Lekoke Miami Review – A Delightfully Hidden Wine Bar

Located in the heart of Little Havana and close to Brickell, Lekoke Miami is a cozy hole-in-the-wall place offering a variety of wine and bites to chose from. I was lucky enough to attend a tasting for the restaurant. We started off with a glass of Erben Dornfelder Barrique red wine that never seemed to get empty, and olives marinated with olive oil, garlic, and herbs. If you’re a wine lover, it is essential you visit this place. Upon entering this little gem, you see bottles of wine everywhere. In racks, on the wall, on the counter tops of the bar, behind the bar. Wine everywhere! It’s a beautiful sight.

The wine paired beautifully with the caprese salad. A beautiful display of freshly sliced tomatoes and mozzarella interlaced with fresh basil, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Next was the meat plate, which included prosciutto, jamon Iberico, chorizo, and capicola. The plate was accompanied by slices of bread slathered with olive oil and herbs. The salty meats were perfectly offset by the bread, and beautifully combined with the red wine.

Fresh out of Lekoke Miami’s ‘Hot Bites’ menu came the empanadillas. They were filled with a chorizo, ham, and cheese mixture. The dough was flaky and buttery, which added extra texture and flavor to the savory dish. The empanadillas were accompanied by a chimichurri sauce that heightened the dish all together.

The Kokito tostones were generously topped with Lekoke’s signature 6 hour roasted shredded pork and melted mozzarella cheese. I had a little bit of chimichurri sauce leftover from the empanadillas and, naturally, I had to add it to the tostones so it wouldn’t go to waste. Best decision ever! The baked plantains were already a hit, especially with the fresh basil and tomato topping that added some freshness to the dish, but the sauce just brought them up a notch. Highly recommend it if available.

Who doesn’t love pasta, the greatest comfort food to men! Lekoke’s chefs were generous enough to make a seafood pasta for the tasting. The pasta was unbelievably creamy and full of flavor. It was tossed with an array of seafood and cherry tomatoes, and topped with freshly shaved Parmesan cheese and chopped cilantro. Everyone went back for seconds. Carbs were an afterthought with this dish.

Finally, dessert! Served in the cutest little bowl, the vanilla ice cream was a complete hit. It may seem like a basic dessert, but man was this ice cream good! It was topped with hot fudge and caramel, and served with a biscotti biscuit that had slivers of almonds in it. The combination of hot and cold with the added crunch from the biscuit flirted beautifully with my taste buds. This simple, yet mouthwatering, dessert was just what I needed after eating so many savory dishes.

In addition to the ice cream, I was able to get a taste of Lekoke Miami’s caramelized tequila. Now, I’m not a fan of tequila but this one surprisingly went down smoothly. I didn’t need a chaser at all! You get the hint of sweetness in every sip of this potent drink. It was just the perfect ending to the tasting. Unfortunately, I was too thirsty and drank it before I could get a picture. Oops!