Symcha’s

Situated across the street from Joes Stone Crab, the people at Symcha should go over for some lessons. Service at Symcha mediocre at best, was countered with decent food quality. My steak was overdone but tasty and the side dishes decent. They were out of the desert we
wanted and substituted the second desert with another. Overall not a great experience.

Sorry Ladies and Gentlemen, Symcha’s is CLOSED!

If you are waiting at Joe’s Stone Crab, go across the street to Symcha’s for an incredible meal.
From across the street you can see the neon sign with plenty of outdoor seating. We walked over, had some scotch then all agreed to continue to have our dinner here.
The appetizers with brussels and bacon hit our eager taste pallets hard, in the best of ways. The ceviche left us wanting more.
The pan seared cachaca marinated chilean sea bass with white truffle scented risotto is one of the best things I’ve ever, ever tasted. When you think chilean sea bass cant get too far different, this one breaks the mold.
I had just enough room to try the cinnamon and vanilla flavored Challah bread pudding stuffed with white chocolate and finished with Meyers dark rum anglese.
Kudos, fine dinning on a gorgeous night.

Came here to have a few drinks at the bar while we were waiting for a table to become available at Joe’s Stone Crab (located directly across the street).
It was a Sunday night and the place was pretty empty on the inside but there were a few couples having dinner out on the patio.
The bartender was fast, efficient and very friendly. Our drinks were strong but not too strong! :)
While we were chatting at the bar the owner came by to thank us for choosing his restaurant. I thought that was nice.

For our last night in Miami for a friend’s bachelor party we decided to take him out to dinner. Doing some quick research pointed me to Joe’s Stone Crab. 4 stars and 400+ reviews made it a must try for me, but upon arrival we were told that the wait would be 2 hours. Yea. no. We eyed Symcha’s directly across the street, and decided that it was as good a place as any. Wrong. It was better.
We walked into the establishment and the first thing I notice is the bar. You may notice from my other reviews that I am a sucker for a beautiful bar set-​up. The photos on here do not do it justice as the organic shaped lacquered wood table is better complimented by the normally dim lighting of the restaurant. The rest of the décor is more subdued than you would normally expect from a South Beach establishment. It was a bit rustic with the weathered wooden beams and walls, and instead of bright gaudy colors the furniture was more muted and neutral colors. Granted, I was here for a bachelor party dinner, but this is definitely a great place for a date as well.
Arriving with 10 people I expected some sort of wait, but they were quick to get us seated after politely asking us to wait at the bar. Despite the beautiful interior we decided to eat outside since we felt the weather was nice enough that night. Our waiter was very polite and helpful. He explained every dish very clear and concise.
The food was delicious and presented beautifully. We started with the ceviche which was served on a large Himalayan salt block. Call me ignorant, but I never knew that ceviche should be prepared this way. It was great! For an entrée I ordered the scallops. I’m usually pretty apprehensive about ordering scallops because lately in New York they’ve been only serving you 2 – 3 little tiny scallops, but I did so anyway. Here they were 3 really big scallops. Pan seared to perfection. A couple of my friends ordered the skirt steak, and all said it was cooked perfectly. Another two ordered Chilean sea bass, which is apparently their most popular dish. It was delicious and was set atop a bed of truffle risotto. We shared a few sides. The bacon brussels were a hit, which came with huge chunks of bacon. The creamed spinach and creamed corn were great as well. They all were generously portioned.
Our dining experience here was topped off by a visit by the owner expressing his gratitude for out patronage. He even joked around about how he knew this was a second choice due to Joe’s being so crowded. We quipped back that Symcha’s will never be a second choice going forward. Do yourselves a favor and just head to Symcha’s first. You won’t regret it.

There is nothing like walking into a restaurant where the owner goes out of his way to take care of you. The entire night, Symcha was there to make sure we were pleased with our food, service, and he even provided warm entertainment and potential matchmaking.
Aside from the experience as a whole (ambiance, service, company), let’s discuss the FOOD and DRINKS. For starters, the bottles of wine of reasonably priced. Their signature cocktail called Forever Young had a blueberry fruit punch taste that just went down so smooth without that strong martini taste. As an appetizer, we ordered the crab cake, which was probably the best ever. No filler, perfectly cooked with the tastiest little sauce on the side. The steak was deliciously seasoned and good quality. The yuca and truffle fries were equally noteworthy.
I must say, it wasn’t our first choice. We originally ordered the chef’s special which was a tempura branzino, but they ran out. I am dying to try this and will go back in hopes that I will have the classiest fish and chips in town.
For dessert, the pineapple express just took my breath away. Honestly, I can’t even express the explosion that happened in my mouth. I can’t do it justice.
I am coming back. If not for the next menu items I want to devour, but just for that familiar feeling of a place where I truly felt welcomed.

