These Michelin-starred restaurants are offering Miami Spice menus. Here’s what to expect

When was the last time you ate in a Michelin-starred restaurant for $35?

Maybe never. But if you’d like to try, you have two months: Two of the 12 Michelin-starred spots in Miami are offering Miami Spice specials through September.

The annual restaurant promotion from the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau features more than 300 restaurants offering fixed-price deals on brunch, lunch and dinner through Sept. 30. Brunch and lunch run $30-$35, while dinner is $60. Most are three courses: appetizer, dinner and dessert.

And this year, you can dine at two Michelin-starred restaurants, both in Miami’s Design District, and also try Michelin’s recommended restaurants and its Bib Gourmands, a designation for restaurants that serve quality food at a less expensive price.

Erin Rouchi, assistant general manager at Le Jardinier and its sister restaurant, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, said that Le Jardinier didn’t offer a Spice menu last year because the Michelin buzz was still strong and the restaurant was extremely busy. With the buzz dying down a little this year and the slowest months of the season arriving, the restaurant decided to offer the promotion.

“We wanted to put ourselves out there and see what happened,” Rouchi said. “It’s been a huge success. I would say the number of guests we’d see typically in January and February, in the high season, is what we’re seeing now. It’s a complete 180.”

Rouchi also said that in the first two weeks of Miami Spice, the restaurant has hosted quite a few Michelin-star first timers.

“We’ve had a lot of people say this is their first Michelin star experience,” she said. “Miami Spice makes it more approachable for those who are intimidated by the idea or not financially confident in eating at a Michelin star restaurant.”

Here’s what to expect at Michelin’s favorite Spice spots.

We tried the Miami Spice menus at these local restaurants. Here are highlights

Cote

Lunch $35 Monday-Friday

This is the second year that Cote has offered a Miami Spice lunch, and if you haven’t made it to this Korean steakhouse, this is probably the least expensive way to do it. A word of warning, though: A visit could lead to a more expensive return visit.

Cote’s atmosphere is attractive, sleek and trendy, but don’t let that intimidate you. Though the restaurant gives off nightclub vibes, the servers are friendly and helpful and will happily explain what that grill built into your table is for (steak, obviously).

If there are two of you, and you’re sharing, start with the delicate tuna tartar with crispy chips or one of two salads, Waldorf or shrimp truffle. We were tempted by the words “shrimp” and “truffle,” but when the server confessed his love for the Waldorf we trusted him and weren’t sorry. This fresh and light salad is the perfect contrast to the meats in your future.

There are two choices for entree: fried chicken or the famous Optimus Prime sandwich, thinly sliced prime rib on ciabatta from Sullivan Street Bakery. The Optimus Prime was once a staple on the regular menu, and customers were deeply unhappy when it was removed. Now it’s back for Spice, and we can’t say enough good things about it.

The whole point of Spice is to eat affordably, but for $20 more, you can get a taste of what helped to earn Cote that Michelin star: the Butcher’s Lunch, which is normally $68. It comes with three meats: USDA prime hanger steak, ribeye dry-aged for more than 45 days and galbi, all grilled at your table and served with lettuce leaves, a delicious scallion salad and ssamjang (spicy Korean dipping sauce) Put the meat on the lettuce, top with salad and sauce, and wonder what you’ve been doing with your life if not eating here.

Cote bartender Alice Tang has also created a special cocktail for the Miami Spice promotion: Peachy, a fruity, refreshing blend of Canaima gin, Oka Kura vermouth, apricot peach yogurt, lemon juice and club soda. It’s a great summer drink if you don’t have to go back to work (or maybe even if you do).

Le Jardinier

Lunch $35 Tuesday-Sunday; dinner $60 Tuesday-Saturday

This elegant sister property to L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Florida’s only two-star Michelin restaurant, offers a retro-chic alternative to Cote, with lunch and dinner offerings.

We tried dinner and were not disappointed. Both appetizers are delightful: the beautifully presented yellowfin tuna with cucumber vinaigrette and crispy quinoa or Murray’s Burrata, which is so perfect it makes that cheap cheese in your refrigerator seem like Velveeta. The standout entree is the European sea bass with chimichurri and cipollini onion and fennel salad. For dessert, choose between a delicate, surprisingly light strawberry cheesecake or an espresso tres leches.

L’Atelier is not offering a Miami Spice menu but is participating in Miami Spice’s “Signature Experiences,” in which some of the upscale restaurants feature an “experience” for less than you would normally pay. L’Atelier is offering a five-course dining experience for $155 that includes courses including foie gras with parmesan foam, yellowfin tuna sashimi, saffron risotto with razor clams with chorizo and filet mignon.

Other Michelin-recommended restaurants

There are also four Michelin Bib Gourmand-designated restaurants offering Miami Spice menus this year: Doya and Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink in Wynwood; Phuc Yea on Miami’s upper east side; and Chug’s Diner in Coconut Grove from Michael Beltran, whose Ariete earned a Michelin star.

These restaurants are in general less expensive than the starred restaurants, but Spice is still a good time to check them out. Doya in particular is a good deal for meat eaters and vegetarians alike.

There are also 20 Michelin-recommended restaurants on the Miami Spice list, including Niven Patel’s Orno, Fiola in Coral Gables, Jeremy Ford’s Beauty and the Butcher and Michael Beltran’s Gibson Room and Brasserie Laurel. Visit the Miami Spice website and search for Michelin-recommended to see the full list.

More information

Cote: 3900 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-434-4668; www.cotemiami.com

Le Jardinier: 151 NE 41st St., Suite 135, Miami; 305-402-9060; lejardinier-miami.com

Full Miami Spice listings: www.miamiandbeaches.com

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