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Photo of Voluptuous Grilled Cheese at Morgans via Facebook

12 Greasy Spoon Dishes Outside of the Greasy Spoon

by Eater Staff
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by Eater Staff
Photo of Voluptuous Grilled Cheese at Morgans via Facebook

We're breaking our South Beach Diet this week, Miami. Let's make like Guy Fieri and focus our attention on some American muscle. Think early 20th century United States, linoleum floors, shiny countertops and red stools -- like Eater's gastronomic version of Throwback Thursdays (no filter). It's Greasy Spoon Week, so we're paying homage to the prefab and late night that is the classic American diner. At Eater, we've put in the legwork and dug up your favorite diner food outside of its natural habitat. Enjoy:

— Nicole Alvarez


· All Greasy Spoons Week 2013 Coverage [ ~EMIA~ ] Read More
Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Shrimp and Grits at Blue Collar

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6730 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL 33138
(305) 756-0366
(305) 756-0366
Blue Collar is Daniel Serfer’s nod to diner culture. As chef and owner, Serfer is remixing Southern nostalgia and first-class ingredients like Trugole cheese and Neuske Bacon in his pièce de résistance, shrimp and grits. Even critics are using greasy spoons to lap up the N’awlins style BBQ sauce and plump shrimp. It’s not getting better than this.

2. Quinoa Hash at OTC

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1250 S.Miami Ave CU #4
Brickell, FL 33130
(305) 374-4612
(305) 374-4612
Quinoa is finally seeing some action outside of Whole Foods. This reinterpreted American classic is “hash light” with a Mexican undercurrent, black beans, corn, pico de gallo and queso fresco. But old time America is present in the bright yolk of the fried egg adorning this dish. It will rehash your conception of hash.

3. Lamb Burger at The Federal Food Drink & Provisions

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5132 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33137
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 758-9559
(305) 758-9559
Visit Website
The Federal is serving patrons a patty of U.S. history folded in a pretzel bun. The lamb burger fuses an American classic with the immigrants who redefined diners, the Greeks. You can taste Olympus in that lamb, mint and goat cheese. And always add the duck egg.

4. Llewellyn’s Fine Fried Chicken at Yardbird Southern Table & Bar

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1600 Lenox Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 538-5220
(305) 538-5220
We’re talking about the Blue Plate Special: crispy chicken, citrus pepper watermelon, and a homemade buttermilk biscuit served on a blue plate – Yardbird doesn’t lie. It’s the most authentic greasy spoon experience for the least amount of cash. And so it’s been said many times about Yardbird: winner, winner, chicken dinner.

5. Green Eggs at The Front Porch Cafe

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1458 Ocean Dr
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 531-8300
(305) 531-8300
Visit Website
Not the Dr. Seuss kind. The Front Porch Cafe scrambled the American diner’s omelet and threw in pepper jack cheese and fragrant pesto made with basil, pine nuts, and sundried tomatoes to up the ante. Plus they’re served with fruit, vegetables, or potatoes instead of ham. It is next-level greasy spoon breakfast.

6. Voluptuous Grilled Cheese at The Morgans Restaurant

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28 NE 29th St
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 573-9678
(305) 573-9678
Visit Website
A grilled cheese so voluptuous it could be a pin-up girl (wipe that drool off your face though). This retro sandwich is the product of flattop grills, melted cheese, and good feels. All the necessary ingredients for old-fashioned fun. The best part is you don’t even need a greasy spoon.

7. Meatloaf at Biscayne Tavern

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146 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL 33132
(305) 307-8300
(305) 307-8300
Visit Website
It’s about that time in the list where we start with the word associations. So when you think “diner,” you’re also thinking “meatloaf.” Meatloaf is comfort; meatloaf is sitting at your favorite table while your favorite waiter puts in your order before you glance at menu because he or she already knows what you want: meatloaf. And it’s meatloaf fully loaded from Biscayne Tavern: balsamic tomato glaze, Portobello gravy, and bleu cheese mash. Delicious.

