Me and the hubs came here in the day for a Miami Spice brunch. Here's what we had: Appetizers: -- Escargot Tartine -- Oysters (menu says half dozen but they gave half of half of Rockefeller instead... basically 3 oysters instead of 6) Entrees: -- Croque Madame -- Wagyu Picanha (+$15) Dessert: -- French Toast Sticks -- Assorted Cheese (just one cheese and pickled veggies, no actual pickles) Drinks: -- Versailles Martini (strong and boozy) -- Carajillo (off menu) -- Moulin Rouge -- Complimentary Monte Negro shots Overall, I was pleased with the quality of the food, the amazing service, AND even the aesthetic of the restaurant. Even though we were shorted on the oysters, we surprisingly had our fill (some restaurants give smaller portions during Miami Spice to compensate for the price, but this Spice felt pretty filling!) We would totally come back to try something off the regular menu! read more

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Updating my thoughts on Brasserie Laurel because we tried to have brunch here this weekend. The spice menu they had online sounded amazing and we were so excited for it. Once we arrived we got our menus and realized 3 of us had different menus than the 4th person. Sadly, the menu posted online was not the actual spice menu available and it was so much worse as far as options. We chose to get us and leave- it's so easy to update a website there is just no excuse at all for having outdated information online. The vibe in there is great but we popped over to 60 vines and had a spectacular brunch and I'm glad we didn't settle for the subpar options Brasserie had substituted. read more

Came here for a quick nightcap & bite after a nice time in & around Miami World Center w/2 other friends. So glad it was still open. They provided us w/a few bites for the table on the house that were a great pallet cleanser. Their freshly bakes bread was crunchy & very tasty. The French Onion soup that we ordered had the perfect ratio of cheese vs soup to make any cheese lover satisfied. It was a bit on the salty side but nothing that a little white wine! Service was absolutely fantastic & attentive. The restaurant is beautifully decorated albeit the bathroom is slightly too dark but clean. Definitely looking forward to returning when in the area. read more

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We came by here for happy hour before catching a show at the Kaseya Center and are so glad we did! The service is really top notch--our waiter had a lot of good advice and recommendations for us. The happy hour menu is extensive and has both appetizers and entrees on special. My personal favorite was the frog legs--try them out if you're feeling adventurous! I loved the midcentury mod vibe inside--felt so warm and inviting. I will definitely be back! read more

Café Laurel - French Near Me - Miami, Florida

Brasserie Laurel is a fine dining experience reflective of all the lessons Chef Michael Beltran and his team from Ariete Hospitality has learned over the years. One of the first restaurants to open in Miami World Center in Downtown Miami, Brasserie Laurel welcomes diners into a dimly lit, romantic and sophisticated space with a tailored food and beverage program that is unlike many other places in the County. You will find all sorts of dishes here, from various aged cheeses, to foie gras, and protein dishes such as Boeuf En Croûte (their version of Beef Wellington) that shows the team's experience ability to combine classic, high-end French fare with local ingredients. Our evening started off with an amuse bouche. This appeared to be some sort of puff pastry with a light green creamy, pea-based sauce. The manager had overheard that my wife and I had recently gotten married, so two complementary glasses of champagne were sent over to our table with our amuse bouche (a very nice touch)! We opted for the Miami Spice menu to try a bit of everything. Here is what we selected: Appetizer - SEA BREAM CRUDO: sea bream, sauce verte, cara cara orange, fennel, citron - LYONNAISE SALAD: frog legs, Florida avocado, pickled mango, farm egg Entree - COQ AU VIN POT PIE: green circle chicken, mushrooms, pancetta lardons - GRILLED PORK COLLAR: Berkshire pork collar, guava poivrade, local turnips Dessert - CARDAMOM PANNA COTTA: preserved pluots, peach granita, bay leaf meringue - CHEESE SELECTION: sourdough bread, local fruit jams, housemade pickles After dinner, we also split a much needed double espresso to fuel us for our walk back home. The Lyonnaise Salad was my first time having frog legs. Needless to say, I am sure every other frog leg dish will be ruined for me! Both entrees were EXCELLENT, but if I had to choose one, the Grilled Pork Collar was a standout. This very well may be the pest piece of pork I have ever eaten, topping even the Perry's Famous Pork Chop. The added guava sauce was a delicious and sweet Miami twist to accompany this very tender piece of meat. My wife, being a cheese fiend, was in love with the cheese selection. It had a good selection of basic, more "beginner friendly" cheeses to the aged examples that diners geek out about. Overall, everything was a 5 star experience. From the quality of the food itself to the little Miami twists here and there with both the ingredient and homemade sauce choices, and the impeccable service of all the staff., Brasserie Laurel has earned its Michelin guide recognition. Quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if it joined Ariete as a Michelin star recipient down the line! Given its quaint space and hidden location in a newer shopping mall that's still signing new tenants, Brasserie Laurel may not be as highly trafficked as some other "bigger restaurants" in the area, but that may be a good thing. The diners that come here appreciate the bespoke experience they are getting. Wow, the Ariete Hospitality team did a phenomenal job here! This restaurant may as well be a passion project that's a culmination of everything they learned (funny enough, Michael Beltran may have even said this himself on a local food podcast). Can't wait to return soon and make a stop at El Vecino, their bar and cigar lounge next door, to catch a game after dinner. read more

