Vanilla Cafe - Miami Beach

We stumbled upon this cafe while taking a leisurely walk and were warmly welcomed by the maitre d', a somewhat formal title for such a casual spot in this laid-back area. After a longer stroll through the charming European street in the Art Deco district, we decided to give it a shot, even though we weren't particularly hungry! The menu, described as 'Mediterranean', offered a variety of dishes at reasonable prices, with generous portions that weren’t excessive. The beef carpaccio was the best I've ever had, accompanied by freshly sliced cheese. My companion thoroughly enjoyed the French onion soup and linguine Bolognese as well. We also tried a Mujito rum cocktail, which was light and refreshing, reminiscent of a mint julep.

My daughters and I visited South Beach for Mother's Day weekend, and we've always loved Espanola Way. This was our first time dining at Cafe Nuvo, and the inviting aroma drew us in. Our waiter, Oscar, was fantastic. The bruschetta was amazing, and I shared a goat cheese salad with my girls that was simply divine. Our entrees were also delicious—be sure to try the linguine Bolognese! I can't wait to return to South Beach in 2007 and eat at Cafe Nuvo again.