As planned, I made it to Casa Xabi Spanish Basque restaurant for dinner. For those who didn’t read my earlier post about Xabier Oteiza, he was the chef at Sapore di Mare whose cuisine I enjoyed on multiple occasions, and before the summer opened his own restaurant in Coconut Grove. Xabi has an impressive background having worked in Michelin starred restaurants in his native Spain and in Mexico City where his brother heads up one of the top ranked restaurants in the country.

Besides being talented, he’s charming and a wonderful host. The atmosphere at the restaurant is warm, comfortable and welcoming, so it’s no surprise he already has his devoted regulars. The menu is divided into raciones (starters), salads, rice, fish, meat, sides and dessert. The dishes feature traditional Basque recipes with his own international twists.

We started with a salmorejo, a cold green tomato soup he transformed with a Mexican twist thanks to tomatillo verde,serrano peppers and garlic flower with a garnish of tuna tartare.  It’s a great opener ($26).

We then went on to try one of the special lunch dishes which is also on the dinner menu, the  6 ounce hot dog de txistorra  (Basque chorizo sausage) on a bun with house made piquillo ketchup,  caramelized onions, alioli of Basque peppers and microgreens ($20)  It came with house made French fries that we gobbled up (be sure to get them, they’re $10 as a side). The dish was so delicious that it will be on my best dishes of 2023.

I can never pass up roasted piquillo peppers, here melt in your mouth tender and smokey ($18). Another diner favorite that I’d like to try next time is the seabass with a green sauce made from the shell of snow peas, along with white peas and fresh mushrooms ($46).

My pick for dessert was his take on the now very popular Basque cheesecake ($15). Here it’s denser than most which I like, though also creamy, and it’s topped with housemade jam of whole red berries that you’d find in a fruit tart.

There’s no liquor license but a solid selection of Spanish wines that are priced from $9 for a glass and $32 for a bottle. Casa Xabi, indoor and outdoor seating. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Casa Xabi, 3145 Commodore Plaza, Coconut Grove.33133.

Looking for something to do after lunch? Check out the wonderful exhibit of comfort food made of glass at the Lowe Art Museum. For more information, click here.