Note: Please read the entire article including the article update at the end, as the restaurant literally may have been shut down as the article went live.
People’s BBQ is literally one of my favorite spots here in Miami. I was put on to them by the homie Danny from Shoe Gallery a couple years back. And I think I may have mentioned them on The305 once or maybe on our Twitter account.
Its in Overtown and has some of the best soul/southern food ever. At least to my standards of course. The menu is extensive, the prices are decent, but the portions are incredible. Any given meal feeds two people. The above photo shows their BBQ Ribs with extra sauce, Peas & Rice, Mac & Cheese, and their amazing cornbread which is always served warm. Their homemade lemonade is also good, just be fair-warned that it usually has extra sugar to pack that extra punch. So you might want to get a water or a regular fountain drink.
All in all, this Overtown staple as been in business for decades and will most definitely stay open for more to come. Oh and the service has definitely been great every time I’ve gone in. Whether big group or small, they take care of you and make you feel at home.
UPDATE 8/25/2010: Ironically, news broke almost exactly as I wrote this article. Major coincidence but it seems that People’s BBQ is either closed or temporarily closed due to inspection issues. Reports on NBC6 from yesterday (courtesy of the comment below) have them saying that the restaurant is closed due to 20 violations and etc, including a complaint of maggots in some lady’s chicken. I called at 8PM last night and the employee at People’s said they were still open till 9PM even and this was after NBC’s article came out. Not sure what to say, but that I know they’re still open. Bad timing for my article I guess. Violation or not, their food is usually official, even Dwayne Wade thinks so. I’ll keep you posted.
Hands down, Miami Subs has got to be the best fast food place. And definitely the best, if not Top 3 best French Fries ever! Too bad that local locations seem to be dwindling down little by little due to the recent sale of the company a few years ago. To the point that I think there’s more Miami Subs locations in Broward, than there are in Dade County. But the chain has also expanding through Georgia, the Carolinas, the Northeastern states and even internationally to Turkey, Romania and Cayman Islands where multiple international locations in each of those countries are planned.
The Miami Vice themed colorway is probably the only Miami thing about Miami Subs. But like I mentioned, they definitely have to be the best fast food spot around. Universally, the mainstays like the Philly Cheeseteak, the Gyros, the “Super” Burger, Nathans hotdogs (some locations) and again, the classic one-of-a-kind Miami Subs fries – all put Miami Subs at the top of the list for many because they simply have a wide variety options. No matter what you may be in the mood for, they seem to have it. Well, not everything, but you know what I mean. Point is…its a damn shame that these locations keep disappearing, but take advantage while you can and hit a Miami Subs near you.
Its really hard finding a good Chinese Restaurant at times. Especially down south in the Kendall and South Dade area. All of them are a little too proper and clean for their own good. The best Chinese food I’ve ever had were the most beat-up looking places in various parts of New York City.
Either way, down in Kendall and the Cutler Ridge Cutler Bay areas, you can stop on buy to Chef Chen. Two locations to serve the public well. Definitely not beat-up looking establishments, in fact, they’re quite perfect looking. I literally just came back with a take out order as I write this. What did I order? The Chicken Lo Mein with no onions. A small serving that feeds two or three people for about $5.00. And I also had the Hot & Sour soup for $2.00, which is most definitely on point. Besides that, tons of family value meals and dinner specials give you a good value for your dollar and they definitely have a few vegetarian options.
Recognition: Miami New Times named Chef Chen as having the best Chinese soup in all of Dade County. And they were named among the “Top 100 Restaurants In The USA” – whatever that means. Its on their flyer, but doesn’t really mention “who” gave them that honor. (lol)
All in all, good food at a good price. Definitely not the best chinese food I’ve ever had, but definitely a good choice in the down south area of the county at a good price with quick service.
2 Girls And A Cupcake – Miami, Florida
We posted about these girls like a year ago. Glad to see them still going strong. Here’s a video Derick G put together of various locals (Cool & Dre, Mayday, Khaled) giving them the thumbs up and the girls letting viewers know a little more about what they do.
Trust me, get like 2 or 3 dozen of their Oye Como Va cupcake, which is Guava filled with Cream Cheese frosting.
OTG, also known as Off The Grille – has two restaurant locations in Miami. It’s great on-the-go type food mixed with a grilled Caribbean style.
Known mainly for their wide variety of wraps (like the popular Mojo Checken Wrap), OTG also serves tons of other dishes and has loads of daily lunch specials. Their main courses are almost all incredible, but what stands OTG apart from the rest of the competition is their unique selection of sides.
Pictured above is their Jerk Chicken served with brown rice, tostones, and an additional side of Dominican styled Mangu. All cooked to order, served fresh and ready to eat with your choice of drink. Other notable entries on the menu include their Churrasco plate with two sides, their Chicken Quesadilla and their mashed potatoes. Their housemade Pesto (which go great with the tostones), Chimichurri and Southwestern sauces also add that hint of flavor as well. All affordably priced.