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Brasserie Laurel truly impressed me. The atmosphere is elegant and welcoming, with beautiful details that make you feel relaxed the moment you sit down. Everything we ordered was delicious, from the warm, flavorful scones to the perfectly cooked steak and crispy fries. The dishes were thoughtful and balanced, especially the entrée with the berry sauce. And the chocolate soufflé... absolutely unforgettable. Service was kind, attentive, and never rushed. Paired with a glass of bubbly in such a cozy setting, the whole evening felt wonderful. A beautiful dining experience from start to finish. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend it. read more

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First time here and im definitely coming back when im in the area. My favorite is their lobster tartine on the happy hour menu, its pretty much a lobster sandwich. They give you a good amount of fresh lobster, and the sauce they use is creamy and rich. The charcuterie board was pretty good. I guess this is the french version? So its a bit different from the one im used to but still full of flavor especially when you eat it with the veggies. Classy ambiance in there and the server was nice. read more

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A hard to get to MUST have downtown gem. This French restaurant is absolutely exquisite from service and ambiance to menu. I enjoyed classics like escargot, shrimp cocktail and caesar salad. I even got my non-adventurous foodie friend to try the escargot because of how delicious it smelled Definitely will be back. The whole experience feels like such a trea read more

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Laurel you had me at amuse buche! Staff is amazing. I feel I learned so much about food here. The sommelier, is fantastic... his recommendations and lessons really add to the experience. The food is beyond amazing. Must have the charcuterie, the foie is to die for. It's small, intimate, sexy. The drinks are fantastic and really is the attention to detail. Must have the burger,think French dip. Highlights ... the overall vibe, food, service is super. read more

I recently visited this restaurant for lunch and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience. The restaurant was completely empty, yet the bartender seemed uninterested in helping customers or doing any work. Around 4:15 PM I got up from our table and I asked for a cocktail menu and the bartender hesitated before finally handing it to me. I was then told the bar was "closed" at 4:30 PM, even though the restaurant's posted closing time was 5 PM. What made the experience more frustrating was that the bartender spent most of the time just standing around and staring at us instead of providing service. If someone is scheduled to bartend, they should be willing to assist customers during business hours. The lack of effort and poor attitude made the atmosphere uncomfortable and unwelcoming. I understand places can have slow periods, but customer service should still be professional and attentive regardless of how busy it is. Unfortunately, this experience left a very negative impression. read more

This French restaurant has been open for two years now. The decor is sleek, dark and moody. My husband and I adored the music choices, a lot of Jazz. It sets the atmosphere nicely. The service was pleasant, friendly and efficient. We came for their menu spice evening meal. We sampled the following - Amuse Bouche - Surprisingly my husband and I said this was our favorite part of our meal. Delicate filo pastry with a pop of green pea. Very tasty. We also received a warm bread which was almost like a choux pastry in texture. Appetizers 1/ Beet Salad - candy cane beets, whipped blue cheese and hazelnuts. I was excited to try this. I enjoyed it. However, I was disappointed. I found it to be too sweet, almost passing for a dessert. I was hoping the blue cheese would bite into the flavours to offer more saltiness. However, the blue cheese was served whipped and did not offer enough salt element for me. I found the combination quite strange. 2/ Lyonnaise Salad, Florida Avocado, Pickled Mango, Lettuce Vinaigrette, Frisee, Frog Bacon. We were missing the bacon element. All ingredients were fresh. Main - Coq au vin pot pie, green circle chicken, mushrooms, pancetta lardons. The pastry of the pie was nice. we found the inside of the pie to be too dry. My husband thought it was too salty as well. A gravy was served, but it was a totally different taste from the pie juices, so for me it did not work combining the two. Dessert - 1/ cheese. We were allowed to choose one cheese. This was then served with two toasted sour bread slices, honey, a jam and pickled vegetables. Again, we thought cheese being served with bread was strange. Also, the pickles again missed the spot. Why bother including it? 2/ Cardamon panna Cotta. This did not look appealing to be honest. I did not taste cardomon. Having said that the panna cotta was smooth. I enjoyed the textures and surprise on the palette, ie freezing cold n icy, then smoothness, then melting elements. It was an interesting dessert. read more

