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News Cafe South Beach

3.5 star rating
based on 124 reviews

Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American (Traditional)  [Edit]

800 Ocean Dr
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 538-6397
Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
No
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Breakfast, Lunch
Alcohol:
Full Bar

124 reviews for News Cafe South Beach

Review Highlights   

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"I like to people watch here and just take in South Beach." (in 19 reviews)
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"It's also open 24 hours and they have free wi-fi - what more could you ask…" (in 7 reviews)
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"Instead they use a cream cheese sauce." (in 4 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Michelle W.

Elite '09

70

166

Michelle W.

Miami, FL

4 star rating
11/17/2009

I do like this place....yes it is a little on the pricey side, but about par for SoBe. I recommend the omelets here for breakfast. I have become quite fond of getting tomato & feta with tomatoes on the side (instead of potatoes) plus some toast (love me some Rye toast!). The tomatoes are always good, flavorful & large, the feta is perfectly salty & I can usually only finish about half.

My servers have always been nice & attentive. Not the fastest place on earth, but I don't think many things in Miami are.....things seem to be mostly on "island time".

My friends enjoy coming here for breakfast from time to time on the weekends to people watch & ease drop on the people that are lucky enough to get breakfast out of their one-night stands in their walk of shame clothes....ekkk, maybe I shouldn't tell you we do that :) Speaking of, this is a prime location to watch walks-of-sahme go by in the morning on Ocean Drive.

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Photo of Robert F.

 

0

12

Robert F.

Cleveland, OH

2 star rating
11/20/2009

I've dined at the News Cafe on three separate occasions.  Despite the nice post cards in their cafe store...it's nothing to write home about.

Although the staff tries, they simply do not listen.  Order a chocolate chip muffin, receive a blueberry muffin.  Their breakfast is nothing more than what you'd find at a Denny's or Bob Evans, except News Cafe offers beautiful scenery.

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Photo of Whitney R.

Elite '09

49

79

Whitney R.

Miami-Dade, FL

4 star rating
10/29/2009

Great Place on Sobe. This is an all around win. The seating area is a great place to people watch, the food is quite good and it is not a cheesy "Would you like to have lunch here?" kind of place like the rest of Ocean Dr.
Most recently I had breakfast here. I was able to sit in the shade under a beautiful tree, and enjoy the morning. I ordered an Iced Coffee, which comes in a huge cup! And a bagel with lox.  My dad ordered a fried egg sandwich that came with cheese and ham; and a side of potatoes. The server was very quick and nice. They have a little store adjacent to the restaurant where you can pick up magazines and Newspapers from all over the world.
I also recommend this place for lunch and drinks when you are strolling down Ocean Dr. This is a true Miami place, and does not feel like a tourist trap. Great place to bring out of towners!

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Photo of Kelly W.

 

2

51

Kelly W.

New York, NY

4 star rating
11/17/2009

Here you have what everybody came for in the nineties.
Only the crowd now is much more pedestrian.

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Photo of Katie O.

 

4

11

Katie O.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
11/16/2009

While in town my husband and I chose to go to this spot for brunch because it was the only restaurant on the street that didn't obnoxiously hound us trying to get us to come and eat at their restaurant.  We shared a chopped salad and a fruit plate- both were good, very filling, large portions.  (But also were very expensive in our opinion.)
Unfortunately they had some of the worst Bloody Marys I have ever tasted.  (And were also very expensive.)  Guess we should have stuck with iced coffee, or fruit juice.

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Photo of Michelle S.

 

17

44

Michelle S.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
10/10/2009

Pro:  My server was great.  Very attentive. Made sure I had fresh coffee at all times.  

Pro: Great spot to people watch.

Con: Auto-gratuity in the check (I learned that this is a South Beach thing). ....well actually it's a pro because the auto-grat is 15% and I usually tip 20% so they saved me money.  

I digress.

Con: The pancakes were obviously the frozen kind you get from Costco.  I'll be damned if I pay $7.75 for some crappy ass frozen pancakes that were nuked for 2 minutes and had half a brick of butter on em.

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Photo of Sabrina Anna C.

Elite '09

616

362

Sabrina Anna C.

Palmetto Bay, FL

5 star rating
Updated - 8/4/2009 3 photos

Dear News Cafe,

Wow, it had been a while since I had been here.  I try not to be away from you for too long, as I always enjoy my dining experience here.  :)  Between the people watching and the atmosphere, one just can't go wrong.

