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Mon-Thu. 6:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 6:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 6:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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September is Spice month in Miami where lots of area restaurants offer a discounted menu on a 3 course meal, $35 dinner, $25 lunch. Please do yourself a favor and order the Mahi tacos. You may want to get them as your entrée so you don't have to share. We also had the Plantain Crusted Mahi and lamb which were excellent. This was followed by key lime pie and bread pudding. If you have to choose one, go with the bread pudding.
Since September is off season, we didn't need reservations and we didn't have to wait for a table either inside or out. Gratuity is included in almost all of the tabs at SoBe but a dinner for 2 cost us about $100 which is a good price in SoBe. I would have tipped 20% anyway because our sever was fantastic.
Just off the lobby of the Sanctuary hotel, smallish dining room. Not very busy the night we were there.
Another case of bad suggestions from the server. Shaved hearts of palm salad and the crispy rock shrimp appetizers were a good start. Had high hopes. But everything from there was downhill. "Mystery meat balls" were lead weights in a slightly creamy mushroom sauce--didn't want to know what I ate, should have known when the menu says "it's a secret...just trust us." The short ribs and black bean empanadas were dry and I swear there wasn't black beans or short ribs inside. Pork milanesa was bland. The "best" black beans and rice--"you have to try"--weren't served hot, and not that tasty, or necessary.
The waitress kept pawing my shoulder, and after the first time it was real annoying.
I'm sure there's better Latin food in Miami, just disappointed I didn't get to try it.
OLA is one of the nicer restaurants in South Beach, that's a little bit away from all the busy nightlife. Our group came early around 6pm, when the place was still empty. Service was really nice and accommodating, and even willing to customize our drink orders.
We started with cheesy bread, which was yummy. I tried the rainbow ceviche, and it was sooo fresh and delicious. The lamb entree was okay, but not what I expected. The halibut was great, and I liked the beet salad that accompanied it. For dessert, we shared the chocolate bomb which was good, but small.
Great service, good food, and nice atmosphere.
Been to South Beach twice but we have been to Ola four times - dont miss this place and ask for Jackson if you want the best service of your life!!
Ola' s service was outstanding. We ended up going back 2 nights in a row.
Have the Rainbow Ceviche…
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When you sit down they'll bring you some delicious complimentary queso bread. Mmmm I love cheesy bread!
I started with a tartare - the hamachi tartare was amazing. In fact, all of the tartares were delicious but I would highly, highly recommend the hamachi. It was fresh, and rich-tasting, and the portion was surprisingly generous compared to the Rainbow. The sauce was tasty but delicate enough for you to really taste the fish.
They have a variety of yummy cocktails, kinda pricey, but the waiters are accommodating for any special order - drink or entree.
I was personally not a fan of the lamb entree, but I didn't know it was breaded. The lamb was thinly pressed, not my fave, and kinda flavorless. The halibut was amazing, I couldn't stop eating it, and I only wish there was more of it.
This is a beautiful restaurant and at 6pm no line (like every other restaurant in Miami =P). 4 stars for fresh food, great service, and a beautiful atmosphere.
I really liked this place. Great food, attentive service and not outrageous prices. I particularly liked the deconstructed key lime pie. Original!
It was a brothers night out, three of us haven't meet in months. We decided to try something new. We decided on Ola, serving Nuevo Latino style cuisine which was completely new to us. Definitely a hidden gem, if you don't know about it, you will never see it. The restaurant could probably hold a max capacity of 80-100 people but it has a lavish modern style ambiance.
The day we went there was a live demonstration going on, unfortunately we did not have reservations for that, but that brought about an exciting feel. Nevertheless we where still seated immediately. I would say what made the night was the wait staff. The whole staff would come out and serve you, but the major player was the gentleman who seemed to be the head waiter. He was energetic informative and recommend fantastic dishes. We each started off with three different mojitos. While sipping on our delicious drinks, we ordered some unique Los Ceviches, which are Latin style sushi. Fantastic! Chef Douglas has innovated the traditional sushi with modern Latin flavor. All in all we ordered 6 dishes which we all split.
