Uvaggio Wine Bar & Restaurant - Coral Gables, FL

Altaroses Garnacha

Lazy Magnolia Imperial Rye Pale Ale

House-made Yorgurt Naan Bread

Salt Cod Croquetas

Butternut Ricotta Gnocchi

Braised Beef Short Rib

Blueberry Prosecco Frother

Cinnamon Bun Bread Pudding

 

 

The restaurant has more of a focus on wine than on the food but despite that, the food still shines. Food is served tapas styles representing different parts of the world.

Uvaggio Wine Bar & Restaurant
70 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 448-2400
http://uvaggiowine.com

Pita Plus - Sunrise, FL

Upon entering Pita Plus, you feel welcomed! The guy working the restaurant was very friendly and accommodating, making suggestions and letting me taste certain menu items.

I decided to get a Beef Shish Kabab Sandwich and I hate when I say this, because eventually I will likely go someplace and say this again, but this was the best Pita sandwich I have ever had in my life and I can bet that at least in Broward, this is the top spot. The meat was way better quality than most, moist and flavorful. The other awesome thing about this place, is that the additions are plenty and you can load your sandwich up with whatever you like.

I also had an order of Falafel.

The name says it all, go for the Pitas but the other stuff is pretty good too.


Pita Plus
3801 N University Dr #304, Sunrise, FL 33351
(954) 741-5844
www.pitaplussunrise.com

Acropolis Cuisine - Metairie, LA

Since my stomach has constantly been telling me please get me a Gyro asap and Acropolis Cuisine has been known to dish out some tasty Greek cuisine (I have been told to dine her a couple of times), I went to check it out.

I was by myself and not in the mood to eat alone so I decided upon carryout. At some restaurants, carryout customer don't get the same level of service as dine in customers but that was not the case here.  While waiting for my order and scoping out the scene, I could tell that it was a nice restaurant as appearances go and I would not hesitate to bring family or friends here. 

The Gyro had good flavor but the meat, a combo of beef and lamb,  was just a little too darn salty.  The pita bread was good, the tomatoes and lettuce were fresh and the tzatziki sauce was tasty. It was piled with so much meat, unless you have a hefty appetite, you will have a hard time finishing it. Overall, it was delectable. 

You have the option of steak fries or grilled vegetables as a side. I opted for the latter and really liked it. Whatever it is that they added to it, it was phenomenal!

I also ordered a Baklava to finish of my meal. It was delicious but super sweet. I could have done without all that honey but that is a typical Baklava addition. However, it was flaky, quality, and mmm mmm good.

Acropolis Cuisine
3841 Veterans Memorial Blvd Metairie, LA 70002
(504) 888-9046

Byblos Market - Metairie, LA

Byblos Market is the grocery/restaurant hybrid of the chain of Mediterranean restaurants in the the New Orleans area of the same name. I figured this location would be a grocery store with a small counter in the back for take-out, but there was quite a few tables of seating.

As a first timer, I was a little taken aback when I walked up to the counter and was not acknowledged. Luckily, I spotted the menu taped to the counter and was able to look over it. I realized that orders were being placed at the register and as I was walking away, it was at that point, the guy at the food counter finally asked me what I was ordering. Towards the end, they warmed up a little bit but unless you speak their language, you will feel ignore because they barely look up and talk in native tongue amongst themselves.

Ultimately, I took the Chicken Shawarma entree I ordered to go. The dish came with a Salad, Rice Pilaf, Hummus and Pita Bread. The price may have swayed me opinion a little bit, but I was pleased by the quality of the chicken which was flavorful and very tender all white meat. The salad was good but I wish it had olives, the Rice Pilaf was so-so (it was like eating plain white rice) but the quality was good and the hummus was delicious and creamy smooth.

If you don't want to take my word, I will say that the place was pretty full during lunch and with people of Mediterranean decent so that speaks for something.

Byblos Market
2020 Veterans Memorial Blvd Metairie, LA 70001
(504) 837-9777
www.byblosrestaurants.com

Exotic Bites - Hollywood, FL

I was doing some work in Hollywood when I started to get that lunch itch and that itch was saying it wanted Middle Eastern food. I did a quick search for nearby restaurants and found Exotic Bites. 

Exotic Bites is a cute little restaurant located on Harrison St. It has a lounge feel setup with not only tables for dining but a small bar and couches for those looking to chill out and smoke a little Hookah. We choose to sit outside, since the restaurant was a bit dark and stuffy and because it was a nice day out.  

Although it was tempting, it was the middle of the day, so I had to pass on the Hookah. I didn't however, pass on their Falafel Entree. Along with the Falafels, it came with salad, couscous, and pita bread. Everything was fresh and tasty. I really liked their Falafels because they were huge and packed full of flavor and not dry. 

