Maria "Namaste" A.'s Profile

There's just something magic about Knaus Berry Farm out in Miami's Redlands area.

It starts with the drive. Slow, long, and in this case quiet. I prefer to take US-1 down. The trip providing me with a small taste of old Miami. It's a simpler past, one that's somehow hotter, greener, lusher, full of small Mom and Pop stores and tiny long-forgotten tourist traps and best of all it seems eons away from the flashy city.

Once you hit 248th street it's a drive between farms and secret gardens and then there it is, the rustic almost bare bones stand of Knaus Berry Farm.

There are no designated parking spots, so just pull up and prepare to ogle the menu. There's an ice cream and milkshake stand and then fruits, veggies, freshly canned jams, pies, and cakes. But the best seller is still the sticky cinnamon buns. If you're lucky (or an early riser) you'll find steaming, hot sticky buns too hot to put in plastic but more than ready to go home in cardboard with you.

They'll stay warm for about an hour or so but reality is that once you set them out, they may not make it an hour. But sharing them well, that's probably the best part of the magic

Broken Shaker is the BEST BAR IN MIAMI!  

Okay, now that that's out of the way, I'm going to tell you why.

The brilliant team behind Bar Lab has a plethora of experience crafting drinks for  some of the most popular bars in Miami and other tourist meccas. And now, they've brought their world class mixology skills to their own bar. This means you can expect to have some of the best if not the best cocktails you've ever had courtesy of Elad and Gabe and some of their friends Vanessa, David, Adam, etc.

They do have a cocktail menu but your best bet would be to have a bartender's choice and discuss what you do or don't like in your drink. Congratulations, you've just begun to help concoct your new drink du jour. Simply tell them your favorite spirit and help them sort out your flavor profile. Voila, your own personal taste of heaven in a glass.

Now, drinks are one thing and there are a handful of places in Miami with impressive drinks but few have the unpretentious yet absolutely enchanting appeal of the Broken Shaker's garden. It's a throwback charm for sure, a touch of vintage, and a slight DIY allure. Ping pong, board games, foosball tables, small tables and chairs strewn throughout all illuminated by romantic hanging necklaces of lights.

But while you're sitting in this zen-like, booze-filled, garden party, enjoying a quiet night with familiar tunes in the background, sipping the night away under the strings of lights, playing Jenga, or discussing who has the better of the remarkable cocktails --  you'll suddenly realize, there's no place in Miami like this.

And it will be gone all too soon (June). And no matter how many times you go, you'll always want to go at least once more. So, I suggest you go now, go often, and share with friends.

It's a touch of Americana with a romantic bent.

If you're there for dinner ask them to sit you in the inside dining room. You'll be led through the kitchen. Go with it. The space feels intimate with an old meets new vibe both in decor and menu.

As far as food. Go ahead and order the branzino it's done so well here.

Drinking? Yeah you sort of have to at Vesper. Have you seen Casino Royale? If yes Then you understand the importance of a cocktail. But skip the namesake and instead of an Octopussy. Show owner comment »

The service and hospitality is exemplary. Brunch is a great option if you want something simple.

We've all heard the saying about pizza and sex: Even when it's bad, it's still good.

Although the reviews and tips are mixed on Pizza Delight, I took a chance.

The basics:

It's open late and they sell by the slice.

It took between 5 - 10 minutes, the service was friendly enough and remembered our names.

I had a regular, no frills, slice of cheese. And it was fine.

It was hot on arrival, a little greasy, but most importantly it quelled my craving.

The slice and soda special is about $3 at most.

It's not gourmet, it's late-night.

Their dulce de leche donuts with raspberry jam are a warm, indulgence full of calories and sugar but things that taste this good, come with little to no remorse.

My entire experience at The Dutch was delightful.

Upon arrival, we were sat within mere minutes (and we were sans reservation on a bustling Friday night). Our server was friendly and charming and even a little more familiar than I'm accustomed to. Nevertheless, it was far better than the usual South Beach service.

We began with the spicy coconut lobster served in a coconut. The dish was refreshing and if you like cucumber this would be a great choice for you.

Next came the steak tartare which, is one of the best tartares I've had in my life.

We ordered a side of fries, which were also quite good.

The main course was a special, so, sadly, you may not find it on the menu when you visit. It was a special seafood ravioli with langostines. Very flavorful and creamy.

And of course we finished with those heavenly little dulce de leche donuts.

The wine and spirits menu has plenty of well-curated choices.

It's pretty difficult to have a bad experience at The Dutch, so be open to trying new things and enjoying your meal. But if the weather is nice I suggest requesting an outdoor table.

It's almost entirely authentic Mexican except it also serves up Dominican/Mexican dishes all their own.

This small restaurant packs a lot of charm between the attentive and welcoming staff and the strong menu. Ok, and they were playing good music.

We started with their pico de gallo and my dining companion mentioned she wanted to pick up the bowl and chug it. Fortunately, she didn't and we went on to have a chicken milanese torta (think of it like a Mexican sandwich) and the chicken quesadilla. Both were delicious.

We finished with flan that came topped with candied carrots.

Next time though it's all about the mangu.

Happy Hour: Yes! 50% off

If you work in the Gables you might now have a new addition to your dining regulars.

The nightly special when I was there was: $20 for a large pizza and a bottle of wine. That'd be a cool deal anywhere but once you consider that it's La Pizzeria di Lemoni aka from the same lovely owners of Lemoni Cafe then you understand what a real bargain this is.

The ladies of Lemoni have brought their signature charming style and welcoming vibe two doors north and focused on comfort Italian. Pizzas, pastas, calzones, and more.

Attentive service
Complimentary wifi (who doesn't love free wifi)
Good pizza
Beers and wines

It's charming, inviting, and well-designed.

I'd go meet friends for bites and drinks and I'm certain we might linger chatting.

But do I crave it? Did I think about my meal afterwards? Did it blow me away? No

It's got potential but for now I'd say don't plan any major dinners here.

Simple and good lunches seem more difficult to come by these days in Brickell but thank goodness Bom Fromage has salads and sandwiches, cheese plates, wine and a few more goodies.

Who doesn't love a good sandwich? Wait, I don't want to meet anyone who fits that description.

What I do want is more places like Bon Fromage.