Tina is one of the best reasons Miami has to get out of bed - Review - Miami - The Infatuation
"Miami’s never been a morning town. It’s not that we’re lazy. We just have a thing for 4am DJ sets. But Tina has finally made the hours between 8:30am and 4pm an exciting time to eat in Miami. The Coral Gables restaurant serves outstanding dishes perfect for someone who has no idea when they’ll be able to wake up. At first glance, the menu feels disjointed. Peanut butter and jelly sliders, chicken parm sandwiches, duck eggs, rotisserie chicken, and french toast are all roommates here. It’s breakfast, brunch, and lunch wrapped up neatly on a menu that wants to be the most memorable meal of your day. That will almost certainly be the case if you get there before the fried soft-shell crab sandwich sells out. photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Breakfast here isn’t a continuation of last night. No bottomless mimosas or DJs in the corner. It’s a snug space with pink walls and cottage curtains surrounding a handful of tables. But despite its size, Tina is an orderly affair—even during a busy Sunday brunch rush. If you really hate crowds but insist on coming on a weekend, you’ll have better luck before 10am, or once things have died down around 3pm. Tina is forgiving, though, whether you’re the crack-of-dawn gym rat or the kind of person whose day begins at noon with a Red Bull. And there’s no reason you can’t enjoy their amazing french toast or rotisserie chicken on your lunch break. Tina isn’t proof that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. There’s no such thing. The most important meal is the one you remember for weeks and tell all your friends about. And that’s exactly what this restaurant is doing. Food Rundown photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Tina’s French Toast It’s crispy along the edges and custardy in the middle. But it’s the added orange zest that turns this syrupy dish into a breakfast as warm and bright as the sun that blinded you when you gremlin-crawled out of your house this morning. photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Sunny Side Duck If you’ve heard of nose-to-tail, consider this beak-to-feet. Sort of. The plate comes with two sunny-side up duck eggs, smoky duck breast, and creamy duck pate. photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Soft-Shell Crab Sandwich The last time we had a soft-shell crab sandwich this good was in Baltimore. This one’s better. Because not only is it shatteringly crunchy, it comes with some local flair: a mango pico de gallo. But get there early—it sells out fast. photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Picanha The picanha is a good option if you’re popping in for a business lunch (but it’s available for breakfast too). With its charred sear and juicy middle, it’s the kind of thing a potential client on a protein kick can sink their teeth into. photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Half Chicken $27 for this half-rotisserie chicken is a steal these days. It’s coated in a slightly sweet and citrusy orange glaze and comes with a tart guasaca. It takes two people to take down this golden bird, and you’ll probably still have leftovers." - Virginia Otazo
