Located in Coral Gables, Bricktop’s Restaurant is a somewhat recent addition to the Miracle Mile dining scene. Bricktop’s is a small corporate concept that has locations nationwide, including hot culinary cities like Atlanta and Nashville. Although I have had pleasant experiences at Bricktop’s, I am sad to say that it is not a place that I itch to go back to on the regular. Don’t get me wrong, the food is prepared well and the service is better than most restaurants on the Mile, but the menu is unexciting and lacks inspiration, making for a meal that could sometimes be considered boring. Bricktop’s offerings include very mundane and routine dishes that can be found everywhere, making a stop here less of a priority.
Appetizers like the Spinach and Artichoke Dip, topped with aged cheddar and parmesan, are a flashback to the late 1900s, where heavy and fat-laden bar food is offered as a beginning to a meal. The dip is satisfying and tasty in the most obvious of ways, but how could something that’s composed of cream and cheese not be? Main courses come with the option of choosing between items like Meatloaf, Baby Back Ribs, and Oven Roasted Chicken. With selections this characterless, I’m not craving Bricktop’s at all.
There was a spark of brilliance in Bricktop’s Deviled Eggs and Sugar Bacon, an item Bricktop’s claims as a specialty. The paprika filled deviled egg filling was creamy and enjoyable, but the candied bacon made all the difference. Although I can’t say I haven’t seen candied bacon elsewhere, it was the only ingredient used in all of the restaurant’s items that brought some excitement to the overall experience. I would come here just for drinks and some of those deviled eggs.
The bar area is cozy and surrounds a large potion of the dining room area, making for a great spot to people watch. Coming during happy hour (which includes weekends) yields to half-priced drinks and $5 wine, making for a drinking spot that is hard to say no to. I would stick to appetizers at Bricktop’s, as they offer the best value for the money and are the most satisfying and fulfilling items on the menu.
Bricktop’s is not bad in the least, but with options in the area like Swine and Bulla offering such inspiring and competitive menus, it’s hard to choose Bricktop’s over anything else. The food is prepared correctly and hits every aspect a meal should, but I somehow feel like my experience here is boring.
Bricktop’s
2418, 2418 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134 (305) 443-9992
By food blogger, Santiago Cardona
