Pied à Terre
★★★★☆ 4.2 (127)
"Had a romantic Valentine's Day dinner at Pied A Terre. They had a special Prix Fixe menu and we also enjoyed a beautiful bottle of French wine.QualityAs so many places do, Pied A Terre created a Prix Fixe menu for Valentine's Day. And while the food on it was delicious, I believe it did not quite capture the full potential of the restaurant. The meal began with a glass of Champagne, a nice touch to welcome each diner to a romantic evening. This was followed by an amuse bouche, a small scoop of Ceviche. Not what I expected of a French restaurant, but a tasty bite nonetheless. For our appetizers we ordered the Warm Duck & Fresh Wild Mushroom Consomme, Ravioles Of Foie Gras and the Lobster Daikon Purse. The consomme was excellent with the broth steeped in rich and deep flavor and the raviolis were delicate and delicious. The lobster was well prepared with a nice profile and fresh flavor. For entrees we had the Steamed Squab And Foie Gras Wrapped In Savoy Cabbage and Short Ribs Marinated In Burgundy Wine And Slowly Cooked. The squab and foie gras was the best bite of the night by far. The decadent foie gras served next to the tender and moist bird was amazing. The short ribs were excellent as well, and happened to be the only substantial dish of the evening. Extremely soft and with a tremendous aroma, they came atop soft mashed potatoes. Then for dessert we had the Floating Island Pied A Terre and the Chocolate Tart. Both showcased amazing presentation, but it was the richness of the Chocolate Tart served alongside the unique griotte cherry sorbet that won me over. And while the food was delicious, it was the wine that makes Pied A Terre special. Recognized by Wine Spectator since they first opened their doors, the extensive list of wines is unbelievably impressive. The wine consultant helped us select an excellent wine to pair with our meal, that left us both very satisfied. My only real complaint for the quality was the handcuffs that prevented further exploration of the menu, the foie gras tasting in particular.QuantityOn Valentine's Day the only option was to order from the prix fixe menu. However, I did not feel it was near enough food and without the ability to add on, I ended up leaving the restaurant still hungry. Considering the price tag, that should not have been the case. ValueThere is no question regarding the high quality of the food, but I still felt like the price for this prix fixe menu was excessive. The fact that it was Valentine's Day likely played a part, as did the glass of champagne that came with the meal. I just feel like I would have enjoyed my experience more without the restrictions of the menu. I must note however, that the wine list is extremely reasonable, with high quality wines at every price point.AmbiancePied A Terre is located in the Cadet Hotel, a boutique hotel on Miami Beach. The restaurant is found on the second floor of the hotel, but I believe they also have seating in the outdoor patio area. When you arrive you are greeted by a lovely pianist playing a mix of classics and familiar pop tunes. A waiter will then lead you up the stairs to the intimate dining room. With around twenty total seats, the small area allows for a personal touch. The decor is simple, yet elegant, and the music from the lobby carries up to the restaurant. The set up is a bit awkward as the tables are quite close together, but somehow you still feel a sense of privacy. The atmosphere is perfect for a romantic evening.CrowdPied A Terre has garnered a reputation for being one of the most romantic restaurants in Miami. As such, it was no shock to find it booked up with couples on Valentine's Day. The restaurant itself is a very small space, so expect an intimate dining experience. This is also one of the few places I have been in Miami where dressing up is basically expected.ServiceAt some moments I felt like the service was extraordinary, with careful attention and detailed explanations of the food and wine. However, there were also extended periods where I felt that they forgot we were even at the restaurant. The highlight of the service was the wine consultant who was no nonsense and helped us select the perfect companion to our meal. He also proudly spoke of the foie gras tasting, which I would have loved to try, had it been made available.ParkingSurprisingly they do not have valet set up at the hotel or restaurant. Limited street parking can be found or if you do not mind a short walk, there is a large parking deck three blocks west.ExtraIn the end my bigger issue really is probably with the shortsighted tradition of prix fixe menus on Valentine's Day. The food and the wine at Pied A Terre both proved excellent, but the extra high prices and limited offerings left me disappointed and quite frankly hungry. I feel another visit is very much in order to truly get a sense of what Pied A Terre can do."
"Of all places I have met Owner / Chef Benoit several times in Reno at Belleville.So on a recent pass through Miami I made it a point to stop here to eat. What a great bonus to discover he served brunch on the weekends, so Saturday morning I ventured up to the Hialeah area. I was greeted promptly and offered a seat, which I requested on the small patio out front. It was a gorgeous sunny morning and I wasn't going to was any of it.The brunch menu was fabulous, if I hadn't already had my heart set on a croque madam, it would have been a difficult decision. The fresh bread was layered with thin slices of ham and gruyere cheese and perfectly grilled, then blanketed with a silky gruyere cheese sauce and topped with a farm fresh soft egg. The bonus to sandwich were the duck confit potatoes. Mmmm. Accompanied by a fresh guava mimosa. How much better could the day start than all of this. The staff was fantastic- refilling water, offering another mimosa and clearing the table while I just enjoyed the morning.I can't wait to stop in again on my next pass through Miami. The evening menu looked just as delicious.Great hidden gem"