This is my first review on Unilocal after a nearly 3 year hiatus, but I just have to give praise to Symcha’s! Last night I finally made it there after hearing great reviews from trusted foodie friends (not to mentionethe fact that it’s a 2 minute walk from my apartment!) and it did not disappoint!
As we were greeted by the friendly hostess when we were walking up the pathway to the entrance I knew we were in for a great night. The décor was tasteful and intimate. Our waiter, David was knowledgable, attentive and engaging. The charming owner and his wife made a brief stop to our table to ask us how we were enjoying our meal and really made us feel at home, offering us a second complimentary glass of prosecco (one was already included for Miami Spice) when I mentioned my friend’s who’d recommended their restaurant.
I ordered from the Miami Spice menu and started with the apple/​gorgonzola salad which was deliciously tart and refreshing. For my second course I went with the grouper served with purple potato purée and asparagus and it was wonderfully complimented with just a touch of mustard. For dessert, I broke my own rule of trying every restaurant’s tiramisu and instead went with death by chocolate. WOW! It was exactly what I’d hoped it would be when I first glanced at the menu, HEAVEN with coconut flakes on top!
We had an early reservation and the restaurant was not too busy, but even as the more patrons began arriving and filling up the bar, our service never suffered. I definitely left the restaurant with the desire to go back (and soon!) as I noticed that the food being served at the nearby tables (hello burger!) looked just as amazing! Overall, I highly recommend Symcha’s. From what I had, their dishes are as tasty, if not more so than other South of Fifth restaurants without all the pretense (you all know what I’m talking about!).

Amazing food!!! I love everything about this place except the over abundance of perfume that SoBe women seem to think is attractive to others.
The first time here was just wine at the bar. Kelly, the bartender, is beyond personable and great! The décor is cozy and upscale while still being relaxed.
Came back for dinner and was very impressed. The waiters are great. When asked to compare a fish dish to a steak entrée, we didn’t get the typical, «Well one is steak and the other is fish» response. He knew exactly what we meant and started to compare along the lines of «Well both have a starch…». Good answers!
Food-​Tuna Tartare, Oxtail, Chilean Sea Bass and Skirt Steak. I am a tuna tartare whore and try it at every decent restaurant that serves it. This was an interesting style and I will say tasty. Definitely not my favorite by any means (Truluck’s has my highest vote at the moment) but at least it had its own style. My bf had the oxtail and it was really tender, juicy and flavorful. He also had the skirt steak which was cooked just right and very tender. It was served with really good potatoes. I had the sea bass which was just beyond amazing. It is a signiture dish and was actually so flavorful that I had to rest and breathe between bites. The risotto was among the best I have ever had. The veggies that it comes with were perfect and the fish itself was cooked better than I could have imagined. It was light and the right balance to a meal that had such rich flavors. Dessert was Death By Chocolate and I thought it was really good, even if at that point I only had room for a few bites. We really liked that the portions were not ridiculous but made for actual in-​shape humans.
This will definitely be in the regular rotation. It has a great neighborhood feel, is good people watching, has a friendly staff and great food. I look forward to the winter months when we will sit outside-​they have tons of tables and it has a great feel towards that part of SoBe-​calm and quiet.
Love!!!

It was a great night for us. At first, when we got there, it was full and we had to wait at the bar. Almost an hour of waiting. We took a sip of Forever Young drink. The best martini I have ever had! The drink menu is very simple but the perfection of the taste is definitely there.
If you have the Unilocal deal: get a champagne. It will boost your metabolism. About the food, it can easily take you to heaven with the sea bass.
I am just simply falling head over heels with this restaurant. From the interior design to the drinks to the food and the bartenders and the owners… It is just simply perfect.
I love the white wash wood work there and the bar is so beautiful and elegant.
My husband wanted to come back the night after that. But I decided to try out other restaurants. I wish I had come back to Symcha’s, the best in Miami in our opinion. The best time of us when we stayed there!

Great bartenders and cocktails, incredible sea bass. Overall the best fine dining experience we had in south beach.

