Area 31

Staying in Downtown Miami, there's one thing that's clear. It's a city that is spectacular when you can see it from a restaurant with a view like this one. On the 16th floor of the Kimpton Epic Hotel, Area 31 is stunning on its own just for the location. Walking into it, you are already impressed by its chic modern interior. Floor to ceiling windows showcase the towering lit up high rises that surround you. It's only when you walk out onto the terrace that you get the full scope of how grand the view really is. Look down and you'll see the waterways that are lined with million dollar yachts. Don't forget to wave at them as they go by.For the views alone, this place is 5 stars. For the food and service, this is where it lacks.. Our server Danilo was a smooth talker- well versed and knew the menu to sell us on the best stuff. But when it came to coming in to do follow ups to answer our questions about individual dishes, it was apparent that they were under staffed. Had it not been for the gal that was refilling our waters, we would not have been able to track Danilo down. Here's the breakdown: *Parmesan & Herb Crusted Scallops $35.00: creamy sweet corn purée, tomato charred corn relish, herb oil-- The scallops were super tender, sautéed perfectly with a nice crunch on the tops of them. Loved these. *East Coast Oysters $40.00: champagne mignonette, lemon wedge: If you love oysters, these are a must as they were fresh and melted on your tongue. Add in the tiny spoonful of champagne mignonette and these were amazing.*Lobster Mac $20.00: orecchiette pasta, smoked gouda cheese, fresh maine lobster, herbed panko-- Hands down probably the best Lobster Mac I've ever tried. The smoked gouda cheese sauce melted on the pasta was creamy and complimented the tender chunks of fresh lobster meat. Herbed panko was chef's kiss here as it gave it the crunchiness that was so good.*Surf and Turf (Market Price): Whole Main Lobster, Filet Mignon and whipped mashed potatoes: Filet Mignon was exactly how I imagined some good quality steak should taste. Slightly rare, seared nicely on the outside, juicy and tender + marinated just right so there was no need for any extra salt or pepper. *Side of mashed potatoes: Have you ever tried mashed potatoes that don't taste like mashed potatoes anymore because they've been over whipped? That is the only way to describe these-- as if there was too much cream that was poured in and the potatoes got lost in the mixture. The Lobster (which was supposed to be the star) was also where we ran into some issues. I'm not sure if this was just a bad one but it had a "chalky" taste that didn't sit quite right with us. When we mentioned it to our server Danilo, he apologized and said he would go talk to someone yet no one ever approached us to address the situation. We had to flag down our water gal and she went to go talk to our Danilo again. By this time, the food had gotten *cold* and the rest of the lobster left untouched in its shell. A manager finally came by 10 minutes later and said that this was a rare occurrence for someone to complain about their lobster as they set themselves to high standards when it comes to seafood. She offered to have them make another one but both of us were already stuffed from the meal. We declined the offer and instead just had her clear the table. By the end of our time, the manager told us she would take the "lobster" part of the meal off of the bill but she said that this really never happens. It was almost as if she made us feel like she was doing us a favor by taking it off. Not going to lie, it made me feel a certain type of way because it's not something we would lie about. What's it to her to take off that part of the bill and just apologize and thank us for coming instead? That was my only quip about this spot. Other than that, I would still recommend this spot for a great place just to take pics and enjoy a great view of Downtown Miami.

Area 31 still had a beautiful outdoor, rooftop terrace that's designed well. Service was efficient. However, I'm sad to report that this trip, while the food was good, my last bite of the lamb burger had and extremely long hair cooked in the meat. Not sure I'd rush back after this.

Excellent rooftop for house music and views of Brickell. Food came out quickly and HH options were solid! Highlights: ceviche, lobster mac, fish and chips. Room for improvement: HH had to order at the bar which was understaffed (just one guy) and slower. Utensils were plastic

The food was okay nothing special. The brunch items did feel a lot heavier than expected. I wouldn't say I would ever come back again for the items we got but I would possibly come back to try something else because the service was so lovely. The rooftop ambience is beautiful but I wouldn't recommend outdoor terrace during the day because the heat did get quite unbearable. We had the tatar, shrimp and grits, and steak benedict. Overall 7.5/10 for food. 9/10 for service.

Good food and quick service, what more could you ask for? Area 31 is located inside the kimpton epic hotel in downtown Miami. Being that it's on the 16th floor, it offers water and city views of the city. Food here is rather pricey. $15 for an orange juice and $9 for a cappuccino. However, they offer a great mix of American/cuban food. We started with cappuccinos, and my mother had the lobster and king crab Benedict. I had the broken eggs. Both were fantastic and were served to us about ten minutes from when we ordered. The server was very knowledgeable of the menu and attentive. If you're staying at the kimpton I definitely recommend making a trip to Area 31!

Excellent food. The view is amazing. Service was courteous but disorganized. For example, they removed the silverware when we finished the appetizers but did not replace it when the entrees arrived. The food got cold before we could finally flag a server down to bring utensils.

Have been here a few times for cocktails. Drinks are good (notable ones include one sold in a coconut and the "adult Capri Sun sold in a pouch). Interestingly, although the pool is separated from the bar, you're not allowed to be served in glassware until the pool closes, which can cheapen the atmosphere a bit. Prices are on the higher side, but what you're paying for is the view! Excellent views of the river and Brickell Avenue. This is a good place to take out of town guests.

Area 31 exceeded my expectations. We came for Saturday brunch. While the inside in very minimal, the outdoor seating offers beautiful views of the Miami river. I ordered the caesar salad with chicken and my hubby got the short rib benedict. Both dishes were outstanding! The chicken on my salad was juicy and flavorful and the house made caesar dressing was fabulous. Hubs got the benedict with the sauce on the side and it was perfect! The service was also great. Very attentive and friendly.

The Scottish salmon is very crispy and delicious. The downtown view is gorgeous. Not many tables can see the ocean directly. You have to request in advance.

We stayed in the hotel for an extended weekend. We had breakfast at this restaurant. We had to wait for a table for approximately 25 minutes while more than half of the restaurant was empty. The waiter was so rude, during the middle of ordering the food he left and did not return 5 minutes later.