Casa Xabi — Restaurant in Miami

Casa Xabi: Basque Ambition in the Grove In a city where Spanish cuisine often arrives with Cuban influences, and vice versa, finding a restaurant that honors the Iberian Peninsula’s true regional range is no small feat. For years, Xixón was our go-to for acceptably priced, authentic Spanish fare; until after a change in ownership we left with the impression that its kitchen lost its course. So, after we spotted Casa Xabi in Coconut Grove, we decided to come for a tasting. The place promises Basque flavors and regional fidelity. We arrived for lunch with hungry curiosity. It sits on Coconut Grove, nestled in Commodore plaza among a row of several restaurants. The interior brings to mind an uplifted tasca; a neighborhood spot where food matters more than décor. It is cozy and certainly not curated for Instagram, which felt to us as a virtue. The menu is compacted, with just limited selections in a few categories. That’s a win! personally, I distrust eateries with menus that seem to need an index. The list, however, surprised us with rather elevated prices for a lunch; with entrées hovering near $30 and some dishes soaring past $100. We scaled back our craving and focused on a few key dishes that, we thought, might reveal the kitchen’s soul. What We Tried: Pulpo Asado ($29): Roasted octopus over mashed sweet potato, with piquillo pepper and paprika emulsion. The waiter warned it would be “al dente,” but what arrived was gristly enough to require a steak knife. At least the flavor was close. Pumpkin Flower Filled with Shrimp ($24): A visually intriguing dish, with ground shrimp filling the announced flower, happily cooked to a tender finish. Pera & Cabrales Salad ($18): A contrasted mix of lettuce leaves with some morsels of caramelized pear and bits of Cabrales cheese. Unremarkable. Sangria Blanca ($12): Served in a wine glass with red berries and an avalanche of ice. Refreshing, yes; but a bit diluted. We left Casa Xabi with assorted feelings. The ambition is there: Basque identity, a menu that gestures toward regional classics, and a setting that feels like it could host something impressive. But at the end, felt like a respectable approximation. Worthy, but not quite excellent.

Other Notable Dishes on the Menu: Tortilla de Cangrejo a la Donostiarra ($29); Salpicón de Langosta y Pulpo ($33); Lubina Asada ($48); Ribeye Steak ($110) - Our Scorecard: Location: 5/5; Ambiance: 4/5, Food: 4/5, Service: 5/5,...

My friend and I visited Saturday Feb 8, 2025. Overall we very much enjoyed it.

Located in the heart of Coconut Grove, we were strolling and stumbled upon this restaurant. The design and decor immediately caught our attention as we felt transported to Spain.

We decided to dine there for early dinner at 5pm. This was a perfect time before the sun was setting and we had the best table front and center, indoors but with the floor-to-ceiling doors open to the sidewalk for an alfresco atmosphere.

The waitresses were all wonderful. All spoke fluent Spanish AND English which is very rare but essential. Great start.

We were served choice of water with fresh bread and olive oil. Loved the authenticity. We also ordered two sangrias.

For two appetizers we chose Croquetas de Jamón (and Bacalao which is codfish). Since we couldn't decide the waitress recommended we could get 2 of each. Turns out the ham ones (jamon) were better as they had more creamy bechamel.

The next appetizer was the "Pulpo Asado" (roasted octopus, sweet potato, pepper emulsion, paprika). This was definitely my favorite but a little pricey for the portion. $29

We also shared the main course, Salpicón de Langosta y Pulpo (like a ceviche of lobster and octopus, olive oil caviar, coral emulsion). $33

We did not order dessert but would definitely try the Basque cheesecake next tiem.

The bill was $125+ before gratuity.

There is no parking nearby. This is the historic area and so we rode our bikes there since it was a perfect day.

We would definitely...

This is the worst restaurant I have been to in Miami. The jamón seemed like they had precut it and had it ready to serve. It was grey when it hit the table. The croquetas were cold in the center. The secreto pork was so bad, the presentation was that of 90’s cruise ship food (balsamic drizzle included) the taste was also awful. The tortilla española was edible but lacked seasoning. We ordered a rice dish and it was OK at best. Let’s talk about how ASTRONOMICAL the prices are for some of the worst and poorest of attempt of Spanish food that exists in Miami. I then told the waiter that this was the worst experience and food I’ve had and she was just so sweet that she brought a cheesecake to make up for it and just when I thought it couldn’t get worse….it did!!! it was scrambled eggs. Overcooked and almost like a soufflé. I believe in off days but this was not an off day as others have shared the same experience with me. I live in the grove and wanted to love and support the establishment but it’s not right. I’ll pay the prices if the food is worth it but for these prices, you might as well go to a fine dining establishment or to the four seasons. I must add to this review the fact that I know Spanish food VERY well. I’ve lived there, I have family there and studied there. Do not waste your money or time visiting or supporting this place....