Maple & Ash — Restaurant in Miami

Upon walking in you’re greeted with a welcome drink and appetizer which was very appreciated , however it all quickly went downhill from there.

Prob #1 They sat us at a cramped two top table. We were literally on top of the table next to us and the table its self was oddly long so I couldn’t have a proper conversation with my husband who was sitting right across from me. My husband did request if they could move us to one of the empty four tops to which we were denied, which is fine. BUT, ten minutes after sitting , they sat another couple at the two top next to us and when that couple asked to be moved, they moved them to an empty four top. Kinda unfair to us and the other two tops .

Prob #2 We had looked at the menu prior to going and had friends that have eaten here before give us recs so we came prepared and ordered pretty much right away. The drinks took 30 minutes …. (Even though the table that was sitting next to us got their drinks within ten minutes of being seated and came AFTER us) The appetizer took 40 minutes….

Prob#3 which isn’t really a problem, it’s just not the service I expected. The waitress recommended they bring the bread service ( which is paid for, not free ) with the pasta which we said “sure sounds great” to. It was brought out with appetizers , sent back, then brought out again with second round of appetizers lol so I just gave up and accepted it at that point.

Prob #4 in our tiny two top area, there were two girls who were also at a two top who were clearly DRUNK out of their minds , one of which made her way to the bathroom and hung out there clearly incoherent to the point that I had to ask her if she was okay three times.

Prob#5 at said bathroom mentioned above, it was disgusting ! I couldn’t believe the mess that was in there , not what you would expect at a fine dining establishment. And even worse, I’m ashamed that the women’s bathroom, was in that shape… considering we are LADIES. How a lady treated the bathroom like that is beyond me. (More appalled at the woman that created that mess than the restaurant itself)

Prob#6 we had to hunt down our waitress for the dessert options and then again for the bill.

Last but not least , the dress code. They made it clear in a text message like twice that they have a strict policy, but they didn’t really adhere to it .

Now on to a more positive note the food is outstanding ! I really have no complaints there. I did go on a Thursday so maybe they were understaffed ? As for food must haves are the wagyu carpaccio, tuna tartare, lobster dumplings, hamachi crudo, one of their steaks, pillows of love. Their drinks were also really good ! They do also do a great job of cleaning the table and changing the plates after each course . The restaurant itself is beautiful , the decor is top notch, they have beautiful candelabras with real candles .

That being said, even though my service and experience was okay that day, I’ve had friends go on a weekend and say it was amazing and the service was on point.

I would probably go again on the weekend this time to see if the experience changes because like I said earlier the food really...

We had been looking forward to trying this newly opened spot, and it did not disappoint. From the moment we stepped in, the tone was set. You’re welcomed at the door and guided through a stunning entrance hallway before taking an elevator up to the second floor, where the true magic begins.

We arrived just in time for our reservation, and while we experienced a brief 5-minute delay before being seated (with the bar unfortunately full), that was the only hiccup in an otherwise exceptional evening.

Once seated, we were welcomed with a complimentary house cocktail a small but powerful gesture that’s rarely seen in Miami, and one we truly appreciated. Our server, Jose with a “V,” was absolutely phenomenal. He delivered top-tier service with poise, passion, and a deep knowledge of the menu and the restaurant’s unique concept.

After placing our drink and appetizer order, Jose surprised us by asking us to take a short walk with him. He introduced us to an exclusive experience where we met “La Máquina,” a culinary character in his own right. When asked the reason for our evening, we simply said: “Caviar and love.” What followed was a spontaneous caviar bump experience, paired with delicate prosciutto tastings an unforgettable, interactive moment that elevated our night from dinner to experience.

Back at our table, our appetizer the seafood tower was waiting. But this wasn’t your typical chilled display. It was a flavor-forward, cooked-to-perfection tower that redefined expectations. For entrées, I enjoyed the New York steak perfectly seared and seasoned with the lobster mac & cheese while my wife indulged in their lobster pasta, which delivered richness, depth, and balance.

Throughout the evening, Jose remained incredibly attentive. One of the most memorable highlights was when he returned with a custom-printed menu that read “Caviar and love.” That thoughtful, personalized touch was something we’ve never experienced in Miami and it speaks volumes about the brand’s commitment to hospitality and detail.

We ended the night with the build-your-own sundae, a fun and interactive dessert finale loaded with toppings and creativity the perfect ending to an incredible...

Maple & Ash is an absolutely gorgeous restaurant, no doubt. And the service we encountered from the hosts and the welcome team was great.

But dinner itself, once we were seated, felt hit-and-miss and I can’t help but wonder if we landed there on an off night.

We came for our anniversary and got one of the NSFW commemorative menus when we were seated, which was cute. But it was almost impossible to hear our server when he introduced himself, and if he tried to make any recommendations, we didn’t hear a single word. It was so incredibly loud.

We also noticed tables around us getting little baskets of chips, which weren’t offered or brought to us. A huge deal? No, but it was a preview of the inconsistency we’d encounter throughout the rest of our meal.

Not long after we placed our order, we were brought a salad we didn’t order and when we mentioned it wasn’t ours, we were asked if the seafood tower they also brought out was ours instead. It was not.

When we did get what we ordered, our steaks were good, but our sides were not. The spinach was so salty my husband bypassed it completely. And the mashed potatoes were also runny and salty.

More than once, we had to ask for water and on one of those instances, we actually had to ask the person that came to clear the table because our server was impossible to flag down. And I don’t think we were the only ones that had a so-so experience tonight. The table next to us had some issues as well, enough that a manager came out and apologized to those guests.

I will say the cafecito soufflé was delicious — probably the best thing we ordered. But given the great reviews and recommendations we received from friends, Maple & Ash just didn’t live up to our expectations. Again, an off night? Maybe. But there are lots of great places in Miami to try before I’d go back to...