Doraku Sushi: A Funky Sushi Boutique Restaurant

The next time you happen to be cruising through Lincoln Road, don't step into the dozens of tourist trap restaurants that simply offer mediocre food. Instead, let yourself be enticed by the Asian fusion cuisine that Doraku Sushi has to offer. The restaurant's decor is highlighted by light wood tables that glow under dim lights and Asian accessories.
Doraku is solely committed to providing the freshest fish and presenting it in an extravagant fashion. Although sushi may be perceived as simple food, Doraku takes it to a new level by even slicing the fish in such a way that your palate can enjoy it like never before.
Every dish on the menu is prepared with a blend of sauces and spices such as ginger, garlic, soy, aioli, wasabi, and much much more. Because portions tend to be large, you and the rest of your party are better off ordering several items and sharing with one another. This will give you the opportunity to try more selections and get more out of the experience. We always look forward to ordering the New Style Tuna Tataki. Small slices of seared tuna are served over Julienne Daikon Radish and Sweet Onions with Seasoned Wakame, Crispy Garlic Chips and finally drizzled with a DELICIOUS garlic aioli sauce. Another favorite is the Lobster Tempura. You will be biting into large chunks of Lobster tail tempura with Basil accompanied with a spicy pink sauce or you can ask for extra garlic aioli on the side for dipping. Although there's over 15 sushi rolls to choose from, we always stick to one of Doraku's favorite selections... the Emperor Roll. The name says it all. It's the emperor of all because it's filled with Tuna, Scallops Shrimp, Crab, Salmon, and Avocado. (We ask for it with no Salmon) This is all rolled with Avocado and crusted with Panko Breadcrumbs and flash fried served over a bed of mixed greens and sweet crispy onions. Each roll is also topped with Garlic Aioli. Now, last but not least, if you're still hungry, you can share the Garlic Steak Ribeye. It's only 4 oz. of ribeye because all the extra fat has been eliminated. It is sauteed in a Teriyaki Butter sauce and served with Mushrooms, Sweet Onions, Beansprouts, and Garlic Chips.
There is not one selection that you can go wrong with , but these are our personal favorites. Doraku now offers outdoor seating as well, but if you really want to experience the Asian vibe, we recommend you sit indoors. Despite always being full, the service is always excellent. The food comes to your table rather quickly and the servers are very helpful.

Rating:

Food ------8 out of 10
Service ----8 out of 10
Ambiance--9 out of 10

Doraku South Beach
1104 Lincoln Road
South Beach, FL
(305) 695-8383

Ruth Chris's Steakhouse: A True Miami Spice Bargain

Meat lovers in South Florida are very familiar with Ruth Chris's Steakhouse. For most people, it's no surprise to hear that they offer excellent meat, but this time around what makes it special is its Miami Spice menu. There are just a few days left to take advantage of this great opportunity. We were surprised to see that we were served more than expected for $35. Just so you have an idea, on a typical night, a Petite Filet costs $33 plus any other A la Carte item you pair it with, appetizer, or dessert. So you can do the math and see for yourself that just a few bucks can go a long way.

If you order from the Miami Spice menu, you have the option of selecting a Creamy Corn and Crab Chowder, a Goat Cheese and Tomato salad, a Filet with Shrimp, a side item, and to add some sweetness to your night...dessert. And gues what, they are not cheating you out with the portions. The soup and salad are large appetizer portions. The filet is 6 ounces with 3 pieces of shrimp, and the side order of garlic mashed potato is literally enough for two, but if you prefer a different side, you can upgrade for just $2. Although Ruth Chris's steak is not prepared with fancy sauces, the meat is very tender, the restaurant is all about letting the real flavor of the meat come through. Of course, you can add a sauce on the side such as Green Peppercorn. If you choose to upgrade your side item, we recommend you go with the potatoes au gratin with a cheese sauce. Very yummy! Don't miss out on a fine dinner for less money than usual! You only have a few days left to take advantage of the Miami Spice menu. Visit Ruth Chris this weekend before it's too late!

Chef Allen's: Satisfying Food Lovers for Generations

With over 20 years of experience, Chef Allen has been able to charm generations of foodies with his fresh and flavorful gourmet cuisine. For those who live out west in South Florida, visiting Chef Allen's Restaurant may be quite a drive since it's located near Aventura Mall. So why not take advantage of the trip... go shopping and end the night enjoying dinner at Chef Allen's. After reading dozens of excellent reviews, we decided to give Chef Allen's Miami Spice menu a try for our very first time. From the moment you step in, it's modern decoration pops out and you can sense a Caribbean feel. After reviewing the menu, we chose to start off dinner with some Broiled Escargot and Oxtail Bolognese. It was good, but to be honest, we were expecting much more bold spices. The escargots were very delicate, but in my taste, they were quite bland in flavor and needed a bit more garlic in order to give it a strong kick. On the other hand, for being an appetizer, the Oxtail Bolognese was quite a large portion. It was very similar to a regular pasta with tomato sauce and cheese. Despite not being thrilled with the appetizers, we kept our fingers crossed for the main course. I went with the Tamarind Glazed Boneless Pork Chops accompanied with Creamed Corn and Chipotle-Sweet Potato Mash. The pork chops tasted a bit too smoky, but at least the sides provided a nice contrast. The corn and sweet potato mash simply melted in your mouth. Armando chose the Pan Seared Corvina with Curried Green Lentils and Tomato. In my opinion, this was the stronger dish of the two. The lentils were prepared with very aromatic and spicy condiments giving the fish a unique taste. Overall, the food was decent, and the service and ambiance was very good. Perhaps the regular menu features more elaborate and tantalizing meals than the Miami Spice menu, but for being our first time at Chef Allen's, it just didn't convince us 100% to go back... perhaps one day that we're in that neck of the woods.

Rating:
Food--------7 out of 10
Service----- 8 out of 10
Ambiance-- 9 out of 10

Chef Allen's
19088 Northeast 29th Avenue
Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 935-2900