Charlotte Bistro

I’d love to comment on the food, but after they messed up our reservations, twice, we moved on to Ortanique, 2 doors down.
Hostess was very nice.
Go there!

Charlotte Bistro is back and in the process of changing. Charlotte had closed for a period of time because the chef/​owner had a medical emergency. But she is now back better than ever. In the process of reopening, the interior had become a bit more formal with new seating, lighting (multiple chandeliers in lieu of the Noguchi paper lanterns) wall coverings and table cloths. Since we dined there for lunch, twice, about a month ago, they have stopped lunch service and removed the table cloths. It seems like they moved upmarket a bit too fast/​too much and are now stepping back a bit.
The two lunches we had were excellent but a bit on the expensive side for lunch. The food remains similar to what it was prior to closing, sort of a French-​Latin fusion. The wine list remains excellent, with a lot of reasonable, interesting choices, probably not sourced from the SWS death-​star.

What a shame. I was SO EXCITED to try this place out and I was SO disappointed. I suggested this restaurant on a Saturday night because of its location and rave reviews. The décor was cute and the concept seemed good but, what started out well with cute décor and Parmesan cheese dipping sauce with bread sticks ended mediocre at best. Let me start with there was three of us so I was able to try a nice range of food. There was Onion Soup (bland), Olive Soup (you have to LOVE olives and I feel they could’ve have made this soup a bit more complex or not have it on at all? I was CONFUSED by it. I had the duck leg confit with a rice side. The rice was HARD and tasted like the minute rice you buy at Publix and the confit was TOO gamey… I was not happy with it AT ALL but, how could this be! I went on to try the tuna with pineapple again, they don’t blend their flavors well and something else that was equally unmemorable. Then I said to myself, SELF don’t give up they have chocolate soup. Its not chocolate soup, its luke warm pudding with a teaspoon of ice-​cream in the middle and a small cracker. I was SO UPSET!!! Why did I think I was going to get something that resembles Willy Wonkas chocolate watter-​fall! No such luck. The table shared the small bite sized fruit tarts. Also, bland and not memorable.
The kicker to all this:
THE SERVICE TOOK A CENTURY! People came and left and we hadn’t gotten our entrees.
NOT coming back.

Ordered: Salmon w/​eggplant — over priced and very small — kids meal smalll
Lamb w/​sweet potato — Very dry lamb and the sweet potato was more like a soup
Chocolate soup — more like a chocolate cup
Overall — overpriced, undersized and felt ripped off when I left… Not a good feeling…

Let me be the first one with objective review!!!
Ordered:
Onion soup
Grouper & Parsnip Purée
Wine
1. The soup. Nothing to write home about! On the contrary it is way too sweet for my taste.
2. Fish: Very small and very simple pan fried grouper, which tastes even worse with very, very sweet Parsnip Purée. They really don’t go well together. I mean it would be ok for breakfast not dinner.
The next is where the trick (scam) starts
First of all there is no wine in their list that costs less than $ 46 /​bottle. Well I thought ok, if it costs that much it must be good, so I ordered a of Brotte Cotes du Rhone Domaine de la Griveliere for $ 48!!!
Then I thought this is very strange that for such a fancy menu and no so low prices plus the selection of VERY expensive wine, the restaurant looks way too simple. In fact there was no table cloth nor there was any table paper! Instead there was very cheap VERY OLD plastic placemats. But worst of all the wine they sold me for $ 48 costs $ 7.99 (Google it if you don’t believe me!!! Brotte Cotes du Rhone Domaine de la Griveliere). Of course you can bring your own wine but… there is $ 18 cork charge, which is double than in any fancy restaurant!!! I feel that we were robbed as we paid $ 170 for three of us. I don’t see how all the reviews can be objective!

Charlotte bistro is an intimate hideaway located on Miracle Mile, a few doors East of Actor’s Playhouse in Coral Gables. Seating is available inside and out. The staff was attentive — without being obtrusive — throughout the meal. Inside, the ambiance is pleasant, well-​lit, with a touch of retro that adds a bit of funk to the dining experience.
Their menu is somewhat seasonal; an overall description might be French Fusion with a Latin accent. The owner, Elida Villaroel, is a Venezuelan transplant with a nice resturaunt pedigree.
Her soups are creative; my dining companion enjoyed a Green Olive Soup with Basil Aroma. He quite enjoyed the dish, refraining from licking the bowl clean more from our front-​window position than any sense of decorum! Also on the menu were an artichoke soup, and a lobster bisque with chives cream.
My choice was a Merlot Braised Lamb Shank, with pumpkin saffron purée; the purée could have been a side dish on it’s own. The lamb was served with a rich, savory, balsamic reduction. It was perfectly cooked, falling off the bone almost as fast as my fork could reach it.
Some of the other intriguing menu selections included Red Snapper and Curry Orzo, Salmon and Honey Soy Eggplant, Grenache Braised Short Ribs, and a salad of warm honey glazed golden apples with pecan & raisin crusted goat cheese.
The kitchen is compact and well maintained; he crew offers a cherry hello as you peek in, while turning out another interesting dish.
Their wine list shows promise; I had a nice Murphy Cellars Syrah from California that paired nicely with the lamb, while my partner drank a nice Ribera del Duero from Vina Sastre being considered for inclusion on the wine list.
All in all, this is a pleasant, well-​run establishment with great food, in an accessible location. As a frequent visitor to the Gables, it’s certainly a great destination for Art Night, after the theater, or just dropping in for a casual dinner. Charlotte’s would be a great place for a business lunch; the noise level does not interfere with conversation, but provides a pleasant background level conducive to a private conversation.

We give it 5 out of 5 but only had soups and salads.
Olive soup is a must order!
Leak potato soup is yummy… Very filling!
Fennel apple crispy Brie salad… refreshing.
Will return for dinner and re post!

Excellent food and service…

What a gem on Miracle mile. Try the Miami Spice menu. Great service presentation and absolutely delicious. Chef even stopped to say hi.

You know, I didn’t find that this place was much to look at. My wife and I went on a Monday afternoon for Miami Spice lunch. The plastic chairs and beat up tables were an immediate turn off for me. I was expecting something a little (not a lot) more elegant. The retro tiles were reminiscent of my grandma’s old kitchen. I’m sure some people will find this to be a cute little quaint «gem» or something… not really my style to be honest. The service was not really the best. It wasn’t bad, but I felt they weren’t really on top of things like I would have liked. Again, not bad, but nothing I would praise on here.
So why did I give it 4 stars? Well, the most accurate answer for me would be that Unilocal does not have an option for 3 and a half stars, which is what I would give this place. The other reason, and this is a reason that I feel outweighs many other things, is because the food was extraordinarily good. Ceviches were excellent. I don’t normally like cooked salmon, but theirs was very good. The short ribs were melt in your mouth delicious (Although I did think the mashed potatoes that accompanied it were a bit bland, but I think they are meant to offset the robust flavour of the beef). My favorite was the crab risotto. Wow. So, yes, a great place to eat. I don’t recommend it to impress a date or anything, but for good food, you can’t go wrong.
So why did I give it 4 stars? Well, the most accurate answer for me would be that Unilocal does not have an option for 3 and a half stars, which is what I would give this place. The other reason, and this is a reason that I feel out weighs many other things, is because the food was extraordinarily good. Ceviches were excellent. I don’t normally like cooked salmon, but theirs was very good. The short ribs were melt in your mouth delicious (Although I did think the mashed potatos that accompanied it were a bit bland, but I think they are meant to offset the robust flavour of the beef). My favorite was the crab risotto. Wow. So, yes, a great place to eat. I don’t recommend it to impress a date or anything, but for good food, you can’t go wrong.