I was here for a late lunch on Saturday afternoon and let me just tell you how incredible it was.  Now, I have been coming here for over a decade, and I can honestly say that I ALWAYS order a breakfast item.  Well, this time I saw they had a killer ham and brie panini and just HAD to go with it.  I LOVED it.  I was here with my best friend, and she ordered the Grilled Dolphin sandwich that was just perfectly fresh and tasty.  Oh and we had decided to share the Hummus platter as an appetizer.  One of the better hummus dishes I've had.  

Thanks for reminding me why I always love this place!!!  You ROCK News!!!

Much Love, as always,
SabrinaAnna*

PS...  Let me just do my panini a little more justice...  The brie was perfectly melted to the point where its gooey and warm and just heavenly.  And the bread was so soft and warm that it melted alongside the brie.  WOW  I think I want this RIGHT NOW.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    1/17/2008

    I have been eating at this place as long as I have been prancing around this city on my own...… Read more »

Photo of Garrett P.

Elite '09

56

187

Garrett P.

San Diego, CA

3 star rating
9/10/2009

This is a good place to get a bite to eat, any time of the day.  It's open 24 hours, so it's convenient for all those late-night cravings.  Did I mention that it's pretty reasonably priced, especially compared to all the other restaurants on the boulevard?  Located along Ocean Blvd., it's perfect stumbling distance between the nightclub and your hotel.  Make sure you order something greasy - it'll help the hangover.

Unfortunately, my experience wasn't all too great here.  We ran in to escape the rain, and ordered some lunch.  My girl got a Caesar salad with shrimp, and I got a cheeseburger with mushrooms and onions, served with Cajun fries.  The salad had way too much dressing on it, and the shrimp was overcooked.  The burger was pretty good, and this place was really heading to a 4-star review until it came to the service.

After sitting down, it took quite some time until I could finally get a waiter's attention and order.  Then it took forever to get our food.  I saw tables around us sit down, order, and get their food, all while we were waiting for ours.  Also had to flag down waiters when we needed more water or the check.  Seemed like nobody was really aware of us.  I decided not to bash this place more on the service because, really, I think it was a fluke in the system.  Whenever we walked by any other time, it seemed that there was plenty of wait staff constantly walking around, taking care of everyone, so I think I just hit a bad spot.

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Photo of Brandon B.

Elite '09

30

59

Brandon B.

Miami Beach, FL

2 star rating
7/22/2009

After losing my fight to go to Oliver's brunch last Sunday, I wound up at News Cafe for the first time. Woof.

The food was mediocre and uninspired. The space is nice, but crowded and blazing hot in July. You think my well educated lunch party would have realized this simple fact, but nay.

So for the same price or maybe more as the phenomenal french toast at Oliver's, I got to eat the french toast I could have gotten at Denny's (I hate myself for just making the "I could get better at Shitty Restaurant XYZ" reference). But fear not, I did get a great view of traffic and fat people slowly moving down Ocean Drive.

And for a place that doubles as a news stand, they have a pretty pathetic selection of magazines inside. Pretty much just the standard fare, and some foreign newspapers. I was more expecting a giant wall of niche magazines like you see in the bodegas in New York.

Anyone eaten brunch at Clarke's by the way? It smelled good as we walked by on our way over here.

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Photo of Smitcha B.

 

61

243

Smitcha B.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
8/11/2009

This place is 24 hours so kudos to them. They know that the drunken crowd will eventually flock over during the wee hours of the night or shall I say morning. We weren't far from that situation.

But all I wanted was lemonade...

All I wanted was lemonade. It was a long night, lots of sweating from the crowded club, the ever so lovely humidity that sits over SoBe Miami, and the lovely stroll we took to get to this place. All I wanted was lemonade. We chose to sit inside in hope to stay away from the mosquitos and to leech off some A/C. First, you can't get away from the mosquitos so apply Off! and hope it works (which it does). Second, there was no real A/C inside because the place has all the doors and windows wide open. So I sat smacked right in front of a fan bigger than the size of a tire fit for a monster truck.

We all sat and stared aimlessly at the menu. For myself, the only words that comprehended was fresh lemonade. The waitress arrives and we order. Everyone orders something tasty. When it was my turn, I say the following, "All I want is lemonade please."

