So not impressed with this place. My boyfriend and I came with friends for a late dinner. After hearing some good things, we were pretty excited. My boyfriend and I each ordered an entree and split an appetizer, and each had one cocktail- however some how our bill came to over $200! Now this would be alright if the food was good, but everything was so...bland. They really missed the mark on comfort food. The fried chicken was over cooked and dry, the bread pudding was less than flavorful, and the soup tasted like it came out of a can. Don't fall for the hype.
The Corn Flake crusted Grand Marnier French Toast is heavenly! However, I had trouble making a reservation for sunday brunch and once I arrived I realized my party was the first one of the day. Service was great, aside from our waitress being overly concerned about the amount of the bottomless we had.
(4)
Yari B.
Love it! We went at 4pm and they graciously gave us the option if ordering both from the brunch and dinner menus. Favorites at the table were the country dried chicken with its amazing flavors and the burger with Brie cheese. The tuna tartar was excellent. If you like eggs and polenta definitely try the short rib from the brunch menu. The Brussel sprouts side dish was yummy, but that is if you like your Brussel sprouts charred and crunchy like I do! Salmon salad also got thumbs up. Service was great. Ladies don't forget to bring a sweater if you are not a fan of polar temperatures.
(4)
Christine S.
OMG! What an awesome surprise City Hall was! We had a Living Social voucher for $50. We weren't too hungry as we'd been sight seeing and not burning ANY calories, but we did have this voucher and this was the last night of our vacation to use it. As soon as we arrived, I told the host about my Living Social voucher and showed him it was on my smart phone. He was very sweet and made us feel very welcomed. He said "no problem, it's happy hour sit wherever you want" so we got the happy hour menu and started ordering tapas style. We ordered a couple of cocktails that we'd never had before (at our server, Derek's suggestion)and we ordered some food off of the happy hour menu. Derek was very accommodating and attentive and gave us a lot of good suggestions. First he recommended a lychee and vodka drink...yummy! Then he suggested a jalapeño, mango and vodka drink...amazing!!! Ps...they don't cheap out on alcohol or food quality. Our "tapas" off of the appetizer menu were asahi tuna won tons, fried shrimp tacos, brussel sprouts and honey chicken wings. All were delicious! Problem...When it came time for the check, the manager came over and said they "weren't going to honor the voucher cuz you can't do happy hour on it." I told him that we weren't trying to hustle anyone out of anything, and if we were told no happy hour, we would have ordered off of the regular menu. He said "the best he could do was 10% off of the bill". For me it was the principal of the thing. I mentioned to the host that they weren't going to honor my voucher and he talked to someone and all of a sudden they took it! Cool! We did leave about a 30% tip (before the voucher credit) for Derek as he was all about great customer service. Tip: Make sure you don't use your voucher on happy hour. Make sure that everyone knows you have a voucher. Final score: Manager=Sketchy, Host=Sweet, Derek=Awesome! With or without a voucher, a treat for your palate and a definite do over ;)
(5)
Alexa B.
This place is adorable and the jazz singer brunch is so fun, but I won't be back because of the service. I made a reservation online and for some reason the bartender was also our server, so he was MIA for most of our meal. If we wanted anything we had to go find him at the bar. Toward the end of our meal he told us they have an app we could download to request things like extra ketchup but honestly that's a lot of work just to get some service. My friend found a match in her food so that was the last straw. She tried to complain but our server/bartender somehow lost it and couldn't show it to the manager....sketch. Also parking is annoying, its either $5 or you have to drive around the block looking for street parking. I can see why this place was empty for Sunday brunch.
(1)
Melanie A.
I saw the owner of City Hall - The restaurant on the news talking about Miami spice week and what do ya know? The very next day myself and a fellow yelper decided to check this place out. It was quite disorganized as literally 4 people came by to ask us if we wanted something to drink other than water and were like in disbelief that we politely declined. Hi, it's 2:00pm, I don't feel like getting drunk right now but thanks!!!!!! I just ordered the calamari with spicy tomato sauce and let's just say it was very bland and tasteless. If the calamari isn't good, I highly doubt their filet mignon or other dishes are spectacular! I won't be back, The only reason this gets two stars is because the person who finally ended up serving us was very nice and made sure we were always taken care of. The Daily is a better lunch option just down the street!
(2)
Danielle M.
We stumbled upon City Hall because it was within walking distance from our hotel (The DoubleTree Grand). My husband and I had the duck confit pizza as an appetizer and it was great--not greasy or too fatty and a really tasty combination of savory and sweet. My chicken limonata was really good and I appreciated that the pasta was fresh. My husband had the meatloaf, which he loved. The maple bacon mac and cheese that accompanied it was also great. The next day, we came back with my colleagues from work. The service was great both days and they had no problems splitting the check amongst seven people which we really appreciated because we know what a pain it can be for a server to have to do this.
(5)
Stella Z.
Went here for the first time tonight. Food is very mediocre for the price. I felt like I was eating at a Chili's. It's just average food.
(3)
Teri W.
Attended a luncheon at City Hall Restaurant today. The service was outstanding. The waiter took care of a private room with approximately 25 people and managed to get every order correct and provide excellent attention to the guests. The food was great. Their legendary bread with sweet butter was delicious! I had their shrimp salad and ate every morsel. Others ordered the mahi-mahi wrap, burgers, pasta bolognese and there was not one complaint about the food. We even had dessert; I had their lemon pound cake and it was light and tasty. I hope to make it back for brunch or dinner.
(5)
Juli M.
Great food great everything!!!! This is a must come to if you come to Miami! Love love love cornflakes chicken are the best!
(5)
Leilani D.
I ate here once, around the same time last year for Miami Spice, and the only way that I can describe this place is average. There is absolutely nothing about it that stands out. The service was fairly attentive, but not overly informed. I know I had a crab cake appetizer to start, a filet as my entree, and a chocolate chip bread pudding for dessert. All of that sounds pretty good right? It wasn't. It was by no means bad, but it was entirely boring. I think the biggest disappointment was probably the steak - just because I love filet and it didn't taste much better than anything you might get at a Chli's. Another major gripe is that even during Miami Spice (which was a great deal compared to the menu prices) we ended up spending well over $100 for two people with a reasonably priced bottle of wine. If there had been no special and we had ordered similarly, the bill would have been $150+ and I would have been furious. Maybe we ordered the wrong things - maybe they only do the country classics well - but at these prices, I'm not going to throw away another benjamin to find out. If for whatever reason you do decide you want to eat here - make reservations. For some unknown reason, it's always pretty packed.
(2)
David W.
Good late night burger after a show. Service was good. Not a big selection of beer. Host spent too much time on his cell phone but was otherwise very friendly. Waited and staff was prompt, friendly and professional.
(4)
Paul M.
After going to City Hall, the first thing that came to mind was "WEEDS". It wasn't because I felt like I was high in a California suburb though - it was because these dudes were in the WEEDS big time. For those who have worked hospitality you know exactly what I am talking about - place is slammed beyond belief and you are watching the disaster happen helpless in slow motion. Kitchen teetering out of control trying to keep up with the mass of orders piling in yet more and more guests keep arriving. Servers scrambling everywhere like chickens without heads trying to keep up. The unfortunate collateral damage is water not filled for 2 hours, having to ask for bread 3 times, and dinners that last for 3 EFFING hours. Pissed off diners everywhere. Gordon Ramsey needed to come in and open a can of whoop ass on these donkeys!!!! When we arrived at 6PM the place was busy, but not too full. We were one of the first tables seated upstairs so I really can't understand how our server and the kitchen got so overwhelmed. It's really too bad as we were really looking forward to trying this place based on the recommendations of my trusted yelpers. The venue was extremely nice, the food was good. Service - HORRENDOUS! Here we go: Pros: Good food - Skirt steak was enjoyed by our friend. Nice Venue Strong Drinks Good Miami Spice Menu - All 3 appetizers were great. Pork chop was GIGANTIC. Place was packed beyond belief. Cons: 3+ HOUR FREAKING DINNER - are you kidding me? I could have driven to the ocean, dove in and caught scallops, driven home and grilled them, and baked a cake in that time. Speaking of Scallops, where's the beef? We had 4 of the most microscopic scallops I have ever seen. Very surprising considering Tom was served gigantic scallops in his review. More like an appetizer. Table upstairs was FREEZING under the vent - I had icicles on my nipples by the end of dinner. Had to ask for bread 3 times. Asked for water and was never refilled. Dessert took 45 minutes to come out. There was no souffle order so maybe they had to drive across town to pick it up. SO LOUD - we had to yell to converse with the other side of the table. To his credit, the manager Robert did apologize when we mentioned the exorbitant time our dinner took. He said the kitchen was in fact overloaded. He offered to buy us drinks but by that point we wanted to just get out of there and defrost. We'll see if we come back again and take him up on his offer. Get it together City Hall! Service like that closes places in 6 months...
(2)
Steven M.
Absolutely fantastic. I always try a place a few times before writing a review and I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal here. The menu is creative, the service is good, the price is decent, and I always leave happy and full. A southern comfort style menu with a modern twist. I highly recommend the duck flatbread and French toast. Enjoy!
(5)
Monica C.
Because the food was so delish, I went back to City Hall for Dinner. What a difference!! We were seated right away, my waiter was attentive but not too pushy. He made great suggestions, made sure our glasses were full and our table was clean. I had the skirt steak for dinner with the jasmine rice. Perfection!! I also found out that they have a private room for parties. I was allowed to look at the room. It is private and spacious. Definitely recommend it for an event (I was trying to come up with an event to have a party myself.)
(5)
Michelle L.
Finally got the chance to check out City Hall this past Saturday. The host asked us if we had reservations or if we were interested in their dining in the dark package. That sounded like fun but we went with regular dining experience. To our surprise, there was a $37 3 course dinner menu. Our waitor Danny, who was very fun and helpful throughout our night, told us that the menu changes and we wouldn't be disappointed. So we went with the 3 course meal. For starters I ordered the half clams in lemon butter sauce (I highly recommend) and my cousins the ceasar salad. Ask for an order of fresh bread, they serve it fresh out of the oven. For main course we got the fried chicken, pork chop over butternut squash mash, and rib eye with truffle butter fries. I didn't like the fried chicken (atleast it wasnt what I envisioned in my head) the waitor withot hesitation removed it and asked if I prefered something else but that it would be atleast 15 more minutes to prepare. I told him that I wouldnt mind the wait. The chef specially prepared it and brought it to me in 10 min flat. Thats service!! I was pleased. And for dessert, the warm bread pudding was out of control good. We were so pleased with the service and the 3 course menu was amazingly good. Way to treat your patrons, I will definitely return.
(5)
nunya b.
One of the top three breakfasts I've ever had in my life. So amazing. Everything was spectacular. Star of the show was the bread pudding at the end. Calamari, mushroom puff pastry thing, braised short ribs and polenta and French toast to die for!
(5)
Miriana M.
Came here on saturday night for miami spice dinner. We had reservations so we were seated right away. Waiter came over and offered us some drinks, we politely asked for sparkling water to start. I had the eggplant for starters and it was delicious! The portion was pretty big, enough to share if i wanted to, but i had no intentions to do so. I then had the pork chop with mashed sweet potatoes. Let me say that most people in my table ordered the rib eye and boy was i spot on by ordering the pork chop. It was by far better than everybody else's steak. Very tender, very flavorful- highly recommendable. For dessert I had the carrot cake, but i should've had the chocolate chip croissant bread pudding .. It definitely was the dessert superstar so go for that instead ;) All of our dishes were delicious .. but MANNN, our waiter was extremely annoying. He was super pushy throughout our whole dinner for us to order drinks. I kid you not, he at least asked us 4 times in the roughly 2 hrs we were there even though we let him now we'd have digestifs after we finished eating. Almost made us wish we had ordered to go. Minus 1 star for this annoyance.
(4)
Ray B.
I've been there 2 times now and sadly will not be going back. The food is OK, not great but OK, a little bland for my taste but the service is beyond horrible. Our server didn't know the menu, we didn't get the appetizers we ordered, we asked to take our leftovers to go but our server decided to throw them away instead, we asked for dessert and coffee but got coffee 3 to 5 minutes before dessert. Oh and dessert, talk about a disgusting gooey mess. Or server recommended the roulade as it was the dessert of the day. It was a flavorless sticky congealed spongy thing. Whatever that was it does not belong on a restaurant menu, not this restaurant, not any restaurant. Also I had called earlier to make lunch reservations, they said it was not necessary but failed to mention that the restaurant was under renovations and that work would take place during lunch ours, the noise was unbearable. Not a good experience at all. Would NOT recommend to anyone.
(2)
L. R.
Sunday Gospel brunch with Maryel Epps was . . . lively. She's a class act with a great, powerful voice. Thought about the egg white omelet but my waiter suggested the "signature" chicken and waffles (actually French toast). I wish I ordered the omelet. Good dish, but really, really sweet. The best dish among my friends was the en croute egg dish. I will order that at my next brunch visit. FYI, valet parking behind the building is $5.
(3)
Rhena S.
The decor was beautiful but unfortunately the food was not good. Came here for the very first time with a group of 10 for brunch. I decided to try the eggs Benedict. It had no flavor and was very fresh. I thought it was just my food so I tried my bf's oatmeal, that was fresh also, no sugar in it what so ever. I had a piece of bacon as well and even that was fresh, tasted like they soaked it over night in water. Needless to say that was the worst bacon I've ever had in my life. Idk what was going on lol. Other than my food having no taste to it everything else was good. The service was great, the place is super clean, and the drinks were good. If I ever do come back again it won't for brunch. Maybe the lunch and/or dinner food will taste good.
(2)
Alex D.
Pleasantly surprised. I had heard from friends that City Hall was "hit" or "miss." I must have gone on a "hit" night. Our meals were up to par and service was great. Dessert was just OK and seemed "bought" rather than home made. Will be back, but skipping dessert.
(3)
Catie G.
Out of all the brunch options in Miami this one sets itself apart with a gospel sideshow featuring Maryel Epps. She has an impressive voice, numerous costume changes but the volume is kept so you can still chat with your companions. This is not the only reason to visit. Their menu has ingenious sweet options like the Grand Marnier French Toast. But don't despair because savory items like the Crab Cake Benedict are equally decadent & satisfying. We did not imbibe so I'm unsure about a free flowing mimosa special(s).
(5)
Michael A.
I went here for Sunday brunch and everything about it was amazing, including the menu. I would highly recommend this place
(5)
Dre B.
Update 12/2014: Menu has been paired down slightly and the prices a bit higher. But the food is still good and the device always excellent. Still 5 stars. Great food and great, friendly staff. The weekend brunch is amazing. I don't care much for the singer coming by my table during brunch but most seem to enjoy her and she's very jovial. Definitely a place to bring out of town friends or a date. Great food and great, friendly staff. The weekend brunch is amazing. I don't care much for the singer coming by my table during brunch but most seem to enjoy her and she's very jovial. Definitely a place to bring out of town friends or a date. Great food and great, friendly staff. The weekend brunch is amazing. I don't care much for the singer coming by my table during brunch but most seem to enjoy her and she's very jovial. Definitely a place to bring out of town friends or a date.
(5)
Allen F.
Average at best for food, above average for drinks. I live across the street from this restaurant and find myself there when I don't want to venture out too far. The food is good, though not consistent; the same item is prepared differently and tastes differently each time. But the convenience of the location and the variety keeps me coming back. On a positive note, the bar is well stocked and the bartenders are great. This place may not win a memorable place on your mind, but it's worth a try.
