Amid the beaches, football, Argentina, and Messi, you can also find immense satisfaction in Miami’s culinary scene.

As the days grow hotter in South Florida, one of the few consolations is the improvement in traffic, making it easier to navigate this densely urban metropolis with notoriously challenging traffic.

Light Bites in Miami

Starting with some of the lighter fare, I recently discovered a decent Israeli restaurant, Itzik Etzel. This takeout spot has a unique way of preparing pickled cabbage and creamy tahini. They also offer a fresh and crunchy Israeli salad, primarily composed of cucumber and tomatoes, along with delicious lamb and chicken dishes.

Another excellent choice for lighter dishes is The Social Club at the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel in South Beach. They serve one of the best Nicoise salads and a palm heart crudo that is beloved in Argentina. This dish could simply qualify as an excellent salad rather than trying to redefine the term “crudo.”

Hearty Meals for Meat Lovers

Enjoying well-cooked meat in Miami often requires a good air conditioning system. Two new spots have impressed me with their offerings. The first is Lafayette Steakhouse, part of the same restaurant group that manages Queen in Brickell.

Lafayette is ostentatious, dark, and elegant. The wine list, curated by a young sommelier, is noteworthy, featuring well-aged classics from the Old World. The sides, such as broccolini and creamed corn, are exquisite, and each cut of meat comes from a different producer, like the veal ribs from Catelli Brothers.

Another standout is Joey’s, located near Aventura Mall in the Esplanade section, which can be challenging to find. From the first moment, I loved the place, especially when they offered a complimentary glass of Lambrusco. This amazing dry sparkling red wine from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region deserves more respect than it gets. It’s nothing like the dry sparkling Shiraz marketed by Australians years ago.

At Joey’s, the Asian-infused salad and tuna tartare were delicious, as were the meats. Although I always wish for Porterhouse, being a woman raised on Peter Luger’s select cuts in New York, the NY Strip and Ribeye were excellent, and you can also add a lobster tail!

Fun Drinking Spots

I also found two fun places to grab a drink. The Hilton Aventura offers a great discount on Latin wines on Wednesday nights. Additionally, J & C Oyster, a seafood restaurant in Hollywood Beach, hosts a happy hour with raw and roasted oysters at great prices from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.