This past weekend a few of us decided to try Symcha’s. Pronounced Sim-kkchhkkka’s — you know, how a Jewish person would say it. Which is exactly who the owner is — Mr. Symcha, a kind attentive Jewish restauranteur from Venezuela.
The ambiance here is beautiful, the service is great and the food was good but not mind blowing. Here is what we had. You can find some great pics on my blog here:
Seafood Ceviche
Served on top of a Himalayan Salt Block — ok let’s get real, that block is definitely not from the Himalayas but I appreciate the creativity.
Zinfandel Braised Oxtail
Very delicious, but left my hands covered in oxtail juice (wet nap please?)
Center Cut Beef Skirt Steak
Tasty and I learned a new word — «Haricoverts» which is a type of green bean.
Pan Seared Florida Black Grouper
This was my dish. Had a beautiful Purple Potato Purée with Grilled Asparagus and a Leek Saffron Bisque Sauce
Death By Chocolate
The dessert is the money maker, you blow this you blow the whole meal. To me, a dessert called Death By Chocolate should have layers and layers of chocolate. And although it was a sweet morsel of goodness, I was in no way near death caused by chocolate.
Tiramisu
My boyfriend had the Tiramisu which I can’t say much about because it was tasteless compared to my coconut-​mint-​oreo-​death-​explosion.

Simply perfect. From the vibe, the extremely charismatic staff to the food– it’s all truly top notch. I don’t recall the last time I was that impressed with a dining experience. We went and ordered off the Miami spice menu and it was the best Miami spice meal I’ve had since I’ve been going to miami spice participating restaurants. The oxtail appetizer truly melts in your mouth. For my entrée I chose the burger because I couldn’t understand how a restaurant could justify putting a burger on the spice menu and all I can say is– it’s more than justified. Miami has become a burgers’ haven and I’ve fortunately tried all the new spots– but this 10 ounce piece of paradise simply tops the list! Even the French fries were the best I’ve ever had.
And then desserts! Wow!!! Our table got both spice options– the tiramisu and the death by chocolate and I just suggest that they put «death» in front of all their desserts, cause you truly feel like you’ve died and gone to heaven.
We had the pleasure of meeting the executive chef and when he came to our table we actually applauded– I know cheesy– but was well worth the never ending applause and compliments. He’s surprisingly young and should seriously consider going on top chef.
Symcha’s– you’ve done what most restaurants in Miami try to do but fail trying; you’ve used Miami spice as a way to expose your restaurant so that patrons return after the deals end the first of October. Our group of 7 will surely return many times and next time– there will be many more of us!
Congrats to you all for a job perfectly done!

Great place! The service was the best that I have had in Miami. Went with a group of 5 people and sat outside. We ordered the Rib-​eye, Salmon, Sea Bass and Scallops. We were all in love.
The Rib-​eye ($ 55) was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The Sea Bass was made to perfection. The server was extremely knowledgeable, suggesting amazing wines to accompany the food.
I love at the end that Symcha himself came to introduce himself and ask us how our meal was so far.
Definitely would recommend and tell the people across the street (at Joe’s Stone Crab) to come over to Symcha’s, the food and service is much better. It’s a bit pricey but well worth it!
I’ll definitely be back.

Symcha is the name of the owner. Great people run this fine restaurant a husband and wife team. This is fine dining at it BEST!
I ate at the bar and the bartenders were very focused on their customers.
Great customer service!
I had the Bone-​in-​Rib-​Eye is was excellent!
I am making Symcha’s one of my favorite in South Beach.

It doesn’t happen very often that a restaurant is better than the hype. But I will start off by saying that Symcha’s exceeded all expectations.
I decided to go on a slow Monday evening to avoid the chaos that ensues on the weekends. While reviewing the menu I had a chance to speak with the owner and the head chef about the menu and their selection of prime beef cuts. I found it interesting that they source from different farms to ensure that they have the perfect selection of each cut. I started with the eggplant appetizer which I thought needed a little salt until I realized that the plate had a flavored sea salt sprinkled on it. For my entrée I chose the cachaca marinated Sea Bass which was buttery, perfectly cooked. It was seasoned and plated on top of an amazing risotto with a few pieces of grilled mushroom and cauliflower. Had a side of the truffled polenta and the brussel sprouts which were both delicious and complemented the Sea Bass (Patagonian Toothfish, Still cannot believe Americans fell for this marketing trick) perfectly. The portions were just the right size for the texture and weight of the meal. I didn’t eat for 24 hours prior to this so I had plenty of room to finish the meal off with the challah bread pudding with a cinnamon cream sauce. Ambiance was was very nice even for a slow evening. The restrooms were immaculate. Staff was very attentive and friendly. So… yeah, already looking forward to my next meal at Symchas.