4.5 stars.
I’d agree with other reviewers with the borrowed words: exquisite, quaint, scrumptious.
It’s a small place that is somewhat eclectic, forward-​thinking, and tasty — while all being affordable for the masses to love.
Parsnip purée, parsley-​garlic mashed potatoes, balsamic glaze, anchovie-​olive tapenade, coriander-​crusted double-​pork, and other interesting twists. They do these things well — and their desserts are even good too. I haven’t had anything bad here yet and I’ve been here at least twice and tried maybe 10 dishes.
And service? We’re talking top-​notch here. Even when there’s minor errors Meat a little overcooked? They’d take it and fix it immediately and I didn’t even have to inquire. The waiter wanted me to check the cut first before leaving the table to be sure I’m satisfied on the doneness.
It’s this love of perfection, in a warm and subtle way, that brings the feeling that you’re being given over-​the-​top attention we happened to love.
And currently this place is getting high marks for their Miami Spice. But too much? You can also do the regular lunch menu — costing maybe $ 12 for an interesting plate. And it’s proving to be a draw, even bringing in more people into this relatively new establishment than the other small Gables stalwarts that are a few feets away.
A do-​not-​miss, especially in the pricey or chain-​y Gables. A boutique at heart and an institution in the making.

One word — Exquisite.
Thank you Miami Spice for helping me find this hidden gem on Miracle Mile. I went this week with two friends and we were all very impressed.
The only reason i won’t give it five stars: the service — which was not good.
Spicy — All the food. I had the crab risotto with truffle oil and hearts of palm. The perfect amount for the first course of Miami Spice. So delicious and perfect.
For the main course i had the sea bass. It was set on some sauce which was so tasty. There was also one mussel and a stuffed squid
For dessert — i picked the chocolate soup. I am not a huge fan of chocolate but read a couple reviews which said this was a must — AND THEY WERE RIGHT ON. The soup with the espresso foam was incredible. An explosion in my mouth with every single spoonful.
Medium — nothing really.
Mild — service. I went on a Wednesday night and it was pretty packed for it being such a small spot. The servers were completely overwhelmed. It took them forever to bring us water, the bill, etc. Thank god we had wine :)
The table next to us, we noticed they brought them their main course before their appetizers! Several of the tables were complaining about the service… and the chef/​owner came out to apologize to one of the tables.
Overall — this place is wonderful. Always love a place that gives you a small treat at the beginning of the meal. Three amuse bouche that were super tasty, eggplant tapenade, goat cheese and black olive with a nice topping (that i can’t remember what it was right now)
The food was very very good and I can’t wait to go back. You should definitely check it out

Amazing. Came across this adorable bistro and decided to have a celebratory dinner here on a Wednesday night. The food was wonderful, the service was great and the décor is to die for. I highly recommend the strawberry, blueberry and edible flower salad. It was nice and flavorful and perfect for a light summer appetizer. Great little spot on miracle mile away from the hustle and bustle of Houston’s etc. Will be back very soon.

I just had lunch here today and had the red snapper special– red snapper, sweet potato purée with a red pepper coile and a side salad. It was delicious! I’m definitely curious to come back and try a few of the salads there. (the strawberry blueberry edible flower salad is first on my list) I also have to add that the dishes have unique mixtures of ingredients. I remember one being bacon-​wrapped shrimp with a coconut curry sauce.
The service was also pretty good – friendly hostess and waiter. Not a long wait for our food, but the restaurant was not incredibly crowded at the time either.
The ambiance is very cute also– cheery, bright punchy colors here and there, eclectic and streamlined.
La Provencal is right next door – these two restaurants next door to each other make for interesting eye candy. Pass by sometime to see what I mean. :)
All-​in-​all I had a delicious meal and am curious to go back– quite possibly next Wednesday on Bastille Day.

Serendipity on Steroids
The scourge of Unilocal, (see my other reviews) couldnt help but say nice things about this place. As good as the food is, it is exceeded by the
class, espirit de corps and pride of the staff. They were nice too.
The Gaspacho was heavenly. The freshness of the vegetables and fruits speak of a quest for excellence in cuisine, and standards well beyond standard 5 star. Given the presentation and originality of the dishes, even a gourmand could write reviews about Charlottes Bistro with the ease of painting by the numbers. The freshness of the ingredients and a light touch in the kitchen, in the dishes I ordered, conveyed a sense of lightness and healthy eating unexpected in restaurant food,
It may be they put something in my wine to make me write nice nice for a day. If they did, another good reason to eat there. Could be this is the real thing.

