Amelia's 1931
Cuban restaurant · Sweetwater ·
Cuban-Asian fusion with unique cocktails & retro speakeasy vibe
Cuban-Asian fusion with unique cocktails & retro speakeasy vibe
"There’s lore behind Amelia’s that you’ll only understand if you live in Miami. It starts with a different restaurant in the same strip mall: Islas Canarias, a family-run spot that built a Cuban croqueta empire. The next generation opened Amelia’s 1931 next door and stuffed those crunchy meat sticks with short rib. Other than giving croqueta connoisseurs something new to debate at ventanitas, Amelia’s also mixes Asian flavors into classic Cuban dishes, like a tamal en cazuela with oxtail and chili oil. And their take on a timba Miamifies the dessert so many Cuban-Americans grew up eating by piping fresh guava onto fluffy, whipped cream cheese sprinkled with coconut shavings and Maria cookies." - virginia otazo, ryan pfeffer
"Amelia’s is very useful to the residents of Tamiami and West Kendall who are sick of hauling their Toyotas 25 miles across town for $30 pasta. It’s the kind of fun, celebratory dinner the neighborhood needs more of. With its Cuban pork katsu, Prohibition-themed decor, and flamenco nights, it might sound like Amelia’s is doing too much. And it is. But for an area that doesn’t have many excuses to go all out and wear their crispy guayaberas and ruffled dresses to dinner, it all feels appropriately excessive." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino
"A dinner at Amelia’s means embracing the chaos of eating Cuban pork katsu at a West Kendall restaurant inspired by Prohibition. It’s all over the place. Don’t try to make sense of it. Just appreciate the great time you’re having, because a celebratory restaurant this far west is a precious resource. Two back-to-back visits at Amelia’s can feel like eating at two different restaurants. That has a lot to do with the range of live music. Wednesdays are flamenco nights, and you can wave your napkin while eating paella. On Thursdays and Saturdays, it’s jazz and old-timey French songs. It’s a fun, albeit random experience that pairs well with the fun, albeit random menu. There’s a Latin/Asian thing going on here that, for the most part, works. Dishes include Korean arroz con mariscos, fritas, and lomo saltado. photo credit: Amelia's 1931 video credit: Mariana Trabanino photo credit: Amelia's 1931 video credit: Mariana Trabanino Pause Unmute Amelia’s started out as a little Cuban diner before it expanded and took over the dry cleaner next door. They honor their former neighbor’s spirit by greeting guests at the entrance with a non-functional washing machine and a garment conveyor. We appreciate the attempt at a speakeasy, even though you can clearly see into the dining room. With its tasseled lampshades and regal wallpaper, Amelia’s can feel a little clichéd, like if Epcot tackled the Prohibition era. But the cocktails are great, the ambitious fusion mostly sticks the landing, and the restaurant is giving locals deep in Miami’s suburbs an excuse to have a night on the Coral West Plaza in their crispiest guayaberas. RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE Food Rundown Machu Pikachu We love the name of this drink almost as much as the drink itself. The aji amarillo and cucumber simultaneously kick and massage your throat. It’s what we imagine Pikachu would taste like in drink form. photo credit: Amelia's 1931 Cuban Pork Katsu The sazón completa panko crust is reminiscent of pollo empanizado. It's a delicious moment where the ambiguous umbrella of Latin-Asian fusion really clicks. photo credit: Amelia's 1931 Pork Belly If, like us, you forget this dish comes with queso frito, the surprise bite of crackly cheese doused in a sweet glaze will be like receiving a Nintendo Switch from a stranger—a glorious surprise. photo credit: Amelia's 1931 Braised Oxtail The sweetness from the corn tamal overpowers the chili oil, so you miss the advertised spice. Still, the tender chunks of oxtail taste great and combined with the tamal, it's hearty enough to split between two people. photo credit: Amelia's 1931 Amelia’s Frita If you’re excitedly expecting a frita, Amelia’s version might disappoint you. It’s less like a frita and more like a burger loaded up with maduros and huacatay mayo on a brioche bun. But if you just want a good bite between two buns, it does the job. photo credit: Amelia's 1931 Aji Amarillo Hummus We like the subtle burn from the aji amarillo, but it’s one of the menu’s few misses that makes the fusion feel forced. The pita tastes stale and the hummus has a lumpy finish. photo credit: Amelia's 1931 Croquetas The chef here is part of the family behind Islas Canarias. So obviously, Amelia’s makes great croquetas, and these short rib versions give the traditional jamón a run for its money. Timba A dessert that preaches less is more. The whipped cream cheese has coconut shavings and is piped with guava. There are Maria Cookies on top. And altogether, it tastes like Miami childhood. photo credit: Amelia's 1931" - Mariana Trabanino
"“Every time I drink at Amelia’s, I feel like I’m in a murder mystery game and I have a secret. The first time I tried to take my parents there, we kept missing the entrance, because it's concealed behind a laundromat. Kendall is known for being a scrappy underdog—the suburbs, you know? So to have something as polished and gorgeous as Amelia's is really a treat. And to have live jazz in Kendall on a Thursday night is amazing too. I’ll always order the tuna tataki and coconut cheesecake for dessert.”" - ryan pfeffer
"Disguised as a laundromat, this modern-day speakeasy is chef Eileen Andrade’s ode to her grandmother, Amelia. The menu showcases Cuban and Korean cuisine with several appetizer options, including ceviche, dakkochi, and dumplings, to entrees such as the Cuban pork katsu with sazon completa panko crust and the fish of the day with Thai chili and aji amarillo crema. On Wednesdays, Amelia’s hosts flamenco nights with $30 paella for two and $8 sangrias, and on Sundays, guests can enjoy brunch. Happy hour is also available Wednesday through Sunday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m." - Stacy Moya
