A Hidden Paradise: Isabelle's Grill Room and Garden in Coconut Grove

Isabelles Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove pork chop

Please welcome new MIAbites Contributor, Olga Reyes. With a MBA in Marketing, she joins us to celebrate the diversity and culture of Miami and enjoys helping those less fortunate through volunteerism.

In a city full of vibrant restaurants and extravagance, it is nice to find a place that can provide an ambiance of classic elegance and intimacy, while maintaining Miami’s chic and modern styles.

Newly opened, Isabelle’s Grill Room and Garden in the Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove screams luxury, typical of Coconut Groves most beautiful mansions, decorated with stained woods, brass, leather and a touch of white and green accents, creates an inviting environment, ideal for business meetings, romantic getaways and delightful cocktail evenings.

The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a luscious menu of continental American cuisine along with a vast selection of craft cocktails at the bar. It’s signature drink: The Peacock.

Adjacent to the sophisticated Grill room is what I like to call a Paradise in Disguise! With undeniable elegance and located in the heart of one of Coconut Groves most iconic hotels, Isabelle’s outdoor garden terrace is the perfect spot to delight the senses with the sounds of its magnificent waterfall and wooden scents. It’s perfectly dimmed lights invite a romantic and intimate evening topped with attentive service and tropical weather, is what adorns Isabelle’s Garden with a paradisiacal atmosphere.

Executive Chef Abel Veulens ( IG: chefabel_veulens) had some recommendations for our group of invited guests last Monday evening and shared some of his favorite menu items. The portions, I must say, were generous!

Beef Carpaccio, topped with crispy mushrooms, arugula, pecorino and fresh horseradish, was the perfect starter to an exquisite adventure of flavors for the evening.

Jumbo Lump Crab Cake rested on a delicious apple remoulade and perfectly seasoned with upland cress, celeriac and Romanesco, makes this a MUST have appetizer when visiting Isabelles.

Immediately followed by the colorful Roasted Beets, in a delicate mixture of apples, oranges and pickled mustard seeds, on a vibrant Greek yogurt bedding, followed a show of masterpieces.

Isabelle’s Salad, carefully prepared with endive leaves, radicchio, arugula, candied pecans, craisins, pecorino, d’anjou pears, mixed in a honey mustard vinaigrette, makes this Isabelle’s Signature Salad, created for the most exquisite palates.

Isabelles Ritz Carlton Ribeye and Pork Chop Mains

As the main course, the options included a juicy bone in Ribeye, and a Kurobuta Pork Chop, resting on herbed crushed potatoes, roasted peppers and topped with delicious broccolini and a Seared Striped Bass on couscous and garnished with leeks, baby carrots and beurre blanc.