(3)
Pam R.
We went to City Hall (May 2014) and it was an amazing place. Maricel was the singer there and she did 2 shows while we were there. The food was good and the service was on point. Truly a gem
(4)
Giuseppe M.
This is the place to be if you are in the mood for fresh, unique and food with dynamic flavor. Once there, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, the very attentive staff and the creative menu.
Great place! Huge portions, ok prices, prompt service. I had the roasted half chicken with broccolini and sweet potato fries (instead of white potatoes). Huge portion, great sauce, perfectly cooked and delicious crispy fries. My husband got the meatloaf served with mac & cheese and green beans, topped with fried onions. Huge portion again and delicious taste! None of us could finish our plate so we have great leftovers!! Their bread is good, very light with a crispy crust. The pecan butter is interesting... Special taste but it works with the bread. We unfortunately didn't get refill on bread. Definitely recommend it and will go back again soon hopefully!
(4)
Andrew C.
Came here with a big group of about 15 people. The hostess, manager, and waiter were all really nice and accommodating. They had the checks split up before hand as requested and no one was billed incorrectly. The couple blemishes I would say about service is that I was splitting the bill and one of us had cash while the other had a credit card. When the waiter saw this he came back and asked me if I just wanted to keep the cash instead and put everything on the card.....there is a reason there is cash there. Also, my friend had a groupon and forgot to tell the waiter before hand (she felt bad) but when she gave him the groupon after our meal, he made this grimace and just stood there with his hand on his forehead for like 30 seconds while telling her that she should have told him before. Yeah she was wrong, but hey you're making over $100 on one table, suck it up. Anyway, on to the food. We had the gorgonzola pizza for an appetizer. We were undecided for our entree, but the waiter HIGHLY recommended the pork chop with whipped sweet potato so we ended up sharing that. The pizza is thin crust style and is good enough as an app for two people. It was delicious. The crust was perfectly crisp as was the pancetta and they were pretty generous with the toppings. The sweet jam went really well with the salty pancetta, cheese, and fried onions. Before our entree arrived, they served us freshly baked bread and holy crap this was fantastic. You could hear the "oohs" and "aaahhs" around the table. The bread had a nice crust and inside was still hot, soft and fluffy, it crumbled under the pressure of the knife as I tried to cut it. It is also served with this amazing pecan butter. We all ordered more bread. I was excited for our entree because the appetizer and bread were so amazing but when it arrived and I took my first bite, I was let down. The pork chop was a tad bit on the dry side and the mustard sauce was good, but nothing that would knock my socks off. The sweet potato tasted ordinary too, it was supposed to have a hint of bourbon, but I could not taste it. I also ordered the chorizo maple mac and cheese. The mac was better, but it was lacking in maple flavor and their mac and cheese does not have a crust on top. For dessert we ordered the famous croissant chocolate chip bread pudding (which the waiter said was their best dessert) and it is definitely for sharing like the menu says, it was fairly large. The bread pudding comes straight out of the oven and it is served with a side of creme anglaise. Unfortunately it was mostly one note and if it was not for the chocolate chips, it would have been rather bland. It needed a bit more vanilla, sugar, or maybe some lemon zest or something. Again, good, but nothing great. Overall I was satisfied with the meal and the prices are decent for the portion sizes, but with all the other fantastic restaurants in the area, I would be hard pressed to come back here so soon.
(3)
Vanessa P.
After seeing KODO at the Adrienne Arscht Center we came here to satisfy a late night craving. Having heard nothing but good things I had high expectations, and from our experience it fit the bill. We were promptly seated and since I didn't want to go too overboard for an after 10pm meal, I went with their tuna tartar and their iceberg wedge salad. The tuna tartar was insanely delicious! Truth be told, I never wanted it to end. Layers and layers of juicy tuna, avocado and other delicious ingredients (papaya) plus a side of crispy chips to help shovel it all in. As for the salad, I have an affinity for wedge salads and this hit the spot. The mac and cheese with chorizo was also very good. Creamy cheesy goodness with specs of salty and spicy chorizo. Made me think why mom's mac and cheese never tasted this good? Regardless, my taste-buds were wholly satisfied. City Hall was the right place at the right time for us, Although we normally don;t frequent the downtown dining area, we'd definitely come back to try the rest of the menu options.
(4)
Sue S.
City Hall was good, but meatloaf was cold in center. They warmed it up,and it was okay, but I'd try something else next time. There are many great choices. My friend got a hamburger and truffle fries; he said it was great.
(4)
Gustavo A. L.
Having heard this name come up in conversation several times during other gastronomic experiences with randomly different groups of friends, business associates and clients, we decided to once and for all find out if this place was, indeed, that good. City Hall delivered an experience to remember, with spot on service, wonderful recommendations from our waiter, and a meal that was simply perfect. Sure, we can blame this all to the wonderful bottle of wine that we consumed throughout the experience, but Wine can only make a good thing better so, it was not the wine, it was that City Hall is simply a good place with good food, good service and good people.
(5)
Lesley E.
I was overall disappointed with the entire experience. My favorite part was the complimentary maple butter that came with the bread. The ambiance was nice and a bit romantic. I got the country fried chicken and my boyfriend got the salmon. We also got a side of the Mac & cheese. My dish was not worth $23. There was a small portion of mashed potatoes, a brick hard biscuit and a couple of average pieces of chicken. My boyfriends salmon was good but there was wayyyy to many sesame seeds. WAY too many. The Mac & cheese was bad. It tasted like cheesy bacon.
(3)
Stephanie P.
Food and service was amazing! I had the tuna tartar, as my meal and it was more than filling (however, I'm a small woman). It was my friends birthday and they gave us two warm chocolate bread pudding which was TO DIE FOR! Everyone else loved there entrees as well.
(5)
Ghaz I.
It used to be a good place with a good service and food. Lately for some reason their service has become so bad. Last time we ordered for pick up and after 30 minutes went to pick up out order, they hadn't even entered it in the system nor prepared it. The receptionist offered the order on the house if we waited but we just walked out. We just called today (3 times) to place another order for pick up. No one picked up the phone. We live across the street from the restaurant but they've lost us for sure as regular clients.
(1)
Carla L.
I was very surprised to see some of the not so perfect reviews from some of my favorite Yelpers. HOW could it be?? How could this NOT have been the most perfect food, most perfect experience for everyone?? I don't know. All I know is what my experience was and this story I shall tell. We have heard some pretty good things from people about City Hall - The Restaurant, so we decided the Miami Spice Menu would be a great excuse to try it. We came at an odd time, happy hour, not lunch, not dinner. We got the lunch spice menu but were told we could choose either. That was a total win since two of us ordered from the Lunch and one from the Dinner. By the way - Amir is awesome. Friendly, amazing service, big smile and ready to share his love of [my favorite city on earth] Paris, his hometown. PLUS he will make you any cocktail you want - no mixers. He hooked me up with an amazing red Cabernet Sauvingon after asking me if I liked my red wine light or heavier.. I said heavier and YUM. I started with a most yummy Eggplant appetizer. It was basically a small Eggplant Parmesan, but the flavor was full and rich. My hubby got a nice bowl of salad, it was abundant and the dressing yummy. Our daughter had the Crab Cake (sans bacon), the only thing was it was a tad tiny. She liked it, and she would have liked more. My hubby and I ordered Mahi Mahi and our daughter ordered the Shrimp and Grits. Her grits were delicious and although her music loving twin John Paul G (hey dude, sup?) didn't have the best experience hers were perfectly made. I know, because I "helped" her eat it. Now this next point is really, really, really, important. The Mahi Mahi? The best fish I have ever had. Ever. Please know this is no lie, no exaggeration. We both were so surprised, we just did NOT believe it. It came with a delicious spinach and Quinoa. When dessert came we kept on trying each others and the only words out of our mouths was "Wow, try hers", "Wow, try mine" and "Wow, try his" and then "Oh my GOD, WOW"! At this point I can genuinely and honestly say this is the best meal I have had in Miami. Did we get lucky and get them on a good day? I do not know, I guess I need to return to find out. Again, this is my experience.
(5)
Ed B.
I will start with saying the service is excellent... Very friendly hosts and hostess. Atmosphere was cool and great happy hour.. Half off martinis and glasses of wine.. Food was really good too.. Bread is great with a sweet butter. I had the Chicken Limon which was very tasty. My wife had the beefsteak tomatoes and mozzarella which she loved.. It was a really good experience and I would return..
(4)
Diogo M.
Perfect!! Try the sweet and spicy martini, it's omg! And the bread pudding! Coming back for sure!
(5)
MICHELLE C.
American Cuisine in a trendy NY style decor setting. After about four visits here, yes I really like this new restaurant. The decor is dark browns, comfy booths, high top tables surrounding the bar, a separate dining area room in the back and a lovely second floor sexy dining area. From the moment you walk in the hostess are wonderful. Very friendly and engaging in conversation, making you feel very welcome. Steve, the owner seems to be there often making sure everyone is happy, he is appreciative and touches as many tables as he can just to say thanks for your support. The service is impeccable, never worrying about anything, you will not go without refills on drinks, bread, etc... The food comes out in a timely matter, cooked to order so everything is pipping hot and fresh. The Filet Mignon, the half baked chicken, the meatloaf, the pasta dishes and oh the pizza is all scrumptious. The french onion soup is divine and the pizza's are awesome. After several meals here I find all of the entrees and appetizers to be great! I have yet to have something I did not care for. The menu has enough to please everyone, and I like that they have a good variety of some good home-cooked meals that are not over the top with trendy ingredients. Sometimes simplicity is better. One evening we went just for cocktails and we hung out at the bar. These gorgeous bartenders know how to make a drink. Get ready, they are strong and large. You get your glass filled to the rim then they give you a shaker filled with the rest. So you really get two full drinks and they surer know how to mix them. The eye candy in this place is well oh very nice. Gay men seem to flock here and they are ever so handsome and very friendly. I have met some really cool people here. This place deserves five stars, between the great service, awesome food, and amazing drinks. See you soon!
(5)
Lia P.
I really wanna give this place 4 stars but it just missed the mark for me and my husband. So really it's closer to 3.5 stars. I've been here a couple times and still haven't been WOWed like I expect. Both times I've had good service, whether it was at the bar or from a waiter/waitress. Everyone has been really professional. I appreciated that when my husband asked for a malbec suggestion last time the waiter didn't choose the most expensive bottle. The food hasn't been great. The first time I went I had a salad and I was supposed to get it with an herb vinagrette but they brought a creamy dressing...when I asked them to correct this the guy looked at me confused and asked if I meant balsamic vinegar. No...not what I meant. So I was left with an awkwardly thick creamy dressing. Last time however I got a mixed baby greens salad and that was GOOD! Big portion for only $7 and super fresh. And low and behold, there was my herb vinagrette I wanted last time! I also got the Guinness braised mussels and omg, were those awesome. Amazing flavor between the Guinness, chorizo, and fresh mussels. Other standouts from the night were the blue cheese mashed potatoes that came with my husband's steak, and the bread pudding. Non-standouts include the cocktails and the portion size of the Miami Spice offerings. I want to love this place because the atmosphere's so nice and everyone on the staff seems awesome but it doesn't seem to be the best value.
(3)
Andrea C.
Sunday brunch comes with live musical entertainment! We had the duck and mushroom pizza which was tasty. The scallop plate was good but skimpy with only 3 scallops for $28.50. The shrimp and grits were good. Warm bread and apple butter is always served. Service was attentive. This is a great and convenient location for attending any of the downtown venues (AAA or Arsht.)
Pros: Happy hour, happy hour, happy hour. GREAT bartenders. Fabulous host. They deliver. The meatloaf with chorizo mac and cheese. Cons: Prices. Inconsistent to mediocre food. Inconsistent or just plain bad service. Go get a burger somewhere else and do not order the fries.
(3)
Brian G.
City Hall is a big restaurant with 2 floors and high ceilings, and very good food!! their menu is extensive, so you have a lot of choices. they also have a brunch, menu on Sunday and a very good blues singer preformed when we were there. the room can get noisy, but the restaurant is very friendly and the service is good. this place is a lot of fun!!! and the prices are not too bad. the starter dishes were or are almost of entree size. so enjoy.
(4)
Brittney W.
Am I the only one who wants to inject the pecan butter into her bloodstream?!? seriously, I find myself always ordering loaves of their bread to take home making sure that they throw in a few butter balls for a midnight snack. But besides the bread and butter, I've never had a meal at City Hall that I didn't enjoy. I love coming here late night after a Heat game or performance at the Arsht Center. And depending on the event going on around the area, there's always a prefixed menu option featuring some of the restaurant favorites.
(5)
Tania G.
i can sum up my visit in 3 words: i wasn't wowed. the bread is worth mentioning- the pecan butter was pretty damn good. other items...well... the meatloaf was good; not $18 worth, but good. and the gravy was terrible!!! the mac and cheese was not memorable- i'm not sure what other people find so great about it to be quite honest. maybe it was a bad batch, but it was pretty bland for my buds. the braised beef stuffed potato skins were not as good as i would have hoped. the flavor of the ribs was odd. the gorgonzola pizza was the probably the best thing we had. the figs gave it a nice, sweet touch. in summary, the things worth mentioning are the bread and the pizza - go figure! service was good yet like other yelpers have mentioned, it does get noisy.
(3)
Amanda F.
Heard the meatloaf was good... But yuck. The Mac and cheese that comes with it was even WORSE! Don't order it. Mom and dad loved the tuna tar tar and the shrimps and grits. Guess I wasn't the lucky one -.- good service tho!
(4)
Waylon R.
Amazing find! Had dinner before going to the Arscht Center and was in awe of how amazing it was. We sat at the bar because we were rushed for time and the bartender was extremely helpful with suggestions. House Cabernet is amazing, Coppola Directors Cut, I have never had such a good house wine before. We started with the Tuna Tartar and as a tuna fan, I was in heaven. Light and perfect with fresh crispy wontons. It was happy hour so we also indulged in the Truffle Parmesean Brussel Sprouts and the Honey Herb Wings.... Both amazing. I love both of these and can eat them anytime and they took them to the next level. The wings are soaked overnight in honey so they have an amazing sweetness to them. The brussel sprouts were cooked to perfection. The bartender recommended so great choices and we went with the Pork Chop, and I was amazed how great it was. BEST PORK CHOP IVE EVER HAD!! hands down.. Thick cut and cooked perfectly, juicy and the accompanying sauce was amazing! Sweet potato mash was the perfect pair for it. Will totally be back with friends
(5)
Alive S.
I will never ever ever get tired of City Hall from the friendly smile when you walk in to the most delicious bread pudding a girl can want. Top notch service & consistent food beats trendy typical Miami restaurants any day.
(5)
Morgan's M.
Come here for the best French Toast on the planet! I've been to City Hall several times and the Chicken & French Toast is always perfect. The pecan butter they serve with warm bread is the stuff dreams. The grits a great as we'll. I've only had one disappointing meal, Short Rib w/ palenta . Ribs were too fatty. But short ribs are always a gamble.
(5)
C.K. L.
