Miami Spanish Cuisine: Casa Xabi

Restaurant Name: Casa Xabi Address: 3145 Commodore Plaza, Miami, FL 33133 Although it's labeled as Spanish cuisine, the restaurant specifically highlights Basque cuisine—one of the most renowned culinary traditions within Spain. 🇪🇸✨ Fig. 1: This plate of ham costs over $30—not exactly cheap, but it’s absolutely delicious! 😋 The rich, oily aroma bursts in your mouth the moment you take a bite, with just the right level of saltiness. There’s no trace of any porky odor, making it perfect to enjoy with bread. Sink your teeth into the soft yet chewy texture, where the aroma of wheat and meat intertwine in pure harmony. 🥖🍖 Fig. 2: The seafood salad highly recommended by the staff. It includes lobster, octopus, and shrimp. The octopus is tender yet pleasantly chewy, and even the regular shrimp have a natural sweetness. With the combination of olive oil, finely chopped green and red peppers (not spicy), and tomatoes, the flavors of the entire dish are elevated to another level! 🥗👌 The caviar mainly serves as garnish and, let's be honest, a price booster—but its subtle popping texture adds a fun element. However, a major letdown was the lobster: the meat was loose, dry, and slightly salty, giving the impression it came from a can rather than being freshly cooked. For a salad priced over $30 that features lobster as the star, using freshly cooked lobster shouldn’t be too much to ask, right? 😤🦞 Fig. 3: This Pintxo is made with sourdough bread topped with tomatoes, olive oil, and salted anchovies. It’s flavorful but has a slight fishy taste. Since I’m extremely sensitive to fishiness, I couldn’t quite enjoy it after one bite—but if that doesn’t bother you, it might be worth a try! 🍞🐟 Fig. 4: Berry Basque Cake. The name made me chuckle—it sounds exactly like how my grandpa says "America" in his accent 😄. This cake looks absolutely stunning but tastes just okay—it scores full marks in appearance but only passes in flavor. The center isn’t flowy, but the texture is smooth and delicate. It’s a bit on the sweeter side but still acceptable; not sour, with a prominent cheesiness. The berry sauce adds a lovely sweet-and-tangy coating that really complements the cake. 🍰🫐 Final Thoughts: The prices are on the higher side, and the value for money is somewhat lacking. The flavors are generally good, but there’s definitely room for improvement when it comes to ingredient quality. 💸🤔 Have you been to Casa Xabi or tried other Spanish restaurants in Miami? What did you think—worth the hype or overrated? Share your experiences and favorite dishes in the comments below! 👇😊 #MiamiFood #SpanishCuisine #BasqueFood #MiamiEats #FoodReview #MiamiRestaurants #FoodieAdventure #CasaXabi #DiningInMiami #LuxuryDining