My boyfriend who met me for lunch isn't a fan of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern food. So stupidly, he decide it would be a good idea to order the Philly Cheese Steak off the American portion of the menu. Obviously, he was disappointed. It wasn't even an attempt at a Philly but simply a Middle Eastern take on the sandwich. On top of that, it was cold, the cheese wasn't melted and the fries looked like they were chopped up into itty bitty pieces.  

Despite that little mishap, the waitress was one of the nicest, most genuine people I have ever encountered. She was very sincere and apologetic that my boyfriend didn't like his food and made every attempt to rectify the situation, although we didn't take her up on any of her offers. She has a sort off of beat personality but she was really fun and funny. I truly enjoyed having her as our server. 

So the conclusion is that the food here is good, just don't order food that a restaurant doesn't specialize in because it probably won't be very good. However, Exotic Bites, if you don't intend to make it good, just don't put it on the menu. The service was spectacular and the best part of the meal!

Exotic Bites

1848 Harrison Street Hollywood, FL 33020

(954) 929-7042

www.exoticbitesrestaurant.com

Off the Hookah Lounge - Downtown Miami (Bayside Marketplace), FL

 

If you live in South Florida at some point you've heard about Off the Hookah whether it be their location in West Palm, Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Off the Hookah Miami is mostly known as an afterhours lounge, but me being the glutton for food, decided it would be best to grab some dinner and see what the fuss is about at the same time. Really though, I was just craving some off the hook hookah!

We got there a little before 9pm so much of the staff was preparing for the nightclub hours. There were also a lot of people standing around with nothing to do too. We were seated right away, but since we did not have reservations we were seated at an awkward spot in the middle of the dining area so I recommended making reservations with specification of where u want to sit if you do decide to come here. I would even suggest that sitting on the patio outside by the water may be a lot nicer. Random, but the chairs were very uncomfortable.

The scene fit the feel of the restaurant/lounge. Music was playing, the lights were colorful, and a belly dancer dances so it is an overall a fun atmosphere. The others that had arrive early like we had, were having a good time; dancing, singing, talking, eating, drinking and smoking. I personally like places like this but if you are looking for a quiet dinner, this is definitely not the place to be.

As I said before, there was a lot of staff when we arrived, but even after being seated immediately, it took a awfully long time for someone to come to our table. There seem to be some confusing as to who should be serving what table. Other than that, the service was good. The waitress we had was very friendly and helpful. She seemed to like her job and that makes all the difference in the world.

The food overall was mediocre. The Maryland Crab Dip was alright. It tasted fine but was nothing special. With the crostinis (which I'm not a fan of) it was palatable but with the pita chips (which I love on their own), it came off as bit too salty.

I enjoyed the Rack of Lamb (herb crusted and charbroiled). Although it was cooked well done and I had asked for medium, it was not dried out and I enjoyed the flavor of the crust. The goat cheese mashed potatoes were whatever; I didn't like the cheese combo. The asparagus drizzled with a Andros sauce was good.

The Filet Mignon wasn't very good at all. It was tender but as flavor goes it was very bland. It clearly was not seasoned and the sauce it came with added nothing to save the lack of the flavor. Again the bleu cheese mashed potatoes just were not good and the asparagus drizzled with a Cyprus sauce was good. Now, the drinks (a Signature Margarita & Long Island) on the other hand were nice and strong.

The main reason to come to Off the Hookah is the hookah and whether it was off the hook or not is to be determined, but I was happy with it. Let me preface by saying that I don't smoke and this was probably like my third or fourth time smoking hookah but I did enjoy the chocolate-mint flavor and it lasted through our entire meal which she outed so we could eat and re lit once we were done eating so no complaints here and it was well worth the price.

Perhaps if I came late night I would have enjoyed it much better, but for dinner since it is all about the food it would not be a top choice. It is however, a good place for groups and a fun place to have a good time.



Off the Hookah
401 Biscayne Boulevard R103 (Bayside Marketplace) Miami, FL 33132
(305) 373-5724
VIP Reservations: MIA@OfftheHookah.com
www.offthehookah.com/miami-fl-location

Grand Opening of Taverna Opa Mary Brickell Village: August 22 @ 6pm

What: Celebrating the Grand Opening of Taverna Opa Mary Brickell Village

Where: Taverna Opa Mary Brickell Village located at 900 S Miami Ave, The Shops at Mary Brickell Village, Miami, FL 33130

When: Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Why: Brickell is going Greek! Please join the Downtown Miami & Brickell Chamber of Commerce in welcoming Taverna Opa Brickell to the neighborhood. Great appetizers and signature drinks will be served.

How: Please dress in business attire (no t-shirts, no tennis shoes). You can RSVP to grandopening@tavernaopa.com or Kadson at 954.789.1709.

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