The Best Restaurants in Coral Gables

40 Top Restaurants in Coral Gables

With the pandemic receding and a preponderance of people vaccinated, the restaurant scene in Coral Gables is undergoing a renaissance. Coral Gables has always been a moveable feast, a mecca of fine dining with more than 90 quality establishments. Now those restaurants are back in full swing, with hardly a seat to spare on weekend nights. For the past year and a half, in an abundance of caution, we listed only restaurants with outdoor seating. While most still have dining al fresco options we now list all restaurants. What follows is the best of the tried and true, and the best of the innovative and new. We dine at all locations anonymously, and we list only the places where we love to eat.

American

Bachour

Maybe it was the lure of pastries by world-renowned chef Antonio Bachour, but this airy, industrial chic spot has become the new power breakfast place in town, with amazingly good eggs benedict and challah French toast. Also open for lunch and an early dinner, with great Greek salad and roast chicken breast. $$
2020 Salzedo St. 305.203.0552 – www.antoniobachour.com

Cebada Rooftop & Raw Bar

It’s hard to pigeonhole this new rooftop restaurant by Chef Jorge Ramos (fresh from his acclaimed Barley restaurant in Dadeland). He calls it “contemporary American with a Latin overlay” which means roast bone marrow with salsa verde and baby back ribs with pimiento marmalade. A good raw bar, a great view.
$$-$$$ – 124 Giralda Ave. 786.409.2287 – www.cebadarooftop.com

The Globe

The Globe is a Gables icon, and one of the coolest places to eat in the city – assuming you like a smart, Euro-style bistro. Decorated with classic paintings (and globes over their old-world bar), the menu is mostly American dishes – salads, burgers, fish, steaks, etc. – perfected over the years. Best conch fritters. $$ 
377 Alhambra Circle 305.445.3555 – theglobecafe.com

Hillstone

There are very few restaurants in the Gables where clients will wait in a line outside. Hillstone is one of them. A power lunch spot, a happy hour singles anchor, and a family restaurant at night, the food and service are consistently top notch, with an elegant interior that is both comfortable and sophisticated at the same time. $$$ – 201 Miracle Mile 305.529.0141 – hillstonerestaurant.com

Lion & The Rambler

At the newly opened Lion and the Rambler, everything is made from scratch, from the creme fraiche down to the finishing salts, which are extracted from Miami seawater and hand-delivered to the restaurant by a local fisherman. The inventive restaurant serves up a nine-course tasting menu as much inspired by the three-Michelin-star Denmark restaurant Noma as the humble Cool Ranch Dorito. Try an infladita and see what we mean. $$-$$$ – 804 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.603.7612
www.lionandtherambler.com

Orno

Located in the same building as Mamey (Thesis Hotel), Orno is Chef Niven Patel’s latest creation, focusing on “New American” cuisine with a focus on farm-to-table local produce. An eclectic menu lets Patel stretch his culinary imagination, using a wood-burning oven and a wood-burning grill. Be prepared for new and fascinating flavors. $$$ – 1350 S. Dixie Highway (Thēsis Hotel) 305.667.6766 –ornomiami.com

Vinya Table

A wine lover’s retreat and former pop-up, Vinya is a full restaurant with seafood, pasta, charcuterie, and a 42 oz tomahawk steak, among other meats. But if you’re not looking at the wine list first, you might be in the wrong place. Categorized by region, rarity, price, flavor profile, winemaking, and varietal, Vinya has wines for every kind of sommelier wannabe and then some. And they have food to go with your wine too! $$-$$$  – 266 Miracle Mile. 305.203.4229 – vinyawine.com

Asian

Crudos ArtHouse

For art lovers and foodies, Crudos blends both into an Asian fusion dining experience complete with sushi rolls and mojitos (available for the amateur bartender in “Do it Yourself ” kits). The new Coral Gables spot is the fourth location under Executive Chef-Partner Edixon Hernandez and includes a Japanese highball whiskey lounge, on the second floor. Try the POP sushi roll for something different – in this “immersive experience.” $$-$$$  – 2415 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.392.0054
crudosarthouse.com

Ichimi

This off-Mile eatery has developed a cult following, with diners content to wait and stand and stare, just for the opportunity to eat Ichimi’s Japanese noodles and rice bowls. And the wait is worth it. Delicious, rich and faraway flavors in dishes you can’t find just anywhere, in a raw, cool space. $-$$  – 2330 Salzedo St. 305.960.7016 – www.ichimiramenbar.com

