Living in the community right behind La Giraldilla, I've gotten to know the place well. Their…read morebiggest strength is the ventanita -- the Cuban pastries, croquetas, and cafecito are always on point. Breakfast here also never disappoints, and I'd even stop by for a sandwich at lunch, which tends to hit the spot too. Where it falls flat is the rest of the menu. The chicken soup, which should be a Cuban staple, is surprisingly mediocre, and overall the larger entrées just don't stand out. On the flip side, the people are friendly, the service is good, and they remember your name, giving the place that homie neighborhood feel. It's a solid stop for coffee, breakfast, or a sandwich -- just don't expect too much from the full menu.

We were in Miami from Orlando to celebrate my wife's best friend's birthday and had dinner at La…read moreGiraldilla with her, her husband, their soon-to-be one-year-old, and my wife's two daughters. The experience was top-notch. We started with some Spanish croquettes--crispy, creamy, and seasoned just right. Three of us had a lobster bisque-style soup that was on another level: rich, smooth, and packed with flavor. I had a fresh, simple salad, and one of the teens ordered a churrasco that was grilled perfectly. My wife had the Chicken Alfredo, and let me tell you--it was outstanding. Creamy, flavorful, and done to perfection. She's picky when it comes to pasta, and this one got her seal of approval. The bread they brought out was warm and fresh--one of those little details that sets a place apart. We enjoyed a great red wine recommended by our server, and it paired beautifully with the meal. The service overall was very good--polite and attentive--and they even sang Happy Birthday for the guest of honor, which made the night even more special. Desserts? Yes, we went all in. We shared a tiramisu, a crème brûlée, and another dessert with ice cream that I couldn't quite name, but it was ridiculously good. Everything was plated nicely, tasted homemade, and gave the meal a sweet, classy finish. The only real critique was the clearing of plates. They were clearly understaffed, and at times, our used dishes stayed on the table longer than they should have. In one instance, the next course came out before the table was cleared. Not the end of the world, but worth noting. On the way to the restroom, I caught a glimpse of the kitchen--it was spotless and organized. That says a lot. Yes, the prices are on the higher end, but it's absolutely justified. This place is one of those Miami culinary gems that gets it right. We'll definitely be back. Estábamos en Miami desde Orlando para celebrar el cumpleaños de la mejor amiga de mi esposa, y fuimos a cenar a La Giraldilla con ella, su esposo, su bebé que está por cumplir un año, y las dos hijas de mi esposa. La experiencia fue de primera. Comenzamos con unas croquetas españolas crujientes por fuera, cremosas por dentro y con el sazón perfecto. Tres de nosotros pedimos una sopa estilo bisque de langosta que estaba fuera de liga: rica, suave y llena de sabor. Yo pedí una ensalada fresca y sencilla, una de las adolescentes pidió churrasco que llegó al punto exacto, y mi esposa se fue con el Chicken Alfredo--y déjenme decirles, estaba espectacular. Cremoso, sabroso, y perfectamente cocido. Ella es exigente con la pasta, y esta pasó la prueba con creces. El pan que trajeron estaba calientico y fresco--un detalle que marca la diferencia. Acompañamos la comida con un vino tinto excelente, recomendado por nuestro mesero, que complementó perfectamente los sabores. El servicio en general fue muy bueno--amable y atento--y hasta cantaron Feliz Cumpleaños a la homenajeada, lo cual hizo la noche aún más especial. ¿Y los postres? Fuimos con todo. Compartimos un tiramisú, un crème brûlée y otro postre con helado cuyo nombre no recuerdo, pero que estaba buenísimo. Todo bien presentado, con sabor casero, y un final dulce y elegante. La única crítica real fue con la recogida de los platos. Estaban claramente cortos de personal, y a veces los platos usados se quedaban demasiado tiempo en la mesa. En una ocasión, trajeron el siguiente plato sin haber recogido el anterior. No fue grave, pero sí se notó. Cuando fui al baño, eché un vistazo a la cocina--impecable y bien organizada. Eso dice mucho. Sí, los precios son elevados, pero totalmente justificados. Este lugar es una de esas joyas gastronómicas de Miami que sabe lo que hace. Sin duda, volveremos.

