A Taste of Italy

Buca di Beppo
15251 N.W. 67th Avenue

Miami Lakes, FL 33014

Eating out has never been as fun due to the themed dining rooms Buca has to offer. For instance, there is the "godfather room" (as I say it) that seats about 10 people in a round table with a wax head in the center, along with a lazy susan to set your food on to share with the family. There is also a table in the kitchen that allows you to see where all of the magic is happening. The restaurant lighting is dim and the walls of the restaurant are dark with picture frames all over. Now, back to the magic. There is an endless amount of food to select from. Ranging from great appetizers, such as the mozarella caprese pictured above, there are even more main courses. Lasagnas ar usually pretty basic, but this one hits the ball out of the ballpark - it is DELICIOUS!!! In my opinion, one of the best dishes. There is also the ravioli and the pizza. Now moving on to the final touch...the desert. As seen in the picture, there is a dish that offers a sample of the most popular deserts. This is clearly the best way to go in which you get to enjoy cheescake, a rich chocolate cake, a fruit tart, and tiramisu. Overall, eating at this restaurant is an enjoyable experience to share with the family.

Spanish Cooking

Las Culebrinas in the Grove
2890 SW 27th Ave

Miami, FL 33133

This two-story restaurant is the perfect place to be on a Saturday night with a group of friends! Live music, sangria, and fantastic food will definetely make the night unforgettable. Among the many menu items, tapas are a perfect start to the night. They are a variety of Spanish appetizers that include olives, tortilla de patatas (spanish omellette), and ham. The warm bread also comes with a phenomenal garlic butter that is simply delicious. As a main course, I recommend garbanzos fritos (fried chick peas), but I guarantee that anything you order you will be pleased with. The served portions are enough for two, so get ready to share and possibly leave with a doggy bag. Aside from the excellent service, I am positive you will return for a second time once you try their deserts, especially crema catalana.

Latin Flavor

Latin American Restaurant
57th Avenue SW 8 street
Miami, FL 33144





If you're looking for great cheap latin food, this is the place to go. I have visited almost every place in South Florida and this resturant tops the list. The service is fantastic in this warm and inviting environment. Everyone seems to know one another and it feels very family oriented. There is a menu option to please what you may be in the mood for, aside from their daily specials of soups and meats. Regardless of the time you arrive, you are guaranteed to be out of there in less than an hour. The breakfast menu offers a lot for the price - for $3 you get scrambled eggs with ham, french fries, cuban toast, and cafe con leche (milk with cuban coffee). The lunch and dinner menu is loaded with a variety of meat, chicken, and fish that come with 2 side orders, most often white rice and platanitos (fried plantains), or the famous arroz con pollo (chicken with rice) that is shown to the left. If you have a sweeet tooth, you have reached your heaven. There is a spinning rack with all choices imaginable, including arroz con leche (pictured). For ideas on what to order, click here.

Mediterranean

Maroosh Mediterranean Restaurant
233 Valencia Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33134

Maroosh is a small quaint place with a lot of energy. Visit on the weekend (Friday or Saturday night) to enjoy the belly dancing shows every hour. Be ready - you won't just sit and watch, you'll be invited to join in on the fun. There is a wide variety of great food ranging from $2 - $25. Aside from the hummus, there is Labneh, condensed homemade yogurt that is delicious, and all of the meats are simply cooked to perfection. The service was great with the manager passing by all of the tables. Others that have visited the restaurant feel the same judging from their reviews. Maroosh is a great place to escape to the Middle East, minus the passport.

Greek Cuisine

Taverna Opa
36-40 Ocean Drive

Miami Beach, Fl. 33139

This restaurant is like no other. Music blasting, table dancing, a line formed outside...basically, a night club with food involved. And the food is delicious. Average priced ($2-$19), but I recommend taking part in the Family Style Menu. It is a set price per person, but you are able to enjoy all the fine food Greece has to offer. With this menu, appetizer size portions of the most popular dishes are served to the point of no end. Looking forward to dessert? There is a variety to select from, but I tried a chocolate cake that was scrumptuous and leaves you yearning for more. No worries though, you burn off the calories dancing on tabletops with the belly dancers, and your server. Overall, a very fun environment with napkins flying around instead of plates. It's an experience I recommend to all. OPA!