of brickell, brickell key and the water as well. The drinks are not too expensive and the appetizers and very tasty and will not break the bank. The atmosphere is amazing so the combination is perfect to have an awesome time !! -
Review from Ken D.
The location is dramatic and the service drama-free. What a perfect place for brunch this New Year's Day with friends. They even made an egg white omelette taste sinful.
Sitting outside with a spectacular river view in perfect weather with wonderful friends and our dog (the near-famous Lucy), we enjoyed a relaxed, post-party recovery brunch. (NOTE: If you don't have a dog like Lucy, you might want to borrow one to complete the picture. Epic and Area 31 are very dog-friendly.)
My only Area 31 disappointment was that the bartender (after a late New Year's Eve) had not yet made her 'famous' bloody mary mix, leaving me to make do with mimosas. Ah, if that's the worst I can say about Area 31 and my first meal of 2012, it's going to be a great year! -
Review from Nicole H.
2/14/2012
My husband took me here for our pre-Valentine's day celebration. This restaurant has an excellent view (we sat outside despite the cold) and is definitely a great spot for a romantic night.
We started off with two free glasses of champagne - thank you Area 31!
We had the Jumbo Lump Crab Salad for an appetizer, since it was recommended by our server, David. It had amazing flavors and was a great recommendation. The Chocolate Crunch dessert was good, but not to die for.
We always do that cheesy couple thing where you eat half your dish and exchange plates halfway through the meal. My husband ordered the Yellowtail Snappah!, which wasn't perfect. I've had better for $12, and this dish was $28. I wouldn't recommend this dish.
I chose the correct dinner option. Despite this being a "seafood" restaurant, I ordered the Braised Pork Shoulder. It was INCREDIBLE. To get an idea of the flavor and texture, imagine the best BBQ Pulled Pork meal that you've ever had. Now make the pork even more tender, and replace the BBQ with a gourmet sauce that I can only describe as "warm." The dish is rich and melts in your mouth. It was worth every penny. I rarely order red meat at restaurants, (but when I do, it's excellent). ;)
There were some surprisingly reasonable wine options available (I think from about $8-9 per glass at the cheapest). We ordered a split red for $24, and it was a good choice.
Shout out to the friendly host who was paired with our waiter for the night. I unfortunately did not get his name, but he's a recent hire at the restaurant (within the last three weeks) and moved to Miami from Chicago (originally a native of Chile). He has a really genuine nature and would do well as a waiter for the restaurant.
All in all, great experience. -
Review from Janina K.
Miami Beach, FL
3/9/2012
This is the perfect place to take out of town visitors when you are trying to convince them that Miami is much more than your studio apartment on a questionable block of South Beach. You know... a good place to go when trying to show the merits of downtown and begin your debate over the burgeoning beauty of Miami's skyline. If you've ever needed "I live in Miami and you don't b#$#" moment, Area 31 is a good place to take someone.
The view is hot. Definitely sit on the terrace. The restaurant is inside the uber-nice Epic Hotel and let me just say, rolling up in your used and abused Toyota Corolla is awkward when a McLaren's flanking you at the valet stand.
The food...eh...it's okay. We had the Tuna, Duck and Steak. All good....but nothing amazing. Truthfully, we came here to eat the view. The service? Our waiter seemed like he was on a coke binge and all he could say was "yeah man it's cool" about every single plate on the menu. Really, we took a tally the guy said cool 47 times.
Be sure to check out the pool area after you eat dinner. It should be open.
Go here for the view. Go here, stick to cocktails outside and remind people Miami's a city, not just a beach.
Note: I give it 4 stars for the amazing view, 2.5 for the food. -
Review from Dean W.
4/1/2012
Great restaurant that totally speaks Miami. Located on the 16th floor of the Epic hotel, this restaurant has views of Miami with its floor to ceiling windows. Food is pretty good, portions are a bit smaller but the plating gets 5 stars and the creativity factor gets 5 stars as well. The tastes on the dishes are a hit and miss depending on what you get. but overall they were all good. The waitresses have got it going on in here as well; short shorts and tank tops, again Miami like. All in all, I think this was a great place to hang out at. I definitely want to go back there.
