New Restaurants: Peruvian Passion, Italian Dining, and More

The city’s restaurant scene continues to grow in 2024 with two Peruvian heavy hitters, yet another upscale Italian restaurant, and a trendy croissanterie. Whether you’re looking for the perfect pisco sours or Instagrammable desserts, we’ve got you covered:

Peruvian Passion

Miami culinary heavyweight CVI.CHE 105 has finally made its way to the Gables, bringing its vibrant Peruvian-Japanese fusion flavors to The Plaza. The restaurant’s dynamic atmosphere combines opulence with eccentricity, bringing to life Chef Juan Chipoco’s wildest dreams. From its 20-foot-high ceiling and lavish gold accents to the array of sculptures and captivating photography of warriors and avatar-like seamen, CVI.CHE’s fifth location sets itself apart from its predecessors — ushering in a new era that transcends Peruvian culture.

Aside from saving Gableites a trip to Downtown Miami, the restaurant offers an exclusive secondary menu for the City Beautiful, catering to our finer palates with rich ingredients that include oysters, lobster, and sashimi. As the name suggests, our order of the Ceviche da Vinci ($34) was a culinary work of art that colored the catch of the day in a variety of leche de tigre flavors.

Although you can order traditional plates like lomo saltado and ají de gallina, there is a diverse selection of new signature entrees, including gnocchis tossed in truffle huancaina sauce and served with grilled steak medallions topped with a rich glaze and olive dust ($31). The detailed curation of both the locale and its fusion gastronomy aligns perfectly with the elevated quality of dining that Coral Gables is known for. — Natalia Clement

CVI.CHE 105
111 Palermo Ave. #108
786.527.3939
ceviche105.squarespace.com

Sours & Platters

Peruvian seems to be the taste of the month, now including the opening of ceviche gastrobar Pisco y Nazca on Miracle Mile. Setting up shop in the previous stomping grounds of Miller’s Ale House, this prime location received a modernizing facelift that stayed true to the coastal vibes of the city of Pisco and the intricate pottery and textiles that the Nazca culture is known for. With the option of dining outside, at the bar, or in a wrap-around booth, this spot seems ideal for happy hour outings and group dinners.

As we browsed the extensive menu, our eyes darted between Peruvian flags at the end of most items — a logo marking the offerings that are traditional plates. To start, we dug into a deliciously layered causa de pollo ($11), made with chicken salad, whipped potato, avocado, red pepper confit, and mayonesa acevichada. Of course, we had to order papas a la huancaina ($8) topped with hard boiled eggs and botija olives (yum!).

Since we couldn’t pick between the different anticuchos, we decided to go all out with the plancha anticuchera mixta ($49) — a sizzling hot platter of grilled beef tenderloin, chicken, squid, shrimp, octopus, choclo, and potato cakes. Extra chimichurri sauce, please! And in celebration of the first half of the name, we ordered a round of passion fruit pisco sours ($13). — Natalia Clement

Pisco y Nazca
101 Miracle Mile
786.810.2266
piscoynazca.com/coral-gables

Il Duomo Dei Sapori

Yet another entry into Coral Gables’ spate of Italian eateries, Il Duomo Dei Sapori has already garnered attention. With white tablecloths and a largely Italian waitstaff, the fine dining establishment appears to have simply materialized as a fully formed restaurant on Ponce, its entrance framed by large bougainvilleas. Inside, the waitstaff is almost overly enthusiastic, explaining the particulars of each dish with gusto.

We tried the Chicche di patate al tartufo ($35), which is code for “creamy gnocchi with truffle.” By far our favorite dish on the menu, these little balls of potato are made specially without flour, giving them a melt-in-your-mouth quality that’s further enhanced by the delicate flavoring of the truffle and cream sauce. A second quality meal, big enough to be shared, is the veal Milanese ($62): lightly breaded, tender veal with no fuss, served only with a lemon on the side.

Il Duomo also serves up gourmet pizzas and a collection of interesting appetizers, including a delicious eggplant parmigiana dish that’s reminiscent of lasagna with its layers of cheese and San Marzano tomato sauce. These thin plum tomatoes imported from Italy are more flavorful than the average, recognized by many chefs as the gold standard — and clearly recognized by Chef Tony Maldonaldo, whose food won us over completely. — Kylie Wang

Il Duomo Dei Sapori
2312 Ponce de Leon
Open Monday-Friday 12-4 pm, 6-10 pm; Saturday 1-11 pm; Sunday 3-9 pm
305.381.5604

Sundays

Conveniently located on the first block of Miracle Mile, Sundays Croissanterie is an ideal place for a quick breakfast on the way to work in downtown Coral Gables or for sitting down and savoring a mid-day treat. The quick-service eatery specializes in intricately made croissants, but also offers coffee, sandwiches, and other pastries in a light and airy space, with limited seating and a delectable case full of colorful sweets at the front.

We tried the bestselling Pavlova Croissant ($6.50), stuffed with fluffy pavlova meringue and garnished with raspberries, giving a tangy kick to the sweet treat. Another highlight was the Tiramisu Croissant ($7.25), packed with tiramisu filling and served with a dropper full of espresso, letting customers inject a shot of coffee at their discretion. Other desserts served include banana bread, marble cake, lemon poppyseed cake, macarons, and more. For those looking for a savory option, they also offer sandwiches, such as caprese or roast beef (also, of course, served between croissant halves), as well as mini quiches. The coffee is strong but smooth.

Croissants are also sold by the box, coming in at three for $19.50 or six for $34.50, a quick save for a small family gathering. The best part? During the last hour of the day, you can get them on sale: buy one, get one free. We’ll see you there after work! — Alex Luzula

Sundays
374 Miracle Mile
Open Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm; Saturday & Sunday 9 am-6 pm
sundaysbakeries.com

Looking for more places to dine? Check out our Bites section for your culinary guide in the Gables.