For a classic, family-style Italian restaurant we introduce you to Cafe Prima Pasta. Located in Miami Beach, locals and visitors flock to this hot spot for a fill on their favorite dishes, especially during the 5-6 p.m. happy hour where guests receive 50% off everything [almost] on the menu.
On the day of our event, guests didn’t arrive quite so early, but when 6:00 p.m. rolled we were sure ready for a cocktail. Prima Pasta’s signature cocktails — Bellinis and Prima Martinis — were served and set the mood for a fun-filled and relaxed evening. To pair up with these refreshing beverages were a variety of hors d’oeuvres from the restaurant — bruschetta, pizza, cheese and olives — and gave us a nice taste of what a dining experience at Cafe Prima Pasta was all about.
While we were there, we snapped some photos to capture the excitement of the evening and you can check them out online.
Cafe Prima Pasta is located at 414 71st St., Miami Beach. For more information or to make a reservation, call 305.867.0106.
Photo provided by Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group
By Jennifer Leslie Kramer
Smith & Wollensky is known for many things – a killer steak, a see-and-be-seen outdoor patio, and the best Coconut Cake in the world are just a few of them. This summer, the prestigious steakhouse has also become known for its Summer Grill Menu, a selection of fresh, seasonal dishes at the right price. The menu is being offered through September 6 to al fresco diners for lunch and dinner, or those who choose to have lunch inside. While the classic menu is still available, the Summer Grill Menu is a must-try as it includes the standard favorites, such as USDA Prime, dry-aged hand-butchered rib-eyes and sirloins, along with new, lighter options such as the Shrimp Cobb Salad and the Open-Faced Sliced Filet Sandwich. It’s the best of S&W all rolled into one delicious menu with a warm-weather twist.
One such twist is the availability of raw bar selections by the piece. Instead of being locked into a complete Seafood Bouquet, which includes lobster, oysters, shrimp, mussels, clams and colossal lump crabmeat just plucked from the sea, diners can pick and choose exactly what they want, thus solving the problem of seafood lovers everywhere who just don’t get along with oysters. Your seafood selections, no matter how small, are still presented beautifully – this is Smith & Wollensky, after all – and served with an array of sauces, including cocktail, ginger, mustard, meunière and melted butter.
A great way to start off your meal is with the Lobster Bisque from the Lobster & More Lobster section of the menu, which also includes an equally enticing Spicy Lobster & Avocado Flatbread. The bisque arrives tableside deconstructed, allowing the server to fill your bowl with the luscious liquid. The aromas of sherry and seafood stock fill the air and you can’t wait to dive in. But wait, it gets even better, because once the soup is poured, chunky pieces of lobster are added. As they pile up and play peek-a-boo through the surface of the soup you know you are in for a treat. The soup is creamy and smooth, warming you from the belly up.
Photo provided by Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group
Next on the seafood train is the Seared Scallops with Peanut Vinaigrette. Crusted in sesame seeds and served on a bed of mixed veggies and greens including carrots, peppers and watercress, these scallops announce themselves as soon as they hit your taste buds. A peppery bite and acidity from the soy sauce play well together and the silky texture of the scallop is juxtaposed with a crunchy bite from the vegetables underneath.
No trip to Smith & Wollensky would be complete without a monster piece of meat. Then again, their seafood is legendary as well and quite a few dishes are included in the Sea & Be Seen portion of the menu, such as the Ahi Tuna Niçoise and the Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass. So what to do when you can’t choose? Order the best of both worlds, as in the Surf & Turf. The classic version – a 10-oz. filet mignon and 1 ½-lb. Maine lobster is a decadent way to do dinner, satisfying both cravings on one single plate. As per usual, the meat was cooked to a perfect medium rare with a crusty top. And the Lobster? Pulling out an enormous piece of claw meat and dunking it in melted butter, perhaps a drop dribbling down your chin, is an experience to be had.
Another way to experience surf & turf is with the Medallions of Filet Mignon and Garlic Shrimp. Not quite as decadent, but equally delicious. The grilled buttery shrimp are a refreshing foil to the dual medallions of steak.