Time progresses and the food arrives. Where is my drink? I asked the waitress and she says, didn't I bring it? I pointed at the water, "No ma'am 5 waters is all you brought." No worries she said, my lemonade finally arrives. Perfect.

So I'm sitting there, sipping away when I notice a dish right in front of me, untouched. It was an omlette with potatoes on the side. Where's the person who ordered this? Knocked the f*ck out, that's where. Eventually everyone tells me to eat it. Hey! All I wanted was lemonade! Anyways, I hate wasting food so I slowly picked at it. Good thing others helped out because I truly didn't want to eat. Nevertheless, it was pretty good.

Moral of the story: if you're going to order something, please attempt to eat it. I'm not bashing on you (yes you, the person who knocked out) because I still find this story very comical and I'm sure everyone on the table found it to be amusing too. But all I wanted was lemonade. =P

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Photo of benjamin n.

 

4

3

benjamin n.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
7/28/2009

My gf and I went to Miami for my brothers wedding. We stayed at the Pelican Hotel, which is right next to the News Cafe. After a long day at the beach and walking the streets of Ocean and Washington, it was about 2am, gf was hungry so I walked over to the News Cafe and ordered the lobster ravioli to go. You have to order at the bar since it's late. The female bartender was really nice. Asked me if I wanted water while I waited for the food and she knew how to start a conversation.

The lobster sauce all over the ravioli was delicious. Must try if you eat at the News Cafe.

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Photo of Scott W.

 

3

14

Scott W.

South Pasadena, CA

3 star rating
8/28/2009

I had the french toast with strawberries and bananas. It was tasty but not ridiculously good.

Luckily, my wife couldn't finish her Eggs & Ham Benedict. That was awesome! They don't use the traditional hollaindaise sauce. Instead they use a cream cheese sauce. Definitely unique.

Pass on the french toast and go for the Eggs Benedict.

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Photo of Black K.

 

3

77

Black K.

Oakland, CA

3 star rating
6/21/2009

The service was fast, but not friendly. Maybe if I was a blond chick with fake boobs I would of got at least one fake smile. Then again, if I was working an eight hour shift in that dreaded Miami heat, I don't think I would be all smiles either.. lol

I ordered the duck stir fry with white rice. The presentation was nice, and the portions ample. However, the dish itself was not spiced all that well and had me looking for the nearest salt shaker.

The drinks were quite expensive (ten bucks a pop) but considering where we were, it should be expected.

The best part about this place isn't the food, or the music. Its the view. Unlike most places that had sidewalk tables literally on the sidewalk, where you're constantly getting bumped by passing spectators, News Cafe has its table off the sidewalk giving you ample eye coverage to view the itty bitty twinny bikinis that walk by... lol

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Photo of Vi T.

 

0

11

Vi T.

Grapevine, TX

3 star rating
10/24/2009

It was ok food, a bit pricey for what you get. I got breakfast food for two and it was not worth the $30 tab. It is a great spot for people watching day and night. Really nice patio with a wonderful view. Also, their shop inside has a variety of newspapers and magazines including international issues, which is great for people that want to buy something to read on the beach or plane. Waiter was very friendly.

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Photo of Lyn A.

 

8

27

Lyn A.

New York, NY

2 star rating
6/16/2009

Good location for people watching on Ocean Drive (even got to see a guy getting arrested while eating my lunch), but way too many arses flopping around all over the place while I'm trying to eat.  Service was spotty and slow (maybe a Miami thing?).  Burgers were huge, but nothing special.  Frozen pina colada was nauseating.

One star for the view.  One star for large burgers and cajun fries.  I love me some cajun fries.

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Photo of Nicole M.

Elite '09

41

335

Nicole M.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
6/16/2009

I checked into the Ritz and then walked the beach walk to the News Cafe for brunch.  I nearly died of heat stroke en route, so when I arrived I thought it was just a mirage.

We got seated right away, in the shade for the love of all that is holy.

Love love love the atmosphere/setting/location.  People watching at its best, and underneath some pretty kickass trees to block that deadly hallucination-inducing sun.

Hubby got some omelette thing which he said was really good, and I got some boring french toast. But I didn't care.  I was loving life as I downed water after water to help me stay alive.

I love that it's open 24/7.  Wish I made it back here late night, and it definitely would make for a great place to nurse my hangover.

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Photo of Kim N.

Elite '09

10

101

Kim N.

