Welcome to Friday: Geoffrey and Dianne of Miami Food Pug here for our latest New Tropic takeover.
Restaurants have finally reopened their indoor dining areas, and people have been rushing out to enjoy delicious food with a side of air conditioning. Us? Not so much. We’re holding off on eating inside; one of us is high risk due to an autoimmune condition, so we’re still taking extra precautions.
That hasn’t stopped us from going out to eat entirely though: We’re all about outdoor dining. Thankfully, if you’re still wary of eating inside a restaurant, there are plenty of tasty outdoor options that should put you at ease. These three spots are doing a great job of making guests feel comfortable, and most importantly, safe:
Macchialina: This beloved South Beach Italian spot has taken over a nearby hostel’s patio area, giving it ample room to provide outdoor seating. Hungry customers will find it’s a practically contactless experience; you only really interact with anyone to place your order. Other than that, you’re on your own for navigating the menu and payments. The menu changes regularly, but you can always expect a variety of pastas — cavatelli and tagliatelle are reliable winners — along with classics like veal parm and branzino.
Nave Seafood Shack & Raw Bar: We could always count on Nave in Coconut Grove for quality Italian food close to home. Alas, they’re closed temporarily, but live on as a weekend seafood popup on their patio. The roomy outdoor space is ideal for making a mess when you’re eating crab legs, oysters, conch fritters, fried clams, and lobster rolls. Although it’s a casual joint, that isn’t the case when it comes to safety: Mask use is strictly enforced, hand sanitizer is readily provided, and social distancing markers are everywhere.
Sonny’s Someday Steakhouse (Jaguar Sun): Downtown Miami’s Jaguar Sun has been doing themed pop-ups at Little River’s Lot 6 for months, and Sonny’s Someday Steakhouse is the latest. This meat-centric iteration has changed up the menu with items like hanger steak, beef tartare, pork chops, and loaded potatoes, but the experience is still the same: The spacious venue ensures that tables are spread out as much as possible — sometimes much more than six feet apart — and hand sanitizer dispensers are readily available at each table; the menus are contactless as well.
Do you want to shout out other Miami restaurants and their safety precautions? You can share your experiences with us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you.
