mango&lime — a blog about food and eating in miami

On a recent Friday, I was in the mood to try something different for dinner. I had read a lot about Romeo’s Cafe, primarily as a good place for a first date or for a romantic dinner. The idea of a restaurant without a menu, where the chef decides which six courses to send out to your table based on your likes and dislikes, was enticing and not something you find everyday in Miami.

We arrived on time for our 8 p.m. reservation and entered the tiny restaurant on Coral Way and SW 22nd Street. When you open the door to Romeo’s, you immediately find yourself inside, in the middle of it all. There’s really no space to be. Since our table wasn’t ready, we had to step outside and sit in the restaurant’s outdoor waiting area where our waiter brought us a complimentary glass of red wine. The wait wasn’t long.

Inside, Romeo’s is a little dark. Tables are very close to one another. Mirrors and wood paneling line the walls; religious imagery hangs from some of them. The proximity of the tables was a downside for us on that night. Though our table was right next to the restaurant’s aquarium, on the other side was a table of eight very loud diners. I’m just about to sound old, but the noise level made our dining experience uncomfortable. When this group left, it was a blessing to my ears. Too bad it was around dessert time. Obviously that’s not the restaurant’s fault and it’s a matter of luck, I suppose, but a romantic dinner couldn’t have happened in that setting.

When Romeo came to our table, he introduced himself and asked us if there was something we didn’t eat. I said nothing but warned him about D’s dislike for salmon and tuna. He then asked what we would choose if given the choice between duck and beef. I said duck. D said beef. And with that information, he went off. The wine list at Romeo’s is small but has an interesting selection of Italian and American wines. We were tempted to order a Michele Chiarlo Barolo but spending $120 on wine when you’re already spending $80 per person was a bit steep. I should’ve taken Consumable Joy’s lead and brought my own bottle.

Our first course was carpaccio. Mine was a salmon carpaccio and D’s beef. I loved mine. The paper-thin slices of salmon had a tangy taste from the lemon and the capers that topped it. Next up, we were both served penne with spicy sausage. Good but not impressive. Next came my favorite dish of the night: Chilean sea bass filled with mascarpone and topped with an arugula sauce. It was followed with duck for me and steak for D. I didn’t love the accompanying raspberry sauce; it tasted a little too sweet, almost like it came out of a bottle, but the duck, though a bit dry, had a great flavor. To end, chocolate souffle. No complaints there.

A little more than two hours later, I wasn’t as excited as when I arrived, eager to see what surprises were sent my way from the kitchen. I was a little underwhelmed by the food and annoyed by our loud neighbors. Part of me wished Romeo’s had a menu because I would love to eat some of his dishes again, but that would take away the surprise element that, in part, drew me to want to try it. I’m not sure how soon I’d go back, or if I would; for now I was left with mixed feelings.