Miami is the type of place where you'll want to eat out for practically every meal. Not only does the city boast several culinary hotspots, but the fast-paced way of life here doesn't always give you ample time to cook for yourself. Then again, one question remains: should you eat out in Miami regularly? Well, it comes with pros and cons. You'll definitely love the city's diverse cuisines and, of course, the convenience of enjoying a meal prepared just for you. At the same time, however, you'll also have to deal with piling dining costs and having to contend with Miami's overwhelmingly bustling energy. So, do you think this is for you?
Pros
Discover Miami's Michelin-Starred Restaurants
It's high time Miami's world-class culinary scene gets the recognition it deserves. Did you even know that Miami has its fair share of Michelin-starred restaurants? There's La Mar Miami by Gastón Acurio, L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, and Bachour, to name a few. If you eat out in Miami regularly, there's a good chance you'll discover these culinary gems throughout the city. You might also be surprised to learn that the city has more than a couple of these upscale eateries, which further prove that Miami is as much a foodie city as New York City and San Francisco.
Indulge in Different Flavors
Miami's main strength lies in its diversity. Best known for its massive Latin American communities, Miami is undoubtedly one of the most diverse cities in the world, let alone in the US. And with diversity comes a colorful culinary scene filled with all sorts of cuisines. You'd be surprised at the many different flavors you'll discover in
Miami's central neighborhoods alone, from the mix of European and Asian menus in Downtown Miami to the treasure trove of Cuban diners in Little Havana. Who knows? You might even realize that you favor one specific cuisine over all the others, the more you eat out in Miami!
Expect Diverse Price Ranges
No matter the city, eating out can get pretty expensive if you do it frequently. Does this mean you can only eat out in Miami regularly if you're filthy rich? Not necessarily! The diversity in Miami's foodie scene doesn't just apply to its many cuisines, but also to its varying price ranges. The city offers countless hotspots that won't have you spending as much as $100.00 per meal. There's Cake Thai Kitchen on Biscayne Boulevard, for instance, where you can enjoy Thai cuisine for only $10.00 per meal. While Cake Thai Kitchen in Miami Beach serves sumptuous seafood for as much as $6.95.
Enjoy the Convenience
Most people who live in big cities eat out every day because they simply don't have the time to cook for themselves. Once you
move to Miami yourself, especially if you work in a fast-paced job here, you'll find that it'll get harder and harder to make a well-prepared meal for dinner every night. There's no denying the convenience of having someone else cook your food for you, after all, and unless you can afford to hire a private chef, expect to eat out often in Miami. Here's to hoping you can afford such a lifestyle!
Cons
The Best Hotspots are Expensive
No matter where you are, it'll always cost you a lot more to eat out regularly than to simply cook for yourself at home. It's also especially expensive in Miami, too, since it's a famous tourist destination and a big city that makes a lot of money. The former has made many of the city's best hotspots cost more for just one meal. Go to any website that lists down the
best restaurants in Miami, and more often than not, the places they mention typically cost more than $50.00 per meal. So if you only prefer to dine in the best of the best of Miami, you'll need to have the job and bank account to back up such a lifestyle.
The City isn't Entirely Safe
One sad truth about Miami is that it's not the safest city in the world, let alone the US.
Miami's crime rates aren't exactly that high, even with a current general crime rate of 59.02%, but it's far from low, too. Some parts of the city are even notorious for how sketchy they tend to get after dark, and locals would go so far as to say you should avoid them if you can. But what if the place to want to check out for dinner is in one such area? Do you risk your safety just to eat out?
Prepare for Crowded Restaurants
You should know now that if you're considering eating out in Miami for every meal, you're not the only one. Such a lifestyle is common for most natives and locals of big cities, which is often why they have strong culinary scenes, too. And so if you decide to go out for dinner, always expect the place to be crowded. Naturally, this doesn't apply to all of Miami's eateries, but it undoubtedly does to most of the best ones. It could even reach the point that it's hard to get a table if you didn't reserve one hours, days, weeks, or possibly months in advance.
Inconsistent Ingredient Quality
Eating out in Miami—or anywhere else, for that matter—is good every once in a while, but doing it for your every meal might not be the best for your health. You can't guarantee what's inside the food you consume, after all, and unfortunately, not all of Miami's restaurants make use of the freshest and safest ingredients. At least, if you cook for yourself at home, you have better control of what's in your meal. But despite the convenience of eating out, that's something you could rarely guarantee in a restaurant. Do you think you're healthy enough to take that risk every breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
Though it’s exciting and convenient to eat out in Miami regularly, it’s not for everybody. Take a look at the pros and cons of such a lifestyle to know whether you can handle it yourself in this bustling metropolis.
