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Someone said "churros." Everyone else said "Let's go!"
After a lovely dinner with the crew, we headed over to Sra. Martinez for some sweet relief. We walk past the outdoor dining area, up the stairs and into a dark and soothing restaurant full of rich, deep woods and candle light.
I was told this place used to be an old post office, so my imagination ran wild thinking about what it used to look like. I love venues with a little history.
With a list of about 6 dessert items to choose from, we had most of them covered. I ordered the churros with the spicy chocolate sauce. The churros were thin, crisp and divine. The chocolate sauce didn't really add to the experience for me however. In fact, I enjoyed the churros more without the sauce and a few of my companions agreed as well.
I also sampled the torrejas in rum sauce with figs and bananas with a walnut & fig ice cream. I'm not really into figs, but I could tell that the dish would be very tasty for someone that appreciate those flavors more. After-dinner coffee was also delicious and rounded out the desserts nicely.
Additionally, I was impressed with the service. Our waiter was extremely professional and attentive without being stiff or too formal.
I would love to come back here in the future to sample the tapas menu!
Churros don't have the best presentation but I enjoyed the gritty and thick chocolate sauce. Grilled octopus tastes so creamy! We recommended it to the diners next to us. I also loved bacon wrapped dates. My only disappointment was the kalbi pinchos because the marinade was missing Korean pear.
I liked roasted Japanese eggplant with feta and harissa, enough to be curious about the fried version. Most of the diners sit outside before 7:00 on Friday night. Park at the metered lot around the corner. The women's toilet wouldn't flush. We didn't finish the t-bone.
Ugh. So much hype such terrible experiences. I've been to both places. I have not enjoyed either.
I know people who work at the restaurant and it's sad to know that there really isnt' much that is organic or "farm-raised" at all. In fact, the menu at michy's (her other spot) claims there are fresh farmed eggs on her polenta. Insert: buzzer sound. Not true. Unless the farm is called Cheney Bros.
Don't waste your time or money.
Sra. Martinez review by Bonbonlicious.....(a guest review)
Let me forewarn you, I am not by any means a food critic nor have any level of expertise in different genres of cuisines.. I usually order a Cajun/blackened breast of chicken every where I go.....please accept this novice attempt at reviewing this restaurant.
Upon arriving to Sra. Martinez, I Valet parked for a mere $3.00. The restaurant consisted of an outside sitting area, surrounded by lighted trees and hedges around the proximity of the exterior of the restaurant. The interior was two floors with a décor of dark wood and splashes of dark red accents and to me elicited a warm, sexy and modern feel.
Eggplant appetizer consisted of thinly sliced round eggplant lightly breaded and was crispy and simply heavenly. In addition, ordered goat cheese and had to kindly remind the waiter after receiving the entrée that we had yet to receive them. The cheese was creamy but I am biased when it comes to goat cheese...
Bottle of Toro wine from Spain $44.00, full bodied and fruity, just like me.....
Service was okay.. Waiter got lost a couple of times... The water boys were attentive not sure because we were two attractive women or the desire to remove the plates and fill the water glasses was imminent on the list of duties or being within close proximity allowed the roaming eyes to partake in a little cleavage action.
I opted to order an entrée, instead of several tapas. Don't order the pork chops, extremely dry and tough, the marmalade sauce and dates disguised the lack of flavor. Entrée was a huge disappointment. Ordered the 20 year port and was told they were out of it and was offered an 8 dollar port that was not up to par. FYI, no privacy, I could have used the napkin of the fellow diner sitting at the table next to me or licked his plate...lol
Conclusion, stick to the tapas and forego the entrees. Hence, it is a tapas venue... duh...
Nevertheless, I would definitely revisit the place, had a cool vibe.
Finally made it for dinner. It was great if a bit overwhelming, which was probably a result of the menu choices we made.
Before I start my review I really need to comment on a lot of the previous reviews. I have read a lot of comments regarding the size of the servings. THIS IS A TAPAS BAR, not a restaurant. If you want a meal go somewhere else or order off that portion of the menu. Tapas are small servings. In Spain the tapas are always small. Generally, the servings at all the tapas bars in America that I have visited are too large. The idea is to have lots of different tastes. If you have a problem with the idea of variety just order multiple plates of the same thing. The whole idea of massive portions (in this land of all-you-can-eat) is a general problem in this country as is evident at allmost every sushi restaurant. Sushi is meant to be eaten in one bite. These are very simple concepts that have been bastardized by the gluttons in this country.
Ahhh, now that I can relax again,
We started with a drink at the small bar upstairs. Its a nice cozy little alcove for a pre dinner drink and if you sit at the corner of the bar you can overlook the restaurant and watch the show going on below.
We had dinner at the tapas bar which was nice but it was not like sitting at a sushi bar. There is no real service from the bar, they are just preparing some of the cold dishes there but not actually serving you from the bar. It is a little performance area rather than a bar. It would have been better if there was some interaction between both sides of the bar.
We started with the Pimientos De Padron, I have had a dish very similar at Su Shin many times, they were OK. Next up was the asparagus with a fried egg, excellent, but what isn't if you put a fried egg on it.
Enough for the warm-up now for the real deal.
We ordered a '01 Gran Reserva Rioja, it was as smooth as velvet, and started with the Crispy Pork Belly which wasn't quite crispy enough but the watermelon helped cut the unctuous fat of the belly. A good rendition but not quite as good as the version at either Michy's or Michael's. This was followed by the Marrow Bones, excellent, better that at the Minetta Tavern in NY. (Starting to see the fat theme here.) Next up was the Rabo. I wasn't expecting it to be served as a pasta sauce. It was good but not the best ox tail that I have had. Now to top it all off, the Uni Sandwich. This was amazing. The baguette was crispy throughout and seemed almost saturated with a sauce, the uni was like foie gras of the sea. I would have liked to have multiple servings of that alone but I would probably overdose on the richness of it all, as if everything else that we had wasn't rich enough.
