Six Local Restaurants to Check Out After Your Check-Up

While a dental check-up is not something people generally look forward to, we at Gables Sedation & Family Dentistry know that it is a necessary part of good oral hygiene and should be completed two times per year. Once you are finished with your visit, why not celebrate your clean teeth by treating yourself to a nice meal at a great nearby restaurant?

Here are a few of our suggestions on where to go for a great meal:

Versailles – This bastion of Cuban cuisine serves all the traditional favorites such as mashed plantains and fried pork chunks or Galician white bean soup. The more intrepid visitor should also sample their modern interpretation of some classic dishes like oxtail stew and vaca frita de pollo. In either case, your mouth will thank you.

3555 SW 8TH STREET, MIAMI, 305-444-0240

Open seven days from 8 a.m, to well past midnight.

Swine –Locals swear by the famous and award-winning “low & slow” ribs served here, but visitors should also partake of the braised pork shoulder and the mac & cheese. For some lighter fare, try the delightful – albeit small – 1855 black Angus burnt ends or the daily greenhouse special. Finally and not incidentally, for those who prefer fish, the folks at Swine make an incredible cast-iron skillet seared Atlantic salmon.

2415 PONCE DE LEON BLVD., CORAL GABLES, 786-360-6433

Open Monday thru Friday for lunch and dinner; brunch only on Saturdays and Sundays

Crave – A quintessentially American restaurant, Crave offers a quite varied menu. Stop in at lunch for their half price sushi menu where you will find all your favorites – sake, hashimi, uni, ebi and the like – as well as their signature specialty rolls including the crab-stuffed Vegas Roll and our favorite, the shrimp-stuffed King Kong Roll.

4250 SALZEDO STREET, CORAL GABLES, 301-469-9600

Open at 11 a.m. Every day. Close at 10 p.m. most nights, 11 p.m. on Sat. and Sun.

Havana Harry’s – For over two decades, this restaurant that fuses Cuban and American cuisine has delighted visitors from all over the world. Standout dishes on the menu include the garbanzo frito, the handmade Cuban tamales and the tostones Guayaberos. Also, be sure to enjoy a cocktail – Harry’s mojito has been ranked as one of the 10 best in the nation.

4612 LE JEUNE ROAD, CORAL GABLES, 305-661-2622

Open every day, 11:00am – 9:00pm

Matsuri – If sushi and sashimi are more to your taste after a visit to the dentist, try visiting this Miami mainstay. Start with the Udon or miso soup and a side order of edamame. Then move on to the unagi tuna as an appetizer. Finally, choose from the four dozen raw or deep fried seafood dishes that quite nicely detail the charms of traditional Japanese seafood. Our favorite is the Masa Special for Two.

5759 BIRD ROAD, MIAMI, 305-663-1615

Open every day except Monday 5:30 pm-11:00 pm

Burger Bob’s–For a quicker “in and out” visit, try this rustic hideaway in the middle of sophisticated Coral Gables. Most visitors will choose one of the awesome burgers on the menu, but we are kind of fond of the Granada melts with their sides of slaw and fries. Also, grab a piece of pie for the road. Your teeth will thank you for it.

2001 GRANADA BLVD, CORAL GABLES, 305-567-3100

Open every day 6 a.m. To 3:30 p.m.