Restaurant Roundabout- Reviews July 24, 2008
Food and Dining Radio Show – 7.24.08
Restaurant Roundabout
**ALL RESTAURANTS DISCUSSED ARE LISTED AT THE END WITH ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBERS
Linda Gassenheimer (LG)
Fred Tasker (FT)
Joseph Cooper (JC)
Jen Karetnick (JK)
Rochelle Koff (RK)
LG: As you said, it’s our popular restaurant program. It’s the start of Miami Spice Season now and there’s lots to talk about. Jen Karetnick is the restaurant critic from Miami Magazine. Also sitting here is Rochelle Koff. She’s the Herald Broward Restaurant Critic and the Weekend Editor for the Herald. Welcome.
JK: Thank you.
RK: I know. You’re looking for the gossip.
LG: Yes, I can’t wait. Now there are a few things I wanted to talk about. The coconut grove area around commodore plaza is having a renaissance. There is a new place called George’s in The Grove. George Fage, from Bouchon du Grove, opened it and his special personality is certainly still there. On Bastille Day he was dressed as Marie Antoinette! Also there’s Cita Italian Chophouse across the street from George. Their chef is from
JC: What kind of noise?
LG: Everything. In fact they’re building restaurants now to make them noisier.
FT: I ate there the other day. It was good.
LG: I also want to mention an old-style restaurant that’s still going strong. This is a piece of old
FT: Do they allow smoking there?
LG: Well technically they don’t allow smoking anywhere anymore.
FT: Oh yeah, that’s right.
LG: Let’s go to Rochelle. What’s going on in Broward?
RK: This is a good time to try upscale restaurants, because there are specials over the summer. Sun Fish Grill is doing a three course dinner for $36, Johnny V’s is having big bar-b-q feast on Thursdays. That’s $40. Christine’s on
LG: Jen, what’s your take on Miami Dade?
JK: I love Miami Spice. This year it’s popular because of the economy. Some restaurants even started it in June.
LG: Some started in June?
JK: Yes, this has become an almost 4 month promotion. I went to Oceannaire for lunch and it was delicious and extremely filling.
LG: That’s a good deal because it’s a pricey restaurant.
JK: I go to the places that I can’t get back to or can’t afford on my own. I go to expensive fish houses and steak houses. Another one is Prime Blue Grill. I’m planning on hitting that. That is overlooking the water at the end of South Biscayne Blvd. Capital Grill always puts on a good showing. Go to ilovemiamispice.com. One Bleu at the
LG: That’s www.ilovemiamispice.com for information. What about the non-Miami Spice restaurants?
JK: Michaels Genuine is not doing it, but if you go into your favorite restaurant you can find a summer special. Michy’s in on the Miami Spice Program. So places you wouldn’t think has one will have one. Like Azul at the Mandarin Oriental has one.
FT: I always warn people to ask about the wine situation. I’ve been to places where it’s $36 but the cheapest bottle of wine is $69.
LG: We’re going to take a break now. Jen Karetnick is here and she’s the restaurant critic for
[break]
LG: We’re back now. Jen Karetnick is here and she’s the restaurant critic for Miami Magazine. Also here is Rochelle Koff who is the Broward Herald Restaurant Critic and the she’s also the Herald Weekend Editor. Now let’s take some calls.
JC: I don’t want to tell people about my treasures. Then they’ll get too crowded.
LG: Some people like to share!
JK: One thing I wanted to mention is that you don’t tip on the Miami Spice menu. You should estimate how much it should cost and leave a tip based on that. So try to do research before you go to the restaurant and get an average so that you leave the appropriate amount for the waiter. They don’t appreciate it when you leave $6 in an upscale restaurant for a Miami Spice Menu.
LG: That’s a great piece of information.
Caller 1: I wanted to ask, last year was my 25th anniversary and we went all out to a show in the
JC: It’s the
JK: Well, within walking distance, that’s a tough one. Bin18 is there, but that would be a bit of a walk. That’s close and it’s romantic.
