On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Loading...
I have been meaning to try Michy's for sometime now and I must say it was worth it. First the minor negatives, well actually the only negative of the place to me was that I went with my girlfriend and had to ask to sit at a table because they tried to put is at the two seater tables along the wall and those tables are way to close to other couples. That and the fact that Michy's wasn't serving the famous cupcakes. Aghhh!
Now the good, obviously the food. We were able to eat 5 different plates. I loved the fact that Michy's serves half portions which gives you the option to taste almost everything they have to offer. We started off with the ceviche which was very good and light. Next we had the croquetas, let me tell you that I have never tasted croquetas so damn good. Next we had the fettucini carbonara, excellent. The short ribs were next and they were prepared and cooked to perfection, so moist and tender. Lastly was the chocolate brownie with hot fudge and caramel, very good and a nice way to end the night.
The last part is of course the bill. I have been reading many reviews concerning the bill and their prices but I must say that at the end of the night I was pleasantly surprised to see what I had to pay. My bill for two came out to $100 and that's because of the $42 bottle of wine. So for $58 dollars my girlfriend and I were able to eat 5 different plates and come out of Michy's with a nice experience and a well fed stomach. So all and all it was a great dining experience.
P.S. The valet in the back is clutch. Only $5
Sunday was my birthday. (Yeah me!)
I picked Michy's as my birthday dinner location. (Yeah Michy's!)
Some of the food was amazing, some was only pretty good. From what I heard, I had expected everything to be amazing, so 4 stars instead of 5.
I ordered the short ribs and the rest of my party ordered off the Spice Menu. I must say that the Spice Menu seemed to cover all the highlights.
Appetizers: Polenta w/ egg - nice, but I prefer my polenta cheesier.
Cucumber salad - Never would have thought to pair it with
watermellon, but very good.
Beet & goat cheese salad - I think more actual salad,
as in greens, would have
been nice.
Fried Pork Fat (?Chiarones?) - My husband loved. I don't
care for it, nothing about how
they prepared it.
Main course: Short ribs - By far the best dish. Absolutely amazing. It
just fell apart, and sitting on creamy
mashed potatoes.
Pasta w/ peas & bacon - 2nd favorite. the flavors went
really well together.
Mango curry yellow-tail snapper - My father was really
pleased. He has bad
luck whenever he
orders out of his comfort
zone. But the flavors
melded well and the fish
was cooked perfectly.
Churasco steak - disappointing. Not tender enough.
Salmon - Perfect.
Dessert - Bread Pudding - Best dessert. Even those who claimed not
to like break pudding wished they had
ordered it.
Fresh Fruit w/ creme fresh- So many different fresh fruit, all
sweet and flavorful, cut the same
size, and mixed so that you got a
bit of everything in each bite.
Really held it's own as a dessert.
Mango upside down cake - A little on the dry side. And I
wanted a more intense flavor.
Chocolate pie - Nothing wrong with the dish, just too
chocolaty for me.
I don't quite get the decor, but it is a cozy little restaurant. The service was wonderful and I definitely plan to come back. But it wasn't the best restaurant I've been to in Miami.
As of late, I have been very careful about who I give 5 stars to. To get 5 stars from me, you have to really, really deserve it.
Well, after last night I feel like Michy's definitely deserved that and more. If I could give it six, I would. We had adored her food at Red Fish Grill when she was there and had enjoyed it many times, but hadn't had a chance to go up to Michy's before so we were thrilled at the opportunity.
Please lets start with the amazing food. We had a special "Latin Flair" menu -
Course 1 - Shrimp Cocktail with cilantro and Chile Serrano
I had to mop up the Cocktail sauce with my bread - it was glorious.
Course 2 - Crispy Chicken "Chicharrones" filled with peanuts, ground chicken and "agua" de sandia. (agua de sandia = watermelon water)
Crazy delicious. I also tasted some ginger in there and the agua de sandia made the flavors 'pop'.
Course 3 - Chupe de Pescado, tomatoes, hominy, lime.
Fish in a delicious sauce, the hominy was an unexpected treat. YUM.
Course 4 - Shepherd's Pie with Rabo encendido, boniato and toasted garlic.
The Rabo Encendido & boniato instead of potatoes were brilliant together, the gravy was bowl licking delicious.
Course 5 - Dessert!! Churros with SPICY Chocolate dipping sauce.
OH. MY. GOD. The sauce WAS spicy and SO mouth watering and amazing, once I finished mine I attacked my husbands (but he had extra because Mr. Bernstein gave him his dessert).