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Really lovely brunch vibes. Great food, not too expensive, no loud clubby brunch music and a hell of a Bloody Mary. Excited to come back again. read more

WOW I really love (not just like) this newish classy French restaurant from the same folks who own Michelin-starred Arite. Service good and atmosphere are about as perfect as it gets. 5 star food: simple (mostly) but amazingly good. Their spin on duck ravioli was off da charts papi, and worth the extra minutes of exercise to burn off the cholesterol : ). My partner's sea bass was quite possibly the best I've ever tasted. 5 star service: the staffers were a well oiled machine of perfect timing, checking back and cheerfulness. They glide in and out like a silent ballet. 5 star ambience: inside it's beautiful and softly mood lit. Outside it's the newest city apartment neighborhood rapidly being built out between Bayside and the Brightline station. read more

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Today's mission was to relax and enjoy some delicious food! Both were accomplished! If you know me, I love an early dinner! I walked past Laurel in downtown Miami and noticed the beautiful decor and smiling staff. I was a bit apprehensive because I was wearing resort wear As I approached the hostess she greeted me with a smile and sat me down immediately. The server let me know it was happy hour and presented me with the happy hour menu along with the regular menu. I was also ensured my waitress would be with me shortly. Happy Hour was from 5pm- 7pm. I believe I arrived shortly before 6pm. I decided on a glass of Cava and the dinner tasting menu. My waitress let me know the experience would last about 2 hours.As someone who've lived in Europe for many years 2 hour dinners are right up my alley. Music selection Not boring and stuffy, not too laud and modern. If there was a playlist for the restaurants aesthetic, this would be it! As each course was brought out. I was told what it was and some of the key flavors and ingredients. Did I remember them or even k or how to spell half of them? No! So do not hold this against me I'll share some videos to go with each course. Course 1 10/10 presentation I believes these were canapés Tuna delicious light melts in your mouth good Orange one no idea what it was but delicious, might be vegan Savory roll loved the flavor but as we get to the center maybe a bit too soft for me BUT that's just my odd texture issues French onion latte oh my literally an orgasm in my mouth. And aesthetically pleasing Candies pralines? Sweet crunchy definitely a little savory with the cheese Waiter and waitress very attentive Course #2 Presentation 10/10 It looks like a an exotic bowl of goodness. The tuna melts in your mouth Veggies delicious!!!!. You can taste the freshness. I was able to taste all of the flavors and they merged together wonderfully Course 3 Presentation 8/10 I was a bit nervous I was not going to like this one, I assumed it was sweet because of the raspberries. It was a perfect blend!butter chives and cacao. who knew this melody would be an amazing twist of deliciousness..... the French did! I would definitely order this if I wanted something comforting. I love how they clean the table after every course, put out all new cutlery and they are fast with a smile. I know all too often Miami gets a Bad wrap for poor customer service but I am throughly impressed thus far. Course 4 Swai? with fresh veggies Definitely my least favorite so far, just not my texture the veggies on the other hand I love along with the sauce oh and the Parmesan wonderful garnish and delicious At this point I was reminded I could order Another glass of cava just before happy hour was ending.. so I did! Course 5 10/10 presentation Am I full? Yes! Will I continue down this path absolutely I felt like I was at Oma's house the little soup bowl with lid a d freshly toasted buttery bread The smell is intoxicating Now when I heard muscles I was really hoping I was not going to have to pry anything out of a shell. I'm in my lazy lady error and this did not disappoint! I don't know what the taste is... curry? Lemon? Pepper? Turmeric who knows and who cares it's just so delicious. I do wish it was a tad warmer but this was honestly my second favorite so far Please lock me in the house with this on a long cold weekend. Course 6 Presentation 10/10 I love a finishing touch at the table and many of the dishes with sauces were poured at my table Beef Wellington I could have ate the crust and be satisfied Phenomenal beef, the texture was tender and the flavor is plentiful!!This is coming from a lady who does not eat a lot of beef. The sauce screams fresh and ready to be paired and I know you will enjoy me. I love mushrooms and there were enough to ensure the beef was the main character in this story but plenty for the mushroom lover in me . The mayonnaise meh, I wasn't sure what it was for We're about 2 hours in and I am satisfied!Will course 7 be devoured, we shall see. I had 2 options a cheese platter or a pastry with pistachio. I have a sweet tooth so I chose the sweet treat. After all the savory dishes this should be a nice treat. Course 7 I'm definitely going to have an espresso because why not.. So I ordered an espresso. A party in your mouth when I tell you I do not like cream, I don't but THIS right here reminds me of the finest euro deserts. The crunch, the soft brioche the jam not sure what it was but oh my this is what heaven feels like! how is it you can spend 2 hours in an establishment and the waitress is still service with patience and a smile?!?! I felt like I was in Europe. I did not feel rushed one bit, I could eat at my Leisure without the feeling of guilt. Dinner was 10/10 I would recommend this experience for a solo date, anniversary or for the food lover who wants the full experience. read more