The reason I give this place a 5 is because there is no other place that has this style of food, the wait staff was incredibly friendly, and the ambiance was upscale and trendy.
Would love to go again.
OLA is a great, unassuming spot hidden inside the lobby of the Sanctuary Hotel, just steps off of Lincoln Road, on James Ave. It's across the street from Casa Tua, and while I love that place, it's quite cost-prohibitive. Not OLA.
Some friends and I organized a group dinner to take advantage of their Miami Spice menu and to have a joint celebration - my birthday and a dear friend's going-away party. Even though we only reserved the day before, the friendly staff at OLA had no problem setting aside our table for 10. They even went so far as to recite their entire Spice menu to us over the phone, since we couldn't find it anywhere online. That alone won me over.
I was fortunate enough to sit next to the co-guest of honor, and we decided to order opposite plates and share, so we could get a little taste of most everything. I had the ceviche appetizer, while she went with the goat cheese empanadas. Both very good. I also snuck a few bites of another friend's spinach salad, and it was also yummy. If I were to go again though, I'd probably opt for the ceviche - it was fresh, tangy, and hit the spot.
For my entree, I got the roasted pork. It was quite a bit of meat piled up into the middle of the plate. I can't remember what it was served with, but I remember it being excellent. My friend got the mahi (again, don't remember the sides), and it was also very good, if pretty petite. A couple people in our group ordered the filet mignon churrasco off the regular menu, and they were enraptured. It looked very tasty, though I didn't get to try any. Ditto for the lamb, which was the other Spice entree offering.
There were only 2 options for dessert: a deconstructed key lime pie, and a guava and chocolate bread pudding. The portions (for the Spice menu) were very small, but it was good, cause I didn't feel super-stuffed after eating 3 courses. But when I saw the size of the regular menu key lime pie versus the Spice menu size, I was shocked and appalled - it was probably 3 times the size.
Overall, our OLA dining experience was a night to remember. Great friends, great food, and service to match. Our water glasses were never empty, our plates were served at the same time, and our waitress pretty much had our continuous drink orders down pat. Kudos OLA, on a job well done.
This review is really a 4.5, not a 4. It'd definitely get the full 5, but unfortunately my group had some issues with the check at the end - totally our own issues, not OLA's - and some people ended up paying considerably more than they should have. It marred my dining experience, but won't stop me from returning.
My boyfriend and I went here on the only night we could be in Miami during a vacation we took last months. We actually selected it based on the reviews here on Yelp, since we were looking for a really nice dining experience. We were not disappointed. The food was excellent, of course - do not miss out on the ceviche! The wine list was thorough and of high quality... plus my boyfriend could not stop raving about his OLA Mojito, and he considers himself quite the mojito connoisseur.
What put OLA over the top for us was the absolutely amazing service we received. Our server was - hands down - the best server I have ever had the pleasure of having. Even if the food had been mediocre, we still would have had an amazing night just from the skills of this man.
Definitely take the time to check OLA out if you are in South Beach!
Another great recommendation from our concierge.
Ola was such a great hidden restaurant. The restaurant is the perfect size. The ambiance is lit perfectly and decorated tastefully.
The service was welcoming and so helpful and friendly.
The wine choices was impeccable.
The food. The ceviche choices was ample and so fresh. The entree choices included fresh seafood and meats. There is definitely something for everyone.
So come with a group of friends or a romantic dinner for two. Definitely everyone will enjoy Ola.
So after watching Masters Top Chef - I decided I had to go to Rodriguez's restaurant the next time I was in Miami to try the birth place of modern latin american cuisine.
I went there for dinner and saved up the entire day's appetite (which wasn't hard I as I was in the air most of the day) to try four dishes: 1. Hamachi ceviche - was very good. I like it spicy and this dish had great flavor. Cut in a sashimi style - thin and long. 2. Foie gras and fig empanada - I was dreaming about this and while the flavor was VERY good there was something I did not like about the texture as I was expecting a whole foie gras and instead got a pate. 3. Lobster empanada - YUM! Nice quality pieces of lobster and two great sauces. 4. Lamb - Rack was cut on a butterfly so the meat was thin and flavorful. The beet salad was a nice side.
