I went to 2 famous Miami restaurants. One delivered a much more authentic Miami experience.

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

Café La Trova was founded by Cuban-born bartender Julio Cabrera and Miami-born, award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein as a tribute to classic Cuban culture, cuisine, and hospitality.

Since opening in 2019, Café La Trova has earned acclaim as one of the 50 best bars in the world.

From the moment I arrived at the restaurant during my visit to the city, it was clear why it has become such a fixture in Miami's dining scene.

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

I arrived for my 8:15 p.m. reservation on a Tuesday and found the restaurant in full swing, with the live band already setting up for the next performance.

Despite the crowd, the restaurant didn't feel flashy or exclusive. Instead, it struck a balance between energetic and approachable, creating a welcoming atmosphere that made me feel right at home.

I was seated right in front of the stage.

The dining room transported me to old Havana, with crystal chandeliers, vintage decor, and Cuban memorabilia creating a nostalgic atmosphere that felt authentic rather than touristy.

The Cuban music played by a live band right in front of my table made my dinner feel like a special night out, rather than just another meal on vacation.

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

Since Cuban immigrants brought the mojito to South Florida, it's become a Miami staple.

Café La Trova's mojito criollo ($15) was light, refreshing, and mint-forward, making it clear the cocktails are just as integral to the experience as the food.

I started with the Cuban sandwich empanadas.

The empanadas ($15) put a modern twist on classic Cuban flavors and were served as an order of two with a tangy, vinegar-forward dipping sauce.

The empanadas were crispy on the outside and filled with savory pork, cheese, mustard, and pickles that burst with flavor.

I also ordered the Peruvian ceviche.

The Peruvian ceviche ($25) was the standout dish. Made with local Florida fish, cilantro, lime, red onion, huancaína sauce, and crunchy cancha, it was bright and vibrant, perfectly balanced by sweet potato slices.

Although it was meant to be shared, it was so fresh and flavorful that I nearly finished it myself. The creamy huancaína sauce added richness without overpowering the delicate 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) featured plump shrimp over a rich white bean stew, topped with crunchy garlic and confit tomatoes, and served with toasted bread for soaking up every bite.

The tender prawns paired perfectly with the creamy white bean stew, while confit tomatoes, garlic, and toasted bread added sweetness, savoriness, and crunch. The dish reflected perfectly how Spanish influences have become woven into Cuban and Miami cuisine.

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

Café La Trova struck a balance that's surprisingly rare in Miami. It felt lively without being over-the-top and authentic without sacrificing truly amazing food and drinks.

From the live music and warm atmosphere to the standout cocktails and traditional Cuban dishes with a modern twist, the details reflected the city's culture rather than its hype.

It set a high bar for my Miami dining experience, making my visit to Papi Steak an especially interesting comparison.

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 opening in Miami Beach in 2019, Papi Steak has become one of the city's most sought-after reservations, known for its celebrity clientele, over-the-top presentations, and nightclub-like energy.

Restaurateur David Grutman partnered with entrepreneur David "Papi" Einhorn to create a steakhouse where dinner doubles as a spectacle, complete with social-media-ready tableside theatrics and the famous $1,000 "beefcase" — a gilded briefcase holding a 55-ounce Australian purebred wagyu steak.

Papi Steak has since expanded to Las Vegas, another nightlife hub.

During my visit, the dimly lit dining room transformed into a full-blown party within an hour, making it clear why stars like Drake, Bad Bunny, David Beckham, and Kim Kardashian have all dined there.

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

I arrived at Papi Steak about 10 minutes before my 7:30 p.m. reservation on a Wednesday.

Before the music swelled and the dining room filled, Papi Steak felt refined.

Soft lighting, glossy mahogany tables, velvet seating, crystal glassware, and floral murals gave the space an old Hollywood feel, creating an elegant backdrop for cocktails and a leisurely dinner before the party atmosphere took over.

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

Periodically throughout the night, the lights went down, an EDM song started blasting, and a team of servers emerged from the kitchen chanting "Hey! Hey! Hey!" and carrying strobe lights and feather fans.

I didn't even have to be the one who ordered it to know the spectacle was for the "beefcase."

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

During my two-hour dinner on a Wednesday night, I counted the beefcase being ordered three times.

My server told me that during the week, the restaurant typically sells around six beefcases a night, but that number climbs to 15 to 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 continued.

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

I started my meal with the Beauty and the Beast cocktail ($55), served in a rose-shaped glass that emerged from beneath a smoking glass dome. The drink is made with Grey Goose vodka, raspberry saccharum, and amontillado sherry.