Izakaya

Located across the street from the Colonnade building, this tiny, bustling Japanese restaurant serves a great bento box – along with an impressive array of daily specials that are posted on the wall in chalk. Super popular lunch spot, for good reason. $$ – 159 Aragon Ave. 305.445.2584 – www.izakayarestaurant.com

Khaosan Road

Formerly Bangkok, Bangkok, this Giralda Plaza mainstay – with plenty of outdoor tables – has reinvented itself as the new home for Thai street food. Think you know Thai food?Be prepared for new and delicious tastes. $$ – 157 Giralda Plaza 305.444.2397 – www.khaosan-road.com

Miss Saigon

Repeatedly voted the best Vietnamese restaurant in Miami by the readers of New Times, Miss Saigon serves the kind of vegetable-rich food that makes you feel light and clean afterwards. Excellent seafood choices, and any of their crispy rolls or dumplings make great starters. Their clear, hearty soups – called Pho – are the big winners here. $$ – 148 Giralda Ave. 305.446.8006.

Namaste

Hidden on a side street off Ponce, the last standing Indian restaurant in the Gables is small and humble (“namaste” means “I bow to you”) yet superb in its rendering of classic Indian dishes, from tandoris to biryanis. Our favorite is the mango curry chicken, followed by the chef ’s special black pepper shrimp. $$
221 Navarre Ave. 786.534.2161 – namastemiami305.com

French

Brasserie Central

Secretly owned by Pascal’s on Ponce fame, the restaurant is half inside half in the courtyard of the Shops. A typical French bistro with wonderful onion soup, fresh bread and superb paté. Everything on the menu is fresh, French, and all you would expect from Pascal. Lots of little French touches. $$-$$$ – Shops at Merrick Park 786.536.9388 – brasseriecentralmiami.com

Frenchie’s Diner

It looks like an all-American diner (which it once was) but this is pure French cooking in a small but comfy setting. Frenchie himself is usually there. Some items on the menu can get pricey (filet mignon, $34) but the onion soup ($9) and escargots ($11) are great values, and the croque monsieur ($14) for lunch is a meal unto itself. $$$ – 2618 Galiano St. 305.442.4554 –frenchiesdiner.com

Gustave

Launched by a couple of friends with a track record in Paris, Gustave’salight-filled,lovely addition to the local French cuisine scene. With a good selection of baked goods, this is a Paris-style café with good coffee and solid fare. Good to know where you can get a croque monsieur for lunch and boeuf bourguignon for dinner $$-$$$ – 366 Miracle Mile. 305.640.5675 – gustaverestaurant.com

Pascal’s on Ponce

Elegant, quaint, and delicious, the home and culinary canvas of owner-chef Pascal Oudin, who brings authentic French cuisine to the heart of the city. Oudin excels in seafood, soufflés, and foie gras. Try the diver sea scallops and tomato tartin. $$$-$$$$ – 2611 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2024 –pascalmiami.com

Italian

Bugatti

Bugatti prides itself on its pasta– and for good reason, since the restaurant started as a pasta factory. The décor is simple and contemporary, with lots of booths, and the service is crisp and superb. The dinner menu is straightforward, with pasta dishes mostly under $20 and entrees mostly under $30. And as many dessert listings (12) as pasta choices. $$ – 2504 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.2545 – www.bugattirestaurant.com

Caffe Abbracci

A Gables icon, Nino Pernetti’s Italian restaurant is both a power lunch favorite for the business elite and a cozy evening gathering place for families and couples. Abbracci is quiet and elegant, and the food is so consistently good that Pernetti had to publish his own cookbook. $$$  – 318 Aragon Ave. 305.441.0700 – www.caffeabbracci.com

Fiola

Brought to you by Washington, D.C. chef Fabio Trabocchi, this is fine dining at its finest. From the place settings to the artwork to the innovative cuisine, Fiola offers an exquisite dining experience. Among their must-try dishes are the porcini mushroom soup, sea scallops ceviche, Delmonico steak, and the signature lobster ravioli. Beautiful presentations. $$$$ – 1500 San Ignacio Ave. 305.912.2639 – www.fiolamiami.com

