Miami Spice has always involved a little menu detective work. Sometimes the deal is obvious. Sometimes the dish you actually want comes with a supplement, the steak costs extra, and by the time you’ve upgraded dinner, you’re wondering what exactly happened to the “Spice” part. Daniel’s is doing things differently.
Already one of our Miami favorites, Daniel’s has put together a Miami Spice Reserve Experience that feels remarkably generous for a restaurant where caviar, Wagyu and a very serious martini are part of the regular vocabulary. At $95++, dinner starts with Sullivan Street Bakery sourdough and sheep’s milk ricotta with honey and thyme, followed by your choice from four appetizers, five entrées and two desserts. More importantly, there are no supplements or upcharges anywhere on the menu. And because we love a good beverage deal almost as much as a good dinner deal, Daniel’s is offering Palomas, Margaritas and Daniel’s Martinis for $15 during Spice. At a restaurant like this, that price deserves its own little round of applause.
We started with a Miami Spice exclusive, the Mayura Station Wagyu Carpaccio, layered with tonnato sauce, caper powder and sliced Parmigiano. The beef is exceptionally tender, with the creamy, salty tonnato giving it enough personality without overwhelming the Wagyu. If you need something green, there’s the Basil Caesar, with Little Gem lettuce dressed in basil Caesar, Parmigiano Reggiano and Sullivan Street croutons. Skipper Sweets Oysters Rockefeller with watercress and Malabar spinach round out another of the starter options.
Then come the entrées. The Rigatoni Bolognese carries some Fiola DNA, with Florida Arrowhead Wagyu, pork, veal and mushroom ragù folded into pomodoro and finished with Parmigiano Reggiano. There’s also a Braised Wagyu Beef Short Rib with potato fonduta and Gratitude Farms mushrooms for anyone determined to keep the evening firmly in beef territory. Pescatarians get one of the more interesting Miami Spice exclusives. The Florida Grits Crusted Grouper comes with spicy tomato chickpeas and Tiny Farms okra, a dish that recalls Chef Danny’s time in the Keys.
But for us, the order is obvious. Get the DemKota Elite Prime Filet. The eight-ounce filet is $78 by itself on Daniel’s regular menu. Here, it arrives with potato fonduta as part of the $95 Miami Spice experience, with no supplement hiding in the fine print. This is the moment when the Miami Spice math gets very, very good.
Dessert keeps things familiar and fun. The fan-favorite Soft Serve Ice Cream gets downsized into a personal version, with vanilla, chocolate or swirl soft serve and a piece of brownie alongside it. Or go for the Coconut Flan, made with Tiny Farms eggs and served with coconut caramel sauce and toasted coconut.
Daniel’s was already an easy recommendation for us. Its Miami Spice menu makes the case even easier. You get the bread service. You get legitimate choices. You can order the filet without paying another $20 for the privilege. You finish with dessert. And perhaps, you can put a $15 Daniel’s Martini next to all of it. Miami Spice is supposed to give you a reason to experience a restaurant you love at a price that feels special. At Daniel’s, it actually does.