Miami - Miami and the Keys - page 200

plantain dish from Puerto Rico. Make sure to top the evening off with some decadent
guava cheesecake.
Van Dyke Cafe FUSION
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; % 305-534-3600; 846 Lincoln Rd; mains $12-28; h 8am-1am)
One of Lincoln Rd's most touristed spots, the Van Dyke is an institution akin to the News
Cafe, serving adequate food in a primo spot for people-watching. It's usually packed and
takes over half the sidewalk. Service is friendly and efficient, and you get free preening
models with your burgers and eggplant parmigiana. There's excellent nightly jazz upstairs.
Guru INDIAN
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; % 305-534-3996; 232 12th St; mains $15-23; h noon-11:30pm; v )
A sexy, soft-lit interior of blood reds and black wood sets the stage for this Indian eatery,
where local ingredients like lobster swim into the korma. Goan fish curry goes down a
treat but the service often seems rushed and the kitchen can be inconsistent. Try coming at
lunchtime for the thali special, an assemble-your-own meal extravaganza.
Balans FUSION
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; % 305-534-9191; 1022 Lincoln Rd; mains $13-36; h 8am-midnight)
Kensington, Chiswick…South Beach? Oi, give this Brit-owned fusion favorite a go.
Where else do veal saltimbocca and lamb jalfrezi share a menu? After you down the signa-
ture lobster club, you'll agree tired stereotypes about English cooking need to be recon-
sidered.
Nexxt Cafe FUSION
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; % 305-532-6643; 700 Lincoln Rd; mains $7-23; h 11:30am-11pm Mon-Thu,
to midnight Fri & Sat, 11am-11pm Sun)
There's a lot of cafes arranged around Lincoln Rd that offer good people-watching along
one of Miami Beach's most fashionable stretches. Many of these spots are of questionable
quality. Nexxt is the best of the bunch, with a huge menu that jumps between turkey chili,
gourmet burgers and low-cal salads the size of your face. Speaking of which, the menu is
simply enormous, and though nothing is really excellent, everything is pretty good.