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DOWNTOWN. Spanish and Cuban cuisine is offered in a casual ambience at this family-friendly eatery. Always packed with local devotees and travelers seeking an authentic Latin dining experience, this is a great choice for a crowd or if you are eating late in the evening. The food is home-style and comforting, with large portions and a variety that includes moist and tender top sirloin, spiced generously and served with the addictive Latin version of French fries, papas fritas.
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LITTLE HAVANA. The name and decor may be French, but Versailles's cooking is Cuban all the way. Patrons swoon over deliciously authentic food and the dining room's opulence, complete with candelabras, gilt-framed mirrors and tuxedo-clad waiters. Still, everything's not as upscale as it sounds – the vibe is relaxed and dishes are happily affordable. Ropa vieja, made with zesty shredded beef, is a fine introduction to the bold cuisine, and arroz con pollo may forever change your opinion of chicken and rice.
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LITTLE HAVANA. Considered to be one of the best Cuban/Spanish eateries, this is Little Havana's most prestigious restaurant, and certainly one of the most romantic. Enjoy live entertainment, provided by strolling musicians, while you feast on exotic specialties. The menu is lengthy and impressive, featuring some of the most succulent pork dishes to be found anywhere. The mixed seafood grill is also a top-notch choice, and the international wine list is among the best in Miami. Linger over strong, fresh-brewed coffee and the sinfully delicious crema Catalana dessert. Reservations recommended.
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COCONUT GROVE. While the dining scene at Coconut Grove doesn't lack for its share of options, it's difficult for many tourists to find a place that serves up good food but doesn't wipe out the trust fund in the process. 27th Avenue's Las Culebrinas is one of these places. Live calypso and salsa music filters through the restaurant, whose sophisticated decor bears a distinct tropical lilt. Upstairs, patrons may sit at the upscale bar and enjoy a little bi-lingual interaction with the band. Meanwhile, the smartly clad waitstaff swarms around the main dining area, bringing delightful offerings of sautéed shredded beef and onions, fried pork in avocado sauce, and rabbit in garlic sauce with deep-fried green plantains. Reservations are accepted.
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5. Yuca
501 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 · 305-532-9822
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SOUTH BEACH. This restaurant is a bit classier and more elegant than most Cuban favorites, with uncluttered decor and original Cuban tiles on the floor. If fact, YUCA stands for Young Upscale Cuban Americans, so there's no question about the demographic the restaurant seeks to attract. Clearly not aimed at traditionalists, the menu features innovative dishes that center around traditional Cuban ingredients, such as yucca stuffed with picadillo of wild mushrooms, served on a bed of sautéed spinach with beef and carrot vinaigrette. The chef skillfully blends Cuban and Italian cuisine with the sun-dried tomato and basil gnocchi, served with veal picadillo inside a basket made of yucca shoestring fries, the whole mixture topped with tangy Tetilla cheese. The bar upstairs draws crowds with live music.
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SOUTH BEACH. This is Cuban done South Beach-style – that means with glitz, bright color, and ultra-chic decor. Young Cuban-Americans and trendy folks of all colors, creeds, and ages make this restaurant a mob scene on weekends. If you want to commune with the elbow-to-elbow crowds, Friday and Saturday are ideal. But if you want to dine on Cuban specialties in relative peace, come earlier in the week. The beans and rice is flavorful and hearty, as are the roasted chicken and the Palomilla steak. The prices are a bit higher than at many Cuban eateries, but the party crowd says the ambience and hip clientele are worth every penny. Reservations recommended.
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DOWNTOWN. For Cuban cuisine set to a pop beat, don't miss this cafe owned by singer Gloria Estefan and husband Emilio. Vivid colors, Latin beats, and plenty of bongos (of course!) get you in a festive mood, and the authentic Cuban cuisine is served with creative aplomb. Come early to enjoy a satisfying meal of roasted chicken marinated in orange and lime or the traditional Cuban strip steak. Wash it down with an exotic tropical drink, and then prepare to hit the dance floor, which starts hopping around 11pm. This is a great place to make a night of it. Reservations recommended.
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Tasty, authentic Cuban eats are the draw at this modest eatery, where fans sip margaritas and munch on meat dishes with scrumptious sides like black beans, rice, plantains and yucca. Try the Cuban-style roast beef or pork, or a seafood dish, such as the impressively tasty whole fried red snapper. Great prices, too.
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CORAL GABLES. A Coral Gables favorite, Havana Harry's is often packed at lunch and dinner with happy patrons enjoying tropical cocktails and everything from palomilla steak and yucca to plantains and grilled dolphin. The atmosphere, warm and friendly, has changed little despite the fact that they've moved out of their old digs and into a newer building next door. Tables are usually hard to come by, but do yourself a favor and wait it out – your taste buds will thank you.
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WESTWOOD LAKES. This Cuban treasure makes a quick road trip out to West Dade more than worthwhile. Don't expect much in terms of flashy decor and SoBe-esque neon – the emphasis is on home cooking rather than designer digs. Indeed, inexpensive eats and friendly atmosphere are always on the menu at Rio Cristal, where Pepe and family serve up traditional grilled steak, frijoles negros (black beans), gran guinero steak with fried potatoes, and lobster enchilada with ripe plantains.
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
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