Van Dyke Cafe, the rustic, ivy covered cafe is a South Beach institution and a “must linger” on Lincoln Road. The central corner location of the cafe is well-suited for gawking at the gorgeous as they seductively saunter by. We stopped by for drinks and tapas with our friends, the dynamic, lovely and talented JLPR sisters and had a sublime time. Van Dyke’s has a superb happy hour with $3- $6 drinks and $6 appetizers.
We ordered the Fish Ceviche loaded with huge savory chunks of tilapia, lime-habanero marinade, celery, red onion, cilantro and ginger served with tortilla chips. The dish was voluminous in both taste and quantity. The chips were most addictive, reminiscent of the flaky phyllo pastry in a gooey baklava. A true treat for any ceviche enthusiast. The spinach and artichoke dish was also “literally” scraped clean. The chips were the same as the ones provided with the ceviche, so they were deliciously devoured plain. In addition, we ordered the Ahi Tuna- which consisted of sesame seed crusted tuna and served over wilted spinach and diced tomatoes with a balsamic reduction. The tuna was cooked perfectly, very fresh and disappeared quite quickly as well.
The drink menu had so many selections, it was an impossibility to choose. Naturally, we had an impromptu cocktail tasting which we like to call a “Cocktail-Off.” In the running, we had a Dragonberry Punch made with: bacardi dragonberry rum, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, grenadine; an Arnold Palmer made with seagram’s sweet tea vodka, lemonade; and a Strawberry Caipiroska made with Three Olives vodka, fresh lime juice, sugar cane, fresh strawberry puree. While all were deliciously tasty, the Strawberry Caipiroska with its sweet and sour juxtapose, came out on top. As a reward for our burdensome judicial duties, we ordered another round of the victorious libation.
If this image is any indication, we WILL be back for a full dinner.
