Great Restaurant Experiences
Sunday Brunch
The Biltmore Hotel
There are brunches, and then there is Sunday at the Biltmore Hotel. This is the king of Coral Gables brunches, a feast fit for the Roman court of Caligula. Brunchers occupy tables in the Fontana courtyard, with its splendid Venetian fountain and background of live classical guitar, visiting food stations while waiters pour juices, coffee, and endless mimosas. Inside the main restaurant is the traditional breakfast selection of croissants, muffins, fruit tarts, potatoes, bacon, sausages, eggs benedict, blueberry pancakes, and French toast, but we ignored this area.
What we wanted was across the courtyard: multiple stations for seafood, Greek food, Italian food, sushi, paella, roast meats, salads, breads, and caviar. Our favorite was the seafood bar, with peeled shrimp, lobster tails, snow crab claws, oysters, and multiple ceviche options – as distinct from the smoked fish table, with its smoked salmon, white fish, and trout, and opposite the caviar station with three types of caviar on crackers you can embellish with capers, crème fraiche, chopped red onion, or chopped chives. And what would brunch be without mushroom risotto, chicken fricassee, Cajun style seafood and miso-glazed salmon? The carving tables are also hard to resist, with crispy pork belly, roast lamb, roast turkey, and roast beef. We still managed a visit to the dessert alcove, with its groaning table of two-dozen-plus desserts. So pace yourself – and prepare for a nap. The cost, including tax and tip: $150.
1200 Anastasia Ave
855.311.6903
biltmorehotel.com/coral-gables-dining/fontana/
Bachour
The raw-industrial chic interior of Bachour, home to one of the world’s greatest pastry chefs (Antonio Bachour), has become a popular power breakfast place in town. For good reason. No one does a better hollandaise sauce or a more perfect six-minute egg for their Benedict, and no one does a better guava and cheese pancake (the challah French toast with mascarpone mousse is pretty darn good, too). And nothing beats the pastries created by the eponymous master of the craft. But it is the breezeway that makes a leisurely Sunday morning so pleasant at Bachour, and since it’s that breakfast/lunch thing called “brunch,” you can also order some of the mains that aren’t served at the usual breakfast time, like their crab BLT on a brioche bun.
2020 Salzedo St.
305.203-0552
antoniobachour.com
Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café
This modest French eatery is tucked under one corner of the colonnade that curves around the courtyard at The Plaza Coral Gables. We like Sweet Paris because it’s a less expensive but nonetheless special place to enjoy a relaxed Sunday morning brunch. You order from a chalkboard array of crepes, which are brought to your table. You can also order waffles or a three-egg omelet, but the crepes are the way to go, from the savory types (chicken Florentine, turkey with grapes and brie, ham, and Gruyère cheese) to the sweet ones (Nutella, lemon and sugar, apple cinnamon). The good news is that prices range from $9.75 to $15.50, and while the mimosas are not bottomless, they also run for less than $10. The coffee is excellent, too. Better yet, you can get a newspaper from the adjacent Loews Hotel. How civilized.
3005 Ponce de Leon
786.360.3519
sweetparis.com
Romantic Dining
Babette
It’s no wonder Babette is one of our top picks for romantic restaurants in the Gables – its owners’ love story is also one of the best we’ve heard. Michelin-starred Chef Dani Chávez-Bello and his wife Alexandra Oliveros met as children in Venezuela before a chance encounter decades later sparked a love story that has spanned multiple continents, culminating in Babette: their love letter to Coral Gables.
The cozy, intimate restaurant is tucked inside the La Jolla Ballroom on Alcazar Avenue, a vine-covered venue with its own romantic overtures. Babette ups the ante with its dim pink lighting, soft soundtrack, and extensive wine list – not to mention the Mediterranean-French menu, from a chef who once worked at El Bulli, considered the best restaurant in the world at one point. Here, everything is light and flavorful; the cold, sweet beets tartare with its peppery finish, lined with a healthy helping of truffle to bridge the gap between saccharine and savory: a perfect encapsulation of a spicy, yet sweet, date night out.
301 Alcazar Ave
786.533.3523
babettemiami.com
Tullio
A big part of the charm here is the service. From the first moment, you feel pampered by proprietor Lucio Zanon and his son Sebastiano, along with the attentive wait staff. A rose at every table, the evening setting is molto romantico, with low lighting from orbs overhead, small table lamps, and a large back-lit bookcase. The high ceilings absorb sound, so you can hear those sweet whispers from your date. Another specialty is the dishes prepared tableside on a rolling sideboard, such as the branzino for two, delicately filleted as you watch, or their cacio e pepe, where the pasta is rolled in a wheel of pecorino romano. By some measure, this is dining as theater, making your significant other feel quite special. The food is also exceptional, with fresh pasta made daily and seafood flown in from the Mediterranean (or Argentine waters, for their shrimp dishes). The freshness of the seafood is a point of pride, since the Zanon family comes from a long line of fish merchants in Venice.
