The 2023 Miami Spice Mediterranean Guide
Where to score some of the most refreshing dishes for lunch & dinner
Sep
19
2023
Here is our 2023 Miami Spice Mediterranean guide.
This guide is for those that couldn’t make it to France, Greece, Israel, Italy, or Turkey this summer. We know you’re craving all those fresh Mediterranean flavors, especially during August and September when the heat is real in Miami.
A summer salad anyone?! Yes, please. For those that love dips, herbs, and simple Mediterranean cooking, hang in there and enjoy our 2023 Miami Spice Mediterranean Guide.
Until September 30th, local Miami restaurants will feature 3-course meals for either lunch, brunch, or dinner at a steal. At just $30 or $35 for lunch, $30 or $35 for brunch, and $45 or $60 for dinner, you can hop around Miami trying out the spots that have been on your list.
DON’T MISS THE REST OF OUR MIAMI SPICE GUIDES:
DOYA
Neighborhood: Wynwood
Address: 347 NW 24th St
Cuisine: Aegean, Turkish
Miami Spice availability: Lunch everyday
Book your table: HERE
View menu: HERE
Doya, a modern Aegean restaurant and bar nestled in Wynwood, offers Miami Spice goers the chance to enjoy a one-of-a-kind Meze lunch. Their Spice lunch menu is designed for sharing, making it an ideal choice for a group of friends. Bring at least one other person to enjoy their Miami Spice menu.
From the menu, the House Salad is a refreshing start, featuring a medley of ingredients like tomato, cucumber, pepper, capers, olives, and feta (a classic dish start if we say so ourselves). We also love the Haydari yogurt-based garlic dip with burnt butter and mint. For the main course, indulge in the Grilled Turkish Meatballs (Kofte) or the Lahmacun, a flavorful delight made with ground beef, parsley, and onion.
Again, this menu is designed to share so make it a fun food roulette and order 2 different appetizers, 2 different entrees, and both dessert options. That’s the Pistachio Baklava and the Chocolate Cake made of a Turkish tea biscuit, pistachio praline, chocolate cremieux, served with sumac ice cream.
View this post on Instagram
ESTIATORIO MILOS
Neighborhood: South Beach
Address: 730 1st St
Cuisine: Greek
Miami Spice availability: Dinner every day
Book your table: HERE
View menu: HERE
Estiatorio Milos, a beloved classic from New York City, has been a cherished addition to Miami’s South of Fifth neighborhood since 2012. And if you haven’t had a chance to visit this namesake, then Miami Spice is the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a date night dinner for two or a buttoned-up business lunch.
Satisfy that fresh seafood craving and start yourself off with the Milos Sashimi Platter featuring a combination of tuna sashimi, salmon sashimi, and lavraki ceviche. If you still need that fix for seafood going into your entree portion we recommend the Whole Dorade Royale. A must-try entrée, charcoal-grilled to perfection and served with steamed wild greens. And for you, meat lovers you can relish in the broiled Australian Lamb Chops, accompanied by hand-cut Greek fries and an organic baby romaine trio drizzled with aged balsamic. For a light finish, do not skip the Yiaourti, greek yogurt with walnuts and honey. It’s one of our favorite simple desserts.
View this post on Instagram
BYBLOS
Neighborhood: South Beach
Address: 1545 Collins Ave
Cuisine: Eastern Mediterranean
Miami Spice availability: Dinner everyday
Book your table: HERE
View menu: HERE
Located in the Royal Palm Hotel on South Beach this beloved Miami gem is known for its captivating Mediterranean ambiance adorned with sensual blue and gold accents. Beyond its stunning decor, Byblos delivers a culinary experience rooted in Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, blending traditional and local ingredients to create mouthwatering dishes. This is a great spot for dinner if you’re planning a big South Beach night out.
For your Miami Spice dinner experience, we recommend starting with the Roasted Red Beets with pistachio, caraway, labneh, and barbari bread. Among the enticing entrées, the Turkish Manti Dumplings with eggplant, yogurt sauce, and molasses stand out in flavor and creativity. And though we love a good baklava, order instead the Strawberry Cheesecake Qatayef featuring sumac strawberry, honey syrup, and pistachio.
View this post on Instagram
ABBALÉ TELAVIVIAN KITCHEN
Neighborhood: South Beach
Address: 864 Commerce St
Cuisine: Televivian
Miami Spice availability: $30 Lunch Monday to Thursday; $35 lunch Friday and Saturday; $45 dinner Monday to Thursday; $60 dinner Friday and Saturday; Sunday brunch
Book your table: HERE
View menu: HERE
Abbalé Telavivian Kitchen, a family-run restaurant, offers a unique dining experience that celebrates the flavors of Israel, Turkey, Greece, and Colombia all in one. Abbalé focuses on healthier cooking, sourcing ingredients from local farmers, and crafting fresh dishes daily. If you looking to step out of your comfort zone for a fun dinner, choose this Miami Spice menu for that journey. We also love Abbale for brunch with family and friends.
