DeVito South Beach

The first thing I always seem to notice when arriving in South Beach is the parking, or lack thereof. I arrived early at DeVito's, luckily grabbing a meter, a block away rather than paying the $15 + tip SoBe standard valet charge. Upon arrival there are a few seating options, inside, outside, upstairs, and downstairs. The action is usually downstairs, while upstairs is a bit more sedate and refined.

DeVito's South Beach, touts itself as an "Italian Chop House" and is decorated in a contemporary twist on traditional Italian decor. It works very well and is a nurturing, inviting environment. Danny DeVito partners with David Manero, a local restaurateur to create this high profile, exciting restaurant set in the heart on South Beach on South Ocean Drive.

Luckily for our wallets, DeVito's is participating in the Miami Spice program. They started us with a hot loaf of bread curiously served in a brown paper bag, along with a gratis tray of antipasto.

On the menu for appetizers were: Caesar Wedge with white anchovy, cherry tomato, Crostini or Jumbo House Meatball with whipped ricotta. The meatball was the winner here. Served in an individual chrome sauce pan, it was the size of a grapefruit and could have easily served two. The presentation was definitely a plus. Topped with a tasty marinara sauce and a dollop of herbed ricotta, it was delicious and filling.

The main courses presented were: Pennoni, Zyr-vodka san Marzano sauce, or Wild Salmon, truffle honey mustard glaze, pomegranate, marinated fennel, or Organic Semi-boneless 10 oz Lemon Chicken Breast, pepperoncini Chile’s, and citrus dressing It was simply great. Given the choice, I would opt for the chicken. The main dishes come alone with no accompaniments. We tried a side of Horseradish Mash Potatoes and were disappointed. The potatoes were good but served cold.

The desert was the crowning jewel, offered were: Vanilla panna cotta with mix berry compote or Cannoli siciliani, ricotta impastata with chocolate chips, blood orange sorbetto. We opted for the Cannoli which was dreamy and could not have been better. It was paired with a lemon sorbet on a bed of pistachio nuts. I did not think the pistachio nuts was a good pairing for the sorbet, but I overlooked it since the cannoli was so good.

I really like DeVito's. The ambiance, decor, SoBe atmosphere, it's all there. What is also there are the SoBe prices. Of course if you go there on a Friday or Saturday night, you may very well run into some celebrities, or maybe even Danny DeVito himself. Treat yourself to a night at DeVito's, especially at Miami Spice prices. It's worth every penny.

Is Europa in Europe?

I had lunch with a co-worker today at Cafe Europa on Las Olas Boulevard. This staple of "The Boulevard" has been around for a number of years. The location is par excellence. Right on the main drag of Las Olas and perfectly positioned to people watch while enjoying your meal. It also has the reputation of being a reasonably priced restaurant for this area.

The lunch menu was limited but the regular menu was available. We were offered to sit outside in the ninety degree heat at high noon, which we politely declined. Inside the place was bustling. The atmosphere was a bit chaotic and loud.

On the menu today was a Meatball Parmigiana Panini, and a Meat Stromboli paired with some iced tea for the heat. The meatballs were firm, small and tasty. The bread was fresh, toasted perfectly, and slathered with mozzarella. This was drenched in their house marinara sauce which was simply scrumptious. The sandwich was good on it's own merits but come on, it's a meatball sub, right? Adding their marinara sauce made the difference pushing it over the edge from an average sandwich to a masterpiece. The stromboli was also very good, the ingredients fresh and the dough thin and not filling. On the side was served a generous portion of that magic sauce. The stromboli didn't need it. The peppers, onion, sausage, and cheese were blended nicely into a not-too-filling gastronomic experience.

The service was adequate, nothing to write home about, but not bad. The rest of menu looked good and the pizza looked like it was worth a mention. The prices were reasonable for The Boulevard, $9 for a Panini, and $10 for a Stromboli. They tag you with an 18% gratuity, so don't over tip.

Normally, this place is a people watching mecca for the cost conscious. The view, the food, the aura of Las Olas. It's nice to see Cafe Europa keeping up with the quality of the food. Good job Cafe Europa. I will be back.

He who eats well, lives well.

Yesterday, I went to a going away party for for some close friends that are relocating away from South Florida. The party was going to be a group of fifteen with a few babies (including my Jillian). Enter Buca di Beppo, a chain of large portions, large tables, and reasonable pricing.

The key word here is "big". They encourage large groups to order several family style platters of American-Italian food and share a taste of the smorgasbord. They recently began offering half portions and even solo dishes if it is a small group or an executive lunch. Buca offers a staggering number of appetizers, salads, pastas, entrees, and even rectangular pizza's.

We started with a Caesar Salad for the table and the lettuce was crisp, fresh, and the dressing tasted just right. No anchovies here but it was still a surprisingly good salad. Next were the appetizers, crispy calamari with a spicy marinara sauce and brushetta. The calamari was well done and the sauce delicious. The brushetta was generously covered with toppings and could have been a bit more well done for my taste.

The main dishes were served, Spaghetti with Meatballs, Penne Arrabiata with Sausage, Chicken Parmesan, and Porchetta Rustica (pork loin). The meatballs are the size of grapefruits, expect to slice them into at least four portions each. The spaghetti was al dente and well received. The chicken Parmesan was typical fare and quite good. The pork loin was topped with a Balsamic Vinegar, blueberries, capers, and hazelnuts. It blended together well but was my least favorite. The winner of the night was the Penne Arrabiata. It was spicy, tangy, and the fennel sausage was cooked to perfection. The penne was cooked al dente and went well with the spicy sauce. I was impressed that the sauce was quite spicy, as family style restaurants usually tone down the fire.

The prices are reasonable for the amount of food you get, and the service was excellent. Double thumbs up for Buca di Beppo's. They are usually packed with a line out the door, so arrive early or expect a decent wait. Locations are in East Ft. Lauderdale, Davie, and Miami Lakes.