Jordan N.'s Profile

This should be 2.5 stars, between "I've experienced better" and "A-OK" since there is really no "better" in Miami as this is the only ping pong lounge that I'm aware of in Dade.

But there were several things going wrong:
- not enough ping pong tables surprisingly, but people can get a drink while they wait, so that's ok. And there's also pool tables
- the bartender did not know what a Cuba Libre was. And the drinks were not that cheap, even with house liquor
- people younger than 21 are not allowed in, even if it's just to play the games and not to drink (I think Miami Beach needs to work to make sure there are other unharmful activities for this age group set or trouble may be bound to happen)
- and the biggest MISTAKE of them all - SMOKING IS ALLOWED INDOORS. Frankly, I think this is just a dumb idea, since it makes for a pretty dangerous environment for the active players that are doing extraneous exercise playing ping pong (and yes, it does break a sweat). Just for this, I would give it 1 star. And really, with Miami being in paradise, there's no reason for the smokers to just smoke outside in the expansive space they have in the front.

But because I actually liked the decor and atmosphere, and also because of the fact that there's no other ping pong lounge nearby, I'm being generous by giving two.

I'm upping the rating for this place.

This is an authentic taqueria that sells just that - tacos. Nothing more - you're not going to find nacho chips, burritos, or anything like that. Just pure straight-up tacos.

And there's no place in Miami more authentic than this taco stand - not even all the Mexican places in Calle Ocho can compare. Because of the types of tacos they serve, it is an instant stand-out.

TACOS: cuerito (pig skin), buche (pork stomach), oreja (pig ear), mazica (pork), lengua (cow tongue), tripas (tripe), bisteck (beef), and surtido (mixed).

Once you order, you'll be able to see and hear the *WHACK* *WHACK* *WHACK* that comes with the guy behind the counter cutting the fillings with an oversized butcher knife. It's free entertainment and definitely makes me feel like I'm not in Miami anymore but in some roadside taco stand in Mexico (and I haven't been to Mexico yet). :)

You can add cilantro, diced onions to the tacos as well as four sauces (two not spicy, two spicy (of jalapeno & of chile del arbol), and one spicier (of habanero).

I recommend this place to try out these yummy and adventurous tacos, and get a taste of Michoacan!

Oh, and the tacos are $1.75 each.

Note: Street parking is free after 6 pm. The open-air establishment is open until 10 pm.

I'm not a fan although I do love the ambience. But the service was pretty bad from the start. Our waiter did a poor job refilling our water, did not come back to the table much that we were left waiting to order for a while even when the restaurant was not busy.

Dish 1: Fish sandwich was surprisingly too spicy. It was overspiced too much for my liking that I could not eat it comfortably and the accompanied cole slaw was underseasoned.

Dish 2:  Salmon dish, I found it to be cooked well but the accompanied vegetables, like the accompanied side dish for Dish 1, were also underseasoned.

Drink 1: Mojito was okay although maybe it was a bit more on the sugar side and not on the mint & lime side, if that makes sense.

I'm not so sure if I would freely return after my experience, but hopefully it was an off night since this place has potential with its location.

Downtown Miami has a plethora of Latin American cafeterias. We have Emily's, Manolo & Rene, and some others that we just don't care for the names. We just care about where they are, in order to get our morning fix.

Fourty Four cafe stands out compared to the others in the sense that it is a cleaner and newer looking place even though they probably have been around for a long time. In fact, dare I say it... it even looks modern. Nice, clean, cozy and modern enough to make it actually look inviting - and it did invite me in, thanks to the keen staff.

What they have is nice: they have cafe tables on the brick sidewalk, a menu on the chalkboard, and a nice display case outside where you can peruse while ordering something at the cafeteria window. The offerings includes fresh squeezed orange juice, Cuban breakfasts (they open the window at 7 am and the full breakfast at 8 am), lunch specials (such as stewed lamb, vaca frita, etc). They have not only sandwiches but also Argentine migas. They have not only Cuban pastries but croissants, alfajores, & Argentine facturas.  They have not only cafe cubano & cafe con leche but also cappuccino.

And on top of that, the food is priced in a range to welcome frequent customers, with the most inexpensive breakfast meal including cafe con leche/coffee, tostada/toast, eggs, potatoes/fries/grits for $2.69. And you can upgrade from there. And yes, you still get your meal in a glass plate and porcelain cups - no styrofoam have been wasted.

All in all, it's a welcomed establishment in the neighborhood for quick eats and I'll definitely return to try more.

Note: They also have a Facebook page so it's not hard to see what their hours and daily specials are. There's also free Wi-Fi.

