By Angela Caraway-Carlton
Locals and regular visitors to Miami look forward to the annual foodie extravaganza known as Miami Spice, a two-month promotion in August and September where diners are treated to 3-course menus for a reasonable price. Think lunch for $35 a person, and $45 to $60 for dinner, plus tax and gratuity. Acqualina Resort extends a triple treat during Miami Spice, with three on-property restaurants offering special menus.
Settle into Avra Estiatorio Miami’s dreamy dining room filled with dangling bougainvillea or the ocean-facing terrace for a Miami Spice dinner dripping in Greek glory. Choose from an array of mouthwatering appetizers including lightly fried Greek cheese touched with lemon and oregano, grilled octopus, and catch-of-the-day ceviche, then move on to entrees such as a Maine lobster pasta in a tomato sauce; a simply grilled Faroe Island salmon; or grilled organic chicken coupled with lemon-roasted potatoes. Close the delicious night with the olive oil cake or portokalopita, which is an orange cake with house-made vanilla ice cream.
For something equally delicious, make a reservation for dinner at Ke-uH where its Miami Spice dinner menu features some of the Japanese restaurant’s top dishes. Start with must-have appetizers like the spicy honey shrimp, which are tempura prawns kicked up with jalapeno aioli, or the salmon pizza, which flaunts a thin-and-crispy crust topped with salmon sashimi, olives, yuzu aioli and a dash of truffle oil. When it comes to entrees, go big with the grilled bone-in ribeye with miso truffle dipping sauce; baby back ribs with parmesan truffle fries; or the chef’s selection of sushi.
A mainstay at the resort, Il Mulino New York is an elegant Italian restaurant that’s offering both lunch and dinner menus for Miami Spice. Kick off the meal with antipasti dishes such as caprese with burrata, tomatoes and basil, or an arugula salad. Diners can relish in entrees like a rigatoni Bolognese crafted with braised veal, beef, and pork; linguine al pomodoro; or a veal scallopine in a marsala wine sauce. End the meal on a sweet note with a cannoli or creamy tiramisu.
