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Try Miami Spice in The Sky

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Half the battle of finding the perfect Miami Spice menu is searching for an equally worthy venue.

Next time you go out for Miami Spice, wine and dine with a view to remember at Atrio inside The Conrad hotel. Not only will your taste buds pop with pleasure but, your ears will too!  Literally-the restaurant and wine room is located on the 25th floor overlooking the sedated, scenic Brickell city skyline.  If you haven’t tried Atrio before, take advantage of their 3-course luxury dinner while you can.  Read more about my first experience here.

Dining Room

Dining Room

After I cleared my ears while hopping off the elevator, I glided through the lobby past the bar into the dimly lit, romantic, spacious dinning room.  I was meeting a group of foodie friends so I was very eager and hungry to see the menu.  I arrived around 7:30 pm which was just in time to watch the blazing, blissful Miami sun slowly melt away into darkness.  Moments after I was captivated by the sunset, our very knowledgeable waiter Shane came by to introduce himself and quench our thirst.

Wine Room

Wine Room

In addition to the spacious set-up, Atrio has an extremely intimate and notable wine room featuring over 200 vintages.  With that said, I decided to drink their house Pinot Noir which wasn’t overly dense and contained a light to medium body yet, it still possessed a bold flavor.  However, if you like drinking wine as much as myself I highly suggest the wine pairings.  In honor of the delicious 2 month promotion, Atrio is offering an unbeatable deal for winos: $6/wine glass pairings. I must say, finding a fabulous drink deal in addition to a gourmet meal is quite the steal.

My fellow dining companions and I received our refreshments promptly from Shane. He then smoothly won our attention over by thoroughly describing the Miami Spice Menu.  Unlike a handful of restaurants, the Miami Spice menu is offered every day with the same dining options throughout lunch and dinner. Luckily, everyone at our table was friendly so I got to try a little bit of everything.  Thank god I didn’t have to distract my neighbor to steal a bite.  It’s always the worst when your dinning partner orders something that looks heavenly and you did not order it (foodie problems).

Salmon and Grouper Carpaccio

Salmon and Grouper Carpaccio

Round 1: Salmon and Grouper Carpaccio, Goat Cheese Salad or Almond Gazpacho

Salmon and Grouper Carpaccio: definitely my favorite and a highlight of the evening.  First off, I was not prepared for such an impressive, refreshing dish like this one.  Freshly, thin slices of salmon and grouper are artistically placed onto a plate topped with a palate cleansing bust of flavor from the bright and pungent herb sorbet.  For some texture, there is a thoughtful plantain chip added for a proper and well-balanced component.

Almond and Grape Gazpacho: I appreciated the practicality  yet, elevation in this first round.   It was again, an ideal dish to enjoy during the heated summers.  Since, I eat out more than I would like to admit, I try to sneak in some salads and soups and this was a 2-in-1.  I loved the concept of biting into a light crunchy, savory shrimp salad with almonds and then “chasing” it with a sip of fruity gazpacho from the shooter glass.  Who doesn’t love shots?

Almond and Grape Gazpacho

Almond and Grape Gazpacho

Goat Cheese Salad: Out of all the appetizers, I think this was my least favorite but, then again I am not a huge fan of fried things unless, it’s absolutely sensational and completely worth the calories.  The fresh green salad and roasted beets were appreciated but, goat cheese is already so rich so I didn’t see the need for frying or covering the dense cheese.  Personally, it just didn’t win me over. :/

Round 2: Seared Sea Scallops, Glaze Kurobuta Pork Belly, or Mushroom Canelloni

Seared Sea Scallops

Seared Sea Scallops

You need to order the Seared Sea Scallops.  That’s all I am going to say…ok maybe not…  I must elaborate on this one.  This is not your average seared scallop entree, these babies are jumbo sized (probably diver) and cooked perfectly. Seriously, I’ve had it 3 different times, and each time was delicious. Executive Sous Chef, Virgile Brandel has some serious talent.  Consistency at any restaurant equals ONLY success.  Anyhow – underneath the moist, succulent crustaceans is a creamy cauliflower mousseline and the dish is finished with a foamy, flowery cardamom cloud.  To add some more depth, Parmesan wafers are artfully stacked in between each scallop for a crisp ending.

Round 3: Peach Trifle, Exotic Virgin Daiquiri or Farm Goat Cheesecake

By this point, my truffle belly was a tad stretched out.  However, I always carry a separate stomach for dessert.  As a New York native, I’ve always been a cheesecake kind of gal and I am SO glad I am. The farm goat cheesecake is out of sight.   It has all the proper fundamentals that make this dessert a timeless choice.  It’s rich in flavor from the goat cheese but, it also has a nice airiness to it.  The topped raspberry coulis was the icing on the cake as it added a necessary zing to balance out the decadence.

Farm Goat Cheesecake

Farm Goat Cheesecake

All in all, everything was truly a delight and worth much more than $39.00.  As I stated earlier, I’ve eaten here 3 times during Miami Spice month and have experienced flawless service and excellent dishes. Coming from New York I find it so rewarding and rare to dine and have a waiter beat me to the punch.  Usually, I spend many dinners out wondering where my server is.  Every Miami wino would be thankful to dine here and listen to the staff’s wine suggestions and immense intelligence.

From watching the sunset to finishing the evening with a sweet ending, this dinner will definitely stand higher than the others.

Bring your palate closer to the sky for a more uplifting Miami Spice experience. 

Location: 25th floor of The Conrad Hotel at 1395 Brickell Ave.

Reservations: Suggested

Parking: Valet or good luck driving aimlessly for street side

*Intimate and seductive Wine Room is available for a group of 8-10*

Attire: Smart and Savvy



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