A visit to Glass & Vine

I had the pleasure of visiting Glass & Vine yesterday, the new restaurant by top chef Giorgio Rapicavoli along with Grove Bay Hospitality Group, opening at the Glass House in Peacock Park, the former Chamber of Commerce location. You would not recognize the place, they did an incredible job of renovation. I met two of the managers at separate times and they were both very welcoming. Barbaro Dominguez, restaurant manager, shown here, training the bartenders and Emilio Eliades, general manager; both very happy and proud to show me around.

The new restaurant is modern and clean; first class. There is a bar inside along one windowed wall and food prep area on the opposite inside wall.

And between both areas in the center of the room is a long table that can seat 20 or more people, there is also bar seating.

The majority of the seating (200 seats total) is outside, at another bar and on the veranda, which overlooks Peacock Park, and also, some seating wraps around the building on the McFarlane Road side. The glass wall between the inside and outside bar opens up, garage door style, which sort of makes the whole restaurant an outdoor experience and connects the two bars where the bartender can then attend to both sides of the bar, inside and outside.

Menu items include a section called "Snacks" which offers Zak the Baker bread, Marinated olives, Crispy Almonds, Manchego in Olive Oil and Country Ham, all at $6 each, or all five for $25 (shown here).

There is Bitter Lettuces ($12); Charred Cauliflower ($10) and Whole Roasted Broccoli ($11) as part of the "Garden" side of the menu, along with a few other items. The "Sea" side offers seven items including Raw Scallop "Waldorf" ($18), Conch Fritters ($14) and Florida Clams ($19) among the items and the "Land" section offers seven items including Beef Carpaccio ($10), Lamb Ribs ($15) and Wood Oven Chicken ($30) to name a few.

Barbaro told me that there would be just the one menu for lunch and dinner. There is a full bar and the location is stunning.

Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli is known for his Coral Gables restaurant, Eating House and for winning as top chef on the Food Network tv show "Chopped."

Lunch will be served from 11:30 am until 2:00 pm and then dinner from 5:00 to 11:00 pm; the bar will stay open much later.

I'll let you know when opening day is, they are trying for mid-March. There is a lot of buzz about Glass & Vine being a destination restaurant, which is great news for Coconut Grove.

Glass & Vine is in the Glass House in Peacock Park at 2820 McFarlane Road.