“The Grove,” as it’s referred to by locals, has some great shopping options, but is also known for its myriad restaurants and varied cuisine. Just south of the Barnacle Historic State Park on Main Highway is where you’ll find Calamari, a relatively new addition to the Grove, and one of my new favorites.
I’ll admit that I was a little distracted and travel-weary when we went there. I’d gone to work in Texas at my normal 6:30am, then to the airport to catch an 11:40am flight to Ft. Lauderdale, and then taken a bus and two trains to get to Coconut Grove at 5:30pm local time. Deanna and her teenaged son picked me up at the station and we went straight to Calamari. I hadn’t seen them in two years and even then it was only for a couple of hours, and I hadn’t been to visit them in Florida in ten years, so I was more focused on catching up than on eating, but I’d looked at the menu online and I was intrigued by the offerings.
After a little confusion with the valet, we were greeted very graciously and shown to a table in the large courtyard dining area. Calamari is one of those establishments that gracefully balances between casual and formal dining. You could come here after work for a few cocktails that ease into your evening meal, or you could bring your partner here for an intimate dinner. I was completely at home in jeans, and I would have been equally comfortable in a suit and tie. Either way I was getting glassware, cloth napkins and mostly attentive service. Note to beer drinkers: Calamari is known for its extensive wine list, not its beer selection. Sam Adams is about as exotic as it gets, which works for me and is what I ordered. I’m not used to drinking beer out of a glass and kept grabbing the bottle.
We started with some Bruschetta, which strangely is not on the menu, but they were happy to make it at Julian’s request. Again, I was very distracted, but nothing about it caught my attention so it was fine. Deanna and Julian already knew what they wanted but I was very involved with the menu at this point. It’s a full menu, with 18 selections just in the pasta section.
I took Julian’s suggestion and ordered the Salmone Maria Rosa ($22.95.) I’m not sure how it was cooked, but it was so delicate and tender I might guess it was steamed. It featured a creamy brandy-lobster sauce that was light and savory and not very acidic as I sometimes find with chefs who just can’t bear to separate the citrus from the shellfish. I didn’t notice the chopped shrimp that the menu boasted but if it was there I’m glad it didn’t compete with the salmon and sauce. It came with some steamed vegetables. The portions were sufficient. I don’t like to take fish home anyway. I don’t remember what Deanna had but it was a pasta dish that was generous enough that she did take the rest home.
The service was good, although there was some disconnect between our server and someone else who stopped by to check on us and took a drink order. That’s probably the only thing that keeps me from thinking our dinner was perfect. But don’t get me wrong; this is a good restaurant with good food and I see the potential for hanging out here more often. It has a great atmosphere, and we had perfect weather for the al fresco dining courtyard. Calamari’s bar is called La Dolce Vita, and it is inside the building along with the indoor dining area. They have everyday deals that would make the location perfect for a Happy Hour gathering near the giant metal lobster sculpture that adorns one wall. They have a bar called Taurus on the same property. They have a wine club in the basement. They have pizza and calamari.
And I’ll tell you what really intrigues me: the buffet for their Sunday Brunch. That’s something I’ll have to try if I can drag my ass out of bed on a balmy Sunday morning in the Grove.
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