Café Laurel - Course #5 muscles with veggie and delicious toasted buttered bread - French Near Me - Miami, Florida

Rarely do I do a follow up on a restaurant, I'll be doing two this year that I'm aware of. Food and service are still high here but was turned off by dogs (counted 3) inside the restaurant. I don't feel it's a good idea and you can run into issues with non-dog lovers, etc. There is outside seating for this, dogs at a bar at counter level are a huge no-no. Let's keep this place upscale and not turn it into Omaha's Wild Kingdom people. read more

My husband and I came to Brasserie Laurel for a quick happy hour for the first time before a show at the Kaseya. What an amazing experience! Coming in, you are impressed by the beautiful and sophisticated decor - beautiful color combo of blue, gold with wood and marble accents. Yovi warmly greeted us and gave us a great orientation to Brasserie Laurel, including her very helpful recommendations. She was friendly and knowledgeable and helped make our first experience here amazing. We were pleasantly surprised although we were there for happy hour to receive an amuse bouche and a warm, complimentary biscuit. What a nice touch! Both were absolutely delicious and got us excited about the dishes to come. The biscuit especially was absolutely amazing - warm and rich with incredible flavor. We started with some oysters, which were served beautifully and had great flavor. Very easy also to remove from the shell. We also had the shrimp cocktail, which you wouldn't think would be anything special, but really impressed us in the size and quality of the shrimp. The beet and watermelon salad was maybe one of my favorites - tangy, refreshing and great blending of flavors. The tartine and frog legs came out next and were also amazing. You cannot miss the frog legs (unless maybe you really have something against eating frogs) - crispy, flavorful and the green goddess sauce pairing is phenomenal. It was my husband's first time having frog legs and he loved them. Lastly, we got the short rib pappardelle to share - the pasta was clearly fresh and the sauce was rich and flavorful. A very good portion to share after having a few other apps, as Yovi recommended to us. Beyond just the amazing food, the service was exceptional - especially again considering we were there for happy hour but even just as a standard. The pacing of service was smart and well-executed. Although we ordered all our dishes together, they brought them out in a very logical order based on temperature and size - smaller cold dishes first and warm and more substantial last. And we never had any come out too quickly or too late. Our table was cleaned in between dishes and new silverware was given when needed without asking. Empty dishes disappeared from the table quickly and efficiently, but always when we were actually finished. My husband and I particularly both noticed one moment of great attention to detail with this that really impressed us. The shared shrimp cocktail plate was empty and someone came to take it away but then had a subtle glance at my plate and saw I had a shrimp on my plate and left it to let me have the sauce with my last remaining shrimp. A small but impressive moment of excellent service. Yovi of course made up a big part of our great experience - she knew we had a show to catch and was very kind to be mindful of this for us by checking in to see if there were other things we wanted to order (which is good, because my husband and I could have ended up sitting there all night!). She did this in a pleasant and friendly way that did not rush us at all and clearly was for our benefit. We will definitely need to come back for a full meal experience too, although highly recommend the happy hour as one of the best in Miami and a must-try. I think the cherry on top is that Brasserie Laurel is one of the very few restaurants at Miami World Center of local origin. I understand they are owned by the Ariete group, which also has the Michelin-starred restaurant Ariete in the Grove in its portfolio. So you know you're in good hands here. Chug's I understand is also part of the same group so I believe that and Brasserie are the only two restaurants at Miami World Center actually from Miami, all the other places maybe nice but they're transplants - so please support local! read more