All in all I enjoyed the meal. It wouldn't be a real review without a few minor negatives. Be prepared to dine in the lobby of the Sanctuary... and when I say lobby I mean the door is right next to the tables.
After re-reading my below review, I am very happy to write that I had a fabulous time at Ola this past Friday. As mentioned below, Brock LOVED dinner the first time we ate there, but I was left feeling less than satisfied.
This time around, I went with my best friend from high school. We ate inside, but I'm glad to report that they have changed the outdoor seating so that no one has to sit on the extremely uncomfortable low-backed booth. There are now chairs around all four sides of the tables which they have angled to accomodate. I digress.....
We started with the fire & ice ceviche and the fried oysters. Good God man, those oysters were insane. She had the plaintain crusted mahi, but didn't love the oxtail and I had the pork which hit the spot. So, so good. For dessert, we both had the dulce de tres leches with bananas and a mango sauce. Fab.
Definite go-back next time the b.f. & I are down there as I absolutely fell in love with Ola.
We went a couple of Fridays ago for a late dinner and since the weather was amazing, sat outside on… Read more »
We had an amazing experience, surprisingly good.
I loved the ambiance and the service.
The waiter was amazing he took care of explaining every little detail on every dish. The service overall was great, not over the top, was just right.
The little ball of bread is to die for, I think I ate like 6 of those.
I will recommend every single dish that we had, all of them worth trying:
Ecuadorian ceviche (my husband doesn't eat shrimp and he loved it, pretty good)
Lobster empanada, interesting how they colored the dough with the calamari ink, was delicious.
Mystery meat balls.
Churrasco (coming from Argentina I had to try that chimichurri sauce, I have to say was surprisingly good.)
We also ordered dessert, not as good as the whole meal but good enough.
Worth every penny.
There are many fine Yelp reviews of OLA, so I'll be brief.
Douglas Rodriguez, the well publicised pioneer Nuevo Latino Cuisine, has earned a loyal following at OLA. Executive Chef José Luis Flores is good ... very good ... but not a superstar. He uses a variety of interesting ceviches supporting the elements of his menu, sometimes presenting dramatically different temperatures on the same plate ... interesting. While flavorful and well prepared, I believe his dishes are too conservative for the wonderfully garish South Beach Art Deco environment in which they are served. For example, the signature deconstructed key lime pie is simply a good key lime pie served in an alternative geometry ... there should be more flare to a signature desert in SoBe. The waitstaff are skilled professionals, but are sometimes a bit patronizing. Nonetheless, my spicy tuna (while a bit routine) was well prepared and quite tasty.
I should also note that the dining area in the old Sanctuary Hotel is fun ... crafted by some truly ingenious architect. I enjoyed my surroundings, while dining, and I give OLA four stars: good ... very good ... but not great (because of its lack of daring).
Great food, amazing service. Could easily compare to any of the nice restaurants in Dallas. The bartender was friendly, made great recommendations during our little "happy hour." The staff came & chat with us- we asked different questions about what we were eating, and every single person was so friendly. We were there about an hour before our reservations- the host told me he could seat us anytime we were ready. (I hate when they make it a big deal).
Our meal was delicious- we had the Miami Spice meal (pick 4 menu items)- we had ceviche (lobster & rainbow), appetizers (smoked marlin tacos & king crab salad) & 2 entrees each (tuna & pork belly, chipotle tenderloin & fish of the day). Each dish was well prepared & delicious- full of flavor. We were sampling each others & really enjoyed our meal.
Would definitely recommend. On a side note, the hotel itself is very beautiful.
The wife and I had 24 hours in Miami. After a long selection process Ola was chosen as the dinner destination. On 5/17 at 9:53pm called and made a reservation for Monday 5/25 with a male who answered the phone.
Arrived in Miami, checked into our gorgeous hotel. Took showers. Got dolled up and went to the restaurant for a much anticipated meal.
THEY WERE CLOSED. SERIOUSLY, WTF?!
How does a restaurant take a reservation on a day they are closed? They had my phone number and could have called to acknowledge the mistake.
Truly, unforgivable.
*******************************
My original post stands. However, it would only be fair to share that the owner contacted me and offered an apology for the error. I am willing to give the restaurant another shot if ever in Miami again.
