Plant Food + Wine

Reviews 5

TH

The Whet Palette

It took me a while to get to Plant Food + Wine. I only wish I would have visited sooner. As it turns out, Id been missing out! With no signage outside, I drove past the entrance. Oops. Its easy to miss. A wide, solid brown gate hides this Miami gem from the world. Theres valet parking available inside or street parking right outside of the gate. Welcomed by a gloriously designed and landscaped outdoor terrace, I didnt know where to look first. The modern space is broken up into separate distinct areas: indoor/outdoor dining, open kitchen, cooking school, outdoor lounge area, grassy open space, a reflection pool, and an indoor private event venue towards the back. Service began immediately. Everyone that visited our table did so with a smile and the kind of contagious attitude one loves to catch. I would even say the staff beamed when explaining the dishes or answering questions. Once upon a time, I spent four years of my life as a lacto-ovo pescatarian. Even that practice did not prepare me for this dinner. Without ovens, microwaves, or cooktops used for the dishes, the food is served raw and mostly at room temperature. Wrapped in a cilantro-coconut wrapper, the Kimchi Dumpling starter meant business: lightly sweet, just enough acid, and incredibly savory. Way to kick things off! We will take a second order, please! To share, we also ordered the Flora Artisanal "Cheese" Plate. A combination of pickled vegetables alongside several sunflower seed crackers and even some mamey highlighted the taste of the cashew-based cheeses: handcrafted, using sprouted and cultured nuts and then individually flavored (white truffle, smoked cheddar, and mixed peppercorn). Its not that they truly tasted like their dairy-based cousins, but we enjoyed the flavor profile as offered. For the main course, we shared the Cacio e Pepe. Kelp noodles brought out the texture of an al dente pasta and the decadent cashew cream sauce silkily rolled on the tongue. Finally, the pepper-heavy seasoning, green olive puree, and sprinkled sundried olives exposed the sass of the dish in ways I didnt see coming. Every bite we committed to easily. Why havent I been cooking with kelp noodles all my life? We did our best to slow down and enjoy the moment, but the food brought out the eagerness of a child on Christmas morning; we couldnt wait for more. The occasional closed eyes, mmm-ing, and exchanged glances meant we were on the same page about Plant Food and we now understood the excitement the staff showed upon arrival. I finished the rest of my chilled organic Sho Chiku Bai- Nama Sake, as I waited for dessert. To end, I also ordered an espresso: bold tasting, extra hot, and (although I dont add it to my coffee) some coconut sugar. Go big or go home meant ordering the Chocolate Plate for dessert. With its detailed and artful plating, the salted ganache, bonbons, and nutty clusters composed the most satisfying, sweetest finale. At dinners conclusion, we were offered a tour of the kitchen and cooking school. Being able to peek into this part of the space brought the night full circle. One word perfectly describes the kitchen: immaculate. Although Im more of a professional eater than a cook, Im now interested in taking some of the classes. Every single dish that came out of the kitchen surprised me. The textures, flavor, and combinations fit together naturally and seamlessly, making me wonder why we as a society dont eat this way more often. I expected to like the restaurant, but did not expect to love it as much as I did. I would order any of those dishes again, even if on the menu at a regular restaurant. Although Im not converting to veganism any time soon, I have to admit that I do feel better as a whole when I follow a plant-based diet. After this dinner, I feel greatly inspired to eat this way at home whenever possible. Although, Im pretty sure I first need additional visits to Plant to feel more comfortable with the concept and lifestyle. Yes, thats it. Wink.

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JA

Jayán Andersen

Excellent foodie paradise tucked away in the nooks and crannies of Miamis hidden gems. Plenty of seating indoor and outdoor with great views any way you look. At a glance the menu seems a bit complicated but as you read into it you see the culinary vision. I came upon Plant Food + Wine as an add on guest and was happily provided a Seasonal Fruit Cheesecake that was a palatatable pleasure with each bite. I decided to pair it with an Ace Pineapple hard cider and was looking at an empty plate and glass before the conversation took off. Everyone in my group had a different plate which only added more fuel to the conversation as we talked and took pictures of our orders. Great place to meet and greet or just show off the diversity of the Miami food scene. When youre done the yoga studio next door can help burn some of those delicious calories. And of course if you dont know what to pick the caring wait staff will be happy to get you started. Highly recommend!

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C Maranello

Was SO disappointed by this experience. The menu & website dont disclose that 95% of the menu is RAW vegan (youve been warned). The prices are outrageous for what you get. The kimchi dumplings were the only part of the meal I liked, you get 3 bite-sized pieces for $16. There was a LONG black HAIR in my very overpriced TINY salad. I had an appetizer and "entree" to myself, cost me $55, and I was SO hungry afterwards I immediately went elsewhere for more to eat. If you wanna spend $200+ a person to fill yourself up or if youre Anna then this is the place for you; otherwise I would not recommend to anyone. The service was substandard, wait staff was too busy standing around talking to each other and playing on their phones. Nice patio area, thats the ONLY positive to this place. Was so looking forward to visiting, what a let down. Will NEVER return.

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Olga Mashkova

This place is a bit tricky to find, but dont give up and keep looking: call them to get you directions. It is so worth it! The atmosphere of the restaurant is absolutely stunning, very romantic and relaxing. The service is impeccable, but the food is what would really blow your mind: it is very creative, so delicious and you feel so good and wholesome after. Hands down this is a top-notch experience and I am so happy vegan places like these exist! I was there with two meat eaters and they were very impressed and loved everything too. If only we had more places like these, the old stereotypes of "the food doesnt taste good without meat, cheese and grease" will be broken forever! Wish we had a place like this in my home town! I will be dreaming to return here every time I am in Miami!

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Valentin Gru

My very first pure vegan experience! Its an amazing patio and style that creates already a very nice atmosphere. When going to this restaurant you have to be open to new stuff - half the menu I didnt even know what the ingredients were. He staff is helpful and nice and takes good care. The food is very interesting but nothing that I would describe as an incredible experience (Im typically a meat eater though). You have to take it for what it is: an amazing way of getting to know the raw and vegan kitchen. A must do in order to better understand how they do it is the kitchen tour - just ask for it. Its been great to see with how much attention to detail all the dishes are prepared. Overall a great experience even though not my personal everyday taste.

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