Ocean Drive in South Beach
Sometimes the best thing about writing about travel is getting ripped off – and knowing you’ll get to tell people about it later. I had to remind myself of this on a recent trip to South Beach.
It was my first exposure to the Miami restaurant experience, and while I will definitely be back to South Beach and eat out on Ocean Drive again, I will keep these tips and lessons learned in mind and hopefully save myself several hundred dollars.
I’ll also never eat at the Beacon Hotel’s Rendezvous Restaurant again.
Ocean Drive is the place to eat in South Beach. The sidewalks are lined with rows and rows of umbrellas and tables offering dining al fresco and world class people watching. Navigating Ocean Drive means walking directly in the middle of the open air restaurants – and coming face to face with an aggressive sales pitch.
Hostesses, waiters, bartenders and restaurant managers will shout specials and bargains at you as you walk from one cafe to another. Hostesses will hand you business cards and promise you free drinks and special seating if you come back.
It seems like a dream for a diner looking for a great deal!
Until you get an $800 bill with prices you’ve never seen and items you’ve never heard of.
How can you really save money eating out in South Beach?
1. Read the signs, ignore the waitress.
This is common sense, right? But when you’re being led to a table and a waiter is using words like “half off everything” and you confirm “half off everything?” you assume that means “half off everything”. In reality, “half off everything” usually means “sit down, eat, we’ll worry about the bill later”.
The actual sale, along with the terms and conditions, are printed on large signs on the sidewalk. Usually what you’ll find is that only drinks and select menu items are on sale. Every restaurant is offering something different, so be sure to read the sign at the cafe you finally sit down at.
Yes. I know. This should be common sense.
2. Ask for comps and freebies.
Competition is fierce among Ocean Drive restaurants, especially with a struggling economy and slow tourist seasons. Don’t be afraid to use this to your advantage.
Remind one hostess that their neighbor has offered you a complimentary bottle of wine or round of drinks. But be realistic and remember that their goal is to make money. A free round of drinks or appetizers is a reasonable request – a free steak and lobster dinner is not.
Confirm whatever freebies you’re promised with another staff member to avoid another surprise on your bill later!
3. Avoid off menu items.
Whether it’s an appetizer or a chef’s special, this is where South Beach restaurants capitalize on the tourist’s “sure! whatever! I’m on vacation!” attitude. On my recent visit, the final cost of the “special”, unlisted appetizers was three times the price of similar menu items.
Ask the price of everything. Do not assume that the prices on the menu are a fair indication of the prices of everything being pitched to you.
I paid over $100 for a special entree that normally sold for $42 on the menu. Needless to say, it was not included in the “half off everything” sale.
For all of my complaining about shady marketing and outrageous billing practices, the food on South Beach is phenomenal. The seafood is fresh and everything is perfectly prepared. The service is slow – I suspect because the waiters are doubling as salespeople – but most staff you’ll run into are friendly. The experience would have been just about perfect if I had known what I was getting into ahead of time and been a little less naive.
I guess even in Miami the old adage holds true. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Photo by Britt Reints, naive diner and tourist.
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6 Responses
That seems illegal. I’ve been around the world and never seen anything like that. I think my dining there would end with a trip to the hospital and/or jail.
Just some advice from a local:
Ocean Drive is not THE place to eat on South Beach. It is the touristy place to eat on South Beach. Mediocre, overpriced food abounds. The good places in South Beach are off Ocean, and some can be found on touristy areas like Lincoln Rd. I’m not sure where you’re from, but do you go to places in your hometown where people are hawking menus and discounts at you as you walk by? Chances are if you wouldn’t do that at home, you shouldn’t do it when you’re abroad either. There is nothing on Ocean Drive worth $100. There’s probably very little on Ocean Drive worth $42. Just use some common sense! Would a good restaurant need to have hosts grabbing people off the street?
Ed – good point! On subsequent trips I think I’ll stick to Lincoln Rd and some local favorites!
Although the people watching on Ocean Drive is second to none.
Ocean Drive is not THE place to eat on South Beach. It is the touristy place to eat on South Beach. Mediocre, overpriced food abounds. The good places in South Beach are off Ocean, and some can be found on touristy areas like Lincoln Rd.
I heartily concur on this as both a local and a server for over a decade. The tourist areas are usually the most inconsistent places to eat, “expect high prices” don’t expect food quality to match.
The Front Porch on Ocean Drive is by far the best place to eat on Ocean Drive. The prices are cheaper than anything you will find on Lincoln Road (where you have to watch your step and avoid the dog droppings) and the quality of the food has remained consistant for years. Miami Beach has become a huge disappointment over the years and it is nice to see that some places haven’t changed. I have been scammed by so many places adding gratuities that I always ask for an itemized bill now. There is no standard to adding a gratuity and depending on the place you may have a gratuity added from 15% to 20% automatically. If you plan on parking on Miami Beach during the day try and go Monday thru Friday and park in the residential areas where you are able to park for free until 6PM. Above all Enjoy the Beach!
Where do you park in residential areas? On the street? I’m going in March of 2009, but have never been there before. I’m staying just north of SB and will drive into SB to visit the beach and Ocean Drive.