Miami Restaurant Tips by grandmaR

Restaurant Name: Hard Rock

After the 22 hour trip out in the Atlantic from Ft. Pierce to Miami, we had fallen asleep at anchor for a couple of hours. Then I made a reservation at Miamarina. (I kept trying to make it Miami marina), went and got fuel and tied up to the dock. Then we went back to bed.

We roused ourselves about dinner time and looked around. The Hard Rock was the first place we saw, and I had a AAA coupon for it!!!

We were not in the mood for anything that required any effort to get to or to decide what to eat.

I had previously been to one Hard Rock in Atlanta, but Bob had not been. He's not much of a rock music person.

The lower levels of the building are pretty much deserted. The upper levels sometimes have partiers.

Dinner for the two of us on December 12, 2001 with the coupon was $35.95. We ate there again on the following trip.

Favorite Dish: Hours: Restaurant:
Mon-Thurs 11:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m.
Sun 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Merchandise: Mon-Sun 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

There is parking for cars in the Bayside parking garage or by valet.

You can get there by bus, and you can also come to the Bayside complex by boat and tie up to the pier.

Opening Date:
September 21, 1993

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Theme: American
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 305-377-3110
Address: 401 Biscayne Blvd. R-200
Directions: There's a 60-foot rotating neon guitar on the roof so it's certainly visible.

At the east end of the Bayside complex.
Website: http://www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes/Cafes.aspx?Lc=MIAM

Restaurant Name: Burger King

Burger King is actually a restaurant that began in Florida more than 45 years ago when a Burger King hamburger cost 18¢ and a WHOPPER sandwich (which came later) cost 37¢.

The latest Burger King mascot was created by the Miami-based advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky. The focus of this campaign were two sandwiches: the Double Croissan'wich with egg and meat and cheese, and the Enormous Omelet Sandwich (one sausage patty, two eggs, two American cheese slices and three strips of bacon on a bun with 47 grams of fat).

For these ads, an actor dressed in regal splendor and wearing a gargantuan-sized plastic head of the Burger King character (that never spoke) mysteriously shows up at the home of an average, all-American guy bearing gifts. Some people (myself included) think the Burger King king is creepy.

Favorite Dish: We had lunch at Burger King on the way to my daughters the next day, December 13, 2001. This place had a playground for kids.

There is a definite lack of fast food restaurants on US Route 1 between downtown Miami and our daughter's place in SW 175th Street area. The lunch for the two of us was under $9.00

Other Burger King Restaurants

10 SW 8th St, Miami, FL
(305) 373-8444

1700 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL
(305) 379-0468

1309 NW 20th St, Miami, FL
(305) 325-0968

7490 NW 25th St, Miami, FL
(305) 597-7100

8770 Mills Dr, Miami, FL
(305) 598-0015

5505 Blue Lagoon Dr, Miami, FL
(305) 378-3000

7070 Bird Rd, Miami, FL
(305) 661-1252

5398 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL
(305) 751-3130

7390 Coral Way, Miami, FL
(305) 261-0413

20505 Old Cutler Rd, Miami, FL
(305) 233-6915

910 W 41st St, Miami Beach, FL
(305) 674-8033

955 SW 107th Ave, Miami, FL
(305) 553-7244

16025 S Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL
(305) 253-7160

14095 SW 88th St, Miami, FL
(305) 385-6179

18240 S Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL
(305) 235-4801

21000 SW 112th Ave, Miami, FL
(305) 253-0496

11650 SW 152ND St, Miami, FL
(305) 235-3366

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Theme: Fast Food
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (305) 445-3985
Address: 2801 S. W. 27th Avenue Miami FL
Website: http://www.burgerking.com/

Restaurant Name: Ron's Cuban Cafe

I have never been to this place. We ordered over the phone for dinner December 13, 2001, and they brought it to the house. It was delicious.

I asked our daughter to order from Rons on this trip, but she said her children don't like the food from there, and she told Bob to take me there for dinner. But we went back to Bayside instead.

Favorite Dish: They have breakfast (including a breakfast special for $3.25 if before noon which includes 2 eggs, breakfast meat, grits or potatoes and coffee), omlettes, appetizers, sandwiches, soups, salads, entrees, sides, beverages, shakes (including wheat, papaya, mango and sour sop) and desserts.

I wrote this up with all the prices, but VT ate it and not only could I not save it, I couldn't even log back on.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: less expensive than average

Phone: 305-971-5455
Address: 15801 South Dixie Highway #3
Directions: In a small strip mall on the east side of US Route #1

Restaurant Name: Food Court dinner - then Edy's Ice Cream

On December 16, 2001, we ate at Bayside, but I don't remember exactly where. I think it was at the International Food Court on the second deck after which we got ice cream at Edy's and strolled back to the boat.

