Eating House
Reviews
Name: Tiffany Anderson
Occupation: Attorney
Lives In: Miami
Restaurant Pick: Eating House
Reviewed: Eating House
I visited Eating House for lunch on Columbus Day and was thrilled to find that there was ample parking available on the surrounding side streets. While my husband and I had made a reservation, the restaurant was not particularly crowded on a Monday afternoon and the reservation was not necessary (although I would definitely recommend one for the evening or brunch). Indeed, my husband and I were immediately greeted upon arrival and ushered to a table. Old school hip hop music lightly played through the speakers and we hummed along while we selected one near the window and catty corner to the open kitchen. The restaurant décor is cozy and eclectic – soft lighting highlights the graffiti art and the back wall consists of a massive shelving unit with knick knacks ranging from vases and Prosecco bottles to spices and stuffed animals. Our server immediately appeared to ask whether we preferred sparkling or still water. She then recommended that we try the Broccoli and cheddar Soup – a special that day. We agreed and were thrilled that we did! While occasionally a Broccoli Cheddar Soup tastes like the leftover Nacho Cheese from yesterday’s matinee, this was light and frothy. It was minty green in color with a hint of cheese and is in the running for one of my new favorite specials. We then proceeded to order enough food for 17 people and selected the Shrimp Lettuce Wraps (green onion, Japanese cucumber, hoisin, and apple) as an additional appetizer. I ordered the Chicken Thigh Tacos (avocado crema, tomato, and coleslaw) as my entrée. My husband decided on the Carbonara Burger (a hamburger topped with apple wood bacon, truffle, and fried egg) and the waffle fries. We also ordered a bottle of Lambrusco to accompany the meal and the Chilled Bubbly red was perfect for the hot “fall” day.
The Shrimp Lettuce Wraps arrived first and were outstanding – I loved the combination of the seasoned shrimp with the crisp apple. Next, the tacos were delivered which were almost too pretty to eat (but let’s be honest, I devoured everything). The presentation was lovely – the chicken laid atop homemade tortillas sprinkled with coleslaw and avocado crema, a colorful feast for the eyes. Finally, my husband’s Carbonara Burger and Waffle Fries were delivered and it was as if breakfast and dinner had come at once. The Fried Egg and Truffle were flavorful additions to the burger although two bites was all I could handle of the rich entrée. The Waffle Fries were also top notch, seasoned and perfectly crisped; they make you want to send back every limp fry you’ve ever ordered. Our bubbly server checked on us multiple times to ensure we were enjoying our meal and to ask about our opinions of the food.
Just when we thought we couldn’t eat another bite, I ordered the Dirt Cup because well, where else can you have potted layers of vanilla ice cream, pretzel, and caramel mousse, topped with Oreo-like cookie crumbles. After I promised myself I’d only have two bites, I had fourteen and sat back in my chair, completely content with my dining experience. Our server reappeared and boxed up our leftovers (we had half a hamburger, waffle fries, and a taco) and we requested our check. Overall, it was another phenomenal experience from the staff at Eating House – the food, service, and relaxed atmosphere are consistently top notch. I would highly recommend the restaurant for lunch, dinner, or brunch, and would be hard pressed to choose a favorite. Cheers and happy eating!
