Key Lime Pie: Cantina Beach, Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne

Cantina Beach is Miami’s only oceanfront Mexican restaurant. And if the seaside location isn’t impressive enough, just wait till you sink your teeth into any of Chef Andres Parlange’s authentic creations.
First you should know that Chef Andres is a native of Chiapas, Mexico. You’ll probably see him greeting guests beneath the enormous thatched-roof palapa, passionately explaining the history of each dish and which fresh ingredients he incorporated. Delightful, indeed. (It’s no wonder that Catherine Zeta Jones scooped him up to be her personal chef for three months while making a movie. Smart girl.)

Guacamole Made Tableside
If you’re a fan of freshly made guacamole, layered with flavors, and just the right amount of chunkiness, run to Cantina Beach and have a seat. Skilled hands use knives and forks to create bowls of heavenly goodness right before your eyes. Choose traditional Guacamole made with avocados, lime, tomato, red onion, cilantro and jalapeno. Or, treat your taste buds to Guacamole Con Mango or their Guacamole Con Chicharron. with pineapple and crispy bits of pork skin. Delish.

Appetizers (una maravilla!)
Three words: Flight of Ceviches. Shrimp, Snapper and Octopus are presented on a rectangular plate, perfect for sharing, or keeping all for yourself ($18). Simple yet exploding with freshness. The octopus is remarkable.

Tostadas De Cochinita Pibil (love the name!) are crispy morsels stuffed with Yucatan-style, pit bar-be-qued pork laced with pickled red onions ($14). And their Mini Crab Crispy Tacos topped with avocado salsa are a seafood lover’s dream $18).

Main Events
One of Chef Andres’ signature dishes is Cazuela De Mariscos ($34). Fresh Florida seafood (like grouper, shrimp and calamari) braised ever-so-gently with chipotle, onions and garlic. You will lick your fingers and the bowl.

And as much my lips loved all of the above-mentioned dishes, what really knocked my socks off were the Carnitas De Cerdo ($18). Imagine, slowly braised pork ribs that fall off the bone, so juicy, so tender…now, take a fresh, warm corn tortilla, wrap it around your pork rib, and gently pull. In one hand will be the pork bone, and in the other, a corn tortilla loaded with braised pork, ready to top with salsa verde. Oh my.
Cantina Beach offers a well-rounded menu that includes daily specialty items native to regions throughout Mexico, so even if you have friends who swear they don’t like Mexican food, I bet Cantina Beach will convert them to our equipo.

The Country’s First Tequilier
Tequila fans. listen up, rather, listen to Heriberto Ovideo. He’s the master Tequilier. Just as a wine sommelier knows about grapes, Heriberto knows about Agave, from white to golden and everything in between. So forget what you know about salt and lime, let Heriberto enlighten you about the 85+ premium Agave tequilas offered at Cantina Beach. “Tequila is actually a very sophisticated spirit and I enjoy…providing recommendations on how to best enjoy it.” Um, I thoroughly enjoyed being enlightened by Heriberto - and the tequila was good, too…

Oceanfront and Oh-So-Fabulous
Cantina Beach is one of those quintessential South Florida locations. It has wonderful sea breezes, sun, sand, surf and oh yeah, IT’S ON THE OCEAN. You will love sitting around the firepit, soaking in the views, before or after your meal.

If you’re looking for the perfect place to impress out-of-town guests or clients, think Cantina Beach at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. For more info, call 305-365-4286.