So on food alone they get my 6 stars. Now the event and the company. This was a special Michy's event coupled with Sam Adams - each dish was paired with an amazing Sammie beer, and they were perfect for each other. Michelle did a the job of pairing each beer with the correct dish. Of course being Michelle Bernstein it was all done to perfection. We had such a rare treat to have all of these dishes complimented with a delicious beer, all paired by Michelle herself.
And I always eat my dessert with beer. Sammie's Cream Stout to be exact!
Either way - Michy's outdid themselves, the service was impeccable, we had the immense honor of being seated with Michy's parents and Steve the Anthropologist. The company was so much fun (and funny at one point I snorted beer into my nose because of a joke).
I was watching the vibe in the restaurant, and their attention to detail really impressed as 3/4 of the restaurant had regular patrons not with our group and the service was no less impeccable.
I can't wait to try their all you can eat Fried Chicken Wednesdays!
Of the six dinners we had in Miami, the was by far the best. A real standout showing a deft hand in the kitchen. Service was informative and attentive. Amazing flavors, and really liked the option of being able to order half portions so to try multiple dishes. The Serrano ham and cheese croquettes, while they sound simple, were absolutely exceptional (the fig jam was perfect accompaniment). Same for the gnocchi bolognese, Alaskan cod, and the fried chicken and biscuits (so crisp and light, though not sure I liked the chicken seasoning--Chinese 5-spice powder?). Miami is lucky to have Michele Bernstein. I'm envious. Can't wait to return...
I decided to go to Michy's after hearing some great reviews and was very dissapointed with the food. I ordered the crispy fried chicken which the waiter recommended. The major problem is that the chicken was raw! I told the waiter that the chicken was undercooked and he said that the chicken may seem a little different because it is organic. Well, that should not be a reason for the chicken to bleed. I told him I was sorry that I could not eat a chicken that was bleeding and he asked if he could get me anything else, I asked for the Fettuccine Carbonara and it was ok. I was really expecting better food at this restaurant and I was very dissapointed especially that they made excuses for the bleeding chicken, they could have just apologized and admitted that the chicken was undercooked.
The Baked Alaska is out of this world. I have really never had a dessert like it. I have been thinking about it ever since going to Michy's and am sad that I turned down my husband's offer to take me back there during our 3 day trip to Miami. Everything else was really good too but that Baked Alaska, oh that Baked Alaska. Will definitely be back for it.
Michelle Bernstein's Michy's - what a jewel of contemporary gastronomy in Miami. Seriously, we are really fortunate to have a "local" bread talent of such a caliber.
Her creative spectrum is only bound by whatever she can imagine, which, by experience we know is endless. We have followed Michelle from Red Fish Grill to Azul and now to her own personal endeavors.
Their vision and investment in opening a place with level of cuisine in an up and coming area where it is located, speaks volumes about their commitment to the Magic City -
It is quite refreshing to see that one of the top chefs in America chose to continue her quest for entrepreneurship in this area rather than an more posh are of town such as Coral Gables for example where she co owned The Strand.
Her menu does not disappoint - at first glance you may think that the portions in front of you are small and unassuming, but make no mistake, it is a plethora of flavors and textures.
I suggest you eat small bites and try to enjoy even the smallest details as you take in all the different tastes and flavors. It will make for a fantastic journey through your gustatory senses.
It is quite evident that she has a complete grasp on how different flavors, textures and spices work together and she is not shy in her creations and the results are simply in a league of their own.
In the best interest of being fair to Michelle's creations, I won't even venture to recommend a specific plate, I am fortunate to have tried many from the menu and some that are not, and it is quite clear why Michelle is one of the top chefs in America.
My wife and I decided to come here for our 1 yr anniversary. What a wonderful choice! We came here based on a recommendation from a couple we met at Cafe Ola. The spare ribs and foie gras are to die for. The ceviche was fabulous. Bread pudding - yummy!!
Great service too - Kelly was awesome
So I finally decide to take the plunge and give Michy's a try. Must admit up front that I'm a big Michelle Bernstein fan since the Azul days so there might be some biased in me. And quite frankly, Sra. Martinez is one of my favorite places in Miami right now.
So with that said, I went into Michy's a couple weekends ago with high expectations and thankfully the food did not disappoint. Despite a growing restaurant empire, Bernstein makes sure the staff at Michy's still cranks it out at the flagship property.
There was one hiccup in the whole experience however. Despite a reservation made almost a month in advance, we waited almost an hour for our table in the small dining room. To the restaurant's credit, the hostess and bar tender were extremely apologetic and offered to cover our bar tab and ordered us a round of croquetas filled with blue cheese and Serrano ham. Apparently several parties before us were celebrating anniversaries and a wedding engagement, which obviously caused backup and slowed down available seating.
