Sra Martinez
Design District, Miami
Just north of Downtown Miami is the Design District, a low-rise commercial neighborhood made up of old warehouse building that have been converted to galleries, showrooms, boutique retail, restaurants, and bars. In the center of the district, constructed in the 1920s is one of the Design District’s more recognizable structures, the Buena Vista Post Office. The neo-classical building has been repurposed multiple times, but each time designers have achieved a good balance between modern accents and the classic details that make the structure unique. Most recently the post office was transformed from a private residence and office in 2004 to the short-lived restaurant Domo Japones in 2007.
Since then, the post office has been home to Sra Martinez [4000 NE 2nd Ave.], a Spanish tapas bar with a modern twist created by Miami native Chef Michelle Bernstein. For years we’ve been hearing great things about both Michy’s and Sra Martinez; but I have to admit, our first experience with Chef Bernstein’s food came recently at Cochon 555 [highlighted here]. Michelle took top honors that night with her porky creations and is set to compete this weekend against nine other national winners, including Marc Forgione and Jamie Bissonnette at the Grand Cochon in Aspen as part of the Food & Wine Festival. We didn’t know what we were missing until that night, but it was clear that we couldn’t deprive ourselves any longer.
Inside the old post office, the space is amazing; twenty foot high ceiling, hard wood floors, large windows with wood shutters, a cold tapas prep area with bar, and brown leather lined booths hugging the walls; while Almodovar movie posters add to the Spanish flair. We arrived early, decided to have a few drinks and head upstairs to the loft which houses the bar. The tiny yet cozy space was packed so we grabbed our drinks and made our way out to the adjacent balcony.
With our drinks running low and the smell from the kitchen making our mouths water, we went downstairs to grab a table. We sit down and before we have a chance to look over the menu, we order our drinks and take a moment to hear the day’s specials. Immediately we know we can’t pass one of them up: the Braised Short Rib Empanadas. The menu has a wide array of both cold and warm tapas to choose from. Most portions are typically larger than what you find in a traditional tapas bar. Prices range from $8 to just over $20 for the tapas with some larger plate like the Paella coming in slightly higher than that. If you can’t decide what to eat let the chef choose for you with a tasting menu ranging from $65 to $85. Three to four plates per person is typically suggested as a good way of sampling what the menu has to offer.
We decided to order three dishes at a time; first to arrive were the aforementioned Braised Short Rib Empanadas. The empanada was crispy on the outside, the meat was tender and packed full of flavor, and the accompanying chili de arbol sauce was delicious. This was shortly followed by the Croquetas, filled with jamon serrano and manchego over a fig marmalade; a perfect balance of the salty and sweet. Next were the Crispy Artichokes and the Bacon Wrapped Dates. The long stem artichokes were fried to perfection in a very light batter with a lemon-coriander sauce on the side. The medjool dates were wrapped in crispy bacon and stuffed with a blue cheese and almonds, once again a great balance between the salty and sweet.
Our next order was in, Octopus Carpaccio, Choclo con Chiles, and the Butifarra. The Octopus Carpaccio had to be one of our favorites. The thinly sliced octopus seemed to melt in your mouth was prepared with preserved lemons, cured black olives, and micro herbs, delicious on all levels. Since one of the members of our party thought that it was one of the best things she had ever eaten, we ordered seconds. The Choclo con Chiles; sweet corn with chiles and lime topped with cheese was tasty, but it felt more like an accompaniment to something else as opposed to a standalone dish. The Butifarra, a duck and foie gras sausage with large white beans in a slightly sweet port wine sauce was divine.
Next, we ordered the Squid Ink Risotto topped with crispy calamari; another one of the night’s highlights. The risotto was light and creamy well balanced by the crispy calamari, while the chimichurri and aioli added a salty undertone. This was followed by the Garbanzo Stew; a very rich stew with chorizo, wilted greens, melted tetilla, and finished off with an egg yolk and garlic chips that were amazing, for me, a trip through Spain in one bite. Last, but not least, were the Scallops, beautifully seared over a chorizo scented fennel puree, grapefruit brown butter, and capers; a very light and flavorful dish.
As I contemplate how I was going to get up from my chair, the dessert menu arrived and two just looked too good to pass up, so we ordered, the Torrejas and the Churros. The Torrejas were delightful; the crispy bread absorbed the juices from the warm rum sautéed bananas and figs, complimented nicely by vanilla ice cream. The Churros were tasty, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and served with a bitter-sweet chocolate sauce.
With our night coming to an end, it was obvious that we had been missing out all these years. Sra Martinez has managed to produce high quality food with a menu as flexible as the building it’s in. The overall experience was amazing and the service was fantastic. The only question in my mind is: When to try Michy’s?
