Upscale Dines Offer Miami Spice Deals

Food lovers rejoice, Miami Spice, the two-month celebratory dining extravaganza, is here.  From  August 1^st to September 30^th the Magic City’s most upscale eateries will offer their fine dining cuisine as three-course prix-fixe Miami Spice menus at the unbelievable price of $23 for lunch and brunch and $39 for dinner.  Here are some of Upscale Living Magazine’s favorite contenders:

Amara at Paraiso 
James Beard Award-winning Chef, Michael Schwartz’s latest restaurant, this Latin-inspired eatery has the unbeatable view to match impeccable food.  Amara is bright, breezy, and beautiful, inside and out.  Every table has that quintessential Miami waterfront view to pair with elevated renditions of what many South Floridians would consider their comfort food.  For Miami Spice, Amara will be featuring weekly-changing, $39 three-course, prix fixe dinner menu.  Served Sunday through Thursday, Chef Paley’s most notably new dish is the show-stopping arroz verde, a South American take on Bibimbap with cilantro rice served sizzling in a stone bowl with mixable toppings like wood-grilled hen of the woods, earthy mushrooms, cubes of cucumber, shaved carrots, avocado, shaved jalapeño, pickled red onion, shredded kale, cascabel chile paste, and creamy egg yolk.  Other dishes include chochoyotes, a type of masa dumpling used in Central Mexican cuisine served with tomatillo soup and black rice and chile-rubbed pork chop with ash-roasted leeks.
| 3101 N.E. 7th Ave., Miami; 305-702-5528; httpss://amaraatparaiso.com/

The Bazaar by Jose Andres
Celebrity Chef Jose Andres captures Miami’s culinary heart with his cutting edge interpretations of traditional tapas in the stylish SLS South Beach Hotel.  Everything here is over-the-top and fabulous and Miami Spice offers the ideal opportunity to enjoy this unique menu for a bargain price.  Options are generous too- diners can pick from 7 different appetizers for dinner such as Chef’s Cone of La Serena Cheese with membrillo and walnut dust, Bao con Lechon, or Japanese Taco with grilled eel, shiso, cucumber, wasabi and pork chicharrones.  Main courses include fish en papillote with alcaparrado sauce and crispy quinoa, Secreto Iberico de Bellota, Iberico mashed potatoes and Catalan-style toasted bread with fresh tomato, $30 supplement per order , and  Black Rossejat–style pasta, squid ink, shrimp, aioli, $18 supplement per order | 1701 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-455-2999; The Bazaar by Jose Andres

Boulud Sud
Celebrated French chef Daniel Boulud has dazzled Miami diners with his latest Mediterranean-focused restaurant in downtown Miami. The James Beard Award-winning French chef and restaurateur has created a contemporary chic space (take a look at the Moroccan-inspired tile floors) highlighting cuisines rich in spices, seafood and lamb with an extra focus on grains, herbs, and delicious vegetables.  Boulud Sud will be taking guests on the restaurant’s expansive and luxurious culinary journey through their Miami Spice menu.  Dishes offered include Andalusian gazpacho, Lebanese Kale Fattouch with harissa hummus, pita chips, and falafel, and Branzino with freekeh, apricots, and artichoke for lunch or tuna tartare with harissa, mint, and sesame, chicken tagine, or orecchiette with lamb ragu for dinner.
| JW Marriott Marquis, 255 Biscayne Blvd. Way, Miami; 305-421-8800; bouludsud.com/miami.

Bourbon Steak
Set in the upscale Turnberry Isle Hotel & Resort in Aventura, this celebrated steakhouse under the magic touch of James Beard award-winning chef and restaurateur, Michael Mina, is known for its exceptional steaks, duck-fat French fries, and impressively extensive wine list. This year, Bourbon Steak will be offering a Miami Spice dinner menu where guests can explore some of the culinary highlights that include starters of artfully plated beef carpaccio served with truffle shavings, parmesan cheese, and arugula, or smoked cobia crudo accompanied by aneheim chili, avocado, and compressed cucumber. Main courses include a Yemenite spiced strip with Peruvian potato purée and matbucha sauce or crispy skin branzino filet with grilled radicchio, sunchoke, and aged balsamic.  Guests would be wise to save room for dessert.  They’ll be treated to an option of S’mores, chocolate dulce tart, graham streusel, roasted marshmallow ice cream, Greek Yogurt Mousse with fruit bon bon, strawberry confit, and white chocolate cereal cluster, or Hazelnut Cloud, a hazelnut panna cotta, caramel financier, and muscovado streusel. | Turnberry Isle Miami, 19999 W. Country Club Dr., Miami; 786-279-6600; Bourbon Steak Miami

CORSAIR Kitchen & Bar
Also located in Aventura’s Turnberry Isle Miami, this restaurant is another one of celebrity chef Scott Conant’s  gems. Overlooking pristine Miller Golf Course, the restaurant offers its take on rustic Mediterranean and American farmhouse fare in a casual yet classy setting.  Head over to try their Miami Spice Brunch menu-the setting is made for it- and enjoy, not only the restaurant’s famed full buffet brunch, but also a choice of one of their delectable main courses like the brioche French toast with cinnamon whipped cream, eggs benedict, or mac ‘n cheese with gnocchi, spinach, prosciutto, and white wine butter.

