Bistro Ocho — Restaurant in Miami

Bistro Ocho exceeds expectation at every turn.

Housed in a nondescript Calle Ocho strip center, you enter a casually chic dining room of perhaps 50 seats + bar. The meal starts with an amuse of fresh corn tortilla with house made green salsa, a cloud of freshly grated parm, and a side of spicy arbol pepper sauce for punch. And then slowly, bite by bite, you begin to appreciate that you’re enjoying an elegant fine dining experience disguised as a casual meal, and served at casual dining prices. After the amuse, we tried their version of a tuna taco – featuring an exceptionally large and wonderful piece of fatty bluefin loin garnished with crunchy sauteed black beans. We shared a salad of butter lettuce with beautifully diced green beans plus peas in a Caesar-like dressing covered in a second cloud of parmigiana and accompanied by two pieces of house-made toasted focacio. We then shared two entrees. The octopus, presumably sous-vide, and set in a black carnaroli rice, was tender and delicious. The lamb shank was fall-off-the-bone slow cooked. It was served in a brilliant green pumpkin seed and fresh herb mole, made with cilantro, parsley and basil, plus epazote and other Mexican spices, and we’re guessing, thickened with masa flour. We were too full for dessert, but just as the meal began with amuse bouche, it ended with pre-desert sweets – two house made candies, of which the strawberry caramel (with a slice of strawberry in the center) was especially tasty.

While Bistro Ocho has the feel of small and casual chef owned restaurant, you slowly begin to notice the fine dining flourishes. The room isn’t gaudy and overdone, but it has a beautiful layered design that considers physical comfort, noise management, ideal lighting levels, etc. Service is outstanding. Our waitress tossed our salad at the table, and utensils were cleared and replaced with every course. Plates, and we presume serving bowls, are custom made for the restaurant. A sophisticated sound system plays a great mix at a lively volume that’s somehow controlled to avoid conflict with conversation.

As Northerners, who’ve been coming to Miami for decades, we reminisce about old favorites – Mark’s, Le Broche, Michy’s. We didn’t expect to add a Mexican spot on Calle Ocho to that list. But Bistro Ocho does have a pedigree, connected through its head of food service to the heralded Mexico City staple, Pujol . We almost hate ruining the constant surprises that surface at Bistro Ocho, but feel the need to sing its praises in the hope of preventing anyone from questioning Mexican? On Calle Ocho? It just a...

Bistro 8 is a standout culinary destination that artfully blends the bold, vibrant flavors of Mexican cuisine with the refinement of French technique. Helmed by renowned chef Pancho Ibáñez of Pujol fame in Mexico City, this restaurant delivers an exciting and memorable dining experience.

The appetizers alone are worth the visit. Highlights included the impeccably fresh slivered Kampachi, tender grilled octopus, and plump mussels bathed in a savory broth—perfect for soaking up with their crusty dipping bread. The shrimp taquitos were bursting with flavor, and the crisp salad of lettuce, green beans, and peas—topped with a cloud of finely grated parmesan—was a refreshing and unexpected delight.

Among the entrees, the fish and lamb shank stood out as exceptional. The green sauce, infused with epazote and fresh herbs, added a distinctly Mexican note to classically prepared dishes. Generous portion sizes made everything easy to share, encouraging a communal, festive atmosphere.

The ambiance is just as thoughtfully curated as the food. Designed by Minoru Oyamatsu of Tokyo’s Oyamatsu Design Studio Inc.—known for their work with several Michelin-starred restaurants—Bistro 8’s decor blends rich Mexican hues with the understated sophistication of Parisian design.

Don’t miss the innovative cocktail program, which showcases creative, agave-forward concoctions. And save room for dessert: the orange flan was silky and aromatic, while the signature custard donut was indulgently satisfying.

Service was impeccable throughout the meal, attentive without being intrusive—a perfect complement to the elevated yet relaxed vibe.

In short, Bistro 8 delivers a unique and beautifully executed dining experience that bridges continents and traditions with...

I had the pleasure of dining here on Sunday and dang what a treat. Word on the street is entirely everything you have heard. Bistro 8 is here to fill the void of the city's underrepresented Mexican cuisine.

A small (by Miami standards) dining room is; Classy with its beveled edges that add dimension to an otherwise single symmetrical room. Whimsical with its blue/gold/pink palette- spherical light fixtures hanging from the center of the golden ceiling looked a little like seeping honey. Thoughtful with its flute glass windows which conceal a sort of exclusive feeling perfectly lit space from the outside and on the inside, expand the headlights of parking cars reinstating its urban setting while keeping you focused on your friends, service staff and of course food.

A slightly larger than anticipated menu presents generous portions sizes and tortillas/masa that completely destroy any local competition. The cocktail menu is an outstanding cohesive cherry on top of the already elaborate offerings of this venue (three of which Tye will happily make spirit-free upon request). The most distinguished items were actually the complimentary salsa verde masa we were greeted with and the yuzu poppy seed taffy our server said goodnight with. A testament that giving is a cornerstone of hospitality, something these folks understand well.

Hoping Bistro 8 is a foreshadow of more small venues with thoughtful (vs brash) dining rooms, dialed in good/grounded service with eye contact, ample table touches, focused authentic flavors and...