The Most Romantic Restaurants in the Gables
A Night of Enchanted Dining
What exactly makes for a romantic dinner date? Is it the ambiance, the quality of the food, the music, the attention of the wait staff? It is all these things, and more – a certain quality that makes the experience just a little bit magical. It’s the feeling that you have been whisked away to a distant place, captured in a kind of spell, enchanted by the moment – and the person you are with.
With these ideas in mind, we traversed the city in search of those select few restaurants that capture the intimate charm we call romance. If we missed your favorite romantic hideaway, a place that left you captivated, let us know. In the meantime, here are our picks for the best places to woo the woman or man of your dreams.
Fontana at the Biltmore
Entering the Biltmore with a date sets the stage for a romantic night; its main, second-floor lobby is a study in grandeur from another time. But it is Fontana Restaurant, in the great open courtyard beyond, where the magic takes place. Here, you can sit outside at one of the tables that surrounds their grand Venetian fountain, with a view of the open sky above. Classical music – with an occasional Italian aria – completes the sensation that you are somewhere in Europe, certainly not in pedestrian America. They do seafood well, and homemade pasta, but the food takes a second place to an ambiance that bedazzles.
The Garden at Zucca
Zucca should have received an award for the best outdoor dining option to emerge from the pandemic. Already a romantic spot in the fabled Hotel St. Michel, the street-side “Garden at Zucca” is right out of a “Mid Summer Night’s Dream,” with sparkling lights and grapevines hanging from the rafters above. One almost expects a fairy to appear at any moment. And the food by Chef Manuel Garcia is light and delicious, from his citrusy salmon carpaccio to the restaurant’s signature zucchini flower stuffed with goat cheese, gently fried and drizzled with truffle honey. The maitre is also a charming host who makes you feel even more special.
Redfish Grill
What could be more romantic than watching the sunset over Biscayne Bay, its last golden glow silhouetting the palm trees that line the lagoon at Matheson Hammock Park? Not much. The Redfish Grill, now enhanced by the culinary wizardry of Chef Adrianne Calvo, was reopened in 2020 after years of being shuttered by Hurricane Irma. Its new iteration lost most of its old Bohemian vibe, trading that for an expanded footprint with an outdoor bar, lots more outdoor seating, and a stellar seafood-dominated menu by Chef Adrianne. Yes, it’s a bit pricey, but that only adds to the sense of it being a very exclusive evening, a special occasion.
Pascal’s on Ponce
If music be the food of love, then food must be the music of love. Pascal’s on Ponce has for two decades been one of the go-to romantic spots in the Gables, a favorite place to celebrate romantic anniversaries – or to start new ones. It is a small establishment, with handsome oil paintings hanging on Tuscan-orange walls, a warm ambiance, and attentive service. But what makes this a shrine to winning your paramour’s heart is the Haute French cuisine prepared by Chef Pascal Oudin. Each dish is a work of art, from his Dijon-dusted rack of lamb to his crispy duck confit. And nobody can create a chocolate soufflé like Oudin.
The Globe
The caveat here is that you must go to The Globe on a Saturday night. Yes, any night will provide their Euro-café experience which feels miles from the Gables, but on Saturday night they stage three sets of Afro-Cuban jazz. The Globe on that night will leave your date in awe of your street cred, as well as engendering an out-of- body experience that only live jazz, amplified by a couple of martinis, can provide. Are you in The Gables or in the West Village in New York City? If you define romance as a magical trip to somewhere far away, this is the spot – and the night – to go.
Honorable Mentions
These are not the only romantic spots to dine in The Gables, of course. Fiola, based on the power of its cuisine and its grand, up-scale interior, is surely in the running. So is Fugato, shown above, if romance means finding a small, quiet spot off the beaten path where you can find an intimate corner to gaze into each other’s eyes. You can even argue that grabbing the right table at Books & Books, outside by their courtyard bar, has a romantic edge to it. In the end, romance lies in the eye – and in the taste buds – of the beholder.