It's not an excuse, but the staff went above and beyond to make sure our experience was worth it. While discussing the long wait at our table, we realized that people actually wait 45 minutes to sit down at Cheesecake Factory so we did not sweat it too much.
I'm glad we waited. As soon as we were seated and began digging into the menu, our server promptly came by to let us know that he heard about our extended wait, apologized on the restaurant's behalf again and let us know that three appetizers were on their way. Just minutes later, the Peruvian ceviche of the day with ginger, lime, chilies, corn, and sweet potatoes appeared on the table along with some more croquetas and a duck confit with a shaved brussel sprout salad, kumquat marmalade, and mustard vinaigrette. Mind you, we're four people. It's a solid eating crew and we dug into those plates with gusto. Granted we were hungry, but it was really good. Ceviche was perfectly balanced and not swimming in acidity. The croquetas are literally some of the best ever and the confit was solid and duck fatty good.
We ended up sharing everything else in between all of us and a few of the highlights included truffled polenta with poached eggs and bacon bits; a watermelon Greek salad with tomatoes, olives, French feta cheese, cucumbers, tinto vinaigrette and zahtar spice; fettuccine carbonara with smoked bacon, crispy jamon Serrano, prosciutto and melting St. Andre; and crispy fennel dusted sweetbreads with fava bean pesto, fresh favas, oranges and caraway veal jus. We also ate some yellowtail snapper, roasted cod and seared salmon plus some crazy tender short ribs. It was a little overboard and quite foodgasmic.
We also drank Rose Muga Rioja and some killer French sparkling Cabernet Franc from Chateau Tour Grise throughout the meal. Desserts included warm bread pudding with raisins, cognac, chocolate chunks and vanilla ice cream, and some tropical fruit upside down cake. Also had a crazy good Baked Alaska (aka Sarah Palin) which featured cake, dulce de leche ice cream, Italian meringue and passion fruit salsa as an additional thank you for waiting so long token.
So in the end, was I swayed by Michy's generosity following a crazy long wait? Of course I was - I'm human. But after thinking back on it, it wasn't the free dishes that made the impact; it was the execution and depth of flavor in the food. The food was simply great and right on the money.
Some in past reviews about Michy's have complained about the portion sizes, but I would argue that while small on a TGI Friday's scale - they are rightly sized. It's also nice to have full or half sized options, which encourages sharing. It's certainly not cheap, but neither are the ingredients on the menu or where they're sourced from. At the same time it's not overly priced. I thought it was perfectly balanced for an uptown bistro.
The place has a cool vibe to it and I'm certainly glad I gave it a shot. Michy's, along with Sra Martinez, are about amazing ingredients, layered flavors and simplicity. Michelle Bernstein's dishes don't need heavy handed techniques and deconstructed foam to make them work. They're good because it's the food she loves to eat. There is a reason why she is a James Beard Award winner and I am definitely a fan. Plus she is a local chick and that's just awesome.
Would have been 5 stars had it not been for the reservation gaffe.
I haven't had Michy's dinner in a while so I will only be revieweing their desserts which I have on a regular occasion at work. OMG, the cupcakes, banana bread, and bread pudding are delicious. She actually makes the red velvet the traditional way without chocolate chips and with cream cheese frosting. Yay!
I am reviewing the Fried Chicken Wednesday Feast at Michy's.
First and foremost, we were seated 25 minutes after our reservation time. I believe the reason for this would be the all you can eat nature of the night, and it takes the tables a little longer to turn over. I would recommend going at 7 or after 9:30, because everybody had to wait during the peak hours.
The three courses are a greek salad with watermelon, a fried chicken plate, and a red velvet cupcake for dessert.
The salad was absolutely delicious. It is a nice simple salad with the perfect touch of sweetness from the watermelon.
The chicken was absurdly moist, and was probably the best tasting chicken I have ever had. The key to the success of the chicken is that it doesn't fall into the trap of trying to be salty and spicy. Instead you actually taste the buttermilk and the herbs in the batter. It is a great subtle flavor that had me ordering seconds. The slaw that came with it was good, but I hated the biscuits. They were not flakey at all, and they tasted like chemicals. I tried multiple ones, and all were very off putting.
The dinner ended with a red velvet cupcake that was excellent. The gummy frosting was as good as Misha's in Coral Gables, and the cake was really moist.
Our server was excellent, and one of the more friendly people I have ever met. While he might not be the most polished waiter, I really enjoyed his enthusiasm towards the restaurant. I still do not like the design of the restaurant (weird color palette, bar is too small if you have to wait 25 minutes, and the floral print on the chair is odd), and the tile in the men's room is very slippery.
