El Floridita Seafood Restaurant - Bird Road — Restaurant in Florida

So many friends that live in this area have always recommended El Floridita to me and I have finally gone! I went in for a Friday lunch with my boyfriend and at first worried I wasn't going to be able to eat there because of the atrocious parking! I know this is not the restaurants fault but beware friends of Yelp as I did have to drive in circles around it 6-7 times before I could snag a spot. I was surprised by how many people were there since it was pretty late in the afternoon, around 2:45, but that only told me that it was a local favorite and I was seated promptly at the bar.

My server was very kind and we both decided to try their multi-coursed $10 deal (lunch/dinner) which includes soup, a main entree, and dessert or coffee. Since I had been out of Miami for the past couple weeks, I just had to have croquetas so we began our meal with ham and fish croquetas that were delicious! The fish croquetas were very well done and I appreciated the limes served with them. We then both opted to have fish soup with our $10 meal that came in a decently sized cup. My boyfriend absolutely loved it, but I was not too much of a fan and ended up giving him the rest of mine.

Next for our entrees he had the squid ink rice which came with sweet plantains (no choice of sides which was not needed with how large the portion was) and I went for the fried Mahi Mahi chunks with white rice, beans, and plantains. His dish was absolutely amazing and well worth the money spent----truly delicious and savory! I felt my meal was just okay and that I should have gone with a different entree though my fish was cooked well, I just felt they didn't serve enough with it. I will say that the black beans here were top notch and considerably better than...

As I sit here, penning this rewiew, my heart flutters with memories of our enchanting evening at the El Floridita restaurant. It was a culinary experience that surpassed all expectations, made all the more exquisite by the impeccable service of our waitress, the charming Mahara. From the moment we stepped into the restaurant, Mahara greeted us with a radiant smile and a warmth that instantly put us at ease. She took the time to guide us through the extensive menu, patiently explaining each dish and its tantalizing ingredients. Her knowledge of the wine list was equally impressive. She expertly matched our tastes with the perfect bottle, enhancing the flavors of our meal with every sip. Mahara's suggestions were spot-on, each dish a masterpiece that delighted our palates and left us craving for more. Beyond herexpertise, Mahara's exceptional service was truly remarkable. She was attentive to our every need, anticipating our desires before we could even express them. Her friendly demeanor and genuine care made us feel like honored guests in her own home. The evening we spent at Floridita was truly unforgettable, not only for the exquisite cuisine but also for the exceptional service we received from Mahara. Her attention to detail, her warm personality, and her unwavering dedication to our satisfaction made our dining experience truly magical. My heart overflows with gratitude for the perfect evening we shared. Mahara's exceptional service and the culinary delights of El Floridita have left an enduring mark on our...

*Read before visiting this place.

Stopped by their cafeteria window on the corner of the restaurant to order some fish croquettes, cod fritters and decided to also try the shrimp empanadas.

The fish croquettes were disgusting; I could not taste any thing but raw flour. I had to throw them all away. No fish taste what so ever...

The shrimp empanadas were not only expensive at $5 each, but barely had any shrimp, and all I could taste was uncoocked canned tomato sauce and sazon goya.... Seriously!!! 5 bucks each huh... I know... I should have cancelled the order right there right. $5 empanada in cheap corner cafeteria food do not mix...

Any way... The cod fritters were ok in taste but nothing grand. At $0.50 each bite size smaller than a McDonalds chicken nugget (half chicken nugget), to have something substantial in your stomach you would need to eat 20 of these little things and all the oil they used to fry each one of them.

Didnt come back and return this stuff because I bought it to go and I was too far away already but water $22 in 6 fish croqueetes and 2 shrimp empanadas and 5 cod fritters. I could have gotten a lot more and better for my money elsewhere.

To think I was considering in buying takeout food for the family on the weekend... Its never gonna happen if they can't even make decent croquetes and empanadas which is pretty much the staple for almost every latin food restaurant in Miami.

Needless to say, will bot be visiting this place again... Such pity because they have been...