Six people. Eight people. A table of twelve for a birthday, a family reunion, a bachelorette dinner, or the annual gathering of friends who moved to different corners of the country and finally coordinated a night in Miami. When the group is big, the restaurant matters more — not less. The room needs to hold the noise. The kitchen needs to hold the rhythm. And the menu needs to answer a question ordinary restaurants rarely think about: how do we feed 8 people something they will all remember?
Lo D'Alex, at 9610 SW 8th Street on Calle 8, was built for exactly this. The signature Tabla program — large sharing platters designed for 4 to 6 guests each — turns a group dinner from logistical stress into a shared experience. With a 4.4-star average across 3,976 Google reviews and hosting capabilities from 6 to 400 guests, Lo D'Alex has become one of the go-to addresses for Miami group dining. This is the complete guide.
Why Group Dining Works Best at Lo D'Alex
Most Miami restaurants treat a table of 8 as a table of 8 individual orders. The kitchen sends food out whenever each plate finishes. Some guests finish before others start. Conversations fragment. The bill becomes a math problem. It works — but it does not feel like a shared meal.
Lo D'Alex takes the opposite approach. Since opening in November 2024 under the vision of Alexander Delgado, six-time Latin Grammy winner with Gente de Zona, the restaurant has centered its menu on Tablas — communal platters where the entire group eats from the same board. The kitchen coordinates courses so everyone experiences the meal together. The service team handles pace, timing, and the transitions from starters to Tablas to dessert. What arrives at your table is not eight separate dinners. It is one dinner, for eight people.
The room supports the concept. Long banquettes accommodate parties of 8 to 12 without splitting them across two tables. The signature golden LED ceiling flatters every phone camera. And after 11 PM Friday and Saturday, the same room shifts into nightlife energy — perfect for groups celebrating something that deserves more than dessert.
Understanding the Lo D'Alex Tabla Menu
The Tabla is not a tasting menu. It is not a prix fixe. It is a large wood or slate board arranged with the kitchen's best cuts of that category — steak, seafood, or Wagyu — served with grilled sides and sauces meant for the whole table. Each Tabla is designed to feed 4 to 6 guests, which means a party of 8 typically orders one Tabla plus supporting shared plates, and a party of 12 orders two Tablas.
| Tabla | Best For | Price | Party Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tabla Clasica Traditional grilled selection | Entry-level group table, mixed appetites | $50 – $86 | 3 – 4 guests |
| Tabla Prime Mixed prime steaks | Steak-lovers, milestone dinners | $85 – $103 | 4 – 6 guests |
| Tabla Mar y Tierra Surf-and-turf sharing board | Groups split between meat and seafood | Ask server | 4 – 6 guests |
| Tabla del Mar Seafood tower + grilled catch | Pescatarian-heavy groups, coastal celebrations | $103 | 4 – 6 guests |
| Wagyu Table A5 Wagyu centerpiece | Anniversaries, business dinners, top-tier occasions | $184 | 4 – 6 guests |
Tabla Prime: Mixed Prime Steaks for 4 to 6 People
The Tabla Prime is the workhorse of the group menu. A selection of prime cuts — grilled to the group's preferred temperature and arranged on a wood board with chimichurri, house steak sauce, and grilled vegetables — the Tabla Prime feeds 4 to 6 comfortably and lands in the $85 to $103 range depending on the market cuts of the day. For a group of 8, one Tabla Prime plus a Tabla del Mar or two rounds of appetizers covers the meal beautifully.
Why the Tabla Prime works for groups: it removes the classic tension of "who's ordering steak" from the table. Everyone eats from the same board. No one gets order envy. And the presentation is unmistakably designed for a group photo — the moment the platter lands is the moment the phones come out.
Tabla Mar y Tierra: The Surf-and-Turf Sharing Board
For groups split between the pescatarians and the steak people, the Tabla Mar y Tierra is the diplomat. The board pairs prime cuts with grilled seafood — usually a mix of shellfish, whole fish, and octopus depending on availability — and gives everyone at the table something they came for. It is the single most versatile Tabla on the menu and the one the service team recommends most often when a large group cannot agree.
Wagyu Table: Premium Sharing for Special Occasions ($184)
At $184, the Wagyu Table is the crown of the sharing menu. A5 Wagyu imported from Japan, prepared with minimal seasoning to let the marbling speak, portioned across the board for 4 to 6 guests to share. This is the Tabla for anniversaries, engagement dinners, closing dinners after a deal, or the birthday that deserves more than a candle. Groups routinely combine it with a Tabla del Mar so half the table stays with beef and half stays with seafood, and neither side compromises.
