Coconut Grove Brunch Staple Quietly Closes After 13 Years

Although so many restaurants come and go in Miami, just a peek at New Times' most recent roundup of closures will give you a glimpse into how some closures truly hit home in unexpected ways.

Walking up to a restaurant's boarded-up doors and windows, which were once open and bustling full of patrons walking to and from, can incite huge waves of nostalgia — like remembering a boozy brunch with an old friend and your dog who has since died, or memories of a first date that — although didn't go too well — you fondly remember the waffles being "solid."

Restaurants that evoke feelings like this are hard to come by, but one was Lulu in the Grove, which has closed within the past two months after 13 years in business along the corner of Commodore Plaza and Main Highway. Once coined "breezy and affordable" by New Times back in 2011, the restaurant, which was originally called Lulu, was owned and operated by Sylvano and Maida Bignon, the owners of its neighboring restaurant Greenstreet Cafe.
Lulu's original menu featured signature brunch cocktails like bellinis and mimosas and brunch staples like waffles (at one point, it sold eight varieties), egg dishes, and small plates for lunch and dinner like crunchy green tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, goat cheese croquettes, and skinny truffle fries.

Although the brunch spot was never as popular as Greenstreet Cafe across the street, which to this day has a long line at its patio hostess stand on any given day (even weekdays), it was a popular choice for those wanting a shorter wait time for brunch or early dinner, and it had plenty of outdoor couch seating for leisurely lunches, late afternoon snacks, and breakfasts.

At one point between 2011 and 2017, before the recent renaissance of the Coconut Grove we know today, Lulu and its sister restaurant Greenstreet Cafe were two of the only solid spots in the area, and both seemed to keep the stagnant CocoWalk area afloat, which for years was only notable for its movie theater and Starbucks shop. For those who attended school nearby at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart or Ransom Everglades Upper School, Lulu was the go-to spot for skipping class (sorry, parents) or for an afterschool snack.

More upscale spots like Jaguar, Le Bouchon du Grove, and Sapore di Mare are three of the last remaining old-time spots in the area.
In a final attempt to keep the spot alive, it underwent new ownership, a new menu, and a new look with a revamped interior. This attempt to remarket itself culminated with a special Ladies' Night and a new brunch menu.

Although the restaurant could not sustain itself, its corner location and heavy foot traffic make the location prime real estate for a new restaurant to take its place. With new restaurants opening in Coconut Grove this year, like Carbone Vino, which opens on Friday, December 17, New Times will update its readers once a new restaurant takes its place.

Lulu's closure comes just one month after the closing of El Taquito two blocks away, which closed down after 15 years in business. El Taquito will be replaced by a sunglass shop called Moscot, which will open in 2025.