Restaurant in Coral Gables, United States
Credentialed cooking, casual room, book it.
Eating House on Giralda Ave brings Argentine-Italian cooking with real credentials to Coral Gables: three consecutive years of Opinionated About Dining recognition and a 4.5 Google rating across 840 reviews. Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli's ingredient-driven approach separates it from the neighbourhood's more formulaic casual options. Easy to book, no special-occasion budget required.
Eating House on Giralda Ave earns its place on your shortlist. The Argentine-Italian format under Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli is specific enough to matter — this is not a catch-all modern American restaurant — and the Opinionated About Dining recognition across three consecutive years (ranked #63 in Gourmet Casual Dining in North America in 2023, climbing to #371 and then #678 in the broader Casual category in 2024 and 2025) confirms that serious diners are paying attention. With a 4.5 Google rating across 840 reviews, the consistency holds across a wide range of guests. Booking is easy, which makes this a lower-stakes decision than many Coral Gables alternatives.
Walk into Eating House on Giralda Ave and the room signals casual confidence , this is not a white-tablecloth production, and it is not trying to be. The visual tone is relaxed but considered, the kind of space where the food is clearly the point. For a first-timer, the Argentine-Italian combination is worth understanding before you arrive: expect the richness of Italian technique applied to South American flavour instincts, a pairing that tends toward hearty, well-constructed plates rather than delicate or minimalist presentations. If your frame of reference for fine Italian cooking is something like Le Bernardin in New York City or the precision-driven tasting menus at Atomix in New York City, recalibrate: Eating House operates comfortably in the gourmet casual register, not the formal tasting-menu tier.
The sourcing philosophy behind the menu is part of what drives the OAD recognition. Rapicavoli has built a cooking identity around ingredients that are selected with intention, which in practice means the menu shifts with availability rather than staying static season to season. This matters for repeat visitors more than first-timers, but it also means the kitchen has a reason to stay sharp. Compare this to the more formula-driven mid-range dining in the Coral Gables corridor and the difference shows in the plate.
Saturday lunch , 11 am to 11 pm on Saturdays , is the most flexible entry point for a first visit. You get the full range of the day's menu without the Friday or Saturday dinner rush, and the room tends to feel more relaxed in the earlier afternoon hours. If dinner is your preference, Thursday is the practical sweet spot: the kitchen is in full stride mid-week, the room is not at weekend capacity, and you avoid the compressed energy of a Friday 4–11 pm service. Sunday brunch (11 am to 10 pm) works well for a slower, lower-pressure meal. Note that Eating House is closed Mondays.
Against the Coral Gables peer set, Eating House occupies a clear mid-tier position in terms of formality, but competes at a higher level on cooking quality than its casual classification suggests. Shingo at $$$$ is the obvious choice if you want a more refined, service-led experience and are willing to pay for it. Beauty & the Butcher at $$$ is the closest competitor in the contemporary-casual tier. For a lower-commitment meal in the neighbourhood, Hillstone is reliable and consistent. Eating House wins on ingredient-driven cooking at a price point that does not require a special-occasion justification.
For further dining options in the area, see our full Coral Gables restaurants guide. If you are planning a wider trip, our Coral Gables hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide cover the rest of the neighbourhood.
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eating House | Argentine-Italian | Opinionated About Dining Casual in North America Ranked #678 (2025); Opinionated About Dining Casual in North America Ranked #371 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Gourmet Casual Dining in North America Ranked #63 (2023) | Easy | — |
| Shingo | Japanese | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Tinta y Cafe | Cuban | Unknown | — | |
| Hillstone | American | Unknown | — | |
| Zitz Sum | Asian | Unknown | — | |
| Beauty & the Butcher | Contemporary | Unknown | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Saturday lunch is the stronger entry point for first-timers. The Saturday 11 am opening gives you a relaxed pace and the full day's range, while weekday service only starts at 4 pm. Dinner on Friday or Saturday runs later and tends to draw a livelier room, which suits the Argentine-Italian format well.
Eating House operates as a casual room — think clean, comfortable street clothes rather than anything formal. Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli's OAD Gourmet Casual recognition (ranked #63 in North America in 2023) signals the tone: the cooking is serious, the dress code is not. Overdressing would feel out of place.
Yes, Eating House works well solo. The casual format and Giralda Ave address make it an easy drop-in rather than an occasion-only destination. For solo diners, Tuesday through Thursday evenings tend to be the quieter window based on the shorter service hours, giving you more room to settle in.
Eating House can handle small groups, though it is not a large-format venue. For groups of four or more, a Friday or Saturday booking gives you the most time and flexibility, with service running until 11 pm on both nights. check the venue's official channels to confirm capacity for larger parties before planning around it.
The Argentine-Italian format tends to be meat-forward, so carnivores are well-served, but the cuisine also incorporates Italian influences that typically include pasta and vegetable-driven options. Contact the kitchen ahead of your visit for specific allergy or dietary needs — the restaurant does not publish a detailed dietary policy in available records.
Book at least a week out for weekday dinners; aim for two weeks for Friday or Saturday, especially if you want a specific time. Eating House has held a spot on Opinionated About Dining's North America Casual list across three consecutive years, which sustains consistent demand. Saturday lunch is the easiest slot to secure on shorter notice.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
