Ghee Indian Kitchen - Downtown Dadeland

When he was the first to introduce sophisticated, contemporary Indian cuisine to Miami, chef Niven Patel struck gold with his Kendall restaurant. Its emphasis on regional foods—the majority of which Patel farms on his farm in Homestead—certainly contributed to the excitement. Pickling jars are arranged in rows throughout the spacious, modern dining area, and, you guessed it, Patel and his staff are in charge of creating everything that is delectable there.

What should you therefore order? The curries are fantastic, and you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but Ghee has a few standout dishes, including the cheddar naan (warning: it's spicy! ), the smoked lamb neck (which takes about five days to make, according to Patel), and the green millet, which is similar to polenta and also happens to be the chef's personal favorite.

According to Patel, "We buy all of the millet that can be produced in the small Indian village where my family come from; we maintain the entire village on this one meal." Don't overlook the desserts here, even though most Indian restaurants aren't known for them. The ginger ice cream on top of the date cake elevates the classic cake and ice cream combination to new heights.

• What is it? At Ghee, critically acclaimed chef Niven Patel doles out farm-to-table Southeast Asian food good enough to get folks to the ’burbs for dinner.

• Why we love it: Patel grows about a quarter of his ingredients at his Rancho Patel in Homestead. And the whole operation is a family affair: His mother and mother-in-law can be seen whipping up smoked lamb neck, crispy cauliflower and steamed green millet, and other specialties in the open kitchen. The dishes are seasonal, the curries are made fresh, and the naan is so flavorful, it should really be savored on its own.

Google Rating: 4.3/5.0
Address: 8965 SW 72nd PlKendall33156
Phone: 305-968-1850
Opening hours: Tue–Sun noon–2:30pm, 5–9pm
Website: www.gheemiami.com