The best part of the experience is that it feels like a good value. I am hardly the type of person who likes Cheesecake Factory style glutenous portions, but I did feel the a la carte menu was way too expensive when I first came here. We could not stop talking about the expense the first time we came in, and it by far overshadowed the food. This time the food was much more the topic of conversation.
Yes, the food is good but expect very small portions. The hostess was rude and the waitstaff will up-sell you like crazy.
I would give 4 stars here for food but the hostess scolded us for being 10 minutes late for our reservation. We had a 8pm res and made it in about 8:12 and was told by the hostess that she was about to give away our table.
Here is a woman (2 feet shorter than me) threatening us that she "almost" had to give away our table. What is my luck with these Hostesses? Once again I had to refrain from releasing a verbal tirade because the couple with us knows Michelle ..so my GF was stepping on my foot to keep my mouth shut so I would not "embarrass" her.
Michelle came out and greeted us and spoke a bit of the food. I would assume they would bring us out some tasting dishes, especially after all the talk of dishes (blah blah blah). My GF and I had to sit and endure a 10 minute lecture without the pleasure of tasting anything Michelle or the server was talking about. Perhaps she didn't really like the friend we were with, but either way I guess I was expecting a better experience at least 1 or 2 small tastes of specialties. In all I felt like we were treated as SoBe tourists even though we are local. In and out - get the money, get the tip and get the 4 top cleared for the next party - who cares if they like the food or service.
In short - good food, small portions, and expect a bit of attitude.
I did a double-take when I read it, but according to the Sun-Sentinel, Michy's is offering an all-you-can-eat fried chicken special on Wednesday nights this summer:
"For $33 per person, you get the chicken, plus endless side of biscuits n' gravy, coleslaw, and watermelon Greek salad. Guests end the meal with chocolate cream pie. 'Michy's is a gourmet neighborhood restaurant,' Bernstein said in a press release. 'Fried chicken is a definitive summer classic.' "
I am still trying to wrap my head around this one. All-you-can-eat fried chicken at a small-portion, gourmet restaurant? I am definitely going to have to check it out.
After seeing Michelle Bernstein on tv so often, from her "Check, Please! South Florida" show to her… Read more »
We were there for the Bottomless Fried Chicken dinner. Was very good and a table of 5 couldn't get to a second platter! Michelle and David were there and as charming as ever, nice touch with the Red Velvet Cupcake, classic southern dessert!
What can you say? My top spot in Miami for food. Yes, its even better than Michaels. Great menu, great wine selections and a decent staff. The foie dishes and the carbonara are my favorite and the desserts are solid.
YUM. My husband and I initially went to Michy's with the intention of trying the MIami Spice menu. Once we looked over the regular menu though there were too many things we wanted to try so we decided to forgo the Spice menu.
First off the croquetas, we ordered a half order and I wished we had ordered a whole. So yummy. This was a 5 star dish. Warm, cheesy, and salty. Delish. We ordered a half order of short ribs and pork belly and loved both. The pork belly had a lovely unexpected citrus sauce. We had a half order of the pasta that we also loved.
We would absolutely return, Miami Spice or not. I am not giving it 5 stars only because I have had 5 star meals, this was great, probably a 4.5.
Michy's is an overall enjoyable experience. It is (still) hip without being pretentious. Every dish is assembled with care and there is a signature to everything. It's like each dish is Michelle's (the owner's) child and she favors none and cares for all.
But I digress. The only reason I do not give this 5-stars is because the service is impersonal and the GM / maitre'd (whatever you want to call him) is too attitudinal for his own good. I've been many times and have found that a more genuine touch is needed. This translates to the service which tends to also be efficient but impersonal. Impersonal service is ok for a high-volume big-city restaurant, but for a neighborhood gem like this, they should bring some people in with better social skills.
Just a quick note on the cupcakes: Yes.
Michy's has cupcakes, red velvet cupcakes, good red velvet cupcakes, good red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting...
I was told they have a cult following? However, I think this must be a new cupcake cult, cause someone on Yelp would have already drank that kool-aid.
They are good and cute, in that cupcake way,
I've been back a few times since the last review and like it more each time I go.
One night a friend…
Read more »
I have to applaud this place for taking so much of my money and giving me very little to show for it.
I love ribs. There's no doubt about it. I ordered the rib dish, and I got maybe two puny ribs in a bowl. I know the idea here is to order many things, as if you were in a tapas bar, but then the prices should be equivalent. We ordered a bunch of stuff and were very disappointed with the cuisine and portion size. We left there and got something to eat. no, seriously.
