Let’s Have Dinner at Dolphin Mall

Dolphin Mall is one of the most fantastic malls in all of South Florida.  Located in the heart of the city and close to many top Doral neighborhoods, it is the largest shopping mall in all of Miami-Dade and is known for the high-end label outlet stores.  It is also known for its restaurants from quick and easy stops in the Atria Food Court to casual restaurants to fine dining establishments. 

Latin American Cuisine

There are tons of choices if Latin American is what you crave from Brazilian to Cuban to Mexican and most any other Latin American cuisine.

Texas de Brazil.  If you have eaten at an authentic churrascaria, you know what kind of restaurant this place is.  Carvers come to each table and offer generous servings of beef, lamb, pork, chicken and Brazilian sausage.  They also have a huge salad bar with more than just lettuce and fixings.  Along with that, there are soups, appetizers and so much more.  If you are hungry and a big eater, this is the place for you.  Texas de Brazil has an extensive wine list with award winning wines that are the perfect accompaniment to the delicious meals.  And, for dessert, there is a large selection of sinful yet delicious desserts as well steaming coffee drinks and, yes, hand-rolled cigars -- it’s a churrascaria after all!

Mojito’s.  This is Cuban at its finest from the original drink of Cuba (mojito) to authentic Cuban dishes like Palomilla Steak and Shrimp Creole and a, true traditional Cuban sandwich.  The desserts are spectacular!  The best part of Mojito’s is that after dinner, guests frequently stay for an evening of salsa and cha-cha dancing.  This is a fun, fun place.

Taco Vida.  Along with the fancier restaurants at Dolphin Mall, there are great places that are very affordable and delicious.  One of those is Taco Vida.  It is a wonderful Mexican café with everything from basic tacos to fajitas to unbelievable burritos and elegant gourmet salads.  This is the perfect place when you are hungry for Mexican food and do not have a lot of time.

Asian Cuisine

There are several Asian style restaurants at Dolphin Mall.  These restaurants offer quick bites from locations in the Food Court as well as the ambiance of fine dining at one of the elegant restaurants.

Suki Hana.  Suki Hana is an easy place to go for sushi, tempura and other Japanese favorites.  It is located in the Food Court and serves fresh food that is prepared in front of guests.  Reviewers of Suki Hana say that this is the best place in the Food Court for vegetarian meals.

KOBE Japanese Steak and Seafood.  KOBE is one of our favorites for a business lunch or nice dinner.  It accommodates the tastes of sea and land lovers with juicy cuts of beef and fresh seafood.  Along with freshly prepared meals, guests enjoy the best wines from their award winning wine list.

P.F. Chang’s.  We would be remiss if we did not mention P.F. Chang’s.  They have the best lettuce wraps, Flaming Red Wontons, and so many other favorites.  This is the perfect place to wind down after a day of shopping.  Enjoy a glass of wine with one of your favorites on the menu. 

American Cuisine

Where would any mall be without good old traditional American cuisine?  It is the tops of all food and we love it. From food court to dine-in restaurants, there are tons of our favorite restaurants scattered throughout the shopping center.

Cool de Sac.  Every parent must learn about Cool de Sac.  This is one of the best places with which to bribe your children to behave while shopping.  It gives them something to which they can look forward and allows Mom and Dad time to chill out while the kids play in one of the eight interactive stations set up throughout the place.  The food is prepared with fresh, organic and natural ingredients so there are no worries about the quality and can feel good about what everyone in the family is eating.

Buffalo Wild Wings.  Who doesn’t love a plate of wings!?  Buffalo Wild Wings always has a crowd because the wings are so good.  Wives can spend an entire day shopping while their husbands hang out watching football and eating wings. 

Cheesecake Factory.  Yummo!  Enjoy the biggest salads, pizzas, burger and, of course, decadent cheesecake here.  Located at most high-end shopping centers across the country, Cheesecake Factory is a favorite for most everyone.  The best part about this place is that you can just run in and order a big slice of cheesecake to go and take it home to eat with your feet propped up.

Doral’s Favorites

Many of the restaurants at Dolphin Mall are Doral’s favorites.  There are tons of options to meet every taste bud.  And being so close to everything in and around Doral, it is the perfect place to simply stop in for a meal or build into a day of shopping.

