Monday Deals

Monday is, traditionally, the least profitable day for restaurants, which means that for those who consider dining out early in the week, there are rewards. To entice customers, some of our favorite restaurants run deals every Monday. Here are some of our favorites.

Salumeria 104

With a cold front settling over the Gables, we decided to step into Salumeria 104 on our Monday visit for a warm respite from the breezy weather. Salumeria has been on the mile for the better part of a decade, offering a rustic, Northern Italian, trattoria-style experience, where the stars of the show are the signature salumi dishes, which means thin-sliced cured meats – i.e. salami, prosciutto, and pancetta. You can sit inside amidst the hanging slabs of cured ham, either at wooden tables or at the long white-tile bar, or you can sit outside in a covered patio to watch the Miracle Mile parade of pedestrians. We chose inside.

Chef and co-owner Angelo Masarin is also something of a master when it comes to pasta, dishes he says he learned from his grandmother (of course!), such as his spinach gnocchi, black ink fettuccine, and spaghetti alla bottarga – the latter made with cherry tomatoes and shaved mullet roe. We decided to go more old-school traditional with his tagliatelle Bolognese, those long, flat, homemade noodles suffused with a classic Bolognese sauce. A nice, warm comfort dish for a slightly chilly Monday night. And, like all the Monday night pastas, just $12 (ordinarily the pastas range from $18 to $24). Paired with a nice glass of house red wine, we were warmed up and ready to face the bitter temperature in the 60s! – JP Faber

264 Miracle Mile
FRATELLINORISTORANTE.COM

CRAFT

Pizza Mondays at CRAFT are both economical and delicious, with the restaurant serving up four different types of pizza for only $12 each (as opposed to the usual $16 or $17 prices). Lasting all day, pizza-lovers can feast on margherita, pepperoni, napolitana, or fugazzetta (onions, garlic olive oil, cheese) pies at the discounted rate. Though we like all four options, we usually go with a margherita or a pepperoni, which has something for everyone (and means that everyone is happy, which is a culinary feat in my household).

During a recent dinner at home, all four of us managed to survive off of only two pizzas, which we picked up from the restaurant and took home to inhale without judgement. Our favorite part is the inexplicably pink sauce that comes on the side, a concoction made with beets and mayo that makes even eating the plain crust a delight. Beyond that, the pizza is wonderful – well above average and affordable to boot. Made in CRAFT’s wood ovens, it’s crispy in all the right places, not too saucy, and packed with flavor. If you go for an early dinner during happy hour, you can get good deals on drinks as well, making the night a coupon clipper’s dream. And on Tuesdays, CRAFT has the same deal for burgers as well – so don’t judge us if you see us there twice a week. – Kylie Wang

127 GIRALDA AVE
305.339.5981
CRAFTMIAMI.US

Tap 42

Monday nights at Tap 42 let you step into a bygone era where a hefty upscale burger costs a mere $12 and fries come for free with the purchase of a drink. Although the burger’s price implies a basic offering, the deal here is pretty high-quality. We tried the standard Big Smash burger and then went outside our comfort zone with The Drunken Goat, a burger made with lamb and other Mediterranean flavors.

The Big Smash Burger sports two patties, caramelized onions, pickle chips, and a fair bit of sauce, which brings out the flavor in otherwise basic patties. Though we enjoyed it, we think you may be better off spending your $12 on The Drunken Goat, which was a more unique concoction. Though lamb is an acquired taste, Tap 42 does it well, with a rich, slightly gamey patty. On top of that, whipped goat cheese and a sweet onion marmalade provide a sharp contrast of flavor. Some leaves of arugula top off the burger, giving it a nice texture.

To break up the burger, we indulged in Tap 42’s classic crispy fries on the side. These fries meet that rare balance of crispy and soft that every potato lover wants, with a crunchy shell and a pillowy, moist interior. They have a buttery touch with a good bit of salt, making them some of our favorites in the Gables. – Patrick McCaslin

301 GIRALDA AVE
786.391.1566
TAP42.COM

Terre del Sapore

Starting the week at Terre del Sapore is an easy choice for pasta lovers in the Gables. The Italian restaurant’s $12 Monday night special includes over a dozen pasta options, and the space offers both an outdoor area for these cool winter months and a cozy indoor space with warm lighting, wooden accents, and shelves lined with wine bottles (not to mention the glow of their wood-burning pizza oven).

We opted for the Penne Treviso, a dish that arrived with a rosyhued sauce coating each piece of pasta. Subtle notes of rosemary infused the sauce, giving it a warmth that balanced the rich, savory bites of prosciutto. The arugula, though slightly wilted from the heat, added a peppery edge that contrasted with the creaminess of the sauce, while a light dusting of parmesan provided a sharp, salty finish. The layers of flavor in each bite came together seamlessly with the herbaceous undertone, creamy sauce, and the meaty depth of the prosciutto offering a well-rounded experience.

With 11 more pasta choices left to explore, Terre del Sapore has certainly given us reason to come back. The variety ranges from classic Italian staples to inventive pairings, giving both traditionalists and adventurous eaters something to look forward to. – Amanda Martell

246 GIRALDA AVE
786.870.5955
TERREDELSAPORE.COM