Check out either one of OTG’s two locations below:
Hands down, this is like the most CUBAN spot ever….but they have a lot of great food at a REAL CHEAP PRICE. I’ve been going to this place since I was like six years old so you could say I’m a little biased….but the food is genuinely good.
Without a doubt, Latin American Market off Flagler and 73rd Avenue have the BEST TAMALES IN MIAMI. No question about it. Made with all natural ingredients, these tamales are untouchable by their many competitors. You can either take them for $1.00 each if you take them to go….or if you eat inside its $1.25 each. But just for the sake of the experience, you need to eat inside for at least the first time that you are inside to hear the Cubans talk sh*t among each other and to let the ladies serving you flirt with you a little (lol). Again…best tamales in Miami. Served with Hot Sauce or Ketchup…whatever your preference.
Then…you can’t forget the Guarapo (drink from sugar cane) that they make in house. They also have a killer Cuban Sandwich for $2.50. And 35-cent croquetas, which is unheard of. And its the good kind of croqueta. And for the Dominicans reading this, they sell salchichon (sausage) there as well to accompany your mangu dishes.
Either way, this spot is recommended. Authentic Cuban cafeteria type of experience in an unlikely place – a mini market.
Latin American Market
7365 West Flagler Street
Miami, FL 33144-2558
(305) 261-4401
Allright, for this edition of Taste Tuesdays – comes by way of chain restaurant Pollo Campero, which is basically Pollo Tropical’s evil twin brother in the fast food chicken business.
While their food is definitely good, especially their Lemon Pepper flavored grilled chicken – they have a hidden item on their menu that gets overlooked. Their Chicken Crispers.
Only 99 cents, these taquito looking snacks are delicious. And they’re not small either. Two or three of these and you are set for an afternoon. Don’t forget to ask them for the accompanying sauce. Top quality snack for a low price.
There are two Pollo Camperos in the Miami area:
Little Havana - 2800 SW 8th St, Miami, Florida – (305) 643-4260 Cutler Bay - 18660 South Dixie Highway, Cutler Bay, FL – (786) 293-1634
Sorry for the blatant advertisement. But I saw this in the new issue of the Miami New Times and had to post. Straight recession-proof. 99 cents for a 6-piece Mcnuggets every Monday….you can’t beat that.
I recently got introduced to this new Bar/Grill spot with a couple locations in the South Miami area. Dare I go out on a limb here and state they have the best wings in all of Dade County? Yep, I will…
Sports Grill does in deed have one of the best (if not the best) recipes for chicken wings in Dade County. And they’re grilled. Note that you must get the “Special Grilled Wings” as anything beyond that I can’t vouch for. But trust me, they are pretty up there as far as being the best. Granted, there’s a lot of competition around the county, but these are grilled wings that are cooked with the seasoning as opposed to putting the seasoning afterward.
The “Special Grilled Wings” are dipped in their house Buffalo Sauce, then charbroiled and lightly washed with Worcestershire and turned into the Bar favorite. At $8.25 for 10 pieces, it might be slightly high price-wise, but its totally worth it.
For almost 10 years, Sonia’s Patties have been making delicious gourmet Jamaican patties in the South Florida area and are a local favorite.
For almost 10 years, Sonia’s Patties have been making delicious gourmet Jamaican patties in the South Florida area and are a local favorite.
Located in front of Miami Dade’s Kendall Campus, Sonia’s Patties easily has one of the best Jamaican patties in all of South Florida. They have that homemade feel to them, they fill you up when hungry, and the dough they use is different than pretty much everyone else doing it. With Mild, Spicy and Chicken options, you’ll definitely find what you like. They also have a large selection of regular drinks, as well as Jamaican tinged refreshments as well. And let’s not forget the cocoa bread, which they sell as well.
They’re open Monday through Saturday from 11:00AM till 5:00PM. Stop on by…
Its Miami’s answer to the White Castles of up north. Royal Castle was a once popular chain of burger joints that started up back in the 50′s. After a couple investment failures and other deeper issues, the once multi-chain Royal Castle with 158 locations at its peak was quickly reduced to two remaining locations that have been in place for a couple decades in the North Miami area. Both locations have different owners so there are slight differences, but the tradition is still there and the 24-hour service is quite the convenience. Along with the infamous mini-burgers (aka mini-sliders), the varied menu will definitely hit the right spot. Trust me, you need to take a trip to both locations during lunch and dinner hours to try them out for yourself. You won’t be disappointed. They also serve breakfast. Addresses are located below…
Brimberry’s Royal Castle
2700 Northwest 79th Street
Miami, FL 33147-5437
(305) 696-8241
Chick-Fil-A recently announced their all new “Spicy Chicken Sandwich”, which is a spicy version of their classic original. They will officially add it to the menu next Monday June 7th at all South Florida locations.