Fontana

The ambiance is as elegant as it comes: the Biltmore’s famed fountain courtyard. You can sit under the stars, in a covered archway, or inside to enjoy classic Italian dishes. Fresh ingredients, from the salads to the pasta that is made daily. Excellent seafood, pastas cooked perfectly. One of the most romantic restaurants in the Gables. $$$ – 1200 Anastasia Ave. (Biltmore Hotel) 305.913.3200 – www.biltmorehotel.com/dining/fontana

Fratellino

Small, family run, with a fanatically loyal fan base, brilliant Italian comfort food. The long narrow set up with tile floors, wooden chairs and tablecloths makes it feel like New York’s Little Italy. Their calamari, in any variation, is superb, as is the fettuccine with prosciutto, mushrooms and green peas. $$$ – 264 Miracle Mile 786.452.0068 – fratellinoristorante.com

Luca Osteria

The latest place by local celebrity chef Giorgio Rapicavoli (the Eating House), Luca Osteria became an overnight, reservations-only hit for dinner on Giralda Plaza. His inventive take on classic Italian food is fresh and new; the Pasta al Limone and mortadella toast with fig balsamic are just the beginning. Great Italian cocktails. $$-$$$$  – 116 Giralda Ave. 305.381.5097 – lucamiami.com

Opera

Chef Consiglio, along with part- ner-chef Gianluca Canna, makes a point of offering an array of dishes that include veal ossobuco, 10 varieties of pizza, fresh “al dente” pastas and starters, including a wickedly delicious plate of truffle oil-laced prosciutto with baby artichokes ($16). But for us, the trip is worth it just for the branzino. $$ – 130 Miracle Mile. 786.391.1276 – operarestaurant.us

Zucca

Located at the elegant St. Michel hotel, this is a star in the galaxy of Italian eateries in the Gables. Distinctly northern Italian, with recipes that chef Manuel Garcia developed in a career that included the legendary Casa Tua on Miami Beach. Lovely outdoor seating, modern Italian design inside, sophisticated, with great service. $$$-$$$$ – 162 Alcazar Ave. 786.580.3731 – zuccamiami.com

Aromas del Peru

Yes, they serve a dozen types of ceviche here. But it’s the breadth of the menu that impresses, with traditional soups, grilled meats, wok stir fries, and signature dishes such as aji de gallina (shredded chicken in yellow pepper sauce) and seco de res (beef stewed in beer and cilantro, with vegetables). Good service, good prices, nice ambiance. $$ – 1930 Ponce de León Blvd. 305.476.5886 – aromasperu.com

Ecléctico

Brought to you by the folks at nearby Sawa restaurant, Eclectico is an open, airy Latin-fusion restaurant that serves “light” and inventive variations on Latin American small plates with a Mexican overlay – and a truly awesome selection of mescal and tequila. A new and fun place for dinner. $$ – 320 San Lorenzo Ave. 786.615.5735 – eclecticomiami.com

Mamey

Chef Niven Patel, who is fast gaining a national reputation, hits it out of the park with this restaurant, heir to the creative Caribbean cuisine of Ortanique, but with its own unique and refreshing overlay of Polynesian, Thai and Indian gastronomy. If your taste buds seek a new adventure, this is the place. $$$ – 1350 S. Dixie Highway (Thēsis Hotel) 305.667.5611 – mameymiami.com

Talavera Cocina Mexicana

Recently renovated, this is a pleasant place to dine, but it’s the authentic fare that shines. The place for Mexi- cans homesick for cooking that’s not Tex-Mex. The chicken mole poblano is a winner at $20, and their huarache grill – masa flatbreads that are really haute tacos – are great at $17. $$ – 2299 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2955 – talaveracocinamexicana.com

Mediterranean

Calista Greek Seafood Taverna

There aren’t many pure Greek restaurants in Coral Gables—Mediterranean is a better bet—but Calista is aiming to change that, serving up authentic Greek dishes with fresh ingredients sourced from local farmers’ markets. Their specialty dish is the Moussaka, an eggplant or potato-based dish reminiscent of a lasagna that is commonly served in Egypt, the Balkans, and the Middle East. Also excellent spinach and feta phyllo pie. $$ – 150 Giralda Ave. 786.310.7660 – calistataverna.com

TUR Kitchen

This relative newcomer to the Gables has a wonderfully inventive menu of Mediterranean cuisine. Chef Christian plates beautiful dishes that combine the flavors of Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, and Egypt. Amazing stuffed Turkish pide bread, stunning braised goat with gnocchi. Elegant seating under arches along Giralda. $$$-$$$$
259 Giralda Ave. 786.483.8014 – www.turkitchen.com

