Moon Thai - Miami

Taste: ***

Cost: $$$

I was really ready to write them off with 2 stars, but their pad thai won me over in the end. The sushi here is pretty average, not bad, but not great. They have a big focus on cooked rolls with lots of tempura flakes. Their pad thai is tasty, a bit heavy for my tastes and I prefer a bit more sweet. After I squeezed a bit of lime into it, it opened up and was a very nice savory pad thai. Everything is a bit pricey but not unreasonable. A good place for someone not too into asian food as the menu seems very Pan-Asian inspired and more suited for an american palate.

Tel: (305) 668 - 9890
1118 S Dixie Hwy, Coral Gables, FL 33146

CharHut (Broward/Palm Beach)

Taste: **
Price: $$$

I'm really torn between giving this place 2 or 3 stars. The burger is good, it tastes like a better quality burger king burger, nice smokiness, good quality. The only thing is the price... a bit more expensive than a dine in burger at over 7 bucks! Yes it had good flavor, good char, and they cook to order, but that still doesn't justify the price. I spent 8 bucks on a burger with no drink or fries. Still, its better than fast food, but you're better off going to fuddruckers for a burger. If you're in a bind, with money burning in your pocket, give it a try.

www.charhut.com

The Rusty Pelican (Miami)

Taste: *
Cost: $$$

The food isn't horrible, but for what you're paying, I'd expect a lot more from a place like this. The view is breathtaking and if you wanted to impress someone BEFORE you ate your meal, this definitely is the place to go. I've had steak, prime rib, and fish here to marginal results. The steak just lacks the tenderness and flavor of a well aged steak as they most likely use select cuts of beef at prime prices. The "prime" rib is anything but prime and I had to actually ask for au jus. If I had paid half as much, and half the drive thru Miami traffic, I wouldn't of complained as much, but for all the hassle you just expect more. It's not terrible, its comparable to something you'd eat at Applebee's... on a lackluster night.

3201 Rickenbacker Cswy
Key Biscayne, FL 33149

Ruth's Chris (Miami, West Palm)

Taste: ****
Cost: $$$

As far as consistency goes, this place always produces. They have their broiler times down to a science and you can expect the same quality of steak every time. Some might consider their steaks a tad on the salty side, but thats how I like mine. Get the filet, bone in rib-eye, or porterhouse without any fancy sauces like au poivre. The "famous" potatoes au gratin aren't so famous in my opinion; go with the lyonnaise potatoes for an excellent side. Nothing really jumped out at me when it came to appetizers, so don't fret, you're already spending 30+ bucks for an entre' already, WITHOUT a side.

Various locations

Texas de Brazil (Miami)

Taste: **
Cost: $$$

I come from a long line of large eaters. My resume' includes 50+ pieces of sushi, a 2 lb burger. 8 slabs of prime rib, 2 large pizzas, 24 hotdogs, 3 racks of ribs, 8 baked potatos, etc... in fact my lineage includes a cousin who once got kicked out of an all you can eat restaurant. Texas de Brazil serves up some tasty brazilian meats ala cart, nonstop. The first few pieces were great and I looked forward into slipping into a meat induced coma. After the 4th piece it hit me. Yes their food is a bit salty but I love salty food (I was the kid who ate bread dipped in soy sauce). Its some kind of special salt they must use that his this incredible cumulative effect. A half hour in my whole family had tapped out but I kept chugging along, although difficultly. I was not full, in fact I could eat more but my tastebuds were on salt overload. I resorted to alternating plates of salad with balsamic vinegar to shock my buds back to normal with limited success. I've had real guacho brazial bbq from my brazilian friends and there i could eat for hours. Alas I finally threw in the towel and must of drank gallons of water in the aftermath. Long story short, yes its tasty, yes you can eat all you want, but can you? From an empirical standpoint, the food was good but the price is better spent on something else in my opinion.

11401 NW 12th St
Miami, FL 33172

Rincon Argentino (Miami)

Taste: ****
cost: $$$

I base my own churrasco recipe from this place. It is a bit pricey and thats why I never come here for dinner. However, at lunch time they offer their same flap steak that sells for $26 for 7 bucks. Thats a great deal and a tasty piece of meat. The chinichurri is not so chunky, but they've allowed the olive oil base to emulsify adequately which results in a great smooth consistency.

7744 N. Kendall Drive
Miami, FL 33156