The 10 Best Restaurants In The Design District - Miami - The Infatuation

"Though it’s always a difficult dinner reservation to find, a meal at Mandolin is still easier than buying a plane ticket and flying to Greece—which is what having lunch here feels like. Mandolin is technically in Buena Vista, but only a block from the Design District. The Mediterranean food is very good, but this place is always crowded because it’s one of the greatest outdoor restaurants in Miami. The tables are shaded by trees and canopies, and the grilled octopus, whole Mediterranean sea bass, and grilled halloumi are exactly the kinds of things we want to eat under the Miami sky. Lunch is way easier to book than dinner. Whether or not Mandolin is slammed depends on the weather. If it's gorgeous out, you should have made that reservation three weeks ago. If it's not peak snowbird season, it's easier. They accept walk-ins, although walk-ins are usually seated inside. Luckily, all people with reservations are guaranteed an outdoor table." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino