Review: Double Luck Chinese is worth the hype

• Similar to other hot spots, like Boia de or Sunny's, you have to sometimes make a random reservation weeks in advance and hope you can make it when the time comes.

Between the lines: Double Luck is from the team behind Tâm Tâm, downtown Miami's popular Vietnamese spot, and chef Adrian Ochoa.

The vibe: The dining room's dark walls, red interior and dim lighting make for an intimate (sexy, even?) environment that doesn't feel overly fussy or extravagant.

• The single tables against the mirrored wall are close enough to ask your neighbors what delicious-looking dish is on their table (guilty!), but a bit too far to eavesdrop (sigh).

What we ordered: We started with the aromatic duck salad, which was super herby (the jalapenos gave it a nice crunch) and incredibly refreshing, complete with an infused oil that's combined with the duck's juices.

• The spicy Sichuan noodles: The meat was tender and the noodles were glossy, which is my way of describing a perfectly sauce-coated nood. The sliced cucumber and heap of herbs added a nice texture.
• The double-cooked pork belly: Admittedly, I failed to record my thoughts while eating this dish. I was distracted by how delicious it was. Order it.

State of plate: The dishes had a nice kick to them, but I didn't find them overly spicy, though the waitress warned some people did.

• The food came out quickly — before our beers had hit the table. But it made for a casual dining experience that encouraged rotating from dish to dish for each bite.

The bottom line: Sometimes an early dinner is worth it, especially when it's this good.