no reservations restaurant & wine bar — Restaurant in Florida

My Mom and I love trying new places and we happened to spot this place on the way to another restaurant so we made a U turn and pulled in. Immediately walking in the atmosphere and energy was very welcoming. It was cozy clean and had a warm classic sophistication about it. Very charming.

What we ordered: Cod croquetas with lemon aioli Lamb meatballs with Sumac-yogurt sauce Mix dip combo platter Escargot Flambé a la Ouzo 2 Sangrias

First off I am a major croqueta fan and I'm not easy to impress when it comes to these delicious flavorful morsels of heaven (if done right) These croquetas were these best cod croquetas I've had yet!! The lemon aioli just took it to the next level!

I really enjoyed the lamb meatballs. My mom found them to be too strong in flavor but she's also not the greatest fan of lamb I however loved them! Also they were actually made with pistachios in them which I thought was a really nice touch!

Must have the mixed dip combo but the best part about it BY FAR was the taramosalata!!! This just one of those things on the menu that I have no choice but to Order every time or I won't be able to sleep at night lol

Escargot Flambé a la Ouzo This is another one of those dishes that if I see it on the menu I must order it. However, I'm gonna have to say although it wasn't bad it wasn't out of this world either. It did have this nice herbal flavor that I enjoyed but felt like it was still missing something. It was nothing to write home about.

Sangrias we're on POINT!!

Overall I think this place deserves 5 stars. I definitely recommend highly. And will definitely...

Barmeli was great.

I had made a reservation and the table was ready upon arrival, which is always appreciated. We ordered a few appetizers to start and they are meant to be shared... but small size. Grilled octopus, stuffed grape leaves, hummus and also some boquerones (fresh anchovies). All nicely prepared and accompanied by grilled pita bread. Everything was really fresh and nicely seasoned but I would also have to say .... nothing outstanding.

As the night continued we ordered grilled salmon, rack of lamb, grilled steak and fries, whole roasted branzino and slow roasted leg of lamb over orzo pasta. Worth mentioning is that the lamb chops is one full rack which is not common, very nicely grilled and cooked to perfect medium. The Branzino was also nice and tender, still juicy ... not overcooked.

I would say that the best part of Barmeli is actually the ambiance.... it is a happy place, live music, great lighting and lots of wine. The restaurant vibe is what makes this restaurant a hit. Service is a bit slow but nothing that would drive you crazy and it makes up for it in friendliness.

I would come back to Barmeli and bring friends... I'm sure it will be even...

Finding good, simple sangria in this town can be difficult. It's often over-the-top and way too sweet. Barmeli's red sangria is traditional, simple, and quite delicious. It has the perfect level of sweetness from just the fruit (their menu states no added sugar) and with no added frills.

The atmosphere the night we visited was amazing. There was live music, people dancing at their tables, waiters bustling about, lots of chatter, and just good vibes in general. It's a rather small space, which makes it quite intimate, but it could be a bit cramped and loud for some. Might be different on days they don't have live music.

Food and service were great. We started with the grilled pita bread with hummus, the anchovies, a beet salad, and the dates wrapped in prosciutto. All were very good, but the pita bread had us thinking of ordering more. We then shared the merguez (spiced lamb sausage), baked lamb filo rolls, and the ceviche. We finished with the Almendrado, a gelato with almonds and a honey drizzle. It was...