Jen A.
Yelp
Oro in Miami Beach offers a stunning ambiance, but unfortunately, the food doesn't quite live up to the beautiful space. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed by the sleek, sexy design, setting high expectations for the dining experience to come. However, the service and the food left much to be desired.
We decided to try a variety of items from the menu, and when we asked to start with the caviar while we looked over the rest of the options, the server insisted we order everything all at once. They assured us the dishes would be paced properly and that the caviar was already being prepared. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. The caviar arrived, but almost immediately, every cold dish we ordered was dropped at our table--creating a chaotic spread on our already small table. Despite asking for the dishes to be spaced out and served in a more thoughtful manner, we ended up having to use a nearby table to accommodate all the food.
As for the food itself, we had high hopes but were ultimately disappointed. The Bananas and Caviar ($250) was served with a metal spoon, which felt completely out of place for such a luxurious dish. The Tom Kha Crudo was underwhelming, and the Peach Caprese was a letdown, made with canned peaches instead of fresh ones. Other dishes like the Passion Fruit Caesar, Salmon Tiradito, Lobster and Citrus, and the twice fried Brussel sprouts seemed to fall short of the high price tags. The Uni Carbonara was the only dish that stood out in a positive way, though it didn't make up for the overall lackluster meal.
The white truffle pomme frites tasted like frozen French fries from the supermarket, the blistered shishito peppers were forgettable, and the Galician octopus was overcooked and bland. To end on a sweeter note, the Yuzu Cheesecake and Milk Chocolate Tart were fine but didn't deliver the wow factor expected from a high-end establishment.
Finally, there was an unexpected service charge: a 20% tip automatically added to the bill, which is fine when disclosed upfront, but the lack of transparency felt rude. On top of that, they add a 3% service charge when paying with a credit card--something that, frankly, is a bit annoying.
All in all, while Oro's ambiance certainly stands out, the food is overpriced for what it is, and the added fees feel unnecessarily hidden. It's a beautiful place to visit, but if you're hoping for an exceptional dining experience to match the setting, you may leave feeling a bit underwhelmed.