A Night at Books and Books

I want to be a Books and Books groupie!

I went to Books & Books to listen to 3 Emerging Writer Fellows at Miami Dade College talk about their upcoming books and their year in Miami. After the discussion, the allure of the patio restaurant was too much to resist. I stayed for dinner at the friendly, laid-back bar.  

Let me set the scene: Books and Books lives in an historic Mediterranean building in Coral Gables. Enter through arched doorways and take in the tile floor, sparkly Christmas lights, a center bar, and an intellectual aura that wafts over the place, Latin music plays softly in the background. The food and wine menu is simple and appealing. And then there’s Raul, the bartender of 14 years. He explains the allure of the place:

Oh, and he sings too:

The bar was fun and light-hearted. The man on my right, a 70 year old Cuban/American artist, told me how he had been exiled from Cuba at a young age and went, alone, to Madrid. Now he’s a semi-famous artist, with work shown in multiple museums and galleries around the world. On my left was a young Cuban/American woman reading “My Year of Rest and Relaxation”, a New York Times best-seller about a young woman who wants to sleep for a year. She comes to the bar to read and have dinner because she can concentrate well among the low buzz and hum of the diners.

But we’re here to talk about the food. So let’s get to it.

I kept my dinner simple – a grilled cheese sandwich with a salad, and a glass of Bordeaux. The whole wheat bread was perfectly grilled: crunchy on the outside and not at all fatty-tasting. The cheesy inside was hot and gooey and absolutely perfect. The green salad was dressed in a light, slightly mustardy vinaigrette.

The Bordeaux was a classic mixture of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cab franc from Beaux Rivage, one of the oldest Bordeaux brands in France and family owned since 1870. It’s always worth sticking with something that’s been around that long! The wine was fruity and fresh,  unoaked, and very drinkable.

If I became a Books and Books groupie (and I’m seriously thinking of it), I would show up at least once a week to see what’s going on. I’d listen to brilliant authors talk about their books, hang out in the courtyard and breathe that wonderful warm-in-winter Miami air. I’d experiment with the curated wine list and eat some delicious, reasonably priced and reasonably healthy food. The penne pasta looked great, as did the avocado Greek salad. I’d chat with other patrons, maybe an author as well. And I’d feel comfortable, smart and at home, surrounded by all those books, the welcoming staff and the other patrons. It’s a little slice of heaven.

Cost: $33.00, including tip, for one.

The Café at Books and Books
265 Aragon Ave.
Coral Gables, FL 331334
305-442-4408
https://www.booksandbooks.com.