Miami South Beach is one of those places everyone should check out at some point in their lives.
but when you are there be AWARE of the places you choose to dine.
I was in South Beach a couple weeks ago with my good friend's Jimmy and Gina. We had walked 3 miles after a 10 hour day on our feet. We were starving and exhausted and finding a restaurant when you feel that way, is no easy task. They all look the same. It is hard to make a decision as to what cuisine you want. It is like going to the grocery store on an empty stomach. You just shouldn't do it.
We got down to the main strip of South Beach. Here, restaurants are a dime a dozen. In fact, I am not sure there is anything but restaurants for several blocks. Every restaurant has al fresco dining curbside for maximum people watching. They also have the notorious carnival barker.
No matter how many times this has happened to me in my life. I seem to fall every once in a while for the tricks of the barker. Tip #1 if there is somebody hawking you into their restaurant, RUN! Run as fast as you can to a place that isn't doing it. Granted in South Beach there is a restaurant every few feet so you think to yourself maybe these establishments feel that if you walk by, you won't come back? Don't fall for it! If a restaurant has a carnival barker out front, they have a trick up their sleeve. In Miami, this is the trick. Barkers tell you the prices are 50% of for food, or 20% off the entire check. As they tell you this, if you pause at all, they start showing you to your table. When you sit down you realize, everything has prices except the drink menu.
If something doesn't have a price on it, unless you're extremely wealthy, and in this economy you are one of the lucky ones, let this be a red flag. Anything that doesn't have a price on it is usually overpriced for the average American.
At the restaurant we went to they drew us in with 50% off the menu, but this did not include drinks, and the drinks were between $18 and $25 dollars, and we couldn't have known this unless we asked or upon the arrival of the check. We expected to pay above average, but this was really steep.
Tip #2, if the barker is successful in getting you into his restaurant, don' t get anything that is on "special" and not printed anywhere. If the server says an item is on special, beware! In our case the server was suggesting a Buffalo Mozzarella special. I noticed there was Buffalo Mozzarella listed on the menu. I said what is the difference? He said the special is much better. Not much to go on, so I said, "What is the price?" I did this knowing he was up to no good. He said $20, this was $8 more than what was listed on the menu. Lou and I fell for this once in Greece as well. The barker got us in, then he asked us if we would like to try the special cactus juice. We did at 15 euros or $20 a pop!
Tip #3 If the barker or server in a barker's restaurant offers you anything like bread, don't assume you won't be paying for it. This was another thing that happened to Lou and I in Greece. We ordered a Greek salad and our barker asked, "Would you like bread with that?" We said, "Sure", and for 3 pieces of bread we were charged 10 euros!
It is ashame we didn't get to check out eating establishments that weren't over priced in Miami. I am sure they are out there, and to be honest, our food was very good, but tourists, when it comes to the barker, consider yourself warned!
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