LG: 18th and
JK: Try Pacific Time. Michael’s Genuine, the new Fratelli Lyon. They do a lot of tapas style dishes. Or you could even go further downtown. The shuttle question is really difficult. I don’t believe there’s anything running right now.
Caller 2: I was calling to recommend restaurants in
LG: What kind of food?
Caller 2: It’s a wide variety. Steak, seafood, chicken. They do a key lime chicken. I’d also recommend one in
LG: It sounds to me like you like to eat out. Thanks for your call.
Caller 3: I wanted to suggest Big Fish.
JK: Right on the river.
Caller 3: I think their seafood is great.
JK: I’ve had inconsistent meals there. It has great views. It’s good to know that you haven’t.
Caller 3: Could you recommend a restaurant for me to take my mom in downtown
JK: In
LG: I like Perricone.
JK: Oceannaire Seafood room is there as well. And you could take advantage of the Miami Spice Menu. The food is very upscale. Call and make sure the Spice Menu is being served on a Sunday.
LG: Also, everyone needs to call before they go to these restaurants now.
JK: Yes. Another place is The River Oyster Bar also in downtown. Not super expensive. Great atmosphere. I just like that place. I’ve always loved the Chef there.
Caller 4: I have a question. Is Michael’s Genuine the same as Michael’s Kitchen?
JK: No, that place is gone. It’s now Kitchen 305 and it’s a completely different Chef.
Caller 4: I want to suggest Scorch on 130th and Biscayne. It’s a locals place.
JK: I go there all the time. It’s a very friendly place.
Caller 4: The other place is on 110th and Biscayne there’s a new Mexican restaurant. It was good food and good prices.
JK: It’s called the Burrito Grill.
Caller 4: Don’t forget Johnny V on Las Olas.
JK: Never.
LG: Thank you very much.
LG: We’re going to take a break now. Jen Karetnick is here and she’s the restaurant critic or Miami Magazine. Also here is Rochelle Koff who is the Broward Herald Restaurant Critic and the Herald Weekend Editor. We’ll take a break and be back with more.
[break]
LG: We’re back. Jen Karetnick is here and she’s the restaurant critic or Miami Magazine. Also here is Rochelle Koff who is the Broward Herald Restaurant Critic and the Herald Weekend Editor.
Caller 5: I was interested in the restaurant on
JK: The partners split up. The new one is on
LG: Jen, you know your stuff.
FT: You must eat out every night.
JK: This is many years of Miami Restaurant information stored in my brain!
Caller 6: I always like the very good restaurants from NY that open here. They’re not always good. But I love Il Mulino in the Acqualina Hotel on 178th. It’s excellent, quiet and really good food. They have excellent service. I just discovered a restaurant on
LG: You’ve had some problems.
Caller 6: Well sometimes the NY restaurants that open here are not as good a quality.
JK: If you like Il Mulino you should try Il Gabbiano. It’s on
Caller 7: I’m part of a non-profit that has a wonderful little place across from the
LG: You have to go upstairs?
Caller 7: Yes, and you can come up and take look. It’s a nice cozy place.
JC: You have to join a private club?
Caller 7: After the open houses you have to join. It’s only 10 cents a day for the year.
LG: Thank you for that information.
Caller 8: I’ve been going to a place for 20 years called Café Italia. It’s in Coral Gable on
LG: That’s an unusual thing. It’s nice to go back to restaurant and recognize the staff.
Caller 8: It’s clean. And one other Cacao on
LG: Thank you very much.
JK: I heard a terrible story the other day about hygiene. I welcome that information.
LG: I’ve always said that, when people think they have the flu, most often it’s a food borne illness.
JK: You don’t know what’s going on behind the walls or in the ceiling.
LG: Let’s go to another caller!
Caller 9: There’s a place called Al Fresco. I love that everything is done from scratch.
LG: How did you find this place?
Caller 9: My son goes to the
LG: I love that place. It’s the most charming place. How does he keep it going?
Caller 9: I think they have scheduled parties and clientele from the theatre productions. Also the owner of the property is treating the whole property as a hobby and isn’t expecting to make a lot of money.
