USA Guide
Florida
Eating
1 Ayestarán 706 SW 27th Ave, Little Havana 
305/649-4982 This sprawling Cuban restaurant offers hearty and cheap daily specials and superb café con leche that you can mix to your liking.
2 Big Pink 157 Collins Ave, South Beach 305/532-4700 Come here for large portions of comfort food: mashed potatoes, ribs, macaroni and cheese, and classic "TV dinners," all served at long communal tables.
3 
David's Café 1058 Collins Ave 305/534-8736 Eat deep-fried delicacies and daily Cuban specials like chicken with rice and beans ($6) on the tables outside, wedged between businessmen and teens, or grab a café Cubano (95¢) at the take-out window. There's dining room-style seating at the second branch, 1654 Meridian Ave, just off Lincoln Road: try staples like Cuban sandwiches ($7.95) and pork chops ($12.45). Opening time: 24hr
4 El Palacio de los Jugos 5721 W Flagler Ave, Little Havana 305/264-1503 A handful of tables at the back of a Cuban produce market, where the pork sandwiches and shellfish soup from the takeout stand are the tastiest for miles. Also serving refreshing jugos (juices).
5 The Forge 432 41st St, Miami Beach 305/538-8533A memorable upscale dining spot where the hearty traditional food and huge wine cellar combine appealingly with a vibrant atmosphere and eclectic clientele.
6 Front Porch Café 1418 Ocean Drive, South Beach 305/531-8300 This local hangout is refreshingly low-key, considering its location: the delicious, dinner-plate-sized pancakes will easily take care of both breakfast and lunch.
7 Garcia's Seafood Grille 398 NW N River Drive, downtown 305/375-0765 Wonderful waterfront café with ramshackle wooden benches and superb, fresh fish dishes for around $15. Opening time: Closes 9.30pm
8 Joe's Stone Crabs 11 Washington Ave, South Beach 305/673-0365 Specializing in succulent stone crabs and always packed – if you're impatient, do as the locals do and head to the takeout window. Crabcakes, fresh fish, and the crispy fried chicken are also good. Opening time: Oct– May
9 La Sandwicherie 229 W 14th St, South Beach 305/532-8934 Gigantic sandwiches stuffed with gourmet ingredients such as prosciutto and imported cheeses and starting at around $5.30. It's open until 5am, so good for a post-clubbing refuel.
10 Michael's Genuine Food 130 NE 40th St, Design District 305/573-5550 One of the hottest restaurants in town, with seasonal, local ingredients whipped into eclectic creations by lauded chef Michael Schwartz; sizes range small to extra large (medium and large entrees $10–27).
11 News Café 800 Ocean Drive, South Beach 305/538-NEWS This mid-priced sidewalk café has front-row seating for the South Beach promenade – although the food's unremarkable. Opening time: 24hrs
12 Pizza Rustica 863 Washington Ave, South Beach 305/674-8244 Mouthwateringly fresh gourmet pizza, with slab-like slices costing around $5.
13 Scotty's Landing 3381 Pan American Drive, Coconut Grove 305/854-2626 Tasty, inexpensive seafood and fish ‘n' chips consumed at marina-side picnic tables. It's tucked away on the water by City Hall, and so can be hard to find – ask if you get lost.
14 Smith & Wollensky 1 Washington Ave (at South Pointe Park) 305/673-2800 This steakhouse chain deserves a try for its superb location; sit overlooking the mouth of the Miami River and watch cruise ships navigate the harbor.
15 Tap Tap 819 5th St, South Beach 305/672-2898 Tasty, attractively presented and reasonably priced Haitian food. Most dishes are less than $10 – the goat in a peppery tomato broth is a knockout. Opening time: Dinner only
16 Versailles 3555 SW 8th St, Little Havana 305/444-0240 Local families, Cuban businessmen, and backpackers congregate here for the wonderfully inexpensive Cuban dishes, served by friendly staff amid kitsch decor of chandeliers and mirrored walls.
17 Yambo 1643 SW 1st St, Little Havana 305/642-6616 Step out of the USA and into Central America at Yambo, an undiscovered gem serving up good, inexpensive Nicaraguan food.