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Review from Lisa C.
12/10/2011
Meh. I've experienced better. Ok but since I'm an upbeat positive girl I will say what's good. THE VIEW and outside area. It is a lovely spot to have drinks. I'd come back for this alone.
The food is pricey and eh not worth it. Nothing blew me away.
I went on a Thursday at around 8pm and the vibe was non existent. In fact other than the bar at ZUMA which is a waaaay better option downstairs on the lobby of the Epic, where the F is the good happy hour??
I went to Brickell to get off the greasy beach in search of a great happy hour with professionals getting their post work drink and socialize on. I went to Mortons... three people inside. I went to Gordon Beirch, also dead (and that was at around 6:30pm was I too early??) anyway I ended up at The Lucky Clover gawwwd. Then we left to go to Epic. I wish we would have gone to Zuma but tried Area 31 instead. Not impressed... At all. This is the kind of place that makes me sad because it can be such a hot spot. It needs to get a new menu or chef. AND it needs to really cater to the happy hour NYC style. The rooftop bars and lounges are INSANE in New York. With this amazing weather in Miami how are there no happy hours in Brickell outdoors on a rooooooftop!! ugh!
Anyway... if anyone on here knows where the happy hour and by happy hour I'm talking professionals in suits or button downs, 34 and up, please drop me a note. I am in search of NORMAL people with JOBS lol -
Review from Helen H.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2012
Service- Great! Very knowledgeable
Ambiance- fantastic... The view is just breathtaking!
Food- the exact right portions. The crab and watermelon appetizer was my absolute favorite. So nice light and refreshing! I def wanted to eat more. Pork belly appetizer was amazinggg, but the
Ceviche app wasnt that great. The shrimp ravioli was good, but I didn't want to eat more at the end. Hazelnut mousse was pretty good- not too rich and had great presentation. Pb&j dessert was a
Little weird.
Price- pretty pricy but ambiance and interesting food options are worth it.
Overall I probably would come back. -
Review from Alisa P.
Manhattan, NY
11/15/2011
Unfortunately, Area 31 at Epic hotel was an Epic #FAIL
What the heck happened? Everyone else's reviews on Yelp seem so positive! And I love giving good reviews!!!
For the full review with photos of the tiniest portions ever, check out our Mangia Memoirs blog post at http://bit.ly/area31epic
The Verdict:
1 out of 5 stars
FOOD: Tasting Menu specifically - probably the tiniest portions ever. It was almost comical. After 5 courses, we left hungry. Needed a double-cheese burger from Mickey-D's. "A for effort" in terms of creativity, but c'mon... yes, we know what a "tasting menu" is, but it was taken waaay too literally here. We came to eat. Sorry chef - food was good, but increase the portions, please!
SERVICE: started off bad and got progressively worse. Remember that "group discount" Iggy organized? Yea, well that took 45 minutes to figure out.
AMBIANCE: standard attempt at a luxury Miami restaurant. Probably would have had a different feel if the experience wasn't so bad.
Would We Go Back?: NOOOOOOOOOO -
Review from Brandy V.
Coral Gables, FL
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
First time here and I must say i loved the view, ambiance and drinks! The food was delicious, but I have to say that the service was NOT so great.
I will give it another try and see what happens. Hopefully service is much better, considering the money that is spent here. -
Review from Marco S.
Miami, FL
I've been here a very few times and was always not impressed by the food nor the service.
This time something happened different. Came here only for a tasting of their apple martini since "I am in the quest for the perfect apple martini" [http://www.yelp.com/us..., so no expectations for food actually.
