Miami offers a wide range of dining options, including lively steakhouses and cherished local sandwich spots.

During a recent visit to Miami, I tried two well-known restaurants: Papi Steak, an eye-catching steakhouse in South Beach, and Cafe La Trova, a respected Cuban spot in Little Havana.

Both places provided entertainment along with quality food, yet one delivered a more genuine Miami feel.

Here is my take on eating at Papi Steak and Cafe La Trova, plus which spot deserves a return visit on your next trip to Miami.

My first stop in Miami was at Cafe La Trova in Little Havana.

Cafe La Trova was started by Cuban-born bartender Julio Cabrera and Miami-born, award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein to honor classic Cuban traditions, dishes, and service.

Since its launch in 2019, Cafe La Trova has gained recognition as one of the world's top 50 bars.

From the instant I walked in during my city visit, the reason for its status in Miami's food scene became obvious.

The restaurant is just as famous for its daily live music as it is for its food and drinks.

I showed up for my 8:15 p.m. booking on a Tuesday to find the place buzzing, with the live band preparing for their set.

Even with the busy crowd, the spot avoided any flashy or exclusive feel. It balanced energy with approachability, creating a warm setting that put me at ease right away.

I was seated right in front of the stage.

The dining area took me straight to old Havana through crystal chandeliers, vintage touches, and Cuban keepsakes that felt real instead of staged for visitors.

Live Cuban music performed by a band right by my table turned the meal into a memorable evening rather than a standard vacation dinner.

My server recommended that I try a mojito criollo, the restaurant's most popular cocktail and a signature drink in Miami.

Cuban immigrants introduced the mojito to South Florida, where it has become a local staple.

Cafe La Trova's mojito criollo ($15) came across as light, refreshing, and heavy on mint, showing that drinks play a key role alongside the meals.

I started with the Cuban sandwich empanadas.

The empanadas ($15) gave a fresh spin to traditional Cuban tastes and arrived as a pair with a sharp, vinegar-based sauce for dipping.

They stayed crisp outside while holding savory pork, cheese, mustard, and pickles packed with taste.

I also ordered the Peruvian ceviche.

The Peruvian ceviche ($25) emerged as the top dish. Prepared with fresh Florida fish, cilantro, lime, red onion, huancaina sauce, and crunchy cancha, it tasted bright and lively, offset nicely by sweet potato slices.

Though intended for sharing, its freshness and flavor nearly led me to finish it solo. The smooth huancaina sauce brought richness without overwhelming the seafood.

I also ordered the prawns al ajillo, a Spanish tapas classic that has become a staple of Cuban cuisine.

The prawns al ajillo ($28) included tender shrimp atop a hearty white bean stew, finished with crunchy garlic and confit tomatoes, plus toasted bread to capture every drop.

The soft prawns matched well with the creamy stew, while the tomatoes, garlic, and bread supplied sweetness, depth, and texture. This plate highlighted how Spanish elements blend into Cuban and Miami cooking.

In a city packed with trendy restaurants, Cafe La Trova stood out as a place that genuinely lives up to its reputation.

Cafe La Trova achieved a rare balance in Miami. It felt energetic without excess and true to form while delivering excellent food and drinks.

Live music, a cozy setting, standout cocktails, and classic Cuban plates with updated touches all captured the city's real culture over its flash.

It raised expectations for my Miami meals, which made the follow-up at Papi Steak a notable contrast.

The next night, I headed to Papi Steak. From the moment I arrived, it was clear this would be a very different kind of Miami dining experience.

Since its 2019 opening in Miami Beach, Papi Steak has turned into one of the city's hottest tables, noted for celebrity guests, bold presentations, and club-style energy.

Restaurateur David Grutman teamed with entrepreneur David "Papi" Einhorn to build a steakhouse where meals come with a show, including social-media-friendly tableside flair and the well-known $1,000 "beefcase" - a gold briefcase containing a 55-ounce Australian purebred wagyu steak.

Papi Steak has since opened a location in Las Vegas, another nightlife center.

On my visit, the low-lit room turned into a full party within an hour, explaining why figures like Drake, Bad Bunny, David Beckham, and Kim Kardashian have visited.

Before the party started, Papi Steak resembled an elegant steakhouse with drop lighting and candlelit tables.

I reached Papi Steak roughly 10 minutes ahead of my 7:30 p.m. booking on a Wednesday.

Before the music rose and the room filled, Papi Steak felt polished.

Soft lights, shiny mahogany tables, velvet chairs, crystal glassware, and floral murals lent an old Hollywood air, setting a refined stage for drinks and a relaxed meal before the lively mood took hold.

Unlike Cafe La Trova's live Cuban music, Papi Steak's entertainment came in the form of high-energy tableside spectacles.

At intervals during the evening, lights dimmed, an EDM track blared, and servers rushed from the kitchen chanting "Hey! Hey! Hey!" while holding strobe lights and feather fans.

I did not need to order it to recognize the show was for the "beefcase."

Papi Steak is famous for its "beefcase," a 55-ounce wagyu steak served in a golden briefcase.

Over my two-hour dinner on a Wednesday, I saw the beefcase ordered three times.

My server noted that midweek the restaurant sells about six beefcases nightly, though that rises to 15 or 20 on weekends.

"Today, a lot of people like to have a show, but they don't want to go to nightclubs that much," Einhorn previously told Business Insider.

"With this, they get the vibe, the music, everyone's around them, they feel special, they feel important, they had a great meal - all those things coming together is what makes the steak a really special experience," he added.

For my own meal - sans "beefcase" - I started with a specialty cocktail.

I began with the Beauty and the Beast cocktail ($55), presented in a rose-shaped glass that appeared from under a smoking dome. The drink mixes Grey Goose vodka, raspberry saccharum, and amontillado sherry.

Fruity, light, and similar to a classic cosmopolitan, it tasted good alone, yet the presentation stood out most.

Like the restaurant's Birkin bag cocktail and caviar service, which arrives to a "Sex and the City" remix, the drink serves entertainment as much as its contents.