South Beach Dining for $25 and Under: Juice & Java

As you walk by outdoor restaurants along Ocean Drive, and see the specials of the day-a salad for $15 and linguine for $30, you’ll wonder how you can have dinner in this town without going broke.  I’m here to recession proof your dinner plans. No need to worry. I won’t be pointing you towards greasy fast food hamburgers or that stale giant pizza slice in the window.  Leave Ocean Drive and its many tourist traps before a hostess reels you in, and head up to Washington Street and 13th, where you’ll find Juice & Java.

The Beautiful People Actually Eat?

Upon entering, you’ll hear the whir of the blender making smoothies and the sound of a knife chopping fresh vegetables. The atmosphere is inviting but basic. Tables, chairs, chill music, and natural food.  If you ever wonder how some of the locals look amazing in swimsuits, they have Juice and Java to thank.  The majority of Juice and Java’s customers are yoga devotees and gym rats.  They swarm in from various yoga studios and Crunch across the street, to refuel post-workout.  At any other restaurant, you’d hear them demanding special requests- no dressing, brown rice instead of white, egg whites only please!  At Juice and Java, nothing on the menu can derail their carefully controlled diets. Locals who want fresh, healthy, delicious food that happens to be inexpensive, make up the rest of their customers. Tourists have yet to discover this hidden gem, even though it’s next door to Miami Ink, a sought after stop for photos.

As you peruse the menu don’t be intimidated by the endless choices. Decide whether you want a wrap, pasta, pizza, panini, salad, or platter. I’ve tried many things but always go back to my favorite: the baked falafel wrap. I’m convinced it’s the perfect meal with homemade falafel simply baked, instead of the greasy deep fried falafel that’s served elsewhere. Homemade tahini and hummus add moisture to and delicious flavor, so you forget it’s baked.  The spring leaf lettuce, shredded red cabbage and carrot, tomato, and cucumber not only add nutrition but also color, crunch, and varied textures. Enclosed in a whole wheat wrap, it’s absolute perfection. It’s served with a house made vinaigrette that I find flavorful, but unnecessary.

For heartier appetites, a J &J platter with an entrée and side dish is sure to satisfy. Some of the entrée choices are grilled chicken breast with herb rub or pesto sauce, tilapia with dill, mahi-mahi flavored with mango and ginger, grilled organic tofu, and steamed veggies with cheese. Side dish selections include organic quinoa, sweet potato, steamed vegetables, and whole wheat pasta.

The salad choices go on and on, and you’re encouraged to add in a protein, including a few vegetarian options.

How To Order Like a Local

I got the inside scoop on Juice & Java’s most popular dishes.  The first is the Billy wrap filled with organic brown rice, grilled tilapia, feta, avocado, spinach, sprouts and Monterey Jack cheese. It’s available in your choice of spinach, sun dried tomato or whole wheat wraps and served with miso dressing. Despite its funny name, equally well-liked is the Mish Mash. It’s made with organic brown rice, turkey burger, grilled eggplant, tomatoes, broccoli, and red onions.  It’s then mixed, chopped, and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil.

With all the fresh fruit on display, it’s hard to leave without ordering a smoothie or fresh squeezed juice.  Along with the baked falafel wrap, I enjoyed the fresh mango, pineapple, strawberry, raspberry juice, otherwise known as #14 on the chalkboard menu. The most ordered juices are the classic orange, strawberry, banana as well as The Cure and Green Life.

If you have the impression you’ll be sipping wheat grass juice and dining on a measly sprout and lettuce salad, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.  The food will satisfy the heartiest of appetites, and novice natural food diners can find traditional items like quesadillas, turkey burgers, and even pasta, but fresher and more nutritious than most other places. When you leave Juice and Java you somehow just feel healthier. And after all the late nights drinking and clubbing in Miami, it’s just what the doctor ordered.

You’ll Even Get Change

Sticking to my $25 budget, my baked falafel wrap ($7.50) and large freshly squeezed juice ($4.45), with tax and $1.00 in the tip jar, came to $13.73.  And with all that money left over, well, let’s just say I left with some freshly squeezed mixers for later in the evening. We’re in Miami after all.

Located at 1346 Washington Ave. in South Beach, Juice and Java offers free delivery and is open every day.

Related Links: • What Everybody Ought to Know About Eating Healthy in Miami Beach Related Categories: Dining Miami: Food & Restaurant News, Miami: Things to Do, Christy offers a fresh perspective on life and style in Miami. You can reach her at Miami Beach 411. See more articles by Christy. See more articles by Christy Was This Post Helpful? Please Share It With Others! Tweet

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