I adore Semilla Bistro & Wine Bar; it’s always been one of my favorite places on Miami Beach. Thanks to a good friend, I discovered it a few years ago, even featuring it on Spotlight. It has lively energy, a killer Happy Hour and excellent food and service, so imagine my surprise when Owner & Chef, Frederic Joulin, told me he was changing his popular Gastropub to a full-on French Bistro.
Frederic has always featured food with French influences on his menu — he’s from Paris, after all — but with more customers requesting his native cuisine and the ability to finally get his hands on some key international ingredients (because of Miami’s ever-growing food scene,) he decided to reimagine his restaurant. Now, it’s a #FrenchFoodie haven and WOW, what a haven it is.
During the day, the bistro is bright and airy; at night, romantic lighting adds to the already intimate atmosphere. The decor, which is redone, is Parisian-chic-meets-Miami-sophistication and I especially like the new wine cellar, where you can pick a bottle at your own pace; paying retail price alongside a slight corkage fee. I tried the smooth and delicious “Verrier & Fils Cuvée Fleuron Brut” recommended by Frederic.🥂
And — what’s dinner at a French brassiere without a homemade “Whole Baguette?” It’s so fresh, you can easily break the melt-in-your-mouth bread with your bare hands and don’t forget the butter, although you may wanna use a knife for that. 😉 Speaking of butter, the “Terrine De Foie Gras with Figues Chutney” is to die for. If you’ve never tasted duck liver, this is the perfect place to do it. Not only is it rich and delicate, the fig chutney it’s paired with takes the plate to a whole other level.
If you’re an adventurous eater, I highly recommend “Snails-Bone Marrow, Garlic Butter.” It’s officially called “Escargots Persilles/Moelle.” I’ve never tasted snails this yummy, stacked on bone marrow in a zesty parsley sauce. If you’ve never had bone marrow, it’s soft and subtle and reminds me of a sweet, delicate butter.
The “Grilled Mediterranean Octopus” in Grenobloise (named after the city Grenoble in southeastern France) is a sauce made with browned butter, capers, parsley and pieces of lemon. I also tried the “Dover Sole” which is my favorite fish of all time. They don’t always have it on the menu, but when they do, it’s fresh and simply prepared, keeping it light and flaky. As a side, l made love to a bowl of truffle mashed potatoes. Honestly, I’d go back just to eat them by themselves. I was totally smitten and by the way, freshly grated truffles are utterly intoxicating. #HelloLovah ❤️
My favorite plate of the night was “NY Strip Steak” in a Peppercorn Sauce, Flambéed with Cognac and yes, Frederic asked me to help. I bet he regrets that, lol, especially with my deep cognac pour. It made for an awesome flame photograph and lucky for me, my eyebrows and hair remained intact. Along with the steak, Fredric whipped up some mind-blowing frites. When God created Earth, he said: “let there be French Fries,” and the world rejoiced. Yes, they’re that good.
The French are also known for their incredible desserts, so picking one off the menu seemed impossible. Instead, I tried three: “Chocolate Mousse,” “Creme Brûlée” and my favorite, “Floating Islands.” I hate to sound like a cliche, but they were ALL something to write home about. I liked the Floating Islands best because of its uniqueness. It’s basically meringue floating on vanilla custard. Be still my beating heart. It is, indeed, #spectaculaire…
My experience at “Semilla French Bistro & Wine Bar” was incredibly special, but I’d expect nothing less from Frederic. He’s a bonafide foodie perfectionist who cares deeply about what his customers eat and how they feel during their overall dining experience and that’s something you can’t teach: it’s innate and it’s what makes Semilla a rare jewel in the Magic City and that’s why it’s one of my #FavoriteThings #BonAppetite! (Special thanks to Leticia for making my experience amazing.)
Semilla French Bistro
1330 Alton Road
Miami Beach, FL. 33139
Monday – Saturday: 11:30am – 11:30pm
Happy Hour is Monday – Saturday from 5 to 8pm.
Be Social:
IG: @semilla_miami
FB: @semillamiami
Twitter: @SemillaMiami
dress: @asos & shoes: @prada
clutch: a gift from my family
Hair & Make-up: Odett Hernandez
Digital Editor: Jessie Neft-Swinger
Editor: Matthew “Three Desserts” Auerbach
