Ever heard of Norman Van Aken or Michael Schwartz? Well, Ariete chef/partner Michael Beltran learned his way around the kitchen from both of those culinary icons. Now he has taken his talents to his own Coconut Grove restaurant. This warmly lit spot is cozy enough for a date, but make no mistake — there's no tweezer food on the menu, only things you want to eat: the juiciest chicken you've ever had, short rib cured pastrami-style ($25), and foie gras. Want to eat light? The chef's dinner-size green salad (price varies) changes daily depending upon what was just foraged from local farms. At Ariete, Beltran makes his mentors proud while walking his own straight line toward Miami's culinary future.
Readers' choice: GreenStreet Cafe