Open For: Dinner
Price Range: $$$
Location: Little River Neighborhood, Miami, FL
I recently dined at Sunny’s Steakhouse and this was a highly anticipated meal for me for two reasons. First, there has been a lot of hype around this restaurant on social media and through word-of-mouth. Second, the Sunny’s team is the same team that was behind Jaguar Sun (RIP), my favorite bar in Miami that shuttered after a six-year run. While it offered a tasty à la carte menu, Jaguar Sun was not a full-service restaurant like Sunny’s.
Given its culinary heritage, I had high hopes for Sunny’s Steakhouse. Did the restaurant live up to its hype? Spoiler: Yes, it absolutely did.
Sunny’s is located in Miami’s Little River neighborhood. Its entrance is quiet and unassuming, so much so that I almost walked right past it. Reservations here are hard to come by unless you like to dine late (and I mean late). Despite booking my dining reservation exactly one month in advance, all the tables between 6 and 9 PM were already filled. Thankfully, I managed to snag a table for two for 5:45 PM.
Unsurprisingly, the restaurant was buzzing on a Saturday night. Both indoor and outdoor dining options were available, but I opted for the former given the unpredictability of Miami weather. The dining room was outfitted with linen-clad tables and red banquettes. Large windows overlooked the interior courtyard teeming with sharply-dressed diners. The restaurant played background music, but the volume was never so loud that I was unable to hear my dining companion. Overall, the atmosphere came across as upscale without feeling stuffy.
We were seated almost immediately after we arrived for our reservation. The service was on par with what you would expect for a nice steakhouse. Our waitress was friendly and attentive; the courses were spaced out perfectly, and we didn’t feel rushed. There was only one service snafu—the kitchen forgot to bring out the oysters we ordered. We gently reminded our waitress, and the dish was brought to our table soon after.
For pre-dinner drinks, we ordered the Guava Cosmopolitan ($18) and PX Rum Sazerac ($26). The Sazerac was made with rum as opposed to whiskey, and this drink was nothing sort of phenomenal. Before you take a sip, take a moment to appreciate its citrusy aroma. The Cosmo was good, but nothing to write home about. Honestly, I don’t see myself ordering this cocktail again.
We began with the East Coast oysters ($3.50 each) and Parker House rolls ($6 each). The oysters came with two mignonette sauces. They were tasty, but the bread was the stand-out appetizer. The rolls were soft, buttery, and beautifully browned on top. I would’ve ordered another Parker House roll if I wasn’t saving my appetite for the remaining dishes.
For our entrees, we ordered the agnolotti ($34), the 8 oz prime filet mignon ($79) with Béarnaise sauce ($6), and a side of grilled asparagus ($14). Infused with saffron, the depth of flavor in the pasta was magnificent and every ingredient harmonized with each other perfectly. Every bite was one to be savored. Plus, the kitchen didn’t skimp on the good stuff—each agnolotti was generously filled with crabmeat.
The filet mignon was finished with a generous sprinkling of salt. This medium-rare steak was mouthwateringly tender and seared to perfection.
I was even impressed by the grilled asparagus. It was cooked to perfection (no one wants limpy asparagus) and topped with a delicious mustard seed vinaigrette that was flavorful without being too rich.
For dessert, we ordered the kouign-amann ice cream sandwiches ($16). I paired it with a glass of the Chateau Suduiraut ($19). Since we were celebrating a birthday, we also received a complimentary slice of cheesecake.
The cheesecake was good, but the ice cream sandwiches were heavenly. I’m a sucker for any kind of pastry and this kouign-amann was top-tier patisserie level quality. Kudos to the kitchen’s creative spirit with this one.
The bottom line: Jaguar Sun walked so Sunny’s Steakhouse could run.
I had a fantastic experience at Sunny’s. The standout dishes were the Parker House rolls, agnolotti, and kouign-amann ice cream sandwiches. Admittedly, the food here isn’t cheap. A three-course dinner with cocktails or wine pairings will set you back at least one or two hundred dollars. With that in mind, Sunny’s is a great place for a splurge-y date night or to celebrate a special occasion.
I’ll definitely be coming back here for more.
