The Porterhouse

Photo Credit: Genius.

Bearing a more bar-like image than that of a restaurant, The Porterhouse Bar & Grill sits on 17004 Collins Ave. in Sunny Isles Beach. Just one block from the beach, this restaurant constantly gets a light breeze, perfect for sitting on the front patio in the high tables with a cold beer in hand. On the inside, Porterhouse continues to transmit the same relaxed atmosphere, but it hints a little more at the "bar" side of its name. One thing that either makes or breaks this restaurant is the fact that customers are allowed to smoke inside. If you're a smoker, you'll love it; if you're not, then keep in mind that you'll be secondhand smoking a lot.

Photo Credit: Foursquare.

I suggest you try and find a seat outside, where the breeze might help keep some of the smoke away. Porterhouse has great Buffalo wings that you can choose from mild, medium or hot. Their flavor is great and the Buffalo sauce topped with a little ranch is the perfect combination. Another great thing about this restaurant for all the beer fans out there is that it offers 3x1 draft beers. However, they do cheat you a little; the beer glasses are smaller than your typical 12-ounce beers. It also offers another happy hour from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. with 2x1 drinks. So for all you heavyweights out there: Enjoy!

Pepito's Plaza

Photo Credit: Yelp!

Pepito's Plaza is a small locale located next to a gas station on 10701 NW 58th St. Belonging to a Venezuela owner, the idea of the "plaza" began many years ago, when the original Pepito's began to take off. As the restaurant saw growing success, it expanded into a bigger building. The site is still adjacent to the gas station convenience store, where they share a pathway. Given the limited seating space inside, Pepito's created a "patio" with flat screen TVs that are always showing soccer matches. If the day or night is cool, that's the best place to eat. The plaza took its model from fast food places: You wait in line to reach the counter where you order anything form hot dogs, burgers, parrillas or pepitos.

Photo Credit: Yelp!

What they're most famous for, and take their name after, are the pepitos. They're like hot dogs, but with sausage instead of the traditional hot dog meat. Their "secret" component, however, are the six sauces that make all their food stand out. You have to keep in mind, though, that Pepito's Plaza will not bring you in with restaurant-style dishes or presentation. It's thought of as Venezuelan "street food," but as one Yelp! user put it, "[It's] street food heaven!" However, the restaurant is more than just the sauces or the flavors, it's about the environment. There's no such thing as a Latin American country without street food--and Pepito's Plaza does a great job of bringing that to Miami. And just like traditional street food, it only accepts cash, but it houses an ATM machine inside.

CVI.CHE 105

Photo Credit: Google images.

Known as one of the Peruvian go-to's in town, the restaurant is highlighted not only for its food, but also for its looks. I could easily call CVI.CHE 105 as the most "hip" and "fashionable" Peruvian restaurant in Miami, as their website states. The food is served exquisitely, and the ambiance throws off a chic look with the all-white-and-gray furniture and green finishes, giving the restaurant a lively yet stylish feel. CVI.CHE serves a large variety of dishes, and is best known for its ceviche selection. Whether you want the ceviche mild or spicy, with a pink sauce or a yellow sauce, this restaurant has it. The sauces' texture is great: not too liquid, but not too dense.

Photo Credit: Miami Food Lovers.

For as good as the texture is, though, I expected the flavor to be more pronounced. The lomo saltado could also use a stronger flavor. Both hold a very passive taste, which if it were intensified, would be amazing. The meat is tender enough and the onions, peppers and tomatoes that come with it are thoroughly soaked in the meat's juice, causing a juicy burst in your mouth. The problem with the dishes in CVI.CHE is the size; they're too small for my appetite. CVI.CHE's goal is not just to serve "traditional Peruvian gourmet," as their website states, but also to provide that chic atmosphere. It's not uncommon for frequent clientele to bump into artists and actors at CVI.CHE 105. But keep in mind that here, you're paying not just for the food, but for the looks as well.

Sabor a Peru

Photo Credit: FIUSM.

Sitting on 2923 Biscayne Blvd, the owner honored her roots by opening a Peruvian restaurant. I've tried a good variety of the different entrees and appetizers they offer. Trying everything from the anticucho de corazon to my typical lomo saltado and ceviche de pescado, to chaufa de mariscos and arroz con mariscos. The anticucho de corazon is a delicious appetizer that consists of chopped up pieces of cow's heart on two skewers and a light sauce on top. The lomo offered in Sabor a Peru is very flavorful and it prepares the tender meat strips so well that it leaves you wanting more.

Photo Credit: Yelp!