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We came here to celebrate my mom's birthday and it was a great experience! The service was impeccable. We had charcuterie and the avocado and shrimp starters, which were great but we really loved the scones with homemade jam and butter. The French onion soup and steak frites were a big hit, and the Beef Wellington was amazing. Crème Brûlée was perfect. They had great music choices all night too - so a very fun vibe. read more

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Great service decent happy hour for a fine dining restaurant in downtown Brickell. The bartender was personable . The bites we selected were delicious. Everything is beautifully presented and the chef has that IT factor . read more

Café Laurel - French Near Me - Miami, Florida

Brasserie Laurel will forever have a special place in my heart. If you want to take anything away from this review, take you and your family to this delicious and fantastic restaurant. We visited during Miami Spice. My fiancé had proposed to me that night and what I thought was a dinner for two ended up being a beautiful surprise dinner with my best friend, my fiancé's friend, and my parents. My mom went ahead of time and made an incredible tablescape. I want to give them 10000+ stars for accommodating this. What she created was beyond gorgeous and an homage to my Arab culture. Upon entering we were kindly greeted and taken to our stunning table. Some of us decided to do the Miami Spice menu and others chose different things. One thing I can tell you for sure is each appetizer and meal was divine. We got an order of the oysters to share with the table and they were perfect. They also all gave us some pea puree puff pastry starter that was yummy. My step dad ordered very delicious escargot. They were buttery magic. The Miami Spice beet salad was great. I loved my Miami Spice sea bream crudo. The star of the show was the steak my mom ordered. I kept stealing bites. I got the boeuf en croute, I'm drooling writing about it. They compared it to a beef Wellington. It was so good. My fiancé got the coq au vin pot pie which he adored. And the others got the Parisian gnocchi (they practically licked the plate). I had an incredible time with my friends and family at Brasserie Laurel and highly recommend visiting. You are bound to have an incredible meal. I'm so grateful to call this spot the place where I had my engagement dinner and to revisit when celebrating the anniversary of the proposal. read more

We had a great time at Brasserie Laurel. The customer service is top notch and every plate was executed at a high level. The flavor, decoration and explanation from the waiter was very detailed for each plate. The grand slam for me was the burger au poivre it's recommended to be eaten with a fork and knife. The jus sauce and caramelized onions were the perfect mixture with the Gruyère cheese. We also had the foie gras, squid risotto, and Scottish trout. Unfortunately we didn't have room for dessert but I look forward to it next time. Perfect spot for a date night. read more

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Came here for a friends birthday today and was surprised that I hadn't seen this cute French brasserie before. Located in the heart of Downtown, Brasserie Laurel is a modern French restaurant that serves all kinds of classic dishes, like French onion soup, croque madame and steak frites with a bit of a Miami twist if you ask me. I decided to go with the Miami Spice menu since we were their at an early hour (11 am) and the menu was limited. My friend and I both got the Miami Spice and decided to divide and concur. Which led us to order the following: - escargot - French onion - croque madame - potato rosti - beignets - raspberry sorbet My favorites were the French onion soup and the potato rosti -- both had amazing flavors and richness in every bite. The escargot was also delicious, the bread was a bit too crisp for my taste but overall good. As for the croque madame, it wasn't a favorite of mine, the Dijon mustard was a bit overpowering and the bread was soggy. Dessert was 5/5! I can't wait to check this spot out again for their dinner or happy hour menu! read more

