Abbalé Modern Mediterranean Kitchen - South Beach — Restaurant in Miami Beach

I'm not sure why I thought taking my besties here for brunch to celebrate their wedding Anniversary would be a hit or miss even after reading all the positive reviews but the choice was nothing short of perfect. First of all let me give the well deserved flowers to Martinique, the absolute best server we've interacted with as of late. She was so welcoming, accommodating, helpful and went above and beyond to make this brunch date special for my friends and I. Won't get into details but after having a "not so positive" interaction with the host at the door and end up seating inside after I requested and outside table, Martinique turned the experience the other way around to a positive and memorable one, she is HER.

So after getting comfortable outside, which is a gorgeous space with the right vibes and aesthetic, we started with some limonanas and stuck with those for the rest of the meal because talk about a refreshing drink that also packs a hell of a punch. Now we ordered a LOT of food so I'm not gonna break it all down but everything was phenomenal.

Dishes that stood out and I recommmed are...crunchy cauliflower that would turn a carnivore like me, vegan. You couldn't tell me this was not chicken; The Shakshuka with ricotta cheese on top to die for; Steak and eggs that were some of the best I've tasted in a while; Grouper ceviche of the day was impeccable; Masabacha and those addictive Jerusalem bagels were perfect together and last, for dessert...Lemon-olive oil pistachio cake, pistachio ice cream and baklava with pistachio ice cream.

We ended up taking some food home which my besties love to do so I was proud for picking a good restaurant that they enjoyed and loved as much as they did. This was from the brunch menu but there a few things to try from the lunch menu so we'd be coming back next year. Another one for the books...

I really wanted to love my dining experience at Abba(le), as I was so looking forward to enjoying delicious Israeli cuisine outside of Tel Aviv (North Abraxas and Port Said come to mind). Sadly, my experience at Abba(le) just didn't measure up, and here's why.

1. The fish main (grouper) could have been delicious however it was, in my personal opinion, ruined by an insane amount of over seasoning (sumac, primarily). The tahini/sumac combo overpowered and drowned out the delicate flavour of the grouper. The side of arugula and two pieces of grilled pepper didn't do much to save this dish.

2. Unsatisfied with my main, I ordered several side dishes and they were also a mixed bag. The labneh was excellent (though hard to ruin). The carrots were a disappointment. The mini carrots were grilled at some point and then served cold in tamar syrup with almonds and labneh. The dish did not work for me at all. The carrots were cold and had a rather slimy texture, the addition of silan was unnecessary, as carrots are naturally sweet, especially when grilled. I, personally, would have served these carrots warm, glazed in spicy harissa and toasted almonds, with some cilantro over a bed of cool labneh, as it's often served in Morocco. The pitas, through fresh, were amuse-bouche sized.

3. My server completely failed to mention the specials (otherwise I would've ordered the grilled octopus and the cauliflower). A drink was forgotten. The server was nice and did apologize and try to recover.

All in all, not an excellent or even good first encounter, leaving lots to be desired. I would give this establishment another try as some of the other dishes looked far...

Title: Extremely Disappointing Experience at Abbalé in Miami

I recently made a reservation at Abbalé in Miami for a special occasion - my birthday lunch with a group of 8 people. Unfortunately, our experience at this restaurant was nothing short of disappointing and frustrating.

Upon arrival, we were dismayed to find that our reserved table was located right next to the AC unit. The noise from the unit made it impossible for us to have a conversation and enjoy our meal. We kindly requested the staff for a different table, hoping for a more suitable and comfortable location. To our dismay, the staff not only ignored our requests but also displayed a rude and unhelpful attitude towards us.

As a result of their unaccommodating behavior, we were left with no choice but to abandon our plans and search for an alternative restaurant where we could actually enjoy our birthday celebration. It was truly disheartening to have our special occasion ruined by such poor service and lack of professionalism.

I strongly advise anyone considering dining at Abbalé in Miami to think twice. The lack of consideration for their customers' comfort and the dismissive attitude of the staff are clear indicators of a poorly managed establishment. It is extremely disappointing to witness such disregard for customer satisfaction in a hospitality business.

In conclusion, my experience at Abbalé was absolutely terrible. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking a pleasant dining experience. Save yourself the frustration and find a different establishment that values their customers and strives to provide a positive and...