As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the local food scene, restaurant operators are finding new ways to bring in guests both new and old. One of the incentives they’re turning to: weekly restaurant specials in the form of themed nights, special items, discounts, and more.
Here are just a few of the Miami restaurant specials you should keep on your radar:
Natural Hot Chicks at Eating House, Coral Gables
On Tuesdays, make your way to Eating House in Coral Gables for an ode to all things hot chicken. Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli has devised a short-and-sweet menu of chicken dishes in a variety of styles, including Nashville-style (cayenne and brown sugar) and “Hotlanta”-style (cayenne and lemon pepper).
Pick your preferred poultry and then select one of three dishes: hot chicken sandwich, hot chicken and waffles, or “meat and three” (two chicken thighs with black truffle mac, slaw, and corn on the cob). It’s a lot of food, and if you’ll likely leave with leftovers—this food is heavy and you’ll definitely need a nap afterward.
Can’t make it to the restaurant? No worries: Eating House recently launched a delivery-only expansion of the themed night, which they’ve called Clucked Up. You can order from the concept exclusively on Postmates.
Pasta Mondays at Salumeria 104, Coral Gables
Salumeria 104 is known for its delicious Italian food by Chef Angelo Masarin, who oversees both the Midtown Miami and Coral Gables locations. It’s at the latter, however, where you can find one of the best pasta deals in town. Every Monday, the Miracle Mile restaurant offers their pastas for $10. The savings are huge, and the pastas are already priced reasonably in the teens and 20s.
On the menu are highlights like the house ravioli—prosciutto ravioli with brown butter and sage sauce—as well as the lasagna baked with Bolognese and bechamel. Other options include their shrimp tagliolini (a personal favorite) and the simple-yet-flavorful cavatelli. The special is only offered during dinner service, but lunch has its own set of specials comprised of paninis and salads.
Smoke & Dough at Empanada Harry’s, West Kendall
Looking for some awesome BBQ? Head over to Empanada Harry’s in West Kendall. Don’t let the name fool you: Empanada Harry’s offers much more than the namesake savory pastries, and its weekend Smoke & Dough popup is a testament to that.
On Sundays, owner Harry Coleman busts out a bunch of barbecue selections for customers to enjoy. The menu is subject to change, but you can expect rotating items like baby back ribs with guava-ancho sauce, house-cured and smoked pastrami, brisket burnt ends, jalapeno cheddar sausage and more mouthwatering bites. Speaking from experience, you’ll have leftovers for days.
Due to COVID-19, Smoke & Dough’s schedule is a little sporadic right now, but make sure to check out their social media page to see when it’ll be around next. The wait is worth it.
Sunday Specials at Over Under, Downtown Miami
Downtown Miami newcomer Over Under has quickly made a name for itself with high-quality, low-priced bar food and drinks. It’s one of the few places open right now where the beverage list gets as much attention as the food menu. A shot and a beer, frozen drinks, cocktails, wine… Over Under has you covered. Food-wise, you’ll find bar staples like wings, burgers, and other bites taken up a notch.
While the menu has contracted since indoor dining was put on hold by the county, the restaurant is continuing to mix things up with rotating Sunday specials. Previous specials have included gumbo and beignets, vegan TV dinners, and fried chicken feasts. These weekly additions are typically announced in the middle of the week and are available for pre-order online. Make sure to order quickly, as they tend to sell out—and once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Weekend Sandwiches at Boia De, Little Haiti
Fans of Little Haiti’s Boia De go to Boia De for their spectacular Italian fare, but on weekends, the restaurant gets a little more casual with an emphasis on sandwiches. The two sandwiches you need to know about are the muffuletta and the fried chicken sandwich. The former is Boia De’s take on the popular New Orleans sandwich with mortadella, salami calabrese, provolone dolce, giardiniere, and pimento olives. As you can guess from the ingredients list, it’s a mouthful.
Unlike the muffuletta, the chicken sandwich is only available on Sundays—and it can sell out fast. Foodies who have followed Boia De know that the owners used to run La Pollita, a beloved Midtown Mexican food truck. The truck was mainly known for its tacos, but there was a fried chicken sandwich that also had its time in the spotlight. Although the truck is long gone, the chicken sandwich lives on here at Boia De, and its mix of fried chicken, avocado, Valentina aioli and pickled slaw is to die for.
