Miami · 2014 – 2023 · A Father & Daughter
One restaurant for every letter of the alphabet. Eight years. A journey worth cherishing forever.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM"I wanted to find a way to bond with her."
She was 13. He was 37. They lived in different houses — but every few weeks they picked a restaurant, one for each letter of the alphabet, and showed up for each other over a meal somewhere in Miami. Eight years later, they finished. All 26 letters. This is their story.
Brick Oven Pizza
Italian · Pizza
She was 13. He was 37. Nicole held up the Andiamo menu — pointing up at #1 — and Tony snapped the first selfie of their journey. She talked the whole time about Judaism and religion, never ceasing to amaze him. It took some convincing to get that first photo. They made up the rules: take turns picking the restaurant. Nicole chose A. Tony's turn for B.
Venezuelan
Nicole arrived wearing a black heart on her left cheek. They talked about a Bar Mitzvah she'd attended, and about baseball — Nicole declared it 'soooo boring… wait, we played baseball on Drama with a doll.' The highlight: Nicole spotted a photo of Frank Quintero on the wall and asked Tony if it was Morgan Freeman.
The Restaurant
American · Comfort Food
This time Tony did all the talking. He told Nicole about his adventures as a foreign exchange student in Yuma, AZ back in 1994 — and she was delighted. They talked about friendship, and how friends are the family you choose. Country fried chicken for him, sesame seared salmon for her. Both superb.
Mexican Restaurant
Mexican
A Valentine's weekend adventure. Nicole and her braces, Tony with his smile, both of them flanking the gold-and-white D.F. sign on the glass door like they owned the place.
Cuban
Nicole knew from day one she wanted this one for E. The 'El Mago de las Fritas' sign hangs proud above them on the wall. This legendary Miami spot has been serving fritas — the Cuban hamburger — for decades. A true local institution, beloved by the whole city. El Mago himself was counting dollar bills at a back table while the waitress took orders on an iPad. Only in Miami.
French American
A nighttime visit under the warm Frenchies awning. Nicole resting her head on Tony's shoulder, both tilted sideways for the selfie. The cursive restaurant name glowing above them both. Casual, warm, and very them.
Coconut Grove
American · Casual
A milestone afternoon. For the very first time, Nicole opened up about her career dreams — she'd been afraid Tony would pressure her. She told him she likes journalism, teaching, and psychology. The self-proclaimed vegetarian ordered a Caesar Salad. They sat outside in beautiful Coconut Grove weather and promised to pick up the pace.
Mexican
Cheek to cheek under the big blue Huahua's umbrella, the restaurant name stretched wide above them in the Miami sun. Nicole in her green polo, Tony in white — both grinning. A perfect December afternoon in the city.
American Burgers
They tried I Love Tacos — closed. So hungry they landed at BurgerFi, which conveniently ends in 'i.' Big news: Nicole is now a full vegetarian, fresh back from Nîmes, France, where she went with her French class and spent her birthday. Veggie burger for her, cheeseburger for him. The BurgerFi sign right there behind them — proof of a great detour.
Irish Pub & Grill
The bright green neon J.P. Mulligan's sign blazing above them in the night. Both wearing red — unplanned, just in sync. Nicole's arm around Tony, both smiling wide. A great September night together.
Peruvian
What looked on Yelp like a fast food chain turned out to be a fancy modern Peruvian restaurant. Tony had the Beef Saltado. Nicole — fully vegetarian — had the only plant-based option: Vegetarian Chaufa. They went right after her SAT and ACT tutoring class and talked about summer plans.
American · Brickell
Tony pointing down at the Lulu menu from above, Nicole holding it up from below — the big brown paper bag menu front and center between them. Both grinning at the camera. A spring afternoon in Brickell, perfectly spent.
Gourmet Grilled Cheese
Nicole pointing to the pink Ms. Cheezious sign, Tony in his Real Madrid cap. A gourmet grilled cheese spot with real personality — and two people with plenty of their own. Their smiles here say everything.
Mediterranean · Café
The green NOA CAFE sign up on the wall, Nicole's hand pointing right at it, Tony beside her. A summer afternoon in the city, a warm café, two people who had gotten very good at just being together.
Asian Noodles
The tall mint-green building towers behind them, OHHO in bold red letters up top, Nicole's hand pointing straight up at it. The blue OPEN neon glows in the window. Noodles for two — a perfect Miami afternoon.
New American
Nicole throwing her arms wide open in front of the giant PINCH KITCHEN mural, Ransom Everglades hoodie on, pure joy. Tony pointing proudly from behind. The receipt from this visit is saved: ceviche, pasta of the day, bacon burger. Total: $59.40. A great Thursday.
& DRNK Coffee + Tea
Juice Bar · Café
Q is for Qwench! The new year, a new letter — the green Qwench and DRNK signs side by side above them. Nicole with her red nails and gold necklace, Tony in navy blue. Older now, the same smiles. Some letters take time. This one was worth the wait.
Restaurant Parrilla
Argentine Steakhouse
Nicole pointing at the ornate Rincón Argentino sign, that radiant smile, Tony beaming. This photo became the cover of the whole journey — because it captures everything: the pride, the closeness, the joy of having made it this far together.
Middle Eastern
Inside the warm lantern-lit restaurant. Nicole's hand pointing up at the red cursive Shaddai on the wall above them, Moroccan lanterns hanging overhead. A beautiful August evening — two people in no rush to be anywhere else.
Australian Café
The gold Threefold logo etched into the glass behind them. Nicole brought the photo album that day — you can almost see it in the reflection. A café worthy of the occasion.
Letter U
"U is for Us —
Unforgettable."
Some letters don't need a restaurant. This one belongs to the journey itself — to a father and daughter who chose each other, one meal at a time, for eight years across the whole alphabet of Miami.
Craft Brewery & Food
The massive black wall, the bold white VEZA SUR BREWING CO. letters towering above them, Nicole pointing at the sign. Tropical plants at their feet, Miami craft culture all around. Two people very near the end of a very long alphabet.
American Diner · Wynwood
The purple-and-white striped Wynwood Diner behind them. Nicole's hand pointing back at it, Tony in sunglasses. A classic Miami diner in a neighborhood covered in murals. Exactly the kind of place this journey was made for.
Miami Gardens
Mexican · Cantina
We found X! Xochimex Cantina Grill in Miami Gardens — the caption says it all. Nicole's hand raised triumphant above the sign, both of them beaming. They cracked the hardest letter in the alphabet. X marks the spot.
Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar · Medford, MA
Japanese · Sushi · Tufts University area
This one is special. Yoki is not in Miami — it's in Medford, Massachusetts, right near Tufts University. Tony surprised Nicole here when she was settling into her very first year of college. He showed up. Of course he showed up. The bright teal Yoki awning above them, both in dark shirts, Tony's Tufts cap a knowing wink. A father who traveled to Massachusetts just to keep the alphabet going — and to see his daughter.
Modern Japanese Cuisine
Japanese · Modern
Z is for Zaka! December 23, 2022 — two days before Christmas, eight years after it all started. Nicole's red nails pointing up at the Zaka sign, both of them in black, both of them beaming. The last letter. The last restaurant. The alphabet was complete.