Five Most Recent Doral Real Estate Sales

We keep hearing how the real estate market is on the rebound.  From re-sales to those in newly developed neighborhoods, buyers are interested in all types of real estate.  Knowing this, we are curious as what Doral real estate buyers are buying.  Following are the five most recent Doral real estate sales:

8353 Lake Drive, #502, Las Vistas at Doral, Sale Price:  $170,000

This two-bedroom, two-bath unit is the largest floor plan at Las Vistas.  The charming home has tile floors, an eat-in kitchen with lots of counter and cabinet space.  Additionally, there are walk-in closets in the spacious bedrooms.  Community amenities include four private swimming pools, a spa, tennis and racquet ball courts, and a state of the art two-story fitness center.   Las Vistas at Doral is situated in the heart of Doral very close to the Doral Golf Resort as well as Miami International mall and Dolphin Mall.  List prices for units at Las Vistas range from the low-$100s to about $200K.  For investors, Las Vistas rental rates fall between $1,100 and about $1,500 per month.

For Sale at Las Vistas

9411 Fontainebleau Blvd Apt 107, Bleau Fontaine, Sale Price:  $130,000

This is a beautiful two-bedroom, two-bath unit at Bleau Fontaine with gorgeous marble floors and a wonderful tile patio that opens to a delightful small courtyard.  The building housing this unit is a boutique building with only 28 units in two stories.  Bleau Fontaine is ideally located on the edge of Doral close to the main travel arteries in and out of Miami-Dade as well as Miami International Airport, the beaches, Downtown Miami and excellent schools.  Additionally, shopping, restaurants and other conveniences are nearby.  Residents have full use of the community pool as well as tennis courts and a guarded entrance.  Two-bedrooms typically list between the low to high-$100s with rental rates falling around $1,500 per month.   

6540 NW 114^th Avenue, #1433, The Courts at Doral, Sale Price:  $245,000

As the most recently reported home sale, this residence is just over 1,300 square feet and has two bedrooms and two baths.  The open floor plan is perfectly laid out to provide tons of room for small families as well as those who work from home.  The kitchen offers tons of counter space, excellent appliances and plenty of cabinets.  This unit is an excellent investment property with an annual tenant paying $1,375 per month in place until mid-December.  The Courts at Doral is a gated neighborhood adjacent to Doral Isles and features a community pool, playground, and clubhouse for residents.  List prices typically range anywhere from the low-$200s to about $300K.  The Courts at Doral offer excellent investment opportunities as rental residents like the community because of what it has to offer in terms of security and amenities.   Current rental listings feature monthly rental rates between $1,500 and $1,900.

For Sale at The Courts at Doral

11273 NW 50^th Terrace, Doral Landings, Sale Price:  $370,000

This Mediterranean-style home, built in 1996, has tons of upgrades.  From the new kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops and tiled back splash to the contemporary baths, this home has so much to offer.  The floor plan is perfectly laid out with high ceilings and lots of light.  Doral Landings is an exclusive gated community with a guard house attendant.  The neighborhood is close to top golf courses as well as major thoroughfares in and out of Miami-Dade County.   List prices at Doral Landings typically start in the upper $200s and climb to about $500K.  For investors, annual renters typically pay around $2,500 to $3,000 per month. 

4504 NW 109^th Street, Doral Meadows, Sale Price:  $381,000

Located in guard-gated Doral Meadows, this one-story home has three bedrooms and two baths as well as a large family room and a fully remodeled kitchen and laminate flooring throughout the home.  The kitchen features upgrades like stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops and custom cabinetry.  The home is situated on a large 5,800+ square foot corner lot with tropical landscaping and a tiled rear courtyard perfect for enjoying the Florida weather.    Community amenities include a large clubhouse and pool as well as a six-acre lake with a fountain.  Doral Meadows is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Doral and one in which residents want to live.  Recent sale prices range in the mid to upper-$400s while list prices for the two homes for sale in Doral Meadows are $409K and $515K.

For Sale at Doral Meadows

A Nice Mix

The most recent sales include a nice mix of condominium and single-family home properties.  Whether seeking a permanent residence in one of Doral’s premiere gated neighborhoods or looking for rental properties as an investment in any of the condominium and townhouse communities, list and sales prices are climbing as the news suggests.  Doral is, without a doubt, an excellent choice for buying real estate.

Top Five Newest Doral Real Estate Listings

Doral is very popular with business professionals who have offices in South Florida.  Because it is close to the major thoroughfares and transportation hubs, it is becoming the top choice for those who frequently travel in and out of the area.  With Doral real estate sales increasing every day, more listings are also on the rise in terms of the number of listings as well as the range in prices.  Following are the top five newest Doral real estate listings.

