mimosa thanks to the blood oranges. For appetizers, I got it started with a couple of raw oysters ($3 each). Mignonette prides itself on their selection of fresh oysters so I was given a choice of east coast or west coast. I opted for one of each and was rewarded with a Thach Island (high quality select oysters from Barnstable, Massachusetts. They consistently have full, plump meats, and strong, sturdy shells that shuck well) and a Purple Mountain (a new variety of Pacific Oyster being cultivated off Tekiu Point in the Hood Canal region in Washington State). They are served shucked on a bed of ice with Mignonette sauce, cocktail sauce, and a lemon wedge. \
Clams Casino
Alan and I also shared an order of Clams “casino” ($16), which are anything but ordinary. The little neck clams (two dozen) are steamed and smothered in bacon and piquillo peppers and served in a big bowl over a white wine broth and topped off with a trio of Italian bread sticks. When I asked Alan what he thought he said it was “bacony, garlicy, goodness.” The broth was so good we asked for extra bread to help us sop it all up. (Nothing Wasted!) By this point, I was ready for another cocktail, so to keep the champagne theme going, I decided on the House Aperitif ($16). Besides the bubbly, it's made with banyuls vinegar, candied shallots, and pink peppercorns. The candied shallots really add a sweet tinge to the dry champagne and make the drink extra effervescent. The peppercorns give a pink tint and add a bit of spice, but don't overpower the drink.
Our entrees arrived as soon as our clams casino was cleared away. Alan opted for the Scallops Fresh Hog Snapper ($25) off of the menu. The 3 giant scallops were served seared over a beurre blanc sauce and a side of veggies. He opted for the roasted acorn squash which was topped with a bit of brown sugar and reminded us both of sweet potatoes. The scallops were cooked perfectly and every bite was a delight. I decided on the fresh fish ($27) which was a whole fried hog Scallops snapper. It was also served in their beurre blanc sauce, I opted for the fresh fried potato chips which are house cut and topped off with old bay seasoning. The hog snapper was fished from local waters and according to our waitress, was swimming that very morning. That's fresh, and you could tell. The white flaky consistency is not fishy at all and was outstanding. When we were ordering our dinner, we decided to take the waitress' recommendation and save room for dessert, and boy are we glad we did. Their signature desserts are bread pudding and a brownie served a la mode. However, the night we were there, they had beignets ($7) that were made to order and served with a trio of dipping sauces. One was melted chocolate, another was a strawberry compote, and the third was a caramel sauce that was a bit thin, but was so good that Alan and I were fighting for the last drop! If you are looking for some of the best, freshest seafood in Miami, Mignonette is the place for you. Run don't walk. Bring your friends, and tell them Hotspots sent you. If you do go, make sure to let us know how it went on Facebook.