Cafe Vert is a small diary restaurant located in Surfside, Miami Beach. The Kosher Cactus visited in April of 2021. This review was written in May of 2021.
- Where is Cafe Vert located?
- What is the vibe at Cafe Vert?
- What kind of food do they serve at Cafe Vert?
- Kosher Certification
- Is Cafe Vert kid-friendly?
- Is Cafe Vert wheelchair accessible?
- Final Thoughts
Where is Cafe Vert located?
Cafe Vert is located at 9490 Harding Ave, Surfside, Miami Beach. You can find street parking on Harding Avenue, or park in one of the side street lots (94th is very close) and pay the fees on your cell phone.
If you are arriving by bus, they are about 200 steps from Harding & 94th St bus stop, and if you are driving, it’s just 35 minutes from Miami International Airport.
The Cafe is open from 7:30AM-4PM every day, 7:30AM-2PM on Fridays, and closed on Saturday. From what I could find, Cafe Vert only has orders for pickup, and does not subscribe to any delivery services.
What is the dress code at Cafe Vert?
Cafe Vert is a fantastic place for a lazy Sunday morning brunch. You can dress up if you want to, but the vibe is dress-down-chill.
There are about 12 tables indoors, spread out neatly in the restaurant (usually there are a few more, but COVID-19 happened, so…), and about 8 tables outside in an enclosed gardened-off area on the street.
When we visited, it was pretty hot out, but inside the cafe was refreshingly cool, even seated as we were right near the door.
The decor was simple- whimsical paintings on the wall, featuring a turtle of all things; wrought iron tables and chairs in the outdoor area. There was a stand of house-made macaroons at the counter. We didn’t order any because we had planned to go for ice cream later in the day, but if we return, I will certainly order some. They really smelled divine.
What kind of food does Cafe Vert serve?
Breakfast. Think: all the eggs, every which way, cold sandwiches, toasts, paninis, pastas, fish- and crepes! For some reason, this is a rare treat at Kosher restaurants, but the Cafe has a fantastic selection of both sweet and savory crepes!
You can try things like Italian Crepes, made with fresh mozzarella tomatoes and olive oil, or a Spinach Cream Crepe, which has (shocking!) spinach and cream cheese inside. They are worth every delicious bite.
Do they serve drinks?
Cafe Vert serves juices and coffee. I had a cappuccino with an extra shot of espresso, and it really hit the spot.
Their Breakfast Special, which I ordered, comes with a serving of orange juices well as a coffee of choice, which was a nice addition. It also includes any style eggs, a fresh baguette, roasted potatoes and fresh salad. The salad and salad dressing were a little boring, but the potatoes were particularly incredible, so I’ll forgive them.
The restaurant does not serve alcohol.
What is on the menu at Cafe Vert?
One of the best dishes is the Buttermilk Pancakes. They are served hot, with butter and maple syrup on the side- and they are so light and fluffy, but pack just the right amount of heavy to fill you up. They’re absolutely addictive.
Also on the menu is Nicoise Salad. It’s an old favorite, and although I didn’t try it, the reviews I read online say that it’s done very well.
Yes, there are plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian items on the menu. There were also plenty of salads for the diet-conscious in addition to the Nicoise.
What else is on the menu?
- Omlettes
- Pancakes
- Yogurt Parfait
- Salads
- Sandwiches
- Wraps
- Paninis
- Pastas
- Fish
- Savory Crepes
- Sweet Crepes
- Toasts
- Pastries
- Hot Drinks
- Cold Drinks
Is Cafe Vert wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the restaurant is wheelchair-accessible. The tables have recently been moved around to improve social distancing concerns, so there is even more space getting to your seat, or navigating to the restroom.
Is Cafe Vert kid-friendly?
The Cafe has just 1 highchair available (as of writing this article. I hope they get a few more!) but it is surprisingly kid-friendly.
Most of the menu is adaptable to your needs- they brought us a soft-scrambled egg, extra plastic plates and cutlery, and an extra pancake for the baby at the table.
There are also lots of items on the menu for picky eaters. Pink Sauce Pasta, which is literally just tomato bechamel sauce and cheese, is an excellent option.
Do you have to make a reservation?
Cafe Vert does not take any reservations. We did have to wait for our table for over 10 minutes, which was frustrating. While we were waiting, the staff gave us menus to look through, which was actually pretty thoughtful of them.
Fortunately, the waiter came to take our orders as soon as we were seated, and our food followed soon afterwards. The staff told me that during the summer and vacation seasons, it can get very crowded, with wait times of over 40 minutes.
It might be worth your time to call ahead to ask if it’s crowded, and plan to pick up food instead.
What is the Hashgacha at Cafe Vert?
Cafe Vert is under the Kosher supervision of Kosher Miami. It is dairy-Cholov Yisroel, and all the breads are Pas Yisroel. The pastries are baked on site.
What regulations does Cafe Vert have in place due to COVID-19?
Although Miami Beach does not have mandatory mask-wearing, at Cafe Vert you might be asked to wear a mask until you are seated at a table. I actually forgot my mask in the car, and used a scarf that didn’t exactly cover me properly- but no one made an issue of it.
The Cafe has also removed about 10 combined tables from the indoor and outdoor eating areas. All the servers were wearing masks, as were the kitchen staff.
Final thoughts
Cafe Vert was a pleasant surprise on our recent trip to Miami. Although we knew nothing about it before we visited, the ambience was cheerful, the staff were helpful and apologetic about the wait, and the food was really delicious.
For 4 dishes and a muffin for dessert, we spent a total of $48. Not bad at all. I, for one, will be returning.
