Buffet in Miami

1395 NW 57th Ave. Westchester/West Miami

305-264-2143

Buffet, International, Seafood, Music Venues

94th Aero Squadron Restaurant is a wartime-themed restaurant nestled between Miami International Airport and the Dolphin Expressway. There are hand-painted signs and an Army jeep stand outdoors, while guns and war propaganda posters line the walls inside. Diners can watch the airplanes come and go while listening to the control tower through headphones placed at each table. The rest of the décor is very traditional, with linen-covered round tables dotting the restaurant. The food is good but a tad pricey. The signature beer cheese soup ($3.99), served with toasted Parmesan, is recommended. Also of note is the aviation salmon ($19.99), a char-broiled fillet finished with a lemon-thyme cream sauce, fresh mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, and spring onions. Another option is the Sunday brunch buffet ($25.95), which offers made-to-order pastas, omelets, and a carving station. 94th is ideal for families and airplane enthusiasts.

23 articles

Ginza Japanese Buffet

16153 Biscayne Blvd. Aventura/North Miami Beach

305-944-2192

Buffet, Japanese, Best Of, Menu

1 article

Ni.Do. Caffe

7295 Biscayne Blvd. Miami Shores/Biscayne Park

305-960-7022

Buffet, Italian, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

At Ni.Do. Caffe, a quaint Italian restaurant in Belle Meade, petite tables are topped with taupe butcher paper, potted lavender plants, and multicolored platters of cheese and prosciutto crudo. A refrigerator showcases house-made cheeses for sale: mozzarella fior di latte, burrata, affumicato, and others. Owners Matteo Paderni and his wife, Giorgia Calabrese, run the show. Paderni serves as gracious host, encouraging diners to sample the ravioli -- pockets of house-made pasta shaped into ribboned squares and stuffed with fontina cheese and mushrooms, in a creamy, nutty sauce with Parmigiano-Reggiano -- and the burrata, a wonderful knotted pouch of mozzarella with an oozing center of curds and cream. Dishes here are unassuming and modest; nonetheless, they are prepared with consistency and care. It's what makes the setting feel far away from the razzmatazz of other neighborhoods. And as with many other new joints along the Biscayne corridor, crowds flow into Ni.Do. hoping to steer clear of valet parking, overpriced crudos, and $20 crafted cocktails. They want mozzarella, grissini, and gelato. They stick around for something simple and charming: a small place serving nothing more than good, laid-back Italian eats.

6 articles

POC American Fusion Buffet & Sushi

2121 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Coral Gables/S. Miami

305-529-0882

American, Buffet, Sushi, Best Of, Menu

POC American Fusion Buffet & Sushi serves Asian tapas ($4 to $16). Seating consists of linen-covered tables and large, plush booths around the perimeter. And despite the packed house, noise was not an issue. The decor is subtle, with a palate of neutral colors covering the walls and floor, and the lighting is just-right. It's bright where it needs to be: the buffet (lunch, $11.95 weekdays; dinner, $18.95 weeknights and $20.95 weekends; brunch, $19.95), which begins with executive sushi chef Kevin Z's carefully crafted sushi. Fish is delivered daily to ensure quality, and it is only caught in the wild - no farm-raised fare here. Chef Kevin's original rolls include the Coral Gables roll made with cream cheese, crab meat, mango, and orange. The Manhattan roll, inspired by his time working at Nobu in New York City, includes tuna, yellowtail snapper, salmon, and cream cheese. Everything is made in-house, inclusing the spicy mayo and dressings. The buffet transitions to a raw bar, featuring the likes of king crab legs, and a carving station serving prime rib and leg of lamb. There is a cold bar with a number of traditional and Asian-influenced salads and a hot bar with items such as melt-in-your-mouth veal and lobster fried rice. Chef Johnny says the secret to his incredible fried rice is to "...prepare it like a song. Cooking is like a dance."

7 articles

Preston's Market

1601 Collins Ave., Miami Beach South Beach

305-604-1601

American, Buffet, Greek, Mediterranean, Recommended, Menu

Preston's in the Loews Hotel is one of the few restaurants along the beach with an oceanfront view. Breakfast is a real feast here, with eggs benedict Cubano on tostada bread and chorizo; omelets; and an oatmeal brûlée among the early-bird treats. Expect innovative Mediterranean-inspired American cuisine boasting local ingredients and lots of organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The brasserie-style menu is an epicurean's bliss, with exciting appetizers, refined pizzas, and bold entrees. Most desserts are served tapas style and include a honey-citrus panna cotta and cheesecake lollipops. All good things come to those who pay, and Preston's is not a place to visit on a budget. That said, if you're looking for elegance and originality, this is your place.

3 articles

Restaurant Michael Schwartz

1775 Collins Ave., Miami Beach South Beach

305-612-1163

American, Buffet, Gluten-Free, International, Recommended, Menu, Slideshow

Located in the iconic Raleigh Hotel, Restaurant Michael Schwartz offers the prettiest outdoor dining in South Beach. It also bears the name of Miami's most revered chef. The restaurant serves spa-like dishes such as mussels in saffron broth, grilled octopus, and grouper ceviche -- a bright medley of raw fish, chilies, avocado, citrus, and red onion. But it also proffers Schwartz classics: thick-cut potato chips with pan-fried onion dip, golden poulet rouge chicken, and pan-roasted local fish. It all comes at a high price; even a light lunch for two can cost more than $100. The lovely view is worth the expense. On the poolside patio, beneath the sea grape tree hung with lanterns and orchids, it's always a nice time for dinner and drinks.

6 articles

Shinju Japanese Buffet

8800 SW 72nd St. East Kendall/Pinecrest

305-275-8801

Buffet, Japanese, Sushi, Best Of

Buffets can be iffy -- just how long has that food been sitting there? What, exactly, is in that sauce? There are none of those concerns, though, at Shinju, which operates locations in South Miami-Dade as well as Broward and Palm Beach counties. The brisk turnover and high attention to quality make this place a stellar bang for the buck. An all-you-can-eat spread costs about $10 at lunch and $20 per person at dinner, with a couple of dollars' variation for weekends, children, and seniors. For the one-stop-shop price, you could go for filling selections from the Chinese section, which is larger than the generally Japanese vibe would let on, including items such as fried chicken wings, barbecued pork ribs, crab rangoon, sesame chicken, and fried rice. (Perhaps it's a hangover from the location's previous all-Chinese incarnation as Taipei Gourmet.) There are also the usual, most popular sushi rolls -- California, bagel, and the like, which are replenished quickly on weekends. Still, for the ultimate value, go for the seafood, namely the Alaskan king crab legs. There's a seemingly endless supply that's yours for the consuming, a cold comfort when you hit the dessert bar, which is plentiful but -- with ice cream, cake, and a chocolate fountain -- less than Japanese.

3 articles

Buffet in Miami

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