Palat

Buena Vista is quickly becoming quite the dining destination. The historic Miami neighborhood, flanked by the Design District and Little Haiti, is amassing a tasty portfolio and Palat only bolsters that. The restaurant’s Italian-inspired tapas help round out some of the street’s other options such as Mandolin, Buena Vista Deli and Lemoni. Palat is relaxed but chic. The open kitchen faces a smooth, minimal dining room, sending out sharable tapas: salads, toasty crostini, charcuterie and cheese. Heartier options include sea urchin pasta ($19), ricotta cavatelli ($15) and steaks ($18). The whole semi-deboned chicken truffled jus is the most expensive thing on the menu at $41. Not hungry enough for that? Try happy hour (Tue–Sun from 5 to 7pm) for $4 beers, $5 wine and $6 apps. And stop by the lunch service to try some of Palat’s sandwiches such as the eggplant caponata ($12) or house ham ($14).