Did you know that Miami is one of top ten vegan cities in the US? A place that is famous for its turquoise beaches and busy night life is now among the country's hottest vegan destinations. There are plenty of vegan restaurants in Miami, but only a few are near the beaches. We had the pleasure to visit one of them.
CRATE is a new addition to the vegan restaurant scene in Miami, and it's one of our favorites. It's located in Brickell, really close to Miami Beach. When you arrive to the restaurant, you will find a patio with plenty of tables where you can enjoy the perfect weather days. If you decide to eat indoors, you will be welcomed to a spacious, retro-contemporary eating area; the decor is modern but relaxed with some serious lounge vibes.
Now, moving on to what you want to know, the vegan food. Once you see the menu, you will find traditional vegan fast casual restaurant dishes such as burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and burritos. You can also get organic cold pressed juices, tonics, smoothies, and desserts. Most of the food is made in house, including their vegan patties, and that is a big plus.
We started with the Buffalo "wings", which are made with cauliflower florets. We were told this is one of their most popular items on the menu, and now we know why. Crunchy outside, spicy, well seasoned and perfectly paired by a creamy dipping sauce.
We also tried the summer rolls, that are rice wrappers rolls filled with finely julienned veggies and fresh herbs. Super colorful, crunchy, and light.
The tacos were next! We got them with 2 add-ons (guacamole, and an addictive chipotle cashew cream). This dish comes with 2 soft tacos, perfect for sharing. There are different options you can choose for your taco filling. We got the pulled jackfruit, which turned out to be a great choice because you can taste a little bit of smokiness. If you are hungry, then get these tacos, since they also come with beans, Spanish rice, and Pico de Gallo.
Next, we tried the Reuben. The vegan pastrami is made from soy and mushrooms. This sandwich comes with sauerkraut, vegan cheese, avocado, and a thousand island dressing, between two toasted slices of rye. Request the sauerkraut on the side though, since the flavor can be overpowering.
The Hula Burger comes with grilled pineapple, caramelized onions, and teriyaki sauce. Yes, the bun is black! It's a special recipe, made in-house. We think it was phenomenal; get this if you want to try something different, yet delicious.
To drink, we got a couple of smoothies: the chunky monkey (perfect for peanut butter lovers), and the berrylicious which was refreshing. To end our meal, we also got some desserts.
First the raspberry vanilla cake. The cake was moist and sweet, but it was balanced with the tartness of the raspberry topping.
Last, but not least, our favorite: the Samoa cake. Topped with toasted coconut bits, and made with guess what? Avocados! Yes, we didn't expect that. It was very rich and the texture was perfect.
CRATE is a versatile vegan restaurant. You can enjoy your weekday lunch on your lunch break, you can come back during the weekend with family and friends, you can even celebrate your birthday there! Whether you are a local looking for a good vegan restaurant, or a tourist looking for affordable vegan food, this is the place where you want to go first.
Miami is a city with a lot of diversity, with different cultures that make this place unique. CRATE is also unique among the vegan restaurants we've tried before, and that makes it special. They prove that a simple menu works well when it contains a lot of flavor, and attention to detail.
Do you want to visit them next time you are around the area? You can find CRATE here:
Keep in touch with them on Facebook and Instagram!
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