El Rey de las Fritas (Bird Rd)

     Located off of Bird Rd, El Rey de las Fritas is a must for anyone in the area. It's located right next to Bird Bowl and is a small little cafe with a to-go window. It is extremely authentic and is famous for their "Frita". By definition, a Frita is a Cuban sandwich made up of a seasoned ground beef and pork patty on Cuban bread topped with shoestring potatoes. It's definitely not the healthiest meal to eat, however, it is very delicious.
     I'm at pretty consecutive customer at El Rey de las Fritas. I've been going every few months for years now. It's one of my brother and my favorite.  It's a perfect place to eat at and pass time when you're waiting for your extremely long wait time to bowl.  The buzzer for Bird Bowl will even buzz if you're inside of the restaurant. They have a few other things on the menu, but I just don't see the point of not ordering a Frita, especially considering the place's name. The vibe when you walk in is very friendly and openning. To order, you have to speak Spanish(or at least try) or you can just point to the pictures on the wall. It's one of those places that prefers cash. However, most of the items on the menu are fairly cheap anyway.
     El Rey de las Fritas has the best Fritas in Miami, hands down. Once you try one you will be hooked! It's worth the drive, especially since you can bowl too.

   

Cheesecake Factory (Kendall)

I know what you're thinking... "Cheesecake Factory?  Really?"  Well, I finally decided to get over my childhood fear of this place.  They have definitely stepped it up a notch from the last time I remember.  My mom and I met up with my friend and her mom when we got there.  Although we arrived around 6, there was still no wait.  The place is huge.  The weather was perfect with clear skies and a slight breeze, so we sat outside.  Our server was very friendly, but slightly slow moving.  I guess it wasn't her fault; the kitchen seemed to be somewhat backed up.            

          We started off with a few appetizers.  My mom and I ordered the Fried Mac-n-cheese Balls and our friends ordered the Avocado Spring Rolls.  Both of the meals were a hit.  The Mac-n-cheese balls were super cheesy and melted in our mouths.  The Vegetable Spring Rolls weren’t as good, but they were still scrumptious.  The warm avocado threw me off.  As for our entrees, we ordered two plates of the Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Romano.  The chicken was cooked to perfection and was super tender.  The Parmesan curst stuck to the chicken perfectly and tasted like a garlic Parmesan outer layer.  It came with two sides: creamy mashed potatoes and bean sprouts.
            
The overall experience was a hit.  I highly recommend eating at Cheesecake Factory for dinner, especially if you are with family.  It has a great atmosphere and is in the nearby area, located in Dadeland Mall.