Sit on the bar and order the closest thing to the apple martini - "Osaka" - I will post the tasting notes later here in this review. The guy very nice in the bar handed me over the menu so I took a look and spotted something interesting - Foie Gras as an apptizer - "Hot and Cold Foie Gras" - 18 bucks - totally decided to have it along with the martini. Such a surprise! beautiful plating and perfectly cooked! D E L I C I O U S - whoever was there before and didn't liked it (me for instance) check this out in particular.
I was not really expecting that surprise which took me the decision to reconsider a return for dinner, even though the menu didn't seem'd to be exciting will probably try the scallops(yay ! love scallopz!!!)
Waiting to go back - stay tuned for next chapters. -
Review from Andy L.
Miami, FL
10/21/2011
I admit to being a sucker for a great view, and last night we sat on the outside terrace of this 16th floor restaurant, which has one of the best downtown views in Miami. It was a beautiful, cool night and it was the perfect ambiance for dinner.
The bar tender did a nice job with cocktails, including an Area 31 concoction called the Exhalation (organic vodka, acai liqueur, pomegranate tea, lime & agave nectar-$12) and a Stoli martini ($13).
We started with an order of Pork Belly Sliders ($12 for three) which were delicious. Meaty pork bellys were served on warm, soft rolls and were nicely sauced and garnished.
Crispy Octopus ($12) was served with cubes of smoked chorizo and farro, and was lightly sauced with squid ink and orange. The octopus was more dry than crispy, but the chorizo was a smoky delight and became the star of the dish.
Cobia Ceviche ($14) was fresh and tasty and rested atop a thin layer of avocado. It was accompanied by a refreshing pepper sorbet, puffed rice and a bit of apple.
Barley Risotto ($23) was a little too soupy, but was also savory and satisfying with squash, greens and cheese mixed in. The dish was augmented with a dash of apple cider.
Fresh Yellowfin Tuna ($28) came sliced and was seared on the outside/red on the inside. It was perfectly seasoned with coarse grains of salt. Keeping it company on the plate were mixed grains (mostly barley), smoked black beans and shrimp guacamole.
The Sirloin Strip ($35) was everyone's favorite. That is not because of an overwhelming preference for red meat, it's just that this tender slice of beef was so perfectly cooked. A thick, well-seasoned crust enveloped a pink, juicy center. The steak is typically served with rapini and polenta; we opted for coconut rice instead of polenta, which our server easily accommodated.
Service was very good; our server was knowledgeable about the relatively new menu (we were told that it changes seasonally) and was helpful with personal recommendations from it.
We shared a bottle of Louis Latour Macon Lugny "Les Genievres" ($38), a fresh and simple white Burgundy that usually retails for about $11-$12. The restaurant's mark up for this wine should have been more modest.
We passed on dessert, but espressos ($4) were a nice finish to the evening. -
Review from Tal T.
9/9/2011 ROTD 10/25/2011
*Review for Happy Hour Only*
...though I'm dying to come back for dinner. With their sustainable seafood concept, the food is right up my alley...
This is one of the best happy hours going right now. The venue itself is gorgeous. High atop the Epic hotel, it affords breathtaking views of the water and downtown. The pool area is stunning, and while you aren't supposed to linger around there during happy hour, strolling through seems to be fine. The restaurant is indoor/outdoor, but the happy hour party settles onto the patio.
Adding to the scene factor, a DJ provides the tunes (not too loud). The crowd is mostly young professionals; attractive and friendly enough. Plenty of lounge-y tables and couches invite you to take a seat. Conveniently, there's a bar right outside and cocktail servers if you prefer to stay put.
The logistics are what'll really get you: $5 basically everything from 4pm - 10pm. Yes, happy hour goes until 10pm!
It's pretty damn fabulous, but I have to withhold that fifth star because some staff members can be snappy and parking is a pain. Minor details that are easy to forget when everything else is so lovely.
Bottom Line: Pretty people sip on fantasticly priced cocktails at a gorgeous location; what's not to love? -
Review from Rebecca A.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012 2 photos
Since we were staying at the Epic Hotel for Christmas Eve we chose Area 31 for our Christmas Eve dinner.