Favorite Dish: I'm always a sucker for ice cream when we are living on the boat because we can't keep the freezer cold enough to keep it reliably.

So this would attract me:
"Thirty-six flavors of hand-dipped ice cream, frozen yogurt and whole-fruit sorbet, plus homemade cones and lots of toppings. "

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Theme: Ice Cream
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 305/577-0663
Address: Bayside Location: S-201
Website: http://www.baysidemarketplace.com/

Restaurant Name: Le Café

On December 17, 2001 we ate at Bayside again, this time at Le Cafe and the meal cost $46.72 for the two of us. It was nice eating on the water looking at what all the boats and people were doing.

Favorite Dish: Menu from their webpage. I did not write down what we ate.

Entrees
Served with garden salad & your choice of rice, parsley potatoes, french fries and vegtables
Catch Of The Day $12.95
Grilled or blackened. Ask your server for today's catch
New York Strip Steak $11.95
8oz $11.95
12oz $15.95
Chicken Meuniere $10.95
Grilled skinless boneless breast with lemon, butter & parsley sauce
Side Orders

French Bread $1.00
Pita Bread $1.00
Rice $2.25
French Fries $1.95
Parsley Potatoes $2.25
Kids Only
Children under 12
Hamburger & French Fries $3.95
With cheese add $0.50
Grilled Cheese & French Fries $2.95
Spaghetti $2.95
Tomato sauce & bread
Sandwiches

Hamburger $3.95
Served with french fries & pickles
Add cheese $0.50
Veggie Burger $5.50
Served wtih green salad & pickles
Ham & French Criossant $5.95
Hormel ham with melted swiss cheese on a flaky croissant served with french fries
White Tuna or Chicken Salad $5.95
With french fries
Mahi Mahi $7.95
Served in burger bun with french fries
Grilled Chicken $6.95
Char-grilled chicken skinless breast topped with swiss cheese. French fries
New York Strip Steak $7.95
Served on a french baquette. French fries
Turkey $5.95
Served on a french baquette. French fries
Cheese $3.95
Swiss or american served on french baquette or white bread
Desserts

Chocolate Mousse $3.95
Strawberry Cheese Cake $3.95
Tiramisu $3.95
Carrot Cake $3.95
Foret Noire $3.95
Key Lime Pie $3.95
French Pastries $2.95

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Theme: American
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 305/373-1730
Address: S-106 in the marketplace
Website: http://www.baysidemarketplace.com/

Restaurant Name: Snappers Pier Five

When we were going to get our customs decal for the boat in February 2001, we had to wait while customs ate lunch when the office was closed. We were hot and tired (after an overnight passage), so we stopped at Bayside and ate at Snappers which was one of the first places we came to. We ate outside overlooking the marina.

Favorite Dish: I had a cup of soup and a Ceasar salad. Bob had a hamburger.

Then I wanted to go to the bathroom, so I asked because it wasn't obvious where one was. They use the mall bathrooms, and it was a stealth bathroom - completely unmarked door.

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Theme: Seafood
Comparison: about average

Phone: (305) 379-0605
Address: 401 Biscayne Blvd Ste 110

Restaurant Name: Rusty Pelican

We've been to this restaurant a couple of times. It is a romantic place - In good weather you can eat outside and watch the sun go down on Miami across the way. A little more expensive than we usually go for. They did have early bird specials which were a bit more reasonable.

We went on Valentine's Day in 2001 (forgetting that it was Valentine's Day) and the place was packed to the gills and they had to have valet parking because the parking lot was full. They lock the gates to the parking lot after the restaurant closes at night. So if you park here for the marina at night you won't be able to get your car in the morning.

For some reason (maybe they don't want boat people in the restaurant), there is no way you can come here by boat as the docks do not have enough water to float a boat and there are rocks right off the restaurant.

Open: MON-THU 11:30 am-11 pm.
FRI-SAT 11:30 am-12 am.
SUN 11:30 am-11 pm.

Favorite Dish: For Valentine's Day they had a special which included everything - everything meant you got wine or champagne with the meal. We ate outside which was a little chilly. You wanted to warm yourself on the candle at the table. It was also so dark we had to borrow a flashlight from the waiter to read the menu.

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Theme: Seafood
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 305-361-3818
Address: 3201 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key
Directions: Cross the first causeway bridge and turn left immediately when you get to Virginia Key
Website: http://miami.diningguide.com/data/d100512.htm

Restaurant Name: Bennigan's #1007

While we were in Miami, we stopped for lunch at a shopping center and ate at Bennigan's. We again stopped for dinner in March 2004

Favorite Dish: I had the half sandwich/cup of soup selection, and I picked a corned beef sandwich and broccoli cheese soup. I had the Apple Sizzler ($3.99) for desert.

