JB Kitchen & Bar

JB Kitchen & Bar

1250 S. Miami Ave

Miami, FL 33130

This is the first negative review that I am writing, there I just went ahead and put it out there.

This place used to be Badrutt's Place, if anyone have been there before there is nothing much have change except they took the upper deck dance floor out. The food was very disappointed as I was when it was Badrutt's Place. The place is nice with the outside sitting area the decor is modern upscale. The music was so loud that you have to shout to have a conversation.

I was there with some good friends on a Friday night and it was busy because New Times had a Tweetup event there in the bar and outside area, but the dining room was empty with only one other table. We ordered drinks and it took a long time for our food to come.

I ordered garlic streamed mussels which was bland and I had to ask for some hot sauce, and the bread that came with it was so burnt that I could not even bite in it and the crust was black. I asked for some fresh bread, and it did not come until I was almost done with the mussels. The manager finally came by and I told him about the bread and he said it's supposed to be that way, my friend put it in his hand and he had a funny look on his face for he realized how burnt the bread was. Well, he left and never came back. Then one of my friends ordered the chef signature dish recommended by the server the seared scallops, it was decent but the bland sour kraut that came with it was horrible since it did not even go together at all. My other friends played it safe, one ordered the cheeseburger and the last dish was the chicken salad; they let me have a taste and it was your average stuff. I definitely would not go back. I actually went to their grand opening a little while ago and it was decent, and I was reluctant to eat dinner there, but my friends were hungry at the New Times Tweetup and they wanted to eat and I figure I would give them another chance. Lesson learn again, always trust my instincts. Happy Eating!

Korean cuisine

Finding Korean food in Miami is pretty much non-existence. However, there is one in Doral called Yuki Hana, it's a Japanese and Korean restaurant. It's a small cozy and nice little restaurant, there is of course a sushi bar as well. You have to ask for the Korean menu since you will be giving a Japanese menu when you sit down. The other place it's in North Miami Beach called Kyung Ju, this place is a stand alone and pretty nice size with Korean decor.


Most people gets intimidate with Korean food since it's not well know, but do not be afraid for it's very tasty. If I do get an appetizer, I love their seafood pancake, it's just seafood with flour mixed together and pan fried and it's so delicious with their brown sauce that comes with it. My two favorites entrees are the seafood tofu soup and the Korean beef BBQ. The seafood tofu soup it's served in a hot pot, so it's such a heart warming dish for winter time, or if you are not feeling well. The Korean beef BBQ is served over onions and hot plate here, yet some restaurant have a portable grill that you can cook it at your table in front of you. What I really enjoy about Korean food is the banchan, side dishes, that comes with your meal besides stream white rice. The banchan dishes varies depends on the restaurant, they are usually consists of kimchi (preserved cabbage with garlic and chili), tofu, bean sprouts, cucumber, radishes, potato, fish cake, etc. If you like spicy food, you can ask for Korean hot sauce on the side to add to your dish. The flavor is amazing with the combination of the side dishes accompanying your main dish. Go try it, and let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Matsuri Japanese Restaurant

5759 Bird Rd, Miami, FL 33155

I have to admit I have been disappointed at the Japanese restaurants in Miami, they all have been average or bad. There was this one restaurant that I got sick from having raw sushi, so no more raw sushi for me after that. However, my friend introduced me to Matsuri, it's hidden in a shopping center in Westchester. If you blink and not pay attention you would not even notice it. The set up is very zen and Asian with bamboo wood floor and bamboo wall paper. As you walked through the dining room, there is a sushi bar to the right on the back. It is a nice size place and it's packed with people, we arrived at 12:30pm for lunch with a reservation so we only waited for 5 minutes. The service was quick for a busy place. I ordered the bento box with tempura and it comes with salad, California roll, another choice of meat that you can pick from sashimi to teriyaki, and orange for dessert. My friend ordered the sashimi bowl with rice, he used to live in Japan so I believe him when he said their fish is the freshest you can get at a Japanese place. What makes them unique and authentic is the vinegar in the rice, it adds such a good flavor to the sushi that you do not even need the soy sauce, and the ginger is very high quality and tasty. For dessert we ordered the tempura cheesecake and bananas with vanilla ice cream, of course this is so Americanize but it's good. The price is very affordable, my bento box is only $8 and the sashimi is about $15. The dessert was about $5. I will definitely drive out there for good Japanese food any time. Enjoy!

Pizza Rustica

Pizza Rustica is my favorite pizza place in south beach. There are three locations: The Original 863 Washington Ave which have been around since 1996 and that is very rare for south beach, Cameo 1447 Washington Ave, and Lincoln Rd. Mall 667 Lincoln Rd.

It's a small busy pizza place with the fresh smell of the pizza baking in the oven and they stay busy all the time. I usually just walk up and order my favorite house specialty big rectangular slice of Pizza Rustica. They just pop your slice in the oven and in a few minutes you grab it and find a table to sit down and eat the delicious pizza. The Rustica ingredients consist of ham, artichoke, olives, tomatoes, cheese, and basil. Of course they have my favorite condiments of red pepper, oregano and Parmesan cheese.

They have such a big selection to satisfy everyone, from the wheat crust with salad on top to shrimp, to vegetarian, to the meat lover, and they have sandwiches as well. The price is amazing for about $5 you get such a big slice that I usually only eat half of it and take the other half home. The crust is so crunchy and the ingredients is flavorful and fresh. If you are looking for some unpretentious place in south beach, this is definitely one of them. Enjoy!