New Bites on the Block
The Coral Gables Culinary Scene Is Ever Changing
Get Me to the Greek
Anyone familiar with the erstwhile eatery The Local on Giralda Plaza will be pleasantly surprised to see that it has been transformed into Calista Greek Seafood Tavern, which is as bright and cheerful as a sunny day in the Aegean. Now just a month old, Calista is already a favorite; on a recent Saturday night, we walked in at 7:30 pm and were informed that the wait time for an outside table would be an hour and a half. The reason: Seafood of all stripes, from sardines, scallops, shrimps, and mullets to the daily fresh fish on ice (grouper, dover sole, dorado, etc.). They also serve Greek classics, such as moussaka (a layered meat, eggplant, and fluffy potato dish), chicken kebabs, and spinach and feta phyllo pie. 150 Giralda Plaza. 786.310.7660.
A World of Ham
Okay, so ours is not their first location – that honor goes to Dadeland. But La Jamoteca is still a welcome addition to the Mile. While they carry other sundries from Spain (like aged Manchego cheese, anchovies, and sauce for potatoes “brava”), fine ham is the star here. As in a wall full of trophy ham legs, and three ham legs in braces behind the glass counter for slicing. And this is no ordinary ham. This is Fermín brand 100 percent Iberico grain- and acorn-fed ham. The jamón serrano, aged 24 months, is $4.95 an ounce; the jamón cebo de campo, at 36 months, is $7.28 an ounce; and the jamón de bellota, at 48 months, is $11.11 an ounce. They will slice it to-go with surgical precision or serve it in a sandwich of fresh Gallego bread for eating on the spot. 359 Miracle Mile, 786.360.4376
The Sweet Life
The craze has already swept the state of California. Now The Gables has its own “bubble tea” shop – Say Tea & Smile. Proprietor Agustin Bertone, recently relocated from Argentina, says he wanted to “do something truly trendy. And I liked the style of life here.” The bright store, with felt-covered couch-and-chair seating at marble tabletops, serves a vast range of the teas which contain flavorful bubbles of things like passionfruit, blueberry, or tapioca (the current customer favorite). The bubbles pop in your mouth, and come in a huge array of emulsifications, from coffee milk to Thai tea. Prices range from $5.50 to $7.25, depending on size and type. Be prepared for something sweet. 86 Miracle Mile, 305.960.7815
AND COMING SOON…
Open Stage Redux
The shuttered Open Stage on Galiano Street is slated to become the latest creation of local celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein. A reprise of her Sra. Martinez restaurant, which came and went in the Design District, this toothsome variation will have live music, in a nod to the former music-oriented Stage.
The Opera
The Opera Restaurant is getting ready to open at 101 Miracle Mile, in the former haunt of Burger Fi. Another Italian eatery in the Gables you say? Good luck.
La Palomina
Meanwhile, replacing the ill-fated Seasy seafood restaurant at 136 Miracle Mile, La Palomina is getting ready to open. It will fill the shoes left by two Argentine restaurants on the Mile (both felled by the pandemic) with a focus on parrilla (iron-grill barbecue).