My husband and I found this restaurant on Instagram and, honestly, we were a little hesitant…read morebecause so much of what you see on social media can be misleading. But we were craving Mediterranean food, so we decided to give it a try and we're glad we did. The food was really good, and John took care of us. His recommendations were excellent and definitely made the experience even better. The atmosphere was nice, and I recommend making a reservation, especially if you want to make sure you can see the belly dance show on Saturdays. The only downside for us was that the chairs were a bit uncomfortable. Other than that, we had a very good experience and would definitely come back.

Coming in, the smell of the restaurant was incredible. Fragrant, and aromatic. Immediately captured…read moreby the ambiance and trans-lounge music. We were sat Immediately, unknowingly, we were sat right next to the unisex bathroom when there were other tables available in the restaurant. Not good. Great service from our server, Felipe, who was superb! Very attentive and professional. The lamb chops were delicious! The Moscow Mule yummy. Dessert was a flop. The baklava was gross. It was a cheap version made with what appeared to be croissant as opposed to philo. No honey. Dry and tasteless. I do not recommend.

Loved the food and Victoria was great! And The food was so…read moredelicious. That was also delicious

Amazing spot. Good food, service, and vibes! We went for date night and loved it. Highly recommend…read moreif you're in SoFlo!

This is such a great spot to go to and order a bunch of different appetizers to share. We loved…read moretheir hummus and got a few other items too. There wasn't anything we tried there and didn't like. The drinks were amazing too, they have a mixologist who made great mocktails and cocktails! Honestly it's hard finding a spot that makes enjoyable mocktails because most of the time it's just sugar overload but I really enjoyed the ones he made for me.

Two Sundays ago hubby and I tried out this restaurant and were pleasantly surprised!…read more The service, food and ambiance -- with Bossa Nova covers playing in the background -- was just the vibe we needed for a Sunday afternoon :) It was a perfect setting and timing, as we got to choose from the once a year "Taste the Gables" 3-course menu! Definitely give it a try!

From the moment you walk into Mandolin Aegean Bistro, it feels like you've been transported to a…read morecharming village in Greece. The beautiful outdoor setting creates such a unique and relaxing atmosphere that you almost forget you're still in the city. The food was outstanding. The grilled meatballs were flavorful and perfectly cooked, and the cheese saganaki was absolutely delicious. But the real star of the meal was the beef souvlaki--it was incredibly tender, juicy, and full of flavor. And I have to mention the fries that came with it. They were honestly some of the best fries I've ever had, and definitely not something I expected to be raving about at a Greek restaurant! This was an amazing dining experience from start to finish, and I can't wait to come back and explore more of the menu.

I'd like to start by saying that I'm really disappointed at people in Miami that say this is a good…read morerestaurant. Mandolin's food was mediocre at best. We had made reservations a week ahead of time which is recommended by them, and it worked perfectly. We called them to let them know we were running a little late and they were happy to hold our reservation for a few more minutes and it was great because this restaurant does get packed. Service is attentive and friendly... where they lost me was actually the quality of the dishes. Greek salad... was very sad. Overly ripped tomatoes, almost spoiled. Fish of the day sandwich (gyro style) was bland. It needed seasoning. NOT Good. Grouper from their specials... also flavorless. It comes over orzo which was overcooked. (Gummy)... and so on. I don't often have to write bad reviews but in this case I feel it is necessary. Way overrated. Way overpriced for the quality. Definitely not a restaurant I would recommend to anyone.

Let me start with the hostess; Beautiful and beautifully dressed. Absolutely lovely...the wait…read morestaff was excellent and they made excellent recommendations. Service was impeccable. The food was really good and had nice presentation and the cocktails were delicious. We had baba ghanoush, stuffed grape leaves , and zucchini and eggplant chips to start. The chips were definite standouts and were scrumptious! Main entrees were kebabs of meat and shrimp. Perfectly seasoned and well cooked Lychee and lemon drop martinis and for dessert the date cake and Kanafe Yummy all around The restaurant is beautifully decorated and wonderfully lit so the ambiance is excellent whether celebrating a birthday or on a date. Will definitely be back