We finished it off with coffee and churros. The espresso was drinkable and the churros were very good. An excellent if fairly overwhelmingly rich meal.
I was really disappointed.
Stopped in for lunch last week. Unfortunately all of the good "caliente"…
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Creative and inventive tapas menu - I love it when chefs try out a new take on a cuisine. And Michelle Bernstein is pretty good at creating something old into something new and with an unique twist.
One thing to be said about inventive foods though - it is better to try to taste the flavors of the dish together instead of separately.
Case in point:
- duck foie-gras sausage with kidney beans in sauce was delicious. The sausage was amazing and complemented nicely with the slightly sweet sauce and the beans.
- crispy artichokes at first sight made me think was a meat dish but it wasn't. it was tasty with the lemon dressing.
- bone marrow with apple was used as butter on bread. I loved how it tasted especially with the apples.
- the egg carpaccio was interesting. it was egg yolk in a plate with herbs, diced shrimp, and topped with fried potato shreds. it tasted good but for those who don't like to eat raw egg yolk, it may not be a dish of choice. i used leftover yolk for dipping for the complimentary bread.
- torrejas in rum sauce with figs and banana with walnut & fig ice cream. It was a true comfort food, gourmet style - I loved it.
Can't wait to try more!
Miami needs more restaurants like this. The food is good. The service is good and the price is fair. They serve up some serious cocktails here. The upstairs bar/outside deck is great for appetizers and drinks. I love sitting outside at night during the winter months enjoying tapas with friends. Michelle B. seems to get it. Keep up the good work!
Love this restaurant and the new world spanish concept. This is one of my favorites for their food, wines and atmosphere.
They have a tapas concept with very interesting takes con traditional spanish tapas. My favorites:
- Shrimp tiradito
- Jamon Serrano (with marmalade & almond)
- Butifarra
- Dates
- Calamari
Everything is very interesting & great to try, It is a restaurant not to be miss & one of the best in Miami. It is not cheap, but it's word it.
We decided to go here to meet up with friends we missed for a while. The wines were fairly priced and we enjoyed a heavenly Malbec along with egg carpaccio,pork belly,churros and sweetbreads. They were amaaaaaaayzing! Also the valet parking was only $3!!! The downside was the dry porkchops.... and thats all. Overall a great experience. Oh and if you have a children please dont bring them, it ruins the experience for everyone else (especially when they are crying the whole time :( )
Went for Miami Spice, Michelle Bernstein definitely has a different menu here!! She always spices up her dishes with different flavors, and unique ingredients.
Bc we went for lunch, we had the choice of two appetizers, one entree and one dessert. We got the tortilla espaniola with chorizo on top, just a bit of chorizo, just enough for a great taste. We ordered the Fava salad, not the greatest, but the lettuce seemed sandy as I ate it - maybe the nature of this curly lettuce...?? the tempura japanese eggplant with a sauce was great, good flavor, bite size. As a main dish we ordered the mussels al ajillo and rabo encendido, they were great!!! I have to say that the rabo encendido had a nice flavor, trophie pasta nice and fresh. The dessert was superb, it was banana torrejas and figs, it was sweet, moist breadlike, yumi!!! I have a weakness for torrejas so I am biased about the dessert.
Servings are definitely small, it is nice because you can share and nibble on the other food. Even though the entrees and dessert was great, don't know if I would be fond of it....
Definitely a chic place, nice decor (the place used to be a postal office, mainly decoration is between black and brown but has some good accents on color that brings the place alive), good ambience .
I had previously visited Sra. Martinez the 2nd week after it had opened full of hope and had left there with an empty stomach! The portions were small and the price wasn't up to par with the size of the dishes. I don't mind paying for food, and I know that quantity doesn't mean quality, but I thought 6 dollars for 3 party-sized croquettes was a bit steep. Needless to say, we spent over 200 dollars on dinner that night and left hungry!
Alas, I returned today to Sra. for lunch with a coworker and couldn't be more pleased. The service was fantastic and the food was divine.
Their Miami Spice menu is probably one of the better deals out there for Miami Spice. At $22 for lunch, you get 2 appetizers, an entree and a dessert. I started off with the pan con tomate-- pretty bland, but tasted good and came out hot. Then, as my other appetizer I had the tortilla. Hands down, best tortilla I've ever had in my life. It was perfect.
For the entree I had the rabo encendido (oxtail) ...They serve it already off the bone (big plus because it's less fatty!) and mix it with pasta. It was a heavy entree and I couldn't finish it. Nonetheless, it was excellent and the quality of the oxtail meat was top notch.
For dessert, I had the torrejas and my coworker had the flan. I didn't try the flan but she seemed to love it. I had never eaten torrejas before, and I though they were incredible!!!!! The ice cream they served it with was also phenomenal. Great hot and cold contrast.
I'm happy I gave the Sra. a second chance...I'm sure she'll get a 3rd and a 4th!
I'm pretty surprised how much I enjoyed Sra. Martinez. I never tried Domo because of lack of respect for the owner; and now I am really glad his lame sushi concept is gone, and Sra. Martinez is in this really nice space.
As a party of 3 doing Miami Spice we got to try 3 apps, 6 small plates, and 2 desserts (doubled up on the flan because nobody wanted ice cream). The portions were actually much larger than I thought they would be. This amount of food is more than enough for 3 people, and you will leave very satisfied.