A perfect choice. Our server Bobby was hospitable, friendly and seemed to know the menu inside-out when he elaborated on our choices for each dish. I had the crab and seared watermelon salad and my BF had the lime and carrot cobia ceviche - grilled watermelon has been fairly popular with restaurants back in SF, and I was pleasantly surprised by the chef Michael Reidt's spicy take on it. Since the crab came in bite-size chunks it was a little difficult to get a solid bite of everything combined in one go, since my mouth is a little small, but very much worth it.
If I thought the appetizer was delicious, my order of sea-salt encrusted scallops with red endive, citrus dressing and creamy mashed potato was unbelievable. The scallops were beautifully firm, moist, and perfectly done, with that sweetness that only the freshest seafood can provide, and the sea salt crust provided just the right amount of seasoning and crunchy texture. The potato was there to add a little creaminess without being heavy or dulling the flavor in any way. I must have spent the entire meal just oohing and aahing over it and savoring each bite. I think I died right there and went to gustatory heaven.
We took the opportunity to have a few photos taken of us against the Miami skyline and the night was just gorgeous, albeit a little windy. It was a perfect Christmas Eve dinner and I will be forever grateful to Area 31 for the experience. -
Review from Chris F.
Miami Beach, FL
3/16/2012 4 photos
Been here a couple times. Honestly I could just come back for the pork belly by itself. Great specialty drinks and amazing views from the balcony. They also have some of the friendliest servers....Genie, Becka, and Jose
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Review from Mojitoman V.
Miami, FL
10/25/2011
Came up here to meet some cool frineds for happy hour and to get the night started. As we used to say (Pre-Gaming). Well, it was very cool. The elevator was awesomely chic, when you arrive at the place you are greeted by hostess, and we told them we were here for the happy hour and she directed us to the outside longue area.
The music was cool, not to loud, the drinks were good and the ambiance was very chilled. The best of the place is the view. Left is the ocean and right is brickell lights. The atmosphere is laidback and the people were business folks on their friday attire. Some talkin biz and some talkin about co workers, and us just chillin and talkin to our friends about everything.
If you are going for the Happy Hr, please make sure that the cocktail you want is part of the $5.00 special. I drink Bacardi, which is not a top shelf drink was not, so I ended up paying $12 bucks for each drink and we had 7...
Net net, I will be back for the Happy hour fun now more than ever with the great weather, and make sure to drink what is part of the deal... -
Review from Deb H.
Pompano Beach, FL
3/15/2012
This review is for the bar-inside and out, at Area 31. I went for the Veuve on the Clock special (The price of a glass of Veuve Cliquot champagne is $5 from 5-6, $6 from 6-7 and $7 from 7-8) and it was FABULOUS. Big glasses of the bubbly at a bargain price. Stunning views of Miami and some very tasty shrimp and other nibblies. Also had a good cab, and the whole experience exceeded my expectations by a landslide!
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Review from Bill O.
San Francisco, CA
12/11/2011
I was visiting Miami for a conference at the Intercontinental Hotel and came upon Area 51 by doing a "restaurants near Intercontinental Miami" search on Google Maps. From the warm greeting by 3 attractive young women at the door to the attentiveness of the gorgeous waitstaff, both men and women, I felt very welcome, which is not always the case when an older single guy dines at such a hip restaurant in such a trendy hotel.
I started with the Osaka cocktail...a tantalizing combination of Ketel One vodka, Tyku black ginjo sake, ginger liqueur, apple juice, and cucumber. This cocktail was nice and smooth and would serve as a delightful prelude to the Japanese style preparation of the dishes to follow. Area 51 does offer a 5 course tasting menu with optional wine pairings but my cerebrum won out over my gut this time and I opted for the a la carte menu, forgoing dessert.
And, by the way, the meal was superb. I went with my server's recommendations of an appetizer of jumbo lump crabmeat, heirloom tomato and avocado on a bed of seared watermelon. Such a unique and wonderful combination of tastes and textures! My entree was the yellowfin tuna with mixed grains, smoked black beans, and shrimp guacamole. Absolutely scrumptious!
