Start the year off with the right bite!  Let’s admit it, 2016 was a pretty great year for dining in Miami.  Past favorites expanded and gained new fans, new places opened in Wynwood, Brickell, Downtown and on Miami Beach and our local talented chefs challenged our taste buds with creative takes on donuts, Thai food, Mexican and even pizza. Even the tableside Caesar salad made a comeback. 

 MIAbites team best dishes for 2016:

Manuela Meija- @MiamiEatz

One of the best, and most memorable, things I ate in 2016 has to be the Mdough x The Salty Donut collab donut back in September. I still dream about it today and wish I would've gotten more than just one! Too bad it was limited edition. And now with a new permanent location, Maybe Chef Santiago will bring in back for 2017???

Amber Love Bond- @amber_love

The best thing I ate and haven't stopped thinking about is one of the many tomato salad specials at Seven Dials. This one in particular was heirloom tomatoes, cheddar goat cheese, basil, and pomegranate molasses. I had this dish back in April and still can't get it off of my mind! Hoping to see it again in 2017!

Diana Rodriguez- @dmrodrigzz

Making a great first impression this season, Olla is bringing delicious Mexican food with a shared plates concept. Chef Scott Linquist of Coyo Taco has created a dish you may not want to share--it's the Coloradito prepared with duck breast, duck carnitas, sour cherry salsita, roasted peanuts and a fruity nutty red mole. This layered dish brings full-on flavor and variety, which we all need every now and then. 

Alex Beck- @bitesbybeck

They say that cauliflower is the “new” veggie for 2017, and the grilled cauliflower from KYU is way ahead of that trend. Perfect balance of earthiness, acidity, and spice. 

Marian Bacol Uba- @mbacoluba

Yes.  Coffee and pizza.  An awesome and creative combo is the Coffee Paolo pizza from Visa-01. And now recently opened a second location in Brickell! The Star Luca is their other signature pizza not to miss. 

Andrew Giambarba- @AndyMiami

Can't decide between two favorites at Cake Thai. These are probably my most recommended and most ordered in 2016: Spicy Mango Salad and Short Rib Green Curry. Stooooopid good!

Ellen Bowen- @MIAbites Managing Director

Brickell is really upping its food game and the brick oven Pesto Pistachio Pizza with charred onions and pecorino cheese at Michael Schwartz, F’ilia Restaurant at SLS Brickell is worth a visit, even if only to sit at the bar and watch the oven in action.  

AND, the whipped clam chowder with truffle butter and osetra caviar at Brava by Brad Kilgore is one of those dishes that you will crave over and over.  Creamy and chock full of Florida clams it is perfect for those cooler days ahead.

Onward…2017 here we come!