Talk about a showstopper – a mammoth skeleton dipped out of gold and encased in a giant display case. We stopped by the hotel Faena on Miami South Beach for a quick dinner and was immediately frozen in our tracks by the attraction.
The rest of the hotel is equally stunning. The pool is pristine, set with underwater lights, matchy-matchy pool chairs, and within a perfectly manicured garden. Faena is well aware of the power of its pool; the outdoor seats at the hotel restaurant Los Fuegos specifically face the pool and the surrounding greenery.
However, the food did not live up to the surrounding grandeur; of the dishes we sampled, most were unmemorable, even though the Yelp reviews generally rated this restaurant highly — with the only exception being the fried eggplant. You know that line in Beauty and the Beast where they sing “try the gray stuff, it’s delicious?” That’s what came to mind as I tried this beautifully battered and fried creation, sitting atop a bed of gray sauce (which turned out to be something tangy and unexpectedly sweet). The red sauce on top was perfectly spicy as well, making for an interesting balance of flavors. I would say to visit for pre-dinner drinks in lieu of a full meal and for a quick walk around the beautiful hotel grounds.
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