We wouldn't blame you for choosing to forgo alfresco dining during Miami's sweltering summer months. There's nothing worse than eating a hot plate of food while perspiring half your water weight. But during the moderate winter season, it should be illegal to dine with a duct blasting cold air in your face. Instead, take advantage of the bright sun and cool temperatures at Mandolin Aegean Bistro, whose dining area is mostly outside. Grab a table on a Saturday afternoon and order the Turkish sampler (hummus, tomato-walnut dip, and fava bean purée, $16); tell the waiter to keep the pitchers of white-wine sangria ($36) coming. If you're hungrier than usual, opt for a sandwich such as the grilled halloumi cheese ($14) or the Greek gyro ($14), and just sit and take in the view. Mandolin is an oasis along busy NE Second Avenue. Once you enter the space, it feels like you're dining in someone's backyard along the Mediterranean coast. The rustic decor combines unfinished materials and lots of greenery. Although dining, even for lunch, can be a bit pricey ($20 to $30 per person), it's still cheaper — and more convenient — than booking a trip to Greece. Plus, remember that great Miami weather.
Readers' choice: Garcia's Seafood Grille & Fish Market