Cleo, the new restaurant at The Redbury South Beach hotel, is a place I kept hearing about, but wasn’t really sure what to expect.
The last restaurant to open here didn’t leave much of an impression. What a difference a Cleo makes! I met some friends there on a random Thursday night. It was early, 7:15pm, and the place was packed. Only a handful of tables available.
Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised.
Looked at the menu and SURPRISE, tons of good yummy stuff to choose from. The dishes here are all about sharing. We just ordered a bunch of stuff and everything we tasted was just deee-lish. First came the brussel sprouts ($10). They’re crispy made with capers and almonds with a spicy kick that surprises you at the end. The kale flatbread ($11) made me wish carbs were not the enemy. I could have eaten it all by myself. A wagyu skirt steak kabob ($10) was just the right sized portion, with bite sized pieces of beef. A side of cauliflower ($7) from Cleo’s wood burning oven was a great compliment.
The decor at Cleo makes it feel warm and inviting. There is a huge image of a Cleopatra look alike on the back wall who stares at you the whole time you’re eating. But unlike the Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton epic Cleopatra movie from 1963, which came in over budget and at the time almost bankrupted 20th Century Fox, this Cleo is on point and on budget.
Belkys Best Bite: Kale flatbread
Cleo
The Redbury South Beach
1776 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-534-2536
http://sbe.com/restaurants/locations/cleo-south-beach