160 Andalusia Ave
305.926.4208
tulliomiami.com
NOMA Beach at Redfish
Most of Coral Gables’ best restaurants are in the Central Business District, but it’s hard to compete with the picturesque waterfront views that NOMA Beach at Redfish provides. Nestled along the atoll at Matheson Hammock Park, this Italian restaurant – led by famed Chef Donatella Arpaia – is literally at the water’s edge. It’s a long drive through the mangroves from Old Cutler Road, but worth it: The view of the atoll and its surrounding bay is simply stunning, especially during a sunset on the outdoor patio. After dark, the trees, wrapped in cozy string-light jackets, illuminate the night sky.
At NOMA, we prefer to kick a romantic night off by sharing The Hanging Board ($42), a curated selection of meats, cheeses, olives, local honey, fig jam, and crostinis. Something about a charcuterie board just says “amor” to us. Even better are the creative cocktail offerings. Our favorite? A coconut-lime mix called “me fui de vacationes,” refreshing and tropical to complement the overall vibe of the restaurant.
9610 Old Cutler Rd
305.668.8788
noma-beach.com
Dinner & A Show
The Globe
Saturday night is magic at The Globe. For that one night each week, this Bohemian-esque restaurant and bar turns into a jazz club without compare, with three sets of Afro-Cuban jazz (at 8, 9:30, and 11 pm). The setting is wooden floors and wainscotting, with classical paintings and globes (of course) lining the top shelf behind the ancient bar. It’s a cool scene with patrons of all ages, from elegantly dressed Cuban seniors to young jazz lovers with uber hairstyles.
Food-wise, the menu has been tweaked for years by proprietor Danny Guiteras, whose wife and partner Lorraine runs the Saturday night jazz scene. We swear by their conch fritters, steak frites, and salads – from the apple and walnut Waldorf to “Danny’s Salad” with steak bits and gorgonzola cheese. Desserts are also spot on, like their caramel-drizzled profiteroles. So, enjoy an ice-cold martini while soaking in the best jazz vibe this side of the West Village. Reservations recommended.
377 Alhambra Cir
305.445.3555
theglobecafe.com
Armstrong Jazz House
Owner Alfred Santamaria, disappointed the Gables did not have a dedicated jazz club, decided to start his own. Tucked into a small space across from the Miracle Theatre, Armstrong Jazz House has music every night, with a short menu that reflects the New Orleans traditions of jazz (French Quarter Onion Soup, French Calamari and Shrimp, Jazzy Chicken Francese) and a nod to other jazz venues and greats (Bleu Note Shrimp Salad, Miles Davis Style Salmon).
Armstrong is usually packed, giving it the vibe of a small popular club, while young jazz musicians play in the window alcove so diners seated outside on the Mile can also eyeball what they are hearing. Armstrong does not have a liquor license but creates cocktails with wine that do a fine job of filling those shoes. And they are committed to organic ingredients for their food, sourced from local farmers. Sets are at 6, 8 or 10 pm, with a $5 music charge.
271 Miracle Mile
305.488.9955
armstrongjazzhouse.com
La Taberna Giralda
This bastion of Galician Spanish culture and tapas now has a Thursday night trio performing old Cuban and Spanish tunes, but nothing compares with the Saturday night Flamenco show. Everybody gets involved, clapping, cheering, and even singing as the flamenco dancer parades first on stage and then down the open aisle between the tables and bar. She is accompanied by a percussionist and a guitarist who sings with a perfect Gypsy Kings voice.
The food includes a selection of tapas with the usual suspects – patatas bravas, garlic shrimp, and fried calamari – but includes tapas from the fish-rich palate of Northwestern Spain, where the Basque maintain their culinary identity. There are cod croquetas, two variations of octopus, and white marinated anchovies. Main dishes included three types of paella, including a black rice version made with squid ink, shrimp, calamari, and clams. They also have a good selection of Spanish wines. Saturday night here is authentically Spanish. Reservations recommended.
254 Giralda Ave
786.362.5677
giralda254.com
Late Night Bites
Denny’s
There’s a reason Denny’s holds Miracle Mile’s longest lease, and that may be because it’s also the restaurant open longest. This 24-hour Gables mainstay is the perfect ode to a classic – if not amazingly healthy – American breakfast. Or, of course, breakfast for dinner. Surrounded by hospitality workers just getting off shifts that ended at 1 or 2 am, you can get all the classics here: bacon, eggs, sausage, and even a milkshake or ice-cream-loaded brownie to wash everything down. The cookies and cream milkshake is in our top five ever, and even the bacon – though clearly having been left under a heat lamp for some minutes – is pretty good, after all. As far as a late-night bite goes, you’re more apt to find a late-night meal here, and you’ll be grateful you did in the morning (or later that morning, anyways).