For lunch, Bob had the American burger. The burger and my sandwich/soup were both $6.29 each and we both drank iced tea.

Our total bill was $21.66

For dinner the bill was $34.22 including tip.
Bob had iced tea and I had lemonade $1.89 each with free refills.
Bob had the Caribe crab cakes appetizer $7.99 as a main course and took half of it back to the boat. I had baked potato soup (pictured - it had cheese and bacon on the top) for $2.99 and Chicken quesadilla appetizer (also pictured) for $7.89. I took half of that back to the boat too.
We shared an Apple sizzler $4.39

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Theme: Steakhouse
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 305-378-8618
Address: 13606 South Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33176
Directions: Right on the east side of US Route 1
Website: http://www.bennigans.com/

Restaurant Name: P.F. Chang's China Bistro

My daughter decided that we'd all go out to dinner at P.F. Changs. The problem was that it was so late and so crowded that we had to wait to be seated. And then it took us awhile to wade through the menu and decide what we wanted, and then we had to wait to be served. So it wasn't at all a fast meal and the kids (ages 2 and 8) got a bit antsy. Frankly so did I. My granddaughter spent time climbing on the pink columns (As soon as you approach the restaurant, you as you are greeted by two larger-than-life lions guarding the door.) outside while we were waiting.

Being quite naive, I did not realize that P.F. Changs was a chain or franchise. It apparently started in Scottsdale AZ when Paul Fleming, who started out as a Ruth's Chris Steak House franchisee couldn't find a good Chinese restaurant.

From an interview about Paul Fleming:
"One of the things that's different from a traditional Chinese restaurant is that 20% of our sales come from liquor, and 10% of that is wine. Paul offered about a 40-bottle wine list and everything was available by the glass. It really raised the bar, giving the restaurant kind of a steakhouse feel."

I felt it was quite expensive, although the bill for the 6 of us was only $103.69 including tax and tip. But my toddler granddaughter really can't be counted in the total.

Favorite Dish: I don't remember what I had, but from their menu

Chang's Recommends

(All entrées served with a choice of steamed brown or white rice)

CHANG' S SPICY CHICKEN
Lightly dusted and stir-fried in a sweet Sichuan sauce.
(Our version of General Chu's)
$10.95

* I may have had this as it is my favorite*

MOO GOO GAI PAN
P.F. Chang's version of the classic Cantonese dish with chicken and shrimp.
$10.95

MONGOLIAN BEEF
Quickly cooked steak with scallions and garlic.
$11.95

ORANGE PEEL CHICKEN
Tossed with orange peel and chili peppers for a spicy/citrus combination.
$10.95

CRISPY HONEY SHRIMP
Lightly battered and quick-fried with a flavorful sauce.
$12.95

CANTONESE SCALLOPS OR SHRIMP
Stir-fried with garlic, yellow chives and snow peas.
$12.25

CANTONESE ROASTED DUCK
Served with steamed wheat buns, cucumbers, scallions, plum and
hoisin sauces.
$12.95

GINGER CHICKEN WITH BROCCOLI
Served Cantonese-style on a bed of fresh steamed broccoli.
$10.75

MANGO CHICKEN
Stir-fried chicken with mangoes, onions, bean sprouts and carrots.
$10.95

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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 305-234-2338
Address: 8888 SW 130th Street, Kendall, FL 33176
Directions: Located in The Falls Shopping Center on the corner of US 1 and SW 136th Street. Parking is sometimes difficult.
Website: http://www.pfchangs.com/index.jsp

Restaurant Name: Miami Grill & Subs

According to the website: "Our founder, Gus Boulis, emmigrated from Greece in 1968 to begin a long career of developing and operating successful projects in the restaurant industry. In 1983, Mr. Submarine, a new upscale sandwich shop, opened in Key West, Florida. By the mid-eighties, this successful concept evolved to eventually give birth to Miami Subs Grill. Its new name better reflected the quality of food, variety of menu items, and the appeal of fresh food cooked to order. "

Now they have franchises all over the Florida, plus Indiana, MN, NJ, NY, NC, SC, TN and Puerto Rico.

In the early 90's, Miami Subs Grill partnered with Baskin Robbins. They added Arthur Treachers, and were themselves taken over by Nathan's Famous in 1999.

The art-deco / neon exterior was featured in the intro to "Miami Vice". In addition to hot and cold subs, they have gyros, pitas, Greek salad, hamburgers, chicken breasts, ice cream and other desserts. They fix everything fresh so it's not as quick a fast food as many of them.

Favorite Dish: Tuna Pita and Key Lime Pie.

You can eat in or drive in and take out.

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Theme: Deli
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (305) 255-6253
Address: 18690 Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33157
Directions: On US Rte. 1 South of Miami
Website: http://www.nathansfamous.com/miami/inside/htmls/restaurant_location.asp