Tamara Bistro at the National Hotel

After spending six hours snacking on crappy airplane or airport snacks, I was looking forward to a great meal. The Tamara Bistro at the National Hotel provided welcome culinary relief. The setting of the restaurant was stunning enough – massive floor to ceiling windows overlooking an infinity pool and al fresco dining area – but most noticeable was the ceiling mosaic.  An Art Deco scene done in the style of the famous period artist, Tamara de Lempicka, gave the restaurant its namesake.

As we were ‘VIP’ guests, so to speak, most restaurants we went to would do special items, which may not be on the menu. The Tamara did a little of both – a few opening off-menu appetizers were presented to us, followed by the main courses which were items currently on their menu. Two memorable items were the Mahi-Mahi filet with mango and onion salsa and white rice, and the seared pork tenderloin with sweet mashed potatoes and bacon bits. The consensus around the table was that both the tenderloin and filet were impressive in taste and in presentation. Dessert was again off menu – chocolate ice cream with a macaron. Simple, but a great way to end the meal. International cuisine is the description they give for the Tamara; whatever they label it, it was delicious and a great introduction to Miami’s South Beach.

Most nights at the Tamara, you can expect to be entertained. Their performers sing all types of music: whether it be jazz, blues, R&B, pop, rock, Spanish or Broadway. As we noshed, we watched many different artists get up and perform. The one who stood out was Victor Valdez. Both pianist and vocalist his range and knowledge of pop songs were incredible, and he took the time to connect to the crowd, taking requests and earning applause.

The next evening (Friday) our group of international writers tried out the Biscayne Tavern, the restaurant in the YVE hotel where we stayed the first two nights. The description I was given on it was "Comfort meets style in Miami’s newest gastro tavern. Serving a variety of craft and seasonal ales, combined with irresistibly delicious updated takes on globally inspired classics, this is the new neighborhood gathering post."

I was kind of leery about this after being... well, I wouldn’t call it disappointed, but unimpressed by their breakfast buffet. It’s not like their breakfast was bad, it just wasn’t exceptional – we experienced confusion over billing, and the layout for a buffet breakfast was a bit crowded. Like I said, nothing really bad; just mostly forgettable.

Anyhow – supper. Starting off with their Passion Fruit Margarita, again we saw an assortment of items on and off menu. We started with the Wedge Salad - iceberg lettuce, cherry tomato, Stilton blue cheese and bacon. The staff then brought out three large trays as a mini-buffet for our group. These appeared to be samples from the mains – fish and chips, chicken breast, steak, and shrimp scampi. The food was good, and definitely matches the "Gastro Tavern" style of dining they are aiming for. We finished off with a delicious cheesecake and more drinks.

I’m kind of split on this... I do think the Biscayne Tavern has potential. After looking at the reviews online, the consensus is much the same – great location and nice space, however a little tweak here and there is needed to make this place pop.

The Palace is the first and only gay restaurant/bar on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach; for 28 years it has continued to entertain countless men and women. And wow... the Saturday we were there, I would say the ratio was more men than women, and this is where I really noticed the amount of yummy men in Miami – many of whom were shirtless.

Of course, it wasn’t just the men in the cafe who were the attraction. The Palace had drag queens performing, and while usually this is something I can take or leave, the quality and skill of these performers tempted our focus away from the food.

Selected from the Brunchic menu, three dishes were delivered to our table. Some selected the blueberry stuffed pancakes, served with blueberry sauce, bacon and scrambled eggs. Beside me, a fellow writer noshed on the oven roasted mini-lamb chops on a bed of couscous, while I chose the chicken salad wrap with cheddar Jack cheese. With the noise and the managed chaos of a show going on at a restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised at the service and the food. It’s easy to see why it’s busy here – everything comes together to create a memorable experience.

New York restaurateurs Andrew Carmellini, Josh Pickard and Luke Ostrom partnered up with long-time locals Karim Masri and Nicola Siervo to bring The Dutch, their SoHo hot spot, down to Miami Beach. We ate ‘family’ style at the suggestion of W’s Marketing Manager Michelle Rodriguez. Some, yet not all of the items pictured and consumed, include:

•Sheep’s Milk Ricotta, Grilled Bread, Herbs.

•Little Lobster Roll, Yuzu, Tobiko, Pickles.