Washington, DC

3 star rating
9/9/2009

3.5 stars. Great for people watching. Food is decent. Drinks are good. Wait staff is nice, friendly, and quite humorous. Our waitress told us not to bother with the overpriced coconut monkey head souvenirs as you get less alcohol than a regular drink. I think her exact words were, those will not help you get drunk fast. lol. Had a good time!

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Photo of Vivian H.

 

37

77

Vivian H.

Oklahoma City, OK

4 star rating
9/2/2009

Nice outdoor place to eat, people-watch, and get your drink on in the middle of the day. The salads are super fresh and portions here are large. Didn't get to try much on the menu, but will probably visit this place again the next time I'm in Miami.

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Photo of Shelly B.

 

0

8

Shelly B.

Miami Beach, FL

2 star rating
10/30/2009

All hype... The food is ok.. Nothing to write home about. Let me count the ways: They only have non dairy creamer, they use frozen spinach in the eggs florentine, the "news" potatoes are frozen potatoes, the syrup is that fake icky stuff, and their coffee isn't good :/ but, it is good for people watching and they offer you fresh pepper for your meal. I would give it a 2 1/2 but that's not an option so they get a 2.

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Photo of Tina A.

 

22

51

Tina A.

Jupiter, FL

4 star rating
4/3/2009

My memories of this place

--Stumbling over here for greasy fries after a night of doing shots at Mangos and dancing with scantily clad men
--Wake up at 7am from the hotel room and ordering breakfast with Long Island Iced Teas to wash them down
--Watching men walk by in thongs grab assing other men walking by in thongs

I think i need to pay SoBe another visit to add more memories on here

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Photo of Jolie B.

 

8

46

Jolie B.

Atlanta, GA

4 star rating
6/19/2009

I was so sure there'd be 115 reviews to this Miami staple, and mine would be the 116th, and it wouldn't really matter because everyone's who's ever sure to visit Miami would stop by this place, good or bad reviews notwithstanding.

But alas, I am still in the 100's.

On my last night in Miami, I realized I was committing Miami sacrilege by still not having visited this place, so I thought what the heck, might as well. I also thought it was going to be all glimmer no substance, like every overhyped restaurant, (you know those ones) but I was pleasantly surprised.

The food, upon recommendation from one of the servers was really good. I had the News Cafe  Eggs (I think that's what it's called) - which is basically egss benedict with cream cheese sauce. Wonderful. Breakfast at midnight has a whole different taste to it, especially when you are about to get hungover. And I hate cream cheese!

Better even that they actually had wine in the $6 range, how unpretentious.

I didn't sit outside though. Way too many people prancing around and staring at food, and I wasn't in the mood for that mess. But at the bar you still get kickass service. So I love it. Now I know why it's so popular.

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Photo of Debbi N.

 

6

54

Debbi N.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

3 star rating
8/9/2009

Okay, what fid I really expect? In the middle of July, a group of nine at high noon?  We wanted to take our out of town guests to experience the South Beach SCENE.  Since we had several kids in tow we weren't going clubbing.  After broiling them in the sun for an hour we managed to get over to the mucho recommended News Cafe.  Our guests were excited to be sitting down. In fairness to the Cafe, we were seated right away,on the side of the place, still with a view for people watching, and there were fans blowing on us. Our waiter was super.  The food was NOTHING SPECIAL and over priced.   Plus it took forever to get our car from the valet.  And I don't like waiting ten minutes to use the ONE ladies room foir the entire place.  Call me picky and spoiled but didn't love it.   And the entire strip is annoying to walk through with everone hawking their menus.  My tip: walk down on the beach side.  
I won't go back, but now can say "I've been there!". Whatever.

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Photo of Shawanda M.

Elite '09

27

90

Shawanda M.

Atlanta, GA

3 star rating
8/23/2009

everytime i go to Miami i eat here, not sure why..probably because they have breakfast 24hours.

anyway, decided to stop in here after wanting to pass out from being at the beach with no food.  I had the turkey cheeseburger and cajun fries and i must admit, it was really good!  i was quite surprised.  our service was good but a little weird.  my friend  just wanted a bagel and scrambled eggs...yet, he kept suggesting she get an omelet or some big breakfast...he wasn't understanding that all she wanted was a bagel and an egg.  finally, after not winning the battle, she was left wit only a little bagel.  boo.

anyway, my burger was good and i left happy :-)

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Photo of Justin L.

