Lee Klein

Hakkasan's shrimp dumplings

​Our Snackdown smackdown continues. Voting on South Beach vs. Coconut Grove has closed today as the Grove handily defeated SoBe, but we also still have a race going on between downtown and Mid Beach -- as of this morning, the former is whupping the latter. Far be it for me to get involved in trying to sway votes; I'll just note that we've already discussed the Top Five Inexpensive Downtown Restaurants, so it's only fair to go over the five best places to eat in Mid Beach. This quintet is admittedly composed of expensive places to dine, so if you're on a budget, you might consider our honorable mention, Pita Hut.
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Bagel Emporium

​A small part of my youthful days were spent as a bagelmeister in Queens, New York. The name of the place was Bagel World, and it produced thousands of hole-filled rolls each day -- mostly for wholesale to New York restaurants. We also made bialys and "bulls," which is the industry word for extra large bagels used for sandwiches (I haven't seen any bulls in Miami). The crew was entirely composed of African-Americans, and because my first name is the same as that of a certain confederate hero (although not to them) they called me "General" -- easily the best restaurant nickname I ever got tagged with, uneasy racial overtones notwithstanding (just kidding; it was done in good spirit). I'm pretty sure I had a point to make when I started this paragraph.

Now I remember: Bagel World made the most delicious, malt-laden, crisp-crusted bagels I've ever had -- meaning I know a good bagel when I see and taste one. The winner of our 2011 Best Bagels award was The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co., which does make a great specimen. These five will do as well.
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Sitting outdoors at Red Light won't cost you a fortune.

​Last year, we bestowed our Best Restaurant for Outdoor Dining award on Cecconi's Miami Beach for its lovely garden patio with retractable roof. And, of course, we also like the food, a factor too often overlooked in "Best Outdoor Dining" compilations. Sure, there are gorgeous waterfront properties and groovy garden venues that are great for grabbing a beer and cocktail -- maybe catch a romantic sunset while you're at it. But if the cuisine isn't special, well, let's just say that at some point the sun goes down and you don't want to be left sitting in the dark with a mediocre meal.

The food at our five favorites (six including Cecconi's) is as fab as the setting -- or at least in four of the five (we'll let you know the one we're not sure about). We've tried to give it some range as well. Our list encompasses a bayfront, riverfront, lily-pond-front, mansion, and art gallery.

And really, there is no sweeter season for dining outdoors in Miami than right now.
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Farewell 2011: We laughed, we cried, but mostly we ate. And there were a lot of very good meals to eat throughout the year. This coming week, the Cafe review will feature a look back at the past twelve months. In the meantime, let's chew over the ten best restaurants we visited.

billwisserphoto.com

Fried chicken, mac & cheese at Sustain.

​10. Sustain Restaurant + Bar
"One bite into Sustain's 50-mile salad and any thoughts of gimmickry evaporate like morning dew. The bright medley is made of wood-roasted beets, pickled red onions, caramelized carrots, mixed brassica greens from Paradise Farms, and soft crumbles of fromage blanc from Hani's -- all sourced within the namesake distance. It seems midtown Miami residents have yet another fine restaurant in the neighborhood."
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Just an example of the salad plates....mussels, shrimp, meat and more.

​Area Code 55 in Aventura should really be called Country Code 55. They serve, in my estimation, the best rodizio in Miami. That is, meat and salads galore -- all you can eat -- Brazilian style. If you expanded your stomach on Thanksgiving and need to keep munching, this is the place!

The place is friendly and packed with Brazilians. It has the top salad bar in these parts, great service and costs a reasonable $12.95 for kids. Adults go a stiffer $30 for dinner, but it is well worth it. Drinks, desserts and tip extra.

We headed over yesterday for my daughter's ninth birthday. Still feeling the effects.
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Cioppino at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne took the title Best Expensive Italian Restaurant in New Times' Best of Miami 2011 issue. Though it is tricky to choose one pasta over another, after careful consideration, we present the other top contenders. Tune in next week, when we count down the top inexpensive options for those without black cards or an expense account.