The total for cocktail, appetizer, entree, tax and gratuity came to a reasonable (considering the high quality of the food, the service, and the atmosphere) $74 for one person.
I'll be back at Area 31 the next time I visit Miami--highly recommended! -
Review from Michelle S.
Miami, FL
9/10/2011
Love: the view, free champagne and cheap drinks for ladies on Thursday's.
Like: the shrimp ceviche appetizer and fries...not too pricey (for what you would normally expect to play in this sort of joint) and helped soak up some of the alcohol, just enough to keep drinking ;)
Dislike: spotted- 5 additional roaches ( for a total of SIX) after consuming my drinks and meals, as one was spotted dead prior to my consumptions. It was a sign but I figured it was just one...guess next time I'll pay more attention to the warning signals! Also, waitress tried to sneak in about 5 drinks into the bill (as we were a big party...could have been an honest mistake, or possibly her taking advantage of a large group)
Overall, I would come back but I wouldn't eat anything here and would most likely wear closed toed shoes in preparation for a battle against the roaches. -
Review from Candi W.
Alexandria, VA
9/8/2011
I stayed at this hotel in Downtown Miami, I loved the hotel. They brought a hotel pet to my room and it was a goldfish for my entire stay.
The restaurant there was decent, I believe they used all organic ingredients. You can tell the food was really fresh and they used the finest ingredients.
The chef came out for a bit to check on everyone and made sure they all enjoyed their food, which meant a lot to me. My family is in the restaurant industry as well, so by the chef coming out of the kitchen to check on everyone that means he backs his food up and 100% confident. -
Review from Joe J.
Miami, FL
1/14/2012
There are plenty of pricy restaurants in Miami with decent to good food. Unfortunately, Area 31 is not one of them.
The pretentiousness extends far beyond the presentation of tiny portions that are undercooked, to the look of the wait staff, to the rudeness and ineptitude of the hostess, to the manager himself who calmly told my latin american friend, that "I don't like your people at my restaurant". Little did he know that my friend had generously stocked Area 31's coffers that night with a long running bar tab. The bartenders were at least appreciative.
There are plenty of places to get rude service and racist remarks in Miami. If you're in the mood for that behavior, go somewhere that gives it to you cheap, unlike Area 31 that sells itself on it's view of Miami and not it's level or professionalism or quality in the food industry. -
Review from Ru F.
Miami, FL
8/18/2011
Try the Power Lunch special.
Best chicken sandwich I've ever had.
A bit pricey, but the place is nice and service is great.
Would definitely reccommend, not for someone on a budget. -
Review from Norman C.
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food is standard American fare with a hint of Miami thrown in. It's good food. But what makes it great, is that you have a breathe taking view from the outside dining area. Eating here, will make you want the moment forever in grained in your head.
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Review from Gina P.
Updated - 9/5/2011 1 photo
Still a fan only this time I have to say that my NEW favorite dish is the braised pork shoulder with a side of polenta, of course. Yum-O!
Sucks that the freaking valet doesn't validate the expensive parking otherwise I might be over there much more often.Listed in: So that my sister leaves me…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/19/2011
Decided to try it out on an evening where the hubs and I were attending a business event at the… Read more »
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Review from Sergio F.
I felt like Pitbull as I pulled "Eleanor" into to the Epic's driveway and up the elevators (though the music was more loungey housey than hiphop) http://youtu.be/2up_Eq...
I got an invite to a happy hour there and while I missed the inviting friend I can't complain about a lack of entertainment. As you walkout the elevators, you're greeted by a moderately lit corridor and into the restaurant itself. Walk a little further, and you can enjoy your drink in the environment that makes Miami Miami. There's an outside bar next to the DJ booth (although it can make it a little challenging to order a drink), as well as table service. Said DJ was spinning mostly 90's R&B and New jack favorites, providing a perfect soundtrack to a fun conversation with new friends. The grown and sexy crowd dancing and carrying their best Soul Train moves took me back to the good old days at The U.
