Internationally inspired, fusion cuisine at Botanico in Coconut Grove.

Botanico describes its concept as modern American cuisine with a focus on gin cocktails mixed with botanicals. So, I wasn’t sure what to expect when going there for a birthday lunch, wondering if it leaned heavily to the cocktail side. We had some trouble finding it since it’s not actually located on Grand Avenue. If facing Cinepolis, it’s about halfway back and toward the right. When we arrived, I immediately relaxed as it was beautifully decorated with a trendy upscale vibe perfect for a birthday lunch.  

Looking back, I don’t know why we didn’t start off with a gin cocktail. But our two Proseccos hit the spot. We looked over the menu and learned they were participating in Miami Spice, and the choices sounded rather tempting. We both went with the Botanico salad. It was quite large and came in a beautifully shaped bowl. Consisting of baby spinach with tangy Granny Smith apples, goat cheese, candied pecans, and a honey mustard dressing, the salad didn’t lean too heavily on any ingredient. 

We also both got the tuna steak. It was a full 8-ounce portion, seared on the outside and very rare on the inside, just how I like it. It had a sesame seed crust and a nice drizzle of a teriyaki-based sauce. The menu said it came with vegetables, yet we were surprised to find four lengthwise slices of potatoes, two large spears of asparagus, and two full pieces of broccolini. Half of a  grilled lemon added some nice flavor. Although this was all so good, I kind of wish I had ordered the tuna tartare, or at least looked around to get a glimpse of the dish. Lunch ended up being so filling that the tartare might have been a lighter and better option for me.

The birthday girl asked for Key lime pie, and I chose the mixed berry pavlova. It looked very exotic, and I’d describe it as custard covered with warm meringue, topped with blackberries, and drizzled with berry sauce. Our server came out to say the Key lime pie had sold out, and offered an alternative of either the chocolate cake or the gin & tonic cake. He described the cake as a vanilla and lime cake with gin frosting. I was glad she picked the gin & tonic cake, knowing I’d get to have a taste or two.  

Wow, her cake and the berry pavlova are both on the non-spice menu, and next time I return, I definitely want my own slice of this cake, topped with a signature botanical! And I will be going back because I discovered two fantastic reasons to do so (besides the tasty food). They have great happy hour specials from 4-7 p.m. I will especially be lured back to see their Botanico Live Bossa Nova performers every Wednesday from 6:30-9 p.m.