‘Warmth and soul’: Mexican chef opens new restaurant and cafe in Coral Gables

The Plaza Coral Gables, already home to restaurants like the Riviera-inspired Mika, Mottai Japanese restaurant from Brazil and local favorite Sanguich, has a new Mexican neighbor.

Cantina Leon, from The Rabbit Group LLC, is now open at The Plaza, with an eye toward replicating the community-first feeling of (no surprise here) the lively cantinas of Mexico.

The restaurant is two levels, filling 7,500 square feet, with a central bar and main dining room on the first floor. Upstairs, there’s a VIP area and private event space, plus a tequila and mezcal tasting room and lounge.

There’s even a smaller sister café, Mercadito Cantina Leon, which serves breakfast, coffee and tea, tacos and other casual grab-and-go items.

Mexican-born owner and chef Gerardo B. De Negri, who has worked in kitchens in Paris and Mexico City, created the menu with chef de cuisine Jorge Delgadillo from Hildalgo, Mexico. The menu not only leans on tradition, with classics like enchiladas, tacos and quesadillas, but also serves up dishes like wood-grilled meat, seafood and specialties from the raw bar.

The seafood portion of the menu includes shrimp aguachile tatemado, tuna tostadas, ceviche and a seafood tower with shrimp, octopus, tuna and avocado. You can order grilled fish, too, like the whole grilled red snapper or opt for the giant black tiger prawns that your server will flambee tableside with mezcal and garlic.

The restaurant doesn’t let meat lovers suffer, offering a 24-ounce Tomahawk and a flaming filet flaming courtesy of tequila.

As you may have guessed, the cocktail menu delves heavily into tequila and mezcal, offering classics like margaritas and the carajillo, a blend of Licor 43 and espresso. If you want to try something a little different, there’s the Oaxacan Jarrito, shaken with 400 Conejos Joven, tamarind Jarritos, agave nectar and lime.

What Negri hopes to achieve with Cantina Leon is to bring the people of Coral Gables (and beyond) together.

“This restaurant is deeply personal to me because it reflects the way I grew up experiencing food in Mexico, around family, friends, music, conversation and celebration,” he said. “We want guests to feel the warmth and soul of Mexico in every part of the experience.”

Cantina Leon

Where: The Plaza Coral Gables, 2955 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Unite 134, Coral Gables

Dining room hours: Noon-10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; noon-11 p.m.Thursday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. brunch, 4-10 p.m. dinner Sunday

Mercadito hours: 9 a.m.-noon Monday-Saturday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday

Reservations and more information: www.cantinaleon.com or 786-391-2265