Fugato

Fugato is an intimate, family-run restaurant on Alcazar Avenue in Coral Gables that blends Italian, French and Spanish traditions into a fusion menu with a local Miami touch. The small dining room feels cozy and romantic, with jazz or violin music setting the tone for dinners that regularly stretch into multi-course affairs.

Guests come for slow-braised veal osso buco, saffron risotto, lobster ravioli finished with crab and brandy, and chèvre croquettes with strawberry-guava sauce, paired with a wine list that runs from Champagne and Albariño to Chianti Classico and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Expect attentive, personal service from the owners themselves, who greet many guests by name.

Fugato draws both Coral Gables locals celebrating anniversaries and birthdays and visitors searching out a quieter alternative to the bigger restaurants nearby. With entrees and shared plates running on the higher end, it's best suited to guests planning a special dinner rather than a quick casual bite.