I dine here often and have yet to find something I haven't loved. The menu is ever-revolving, the service is perfect--no one hovering over you, but all you have to do is look up and your Waiter is at your table. The Miami Spice menu is the best I've sampled anywhere. My particular favorite is the Sesame Coated Salmon, yet I wouldn't turn down any of the appetizers and/or main courses. Desserts? All are yummy, but their Banana Cream Pie is OMG! I've brought most everyone I know there for lunch and dinner, and they all go back again and again. If you're meeting the Laurences for dinner, expect it to be at City Hall the Restaurant...
(5)
Laura D.
I came here after someone I know well recommended it. As I walked in, I noticed that the ambiance and decor was nice. I felt like I was in NYC for some reason. I sat down and waited for my clients to arrive. We then ordered and it all went down hill. The waiter forgot the side dish that I had ordered and was no where to be found when we were done with our meal. Another waiter asked if we wanted anything else so we asked for espresso coffee to finish our meals and then the check. Then 10 or 15 minutes go by with no coffee and no check. Finally our original waiter comes out (he was missing for all this time) and we repeat our coffee order and desire for the check. Another 10 minutes go by and finally our coffee arrives. We quickly get up and go once we finish our coffee. I will likely not be returning here. The food everyone had was just OKaY and service was terrible. Sorry City Hall, I will likely not be returning.
(2)
Jennifer A.
I went with my husband and friends on Saturday night and we all ate from the Miami Spice menu. The restaurant was only about 40 to 50% full downstairs (never went upstairs). Despite the emptiness of the restaurant, our server was SLOW, and he seemed a little clueless about the menu and wine pairing advertised. The martini menu was creative, and offered several non-vodka options that were good. Watch out for the Special Master, it is actually quite spicy. We all ate from the Miami Spice menu, and I got to taste most of what was ordered. Overall, most of the food was very good, with the exception of (of course) my "pan seared mahi." It was supposed to be pan-seared, but what I got was a dry, tough piece of unappetizing fish that I couldn't finish. Hy hubby's "famous fried chicken" was outstanding: crispy, moist meat and not greasy. My baked eggplant appetizer was also delicious, as was the corn chowder and the chocolate-chip croissant bread pudding. The ho-hum marscapone carrot cake was nothing to write home about. The title sounded more appetizing than it actually was. While I would go back, I would definitely stay away from the fish (inedible) and carrot cake (not worth the calories).
(3)
Espicubi E.
Amazing! Crab cakes Benedict delicious.. But the best item on menu was the cornflakes crusted French toast and their delicious warm bread with maple almond butter! This place is amazing.
(5)
Fred G.
Great service! But the food was so disappointing. I had high expectations for the burger as it was mouth watering described. It was way too greasy and the bread was very very old.
(1)
Tiffany G.
Was so excited to try this place out 'cause of all the hype. Total Fail! The eggplant parm arrived cold, my shrimp and grits was plate with instant grits...Nothing special... I didn't even end up eating dessert. Even the sparkling water was hot. How'd they manage that!? In addition to the not so good food, waiters kept ramming into our table. Overall, not a place I would return to.
(1)
Ken D.
A big booth, a big martini, and a big meal at City Hall made for one big night with friends in more ways than one. Reading the reviews of my fellow Yelpers, I had hopes and trepidation about the evening, and, fortunately, left both pleasantly surprised and full. A few highlights: - The friendly, almost giddy host and hostess. All of us wearing 'mango'. - The aforementioned martini...big, extra dry, extra cold, shaken til it hurt. (I listened as it was being mixed to ensure that this was the case, and indeed it was.) - The unconventional French onion soup with cheese on the bottom and wonton was an interesting surprise, and assembled table side. While it won't replace the real thing in my heart, it was a different twist on a classic. - The Timpani, which almost killed me as I struggled to eat the entire thing. If you've seen the movie 'Big Night', you know what this is, and I've never seen it in a restaurant. What a treat! A few low lights: - The 'artisinal' bread was just a loaf of white bread. City Hall, you might want to rethink this as it doesn't read 'artisinal' at table. - The fried chicken was overly brined, and way too salty. - The large screen TV, which competes with the decor and smacks of sports bar. We just aren't target market for this feature. Are there many Nielsen families in the area? So, in summary, if you can order thoughtfully, I say try it. As they say, you can't fight City Hall, so why even try?
(4)
Olga Z.
The Insider said: The bartender (Meno) makes a guava mojito that's not on the southern comfort food stylr menu but is one of City Hall's best kept secrets. It's a must try. I've read a couple of negative reviews and can't relate. My friends and I met up for dinner here. We received professional and friendly service from the host to the server (Perla) to the bartender to the bussers. Between the drinks, the bread that comes with an addictive honey butter spread, the huge portions of delicious food, we were all more than happy. The food: We ordered... ok, so I forget what exactly my friends ordered (blame it squarely on that mojito) I ordered the house blend meatloaf with chorizo-maple, mac and cheese, green beans and natural gravy downside. The maple flavor on the meatloaf for me was magnificent. To our delight, our server surprised us with a complimentary warm chocolate chip bread pudding with bourbon anglaise, just because ;) I'm happy. That service, that drink, that honey butter, that meatloaf, that free boubon anglaise. I hope you have a fun and great experience as well.
(5)
Jackie S.
My recent trip to City Hall completely erased any lingering luke warm memories. This time the service was terrific (big shout out to our waiter Doug) and the food was outstanding!!!! Here's the lowdown: Group Appetizer: Short Rib potato skins -2 insanely flavorful giant potato skins!!! The combination of the meat, cheeses & tomato marmalade is ridiculously good! Entrees: My Skirt Steak - very juicy with goat cheese crumbles & a layer of couscous underneath...yummm!!! My bf's pork chop - Plump is the best adjective to describe this giant cut of meat. One of the better pork chops I've ever tasted. The sweet potatoes were sweet but not overwhelming, good combination w/ the chop. Garlic herb chicken - a damn good chicken dish but in this abundance of robust flavors I would not recommend, unless your trying to play it safe. And the hands down Oscar winner of the night...the fried chicken!!! Finger lickin good :p
(5)
Rashida C.
Okay so after going to City Hall and having several "MISS"'s, I decided it was time for my review. I must say the entertainment by Maryel Epps at Sunday brunch is phenomenal,Hence the 2 stars! She's very lively, interactive and has a special way of connecting with the crowd! Onto the service.... On Friday I called and made a reservation for 1:00 on Sunday. I arrived at 12:50 and wasn't seated until 1:40! I requested a complimentary mimosa for the guest on my party. 4 people. The MANAGER Sasha came to the table to address me. She NEVER apologized and curtly told me that EVERYONE in the restaurant had a reservation and waited even longer than I did because it was Sunday brunch. She said the answer to my was no and walked away. LOL! She was so rude that I had to laugh. Soooo, I should make a reservation 1 hour before the time I really want to have a reservation? GTFOH! Now, on to the food... Yet another MISS!! Don't have much to say about it because this was the 4th time it's been a miss in the past 6 visits. So, typical. My server.... NEVER took drink orders, spilled mayonnaise on my aunt and followed up with spilling water on her. WAY TO GO! I love the entertainment so it's not a place that I wouldn't patronize anymore, however, drinks at the bar is all I'm willing to do at this point.
(2)
Kae D.
Best Meal we had in Miami. Beautifully decorated restaurant- Art Deco - superior service - great menu - impressive wine list - all were surpassed by the remarkable meal. We defaulted to the Prix Fixe meal - and the six of us were highly impressed - exquisite! Presentation, quality - the Salmon was prepared perfectly - desserts to die for...
(5)
Doris L.
Looking for a spot to eat after a late afternoon event at the nearby AAA. I wish City Hall delivered the triple- A experience some of my Yelp friends apparently experienced. Alas, I had a C+ kind of night. A solid menu full of variety, from cerviche to turkey burgers, gave us lots of options. Our gang ordered muscles and scallops and that cerviche, plus the grilled chicken from the kids menu and some salads. The muscles were the best of the lot. The rest melded into a sea of proverbial mediocrity. My martini was a little light on mojo, too. Sorry City Hall, Your servers are sweet. Your ambience and location, sublime. Your food- regretably, forgettable.
(2)
Kaleena S.
Amazing. The only reason they get a star down is that its kind of on the pricey side which limits me from going as often as i would want. Went there for date night before the symphony concert we were going to see. We knew it was pricey going in but we decided to split a 3 course since our insider told us portions were pretty big. The waiter was awesome and provided a great wine recommendation and confirmed our large portion suspicion. They did have a concert prix fixe menu but we opted for the regular menu. After placing our order some fresh bread came out with honey nut butter. Honey butters have a place in my heart so I knew this night was going somewhere good. We started out with the duck flat bread. I love duck but my boyfriend was hesitant. After this he was a changed man. The red wine reduction that was drizzled over the top tied it all together. Then we split the Filet Mignon entree which came with fried Brussels sprouts and potatoes au gratin and again it was a pretty large portion. If you have never had fried Brussels sprouts in your life give them a try here. Since we did a whole bunch of splitting we actually had some room for dessert. We had the chocolate chip bread pudding that's served with a bourbon anglaise. Now ive said the portions are pretty large that means dessert too. Easily 2 desserts in one. We finished the dessert without feeling like either of us didn't have enough. When the check came it was like an ordinary night out for 2 at moderately priced placed. Overall very good experience. Long story short version: Large portions, good food, good service, but on the pricey side. Opt to split the dishes and you'll come out ok.
(4)
Adrianna B.
Thai Steak salad was so flavorful! I wanted the ribeye but decided on a healthy option this time. (not like me) I was really shocked how good it was. My overview of the room: chic, trendy, dark trim, a bit mafioso. That's just my opinion. Great Sunday afternoon spot for friends, couples, anybody.
(5)
Jay K.
Not a steakhouse. Tired, old place. Hostess preached her religion to us in a canned speech. Food was mediocre at best. Way overpriced. Traffic noise from outside.
(1)
Jose A.
Great happy hour, very friendly staff. Very good food!!!
(5)
Ming P.
I had dinner with my little sister. as per her review your crab cake came closed to Shula's. Service was OK. The decor is lovely. Food wise a 3 star.
(3)
Carlos J.
Went for brunch just after 11, started to get crowded just ayer we arrived so 11 or do is a good time to arrive. Good service and great food, best French Toast I've ever had! Will definitely come back.
(4)
Jim L.
Ask the guest relations where to have brunch and he recommend Cityhall. I ordered the smocked salmon omelet and a fruit plate my sister had the short rib w/ three eggs and it was awesome. The environment is pleasing and friendly.
(4)
Endless O.
I went to City Hall this past Saturday evening for a friend's birthday gathering. It was late. The decor in here is like a Gotham city type theme. It was really dark in there and I wasn't feeling the lighting because I was with a birthday group. I think the lighting is suited more so for couples. I also could barely read the menu without a cell phone light. All of the wait staff was male; we didn't quite understand why though lol Any who, the bread was DELICIOUS. I love hot bread that is prepared well. I ordered some wine for dinner and had lots of water with lemon AND limes. I am funny about new restaurants and trying new food on menus that I am not familiar with so I kept it simple. I special ordered a grilled chicken salad. The salad was delicious no complaints there. The gratuity was automatically added. Our waiter and bus-boys were great so I had no problem with the automatic tip. I probably would have tipped more if not for the gratuity already being in there.
(3)
Chris C.
Nothing corrupt about this court room! This waiter was so charming you'd think he was the one that got OJ Simpson off the hook (no it's not too soon for an OJ joke). Southern cooking at its best with an occasional hint of Miami flavor. It was a delicious episode of Law and Order where the only crime is the fact that it took me so long to try this place out. THE FOOD: "Your honor, this fried chicken assaulted my client...and he liked it!" This chicken, along with the mashed potatoes should be sentenced to several years on my plate! The chicken was so buttery, perfectly fried and delicious that I did not feel the least bit guilty eating it...no pun intended. "I, scallops covered in home made pico de gallo and black bean sauce with one delicious plantain drizzled with sugar plead guilty to holding this poor man's taste buds hostage for the duration of the meal." Enough said. To add to the great food, you must try "The Commissioner". This is a martini with a shaker that brings nearly 3 refills! One or two of these you'll know what its like for our commissioners to get the job done! Final Verdict: If this place catered Jury Duty...I'd gladly attend.
(5)
Mit P.
This is one of Miami's best restaurants. Great decor, excellent service, but most importantly - Some of the most delicious American food I have had in a long time! Totally puts Barton G to shame. What I like? 1) The appetizers. The gumbo is superb. The calamari and the tuna tartare also. And the shrimp ceviche. The salads are quite distinctive and special. Especially the iceberg and romaine lump crab salad, also the wedge. 2) Some very good mains and sides. I particularly like the meatloaf. I also like the country fried chicken. I'm looking forward to trying the other dishes. I have my eye on the salmon. 3) Great desserts. Banoffee pie is one of my favorites and these guys have the best rendition of this masterpiece. The bread pudding is also excellent. 4) Great service. Staff are really friendly. They are also there whenever you need anything. For Miami it is amazing. 5) Nice decor. The place is cool. 6) Lots of parking options. 7) The pecan honey butter is genius. What thy could do better: 1) A wider selection of breads at dinner.
(5)
Falen A.
I love this place. I been here at least 5 times for brunch. Best French toast ever! Very good braised beef, and eggs benedict. Ive also had the omelettes. I could eat anything off the menu to be honest. Bloody Mary was spicy just how I like it. I also came here for dinner once and got the meatloaf... OMG.. best meatloaf Ive ever had. The glaze they have on the side is to die for. I cant wait to go back to have it again. Love Love Love. Service is always a pleasure and tentative. I hope this place stays in miami forever!
(5)
Seth W.
Truth be told, my rating is between 3 & 4 stars. I've always had excellent service and good food at City Hall. Atmosphere can vary - I will NOT sit in the back room again. It's dark and out of the way of the rest of the guests, but without privacy or peace. Instead, diners in the back room are frequently subjected to blasts of bright light, noise and traffic from the kitchen. The only dish I ever had an issue with was a cobb salad, and that was a long time ago. It was soggy and small and heaped in the center of what appeared to be a wide-brimmed soup bowl. The Steak Salad is excellent, so are the burgers (both beef and turkey). I've enjoyed the meatloaf and gumbo, and I make a point to carefully review specials.
(3)
Annie W.
2 words --- Pecan Butter. Absolutely one of the best things I've ever put to my lips. I've been here a few times and everything was exceptional. I will say they are known for lunch and dinner so if you go for breakfast items during their brunch, get something unusual like the French toast. I was being a little boring with my choice of the omelet and it was fairly average. Go for the Gospel Brunch on Sunday for live music. It isn't preachy at all --- just good deep soul with a full band that isn't loud and a perfect jazzy ambiance. I recommend the items that gear more towards lunch. If you're going for the brunch get there early or make a reservation as seats fill up fast! Parking is very limited on the street however.
(5)
Sergio N.
Customer services fixed. Happy to visit again.
(5)
Jose S.
We celebrated my wife's 30 something birthday last night. The staff and the food were amazing. Reggie's reception was so hospitable. The birthday champagne was unexpected and appreciated. We started with the hummus that arrived with the house bread and pecan butter. Wow. Wow. Our main courses were the fried chicken for me and the meatloaf for my wife. Delectable, no other word would describe, maybe delicious but that doesn't cut it. We sweetened it up with the chocolate chip croissant bread pudding. Let me repeat that. CHOCOLATE CHIP.CROISSANT.BREAD.PUDDING. The ambiance made us feel like we stepped into the 1930's Art Deco setting where we'd find Bonnie and Clyde splitting a bottle in the table next to ours. City Hall is definitely our new spot!