The decor is... just think of bed sheets everywhere. Like some kind of home goods store run by anarchists or something. Everything is so white and pink or something. I kinda felt like I had stumbled into some little girl's dream. and then was subsequently mugged.
Perfect. One of the best. Exquisite pork belly of my dreams. Cool decor.
Neighborhood scary.
There's a reason that Michelle Bernstein is considered one of Miami's hottest chefs, and this restaurant shows this off well.
The food and service are excellent, and I had a wonderful meal there.
Some highlights:
1. Specialty mojitos from the bar -- They'll have all sorts of interesting purees and juices ready to make unusual mojitos.
2. Short ribs - I'm a sucker for these anywhere, really, but hers were especially tasty.
3. French fries - These were good (although she'd probably kill me if I said it to her, I still think Graziano's are better...)
4. Dessert - Save room!
5. Attention - If she's in the house when you're there, you're likely to see her wandering around the restaurant stopping by people's tables to check on their meals and make sure they're enjoying themselves.
Give it a shot if you've never been!
Don't go if you are hungry and broke - the food is tiny and the price is high. I got the lasagne, which took me 4 bites to finish. It was ok, but not really lasagne - reminded me of a chef boyarde meal.
The bread pudding was really good tho... but not worth the hundred some dollars my date had to pay for the entire meal. I had to make a grilled cheese when I got home.
Whether you like pork, fish, meat, or pasta. Get ready to enjoy delicious food that will leave wanting to come back for more. We were a party of 4 and decided to do the Miami Spice menu. Carbonara pasta, snapper, and churrasco. The croquetas as an appetizer are to die for! And needless to say the bread pudding is simply a MUST!
I had heard great things about Michy's, so I decided to go and try their Miami Spice Menu. The waiter seemed to be pushing the regular menu items also, so I felt as if the Miami Spice menu was not going to be as good. Portions were small, but perfect for me. The desert was as big as the entree. : ) The Beet salad gave me a horrible stomach ache hours later, but flavors were exquisite. Decor was beautiful, the only problem I ran into was a rude Michy. She was only attentive to certain guests and looked away at other guests...even when saying goodnight.
I have held off on writing a review of Michy's for a while now. However, having now eaten there four times in recent memory, it is time to weigh in. The short version is that Michy's is one of the best in Miami and comes very close to deserving five stars.
Founded by Michelle Bernstein, Michy's is located in an unassuming strip mall in one of Miami's less glitzy neighborhoods. Valet parking is provided in the rear at $5 if memory serves. Street parking is available but not recommended. The decor is eclectic with liberal use of fabric. Seating is comprised of a long bench with tight tables for parties of two as well as a number of four-tops. Outdoor seating is also available. Friday and Saturday nights are extremely busy, and diners can expect a full restaurant starting around 8:00 with a proportionate increase in noise and traffic. Making a reservation for 8:30 or later may result in a wait since Michy's isn't the best at honoring their exact reservation times, instead favoring keeping the restaurant full, as is common in Miami. Sunday and week-day evenings are entirely different with a much slower pace. Prices are high, and I would forecast $100 or over with a party of two. Interestingly, I have noticed an older crowd here on the whole and have been the youngest diner along with my wife on several occasions. I have seen the namesake chef in the restaurant before signing books and checking on tables, which was a nice touch.
The menu is seasonal and changes accordingly. As other reviewers have noted, portions are small but larger than your typical tasting or tapas-sized plates. Many dishes are also available in half sizes. Both specials and changes to the menu are commonplace, and make sure to ask should your server neglect to mention them. The food, like the decor, is also eclectic but with clear hints of French, Argentinean, Mediterranean, and Italian cuisines.
Everything on the menu is enjoyable, and I have yet to find a dish that falls short. Favorites include the ceviche accompanied by popcorn and toasted corn kernels that changes in composition quite often. The beet salad has been truly excellent in the past but on a recent visit featured less beet and more unremarkable pairings. The ham and blue cheese croquetas are a must as other reviews have pointed out, and I also recommend the gazpacho and watermelon greek salad. She short ribs, steak frites, fried chicken, and seafood tagliatelle were all stellar. The whole yellowtail snapper, when available, is both expertly prepared and a good deal given its size. The sauteed black cod fell a little short for me on one visit with an overly sweet sauce; however, a fellow diner enjoyed it on a return trip.
The deserts are all excellent and worth a try, and if anything only the mango panna cotta was disappointing in the past when preceded by a rich entree. The addition of a cheese plate to the desert menu is much appreciated and is paired with the traditional trio of fruits, nuts, and jam. Wine offerings are varied and numerous but mildly overpriced.