OMG — delicious!!! Been meaning to come here after walking to Benihanna and walking by this ADORABLY decorated bistro. Finally came for dinner with the hubs, and all I have to say is FIVE STARS.
We started w/​breadsticks and tapenade — delish!!! not too filling but perfect to keep my growling belly calm. Next, a little appetizer plate compliments of the chef — my favorite of the little tasty delights was mushroom with cream cheese deliciousness on top. We then had the appetizer — the scallops with truffle and sweet potato mousse type of thing — WOW perfect. I had the special, which was Goat Cheese, Arugula and Pear salad, The rack of Lamb and some delicious flan dessert thing. My hubby had the Sea Bass.
Ok, salad — PERFECTION the goat cheese was so ooooo good. The rack of lamb — Was juicy nice and medium — the way I like it The mashed potatoes were so perfect. I have no complaints on this meal!
My hubby’s seabass was good — although I’m not a fish person. It came with mussels (YUM!) and stuffed squid — not sure what it was stuffed with but SOO GOOD! Again, not a fish person so I’m not the right person to judge that. But hubby said it was excellent and liked it better than my lamb. I must disagree ;) but I’m a carnivore.
Ok dessert — my flan thing with coconut ice cream was PERFECTION!!! Hubby had the chocolate soup — very yummy — very chocolatey so make sure you like loads of chocolate before u order.
The chef was nice enough to come to everyone’s table –w hich I thought was a nice touch.
I definitely recommend this place!!! Great wine, great food, great time…

Went here for lunch — work was paying. Outdoor dining on Miracle Mile with cute indoor seating with plenty of light if you’re so inclined.
The salads are really the stand-​out item here with fresh ingredients, impressive plating and delicious dressing. Surprises like fried brie with rasberry preserve tend to appear on your plate — a nice touch.
The meal was very light but could get pricey quickly. A lovely option for an upscale lunch. Highly recommended!

I went with my boyfriend for dinner on a Monday night. When I walked in I loved the candlelight look. The inside was eclectic yet put together and warm. I dont know if there was only one waiter because they thought not many people would go in on a Monday night, but one person was definitely not enough. In fact, a couple walked out because the service was so bad! The poor waiter didn’t even know what was on the menu.
As we tried to enjoy the okay soups one of the owners passed by to let us know our $ 25
certificate could only be used if we purchased 2 entrees (the certificate clearly stated spend at least $ 35, that’s it!). As he awkwardly looked at the certificate in front of us for about two minutes, I politley let him know that on the ‘special instructions’ section of the certificate it usually indicates either the amount you have to spend or the number of entrees you must order. He then said he’ll take a better look in the other room. He finally sent the waiter back to let us know he would «accept» the certificate.
By this point we were just flabergasted by the idiotic owner and the potential of such a cute place went down the drain for us. Then other owner, the chef, walked out and said hi to the customers and completely changed the mood of the restaurant. She spoke about her food with much passion and love. You could tell she was really living her dream and the bistro was her baby. We then tried the caramelized banana dessert and it was AMAZING! That and the chef were the only good things about the place.
If I ever go back it would be to sit outside so I dont ever have to see that ridiculous owner and enjoy the chefs fabulous desserts with a cup of coffee. It’s a shame that such a cute place could suffer because of someone that has no clue on how to run a restaurant.

Small quaint and unobtrusive. Owned by a Michelin Star experienced Chef.
The creations are much like the décor, unique and colorful.
It is really good for an intimate lunch, allows for good conversation while a bit of people watching.
Small enough to guarantee good service without being overwhelming, and the menu is the rightful creation of an award wining chef.
Totally recommended.

Went for lunch & loved it. Yellow squash soup was scrumptious as was the onion soup. Wine list is small so I am deducting a half star. I had a chicken sandwich that came with an incredible ratatouille, instead of large clunky pieces of vegetable each element of the dish had been chopped into a fine dice. the chocolate soup is as good as people tell you it is. its like a warm gooey brownie that you forgot to bake, sounds weird? you just have to taste it!