Posted Feb. 28, 2013

By VANESSA RAMOS

The new Jimmy’z Kitchen in Pinecrest offers fresh, deliciously authentic tasting cuisine at reasonable prices. The small eatery on U.S. 1 is the third location for Jimmy’z Kitchen, which has other locations in Wynwood and South Beach. Jimmy’z in Pinecrest opened on Feb. 14 and serves a variety of paninis, sandwiches, salads and entrées.

Jimmy’z Kitchen.

As patrons walk into Jimmy’z, they’ll be greeted by a clean, welcoming ambiance with orange and gray walls and green chairs. Inside, there are about eight tables, mostly small, that make the space feel cozy but not crowded. There is also plenty of outdoor seating.

Inside, the photography on the walls, medium lighting and pop radio station playing in the background set the mood for a casual dining experience. The menu displayed on three large TV screens hangs above the counter where patrons place their orders.

After ordering and paying at the register, patrons can sit wherever they like and the food is brought out to them in about 15 to 20 minutes. The rumble of the Metrorail trains can be felt inside of Jimmy’z and reminds patrons that the Dadeland South Station is a short walk down the street.

The Chicken Creole at Jimmy’z Kitchen.

The Chicken Creole, priced at $9.75, is a good-sized portion of chicken breast strips simmered into a tomato based sauce with red and green peppers, onions, garlic, cilantro and culantro served over basmati rice. This dish is excellent and tastes homemade. The rich flavor of the sauce puts it over the top. The rice on the side tastes delicious mixed into the sauce or with the chicken. The temperature of this dish could have been warmer. It wasn’t exactly cold, but it was noticeably lukewarm. However, the taste makes up for it.

The Grilled Churasco and Chimichurri dish, priced at $16.50, is an incredibly savory grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce served with black beans, rice and plantains. The steak was cooked perfectly and the chimichurri sauce will have taste buds rejoicing because it doesn’t overwhelm the flavor of the steak, it just enhances it. However, like the Chicken Creole dish, this plate could have been warmer. The black beans, rice and plantains on the side taste authentic and fresh.

The Grilled Churasco and Chimichurri at Jimmy’z Kitchen.

Another incredibly filling and flavorful item on the menu is the Blackened Chicken Panini priced at $8.99. The house-blackened grilled chicken breast is layered with marinated grilled onions, provolone and roasted red pepper aioli made to order on a fresh multigrain bread. The grilled onions are the best part of this dish, and the red pepper gives the panini a slightly spicy kick.

Other paninis and sandwiches on the menu include the Club Panini, Chicken Breast, Panini, Roasted Veggie Panini, Prosciutto Panini, Chicken Salad Sandwich, Cubano Sandwich and Steak Sandwich.

There are also a variety of salads and entrées on the menu. In addition, Jimmy’z offers some seafood dishes such as the Seared Ahi Special, Shrimp Creole and the Fish of the Day.

Jimmy’z sells an assortment of drinks including soda, water, juices, tea, beer, and wine by the bottle or by the glass.

The Blackened Chicken Panini at Jimmy’z Kitchen.

Some of the desserts offered at Jimmy’z Kitchen include cookies, different flavored flan such as caramel or coconut, as well as different flavored cheesecake like mango or guava.

Chef Jimmy Carey, who started Jimmy’z Kitchen, has a 20-year culinary career with a degree in culinary arts from Johnson and Wales University.

Overall, Jimmy’z Kitchen offers a pleasant dining experience with a clean, modern, cozy ambiance. The food tastes authentic, homemade and the prices are reasonable for the fresh-tasting ingredients. The staff is friendly and gracious. In addition to counter-service, Jimmy’z offers take-out, delivery and catering.

• Jimmy’z Kitchen
• 9050 S. Dixie Hwy., Miami, Fla., 33156
• 305-670-1501
• Sundays -Thursdays 11 a.m.- 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Fine casual New American cuisine
• Pricing: $10-$30 per person
• Credit and debit cards accepted as well as cash
• Eat in, take out, delivery and catering available
• Parking: Parking lot is free and conveniently located

Ratings (out of five stars):

• Food Quality: 4
• Service: 4
• Décor/Ambiance: 5