The kitchen is admirably consistent; however, the service is not. Service experiences here have ranged from excellent to poor, with one gentleman in particular being an annoying recurrence during my trips. On one visit with guests from elsewhere, the service was really regrettable. Having not ordered any alcohol and keeping our selections minimal since we knew the guests would insist on paying, our server became visibly annoyed foreseeing his correspondingly lower tip. Our courses were then rushed out followed by an annoying vanishing act. Meanwhile, the restaurant was practically empty that evening. On the other hand, some servers have been truly excellent offering delightful service even on the busy weekend evenings.
I first became aware of Michy's when it was named to Gourmet Magazine's list of America's Top 50 Restaurants. I promptly bookmarked it on Yelp.
This summer I finally had the chance to patronize this breezy Upper Eastside joint. We skipped the Miami Spice menu and ordered a number of different dishes (LOVE that they do half-portions because I get to try so much more that way!)
It's hard to pin down Michy's, in terms of exactly what category this cuisine falls. But if you're up for an adventure in Miami, get off South Beach and come to Michy's. They've got valet parking in the back, lest the streets scare you.
Best food in Miami. We go back time after time. Michelle Bernstein is a
GOD!! Service is always good, especially with Allegra the Sommelierre who always guides us seemlessly through our meals and tonight we were served by Jason who is charming and made the whole experience even better than usual... thanks guys. We felt spoiled by you both tonight.
I was utterly charmed by Michy's last night. I am sure most clients know it has been chosen one of Gourmet's Top 50 restaurants, and Bravo watchers have gotten to know Michelle Bernstein on Top Chef as a guest judge each season. So, when in Miami....
After a Miami heat game, we taxi'd over to Michy's for a snack. Two nights before xmas and it was packed! We sallied up to the bar, chatted with the bartender and perused the menu.
Nearly everything on the menu can be ordered as a half or full, so you can order small plates style. This suited our small appetites. We ordered:
loup de mer served in a light broth (light & delicious)
shrimp (heads on) pappardelle in a light shrimp broth (stunning)
asparagus w/parm cheese & truffle poached egg (rich, light and nommy)
We also had a couple drinks from a very nice diverse but small list. I would love to go again for an entire meal. It was definitely full meal worthy. However, I do see why some people feel it is too pricey. The small plates were very small and they were about 20 a piece. Not for the budget diner. However, quality was outstanding, as was the service from everyone including the floor manager, the host and the bartender.
Having first dined twice at Michy's sister restaurant, Sra. Martinez before my experience at Michy's, I noticed some slight similarities in the decor and menu. The bold wallpaper trim at Michy's reminded me of the decor in the men's room at Sra. Martinez. Michy's overall design reminded me of a mix of Hollywood Regency meets UK design shop Cath Kidston (http://www.cathkidston...) - floral, floral and more floral, but it did not distract from the overall ambiance. While dinner was wonferful, I was struck with the feeling that, given the popularity of Michy's and how difficult a reservation can be on certain nights, that Sra. Martinez was simply an overflow room for Michy's, since the food had a very similar look and style.
Our meal, which consisted of the gnocchi "lasagna" was a creative endeavour and well received. The deliciously prepared croquetas were on both menus (Sra. Martinez), although they were prepared differently, but equally heavenly. The polenta dish with poached egg followed with a wedge salad, similar to the same salad served at Sra. Martinez.
We finished out meal with the recommended special choco tart as well as the bread pudding, one of the more delicious varieties that I have had.
Most reviewers commented on the cost and portion size, however, I found both to be fair. While there were two people in our party, only I ate a meal, as we had eaten a very late lunch and my dining partner could simply not have a full dinner. There was an option to have a full or half portion, I opted for a half portion for each of my meal items and at half an order, they were sufficient.
Service was swift and attentive andI look forward to returning to Michy's on a future visit to Miami, although admittedly, I was concerned about what would happen to these establishments. A postcard that was included with our bill advertised a new television program with owner Michelle Bernstein. With her time and efforts now stretched over multiple projects, would the quality of the restaurants begin to be affected, as with others who had reached a level of local celebrity?
Located on Biscayne Blvd. next to a hotel that most likely rents its rooms by the hour I was a bit skeptical even though I came here after seeing it on one of those eating shows on TV. And seeing the strip mall exterior and the confusing interior I was worried. But this was soon to change.
Although I still cannot accurately describe how I feel about the interior but it felt to me that the elements of the interior like the tile choice and the shiny white chairs were somewhat; out of focus or maybe ecclectic? No matter because we sat outside in the back (which really is the front) anyway.
