The modern American restaurant Lion & The Rambler, officially opened by Chef and Owner Michael Bolen on June 15, 2022, reimagines dining in Coral Gables by combining a tasting-counter format with an intimate interior environment.
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Lion & The Rambler offers a playful 6-course tasting menu for $85 per person, as well as an a la carte menu, inspired by ingredients sourced from South Florida.
"Cooking with the abundance of locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients has always been important to me – it allows us the opportunity to constantly be experimenting in the kitchen and I can't wait to see how our menus will unfold in the year ahead," Bolen said according to a press release. "We're challenging ourselves to meld familiar flavors with modern technique to create unique dishes that are not only exciting to plate but even more exciting to eat."
The 42-seat restaurant designed by Paula Lemme provides an inviting space with moody ambient lighting, warm wood accents, walnut tabletops, hand-painted lion frescoes, and handcrafted plate ware.
Lion & The Rambler prides itself on its "from-scratch" focus in the kitchen. Despite offering seemingly simple American cuisine, the cooking process remains incredibly complex. Flour milled in-house, used for the bread service, and homemade "Koji" starter — used to create fresh miso — highlights Bolen's meticulous details in his restaurant.
The menu includes dishes like Trout Roe with crème fraiche and nori, Tuna made with blood orange and furikake and New York Strip with a charred onion sauce. For dessert, guests may try the whimsical Twinkie with sesame amazake. Exciting new selections like Spiced Lamb Ribs and Golden Tilefish with white asparagus are on the menu as well. The drink selection includes house-made kombucha, beer, sake, and wine.
The restaurant effectively creates a unique, one-of-a-kind experience for diners in Coral Gables.
Lion & The Rambler is located at 804 Ponce de Leon Blvd in Coral Gables. Reservations are available via Resy. For additional information, please visit the website or call (305) 603-7612. Follow the restaurant on Instagram (@lionandtherambler).
Photography by: Courtesy RMStudio Corp
