Sumak Ocakbasi Restaurant — Restaurant in Miami Beach

As an avid foodie who spends countless hours supporting local business, l've heard so many good things about Sumak until I actually visited. I was completely taken aback by the unprofessionalism the staff showed upon arrival. My wife and I were there to enjoy what we believed to be a great restaurant but no one greeted us and watched everyone walk by us as if they had us on a pay no mind list. Roughly about 6 minutes passed before a server came up and asked us if we needed any help, quite embarrassing actually, felt like we were a nuisance to them for even being there. She offered us to sit where we continued to wait another 10 minutes for a menu or even a simple hello from anyone else. A gentleman who I'm not sure I can call him that, was being quite attentive to everyone else, walked right by the table and said nothing, he stood out to us because he wasn't in uniform so either he was the owner or just the manager. Surely he couldn't be that oblivious and neglectful to the fact that no one had come back over with a menu or even offered us to take a water order. Another server came over and asked if he can get us anything, I asked for the menu and a bottle of sparkling, he proceeded to walk away to the back where the entire staff were standing in a corner watching and doing nothing. They looked lost and confused; he grabbed a rag and walked back over to the table next to ours and started cleaning it off. At that point I realized that this place wasn't up to par with what l usually expect from a decent restaurant, extremely offensive. My wife went to the restroom and I waited at the table, I called over a busser who was walking by and he asked how he could help me, now I'm not sure who runs this place but hospitality goes a very long way and every guest should be treated with respect with the same level of attention, l asked for menus and he walked away never to return with them. My wife returned from the restroom and she was in awe because she expected us to have menus and water at this point. We decided after 20 minutes of being there that it was time to leave, as we were leaving, the "manager" who should be ashamed of himself came over to the door and asked us if everything was ok, was he really lacking the ability to see how things transpired except after we told him we were leaving and we waited too long, he argued back and said "sir you just sat down, it's only been 5 minutes." Wrong answer, and if I need to tell him that then he is not even close to being a professional in his industry. To argue back and say we had just sat down left the most sour taste in our mouths. We just couldn't believe the pretentious response we received. Perhaps it's tough for them to be hospitable and professional to someone trying to support their business. In a rapid expanding restaurant scene in Miami, what makes a restaurant stand out is hospitality and service which they failed at. Beware to anyone wanting to try Sumak, there are far better restaurants in that area that provide a warm hospitable experience. We ended up walking over to Prima Pasta and they hit every point when it comes to how to...

Cool atmosphere that’s it. We got raw saslik, she took it and put our raw one to cooked more. FIRST TIME RESTAURANT DIDN’T wanna remake it. Also FYI you gonna be charged for service that you won’t receive. As you are taking 15$ for service can I at least get napkins? Also if you would ask about sizing of dishes, it’s small, the smallest dishes that I ever had for this price! Salad had been chopped in big pieces not even the same size like for a pigs Restroom is so nasty! Even it’s not busy. I’ll never come back. Now just wanted to add few more words because of the owner message that you replied to my normal review 🤷‍♀️ I don’t know why you’ve answered one on my bad review if you have a lot of them🤷‍♀️

But this what I want to say back to you aggressive comments:

I appreciate your response, but instead of addressing my concerns professionally, you’ve chosen to be rude to a paying customer. My review was based on my honest experience—small portions that didn’t match what was advertised and a service charge for service I didn’t receive. If multiple customers are raising similar complaints, perhaps it’s worth listening instead of attacking them.

Good customer service isn’t just about the food—it’s about how you treat people, even after they leave. Instead of being defensive, maybe consider improving your service. That would benefit both your business and your future customers. And why would you even talk about my what I can afford and what no!

If you’re looking for a place that serves decent portions and provides good service, this is NOT it. I was told the dishes here were big, but when my food arrived, the portion was disappointingly small—nowhere near what was advertised. On top of that, I was charged a service fee for service that I never received. (And it’s haven’t been mentioned anywhere)! The staff barely checked on my table, and I had to ask multiple times for basic things.

Overall, this place is overpriced and misleading. Definitely not worth the money, and I won’t be...

What I loved

Show-stopping cocktails: They roll each drink out on a mini bar cart, finish it tableside with a cloud of rosemary smoke, and the flavors back up the theatrics. My gin-based “Mediterranean Breeze” was bright, herbaceous, and not overly sweet…easily one of the most memorable cocktails I’ve ever had!

Grilled octopus perfection: Charred just enough to get that smoky crisp edge but keeping the buttery inside. If you’re an octo-fan, put this at the top of your must-try list.

Kebab duo: The steak kebab arrived medium-rare and juicy; the chicken was marinated in lemon-sumac and was super tender. Both came with saffron rice and a tangy tomato-pepper relish that I could’ve eaten by the spoonful.

Hummus & pickle plate: Creamy hummus drizzled with good olive oil, plus topped with prosciutto I … the pickled turnips, cukes, and cauliflower for crunch. Perfect starter (and yes, we wiped the plate clean with the warm pita).

Service & vibe: Staff checked in often without hovering, happily explaining ingredients and cocktail theatrics. The room feels like a modern Levantine lounge with warm wood, greenery, and an easy playlist that lets you chat without yelling. Quick tips

Reservations run on time; we were seated right away. Check their schedule for live music nights!

Portions are generous…two starters and two kebabs fed our table of 4 comfortably (with room left for dessert next time). Street parking was a breeze before 7 p.m.; valet is out front if you’d rather that!

Bottom line: Sumak nails the balance of eye-catching presentation and serious flavor. From that mind-blowing octopus to the smoky tableside cocktails, everything hit a perfect 5/5. Already...