MIAReview
Pastis Miami
Pastis wants to whisk you off to France—and it does—straight into what feels like a crowded Parisian metro station with white tiled walls and stylish people who don’t like waiting. Finding a primetime weekend reservation here requires planning, and we can see why. It’s a popular New York restaurant clone, and it's hard to find better steak frites in Miami. Pastis rises above your average Wynwood tourist trap by almost every metric. The only small issue is that when the restaurant is at full capacity, the train can get off track.
To be clear, the wheels don’t completely fall off. It’s more of a controlled chaos. Hosts look like they’re involved in an intense game of Battleships on their iPads, and a dish or two might never make it to the table—but issues are swiftly resolved. And isn’t a little chaos why you’re having dinner at a hot Wynwood restaurant anyway? If not, maybe don’t fight so hard for those weekend reservations. Go at off-peak hours, or just have a cocktail and appetizer at the garden bar, where you can drink a miniature martini and watch equally minuscule designer dogs beg their owners for crispy French fries.
Whenever you go, dishes are reliably delicious. Pastis isn’t serving revolutionary French food. So if you’re expecting to be swept off your feet by cheese souffles or duck terrine, you’re in the wrong restaurant. It’s classic bistro fare like duck confit, French onion soup, and a croque madame so rich she deserves a more regal title.
The dining room feels like an upscale Parisian Epcot pavilion, with a tobacco-stained ceiling, giant framed mirrors, wooden cafe chairs, and red leather banquettes. It might be one of the many transplants still trying to figure out Miami’s summer rain schedule—but if you’re looking for a fun Wynwood dinner that actually knows what medium rare means, go to Pastis. It’s like that Parisian subway—incredibly charming and a bit chaotic at times, but it’ll get you where you want to go if you’re looking for delicious bistro food.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Teddy Wolfe
Escargots
The smell of the garlicky butter is so mesmerizing, you’re going to want to pop these right out of their cast-iron dimples and into your mouth—but don’t. Wait until they cool off so you can actually taste these savory garden speedsters.
Onion Soup
This French onion soup is so cheesy—if you listen closely to the bubbling broth, you might hear it whisper a bad pickup line. And we’re falling for it.
Salade Niçoise
This is a salad worthy of a main course. With its big chunks of confit tuna, hard boiled eggs, and potatoes—you’re not getting around this delicious bowl of greens without picking up a knife.
photo credit: Teddy Wolff
Steak Frites
There’s an entire section of the menu dedicated to steak frites. Each cut is perfectly cooked and comes with its own sauce. You can choose from a filet with au poivre, a NY strip with maître d’hôtel butter, or a ribeye with bearnaise. The ribeye is our favorite, but all are solid choices.
photo credit: Courtesy Pastis
Profiteroles
These ice cream filled pastries are arranged in a mini cheerleader pyramid formation. Then (unlike cheerleaders) it’s covered in chocolate while rooting for you to finish strong.