Paya Miami — Restaurant in Miami Beach

Valentine’s Day Tasting Menu at Paya

This year, for Valentine’s Day, we opted for a special dining experience at Paya. Traditionally, we celebrate at home, but with time constraints this year, we decided to try something new. We’d heard incredible things about Chef Niven Patel and his team, and Paya did not disappoint. The restaurant offers a fixed tasting menu for $75, which includes 10 exquisite dishes. On Mondays, the same menu is available for a more affordable $50.

Located just off Lincoln Road, Paya’s atmosphere is as enchanting as the food. The modern art deco design sets a romantic tone, and there’s even a beautiful outdoor garden that we look forward to experiencing on our next visit. Our server, Ariel, was exceptional—attentive, ensuring plates were cleared before the next dish was served, keeping our waters topped off, and pacing the meal perfectly.

We started with two drinks, which were the ideal aperitif before diving into the tasting menu.

1st Course • Green Papaya Salad Pink Shrimp, Tomatoes, Thai Basil, Tamarind Vinaigrette • Coconut Wahoo Ceviche Leche de Tigre, Avocado, Cachucha Peppers, Island Chips • Truffle Brie Grilled Cheese Mango Jam, Sullivan Street Sourdough • Endive Salad Orange, Walnuts, Pecorino Toscano • Tamarind Lamb Chops Roasted Plantains, Jerk Spiced Yogurt

2nd Course • Prime Skirt Steak Crispy Yukons, Roasted Pepper Chimichurri • Lemongrass Glazed Daily Catch Bok Choy, Heirloom Carrots, Coconut Curry • Saffron Roasted Cauliflower Cranberry Chili Crunch, Lemon Tahini, Chives

Dessert • Brugal 1888 Rum Cake Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Toffee • Coconut Key Lime Tart Florida Strawberries, Chantilly Cream

Every dish was an absolute delight, showcasing vibrant flavors and exceptional technique. From the refreshing papaya salad to the decadent rum cake, Paya provided an unforgettable culinary experience. We’re already looking forward to returning and exploring more of their menu, especially enjoying the outdoor garden on a...

Go. Here. Immediately.

Paya is a South Beach hidden treasure.. fusion spot combining Caribbean-Indian-Spanish islands vibes that hit like a sunny day

The Miami Spice dinner menu (~$60 pp) is a flat-out steal, one of the best in the city, delivering bold flavors and serious value. Would pay full price for everything we ate. Legit, so so good!

The hamachi crudo is a stunner—silky fish sliced thin, kissed with red plums, finger lime, and leche de tigre for a tart, sweet zing that wakes up your palate.. all sauces made in-house.. with a slightest hint of tamarind too

The daily catch, a perfectly seared golden tilefish (depends on the catch of the day/week), comes glazed with lemongrass, tender and flaky with a subtle citrus hum.. all swimming in a coconut curry and rich pool.. with caramelized veggies.. help!

Lamb chops, glazed with tamarind and paired with roasted plantains and jerk-spiced yogurt, are juicy, smoky, and just the right kind of spicy… the lamb is imported from somewhere far away and pretty much falls off the bone

The key lime pie dessert is a creamy, tangy dream, topped with lime zest and Marcona almonds for a nutty crunch that seals the deal. The Chantilly cream is not too sweet and literally feels like youre scooping in a cloud into your mouth

Our server, India, was a rockstar—knew every dish inside out, kept our table humming, and made us...

We had a disappointing experience at Paya. From the moment we arrived, there was no one to greet us until a waiter eventually came over. Even then, he struggled to locate our reservation in the system. Menus were handed out, but no explanations were given. While it’s nice that they offer a Miami Spice menu, it’s unfortunate that the entire table is required to order it.

Service overall was poor and lacked communication. For the starters, the wait was about five minutes, which was fine. However, the mains were a completely different story. One dish arrived 20 minutes after we finished our starters, with no explanation or apology. We waited another five minutes before asking about the second main. At that point, a waiter mentioned the grill was broken and they would start cooking it immediately. Five minutes later, the manager came to apologize, saying they had simply forgotten about it. After an additional ten minutes, the second main finally arrived—35 minutes after we had finished the starters.

To make matters worse, one of us ended up with serious stomach issues that night and the following day, which we can only attribute to this meal.

The restaurant was half-empty, and we saw plenty of staff members around, so we don’t understand why the service and kitchen were so disorganized. Overall, this was a very poor experience, and we wouldn’t...