Brunch Like A Pro

Despite the recent boom Miami’s neighborhood of Coconut Grove has undergone, it still retains a warm, family-centric vibe.

You see it in the myriad of young couples pushing strollers with adorable babies or walking their dogs — always out in full force on weekend mornings. Where are they headed, you may wonder? Trail behind the crowd and you’ll likely find yourself at Sadelle’s Coconut Grove, one of the city’s top spots for brunch.

Owned by Major Food Group (MFG), this bustling hotspot is named after Co-Founder Jeff Zalaznick’s great-grandmother. Together with partners Mario Carbone (yes, the chef from the famed Italian eatery Carbone restaurant) and Rich Torrisi, the trio has grown a culinary empire encompassing 40 restaurants (including another Sadelle’s inside The Boca Raton — only for members and hotel guests) with hits like Dirty French Steakhouse, Contessa and ZZ’s Club spanning the globe.

Sadelle’s Coconut Grove (for simplicity’s sake, just called Sadelle’s) is a tribute to the classic New York Jewish brunch. And while it first opened its doors in Manhattan’s chic SoHo neighborhood in 2016, the South Florida version — found on the iconic tree-lined intersection of Tigertail and Mary, infuses the enchanting Miami ambiance that has enticed so many Northeasterners to call South Florida their new home.

Diners can opt for a table on the spacious shady patio (perfect for those joined by their pets) or grab a seat inside at one of the pastel-seated booths. Neutral tones paired with an abundance of lush plants create a homey feel.

While the all-day menu is expansive (matzo ball soup, chopped salads and triple-decker sandwiches are staple hits), brunch, which runs Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., draws faithful followers.

The House Salmon, smoked on-site and hand-sliced to order, has an addictive quality that can prove to be problematic — a single taste is likely to linger on your palate, leaving you yearning for its distinctive smoky flavor long after you’ve gone.

Smoked Scottish (the same process only finished off with extra smoking and topped with lemon zest and sea salt), Whitefish Salad and Sturgeon are equally impressive and, although my table didn’t sample it, the Salmon Salad is a popular pick as well. Each comes with a generous helping of sliced tomatoes, cucumbers and capers, plain or chive cream cheese and house-made bagels stacked on a pole reminiscent of a child’s stacking ring toy, a method employed to optimize table space.

Sadelle’s Eggs Benedicts have legendary status, which would explain why the Salmon Eggs Benedict (perfectly poached egg atop sliced house salmon, topped with a light, tangy hollandaise and served on a lightly toasted, buttery circle of brioche bread) was one of the best I’ve ever had. Other egg dishes include the Salami & Eggs (beef salami, caramelized onions and mustard) and the Soft Scrambled Eggs. If the wallet allows, crown the creamy eggs with a dollop of Russian Osetra caviar. Or, opt for the Latke Royale — a serving of crispy, fried potato topped with caviar. You will never look at a latke the same way again.

There’s a mouthwatering array of sweet dishes to choose from, and after much pontification, my table chose the French Toast. Two enormous triangular slabs looking more like a sturdy sculpture than a brunch dish arrived dwarfing an already massive plate. Once sliced, the thick brioche bread revealed a rich, fluffy interior that eagerly soaked up the syrup served on the side.

Pancake fans might find the Blueberry Pancakes tempting: a generous stack dotted with plump, juicy fruit that can hush even the most talkative diner into a moment of appreciative silence. We ended with the Grapefruit Cocktail: a refreshing palate cleanser consisting of sliced pink grapefruit segments presented within the fruit itself, topped with bruleéd sugar for a delightful crunch.

I should mention that by this point the cocktail I’d ordered, a Bellini made with real peach pulp, was nearly gone, posing a difficult decision: order another one or wrap things up with a strong espresso? Beyond the exceptional cuisine, Sadelle’s creates an ambiance that encourages lingering; how could I resist indulging in another round?

Sadelle’s is located at 3321 Mary St., Miami. For more information, visit sadelles.com or call 305-990-8707.