Quite simply put, The Grill on the Alley is one of Aventura's very best restaurants. Classically appointed with superior service delivered from a staff of true professionals. Always great fun to socialize at the bar, especially during weekday Happy Hours (4pm until 8pm) when an upbeat and raucous white-collar crowd often fills up most seats at the mahogany. Smart patrons make a point to greet GM Jeff Martin, who will return the courtesy in spades. Lighter fare in the way of seafood and chicken is available and it's quite good, but the real draw here is the selection of steaks. (I must confess to absolutely adoring the pan-seared Dover sole, which by no coincidence is also The Grill's priciest offering). The Grill deserves all the praise it receives for its Prime New York pepper steak, flavored impeccably with cracked pepper, onions, and bacon. A one-of-a-kind dish. The Grill is perfect for special occasions, as there's a private dining room that seats up to 28. It doesn't get a whole lot better for fine dining in Aventura, or for that matter, South Florida. If not for the pesky Aventura Mall traffic and parking, I'd be more of a regular here.

- Written by Alex Grayson
February 1, 2011