First thing I noticed was the way the menu is laid out. It allows you to order a full or half order of almost all of the plates. It is kind of a mix between tappas and courses which I really liked. We did need help finalizing our choices but it was not too difficult.
We settled on the famous ribs, poisson, sweetbreads, and the beet salad. We should have asked for more help because we did not realize until later...way later that our choices were HEAVY. The food we ordered was a bit like the interior design at Michys heavy and ecclectic.
Everything tasted good and was cooked well. The ribs fell off the bone with lots of flavor, the sweetbreads were fried to perfection and the beets were fresh if not exciting.
Overall, I really liked the relaxed atmosphere and the waitstaff were nice but a little too down to earth for me. After all judging from the prices this really is not a neighborhood place. But the timing was good and they did not get in on our conversation at the wrong time as I find most waiters around these parts seem to.
We were visiting Miami for the weekend and asked a friend for restaurant recommendations. This was one of them.
We went on a Saturday night around 9:30. We didn't have reservations so we waited about 10 mins before we were seated outside. The inside restaurant has a really cool, retro decor ...blue with white furniture and accents.
Once we were seated outside, the service started off o.k. I ordered a strawberry mojito to start. I noticed that the menu seemed somewhat limited. You can order half or full plates. We started with the ceviche which was excellent! and a half order (3) of croquetas. The croquetas were so good that we ended up asking the waiter for another half order. We ordered the fresh fish of the day.... can't remember the name but was in the snapper family. The fish was in a curry sauce with peas... It was light and tasty and not fishy at all.,...perfectly cooked and very good.
The food was EXCELLENT!.
The service was just o.k. The waiters seemed to come by too often to refill the water glasses but not often enough when you wanted something else or to ask for the check.
Would definitely recommend this restaurant.
Michy's is fancy, but unlike many fancy places in Miami the nice decor seems to take a back seat to the good food. I appreciate that the lighting was bright, the place is clean, but not antiseptic feeling, the service was attentive, but not overly so. The waitress was honest (and correct) about what was good off the menu. This is definitely going to be a repeat for fine dining.
The only complaint I have is that the strawberry rubarb pannacotta smelled _exactly_ like sweaty sneakers. It tasted great, but the crazy smell made it impossible to finish.
AWW HELL NAW!!
I had the twice-cooked duck. Twice cooked doesn't mean burnt, okay?! When I pointed out to the waiter that my duck had inedibly (lol, not a word!) burnt chunks, he stuttered that it was supposed to be like that.
Um, NEGATIVE.
Not to mention that it was gelatinously congealed. GROSS! I tried a bit of the steak, which was fine. I also tried the Nicoise salad...again, nothing to rave about.
Look the decor is fine, but I don't give a shit if the walls are orange or if the chairs mismatch charmingly (which they do). I'm there to eat, not to study interior design.
The only saving grace there was watermelon and tuna ceviche, which was delicious and light. The homemade potato chips that went along with it put Kettle Chips to shame.
Overall, the flavors seemed confused and unfocused. I'll pass next time.
Went to here with my brother and the acclaimed Rob C. I stayed in the Mimi Spice Menu and my brother went ala carte. All in all good food for a reasonable price considering that this is run by one of Miami's renowned chef's. I had the pork belly as an appetizer - larger portion and very flavorful. Main course was fair- I can't even remember what it was called at this time thiugh i remember that my brother stated - an I agreed - that you could've gotten this at Carrabba's. Desert is where this place shined - escpecially the bread pudding- sumptuous and the bits of chocolate melted in were an added bonus.
Parking was easy- they have a lot but I got street parking. The decor was not for me. I actully thought it was a little to wanna be french chincy and brought down the experience (really? plastic floral printed chairs?!?!). The exteior is unassuming and almost missable - I guess if you don't know yelp you'll miss this!
To sum it up great dessert, good food. If you had the choice go to Michaels for dinner and come here for desert.
Peace out and love
I can see the appeal to some, the decor, the menu, but for the hype and price, I just wasn't impressed! None the less, Michelle Bernstein has definitely made a name for herself, because Michy's is quite popular. Reputation aside, the portions were small... The fish was flavorful and cooked well, the steak was average, and side dishes were tasty, but nothing completely out of the ordinary.
Rebounding off a pretty meh first experience (not long after opening) where the service was totally confused, our next tries at Michy's have all confirmed that it is one of the top 3 restaurants in South Florida. Michelle has such a high profile now that its easy to overlook the passion and care that she puts into the details in this refined simple menu.
The raw bar, tatar, ceviche, sweetbreads, short ribs, and codfish are all incredible. The wine menu is small, but cute and inventive. The clientele is occasionally annoying, but hey, its Miami.