(5)
Sheila T.
Food here is always tasty, but service is equally as spotty. We had to ask for a glass of ice 3 times. Restaurant is very busy at lunch so reservations are a must, especially with the $11.50 Miami spice lunch offerings. We never got bread, either. The regular menu is also available, with everything from sandwiches, salads, meat loaf, beef burgers and turkey burgers, pork chop, salmon,etc. Happy hour menu ( with reduced wine, beer and vodka prices ),has also changed with many more additions.There are chicken wings, hummus (3 different kinds) and pita plate, fried brussel sprouts with parmesan cheese, .taco, etc. all at reduced prices . TIP: if you are in a hurry, be sure to tell the waitstaff as service can be very slow.
(4)
Zarina R.
2/7/12 -- The moment I walked into the restaurant everyone from the Hostess to the waiters were extremely friendly. The restaurant was quite spacious and made me feel like I was eating at a restaurant in New York. All our dishes were well made and they served large portions. I had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. I ordered the house blend Meat Loaf with Chorizo-Maple Mac'n Cheese, Baby French Green Beans, Natural Gravy & Fried Onions. The meatloaf was succulent, moist, and flavorful. My friend ordered the grilled Skirt Steak with Israeli Couscous, Kalamata Olives, Crumbled Goat Cheese & Tomato-Coriander Vinaigrette. The steak was cooked to perfection and the meat was extremely tender. We ended the night with their "Warm Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding" with Bourbon Anglaise & Chocolate Ganache ( Wowzers was it amazing). Do not leave this restaurant without trying the Bread Pudding.
(3)
Apreski C.
The host Noel was extremely rude when we walked in as was the waiter who walked away in the middle of us ordering. The staff here is disrespectful and snarky as if doing their job is actually a favor. Horrible service overall and the food is mediocre. Not worth the trip.
(2)
Jee J.
Sorry
(5)
Tiffany J.
A friend of mine wanted to try something new for lunch. It was Christmas Eve and we were tired of holiday food. I ordered the meatloaf with Mac n cheese good lawd! that food was on point my friend order the fried chicken and it was so juicy and crispy. Now the drinks were the business, they bring you the shaker to the table and we were able to get 3 drinks out of the shaker without ordering more. City hall will see me again.
(4)
Robbie M.
Steve Haas has done it again! great atmosphere, staff, and food! Its a great spot to have a meal or just grab a drink and talk with friendly locals or the super friendly bar staff. I often get together with friends and go on Sunday for their Gospel Brunch; you can't help but leave in a great mood after the good food, awesome bloody mary's, and fun soulful singing!
(5)
Elmer j L.
My first time at the Restaurant and brought my family and friends visiting from France and we loved it. The food was great and the staff very friendly. We order the Shrimp with grits, Flank steak with the couscous and the Mahi with veggies. All entrees were very tasty and presented. And for the sweet tooth the Banana cream pie and the pudding. No complaints.
(5)
Paul W.
I came here with a group of 4 on a recent Wednesday afternoon for lunch. As other reviewers have mentioned, I'd heard a lot of hype about this restaurant and I'd read reviews that were pretty much all over the road. Personally, I felt it was nothing more than "A-OK", as 3 stars on Yelp denotes. Pros: -We arrived at about 1:15 p.m. and found plenty of open parking in their lot, and were seated almost immediately (a booth happened to open up just as we were walking in, so once it was cleaned, we were seated right away). -The service was very good. I noticed that all the staff that took care of us on this day were a bit older than I'm used to seeing (not a bad thing) but all were friendly, attentive and threw out a quick joke here and there. -I really enjoyed the decor with the dark woods, leather upholstery, copper ceilings and art deco lighting fixtures. -The presentation and the way they serve their french onion soup is a bit unique and creative IMO. -The warm crumble berry pie with vanilla ice cream that I had a taste of was VERY good, and the cappuccino I ordered was perfect on this wet, drizzly and overcast day. Cons: -I found the lunch menu to be limited. Oddly enough, when I checked out their lunch menu on their website it looked OK, but the menu we were given when we arrived was 1 page, on the front was the food menu which was laid out differently than what I'd seen online, and on the back was the drink and cocktail menu. -When our server offered dessert, he explained that they had no dessert menu to show us, but he could tell us what they had available. After we ordered, our server returned and explained that the selection 2 of us chose was not available. -This place is pricey for what it is. $15 for a lunch salad that left me so unfulfilled that I hit the snack machine immediately once I returned to work? Really?? -My entree salad wasn't very flavorful, nor was the meat that came with it. Another in our party said the amount of cheese on his confit duck pizza was so overwhelming that he had to remove much of it and left it on his plate. -Another tables' drink order was given to us by mistake. It only consisted of 2 drinks, but we took them since we thought these were the drinks that 2 of the people at our table had ordered...Our server arrived a few moments later with our tables' entire drink order. While it was nice for a few of us to get 2 so we didn't need to ask for refills later, this shows a bit of disorganization. I'm not sure if the other table ever got their beverages. -As others have mentioned, this place is loud/noisy inside. Every surface in this restaurant from the wood to the full height windows, the glass lighting fixtures and copper ceilings is all reflective. When we were here the place wasn't even that full, and we still had to speak loudly during our lunch conversation in order to be heard by everyone in our booth. My guess is that the volume becomes deafeningly loud during dinner times and on weekends. I also understand they invite bands to play here at certain times, which must be incredibly noisy. In the end, this lunch experience was just OK. Not bad, but nothing outstanding, either. If someone I was with suggested it, I'd return here. Otherwise, there are too many other options in this general vicinity and in the nearby design district to bother returning to City Hall.
(3)
Lauren S.
Sunday brunch is amazing! Great menu, food, staff is smiley and attentive & best of all is the gospel singing. Joyful & delicious!
(5)
Stephanie L.
A bit slow I suppose, I've been wanting to try City Hall since it opened, and even moreso after hearing some great things about it. Finally made it the other night and managed to find parking in one of their back lots. Inside the restaurant is gorgeous! Like someone said, kind of reminds me of a Disney/Universal version of Gotham City. Tin ceiling, sumptuous leather booths, it is elegant yet not stuffy, the whole thing is very New York and completely fabulous. As soon as we sat down they brought over a cutting board with a huge piping hot roll, crusty on the outside and soft, hot yeasty goodness inside. It came with a sweet maple pecan butter too that was delicious. The two of us weren't exactly starving so we opted to share a salad and the meatloaf. The staff was wonderful and even brought us our own half portions of each. The salad we went with was the buratta, which was a bit less solid than I would have liked. The cheese was disappointingly so gloppy that it was hard to eat with a fork. The tomato though was grilled and fantastically juicy. My overall impression of the salad though was that with the bacon and argula, it was a bit too salty. Kinda sad since I feel it's pretty hard to mess up a caprese salad. For the next course, the meatloaf was like an upscale version of a classic. The meatloaf was very well-cooked and perfectly tender. With the onions and gravy it seemed like a nice throwback to 50s-style home-cooking. My dining partner thought it was a bit too sweet, possibly from ketchup inside, although I thought it was fine. Not WOW-worthy, but decent. However, the side of mac and cheese with maple and chorizo was another huge miss for me! Not only was there no cheese in sight, just some dry macaroni, but it too seemed like someone had been far too liberal with the salt shaker. The chorizo was a nice thought but it was really the only flavor other than the plain pasta that I tasted. None of the dessert options really sounded so enticing that we could resist, but if you want a basic slice of chocolate cake or pie it might be just what you're looking for. Really I have to say again how wonderful and friendly all the staff was, from hostess to waiters, they were wonderful. Also, we were there on a Monday night and while it wasn't completely full, it was still pretty crowded and noise was never a problem for us. Overall I loved the atmosphere and service enough to give it another chance, but I probably won't be going with the same selections...
(3)
Whitney K.
Dear waitstaff: didn't your guidance counselor ever explain to you that no means no?No, I would not like another drink. No, seriously, I really don't want another drink. No, I am not going to choose your recommendations over my own selection. No, I would not like dessert. No, I don't care that it's included in the Miami Spice menu. No, I'm not going to change my mind. If we were on a date, I'm pretty sure you'd be trying to date rape me right about now. While I appreciate the enthusiasm, I don't appreciate your lack of confidence in my ability to make decisions about what I want for dinner. I also think it's a little problematic that I remember your service better than I remember my meal.
(2)
S I.
Was there twice, both times enjoyed good food and friendly service. A great place for a quick lunch. The menu items are great, but the lunch buffet is also a treat. Make sure you try the Chicken Kurma. Their beef items are also quite good, considering not all Indian places serve beef.
(4)
Lourdes D.
You guys, the gospel brunch here is worth praising. See what I did thar? You gotta get the Corn Flakes encrusted French toast and the mushroom and spinach en croute. A mimosa or two doesn't hurt either. Be sure to make reservations between 12:30 - 1:00 p.m. for the gospel tunes. And get ready to sing, too. Side parking available and good times to be had by all.
(5)
Mylo G.
Yeah soooo... Really. Lots of marketing behind this place. Tried the Miami Spice menu for an intro deal & didn't pass. This is definitely not a "come backer". Hype doesn't match the service and food. So'wy
(2)
Cam C.
I've been to this place only once for brunch. I was happily surprised. Even though we didn't have a reservation, the staff was very accommodating. Every single employee was friendly, all smiles, acknowledgeable. Wow! They truly made us feel like home. The food was great. We had salmon and a salad. The mimosas were good as well. The big surprise was the gospel singer walking all around the restaurant, going up and down the stairs entertaining everybody. What a nice lady!!! Everybody was singing and clapping along with her. The place was packed. I can't say enough good things about this place. I will definitely go back.
(5)
Samantha L.
I originally planned to go to this place for the Miami Spice menu and read tons of good reviews, so I decided why not go for a special occassion and decided this would be the spot to hit up for our anniversary celebration. First off, why make reservations if when you get there you have to wait over 30 minutes. Next, I understand that at any venue you want to maximize space but placing a table right next to the doors where the servers come out of is less than pleasing, so as soon as the hostess decided that she would sit us their I kindly declined. She later sat us next to these other two seater tables which I guess yea I am being a bit picky but I'm really not into being all up in peoples space, and mind you there were these two super annoying chics sitting next to us that made the dining experience less than enjoyable. We looked over the Miami Spice menu and realized that what we wanted to try wasn't on it so we quickly switched menus and ordered, now here comes the kicker since I went to this place over a year ago, this place fell so short of my expectations that at this very moment I can't even hardly recall what I ordered. It must have not been that great I do remember that as an appetizer I ordered the french onion soup that tasted like garbage, the cheese and bread were most of what the bowl was consumed with and for me, being the french onion soup lover, there needs to be the perfect broth to cheese to bread ratio. I did try the bread pudding but was definetly not blown away, good but not amazing.
(2)
Patrick F.
Nice place on Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Great comfort food with an upscale twist. Shrimp bisque is great too!
(4)
Juan S.
If you enjoy shouting at the dinner table to someone right in front of you on a Saturday night, this is the place for you. EXTREMELY loud restaurant. Had reservations and was seated about a half hour after the reservation time, with no apology or explanation. Not a good way to start out the night. The food was decent. Not bad, but not great either. Nothing really memorable here. though...maybe I tried the wrong thing?. The service was ok, again nothing special. Doubtful I'd be back.
(2)
Maxine V.
I came here for lunch. I got a turkey burger which was decent. If I ever come back I'll probably try the turkey wrap. We had a large table and the server was ok. No one cleared the table of empty glasses, which annoyed me. It also seemed that the server was only capable of bringing one item at a time. Nothing on the menu seemed to be too impressive. Overall I would only come back for a meeting that someone else set up here.
(3)
Johnny T.
I don't mean to drop a bomb but... no. I came here dressed up after a fancy schmancy party downtown and I was ready to do some serious eating. I'd heard great things about the menu and vibe and I was looking forward to the experience. Things started well enough. Well, sorta. My party was first seated in a pretty undesirable section of real estate but a quick conversation with the hostess later, all was well and butts were in booth. Bueno. Then came the non-bueno. We got there around 10 pm on a Saturday night. Granted, later than the usual dinner crowd but early enough given the restaurant is open until 1. Our came the bread and pecan butter (as good as advertised). Our waiter, while seeming affable, was clearly not in the mood to serve us. Several times (several) while asking questions, he was staring off at other tables or had to ask us to repeat ourselves. Kudos to him for being attentive to *some*one, but when that someone isn't the person in front of you and you're a waiter... problem. Questions asked, we prepared to order. Turns out "there was a big rush on the kitchen earlier in the night" and they were out of a lot of items. Calamari? Gone. Tostones for the scallops? Nowhere to be found. Pork chop? "Let me check on the greens." Why was this restaurant open if there was no food to be served? Annoyed, I settled on a cocktail, resolved to use the men's room and come back to try again. This is where the story takes a dark turn. I am pretty fastidious when it comes to hand washing. Anyone who knows me knows this. So, imagine my horror when I am in the men's room with someone who passes by me as I was *standing* in the men's room (not to be graphic; I'm am trying to convey a sense of location) and walks right out of the door. Mouth ajar and pearls broken from clutching, I washed my hands and returned to my table and recounted my tale of terror... and then I saw him. No. It couldn't be. Surely, he was a guest. It couldn't be that the man I saw leave the bathroom (remember, he had to pass me... as I stood... don't make me completely spell it out) without washing his hands was an employee. He wasn't wearing the same clothes as our waiter (who, by the way, had not yet returned with my cocktail) but, he wasn't wearing street clothes either. Nancy Drew-training in hand, I pretended to take a cell phone call by the bar/kitchen. A few head-tossed cackles and stunned looks as I 'received' shocking news which required me to pace back and forth, darting furtive looks to the kitchen... and I saw him. He had some defining characteristics that were immediately obvious. It was him. I went right back to the table and told me friends of the situation. We had to leave. I don't doubt nasty stuff happens in kitchens all of the time. I don't want to see it. I don't want to know it. There was no way I could have enjoyed my meal knowing what I knew and seeing what I saw. To her credit, the hostess was mortified. She got the manager, asked for a description, knew who it was from the first details, apologized, and promised to resolve it. Nice to know but... I had to leave. Funnily enough, as we packed up, my cocktail came. Par for the course. Sorry City Hall, but you need to clean up your act.
(1)
Amy Jo A.
Two stars for the food. Big group for a business dinner. Restaurant was empty, service was rushed, loud and pushy. There are too many great places to eat to go back here. This was a miss for sure.
(2)
Shanley W.
I had an exceptional experience at City Hall, I was staying at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Miami on Biscayne blvd. The food at the hotel was horribly subpar and I was stuck here at a conference for 4 days. I ate at City Hall 3 out of the 4 days and I wasn't disappointed once! I believe the host goes by Lincoln and he was absolutely gracious. He gave me recommendations for fun things to do in the area and really took care of me. The food was great I highly recommend the mussels, salmon, duck pizza and meatloaf. Mitch was my bartender on the last night and I feel bad I don't remember the young lady who served me but she was great as well. On my third and last visit I felt like a regular. Please give this restaurant a try if your staying anywhere in the area. Our concierges at the hotel kept steering me towards the Doubletree, I went to the Doubletree but I definitely felt more comfortable and taken care of by City Hall and their crew. If I'm ever back in the Miami area I will be sure to stop by and you should as well!
(5)
Nicole K.
