Gekko — Restaurant in Miami

I usually avoid overhyped restaurants because most times either the food or the service are lacking but this joint surprised me in a good way. I sat at the counter where the sushi chefs work their magic with prepping and all and also because is a well lit area which is necessary for the pics to come out decent. It's also entertaining to watch them skillfully put out beautifully crafted dishes. The other areas are too dark for my taste although I get it's part of the vibes and aesthetic. My experience this year doing the solo thing so often is that the service at bar or counter is always better. Kristian, the waiter, was on his grind and providing top notch service. My dude recommended the "Lost in Translation" cocktail which is in "essence" an old fashioned made with a Japanese whiskey. Refreshing, lighter than a traditional and still packing a punch, this was the best way to enjoy yet another delicious "Miami Spice" dinner. So this is what I chose for the menu...

BACON: more like a pork belly, not too fatty, just perfect and crispy. Now peach kimchi was the best sidekick to add some sweetness to the bacon and some lime to enjoy a sweet, savory and sour combo to die for.

WAGYU SKIRT STEAK: for $12 supplement charge you couldn't possibly go wrong with a 6oz Wagyu steak and this one was one of the nicest cuts; juicy, tender and very flavorful on its own without the chimichurri.

OKINAWA PURPLE POTATO PURÉE: now I don't know what the secret recipe for these mashed potatoes is but when I tell you I was literally licking the plate and using the pieces of steak to clean the corners of the plate, I'm not exaggerating. Why is this so creamy, tasty and addicting? I don't know but you have to try it, it's all I'm saying.

BLACK FOREST: that dark chocolate cake, crunchy almond bits and cherry ice cream was what they call "going out with a bang". Not overly sweet or chocolate overpowering the rest of the components.

I know that sushi is one of their specialties and perhaps other steaks as well so I have more than enough reasons to come back. The restaurant is gorgeous and vibes are just immaculate so dining experience is always gonna be elevated no...

My girlfriend and I ate at Gekko on a Monday, upon arrival the bouncer asked our names for the reservation and let us in (please make sure you have reservations). We were seated and within minutes Tricia attended to us, she was very kind and had a great sense of humor; there was also two other waiters that attended to us during the night and were very attentive. The ambiance in Gekko is very nice, I loved how everything looked, and it’s fun to hear Bad Bunny songs randomly play during the night.

The food was really good and the drinks were amazing! I had the Southern Admiral which is a rum drink that I loved and my girlfriend had the Fugu Kiss.

We had the Tako Taco which was a decent 7/10, I loved the crunch of the taco itself and the avocado, but I felt like the octopus itself could have had a little more flavor.

The 24K Otoro Nigiri is hands down so beautiful, I really enjoyed the presentation and flavor of the fish, was definitely of high quality.

The Lobster Dumplings were a solid 10/10, even my girlfriend that doesn’t like seafood enjoyed the dumplings! They were presented beautifully and were warm when they were served. Perfect one-bite portions and the flavor was on point.

The A5 Hot Stone was to die for. The meat was so juicy and the presentation was spot on. Be sure to try the Baby Corn! Also, if you’re into Wasabi, try the Purple Potato Puree, if not, Tricia suggested the Mushrooms.

I’m a small time pastry chef and the presentation of the desserts were nice. Both desserts were decent, not on par with the food. The Strawberries and Cream had a Mascarpone Ice Cream which was amazing. I’d definitely order just that ice cream if I ever go back. The Black Forest was not really impressive to me, the flavors weren’t really there.

The ambiance, drinks, service from Tricia and her two coworkers, food (especially the A5 and dumplings) and that Mascarpone ice cream were amazing. Loved...

Of all the restaurants in miami, and I’m including Burger King and McDonalds, this by FAR is the WORST establishment that could’ve ever broke ground. To start, they had us wait almost an hour just to be seated OUTSIDE the restaurant at a table that seats two. After we declined sitting at the Amazon foldable table for two, the rude hostess assured us that outside was part of the restaurant and we should be content. She said it would be another 45 minutes to sit inside. We patiently waited. After another hour, I asked to speak to management. One lady claimed to be a manager, but had no training in dealing with customers. She had an attitude and started throwing in my face that she offered me a table outside and I declined so I’ll get a table when she’s ready. What I noticed is that they try to put all the black people outside. If you’re not with a celeb, don’t go. I went with someone with fame and had an entirely different experience so I know the difference. It took almost 3 hours to be seated. We finally were seated in a corner table that was meant for 2 and the reservation was for four. We ordered food and there was no room for it. We waited another 40 minutes between the 1st and 2nd course. The small table for two remained empty. Finally, after waiting another 30 minutes after the 2nd course, we asked them to cancel our remaining order. The server told us that the kitchen was backed up. She was kind and that was out of her control. This place is a glorified dump. It clearly starts from management who would benefit from professional development. Then the hostesses are mean girls who are looking for a fight. They all share half a brain. Very simple girls. Very useless and simple girls. The food is basic. The restuarant as a whole is a dump, and that’s me being kind. I read poor reviews and didn’t think it could be that bad, but it is! In the words of our...