Meandering Around Town # 27: Breakfasting on the Greenways

An Adventure in Which a Former Mayor Continues to Seek the “Soul” of His Hometown

North and South Greenway Drives comprise one of our city’s most historic neighborhoods, at the heart of the original City Beautiful development. The roadways form the perimeter of Florida’s oldest existing nine-hole golf course, Granada, while the neighborhood contains the 1920s Country Club of CoraI Gables. This is the founding Merrick family’s original homestead, and is separated by one block from both the Merrick House Museum and the last remaining Mediterranean-style water tower.

In addition to being historically significant, the Greenways literally became the “Central Park” of the Gables during the COVID isolation era. People were pushed out-of-doors and into areas available for recreational purposes, including jogging, skateboarding, power walking, picnicking, bicycling, scootering, baby carriage pushing, sunbathing, and, oh yes, golfing. Since then, pedestrian and vehicular activity has continued to grow, especially with the addition of two popular restaurants – particularly for those seeking tasty breakfast options.

Located at the front entrance of the Country Club, on the corner of Granada Boulevard and North Greenway Drive, is the Le Parc Bonjour café. Here, you can eat indoors in part of the old clubhouse, or al fresca on the clubhouse’s front lawn under colorful sun umbrellas.

“Our restaurant is unique since it is an integral part of the City’s own historic building,” says the café’s proprietor, Jose Gutierrez. “We offer more than just great food and coffee. We provide a place for neighbors and friends to gather in the heart of the City Beautiful.” The menu has a French flair, with excellent eggs benedict and crepes, and delicious bakery products like buttery croissants and pastries.

Located across the street behind the golf course’s first tee is the recently opened Birdie Bistro, the successor establishment to the beloved Burger Bob’s at that location. The restaurant is in the freshly renovated and updated golf course clubhouse (now with its own bathroom!). After a careful and thorough process to select a new proprietor, the city administration selected the resident’ favorite choice, Rita Tennyson, who worked as second-in-command at Burger Bob’s for decades. Birdie’s is still that “All-American” diner featuring bacon and egg breakfasts that draw early morning patrons, many of them regulars for years. “l am so thankful and proud to have been chosen by the city to create a gathering spot for golfers and neighbors to relax and mingle,” says Rita, while enjoying a rarity in the Gables: modestly priced hearty and healthy food. “Many of my customers are dear, long-time friends.”

The patrons of these two neighborhood restaurants owe the nearby residents a sincere “thank you” for their welcoming attitude, despite traffic and parking pressures imposed by commercial businesses in their midst. On the other hand, they can walk to breakfast.

I look forward to seeing you some morning: At Le Parc, we’ll enjoy croissants and Café au Lait, and on the following day we’ll “chow down” on grits, bacon, and American coffee at Birdie Bistro.

This column appears monthly by Don Slesnick, who served as mayor of Coral Gables from 2001 to 2011. For suggestions on where he should next meander in search of the city’s soul, email to: donslesnick@scllp.com.