The restaurant, which serves downtown Miami and Brickell, does a big takeout business, so call ahead during the lunch crush, when orders can take up to 30 minutes.
The sandwich of your dreams awaits you at Manhattan Cafe. This little eatery just off Biscayne Boulevard will custom-build any sandwich you want. However, the 20 varieties on the menu are pretty good just as they are.
Open seven years, Manhattan turns out super-fresh sandwiches, salads and specials. ''My food is made to order,'' says owner Rosaly Guimaraes, and the proof is in the tasting.
The chicken salad is shredded white meat livened with basil, pine nuts, raisins and chopped apple and moistened with a touch of mayonnaise. Get it on a bed of greens ($6.75) or as a sandwich ($6.50) on a baguette, rye or whole wheat bread or a pita.
Manhattan Cafe doesn't skimp on the good stuff. There's an abundance of tender, pink meat in the smoked salmon and chive cheese sandwich ($6). Nice-sized logs of hearts of palm garnish the tomato, hearts of palm and artichoke salad ($6.25). Plus, the romaine is crisp, the tomatoes ripe and the creamy vinaigrette, packed separately, provides the right accent.
Guimaraes also offers well-priced daily specials including a fresh soup, salad, hot entree and a pasta. The pasta of the day, fusilli puttanesca ($7.25), featured a generous portion of al dente pasta twists with capers and black olives and tossed, not glopped, with robust tomato sauce. The flavor is well-balanced, not overly salty.
The restaurant, which serves downtown Miami and Brickell, does a big takeout business, so call ahead during the lunch crush, when orders can take up to 30 minutes.
The cafe is closed on weekends and doesn't do dinner, but is open for weekday breakfast. Due to construction across the street, parking is limited, but delivery is free.
Manhattan Cafe and Market, 251 NE 14th St.; 305-372-1966; 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday; major credit cards.