I had been excited to try Amal for years. I actually worked in the neighborhood when they were…read morebuilding it during the pandemic, then moved away and never got the chance to go until now. For context, I worked in fine dining in New York and Miami for almost 20 years, so I notice the details immediately, hospitality, management presence, the energy of a room. You can usually tell pretty quickly what kind of operation you're dealing with. We were a party of five. I arrived with my four-year-old son and was greeted warmly by the hostess. That warmth ended instantly. Standing directly behind her were two managers in suits blocking the main entrance. Both looked straight at me and my child and said absolutely nothing. No hello, no smile, no acknowledgment. Anyone in hospitality knows that moment sets the tone. As an Arab woman who grew up around a culture where hospitality is everything, it was already a bad sign. We were seated outside and the vibe stayed cold. Unfortunately, the food matched it. We ordered a lot because I genuinely wanted to give the kitchen a fair shot. I grew up eating Lebanese food and what stood out most was the lack of soul. Everything felt flat, like it needed salt, lemon, brightness, that warm Mediterranean seasoning Lebanese food is known for. The tabouli was especially shocking. A $20+ tabouli with no bulgur that was so roughly chopped it was basically whole parsley leaves and slices of onion. Any Lebanese auntie would die at the sight of it. At one point I asked our server if they had harissa or any kind of spicy sauce. She said the only option was Sriracha. In a Lebanese restaurant that charges $18 for a tablespoon of hummus. An Asian chili sauce as the only option. What made it even stranger is that harissa is listed on multiple dishes on the menu, so it clearly exists somewhere in the building. I asked for the Sriracha anyway out of desperation for flavor. It never came. Same with ketchup for my toddler's fries, it took three requests. Throughout the meal I walked around the restaurant several times taking my son to the bathroom, looking around the space, even going upstairs to the lounge. Not a single person acknowledged us. Not a host, not a server, not a manager. The bar is right by the entrance and every time we looked over at the bartender and bar manager, just blank stares. At one point we were clearly standing there confused looking for the bathroom in an empty restaurant and still had to say "Excuse me, where is the bathroom?" Wild. Later I walked up to the bar myself to ask if they carried mezcal. After dinner I went back to order one. Same energy--zero warmth, zero engagement. And this is with an automatic 20% gratuity already on the bill. The mezcal was a $25 two-ounce pour and I still had to ask for an orange slice garnish because no one offered it. Empty bar, two people behind it, and I still had to request it. Also worth noting, our reservation was at 5:45pm and the restaurant was practically empty. Yet I didn't see a single manager walking the floor, greeting tables, or checking on guests. I had talked this place up to my party because I'd been so curious about it for years, and it was honestly a huge letdown. If you know Lebanese food and understand Middle Eastern warmth and hospitality, this probably isn't the place for you. Expect cold, almost nonexistent hospitality and food that feels stripped of the soul that makes Lebanese cuisine special. The space is beautiful. I'll give them that. Everything else felt like a very on-brand Miami disappointment, what happens when you give people a beautiful restaurant, expensive food, automatic gratuity, and no leadership. From the lack of authenticity and attention to detail, it's hard to believe anyone truly Lebanese is behind this operation. If anything, it feels more like a polished money grab. Honestly, it might have been less jarring if they just called themselves "Mediterranean" like so many other places in this city. But if you're going to call yourself a Lebanese restaurant, the culture and hospitality should actually be there.

Super cute spot that's been here for years and never even noticed, I'm so glad we decided to check…read moreit out! The staff is very friendly and very attentive. The food was delicious made fresh and came out pretty quickly. Parking was easy to find since it's in shopping center. Highly recommend to anyone!

I was at the excellent dental office across the street (separate review, look for it), and the…read moredoctor there told me I should check out Shaddai. I love ethnic food of all sorts, and it's not easy to find a good Lebanese in my area, so I was happy to check it out. And I'm glad I did. First, the server could not have been nicer. He was jolly and patient and answered all of my questions. I placed an order for kabobs (because you can't go wrong with that), and enjoyed the ambience of the restaurant as I sipped my Diet Coke. The food soon came, and it was delicious. I even had dessert, which I'm trying not to do so much, but they had baklava, and I can't resist. And it was awesome. Definitely a great restaurant and one that needs to be visited again and again. I have more dental work to do, so I'm sure I'll be back.

I had a fantastic experience at AVIV. What a beautiful place inside 1 Miami hotel…read more The chef selected several dishes for our table and every one of them was excellent. Fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared. You can tell the kitchen takes pride in what they serve. Dish after dish arrived and somehow it kept getting better. Service was equally strong. Attentive. Professional. The team made sure everything flowed smoothly without ever feeling rushed. The drinks were outstanding as well. Great cocktails, well balanced, and crafted the right way. A special note about the General Manager, Martin. He runs a great operation and you can feel it the moment you walk in. Engaged with guests. Present. Making sure everyone is having a great experience. Great food. Great drinks. Excellent service. I highly recommend AVIV and look forward to coming back.