I went here for lunch with a friend and it was such a disappointment. I will caveat this slightly passive-agressive review in saying that the menu looked phenomenal and maybe I should have tried ordering something a bit more original, but... Like several other reviewers, the service was very poor. The host first tried to seat us in the very back corner of the restaurant in a super tight table against the wall, even though the place was maybe a quarter full. After insisting a bit, we finally finagled a booth. The waiter seemed very preoccupied and not very into his job. Definitely not friendly. The food was "meh. We started with the eggplant and crab cakes appetizers. Eggplant was very good but the crab cakes were a goopy mess. The corn accompaniment, however, was pretty decent. We both ordered the Reuben sandwich. Now, for $12 ($15 once you include a side) I expect a fairly decent sandwich. What I received was not. It seems that our food was, at various stages of preparation, left out way too long. The bread was incredibly stale, not "grilled" or "toasted" just plane stale. Biting into the sandwich meant the bread pretty much crumbled apart. The meat was also that dark color corned beef can get if left to air dry. The potatoes had to be sent back because they were cold - waiter was not to pleased about that. So for a $36 lunch I ended up with a stale sandwich and pissy attitude. Not cool, city hall. Not cool...
(1)
Luis S.
I guess walking into an almost empty restaurant on a Saturday night should have been my first clue. Clue 2 might have been the hostess scuffing at our request for a booth even tho there was one available. The decor is ok, looks like something out of the Dick Tracy movie. Now on to the food: I would have loved to try the bread with pecan butter but unfortunately the waiter didn't bring it out till we were almost done with our entree. My meal was not bad, fried chicken with mashed potatoes and a biscuit. Honey sauce was a nice touch. My date ordered the lemon butter chicken. This was not impressing at all, and the pasta accompanying it had an odd flavor we could not place. One bright spot was the chorizo mac and cheese. Very Good. But overall I doubt I'd return.
(2)
MissLiteEyes S.
I recently ordered delivery from here! im very picky but the food was amazing! I ordered the fried chicken with red skin mashed potatoes & gravy..sweet corn with a mac&cheese side! OMG I was in heaven it's freshly made..just great! for delivery food I was very impressed I was so confused with the guy taking my delivery order! he is a very lost soul has no idea what he was doing took about 30mins to take my order..needs more training
(4)
Kate L.
Went on a Friday night as a party of seven for a birthday. Not crowded at all and easily accommodated us when we needed to make our reservation later than expected. Sat us upstairs and it was more quiet and intimate which was nice. The experience with the food was meh. The shrimp and grits looks nothing like the picture one user posted on yelp. The grits were dry like mashed potatoes and in a solid form in the middle of the dish. The shrimp were shrimpy--tiny little guys that I'd expect from a frozen bag of Publix shrimp. Edible but certainly not what one would expect. This dish isn't on many menus, and my feeling is that you shouldn't serve it if you can't impress. My boyfriend ordered the filet mignon cooked medium. I can't tell you what the waiter brought out but it was unlike any cut of filet mignon I've ever seen. It was tough and dry and cooked medium well. To his credit, the waiter was very accommodating. He offered for another dish to be brought out and, feeling obligated, we went for the ribeye (which the waiter initially recommended over the filet mignon---which I now realize is because the restaurant did not actually have the cut that night). By this time, most of the table had finished their dishes (portion sizes seem to vary but for most dishes it's on the smaller end). We decided to cancel the ribeye all together and then out walks a server with what appeared to be a skirt steak on a bed of fries. I can't be certain because we didn't let it touch the table, but, in my experience, ribeye has a pretty identifiable shape, and that's not long and thin. The meatloaf was a little dry but ok. The Mac and cheese is light on the cheese but still pretty good. The table seemed to enjoy the scallops but I didn't try that dish. The two desserts we ordered were pretty delicious: Bread pudding and a very chocolatey cake. Would recommend both. I hear brunch is great. I thought the warier was pretty attentive and although he allowed us to order the most expensive item on the menu and served something subpar in its place, I think he responded well to our displeasure. I assume he gets his direction from someone else and has to work with what he's got. His service is the reason I give the restaurant 3 instead of 2 stars. If you head out to City Hall, maybe try a burger of something hard to get wrong. Or just stick with dessert or happy hour.
(3)
Andy R.
Went to city Hall prior to a performace at the Arsht Center. The art deco design is impressive and the dining room is comfortable and energetic. The service was very prompt, almost too prompt. The entrees came out while we were still eating our onion soup. I had finished so the waiter left my entree but took the other three back. The waiter was friendly about it but it's a lapse in service that shouldn't happen in a restaurant such as this. The onion soup itself was a creatively presented but a little disappointing; not enough onions and the wonton was very heavy- I wish it had been stuffed with something rather than just be a wad of dough. Our entrees were all good. I had a nice, tender pork chopand my partner had the very good fried chicken. The martinis we had were excellent' as my friend said " I drink a lot and this is the best martini I ever had!" I would certainly go back, especially as it's convenient to the Arsht Center.
(3)
Rick G.
I had the Miami Spice menu or as they call it here it was the Better Than Miami Spice menu. The chicken has a great sauce that included wild mushroom. The salad had a homemade dressing that tasted like a fantastic combination of cucumber and avocado. Desert was a gigantic chocolate chip cookie; the best I've ever had.
(5)
Elad H.
I took my wife to City Hall for her 31st Birthday dinner and she absolutely loved it. The place is so new, she never heard of it, so she was surprised when we drove up near the disappointing Bengal to this not-quite-so-hidden gem. From the outside, City Hall doesn't look like much. The dark glass obscures the interior but once you step inside, it's hard not to be awed by the beautiful shades of color, the mural, the amazing stained glass, and the open and comfortable atmosphere. We arrived for an early dinner at 6pm on Saturday to find the restaurant empty. We were seated immediately and our waiter wasted no time introducing himself and making friendly small talk. After soaking in the interior a little bit, our eyes devoured the menu. Being Spice Month, of course, we went first to the small white menus but we quickly realized the Spice menu is somewhat lacking while the actual menu is almost overflowing with incredible sounding dishes. The one dish that I knew my wife would love and was raved about here on Yelp was the Seafood Pot Pie, which unfortunately is no longer available. I guess it was too time consuming and expensive to produce. It's a shame, but there's a lot more great stuff on the menu. It was very difficult to decide what to order, since so much sounded delicious. We decided on two appetizers and two entrees (Spice-style). We got the Guiness braised mussels with chorizo and crispy calamari with pomodoro and a lemon pepper aioli. The mussels were prepared very well with a thick sauce and pieces of meat mixed in that gave the dish a smoky flavor. It came with two pieces of cheese-coated bread that were PERFECT for dipping. The calamari was excellent, as well, large pieces with a flaky crust and two distinct dipping sauces. For our main dishes, we decided on the scallops with black bean salsa and a filet mignon with crispy brussel sprouts and potato gratin. Both dishes were excellent. The scallops were plump and seared well, the black bean and corn salsa complimented the scallop very well. It was a fairly straightforward but satisfying dish. The filet mignon came topped with a blue cheese crumble and was easily one of the best steaks I've had in awhile. There was a lot going on that plate, with the delicious brussel sprouts and the bacon-topped potatoes. I tried my best finish it all but did not succeed. Finally, dessert. We chose the chocolate croissant bread pudding and were amazed at the texture and the excessive chocolate-ness of the dish. It comes with a beautiful presentation and a large portion. Also, I could not mention our meal without a nod to the excellent pecan-butter that comes with the complimentary bread. It was so flavorful we knew from our first bite at City Hall that we would have an amazing meal. And that we would back to try it again.
(4)
Desiree P.
Props to the owner and chef! You have done something beautiful right here on Biscayne Blvd ! Finally a decent American restaurant on this neighborhood Went here with my parents for dinner and couldn't have been more pleased. The owner is welcoming and the staff very friendly. Everything we ate was delicious , portions are big enough to share ( at least some of them) The pecan butter they served with a freshly baked bread was so delicious that we had to ask for more. never taste any butter like that before... For appetizers we had the Guinness Braised Mediterranean Mussels with Homemade Chorizo in tomato /garlic sauce ( pretty delicious, with a soft spice touch, full of flavor) and the Onion soup ( oh dear, that was something...Sooo good!) For entrees we had Grilled Pork Chop with Bourbon whipped Sweet Potatoes ( I dont eat pork that often, and was really impressed with this one. Everyone at the table had a taste of it and liked it a lot. The meat was tender, the sauce very rich)) The meat loaf with Chorizo-Maple Mac'n Cheese was pretty yummy and good enough to share as well. LOVED the Mac'n Cheese here! . The desserts were to die for , but the chocolate Banana Cream Pie with Caramel drizzles & shaved Chocolate was by far our favorite! Will definitely come back for more. Cant wait for Sunday's Brunch .
(4)
David R.
I've been their twice and its only ok, at best. The food profiles are so busy - lets throw more salt, fat, sweet, sour, etc on a plate - the only problem is that its not good. Had the pork twice, Big piece of meat, but the collard greens and sweet potatoes were inedible. NO subtlety. The skirt steak also has all sorts of flavors going on - olives, cheese, etc. Not good. The scallops on the menu mention plantains I think - it had two chips from a bag. The desserts are like NY - but maybe like a diner. Big, sweet, but no yums at the table. Obviously the other reviews are folks who want this to succeed...as do I, but get a new chef.
(2)
Lillian D.
Went there for lunch for the first time, it was fantastic! You must try the goat cheese, gorgonzola & fig pizza, it was to die for. The chocolate croissant bread pudding was orgasmic. The tri-color potatoes were incredible. The service was great; the wait staff was friendly, helpful and funny. The hostess and maître D were also friendly & welcoming. Overall a wonderful experience, I will go again.
(4)
B Lauren S.
I'd been wanting to try this place out, considering its relatively close to me, and I'm always looking for new places! I didn't make a reservation, considering it was a monday, I didn't think it was needed.. I do think they prefer (was asked upon entering), however, I was seated promptly. The service was very friendly, and very attentive. Throughout our entire meal the servers were checking on us, bringing us things.. and I didn't have an empty glass or plate sitting in front of me, which is a huuuge deal to me. ..So.. I'm usually a wino, but decided to try some of their signature cocktails.. I had the, key to the city?(i think) which was delicious! The wine list prices were completely reasonable. (Good to know for future).. Bread is offered with a pecan butter, which I didn't get to try due to allergies, but my husband loved it... they were kind enough to bring me regular butter without hesitation. We started out with the mussels which were brought out steaming and hot, and we saved some of that bread for dipping.. SO good.. At first we were thinking they were all tiny tiny mussels, but managed to find some larger ones on the bottom :) .. for our meals I had the salmon with jasmine rice.. I love salmon, and this was cooked perfectly. I was so full yet tried to finish every last bite. My husband had the peppered strip steak, slightly overcooked but nothing to complain about, still very delicious. It came with a creamed spinach. We also order the tri colored potatoes.. Everything we ordered was fantastic. I hope it maintains consistency for my next time around.. 4 stars for atmosphere.. It wasn't a place I could see myself going and hanging out for drinks after.. We ate finished our drinks and left. Although, benefit of the doubt, it was early on a Monday, so there was not much of a crowd to people watch just yet.. I'm not sure what time of crowd they're aiming for.. its fine dining without the white tables cloths, so casual enough for jeans, yet, dressier than flip flops. Maybe a business casual approach. I plan to go back, hoping everything is just as good as the first time! Oh- Parking lot out back, bonus.. valet was very nice as well..
(4)
Susan T.
We arrived last night at 9 pm and the first thing that we noticed was the bad lighting. Way too bright, we we pointed out immediately. Fortunately, shortly after walking in you are greeted by a VERY friendly and courteous host and hostess who were both smiling and seated us immediately. That's actually very refreshing and an unusual experience in Miami. Our server was also great. He gave us suggestions, knew the menu well, and just seemed at ease and comfortable with us, but at the same time, very professional. The way that you wish every server in Miami was!!! The suggestion for the tuna tartare came from both the server and the guy who brought us water, so we felt that was a must. We opted for a bunch of appetizers, versus ordering main courses, so we could share more of a variety- tuna tartare, the mussels, the duck pizza and a side order of creamed spinach. The tuna tartare, although a nice presentation, lacked flavor. I blamed this last night on the fact that I just returned from Italy, where the food has so much more flavor than here, but I think it just lacked seasoning. Either that or it was refrigerated for too long, I can't really put my finger on it! The mussels, were tasty, but they didn't stand out. The best thing that we ordered was the duck pizza, but that also seemed to be missing something. The spinach was good, but was a little dry for creamed spinach. Overall, the food was decent, but there is definitely room for improvement.
(3)
Tessie B.
I was really excited to try this new place out. I think both the name and the location are extremely clever. It was pretty busy on a Tuesday night, but the host should have told us the wait was 45 min instead of 15 min and then increasing it in 10 min intervals. Trying to get the attention of the bartender was a mission in itself. It seemed as though the bartender was overwhelmed and did not know how to make 2 mixed drinks simultaneously. We ended up just finding seats at the bar and ordering the duck confit pizza (which is more like flatbread style) and the mussels. The duck pizza was alright, but I must admit the mussels were absolutely delicious. What DID bug me was that it was not a significantly large portion and 4 mussels were closed shut. For dessert we had the banana cream pie which was good, just difficult to split because it comes in this long sundae glass. The food was at best, average. Not sure if I'll be back, maybe if some friends are going and they want company.
(2)
NY C.
This place was located near my brother's apartment, so we (5 people) thought we would give it a try. Everything about this place - the ambiance, size, comfort-food menu, service, pricing, was spot-on! The space is huge, w/2 floors, TVs, a full bar, and booths large enough for 6 people. The ambiance was casual, yet upscale. I could see a lot of finance people dining here, mixing w/sports fanatics and families w/kids. There is something for everyone. The food was slammin'! I highly recommend the duck confit pizza, the fried chicken, the short rib stuffed potato skins (whaaat???) and their enormous "timpano" (indescribably delicious pasta dish w/meatballs s& sausage stuffed in a huge domed calzone shell). That timpano could feed 4 people, it was so large. We believe it weighed about 5 lbs, if not more! It's been several days and we STILL have leftovers! For dessert, we managed to choke down their delicious caramel-drizzled banana cream pie (DEEEEE-lectable). Our server was so warm, sweet and friendly. She had an adorable personality and a great sense of humor. She accommodated substitutions for us without so much as a blink of an eye, and came back to check on us every now and then to make sure we were okay, but without being intrusive at all. The bread they served was warm and delicious, the wine list was great, my nephew got to watch the game while eating, the prices were decent ($15-30 range) for what you got, I could go on and on. We recommended this place to about 6 people already, and we can't wait to go back next time!
(5)
Angel D.
I like this place a lot. The service is good and the place has a very cool vibe. For appetizer I would suggest the potato skins. For your entree, definitely try the meat loaf. I am not a big meatloaf fan, and usually will not order it, but my girlfriend tried it, so I had a little. Wow. Best dish there. I have also had the salmon and the filet miginon, both very good. The fried chicken was not impressive. Make reservations, as this place gets packed pretty quickly.
(4)
Alex G.
