Decadencia Bistro & Cafe

This is a really great place to go for a decadent munch before going out, or an intimate evening with a special person. It is small but feels exclusive and the service is extremely helpful too. The wine is wonderful. The black bean hummus w/​raspberry sauce is out of this world! The ham croquetas that come with this dish are excellent on their own, but then they’re wrapped in manchego cheese mmm… The dynamic of all these flavors combined is AMAZING. Totally worth going back again and again.

4.5 stars.
An innovative cuisine, helmed by Susanna (a young Argentine chef), that melds Miami’s Latin flavors with some spices from around the world would impress any diners looking for good and affordable eats.
The complimentary bread was baked in house and tasty with the parsley honey butter.
The friendly Cuban owner has recommended the eggplant tapas and the tostones (flattened green plantains) tapas for a starter — I went with the tostones ($ 12.50) since it sounded more unique as it was topped with pork strips, cheese, and not-​too-​spicy papaya sauce. It was a winner once I tasted them — and I have never really been a big fan of tostones.
For the meal, I had the raspberry-​chipotle short ribs ($ 12.50) with a side of a salad that came with ginger salad dressing. Although the raspberry-​chipotle sauce reminded me of what I got at Whole Foods, I could not complain since it’s a good sauce and the meats were well made.
My friend ordered a pork loin with mushroom sauce ($ 12.50) and that was also good as the moist pork loin was thinly cut with a thin lining of fat on the edges to complement the flavor. The mushroom sauce was a little thick, but it complemented the flavor nicely.
The dessert of the choice was Montado a la titi ($ 7 — named after a daughter who wanted this dessert). It consisted of plain vanilla ice cream with homemade toasted biscotti, whipped cream drizzled with condensed milk, bananas, strawberries, and with a fruit/​porto wine reduction sauce. It looked like a simple dessert made rich with the sauce, and it was big enough for two persons. The biscotti probably was my favorite part, especially with the sauce.
This place used to be a hangout place for artists — but while that changed as the place became more of a food establishment, some of those people do come back. However, I imagine that it would be nice to listen to live music once in a while as it would enhance the laid back vibe and bistro feel.
Overall, this is a great place to return to, for free wi-​fi, wine (they stock even organic wines), coffee, tapas, late-​night hours on weekends — all of which have been needed on the Coral Way corridor. However, if you come without eating the food here, you would be missing out.
Also, I must say I was highly appreciative of their special deals which allowed me to sample more of their offerings at an affordable price. It’s two house specials, and get a free tapa OR two tapas and get a third tapa free. This special makes it a worthwhile visit to be able to explore what this bistro has to offer.
And to comment on Cristina’s review: I did see that the kitchen was open, but I did not get the feeling as if the meal was cooked on me. I do not know if it’s because there were not many people inside when I was there, or if it was because they improved the ventilation.
CLOSED SUNDAYS

I came to Decadencia with Corkpile for lunch and am I glad I did. The food is absolutely delicious and fresh. It is innovative Spanish cuisine; there’s nothing like it in Miami. The tapas are plentiful and made to order. We started with the croqueta and black bean hummus plate that cristina o. had recommended and it was everything she said it would be. We continued with the mushrooms which I think may have been one of the best things I have ever eaten. The mushrooms were stuffed with a goat cheese and cherry or cranberry mixture and had a nice shrimp on the bottom of the mixture which they then broiled to perfection. After we had the tostones con lomo and papaya sauce. They were so good. I am not even that big a fan of tostones but these were worth the extra calories.
I cannot wait to go back. I love supporting small business owners and will be adding this to my usual lunch or dinner spots.
Please run, don’t walk there.

[skip paragraph 1 to ff through drivel]
I often feel that gone are the days in Miami where community matters. Not much is demanded from us as a city. Nowadays, more people than snowbirds migrate here to bask in the lava warmth of the ever-​present sun, fruit-​masked stiff drinks, fake body parts, and extortion-​like checks. Now, gentlemen — when dropping crisp bills or smooth-​worn plastic for those fruity drinks and staring at fake body parts, anything else going on needs to immediately grab your attention in simple ways. Sushi. Tapas. Gelato. Bistro. Deli. Pasta. Ceviche. 2 – 3 syllable one word answers. We’re not even trusted to read a second word, let alone to notice that New York must be really pissed that we equate deli with Boars-​head sandwich shops, the really good ones noted as Panini-​pressing every item on the menu, even the Mickey Mouse-​shaped waffles.
I think that is why real Miamians relish finding places where people actually take pride in their food and expect you to come back. Decadencia is one such place. If you want really good food, go here. If you are bored with your options, go here. If you want to meet an owner who doesn’t think he’s a celebrity go here. If you want to unwind with a simple glass of wine, go here. If you want to go somewhere and be treated like you have taste buds and you matter, go here. Go here go here go here. It’s worth it. I’ve been twice for lunch now and do not know the best way to describe the food. I’ve seen it categorized as tapas, but that is not quite correct (:sigh: If you want a place that doesn’t care to be categorized into a specific cuisine and not in that I’m too cool for categories way, they really don’t care, go here). There are no patatas bravas in this brushed-​metal furnished culinary haven. The food is a combination of rustic and modern western European dishes. Presentation is always careful and though the menu gives correct descriptions, there is sufficient imagination that you probably won’t expect at least one flavor present in each dish.
Some winners:
Tostones with seasoned strips of pork, broiled (?) cheese and a spicy papaya sauce
«black» hummus which featured raspberry purée and a flavor much like barbecue sauce mixed into it.
Lomo: paper-​thin cured medallions possibly broiled and reclining in a raspberry-​onion syrup until you devour them.
Also, portions are deceptively large. I would recommend three tapas and a dessert for 2 people. If you like dessert (and strawberries), definitely get dessert. There are far too few restaurants with simple, satisfying desserts.
In case anyone is interested, they have a rather large chorizo sandwich topped with a fried egg. Maybe I should have started there.

After reading Cristina O’s review I knew I had to come check Decadencia out as soon as possible.
The first thing you should know is that this place is small, casual, and best suited for leisurely lunches or long nights of simple conversation over good food.
The food is delicious and the portions are larger than other local tapas restaurants.
For lunch 2 of us ordered 3 tapas plates and 1 dessert and were sated.
We had the croquetas with manchego, an eggplant and shrimp dish, and the delicious ice cream dessert with homemade biscotti, bananas, and strawberries.
Bonus* They offer free wi-​fi

wow! just got back from an amazing lunch experience here.
the food and service were 100% 5 stars. I am only deducting one star b/​c its a very small space and the kitchen is open so i smell like everything we had was cooked on me (which i hate, why i don’t enjoy hibachi restaurants)
ok the food…
we had lomo salteado w/​some rasberry and caramelized onion sauce that was out of control
a «pomo especial» which i had never heard of but it was this jar that came w/​onions fried eggs chorizo peppers bread chunks and heaven all served in a jar that when opened emitted a luscious smell
we had the croquettas, bacalao was awesome, pollo was outstanding and jamon was typical but good
they have a black hummus that comes with some sort of bbq sauce on top that i think i could eat every day of my life.
the highlight of the meal — dessert… we had some kind of sundae that came w/​crumbled home made biscotti and a homemade strawberry sauce that rocked my world.
prices are VERY reasonable. b/​w 5 and 12 dollars per generous sized tapa (easily shared)