I had a chance to taste it today and good lord, its delicious. I still prefer the classic, but you can’t help but pick one of these up on occassion when you need a little kick.
If interested, Chick-Fil-A is offering a couple free reservations locally to taste the sandwich before it hits the menu officially. Click here to see what reservations are left at the different locations. Enjoy!
Burger King plans beer-selling Whopper Bar in South Beach
By Bruce Horovitz, USA TODAY
Gimme a Whopper, fries — and a beer.
Those words are no longer wishful thinking. Friday, Burger King (BKC) will unveil plans to sell beer and burgers at a Whopper Bar — a new BK concept to compete with casual dining restaurants — in Miami Beach’s tourist-heavy South Beach. The South Beach Whopper Bar is scheduled to open in mid-February.
Don’t look for beer at conventional Burger Kings. That’s not in the plans. But more Whopper Bars — which offer an assortment of burgers, toppings and beer — could be on tap in tourist hot spots such as New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, says Chuck Fallon, president of Burger King North America.
A brewski at the new Whopper Bar — served in special aluminum bottles to keep them extra cold — fetches $4.25. Or, order beer as part of a Whopper combo and your bill will be $7.99 — roughly $2 more than the same combo meal with a fountain drink.
The unusual move comes as the restaurant industry is reeling. Restaurant operators reported lower same-store sales in November, compared with a year earlier, for the 18th-consecutive month, the National Restaurant Association reports. Nearly 65% of operators reported a same-store sales decline in November. December results were unavailable.
Burger King’s Whopper Bar isn’t the first fast-food chain to test alcoholic beverages domestically. Last year in Seattle, Starbucks opened “15th Avenue Coffee and Tea, inspired by Starbucks.” Beyond coffee and tea, it sells regional beers and wines.
By trying to wedge into the fast-casual dining arena with Whopper Bar, Burger King is chasing the 30-and-under crowd, which is the industry’s future growth, says Bradford Hudson, marketing professor at Boston University. But the move is very tricky, he says, because “Burger King means fast food.”
But Linda Lipsky, a restaurant consultant, says the move makes sense. “The Burger King customer is aging, so they’re just trying to grow up with the customer.”
The restaurant will initially sell Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors beers. “You can have America’s favorite beers with America’s favorite burger,” Fallon says. More will eventually be added, he says.
But Lipsky says the chain will be challenged to train staff to legally sell and serve alcohol. “You can be an easy mark if you’re not used to selling alcohol,” she says.
Burger Kings in Germany and Whopper Bars in Singapore and Venezuela sell beer. But this will be the first BK brand in the USA to sell beer. (A Whopper Bar in Universal City does not sell beer.) “We’re in the midst of understanding how much beer will be a part of the (sales pitch),” Fallon says.
The restaurant also will offer delivery of all items — except beer.
2 Girls And A Cupcake – I don’t have many words except that these cupcakes are delicious! Eileen & Evelyn have put together a great product with a LONG list of variety. Its all made to order and if you’d like, delivered right to your doorstep. I had a chance to sample a couple of these not too long ago…and one word, AMAZING. Do yourself a favor and call them now and order 12 of their Oye Come Va flavor. Its a vanilla cupcake layered with guava and then topped with a cream cheese filling. You will not be disappointed. They’ve caught the attention of many local tastemakers and are on the rise to be one of Miami’s hidden treasures. Check their website @ www.2girlsandacupcake.info for their entire menu and feel free to place order via email or via phone. Everything you need to know is on their website.
Also, check back soon as we will have an interview with the ladies of 2 Girls And A Cupcake posted on The305.com soon enough!
For this edition of Taste Tuesdays, I have to introduce you to People’s Bar-B-Que aka the People’s Drugstore & BBQ over in Downtown Miami/Overtown. I was introduced to this spot by my homie Danny from over at Shoe Gallery while doing a photo project with him (photo above) and let me tell you, the food is amazing. Like…ridiculously amazing. Its authentic soul food and barbeque that will definitely get you hooked as soon as you try it.
My recommendation is their popular BBQ Ribs with Pigeon Peas & Rice, their Macaroni & Cheese, which all comes with thier signature toasted cornbread. Off the chain and its less than $9 for the above plate. They’re open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, address is below…
In an all new segment of The305.Com, we bring you Taste Tuesdays, where we’ll post a new taste of the week to check out in the Miami area. And this week, we bring you, Chick-fil-A.
Trust me, if you’re looking for the best Colombian Empanadas in town, make sure you head over to Macita’s in the Cutler Ridge area (I refuse to call it Cutler Bay). These are hands down the best empanadas in Miami. And do not slip by forgetting the “picante”. Oh, and if you’re wondering – yes, I did take a bite out of the second one.
Burger King plans beer-selling Whopper Bar in South Beach