8. Whole Wheat Pancake Stack at Peacock Garden Café

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2889 McFarlane Rd
Miami, FL 33133
(305) 774-3332
(305) 774-3332
Visit Website
Not to be mistaken for the type of fare you get at the pancake house off the highway. Go slow with a whole-wheat stack from Peacock Garden Café. These light and tasty pancakes are served with fresh fruit and less guilt than the hot cakes in a 1970’s greasy spoon. And that’s O.K.

9. Roasted Turkey Sandwich at Whisk

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7382 SW 56th Ave
Coral Gables, FL 33143
(786) 268-8350
(786) 268-8350
Visit Website
Sometimes you don’t need a fork and knife to cut into something truly sublime. The turkey sandwich at Whisk is the revamped version of the homely turkey sandwich served in many diners. It is Brie cheese, cranberry mayo, tomato and arugula, all tasting fresher than nostalgia.

10. Tasajo Cured Beef Hash at Bread + Butter

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2330 Salzedo St
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 442-9622
(305) 442-9622
Visit Website
This is a textbook-looking hash, but the ingredient list says otherwise. The chef Alberto Cabrera has created a dish that pays tribute to two cultures, American and Cuban. A muscular dish, Cabrera balances tasajo, or dried beef, boniato and a poached egg over Cuban toast. The result is a mixture of flavors that represents Miami. Dale!

11. Brie Mozzarella Sticks at The Local Craft Food and Drink

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150 Giralda Ave
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 648-5697
(305) 648-5697
Visit Website
Order the mozzarella sticks at The Local, and you won’t be served mozzarella. Marinara and stringy cheese are subbed out for blueberry sweet and sour sauce and brie, respectively. It’s a much-needed overhaul on a greasy spoon classic. If you’re feeling guilty about indulging, they’re also served with a granny smith apple. It’s a win-win.

12. Mike’s Monte Cristo at Moloko

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3201 N Miami Ave, #104
Miami, FL 33127
Moloko in Midtown is the antithesis of a greasy spoon. Yet in the art exhibited there, we can find the spirit of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks. Their Monte Cristo embodies everything decadent about diner food: aged white cheddar, slabs of deli meat, sticky, syrupy berry drizzled on top and French toast that will make you scream. You’re encouraged to double dip in the maple syrup too. Yum.

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1. Shrimp and Grits at Blue Collar

6730 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138
Blue Collar is Daniel Serfer’s nod to diner culture. As chef and owner, Serfer is remixing Southern nostalgia and first-class ingredients like Trugole cheese and Neuske Bacon in his pièce de résistance, shrimp and grits. Even critics are using greasy spoons to lap up the N’awlins style BBQ sauce and plump shrimp. It’s not getting better than this.
6730 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL 33138
(305) 756-0366

2. Quinoa Hash at OTC

1250 S.Miami Ave CU #4, Brickell, FL 33130
Quinoa is finally seeing some action outside of Whole Foods. This reinterpreted American classic is “hash light” with a Mexican undercurrent, black beans, corn, pico de gallo and queso fresco. But old time America is present in the bright yolk of the fried egg adorning this dish. It will rehash your conception of hash.
1250 S.Miami Ave CU #4
Brickell, FL 33130
(305) 374-4612

3. Lamb Burger at The Federal Food Drink & Provisions

5132 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33137, Miami, FL 33137
The Federal is serving patrons a patty of U.S. history folded in a pretzel bun. The lamb burger fuses an American classic with the immigrants who redefined diners, the Greeks. You can taste Olympus in that lamb, mint and goat cheese. And always add the duck egg.
5132 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33137
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 758-9559
Visit Website

4. Llewellyn’s Fine Fried Chicken at Yardbird Southern Table & Bar

1600 Lenox Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
We’re talking about the Blue Plate Special: crispy chicken, citrus pepper watermelon, and a homemade buttermilk biscuit served on a blue plate – Yardbird doesn’t lie. It’s the most authentic greasy spoon experience for the least amount of cash. And so it’s been said many times about Yardbird: winner, winner, chicken dinner.
1600 Lenox Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 538-5220

