A reader suggested that I take a first look or relook some of the classic restaurants in Miami and suggested Grazianos restaurant. Surprisingly, despite having iived here for over 20 years and heard good things about it, I never made it to one of their 11 restaurants, markets and pizzeria. Guess it’s because a blog is about news, and classics seldom make news. Thinking about the idea, together with hearing about new additions to the menus, gave me the added push to check it out. And glad I did, trying the Grazianos restaurant Coral Gables, as I found a family owned restaurant group with an inspiring history, very popular eating spots and markets, delicious food, and reasonable prices.
Founder Mario Graziano started with a butcher shop in Argentina, expanding it to five. It was obviously successful, but he had greater aspirations, so he and his wife came to Miami. They set up an Argentine market on Coral Way followed by an outdoor grill in a parking lot where they cooked steaks flame grilled. He started his restaurant in 1992. Today, three generations work in the business, and they own multiple restaurants, some with markets and bakeries, all over Miami and in Weston. Mario still works as a butcher.
We went to Grazianos restaurant at 394 Giralda Avenue in Coral Gables. Walking in the door we arrived at a wood fire roasting spit. In the dining room the place was packed at 7 p.m. both in the main dining room and in an adjacent room where a private corporate dinner was happening.
The extensive menu is divided into appetizers, grilled appetizers for the table, from the garden, soups, from the Quebracho wood grill, meats from the grill, parillada, pasta and risotto, milanesas, side orders for two, and dessserts.
Our initial plan was to try the new menu items including chard fritters, panzanella salad and new cuts of meat. After talking with Nicholas Graziano, the Manager, and third generation in the business, we decided to go with the signature dishes that keep the customers coming back. First up was a beef and pork chorizo, the biggest seller on the menu. It had a slightly crunchy skin and was not as fatty as most, though equally flavorful. That was teamed up with aged and melted provolene cheese with tomatoes and oregano, that oozed over roasted red peppers. but was also crusty. Winning dishes.
Next up was a beefsteak and heirloom tomato salad, rich with deep tomato flavor and seasoned with basil and oregano and shaved garlic, with anchovies as desired. From there it was onto one of their meat specialties, the picanha steak for two which had been marinated with aji panca and cooked over an open fire tableside. It was a very large portion, perfectly grilled and easily enough for three people. Steaks come with two sides. We only chose the grilled brussel sprouts with pancetta as at that point our capacity was seriously limited.
We ended the meal with an Argentine classic that we can never turn down, the dulce de leche pancakes, here flambeed with Grand Marnier
As you’ll see from the walls covered with bottles of wine, the Graziano’s take their wine seriously. Their list runs 24 pages with wine from 20 different regions, from $11 for a glass of wine (6 ounces) and from $59 for a bottle, to several hundreds of dollars. There’s also an appealing cocktail menu priced at $16.
Service is very good and professional.
All Graziano restaurants are open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week and all have valet parking. At the Giralda branch, valet is $12 and there are municipal garages nearby.
The menu is the same for lunch and dinner. For dinner plan on about $150 with a glass of wine or cocktail for two plus tax and tip.
For more on Grazianos Restaurants and Markets, click here.
