Ball & Chain

I'd not heard of Ball & Chain, a nearly ninety year old establishment in Miami's Little Havana area.  Many jazz notables, Chet Baker and the like, have played there.  Maybe the heyday was in the 1930s - '50s but the place still swings.  There's mambo on Mondays, with a free salsa and bachata class.  We went on a Sunday afternoon to celebrate a birthday and the house band, The Ball & Chain Trio, kept diners and passersby alike swinging.

My medianoche sandwich was pretty amazing.  The last time I had one this good was at some hole in the wall place in Hialeah over thirty years ago.  It was near the Tri-Rail stop and some friends and I took a chance.  Quite authentic as I recall.  Another customer gave my friend a bullet.  True story.

Ball & Chain's interior seems to have preserved the rafters and walls, which are plastered with old photos and handbills announcing shows.  Fans spin on the ceiling and several cooling misters greet the hordes of tourists out front on the sidewalk.  This mainstay on the vibrant and bustling Calle Ocho strip of the Tamiami Trail does it all so perfectly.  The queso fritas with the guava rum sauce was an auspicious start.  A few in our group of eight raved over the vegetarian tacos filled with fried yuca and cotija cheese.

I had a Modelo.  I hear the cocktails are legendary. 

A trio of servers raised sparklers and banged cowbells as they sang "Happy Birthday".  The entire place joined in.  Lots of friendly clientele.  Tres leches in two bowls were shared among us.  Perfect finish.

We'll be back.

Ball & Chain

1513 S. W. 8th Street

Little Havana, FL 33135

(305) 643-7820

https://ballandchainmiami.com