Caballo Viejo Restaurant (7921 Bird Rd Miami, FL 33155; 305-264-8772) is hidden in a run-of-the-mill strip mall. The casual eatery serves up lunch and dinner and offers several authentic dishes, including hallaca sola, a Venezuelan-style stew dish made with corn pancakes, pabellon criollo, a traditional dish from Venezuela that combines rice, beans and shredded beef, and parrilla caballo viejo, which mixes several meats, including sirloin steak and pork. Desserts range from quesillo, or Venezuelan custard, to blenmesabe, a Venezuelan-style sponge cake. Venezuelan wines and sangria are also offered at the restaurant. In 2009, the Miami New Times recognized the restaurant for having the best arepas, which is pancake-like bread made from corn dough.
The Hereford Grill (herefordgrillmiami.com) is a Latin-American influenced steakhouse that serves up Venezuelan-flavored dishes at its Miami location. Grilled meat is a specialty at this eating establishment, which features Venezuelan and South American meat dishes such as parrilla mixta (mixed grill), chuletas de cordero (lamb chops), parrilla de lomito (beef tenderloin) and Portuguese-style steak. Fish selections range from grouper and salmon to lobster, while desserts feature quesillo, or Venezuelan custard, and bien me sabe, or Venezuelan coconut cream cake. There is also a children's menu. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.
The Moises Bakery of Miami (7310 Collins Ave.Miami Beach, FL 33141; 305-868-0548) is a Latin American bakery known for its Venezuelan offerings. Owned and operated by a family that was raised in Venezuela, it serves a range of pastries, delicacies and sandwiches, as well as a selection of specialty coffees, such as cappuccinos. The bakery is particularly known for its empanadas, a stuffed pastry, of which they offer a Venezuelan version. The bakery also sells arepas that can be filled with shredded meats. The bakery opens early daily at 6 a.m.
The European Corner (europeancorner.net), situated in South Miami, serves a wide range of Venezuelan delicacies, particularly appetizers. The appetizers, which are sold in bulk, range from sweet corn pancakes and cornmeal cakes, both served with cheese, to Venezuelan golfeados (sweet rolls), turnovers and quail eggs. Desserts offered at the European Corner include mousse de parchita (passion fruit mousse), torta mocca (mocha cake) and a selection of quesillo, or Venezuelan custard. The establishment can also produce a range of authentic entrees for special occasions, such as Christmas, and even serves Venezuelan Christmas breads.
