A Little Caviar… A Little Cello
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Brandi’s At The Biltmore And Empire Wild At Coral Gables Congregational Church
A good night out in Coral Gables does not always require much coordination. On a recent Thursday, ours came together with two stops on the same block: drinks and bites at Brandi’s, tucked inside the Biltmore, followed by a concert across the street at Coral Gables Congregational Church.
Brandi’s At The Biltmore For Devilled Eggs Topped With Caviar
We started at Brandi’s, where the Biltmore trades its daytime grandeur for something darker and more relaxed. Upstairs, the hotel is chandeliers, marble, and wedding-photo backdrops. Downstairs, Brandi’s (formerly the Cellar Club Bar) is all glow and shadow: a long, lit bar, olive green and gold plush corner banquettes, and low conversations. All of which makes you feel like you’re in an elegant old movie.
The first of the drinks set the tone. The AZ Old Fashioned was dark, steady, and classic – arriving in a glass case that opens with a little smoke show, very confident and sophisticated. The Amaretto Sour, which came next, was the opposite kind of danger: bright, crisp, sweet, and much too easy to like.
The food played the same game, familiar but dressed for the hotel. We started with caviar devilled eggs: a smooth paprika egg filling, chives, and a glossy little crown of caviar. They were creamy, salty, and gone too quickly. The Oysters Rockefeller came next, hot and theatrical, tucked under tarragon creamed spinach, bacon lardons, garlic-buttered crumb, and Pernod foam. I’m an easy audience for baked oysters, and these made the case: buttery, briny, rich, and just retro enough to feel glamorous.
For the main event (before the actual main event) we split the Wagyu cheesesteak, a full-bodied sandwich on a hoagie roll, with onion agrodolce and truffle wiz. It was generous with the beef and had a nice sweetness from the onions, though it could have had a more committed relationship with the cheese.
When we left the bar, we simply crossed the street. Outside, the Biltmore tower glowed behind royal palms. Across Anastasia Avenue, the 1923 Coral Gables Congregational Church waited with its arched windows, pale yellow stucco walls, and magnificent snowy white tower. The occasion was the opening night of the Community Arts Program’s 2026 Summer Concert Series, which runs every other Thursday through August 20. The opener was Empire Wild, a genre-bending ensemble comprised of Juilliard-trained cellists Mitchell Lyon and Ken Kubota.
Inside the church sanctuary, with its high ceilings, soft light, and full room, the mood shifted from cocktail-bar cool to a nice warmth as guests settled in, a few thanks were given, and the musicians readied themselves. For anyone whose idea of the cello is limited to solemn concert halls and subdued classical pieces, Empire Wild is a delightful correction. The group moved from classical to jazz to folk to pop without making it feel like a gimmick.
When Empire Wild began playing “Fly Me to the Moon,” my fiancé and I recognized it immediately and smiled at each other. It was one of those small, familiar moments that made the concert feel less formal and more personal. That was the charm of the evening: the music was impressive, but never stiff. It made the cello feel unexpectedly fun.
With more CAP performances scheduled throughout the summer, it’s an easy night out worth putting on your calendar. Check communityartsprogram.org for details.