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I came for Miami Spice 2023, and the service and food were both disappointing. I knew not to have my hopes too high due to the reviews, but I had no idea how bad the french onion soup was going to be. - french onion soup: wayyyyyyyyy too salty and has an odd taste to it. I genuinely felt nauseous after eating this and it ruined my stomach for the rest of the meal. The cheese and bread were great but the soup portion was awful. - potato rosti: the potatos were crispy and good, but I had difficulty eating the eggs due to how nauseous I felt after the french onion soup (not the fault of the eggs) - beignets: got those to go and they were delicious later that day when I regained my appetite Service was very slow throughout the meal with regards to taking orders, refilling waters, and coming with the next course. The ambiance was good with lots of natural lighting and high ceilings. read more

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I went my first time on Thanksgiving night and decided to try their Thanksgiving dinner menu. It was the right move! It started with walking in the door into a gorgeous space and being greeted by a beautiful hostess Sophia. I sat at the bar while I waited for my party to join me and was taken care of by a bartender Steven who makes a great cocktail! We made our way to the table and were greeted by our wonderful wait staff Augustin, and Jon. They were both very attentive and made sure we had everything that we needed throughout the whole meal. Chef Jeanine came out and explain what the desserts were she created, which were my favorite . The kitchen staff, Fabian, Lazaro and of course, chef Danny made sure that the meals were prepared and tasted amazing!! They did not fail. A HUGE thank you also to Luis who ultimately made the night by making sure that we were enjoying our time and we will definitely be returning in the near future. Keep up the fantastic work and you have gained some new customers. read more

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Very good food and service. Happy hour prices from 5pm to 7pm every day includes special cocktails and items from the regular menu. Had mussels which were very meaty. Duck breast that was tender and had a nice sauce. Papperdale that was also tasty. For dessert, we ordered a chocolate soufflé ahead of time that required a 25 minute preparation and the order was delayed so they were kind enough to give that and our coffee and tea on the house because of the mistake. read more

Food was really good, staff was so friendly! Went there for happy hour. The options were fantastic. read more

Not bad place,. a bit overpriced for what it is ! Food was great ...location just ok 1 &done read more

This is a really fine place with very attentive staff and even a sommelier. The food however was kind of plain, some of it had some interesting spin that I haven't seen before, like the escargot dish for example, but I can't say I enjoyed it. I think the only thing I liked was the tartare. read more

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We went for brunch (set price $$$$) on Easter as a family and all was great. Great menu/great service/great food/ loved the ambiance and decoration. We tried almost everything on the menu. Loved the croque madame. Burger was delicious and the charcuterie board excellent. We will be back. Thank you. read more

Brasserie Laurel was perfect. We came here on a Thursday night, and the restaurant was pretty quiet... just a couple of tables busy inside and same for the outdoor seating area. As we arrived, we were greeted, and our table was ready as scheduled on our reservation. The restaurant is charming, elegant, and unpretentious... I would even say It has a sophisticated French vibe. Our waiter was extremely helpful and attentive throughout our dinner. We ordered: - Scallops appetizer - Chicory salad - Turbot - Lobster - Leeks - Black forest. I have to say that the scallops (crudo) were probably my favorite thing of the night. Keep in mind, of course, that everything was really delicious... the scallop appetizer just had that extra umph that makes you wish it would not end after that last bite. Laurel Brasserie is one of those restaurants that you can taste and appreciate their efforts... actions you can actually taste. The lobster with the sweetbreads is soooo good. It comes with a rich and thick lobster bisque sauce to add even more flavor to an already great dish. The turbot was delicate and beautifully plated. The wine list is not big, but it certainly has lots of options for every taste and budget. Also, a great choice is to get cocktails from their bar.... I hear they are great. Hopefully, their menu will have seasonal changes since it is not a big menu. Overall, it was an amazing experience, and I will definitely continue coming here. read more

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This place is easy to miss because its location right now is difficult and constricted due to construction. But in my case it was highly recommended, so, it was not a detour, it was a destination. For starters the atmosphere is subdue and reserve. No fancy decor or glitz and glam but a refined sophistication, almost old manhattan, but with a miami glare. Black subway tiles, asymmetrical mirrors in bar, a touch of wicker in the lamps.... Thats it simple. We were greeted by the top 100 bartender in miami, he is young with a story to tell for every drink. I have a restricted taste, not refined exactly but established and classical, so getting to me its hard but he did well to my other half. The Little Habana drink was a sweet smokey woody whiskey and rum, well paired with the mushroom appetizer and the sauce; a well pace drink that you could chill with and eat your next meal. We sat by the bar, keeping up with Juan Carlos spanish accent and he's "spectacular" descriptions of every plate. He knew exactly when to serve and when to clear the space for the next course. The service was seamless and it did not divert from the experience. We ordered the gnocchi and the Foie Gras for main courses and two side dishes, mash potatoes and leek with peanut sauce. We were so static with each dish that we gasped in awe. Honestly each plate had its own distinct taste but the cohesiveness was butter and only butter. (as it should be) Like Laura, our amazing sweet hostess and Juan Carlos said; I go home smelling like butter every day and I love it. The team at Brasserie Laurel is authentic, professional, friendly and truly love their job and good cuisine. If you miss this place go back. Turn around, not because of the Michelin star...but because is really great and completely unassuming. read more

