About Michael's Genuine Food & Drink
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink opened on NE 40th Street in 2007 and was the single restaurant most responsible for establishing the Miami Design District as a serious dining neighbourhood. Chef Michael Schwartz won the James Beard Best Chef South award in 2010 and the restaurant has held its reputation continuously since.
The menu is built around a 'genuine' philosophy — locally sourced when possible, seasonal always, no oversized plates — divided into small, medium, large, and extra-large sharing portions. The wood-fired oven turns out a pork belly, crispy hominy, and a daily flatbread that have been on the menu in various forms since opening. Entrées run $25-55.
The dining room is relaxed by Miami standards: indoor-outdoor flow, casual service, a bar programme that rewards regulars. This is a neighbourhood restaurant that happens to be the best of its kind in the city — the dining room Miami professionals use when they want substantive cooking without the South Beach production.
Best Occasion Fit
Michael's Genuine is a first-date choice for daters who care about the cooking rather than the scene. The shared-portion format encourages conversation across dishes, the Design District location communicates taste rather than money, and the pacing is unhurried.
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