400 Ocean Drive.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
786.230.8396
website
On Miami Beach, Ocean Drive south of 12th Street has something of a reputation. Its boulevards are an endless line of mediocre restaurants with aggressive marketing, practically harassing you on the sidewalk to come in for an eternal happy hour of overpriced food and drink.
The Local House is not one of these traps. A bit on the lighter end, this seafood restaurant is a place of substance; its cocktails a creative menagerie of fruits, its seafood fresh and standing on its own. Those wonderful outdoor seats make this spot good for a date or an intimate dinner. Definitely a bit more upscale than what you’ll find to the north.
As the menu goes, fresh seafood rules the roost, and many of the dishes are very minimal on the interruption. Some of the things I liked:
- Oysters: As they go, these are very simple: served on the half-shell, with lemon, hot sauce and sweet chili options for flavorings. Lets the freshness of the ingredients speak for themselves.
- Local poke: This simple raw fish salad is served with cubed tuna and a very pleasant mix of veggies: edamame, cucumber, onion, carrot, avocado and celery. Altogether, this salad is wonderful, my only complaint being the sweet chili sauce. It’s clearly out of a bottle. Disappointing considering the price.
- Key Lime Pie: You know key lime pie the minute you taste it. A key lime is more tart than your average lime, and that sharpness is present in this light and pleasant pie. Nice with the whipped cream and a crumbly crust.
- “I’ll Be There:” A light and fruity drink, with vodka, raspberry-tinged chambord, blueberries and lemon juice. No one of the fruit flavors overwhelms others.
- “Down the Rabbit Hole:” Another fruity concoction with raspberry at the forefront. A little more substantial, still good.
Service here is pretty good. The people are nice and food comes quickly. Prices are a little high, but higher prices are pretty normal in Miami, even with seafood. Just keep in mind the gratuity and that like some places, this one includes it automatically. But all told, the experience is generally good, and I think the inflated price is worth the experience, especially if you’re looking for something a little nicer.
Good, fresh seafood is a must in Miami, and that means making sure you find a place that doesn’t leave you wanting. Worth it.
Recommendations
- There are sometimes Yelp deals at this place. The most rewarding, sometimes, is a free desert. Check out online and make sure you know what you can get.
- Make reservations and see if you can grab some of those wonderful patio couches.
- Seafood is king here, but there are also lunch and brunch menus with more traditional cuisine.
Another Food Critic 