My favorite appetizer was by far the tortilla. I am pretty much obsessed with this surprisingly difficult to make at home item, so I am glad I found a place in town that makes an exceptional one. I would recommend that everybody tries the bone marrow and the veal churrasco at some point. The churrasco had ridiculous amounts of flavor, and the marrow was as rich as anything I have ever had. Absolutely delicious.
The only dish that I didn't enjoy was the tuna salad appetizer which tasted like a bland soup that my grandmother would make. Everything else was really good.
The value was also on point. It might be a little on the expensive side a la carte, but for Miami Spice it is a great deal.
The prices are steep and the food is not that great. I had a lettuce wedge with very little dressing. We also had mussels that were smaller than you would find at most chain restaurants and shrimp that was tasty but very small portions, they gave us 4 small shrimps. In addition, the wine portions were very small, needless to say we left HUNGRY, and had to order take-out. The decor is nice, everyone else who loved the experience must have ordered off the Miami spice menu, otherwise I don't see the value in the food and the prices.
LEFT DISAPPOINTED.
I went to Sra. Martinez for my birthday, and it was good. The ambiance was quaint,cool and very non-pretentious. At first my inital waitress was very informative and very nice.
Now, Sra. Martinez is a tapas style restaurant and is meant to have many items to be ordered,so that many people can try many different things in one sitting.I had the Miami Spice Menu, although the menu itself is affordable. The food was really good. The spice menu offers one appetizer,choice of two entrees and one dessert.
Everything was good, but the best was the pork belly! Just like the pork belly at Michelle Bernstein's Michy's restaurant, it was amazing!
I would say overall it was great. The service I would say was mediocre. Although, our waitress was great, the service staff forgot our orders and caused a lot of delay. Fortunately, the food made up for it.
As I re-read the reviews (they acted as my "seeing" dog and guided me here) I am still baffled by the words after words I read saying how good the restaurant was. So, let's call this review "BAFFLED" and let me get STRAIGHT to the point!!!!
Tapas are always a good option to entertain when going to dinner in groups. For a party of 6 this seemed like an excellent choice and excitement filled me all day awaiting the "food".
SIMPLY STATED:
*The portions are ridiculous!!!
*The cheese platter left nothing to be desired, in fact, I have probably prepared better platters at home with cheeses from Publx.
*Garnishes on the cheese platter were never explained or introduced, leaving me to taste one of the most unbearable flavors I have ever experienced. It felt like punishment. ATTENTION- the yellow crystal chunks on the cheese platter are not crystallized ginger!
*I found myself mixing foods within different platters to enhance the flavors of the dishes.
*The paella - the rice was not fully cooked, fish was overcooked, and the lack of flavor really turned us off - So turned off - we skipped dessert - despite all the rage
THEN we were given the bill. Again, I refer to the title of this review "BAFFLED".
My dinner companions told me the T-Bone was pretty good, I personally did like the fried eggplant, and the restaurant is easy on the eyes. The decor was completely to my loving. What a shame, if I return, it will only be for drinks at the bar.
I finally creeped out of my hermit crab shell this past weekend and got to eat at this much-talked about restaurant and was not disappointed. As a huge Michy's fan, I went in with huge expectations and was pretty impressed even if I still find Michy's to be a stronger culinary contender compared to Sra. Martinez.
The ambiance is amazing...love the vibe, energy, decor, etc. The waitstaff is incredibly sweet and accommodating, too. The menu items that knocked our socks off were the bacon wrapped dates, ham croquetas, oxtail with pasta and cheese platter. While the crispy artichoke appears to be a Yelp fave, I found it rather bitter. And like its sister Michy's, the desserts are not to be missed -- we loved all of them, especially the dulce de leche one (the name escapes me).
I really recommend this place for groups who want to eat, chat and imbibe a few cocktails. The music is really good and the restaurant's feel is conducive to banter and feeling your belly with good grub.
SO SO good. The service was spot-on - William, the assistant manager, recommended a great dish and everyone chipped in to make sure our experience was perfect. I could eat the sliced eggplant with molasses every day for the rest of my foodie life.
Without a doubt my favorite restaurant in the city. The Jamon Serrano with fig and almond is amazing, as are the wild mushroom croquetas and tuna and shrimp tiraditos.
My best friend recommends the foie gras and my husband loves the sweetbreads.
Call ahead and make reservations. Otherwise, you're not getting served.
Perhaps a 4.5
The restaurant is beautiful and homey. I think Michelle Bernstein is a genius and I have decided that I want to be her when I grow up (well I'd like to have Martha Stewart's sense of business with Michelle Bernstein's skills and down to earth personality). The portions are tiny and I think a bit expensive but everything is fresh and well executed. They have a good selection of Spanish wines and nice cocktail menu. My favorite tapas were jamon serrano with marcona almonds, rabo encendido on baguette, croquetas, foie gras, and the tiradito. I've made better pan con tomate and churros but that's not saying much as both of those were not that great.
I have been three times and the service is always very good and I always have a pleasant meal.
Last night was my first encounter with Michelle Bernstein's food after being in love with her since she was at Azul. Since I work in the food industry in Miami I have heard so much about her, watched her speak about her life, met her and even cooked for her - but I have never had her food. I was so excited that I finally convinced my inner circle to visit her tapas style restaurant (I am also Spanish - so I was excited for homey tastes).
We visited on a Wednesday night and made reservations at http://Opentable.com. They have valet parking right outside for $3, but there is plenty of meter parking in the Design District.
I would give Sra 5 stars for decor. The dark woods, bright reds, bull fighting posters were all so perfect and simple. Even though the design was definitely made up of using classic Spanish elements - it was very modern. I would give the restaurant 1 star though for the music that was playing. I thought we were at a gourmet restaurant not Space on Saturday night. It was nice when every once in a while a popular song came on like Mia's Paper Planes but at 25 years old we were the youngest people in there by at least 5 years. It just didn't fit.
