Gabby Arzola
Walking around FIU, I always hear conversations about going to the beach, but not wanting to spend too much money on food.
I know the struggle is real.
Great food at in inexpensive price is often an oxymoron when it comes to Miami Beach– but not anymore.
Broke students, rejoice! Now we can enjoy our famous beach with food that won’t break our bank.
ITO Mojitos Y Cafecitos is one of the newest restaurants in town, a Latin fusion gastropub, and is surely not one to disappoint.
Located on 7450 Ocean Terrace, right off of Collins Ave, it’s far enough to escape the tourist traps, but still just steps away from the beach we know and love.
ITO maintains the Miami Beach art deco décor with its curved aluminum outdoor furniture and chic minimalist interior.
As I looked around, this place is perfect to hang out with friends. With a pool table in the back, and lots of space to sit indoor or outdoors, it’s a great space for an event, or just a small night out with your closest pals.
The menu at ITO has lots of well-known favorites, with unexpected twists.
One of their most popular appetizers, the ham croquetas, have a crunchy exterior and a soft and warm interior. What made this dish unique was its fresh blueberry sauce.
The savory and sweet combination was fun and different from the typical croquetas I’ve had. Another rendition was their fried cheese and guava marmalade. Almost like the dessert abuelita would give you after dinner, this version was salty and sweet.
If savory food is more up your alley, ITO serves up cheesy yucca bites filled with crème fresh, and chicken empanadas with a garlic aioli.
Even though all of the appetizers were incredible, my personal favorite was the mojito chicken wings. The chicken is marinated in lime juice, simple syrup, mint, and other spices, then fried until crispy. The meat was sweet and had a slightly citrus flavor.
The entrées I ordered were churrasco with chimichurri sauce, bacon cheeseburger on a keiser roll, and mojo ribs.
First off, the portions were huge! ITO does not skimp in lieu of their low prices.
The churrasco was grilled until medium rare and was paired with a malanga puree and rum infused cherry tomatoes. With the tangy and fresh chimichurri sauce drizzled on top, and the warm cherry tomatoes, this is definitely my definition of comfort food.
The bacon cheeseburger was big enough to share. The burger was thick, juicy, and had little charred corners that I love. The sharp cheddar cheese added a creamy texture and the crisp bacon had a salty crunch.
But what separates a good burger, from a great burger, is the bun. The fresh Kaiser bun was toasted on the grill until soft grill marks appeared. Served with a side of fries and mojo ketchup, it was simply delicious
The mojo ribs were tender and the meat was falling off the bone. The salt, pepper, garlic mojo flavor was very pronounced, and tasted like the home cooked meals my grandma used to make for the family—but ITO’s was a little better (sorry grandma).
ITO continued to recreate traditional Hispanic recipes such as their guava and cream cheese doughnut.
With fresh cream cheese frosting piped on top of a cinnamon sugar doughnut, then drizzled with a warm guava sauce, this is definitely something I wanted to eat by the dozen.
Describing the food at ITO is difficult. Their menu is simple and traditional, yet unique and creative. Their adventurous flavors and modern twists on classic dishes have guests’ pallets always wondering “what’s next?”
Every dish was simple, and no detail was left overlooked. The passion and love for cuisine emanated from every dish, and that made a big difference with how it tasted.
Because I’m only 20 years old, I didn’t have the pleasure to try one of their famous mojitos, but they looked really good and colorful.
This place is definitely one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to, and I definitely recommend it everyone.
So next time when you’re at the beach, make your way down to ITO, and have some of the best food you’ll ever eat under the Miami sun!