Boia De, located in the heart of the Buena Vista neighborhood in Miami, has built quite a reputation and even holds a Michelin Star. Naturally, expectations were high going in.
Personally, I wasn’t particularly impressed by the food overall. Given the Michelin recognition, I expected something a bit more memorable. It sometimes makes me wonder whether the same standards are applied across regions, as the experience often feels quite different compared to many Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe.
I started with the crispy polenta, a dish I had heard many people rave about. In the end, it felt fairly straightforward, essentially fried polenta. It was fine, but not something that stood out.
The beef tartare was one of the better dishes of the evening in terms of flavor, though I wish it had been served with good bread or something similar. Instead, it came with an airy chip that was quite oily, which didn’t really complement the dish in my opinion.
The lamb ribs fra diavola had nice flavor and a pleasant level of spice, but they leaned a bit on the dry side.
The dish that really redeemed the meal for me was the pappardelle alla lepre. This was excellent, rich, well balanced, and easily the highlight of the night. A very well-executed pasta.
All in all, it was a good dinner, but with so many strong dining options around Miami, it’s not necessarily a place I feel compelled to return to.
Boia de was excellent!
Amazing menu combined with a cool, modern European interior and amazing service! Everything was just as it should be.
This restaurant did not disappoint!
I would recommend for a girls dinner if you want a chill evening with deep conversations.
4
Dinner at Boia De was nice, but I wasn’t as wowed as I had hoped with it being a Michelin-star restaurant. It still was good so I’m giving it 4 stars. The lamb ribs were tough and the meat didn’t fall off the bone- that was my least favorite thing I tried. The Doppio Agnolotti and Crispy Polenta were excellent as was the rice pudding. Friendly staff and cool vibe here.
5
My experience at Boia De incredible. From the outside, the restaurant is very unassuming, but once you step inside, you realize you are in for something special. The service was outstanding from start to finish, attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming.
Every dish we ordered was exceptional. The beef tartare was beautifully prepared and incredibly fresh. The chestnut agnolotti was the highlight of the night for me. It was rich, comforting, and perfectly balanced, easily my favorite dish of the evening. The gnocchi à la Parisienne (Morina) was full of flavor and executed perfectly. The tortellini in brodo resembled more of a dumpling but it was also decent. The lamb ribs Fra Diavolo were unbelievably tender with just the right amount of spice and depth.
And then came dessert. The crispy tiramisu is an absolute must. The texture was unique, and the small touch of sea salt on top elevated the flavors in a way that made the whole dessert unforgettable.
3
Boia De in the Upper Buena Vista/Little Haiti area is certainly one of the most hyped spots, and after months of waiting, we were excited to finally experience this Michelin-starred restaurant. The setting is very casual—small, tucked away in an unusual but interesting location. One surprising aspect is the absence of a liquor license, which eliminates the option for a pre-dinner cocktail and immediately shapes the experience. The wine list, similar to its sister restaurant Walrus Rodeo, felt quite unconventional and unfortunately not at the level you would expect for a Michelin-starred venue; we tried a couple of options and found them rather unpleasant.
On the food side, there were definite highlights: the beef tartare was creative, beautifully presented, and very flavorful, while the tortellini stood out as exceptional. The chicken liver and foie gras pâté was delicate and well executed, though its accompaniments slightly overpowered it. Other dishes, like the pappardelle, were good but not memorable, and the lamb ribs diavolo lacked distinction. Overall, while there are flashes of creativity and strong execution, the experience did not fully live up to the hype or the expectations of a Michelin-starred restaurant, and it’s not a place I would rush back to without some refinement.
