Salumeria 104 - Coral Gables — Restaurant in Coral Gables

Last night I dined here for the first (and last) time. I had a busy work day at home and had not eaten lunch, was craving pasta and was hungry. Having not been out much due to the pandemic, and being last minute on a Friday night I did a search online and saw the good reviews looked at the photos, menu saw a special of summer truffle pasta. Exactly what I was in the mood for, so I called the host said he was full but would 100% find us a table if I came in. Upon walking in I had immediate regret it was a lot more casual environment than I had expected. Felt like a typical pizza place. I had decided to stay because of the reviews. We sat down at the table, the three of us (2 adults and 1 teen) ordered two appetizers a simply dressed green salad which was delicious save the fresh Parmesan shavings I can say with 100% certainty as a foodie and an avid home chef they were not freshly shaved. I love fresh parm but rubbery hard to chew is not the way it should be experienced. It was a surprise as they had a large selection of cheeses and Salumi plates. We ordered the shaved roasted veal carpaccio style, I’ve never had this but love carpaccio. The slices were thick, and there was a huge glob of a mayo based tasting pink “sauce” In the middle covering about half of the slices, with a few capers tossed on. The actual veal tasted ok, bland but ok, the sauce tasted cheaply made and much too much like mayo for my taste. We didn’t finish this dish (I was starving) we waited on the main courses, I got the summer truffle tagliatelle, my son got the ravioli special and my boyfriend got the branzino fish dish. The truffle pasta was a cross between angel hair and spaghetti, a tiny portion, covered in cheap tasteless rubbery truffle shavings that I actually pushed aside (unimaginable!!) not enough sauce mostly tasted of margarine and truffle oil. This dish needed flavor, salt, olive oil, better pasta, better truffle oil, just everything was bad...at 32$ a huge disappointment. I would have gladly spent 75$ elsewhere and eaten a delicious plate of truffle pasta done properly. The ravioli special was ok at best. The branzino was bland and average. We also ordered a side of fresh sautéed artichokes, that were good. Not outstanding but the salad and artichokes were the only two dishes worth eating. Very disappointed considering a 27$ bottle of wine we spent $61 on here and this meal cost us over $200. Rarely write reviews, but rely on them and so felt compelled to write the review. I am quite frankly shocked at how small the portions were, how bad the pasta dishes tasted and how pricey the meal was. Good service, poor quality. Over priced...

SALUMERIA 104 is one of our favorite restaurants for authentic Italian food. We have tried all of its location and have never been so far disappointed.

We always go there with the best intentions of “not eating so much like last time” but… that never happens! The bread and breadsticks (my favorites) they bring you while you wait for the meal disappear well before the food arrives. We always start with an appetizer of cheese and/or (mostly) “salumi”, then have a “primo” or a “secondo”. I love all of their “primi”, while my favorite “secondi” are the “Milanese”, “Porchetta” and “Scottadito”. And if they have their home-made Almond Cake that day… I really can’t refuse it with my espresso, no matter how full I am.

They also have a good selection of wines, but we always go for their House Wine, which has the best quality/value ratio. And if you want, you can buy salumi, cheeses and olives by the pound to bring home.

I see that some have complained about the high prices: although they have increased, we still find them to be very reasonable instead, plus: the cuisine is authentic and the portions are big. But maybe our opinion is affected by the fact that we live in PBC, where restaurant prices are much higher, even if the cuisine is not truly authentic.

They also have a small outdoor dining patio, the staff is nice and we always enjoy our chats with Angelo! And the restaurant is right on the Miracle Mile, which is great for a walk after the meal (in winter time).

The only negative part is the street parking, which may be difficult to find in busy seasons and...

If you’re looking for a spot in Miami where you can escape the not-so-authentic Italian food scene, this is the place—but let me keep it real while I rave. I love this restaurant, and as long as they keep serving tasty food, I’ll be showing up for both lunch and dinner.

Now, Miami isn’t exactly overflowing with amazing Italian joints (no offense to your favorite pasta place, but if you know, you know), and this one is pretty close to the real deal. Some of the staff here are either Italian or doing a really convincing job pretending to be—and honestly, that adds to the charm. That said, dear Salumeria we need to talk about the Cacio e Pepe. It’s good, but it’s not Rome good. If you know the rules, you know: once you toss pasta in a cheese wheel, you lose that perfect al dente bite and the pepper flavor that’s supposed to infuse into the pasta. My advice? Stick with tradition! Don’t try to compete with the Instagram-friendly, flashy spots. When the food speaks for itself, people will keep coming back—trust me.

Pro tip for first time visit: Always ask about the special of the day—it’s usually where they shine. And if the Carbonara isn’t on the menu, give your server a little wink and a nudge—there might be a “secret” option waiting to transport you straight back to Italy. (Salumeria keep it real with the Carbonara too, nothing like that Rome style). Remember, Guanciale, not bacon or pancetta. 😂

Keep up the good work, guys! You’re on the...