If brunch is not your thing, no worries.  CORSAIR is featuring a full lunch and dinner menu with specialties like short rib tacos, lobster roll with spicy slaw, or lobster salad with avocado, watercress, mango, and citrus vinaigrette, house made campanelle pasta with morel, asparagus, peas, favas, spinach, and kale pesto.  Dessert includes a Key lime tart with raspberry coulis. | Turnberry Isle Miami, 19999 W. Country Club Dr., Miami; 786-279-6600; Bourbon Steak Miami

Hakkasan
Set in Miami Beach’s iconic hotel, Fontainebleau, this drop-dead gorgeous restaurant, whose original location is in London, regularly “wows” diners with its modern Cantonese fare.  Hakkasan will be offering a spectacular Miami Spice menu featuring upscale dishes served family-style that include crispy almond shrimp with Asian pear , Szechuan sautéed chicken with dried chili and grilled honey snapper with brussels sprouts are amongst the entrees.  Desserts include a mango custard served with grapefruit, coconut sorbet, and yuzu meringue or chocolate cake with sesame crémeux, raspberry, and chocolate sorbet.  There is also a Dim Sum menu that includes Chinese chive shrimp dumplings, black rice and vegetable dumplings, and spicy beef with lotus root shui mai. Main courses are grilled honey char sui and braised beef shin platter, sautéed pak choi with garlic sauce, or braised and diced soy chicken with noodles. For an additional $25, guests can enjoy select wine flights “The Silk Road” which includes Hakkasan’s Signature Bellini and selection of either white or red wine, or “The Dynasty” which features the sommelier’s choice of champagne, as well as premium white and red.
| 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 877-326-7412; https://hakkasan.com/

Katsuya
Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi and design impresario Philippe Starck come together to create a stylish masterpiece restaurant. Set in the fashionable SLS Hotel in Miami Beach, Katsuya dazzles the senses with the simple pairing of creativity and exceptionally fresh seafood making for unique rolls that keep diners coming back.  For Miami Spice, diners are treated to an array of flavors for both lunch and dinner that include crispy rice with spicy tuna, salmon poke with avocado mousse, wagyu gyoza with ginger scallion dressing and creamy lobster dynamite and filet and foie with tomato salsa.
| 1701 Collins Ave, Miami Beach; 305-455-2995; Katsuya
 

Novikov
Arkadiy Novikov is a Russian restauranteur who has made a name for himself in Moscow, Dubai, and London with his upscale Asian eateries that draw in the rich and famous (the London location has seen visitors like Prince Harry and Rihanna on a regular basis.)  It only seemed befitting for Miami to be his next stop and first U.S. outpost.  Opened in downtown with views of Biscayne Bay, the restaurant, whose forte covers a wide array of dishes from fresh seafood, to robata grill, to dim sum has been abuzz with success.  For those who have not had the pleasure of a meal here yet, Miami Spice lunch serves as an ideal introduction.  A steal at $23, diners are treated to a selection of appetizers that ranch in styles such as saffron sweet corn dumplings, salmon avocado roll, pork skewers, or shrimp cilantro dumplings- all bursting with fresh, intense flavors.  Entrée choices include a wok salmon with black bean sauce, robata hanger steak, and San Pei chicken with aged soy sauce. There’s also a crispy Peking duck that will quickly become a regular favorite.
| 300 S. Biscayne Blvd, Miami; 305-489-1000; httpss://www.novikovmiami.com/

Obra Kitchen Table
Venezuelan culinary star, Carlos Garcia, most known for his Caracas-based restaurant Alto (which made the top 50 Latin American restaurants in the world from 2013-2016) recently opened this relaxed, modern eatery with a wrap-around counter where diners sit and watch the chef prepare daring renditions of his native cuisine.  For Miami Spice, enjoy onion soup with parmesan foam and mango, penne octopus carbonara, and lamb with coconut curry and corn. | 1331 Brickell Bay Dr., Miami; 305-846-9363;