Ola restored my faith in Miami cuisine on the last night of our trip. I had the sweetbreads to start, delicious, fried, creamy centers, with citrus salad. Then had the juicy braised pork with the big hunk of chicarrone sitting on the top. No room for desert. Minus a half star...a few parts of the braised pork were a little tough. When I throw down decent $$ for dinner I need it perfect.
OLA is a truly exceptional restaurant for nuevo latino cuisine (our waiter told us that the chef is actually known for originating this style of cuisine). First of all, the staff is polite and wonderful -- they were more than happy to read the Miami Spice menu options to me over the phone (the Miami equivalent of NY restaurant week), and my friend and I were delighted to see that the portions were generous with this $35 three-course dinner special.
The best part -- the food!!! I was blown away. My friend ordered off the Miami Spice menu and had the pork entree which I tasted -- the most tender pork I've ever had. I strayed from the Spice menu and tried the plantain crusted mahi with oxtail stew, and it really blew my mind --the oxtail was incredibly tender and melted in my mouth like perfectly cooked short ribs. I must also mention the rolls -- they are incredibly tasty and buttery, with a unique flavor unlike any other bread I've had. Dessert (we had the guava bread pudding with chocolate drizzle) also didn't disappoint -- delicious. And for cocktails, I'd recommend the watermelon mojito.
This restaurant is not right on Collins where most of the hotels are located in South Beach, but it's very close, and worth going slightly off the beaten path. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants a fabulous meal in a great hotel in South Beach.
Business travel is somewhat of a mixed blessing for anyone who loves food. Among the advantages are the opportunity to travel to new places, to try new foods and, of course, the expense account. However, it also often means that you're consigned to eating alone in a strange place, which no longer bothers me as much as it used to, through experience, my somewhat solitary nature, apathy, and M.F.K. Fisher's "The Lemming to the Sea" which can be read here: http://tinyurl.com/lem...
Still, a restaurant that doesn't make you feel like a pariah for eating alone is a rare treasure. OLA is one of these, with friendly, attentive and efficient--but not overbearing--staff, and intimate, cosy tables quietly glowing on the outdoor patio. The interior of the restaurant is subtly-lit, panelled in satiny dark wood.
I started the dinner on a typically boozy note, with a classic mojito ($10), which was perfectly passable, if not exceptional, but had just enough kick to take the edge off a blockheaded, document-filled day.
The Fire and Ice ceviche ($16) was divine: cobia, a strange, unfamiliar fish with firm, delicious white flesh, marinated in thai chilli and lime, served over an asian pear granita. Although I found the granita a little too chunky, its light sweetness and crystalline texture against the sour, spicy, tender slices of fish, chilli lingering momentarily on the tongue, was inspired.
I had a moment of worry after I finished my generous serving of ceviche. I love pig, but was feeling somewhat satiated. The rich, meaty scent of the Crispy Pork ($28), when my server Alex set the dish down in front of me, pushed all doubts aside. A tender, juicy serving of meat over fried yucca, doused with black bean broth and anointed with lemon and cilantro oils, topped with a puffy crackling: crunchy, airy, salty, wonderful.
But the pork. Oh, such pork! Such melting, tender shreds falling apart under your fork, almost dissolving in your mouth! The tropical scent of cilantro and the citrusy tang! The fluffy yucca! I could've licked the plate but I was eating alone and attempting to not embarrass myself, so I refrained.
I was offered dessert, another mojito, and another pan de bono--a delicious little round Colombian bread roll made with corn and yucca flour, eggs, sugar, butter and cheese that tastes oddly like Chinese bao, but cheesier. But this time I was definitely all full up, gluttonously, grotesquely full, but SO HAPPY.
Again, beyond the astonishingly good cooking, I can't emphasize how lovely and kind the servers were. One of them even ran a piece of mail I had to the postbox down the block for me, and none of them made me feel weird about eating alone, without a book and with very little use of my crackberry security blanket.
Miami Yelpers, you did not disappoint. Shine on, you crazy diamonds.
Surprisingly friendly service!
