Miami Spice is back in town and spicier than ever before. Starting Saturday, July 31, with its premier Miami Spice Kickoff Event & Fundraiser, Miami Spice offers two full months of three-course prix-fixe menus at some of Miami’s top-notch restaurants, paying homage to the area’s vast array of flavorful cuisine at a portion of the price. Lunch menus offer delectable choices for just $22, and dinner menu selections are only $35.
After sifting through the bulk of this year’s 119 participating restaurants, we’re here to give you the inside scoop on which five Miami Spice menus we think are haute. Alas, we give you The Spicy Five.
1. Tamara at National Hotel: Tamara’s menu is about as versatile as an Andy Warhol dinner party. It’s all about options. Though we suggest not putting all of your eggs in one basket, you could potentially eat from this menu every night for a week and get something different each time. Menu offerings include an onion soup, Boston salad, smoked tomato fondue, Kobe beef meatballs, paella, and braised top round and oxtail chili.
2. RED, The Steakhouse: We were excited to see that not every menu is offering key lime pie and chocolate á la whatever for dessert. Aside from its housemade sorbets, RED is offering a peach crisp with vanilla bean gelato. We also appreciate the variety this steakhouse offers for its main courses: Aside from steak, there’s lobster tail, chicken breast, pork chop, and pasta options. Also, RED’s chef Peter Vauthy will offer new menu items weekly. Now that’s haute.
3. Abokado: This $35 menu is definitely worth looking over if you want to get your money’s worth. Abokado nachos with spicy tuna, avocado, cucumber, tobiko, and crispy shiso leaves? Sold. The expansive menu also includes a sushi entrée, a sesame-crusted tuna steak, pork short ribs, and desserts that have our mouths watering. Unlike many other menus, this one also includes a glass of house wine or draft beer. Bottoms up!
4. Michy’s: Whether intentional or not, Michy’s menu is veg-friendly, and what’s not to love about that? This Spice menu is something worth devouring: it’s fresh and different. Whether you’re in the mood for watermelon salad, chilled corn and crab soup, handkerchief pasta with a marcona almond pesto, or chocolate bread pudding, the variety of Michy’s has got all taste buds covered.
5. Blue Door at Delano: A well thought-out menu, to put it simply. Appetizers include a salmon tartare, as well as big ravioli filled with taro root mousseline, white truffle oil, and mushroom cappuccino. A few of the entrée options include mango porco, and shrimp and palm risotto. Dessert is either a raspberry Napoleon or the sweet cigar, which is made up of dulce de leche spring rolls and old Jamaican vanilla rum sauce. Yum!
For more information about Miami Spice events and participating restaurants, click here.
