Eli’s Cafe

This place is very affordable for great food. Their tuna is awesome!

After stopping by the office of the Consulate General of Spain next door, bf and I were pretty hungry and on our way back to the rental car that we were driving for the weekend, we saw this food stand located right in the parking garage. I was intrigued by their offerings, which included batidos (fresh fruit smoothies) and empanadas and begged bf to eat with me. I ordered a baked spinach empanada while he opted for the fried chicken one. I got excited and threw in a mamey batido, which I have always wanted to try and never had when I lived in South Florida.
The empanadas were in a heated case so we didn’t have to wait. The batido was quickly whipped up and we crossed the street to Publix with nourishment in hand. The empanadas were surprisingly fresh-​tasting and the batido was refreshing and filling. Bf told me that it tasted just like one you would get from Cuba.
We were happy and I bumped up my rating by a star for the mere fact that you can get food like this in a parking garage. That has got to count for something.

The thing is their food is friggin’ amazing ! But their service SUCKS! I hate ordering over the phone for delivery because it’s impossible. It’s a language barrier, which I can understand (I am Cuban) but seriously… I am not asking you to speak perfect english, but please try to understand me… and even when I spoke spanish, it was still a pain in the ass to order. But i keep coming back cause it’s so GOOD ! kind of bitter sweet lol.

Finding Eli’s Café can be a mission because it is «a hole in a wall» type-​place in a parking garage, but once you find it, you are welcomed by their friendly staff and are exposed to a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options.
At Eli’s there is something to satisfy your taste bud needs, so today, I tried their turkey egg white wrap, and it was adequate in size and tasted delicious. It was served in a whole wheat wrap, and the egg/​cheese ratio was very good. The only gripe I had with this meal was that it felt a bit soggy due to the eggs.
I would probably come here again because the staff worked quickly to prepare my meal; it tasted delicious; and it’s very affordable.
If you do not feel like taking a walk, they also deliver, and delivery is known to be fast.

I found a menu on my co-​workers desk on Tuesday morning. Their menu is a real eye-​catcher, thats for sure! They have delicious plates all around and their low prices do not look a bit bad either! I decided that Thursday (Today) will be my «cheat day» from eating healthy, so I ordered the Argentinean Steak Wrap without the fries (Good call on me!). So, I opened up my lunch, and came to discover a wrap that was drowning in grease! This is not OK with me. I wanted to cheat, not have a heart-​attack. I decided to eat the lettuce, tomatoes and onions after I tried to resuscitate the steak, but that was a NO-​GO! I also ordered a small cup of the chicken soup. I haven’t built up the courage to try it yet, as I am still traumatized! I dont think I will be ordering from here again.
A Very dissatisfied customer :(

Just ordered from here today for lunch. I had a pan con bistec craving and called a bunch of places that used to be Cuban but now are French? What? I just want my damn steak sandwich.
Anyway, I finally called Eli’s and asked for the pan con bistec and they told me they didn’t have Cuban bread, only wheat. FINE BY ME
Delicious! And cheap! Ever since I started working in the Gables it’s been a dent on my pocket. «Free delivery with $ 10+ minimum orders.» is the norm around here. Wah.
Not Eli’s! Actual FREE delivery
Will DEFINITELY order from here again.

Being in the heart of Coral Gables, lunch can get a bit complicated. That’s why a few times a week I rely on Eli’s Café for a fast and tasty lunch!
I truthfully have no idea where this place is since I always have the food delivered, but I’ve been told it’s a hole in the wall in a parking lot… yeah, good thing I haven’t gone.
I’ve pretty much have had everything on their menu, and for the most part everything is good. My favs include the chicken ceasar salad, the chicken gyro, chicken empanadas, grilled chicken pesto, lasagna and their chocolate milkshake. Their seasoning on the chicken is awesome, whatever it is, it works for me!
The staff is always friendly when I call, they normally deliver fast, and never screw up my order which is pretty damn important to me. So if you’re in the Gables area and in need of a yummy lunch, I definitely suggest Eli’s!

Love love love this place. Yes the menu is extensive but worth every delicious bite. I just ordered what they recommend me for breakfast, which today was a ham egg and cheese sandwich which was incredible. This was my first time for breakfast — I usually get lunch, and of course I was not disappointed.
As for lunch I would recommend the carbonara sandwich or spaghetti and meatballs. Trust me you will be ordering again.

The menu for Eli’s Café is extensive and full of delicious looking pictures. I mean, really the menu makes you want to try this place out. So I did.
Carla L., I too love Gyros, not this one, however. I ordered a Gyro for pickup and once I got to my office I was very surprised at what I got.
Instead of delicately carved meat in between the pita bread, there were three to four pieces of «meat» that resembled the wooden sole of a sandal. It looked like something Subway would serve. The «meat» was so hard that I had to take one out so I could bite into the Gyro.
What bothers me is that on their menu there are two pictures of meat on skewers, implying that the Gyro meat is cooked this way.
So, it looks like the pictures on the menu do not represent dishes prepared by them.
I also ordered two Kibbes which were dry and tough to swallow.
I will give it another try someday, once the image and taste of that gyro fades away, because of the convenience and their prices.
Note: Pick up and delivery only and there is a $ 1.00 processing fee for credit/​debit cards.

Interesting place located inside the parking garage of the Gables International Plaza building — it is really unique a small whole in the wall literally and a couple of tables a few feet away smack in the middle island of the entrance and exit to the parking garage.
It is truly beyond me how a small place like this has such an large menu. For me it is the perfect pick me up, just a few paces away from my office, I walk over mid afternoon for a café con leche and sometimes I indulge in a pastelito–
They have complete breakfast and lunch menus as well — and saving the best for last … They deliver !!!
If you are in the area or work around here, give it a shot for breakfast or lunch, their prices are very reasonable and they have yet to disappoint me.

I had to start cracking up with the flier we got at the office, it clearly said «Inside the parking garage next to Publix». of course we had to try it out. We needed sustenance.
As we hiked over we were trying to figure out what they meant and saw a neon sign inside the parking garage that said «Coffee». YUP they are actually located inside the garage! I mean, no wonder delivery is free. The only place you can eat here are at the two tables that are in between the entrance and exit gates. I kid you not. Only in Miami!
They actually have really delicious options at great prices, they have GYROS! I love Gyros, and its literally right next to the office. The only con? Its take — out or delivery only.
I mean, unless you want to sit at those two tables and wave to the cars coming and going and listen to the soothing tunes of engines roaring and car alarms going off.

I don’t know what these people put in their Ceasar dressing or how they marinate their chicken but it’s working. THEY GOT ME. Please do yourself a favor, if you’re trying to cut down on carbs and order Eli’s Grilled Chicken Ceasar Salad Platter. It is huge and inexpensive and so unbelievably delicious. You’ll be so stuffed and satisfied afterwards in ways that no other lame old salad can complete you. Did you get to the office early? Are you starving? Order up an Eli’s Special on cuban toast or any variation of their egg croissant sandwiches. They will hit the spot so hard and deliver your food in nanoseconds no matter what time you call.