1 Miracle Mile.
305.445.2300.
dennys.com
Copper 29
More of a place to wet your whistle rather than down a full meal as you dance the wee hours away, Copper 29 still understands that vital rule of late-night bars: always have some apps to soak everything up. Here, the kitchen is open until 2 am, serving up bites like our favorite, the short rib flatbread, which can add some much-needed carbs to a night out. The crust may be thin, but it holds up well under the weight of braised short rib and roasted apples, which add a slight saccharine flavor to what amounts to a well-made, shareable dish. A creative take on a late-night bite that might even save you – and some friends – from that dreaded hangover headache.
206 Miracle Mile
786.830.9640
copper29bar.com
Coyo Taco
The kitchen at this popular taco spot is open until 1:30 am and serves up more than just the basics. We usually opt for one of their large and well-stuffed quesadillas, drizzled with various aiolis and served steaming hot, but on a night out, we prefer lighter fare. Our go-to: the carne asada tacos. Though the tortillas could be a little hardier (our second fell apart completely, leaving us to spoon up the remnants), the beef is wonderfully tender and topped with all the right fixings (pico de gallo, of course). It’s salty, savory, and has just the right amount of spiciness to get your tastebuds tingling and your mind sharp for a few more hours out on the town. And, of course, you must pair it with one of their classic margaritas before you head out again onto Giralda Plaza.
126 Giralda Ave
786.629.7929
coyo-taco.com
Three Top New Spots
Sra. Martinez
This warm-toned space with funky mushroom-esque lights, wood paneling, and rosy ambience now occupies the space on Galiano Street once filled by the Open Stage music venue. The latest creation by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein, Sra. Martinez is her “love letter to Spain.” In a nod to its former occupant, Bernstein put a small stage near the back, big enough for a small band. “We wanted to have a piece of that back with us,” she says.
For food, we love the mushroom croquetas, which Bernstein says are inspired by a youthful love of her mother’s cream of mushroom soup. We also tried the leek au vinaigrette, a cold dish elevated by chopped hazelnuts for texture and a wonderful vinaigrette made from Spanish aged sherry vinegar and mustard. Another appetizer is the excellent chicken liver pate. Served with warm beignets and a house-made strawberry marmalade, the dish is a collaborative effort between Bernstein and former executive chef Andrew Gilbert. This is what creative cuisine is all about.
2325 Galiano St.
786.860.5980.
sramartinezmiami.com
Arcano
Arcano is in the space formerly occupied by TUR, the fine dining Mediterranean-focused restaurant on Giralda Avenue just west of Ponce de Leon. It retains the lovely arched veranda for outdoor seating while inside it’s much the same, with high ceilings and an open-kitchen design, except the bar now opens onto the main dining space, the artwork is Hispanic, and the video screens show aerial shots of Central and South America rather than the Mediterranean.
You need no other reason to visit Arcano beyond their croquetas. Forgoing the traditional ham, chicken, and cheese variations, their trio consists of one with crab meat, one with shrimp, and one with calamari in black squid ink. All are creamy, stunningly delicious, and unexpected. Which is just what Arcano wants to add to the Coral Gables culinary scene. Arcano means “mysterious” in Spanish, and the idea is to present something unexpected from a “Hispanamerica” menu that draws from the cooking traditions of 21 Spanish-speaking countries.
259 Giralda Ave
305.530.8332
arcanomiami.com
Basilico Ristorante
With so many excellent Italian restaurants in Coral Gables – Zucca, Tullio, Bugatti, Abbracci, Portosole, Fratellino, etc. – you would wonder why another would open, especially in the same location on Ponce where Il Duomo dei Sapori recently closed, even keeping the same lighting and wall coverings. The answer is the newest incarnation of the popular local chain, Basilico (one is in Doral, another in Miami Springs). We recently visited for an afternoon lunch, warmly greeted and led to a comfortable booth. We started off with the Carpaccio de Manzo con Scaglie di Parmigiano, thinly sliced beef carpaccio topped with arugula, capers, and shaved parmesan cheese. The dish was light, savory, and the perfect set-up for the heavyweight star of the show – ravioli de granchio conditi: crab meat ravioli with leeks and shallots in a creamy lobster sauce topped with sauteed shrimp. Both were extraordinary.
2312 Ponce de Leon Blvd
305.381.5604
basilicomiami.com