Fruity, light, and reminiscent of a classic cosmopolitan, it was enjoyable on its own, but the real draw was the presentation.

Like the restaurant's Birkin bag cocktail and caviar service, which arrives to a "Sex and the City" remix, the drink is designed as much for entertainment as for what's in the glass.

My first appetizer was the steakhouse's hamachi crudo.

The hamachi crudo ($34) was served with citrus ponzu, olive oil jam, and blood orange pieces.

Like Café La Trova's ceviche, the hamachi highlighted fresh seafood and bright citrus flavors. But while Café La Trova layered on bold, traditional flavors in a larger portion size, Papi Steak kept it simple, letting the thin slices of fish shine. It was as impressive to eat as it was to look at.

I also tried Papi Steak's classic steak tartare.

The steak tartare ($38) arrived beautifully plated, with hand-cut prime tenderloin topped with a glossy quail egg yolk, black garlic dijonnaise, and smoked paprika aioli.

It also came with six pieces of crostini to eat with the tartare.

My server mixed the tartare tableside for me. Similar to the live entertainment at Café La Trova, it added a sense of theatricality to my dining experience.

The black garlic and quail egg added subtle sweetness and depth, balancing the steak's richness. Smoked paprika aioli brought a gentle smoky flavor, while crisp crostini contrasted the tartare's melt-in-your-mouth texture.

I also ordered Papi Steak's classic wedge salad.

The wedge salad ($28) came topped with chunks of Maytag blue cheese, heirloom tomatoes, and pickled shallots, and dressed in a creamy, house-made buttermilk ranch dressing.

It was perhaps the best wedge salad I've ever eaten at a steakhouse.

Before visiting Papi Steak, I expected the theatrics to outshine the food. The wedge salad proved me wrong.

Loaded with tart cherry tomatoes, crispy smoked bacon, rich dressing, and generous chunks of blue cheese, it was surprisingly memorable and one of my favorite dishes of the night — and of my entire weekend in Miami.

Latkes and wagyu pastrami paid homage to co-owner David "Papi" Einhorn's Jewish heritage.

Einhorn's Jewish heritage is reflected throughout the menu, with dishes like the wagyu pastrami and latkes ($18), served with apple chutney and crème fraîche, offering elevated takes on classic deli favorites.

The latkes were perfectly crisp, and the apple chutney and crème fraîche complemented them beautifully.

My server also recommended Papi Steak's signature wagyu pastrami ($88), one of the restaurant's most popular dishes. Brined for a week and smoked for two days, it was served with cornichons and two housemade mustards.

The red wine and Dijon mustards cut through the wagyu's richness with just enough acidity and spice, balancing its buttery, smoky flavor.

My final course had to include steak.

I ordered the 8-ounce USDA Prime filet mignon ($69), the most affordable steak on Papi Steak's menu. It arrived simply prepared, garnished with nothing more than a sprig of rosemary.

The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare and had a deeply seared crust that gave way to an incredibly tender, buttery center.

I also tried the crispy lobster mac and cheese, which came topped with lobster and caviar.

This dish ($65) was one of the night's most indulgent. Served in a skillet of rich lobster bisque, it featured a crispy square of fried lobster mac and cheese topped with lobster and caviar.

The rich dish paired creamy Mornay sauce with lobster bisque, with sweet chunks of lobster in every bite.

It's large enough to share, though the caviar felt more like a symbol of Papi Steak's over-the-top approach than a necessary addition.

Café La Trova and Papi Steak represented two very different sides of Miami's dining scene.

Café La Trova celebrated the city's Cuban heritage through live music, warm hospitality, and dishes that felt deeply rooted in local culture.

Papi Steak, meanwhile, embraced Miami's flashy, see-and-be-seen reputation with theatrical presentations, celebrity appeal, and an atmosphere that often felt more like a nightclub than a standard steakhouse.

Despite Papi Steak's over-the-top reputation, nearly every dish I tried — from the wagyu pastrami to the hamachi crudo — was thoughtfully prepared and tasted just as good as it looked. If you're looking for an indulgent, special-occasion dinner where the spectacle is part of the fun, it's easy to understand why the restaurant has become such a phenomenon.

Still, if I could only recommend one restaurant to a first-time visitor, I'd choose Café La Trova.

While Papi Steak offered the more decadent, once-in-a-lifetime meal, Café La Trova delivered a more authentic Miami experience, pairing outstanding food and cocktails with a genuine sense of the city's history and culture.