We visited for the Miami Spice Menu. They start you off with sliced bread and a very strong Spanish olive oil. Then we got to choose 1 app, 2 entrees and 1 dessert each. Our waiter let us know since it was a tapas style restaurant that it would be small servings and everything is meant to be shared. The following is the list and rating of each dish we tried (there were five of us):
Appetizers
- Boquerones en Escabeche - Spicy, Acidic, Yummy but small
- Ensalada Rusa - meh, it was veggies, tuna and mayo
- Tortilla Espanola w/ Chorizo Aioli - Fantastic, order this!!!
- Pan con Tomate - meh, it was just bread with tomato (I love this dish but not at Sra prices - order something worth it for the MS menu)
***Winner in the App round: Tortilla Espanola!
Entrees
- Calamari Frito - Probably one of the best I have had. Piquillo Peppers are delicious. Get this!
- Croquetas de Jamon y Manchego w/ Fig Marmalade - do I even need to tell you to order these - they are fantastic.
- Meyer Lemon Chicken - Clean flavors, acidic, perfectly cooked, marvelous.
- Lamb w/ Romesco sauce - wah wah no one really liked this.
- Egg Yolk Carpaccio - most interesting dish - warmed but not cooked egg yolk, small shrimp and thin crispy potato strings. Honorable Mention for most creative.
- Roasted Bone Marrow - first time eating this. Interesting - like eating all the fat off a ribeye steak. Really not my favorite because it mixed the distinct beef flavor with sauteed eel and sesame oil. BUT the accompaniment - Apple Butter was the most delicious thing I have ever had concerning apples. Smooth and creamy and not fatty buttery but just perfection. Lick your plate good.
- Fried Quail - didn't get to try it but I guess it was that good!
- Veal Pinchos - A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. but very small portion. But amazing.
***Winner(s) for the Entree Round: Veal Pinchos for sure, the croquetas, the calamari and the Meyer Lemon Chicken. I will dream about that chicken.
Honorable Mention to the Apple Butter - try to get some on the side of anything. So goooood.
Desserts
- Banana and Fig Torrejas w/ Vanilla Ice Cream - Spanish French Toast - fantastic. My only complaint is that you get 1 little banana and a ton of figs. The banana was incredible and I wanted more.
- Flan - probably the best flan I've ever tasted, but I don't really like flan.
***Winner for the Dessert Round: Torrejas were the table favorite and very Spain tasting but if you are a flan lover you have to try the flan. Both are winners in my book.
All in all for 5 people, Miami Spice after tax and tip the bill was $230 AND we were full - from TAPAS - that was very surprising. Once again I have to mention that I am a student and that without Miami Spice I would not be able to afford Sra.'s out of my league pricing. The $35 dollar menu is even a stretch but I'm a foodie, so I save up and splurge.
The consensus in the car was it was delicious, some dishes were life changing, we were surprised tapas filled us heavy weight eaters up but something didn't click. Our experience was great but at the end of the day we didn't feel like this was our new favorite restaurant. I guess some of the food was out of our comfort zone, or maybe the quality of the restaurant was out of our league. I would go back but probably only for Miami Spice, once a lonesome year.
I must take a moment and bow down to the gastronomic prowess of Miss Maria A, who led me to this fabulous place on my brief visit to Miami. After eating and imbibing here following a long day of travel, events and tons of gallivanting around town, the dark interior, many, many dishes of unique small-plate-style food and a legit cocktail menu wiped away all of the day's stress away.
Dark and comforting, the interior is sexy and conducive to first dates and intimate groups of friends. The service was smart, timely and knowledgeable...never rushed, consistent and friendly.
The menu blew me away...pork belly, sea urchin, anchiovies, bacon-wrapped dates and sweetbreads all on the same menu? Indecisive folks rejoice! You can literally have one of nearly everything and be satisfied, and wash it all down with one of their delicious cocktails. The lavender side car was a bit sweet but certainly tasty...I blame my palate for being just to sensitive to sweet flavors.
If you ever in Miami and have limited time, this is one place I would certainly squeeze into my schedule!
I think I would put 4.5 if possible...
I went there last Friday night with Hugo A. for a fun night out together. Pre-dinner drinks took a while to get, but were well made. I tried the ham-infused Manhattan, which was definitely interesting. The smoky flavor complemented the sweetness of the bourbon, though the whole experience was a little too filling for a pre dinner cocktail.
We sat down for dinner in the intimate, well-designed dining room in a corner booth that Hugo A. had asked for when we arrived. Our favorites were the Oxtail pasta, pork belly pinchos and the highlight of the meal, the brussel sprouts. The sprouts had a great char flavor, were well salted, and were light on the dijon vinaigrette (I am not a dijon fan normally). We also tried the crispy eggplant chips, Serrano ham, mussels, and the pulpo, which were all tasty.
The pulpo was an unusual dish, that almost seemed like two dishes in one. The octopus meat was tender, but there wasn't much on the plate. It was served atop a panfried potato and possibly codfish cake and served with garbanzo beans. Everything on the plate was very flavorful and well made, but it didn't seem to go together.
We were too stuffed for dessert, but will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu (I can't wait to get the Lamb pinchos, bacon-wrapped dates, beet salad, and patatas bravas). We will be getting another order of those brussel sprouts as well!
3.5
After our plans for a Haitian lunch fell through, Maria A and I decided to go to Sra. Martinez so I could also take a look around the design district.
Walking in, we were given a corner table which had a great view of the entire restaurant. I was particularly intrigued by the second floor loft. We looked at it after our meal and it looked like a great place to bring a group of 10 or 12 for a meal. There was also a well-stocked cocktail bar upstairs.
