There are steakhouses built for celebrations. Then there are steakhouses that make an ordinary Wednesday night feel like one. Maple & Ash belongs firmly in both categories. Hidden among the glass towers of Downtown Miami’s Worldcenter, the Chicago import doesn’t do understated. Sexy black-and-white photography watches over a series of richly designed dining rooms, each with its own personality. One moment you’re sitting in a sultry bar with a martini in hand. The next you’re wandering into another room, tucked in a booth that somehow feels even moodier than the last. And somehow, despite all the glamour, the hospitality steals the show. The service here feels remarkably personal. Everyone seems genuinely excited that you’re there.
If you’re ordering wine, skip over the usual pairing and ask sommelier Sanabel about the restaurant’s famous “IDGAF” wine pairing. Tell them what you’re eating, tell them what you like, or tell them absolutely nothing. Then let them surprise you. It’s one of the most entertaining ways to drink your way through dinner.
Which brings us to Miami Spice. If you’ve somehow been living under a rock, Miami Spice is the city’s annual dining celebration held every August and September, where participating restaurants offer prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus at a fraction of their normal price. This year marks the program’s 25th anniversary, making it one of the best excuses all year to finally book those restaurants you’ve been putting off. We’ll be exploring a different Miami Spice menu every week, so consider this your first stop.
Maple & Ash isn’t holding back. Instead of a single menu, they’re offering two experiences: a $65 Miami Spice dinner alongside a new Reserve Menu for $95, and if you’re debating which route to take, the answer depends on one very important question. How badly do you want the seafood tower. The Fire-Roasted Seafood Tower alone nearly justifies the upgrade. Picture a paella-sized skillet arriving at your table still sizzling, loaded with king crab, oysters, clams and prawns swimming in garlic butter and chili oil. Then comes the surprise. Once you’ve picked every last piece of shellfish clean and resigned yourself to wishing you had bread for the remaining buttery broth, the kitchen brings out fresh housemade cavatelli to toss directly into everything left behind. It’s one of those dishes that somehow gets better after you’ve already finished eating it and one I’m still thinking of.
The other Reserve-only starter worth your attention is the rich Lobster Bisque, finished with brioche croutons and crème fraîche. Fortunately, several of Maple & Ash’s signature dishes appear on both menus. The Bluefin Tuna Tartare arrives cool and delicate beneath a generous dollop of crème fraîche, while the Tableside Sesame Caesar transforms the everyday salad into dinner theater with crisp romaine, jammy egg, sesame croutons and plenty of parmesan assembled tableside.
For the main event, there really isn’t a wrong decision. The Mediterranean Branzino, served with preserved lemon, capers, Castelvetrano olives and smoked tomato, is bright enough to balance everything else on the table and large enough to share.
The Spicy Rigatoni alla Vodka remains one of the restaurant’s signature dishes and easily justifies its reputation. The Chicken Milanese, topped with blistered tomatoes and pepper conserva, is perfectly crisp without losing its tenderness.
And yes, you’re at Maple & Ash. There has to be steak. Both menus include a beautifully cooked Filet Mignon served with pomme purée and black truffle. The Reserve simply increases the portion from six ounces to eight.
Dessert doesn’t require much deliberation either. Both menus feature the same trio of sweets. We skipped the Coconut Cream Pie with rum Chantilly this time around, but happily made room for the Strawberry Tres Leches, a combination of two personal favorites with delicate vanilla sponge, fresh strawberries and crème anglaise. The Chocolate Cake is exactly what you want after a steakhouse dinner: unapologetically rich with coffee mousse, toasted hazelnuts and vanilla bean ice cream.
Then comes the sleeper hit. For an extra $6 per person, you can upgrade to the Sundae Tower, and it’s one of the best values on the menu. Everyone gets their own bowl of Napoleon ice cream while the table receives a towering spread of toppings ranging from berries, toasted coconut and whipped cream to sprinkles, gummy worms and just about every nostalgic topping imaginable. It’s playful. It’s completely unnecessary. It’s also the perfect way to end the meal.