Savory smells beckon you along Ponce de Leon Boulevard, and there you are standing before Swine.  The interior is a combination of brick and wood, the lighting is perfect, and the ambiance is ideal for a romantic dinner or a group of friends catching up over dinner; the latter was my scenario.

Upon sitting down, we were handed the list of cocktails, beers, and wines that they had, which was an impressive and tantalizing list; I opted for the Left Hand ‘Milk Stout’ from Colorado, which was a dark, excellent brew with hints of coffee.  Since not everyone at my table opted for the Miami Spice menu, we shared the Fried Green Tomatoes, which was one of the best versions of this dish that I have had — the tomatoes were at that perfect point and the breading was wonderful.  We also shared the mac’n’cheese, which had my table scraping the bottom of the little ceramic dish it came in.

From the Miami Spice Supper appetizer section, I chose the incredibly delicious Grilled Little Gem Lettuce with a lemon vinaigrette dressing, sitting on an equally divine smoked fish dip with pickled peppers — it was outstanding (the Crispy Caujun Boudin was also very good).  Their entree menu included Atlantic salmon or a Slow Smoked Brisket with ground grits, but on the Miami Spice page it also mentioned a 1/2 rack of ribs as an option for a $5 upcharge, which I opted for.  The ribs were a very generous portion and tasty, but the Slow Smoked Brisket was scrumptious.  And the dessert — mmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm — that Triple Chocolate Texas Toast Bread Puddin’ was climactic to say the least.

I have to say that this has been one of my favorite Miami Spice experiences to date.  The customer service was also great, although it was a tad on the slower side; the brisket did take a bit longer than the other dishes, but we were told that it was because the chef was perfecting it…a truly Southern experience because it does take time to deliver perfection and that brisket was incredible!

If you’ve been saving your pennies to enjoy one of Miami’s best moments – Miami Spice – make sure you use those pennies wisely and invest in a meal that will be an unforgettable treat — go to Swine!  Don’t forget to make a reservation because these folks get busy! Happy eating!