Elite '09

68

136

Justin L.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
4/2/2009 1 photo

5 stars for location...located right on Ocean in South Beach.  Plenty of seating outside to enjoy the great weather.  Helpful/friendly service, good and chill vibe.  

The food itself is decent, they have some tasty breakfast selections.  The white sangria is ok...they used canned peaches though, and I noticed it still had a really strong wine taste - didn't seem like it infused long enough with whatever fruits it was combined with.  Overall, not a bad place to eat in South Beach.

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Photo of Lori Taylor R.

Elite '09

31

130

Lori Taylor R.

Chicago, IL

1 star rating
4/16/2009

My girlfriends and I stopped in here for lunch during our vacation on South Beach. We'd enjoyed quite a few drinks the night before and weren't really up for having breakfast the next morning. After several hours of basking in the sun we had worked up our appetite.

We decided to order a smorgasbord of appetizers ... calamari, coconut shrimp and chicken nachos (I know, not typical food for South Beach). Maybe they don't prepare these fried and fatty foods often and I shouldn't judge them so harshly, but the entire experience was terrible. The coconut shrimp were completely pathetic ... I would imagine Gorton's could make a better imitation than this place. The calamari was extremely bready and waayy too tough. The nachos were soggy!

Our server was utterly rude. He never said more than "What would you like?" We gave him our order and he left. He never confirmed anything or checked back with us. One of my friends finally flagged him down, because she had ordered a chocolate milk. He didn't apologize for the delay or make any comment at all. He brought out the warm milk sat it on the table and vanished again. I could understand this service if it was 4AM and we were drunk, loud and rude; but that was not the case. There is no excuse!

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Photo of Mari H.

Elite '09

87

193

Mari H.

New York, NY

2 star rating
3/12/2009 1 photo

Based on just the food I'd give it one star. My eggs benedict didn't taste very good. The hollandaise sauce wasn't a real hollandaise with egg yolks but tasted like melted cream cheese grossss. Meh.. And although everything tastes pretty average, their menu is more expensive than the other places to eat lunch at next door.

But for the people watching and view itself, I give it another star. And the sun you get to tan in while sitting outside is nice too.

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Photo of Garry C.

Elite '09

17

62

Garry C.

Silver Spring, MD

3 star rating
4/8/2009

We came here on our first night in South Beach after recommendations from others who visited.  It was the perfect spot to get acclimated to the SoBe lifestyle.  We sat in the garden area outside and watched the show as people paraded down Ocean Avenue for us on a Saturday night.  

We ordered pizza and a bottle of wine.  The pizza was fine and the wine was actually reasonably priced which we soon found out was a rarity in South Beach.  This was also the first place we learned about "suggested gratuity" trend in SoBe.  At tip to future travelers:make sure to check if the gratuity has been added in before you slap 20% on there.

Laid-back.  Great people watching.  Easy spot to grab a bite.

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Photo of Julie A.

 

291

372

Julie A.

Jacksonville, FL

4 star rating
1/28/2009

"We can go to the tropics, sip piña coladas, shorty I can take you there!"

It was packed when we got here on Sunday around noon. We had a choice to either wait 40 minutes to sit outside or sit inside immediately. Aww... I guess we'll sit inside then.

I had a piña colada with my breakfast. Delicious! Oh, hehe don't worry. It was a virgin piña colada. I was still dehydrated from drinking the night before. No need to add flame to the fire. Hahaha.

The piña colada was really good. The right amount of creamy, the right amount of pineapple, the right amount of coconut. The pineapple and umbrella added a nice touristy touch. Haha.

But the highlight of the visit was the ridiculously delicious food. I ordered Eggs Benedict News Cafe style. Instead of hollandaise sauce, these came with a special cream cheese sauce. The eggs came with ham, tomato, and paprika sprinkled on top. Still spectacular.

My chick friend had comfort food. Pancakes for breakfast. She sliced hers into perfect segments. Cute! Just like a pie graph. Hahaha.

Service was funny. We had a main waiter that didn't really smile. He was a great server and very helpful. He just didn't smile. In contrast, the guy who brought us our food was 24/7 smiley face. Night and Day. Hahaha. I set out to break the monotony of dude #1's anti-smile mood. And I succeeded! Yes! Hahaha. Turns out he was just bored that day.

The bill was about $40 for the pancake, eggs benedict, pina colada, sparkling water to go, and orange juice. Pretty pricey, but I'd return just for the eggs and piña colada.

