Coral Gables Restaurant Week begins today, offering Miami residents dining deals at 35 area restaurants. Similar to Miami Spice, restaurants offer locals the opportunity to dine at a discount by featuring prix fixe lunch, dinner, and even brunch deals for the duration of the event, which continues through June 29. CGRW also offers several special ancillary events, such as cooking classes and limited attendance dinners.
It all started last Thursday with Taste of the Gables, a food and drink festival where attendees were able to sample food from 20 of the CGRW participating eateries. A record turnout this year proves yet again that Miami has more to offer than Midtown and Wynwood as dining destinations. You don't have to travel east of I-95 for a good restaurant and picturesque neighborhood.
See also: Top Ten Restaurants in Coral Gables
"Everyone falls in love with Coral Gables' lush surroundings and Mediterranean architecture immediately," says Marina Foglia, executive director of the Business Improvement District of Coral Gables. "Plus, Coral Gables is quaint, giving it a small town feel which makes the area very welcoming."
Participating restaurants include Swine Southern Table & Bar; the Local Craft Food & Drink; Fritz & Franz Bierhaus; Red Koi Thai & Sushi Lounge; Ruth's Chris Steakhouse; Seasons 52; Bulla Gastrobar; Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar; Miss Saigon Bistro; Morton's The Steakhouse; Ortanique on the Mile; John Martin's Irish Pub & Restaurant; and Christy's, just to name a few.
Some of the best deals include the $18 lunch at Seasons 52, which includes such options as a grilled garlic pesto chicken flatbread appetizer, rocky mountain buffalo burger main course, tamale tots side dish, and mini indulgence dessert.
Divino Ceviche is offering an excellent dinner deal for $22, which includes choices such as a ceviche appetizer, a seafood rice main dish, and passion fruit mousse dessert.
Bulla is offering a four-course brunch for $27, with the option of adding bottomless mimosas or sangria for $15 per person. Brunch options include huevos benedictos, poached salmon, and grilled skirt steak.
"Downtown Coral Gables offers a wide array of restaurants so CGRW makes it very convenient to try them all," Foglia says. "CGRW gives patrons an extra incentive to come and try them with a prix fixe menu suitable for everyone's palate and pocket."
"Plus," she adds, "this year we are lucky to have the World Cup also happening and many of our restaurants are hosting watch parties. So you get great food and experience the World Cup games all in one place."
CGRW events include Sake in the City ($40) at Red Koi this Wednesday, June 11, where guests will enjoy sushi paired with sake while learning about the traditional wine. Participants will learn sake cocktail recipes and have the opportunity to create two original cocktails. Also Wednesday, Italian food lovers can learn to make their own gnocchi with Executive Chef Massimo Giannattasio at The Art of Gnocchi at Cibo Wine Bar ($50), with shared appetizers and wine served before class begins.
Ortanique on the Mile is offering an interactive cooking class this Saturday, June 14, as part of CGRW. The class will have an Iron Chef feel, with guests separated into teams of eight, with each team headed by a professional chef.
With your choice of French, Mexican, Italian, Asian, Irish, German, gastropub cuisine and more, you're sure to find several deals worth checking out during the week.
For additional details such as participating restaurants, menus, events, and prices, visit coralgablesrestaurantweek.com.
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