MLT, Cheesesteaks & Grilled Cheese

Opening its doors at Miami Beach on December of 2011, MLT has been serving up authentic Philly Chessesteaks and delectable grilled cheese sandwiches. This small gem was the brainchild of five lifelong friends with an appetite for cheesesteaks. After many months of traveling to the City of Brotherly love, these five friends ate the best Philly had to offer. As a result, MLT now has the best homemade Philly Cheesesteaks anywhere in South Florida. With an extensive menu containing 8 signature cheesesteaks and an option to build your own, I knew I was in for a treat.

My friend and I arrived right after the lunch rush at 1pm. One of the first things I noticed was the cleanliness of the restaurant. Followed by its cool modern look and the fact that you can see how the chef prepares your order. After a small wait we were greeted by the store manager and he personally took our order. Having studied the menu beforehand I ordered The Hangover, thinly sliced rib eye, French fries, sautéed onions, bacon a fried egg and yes lots of Cheez Whiz. My friend elected The Hoagie, this cheesesteak came with provolone cheese, mayo, shredded lettuce & tomatoes.

My cheesesteak was perfect. The steak was delicious, very tender and flavorful. The Cheez Whiz hit the spot and the jalapenos I ordered on the side gave it that kick it was missing. My friend enjoyed this meal but called it average. Saying it was a bit too greasy and bland. And I quote, “I’ve had better.” However he was very fond of the fries which came with a helpful serving. The real disappoint was the Fried Chicken Biscuits! The biscuit and maple gravy sauce were incredible; however the chicken was another story. Greasy, dry and way over cooked for my taste.

Price vs. value is an issue I have with this place. Personally I think it's very tasty yet very pricy. I mean $43 for lunch for two people? A little on the pricy side I think. Yes? The menu will have you salivating like it did me but remember it’s the beach. Be expected to pay more. There are a couple more menu items I’d like to try, especially the Homemade Waffles. The staff is very friendly, the place is clean and the Cheesesteak above average. Best in Miami, I’d say yes.

Check out MLT's menu items here.

Cypress Creek Round Up 1 year Anniversary Party.

Join me Wednesday August 8th from 5-9:30pm at the Cypress Creek Round Up! An all-star food truck lineup will be on deck. Including- BC Tacos, Big Kahuna, Boba Station, Bocaditos, Cucina al Mare, Dog Eat Dog, Ms Cheezious, Purple Ppl Eatery, Slow Food Truck and Sugar Yummy Mama. More importantly a portion of all the trucks sales get donated to St. Baldricks Foundation. A wonderful charity dedicated to helping fight childhood cancer. A great cause, live music, good eats and atmosphere. Don’t miss out see you there!

Make a donation, visit St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Lulu in the Grove

I’m a firm believer that good things come in small packages. Proof of this concept is Lulu in the Grove, located in the heart of Coconut Grove at 3105 Commodore Plaza. Don’t let its size full you - Lulu has much to offer. With its chic décor, mellow vibe, exciting dishes, happy hour drink specials Monday through Friday from 4-7pm and your choice of indoor or outdoor seating, Lulu is the perfect place for a first date, people watching or simply some relaxing time alone.

On our first visit my friends and I arrived just after 7pm. I was pleasantly surprised at how cordial and warm everyone was; from the manager to the busboy the entire staff made all of us feel very welcomed. We made our way to the bar which takes up most of the space inside the restaurant, sat down and right away Elizabeth took care of us. She told us about their specials for the evening and informed us that if this was our first visit, we would receive complimentary sangria by checking in on Foursquare (information that ended up coming in very handy).

We started off our meal by ordering the Spinach and Artichoke Dip with tortilla chips and their Sweet & Spicy Ginger Chicken Wings. While both of the appetizers were fantastic, the wings really wowed me. They were so good they managed to make my “Top 5 Wing Joints in Miami” list. Later on I decided to try the Kobe Beef Slider. Well presented and cooked to a perfect medium-rare, I actually just stared at it for a while before eating it. It’s pricey - $6 just for one, but the flavor is most definitely worth it (though, for its size and price range I wouldn't mind having two on my plate). My friends went with the Seafood Pasta which was absolutely perfect. We finished with a Lulu’s Café and me having the sweet tooth that I do, I decided to try the mango cheesecake. While not terrible, I wasn't really feeling this dessert.

A few weeks later, I came in for lunch to finally try the Lulu burger - a 10oz Angus burger with massive strips of bacon, Swiss cheese, and chipotle sauce. As I waited for my meal the bartender made me delicious freshly squeezed lemonade. When the burger arrived it was cooked perfectly medium and looked absolutely delicious. Memo to all burger lovers: when there’s more pattie then bun it’s a good thing! Creativity and fresh ingredients made this burger a delight to eat, and the steamed asparagus I substituted for the fries was a welcoming compliment.

Friendly service, an enticing menu, a great wine list and a “high class” feel make Lulu in the Grove one of the best spots in Miami. Seriously, what more can you ask for? At Lulu the customer is #1. I’ve really enjoyed my visits and am sure I’ll be a regular there in no time. Stop in for a quick bite or a bottle of wine and I’m sure you’ll fall in love just as easily as I did.

Visit Lulu online at Lulu in the Grove or on Twitter @LuluintheGrove