While technically in the lobby of the hotel, they've done an excellent job of converting it into a space where you'd never know you were sitting in a lobby. The ambiance was modern, but not too trendy, and the furniture was fun and functional.
The house drinks were delicious (mojito and caipirinha), but the watermelon was a bit too sweet once we'd had the lobster ceviche (probably the best lobster I've had in a LONG time), fig/fois gras empanadas (probably my favorite dish), crispy pork w/ yucca (reminded me of the pork from a luau) and tuna. While "kid sister" had the tuna, the one bite she shared with me made me want to scream "Look!" and point at something in the distance so I could swap plates when she wasn't looking. Since I hadn't read all the reviews before venturing out, the rolls were a very pleasant surprise.
This is a great spot for a date, but unless I was at a business dinner, I don't think I'd go back with a friend or group of guys.
The rooftop bar looked fun (a bit too bright), but it must have been too early since it was dead.
The food here really impressed me. It was crowded and a bit slow with the service but it was truly understandable why, it was absolutely packed.
Ok so.. Lobster Ceviche - amazing.
Churrasco - cooked to perfection. I like my meat medium. Not medium - rare, not medium well. JUST medium. They got it right!
I forgot the name of the dessert but it was basically a chocolate mousse. Great!
Definietly a good place, worth every penny in MHO.
I have only sampled dessert here - so I'm holding back a star. I came late-- after the kitchen just closed - but based on what I did taste -I am definitely coming back. Deserves a worthy companion.
Two words: magic buns.
Weird, I know, but my friends lured me here to try the "magical dinner rolls." Our lovely and patient bartenders were gracious enough to snag us some and we munched on them at the tiny bar as we waited for our desserts. The rolls are sweet, savory, a little cheesy -- truly- well, magical.
As for the desserts- witchcraft! The deconstructed Key Lime pie -- was exactly that. All of the goodness of that tried and true dessert - whipped up in a way that completely changes the experience on the taste buds - but does not disappoint the true Key Lime fan. There is also a vanilla bean ice cream swirled in for fun. Outrageously good. Outrageous.
For the chocolate lovers there is, DaBomb - semisweet chocolate mousse, dash of hazelnuts and a caramel and chocolate sauce. Holy mother of Christmas!! Sooo good.
The other chocolate lover in my trio ordered the Chocolate Cigar - an
almond chocolate cake with mouse and coffee ice cream and this candy matchbox thingy. Beautiful presentation and another chocolate lover's dream. I was in Key Lime heaven, but the cigar was smokin' too.
The place is tiny - tucked into the intimate little boutique hotel, the Sanctuary. It is subdued and intimate- great date place, I think. But the tables are rather close together - so no footsie! And again- I don't know what it is about SoBe and the wait staff -- they were just so darn pretty! And - more importantly, of course- they knew their stuff and were incredibly gracious to a trio of cocktail-laden gals looking for magic buns!
OLA is a restaurant based on excellent service. OLA couldn't possible charge their prices if they did not. If you crave good food and service then come here. Being located in a residential area parking is limited so its better to stick with the valet parking. Being located somewhat out of the way it is a very placid when seated outdoors. We had reservations and were seated promptly and giving all the essentials very quickly. aka drinks!!! Our server was very helpful with the menu and describing everything that they had to offer in a very thick accent which was hard to follow at times but it was ok as long as i had my drink.
Girlfriend being french and all we had Foie Gras for our started and it was very plush and bursting with flavor. The main course was just as lavish. I had the chicken and it was just so goooood. Everybody was satisfied. All during this time the servers were very prompt it providing everything that we wanted. Not to mention a waiter always within ears reach.
OLA is worth checking out if your in the area
So I was staying down at SoBe on a business trip and was tasked with finding where my team would be having our per diem buster. I found Ola based on the reviews here on Yelp and was praying the reviews were accurate (my boss' boss' boss is quite the foodie apparently.)
We started with the fois gras/fig empanadas and the lobster empanadas. I shared the lobster with one on my team and was thoroughly impressed. My foodie boss had the fois gras/fig and could not stop raving about it.
