Crate Miami Vegetarian Restaurant Review
Waltzing into Crate Miami Vegetarian Restaurant is like transporting you and your entourage into the elegance of mid-century modern style. This glamorous restaurant in Miami’s Mary Brickell Village feels like a refreshing modern living room of eclectic vintage furniture from the 50’s and 60’s. It’s atmosphere, carefully crafted by restaurateur and designer, Anselmo Di Virgilio Hernandez, feels open, glitzy, inviting, and fun. Most striking is the luxurious ornamental crystal chandelier centered over the full bar.
Crate Plant-Based Kitchen, Bar and Lounge offers something for everyone. In addition to a versatile menu of healthy vegetarian and vegan appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, and tacos, Crate Miami vegetarian restaurant offers the most delicious fresh pressed juices, smoothies, and healing tonics. Couple Chef Christopher Baugh’s food menu with their creative alcoholic beverages, then consider the entire restaurant converts into a non-smoking night club after 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and you have the ideal hot spot to take even your non-veggie friends or your special date for a full evening experience. Oh… and everything can be made vegan!
They say first impressions are everything. After getting blown away by the stunning interiors, the Chef brought us his mouth-dripping Buffalo “Wings” with a Side of Ranch, which changed my life forever. Naomi and I plowed through the whole basket, sinking our teeth into each delectable morsel, wondering how in Sam Hill he transformed something as simple as cauliflower into zinging meaty bites of buffalo “chicken” taste and texture. My carnivorous comrades would be perplexed! The balance of flavors – so artfully done – took over our mouths through the entire experience, to the point where even Naomi, who does not eat spicy foods, could not restrain herself.
The Reuben Sandwich came to us highly recommended and did not disappoint! Layers of zesty peppery textured plant-based protein piled high on toasted rye with warm sauerkraut, house-made thousand island dressing, and melty slices of swiss cheese danced their way to happiness in our mouths. Naomi found herself singing heavenly hymns with every bite. Unique to this veggie reuben is the addition of fresh sliced avocado, which wins me over any day!
Have hungry meat-loving friends? Have them get the Mushroom Swiss Burger. Chef Baugh mastered the art of the veggie patty with his clever blend of mung beans, grains, and veggies which nearly had me fooled. Together, its flavors combined with fist-fulls of hot organic sweet potato fries performed a symphony of warm tingles in my mouth. Its size was just right. Pair this with the It’s a Date Shake, and you’ll feel like you’re having burgers and banana malts at the hop – without the greasy belly aches that come with it.
I mentioned avocados have a special place in my heart. Especially when they come in the form of Fried Avocado Tacos. I would eat these little foldable delights for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Crate’s tortillas are fresh, and their house vegan Chipotle Cashew Cream is the perfect tangy topper to complement this dish’s crispy buttery flavor.
Miami hasn’t been known for its classy vegetarian and vegan options, and Crate Miami Vegetarian Restaurant has certainly changed my mind about that. Say good-bye to the struggle for late-night healthy vegetarian and vegan bites, and hello to the next phase of Miami’s inclusive night-time experience.