Glass and Vine – Dining in a Coconut Grove Park
Coconut Grove dining gem Glass and Vine is the latest offering from Executive Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli. The talented South Florida chef – who already carries the titles of Food Network Chopped champion, FORBES “30 Under 30” list-maker and James Beard Award semi-finalist – is growing up a bit from his cute and delicious Eating House restaurant. Glass and Vine first entered the scene when it opened its doors in the heart of Peacock Park in March 2016. The park location offers a serene and lush experience. Let your kids roam wild in the park while you enjoy some fine wine and culinary treats.
The first thing that got me excited when I walked up was the soundtrack. One of my absolute favorite artists called Griz was playing his uplifting The Anthem track. A very auspicious sign to start the evening. This song will make you dance so brace yourself!
The opening dish of FLORIDA STRACCIATELLA with california olive oil, local bread & garlic confit blew me away and was my fave dish of the night. This soft, gooey and rich cheese contrasted against the soft yet crunchy bread made my eyes roll back a bit. The roasted garlic is an outstanding touch that made my bites pretty heavenly.
Another winner was the GRILLED LAMB LOIN with red miso, black garlic, grilled & raw cabbage. While the lamb was cooked well and lean it was the tangy vinegar slaw underneath that stole the plate. I’d recommend dousing each bite with the slaw and even using the grilled cabbage to make tangy lamb lettuce wraps.
For dessert the Olive Oil Magic shell with locally made ice cream, candied almond and tierra nueva chocolate was beyond outstanding. The olive oil addition launched the ice cream to the stratosphere with a beautiful hard chocolate crunch and divine candy almonds. Make sure to save room for this because it has 3 giant scoops.
In case you wnat to swing by for lunch there are a bunch of new menus since it is seasonally based. The new Garden, Sea and Land highlights include Grilled “Little Gem” ($13) – roasted garlic yogurt, soft egg, grana Padano and black pepper; Blue Crab Hush Puppies ($14) – fresh blue crab, lemon cream and homemade ‘old bay’; and Pan Tumaca ($11) – heirloom tomatoes, jamon Serrano and manchego. Rapicavoli’s newest dinner creations feature fresh Local Fish ‘Aguachile’ ($17) – carrots, passionfruit and Florida citrus; Shrimp ‘Al Ajillo’ ($14) – red pepper romesco; parsley salad and olive oil toast; Grilled Octopus ($25) – nuoc cham, cashews, coconut cream and cucumber; and Beef Tartare ($12) – togarashi crumbs, egg yolk and lettuce.
Guest wishing to sample Rapicavoli’s new dishes and drinks can stop by Glass & Vine’s Happy Hour, which just launched and is available weekdays from 4PM to 7PM. Snacks ($4) on offer include Marinated Olives, Cured Meat and fresh ZTB Bread with butter and olive oil. Small Bites ($7) run the gamut from Sweet Potatoes – “huancaina sauce”, queso blanco, lime and cured egg yolk; to Florida Stracciatella – California olive oil; local bread and garlic confit. Happy Hour drink specials feature Rapicavoli’s new Cocktails ($8), Beers ($5) and Featured Wines ($8).
Glass and Vine is located at 2820 McFarlane Road in Coconut Grove. Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11:30AM to 3:30PM. Dinner is served Monday through Thursday from 5:30PM to 10PM; Friday and Saturday from 5:30PM to 11PM and Sunday from 5PM to 10PM. Happy Hour is available Monday through Friday from 4PM to 7PM. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 11AM to 3:30PM. Valet parking is available in front of the restaurant on McFarlane Road. Telephone: (305) 200-5268; http://www.glassandvine.com/.