Social Miami

Description:

• Ever since China Grill's emperor Jeffrey Chodorow took over the arty lobby of the Sagamore Hotel with his latest ode to fashionable fare, the hotel has been overrun by hipsters, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when the restaurant turns into a virtual nightclub of seeing and being seen. But beyond all the glitz, glamour, and celebrity, Social Miami is a serious restaurant, with a fantastic, creative menu. Most menu items are small and meant to be shared -- beware that prices add up and if you're on a budget, order cautiously. Among the best items: lobster tacos, deviled crab stuffed eggs, sweet and sour lamb ribs, and Kobe sliders. The menu recently took a turn toward the steakhouse, offering a 28-ounce porterhouse at a whopping $76. Good, but stick to the smaller items. Tables are long and communal and the din of diners is very loud. If you want a quiet(er) experience, avoid Fridays and Saturdays and request a table outside in the hotel's video garden where arty anime is broadcast on large plasma TVs.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010