The Broke Baker

Category: Reviews

Restaurant Reviews

  • Brunch at Edge Steak and Bar

    Brunch at Edge Steak and Bar

    Sundays are usually “chore day” at my place.  That’s when I get all of those things done that I’ve been too busy (or lazy) to take care of during the week.  As such, I normally don’t get out much on Sundays.  That is, until someone says the word “brunch.”  Honestly, is there anything else worth leaving your house on a Sunday for?  Okay, I’m sure there are a lot of things, but none of them will be as satisfying as BRUNCH!

    Brunch buffets are great, because they have tons of variety.  Even the most finicky eaters should be able to find something that they like.  And, gluttons like me can get their fill of a little bit of everything.  Brunch at Edge Steak and Bar caught my attention because of the magnitude of the variety.  How often do you get Cuban lechon, Mexican tacos, and barbecue in the same setting?  It was just impossible to resist.

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  • Johnny V (A Review)

    Johnny V (A Review)

    Dining out on a budget is one of my favorite pastimes.  So, it is only natural that I took advantage of Dine Out Lauderdale, Ft. Lauderdale’s answer to Miami Spice.  When you have high-end restaurants offering $35 fixed price meals, it’s hard to pass up.  Since it was a place that I have been meaning to try for some time, I made sure to pay Johnny V a visit.  This Las Olas restaurant has made a name for itself since opening in 2003.  I had to find out for myself if they would live up to their reputation. (more…)

  • Don Mofongo (A Review)

    Don Mofongo (A Review)

    It’s been a while since the food truck craze took off in South Florida.  Yet, I haven’t exactly visited very many of them myself.  That is kind of a shame, considering the massive amounts of comfort food that these trucks promise.  As a food blogger, it was a big failure on my part to ignore their potential.

    All of that changed one day, when the craving for some good mofongo hit me.  Sometimes, a woman just needs a mound of mashed, fried green plantains and pork cracklings.  That’s just how I roll.  I’ve tried good mofongo, and not so good mofongo.  But, I’m not the type to find a place that’s good and just stick with it forever.  After all, you might be missing out on something better, right?  So, when Don Mofongo popped up on a Google search, I immediately started stalking following them on Twitter.  As soon as they parked in my neighborhood, I paid them a visit. (more…)

  • Chef Adrianne’s (A Review)

    Chef Adrianne’s (A Review)

    For South Floridians, the mention of gourmet food will rarely bring to mind the Kendall area.  Yet, tucked away out west in Kendall is Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar.  It features upscale food with a “wine country” vibe.  The restaurant is attached to a tiny strip mall, and is easy to miss if you’re not looking.  In fact, we drove right past it on our way there. (more…)

  • DB Bistro Moderne (A Review)

    DB Bistro Moderne (A Review)

    Miami Spice has come and gone.  Yet, being the procrastinator that I am, I still have a backlog of restaurant reviews.  Forgive me, all, for I have failed in my quest to keep you all informed of the deliciousness that Miami has to offer.

    A friend of mine specifically requested that we try a French restaurant this time around.  So, we found ourselves at DB Bistro Moderne in Downtown Miami.  The parking situation is a bit of a nightmare, but I can’t say no to a friend.  At least, not when food is involved. (more…)

  • M.E.A.T. Eatery and Taproom (A Review)

    M.E.A.T. Eatery and Taproom (A Review)

    Burgers are, in many ways, the perfect food.  I mean, you can get all of the food groups in one bite.  That practically makes them health food, right!?  Yes?  Of course.  But, as easy as it is to justify stuffing a burger in my face, finding a stellar burger is not always easy.  Here at The Broke Baker, “good” is not good enough.  Leave the “good” burgers to the amateurs.  We’re looking for the kind of burgers that you talk about for days afterwards.  We want burgers that make us dislocate our jaws to bite into while we try to keep the juices from dripping down our arms.

    That, among other things, was the reason I decided to take a drive to Boca Raton and try M.E.A.T. Eatery and Taproom.  Another reason was the pictures of their truffled lobster burger that happened to be floating around social media for a while.  So, off I went.

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  • Edge Steak and Bar (A Review)

    Edge Steak and Bar (A Review)

    As per my usual plan around this time of the year, I continue my foray into Miami Spice.  My next visit brought me to Edge Steak and Bar in Downtown Miami.  The steakhouse takes a lighter approach to the traditional steak dinner.  They pair their steak with locally-sourced ingredients, and there is even a pepper and herb garden on the terrace where they grow their herbs.  Pretty cool!  The restaurant itself has garnered several accolades, so I had high hopes. (more…)

  • Sushi Samba (A Review)

    Sushi Samba (A Review)

    Coral Gables Restaurant Week (CGRW), like Miami Spice, is something that I look forward to every year.  Restaurants will offer a  3-course menu at a fixed price per person, which is usually a decent discount from ordering the menu items a la carte.  Therefore, my usual strategy is to seek out the restaurants that I probably wouldn’t be able to afford on a regular day to try out.  This year brought me to SushiSamba, a nifty restaurant that offers food that is inspired by Peruvian, Japanese, and Brazilian cuisines. (more…)

  • Pubbelly (A Review)

    Pubbelly (A Review)

    Miami Spice is finally back.  And, that means a lot of good eating.  For those of you that don’t know, Miami Spice is a 2-month long promotion in which participating restaurants in Miami will offer a fixed price, 3-course menu.  The meals are $23 for lunch, or $39 for dinner.  This can spell a significant savings from the usual price of the meal, assuming you choose your restaurants wisely.

    My first stop on this year’s “Journey Through Miami Spice” was Pubbelly in South Beach.  Pubbelly boasts itself as the first Asian-inspired Gastropub in Miami.  This, along with its stellar reviews, was enough to spark my interest.   (more…)

  • Lario’s on the Beach (A Review)

    Lario’s on the Beach (A Review)

    Have you ever let a friend talk you into giving an ex a second chance?  No?  Good then.  I have a similar perspective on restaurants.  If you burned me once, I’m not likely to pay you a second visit.  Unfortunately, exceptions must sometimes be made.  Like, when a close friend that you have known since childhood is visiting from out of town and REALLY wants to go to that one, specific place.

    This is how I wound up at Lario’s on the Beach.  This, after vowing 6 years ago to never eat at an Estefan-run Cuban restaurant after my meal at Bongo’s Cuban Cafe (same as Lario’s, but downtown) was an overpriced and depressingly mediocre experience.  But, in the wake of the recent renovations, I took a chance.  I didn’t really have much of a choice.
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