The Wagyu Table is not a walk-in order. Because A5 supply is limited, the kitchen prefers 24 hours of notice for parties intending to order it — mention it when reserving.
Signature Appetizers Best for the Group Table
Before the Tabla arrives, the group table needs starters that travel well between hands. These are the three most-ordered:
Croquetas Lo D'Alex — The Cuban starter every table orders. Golden-fried, dense with flavor, served with house sauces. Order 2 to 3 orders per 8 guests. They vanish before anyone realizes it.
Fritura de Malanga — Crispy malanga fritters that pair with the drinks-first phase of the meal. A Cuban touch that grounds the international menu and reminds the table where the kitchen's roots are.
Nigiri Platter — For groups that want to bridge into the sushi program, a shared nigiri platter delivers the Japanese precision of the kitchen without committing everyone to raw fish. Order it as a middle course, between starters and the Tabla.
"Group dining at Lo D'Alex is designed around the Cuban tradition of sobremesa — the meal isn't over until the last story is told."
The Group Reservation Process
Booking a group at Lo D'Alex is straightforward, but a few details unlock the best result.
Minimum group size for sharing menu: The Tabla menu is available at any group size, but the format really shines at 4 or more guests. For groups of 6 to 8, one Tabla plus 2 to 3 shared appetizers covers the meal. For 10 to 12 guests, plan for 2 Tablas.
Advance notice: Groups of 6 or 7 can typically confirm within 24 to 48 hours midweek. Groups of 8 to 15 should book 5 to 7 days in advance for Friday and Saturday. Semi-private sections for 15 to 30 guests require 10 to 14 days of lead time on peak weekends. To reserve, call (305) 987-1544 or book via OpenTable and note the party size.
Deposits and minimums: Open-dining group tables under 15 guests do not require a food-and-beverage minimum or a deposit. Semi-private group tables from 15 to 30 guests carry a modest F&B minimum that scales with the night and the section. Full-venue buyouts for 100 to 400 guests are handled by the events team.
Best Nights for Group Dining
The energy of Lo D'Alex shifts across the week, and the best night for your group depends on the tone of your gathering.
Wednesday and Thursday — Calmest group experience. The kitchen has full attention on your table, the service pace is unhurried, and the room stays warm without turning loud. Best for family dinners, business hosting, or reunion dinners that lean conversational. Hours: 7 PM to 1 AM.
Friday — Dinner service is still refined at 7 to 9 PM. After 11 PM the room transitions into nightlife energy through 4 AM. Excellent for birthday and celebration groups that want to eat and then stay.
Saturday — The peak night. Reservations are competitive from 7 PM onward. The room is at highest energy and stays open until 4 AM. Best for groups celebrating something large. Book at least 7 days out.
Sunday — An underrated group night. Doors open at noon, the atmosphere leans relaxed, and family-sized parties often anchor the room. Perfect for post-brunch group lunches or early evening dinners before 10 PM. Hours: 12 PM to 1 AM.
Monday and Tuesday — Closed. Plan around them.
What Groups Are Saying
Groups that dined at Lo D'Alex share the same themes across Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor: the Tablas hold the table together, the service scales to any party size, and the room turns any occasion into an event.
"Came with a party of 10 for my birthday. The Tabla Prime and the Wagyu were unreal. Best group dinner in Miami this year."
"Staff switched seamlessly from Spanish to English; atmosphere was unforgettable. Perfect for group celebrations."
"Booked a table for 12 for our family reunion. The sharing menu turned everyone into one conversation. Croquetas gone in minutes."
"Lo de Alex never disappoints for group dinners. Excellent service, amazing food, and a chill yet classy vibe."
How to Book Your Group Table
Lo D'Alex is at 9610 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33174 — on Calle 8, minutes from Doral, Coral Gables, and Westchester. Nearby parking is available.
Hours
Monday – Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday – Thursday: 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Friday: 7:00 PM – 4:00 AM
Saturday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 AM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Group Reservations
Call (305) 987-1544 for groups of 6 or more. For semi-private or full-buyout requests, contact the events team. Standard tables for parties up to 5 can be booked online via OpenTable.
Bring the group. The Tabla is waiting.
