320 Gastrolounge Miami Review – – Trendy & Friendly Latin-Asian Cuisine
A brand new addition to the Shops at Merrick Park, 320 Gastrolounge is sure to become a new favorite in Miami. A trendy vibe, friendly crowd, and delicious blend of Latin-Asian cuisine is what will attract people to the new restaurant. The cool part of the restaurant is that you can see them prep and make your food! Their decoration features glass doors and windows allowing viewing access into the kitchen.
To start off the night, the waitress presented me with a cocktail. Coco plum, made with bullet rye and stirred with plum and aromatic bitters. All served over an ice cube of coconut water. The cocktail came with a sage leaf in it, beautiful and simple presentation.
The other cocktail I got to try was made of a whiskey base, reminiscent of an old fashioned. Again, presented simply and beautifully with a slice of lemon peel.
The first sample dish I got to try was the bok choy sopa. A savory miso topped with charred bok chop, tender tofu, and fried kale. The flavor was great and surprisingly I enjoyed the tofu, which I’m usually not a fan of.
Oh how I love sliders! The 360 Gastrolounge slider was soooo juicy and flavorful. I almost repeated myself! They were made with mini grilled patties, topped with cheddar cheese, and a hint of bbq aioli. All served on a brioche bun.
The next sampler we got was the homestead short ribs. All day braised beef rib atop a bed of stone-ground manchego grits. The dish was beautifully decorated with a broiled cherry tomato and parsley leaf. Wish there would’ve been more than a bite of the ribs!
After several sample dishes, 320 Gastrolounge decided it was time to whip out the wine. I got to try their Smoketree Chardonnay and Annabella Cabernet Sauvignon.
Back to more food…. Next up was the pulpo 320. Charred, marinated octopus with a frisse salad, pico de gallo, and aji aioli. The octopus was flavorful and cooked to perfection. Not only tasty, but an elegant presentation.
Last sample dish offered was the carne croquettes. This baby should have come with more croquettes! These were hand breaded and seared, stuffed with tender beef and topped with a dollop of olive aioli. Cute presentation and a punch of flavor in this small croquette.
For dessert, I got to try 320 Gastrolounge’s key lime pie. This was my favorite part of the night! Not only was it tart and amazing, the presentation was perfection! The key lime pies had a perfect ratio of graham crust to key lime filling ratio. They were decorated with a smudge of melted marshmallow charred for effect and topped with a fresh slice of lime. I think I ate every crumb off of that plate!