LG: You can sit out on the patio there. On the wall there’s opera.
Caller 9: My family has a number of food allergies. I’m looking for a place with no artificial colors and where we can really know what’s in each item. I’m looking for something near
JK: I have the same problem. My daughter is gluten intolerant. Honestly the way we go about it is to ask to talk with the Chef. We avoid prepackaged stuff.
RK: I was going to say that we have Sublime in Broward.
JK: As opposed to going to specialty vegetarian place, you can just go to places where you know everything is from scratch. For example, Two Chefs in
LG: We’re going to take a break now. Jen Karetnick is here and she’s the restaurant critic for Miami Magazine. Also here is Rochelle Koff who is the Broward Herald Restaurant Critic and the Herald Weekend Editor. We’ll take a break and be back with more.
[break]
LG: We’re back now. Jen Karetnick is here and she’s the restaurant critic for Miami Magazine. Also here is Rochelle Koff who is the Broward Herald Restaurant Critic and the Herald Weekend Editor.Editor. They’ve been giving us great information. But for those evenings that you’re not going out for dinner, here’s a Dinner in Minutes.
JC: Finally.
LG: Today’s dinner is Talapia with Mango Chutney and Black Bean and Rice Salad. If you’d like the recipe, go to my website dinnerinminutes.com.
FT: I like the chutney.
JC: Is there mint in the beans?
LG: No, it’s cilantro.
JC: It has a minty flavor.
LG: All right. [laughing] Fred, there’s been a change in the food section!
FT: Yes, the Tropical Life Section and it’s going to be a full broad sheet again. It’s getting bigger when everything else is getting smaller! On Fridays it’s the way it was before but it has something to do with press runs. On Thursdays from now on you’ll have a food story, non-food story and the wine section on the front.
LG: What are we drinking today?
FT: If you’re a fan of reality shows I’ve got one for you. Come September a group called Doc City Productions is holding auditions for a series called The Wine Makers. They will be taken to
JC: Are you going to sign up?
FT: You have to go out of town for the entire month of September. It’s hard if you have a full time job.
JK: You’re going then?
LG: Let’s go to some more calls.
Caller 10: You mentioned China Grill and I went to the one in
RK: It’s hard to find. People don’t know it’s there.
LG: Will they have a similar menu to Miami Spice?
RK: They’ll have Dine Out. It’s crowded on the weekends.
Caller 10: I think they have a fixed price dinner.
LG: Thank you.
Caller 10: I think there’s a place called the Diner on 167 and Biscayne.
LG: 139 and Biscayne – it’s called The Gourmet Diner.
JK: It’s very good.
LG: They changed owners. Thank you for the call. We have so many other callers and we’ve run out of time. I’m sorry we couldn’t get to all of you. But if you have a pressing question then send me an email at dinnerinminutes.com. Jen Karetnick is here and she’s the restaurant critic for Miami Magazine. Also here is Rochelle Koff who is the Broward Herald Restaurant Critic and the Herald Weekend Editor. Thank you so much for joining us. Next week we’ll be talking about how to turn your kitchen into a green kitchen.
Andu Restaurant and Lounge (
Azul, (Mandarin Oriental,
Beach House Bistro (
Bin18 (
Burrito Grill (
Big Fish (
Christine’s (
2131)
Capital Grill (
Citta Italian Chophouse (3176 Commodore Plz,
Fratelli Lyon, (4141
Fox’s Sherron (
George’s (3145 Commodore Plz, Coconut Grove, 305-444-7878)
Il Mulino (
Il Gabbiano (
Johnny V’s (625 E Las
Kitchen 305, (
Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink (
Michy’s, (
One Bleu (The
Oceanaire Seafood Room (Hide map of
PF Changs (
Prime Blue Grill (
Perricone’s Marketplace & Cafe, (
Por Fin (
Pacific Time, 35 N.E. 40 Street,
Rosa Mexicana (
River Oyster Bar (
Scorch Grill (
Sunfish Grill (
Schnitzel House (
Sublime (
Two Chefs (
The Gourmet Diner (