Being in Miami and wanting to scarf down as much seafood as possible on the trip, I ordered the plaintain crusted Mahi. Oh my God! Easily the best fish I've ever had; and not knowing what to expect from oxtail stew, I can say go for it. It was not really a stew, but rather more like a savory, tender braised beef in some kind of knock out sauce.
I was impressed and so was my foodie bosses. It's easy to run up a several hundred dollar tab (not per person, of course,) but well worth it if you are looking for some of Miami's best food.
As for the service, it certainly matched the food. Our server was very polite and knowledgeable; and sent the sommalier over to help us pair a wine with our meal.
If I ever find my way back down to Miami, reservations at Ola will be the second order of business (with grabbing a frozen, fruity drink on the beack being first.)
Ola was a surprisingly good experience since, despite the good reviews, I was somewhat expecting it to cater a bit too much to the Tourist trade.
Instead, I had the best meal of my recent Miami trip. The staff was eager and professional and the decor comfortable with dark wood tones and subdued lighting. The appetizers included four small sweetly seasoned seafood tacos and our main dishes were all excellently prepared with great ingredient and side pairings. I can definitely recommend to true foodies.
We were visiting Miami Beach for a few days and were interested to try out Latin food. We went to a couple Latin restaurants, but OLA was by far the best. Everything we ordered was really delicious. We did check out what people had talked about on Yelp and we were very satisfied with what we had. So thank you yelpers!
We had the hamachi ceviche for a starter, crispy pork and plantain crusted mahi mahi for entrees and the deconstructed key lime pie for dessert.
We were here on vacation from Chicago and decided to check this place out. The oyster app was amazing as were the short rib empanadas with their spicy/apricot sauce.
The crispy pork was another winner. I wish the wife and I decided to share this as the entrees were very good sizes. I had the plantain crusted Mahi which was just ok and looked like frozen fish patties(tasted way better). We then forced down the deconstructed key lime pie which I am thinking about right now.
Great service and tasty drinks.
OLA was one of the two very best dining experiences I have had in the past year (the other one was Geronimo in Santa Fe). Absolutely everything about this place is great. When we arrived, we were seated, and were promptly greeted by one of the most friendly servers I have seen in a very long time. He took his time explaining OLA's concept. You could tell he was totally into what he did, and the restaurant he was a part of.
First up, an order of civiche, which is actually the best ceviche I have had anywhere, ever. Also, it was a tough decision in choosing this ceviche, if they had six kinds to choose from on the menu. This is just the beginning. Next up, a short rib empanada starter -- an absolute winner. Very flavorful!
My dinner was very straightforward -- churrasco steak. It was well cooked, and the chimichurri sauce was wonderful. Jessica's dinner was a salmon dish, which while very flavorful, was not quite as much of a "wow" is the other courses.
Then, came dessert -- a chocolate cigar (no clinton jokes, please) it tasted as good as it looked.
Another comment -- the menu had so many good options, it is very difficult choosing amongst the various ceviche's, appetizers, being courses, and desserts.
Maybe one minor complaint for a geek like me.... it would have been nice to have been able to make my reservations via opentable.
Between the amazing service (very memorable waiter, for sure!), the innovative and tasty food, a good wine list, and an overall good atmosphere, it was well worth the what we paid. Miami is a lot like New York -- I really want to keep trying new restaurants, even if I find once I enjoy. However, I will work this place into every Miami trip from now on.
I guess you can tell I LOVED this place!
OLA was the best meal during our recent trip to Miami.
As others have recommended, we tried a few ceviche's; one appetizer; and one main course. And since everything looks good on the menu, we followed our servers recommendation and he did not miss a mark on anything.
For starters, we had the rainbow ceviche and the lobster ceviche - good sized chunks of meat, and perfectly seasoned so that the seafood flavor was not masked.
We followed the ceviche with the lobster empanada, which was amazing. The squid ink added a nice color and flavor; and it balanced the taste of the lobster very well.
For the main dish we had the crispy pork, which was perfectly tender and the chacorone (crispy pork skin) was great. No fork needed....
Dessert was "da bomb" and deconstructed key lime pie. Both of these were not overly sweet and the presentation is really cool. However; I would say the key lime pie at Joe's Stone Crab is still better...
