Super 7: Best Coral Gables Restaurants
From a 30-seat chef's counter to the lasagna pop-up that became the Gables' new favorite deli, here is where to eat right now in the City Beautiful
Bouchon Bistro
This is famed French brasserie from Thomas Keller’s Bouchon, the same one from Yountville and Beverly Hills, and it has been a Coral Gables institution basically since the day it opened. The steak frites, roast chicken, and croque madame are what you come for, and they’re cooked right every time. But of course, start at the raw bar – oysters alongside whatever is on the fruits de mer, paired with something from the Vin de Carafe wine program, which spotlights smaller regional producers worth knowing.
Pro Tip: Do the full raw bar spread before your main on a weekend and linger a bit. @bouchon_bistro // 2101 Galiano St., Coral Gables
Daniel’s Miami
Daniel’s took over the former Fiola space on San Ignacio and turned it into the steakhouse the Gables has always needed. The foie gras crème brûlée was once the sleeper hit, but now has become a standout: savory foie gras with brûléed sugar cracking on top, it sounds like an odd combo but damn does it work. It’s steak program is award winning, being named on just about every list out there for steak program and of course worthy of being the star of your meal here. For Fiola loyalists, the rigatoni alla vodka and branzino made the menu.
Pro Tip: Sunday brunch runs 11:30am to 3:30pm and is more relaxed than dinner service. A good way to try the restaurant without the full steakhouse song and dance. @danielsmiami // 1500 San Ignacio Ave., Coral Gables
Eating House
Eating House is one of those rare restaurants that’s been perpetually busy in not one but two locations in the neighborhood for over a decade and counting. The space is considerably more grown up than its original location, but that’s a good thing. The menu rotates constantly, but the bucatini carbonara, with warm egg yolk mixed tableside, heritage bacon, and black truffle, has been first-timers into regulars since Obama was in office. The brunch is what people drive from Brickell for – think Cap’n Crunch pancakes, tater tots with Coca-Cola-spiked ketchup, and more.
Pro Tip: Don’t miss their annual 4/20 dinner - which is coming up later this month. Book your seat now. @eating_house // 128 Giralda Ave., Coral Gables
Frankie & Wally’s
This started as a lasagna delivery operation during the lockdowns with two culinary school grads dropping pans of comfort food to Miami doors. Now Frankie & Wally’s is the neighborhood deli Coral Gables didn’t know it was missing. The menu is short by design – six sandwiches, baked goods, and coffee. The sandwiches aren’t groundbreaking, just solid takes on perrenial favorites like The Wally, with turkey shaved thin enough to be translucent, and The Frankie, made with ham, salami, cheese, and lettuce. The frozen lasagna that made them famous is still available to take home. The back patio with little green bistro tables is great to eat at if the weather permits.
Pro Tip: Grab a frozen lasagna on your way out. Dinner is already handled.@frankie_and_wallys // 216 Palermo Ave., Coral Gables
Kojin 2.0
Pedro and Katherine Mederos started Kojin as a six-seat pop-up inside a ramen shop in Little River, meant to run three months. They stayed two years. Now they have their own 30-seat room on Ponce de Leon, and it might just be the most interesting restaurant in the Gables right now. Start with the Foie Toast, ice wine and strawberry preserves on foie, and the Kojin Caesar with kizami nori and smoked trout roe. The F#cking Wings, deboned, stuffed, charred with aji Amarillo ranch, are a fan favorite.
Pro Tip: Spring for the counter seats at the Chef’s Tasting Menu ($95) if you can. The chef’s counter view plus the 11 unique courses make it worth the price. @kojinmiami // 804 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables
Tinta y Cafe
Every neighborhood in Miami wants a version of Tinta y Cafe, the longstanding Cuban cafe that was even noticed by that tire’s red guide. On the menu expect good Cuban coffee, excellent croquetas, and a Cubano that’s universally loved. Plus, they just launched an evening concept now called Tín Tín Miami, serving Cuban flavors with French and Italian influences. Think dishes like malanga and shrimp bisque and ropa vieja raviolo.
Pro Tip: The croquetas go fast on weekends. Don’t wait on those or you’ll spend your visit watching the table next to you enjoy them. @tintaycafe // 1315 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables
Zitz Sum
Pablo Zitzmann is cooking Asain technique through a Latin American slant out of a 30-seat room on Alhambra Circle, and still to this day one of the hardest reservations to snag. The Bing Bread, sourdough with Florida honey butter and toasted seaweed, is the right way to start. Then the Wonton in Brodo, chicken dumplings in a shoyu-parmigiano broth, but save room for the HK Style French Toast, made with Japanese milk bread with cereal milk iced tea gelato and peanut butter crumble.
Pro Tip: Book as far out as you can. Walk-ins are tough. @zitzsum // 396 Alhambra Cir., Coral Gables