Local Surfsiders are better off trying some of the other new restaurants in Surfside than to go here to be disappointed, yet again.

Oh, and there is no soap in the ladies room on the last 2 trips here…just fyi!

Run don’t walk to The Food Gang in Sunny Isles during Miami Spice! the place, the ambiance, the service and most importantly the food were fantastic.

Four of us went to The Food Gang Thursday 8/23 - the reservation was for 7 p.m. Three of us arrived a bit early so we sat at the bar where they have fantastic 2 for 1 drinks and a mouth-watering tapas menu. Since we were doing the Miami Spice menu, we passed on the tapas this time, but did partake of Happy Hour, well, happiness.

I asked the lovely bar tender what was good and she suggested the Cosmo - and she was right. Seriously, this was the smoothest Cosmo I think I’ve ever had. And the second was even smoother - HA! My friend, who was driving had one mojito and she said it was very good as well. Along with the drinks they served a really good olive mix, excellent accompaniment to the drinks.

When our fourth arrived we were seated. The decor is simple, fun and understated and the lighting was perfect. Last night they had live music - a very handsome young man playing guitar standards, entertaining but non-obtrusive, you could actually have a conversation. Being a Thursday, there were other people there but it wasn’t packed.

First thing - a really nice man brought us a basket of perfectly warm, crispy bread and *warned* us that we were going to love the olive oil and we would ask him for more. OHMYGOD - he was right - across the board we all agreed it was the best olive oil we had ever had. And we did ask for more, and more.

OK Miami Spice menu time! It was slightly different than what appears online, but this is one of the participating restaurants that provides more than three options for appetizers and entrees.

For appetizers two of us had the Watermelon Gazpacho - I loved it, my friend prefers the traditional gazpacho. It was chilled and the watermelon had been blended into the regular gazpacho adding sweetness to it, it was topped with fresh basil which gave it a nice freshness. Another appetizer was the Petite Crustacean plates with an assortment f shellfish in a delicious garlic/olive oil sauce; and the their appetizer was the French Onion soup which was really, good as well.

To accompany the meal we were offered a good-sized wine list and chose a California Pinot Grigio - it was just too hot for a red!

The entrees were varied as well. Again two of us order the Duck Confit - delicious! I had never had duck confit before and if it’s going to be like this I will definitely have it again. It was served with a medley of roasted fruits and like a balsamic sauce and Yukon gold mashed potatoes. The skin was crispy but not greasy at all. One of my friends had the Churrasco steak accompanied by some veggies and an aromatic, strong chimichurri sauce served in what appeared to be a vodka shot glass. My other friend ordered the Ahi Tuna, served rare and accompanied by a tomato vinaigrette yumminess. We consumed all this with yet another basket of bread and olive oil!

For dessert three of us had the chocolate torte which was basically a light mousse over a crumbly dark chocolate torte with nuts, topped by two sticks of swirled white and dark chocolate. Fantastic - and just the right size. The other dessert on the table was the Catalan Crème Brule - which was also delicious!

There wasn’t a discordant note - everything flowed, service was perfectly timed, we didn’t feel rushed and the portions were generous.

If I must find a less-than-positive point: I would like to see a Miami Spice wine menu with lower prices, even if it’s with limited choices, to help keep the costs down.

*This* is what Miami Spice should be like.

And I would LOVE to see the interior of the restaurant. It sounds fantastic!

Also, L-O-V-E you Food Gang header! I am also a graphic artist (am assuming you are too?) and it is a very fun type treatment! Warning, I will be stealing it at some point in the future to use as a type treatment somewhere, sometime, on some as yet unknown brochure! And when I do, I will think of my friend, Paula!

{{Sorry to hear of your crappy work day!}}