Abbale Telavivian Kitchen opened in 2021 in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood. The restaurant is located away from the tourist spots and noise of South Beach and therefore allows for a “quiet” night out with friends, family or just by yourself, enjoying Executive Chef’s Sam Gorenstein Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. The menu is inspired by Gorenstein’s Syrian and Latin flavors and hospitality entrepreneurs Omer Horev Moroccan roots. Make no mistake: this is not your “Americanized” version of Mediterranean food. You would find Gorenstein’s dishes and flavors in cafes and restaurants in Tel Aviv – it is a true, authentic cuisine.
Our meal started with yellowfin tuna tartare and grilled octopus shashlik. Persian cucumber, labneh, meyer lemon, espelette pepper and cilantro created a uniquely fresh tartare. The octopus was grilled to perfection, juicy and tender. It comes with matbucha (a Moroccan salad consisting of cooked tomatoes and roasted bell peppers), garbanzo, fresh herbs and tahini. We recommend ordering a side of fire baked pitas to soak up all the juices and flavors.
Our first main course was the pan roasted double cut lamb chops marinated with chermoula (a North African marinade that consists of garlic, cumin and coriander). The lamb was perfectly seasoned and pink in the middle – an explosion of flavors awaits you. The combination of chermoula, grated tomatoes and confit garlic is something you have to try. For the second entree, we opted for an off menu item, recommended to us by our waiter: a grilled salmon with a honey and date sauce. We have eaten many salmon dishes over the years but this one was special.
To finish our dinner, we had Baklava with pistachio ice cream as well as a lemon cake. With these desserts, Chef Gorenstein showed that he not only masters the savory part of the menu but also manages to create masterpieces for those with a sweet tooth.
Abbale Telavivian Kitchen also serves lunch between 11am and 430pm as well as brunch on Sundays. During your next trip to Miami, be sure to make a reservation here. We will certainly be back.
