Short Order - Miami




Add to Technorati Favorites

Blogroll

Cheap Eats: Out of the Blue Cafe

Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 08:45:00 AM
OutoftheBlue1.jpg
Jose D. Duran
The Midtown Steak Sandwich at Out of the Blue Cafe.

Where: 2426 NE 2nd Ave., Miami 305-573-3800

What $15 Gets You: A sandwich, panini or salad with a drink.

Located on the fringes of Wynwood, Out of the Blue Cafe feels oddly out of place among the Latin cafeterias and warehouses. Why the owners didn't rent out a space one block east right on Biscayne Boulevard is beyond me. It's obvious this place is looking to capitalize on the influx of young professionals moving into the area looking for a place that is nice enough to feel like it could easily be located on South Beach, but grungy enough that its cred as a Wynwood locale remains intact.

As far as prices go, sandwiches start at $6.95 for the Italiano go as high as $9.75 for the Out of the Blue Burger Trio, a combo of 4-ounce burgers, each one with a different topping. I tried the Midtown Steak Sandwich ($8.95), which consists of marinated skirt steak, roasted tomatoes, and chimichurri dressing on a baguette, and it's worth every penny.

What's surprising right after taking the first bite is how the dressing isn't overpowering. It seems like every chimchurri sauce I've tasted in Miami is so overloaded with herbs, lemon and garlic that it renders anything you pour it over obsolete. But Out of the Blue's sauce is mild enough that it lets you enjoy the taste of the meat, yet savory enough that its not just oil slathered on bread.

I ordered the meat medium-rare, which is perfect for a steak sandwich, because it was soft enough to chew through without pulling a big chunk of meat from in between the bread.

With a can of soda and tip, my entire meal came out to $13 and change. While bit on the pricey side for what's basically a sandwich, this isn't exactly a nuked Subway meal.

- Jose D. Duran

Category: Cheap Eats

12 Comments:

"Why the owners didn't rent out a space one block east right on Biscayne Boulevard is beyond me." Is there a law against journalism on this blog? Is there some kind of rule against asking a question that might yield an answer to your wondering, my friend? Because if there isn't, may I simply say that the reason the "owners" didn't rent a space elsewhere is that the "owners" own the damn building. And with a name like Carmen Miranda, the "owners" are pretty hard to forget. All you had to ask was ONE QUESTION. This place has been open for two years and you're just getting to it? And it's right around the corner from New Times offices! Well at least you finally found it. Maybe less time on what you think is "obvious" and more time spent describing the food would be helpful. Although I am grateful for your helpful tip on how to eat a freakin sandwich (chew it?).

Duran says:

Oh Miami Danny it's obvious by your blog you have a vendetta against the New Times (Lee Klein in particular). And it's obvious every comment you have made thus far that you aren't looking to give constructive criticism. You only look to humiliate others. Good job.

Thank you!
Actually I just really enjoy good food writing, and really abhor bad food writing, especially from writers who obviously know little about their subject. From your ad hominem attack, where you could not even muster a defense for yourself, I guess you've already figured out in which category you see yourself.
A little constructive criticism? Ask the owner next time instead of guessing, Jose. And if you are "humiliated" by criticism, constructive or otherwise, you are in the wrong business, sir.
As far as me having a 'vendetta' against Lee Klein, I believe you are mischaracterizing my criticism. I may loathe certain tics in the writing of La Klein, but it is not, and never has been, personal.

Duran says:

If you want your criticism to be taken seriously and not seem like you have a personal vendetta, maybe you should look at the way you write things, because you make it a point to sound cruel and venomous. There are a lot of critics who do cruel and venomous well (usually to add humor), but I don't think you do it tactfully or humorously.

Cheap Eats posts are all about first impressions, research is not required. Point of the post is to inform people about good places to get a cheap meal. It's not meant to be a fleshed out review like you would see in the print edition.

As the web editor, feel free to personally send me things you'd like to see improve, because I'm always willing to listen to what people have to say.

First-I believe my criticism IS taken very seriously, and the over 20,000 readers of DailyCocaine and PressChops are my toughest critics. You're certainly entitled to your opinion about whether I'm funny or not. But I think I'm pretty damn funny. And I take the Herald, the SunPost (I've worked for both), and many other publications/writers to task for what I see as lax research or reporting on something that I take very seriously (food/wine/spirits/restaurants). Apparently you don't take this subject seriously, and that's okay. I think there's definitely room for both points of view. By the way, the Herald may have its problems, but at least they have a sense of humor about my jabs-perhaps you could learn a lesson from them?
And I see you keep failing to address my point, I suppose on purpose. Although you certainly have answered any questions I may have had now or in the future with the statement "research is not required"...and you're the editor. Wow. How about fact-checking? None of that, either? Cool! Carry on!

Duran says:

Can you pick out anything that is factually wrong with my post? Because I never mentioned anything about fact checking being disregarded.

Sorry I can't please you Danny.

Just saying that "no research required" is an awfully slippery slope, my friend. And just for the record, you have pleased me greatly!

Anonymous says:

Jesus Christ on a freakin' bike, way to nitpick, Danny. "Why the owners didn't rent out a space one block east right on Biscayne Boulevard is beyond me." is not a question, it's a damn observation about the location. It'd be pretty stupid to call a restaurant owner about that. Watch out, Bob Woodward, we'll get to the bottom of this one!

You say Duran should spend more time describing the food. He spends more than 50% of the post describing the sandwich and the chimichurri -with a couple of pertinent observations I may add: most chimichurri is indeed overpowering and the meat for a sandwich is better medium rare precisely so it doesn't get though and chewy. The rest is commentary about the location and price.

It's a damn blog, not a feature in Cook's Illustrated. How much research do they need to do? Should they call the purveyors of the meat and the bread too? I enjoy good food writing as well, I just have the good sense not to look for it on a blog. You just enjoy playing food blog police.

Alex says:

The cmment above is mine. Forgot to sign.

gail shepherd says:

"First-I believe my criticism IS taken very seriously, and the over 20,000 readers of DailyCocaine and PressChops are my toughest critics."

Hmm, I've heard that 20,000 reader figure before somewhere.... oh, it must have been from Danny. Know what else I heard? Three quarters of those readers are yer old Irish mum and the guys she's shagging.

Har har har har har.

Alex-If you want to defend your belief that food blogs have to suck then go right ahead. I disagree.
Gail-Only took you two days to come up with that? Probably shouldn't have eaten that extra brownie, darling....And me mum's black.
Also, the figure of 20,000 readers is taken directly from my Statcounter page.

salomon mizrahi says:

Hello Everyone,

I want to thank all of you for letting me know about Out of the Blue Cafe,i just went i love the place, the food is amazing, ambiance a 10 on my list, the patio is great, the decor is phenomenal,someone put a lot of thought into it. Your are right Danny,Carmen Miranda is the owner (i thought it was a joke)
Do not depart without meeting the owner, for real is Carmen Miranda and she makes you feel right at home along with her staff. I am glad she owns the property that means they will be an Out of the Blue for quite awhile. Guys, check out what they call Degustation Menu, it is amazing all sort of small plates,their wine list is mostly by the glass great selection and priced right!!Please Jose let us know about places like this sooner, I am hooked on Out of the Blue!!

Post a comment

Comments may not show up immediately after submission. Please wait a minute after posting a comment for it to appear.



Miami New Times Insiders

  • Local food, music and news blasts
  • Free Stuff