MIAReview

Mandolin Aegean Bistro image
8.7

Mandolin Aegean Bistro

GreekMediterranean

Buena Vista

$$$$Perfect For:Big GroupsBirthdaysDate NightFine DiningKeeping It Kind Of HealthyOutdoor/Patio SituationPeople WatchingSpecial Occasions
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We get the same feeling walking into Mandolin as we do stepping off a plane on vacation. Almost immediately, a mental switch flips from “everything matters” to “who cares” and that email notification that just buzzed in your pocket feels as insignificant as a baby mosquito. This is why it's never a bad idea to spend as many long afternoons at Mandolin as possible—especially if you're running low on PTO.

Mandolin is located in a converted 1940s bungalow right on the edge of the Design District and the whole place feels like a cross between Greece and old Florida. The blue and white color scheme is perfectly Aegean, but the hanging plants and trees jutting up between tables are a reminder that you’re sitting in what used to be a swamp.

Mandolin Aegean Bistro image

photo credit: Tasty Planet

There’s nothing about this place that makes you feel like you’re in Miami though. It doesn’t have the palm tree personality you see over at the Broken Shaker or the waterfront views that drive people to fight for an outdoor table at La Mar. Instead, Mandolin looks like it got sucked up by a tornado in Santorini and dropped into South Florida, Wizard of Oz-style. It’s one of the city’s prettiest spots to eat outside, and it’s become one of the most cliched photo ops in town—which is why you’ll probably have to weave between a few people posing outside the restaurant’s bright blue door as you look for the host. All of the above is also why this is one of the toughest tables in Miami to book, especially during winter. So plan on making a reservation at least a month out.

About 80 percent of the seating here is outside. There are people having a lazy lunch in flip-flops, big groups celebrating a birthday, and plenty of people drinking white wine at 2pm, pretending like they just landed in Mykonos. This is where you too will end up sitting if you have a reservation—and the space is even tolerable during summer thanks to a lot of shade and enough fans to give you a blowout before the check comes.

Mandolin Aegean Bistro image

photo credit: Tasty Planet

A restaurant this gorgeous could probably do very well by serving stale pita and overcooked lamb, but Mandolin’s food is consistently wonderful. The various kebabs deserve your attention just as much as the bundle of pink flowers that float above the entrance like a balloon. And the Greek or Turkish sampler, baked feta, and fried calamari should all be present if you’re here with a big group. Most of the food here is easy to share with meze plates taking up the bulk of the menu.

Mandolin would be a great restaurant anywhere in the world, but here it’s an antidote for those inevitable moments when you find yourself just a little sick of South Beach or Wynwood or, well, the city in general. It’s a garlicky detox everyone should take advantage of every few weeks, and for at least one meal, you can trick yourself into thinking you’re not in Miami anymore.

Food Rundown

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Grilled Ocotpus

This will look suspiciously simple when it hits the table. But the absolutely perfect octopus tastes anything but simple. It's charred to a light crisp on the outside, yet impossibly soft and tender inside. Octopus is on nearly every menu in Miami, but just about none of them compare to this version.

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Grilled Haloumi

This halloumi has very satisfying grill marks and a char you can really taste. There are some nice cherry tomatoes on the side too. Combine it all with the bread on the table for some excellent DIY toast.

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Kofte

These grilled sirloin meatballs have the consistency and look of little hamburgers minus the bread, and they come with some tzatziki for dipping. They’re tasty, but we think you should go with a kebab or beef souvlaki if you’re looking for a meat option.

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Spicy Mandolin Kebab

This could be a little spicer, but the meat is tender and comes wrapped in a pita too, with your pick of fries or maroulosalata on the side. If you just order this for yourself, you’ll be all set.

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Moussaka

This steamy bowl of eggplant, ground beef, potatoes, and bechamel is super hearty and will fill you up. It’s very heavy, so maybe skip it for a date, on a hot day, or if you want to keep the night going after dinner.

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Manti Dumplings

These beef dumplings are super creamy and very good. You should probably split them with someone, though, because it’s rich and something you’ll really only want a few bites of.

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FOOD RUNDOWN

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