The view, oh the view, adds another couple of thousands to your net worth. You get to see why so many people want to come to Miami!
My drink started with a complementary chilled prosecco thanks to another social media check-in site, and I broke my mojito tradition by going round two on the bubbly. Chilled, bubbly and crisp it was a smooth afterwork drink.
By the way, a special shoutout to Eve C., who I had the pleasure of bumping into and who told me to go up to Area 31. -
Review from Liz R.
Miami, FL
12/12/2011
Ah, Area 31, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways:
1. Your view is amazeballz. Yes, I said amazeballz.... as in ballz of amazingness. You are located on the 16th floor of this ritzy hotel, the Epic, and the view of Brickell and its bay in the night time? just gorge!
2. Your happy hour is pretty amazing: $5 prosecco, house wine, some beers on tap and some of the apps on the menu are also under $10. Did I mention that happy hour - or should I say hourS?- is until 10 PM?? Which gives us enough time to drink, eat, dance and do it all over again... a couple times around.
3. Your drinks. Your drinks are pretty great! What's better than enjoying a breezy Miami night and skyline with good drinks in hand? I'll tell you what... NOTHING!
4. Your bartenders ROCK! Super-friendly guys behind your outdoor bar.
5. Your DJ is quite great. Though sometimes DJ Cristian plays some crazy disco jams (which can be a nice retro surprise) along with some great jams from Jamie Cullum covers to Kanye's "Gold digger." Great times on the non-existent dance floor!
6. Your truffle fries are quire more-ish and only $6!
7. Your crowd. What a nice and fun crowd you attract! Your patrons are so nice and are only there to have a good ol' time which is what I love about you.
8. Did I mention your view? I think I want to take you to a back alley and get you pregnant. I. Love. You.
My only 2 complaints:
1. Not once did a waitress come over to get our order... which was fine because the outside bar is right there but it would be nice to be acknowledged.
2. Parking. The only parking in the area is your valet which can be quite steep ($13 without validation, $10 with).
But remember that my love is unconditional so that will never stop me from loving you any less because you are just a martini glass full of good times.
Thank you for being so epic. -
Review from Natalie P.
Miami, FL
8/13/2011
Although Area 31 is pretty much packed with seafood, they have great options for this vegetarian. I called ahead to find out if they would be able to accommodate my dietary needs and was told "absolutely!" Chef Michael created me a special risotto made with mushroom and vegetable broth, done perfectly al dente. I was thrilled.
I haven't been back since, but I definitely will. -
Review from Rachel P.
3/18/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This place is a solid 4 stars-at least. First off, the view is beautiful, but mainly from the pool, which is next to the restaurant, so make sure to walk over there and check it all out. The drinks are wonderful, nice and strong! They started us out with FREE, yes FREE Prosecco; which was great. Now, I wish to say we were special, but even though we are special, everyone was getting a free glass throughout the restaurant. We then got the Epic Sunset martini (very strong, tropical and good) and the hubs got the "man drink" which was so strong, I couldn't even take a sip of it. Just ask for the man cocktail with all the #'s in it with the cinnamon rim, they will know what you're talking about. Anyhow...we had great service, and the pork belly sliders were our favorite. I would pass on the cobia ceviche, it was next to flavorless. We had the smoked shrimp guac served with shaved chips, it was okay, nothing too great. The PAPPAS FRITAS with truffle & parm were amazing. The pork belly appetizer was full of flavor and equally as good as the sliders. We had some delish chocolate mouse cake for dessert. All in all, it is a beautiful restaurant well worth checking out. Oh, 2 things to remember: reserve an outside table, but bring a wrap of some kind, and get your ticket stamped, so when you valet, it only costs $13. Enjoy ;)
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Review from Amber E.