Italian, Argentine, Venezuelan, and even American gelaterias don't really get my attention anymore. They just don't - I've heard way too many promises since gelatos came into the American vocabulary.

"The chef is trained in Italy."
"Made with fresh ingredients, all natural!"
"Healthier than ice cream, this stuff is good for you!"
"Traveled across the Italian countryside in search of the secret recipes and gelato-making processes..."

You catch the drift. And since the first claims came many years ago from so-and-so gelateria, many have come and go, opened and shuttered. Some big and small. Roma, Paciugo, Bacio, and even Parmalat to name a few.

But the truth is, after trying many in South Florida (MIlano, 4D, Coco Gelato, & Dolce Vita), this one gelateria impressed me. The flavors were right, not hidden in cream, and not overpowering as if it was a sorbet. It was not as mild as Milano, and the flavors were freshly more pronounced than Paciugo.

Yes, the prices are not that low, but when you're sharing gelato with another, it's just right. And your mouth will thank you for it as it is worth it.

This gets my vote as the best gelateria in Miami. For me, this place is worth the drive. Can't wait to see this place expand to other neighborhoods.

Note: The owners run an Italian gelateria chain in Italy under the name of La Scintilla.

Doggi's is a popular place for all kinds of people - it seems like every time I go, there's always someone. Even in the off hours & late nights (last time, I spotted a large group of Brazilians speaking in Portuguese).

I personally like it for the chill vibe. It's a good spot to drink beer and wines while watching soccer and to snack on Venezuelan goodies.

The great:
+ Burgers
+ Cachapas
+ Salad (haven't had this but they look so appetizing every time I see someone eating them)
+ Postre Exquisito (haven't had this either, but I seem to never catch it when it's available as this dessert is constantly sold out)

Mostly Hits than Miss:
+/- Arepas (Most are hits than misses, but I had one Reina Pepiada arepa once that was oddly overly sweetened with sugar)
+/- Parrillas (they seem to run out of costillas/ribs often, and they change what comes in the parrilla often, so this can be confusing. Sometimes I get arepas, sometimes cachapas, and sometimes it's only yuca fritas - but either way, it's all yummy and always come with steak, chicken, sausage, and yuca fritas. It just would be nice to know what goes in them)
+/- Pepitos (It's true, like David mentioned, sometimes it's a little on the salty side, but generally speaking, they're as good as one would get them off the streets in Caracas.

More Miss than Hits:
- Tequeños (Only once out of the three or four times I've ordered this did the tequeños come out ravingly good - the problem is that the ratio of cheese and dough leans more to the dough. They just need more cheese in them as that's what make people love tequeños in the first place. This should be easy to fix.)
- Pastelitos (or small savory fried empanadas - I've only had this once and it was just okay - but it had a weird aftertaste which I would attribute to the kind of oil they used to fry these. This should be easy to improve on.)

Another thing that can be confusing is that there are some dishes that are made here but are not listed in the menu inside. An example is the pabellon, the national dish of Venezuela that basically consists of the staples of shredded beef, rice, beans, & plantains.

Overall, I love coming to this place for the friendly service, some of the food, and the great vibe and hours (I believe they're open until 5 am on weekends, 3 am on other days). I do agree that there are some things in the menu may be a bit overpriced but I always leave with my stomach full and as a happy camper.

I came to this place hoping to actually find a Cuban place I would like in Miami Beach, but left disappointed.

The service was lacking, as the waiter did not have an eye on details and did not come by to the table other than to bring food. We had to flag him several time for drink refills and for other requests.

As for the food and drinks, this is the roundup:
- Chicken was well-seasoned, but I'm not much of a fan of the seasoning as there was a overly strong lime flavored in contrast to other seasonings used. Even though this is the house specialty, I would not order this again
+ Black beans & rice were very tasty. The plantains were okay.
- Sandwiches were okay.
+ The broth of the chicken soup was perfect (you can get them to remove the noodles)
- Ordered a cafe con leche and got something that was much more of a cortadito (it looked like one shot while the waiter insisted it was more than one and we were charged a cafe con leche).
- Ordered tostada since our table didn't come with any Cuban toast that is typical in other Cuban places. And we got toasted (with no soft middle) Cuban bread that had no butter, no garlic, nothing. It wasn't even pressed. Needless to say, we sent that tasteless bread back saying we wanted what is expected from a Cuban place in Miami. They never brought out any bread afterwards. We were charged for this tasteless bread and had to have them take it out of the bill. Again, poor service and lack of attention to the food and our complaints.

With the last two errors, and the odd chicken that I've not seen in other places, I've concluded that this place isn't really authentic at all. Prices are higher than what you'd find in other Cuban places in Miami. And since they don't make the Cuban coffee or the bread the Miami way, I'll just tell other people to try out other Cuban places that do it right. Show owner comment »

I'm enamored. Just ... enamored!

