Garden House — Restaurant in Miami Beach

I was looking on TikTok for places to eat in Miami for a birthday dinner and this one came up on my recommendations And based on how the restaurants Instagram looks and the different videos I saw on TikTok, I thought the place was very nice looking and the food was going to be delicious. However, I was very disappointed. I came here with my family for my birthday. We were a table of six with two kids, When we got there, the place was super super small nothing compared to the videos, we wanted to sit outside, but there was too large tables sitting outside, which is nobody’s fault so I said fine I’ll take the inside seats, When we walked in the place, literally looked like my grandma’s backyard, the decorations on the walls were all lob sided and they had dust on the frames from not being clean, the tables were balancing my mom had to hold the table down in order for my brother to cut his meat so that the drinks won’t tip over the cup from unbalancing. The chair to take pictures outside is a super small area and you have to move chairs and tables in order to be able to take pictures there but if they are people sitting in those tables then you won’t be able to take your picture either. By the time we got the food, the quality was super poor, my steak was raw had to ask them to take it back because there was a piece that was folded on my steak from the “bandeja paisa” and it was literally PINK meaning that part didn’t even touch the grill. My brother also ordered the same thing but he had his beans replaced for fries but they forgot his plantains. The plates are SUPER small comparing to the price. My husbands plate was “lomo saltado” and he substituted his white rice for fries and I promise you there were only 11 French fries on the plate (we counted) …. For this restaurant to be in Miami Beach that’s very disappointing specially on a birthday night…. I asked for a cup of water and I left without getting my water, please do not believe how the pictures look and how Tik tok makes it look you will be disappointed, I live in Miami so it’s okay but I couldn’t imagine being a tourist and coming to check this place out for a yummy and cute experience and then have to encounter with this…. Please do not be fooled. Lastly I had to go in the restroom and change my son and they have only 1 restroom that Men and woman have to share and it doesn’t have a baby changing table so if you have kids make sure you change them before you go and if they use the bathroom while being there you have no where to change...

This was a truly enjoyable experience. The restaurant has both outdoor and indoor seating, and the atmosphere is perfect for a casual dining experience. The indoor seating area was very cozy and welcoming with a rustic touch. The outdoor covered seating area, which has a highly Instagrammable wall, was the right place for a mild Miami evening.

We started off with some delicious cocktails, a Passion Fruit Mojito, and a Madame Margarita. Both drinks were expertly crafted and had just the right balance of liquor and sweetness. If you have to pick either one go for the Madame Margarita. For the appetizer, we ordered the grilled octopus, which was excellent. Tender and flavorful with a delicate char on the outside, it was a great start to the meal. I would highly recommend the Seafood Platter. If you're in the mood for seafood, this is the one to get. It was loaded with a variety of fresh and flavorful seafood options, such as shrimp, fish, fish ceviche and fried calamari. My other personal favorite was the Pescado de Coco a la Samaná (grilled or fried snapper filet and creamy coconut sauce with white rice and green plantains a.k.a. “Tostones”), which was outstanding… and btw the Tostones were some of the best I’ve ever had. To finish off our meal, we had the chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. The chocolate cake was moist and rich, and the vanilla ice cream and whipped cream added a nice touch of sweetness. The perfect ending to a great dinner.

The service was attentive and friendly, with staff who were happy to recommend dishes and answer any questions we had. Our server was Sofia, and she couldn’t have been nicer. The price point of the menu was also very reasonable, ranging from $17.00 for the Fettuccini Alfredo to $45.00 for the Captain Red Snapper (a whole fried snapper, sautéed in coconut milk sauce with shrimp served with white rice).

I recommend The Garden House Latin Restaurant for anyone looking for delicious food and a great dining experience. The food, service, and atmosphere were all top-notch.

I can't wait to go back and try more...

Came at 11:05pm since it says it closed at midnight to eat here and the looks of disappointment by the staff that we decided to eat here. The hostess said it closed in 30 minutes which was before the time listed and the attitude and atmosphere was not welcoming so we left. I just thought the manager should know that they lost 3 customers. Otherwise the ambience is beautiful and I was hoping to try some food.

Since the staff responded: I came to eat with my best friend and husband. We were excited to try a Colombia place, I don’t give money to establishments that don’t make me feel welcomed. As the other 2 were looking at the menu, yes I peed since I planned on eating here, why would that not be okay to use the restroom to sit and eat comfortably? But when I got back to the table, my husband said he didn’t like how he felt being sat down and felt the experience was ruined. As you can tell by the response from the staff, that was the same attitude we felt when we walked in. This whole Miami trip, we’ve tried new places and spent a lot of money but every place we felt welcomed and respected. Not here, as we pulled up to front, the staff was outside and we were not greeted with a hi or smile just looks of why are you eating here. Who would stay and eat there after sitting and feeling like you were a bother? So we found another restaurant to eat at that we felt comfortable and better reception. Next time I’ll wait to pee at a place that is happy to have me...