Between Blue Door, Azul, and Ola. It's Ola hands down. The service and the food was just all so fantastic. It was raining, and we were a little wet, so the staff offered us towels to dry off. They also offered to take our shopping bags. The ceviche, empanada, NY steak and dessert were delicious.
Represents Miami well. focus on nuevo latino cuisine. very unassuming entrance but miami chic inside.
things tried, which were all recommended
Smoked Marlin
Shortribs Empanada
Crispy Pork (more liked pulled pork falling off the bone)
Plantain Crusted Mahi (nice crust)
a little salty on the pork
ok that little ball of bread they give you is ridiculously good
his version of pan de bono -- the inner cheesy but sweet flavor and texture is amazing
i could go back just for that
Ola was great until the main course.
We arrived and were promptly seated (with reservations.) I liked the decor and general setup of the place. It had the vibe of a place that had something going on without being too loud. There was a guy entertaining two attractive women (probably hookers) behind us, but they just added to the experience.
The service was excellent. Very friendly and knowledgeable waiter. We ordered some of the ceviches to start and were not dissapointed. Drinks came quickly and were made properly.
The dinner is where my dissapointment came. I had the Plantain Crusted Mahi and was extremely dissapointed. It didn't have much flavor and seemed overcooked. My girlfriend had the Crispy Pork which turned out to be the real winner. I regret not ordering it.
In the end, if I had ordered the Crispy Pork this easily would have been a 4 star review. However, there's no excuse to have a dissapointing item considering the price.
Hamachi Nikkei.... I love you. Oh Em Gee! It was delish!! Oh, the Hamachi Nikkei is one of their ceviche dishes (Marinated in yuzu, thai basil, togarashi peppers, cilantro, sweet soy glaze, crushed seaweed and sesame seeds). I loved it so much I wanted to marry it! If you like yuzu and hamachi, this dish is for you. Such a great fresh flavor. The waitress also recommended the Fire and Ice ceviche which I will have to try next time. We also ordered the Chicharron (Crispy rock shrimp coated w/ rice and corn flour w/ a sweet and spicy panca sauce w/ micro cilantro) that I liked but not as much as the ceviche!! For my entree I had the Sugar Cane Tuna. Very tasty. The only sugar cane that were used for this dish, I think, were the sticks. Kinda like a tuna lollipop. Everything was fantastic. The food as well as the service. Our waitress was very helpful. We have made this our new fave restaurant to come back to when we're in Miami.
What can I say about this place...the flavors were bursting, the ambiance was great and the decor was retro yet chic.
I truly loved every bite I took. The watermelon mojitos are a must.
We had the short rib empanada and a shrimp starter. My husband had the pork and I had the churassco (not sure if that is how you spell it). It was incredible. I loved all the Spanish flavors. Oh and how can I forget the bread...it was yummy.
The service was good too.
Very Pricey but worth the night you might want Latin Fusion and a romantic atmosphere. We were down in SoBe about 4 weeks ago but I wanted to get my yelp posts up for those that came after me, only getting around to it tonight.
We enjoyed both lobster starters, absolutley amazing use of flavors and textures. Try them both and you will be surprised what innovative things can be done with lobster.
For the main we thought the pulled pork and Mahi Mahi w/ stew were both amazing. The pork pulled apart with such a softness of touch that makes you start to relish how tender it is before it hits your mouth. And when it does it is impeccable! Can not recommend this dish enough.
Drinks were pretty good as well and as I am not usually impressed with restaurant drinks this is saying something.
One last note Service was fantastic and but not over bearing. Makes me very happy when they get you into a conversation rather than pitching the house special. These guys came with their A Game
Enjoy Ola some night you will not be lacking for good food or great service
If i could give this a ten star I would. Everything was PERFECT.
We were seated as soon as we arrived. The service was right on. We never had to wait for anything. I was there with 5 other friends and we are all foodies and we love our wine, and we are still all raving about our dinner there last night.
We loved the wine list and the sommelier was fabulous.
We ordered three different ceviches, Foie Gras Empanadas, and oysters to share. All of them were to DIE FOR! I am still dreaming of the ceviches 24 hours later.
