Best Caribbean Food In Miami
Clives Café
2818 N. Miami Avenue
Miami, FL 33127
(305) 576-0277
www.clivescafe.com
Even if you drive past and miss the unpretentious little storefront, the wafting aroma of jerk seasonings and curry will redirect your path. You won't write home about the ambiance, but you'll sing about Clives' authentic Jamaican cooking. Forever. From the banana, yam and dumpling breakfast to the oxtail and brown stew chicken, it's some of the best Jamaican food in Miami. And there's a "menu fi dem yankee" as well. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Sundays.
Ortanique on the Mile
278 Miracle Mile
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 446-7710
www.cindyhutsoncuisine.com
Chef Cindy Hutson has a unique way of taking the best Caribbean spices and mingling them intimately with her dishes. Known to offer a menu of enlivened fish dishes, Ortanique's best is the West Indian-style bouillabaisse. The décor is as warm as the Caribbean sand, and the wine list is considerable.
Aunt I's
19934 NW 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33169
(305) 654-9638
www.auntis.net
Even the most discerning palate can't argue that Aunt I's made-from-scratch jerk chicken is among the best outside of Boston Bay. The staff always greets you with a warm smile and after just one visit, remembers your name. Other signature dishes include oxtail that surrenders itself to tenderness and brown stew chicken bathed in traditional Jamaican seasoning. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Bahamian Pot Restaurant
1413 NW 54th Street
Miami, FL 33142
(305) 693-5053
Conch is finicky. Its preparation, from chopping to seasoning to steaming to frying, must be perfect. And that's what you'll find at The Bahamian Pot. Excellent fried and steamed conch. Every time. Among its sea-fisherman décor of nets and painted crashing waves, you'll find the atmosphere upbeat, the wafting smells pleasing and the service great. Come by early and indulge yourself in a breakfast of boiled fish, grits and a side of Johnnycake. Hours: Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Monday, Closed; Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.