Ojo de Agua, Sanguich De Miami, and More New Restaurants
Ojo de Agua
With over 35 locations in Mexico, restaurant chain Ojo de Agua expanded its reach to Miami with a Brickell location in 2021. After three years of rave reviews over their fast-casual, healthy recipes, the eatery has opened a second location on Miracle Mile.
Ojo de Agua provides Gableites with a long list of fresh options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even late-night bites (it’s open until 10 pm on weekdays). What differentiates Ojo de Agua from the slew of other health-conscious restaurants in the Gables is their nod to authentic Mexican flavors, albeit adapted for the American palate.
The table favorite was the Chutney Mango sandwich, featuring a generous portion of chicken breast with melted oaxaca and manchego cheese and their special mango chutney spread slathered inside brioche bread ($20). To lighten up on the calories, we accompanied this with the Tropical Ceviche, a mix of fresh tuna, avocado, mango, and green apple, marinated with lemon, pineapple juice, oyster sauce, and serrano chili ($25). A refreshing plate to share using a toasty side of tortilla chips. Our only criticism is the tuna to fruit ratio, which skews far more toward fruit than fish.
Tacos are a good test for any Mexican restaurant, so we ordered the classic al pastor ($23), which did the job pleasantly, complemented by a side of fresh guacamole. Feeling adventurous, we also sampled the lobster tacos ($40) marinated in curry paste and beetroot, topped with mango. For the price (three tacos per order), we suggest sticking to the more affordable handhelds. Still, we’ll be back. — Natalia Clement
Ojo de Agua
219 Miracle Mile
@ojodeagua.usa
Francesco
With its litany of adventurous palates, it’s no surprise the Gables is a hotspot for fusion cuisine. The latest is a marriage between Peruvian and Italian, a slightly strange but happy coupling that combines ceviche and lomo saltado with squid ink risotto and New York strip steak.
Still, Peruvian remains the focus here, especially when it comes to the appetizers, where all but one is seafood. Since the staple of Peru is ceviche, we went with the Ceviche Chalaco, a Francesco specialty that features fish and octopus in a leche de tigre sauce made with rocoto, a Peruvian chili pepper that offers a little kick. The plating looks simple, but the flavors are much more complex.
Our favorite dish of the night was the Canelones De Aji De Gallina, which we can only describe as a Peruvian enchilada. The wrapping is cannelloni, an Italian egg-based pasta that felt more like a tortilla. It’s then filled with a traditional Peruvian chicken stew, which made us initially suspicious. After all, how does a wet stew stay inside a tortilla-esque pasta shell? We were, however, pleasantly surprised by the filling, which was less stew-like and more like marinated chicken.
More surprising was the quality of the cocktails, particularly the lychee martini, which our server raved about and was absolutely correct in doing so. We also tried the El Basilico for a touch of Peru, which adds ginger ale and basil to a pisco base. Tangy and sour in the best way. — Kylie Wang
Francesco
278 Miracle Mile
305.797.4039
francesco-restaurant.com
Sanguich De Miami
An unpretentious menu, a walk-up ventanita, and milkshakes made from local fruits are what characterize the newest offering at The Plaza Coral Gables. Sanguich De Miami, which made waves by winning three Bib Gourmand awards from the Michelin Guide over the last few years, is a Cuban sandwich shop with a short menu comprised of the classics: pan con bistec, media noche, pan con lechon, etc. It also offers coffee, batidos (fruit milkshakes), and a short collection of appetizers.
Our recommendation is to go for the sandwiches, which are simple, elegantly made, and perfectly toasted. The Gables favorite so far (and ours as well) is the pan con bistec. We’ve all had the experience of biting into a steak sandwich and having to fight with it, literally tooth and nail, to just get through the tough skirt steak. At Sanguich, that problem has been solved. The steak is shredded and tender, far easier to eat, sandwiched between toasted pieces of Cuban bread. The traditional potato sticks topping is also elevated. Smaller than usual, they make for easy eating, providing a crunch that gives the iconic sandwich a happy ending with each bite.
We were also pleasantly surprised by our batidos, including one made of guava and cheesecake that any Latino will marvel at. Next time, we’ll probably order through the walk-up window (the largest in Coral Gables!) just to test out the experience. Owner Daniel Figueredo claims he can make a sandwich in six minutes, so we’ll be there with our stopwatches! — Kylie Wang
Sanguich De Miami
111 Palermo Ave. (The Plaza Coral Gables, First Floor)
sanguich.com
GreenG Juice & Acai
Another health-conscious cafe has made its way to the Gables. Located on Miracle Mile, GreenG Juice & Acai is the perfect spot to go for an energizing breakfast or post-workout bite. We first tried their unique avocado toast ($14.30), a fresh take on the modern breakfast classic. The goji berries gave it a unique element of sweetness, and the nut-based sour cream drizzle paired nicely with the real star of the dish: a heaping pile of smashed avocado.
We moved on to “The Knockout” ($16.50) – GreenG’s signature acai bowl. Each bite includes strawberry, banana, almond butter, and coconut flakes, packed with flavor and earning a gold star from us. The addition of mixed nuts and whey added a protein punch, and the raw honey drizzle offered a sugary touch that wasn’t overpowering.
To wash everything down, we tried one of GreenG’s many cold-pressed juices. The staff recommended the Dragon Lemonade, which includes a blend of dragon fruit, mango, agave, and lemon. While refreshing (and advertised as having anti-inflammatory benefits), it was perhaps not worth the $12 price tag.
The chunks of dragon fruit that lump up at the end of the concoction gave it a bit of an unsettling texture. Next time, we’ll stick with those delicious acai bowls, maybe while relaxing on the upstairs sofa set-up, which looks more like the inside of your living room than a restaurant. — Luke Chaney
GreenG Juice & Acai
376 Miracle Mile
greengjuicebar.com
Looking for more new places to dine at? Check out the latest restaurants in the Gables.