Prime One Twelve
Bread Basket – Cheese Roll, Onion Pumpernickle, Raisin Walnut
Fried Chicken and Waffles
Maine Lobster Roll with Kettle Chips
Sweet Potato Mash
Fried Green Tomatoes
10oz Burger with Cheddar, Fries
Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Key Lime Pie
Warm Dulce de Leche Bread Pudding with Candied Walnuts, Roasted Apples, Vanilla Ice Cream
Double Espresso on Ice
Amongst the swankiest spots on South Beach and the sort of place where celebrities are known to dine it was just after noon on Monday that parking was secured just down the block from Prime One Twelve and entering the doors of Miami’s most storied steakhouse to the smiles of hostesses and waiters both the only thing more bountiful than the quality of the service was the portions of the plates presented, an order of three mains, two sides, and a trio of desserts easily enough to feed a party double the size of ours.
Located at 112 Ocean Drive, and as such obviously named, a visit to Prime One Twelve begins with perusal of the extensive menu and with best-in-class Bread Basket soon to arrive the mindful diner is smart to not overindulge, though a roll literally overflowing with soft cheddar as well as savory onion stuffed pumpernickel and sweet raisin walnut bread are apt to tempt, each great even without the addition of overly hard butter.
Largely eschewing enormous steaks while fully acknowledging that these items are indeed Prime’s “signatures” suffice it to say that even though prices trend high each sizable dish selected was nothing short of exemplary, an enormous burger intense and juicy with a light crust overlying a pink center while the substantial lobster roll was nearly all crustacean and no filler, the chicken and waffles perhaps an unlikely choice but on par with that at Yardbird for best in the city with a pounded breast brined and juicy beneath crispy breading atop a supple waffle more than capable of soaking up pure maple syrup as well as bold, bright hot sauce.
Underwhelmed by flavorless fried green tomatoes but more than impressed by fries, chips, and a veritable punch-bowl of creamy sweet potatoes that could have just as well been mistaken as maple-tinged frosting on a blind tasting it was onward to desserts that the meal progressed and with Key Lime Pie plenty tart beneath a heap of schlag the portions of both the Carrot Cake and Bread Pudding were almost comically immense, the former a pineapple studded masterpiece with thick ribbons of surprisingly light cream cheese while the later featured a nearly one pound block of caramel soaked brioche resting in a pool of sticky sauce and roasted apples, the slowly melting housemade ice cream and toasted walnuts adding variance in texture and temperature while helping to temper the intense sweetness…if only just enough to see me eat every last bite before spending the next few hours in a well earned food coma.