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Awesome addition to downtown in the perpetually under construction Miami World Center area. Great to see the Ariete group expand across the city. Food, service and ambiance was perfect for our first visit. I think calling this a brasserie is an accurate description - it's lively and doesn't have the stuffiness of a white tablecloth restaurant. However, the food isn't simple at all and the menu gives you an opportunity to maybe sit at the bar and enjoy their "burger" and a cocktail, or go all out and have a special dinner, as we did. Three of us aggressively made our way through the cocktail menu and the appetizers. Cocktails were perfectly mixed time and time again, including a few on-menu and off-menu choices. A friend who wasn't drinking for the night was delighted by her custom mocktail, as well (I believe that Brandon was our very skilled bartender). Appetizers included the chicory salad, scallops, fois gras, stuffed squid and escargot. It was a great variety. Given our heavy set for the first course, we went with only one entree: the Boeuf en Croute, essentially their version of Beef Wellington. Beautiful presented and awesome execution. It was perfect. And the impossibly-buttery mashed potatoes were a great accompaniment. A beautiful black forest dessert along with some raspberry sorbet finished us off. Service was a good balance between casual and always on-point. The entire staff was warm and highly knowledgeable about the menu. When I look at the places that they're handing Michelin stars out to these days, I'm pretty sure this restaurant group is poised for their second star if they keep this up. I wish them the best as they expand with a happy hour, cigar bar and adjacent window outpost of Chuggs Diner coffee. I'll certainly be back. read more

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Love this spot! Come here every other week and it's always incredible. Food is divine (especially their beef tartar and shrimp cocktail) (huuuuuge prawns and very fresh) but the service is stellar! Special shout out to the manager Luis and the server yovi (sp?) for always going out of their way to make it a unique and wonderful dining experience. A true Miami gem read more

Café Laurel - French Near Me - Miami, Florida

Flat out, this restaurant is not for big parties. We were a party of 15 people and made a reservation ahead of time. They did accommodated us the best they could. Save yourself the time and book your event somewhere else. It was my mom's 40th birthday and we wanted a brunch spot with our family and friends. Our reservation was at 12pm, but some guests arrived a bit later. We waited until our whole party was seated to then place everyone's order together. We ordered from the brunch menu, keep in mind that when we ordered our food when the restaurant wasn't full to the max. I understand it's different plates for 15 different people, but to take an hour and 30 minutes just for appetizers to come out is mind boggling. Every time we asked for an update, they were unsure on how long it'll take. It's all about simple communication with the kitchen. After that the Entrees came out and everything was okay. When it came to the dessert, they informed us they no longer had the dessert most of the table ordered. Since it was my mom's birthday, she had asked the manager if they only had one left, if she could have it. Unfortunately, they claimed they didn't have it. As we were leaving, another table was served the dessert they were supposedly out of. It wasn't that they were out, it seemed like they just didn't want to serve us that particular dish. As someone who works in customer service, I understand that it's quite difficult to work with big parties, especially when people are hungry. For a restaurant with a Michelin Star, have a party of 15 last 4 hours in a restaurant waiting for their food, I find is completely unacceptable and disappointing. I'd like to clarify that the service from our server, Yoly, was excellent. She was very attentive and was dong her best under the circumstances. In my opinion, she dealt with our party better than the manager. The manager, David, seemed like he had no clue what he was doing, wasn't helpful at all when we asked for the food. Management needs to be looked at when it comes to communicating with CUSTOMERS and EMPLOYEES. read more