11441 NW 82^nd Terrace, Islands at Doral, List Price:  $949,000

Located in the exclusive Islands at Doral, this 3,600+ square foot home has a gorgeous Mediterranean architecture with a barrel roof and large a two-car garage.  It has everything a buyer looking for a luxurious home wants from the large gourmet kitchen to beautiful tropical landscaping surrounding the property.  The open floor plan showcases double height ceilings in the formal living room.  In the kitchen, home owners can enjoy stainless steel appliances, quartz counter tops with a glass back splash, and lots of cabinet space.  Beautiful marble floors meander throughout the entire first floor from the foyer to the family room in the rear of the home.  Upstairs, the huge master suite includes a large dressing area with his and hers walk-in closets as well as a large spa-like master bath.  The other upstairs bedrooms each have private baths.  Hardwood floors flow throughout the upstairs.  There is also a first floor guest room which is a huge bonus with this home.  Outside, a marble slab sundeck surrounds the private pool and Jacuzzi that looks out over the private lake.  This house is listed turn-key furnished as well making this a perfect home for luxury Doral real estate buyers.

For Sale at the Islands at Doral

10772 NW 71^st Street, Doral Isles St. Croix, List Price:  $820,000

For buyers wanting a one-story home, this is a wonderful in gated Doral Isles.  With four bedrooms and two and a half baths, the open floor plan offers tons of room and space in a spectacular neighborhood.  Inside there are marble floors throughout the entire home along with other high-end fixtures and finishes.  The kitchen is unbelievable with custom built cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and beautiful granite counter tops with complementing granite back splashes.  The master suite includes a wonderful private bath and lots of space.  Additionally, there is a two-car garage with a brick-paved driveway.  Outside, there is a huge backyard with a large patio area and plenty of room for a pool.   Doral Isles is perfect for families and those wanting a second home in a safe and secure neighborhood.  There is a phenomenal clubhouse with two unbelievable pools as well as huge playground, sports fields and more.  This home needs to be on the short list of Doral Isles home buyers.

10957 NW 73^rd Terrace, Doral Isles St. Croix, List Price:  $730,000

This 3,100+ square foot home is located in Doral Isles St. Croix and offers lots of space to move.  The home is ideal as it has a first floor guest room and bath in addition to four other bedrooms on the upper floor.  The kitchen is large with custom cabinets, an island with a raised breakfast bar, granite counter tops, a tile back splash and recessed lighting to light the work space for gourmet cooks.  The double height ceilings in the foyer and living room provide lots of space.  There are marble floors on the first floor as well as all the baths with carpet on the second level.   Even though there are already three baths, there is plenty of room to easily add an additional bath.  With the three-car garage as the icing on the cake, this is truly a remarkable home in an even more remarkable gated neighborhood with so many community amenities. 

For Sale at Doral Isles

8433 NW 115^th Court, Islands at Doral, List Price:  $679,900

Situated on a corner lot, directly across from large green space/park area, this beautiful 3,100+ square foot home faces a lush and tropical green space that is ideal for kids’ play not to mention a wonderful view.  Inside some of the features include amazing double height ceilings at the entrance and into the living room, marble floors throughout the first floor and a great gourmet kitchen with custom cabinets, granite counter tops and back splash and stainless steel appliances.  There is also a raised breakfast bar on the side of the kitchen island.  There is also a family room and first floor room that is perfect for a bedroom or home office.  Upstairs, the bedrooms, computer nook and hall have hardwood floors while the bath floors are marble.  The Islands at Doral is a perfect family neighborhood with tons of amenities including the Island Club and its pools, playground, fitness center and more.  For luxury home buyers, this is definitely a property for consideration.

11340 NW 82^nd Terrace, Islands at Doral, List Price:  $585,000

With 3,000+ square feet of living space, this completely remodeled home features four bedrooms and four baths with one bedroom and bath on the main level.  The foyer and living room are open and bright with double height ceilings and tons of windows.  In the kitchen there is even more space with tons of granite counter space, custom cabinetry and stainless steel appliances as well as a large breakfast area.  Along with a formal dining room, a large family room and a laundry and utility room, there is tons of room for a large family.  Upstairs, the master suite is large and includes a sitting area, a private master bath with a double sink and vanity, and a walk-in closet.  In addition to a two-car garage, there is definitely room for a pool in the backyard off the covered patio.  This is a fantastic home and priced at under $200/square foot, it is a great investment in a premiere Doral neighborhood. 

New Listings Continue to Increase

Luxury Doral real estate is more affordable than in other Miami-Dade cities.  With the real estate market rebounding, the number of new listings continues to increase.  These homes and others are worth consideration as they are excellent investments and offer luxury in Doral’s top neighborhoods at affordable prices.