Maroosh
Mikuna
MesaMar Seafood Table
Miss Saigon Bistro
Morelia Gourmet Paletas
My Ceviche
My Cupcake World
Ms. Cheezious
Pascal’s on Ponce
Ortanique on the Mile
Palme d’Or
Pincho Factory
Plomo Tequila & Taco Bar
PokéBao
Pummarola Pizzeria
New and Notable on Giralda Plaza
Raw Juce
Rice Mediterranean Kitchen
Sacha’s Café
Salumeria 104
Shula’s 347 Grill
Tinta y Café
Small Tea
Spring Chicken
Sushi Maki
Taco Rico
Talavera Cocina Mexicana
The Bar
The Globe
The Local Craft Food & Drink
The Seven Dials
Threefold Café
Uvaggio
Veganaroma
Whip N Dip Ice Cream Shop
Zucca
Restaurants Contact Information
Recipes Index
Photo Credits
A few years ago, after my wife and I had moved to Coral Gables, the restaurateur Danny Meyer from New York asked me to suggest one place to eat while he was in Miami for a work trip. The pressure! I went through my mental Rolodex of what was new and hot. The restaurants that immediately came to mind, clustered mostly in South Beach and Wynwood, were very good. But I didn’t feel that they were Danny Meyer good. So I went out on a limb and pointed him to Eating House in Coral Gables. Open for a couple of years then, some of Eating House’s new-restaurant buzz had worn off. But I believed that talented chef-owner Giorgio Rapicavoli was cooking at the top of his game at that moment. He was: Danny loved everything about Eating House and was wowed by Giorgio’s creative cuisine.
That memory exemplifies what I love about dining in Coral Gables. We, too, have our share of flashy new restaurants and hotly anticipated openings. But we also have—more than many of our neighboring communities—established restaurants that are acclaimed by critics and beloved by locals. Places like Ortanique, where I know chef Cindy Hutson is going to make me happy with her Caribbean-infused cooking and the best mojito in town. Places like Mikuna, where the Peruvian food is some of the best I’ve tasted outside of Lima. Places like Palme d’Or, where chef Gregory Pugin’s food is served with such exquisite care and hospitality, you feel like a VIP every time. And places like Eating House, where Giorgio’s food seems to evolve with changing seasons, tastes, and trends.
Miami is fortunate to have pockets of great dining options in just about every neighborhood. But there’s something special cooking in Coral Gables. If you ask me for a restaurant recommendation, it’s probably going to be somewhere in The City Beautiful.
Evan S. Benn
Former Food Editor, Miami Herald
and Editor-in-Chief, INDULGE magazine
Giralda Plaza at night.
Coral Gables is a treasure trove of culinary delights. From busy Giralda Avenue and Miracle Mile to the outlying coffee houses and eateries, there’s plenty to explore in this vibrant city.
A Taste of Coral Gables is a cookbook and restaurant guide filled with great recipes and colorful descriptions of the City Beautiful’s best, most notable food establishments. Organized alphabetically by restaurant, and with a recipes index in back, the book is easy to navigate and fun to peruse.
You’ll find many places you’re no doubt familiar with, and hopefully some new ones to explore. And the recipes reflect the diverse, multicultural culinary landscape that helps make Coral Gables so special to residents and visitors alike. Enjoy!
In September 2012, Coral Gables native Erica Guzman opened Aragon 101, a home décor boutique and cooking school in the heart of the City Beautiful. She drew her inspiration from many of the interesting and intimate European shops she enjoyed while living in Milan.
Aragon 101 brings together the best of those concept stores, while adding the distinct tropical flavor of South Florida. Regular cooking classes, together with private dinner parties, allow guests to enjoy delicious food and sharpen their culinary skills in a relaxed setting. There’s a variety of international cuisines featured at the dinners.
Guest chefs from throughout South Florida and beyond preside over the cooking classes and private dinners. Diners sit at Aragon’s long, white counter in the back of the store and take in a culinary floor show—all while enjoying a glass or two of wine and lots of lively conversation. There’s plenty of back and forth between chefs and diners, making Aragon 101 a truly interactive dining experience.
Erica continues to travel to spots near and far, looking for décor items reflecting originality and fine craftsmanship. She believes in doing what you love and sharing that love with others.
Gougères (Savory Cheese Puffs)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter
Large pinch coarse salt
1
