Villa Mayfair Brings the Glamour of South Beach to Coconut Grove

January 17th, 2012

Villa Mayfair Restaurant and Lounge

New to Coconut Grove, Villa Mayfair is already known as “the place to be.” The décor alone is enough of a reason to visit – a step through the door instantly brought me to the elegance of 1920’s nightlife. Owner Timpo Kipp chose Francois Frossard, the designer behind some of South Beach’s most famous clubs such as LIV and ArKadia, to create the upscale look for Villa Mayfair.

Villa Mayfair functions as both a restaurant and lounge open Tuesday through Saturday from 7pm until 3am.

On the Menu

I assumed that matching the level of décor would be an impossible task, but executive chef Frederic Joulin does so with ease. The menu offers fresh seasonal products, boasting with Mediterranean variety that everyone can enjoy.

I started off with two appetizers: Sautéed Baby Calamari and the Jamón Ibérico pata negra. Not only was the calamari cooked to perfection, but it came with a delicious lemon basil pesto sauce which I have never experienced before. The balance between lemon and basil was flawless. The Jamón Ibérico pata negra was served with red and yellow pepper confit and allowed for the perfect balance between meat and vegetable.

For my main course, I ordered the Sea Bass a la plancha. I’ve not been able to stop dreaming about it since! The fish was moist and full of flavor without being too heavy. A knife wasn’t even necessary, as the fillet was tender and soft enough to slice with a fork. The sea bass was served with artichoke barigoule and topped with crispy pancetta. The saltiness of the marinated hearts of artichoke was complimented by the flavorful bites of pancetta. My recommendation? Scoop a bite of sea bass, artichoke, and pancetta onto the fork at once…you won’t regret it. Or you might, after your dreams are dominated by this meal for the next few weeks.

Bottom line: I left Villa Mayfair with a smile ear-to-ear. The dining lived up to, scratch that, exceeded my initial expectations and the dining experience left me feeling like a celebrity. Take the short trip and experience the glitz and glam of Villa Mayfair for yourself!

Benny Approved!

Find Villa Mayfair at:
2901 Florida Avenue
Coconut Grove, FL 33133
(305) 774-1500

Tags: coconut grove, restaurants, seafood, Tips From Benny, Villa Mayfair