Peacock Garden Resto Bar + Grill

The dining room is light and lovely, but the main draw is the lush garden patio that makes you feel as if you're dining on Blanche Devereaux's lanai. Mismatched wicker and white wrought-iron chairs come complete with cushions in old-lady patterns, and empty bird cages contain fake feathered friends glued to perches. Behind this adorable café are Lalo Durazo and Oscar del Rivero, the same team that opened Jaguar Ceviche. Much like Jaguar, some of the prices here could easily cause one brow to arch. For instance, although the menu allows diners to choose any grilled item (chicken, skirt steak, tuna, shrimp, salmon) and pair it with any leafy plate (niçoise, Chinese, caesar, Greek, or pear and blue cheese), there's an $18 minimum for any salad unless one happens to be featured on Peacock's daily $13 lunch special. Other "garden-inspired cuisine" includes soup of the day ($6), a couple of pastas ($14), burgers and other sandwiches ($14 to $18), and entrées such as pan-roasted chicken, seared salmon teriyaki, baby-back ribs, and grilled filet mignon or Black Angus NY steak ($30). Pricing aside, Peacock Garden Café has fresh, tasty food; excellent sangria; attentive service; and a great outdoor ambiance perfect for Miami's winter/spring months. There aren't as many of these places around as one might think.