Restaurants in Miami

Located in a log cabin in South Miami and decorated with mounted boar and caribou heads, saddles and cowboy hats, this barbecue house is a veritable institution. The informal, fun menu is served at long wooden picnic tables, with specialities including barbecued ribs (slow-cooked over hickory logs and smothered in Shorty's own spicy barbecue sauce) accompanied by fries, coleslaw, corn on the cob and chilled, thirst-quenching beers.

Proof positive that there is authentic Cuban food outside Calle Ocho, witness Little Havana in North Miami, a friendly, popular choice with locals. Open daily for lunch and supper, enjoy such menu items as lobster-stuffed yucca pastry or the masas de puerco, a tender, crispy fried pork dish that is a favourite among patrons.

Expect casual poolside dining at the 61-hectare (150-acre) Biltmore Hotel estate. The restaurant overlooks the largest pool in the US, surrounded by rows of statues, palms, waterfalls and Italianate buildings. The menu focuses on fresh seafood, Caribbean dishes and healthy, organic spa cuisine. Highlights include the Caribbean-style bisque, Florida stone crabs and char-grilled churrasco steaks.

Wish is one of South Beach's culinary hotspots, located in The Hotel - an art deco boutique hotel with interiors by fashion designer Todd Oldham. Executive chef Marco Ferraro's menus of seasonal Mediterranean-inspired cuisine cleverly blend comfort with sophistication. The unusual outdoor-indoor restaurant provides a choice of alfresco dining in a lush tropical garden setting or in the colourful, cosy Persian-inspired restaurant.

Elegant black-and-white decor, a piano bar and nightly entertainment create a lively yet intimate atmosphere for casual dining. Located in North Miami's Aventura district, Prezzo's menu has a distinctly Mediterranean flavour. After tantalising choices of seafood, roast duck or mouth-watering steak, the perfect signature dessert is the caramelised crème brulée with fresh berries. Diners can then adjourn to the outdoor patio for a high-end cigar or hookah.

Experience the laid-back atmosphere of the Keys and a perfect tropical sunset at the romantic Morada Bay beach cafe, with its wide shady verandahs and plantation-style shutters. Sit barefoot at tables, sipping exotic cocktails while the children play on the white sandy beach. The American-Caribbean menu offers some of the best seafood in the Keys. The renowned monthly full moon parties draw revellers from far and wide to enjoy the live bands on the beach, DJ, firewalkers and jugglers.

Chef Allen's is an ideal restaurant for a special occasion. Chef-owner Allen Susser is counted among America's most respected chefs, celebrated for his innovative 'Floribbean Palm Tree' cuisine. The stylish art deco restaurant, with its contemporary artwork, fresh flowers and pink neon lighting, surrounds a glass-enclosed kitchen. Here, you can watch Allen create masterpieces from his nightly changing menu, such as conch ceviche; wild Florida shrimps and grits brulee; or Niman Ranch skirt steak. Dinner only.