Apparently, my trip to Miami was basically an Israeli food tasting, and Aviv was absolutely…read moredelicious! I came here with two other people, so we decided to get the tayim. We got: *Resek hummus - this was delicious *Salatim - these were a really yummy selection *Yellowtail crudo - delicious *Moroccan cigars - good, but the ones at Motek were better *Stuffed dates - yum! *Beef shishlik - this was amazing *Lamb merguez - good *Kebab - also good We finished with the chocolate dessert, which was perfect! The drinks were really really good too. I got the Zhoug, which was nice and a little spicy, and my friends got the fig-stachio Manhattan (the presentation is really nice, and the drink is delicious), and the pastelito punch (tasty!). One thing that was weird is that one of my friends ordered a wine pairing. He got a glass of rose with the first course, and then we got the second course, and the meats, and we literally had to call the waiter over to ask if there were more wines coming. To which, he simply said yes there'd be 3 more. He didn't seem to get the hint that he had failed at parsing them out timely. It still took a while for the next glasses to come out, so that was weird. Also, the wines weren't great, so I would recommend sticking with the cocktails. All that said, the food was fantastic and the cocktails are great, so I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone!

What a great find! We were in the area and searched Yelp. This location popped up…read more We were there during happy hour and enjoyed the outdoor patio. The happy hour menu was fantastic with all $5 plates. We ordered drinks and a couple items. Then ordered more. Awesome tasting food as well as the service. There is a parking garage directly connected and the restaurant does add 20% service tip. This spot is now in our favorites list. Make sure you stop by and give them a try. Enjoy!

Motek is easily one of my favorite restaurants! Every meal I've had there has been incredible, but…read morethere are a few dishes that keep me coming back. The crispy cauliflower appetizer is an absolute must-order, and their warm pita with tzatziki is so fresh and flavorful that I could honestly eat it on its own. My favorite entrée is the salmon with the lemon potatoes--it's cooked perfectly every time, and the lemon potatoes are absolutely divine. To top it all off, their gelato is the perfect sweet ending to the meal. The only thing I miss is their coffee menu. They used to have more coffee options, and I was disappointed to see that they've narrowed it down to just Turkish coffee. I would love to see some of the other coffee drinks make a comeback. Even so, the food is consistently amazing, the atmosphere is beautiful, and Motek is still a place I'll happily recommend to anyone looking for a delicious meal.

Mint Beirut is a great spot if you're in the mood for Lebanese food. The place has a nice…read moreatmosphere, clean space, and the food comes out fresh and full of flavor. Everything we ordered was well prepared and the portions were good. Service was friendly and the overall vibe makes it a nice place to sit down and enjoy a meal without feeling rushed. Solid place if you're craving Mediterranean or Lebanese food in Miami. Definitely worth stopping by.

I saw a video the other day of a well known Miami foodie and she was raving about a Lebanese take…read moreout restaurant. Located off Flagler and 42 Avenue it's a hole in the wall. Here you find an extensive menu of Mediterranean classics so I ordered a chicken shawarma, hummus with sliced beef, stuffed grape leaves with ground beef, Phoenician fries and pistachios baklava. The hummus was super creamy and the sliced well seasoned meat made it very unique. The stuffed grape leafs were also delicious, while the fries were outstanding crispy and chewy while the seasoning was a party for the tastebuds. The chicken shawarma was super tasty the chicken was well seasoned and tender while garlic spread was chef's kiss. The baklava was very good I just wish it had a little more honey syrup, I am a drenched baklava type of guy. Very impressed and will be using them for future gatherings.

A group of 6 of us visited Abbale' for dinner on a Sunday night (Memorial Day weekend), sitting at…read moreone of the outdoor tables. Our server was great! Very helpful and he explained all the dishes and was a good advocate for the restaurant. We had two gluten free diners in our party, one with celiac, and our sever and Chef handled it well and adopted as best they could. We tried a lot of different dishes. The salatim trio, the persian cucumber, and steak shawarma hummus & pita (one of everyone's favorites) were all great. The local fish ceviche was very good as was the feta & pistachio. For main meals we tried the branzino (2). Also the braised beef short rib was excellent (hearty and moist) and the double cut lamb chop was cooked perfectly. It was a fun evening for sure - the tarp above us keep spilling water near the table (not on anyone) and we had fun with it.

A South Beach restaurant for foodies not (just) tourists! Amazing food, amazing service, amazing…read morevibe. The Persian Braised Bone-In Beef Short Rib with its pomegranate-red wine jus and apricots exceeded my high expectations! The Prime Steak Shashlik was lovely. The Moroccan Cigars were the surprise of the evening, always order these! I ordered a trio of Roasted Beets, Whipped Feta and Pistachio, Walnut (from the 7 options available) and the Pistachio is my clear favorite. I enjoy a ~local beer and the Goldstar Dark Lager was wonderful, neither bitter nor sweet.