5/30/2011
2.5 stars OVERALL, but I am a self admitted cheap-o so the prices had a big impact on the star rating
The view is AWESOME, the company was even better, but where's the free bottle of champagne promised for every four ladies? Our server told us they didn't do that anymore, however the hostess who validated our parking said it was definitely still on. As Hannah mentioned, $10 for valet WITH validation is kinda high, but hey so is the view:) Service was good when we first arrived but very quickly went downhill. My first drink ($5 well happy hour!) came out grapefruit instead of pineapple (hello, one is pink, the other yellow) but I didn't fuss because it wasn't a huge deal. The others in our group had a hard time getting our server's attention for drink orders and then ended up waiting and cancelling some of the food orders ($6-9). I wasn't a fan of the lounge couches because there was NO back support.
I would never, ever come here for a time other than happy hour because I can't imagine the prices. If I had a free pass to the pool, I MIGHT pay for parking, but I just can't justify spending an arm and a leg for what, a fabulous view? -
Review from Candy C.
Hollywood, FL
6/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Area 31 is situated on the rooftop of The Epic Hotel. This is a really cool looking hotel, very trendy. And it is even pet friendly! (Which is a plus for me). But in regards to Area 31--- the view is AMAZING. Overlooks downtown and across from was the Viceroy. The city lights against the moonlit sky was a great setting for an nighttime outdoor hangout. There was a good breeze to help cool off since FL springs-summer are quite hot ! We went close to closing so things were already winding down. There were several cushioned chairs available for seating but on a busy night, people may end up standing around. Would like to revisit for happy hour for food and cocktails and watch the sunset on the background while having an awesome time with friends.
Will adjust star ratings after future visits.
Cons: Pricey valet parking -
Review from Sandra F.
5/12/2011
This review is for Veuve the Clock Happy Hour at Area 31:
What a fabulous Friday afternoon event. This is what has been missing from Miami. Elegance, view, music and drink specials.
For those not familiar with "X the Clock" events, beginning at 5 p.m. glasses of yummy Veuve Cliquot champagne are $5, when the clock strikes six their $6 and all the way until 9 p.m.
But what I soon learned was large glasses of wine, well drinks, beer and other libations are also $5 throughout the evening.
Relaxing comfy couches, a nice breeze, a wonderful DJ and a view made this the perfect weekday ending.Listed in: It's Summer! Outdoor Dining
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Review from Krys P.
Miami, FL
Updated - 11/22/2011
After my first review, I received a message from the restaurant, thanking me for the review and promising to improve their staff training.
I do value very much when businesses take time to respond to their customers' comment, and feel that I should mention it here.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/13/2011
Did we get ripped off or did they increase the valet price? When we entered the restaurant the… Read more »
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Review from David C.
5/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place gets an extra star just for it's location. Eating on the 16th floor, outside, over looking Miami is a huge treat. The service was good, very helpful - certainly better than most Miami restaurants.
The food was really very creative and it had a nice flavor.Our waiter helped us pick out the dinner, so this is what we had...
SIMPLE GREENS - perfect, lightly dressed and some unique greens (not a standard salad)
WAHOO CRUDO - good, but a small portion, I tend to like my ceviche very lemony and a little less controlled.
MACKEREL CEVICHE - same comment as above
TRUFFLE PAPPAS FRITAS - this is a no brainer, fries+good dipping sauce+topped with parmesan cheese and truffle oil.
A TO THE 3 TO THE 1 - excellent, nice sized, very fresh fish soup. Great, flavorful taste
SPRING GRAINS - ok... nothing mind altering
MILK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE BAR - small, but very rich and tasty - I recommend it
DIRTY CUP interesting - , there was a lot to it. I enjoyed the creativity
Everything tastes better with a location like Area 51. I would still go here if it was hot out and eat inside The open kitchen is great and the restaurant is very well designed.
This place is a winner, I just hope it isn't over shadowed by Zuma downstairs.
TIP: Super romantic, have some drinks on the pool deck before you eatListed in: MOST Romantic
