I recently had the opportunity to visit one of our partners, Bocas House in Coral Gables. I met a couple of my mom friends for lunch. This restaurant gem is tucked away on the corner of a quiet side street just one block from the Giralda Plaza (you know, the summer Instagram hot-spot with the umbrella installation). What you may not know is that Miami’s most instagrammed milkshake is at Bocas House!
Bocas House: Comfort Food with a Latin Flare
Bocas House is a Venezuelan-Peruvian restaurant (what a killer combo!). While the original location is in Doral, there are now 3 locations with plans to expand outside of Miami. The Coral Gables location is the group’s largest restaurant which can accommodate more than 200 guests. We easily got a table for a midday lunch but I would recommend reservations on a busy evening.
We started with the highly recommended and award-winning Spare Ribs Mac & Cheese (yes, you heard that right). As a Southern girl, I have high standards when it comes to BBQ and also “vegetables” like mac & cheese and the Bocas rendition blew me away! I will order it every time I visit, I vow to keep my promise.
I should mention that we also ordered the skillset Pastel de Cachapa which is basically the best Venezuelan cornbread of your whole life. Again, I’m a Southerner. I know cornbread. Trust me.
A Restaurant for all Occasions
The menu items at Bocas range from $10 to $80 making it an all around win for a casual salad lunch with friends or a steak dinner date with your man. Of course I chose to get a steak for our casual girl’s lunch because #pregnancy. It was cooked to perfection with a side of homemade chimichurri. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. My friend Elizabeth opted for the Pescado a lo Macho — a seafood conglomeration in a cream sauce and Abby loved the Logo Saltado.
Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed. The portions are outrageous and you can definitely share anything you order (which means you get to enjoy even more options!).
My friend Abby had her sweet daughter tagging along and our waitress was so attentive to making sure she had a great experience too. With an upscale feel, Bocas is still casual enough to be “kid friendly.” Besides, you can’t keep your children away from Bocas milkshakes forever, they will soon find you out!
Instagram’s Favorite Miami Milkshake
How we even had room for dessert I don’t know but when you visit Bocas you HAVE to get an iconic milkshake. It’s what you do. The Golden Milkshake, exclusive to the Coral Gables location, is made with Nutella topped with raspberries, a Nutella brownie, a golden Nutella brigadeiro, and gold dust. The waitress gives you a mallet to crack the chocolate shell on top of the milkshake. These things are no joke and they are delicious. It’s worth ordering just for the experience!
My friends and I also endorse the Tres Leches milkshake which is topped with a waffle cone and an entire slice of tres leches. Again, go with friends so you can share all the things!
The traditional Happy Hour drinks have a new competitor in town and its called The Bocas House Golden Milkshake. Who wants to meet me there? I sense a Mom’s Night Out idea in the works…
Visit Boca’s House website
Visit Bocas House Coral Gables2 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables; 786-401-7071;
Open 11:30 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
