FEATURE RESTAURANTS OF THE MONTH
Reprint -
Something that’s grassroots: the popular '60s/'70s American rock band who had the hit song "Sooner Or Later", and was named the Grass Roots. Something else: Coconut Grove’s LoKal, a graffiti-/recycled bicycle wheel-lined burger joint -- which almost looks like where a garage band would record a demo that's much less awesome than the hundreds of cassettes (Thriller, Dre, Biggie...Locomotion!!) covering the bar -- from a local dude who's "tapping Floridian farmers, dairies, and brewers" in order to keep his deliciousness as Sunshine State-y as possible. Beef's the main event, as they're throwing Florida grass-fed/Ocala ranch-sourced meatiness into crafty burgers like the potato sticks-/bacon-stuffed Frita topped w/ guava jelly and melted Gruyere, the My Childhood Dream, which the owner made as a kid in his dad's donut shop, and pairs a donut with a 7oz patty, American, and bacon, plus a sweet onion marmalade-covered guy with half ground beef and half bacon dubbed the 50/50, also a cancelled television program on which John Stossel’s mustache was 150% bigger. Beyond burgers they've got a hoagie stuffed with battered and spicy mayo-smothered Gulf rock shrimp, New Mexico Chili, and "My Wife's Tuna Fish Sandwich" (whoa, easy, guy!) packed with herbed-up white albacore, sweet gherkins, and Jewish mustard, aka Oy Vey Poupon. Burgers love beers more than Joanie loves Chachi (which was a LOT, Baio was a pimp), so they're heavy on the suds including drafts like Stone Arrogant Bastard and Cigar City Hotter Than Helles, plus local and import bottles spanning from England's Wells Banana Bread, St. Bernardus Abt., & Kwak to Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' & Laughing Skull, enough of which will have you making your own Midnight Confessions, sooner or later.
LOKAL Burgers & Beer 3190 Commodore Plaza
Coconut Grove, Florida 33133
305.442.3377
www.lokalmiami.com
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Mandolin Agean Bistro
Set in a delightful 1940's house in Miami on the NE 2nd corridor between Design District and Historical Buena Vista, this charmer transports you to the Greek islands as soon as you walk through the back garden - white-washed building with blue trimmed windows, brimming with bougainvillea, sitting in vintage traditional taverna chairs at wooden tables,
under a lantern-lit tree. Post card perfection. Special personal touches adding to the 'home-y' vibe are local reclaimed furniture, greek oil canister turned flower vases, hand-crocheted curtains, and a mix of vintage plates hung on the wall to give this place the feel that it has been here for years.
4313 NE 2nd Avenue
Miami, Florida 33137
305.576.6066
www.mandolinmiami.com