Quattro Gastronomia Italiana

Quattro's tartare with truffles from Alba.

​5. We named Quattro Gastronomia Italiana Best New York Switcheroo this year -- a little snafu on our part because the NYC location closed shortly thereafter. We are happy to report the brothers, chefs Nicola and Fabrizio Carro, continue to man the kitchen at the most upscale Italian restuarant on Lincoln Road. They import a large percentage of ingredients from their homeland, ensuring beautiful olive oils, fatty hams, and the best seasonal truffle cart in town. The wine list is all Italian, as is the northern-bent cuisine. Piedmont is known for rich, creamy sauces (and lots of truffles), and the Carro twins do not disappoint. Exhibit A: The porcini ravioli comes dressed in a decadent porcini truffle sauce ($22). You'll find everything from shrimp to aged goat cheese in risotto of the day (rice is another Piedmontese specialty -- they grow a ton of it). From a traditional veal saltimboca ($36) to the orata steamed in white wine with olives and capers ($30), the menu is truly Italian.
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A La Folie

A sweet as can be crepe from A La Folie.

​Daniel Boulud's Miami outpost of DB Bistro Moderne captured the distinction of most fabulous French restaurant in our Best Of Miami 2011 issue, beating out oldies but goodies who have been serving up escargots for ages. Here's a round-up of our other favorites who remain heralded, even without the official badge of honor.

5. A La Folie's location on Española Way, truly evokes a tiny cafe nestled in Le Marais. Sure, it can get hot in there, but that only adds to the charm of Parisian authenticity. Sweet and savory crêpes are made to order, we really, really like the salty creaminess of the "Norvégienne" (salmon with brie and mushrooms, $12.50) and the apple goodness of the "Normande" (Apples cooked in a Calavados-based cream sauce, $8). Classic French staples like pâté, quiche Lorraine ($9) and duck rillettes ($10) are all reasonably priced.You'll get everything from grog to a latte, along with the surrounding flow of French conversation.
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​Eight years after opening his flagship restaurant, Momofuku Noodle Bar in the East Village, David Chang is still on top of the food world and only getting bigger (cameos on Top Chef and HBO's hit show Treme, plus a new restaurant set to open in Sydney, Australia). More >>

A meal fit for the undead.

This year, the rising took over Miami, and while brains were obviously on the top of the menu, a few restaurants made the cut for Best of Miami, too.

From Lulu in Coconut Grove, to B.O.'s Fish Wagon in Key West, to Prime One Twelve in Miami Beach, we had you covered.

But there are still so many places we love, we just had to bring our Best Of back. This week we're taking it to Coral Gables. Although Route 9 was our official winner, here are five more of our favorites.
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Lee Klein

Shing Wang Banh Mi

​Bread has been paired with meat and plants since roughly the end of the Stone Age. It is said that the ancient Jewish sage Hillel the Elder relished eating a Passover sandwich of Pashcal lamb and bitter herb between two pieces of matzoh. He lived to be 120 (which says something about enjoying a good lamb sandwich from time to time), yet passed away long before Hellman the Younger invented mayonnaise. History truly is tragic.

How do we define sandwich? Does pulled pork rolled in a tortilla -- a combo of meat and bread -- qualify? Not according to a judge in Worcester, Massachussetts, who in 2006 ruled that a "sandwich" must include at least two slices of bread -- and "under this definition and as dictated by common sense, this court finds that the term sandwich is not commonly understood to include burritos, tacos, and quesadillas, which are typically made with a single tortilla and stuffed with a choice filling of meat, rice, and beans."

Translation: Panera Bread Co. lost its no-compete-clause case against Qdoba Mexican Grille.

So... no burritos on this list. Nor any burgers, even if they do meet the criteria (we have enough burger smackdowns). And no prissy upscale panini from the more elegant lunch menus around town. Just ten fine sandwiches (five of which we featured yesterday) at affordable prices:
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