Sabor adds a little je ne sais quoi in their ceviches that make my taste buds buzz in response. The chaufa de mariscos and arroz con mariscos are very similar plates. They're both prepared with a large variety of seafood, ranging from shrimp to oysters to calamari. The difference is that the chaufa is fried-rice-style, while the arroz is simply rice mixed with seafood. However, there's nothing simple about these plates' savor. Both are tasty dishes that I often order depending on which I'm in the mood for. Sabor a Peru definitely exceeded my expectations. 

La Palapa Hondureña

Photo Credit: Google Maps Street View

La Palapa Hondureña sits on 2699 Biscayne Blvd, a restaurant that came into the market several years ago through the efforts of a Honduran lady. The pupusas are tortillas filled with cheese and accompanied with repollo--cabbagge mixed with tomatoes and a special sauce. The carne asada is roast meat topped with onions and served with your choice of rice, French fries, plantains or salad. Sopa de caracol is a delicious soup served in many seafood restaurants and several Latin American ones, but the one the La Palapa offers is one of the best I've tried.

Photo Credit: Yelp!

They also have a great plate of camarones al ajillo (garlic shrimp) and pescado frito entero (fried fish). The shrimp come bathed in a rich, buttery-garlic sauce. The pescado frito comes whole--yes, head, tail, teeth and everything--topped with onions and lemons. Also, there's nothing better than being able to go to La Palapa and ordering a nice baleada. It's a tortilla topped with many, many things. At home I used to have them with fried beans, a cream similar to what sour cream is in the US, scrambled eggs, avocado and sausage. Overall, this restaurant is a great place to go.

La Lupita

Photo Credit: FIUSM.

Known for staying open until 6 a.m and for its amazingly good tacos, La Lupita sits on 1057 SE 1st Ave, just a block away from several Brickell bars and clubs. With a variety of appetizers ranging from the delicious guacamole and chips to gringas and flautas mixtas to fried tacos. They also offer soups and salads, but the reason why it's so successful is for its tacos. Every time I go, I order tacos al pastor, which the restaurant explains is "pork meat slowly cooked on a vertical rotisserie."
Each taco costs $2, and you can order however many you can eat.

Photo Credit: Yelp!

You can order the tacos with cheese, pico de gallo--cut-up onion, peppers, tomatoes and lime juice--and pineapple. Apart from the tacos, La Lupita offers grilled beef steak, grilled chicken and enchiladas--fried tortillas topped with chicken or beef and cheese, apart form other toppings you can ask for, such as the ones for the tacos. Every day from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., they offer margaritas at half-price for their Happy Hour. They also have an all-day, every-day special in which a five-beer bucket is valued at $25, and includes an appetizer of either guacamole and chips or queso fundido--a special cheese dish.

El Centro Americano

 

Photo Credit: Blog.

El Centro Americano rests on 155 SW 107^th Ave. It is a hidden jewel I came across thanks to a Salvadorian friend who, thankfully, decided to share it with me. For breakfast, El Centro Americano serves a variety of plates. The desayuno especial, which includes a six-ounce piece of meat or chicken to go with the eggs and beans, is a pretty good option. As appetizers, El Centro Americano serves the famous Salvadorian pupusas as one of their options. You can also go with the chicharrones, small, fried pieces of pork.  

Photo Credit: Yelp!

For lunch and dinner, some of my usual orders include the pan con bistec, or steak sandwich; the parrillada, a mix of various meat cuts, pork and chicken; and the chuletas de cerdo, or pork chop. The pan con bistec is a favorite of mine. The meat is very flavorful, although sometimes a little tough, and it comes with lettuce and substantial amounts of mayonnaise. The parrillada is a good plate for a good price. It brings a reasonable amount of food—almost enough for two—and it’s not even the larger one, the parrillada para dos. The meat does not necessarily hold the best flavor around, but for its reasonable price I find it satisfies you well enough. This restaurant also houses Regia, a Salvadorian beer recognized for its larger volume—approximately 20 ounces more than the usual 12-ounce beers. 

Peru Criollo

Photo Credit: Google images.

Peru Criollo sits on Southwest 108 Avenue and Bird Road. The location is easy to find, and the place itself takes after simple, Latin American-style diners, with several wooden tables and chairs and a long bar. It has a large selection of seafood and Peruvian specialties such as their ceviches, several soups and multiple appetizers. However, it also serves a variety of chicken, meats and salads. I ordered the usual ceviche and lomo saltado. The food is brought promplty after ordering. The portions are a good size, and that's coming from someone who doesn't enjoy meager servings.

Photo Credit: Yelp!

The ceviche was the better of the two, although its flavor was a bit different than that from downtown seafood restaurants. The fish was tender and thoroughly soaked in a rich, lemon-based sauce. The lomo saltado, however, was somewhat bland. Although it was bathed in sauce, the meat felt slightly dry and could have used more seasoning. While not a bad option, it could certainly consist of a better flavor for its $12.99 value. Overall, the experience was a positive one in regards to food quality and service.