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Since 1969, restaurant, hotel, travel & other witty reviews by a handpicked, worldwide team of discerning professionals—and your views, too.

Area 31

EPIC Hotel
270 Biscayne Blvd. Way (Brickell Ave.) Send to Phone
Miami, FL 33131
305-424-5234 | Make Restaurant Reservations | Menu
area31restaurant.com
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Sustainable seafood plus local produce, an innovative chef, a hot happy hour, and a terrace with views draw a trendy crowd to this sleek spot. Area 31 Restaurant is one of GAYOT's 2013 | Top 10 Miami/South Florida Seafood Restaurants | Top 10 Miami/South Florida Outdoor Dining Restaurants | Top 10 Miami/South Florida View Restaurants |

Cuisine

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Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily

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Dining room at Area 31, Miami, FL

Area 31 Restaurant Review

: Don’t be confused by the number in the name. Unlike the Conrad’s Level 25 restaurant, the name of EPIC hotel’s Area 31 does not refer to the floor this spot occupies (it’s on 16). The name is a reference to Fishing Area 31, the massive expanse of Atlantic/Gulf/Caribbean waters from which many of the restaurant’s ecologically admirable, sustainable species of fish and shellfish hail. Since the advent of community-committed executive chef E. Michael Reidt (formerly of SoBe’s Wish), the menu has been balanced by intriguing dishes featuring lots of local produce plus trendy touches of meat: crispy bone marrow; a Florida corn velouté with pork belly, cotija cheese and cornbread. But the focus remains on fish dishes, whether ingredient-driven, like simply prepared farmed paiche (a South American freshwater species prized for its delicate taste and texture) or more complex creations (brandade-crusted scallops; cobia ceviche with puffed rice and red pepper sorbet). The upscale but rather boring shades-of-beige interior is ideal for business meals. Our pick, though, would be seating on the outdoor terrace; the skyscraper-to-bay-beyond view actually makes Miami look like a real city, and is a perfect backdrop for cosmopolitan cocktails invented by master mixologist Jacques Bezuidenhout.

User Ratings & Reviews for Area 31
Average rating    4
Reviews 1 - 1 of 11
Special ocassions to impress out-of-towners
by criticatlarge on Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:33 am
 
Great ambiance, great view of Miami and located in a nice hotel on a historic site. The Epic Hotel used to be DuPont Plaza and in early Miami pioneer days it was the royal Palm Hotel site on the river. Great food, but it was served a la carte and didn't even come with a garnish. We had the yellow tail snapper fish which was great, although a bit too many scales were left on the fish for my taste, but a great price. The flat iron steak was great. The lobster was too small, but good. The sides we ordered were excellent: tasty risotto with mushrooms and polenta. For appetizers we had a great hummus with delightful pitas. I would highly, highly recommended this appetizer.
Dessert was the most wonderful delight of chocolate with one or two pieces of bananas, whipped cream and light cookies all put together in a great presentation. We all wanted more of the soft bananas. We didn't think it was expensive and the service was good. The waiters seemed to be very accommodating and the busboys were outstanding!
 
Reviews 1 - 1 of 11



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