Red, The Steakhouse
The Ohio-based steakhouse opened in Miami back in 2009 and continues to please South Florida carnivores.  Not only is there an extensive selection of meats to choose from but the wine list is generous and thoughtfully done.  Executive Chef Peter Vauthy will be rotating Miami Spice menus, presenting new items on a weekly basis.  Specialties include osso bucco raviolis, oysters Rockefeller, Veal and beef meatballs with whipped mascarpone, and filet mignon.  Desserts are plentiful as well:  bacon pecan monkey bread, banana chocolate bread pudding, basil panna cotta, and hazelnut torte are some standouts.  Upgrades to the menu are available as well: $24 for Prime NY Strip, $29 for ribeye or porterhouse, or go for the Tomahawk Ribeye an indulgent 29 oz. cut at $99.  All steaks are served with whipped potatoes and broccoli. | 119 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-534-3688; https://redthesteakhouse.com/

Scarpetta by Scott Conant
Celebrity chef Scott Conant has created a name for himself in the Magic City with this phenomenal Italian restaurant.  Bathed in a breezy and relaxed ambiance overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in the classy Fontainebleau hotel, the James Beard Award recipient has celebrated nothing but success serving diners his version of rustic Italian cuisine with a refined twist.  For Miami Spice, Scarpetta will be featuring some of Conant’s buzz-worthy favorites like his creamy polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms, braised short ribs of beef with vegetable and farro risotto, or burrata with pesto, heirloom tomatoes, and basil.  Secondi piatti offers the choice of Scarpetta’s Spaghetti with tomato and basil- considered to be the best anywhere in South Florida.  There’s also short rib agnolotti dal plin served with horseradish, brown butter, and red wine reduction, roasted branzino with sunchoke, eggplant, and salmoriglio, and oven-roasted chicken with black garlic gnudi, swiss chard, pancetta, and fava bean purée.

Save room for desserts.  The coconut panna cotta is a solid tribute to tropical flavors found in Miami.  It comes with a guava “soup”, caramelized pineapple, and coconut sorbet.  Chocolate lovers will get straight to the point with the espresso tartufo, presented with a hazelnut, almond sponge and salty chocolate crumb.  Wine flights (“classico” and “riserva”) are available for an additional $25 and $35, respectively.
| 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-674-4660; Scarpetta

Stubborn Seed
Top Chef star Jeremy Ford has done nothing but stand out amongst the culinary pack with his exceptional creations.  His focus on American cuisine with a modern edge that borderlines artwork renders diners speechless with the level of detail, effort, and care made in producing one-of-a-kind dishes bursting with flavor.  For those who have not had the pleasure of the Stubborn Seed experience, the restaurant is offering both dinner and brunch Miami Spice menus that serve as the ideal platform to explore Chef Ford’s genius.  For dinner, enjoy a choice of Florida tomatoes with avocado, black sesame, and castelvetrano olive snow or warm celery root with crackling maitake, creamy mustard, herbs and blossoms.  Dinner includes sourdough-crusted halibut or chicken with truffle butter, and dessert features an incomparable snickerdoodle cookie oozing with Valrhona chocolate and cinnamon. For brunch, savor  roasted cauliflower with fried onions and garlic and sunny side eggs, chai waffles with whipped espresso cream and spiced syrup or doughnuts coffee cake with sweet cream cheese frosting and blueberry jam. | 101 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 786-322-5211; https://stubbornseed.com/

StripSteak by Michael Mina
Those unable to make it to Michael Mina’s original StripSteak out in Vegas will be happy to land at his chic restaurant outpost in The Fontainebleau Hotel.  The space is generous and comfortable, with butterscotch-colored leathered booths and art deco feel, StripSteak is heavy on the steaks but strong on seafood, caught fresh daily, as well.  For Miami Spice guests will be privy to the choice of kale salad served with miso vinaigrette, shrimp crisps, and Asian pear, glazed pork belly with rum-marinated pineapple, and prime steak tartare with roasted garlic, crispy potato, and fried capers.  Main courses include sole meuniere with yuzu-brown butter vinaigrette, filet mignon with a choice of their signature sauces, and sweet corn cavatelli with summer truffle, goat cheese, basil, and parmesan.  Desserts are a stately end befitting of the meal:  malted chocolate mousse with dark chocolate espresso brownie and Bailey’s ice cream or The Floridian:  key lime curd, macadamia streusel, and orange. Opt for wine flights ($25 or $35) to pair with dinner.
| 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-674-4780; StripSteak 

Three
This Wynwood hotspot is the latest from Norman Van Aken, one of the original Mango Gang members that put Floribbean cuisine on the culinary map.  With soothing hues of blues and greens, Three offers fine dining with a tropical vibe.  For Miami Spice, Three does not disappoint, presenting New World creations it is best known for like cachapa with foie gras, grilled quail with smoked carrot, and sweet corn ice cream with almond mole.
| 50 NW 24th St., #101, Miami; 305-748-4540; httpss://www.threewynwood.com/