Over the weekend, I picked up a copy of 944 magazine on South Beach. I thought to myself, great, like Miami needs another glossy magazine. But the publication redeemed itself when I found featured on its pages one of my all-time favorite Miami eateries and they were right on point.
“This homely little local’s joint is the antithesis of the typical Miami dining experience. No hype, no hassle, no pretension…”
What’s even better is that in that unpretentious setting, you can enjoy a variety of good food that could very well fit a more upscale setting.
My first encounter with Fresco California Bistro on Coral Way was as a graduate student (circa 2001). I was so in love with the place that one of their waiters, who still works there, knew my order. Soup of the day and apple and mango salad? Si!
Fresco’s soups may be one of the restaurant’s best offerings. They’re made fresh each day and as the waiters will often point out, they contain no cream. They taste homemade. Their salads are also amazing. The apple and mango salad has apple, mango (of course), grilled chicken, candied pecans and sunflower seeds. My other favorite is the California salad — grilled chicken, mandarin oranges, avocado, blue cheese, candied pecans and greens.
I rarely order something other than salad, because it’s not often that you find restaurants with salads that you just crave. However, they have an ample menu that includes pastas, meats, chicken, pizzas and Mexican-inspired fare. For dessert, make sure to try the chocolate souffle. Warm, topped with vanilla ice cream … it’s delicious!
A word of caution: During lunch the place is incredibly busy and sometimes I’ve found the quality of the food suffers. I would recommend visiting Fresco for dinner. It’s more relaxing and enjoyable, just like dinner at home.
Fresco California Bistro
1744 Southwest Third Avenue
305.858.0608
tags: Fresco California Bistro, salads, soups, California cuisine