Name: Sunny Lavalle
Occupation: Dietician/Nutritionist
Lives In: Hallandale Beach
Restaurant Pick: Copper Chimney
Reviewed: Eating House
Upon arriving at the restaurant, I was happy they conveniently had ample parking in front of the restaurant (since I have a baby and a stroller). I met a friend, also with a baby. When I arrived, it was a busy time and it appeared that most, if not all of the ~15 tables were filled. My friend was already seated conveniently in the back to accommodate her stroller and my needed highchair. The place was small with above average volume. Environment was causal, a mixture of modern and hipster (Miami Heat paraphernalia, sports and action figure figurines) cool music in the background. The server was very nice and knowledgeable of the menu. I had to ask about what she recommended but since I don’t eat red meat or chicken I knew it wouldn’t be likely followed. My friend did, however, order the suggested Carbonara burger that came with bacon and fried egg on it. We ordered several items, including the Crispy Brussel Sprouts, handmade tacos with Calabaza (winter squash) and green lettuces – basically a medium-sized salad with fresh goat cheese, green apple, candied walnuts and grilled shrimp. First, the Brussel sprouts and salad arrived. Our table was quite small and left little room for even salt and pepper. The Brussel Sprouts were delicious with an intense sauce of ginger, lime and soy sauce. They were crispy, Korean barbeque-styled. Very tasty, however the sauce is overpowering towards the end and quite oily. Definitely best to share. The green lettuces was just a basic salad, nothing special (however, the shrimp was amazingly seasoned and grilled to perfection). More plates were rolling in faster than we ate which was annoying. Had to tell them to wait a bit to make more room. My friend said the burger was average and bland-tasting, even though it had a black truffle sauce and fried egg on top. The Calabaza Handmade Tacos had me with mixed reviews. Loved the idea of vegetarian tacos, however the nutmeg cream on top didn’t add any real flavoring, just average. The waffle fries were just ok, nothing particularly special, but still good. As for dessert, we ordered the Dirt Cup made with whipped Nutella and salted caramel. It is served in the cutest little flower pot. It was one of the best desserts I’ve ever had (perfect mix of crunchy/creamy/salty/sweet). Overall, service was excellent, food average but dessert excellent! A great place for tasty, creative food in a casual atmosphere. I was told the menu is always changing.
Name: Amar Sawhney
Occupation: Professor of Architecture
Lives In: Miami
Restaurant Pick: Lan Pan Asian
Reviewed: Eating House
The eating experience was better than waiting, food was very tasty. Service was great, coffee was hot and every request was met immediately. Waiters were pleasant and eager to help. I will definitely recommend it to other people. The food was the key. Parking was problematic, waiting was quite long. Food was excellent, Pig in the Blanket was outstanding dish, cooked properly, and color and smell was outstanding. Pig was wrapped with fried eggs, onion straws and served with BBQ maple. Quantity was more than enough. I experienced that this was a good value. Price was under $20. Sweet potato waffles were also very tasty, however the size was small and nothing was served with it, it was very rich with whipped vanilla butter. There was only one waffle, thus serving was very small. It was under $40 .Waiting was annoying because it is a small restaurant serving 51 people. Be ready to make advance reservation. Overall the food was excellent and will recommend to others. Good value in Gables area.
Restaurant Information
Location: 804 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Parking: metered
Phone: 305-448-6524
Website: Eatinghousemiami.com
Restaurant Owners: Giorgio Rapicavoli and Alex Casanova
Executive Chef: Giorgio Rapicavoli
Pastry Chef: N/A
Type of Cuisine: Modern American
Signature Dishes: Heirloom Tomatoes, Chicken ’Foie-Ffles’, Candied Bacon, Pasta Carbonara, Cap’n Crunch Pancakes
Vegetarian Options: Local Burrata, Charred Escarole, Beet Tartare, Watermelon/Feta Salad and many more
Alcohol Served: wine and beer
Corkage Fee: $25
Bottle Limit: none
Restaurant Hours:
Monday – 11:30 AM – 3 PM
Tuesday – 11:30 AM – 3 PM 6 PM – 10:30 PM
Wednesday –11:30 AM – 3 PM 6 PM – 10:30 PM
Thursday – 11:30 AM – 3 PM 6 PM – 10:30 PM
Friday – 11:30 AM – 3 PM 6 PM – 11:30 PM
Saturday – 6 PM – 11:30 PM
Sunday – Brunch 11 AM – 4 PM
Meals Served: Lunch, Dinner
Prix Fix Menu: 7 and 10 course Chef Tasting Menus for $65 and $95 pp
Take-Out: yes
Delivery: no
Average Dinner Price Range (per person, full meal, tax, 18% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $45
Average Lunch Price Range (per person, full meal, tax, 18% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $20
Payment Options: do you accept credit cards and if so, which ones? Visa, Mastercard
Accept Reservations: Yes
Need Reservations: no, but strongly suggested
How far in advance do you require reservations be made: no requirement
Accommodations for Children: yes
Dining Style: casual
Disabled Access: yes
Restaurant Size: 51 seats
Accommodate Groups: small groups
Private Dining Room: No
Tables with Scenic Views: no
Outdoor Dining: No
Entertainment: No