This spot is open 24 hours, so it's a great option to check out if you have the late night munchies and in need of comfort food. Anytime is great for breakfast time!

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Photo of Jennifer H.

Elite '09

218

422

Jennifer H.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
1/14/2009

Not too sure that I would have come in here for lunch or dinner, but I did manage to make a pit-stop at about 3 a.m. one morn.  It was right around the corner from the hotel we were staying in and after a night on the town the menu and outdoor seating were calling my name.  Jenniferrrrr... Jenniferrrr...

I caved.

Where else can you get a shot, a martini, an order of french toast with strawberries and whipped cream, chicken nachos with extra jalapenos, french fries, great converstation with the tables around you and your personal server, AND some Grade A people watching?

Exactly!  When you find that spot you let me know.

Loved it!

P.S.  Never let me order, because I am infamous for ordering too much.  What can I say, I like a my own little person buffet at my table!!

I'll be back next week when I'm back in Miami again!

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Photo of Mila M.

 

5

8

Mila M.

Miami, FL

3 star rating
6/1/2009

Hmm... I'mmm going to give this place more of a 3.5stars.

My large group of friends and I stumbled into this restaurant after finding everything else in SoBe overly packed. (I guess this is our fault for wanting to hit the beach during the BET memorial weekend.. never. again.) And me? I usually hate eating an places right on Ocean drive in the middle of the night. I get apprehensive about the food, service, people, etc!

At first, I was discouraged because the outdoor seating was packed and we had a group of about 10 - 12 people and they seemed not very encouraged to help us find a suitable table but thankfully one host offered us a nice large table to ourselves in the back of the inside of the restaurant and let me tell you.. the ambiance seemed SO different from the outside to the in. Very nice and well-kept and sort've retro-y with a lot of memorabilia gracing the walls.  

Our waitress, awesome! Very cute and very helpful, so that was a plus. We ordered those two large specialty drinks that come in cute carved coconuts that you get to keep. One was the King Kong (which I HIGHLY recommend) and the other was the Blue Lagoon (decent). And also ordered like 3 or 4 Mai Tai's for our table. Which was.. not so good. Each Mai Tai tasted different. One was disgusting strong. Another more sweeter. etc. I hate that. Buuuut.. onto the food!

So we ordered a bunch of appetizers. The Spinach-Artichoke Dip. The Calamari dish and Ceviche. The dip was honestly VERY good. I don't know if it was our hunger more doin' the talking but I love spinach dip and this wasn't disappointing AT ALL. And so was the Calamari! Alright, so I knew I wasn't expecting something uuuuh-mazing from a non-seafood restaurant, but this too, not disappointing at all. Now for the ceviche. This is a hard one because I know a lot of Miamians KNOW their ceviches. Peruvian. Carribean. So.. I'm going to say that if you're really into ceviche and picky about it.. just pass on it.

The prices are a bit pricey and the portions are decent, but for a eatery at like 2am I was a very satisfied customer! :D

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Photo of Rob R.

 

5

34

Rob R.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
2/28/2009

It is sad to see a decline in making. Last time I was here a year ago. This used to be my most favorite stop for frozen Pina Coladas on the (in)famous promenade of the South Beach. I had never gone there for food in the first place, but have noticed even further decline in its quality.  I have a strong feeling the locals have figured it out long time ago - while some other places were booming with entertaining crowds sipping their gigantic frozen drinks,  this place was half empty with tourist, the poor souls, who probably left their computers behind to know better, while relying on some outdated print guidebooks.

The sizes of those drinks at other places have definitely increased since the last time merely a year ago. In most cases it is still traditionally mostly ice, but I fear for my life even more when walking the streets of Miami. Too many people are driving into here after all, and who could resist those fancy cocktails on a warm afternoon or enjoyable evening?

I have fond memories of the place, but if I want to preserve them, I should probably avoid getting disappointed again. Too bad.

PS
I am sure this review would have been far better if the Pina Colada had been anywhere near to what I remembered... Some people do not need much indeed, don't they?

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Elite '09

20

155

Jeremy W.

Hoboken, NJ

3 star rating
3/24/2009

Solid breakfast, awesome location.  Nothing too memorable about the food, although they didn't break the yolk on eggs over easy, which is unfortuantely rare, so I guess that's a good thing.

