Hillstone Restaurant at Bal Harbour

Twelve seats, one chef, no shortcuts.

Panamericano Bar doesn't advertise itself from the street — you have to know it's on the second floor behind Novocento on South Miami Avenue, which is exactly the point.

Havana 1957 in Pembroke Pines is a deliberate act of nostalgia — founder Eduardo Aroaz built the chain around a very specific fantasy of pre-revolutionary Havana, and the Pembroke Pines location commits to the bit completely.

First, a geography correction, because somebody's database is fibbing: there's no El Toro Loco in Homestead proper.

Alma Cubana sits on Miami Beach at a zip code that usually means tourist-facing Cuban food with a faded mojo and prices calibrated to people who won't be back.