Lemoni

This is my first review of many to come of the little restaurants and cafes that grace the Design District in Miami. Lemoni (pronounced Le-MO-nee) is by far my favorite café in the District. Prices vary from $8 for most panini’s and salads to $15 for the daily specials. If you’re strapped for cash, fear not, most students and the large class of young professionals whom can barely afford rent can also afford to eat here. Delicious goodies such as fresh homemade soups are available daily. They are so fresh the owner cannot even tell you the day before what the next day holds for the soup special, trust me I have inquired more than once. A cup of soup will run you $2.95 a bowl $4.50. Most of the daily soups are vegetarian, one of my favorites are the pea soup. It is by far the best green looking thing I have ever had, I never thought I would say: I LOVE pea soup. Another masterpiece is the Moroccan soup with beans and lentils. Also occasionally tomato and basil soup is served, which I was extremely hesitant to try. I have always imagined that eating tomato soup would be an experience like consuming a big bowl of sauce, as in spaghetti sauce. One day I bite the bullet and decided that I loved pea soup, so why wouldn’t I like Lemoni’s tomato soup? And I did! It’s creamy and you can taste the basil in it so the soup holds its own, the toasted piece of bread they serve with it for dipping tastes delicious dipped into the vibrant red sea of tomato goodness. It shatters my heart when I go in and I see on the board under soup special “Chicken and rice”. However I do understand Lemoni, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, you’re not a vegetarian restaurant…A dear friend ordered this soup the other day and I starred sadly at her hearty bowl of chicken, rice and delicousness, her comment was “Dude I wish I could’ve eaten this when I was sick”. Both the bowl and cup are filling enough to be an entire meal. Also there are the small salads which will run you $3.75. This place is a gem located on 2nd and 46th, you cannot miss it there are always people sitting outside, artists and locals reading, writing and socializing.
Besides the cheapies of soups and salads other greatness lies in the menu staples such as the salmon burger panini. The hot toasted triangular bread holds a massive fresh and juicy salmon patty which is slattered with a garlic mayo and colorful dark greens. Other favorites are the Hummus platter; this hummus should be nominated for best in Miami. It’s only drawback is you must always order extra pita, they never serve enough, this however comes at a charge of $1.50. The salmon bites are tasty, salty and very light, perfect for lunch. The salads stand on their own always leaving you refreshed after eating them. The tuna salad is my favorite, it is not overtly mayo-eee at all, other favorites are the chicken and salmon salads, they’re always served with fresh hot toasted bread and a sea of dark greens.
For desert by far the best is the “new” brownie, they used to have a more standard block style brownie. But the “new” is in a biscotti like shape and served warm with whipped cream. Their coffee selection is great with its standards cappuccinos, lattes and even Cuban cortadito, all of which you can have made with soy milk! However I wish they had American style coffee, for the days I sit there and need several cups of coffee to aid in whatever I’m working on, so I’d love to pay $2 per cup and have 3 cups (yes I know I’m working on this addiction) rather than ordering a $4.50 macchiato. I would argue that the prices of their specialty coffees are a tad steep; but it is definitely a steal for the much better atmosphere than you’d get at a Starbucks. So come in with your laptop and order a specialty coffee, sit enjoy the afternoon.
Go to Lemoni, you get healthy hearty food and get to mingle with the diverse group of local District residents.