Decent bloody mary, but it seems no one in Miami knows celery is almost as important to the bloody mary as the tomato juice.  Ok, so maybe that's an overstatement, but maybe not...I'll volunteer to try a vodka and celery stick this weekend.  Stay tuned for an update.

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6

51

Magi Y.

Burlingame, CA

4 star rating
4/25/2009

This restaurant is literally on the beach with an awesome view. You could sit outside or inside.

The breakfast here is awesome. A great environment with good food.

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23

243

Kate M.

New York, NY

3 star rating
6/25/2009

Went for a brunch last weekend as my husband had fond memories of the place from two decades ago. It's a cool place to people-watch and all, but not sure why this place stands out from any other cafes on Ocean Drive? I ordered French toast with bananas and strawberries, which was fine, no problem with service either, no complaints but nothing special either.

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40

45

Michael P.

Whiting, NJ

4 star rating
2/10/2009

Well then... Our First Miami SoBe eating experience. It was early, about noon, and we decided on brunch.

We scowered yelp, and decided it was a (A) to try this not so small cafe. And we were glad we did. Great seating, and service. We sat outside (sidewalk front)... directly in the 78 degree sunshine. My girlfriend and I ordered quickly, and sat for a while enjoying the view of Ocean Drive, and the local volleyball players of South Beach beach!

The seating great... tons and tons of indoor and outdoor seating. Food came super fast... probably (no-lie) four minutes. Ordering the brunch special... eggs, fried potatoes, sausage and toasted sourdough! My gf ordered the same, and we split a huge banana Dacquari. Portions were plentiful, and the juice was all fresh! The Dacquari was stiff and fresh too, but I am lowering this rating 1 star because the drink was served in plastic! (Eeww!)

Overall: service was great, food was excellent! Seating, view, and locale was awesome. I really don't care if I sound like a tourist... lol it was a nice spot. Prices were relative for the area with... but it's Miami!

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7

38

Erk B.

San Antonio, TX

5 star rating
7/4/2009

Very large portions, good, creative food options, and very friendly service.  I had the yogurt all the way, with fruit, nuts, and granola for breakfast.  It kept me full past lunch time.  Also great iced tea.  Views of southbeach are excellent.

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Photo of Tracy L.

Elite '09

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158

Tracy L.

Atlanta, GA

4 star rating
11/27/2008

ATMOSPHERE: Large area for outdoor seating. Casual. Dog friendly.
FOOD:
1. Mediteranean platter - came with dolmas, babaganoush, hummus, pita bread, tabouleh, hot sauce side. Hot sauce was like a salsa consistency. I've never had it before and it wasn't good. Babaganoush was my favorite part. Platter was supposed to be enough for one but it is probably enough for 3 small people.  
2. Side fries - with a seasoned coating. Pretty good.
3. Coffee - average....
PRICES: Very fair for what you get in quality and amount.
SERVICE: No complaints.
CONCLUSION: Great casual place to hang out. I would come back again.

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Elite '09

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138

Sabrina M.

IL

4 star rating
12/31/2008

I have really fond memories of this place from when I lived in South Florida. My friends and I spent a LOT of time, money and late nights partying in South Beach, and News Cafe was this wonderfully upscale "greasy spoon" to get your alcohol-absorbing carbs before heading home.

We used to see Gianni Versace here (his home Casa Casuarina, is right down the street) and it's that kind of place -- A List or no list, there's always a table and some great diner food for you.

This location is a must-visit if you're in the area.

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Elite '09

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168

Christine R.

Fairfax, VA

3 star rating
8/4/2008

Whenever I'm in Miami I have to go to News Cafe for their salmon eggs benedict.  

You must too :)  Service is a bit slow but isn't that to be expected at least in South Beach?

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Photo of Theresa M.

Elite '09

84

232

Theresa M.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
8/4/2008

2 guarantees come with this joint: They will be open, and they will have something for everyone.

Being open 24/7 has it perks when you are in a hazy, hungry and desperate plea to re-fuel your tummy and hydrate your body sort of mood. Offering burgers, hummus, omelets, banana-splits, salads, sandwiches and fresh seafood tends to dilute your food a little (okay, a lot).

It's a diner that lures in a gorgeous, late night South Beach crowd, and the food is cheap to boot. Pretty much you get what you pay for and the tip is like a thank you for having beautiful people to look at. Thanks for the eye-candy!

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