And finally, to the Coconut Cake. I must admit, this is probably the main reason I dine at Smith & Wollensky on a semi-regular basis. I sit through all the other courses, tasty as they are, simply to arrive at the moment when I can taste that first perfect bite. Fluffy and creamy, topped with some I-mean-business coconut shavings and served with fresh whipped cream, as well as the extra portion the server diligently scoops onto your actual plate, it is a small piece of heaven, and yet another reason to return to Smith & Wollensky long after summer has passed.
Smith & Wollensky is located at 1 Washington Ave, Miami Beach. (305) 673-2800 (Make a reservation)
**On occasion, Dine Magazine receives gratis meals at area restaurants. This dinner was one of those times. When we accept free meal, we are not required to write about the restaurants nor are we required to write a positive review. You can be assured that we will not recommend anything to our readers that we don’t enjoy ourselves.
photo credit: naotakem @ flickr
Join us at Grazie for an authentic, Italian dining experience. This Miami Beach hotspot offers a chic and contemporary atmosphere. The restaurant offers visitors a perfect venue to people watch while enjoying a rustic plate of homemade pasta. From osso bucco to Mushroom Risotto, guests will enjoy a sophisticated meal prepared with the best ingredients available. In addition, owners Moshe Patel and Spurgeon Solomon will make every customer feel like a member of the family and suggest a fine bottle of wine to complete your dining experience.
When: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Where: Grazie Italian Cuisine, 701 Washington Ave, Miami Beach
Cost is $10 in advance, $15 at the door and free for DINE club members with an advance RSVP — includes 1 glass of wine and a selection of complimentary hors d’oeuvres including: Penne alla vodka, Penne Pomodoro, Grandma’s Meatballs and Homemade Seafood Ravioli in Pink Lobster Sauce
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Photo by hazymat
Join us at Cafe Prima Pasta for a taste of Italy. For the last 17 years, this mom and pop, award-winning restaurant has been known as Miami’s favorite neighborhood Italian eatery. Matt Damon, John Travolta, Lenny Kravitz, Dwayne Wade, Gabriela Union and Michael Jordan are regulars who keep coming back for homemade recipes including Veal Saltimbocca, Carpaccio di Manzo and Tiramisu. Today, Geraldo Cea oversees operations at the 140-seat family restaurant, alongside his brother Fabian and sister Marcela. Their father, Arturo, serves as executive chef and their mother, Carla, holds reign over the authentic desserts created fresh daily.
Earlier this summer, Cafe Prima Pasta completed a beautiful remodeling project complete with an expanded, copper and mahogany u-shaped bar, additional dining room seating, a private special events room and even a new dessert and cappuccino bar.
Come on out and experience the changes at this Miami hot spot — and of course, the delectable homemade Italian recipes.
When: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 from 6:00-8:00 pm
Where: Cafe Prima Pasta, 414 71st Street, Miami Beach
Cost is $10 in advance, $15 at the door — includes 1 drink (Bellini or Prima Martini) and a selection of complimentary hors d’oeuvres including bruschetta, pizza foccacia, olives and assorted cheeses
Located inside the Astor, lies D. Rodriguez Cuba. Featuring upscale cuban food, the award-winning chef, Douglas Rodriguez has created a menu of specialty items with a modern twist. While the food served at his namesake restaurant is praise-worthy, our guests quickly gravitated toward his sangria bar.
For our event, guests enjoyed their choice of sangria and a combination of gourmet bites like tortilla espanola, Black-eyed pea fritters with shrimp remoulade and Empanadas filled with chicken ropa vieja.
We welcomed in some new faces this week, some regular members and good conversation. Some lucky guests even went home with a copy the chef’s latest cookbook, Ceviche, and another with a gift certificate to the restaurant — perfect to come back and enjoy their Sunday brunch with an all-you-can-drink sangria bar.
We finished off the night with a little singing and dessert for Morgan’s birthday celebration. Our hearts (and stomachs) were filled with joy, thanks to the good eats and warm hospitality from the team at D. Rodriguez Cuba.
D. Rodriguez Cuba is located at Astor Hotel, 956 Washington Ave, Miami Beach.