My Top Five 2021 Restaurants

🔝5️⃣ Restaurants are the next subject of my 2021 Top Fives. My dry January and eating healthier hasn’t quite gone to plan. Very off plan in fact, and may explain my love of the nice things in life.

Eating out has been a very different experience since the pandemic and restaurants have suffered more than most. Many need support, and I was lucky to enjoy some great meals out attempting in some small way to do that last year. Here are my 2021 Top Five Favourite Restaurants 🥩

1️⃣ Jaya, Miami

A pan-Asian extravaganza, representing the countries of Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Korea, India, China, and Japan, through dishes that range from sea bass tikka to Peking duck to lobster curry. Oh and the dumplings. Outrageously good.

2️⃣ Pau, Miami

This was our second time here, and the menu has some daring and bold flavour combinations. For example, their Unicorn dish – sea urchin, grilled sweet corn pudding, calamansi, chile de árbol and sake aioli. Start with one of the killer ceviches.

3️⃣ Royal Kitchen, Sidcup

Sidcup? Yes Sidcup. The best Indian meal I ate for many a year. A curious menu, high quality ingredients, flavourful dishes and good service. Add cold beers and a table full of mates. Heaven.

4️⃣ Los Fuegos, Miami

Theatrical live-fire (fuegos) cooking with some of the best grilled dishes I’ve ever tasted. The aromas were incredible. The Branzino perfection. A great cocktail list too.

5️⃣ Mandolin Aegean Bistro, Miami

This has featured in my Top Fives at least once before. We were here for my birthday. Almost all the seating at this hidden 1940s house is outdoors, the food is delicious and I could sit and people watch all day.

Honourable mentions to: Abba Telavivian Kitchen, Miami; Casa Tua, Miami; Shore, Longboat Key.