Shireen's Favorite Things

NoVe, 1750 North Bayshore Drive, Miami, Florida 33132

I have two words for you: Opera Tower. It is literally the most amazingly, delicious sushi roll I have ever feasted on in my life! It’s actually named after the building the restaurant is housed in and I’d be remiss if I didn’t express just how impressed I was with its gorgeous presentation and delicious ingredients (tempura fried lobster, asparagus, avocado, tuna, imitation crab, tobiko, scallions, mayonnaise, tempura flakes and sweet sauce.)

You bet your sweet taste buds I wanted to shrill out an opera high note after taking a bite (it was a carnival of flavors in my mouth,) but alas, I didn’t want to scare everyone; singing isn’t my strong suit. With that being said, NoVe is just one of those places: when I walked-in I felt instantly comfortable, like I’d just stumbled onto the best kept sushi secret in Miami. With a sprawling out-door patio and an intimate indoor dining room, it seemed to be the perfect place to enjoy any type of meal.

Before my fab aforementioned sushi roll, I started with three yummy drinks: Watermelon Margarita, Lychee Saketini and Forever Young (after a few of those, I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t even remember your age.) While all three drinks were pretty, they had major personality taste-wise. The Margarita was my favorite; fresh, sweet and strong (just like I like my men.)

I started my Friday night feast with three appetizers: Seabass Fritters (lightly battered chilean Sea bass, drizzled with spicy mayo,) Beef Tatki (thinly slice filet mignon seared rare with ponzu sauce, scallions, red onions, and spring mix) and Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna (spicy tuna served on top of crispy rice cakes, spicy mayo, scallions.) The fritters were fried decadence without being heavy, the tatki was incredibly fresh and clean and the crispy tuna had great texture with a spicy mayo to die for. It’s hard to choose a favorite, but if I were a dead man walking, I’d go with the tatki. My photographer and producer agreed.

Along with the Opera Tower Sushi Roll, I also gobbled up the Rainbow (imitation crab and avocado topped with tuna, salmon, white fish and avocado with caviar.) Most impressive, though, was the Bon Bon, which is NOT on the menu. It’s an underground item; made only upon special request. It’s this gorgeous ball of spicy tuna topped luxuriously with avocado. It’s amaze-balls. Yes, pun intended.

For my main course, I had the sophisticated Cedar Planked Salmon (fresh salmon fillet marinated in sweet soy sauce and roasted on a cedar plank.) I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about fish on a plank, but the cedar roasted it to perfection. It was smokey, tender and sweet. It came with a few healthy sides. This is a great plate if you’re watching your waistline.

For dessert I had the entertaining and fiery Panqueque with Dulce de Leche flambeado. It’s a homemade crepe with dulce leche inside, caramelized sugar on top and it’s flambeed right at your table. After the fiery shenanigans, it’s served with a generous portion of vanilla ice cream. I’m not one for dessert, but it was pretty tasty, not to mention the fact it had some type of alcohol kick to it (and that always makes me happy.)

After my feast, I finally met Master Sushi Chef Hiroyuki Terada. For me, it was kind of like meeting a rock star. This guy is the real deal and has dedicated his life to studying and perfecting the art of Japanese cuisine. He’s creative and meticulous in the kitchen, infusing Latin and American fare into his. What’s more, he’s completely affable and fun in person (not to mention on his YouTube Channel.) From the food to the atmosphere, not only is NoVe one of my favorite things, it’s a place I’ll definitely frequent often. Cheers!

NoVe stands for north of the Venetian, so, yes, it’s off the beach, but it’s totally worth it and really, it’s a better location for locals. The restaurant is snuggled into the ground floor of the Opera Tower on the south side of the building. Parking is NOT a problem; with metered street spaces and a roomy garage. Plus, there’s a convenient valet literally at the back door of the restaurant…talk about curbside service.

Perfect for night owls like myself! Monday-Thursday 5pm-2am, Friday 5pm-3am, Saturday 3pm-3am & Sunday 2pm-2am.

For reservations www.novesushimiami.com or call 305-577-8200
Twitter & IG @novekitchen / FB: NoVe kitchen and bar