This is definitely a 'hidden gem' in Miami. I enjoyed a relaxing dinner this Saturday night. The service was great, I was looking for a certain bottle of wine so they sent over an employee to assist me, their knowledge was top notch and we could not have been happier with their pairing reccommendation.
Wait & support staff were friendly, quick and the food matched the service.
We had the following:
Short Ribs
Steak Frite
Shrimp over fresh pasta
Snapper Francais with an incredible boniato mash & mandarin oranges - WOW WOW YUM
We skipped dessert this time. =)
I recently went to Michy's during a trip to Miami. Since Gourmet put it in it's top 50, it has been on my list...Plus Michelle Bernstein is such a gem. I wondered how her Latin-Jewish background would influence her menu.
Upon arrival, I noticed the decor. So original and interesting. They even had these cute little clips that attached to your table for you to hang your purse on. CUTE!
I went with a group of eaters. We like to order one of everything...no joke...All of the food was STELLAR- but these were some high points...
*The ceviche was bright and amazing...and had popcorn on it, which was a delightful surprise.
*Got both foie gras dishes and while both were fab, I would go for the seared when I return.
*Beet salad could not be beat.
*The gnocchi was a religious experience. Best I have ever had...EVER...made in a bolognese sauce with mozzarella.
*Sweet breads. Get the sweet breads.
And for dessert...BREAD PUDDING!
oh oh oh oh oh oh ohmigod. michys. you are a shining star on a very strange street in miami.
-your wine list. excellent - shared a bottle of pinot that was a great start to the night, woke up my palette, went down smooth and didn't overpower the food. also had a lovely, not too fruit-forward, barbera de'asti --- which given some time really opened up and was a lovely complement to the food.
- blue cheese and jamon serrano croquettes - AMAZING. the blue cheese wasn't at all overpowering and the jamon serrano provided a nice, salty bite to the croquettes - perfectly fried. The fig compote was an amazing complement to the tart and saltiness of the croquettes.
- butter lettuce salad. simple and straight forward. interestingly enough there was something a little spicy and interesting in the salad, that i still kind of dont know what is was!
- watercress salad. this was the only low-point of the meal. HOLY TARRAGON. it was totally overpowering. oy. moving on. because everything else was excellent.
- spaghetti carbonara. OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG. THANK GOD we shared the half portion. wow. heart attack waiting to happen and worth every egg and cream filled bite. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the carbonara was rich, creamy, velveety and AMAZING. pancetta and peas added bite and sweetness to cut through the richness of the sauce. wow. amazing dish.
- shortribs. falling off the bone. wow. mashed potatoes. sigh. dream.
- red snapper. goodness gracious in all my years of eating food (poignant statement, i know) i have never had a red snapper so delicately breaded and served with a light, yet rich mandarin sauce. YUM
the service was excellent and the decor was veeeery cool! i would recommend dining here to anyone looking for a fun date or big dinner party.....
michelle bernstein really hit this one out of the park....but....the location.....really?
I love tapas, though sometimes I wish for a bit more variety. Michy's serves great food in the small plate (or larger plates) format but draws from different cuisines so there is more variety. The restaurant is small (make reservations) and there is a nice patio in the back.
Our service was excellent and the food was all fantastic. We started with the croquetas which were phenomenal. The cheese just oozed out and was so creamy. The truffled polenta and egg was great, with a strong truffle taste. The pork belly wasn't my favorite because of the texture but my husband and brother in law both really enjoyed it.
For our entrees we all ordered half plates - the steak frites for my husband and I to share ( a large portion, cooked perfectly with cripsy fries), the shortribs for my sister (also excellent and a large portion for being a half plate) and the sweetbread scallopine for my brother in law (I've never had sweetbreads before, but these were delicious).
Since we were celebrating my birthday, we splurged on dessert., My baked alaska was excellent - it was a tres leches cake topped with caramel ice cream and burnt merangue. My sister's bnread pudding was tasty and my husband enjoyed his root beer float, served with caramel popcorn.
Since I wasn't paying, I'm not positive on the final bill, but given the menu prices I think it was about $200 for 3 appetizers, 3 entrees, 3 desserts (which fed 4 people) and a bottle of wine. When I am back in the area, I will definately come back to Michy's.
Miami, FL
Category: American (New)
Miami Beach, FL
Category: American (New)
Miami, FL
Category: Asian Fusion
Miami Beach, FL
Category: Latin American
Miami, FL
Category: Tapas Bars
America's Top 50 Restaurants, a list Gourmet…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
plus a few honorable mention-- from my reviews,…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in Miami…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