I've been enticed into the new "cocktailian" culture as of late and love trying "fancy pants" drinks made with organic or long-forgotten ingredients. Looking over the cocktail menu, my eye immediately fell on three cocktails, the Manhattan made with smoked ham infused bourbon, the lavender sidecar and the "neuvo pisco." Since I'm a big fan of pisco sours, I wondered how it would be.
It was, alas, too watery. They brought it back remixed but all they did was all more booze. It did not make it better. They also gave me another cocktail to try but the name currently escapes me. I think it was the Buena Vista which is not on the menu I saw. It was quite delicious made with St. Germain.
We were also given a couple of glasses of sparking wine and a mojito. I'm just not used to the really grainy sugary drinks and so I didn't think much of the mojito which lacked any noticeable mint flavor.
The complimentary bread came with one of the best house olive oils I've ever had. You could definitely taste how rich it was. Extra virgin, to be sure.
The menu is divided up into three sections; cold and hot tapas and heartier main entrees. We selected several of the cold and hot tapas as well as the churros for dessert.
From the Frio section:
Pan con tomate- bread with tomato, which was exactly that. The bread had smashed up tomato bits on it and it was good but not a defining moment in culinary history for me.
Heirloom Tomatoes with Murcia Al Vino- When Maria mentioned this was one of her faves and I saw it came with cerignola olives, I knew we should order it. Unfortunately the olives were not the massive bright green olives that cerignola olives should be. These were much smaller and decidely an army green. Still, they were great along with the caperberries and the luscious heirloom tomatoes that didn't need much more than that great olive oil and a bit of salt. There were pieces of manchego cheese in this dish as well.
Cheese Plate- It came with three cheeses including manchego. I liked all the things that accompanied the cheeses including the honey but I didn't think the cheeses themselves were particularly exciting. My favorite thing about the cheese plate was actually the toasted raisin bread it came with.
From the Caliente section:
Croquettes- they were okay, the fig marmalade was interesting but I think I was getting a bit tired of the manchego flavor by this point.
Crispy Pork Belly- I wondered what this "benihana" style was all about. It came with a lot of julienned orange zest. I loved the pork belly but didn't really want a bunch of orange taking away from the fatty flavor. Now, normally I would like something to offset the fat but when you eat pork belly, you might as well resolve to be decadent about it.
Galbi Pinchos- wait, I found Korean short ribs at a tapas restaurant owned by a Jewish woman? Ha! I love it. I wish I had room to taste the green tomato slaw but I kept eating the tender short ribs.
Brussels Sprouts- The tiny halved baby brussels sprouts were so amazing but I love brussels sprouts. I kept gorging on them thinking I should really stop at some point so I could leave room for dessert.
Eventually, I did try the Manhattan made with the smoked ham infused bourbon. I preferred this over the churros dessert as the churros while served with a delicious spicy chocolate dipping sauce tended to flake and were just okay.
But as far as I could tell, I didn't taste the ham in the bourbon. It was definitely a somewhat dirty looking Manhattan (possibly pepper?) and it came with a different garnish than the normal cherry. Still, it was amazingly strong and made easy sipping.
I think Sra. Martinez is a great place with professional and friendly staff. I would have loved to come back to try more things on the tapas menu and possibly eat dinner here.
My go to spot to bring foodies.
I was hesitant to come back after that one disappointing night. I wasn't sure if a return visit would bring redemption or utter heartbreak.
I finally returned actually twice since and the first time was similar to the last disappointing experience. Although the service was back to being as awesome as the first night.
However, this most recent visit was, wonderful. The service was top-notch again. The food was good. The drinks were on point. Yes, that was one pretty good pisco sour.
So it is with a sigh of relief that I can keep coming back to Sra. Martinez.
Sadly, I came back and was disappointed.
We all have bad days and I am hoping that was all it was.…
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I normally don't review a restaurant until I've been to it several times and have tried a good number of items on the menu. I'll make an exception with Sra Martinez because i don't think I'll be going back again. I've been here three times: the first with a large group for a birthday, the second with a small group for a birthday and the last time just with one other person.
There really isn't much wrong with the food, though many of the dishes in my view are rather misses than hits: deserving of credit more for their creativity than for culinary excellence. And there really isn't much wrong with the decor, which as many point out is sexy and inviting. The location smack in the middle of the design district is great. The service is kinda awful: lackadaisical, verging on rude with a phony air of professionalism. It's enough to torpedo the place for me. To be honest though, the whole place strikes me just a touch phony: a powerful Bernstein Oz proferring fanciful tapas, with savory descriptions that fall mostly flat with the odd one here and there that stands out but only serves to draw attention to what is lacking elsewhere. And you hate to admit this because it should all work and we really want it to work. This is Michelle Bernstein's place after all.
But the food seems to work for many so I might be off here. Because my first two visits to the restaurant involved groups of people I chalked up what seemed to me awful service to the fact we were alot of people. However, two nights ago I landed in the restaurant with just one friend and received a warm welcome by the host who pleasantly got us a table. From there, all was downhill mighty quick. We had to chase the waiter down for menus and saw neither hair nor hide of him for 15 minutes while me and my friend stared at each other at the table. We asked the couple next to us if they had been served any better and they also complained advising us to "pretend you're in South Beach and you'll be fine." All of a sudden I realized, "Hey! This is just how it had been the last two times I have been here."
No way I was pretending I was in South Beach when I was at Sra Martinez and I went up to the nice host to mention that the service really left something to be desired. He smiled and shrugged after which I smiled and shrugged and proceeded straight out to Pacific Time a short walk away where we had a phenomenal meal, excellent service and where the owner/chef Jonathan Eismann came out to say hello and talk about his philosophy regarding cooking. A breath of fresh air and bravo Pacific Time. Has Michelle Bernstein even peeked inside the kitchen of Sra Martinez recently or wondered how people are faring at her place?
