#DishHitList: Summer Menus, Live Music, and Collaborations [August 2023]

August in Miami may already be hot and muggy, but rest assured the city’s best restaurants continue bringing the heat with fiestas, tons of live music, seasonal Summer menus, and even puppy brunches by the sea.

Here are the top happenings to watch out for this month.

Casa Cabana Collaboration at Casa Mariano

On Thursday, August 10, run, don’t walk to Casa Maraino for the gastronomic affair of your wildest dreams. At 7 p.m. Chef and partner Jorge Mas of Kuba Cabana will join chef and partner Mariano Araya in the kitchen to bring 25 diners a six-course dinner and wine pairing. Expect South American dishes melanged with Miami’s unique international flare. 

Here’s a sneak peek of what to expect: oishi oysters with a charcoal honeydew granita to start; hamachi crudo in a coconut-ginger leche de tigre with sweet potato and pork chicharron to follow; and tantalizing mains like wagyu vaca frita in a Cuban mojo with caramelized sweet potato terrine and truffles. Let’s leave the rest to the imagination. The experience is priced at $155 per person. Reservations are required and can be made here.

Casa Mariano is located at 8200 NW 27 Street, Suite 106 in Doral, Florida. For more information, visit their official website.

Puppy Brunch at Ocean Social by Tristen Epps

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We recommend Miami’s doggy owners keep their Sunday afternoons free on August 13th and head to the new hottest brunch spot in town, Ocean Social by Tristen Epps. Miami foodies and dog parents are lucky to live in one of the most dog-friendly cities in the world and events like this one are the cherry on top.

Ocean Social has been fresh on the scene with Carribean-inspired flavors and the brunch menu showcases that to the fullest. Pup parents can enjoy a la carte selections like the Grand Marnier French Toast with caramelized mango and whipped coconut cream; or the acclaimed Ocean Smash Burger with Calabrian pepper aioli. What is there for the fur babies? Puppuccinos, why of course! 

Enjoy the refreshing breeze and lovely ocean view with your doggie dates and don’t forget to take a boomerang photo in the specially set-up booth. If you’re not a dog parent yet—no problem! Animal Lovers Rescue (ALR) will be on-site with adorable fur babies ready for adoption. Ten percent of all brunch proceeds will be donated to ALR. There will also be a  Wellness Raffle and free B12 injections offered by Beauty by Afrooz for the ultimate doggie bonding time. Advance reservations are encouraged and can be made on OpenTable.

Ocean Social by Tristen Epps is located at the Eden Roc Miami Beach at 4525 Collins Avenue. For more information, visit their official website.

Caviar & Champagne Tuesdays at Klaw 

Starting this month, Miami’s favorite surf & turf hotspot is offering epicureans the ultimate caviar deals every Tuesday. Gourmands far and wide will be pleased to make their way to Klaw for a caviar feast like no other. The restaurant is releasing its own branded caviar, Imperial Reserve Kaluga, available for a special price on Tuesday nights. 

Guests can indulge in the ultimate Klaw Caviar Service & Champagne for $150 which includes a 30g tin of Imperial Reserve Kaluga served with deviled eggs, toasted sare wheat bread, whipped whey butter, and crème fraiche; plus a bottle of Inspiration 1818 by Billecart-Salmon Champagne. Foodies also have the option of getting the caviar service sin champagne for $75 or 7 grams of the signature caviar served on a mother of pearls spoon for $20 while watching the sunset over Biscayne Bay from the lavish rooftop. Make your reservations beforehand HERE. 

Klaw is located at 1737 N Bayshore Drive, Miami, FL 33132. For more information visit their official website.

Fiesta Fridays at Toro Toro 

Toro Toro, the city’s acclaimed Pan-Latin steakhouse is unveiling its Fiesta Fridays this month. From 8 to 10 p.m., foodies can enjoy an exuberant immersive dining event with live dance performances starting every 30 minutes.

For the ultimate evening make sure to get an order of the tableside Tomahawk service alongside shareable appetizers like the sweet corn empanadas, guacamole with pork belly and chicharron, and the irresistible crispy shrimp with aji amarillo. Specialty cocktails will keep the experience popping all through the night. Tip: go straight for the zesty Ahumado made with mezcal, solerno, agave, lime, and a bell pepper jalapeno-blood orange ice cube. Advance reservations are encouraged and can be made on OpenTable.

Toro Toro is located at 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, visit their official website. 

ADRIFT Mare Opens its Doors

No doubt all serf-respecting Miami restaurantgoers have been patiently awaiting the first East Coast arrival of celebrated chef and restaurateur, “Gypsy Chef” David Myers. The chef’s newest concept, ADRIFT Mare opened its doors in the bustling Brickell neighborhood on July 30th on the 25^th floor of the luxurious Hotel AKA Brickell and is now dishing out tantalizing plates inspired by the immense diversity of the Mediterranean coastline. 

The menu is chock-full of Myer’s travel memories and learned techniques, giving diners a full tour of all the Mediterranean regions and transporting you to warm summer evenings by the glistening sea. Highlights include whipped cod roe served with country loaf for starters; yellowfin tuna with shallots, caviar, and buckwheat crackers from the raw bar; half-roasted lobster served with linguini, Datterini tomatoes, and basil as a main; and exceptional dry-aged meats such as marinated Colorado lamb rack, Australian Wagyu sirloin, and mixed shish kebabs for the carnivores. 

As far as sips go, diners can enjoy a fine wine list featuring the best of the Mediterranean terroirs; as well as a craft cocktail menu helmed by award-winning mixologists Moe Aljaff and Juliette Larrouy which doesn’t fail to highlight ingredients of the coast. Case in point: Alpha, featuring Ford’s Gin, Granny Smith apple shrub, celery, ginger, and absinthe. 

ADRIFT Mare is located at 1395 Brickell Avenue on the 25th floor of Hotel AKA Brickell. For more information, visit www.adriftmare.com

Jaya at The Setai Offers Expansive Summer Culinary Lineup

Award-winning restaurant Jaya, which showcases an exquisite melange of East and South Asian flavors is keeping Miamians on their toes this summer with various line-ups running throughout the week. 

Start your week off with Flavors of India—a culinary journey offered every Wednesday which features a complimentary cocktail and Indian dishes like rasam mussels with tamarind and curry leaves or grilled-to-order tandoor skewers. 

On Saturdays pop in for the Rosé Brunch ($105). Enjoy limitless Louis Roederer Champagne every Saturday from 11:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. alongside a live DJ set. Then on Sundays, brunch lovers can indulge in the Sunday Jazz Brunch ($105) with a showcase of traditional culinary skills from wok stations to tandoor ovens featuring the best flavors from Thailand, Vietnam, India, China, and Japan. From 11:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. enjoy limitless cocktails, tantalizing flavors, and live jazz in the restaurant’s serene courtyard. 

Jaya at The Setai is located at 2001 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. For more information please visit thesetaihotel.com. 

New Summer Menu at Amalia

Mediterranean and Latin-influenced Amalia, located inside the Lennox hotel has recently unveiled its new summer menu. The restaurant focuses exclusively on fresh and seasonal ingredients with a big emphasis on healthy and wholesome eating. The menu will take diners on a tour through the Mediterranean coast as well as Latin America. Highlights include the Trofie with Bolognese pasta, a dish dear to Executive Chef Griccini, which reminds him of family as his grandmother would prepare it over the hot summer months in Argentina. For shareable appetizers go straight for the roasted cauliflower and pistachios made with brown butter, herbs, and a green tahini emulsion. 

Lennox Hotels Miami Beach is located at 1900 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida. For more information, please visit www.lennoxmiamibeach.com.