Miami Spice, the highly anticipated summer culinary event, kicks of its fourteenth year with more than 160 participating restaurants and will run until September 30th. The months of August and September are low season in South Florida, so restaurants use this time wisely to encourage local foodies and gourmands to explore new dining destinations by offering three-course meals at very inviting prices. While some chefs showoff their most emblematic dishes, others get creative, experiment with new recipes and try new flavor profiles.We break down some of the best that Miami Spice has to show:

Zuma Restaurant

In the heart of Downtown Miami, inside the Epic hotel, Zuma serves modern Japanese cuisine and is considered a culinary mecca. The menu follows the informal Japanese dining style known as Izakaya, where guests are invited to share a selection of dishes. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and serves brunch on weekends. Their cold dishes are particularly delicious and the spicy beef tenderloin with sesame, red chili and sweet soy is a delicate rendition of the international classic.

Cipriani
465 Brickell Avenue. Miami

Cipriani Restaurant

Cipriani brings to Miami Spice a limited selection of venetian classics with a beautiful bay view, ideal for those who tend to be feel intimidated and indecisive when faced with too many options. The chic restaurant decked with Murano chandeliers and floor to ceiling windows carries a nautical theme that sets the tone for a delightful evening of seafood and cocktails. For dinner, the Chilean Sea Bass alla Carlina should not be missed.

Seasalt & Pepper Brasserie
422 NW North River Drive. Miami

Seasalt & Pepper Brasserie

Executive Chef Alfredo Álvarez uses freshly sourced seafood to create one of the most popular Miami Spice menus in town, full of enticing morsels for seafood lovers, like the Octopus a la Plancha starter or the Bora Bora, seared black cod with coconut ginger and brulee of bananas. Come Wednesday through Sunday for Miami Spice and take in the warm summer rays on their terrace by the river.

Truluck’s
777 Brickell Avenue. Miami

Truluck’s

Trulucks is a seafood, steak and crab house known for using only the freshest ingredients. The restaurant works with suppliers off the coast of Naples, Florida to serve its famous stone crabs shortly after they’ve been captured. Their Miami Spice menu is available for dinner nightly. The Sea Scallops with Truffled Corn Bisque are as good as they are inviting. Truluck’s boasts an amazing wine list that will complement any selection.

Capital Grille
444 Birckell Avenue. Miami

Capital Grille

This Downtown landmark is popular for its dry-aged steaks and award winning wine list. Their Miami Spice menu has abundant options that will surely make diners come back to try them all during the two-month stint. The bone in dry-aged sirloin is a must, and for a minimal up charge guest can enjoy the Chef’s selections: filet and jumbo shrimp or Bone in Kona Crystal Dry-Aged Sirloin. For dessert, the flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake is a decadent indulgence for coffee lovers.

Miami Spice is the perfect time of year to find your new favorite restaurants. It might prove difficult to narrow down choices, but, luckily, Miami Spice runs about sixty days, ample time for culinary adventurers to feast on the best gastronomy Miami has to offer. ■