Tap Tap: a taste of Haiti in South Beach
Fronting one of South Beach's busier traffic thoroughfares, this outpost of authentic Haitian cuisine might be easy to pass by and pass up, which would be a shame. We admit we almost forgot it was in the neighborhood, and only took the opportunity to stop in and sample the fare one day this spring because we had to park so far west and then walk back east down 5th Street to get back to Ocean Drive. Tap Tap turned out to be a pleasant way to revive on a humid day of walking. We'd been told the atmosphere was usually lively here, and although we visited at the wrong time to catch the Thursday night live band, it was certainy still an interesting mix of locals, globals and of course Haitians devoted to dining on the best prepared dishes from their homeland that Miami has to offer.
Keeping it visually colorful are the murals, Haitian metal art and voodoo flags adorning the walls. Some of the fresh and spicey items on the menu that you might consider for a brief sampling of Haitian culinary skill include: pumpkin soup, shrimp in creole sauce, grouper in spicy lime/cabbage sauce, Tap Tap salad and Goat. As with other areas of the Caribbean, pork and chicken play a major role in a recipe, so try some of the Haitian creations such as griyo (fried pork chunks) and poul di (baked chicken). And while Cuba may have been the island of origin for the mojito, Haitians have appropriated it and put their own twist to it at Tap Tap. If the volume becomes too loud inside, you can always sit on their terrace on a pleasant enough day and, like most establishments in this city, even Tap Tap has take-take out.
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Tap Tap - 819 5th St., Miami; Tel: (305) 672-2898