Super hip Miami vibe, loud and crowded but not in a negative way. We sat upstairs, which is not as good as downstairs (next time I'll specifically reserve a booth downstairs). Still, the atmosphere is cool and urban, and the place hopping with upscale eye candy and Rolex watches. The menu is New American comfort food, with no dish over $30 - a real treat in Miami. They even have a prix fix menu of three courses for $35. The bread and walnut maple butter was amazingly good, and the drink menu was top notch. Unfortunately, it took a LONG time for food to arrive. Very slow. And employees kept dropping things - trays, dishes, etc - which was somewhat unnerving. Appetizers were solid, but uninspiring. Calamari was a tad stringy and oily; I have had better elsewhere. Onion soup was creatively served, but lacked strong flavor -- fairly mundane tasting. The main courses shined, and the portions were large. The filet mignon with crispy brussel sprouts and potato cake was outstanding, and perfectly prepared. The pork chop with collard greens was extremely tasty -- and a darn big chop to boot. The tuna steak was sliced and served rare -- absolutely delicious and boat-fresh. The scallops were also excellent and perfectly cooked. As an aside, the drink menu was creative and well made, with delicious drinks made with fresh ingredients. Overall, a 3.5 star restaurant, certainly fun for a night out; I may not run back, but I would not hesitate to join friends if they suggested this venue.
(3)
C R.
The decor is nice and upscale, but I was a little disappointed on my first visit to City Hall for lunch. I ordered a BBQ beef brisket sandwich on texas toast with potatotes, and seafood chowder for an appetizer (a "special"). The chowder was a mixed seafood array with shrimp, calamari and fish-- it was ok, sort of light on flavor in the broth. My sandwich which I was expecting to be amazing was disappointing-- it was very salty and very fatty. It was as if they didn't trim any of the large fat chunks from the side of the beef before serving it. I love BBQ of all kinds and I have never had anything served to me that tasted sooo salty. I don't get it. I only ate a few bites and discarded the rest (I rarely do that). It was $20 for sandwich and soup, so it's a bit pricey for being on a relatively dead area of Biscayne Blvd and not that great on taste.... Probably won't return here. My friend that was dining with me also had similar feedback on his lunch entre as well.
(2)
Don E.
One of the worst dining experiences I've had in Miami. Hostess was too busy having fun with co-hostess and manager to help anyone. A kind couple was getting up from bar and offered their seats, but, warned us of the poor service at the bar...man was she right. The disinterested, nose dripping bartender was less than attentive. I'm still waiting for my water. The manager who was too busy to deal with our channel change request asked his other bartender to ask "what we wanted to change the channel to" and we never received a response, let alone rational reason. Food was average at best. The only thing that is unconventional about the French Onion Soup, is that it is NOT GOOD. Too many good places in Miami, with GOOD SERVICE to bother with this place. My only positive feedback is that the valet was courteous and quick, maybe because the lot wasn't full....speaks volumes!!!
(1)
Tito C.
Reviews raved about the chocolate bread pudding. Pudding missing in action. Thus, it was not a pudding nor a custard but a whipped cream and croissant concoction which this restaurant called a bread pudding dessert. Also, methinks that if the restaurant wants its patrons to pass by the kitchen door on the way to the restrooms, the restaurant should keep the kitchen floor clean or SHUT THE KITCHEN DOOR. My grandma thought me that if the kitchen was not clean, don't expect a clean bathroom. Not only was the bathroom not clean but the toilet did not work and it was apparent that it had not been working for a while. The bathroom/kitchen disappointment paled to the bumper car experience of the wait staff trying to move between their kitchen work stations and the customers trying to get to the bathrooms. However, all paled in comparison to the mediocre food. Too heavy a dressing on the wedge salad, could have done without the couscous with my skirt steak. It was not a good flavor combination between the lemony/tomato flavor of the couscous and the overly sweet glaze on the steak. My table companion had the turkey burger and scraped off the spinanch/mushroom combination. By the way, the first glasses of wine ordered were rejected. They tasted more like vinegar. For that style restaurant, the meal took almost 2 hours.
I had read about City Hall since its opening and then heard about it from a friend who posted on FB that it was great..and so wanting to try a new restaurant about two weeks ago I took the opportunity to go with friends who had just arrived from Italy for a one week vacation. Sad to say that I wish I had taken them somewhere else. Our arrival was good, host welcomed us and we were very impressed with the look of the restaurant. It has a NYC feel to it when you walk in and certainly looks like they spent quite a bit of money when building the restaurant. Too bad that the service after our arrival went downhill. I would not say it's terrible service, but it's definitely not what I expect at a restaurant of this caliber. For the most part, it's EXTREMELY casual and inattentive...or may I call it as I did when I was speaking to my friend the other day and telling her about my experience......its "flamboyantly casual". Food on the other hand was good and tasty. It's a bit busy with a lot of different flavors and portions are a good size (or some may think big). Desert not so good! Overall based on my experience, I would not recommend it or go back. Been there..done that! Now if you want to know some details....I'll share a few...We get seated and at first the server seemed ok as he welcomed us. They automatically brought flat water to the table which is fine, except that we drink sparkling...we asked for sparkling and they brought it and left the flat on the table then continued to mix our water throughout the night with the flat water or continued to bring out the flat, instead of the sparkling...it was just confusing to them. As we were browsing the menus, I was finished with my before dinner drink and asked for the wine list to order a glass of wine. We decided to order a bottle, I gave the list to our friend who is very versed with his wines. As he is browsing the list, the server came by and said "my God it's only a glass of wine" at this point not realizing that we decided to order a bottle of a wine. I happen to find his comment a bit casual and not needed. Then as our server is taking our order he noticed a friend of his sitting at the bar and literally yelled his name from our table to say hello. They said their hello's without having any calms about the fact that we were in the middle of placing our order. My husband and I decided to try the Spice Menu and after the server took all of our orders I realized my husband had not ordered his desert that typically comes with the Spice Menu and so I asked our server to add the second desert, the server told me that the Spice only included one dessert per two people (I guess I didn't read the fine print) but after telling me that its one desert per two people he then said he would bring it anyhow. Ok not so bad at this point. When our appetizers came to the table the food runner brought out everyone's appetizer except for mine...but instead brought out the seafood gumbo which none of us ordered. Our server came by to browse at the table to see if all was okay but did not ask if all was okay and walked away. By this time I am a little ticked about the lack of service and off course was waiting to see if he noticed that I didn't get my appetizer...but since he didn't notice, my husband called him over and brought to his attention that my appetizer was missing. The server asked ME what I ordered although he wrote everything down....I told him and said he could take the gumbo away but he told me to keep it "there is nothing I could do with it now" he said. We ate our appetizers and enjoyed them...even the Gumbo was good. At the table we shared the Tuna Tartare..which was very good. For main I had the Pork Chop which was delightful...it was very tender and tasteful. After our main course the server then came back to ask me what deserts I had ordered as he didn't remember...again, he wrote this down...now I had to remember what it was I ordered..so I had so I had to ask him to repeat the choices and I then chose the two that I thought I ordered. Thankfully we were full from the appetizers and main because by the time desert came we were full and unfortunately the cheesecake and the bread pudding were not as delightful as they sounded. When looking around staff were standing by chit chatting and they all seemed confused and all over the place so it wasn't just our server. The staff definitely needs training on how to work at an upscale restaurant ....and if the restaurant is not meant to be upscale, then it needs to lower its prices and present itself differently. This is not a restaurant I would frequent even if the service was good because the menu selections are not that enticing and the food is heavy, but if they could get the service together, then the experience would be much better.
(2)
Brad H.
Really pretty average. I may have given the food 3 stars but the poor service bumped it to only 2. Went with the family for Mother's Day brunch and service was really pretty bad. Omelette, pancakes etc we good but not in any way remarkable.
The hummus was fantastic. I got the Thai Steak Salad. The steak was not cooked to the temp requested and was frankly a little blue and cold. If it had been warm it would have been okay. My husband got the meatloaf (huge piece, enough for four) and the Chorizo Maple Mac and Cheese. He said the meatloaf was good but the mac and cheese was too spicy. Service was fantastic. I am not sure I would go back.
(3)
Hamlet G.
I love to eat lunch at city hall , its lunch menu is just delicious and fast with a great price!
(4)
Steve W.
Nice atmosphere and overall good vibe but pretty pedestrian food, nothing really special . But I'd say my experience was marred by poor service which has nothing to do with the kitchen. The waitstaff is amicable and does make an effort but they could be understaffed perhaps? I'd say the manager and owner need to pay closer attention to service. I waited close to 40 minutes to pay my check. The waiter had a large party he was just sat and never stopped back to get my check. I dropped it off to the manager who was sitting at the at bar eating. We waited even longer as they dropped my credit card behind their service stand. After it all was done they wanted to offer us 10% off the bill. You get that at Yelp Check in. At that point and he just looked at me and said 20%. AND the owner was there watching this unfold, didn't even offer an apology or say anything which was surprising as I've heard he's a decent guy. I suggested they comp the check as it really ruined the dining experience. I'd go again but given the fact that there are many other choices in area,not so sure.
(2)
Spencer A.
Looking to have an amazing brunch serenaded the acclaimed singer, songwriter, and actress, Maryel Epps? Look no further than City Hall and listen to South Florida's most exciting diva pound out gospel, jazz and blues. The food? I hardly noticed...but my turkey burger was good enough and everyone in my party seemed happy. The service? We were upstairs and our poor waiter was having to trek the food up and down. There was some delay in getting the order in and right. A 20% tip was already included. But who cares when it's brunch and Ms. Epps is rocking the house? The downstairs was crowded with pretty people. I loved it and will be back. But would prefer to sit downstairs. Valet parking $5. Should be free in my opinion.
(4)
Jasmine L.
I was in town for a few days, staying at the Hilton, and picked City Hall for a late lunch. I sat at the bar and Danny recommended the tuna tartare. I also ordered the maple chorizo mac and cheese. Both were amazing!! The $8 "side" of mac and cheese was HUGE. I was more than satisfied. I had great conversation with Danny, who also gave me a little espresso as my after lunch treat. This place is a real gem. I'm so happy I stumbled upon it during my trip.
(5)
Momo B.
OPENING SCENE MEMORABLE Not too distant from the performing arts center, the first impression is memorable. Cleverly they titled their prix fixe menu as their Performer's Dinners. As I had expressed as my Yelp tip, it may be more advantageous and less mentally taxing to select from their time tested program. We ordered with the intention to share. Salad, appetizer, pork chop, rib steak, and carrot cake accompanied by ice cream. Collectively more than enough food and even detrimental to staying awake during a live theater performance or movie. LoL. The pork chop takes first prize as outatanding performance. Grilled rib steak would have been better served as a prime rib. My other concern would be the noise level generated from their loft. Even with the high ceiling, the loud microphone usage diminished what should have been a very stylish and upscale dining experience. It's just a personal preference for a quiet setting when the prices are $$$.
(4)
Ivan H.
What makes a great place are so many things especially if an owner is not present, which we found out later the case. The decor is modern chic. Comfortable tables and a very nice bar. The food starting with the bread with the pecan butter, to the crab cakes and clams, were outstanding. Did I say the bread was to die for? Or was it the butter...simply wow. I had the Veal Chop bone in and it was amazing. I asked for medium rare and it was done just right. All this was on their Miami Spice menu which was highly recommend which I also highly recommend. Desserts were another surprise. I had their carrot cake which was good but their bread pudding was something to behold. Presentation to the last course was again, a level above the rest. The front managers Ian and Reggie were as professional as can be and checked on our table several times throughout the meal as did the server and even food runner. If you're looking for a wonderful dining experience, be sure to pay them a visit. You won't be disappointed. And ask for Reggie.
(5)
Elena S.
Food was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Came here after a terrible experience at Prohibition on midtown. This place NEVER disappoints! The service was great and the food was even better. Got a great Pinot Grigio for $35! The bread is delicious. Melts in your mouth with that sweet maple butter! I had the churrasco with couscous!!! Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm My date had grilled lemon chicken with linguini. So amazing!!!! Can't wait to come back and have this dish again Good for the bread pudding after
(5)
Ann W.
This restaurant is conveniently located near the downtown Miami Hilton. Nice ambience and comfortable booth seating. The waitstaff are professional and attentative. The food is just okay. I had the Thai steak salad and the portion was ample with lots of meat and arugula. It was drenched in a sickly sweet Thai basil dressing that overpowered the taste of the meal. I think it would have been fine if I had asked for the dressing on the side but didn't and was disappointed. Don't think I will go back on future visits to Miami.
(3)
Athina L.
One of the best dining experiences in Miami. A must. Steve Haas did it with this one.
(5)
Rich B.
Excellent Corvinha and dessert too! Loved our salads mine the spinach and wifes chopped. Service excellent too thank you Derrick! Even friendly when they took our last min Friday reservation. We will be back when in Miami.
(5)
Natalia P.
We went for miami spice and it was a group of 12. The service was great and the food was delicious! The mahi was a little dry... The seafood pasta entree from the miami spice menu was delicious. Ohhhh.... Highly recommend the Brussels sprouts!! Sooooo good.
(4)
Donna J.
Great fast service. The burger with brie, carmelized onion and bacon was delicious - and huge. The girls ate pizza and part of our burger. Wish we could have stayed for a more relaxed dinner. Next show at The Arsht Center we will be here.
(5)
Roselin S.
This is my favorite spot for Sunday brunch. If you arrive around Noon or so, stick around for gospel music. It is truly a unique and memorable experience: gospel Sunday + divine cuisine! Can't beat the corn flake crusted french toast, it is absolute perfection and the portion is large enough to share as a dessert among 3-4 in a group OR as an entree for 1-2. For a true brunch meal, the short rib with fried egg is delish.
(5)
Brittany P.
So we went during Sunday gospel brunch. A little loud but great experience nonetheless. Service was decent but food was pretty good and atmosphere was popping!
(4)
Jacquelyn B.
Can I give negative stars? I just called to place a Togo order and was told the kitchen is closed because they have been slow. Don't want to be slow, be able to serve people when you advertise to be open.
(1)
Alissa W.
We went for the Gospel brunch on Sunday and had a blast !!! I was looking for a brunch place for us to eat in my area. I wanted to try something new, then I remembered a neighbor telling me about Gospel brunch. We decided to check it out. I got the smoked salmon bagel that had truffle flavor was really good and enormous ! I only could eat half. I have to say the waiter forgot a few things from the order. The service could have been better I admit. The concept is fun and I will definitely be back !
(4)
Theresa F.
We had brunch here (and I'm not a brunch person) and it was FANTASTIC. Both dishes we ordered were simple, clean, and well portioned. Service was great and so was the coffee. Laid back and versatile atmosphere. Would make the most casual outfitted person to the most decked out church-goer feel comfortable here. Thank you, Check Please for the suggestion!
(5)
Joseph C.
Find some Comfort @ City Hall Miami A few of my friends and I decided to visit City Hall Restaurant after the theater. Nice high ceilings, brightly lit and comfortable setting, city hall features all American traditional comfort foods. I had the meatloaf and chorizo maple mac & cheese and it was delicious. Try the lychee martini to start, yum. Ready for an uncomplicated all American dining experience, City Hall is the place!
(4)
Mitchell F.
This was a fantastic find! We had a discount coupon, but even without a discount the food's quality far exceeded the price. One of their signature dishes, is a modified, upscale BLT with blood orange reduction. I asked for a side cup of the blood orange reduction because it was so fantastic. The server was very knowledgeable about the menu, made great (honest) suggestions, and we loved every bite! This is a highly recommend restaurant if you happen to be in Miami!
(5)
Laura A.