Most of us ordered the Crispy Pork, which I agree was not crispy, but the flavors were amazing and it was so tender. The other two ordered the special boneless prime rib, which was cooked a little more then they had asked for, but again, the flavors of the meat were outstanding.
Everyone ordered dessert, except for me (I am just not a dessert person, but always ask for an extra spoon). The deconstructed key lime pie (which I have to say, I would NEVER have ordered on my own) was to die for. The chocolate cigar was also well presented and delicious.
The decor of the restaurant is tastefully done and very pleasing.
Did I say, HOW great the service was? A fun group and there for everything that you need.
Also the menu was pleasing to the eye and I loved the fact that on the last page of the menu, they listed the first and last name of all the personnel that makes this place so amazing.. I LOVED the vibe there.... ONE Of the most memorable meals I have had....
Based on the yelp reviews, I made rezzies here for my friend's bachelorette party this last Sat. I was not disappointed and am SO glad that I listened to instinct and not cancelled to go with a promotion of our hotel, free limo be damned.
The service was impeccable. Marcos was highly attentive and gave a wonderful breakdown of the menu and dish prep.
They are quite heavy handed with the liquor which is always a giant plus at a fine establishment.
On to the meal:
The churrasco, plantain-crusted mahi mahi and ceviche were standouts as well as the crispy pork . You will not be disappointed ordering those items.
As for cocktails, the premium mojito was very strong, almost too much for me but hey i'm not one to back down from a challenge. 2 of my GF's ordered the vodka mojito which was super delish and refreshing, even the green tea mojito had a fresh taste to it as well. After I finished the premium mojito i moved onto a watermelon cocktail which was yummy too.
A wonderful dining experience in Miami. This is probably one of the best Nuevo Latino restaurants I've tried. Chef Douglas you've rocked it out!
Wha?!? A beach, celebrity chef, hotel lobby restaurant that doesn't s*ck!?!
In fact, Ola is superb. I'm a pain in the ass critic but had such a fantastic night there last Sunday (Mother's Day) that I had to gossip about it. There are enough positive reviews already on the food and service so I'll just say "absolutely ditto".
How about slices of cobia over an asian pear slushy (alright, *granita*, whatever). Are you kidding me? Somehow he did a trabajito on me and I tried it and I'm still tasting it (in a good way, of course, not a Taco Bell way). I don't know what deal with the devil Doug Rodriguez made in order to get his inspiration for the ceviches, but it is madness!
Everything was phenomenal, can't wait to go back.
One of the best restaurants in South Florida, and an incredibly rich and inventive menu with a fantastic wine menu (and great sommelier). I only wish that OLA would be moved out of a hotel lobby and be given a place to really shine.
My favorite way to roll at OLA is to load up on the starters and ceviches, and do not miss the marlin tacos or foie & fig empanadas. Also has some great mojitos.
a solid four stars.
highlights - the food and drink was delicious, service was great (even the bartender was very well informed about the food), chairs comfy, tables well spaced, bar roomy and bartenders very professional and hard working. the short rib empanadas (a freebie, yay), salmon, pork and the mahi were all fantastic. craving rice and beans? there's a side that's not listed on the menu. glad we got it. equally delicious was the deconstructed key lime pie. nice presentation. i like deconstructed anything. take it apart, make it new.
low lights - my god, was this the noisiest room ever! i mean, remarkably, uncomfortably LOUD. as in, you can't hear the people at your table. what a drag. i wasn't out for a relaxing night - it;s south beach, saturday at 9pm. i'm not sure if it was an unusually loud group of people or the acoustics, or both, but wow, the noise was almost unbearable. i found myself wanting to take a walk to the bathroom - which is out in the adjacent hotel, at the end of a blissful open air courtyard/pooled zen garden area - the complete opposite of what's going on in Ola.
also, table lighting could have been better. when someone is putting this much effort into the food, it would be nice to see everything on your plate so you can better appreciate it.
Miami Beach, FL
Category: Italian
Miami Beach, FL
Category: Hotels
Miami Beach, FL
Category: French
Miami Beach, FL
Category: Italian
Miami Beach, FL
Category: American (New)
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