Great food and the ladies they're are so welcoming. The Cuban vibe you get when you pass by is…read moreoutstanding! LOVE IT! Great pan de Bono's and pastelitos

El pan de bono es súper rico y fresco las muchachas que atienden son amables …read more Tienen un buen desayuno y con buenos precios

Food was great. I am not an expert on authentic Cuban food, but the cubano sandwich and tamales…read morewere excellent. Desserts were premade and not so good. The place was a little confusing with multiple counters to order different foods. There were six of us and everyone ordered from different counters, so I was bouncing from counter to counter to pay. I only speak a little Spanish, and they only spoke a little English but we managed to get what wanted. There wasn't much seating inside, so we ate outside. It was brutally hot, but pretty comfortable under umbrellas with a breeze. We would go there regularly if we lived there.

This place is ok. Was much better when it opened. They've had scores of Health and safety…read moreviolations over the past year. This gives me pause. Most of the popular items don't sit around too long. So I would stick with those. It's an ok spot if you're in the area. But if you are, head north for a mile and get something better. Sorry.

Beware. I've been coming here for years. This past Sunday I stopped in and picked up a couple of…read more"carne asada completas" and a naca tamal. Got home and the family ate. Those of us that had the tamal have had a fever, diarrea, muscle pain and severe dehydration. Ended up in the urgent care and it's possible ecoli. Called to let them know and was given the run around and told how do I know it's them.... Skip this place. I've been going here since I was a kid over 20 years!

I purchased 4 carne asada plates on Sunday . And was very disappointed. The rice was hard and…read moreseemed old. The carne asada was just ok. The fried cheese was also cold

Stop in for a quick lunch before heading to the keys. The fired rice was amazing!! Service was…read moregreat as well.

The hibachi! Surprisingly fantastic. We go to samurai often and this was very very similar. Service…read morewas great. Just a wonderful experience.

Cam to CAO for breakfast at my sister's suggestion. They have a nice assortment of breakfast…read moreoptions. I was going to get a traditional breakfast sandwich but my sister convinved me to get a special request croqueta sandwich, which was not on the menu but she designed herself by request and they acommodated her. It was delicious as was the colada that gave me just the pick-me-up I needed for a long day of travel ahead. I had never been to CAO before but the food was good as was the service. I will be back if I am in the area again.

This morning at about 8:30, I stopped in for some morning goodies and I was very disappointed…read more First, the line to order was not clearly marked. Therefore, I was skipped when it was time for ordering. It turns out that the ordering is done at the register marked "pick up orders here." So, that was confusing since a pick up food here next to the register would be the terminus, not the point of ordering. The ordering wasn't too bad, the main problem was the food. I ordered a baked ham and cheese empanada, 2 croquetas de jamon caseras, a tequeno de queso, and a 32 piece pastry sampler. All the food was cold and likely old. It didn't taste fresh at all, I ended up tossing it out. It's early in the morning and there were serval people inside the restaurant, the food should have been fresh. The sampler looks old and beat up, based on the rest of the food, I'm not very optimistic. The food was bagged up for me, so I didn't notice it until I got home. I should have checked, I'm very disappointed.

Favorite new food truck in south miami!!! They offer a…read morevariety of food menus like Cuban, Mexican, Dominican, and American. There is a little bit for everyone. We ordered two Taco Steak Platters with rice and beans and a side of dulce de leche churros soo bomb! Prices are reasonable for the amount of food received and the staff are very friendly and quick to get the fresh food out. The ambience is cute because it's a big food truck and they have chairs and tables outside. Highly recommend and can't wait to come back again! ^.^

The 7 Maravillas burrito is worth having! The burrito has a great mix in of Grilled steak and pork…read moreAl pastor, rice, beans, sour cream, pico, shredded cheese...the taste of the meat was flavorful and had the 'on the grill' flavor. Other items purchased was churros, the Dominican meat plate, and tacos birria. Food came out within 15 min, we only had one other order in front of ours! Food truck has a faux lawn with seating, fun music, and off to the side / away from main traffic.

I came here for breakfast, I ordered take out, the inside was pretty nice, I wouldn't mind coming…read moreback to dine in. There were 2 servers when I walked in. They were really nice, and friendly. I ordered the Breakfast combo for 15 bucks, it was well worth the money, it was to much food to eat and very delicious. I am definitely a happy customer

Great food but it's unfortunate that their cantina service is almost always extremely late. A…read morerequested delivery time of 12:00-12:30pm is more like 2:00pm. They also seem to be providing smaller portions.