For dinner, we recommend starting with the Salatim that comes with baganoush, hummus, pickles, and fire-baked pita. A simple, yet delicious dish, that will ultimately sell you on being a Babaganoush fan. From the entrées, the Moroccan Spiced Local Fish with a spicy tomato braise and lemon aioli is a standout. And for dessert, we couldn’t say no to the Sticky Date-Feta Caramel Cake with labneh crema; this will be your new addiction.
View this post on Instagram
AMAL
Neighborhood: Coconut Grove
Address: 3480 Main Hwy
Cuisine: Modern Lebanese
Miami Spice availability: Lunch Monday to Friday
Book your table: HERE
View menu: HERE
You read earlier in this Mediterranean guide about Byblos, well, it’s time to meet its sister restaurant, Amal. With a modern twist on Lebanese cuisine in Coconut Grove this restaurant’s stunning interior, with sandy hues, earthy tones, and vibrant palm trees, exudes Miami’s charm. We love it for a catch-up lunch with that friend you haven’t seen in a while or for a client lunch you’re expensing.
For your Miami Spice lunch, try the creamy Hummus and smoky Baba Ghanoush served with a warm pita. For your second course relish in Amal’s Falafels, served with tahini and pickled turnip, a delightful contrast, and play on a combination of flavors. Once you have devoured those falafels, save room for dessert, because the Mistkeh Ice Cream is no ordinary dessert. It’s a whimsical creation featuring Lebanese cotton candy and pistachio.
View this post on Instagram
EL TURCO
Neighborhood: Upper Buena Vista
Address: 184 NE 50th Terrace
Cuisine: Turkish, Aegean, Anatolian
Miami Spice availability: Brunch and lunch Monday to Friday
Book your table: HERE
View menu: HERE
Looking for an excuse to do brunch with the girls this month, then take your chicas for Miami Spice brunch at El Turco. Experience a morning filled with flavors of traditional Turkish cuisine in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. For your starter, the Turkish Breakfast Tray is a hearty and authentic morning feast featuring organic eggs, premium cheeses, homemade jams, freshly baked bread, and more, served alongside a soothing glass of tea. For those who enjoy picking from an array of tasty treats all at once, trust us you’ll love it.
For your main, the Beef Borek presents a savory experience with its thin flaky dough layer filled with flavorful beef, baked to perfection. If you aren’t feeling beef in the AM (we get it), the Cheese Borek and Spinach Borek are great alternatives to choose from. And what better way to fight the post-brunch nap than to finish your meal with a Turkish coffee?
View this post on Instagram
MAREVA 1939
Neighborhood: South Beach
Address: 1677 Collins Ave
Cuisine: Spanish
Miami Spice availability: Dinner every day
Book your table: HERE
View menu: HERE
Mareva 1939, nestled within The National Hotel, offers an elegant escape from the hustle and bustle of Miami Beach, providing an ideal setting for a sophisticated dining experience. Chef Sergio Chamizo crafts a Spanish-inspired menu that showcases the coastal flavors of Spain, making it a must-visit for those looking to savor a taste of the Mediterranean.
For this coastal Miami Spice dinner starts light with the Beet and Green Apple Tartare, complemented by spice sour cream and avocado, served with toasted bread. Moving on to the entrées, for you seafood enthusiasts we recommend the Black Fideua, featuring scallops, shrimp, and octopus, drizzled with garlic and saffron aioli. And of course, we never miss dessert, go ahead and treat yourself to the Basque Cheesecake with elderflower and blackberry compote, a creamy and fruity delight.
View this post on Instagram
LIRA BEIRUT EATERY
Neighborhood: Wynwood
Address: 2000 NW 2nd Ave
Cuisine: Lebanese, Middle Eastern
Miami Spice availability: Lunch Tuesday to Friday; dinner Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday
Book your table: HERE
View menu: HERE
LIRA Beirut Eatery, one of Wynwood’s newest dining destinations, offers a delightful Lebanese dining experience just on the outskirts of this non-stop expanding neighborhood. This charming spot is the perfect backdrop for delicious Lebanese cuisine that will take you to Beirut. We love it for a date night or for a fun group of friends. Sitting outside is the move.
To kick off your Miami Spice dinner, the Fattoush salad featuring a pomegranate molasses vinaigrette is a refreshing starter, offering a light and herb-forward start to your meal. As you move on to the main course, don’t miss the Shrimps Provençal, boasting succulent sautéed large shrimp, or the Chicken Taouk, showcasing tender house-marinated chicken skewers. To end on a sweet note, go for the Knefe Bites. These are baked cheesy square pieces made with semolina dough soaked in an “ater” rose water syrup topped with pistachio crumble.
View this post on Instagram
THE HUNGRY POST
THE 2023 MIAMI SPICE MEDITERRANEAN GUIDE
BY NATALIE ORTIZ
PHOTO CREDIT Byblos
THE 2023 MIAMI SPICE MEDITERRANEAN GUIDE
