Ariete — Restaurant in Miami

Spent Sunday afternoon brunching with friends at Ariete. Was pleasantly surprised to learn they have Bottomless Mimosas, which worked perfectly with the massive amount of food I wanted to try. Ordered a bunch of delicious food including the Frita Benedict, Chug Burger, Carrot Cake Waffles, Honey Buns, and Cookies as well as snagging a few bites of the Corned Beef Hash. Quality The food at Ariete was absolutely incredible. Every dish was better than the last and I truly believe I could have ordered any dish on the menu and been equally as satisfied. While waiting for our friends to arrive we decided to put in an order for the Doughnuts, which unfortunately they had run out of. But the pastry chef whipped us up a set of Honey Buns and Cookies and we could not have been happier. The Honey Buns were soft and sweet literally melting in your mouth. Closer to cinnamon buns than honey buns it worked as a perfect mix of the two. The Cookies were probably my least favorite dish, but still I found my mouth watering over the dulche de leche and coconut flavor. The next dish that arrived was the Frita Benedict, which was a egg served on a chunk of chorizo and cheddar biscuit, dripping with hollandaise and then sprinkled with papitas. The chorizo patty was incredible, very rich with a hint of zing and working perfectly with the other flavors. The Chug Burger at first looked a bit sad, but once you dive in you realize why it has garnered so much praise. Two small patties paired with cheddar cheese, pickles, and ariete sauce, it was packed with flavor. The fries weren't half bad either, but with so many other foods coming at me it was hard to truly appreciate them. At this point I grabbed a quick bite of the Corned Beef Hash, which I wish I ordered with this spicy mix of potatoes, onions, peppers, jalapeños, egg, and corned beef. Finally the meal came to a close with the Carrot Cake Waffles, which earned its name. Little orange specks exist within this ultra sweet and decadent dish. A perfect item to share as it may be a bit sweet on its own, and do not hesitate to use the incredible syrup. Oh and the Mimosas weren't half bad either, they provide you with prosecco and you can add orange juice to your own liking. Quantity There was absolutely no need to order as much food as we did, but don't be surprised if you start ordering every dish on the menu. A single dish and a sweet to share would probably suffice for a normal sized meal. Value So the bottomless mimosas were a bit costly at $29, but it ended up being an excellent decision as they kept them coming and did not rush us at all. The food itself is all very reasonable with dishes around $15 and the sweets closer to $7. Ambiance Ariete is located towards the end of the brunch district in Coconut Grove. It is crazy that you will find a line around the corner for other spots while Ariete was relatively empty. The restaurant is very unique with basically three separate dining areas. They have a small outdoor patio that is dog friendly and where we sat. They had movable umbrellas to keep the sun out of your face and large fans to keep the air moving. Inside they have two floors with a more casual upstairs area and then the more intimate and dimly lit wine cellar basement. The music was playing lightly in the background everywhere, but conversation is king. Ariete is a great for a casual brunch, a romantic dinner, or just a spot for foodies to enjoy what they love best. It is just amazing how the small differences in area could create such a different vibe. Service The service was incredible and our waiter kept his promise, from start to end we always had a mimosa in front of us. There was no feeling that we were being rushed, which was even more amazing since our friends showed up a bit late and we waited for them to order our meal. They treated our dog with kindness from the moment we walked in and every single member of the staff had a smile...

We are from out of town and came for a birthday dinner while on vacation. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal. I would say it meets expectations for a Michelin starred restaurant but doesn’t necessarily standout in my mind. I appreciated that there was a lot of attention to detail in the whole experience. Our waiter did an excellent job and was very attentive without being overly intrusive, which I’ve sometimes found to be the case at fine dining establishments. I am pregnant and he gave sound recommendations without forcing his opinion on me. I had an experience at another restaurant in Miami where they just took out the raw items in the tasting menu for me even though I told them to just bring them and I would make a decision about whether I wanted to eat it or share it with my partner. I appreciated that he took a more accommodating approach rather than being a hard liner about rules. For instance because I was trying to avoid raw food I wasn’t planning to do the tasting menu but my husband was considering it. He told me that they usually require everyone at the table to do a tasting menu but was willing to ask if an exception could be made for me. While we ended up just ordering a la carte, I appreciated his effort in making sure we had the experience we wanted. He even went to the trouble of asking the kitchen if they could do the lamb more well done for me — although I ultimately decided just to go with the chicken and not ruin a perfectly good piece of meat. I will say I was a little disappointed with the chicken. There was nothing wrong with it, but it wasn’t really standout the way that many of their other dishes were. All the appetizers we ordered were outstanding. I loved the oysters- the whole presentation as well as flavor were spot on— although I personally feel like oysters are wonderful even when you literally do nothing to them so hard to mess them up. The farmer- mixed veggies— was probably my favorite dish of the night. We ordered one to share and I wish we had ordered one per person. Every vegetable on that plate was just so tasty and well prepared. The sweet sauce that they plated underneath felt like a dessert sauce but it somehow worked well for this dish. The lobster risotto was good—although as a shared appetizer I wasn’t left wishing that we had ordered two. My husband ordered the scallops (entree) that he also thoroughly enjoyed. Although I would say from the bites that I tasted — pretty standard scallop dish. Hard to do scallops poorly as long as you don’t overcook them. The dessert honestly felt a little like a dressed up ice cream sandwich. It did have some complex flavors to it that made me feel like it was Michelin star restaurant quality.

