It was the worst winter DC had seen in years, and by late-February, this writer needed an extra helping of vitamin D…in the form of direct sunlight. An opportune conference for my day job and a nonstop flight put me in Miami Beach the week of the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival for the second time. But I had no sightings of Flay, Morimoto, or Valladolid. No supping it up with the muckity muck for me. Tickets for the Festival events are pricey. Still recovering from the worst economic downturn in my lifetime, I found myself pressed to the do the beach on the cheap. Sure, I had an evening of people watching while dining outdoors at a Lincoln Road restaurant and another night at STK on the dime of gracious hosts, but for the most part, I was on my own and on a budget.
The morning my conference began, I cried my sorrows into a remarkably good café con leche at Tropical Beach Café. Located in an unassuming strip at 2891 Collins Avenue, north of South Beach hoopla, TBC is easy to overlook. Never mind this hole-in-the-wall joint is not actually on the beach. Don’t go to TBC for the ambience; go for eye-opening coffee and the stick-to-your-ribs breakfasts. After consuming enough caffeine to think, I opted for the baby bistec with fried eggs. I ordered the steak medium, but knew that it would come out on the well side regardless of what I said. Don’t be fooled by the “baby” label. Portions were substantial. Breakfast included French fries and the best pan I had my whole time in Miami Beach. All for about ten bucks.
Note the service will just as likely greet you in Spanish as English, but feel free to answer and order in whichever of the two you are most comfortable. Waitresses are attentive without hovering or rushing you out. My waitress was impressed but not shocked when she cleared away my empty plates. I topped it all off with a cortado (half espresso, half steamed milk). Hours of seminars in windowless conference rooms require caffeine…and I had to get my vitamin D from somewhere.
Tropical Beach Café, located at 2891 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, open all week from 8am-8pm, just a little too late to go straight from partying to pre-hangover breakfast.
– CAF (Guest Blogger)