Sawa

While the menu has a huge selection of well-crafted Japanese sushi and rolls (plus yakitori and dumplings), for us the play here is their parallel Lebanese menu, with freshly-made baba ganoush, falafel, tabouli, lamb lollipops, kefta, kibbe, kebabs, etc. Also, good burgers, salads, pasta, fish and duck, but who does baklava better? No one. $$-$$$ – 360 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.6555 – sawarestaurant.com

Seafood

MesaMar

Some of the best – if not THE best – seafood in the Gables with inventive fusions between Peruvian and Japanese cuisine. Their fish is caught daily in local waters and brought to your table for inspection. Their whole fried fish is a marvel. Also, make sure to try the lobster tacos. $$$ – 264 Giralda Ave. 305.640.8448 – mesamar.com

Redfish Grill

The only waterfront restaurant in the Gables, Redfish was reborn last year after being closed for years from hurricane damage. The menu presents a stellar display of gourmet seafood, although we’re not sure yet what changes will be made now that Chef Adrianne has departed. $$$$  – 9610 Old Cutler Rd. 305.668.8788 – redfishgrill.net

Sea Grill

Sea Grill is a popular weekend destination for lovers of Mediterranean seafood. A large, brightly lit and futuristic space with lots of energy, it serves fish that is caught in the Aegean Sea and flown to the Gables. Their octopus, which takes two days to prepare, is simply the best. Lots of outdoor seating. $$$ – 4250 Salzedo St. (Shops at Merrick Park) 305.447.3990 – seagrillmiami.com

Spanish

Bellmónt

Modern décor meets traditional Spanish dishes. Their house specialty is the roast suckling pig. If you want the whole pig ($230 for 4) you need to order four hours in advance. If it’s just you ($49), you’ll need to wait just 50 minutes. As for the rest: authentic Spanish cuisine, with great seafood dishes, fantastic paella. $$$  –
339 Miracle Mile 786.502.4684 – www.bellmontrestaurant.com

Bulla Gastrobar

As valued for its cocktails as for its tapas, Bulla is also something Coral Gables needs – an informal, smart neighborhood hangout with a young, boisterous vibe. Great “small plates” and refreshing sangria. Yes, it is a national chain, but it still feels local. $$ – 2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.0107 – bullagastrobar.com

La Taberna Giralda

Routinely rated among the top tapas places in South Florida, La Taberna brings the added twist of a chef from Galicia, who puts his own regional spin on the dishes. It’s a small place with a neighborhood vibe, orange walls, string lights, and live flamenco on the weekends ($5 cover), so reservations are a must. Great lunch specials. $$ – 254 Giralda Avenue 786.362.5677 – www.giralda254.com

Steak

Christy’s

Touted as Coral Gables oldest steakhouse, Christy’s was long the power lunch go-to – until it stopped serving lunch except on Fridays. Still, its aged steaks are consistently excellent, as are the seafood entrees. Their classic Caesar salad is still the best in town, and the jumbo shrimp cocktail is a house specialty. $$$  – 3101 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.446.1400 – www.christysrestaurant.com

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

Fantastic, aged steaks, a seafood tower that won’t quit, and a wine cellar that appears to have no end of depth. A place for special celebrations. Recently redecorated, but the open kitchen with its copper “sash” across the top still gives the main dining room a warm glow. Good menu at the bar. $$$-$$$$ – 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.569.7995 – www.flemingssteakhouse.com

Fogo de Chão

At Fogo de Chão, meat reigns supreme. Try the “churrasco experience” ($61) and let expert gaucho chefs keep the finely cut slabs com- ing, from beef ribeye to flank steak to lamb picanha. If you’re a Wagyu fan, this is the place to be. The interior is as grand as the experience, which is a show in itself, Brazilian style. Great cocktails in the upstairs lounge for before or after. $$$-$$$$  – 2801 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.297.8788 – fogodechao.com

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

The youngest entry among Coral Gables steak houses, Perry’s is a Texas chain that gets its beef from the heart of the Lone Star State. Great outdoor space with a fire pit and a huge interior with its own piano bar. The entrees are all carefully concocted, including excellent reduction sauces for the finer cuts and their famous five-finger giant pork chop that is carved at the table and can feed two. $$$$ – 4251 Salzedo St. (Shops at Merrick Park) 786.703.9094 – perryssteakhouse.com