Ariete
3540 Main Highway
Coconut Grove, FL 33133

August 31st, 2018

What I tried:

House bread

MAMEY GAZPACHO quest fresco, pumpkin seeds, herbs

AVOCADO LYONNAISE beef tongue bacon, green goddess, soft boiled farm egg frisée

FOIE GRAS sour orange, temptation caramel (plátanos en tentación), smoked plantains, cocoa nibs

MILANESE red snapper, bibb lettuce, heirloom tomato ragout

SMOKED SHORT RIB pastrami-style, shaved vegetable Caesar

House TURTLE COOKIE dulce de leche

BAYLEY HAZEN CHEESE fennel/grapefruit/rosebud mostarda, grilled bread

FLAN topped with candy cap mushroom, sambuca cream

HIT There is no wrong way to order off Ariete’s Miami Spice menu. Every item on it can be a stand-alone star. When combined, it only makes the decision-making hard on the diner. I’m still in love with the Foie Gras (remember my 2016 obsession?), but another dish stole my heart this year.  The badass Smoked Short Rib ($15 supplement). Not new to their menu, but certainly new to me! I can’t stop thinking about it. Layers of layers of pastrami-style meat and with a side of shaved vegetable Caesar salad. You can taste the passion in the seasoning and the feathered texture as it silkily shreds apart. TO. DIE. FOR.

MISS: Nada. Ariete continues to deliver: a true Coconut Grove gem. Miami Spice or not. Go!

September 9th, 2016

What I tried:

Duck Croquettes (not on the Miami Spice menu, but worth adding)

Farmhouse Rolls

Avocado Salad

Local Fish Crudo (forgot which one…oops) Starfruit, guava, fennel, almonds

Prime Rib

Foie Gras sour orange vinegar, temptation caramel, ember roasted plantains, cocoa nibs

Lamb Shank

Tres Leches

Sour Orange buttermilk doughnuts, sour orange cream, coriander citrus sugar, wood-grilled pineapple marmalade

HIT Ode to the Foie Gras at Ariete. I am naming it not only the best and most unique in Miami, but the very best dish on a Miami Spice menu this year. Yes, it comes with a $19 supplement price, but one bite in and you will not regret it. Although the regular menu lists it as $24/$36 for different sized portions, I found this portion on the Spice menu to be extremely generous. Let me walk you through this one…sour orange vinegar, Cuban-style temptation caramel, ember roasted plantains, and cocoa nibs. In case you missed it, that is foie gras over PLATANOS MADUROS, sweet plantains, aka Cuban crack. I cannot believe it took me this long to find it. Holy Miami, this one is for you!

After a six-year Coconut Grove hiatus, I was happy to be back. I loved the vibe at Ariete. The open kitchen worked non-stop. Service was warm and casual yet on point. Next, I hope to try their brunch.