Chalan on the Beach (Miami Beach, FL)

Lomo Saltado

I hesitated to write this review, to be honest. I never actually visited Chalan on the Beach: Justin was wonderful and brought our takeout dinner back to the hotel the night we flew into Miami, since it was long past Ian's bedtime. And my crummy, incomplete iPhotos of the food in ugly plastic takeout containers are not very sexy at all. But the food was so good, I really just felt like I had to tell you about it.

The Dutch (Miami Beach, FL)

Mustard Glazed Pork Chop

There are times when dining in Miami Beach feels like dining in New York City light. The Dutch, Shake Shack, Scarpetta, Bond Street, Nobu, Rosa Mexicano, Il Mulino and Serendipity all have Miami Beach outposts. I'm in no hurry to visit any of these places, generally: Why not eat what we can't get back home? But The Dutch, Miami Beach was too enticing to skip, given that (1) it was located in our hotel, (2) it was windy and rainy for several days straight, (3) we have a young baby who doesn't like wind and rain, and (4) I'd read some rave reviews about the food at the Miami Beach location, whose menu is actually fairly different from the NYC location.

In truth, I wasn't sure I'd be that excited about it. I like, but don't love, The Dutch, NYC. But in execution, The Dutch, Miami Beach, was exceptional. I'd be hard pressed to identify any missteps.

Pubbelly (Miami Beach, FL)

Pubbelly Communal Table

Add this one to the long, long list of gushy reviews out there already. Pubbelly, an "Asian-inspired gastropub" by Andreas Schreiner, Sergio Navarro, and Jose Mendin -- novice restaurant owners when Pubbelly first opened in 2010, but already owners of a Miami mini empire less than two years later -- really is that good. The small plates menu is surprisingly self assured for a young restaurant. It takes some big risks and for the most part they pay off.

Sardinia (Miami Beach, FL)

Malloreddos

It's a cuisine that counts casu marzu (aka "maggot cheese") among its specialties, but Sardinian food also boasts some of the most accessible comfort food on the planet. The homey yet elegant Sardinia in Miami Beach reflects both these sensibilities well. Preparations are consciously rustic, with many appealing options for picky eaters, but the food is far from dumbed down. The menu is sometimes quietly edgy and interesting enough to lure us back.