Hotel St. Michel is a quaint, historic hotel tucked in downtown Coral Gables. Built in 1926, the hotel features 27 rooms all decorated in a different style, a piano bar and a restaurant serving New American food with a slight French accent. Sunday brunch is one my favorite excuses to pig out and combine breakfast and lunch foods into one meal, so St. Michel’s brunch had to be tested. Finding a good brunch place is an important part of becoming a real adult. While the Biltmore and Ritz Carlton brunches are little walks in heaven, I wanted to find something a little less Louis the XIV and a little more Kate Spade. So after starving myself the night before and doing an extra five minutes on the elliptical (that’s right, five), I was ready for my 1 pm date with the bikini killer...brunch.
I took a five-plate approach. I started at the fruit and salad table. They had a good selection of cold salads, cheeses, fruit, shrimp and veggies. I am lazy so I only had one shrimp because it had to be peeled. The one I did have was very fresh and had great flavor. The salads were really good, but the fruit was the star of this table. The cantaloupe was perfectly sweet and refreshing and the blueberries were the perfect texture.
My second plate consisted of the waffles I ordered with whipped cream. Sooooo good! One of my partners in crime summed it up perfectly, “The waffles themselves make the trip worth it!” The waffles have the perfect texture. Just the slightest crispness on the outside and then pure yumminess inside. Then, topped with the whipped cream...my taste buds were in love with me!
My third plate was devoted to hot dishes including chicken in a cream sauce, beef and an especially delicious rice dish with peas and corn. All of these items were great, but after the waffle bliss it just couldn’t compare. Not that the hot food is not good, but I just walked through the Barneys of food and then walked into Macy’s. Macy’s is nice but you never go in after Barneys or you are just disappointed.
Plate four included a bite of my friend’s eggs benedict. The hollandaise sauce was perfect...mildly tangy, just like it should be! Then I got serious about the desserts. They have a wide assortment of cheesecakes, all fabulous and they had German chocolate cake and some cakes with fruit in them. They also had a chocolate fountain with fresh strawberries. Now, I am not much for fruit in my dessert...I am a purist, but I tried the chocolate covered strawberries. They were very good and the strawberries very fresh. My personal favorites were the cheesecakes.
I rounded out my meal with plate five returning to the fresh, succulent fruit I started with. I didn’t have room in my tummy to try the omelet station but friends said it was good! There is also a crepe station and an assortment of breads, but I was completely stuffed.
So I give brunch at St. Michel 4 yums out of 5. The ambiance is great, the food is wonderful and fresh, the live piano music is sweet and fun, the restaurant is beautiful and the waffles will send you into state of food bliss. The window seats can be a little hot and the omelet station guy abandoned his post for a while, but overall it is a great place to brunch. I highly recommend it...imagine how chic and grown up you will sound when you tell everyone you brunched on Sunday. Kate Spade would totally eat here!
If you go:
Brunch is served between 11:00 am and 2:30 pm. Call ahead and make reservations to ensure a table. The outside awnings from last year’s Hurricanes have not been replaced, so you may want to ask your server to draw the shades if you have a window seat. There are two dining rooms. Ask for the one without the piano if you want something low key. The brunch is a buffet. $29.95 per person. You can ask your server for Mimosas, champagne, eggs benedict, Belgian waffles, whipped cream and coffee.
Hotel St. Michel 162 Alcazar Avenue Coral Gables, FL 305-444-1666
I had brunch at St. Michel this weekend and I have to say that it's one of the most satisfying eating out experiences. The taste of the food, the variety and the service are excellent. After trying all other Miami brunches, I have to say this is the best taking into consideration the $30, the fresh fruit, the mimosas, desserts and best of all the staff was so pleasant. They're not rushing you out and the pianist is adorable.
Comment by Milly | 7/23/2006; 10:24:37 PM
Hi!! My wonderfully thoughtful friends hosted my graduation here and it was absolutely beautiful! The food was delicious - the filet mignon was to die for!
Your review was great, Lori. I, along with almost every other salivating reader, wish I was also there feasting with you.
I had brunch at St. Michel this weekend and I have to say that it's one of the most satisfying eating out experiences. The taste of the food, the variety and the service are excellent. After trying all other Miami brunches, I have to say this is the best taking into consideration the $30, the fresh fruit, the mimosas, desserts and best of all the staff was so pleasant. They're not rushing you out and the pianist is adorable.