Went to City Hall for the 3rd time this afternoon during their Gospel Brunch, and once again, I was not disappointed. The food and service is fantastic, and the live music during brunch was a nice touch. Must Haves: The meatloaf & chorizo maple mac & cheese. Best I've had. EVER. Chocolate croissant bread pudding for dessert. YES. CROISSANT. You read that right. Also, wine bottles are available at affordable prices. Overall, great experience every time.
(5)
Mark C.
The service let me start by saying was AMAZING! The host was ok. The waiter on the other hand was super friendly and was always checking up on to make sure our cup was full of water and when it wasn't the manager him self came to fill it. The waiter told us the special of the day it sounded great so we went ahead and got that. No mistake there it was amazing so so amazing and the bread with pecan butter just did it! Then the dessert came the banana cream pie omg too good I melted with the first bite! I honestly wish I was hungrier so I could have fit more because any of the food I know would have been good! In the end I didn't care so much about my budget my taste buds and stomach were satisfied to the max! Since I live so close now I know I'll be going there regularly. When ever you get a chance to swing by do it!
(5)
Amaranta M.
Great lunch menu! I had soup, jambalaya and dulce de leche for desdert for $11.50 :D Definetly going back!
(4)
Maris D.
Hands down, the most perfectly executed burger I've had EVER! Seriously. And I eat A LOT. Order it as the appetizer so you can still try some of their other goodies. The service is sometimes a 10 and sometimes a 5. Trying out that Miami pretentious thing I guess. Please stop.
(4)
Jessica E.
My new favorite place! MUST TRY Skirt Steak dish YUMMY Staff was amazing !
(5)
Yahaira A.
I LOVE City Hall. A great addition to the neighborhood! My first visit was for lunch (took my boss for his birthday) and it was GREAT - food, atmosphere, service and price. I thought the service for lunch was stellar but when I went back for dinner I was floored. I took my fiance there for his birthday dinner and it was the most outstanding meal ever. Our server was funny, knew the menu inside out, had great recommendations, was extremely accommodating and attentive. Applause to the front manager for outstanding staff. The food is just DELICIOUS, something for everybody. I have no complaints about anything I've tried to date. Two thumbs up to the Chef for taste, creativity and quality. The only reason I didn't give City Hall five stars is because of the poor serve at the bar. A young hostesses saved my dinner experience on my third visit for dinner. If not for her my experience would have been a real downer because of the bartender. He wasn't attentive (not only to my section but the entire bar which wasn't slammed), he made mistakes on numerous orders, had no customer service skills, looked annoyed to be there, etc. He may have had a bad night but I've heard the same from friends that decided to have a casual meal at the bar. All-in-All OUTSTANDING!
(4)
Jennifer P.
Worst restaurant experience ever! The waitress was unfriendly and was annoyed when we asked to exchange a drink. We were celebrating my husbands bday and I had call beforehand so that they could sing to him. They completely forgot which just added to the horrible experience. The food was ok, nothing impressive. Would not recommend this place or return again.
(1)
Johanna S.
My pancakes were RAW on the inside!!! I couldn't even believe it! On top of that management didn't even comp it!! Really upset with this place. We complained and they still charged us for the crappy food. They didn't even care. Such a bad experience. Please don't go here.
(1)
Brenda P.
MIAMI SPICE REVIEW Went on a Sunday during brunch hours which are 10-4pm. Used their $4 valet service which was both convenient and inexpensive. Half of us did the Miami Spice menu and the other half ordered off the regular menu. In a nutshell, the food was great, the place has a great vibe but the service was lackluster. The restaurant is a mix between masculine and art deco decor. There are booths, tables and high tops. They started us with some heartwarming hot bread with pecan maple butter. It was absolutely perfect. We also had some bloody Mary's. Those were good too. Our waiter was nice but aloof to the entire process. I don't know if it was his first day or if he just could not care less to be there and do his job well. These were our choices: * Mussels- regular menu. Delicious * Mixed Baby Greens- cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrot, avocado, toasted sunflower seed herb dressing that tasted like peanut and we loved. * Thai Steak salad- regular menu- good * Lemon Caper Shrimp Fettuccine- regular menu- Delicious * House Blend Meatloaf- this was really great. The meatloaf was moist and the mashed potatoes were dreamy. The green beans were crisp and do I really have to explain crispy onions? mmm mmm mmm * Chocolate Bread Pudding- exceptional * Chocolate Crunch Cake- Delicious The mussels were brought out but it took several minutes to get plates and silverware for them. Three of us had finished with the appetizers but I was still working on my salad. They removed everyone's plate, left me eating and brought out the entrees. Um, hello, I am still eating the salad can you not see that? Badly timed. At least they did refresh the silverware in between courses. I finally finished my salad and that plate stayed there until we finished our entrees. Once the entrees came out I realized we had ordered a chorizo mac & cheese and we never got it. When I inquired about it our waiter looked a little lost. He left to find out and then said "Oh yeah, we don't offer that during lunch" (even though by now it was about 3:00 and their dinner service begins at 4:00pm). He could have said that too when I ordered it first no? Then once again, one of us was still eating while the remaining dishes had been cleared. Our waiter started to set our table for desserts and was ready to take our orders. When I mentioned that we were not ready for dessert he picked up the spoons he had started to put down, briefly apologized and left. We also ate the entire time with the bread crumbs noticeably still on the table from when they first brought out the bread. We also had to remind him several times for drinks and other small things. There was a gospel jazz singer who sang on this day. She had a great voice and was entertaining. She walked around and had people sing along with her, etc.(even owner Steven Hass sang!) At one point though, she decided to sing the national anthem (odd choice during lunch) and then got upset because people were still talking and SHHHHHH'd everyone. That was random. I agree the anthem demands respect but it was also not the time nor the place to sing it. Overall though, it was nice to have live music with our meal. I have an upcoming event here on a weekend night and I am eager to see how it compares (and maybe have some of that chorizo mac & cheese). I really had a good time and I loved every single item we ate. For that, it gets 4 stars.
(4)
Dorrell C.
The decoration in this restaurant is gorgeous the food is to die for and the staff is very friendly, I love this place
(5)
Steve K.
We flew into Miami and stayed the night before traveling to the Keys. I asked the front staff at our hotel for a recommendation for a burger and a beer, and they said to try City Hall down the street. My wife and I walked on down the road and found the restaurant. We walked in and were intimidated by the place. It seem a little more on the upscale side. White table cloths and people dress in business casual dress ( we had just gotten off a plane and we were wearing shorts and t-shirts). The hostess greeted us with a smile and sat us upstairs. Our waiter came up right away and when asked to suggest a local beer he asked a couple of questions and guided me to a Florida beer, that turned out to be very tasty (monk in the trunk). Looking at the menus, my wife and I were kinda hesitant. There was one burger on the menu. We ordered the burgers and waited. When the burgers came out I was floored. A nice big juicy burger with bacon, cheese and caramelized onions. My first bite was heaven. Truly this might be one of the best burgers I have ever had. They put a basil aioli that pulls the whole burger together. Now I know that the atmosphere has a lot do with your experience. I don't know if being on a plane all day, had anything to do with it, but this was a damn good burger. The restaurant is nice and is decorated nicely. There were a couple of large groups eating when we were seated, but it seemed like the kitchen had no problem getting their orders out. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgable. I am definitely recommending their burger and their restruant.
(5)
Joseph J.
I just don't understand the low-ish ratings. We were a group of 15. The salmon (fresh) was cooked med-rare and was one of the best meals I ever had. Spectacular! Fresh fish cooked med rare, where it jus flakes off, can't be beat. And I'll be looking for the house Char. I really liked it but my wife probably wouldn't have liked it but then---- who's right, anyway!
(5)
Megan M.
Came in with my mom for Miami Spice. I tried their bread pudding at this year's Iron Fork and it was to die for, so I thought I'd come in to see if everything else on the menu was just as tasty. Service and ambiance are great here. Too bad the food didn't measure up. My mom had the mussels which she enjoyed for her appetizer. My vegetable soup tasted like it came from a can. For entrees, we both got the steak. The side of fries were really good- crispy and flavorful, but the steak was SO fatty. No kidding, half my steak was fat. Dessert was the winner. The bread pudding was delicious. I'd come back for coffee and bread pudding, but that's about it!
(3)
Monica B.
We came here to celebrate and it was honestly such a great experience. We got there before our reservations, but we were immediately seated anyway. The ambiance is so cool and it has a great "retro" feel. Our server was very helpful with his recommendations, since we had never been here. My boyfriend ordered a filet mignon and I ordered the rib eye and both were outstanding. We both LOVED the butter they give with the bread. The dessert, a croissant bread pudding, was out of this world, but its size got the best of us. lol The best part of the meal were the drinks!! They are generous with the alcohol and the tastes are all very distinctive and yummy. Kinda of pricey but appropriate for a special day.
(4)
Charity Z.
First let me say packed! We had a reservation and they seated us immediately. We were 12 and it wasnt an issue. I gave this place a 4 mainly because of the service and the pecan butter, i could bathe in the the butter! Omg the butter is so good ,i bought an 8oz tub to take home. This place is in the heart of biscayne oh and what a gem. I loved everything about this place. The crowd,the ambiance,the food,the service. Ill tell you, a bit pricey but worth it. To start i had the eggplant parm and oh what a treat. The scallops with potatoe croquette ...something...amazing, everything else ordered by our party was pretty good, but im jumping straight to dessert! The warm chocolate croissant bread pudding is all i can say. what a dream! Id come here everyday just to have it. It mealts in your mouth.The marriage of the food and capacity of my wallet blend perfectly. Definetly will be back!
(4)
Cat E.
First you must know that I'm super picky. I have been to City Hall a couple of times. All the previous times have been good and satisfactory but this last time was exceptional. The food was good and the service was great! My friend and I order the lunch special short ribs, the turkey melt w/herb mayo instead of mustard and both dishes were good. To top it off, we ordered cookies which were to die for! At first I thought they were going to be hard because of how big they are but they were the complete opposite, soft and warm, with chocolate chip melted inside. Our lunch suddenly got better when we were offered milk to go with our delicious cookies. Now the service... We had a late lunch and they seem to be in the middle of a shift change, so we had two great waiters who were very pleasent, friendly and really made us feel like they wanted us to have a fun and pleasent time. Each time they came to our table, they had excellent timing (inlcuding the rest of the team, the person who refilled our water, and the person who helped clean our table) and great attitude. I eat lunch out (a lot) in the edgewater area, this includes midtown, wynwood, and the biscayne area and most of the places are okay, but I was very impressed with City Hall, it was a great balance with the food and service and has been consistently ok to great, never a horrible experience. I say Ok to GRAT because shit (exuse me) does happen, and service industry can be hard (i can only imagine, so I have to have some consideration). Some background - It wasn't too busy, wasn't too loud, and it was a late lunch. Thanks City Hall.
(5)
Paul E.
City Hall was near our hotel, so we tried it out for dinner one night. Duck confit pizza with fig was a great starter--probably enough for a meal. It's a nice mixture of salty and sweet. I had meat loaf with maple mac and cheese as an entree. The meat loaf was very nice, and the serving was tremendous. That maple mac and cheese is awesome. It sounds a little strange, but it's really just a touch of syrup--just enough that you notice it. It's unusual and definitely worth trying. On a second visit, I had the scallops, which were also fantastic. I might skip the appetizer if I ever go back. It was too much rich food to finish. It's a little too expensive, maybe, but the food and service are excellent.
(4)
Sandra M.
On New Year's Day before attending a show at the Arsht Center my friends and I decided on trying out City Hall. Lucky enough it was conveniently located and it was a great experience. The ambiance at the restaurant is very nice, the decor is very inviting and I noticed there was a large room on the second floor. Our server was very attentive and animated. He knew the menu well and he was able to make recommendations. The food was overall good. We had the wings and calamari for appetizer, the complimentary bread with pecan butter was to die for! As my dinner I had the meatloaf with a side of Mac and cheese, I was not a huge fan of the meatloaf nor the Mac and cheese I've had better. One of my friends had the shrimp pasta which was very yummy, and the other shared a ribeye. For dessert we had the apple crisp which was delicious. I will definitely come back to City Hall especially since I work nearby. Let me not forget that I tried their guava mojito and it was great!
(5)
Kelley D.
Amazing restaurant to eat brunch at! We had New Year Day brunch but can go very Sunday for Gospel live music. Awesome service, amazing food, great atmosphere, & location downtown!
(5)
Arturo B.
I enjoyed City Hall quite a bit. I only had a small plate for main course - the tuna tartare - so cannot comment extensively on food, my dish was very delicious. Rare tuna with Sriracha, avocado and seaweed. Paired with homemade chips. Tasty indeed. For cocktails old-fashioneds were ordered one after another. City Hall's version was less sweet than what I am used to, which was nice. It reminded me of a Manhattan on the rocks. The decor is cool. You will feel like you are back in time or part of a superhero comic book. Think Batman! Tons of street parking on the adjacent streets.
(4)
Ilia M.
Have the spicy and sweet martini. Amazing! The infused pepper vodka is made at City Hall.
(5)
Lillian Y.
I've been here multiple times for lunch / brunch, and each time it's been great. Good service from an attentive wait staff, solid food, an all American bistro.
(4)
Teresa K.
Went here with Husband for our wedding anniversary. He had 2 apps, the eggplant and the short rib stuffed potato skins. I had the meatloaf with chorizo mac & cheese and green beans. The food was fantastic. It was incredibly rich, flavorful and filling. We both had leftovers. Then we went for the carrot cake for dessert. It was huge! No joke it was about a foot tall. The frosting was delicious too and the candied pecans gave it a wonderful crunch. Seriously though it is enough cake for 4 people. The service was also very good. Well timed, polite and helpful with menu selections. The space itself is cool and nicely decorated.
(4)
Lonny P.
City Hall is a great downtown restaurant that people pass by every day without knowing how wonderful it is. I've been there several times in the past, but now with Miami Spice, and it being all of 6 blocks from my house, I've been there with my friends the last two Fridays. Their service is impeccable, their food is amazingly good, and the chocolate croissant bread pudding, as well as their cheesecake, is AMAZING. City Hall is a great place for anyone in downtown Miami or Brickell looking for quality food at a great price..
(5)
Melissa D.
Caveat: I really think this place deserves 3 1/2 stars because I was between a 3 and a 4. The staff here deserve 5 stars. I also tried this place during Miami Spice month. The menu at City Hall is both diverse and traditional. They offer slight twists on classic dishes - like blue cheese mashed potatoes (great idea!). It really is upscale diner food with an ethnic pinch. I usually wince when I see too many cultures present on a menu... I mean how can they get them ALL right?! And the answer is, unless they've got a small United Nations in their kitchen, they can't and don't. But City Hall offers satisfaction with hearty meals that make it ok to want to finish everything on your plate - or take it home as leftovers. However, I would lean toward their American home-style selections over Asian inspired ones. I had the seared salmon, which was cooked perfectly (I asked for medium rare and actually got medium rare), but the jasmine rice was totally overcooked and as a result, a little mushy; moreover, the flavor was pretty bland and kind of felt like it came out of a box (I'm sure it didn't). My friend had the pork chop and the filet mignon which were much more successful dishes. Definite highlight for me was the nectarine and plum cheesecake. I fancy myself a cheesecake aficionado and this slice was as light and creamy as it was tangy and sweet... with homemade whipped cream... a must for me. I also tried their famous chocolate chip croissant bread pudding... a desert I described to my friend as a warm hug. Don't go here if you're on a diet or not in the mood for rich food. This place requires a little gluttony. And the service was excellent. Really friendly staff adds to that upscale diner feel.