It's so great to see a restaurant open up in the northern part of downtown Miami. This sister restaurant to Ariete highlights french cuisine and is located near Miami World Center. I had a pleasant experience sitting at the lovely bar area enjoying some of the inventive cocktails. Once I was ready for dinner, we moved over to our table where we were met with a unique house bread, upon ordering. This bread was the perfect temperature, a nice balance of soft and crunchy, and what seemed like a lightly fried flavor that brought it all together. Rather than ordering entrees, we went with ~4 different appetizers + 1 dessert in an effort to try more of the menu. The escargot was definitely a favorite, and I enjoyed the squid provençale as well, although it was a bit too salty. The brouillade, however, left much to be desired. I would not call the food 5 stars just yet- perhaps if I return to try the entrees next. IG: @miamicheatdays for more recommendations read more

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Okay... I know this is only my second Miami Spice but it may be my favorite. This place is the definition of luxury. Yes, we upgraded to the croute for $30 but I promise that the portions make it all worth it !!! Plus! It's the only time where you can opt out of a dessert and end up with a cheese plate instead. The staff was incredibly attentive and had great timing between each dish. This is a place that I'll definitely go back to. My favorite dishes were the sea bream crudo and the beef Wellington. read more

Wonderful food, attentive service. It is my new favorite French place in Miami! The happy hour menu is a steal! Flavors were spectacular, the frog wings (legs) , the beef tartare, onion soup and steak and frites, everything was perfect! The ambience is delightful for a date night read more

Where do I begin? Tell you what....lets get the negative out the way first. Besides the gorgeous bar area, the rest of it is underwhelming and kind of boring. We went there for the Miami Spice menu and they changed the menu once again and we then learned from the waiter that they had one set menu for August and a different one for September and I guess some restaurants do that but in this case it wasn't for the best. I was excited about the pork terrine and that wasn't even on the regular menu so....scratch that. Originally they had a burger and that too was MIA even on regular menu...strike two. The escargot was ok, the duck and foie saucisse was super basic and disappointing. The pork chop was also a let down because the beans were either undercooked on purpose to add some crunch to the dish and that was a miss. The pork chop itself was perfectly cooked and the clam jus demi added great taste to it but these beans killed the whole dish for me...strike three. My friends opted for the onion soup agnolotti and that was probably a better option and yet nothing to rave about. And last but certainly not least and another disappointment, the rum baba. I don't even want to elaborate on that because it'll be insulting to the chef and kitchen altogether. Honestly and I hate to say this but the complimentary bread with butter and anchovies on the side was one of the only things I truly enjoyed. Maybe I came in with high expectations after salivating looking at Yelp photos of the menu but you know when they say "pictures don't it justice"...in this case it was the other way around. I'm only sharing my personal experience and my friends had to agree with me. Perhaps other dishes would change my mind but I highly doubt I'll be coming back. On a more positive note...Luis, our waiter, did an amazing job with service, very attentive, personable and welcoming. He went above and beyond to make sure we had an excellent dining experience but unfortunately, for us, the food wasn't what we expected and that's not his fault. read more

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Great food and drinks. We went here for happy hour, great happy hour prices for the quality yo get. Nice and attentive bartenders. Great ambiance too, gives French feelings read more

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I came for the $35 Miami Spice Brunch. The interior is ADORABLE and the location is perfect, right in the heart of downtown. The staff is super welcoming and you feel like you are in a very high end resturant. This place has the makings to be a great resturant, but I think the food is a bit lackluster. We started with the Escargot and Oysters, these were both good. The Escargot was drenched in butter and served on toast, it was probably my favorite part of the whole meal! For our mains, we had the Potato Rosti and the Soft Scramble. These were both fine, but very basic and the portions were tiny. These entrees were each about 4 bites worth of food- not kidding. To drink, we both had an iced lattes which were great. For dessert, we had the beignets and the sorbet. On the menu there is the option for a raspberry sorbet, but they were out of it so they gave us a grapefruit one instead. The sorbet was awful! I had to spit it out of my mouth. My friend liked the beignets but I thought they were equally as bad- they seemed super burnt to me. They were not soft and fluffy, they were hard and burnt like lumps of coal. I am definitely not claiming to be a connoisseur of French cuisine, but the meal was very disappointing to me. They have a great spot with great staff, but I don't see myself returning here. read more

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Very nice dinner... absolutely delicious food! Mushrooms are very recommended. The service was perfect. We will come back for sure. read more

Café Laurel - Tartare - French Near Me - Miami, Florida

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