No, Twin Peaks Scratch American Kitchen Restaurant has nothing to do with the 1990s supernatural cult TV show by the same name. Once I got past that, I was able to judge Twin Peaks on its own merits.
There are many comparisons to Hooters, mainly because both restaurants fall under the breastaurant subcategory. However, Twin Peaks is a scratch kitchen with a much more extensive menu.
Marcela and I walked in just as the doors at the Twin Peaks location in Doral opened. They’ve done a great job capturing a sports bar feel in a wilderness lodge setting.
There are TVs everywhere, including the tables along the walls of the lodge. If I were into watching any sport, this seems like the type of spot I would have been all about. The excellent comfort food is an added plus.
Sampler, Beer, and Chicken Starters
The Peaks Sampler brings fried pickles, buffalo tenders, and mozzarella bites. Each member of the sampler has a dipping sauce: ranch, blue cheese dressing, and marinara.
The sampler allowed us to try a few items, but there were still some other apps on the menu that I had my eye on, like the Crispy Mini Beef Tacos, Spicy Thai Ribs, and Chipotle Queso and Chips. The latter of which allows for the addition of the brisket chili.
It happened to be one of the handful of cool days in Miami, and there’s nothing like hot chili with rich flavors on a cold day. I’m a red onion kind of guy, so I was happy to see them in my cup.
After the first taste, my initial thought was to mix the brisket chili with the red onions and pepper jack cheese. My plan changed when the idea for a chili mac entered my noggin.
Since I had also ordered the mac and cheese, it made a lot of sense to combine them. The mac and cheese at Twin Peaks is a three-cheese blend with bacon bits, white wine, and Tabasco hot sauce with a sprinkling of breadcrumbs on top.
It’s super creamy, and when combined with the rich brisket chili, we have a winner.
Brewskis?
There is a Twin Peaks Brewery, so it made sense to order the Knotty Brunette, one of their signature brews.
The Knotty Brunette: “Our American Brown Ale is medium-bodied with a malty core and a hint of caramel sweetness, as well as roasted coffee and nutty flavors throughout.“
Wow, now this is a frosty mug! The beer paired perfectly with the buffalo wings. I enjoyed them, but the buffalo chicken tenders were one of the best bites we ate during lunch.
The Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich was patiently waiting for us while we tried to finish up all of our starters. One of my comfort food weaknesses is sandwiches, in particular, chicken sandwiches.
The Twin Peaks Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich is right on the money. The breaded chicken breast is painted with Nashville hot sauce and topped with pickles and ranch sauce. But that’s not all; it sits on coleslaw. This is my favorite kind of sandwich: well thought out, layered, and tasty.
Twin Peaks Has Burgers
Since I’m with Marcela, the lettuce and tomato stayed on the Billionaire’s Bacon Burger. The Twin Peaks burger has a beautiful grind, which adds some nice texture.
Listen, the Billionaire’s Bacon can brighten up anyone’s worst day, and adding a sriracha pimento cheese to the equation was the right move. But, getting back to that thick-cut Billionaire’s Bacon (which is also available as an app) for a second, it’s covered in red chili flakes, smoked paprika, and brown sugar.
I may have removed a slice of bacon by mistake during the evaluation process to snack on while eating the burger. It’s a great burger, but next time, no lettuce and tomato for me.
Space for Dessert?
We have reached Marcela‘s favorite part of the meal: dessert. At this point, Marcela pretends that I have a say in which dessert we’re ordering.
So, we “both” agreed on the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cheesecake. This beauty is topped with RumChata sauce, a liqueur that tastes like a rum and horchata (cinnamon rice milk) mixture.
It should be no surprise that Marcela is a giant RumChata fan, and I was along for the ride, forking off a bite wherever I could. This is her world, plus, mentally, I was still stuck on the buffalo tenders and Billionaire’s Bacon.
I told my parents about Twin Peaks later on that afternoon, and they’re game for the next visit. Maybe, just maybe, I can control the dessert vote with two more people on my side, but it’s not likely.
Twin Peaks
8700 NW 18th Terrace
Doral, FL
(305) 356-4066
Website – https://twinpeaksrestaurant.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/twinpeaksdoral
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/twinpeaksdoral
Monday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Tuesday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Wednesday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Thursday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Friday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Saturday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Sunday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Return Visit to Twin Peaks
As promised, we returned to Twin Peaks, but this time with my parents. The first thing on the agenda was choosing an appetizer that we could all agree on.
I was outvoted 3 to 1, and so nachos it was! Since it was Father’s Day, my Dad chose to add brisket. The other option was smoked chicken.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the nachos, but I could have done without the brisket. It’s probably because I imagined the brisket chili poured over the nachos, which is not a bad idea if you ask me.
My Dad and his Cheesesteak
My Dad specified that he wanted a cheesesteak from Twin Peaks for Father’s Day and so here he is, just before the first bite. He loved it but skipped out on the mushrooms: thinly sliced sirloin · provolone cheese · peppers · caramelized onions · mushrooms · Italian seasoning · mayo · toasted hoagie roll
For some reason, my Mom chose the Turkey Avocado Smash Sandwich, which she loved: sliced turkey · Swiss cheese · house made avocado smash · arugula · tomato · red onions · mayo · potato bread
A Spicy Meatball Parm
The first thing I look for on a pizza joint‘s menu is a meatball parm sub. An excellent meatball sub is a surefire way to get my repeat business.
During my first visit to Twin Peaks, I was so focused on the burgers and wings that I neglected the sandwich section of the menu.
But this time around, I noticed the Spicy Meatball Parm: all-beef house-made meatballs · marinara made in-house with San Marzano tomatoes · fresh mozzarella · parmesan · parsley · toasted hoagie roll
All of you meatball sub-fiends out there need to eat this sub. These fellas are undoubtedly house-made and not the frozen kind that some folks try to pass off as the real deal. The fresh mozz is really what ties the sandwich together.
It comes with a side of seasoned fries for around 15 bucks. In my expert meatball opinion, it was well worth it.