Entre Nos.
A new Miami Shores restaurant celebrating Florida produce.
New year, new intentions! Each month T.T. will focus on a theme. What kind of themes, you ask? Well, I have some ideas and I hope you do as well.
In January, the theme is unique neighborhood restaurants. I’m talking about those small, quirky, heart-warming, welcoming, surprising, unpretentious, community-focused places whose chefs have a strong point of view and a commitment to their neighborhood. Four weeks, four recommendations! In February, the theme is eating our way through the Jewish diaspora. In March, who knows? If you have ideas, please share.
This week’s neighborhood jewel is Entre Nos, in Miami Shores FL. Entre Nos (it means “Between Us” in Spanish) is run by three people: two talented chefs (Evan and Osmel) and a hostess/server (Stefani). That’s it. The restaurant sublets from Tinta y Cafe, a coffee shop on Miami Shores’ Main Street. The coffee shop closes at 4 and Entre Nos opens at 6:30.
Evan and Osmel celebrate the produce of Florida. The service is so personal, it’s like you’re at the home of an old friend. The decor evokes a place you lived in once.
It’s simple. It’s kitschy. It’s eclectic. An old typewriter sits on a side table, a few books sit on shelves, some t shirts for sale. The tables and chairs feel a little random. The counter has about 10 seats. Jazz music plays in the background. It’s comfortable, kick-back, sit-at-the-bar casual.
And the food. Oh the food! It is something special….unique…sophisticated…without a hint of pretension. It’s a love letter to Florida. The vision is to serve locally grown food, to support local farmers, growers, producers.
The menu is highly curated. It has to be since two people are producing everything. You choose from 4 small plates, 3 entrees and 2 desserts. That’s it. The beer and wine list is small and well-chosen as well.
I went to this restaurant with a friend and we shared two small plates, a main course and dessert. The first bite of each plate elicited spontaneous declarations: “oh my god” and “this is amazing”.
The salad is literally and artistically composed by one of the chefs.
Fresh vegetables (and those adorable yellow flowers) sit on top of a dressing that is a mixture of yogurt and delicious spices.
The blue runner crudo is fresh, not at all fishy-tasting, sparkly clean in the mouth and beautifully presented. The blue runner fish is a bottom feeder and not typically found on menus but the chefs love the fish, and now I see why. It was a highlight of the meal. The raw fish is magically infused with a slightly smokey flavor from the grill; no clue how they can pull that off. It is topped with matchbook potatoes for a little crunch.
The swordfish is as wonderful as the crudo. Fresh and cooked to perfection on the hot grill, it is crusty on the outside and super moist inside.
The dessert is the finishing touch, just a few small, sweet bites.
The Wine: Bodega Gaintza Txakolina.
Known as a great beach wine, the wine is produced in a hill-top vineyard overlooking Getaria, a surfing Mecca in Spanish Basque country near the more famous foody town of San Sebastian. The grapes are sustainably grown from 40+year old vines. The wine is fresh and slightly fizzy, with bright acidity and some mineralogy. It’s highly drinkable, low alcohol, and the perfect match for fish and seafood. Retail cost runs about $25.
The neighborhood: Miami Shores, like many communities, is changing while striving to maintain tradition and sense of place. It’s charming and quirky. Fun fact! Every spring, heliocopters fly over an athletic field and drop thousands of marshmallows. Kids and adults race for the marshmallows and turn them in for candy. What can I say? It’s a whacky neighborhood event that helps make Miami Shores the community it is.
Dinner for two: $222.25 including taxes and tip. We had:
—Blue Runner Crudo
—Redland Garden Salad
—Grilled Swordfish
—Persimmon Con Queso
—4 glasses Bodega Gaintza Txakolin
The Particuliars
Entrenos LLC
9840 NE 2nd Ave
Miami Shores FL 33138
305-
Reservations:
Next week, we’ll introduce you to Paradis Books and Bread.
In the meantime, please share restaurants that represents the best of your neighborhood. Everyone loves knowing about these special places.
My husband and I had a great meal at Entre Nos last night. It is sophisticated dining in a laid back Miami Shores environment….the best of both worlds in my opinion. A local ingredient driven menu prepared as you would expect in a “Michelin” starred restaurant….memorable and delicious!
Yummmm. Can't wait to try this one out. But do tell, how do decide which restaurant in the neighborhood to go to?