Things I wish they had. I think these days a lot of people aren’t drinking alcohol but still enjoy a fancy drink. I wish they had some nice mocktails or NA wines. I don’t feel like leaving the alcohol out of their cocktails is a sufficient mocktail substitute. Many places now have some nonalcoholic liquors like seedlip or ritual that they’ll do cocktails with. I also have had some amazing na wines and hope they would consider looking into having that. Also sad they didn’t have decaf coffee which we totally would have ordered to pair with our dessert.

Our experience at Ariete feels deserving of its Michelin star. I felt ordering off their menu a la carte was reasonably priced for the quality of food we got. Overall I’m happy that we had the opportunity to...

“Miami Picante” Experience & Birthday Dinner

On the evening of my birthday, my partner and I chose Ariete to celebrate — drawn by its Michelin star, its Miami-rooted culinary identity, and the Miami Picante dinner event. The experience was elegant, flavorful, and memorable, with several service highlights and thoughtful touches that made it even more special.

🛎️ Reception & Atmosphere

We were warmly welcomed upon arrival. The ambiance is intimate and stylish, with a balance of refined minimalism and Miami vibrancy. We were taken care of by Manon, who was exceptionally attentive, kind, and observant throughout the entire meal. Her service made us feel welcomed and truly celebrated.

🍸 Drinks & Hospitality

In addition to Manon, special acknowledgment goes to Jef, who delivered an outstanding wine service, and to Nick, whose attentiveness and professionalism were evident from start to finish. The tamarind wine cocktail I received early in the evening was spectacular — refreshing, creative, and perfectly balanced. These team members elevated the evening with grace and expertise.

Amuse-Bouche & Bread Course • The meal began with pumpkin seed tartlets, a vibrant one-bite amuse-bouche that was playful, well-balanced, and a delightful start to the evening. • Soon after, we were served fresh bread with a rich, whipped compound butter — earthy and airy, a subtle standout. However, the plate’s design made it difficult to rest cutlery between bites, a minor inconvenience in an otherwise seamless flow.

🥂 First Course • Beef Tartare: Served with toasted sourdough and a creamy base, the tartare was robust and clean, showing off expert seasoning and restraint. • Beet Salad: Artfully plated with frisée and a herbaceous mousse, this dish was refreshing and colorful, a vegetal contrast to the meat.

🥩 Second Course • Braised Short Rib: Rich, fall-apart tender meat over a silky purée with a glossy reduction and fresh herbs. Hearty and refined. • Pan-Seared White Fish: Perfectly cooked with a golden sear, plated over a vibrant, creole-style sauce and topped with pickled onion. This dish stood out for its tropical flair and balance.

🍰 Third Course & Birthday Dessert

The dessert progression was thoughtful, surprising, and memorable: • A small, warmly served birthday treat with a lit candle — a heartfelt touch that made me feel genuinely celebrated. • A creamy bowl dessert (likely pistachio or olive oil ice cream) was velvety and aromatic. • A plated sweet with whipped topping and syrupy sauce added a balanced richness. • And to close, bittersweet chocolate spheres, delicate and smooth — the final punctuation of a well-paced, well-executed meal.

Billing Transparency

One detail worth noting: gratuity was included automatically in the final bill from the moment it arrived. While common in Miami’s fine dining scene — and especially in group or celebratory settings — it’s something diners should be aware of upfront. In this case, it was clearly indicated, and service fully justified it.

✨ Final Impression

Every course was a celebration of balance — bold yet elegant, familiar but reimagined. While minor refinements (like plate ergonomics) could bring it closer to perfection, the staff’s warmth — especially Manon, Nick, and Jef — made this birthday dinner deeply memorable. Ariete earns its star and then some.

⭐ Would I return? Absolutely — for the cuisine, the service, and the feeling of being...