Friendly staff, cleverly made drinks, great beer list at good prices, and even light food that catches my fancy.

The vibe is so laid-back speakeasy even when crowded, something I haven't yet seen in Miami to this degree. I saw guys with thick moustaches and bowling hats, short-haired flapper girls, transvestites, plenty of 80's sweaters, and all else letting loose, in a mellow way.

As for the aesthetics, I loved the candles on the tables, and even the tall candles on the bar as they do give this seemingly Old World charm a glow. As if the flickering flames were happily whispering to the folks who were there to enjoy the time of their lives, encouraging them on. The oversized mirror over the bar brings a greater view of the room so that we could enjoy looking at the varied happy faces that helped spread the warmth. This place takes me back to the Northeast.

The staff were friendly and personal - and would give you a shout out whether you're waiting for a drink, about to leave, or anything to let you know that you're welcomed.

And the drinks? There's wine and affordable beers, even if they're imported from Brooklyn, and for the upper echelon, they have tasty drinks that are creatively made - with grapefruit juice, milk, basil-infused honey, or anything of the like for ingredients. And a fine class of liquors ready. With the folks working here having prior experience at Zuma, Gigi, and other reputable Miami establishments, there's no way we could expect any less.

The menu of eats seems to be small but classically designed with croque madame, and other light bistro fare that would suit any looking for good bites. I'd definitely try some things out from the menu.

Also, I noticed that they have an espresso machine, for those who wants a good cup of java. I'm imagining this place to be a good study spot during its off hours. But either way, it is nice to know that this place will be open for you at pretty much any time, until 5 am in weekdays and even until 8 am in weekends.

Whether it's Philly or New York, welcome to Miami.

Baraka (definition): a blessing from God in the form of spiritual wisdom or divine presence.

A setting that evokes so much of a stripped-down bare-bone convenience store, this Baraka seems like someone's canvas or pipe dream. The looks may deter some from taking the food seriously if he wants to eat here.

But, Baraka, although simplistic in its shell, packed an enormous amount of flavor that not only exceeded my expectations, but figuratively metamorphosed this place to a lovely little Lebanese restaurant in Venezuela that had this best Lebanese food I've had in my life. And rightly so, Amira Beehara, the chef that prepares this food has been cooking this type of food for at least 25 years, both in Venezuela and here.

And comparatively, the food here is better than what I've had to date in the United States - better than Marhaba, Al-Salam, Kabobji, Maroosh, Layali Miami, and Khoury's and so many other that I've had in South Florida. It's much more earthly spiced that helps elevated the level of warmth. From the homemade & chunky baba ganoush, stuffed cabbage and grape leaves, spinach and meat pies, and the cooked kibbehs - everything was just perfection even with the absence of pine nuts in the kibbeh. The flavors were all there - and they were all made by her.

Now to note, not everything is made to order - she makes batches at a time for some items, but those things that are not made to order still tasted fresh and wonderful. The turnover of the food should be good, thanks to the hookah place next door (Rababa) as I had seen some people ordering food and had it brought over.

Atmosphere: flourescent lighting and convenience store feel will give way into a cafe feel as interior renovation will commence soon

Service: Limited - there seems to only be one or two people working the place - the owner and at times the cook as well. So the service may be slow, but personal. So treat this not so much as a full-service restaurant, but as a cafe that may require you to get up to get or ask for things.

Food: Excellent standard Lebanese fare - don't expect elaborate dishes though (i.e. dishes with okra, etc)

And for me, it's worth the drive from Miami to receive this baraka - and there are places to go around here as well to make the drive even more worth it. Check The Village nearby on 44th St. for excellent excellent Middle Eastern sweets, and some middle eastern markets (the one next to Al-Salam is decent).

This is my favorite hookah place to date, traditional Arabian / Middle Eastern style. Far better than the hookah place next to the popular (but not my favorite) Al-Salam restaurant, and definitely the best of Plantation (and there's many, considering that this area is the hub of the Middle Eastern community in South Florida).

Prices: Decent
Smoke: Excellent
Setup: Grapefruit was used for my order as a filter, two brands of tobacco is offered, with Starbuzz being the better/cleaner one
People: Mostly middle easterners, but others can be seen here. They also seem to be more liberal (good thing), open to women and mixed youth - something I don't see much in traditional places.
Atmosphere: Very chill, conversational, clean, and comfortable
Entertainment: TV, table games (just ask for them)
Food/drink: Tea, Coffee, limited alcohol, other beverages; Excellent food from Baraka next door.

Free parking & wifi, limited outside seating available.