Michy's, Talula, or Sardinia?
Hello, and thanks in advance for your help -
My boyfriend and I will be visiting in two weeks and are taking a few friends (who live outside Miami) to dinner Saturday night. We're each current or former NYC foodies and prefer smaller places, lively but amenable to conversation, and where the staff and crowd don't behave as if they're celebrities. We'd love to eat for ~$60-70/person, including drinks. Would you recommend Michy's, Talula, or Sardinia? Or, something else altogether? I've looked through your postings; looks like there was a similar 3-way debate about 6 mos ago, but I figured opinions might have changed since. Thanks again!
nolitafoodie
Dec 22, 2007 03:56PM
I haven't been to Michy's but I don't think you can go wrong with either Talula or Sardinia. I was at Sardinia last week and Talula a few months ago. Sardinia has a "livelier" atmosphere..and obviously food from the Sardinia region. Talula is a little less "sceney, more laid back" with a more creative, eclectic menu. Both very good choices.
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On Saturday night, Sardinia will be super noisy and overcrowded. Talula's is good, much quieter. I haven't been to Michy's but am dying to try it. The neighborhood is totally different at Michy's, it's in an area on Biscayne Blvd just north of downtown Miami that is currently undergoing a nice transformation, but it's not South Beach.
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Nothing new would particularly change any of my prior comments. As for your particular focus - I usually do wine rather than drinks and the wine list at Talula is pricier than either of the other 2, suspect drinks will be too. All are relatively low-attitude places and all are lively but not so loud you can't hear yourself think.
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These are all great places and it depends what you like. Michy's has the highest highs and the lowest lows in my opinion. I think the food has improved at sardinia over the last 6 months but not enough to change overall comparisons. You really can't go wrong with any of them.
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Michy's will be much easier for your friends to get to and it is less than 3 miles from south beach if you use the Venetian Causeway. Talula is living on it reputation, noisy, very uneven in food quality and service, and after 5 negative reports to referrals over the past year, it's off my referral list. It's too bad because they used to be fabulous.
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I don't know that Michy's is any easier to get to than anywhere else. Many people will be more accustomed to going into South Beach than to finding their way along Biscayne (particularly given the road construction).
I have been a big fan of Talula's for years, hadn't been for a while but was there within the past month and found it as good as ever. The menu has been given a significant revamp and there were lots of new interesting items. I wouldn't remotely say it's living on reputation. Service has always been variable (it is South Beach, after all) but I've never found them to miss on the food.
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BTW, the construction in front of Michy's etc is done or so it appeared last week.
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Up until recently there's still been one sticking point just south of the intersection of Biscayne & 79th St. - there's no longer a mess directly in front of Michy's but it does still affect traffic a bit.
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Why just those three? I think Michael's in the Design District is easily much more fun (sit outside where the music isn't too loud), and if you want quiet (too quiet, for some), try North One10, great food, great service (a lot of visiting chefs/restaurateurs eat here, if that means anything to you.). All of my NY foodie friends love Michy's as well. Talula is great if they know you, but I've been a couple of times recently and everything was a little bit off-service was slow, wine recommendation was atrocious, and food was just so-so. It is quiet outside, though. Sardinia has a nice wine list of unusual Sardinian (duh) wines, and their pastas and slow-cooked shanks are amazing.
If you are all driving, there's really not much difference where you end up-Saturday night's a bitch everywhere, although most places have valet parking (pricey on the beach).
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MD, glad you're back in commission. Good to hear from you.
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Thanks for your thoughtful responses. There's no rationale behind the three choices - I just scanned your board to narrow things down to three choices. Given the comments above/elsewhere, I think Michy's is out, if only because I'd like a high-probability of a terrific meal no matter what items are chosen. I'm also knocking out Sardinia, as my boyfriend eats high/lowbrow Italian about twice a week here in NYC. I'm a little worried about Talula's service. Just looked at the website for Michael's Genuine - not as ummm...complicated (?) but simpler dishes executed well are much appreciated. All comments about their service on this site and others are super-positive. Plus, I want to try that chocolate/sea salt?/olive oil? dessert. :) I just used an emoticon, so it's time to go to bed. Happy holidays, and thanks again! Michael's it is.
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