5. Green Eggs at The Front Porch Cafe

1458 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Not the Dr. Seuss kind. The Front Porch Cafe scrambled the American diner’s omelet and threw in pepper jack cheese and fragrant pesto made with basil, pine nuts, and sundried tomatoes to up the ante. Plus they’re served with fruit, vegetables, or potatoes instead of ham. It is next-level greasy spoon breakfast.
1458 Ocean Dr
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 531-8300
Visit Website

6. Voluptuous Grilled Cheese at The Morgans Restaurant

28 NE 29th St, Miami, FL 33137
A grilled cheese so voluptuous it could be a pin-up girl (wipe that drool off your face though). This retro sandwich is the product of flattop grills, melted cheese, and good feels. All the necessary ingredients for old-fashioned fun. The best part is you don’t even need a greasy spoon.
28 NE 29th St
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 573-9678
Visit Website

7. Meatloaf at Biscayne Tavern

146 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
It’s about that time in the list where we start with the word associations. So when you think “diner,” you’re also thinking “meatloaf.” Meatloaf is comfort; meatloaf is sitting at your favorite table while your favorite waiter puts in your order before you glance at menu because he or she already knows what you want: meatloaf. And it’s meatloaf fully loaded from Biscayne Tavern: balsamic tomato glaze, Portobello gravy, and bleu cheese mash. Delicious.
146 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL 33132
(305) 307-8300
Visit Website

8. Whole Wheat Pancake Stack at Peacock Garden Café

2889 McFarlane Rd, Miami, FL 33133
Not to be mistaken for the type of fare you get at the pancake house off the highway. Go slow with a whole-wheat stack from Peacock Garden Café. These light and tasty pancakes are served with fresh fruit and less guilt than the hot cakes in a 1970’s greasy spoon. And that’s O.K.
2889 McFarlane Rd
Miami, FL 33133
(305) 774-3332
Visit Website

9. Roasted Turkey Sandwich at Whisk

7382 SW 56th Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33143
Sometimes you don’t need a fork and knife to cut into something truly sublime. The turkey sandwich at Whisk is the revamped version of the homely turkey sandwich served in many diners. It is Brie cheese, cranberry mayo, tomato and arugula, all tasting fresher than nostalgia.
7382 SW 56th Ave
Coral Gables, FL 33143
(786) 268-8350
Visit Website

10. Tasajo Cured Beef Hash at Bread + Butter

2330 Salzedo St, Coral Gables, FL 33134
This is a textbook-looking hash, but the ingredient list says otherwise. The chef Alberto Cabrera has created a dish that pays tribute to two cultures, American and Cuban. A muscular dish, Cabrera balances tasajo, or dried beef, boniato and a poached egg over Cuban toast. The result is a mixture of flavors that represents Miami. Dale!
2330 Salzedo St
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 442-9622
Visit Website

11. Brie Mozzarella Sticks at The Local Craft Food and Drink

150 Giralda Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Order the mozzarella sticks at The Local, and you won’t be served mozzarella. Marinara and stringy cheese are subbed out for blueberry sweet and sour sauce and brie, respectively. It’s a much-needed overhaul on a greasy spoon classic. If you’re feeling guilty about indulging, they’re also served with a granny smith apple. It’s a win-win.
150 Giralda Ave
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 648-5697
Visit Website

12. Mike’s Monte Cristo at Moloko

3201 N Miami Ave, #104, Miami, FL 33127
Moloko in Midtown is the antithesis of a greasy spoon. Yet in the art exhibited there, we can find the spirit of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks. Their Monte Cristo embodies everything decadent about diner food: aged white cheddar, slabs of deli meat, sticky, syrupy berry drizzled on top and French toast that will make you scream. You’re encouraged to double dip in the maple syrup too. Yum.
3201 N Miami Ave, #104
Miami, FL 33127

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