So Much To Do in Miami

Service at this hotel was spotty. When I reported a clogged sink, a housekeeper showed up within 15 minutes. However, when I called for room service one night at 8pm, it rang for five minutes without an answer.

If you enjoy working out, this hotel is not for you. The gym was pretty pathetic - there were very few machines, and three of the four treadmills were not working. The treadmills were of low-end model, and running on them was like running on the surface of Mars.

I was expecting a casual place with a casual crowd at Versailles, the quintessential Cuban diner in Little Havana featuring enormous portions at paltry prices. I was surprised to see the many Mercedes Benzes at the parking lot and the patrons in business suits.

I was an odd man out, as most customers were Cubans and regulars. The waiters and the customers were like one big family, chatting cozily with each other. Being a first-timer and non-Spanish speaker, it was intimidating.

When the food arrived, I did not have time to think how odd I was anymore. I had the sampler which had a little bit of everything – pork, ham croquette, tamales, yucca, and plantains, and black bean soup. The meal was satisfying.

The dessert menu was dazzling - tres leches, flan, rice pudding... Other items that sound interesting but not tried included oxtail stew, fried sweet potatoes, and plantain soup.

Café Versailles, a small bakery next door, served up mouthwatering goodies such as Cuban sandwiches and a variety of desserts. There were a lot of people enjoying their food and coffee outside the café while socializing with friends under the beautiful Miami sun.

The only problem eating at Versailles was the restaurant was far away from the center part of Little Havana (Calle Ocho and the 11th to 14th Avenue). However, given the quality of the food and the fun of people-watching, it’s worth it. Plus, I really need to walk off the food.

If you do not have time to stop by Versailles, your last chance would be the Café Versailles at the airport. I am not sure if the quality of their food was comparable, though.

Provence Grill was a small French restaurant located in downtown. Dined outside the shade of the trees, I forgot I was in the city.

Start your meal with one of their pates or foie gras, and you won’t be disappointed. Their sautéed mussels with garlic and chives were satisfying. The fish soup had a generous portion of seafood (mussels, shrimps, salmon, white fish, squids) swimming in it. The savory broth was a true delight. The best part of the meal was the sweet ending - crème brulee with lavender was unforgettable. The lavender added an amazing aroma and heavenly herb flavor to the dessert.

The service was friendly and attentive. The price was very reasonable - $50 for a three-course meal.

I felt a bit embarrassed when I stepped into the restaurant. All waiters were in suits and bow ties, while I was in a T-shirt and shorts. I asked the waiter if I was underdressed, with a friendly smile, he said the waiters were overdressed. This is Joe’s – classy but not formal, serious with their food but friendly with their customers.

Immediately upon seating me, the waiter brought out a big bread basket with dazzling variety of fresh bread - raisin, sourdough, rye, and my favorite, onion bread. If the bread wasn’t enough to seduce a low-carb dieter, their hash browns would do the job. Joe’s hash browns were to die for – they were cooked well-done and crispy outside, but the potatoes inside were soft and almost melt-in-your-mouth.

Joe’s vinaigrette salad dressing was outstanding! The vinaigrette was a perfect mix of oil, vinegar, herbs, pimentos, garlic, and onions. The restaurant gave out its recipe, and I took one as a souvenir.

Joe’s offered four sizes of stone crab claws – jumbo, large, select, and medium. No matter which size diners choose, they would get about one pound of meat. I chose the large claws, as they were less work, and the meat was sweeter. The five claws I had were divine – they were fresh and succulent. Eating at Joe’s was a heavenly experience.

The Joe’s takeout café next door was simple and casual. It offered soup, salads, stone crab claws, sides, and desserts. Joe’s did not take reservations, and it was always packed. For those who hate to wait, the café could be an alternative.

The happening place at Miami right now was the private beach behind the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Every Friday night, the Barefoot at Oasis party attracts more than a thousand people. You would not miss this place as you would see the giant red lantern erecting on the beach from across the river.

It was only 8pm, but the place was already packed with want-to-be-seen young men and women who were a bit more mature and well-behaved than the South Beach crowd.

The first rule to join the party was to take off your shoes, check them at the door, or else you would be struggling to keep your balance on the sand. The second rule was to find a spot at one of the sunbeds covered with Oriental fabric, lean against the velour pillows, and enjoy. There was no cover charge, but a cocktail was about $15 and a beer was about $10.

The development of this beach came with a price. My friend who lives at a condo nearby said this beach used to be a recreational area where she practiced tai chi. Now she had to retreat to an indoor gym for her lesson.

There was an Oasis at the run-down downtown Miami area. It was the Brickell Key, an island just east of the financial district. A dozen condominium towers have recently opened or are under construction. There was a walkway all the way around the island, and it was perfect for jogging. Jogging on the path, runners could enjoy the beautiful view of the Biscayne Bay and the Miami downtown skyline.

There were some interesting sculptures along the walkway. Check out the picture attached to this journal for one sculpture - it's a man blowing a conch horn.

My friend told me that if I came here in early morning, I would see dolphins in the water.

Salons, bakeries, cigar factories, and 99-cent stores line Calle Ocho. It was not beautiful, but it had a lot of character.

Things to do/see:

Watch Cuban guys in guayaberas playing dominoes at the Maimo Gomez Park
Enjoy the tranquility at the Cuban Memorial (SE 13th Avenue) and admire the Virgin Mary status and giant old tree behind it
Stop at one of the many coffee shops along Calle Ocho. Check out the laundry places that also serve coffee. It’s pretty amusing.
Enjoy refreshing fruit juice, such as sugarcane juice, at La Pinatenos Fruteria at 13th Avenue. It was hard to move around in the store, as the entire store was packed with stuff: cartons of fruits, jam, flowers, memorabilia… The display was messy, yet it has the charm of a mom-and-pop store.
Roam around the street, watch the people, and listen to salsa music blasting from record stores.
Shop at one of the many 99-cent stores, although you might not find anything you want to buy.