Review: Miami Spice Month at Grass

Grass Restaurant and Lounge is a hidden spot tucked in the Design District on 40th Street right off of Miami Avenue. It is hard to spot from the street but once you get inside it is an open air (no roof) dining hotspot. If you are going on Friday night make sure to make a reservation because they were packed.

Luckily, we thought ahead. We were seated within a few minutes of arriving. They were just ending their Friday BBQ Buffet. Looked good, but we were too late and we were really there for the Spice Menu.

We did look over their regular menu. All looked great but very expensive.

Options on the Spice Menu:

APPETIZER (choice of one)
Savory Goat Cheese Crumbles
With Hydroponic Arugula and Soy-Balsamic Drizzle

Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho
With Chunky Crab Salad Garnish

Miso Marinated Asian Chicken Salad
Napa Cabbage, Radicchio, Endive, Pickled Mango and European Cucumber

ENTRÉE (choice of one)
Homemade “Herbs Du Provence” Roasted
Breast of Free Range Chicken Parmesan and Truffle Tossed Shoestring Fries

Toasted Brown Miso-Sweet Soy Glazed Florida Yellow Jack
Julienne of Vegetables and Grilled Scallion Beurre Blanc

Marsala-Tamari Marinated Skirt Steak
Seasoned Sweet Potato Chips

DESSERT (choice of one)
Cashew-Crusted Pineapple Cheesecake
Pistachio Ice Cream

Chocolate-Hazelnut Beignets
With Chocolate-Ginger Sauce

Tasting of Sorbets and Gelatos
Amaretto

Elad and I are big on sharing. We had:
Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho and Miso Marinated Asian Chicken Salad
Homemade “Herbs Du Provence” Roasted and Marsala-Tamari Marinated Skirt Steak
Cashew-Crusted Pineapple Cheesecake and Chocolate-Hazelnut Beignets

Elad wasn't a huge fan of the Gazpacho, I think because there was fish in it. But I actually REALLY enjoyed it. Very light and refreshing. The Asian salad was really yummy, especially the fresh mango and citrus fruits incorporated into the dish.

The roasted chicken was perfect. They put slices of lemon under the skin of the chicken while it roasts. I think that makes it more flavorful and tender. Very yummy. Elad was a big fan of the steak, which had a good marinade but wasn't the tenderness that I usually go for. But still, it was very tasty. And it came with a chimichurri that was tasty.

And finally...the dessert. AMAZING! I don't know which one I enjoyed more. Seriously the cheesecake had an explosion of flavor that was matched perfectly with the nutty crust and ice cream. It was a great smooth consistency and the portion side was good. The beignets were warm and gooey. They had a fudgy chocolate center that oozed out when you bit into them. You got 4 small beignets which doesn't seem like a lot, but after a big meal it was perfect.

I totally recommend people trying out Grass. Just take into account that there is no A/C shield from the heat and that your service might not be as prompt as you like. (I don't think the servers are used to this many people). They do have large fans set up around the dining area and occasionally they shower the restaurant in mist. The food is totally worth it and the music is great too! There was a live DJ that night playing hip hop mostly from the 90's. If you go on a Friday night try to show up a little early and let me know how the BBQ buffet is.