Seaspice Brasserie & Lounge — Restaurant in Miami

4 stars for excellent service as far as the table waiting is concerned, the kitchen, however, very slow. We went for brunch and the food was delicious but would take too long to come out and the place wasn't overly packed. This was also a Miami Spice Menu Brunch with a lot of good items added which was surprising since they don't even have a 4 star rating in Yelp. Here is what we had... Apps: malanga beignets with lime aioli sauce. These were crunchy on the outside and very flavorful even with out the aioli but nothing special. Bacon wrapped sweet plantains: also good but nothing out of this world, something you can make at home but just don't have the time for. Pata negra croquettes: OMG these were the best croquettes l've ever tasted, with a side of cherry compte, not necessary. Again crunchy on the outside and lightly breaded but the flavor was amazing because of that pata negra ham. Wagyu Dumplings: these were also good but no the best l've had as far as flavor is concerned and the Edamame purée wasn't a good compliment. I'd say if you're going to choose from the Miami Spice Menu go for the pata negra croquettes, octopus salad or the gazpacho which looked awesome when a waiter walked by with it. Short Rib Benedict: now this is the star of the show. Perfectly tender and flavorful shredded short rib sitting on country toast and topped with truffle hollandaise. Let me tell you that I always look forward to the hollandaise sauce and especially when you add truffle to it and yes this hollandaise sauce was incredible but the short rib was so tasty and delicious that it didn't even need sauce, that good. Maine Lobster Benedict: for a $12 upgrade I got the lobster Benedict. This was good, not great and it's not a traditional Benedict sitting on a muffin or toast but had Browns instead. I thought the hash browns were added to it as supposed to a replacement for bread but that was not the case so I guess that turned me off a little. The lobster was delicious but very small, like tiny, piece on it and the hollandaise sauce was ok. Mango Mousse: this is dessert right here is life. It was like a cheesecake with this crusty top, coconut tapiocas and graham crumbs. Not only delicious but very refreshing and perfectly balanced with different textures. Everything on the plate is colorful and it makes sense. Peaches and Champagne: actually everything on this dessert tasted good and makes sense EXCEPT for the Champagne sabayon. The sabayon does not work or compliment the rest of the ingredients and it gave it a sour taste. We didn't like that too much but the almond cake and cream with the caramelized peaches is a good combination. Overall: the food was pretty good and the mimosas were amazing. Service was good but kitchen very slow. I loved the ambiance and river view from our table. I would have to come back for dinner and maybe have a better critique...

It’s been four years since I first visited Seaspice (then Seasalt and Pepper) when they first opened in the winter of 2013. Given South Florida’s random culinary rules and often flighty patrons, it’s an impressive achievement for them to be still standing and enjoying great success. Cruising that long on the Miami dining horizon takes vision, discipline, resilience, talent, and a tiny droplet of luck.

The glam and airy nautical-inspired decor, lively ambiance, and outstanding location attract more than just tourists; it’s also a favorite for devoted locals. Of course, Miamisms remain. On the weekends, you can still spot mega-yachts parading the waterway, endless champagne bottles popping at all hours, dressed-to-impress diners, and tiki tiki music thumping. But there’s more to Seaspice than that. When I finally returned recently, I noted a calm confidence by everyone I encountered. Service was on point. No senioritis there; they are firing on all cylinders, and they know it.

With excellent indoor and prime outdoor riverfront seating options, there really isn’t a bad seat in the house. The dimmed and stringed lights create a serene paradise, perfect for gazing at that magical Miami skyline. Jazzy tunes serenade diners and seem to be in complete unison to the softly rippling water and palm swaying breezes. More importantly, at the hands of chefs Angel León (formerly of Azul and Sugarcane) and Jill Montinola (Sushi Samba, Sugarcane, and Shikany), the cuisine continues to evolve, impress, and thrive. Class acts all around.

HIGHLIGHTS: From the Crudos section, the bright and fresh Meli Melo (tuna, salmon, yellowtail, edamame, avocado puree, and crispy pappadum) and Hamachi (habanero pomelo vinaigrette, crispy garlic, and shiso) are a must. Curious about Green Plantain Fries, I placed an order: thinly cut, perfectly crisp, elongated tostón chips. Oh, yes! The decadent Alaskan King Crab Linguine, with preserved Meyer lemon and smoked trout caviar, disappeared in minutes despite its generous serving. If that’s not a good sign…

Save room for dessert. It’s tough to choose a favorite from the four dreamboats I tried, but I’ll go with a tie between the Dolce de Leite Cake (blood orange gel, thyme, cafezinho ice cream) and the Guanaja Chocolate Cremoso (cocoa nib crumble, seaweed snow, and toasted...

2 stars from this experience falls squarely on management. Our reservation was honored 38 minutes after we arrived on time, awkward & tiring to wait at a standing room only bar - defeats the entire point of having a reservation. Then we were seated simultaneously with 3 other tables, all in the same section, all with the same waiter who was clearly instantly in the weeds by this disorganized arrangement. It was aggravating to not be able to order immediately after having waited so long to be seated, as the waiter had to great each table and take each tables drink order. However, more aggravating to see management put our waiter in this position to being with. Sends a clear message that the quantity of turn over is the priority in this place, not the quality of experience. Spice brunch menu was a big bust for us both overall. I did like the flavor of the gazpacho, a surprising hearty taste while feeling light on the palate. We both enjoyed what we thought were the malanga fritters, until we discovered we were mis-served another’s order of the regular menu’s King Crab Croquettes - which were amazing. When the malanga fritters came, they were over fried, burnt, and dry. Big let down after the King Crab. Then another order of the King Crab was attempted to be served to us, but this time the man sitting next to us intervened and had the order properly directed to his table. Lobster benedict was good for the egg preparation, the quality of lobster, but the hash brown bedding was also over done, over greasy, and ruined the overall taste combination. The burger was over cooked, fully brown on an order for a medium burger, the bun was stale and flaking apart. I had the chocolate cremoso and found it way too rich to be served at brunch. My partner enjoyed his tres leches enough that he didn’t want to share! The people watching was nice, people were lively and dressed lovey - but when we come out to eat its to experience high quality food - this we were not provided. This is our 2nd bad experience here, first was when it was operating under a former name Seasalt and Pepper several years ago. Shame because the vibe and venue is so posh and needed in Miami, that maybe whats keeping it going despite the iffy food and...