Because how I feel at a restaurant is such an important part of my experience of the place I give Sra Martinez two stars, and that's because the food is OK and strives to go beyond the normal. But what yucky experiences from lame service staff (though they do look the part of professionals). Enough people seem to rave about Sra Martinez so I may have happened on three cases of bad luck/bad timing/bad days and so your mileage may vary here, especially if you pretend you are on South Beach.
That Michelle Bernstein can cook!! Not only is she cute, sweet and charming, but she doesn't play when it comes to her food groups.
I went to this cozy spot in the heart of the Design District as a birthday treat from my friend for lunch. Don't know if you know this, but this restaurant used to be Domo Japones, and previously to becoming a dining hotspot, it used to be a post office!! That explains the cool layout and the adorable second floor bar.
We had not come in with the intention of ordering from the Miami Spice menu but when we glanced over it, we realized the delicious options that came under the Miami Spice umbrella and couldn't pass it up for that price ($22 for lunch)! Compared to other restaurants that offer Miami Spice, I have to say I to say I was pleasantly surprised about the many dishes on this menu.
Between 3 of us, we shared:
-the Tortilla Española with chorizo aioli and fresh herbs: nice piece of tortilla and the aioli (mayo-like sauce) with the chunks of chorizo and what looked like sage (?) was delish.
-Bacon-wrapped Medjool dates: I was looking around for my mama because these little pockets of goodness were SLAP YO MAMA good!!! The sweetness and tenderness of the dates along with the blue cheese and the crispness of the bacon was a fab combination!! Just know that you only get 2 dates per order... luckily we ordered 2!!!
-the crispy artichokes with the lemon-coriander dipping sauce??? only AMAZING! the arichokes are fried and can even make an excellent party app!
- Crispy pork belly with watermelon, peanuts and Nuoc Nam was a homerum! I love a pork belly (Michael's Genuine's is beyond compare) and she did a nice job with this piece of piggy. Accompanied with the juicy and sweet watermelon and the pungent nuoc... delicious.
-Crispy Eggplant: fried slices of eggplant drizzled with honey were sooo more-ish!
We also shared the entrees. My fave of the 3 was the Rabo Encendido, Michelle's version of oxtail, deboned, shredded, accompanied by trofie pasta (a long, thin, braided pasta) and mascarpone cheese. My mama makes incredible oxtail but Michelle might give mama a run for her money... Let's hope mama doesn't read this review! The ricotta gnocchi was yum but I think it was over-cooked and a bit dry but the chorizo and ricotta salata that came with it were really good. The only disappointment was the Catch of the Day, the yellowtail jack, which was a very good, fragrant (i think she used herbs to cook it). It was only disappointing because the description says it comes with risotto (BIG FAN) but ours seems to have come with couscous. It was a nice, light dish, nonetheless.
My favorite part of a meal is dessert and Michelle didn't disapoint with her Banana (rum-sauteed) and Fig TORREJAS!! It's, I believe, a Spanish dessert, similar to a French toast... "I want some !@##$@ FRENCH TOAST!!!" SOOOOO INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS AND DECADENT!!! Words cannot describe it. It comes with fig-walnut ice cream. We also shared the flan.
Needless to say, delighful experience. Going back soon, for sure. I hope you do too! Take advantage of the Miami Spice deal... don't wait. GO NOW!
Bravo Michelle!
Chorizo and Manchego Croquettes
Subtle but present flavors and spot-on consistency; and once again Michelle's voluptuous fig marmalade makes another appropriate appearance here.
Pork Belly
It didn't really make much sense to me until I put every component (salad, marmalade and pork belly) into one bite! Wow! My favorite dish of the evening.
Patatas Bravas
These were absolutely beautiful; mini potatoes (Peruvian purple?) filled with a warm and ever-so-slightly-spicy bechamel/cheese-like sauce and a PAPER THIN slice of Spanish ham. I could have eaten 100 of these things.
Rabo Encendido with Mascarpone and Pasta
Boneless and very tender oxtail meat in a wonderfully velvety sauce with homemade pasta was pure bliss in a stick-to-your-ribs kind of way. My only complaint was that I didn't get any of the mascarpone. Still..musn't grumble.
Galbi Pincho
Once again the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. When the green tomato slaw and marinated beef were put together it made more sense to the palate.
Bone Marrow & Eel
The only negative: toast points were ever so slightly on the dry side (barely).
It was a stretch to find anything "wrong" with this meal. When "worst" simply means "not as exalted as the rest" five stars are in order.
Utterly magnificent !
I first fell in love with this place when it was Domo Japonese. Architecture, location, ambiance, you name it, this building has it.
But Domo didn't make it and i am so glad Michelle's new gig is taking this place by storm.
This is one of the most exciting restaurants to come to Miami dining scene in recent years. Michael's, Pacific Times, and Sr Martinez make up a wonderful trifecta of amazing dining experience in Miami's Design District.
Professional staff knew heir menu well and its vast wine selection. Nice details like the menu in the envelope.
But, nice details costs money and they sure pass it on. Some of their tapas items were way too pricy and a decent bottle of Caliornia cab costs $80 and up. With 18% tip, it was well over $150 per head.
Since my first visit, i've been to upstairs bar several times. They make the best Pisco sour in town and serves great drinks. You can even order few items on the tapas menu and not have to have a sit down dinner.
Incredible! Every dish I had was excellent. Begin your meal with a glass of Cava. Delicious. I would especially reccomended the shrimp tapas topped with popcorn. yum yum yum
AMAZING. Michelle Bernstein did it again! Everything we ordered was perfect! Service was top notch. This will be my go to place for sure!