•Baby Kale Salad, Bailey Hazen Cheese, Radish, Brown Butter.

The Dutch was possibly one of the best dining experiences I have had in a while. The service was professional – not intrusive – and while my clothing strained at all the food, my taste buds regret nothing. And I haven’t yet gotten to describing dessert: a little bit of everything to satisfy the sweet tooth: steamed lemon pudding; roasted pineapple; banana ice cream; chocolate on chocolate; devil’s food cake with chocolate milk ice cream; churros; doughnuts; funnel cake. Even now, I’m drooling, just remembering the desserts.

For a restaurant the quality of the Dutch in a hotel like the W South Beach, it could have been an intimidating atmosphere; fortunately, everything from the service to the cozy design and space, made you feel welcome. Hotel restaurants are often forgettable, unless they really screw up or really go over the top. The Dutch is definitely a place I would recommend. You will pay around $150 for a night out there; it is money well spent.

The one downside to all the great food and parties during the day was that for breakfast at the Dutch, I was barely awake, so both mornings I went for simplicity: the yummy breakfast burrito, with egg, chorizo, and pico de gallo. I did get to try a bite of banana-walnut French toast and smoked maple syrup courtesy of Andreas, one of the other writers, and while I have never liked French toast, this dish would get me to reconsider... especially with the smoked maple syrup. This is to regular maple syrup like the Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce Roadster is to a Ford Focus.

The Sugar Factory, located in the Hotel Victor on Ocean Drive, is part of a small chain of restaurants, which usually means it will suffer compared to other restaurants on my trip. That being said, if you’re out with a group of friends at the right location, even a chain restaurant can be fun.

When the server showed up with goblet-sized alcoholic drinks chilled with dry ice, on a patio facing Ocean Drive as the Pride Parade passed by, well, one must make the effort to have fun. The various drinks we had – including a peanut butter cup chocolate martini – were delicious, sweet perfection.

As for the food, it wasn’t pretentious – this restaurant knows what it is – a little bit of a greasy spoon mixed with a lot of sugar. If you’re looking for comfort food and aren’t diabetic, this is the place. The presentation of the desserts was exceptional; unfortunately, by that point we could only nibble as we were all about 20 calories away from a food coma. This was a pity because the meal ended with a bang as they brought out their "World Famous Sugar Factory King Kong Sundae". At $99, it feeds 12, and comes equipped with lollipops and sparklers. While I can still hear my pancreas screaming "NOOOOOO!" (along with my pants) it was a fun afternoon.

"The Bâoli Group features three high standard gastronomic venues: Bâoli Cannes, Bâoli Beach (France) and Bâoli Miami. Each transforms into a partying paradise where conviviality reigns in between the stars and the international jet­setters" – Bâoli Group website.

When we pulled up to Bâoli Miami, it conveyed nothing special... almost ‘blink and you’ll miss it’. Even as you walk down a narrow hallway and spill into the main dining area, I wasn’t blown away. Then we turned and sat in the outdoor courtyard, under trees lit up with strings of lights, while we were serenaded by live jazz music mere meters away from our table. Bâoli Miami combines exceptional Asian Fusion with great service in a beautiful space. This night we were fed with some of the following dishes, all of which I would have again in a heartbeat:

•Sake Maki Roll: peppered salmon/cream cheese/cucumber/avocado/serrano pepper/onion/ponzu/yuzu tobico

•Hamachi Sashimi Tacos

•Marinated lime yuzu yellowtail/guacamole/radish salad

•Roasted Beets: delicately sliced beets/mizuna salad/feta cheese/wasabi dressing/pumpkin seed

•Organic Airline Chicken: goma miso sauce

It was a nice contrast to the Sugar Factory – the portions were certainly more sensible, and while the former was sunshine, playfulness and laughter, Bâoli, like the Dutch, conveyed a ‘Moment in the Garden’ experience for me. If I could but stay in this restaurant – eating, talking to friends, drinking, as jazz music played under a starry sky – for years, I would. The service was great, the ambiance better, and the food outstanding. I would have to say that out of all the restaurants, Bâoli and the Dutch were tied for best though, truthfully, I didn’t have a bad meal in Miami at all.

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Contributor Evan Kayne |

Locale Miami |

Topic Travel | Accommodation and Lodging | Food | Arts |

Photo Gallery Miami | Travel |