So in Miami, I always find that the restaurants have great ambiance and mediocre food — or good food, no ambiance. We have been to symcha’s twice. The chopped salad is fantastic — my kids scarfed it down. The seabass was outstanding — served on rissoto — so good. The grouper was also fantastic — really healthy option. The burger was also amazing — with a thick slice of bacon.
The service was five-​star. Oh, and did I
Mention the atmosphere? Beautiful patio dining — quiet setting, a place that you can actually have dinner conversation. Symcha’s is a really nice addition to South Beach.

The location is great, across from Joe’s, and they did a great job designing the restaurant — a lot of attention to detail.
It is obviously a new restaurant and they are still ironing a couple things out. The biggest negative was our waiter was running hard and it would have been nice if he had some more help. I highly recommend doing family style, there is a lot of good food to try.
The Apps:
… Seafood ceviche — nice sized and well prepared, something I’d order again, but I have to say Michy’s is still the best ceviche around
… Crab cakes — a little bready, but overall very tasty. It could have a little crunch
… Chinese eggplant — perfect!!!
… Gorgonzola salad — excellent, great cheese and a nice size
The Mains:
… Sea bass — like butter, definitely not frozen
… Salmon — great for salmon
… Skirt steak — this thing must have been marinating for a week and the result is one of the best around
… Truffle polenta — must try this
, Brussels sprouts — brussels with bacon, so good and my second favorite thing of the night
… Asparagus — good and simple
Dessert was another high point. I recommend the chocolate tart with the creamy mouse inside and peanut butter crust shell. The apple cake was also good and the people that I was with loved the challah bread pudding. I was going to give the place 4 stars, but at the end of the night Josh the chef came out and made the rounds. Super nice guy.
TIP: There is indoor and outdoor seating — make sure when you make a reservation you ask for your preference.
BONUS: Seriously one of the nicest bathrooms of any restaurant I have ever been in.

My girlfriend and I recently visited Symcha’s for our one year anniversary dinner this passed Friday. I did countless searches for a new place we haven’t tried and sure enough Urban Daddy guided me their way.
Drinks:
The wine list was extensive, but I definitely would have appreciated some more signature cocktails of the establishment other than the two offered. We did have both, and were tasty but I do like a little more variety.
Décor:
Mainly outdoor seating, with very dim lighting as you enjoy your dinner tucked under a giant red umbrella. The inside (where we sat) was clean and not too over the top fancy. We sat in the library room which was definitely gave off a very homey vibe with family pictures sitting on the shelves (of who I believe is pictures of the owners family). Also a very comfy banquette piled with pillows.
Starters:
We began with the crab cake and the seafood ceviche. The crab cake was extremely good and definitely recommended (not too much mayo, lots of meat) The seafood ceviche was presented on a salt block, and a little bland until we pushed the ceviche onto the salt. It was definitely what it needed to live up to the servers hype. However it the seafood was diced so small, I probably wouldn’t order this a second time.
Main Course:
I had the skirt steak sided with a sweet dressed salad. Steak was incredible, tender, flavorful, and melts in your mouth. My girlfriend had the pound and ½ maine lobster over some sauteed mushrooms. Lobster was just as great as the steak, lots of meat, not too small, and appropriately priced. I would absolutely order these two options again.
Our server was very attentive and helped guide us through the menu. There is an added gratuity on the bill which wasn’t an over the top percentage. The head chef was also a Hells Kitchen contestant, so I definitely trusted his discipline in the kitchen.
Go check out symcha’s right across the street from Joe’s Stone Crab off Washington.

Our waiter assured us when we walked in that we would be having the best food
we’ve had in Miami in a long time. Considering it was my first time in Miami, my standards were already pretty low.
Regardless, my boyfriend and I had a surprisingly delicious meal here. I ordered the Chilean sea bass with truffle risotto, and it was simply amazing. I highly recommend this dish. So many of the dessert options looked great, and we went with the Apple of My Eye dessert — a deconstructed apple pie a la mode. It was very delicious, though a little difficult to eat with the giant caramel/​sugar sheet.
I was very pleased with my dining experience and would highly recommend this restaurant.

Awesome food, great vibe, nice owners, beautiful presentation, cute outdoor seating.
Tuna and sea bass were especially good. Ceviche presentation was awesome on a cool salt plate (sounds weird but looked great)