Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Miami

Do not be deterred by the crowd milling about on the sidewalk, Cafe Prima Pasta has proven itself well worth the wait time. As the name suggests, the cafe specializes in homemade pasta. Although house made pastas are the main attraction, the expanded menu includes more meat and fish choices. Fresh tomato sauces are superb. Both indoor and outdoor seating are available.

This restaurant chain has branches appearing in high-powered business capitals around the country and offers a dark, imposing and pointedly sophisticated atmosphere, in which to enjoy upscale American favorites. The menu at The Capital Grille features sumptuous steaks, lobsters and the like for reasonable prices. Miami's version of the Grille is allegedly a USD4-million-plus architectural feat. Surfaces are polished to a gleam, the wine list is impressive and premium liquor flows freely.

Fans of crustaceans should make it a priority to eat at Joe's Stone Crab. Since the restaurant's establishment in 1913, the folks at Joe's have been serving up the freshest, most delicious seafood in greater Miami. You can dip the house specialty in drawn butter or a mustard sauce. Reservations are not accepted, so get here very early or be prepared to wait. The place is a favorite with locals and tourists. Be sure to call during summer months, as the restaurant closes down during part of the summer.

This cognac and cigar-style restaurant is known for its comprehensive wine list. Owned by Shareef Malnik, The Forge is known for delightful culinary creations like spice-rubbed duck and basil-seared Chilean sea bass. Apart from the extensive wine selection, The Forge offers its patrons beer, wines and cocktails.

Personable, friendly service and a rich history help make Versailles not only an excellent dining adventure, but also one of the memorable cultural experiences in Miami. All of the menu specialties are spicy, flavorful and traditionally Cuban and the same applies to the ambiance as well. The restaurant is open into the wee hours, so come for an early breakfast or a very late dinner. Catch up on local happenings while enjoying authentic Cuban coffee and cuisines. Prices are reasonable.

Coconut Grove's favorite dive bar, Barracuda is about as far as you can get from South Beach's glitz and glamor. The wood decorating the bar is all salvaged from an old shrimp boat and the bar is full of all kinds of entertainment like pool tables, beer pong tables and televisions for watching the game. The menu features Barracuda's famous fresh grilled snapper sandwich and their grilled mahi sandwich, as well as all kinds of bar food favorites from nachos to wings to even the addictive "crack pie" for dessert. From behind the bar comes a selection of craft beers which are on Happy Hour special every day until 8p.