Selva Negra - Miami

I’d like to give this restaurant 4 stars, but I’ll explain why it’s a 3. We had a family lunch on a busy Sunday afternoon with a party of 7. We ordered several dishes and 6 pitchers of sangria. The service, however, could use some improvement. Our server was friendly but not attentive; we often couldn’t locate her, so we had to ask 3 other servers for food, water, napkins, and so on. On the positive side, the food was nearly perfect. All the meat was cooked properly and well-seasoned. The only downside was the ceviche, which was lacking in acidity and salt—it was quite bland and tasted like nothing. I would still recommend Selva Negra for their great meats and sides, but just skip the ceviche.

This is the best restaurant for family dining! If it were possible to give more than 5 stars, I certainly would. I want to start by mentioning the owner, Marisol; her attentiveness is truly exceptional. The manager, who is Venezuelan but feels more Nicaraguan, also provides outstanding service. We’ve known him since I was a child, and my mom follows him wherever he works because he feels like family to us. It’s a joy to see him, especially since he has watched my three children grow up. This restaurant deserves more than 5 stars; it’s a source of pride for us as a Latino establishment.

**Kid-friendliness:** The music was great, and there’s a kids' menu. **Parking:** It was quick and easy. The valet only accepts tips.

Great service and live music make this a place to go to. The food was not entirely what I was expecting. I was looking for a taste of my grandma’s cooking, but it wasn’t there. The Gallopinto (rice&beans) may have been either overcooked, or dried because it was old or had been sitting for too long in a heat lamp; or reseated in the microwave. The Carne Asada (fried meat) was dry and under seasoned. The plátanos fritos (fried plantains) are awesome, but the maduros (ripped fried plantains) lacked; probably cooked in a deep frier for fries.

Had a great experience at Selva Negra. Everything was perfectly cooked. I highly recommend you try their churrasco. Very nice and friendly service.