2. Clive’s Cafe
(5890 NW 2nd Ave., Little Haiti, 305-576-0277)
Photo: Kevin Ornelas
The original Clive’s Cafe (above) held down Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood for nearly 40 years, until the changing real-estate climate necessitated a move this spring. A small luncheonette counter with a few small tables, the place was perfectly trapped in time —all the better to focus on the tasty Jamaican delights served up by owner Pearline Murray and her sister-in-law Gloria Chin. Clive’s cult following only grew as the neighborhood changed from poor and industrial to chic and artsy, drawing in regulars like Lenny Kravitz. On our first visit several years ago, Clive’s was already closed for the night, but Miss Pearl and Miss Chin opened the place back up for us—good luck finding that kind of service anywhere else in that part of town!
While the comfy charms of the original Clive’s are sorely missed, the flavor hasn’t changed one bit at the new location on NW 2nd Ave. in Little Haiti (previously an annex known as Clive’s II.) Clive’s is still Jamaican comfort food at its best. All the stapes—oxtail, escoveitch snapper, jerk chicken—are solid but get the brown stew with a side of cabbage. Just trust us on that one.