Local Flavor, Global Vibes: Jeremy Ford’s Favorite Restaurants in the Magic City

“Niven Patel is doing something really special at Ghee. Using produce from his own Homestead ranch, his dishes are out of this world. He uses all sorts of amazing Indian spices and flavors. His naan bread is insanely good—especially the ghost pepper cheddar. The OG location is in the Dadeland area, which is super close to home for me so I go as often as I can.”

“I’m a sucker for the simple things and everything Michael Pirolo does just melts in your mouth. He’s always got some kind of housemade pasta that he's working on. And the menu is filled with seasonal specialties. The broccoli rabe Caesar is absolutely nuts. And honestly, it’s one of those places that makes me feel like I’m at home.”

“Visiting Michael Beltran’s spot Ariete is always a treat. His duck game is so strong. The way they age it and serve the full duck press experience — there’s nothing else like that in Miami. It's always been a favorite of mine. I’ve been going there as regularly as I can since 2017 knowing it’s a great meal every time.”

“There’s no one in the city that does dim sum quite like Pablo Zitzmann. He does everything at such a high level thanks to his pedigree and the mentors he's had over the years. His style has really grown into something of his own and I love celebrating him and everything he’s doing when I go there.”

“My boy Jose Mendin is always killing it over at Casa Isola. The veal parmesan on the bone is insanely good. I love that the entire place has a cool Sicilian vibe. My wife is from that area of Italy, so she always feels a little touch of Sicily while she's there and I love how happy that makes her.”