I love those croquettes.
Finally had a chance to try Sra Martinez after reading so much about it. My sister wanted a quick but nice dinner after arriving in Miami, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to go here since she is turning into quite the foodie.
We arrived late Monday night and requested to sit at the tapas bar. I did notice the restaurant was pretty empty, I guess I was expecting a bit more of a scene based on other reviews. The decor and the ambiance were perfect though. The service was okay. The waitress was just there, really did not offer any help when reviewing the menu but wasn't so bad that I wanted to complain. We loved the shrimp tiradito, the chopped salad was very good and the tuna tiradito was a toss up. I liked it and my sister thought it was not that special. I definitely want to come back to try more of the tapas.
What a great new edition to the amazing design district. I had read so many things about Sra. Martinez so when a good friend requested this as her birthday dinner (we told her the choice was hers) I was excited to both spend time with my friend and fill my tummy with yummy tapas. We had a reservation and when we arrived our table was immediately ready; however, we were offered a table inside--I've never understood the Miami need to blast the a/c so much it is uncomfortable to sit inside. They advised it would not be long for a table outside and directed upstairs to the oh so cute bar.
My roommate and I each had a class of cava while we waited for the birthday girl. Before we could even finish half the glass our table was ready and with this breezy weather recently, well, it was perfect. The birthday girl arrived shortly thereafter and our waiter quickly (and with a great sense of humor) came over and got drinks on their way.
The waiter (and as everyone knows I'm boy crazy, so maybe he cuteness has made my review a bit biased) explained the menu and gave his suggestions. We only ordered his suggestions and I LOVED everything but one dish. We got the shrimp tiradito, the tomato bread (much like a bruschetta) and had the jamon serrano placed on top (this was the ONLY thing I didn't adore) from the cold menu. From the warm menu we got the shrimp tiradito (delish), the dates wrapped in bacon and stuffed with bleu cheese (uh, ridiculous--and my fav), the calamari (love a place that does grilled calamari right) which had just the right amount of chimchurri, croquetas (they were like gourmet mozzarella sticks and worth the calories and fat) and the crispy artichokes (probably my second favorite).
After a couple of glasses of cava, I switched to finish my meal and the Rioja (spelling??) at the cute waiters suggestion on my request of a lighter red--perfect. The prices of the wine were just right, too. Since it was a birthday, we couldn't forego dessert!! We got the dark chocolate cake (I'm allergic to chocolate but the other girls said it was great) and the torrejas (spelling!!) the banana dessert. Yum!!!
Other than the one dish, everything was superb! The food was great, love what they did with the decor, and the service was top-notch--even for low Miami standards (and this goes beyond my bias of the cute waiter). I was really impressed that the food runners, who on occasion can't tell you if you have steak or a pasta dish, were equally informed about the dishes and re-described every dish set on the table. Finally, our waiters was not overly pushy but attentive enough to overhear it was a birthday and brought out one of the desserts with a candle!! AND, when we got the bill we noticed that the cava we ordered at the bar (at $6 a glass) was correctly on our menu but that our additional glasses were charged at the higher priced $12/glass cava. A mere mention of the mistake and the waiter immediately fixed the issue.
Will definitely go again (so many items I want to try--the sweetbreads, octopus, lamb pinchos, foie gras duck sausage) and recommend a try to anyone else!!
I miss the Caldo Gallego they use to have on the menu. I went during Art Basel for the first time and then went again months later and they had taken out the Caldo Gallego. I was so disappointed because I was dreaming about it all day long. Either way, they had the apricots covered in bacon that I love and the ambience and waiters are cool too. Make reservations on the weekends and don't order too many drinks from the 2nd level because the get SoBe pricey. I haven't been back since my long lost Caldo Gallego, but I would go again.
Don't miss out on the bone marrow dish. I make sure to have an order of it on the table every time. I like the fact the bar is a food prep area with seating. This is my favorite tapas in Miami so far!
After all my moaning, groaning, bitching and kvetching about food and service in Miami, I can now say "wow." And "ok, I take it back..." But ONLY for Sra. Martinez, Michelle Bernstein's latest effort, and long may she rule!
Let's start with service: it was fabulous. Friendly, competent, and accomodating. We were welcomed by the hostess and the maitre d' (or was he the manager? ), and given our choice of seats. We'd already said we weren't going to stay long (we had tix for Cirque du Soleil) but they treated us as if we were potential huge consumers. And we were treated that way for our all to brief stay.
Our competent waiter had our water in no time flat, and our deliciously lemon-minty mojitos equally quickly. And although I loved my cocktail, I can't wait to go back to try some of the other drinks, which were described very enticingly on the menus.
And a word on the menus: they're delivered in nice hand-lettered envelopes, with the Senoras address on the return portion. A nice touch, and something I'd never seen. It was kind of confusing to be handed a letter after we sat down, but fun and retro. Because really, how many letters do we get in these days of instant communication?
The tapas are divided on the non-anxiety producing menu (read: short and nicely printed) as "Frio" and "Caliente." Muchas gracias for making it easy, Ms. Bernstein! Our waiter patiently many of the tapas to us, making several recommendation. We chose a nice variety, and here's what I recommend to you--in a BIG way:
the bacon-wrappeed Medjool dates--a near-perfect marriage of sweet and soft/crunchy and salty. There's a hint of blue cheese inside each date, just to give it some extra zing. They will be appearing in little nostalgic thought ballons over my head at regular intervals until I can have them again.
the crispy artichokes. Not S's favorites, but I loved the tender little choked robed in a parmesan-y crust. I could have eaten 10 more
and if my lush tush was growing after THOSE, imagine the rapid growth spurt (yes, I said spurt) after the unbeievably delicious foie gras with pear marmalade on a layer of crispy quinoa. Imagine a mouthful of the tenderest, sweetest fatty cream that just melted on you tongue. I had to smoke a cigarette and take a nap after that tapa.
