Coral Gables Travel Guide Page 3 - Restaurants

Some of the entrees border on Nuevo Latino—bleu cheese sauce on beefsteak? However, most of the standards don't stray too far from the classic preparations. Start your meal right with an order of Harry's tostones rellenos, green plantains stuffed with beef and seafood. Don't be led astray by the New York strip, the best steaks here are Latin style: churrasco, palomilla, and a grilled Argentinean steak. As in most Cuban restaurants, pork is king. At least one person in your party should order the excellent masas de puerco, pork chunks fried to a pleasant crunch or the lechoncita, shredded pork roast.

HOURS: Monday through Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. | Friday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. | Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. | Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

PRICES: Moderate

ATMOSPHERE: Business casual

Famous for serving tapas, the "small plates" of Spain, and a menu that includes all the classic Cuban standards, Las Culebrinas made a name for itself with creativity in the kitchen. How else would you explain some of the exotic dishes – chivo (goat) simmered in Coca-Cola, alligator française, frog legs, and octopus – that appear on the menu as daily specials? For starters, order a few plates of tapas and a pitcher of sangria for your table then either take a walk on the wild side or stick to the tried and true. Great vaca frita and a rabo encendido (oxtail) that people travel across town for. Servings large enough to share.

La Dorada is one of the best places to find great seafood in Miami, with a twist: although its location is just a few miles from the ocean, none of the seafood here is local. Instead, the restaurant flies fresh fish in directly from Spain. Here you can find Spanish preparations of "exotic" fish such as sea bream, monkfish hake, and fresh anchovies.

HOURS: Sunday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. | Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.

PRICES: Moderate to expensive

ATMOSPHERE: Casual

The Details

La Dorada

HOURS: Sunday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. | Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.

PRICES: Expensive

ATMOSPHERE: Business casual to upscale

Las Culebrinas

Havana Harry's

Coral Gables Restaurants

La Dorada
177 Giralda Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33134
305-446-2002

Las Culebrinas
4700 West Flagler Street
Coral Gables, FL 33134
305-445-2337

Havana Harry's
4612 South Le Jeune Road
Coral Gables, FL 33146
305-661-2622

Three Guys From Miami Show You How to Make the Best Cuban, Spanish, and Latin American Food!

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Originally a grand hotel designed by George Merrick, this is a beautiful preservation of old Coral Gables style. With a flora-filled courtyard and bubbling stone fountain, La Palma oozes atmosphere. The cuisine is northern Italian and we dare you to visit without enjoying the excellent sea bass piccata, fish served swimming in a lemon wine sauce flecked with tangy capers. Locals swear by the osso buco, braised veal shanks that practically melt on your plate.

Sergio's is a great place for late night dining featuring all the old Cuban standbys served simply. Sergio's turns out more Cuban sandwiches over the lunch hour than just about any place in Miami, so you know they must be doing something right. More than a dozen sandwiches on the menu and one of the best palomilla steak platters in town for the money.

Coral Gables: Sights

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