Mandolin Aegean Bistro
Greek restaurant · Design District ·
Greek & Turkish cuisine in a 1930s house with patio
Greek & Turkish cuisine in a 1930s house with patio
"Miami can’t agree on a lot: speed limits, politics, and literally everything else. But Mandolin might just be the one thing the entire city can get behind. The outdoor Greek restaurant is beautiful and consistent. This makes it a very safe bet for a date—even if you don’t know (or have never met) the person you’re bringing here. You'll need a reservation to guarantee one of the coveted outdoor tables. Snagging a table for lunch is much easier, in case you need something in the next 48 hours. 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
"There are some things tourists just love. Like renting a sketchy yacht for the day, taking a photo with the Ocean Drive lemur, and eating at Mandolin. And while we think lemurs belong in the wild and don’t recommend renting a yacht on Craigslist, we certainly get Mandolin’s appeal. The Greek restaurant is one of the most beautiful outdoor dining options in Miami, which is why it’s so alluring to people fleeing winter. Plus, the food is good. Mandolin has lots of shade and fans, so a summer meal here is more comfortable than it has a right to be. 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
"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
"If you’ve exhausted all your vacation days by Q2, then you might have to settle for a long lunch at Mandolin, which is the closest you’re coming to Mykonos this year. The beautiful (mostly) outdoor restaurant has lots of delicious shareable plates and a white sangria that’s appropriate to drink before 5pm. Between the baba ghanoush and the restaurant's blue and white color scheme, the only thing that’ll remind you you’re not vacationing in Greece is the notification on your phone to extend your parking. 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." - mariana trabanino, virginia otazo, ryan pfeffer
"The Mediterranean food at Mandolin is excellent, but this place is always crowded because it’s one of the most beautiful outdoor dining options in Miami. The tables are almost all outside, shaded by trees in the gorgeous courtyard of a converted 1940s bungalow right on the edge of the Design District. Between the baba ghanoush and the restaurant's blue and white color scheme, the only thing that’ll remind you you’re not vacationing in Greece is the notification on your phone to extend your parking. If you're trying to have dinner here, start looking for a reservation now because Mandolin is one of the toughest reservations in Miami. But finding a table for lunch is less of a headache. 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." - virginia otazo, ryan pfeffer, mariana trabanino