The sweetbreads! Yes, I know what they are. And no, I'm not a big fan of Andrew Zimmern. They were su-perb! Light, airy, tender, tasty...and the orange and mandarin chutney on the side was fantastic: a mxture of tart, bitter, and sweet. I'm going to try to replicate it at home, but don't think I'll succeed.
We had to get to Corteo, so we couldn't stop for dessert, but we did manage to bolt another two mojitos and have a chat with one of the Galician waiters, who was very sweet and who told us the story of how the idea for the restaurant came about. I should also add that music was played at a non-deafening level (THANK YOU!) and it was *good* music. The ambiance was great, the light levels flattering, and the tables at a respectful distance from one anothr. Next time we'll ask to be seated in the balcony area, so we can do some people watching while we linger over our drinks and tapas.
Let me just say this in closing: I've been in Miami for five months now, and this has been hands-down the best overall dining experience I've had thus far. I'm almost afraid to go back and be disappointed, but I don't think I will be. There's a solid foundation of expertise and good training backing up this restaurant, and long may it prosper!
I was a bit skeptical to try it a second time after reading some of the other reviews, but the food was actually better the second time! The service was impeccable and the music/ambiance was identical to my first visit (amazing how it hasn't changed in the past month).
The artichokes were so good we had to order a second round for the table. The marrow was deliciously gooey as was the sea urchin. The Spanish Pinot Gris was excellent and complimented the entire meal.
You really must go to Sra. Martinez if you are looking for great ambiance, excellent service and… Read more »
I visited this venue last night right after the yelp event. I had heard so many good reviews about it that I had to try for myself.
My sis and I had an awesome time!
Our waiter was sooo polite and attentive, she had a big smile and It's a shame I didn't get her name.
We ordered the patatas bravas, the cheese platter and the pan con tomate. I had a sangria and my sis had a beer. Oh God..we were so full! The food tasted delicious...to be honest..I think 2 tapas would have been enough for us.
We were able to seat outside and although it was chilli last night, they had the heaters out and it made it really comfortable and warm.
I will definetely be checking this place out again with my hubby!
Sra. Martinez: So I used to think the fantastic building that housed Domo Japones was a bank. But, I have come to find out that the building was actually a post office and that Sra. Martinez is even better than Domo. This place is a great location for a fun and delicious dinner with friends. Food is tapas style. The staff are great and the food is even better. The uni sandwich and artichokes (cleverly fried to facilitate eating) are unforgettable. My only criticism is that there are few options for those of us who are super healthy and don't eat fried food, but this place is worth the substantial calories. Also the price, while not cheap, is not substantial. Definitely going back some time soon.
Because everyone has expressed how utterly awesome this restaurant is (rightfully so, I might add), I'm going to stick to giving my rec's on what we ate.
2 people, 1 bottle of wine, 11 plates.
What! we were hungry!!! And the best part? I didn't leave feeling overly stuffed because the plates were timed very well (keep in mind we were there for 2.5 hours though)
Cold Dishes:
Jamon Serrano 5* - sliced à la minute= sooo fresh! great fig marmalde flavor
Arugula Salad 4* - very fresh with shaved piave vecchio cheese
Hot Dishes:
Crispy Pork Belly 5* - awesome flavor and texture
Bacon wrapped date 4*- maybe a little sweet
prawns a la Plancha 4.5* - very good, large prawns; the flavor from the head of the prawn is intensely flavorful
chickpeas with Morcilla 3.5* - ehhh. only thing I wasn't super thrilled with and the only plate that wasn't scraped clean
Crispy Artichokes 5* - loved how crispy and not greasy they were; the lemon aioli was fantastic combo!
Sweetbreads 4* - love the sweetbreads, but I don't think the sauce really added to or enhanced the dish
Roasted Bone Marrow 4* - first time I had this. Amazing flavor! Great texture, but a little greasy... I know, it's like saying pork belly is fatty, duh.
Fish Cheeks 4.5* - good, not something I "have" to get every time
Sea Urchin Sandwich 5* - so in love with this. I wish I could eat it every day. The smooth urchin with crunchy bread is a moment of genius
I hope this helps! I will be back here many times in the future and I hope the menu finds it's solid base and has some seasonal changes.
notes:
Would be great for groups, I recommend telling the server your tastes and letting him/her order for you.
Sitting at the Tapas bar is nice for two people if you want to sit next to each other.
Definitely call for a res. I called at 2pm on Sat and got a res for 8:30 pm, much better than walking in w/out a res!
Can be moderately priced if you plan well, but you should plan to spend about $40-60 per person on food.
Enjoy it and love it!
Spanish food? How about Spanish food from one of Miami's best chefs: Michy? Not enough? How about a location set in an old Post office. This restaurant set in the heart of Miami's design district doesn't disappoint. The tapas have a modern flair to them and so does the decor which adds to the ambiance. They have a great wine selection and the churros and chocolate sauce are to die for. I jumped a bit ahead, I forgot to mention the pork belly. Did I mention the pork belly? Yes, the pork belly is unreal. Melt in your mouth meat will turn a vegan into a competitive hot dog eater. The foie gras doesn't disappoint either. The tapas are not for the faint of heart and are very ambitious portions. Next time you want a new take on tapas, pass by Sra. Martinez, she'll be waiting with open arms.
Miami, FL
Category: American (New)
Miami, FL
Category: American (New)
Miami, FL
Category: Italian
Coral Gables, FL
Category: Latin American
Miami, FL
Category: Spanish
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