Right in the heart of Miami Beach, providing comforting shade with a 1950's Cuban flair, is La Sombra, a new chic restaurant and lush tropical oasis. Located in the Fairwind Hotel in 1000 Collins Avenue, La Sombra sets itself apart from the typical Collins Avenue dining spot with its open air atmosphere filled with silhouettes of palm fronds and a fountain lagoon in the center.
Romantic and hip all at once, La Sombra offers guests breakfast, lunch and dinner options, along with a wide variety of beverages including craft beers, virgin drinks, and signature cocktails like The Daiquiri and La Sombra.
We took a drive to the beach on a Friday night to check out La Sombra for ourselves. It was a hot, steamy Miami night, but then again, it wouldn't be Miami if it wasn't. The courtyard that welcomed us when we arrived was definitely impressive. We got there when it was still daytime so we were able to enjoy the more casual sunlit ambiance and by the time we left, the lights above were twinkling and the scene had transformed. The shade of La Sombra now blended classic glamour with a tropical twist. After a few refreshing sips of their signature cocktails, we took a look at the menu. Several options called out to us, but we decided to start the adventure with the Crab Cakes and the Cheese & Fries. I guess we wanted sophistication with a bit of fun. The Crab Cakes were house- made with corn pudding, and served with sunshine aioli and whipped avocado. They were topped with avocado wedges and greens. The Cheese & Fries consisted of hand-cut potatoes topped with melted cheddar, chopped tomatoes and jalapeno.
In the mood for some seafood entrees, we ordered the Local Catch of the Day, which happened to be Mahi Mahi. The fish was cooked in a bercy sauce, and accompanied with cauliflower fennel puree and charred rapini. The fish was tender and mild and a nice, simple dish for the warm evening. You can choose to order a fresh salad instead of the rapini with your fish and I found that to be a better option.
We were excited about checking out the desserts and there were several we wanted to try. We chose the La Sombra Chocolat Fondant (which happens to be gluten-free) and the Crème Brulee. Between the light reflecting in the pool, the twinkling above and the cocktails in our hands, it was quite the magical experience. The Chocolat Fondant was prepared with Valrhona chocolate, and served with strawberries, vanilla ice-cream and caramel pecans. Oh yes. It was my favorite treat of the night. The Crème Brulee was creamy and smooth, and served with mixed berries. We alternated dipping our spoons in each one....
La Sombra is a great place to start the evening with some bites and cocktails and then go paint the town Miami style. For more information or to make reservations, you can contact them at 786-520-1777.
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