"Paya is a welcome addition to the otherwise lackluster options near Lincoln Road. There are great dishes here, but they’re mixed in with a few that could use some work. This place calls itself “island-inspired” and has a broadly Caribbean menu that doesn’t fully commit to any specific island—and sometimes deviates from the region entirely. The South Beach restaurant is run by the same folks who own Ghee, and you can find a similar commitment to highlighting local ingredients here. Except Paya is slightly more focused on things that swim. photo credit: Paya photo credit: Paya photo credit: Paya So you won’t have a bad time if you stick to the seafood. The rest is a bit of a toss-up. The pasta isn’t nearly as good as the ones from Paya’s other sister restaurant, Erba. We’d like to see more oomph from their papaya salad—more fish sauce, more chilis. And you can skip the random grilled cheese altogether. Still, the soft glow of candlelight, long plush curtains, and rattan chairs make it a great date night option. It's also just a refreshing change of pace from those South Beach restaurants where sidewalk barkers try to lure you in with promises of half-off Happy Hour chicken alfredo. Thankfully, not Paya—they also have an affordable three-course prix fixe menu for $75 with options that include our favorite dishes on the menu, like the scallop crudo, lemongrass glazed daily catch, and rum cake. Food Rundown photo credit: Paya Island Crab Cake We’ve had this dish twice. The first time, it was watery and mushy. The second time, we could actually taste the Indian spices like curry powder, and it held its shape when we cut into it. We also like the papaya salsa it comes with. photo credit: Paya Truffle Brie Grilled Cheese This doesn’t really belong on the menu—or any menu for $18. We get the appeal of mango jam and brie cheese (and the millennial urge to eat like a child). But it just takes up stomach real estate that could belong to a better dish, like their daily catch. photo credit: Paya Lemongrass Glazed Daily Catch This is our favorite thing here. It’s a Thai-style coconut curry with bok choy and sweet carrots that balance the spicy curry. It comes with a big piece of fish coated in a bright lemongrass glaze, and the meat is flakier than your Sunday morning plans after staying out until 3am. photo credit: Paya Crispy Hogfish Whole fried fish are so ubiquitous in Miami, they’re right up there with caesar salads. But this is one big boy (or girl). The meat is delicate and sweet, but the skin is impressively crunchy. It all comes draped in a great ginger sesame sauce. photo credit: Paya Brugal 1888 Rum Cake This is our favorite dessert here. It’s a mini bunt rum cake that’s warm and buttery. It’s topped with vanilla ice cream and covered in a sweet toffee sauce." - Virginia Otazo