(3)
Michael G.
Great lunch if not on the heavy side. Service was great. Not really my scranton but cant find fault with anything.
(4)
Guillermo F.
I really wanted to enjoy my meal at City Hall last night... I did... When faced with the prospect of eating a meal at 11 PM on a Friday in Miami, one is usually faced with either insufferable crowds, or some really bad 24 hour national chain. City Hall came very highly recommended and seeing as how it was generally close to the Adrienne Arsht Center, we chose to give it a shot. The place is very well decorated, with double height ceilings (I'm a big fan of that) a great looking bar, and huge screens all over the place broadcasting that evening's sporting event. The experience started choppy once they made us wait 10 mins for a booth in a half empty restaurant. Once seated the waiter (who spoke a peculiar brand of English, even for Miami standards) proceeded to give us the menu and hound us every two minutes for our drink an food order. The food was great! I had the tuna tartare topped w chopped papaya, truffle oil, spicy mayo, a side of wakame salad and fried wonton chips as an appetizer, and, as a main course, the grilled salmon crusted with black sesame seeds and topped w cashews, with a side of Bok choi and rice. The tuna tartare was a delicious starter to my meal , and the papaya on it was a revelation to me. My salmon was perfectly medium rare, just as I had asked for it to be, something that really surprised and delighted me since I've grown accustomed to my request for undercooked salmon to fall to deaf ears and produce a charred lump of shoe leather only suitable to be consumed by cats. The food portion of the meal was an A+, a tad overpriced as I've come to expect in this town, but worth the dime in my humble opinion. The reason for my two star deduction has more to do with the service in general... Our waiter was not friendly and treated us in a surprisingly rushed manner since the place was pretty empty, and the "hostess" spent the entire night on the phone giggling like a schoolgirl and running up and down the stairs screaming and acting like a hormone crazed teenager (we were on a booth next to her stand). Most of the staff was in that "we're closing, let's get outa here" attitude 2 hours before their advertised closing time... Is it wrong for me to ask for good service at 11PM from a place that closes at 1AM and charges $30 an entree? I will be back for that tartare... I will... But this time I won't expect Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast to serve and host my meal.
(3)
Melynda H.
After months of wanting to try, we went on a Saturday night around 6:45; we were seated right away. Not only that, the host was FABULOUS, as he greated us at the door with a huge smile and a "come on in right now" kind of attitude. Ordered the burger, which was slightly undercooked, but corrected right away. Also, ordered spaghetti and meatballs with butter and parmesan in lieu of marinara for my 6 year old; we received dryish, linguini noodles with a light amount of butter and no meatballs. This was taken off of our bill. Lastly, my husband ordered linguini and shrimp - was excellent! Overally, the service was good and the host EXCELLENT - you have to have a great experience at the door; if they great you nonchallantly as if your business doesn't mean anything, than your experience will be the same; the food flavor was great, just minor imperfections. Hence, the 4 stars. Ambience was great, as well. Hope this helps make your decision. Enjoy.
(4)
Nicole F.
I just had the worst experience going to City Hall. We were five; can you believe we picked this restaurant out of many to go for a group lunch? The place is nice, it started well. We were seated, the waiter came to our table, provided the menus. The food ordering was bit awkward but nothing out of the ordinary. The waiting period was lengthy even though we ordered from the 30 minutes or less lunch menu. When the food arrived, he didn't know who ordered what. Meanwhile, the appetizer did not arrive, when we enquired, the waiter said he forgot to place the order and apologized. He asked if we still wanted it, he can place the order, (really!!?). Then the bread arrived -after the food. The food was okay; the water was not replenished unless we asked. The kicker... we finished and were patiently waiting for the dessert (which we pre-ordered) since it was part of the lunch menu. The waiter brings the dessert menu, to our surprise. He seemed surprised and lost and we kindly reminded him that he had already taken our dessert orders. Furthermore, he asked us if we didn't receive our desserts (what!!!?). Well ... it really went downhill from there. He (Luis) comes with another waiter with the desserts, not knowing who ordered what again. The other waiter had his finder holding the cookies onto the plate, omg !!! Our manager was upset and went to speak with the restaurant manager (Sasha) who evasively just apologized. Luis tried to redeem himself by offering a bread pudding, which, I though was excessive considering we had already eaten dessert. It could have been a nice gesture, if Luis didn't slam the desserts plates unto the table. By that time I was completely horrified and discouraged. Wow!!! That performance was worthy of a Grammy, he must have been under the influence or maybe they pulled him out of washing the dishes due to lack of staff. Maybe we were on candid camera!!? Finally, when we're trying to come to grip with this awful reality, they decided to offer everyone at the table a 10% discount in the event one would decide to come back. "Adios amigos" you will never see me/us again; there are too many restaurants in this city to torture myself by coming back to this joke of a restaurant.
(1)
Rags M.
Disappointed. I thought I'd give it a try on Miami Spice for possibly adding it to the all too short list of places to go before or after events at the Arscht or the Triple A. Forget it. Our food arrived promptly but only luke warm at best. Service seems intent on high turnover, at the sacrifice of the kitchen. Even the mussels must sit on a warming tray somewhere, waiting for the waiters to scoop them up rather than being cooked to order. Nothing (eggplant app, mahi main and a rib eye main plus the mussels) was anything to boast about. I've scratched this one from that still too short list.
(2)
Tracy C.
Recommended by the hotel concierge as a nice place, close enough for us to walk. I'm so glad he did! Place was local dinner chic - with dark paneling, black and white floors, big wood bar - very nice but not overly fancy. Party of 6 we were immediately seated, and had a waiter taking care of us at all times. Food was excellent and fresh, the drinks were very tasty (a bit expensive), and they even gave us several free desserts as hotel "sends" All in all a VERY good meal, nice service and fun atmosphere. Recommend for anyone who is looking for a way above average night out.
(4)
David C.
What a pleasant surprise. It reminds me of some of the more sophisticated, metro places to eat in Chicago and NYC. Miami needs to support this place and give it some love. To start, they have the best bar I have been to in a while and the bartender made me a fantastic martini. Starters: Flat bread - awesome and must be shared Oysters - with bleu cheese - super tasty Mussels - in a great sauce and a nice portion size Chicken wings - great, but there is other stuff a bit better Entrees: Steak - fillet was perfectly made Meatloaf - huge and super tasty BONUS TIME: You must try the banana cream pie. It was the best I have ever had. The chocolate tart was also solid. Chef Tom was super pleasant and humble. This place is great and the location is conveniently off South Beach. TIP: Valet your car, it is cheap
(4)
Sergio E.
Great food fantastic atmosphere! Sunday Brunch is an great event... life music ... Just be ready for a noisy fun experience!
(4)
Dana R.
Perfect dinner spot in every way. Let's start off with the bread. Warm, soft, impossible to practice portion control. Not to mention the butter is unlike anywhere else...it is sweet and I would be perfectly content eating it on its own (don't judge!). As I skim the menu I struggle with what to order simply because I've thoroughly enjoyed everything I've sampled at City Hall. Last night I got the tuna tartare which is perfectly prepared with avocado, seaweed salad, papaya, and a truffle soy vinaigrette. I also ordered the duck and wild mushroom pizza- wow. It was so good and so filling that we made our neighbors eat our remaining slices and I can confidently say that they were equally impressed. Next time I go back will be for City Hall's Gospel Sunday brunch. Can't wait to dive into some crab cake benedict!
(5)
Sandra F.
This review is for the Sunday Gospel brunch. What a fun time! I tried to grand marnier french toast and the mushrooms and eggs encroute. I thought everything was very good including the mimosas. Make sure to confirm advertised prices as they charged us more for mimosas than on the flyer but when we brought it to their attention they adjusted the price. The singer was fun and even got the crowd involved. I'll be back!
(3)
Maria O.
We live very close to City Hall so we go there very often. It is a great place both to have a drink and eat appetizers or to have a full meal. The bar tenders are very nice, service is great and food is really exquisite. Try the tuna tartar, the gorgonzola and guava pizza and definitely the bread pudding for dessert!
(4)
Sloan s.
Very disappointed! Menu changed. I ordered take out asked for seafood gumbo which was 8.95 and got some crap at $28.50. They forgot my Mac and cheese and Bread Pudding. The best thing was the Pancheta and Gorgonzola pizza was the best thing going. So overprice, ripoff with missing food and bland. Sad very sad!
(2)
Josi D.
First, I'll say my review is slightly biased. Being in the industry, we probably knew 3/4 of the staff that night including the manager and owner, and probably had better service than your average guest, in that kind of "guy talk, treat me like a trophy wife who clearly doesn't care to have an actual dinner conversation, just listen in on the guys" kind of way. That being said.... The rootbeer cocktail was a weird experience. It's on the menu, I ordered it. The waiter told me I would not like it, to choose something else. I insisted I like rootbeer, so he brought it to me. Then they told me again I probably did not like it, that it tasted like cough syrup, that they were soon replacing it, and should I prefer something else - let them know. A couple months later it's still on their menu, and I did like it. I don't remember everything we ate, but the potato skins were only slightly more impressive than TGIFriday's, unfortunately. The brussel sprouts were absolutely amazing, melting in your mouth. The meatloaf, yes, good - but I just can't justify paying so much for food like this. Being American, this is comfort food - and meatloaf is not exactly what you eat on a splurge night out. It's just strange. I absolutely have to say, with much regret, that my gravy was disgusting. It tasted like corn starch. Mac & Cheese was good, but again, it's mac & cheese. I feel like every menu in 2010 had mac and cheese. And I definitely ate my fair share of .59 kraft boxed dinners as a kid - I just can't justify gourmet mac and cheese. I wish I would have tried the fried chicken. My husband had a steak, which was delicious - I was jealous and bitter that I had fallen for the homey American fare via ex China Grill staff. Should have known better I guess. The bread pudding was absolutely insane. Gooey and chocolatey and worth every spoonful. I would go back for it. Maybe it's because I'm not from NY, I don't understand the decor, it just feels cold and clashes oddly with the trying to be warm and cozy menu. The service, had we not known the staff, would have most likely been bad, judging by other tables. One of the girl servers had her shirt unbuttoned (no, not even gracing us with cleavage unfortunately) with a white wife beater tank top and gold pimpish chain and messy stringy hair hanging all around, bounced around the restaurant flirting with the staff, then left through the front door with her purse, extra set of clothes, and work shoes in her hand, completely unappetizing and unattractive. Our server was excellent, but in a forced "the owner is watching me with this table" type way. I hear the gospel brunch on Sunday's is worth checking out - maybe I will go, and update. I love these guys and wish I could have been blown away.
(3)
Oregna J.
The atmosphere is great. However, the iceberg salad and mussels with cream sauce was absolutely horrible. The waiter Noel was very cold towards us. He's extremely argumentive with customers. Simply removing an item from the check does not suffice. It's not able the money, but the experience.My visit was during lunch, perhaps dinner made be better. I'll never eat at this place again.
(1)
Eric J.
Um...ok...so there are good parts and bad parts to our experience at City Hall and its abotu 50/50 between them so I'm just going to lay this out chronologically. I made the reservation a couple of days ago and was profoundly impressed with the level of professionalism shown by the gentleman (name eludes me) who not only took my reservation but called the day -of to confirm. We got there and were promptly seated and were optimistic that things were very much headed in the right direction. The interior design was right on and the urban feel palpable. The menu looked great but from the start it was clear...Houston, we have a problem.... The waiter was a nice enough guy I'm sure but clearly, management had not armed this guy with enough tools to get him through a drive through at Krystal Burger.... ME : So do you happen to know what single malt scotches you have... WAITER GUY: No. [ Incredibly long, uncomfortable...waiting for a punch line...no really here's the list...pause] ME: Guess, I'll get up and go see for myself (as I wandered down stairs to see there mediocre if pasable list of scotches... Ok so downhill from here... We ordered about a half a dozen apps and one entree and after the waiter asked me if "I'll have a double" meant "double ice", he took the order and left. 20 (or more likely 30) minutes later he came over to "confirm the order", Apparently that was code for "I didn't put in your order ...oops..." Anyhoos...we got a new waiter..manager was nice but a little lost and perhaps undertrained as well...replacement watiress was cool...now the food The food saved it... We ordered Cevice, Shortrib stuffed potato skins (what could be wrong with that), salad (sorry I don't remember but it was great), Blue cheese oyster, Mussels, Truffle pizza and the fried chicken. I won't go into each dish other than to say they were all order agains....except the fried chicken which is only order again if there is no KFC near where you live. For dessert we had the bread pudding (awesome and worth the trip on its own) and the something, something, something trapped in chocolate (which I'm craving as I write this".... On balance, the place was good...maybe even very good but its hard to tell because the service absolutely was awful... I should clarify that neither the guy that didn't know if I meant double rocks or anyone else that worked there should be blamed for the pisspoor service. The problem there was clearly systemic and whoever is responsible for training staff...well, there's always night school
(3)
Michele P.
I came to City Hall just to get something to eat. Little did I know that I would be in for such a treat. Simply put the food and venue are worth every dime you spend. The server staff is friendly and on their game. Then the center attraction is the food. just take a look at the pictures. What more needs to be said.
(4)
Br. Jason F.
I've had the pleasure of dining here at least five times in the last six months. I am reminded of NYC as I sit in one of City Halls large booths. Everything on the menu is first rate. I'm fond of their meatloaf. Their appetizers are plentiful and easily shared. Deserts are huge and can be shared between two. The service is of the highest quality I have never sat for more than two minutes with a half-glass of water. Adult beverages are made perfectly even for the most finicky of diners. You won't be disappointed if you choose to eat at City Hall.
(5)
Anthony C.
Oh, how it pains me to give this place only three stars! FINALLY, I get the opportunity to make my way over to City Hall, a new addition to the ever growing gastro scene of Miami. Upon arrival I am digging the "Roaring 20's" decor with the tall ceiling, mural, and second story overlooking the first floor. This vibe combined with the classy but trendy feeling makes the place totally authentic. BUT, if only I could judge City Hall on decor alone..... OK, I get it. Elaborated American classics such as your meatloaf, fried chicken, pork chops, etc. Fine. I was looking forward to see how it would all turn out. So, now that you have an idea of the expectation, I decided to order the pork chop. Foolish me. A pork chop? Granted the pork was of good quality, but like I said, it was just that: a pork chop. That's the thing. I just couldn't muster up the feeling of excitement in reading over the menu items. I mean, c'mon, would you get excited too over some elaborated meat loaf, pork chops, and fried chicken? These items are meant to be "comfort" foods made in the comfort of your own home, not in some trendy establishment that kind of zaps the magic out of them. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm glad I went to uncover what this place is all about, and it sure is a worthy restaurant, but I wasn't crazy about it. Sorry, Steve Haas!
(3)
Alexis Y.
City Hall reminds me of a restaurant from the set of a movie where two rich mobsters are making a deal. Overall I enjoyed my visit to City Hall. The restaurant has two floors. The top floor might be for private events but it was closed on Friday night so we sat on the first floor. I was very impressed with the service that evening. We were offered sparkling water (yay) and fresh baked bread with pecan butter that is made on location. I ordered the unconventional french onion soup which has two cheese filled wantons instead of bread and the onion and beef broth soup is poured table side. It was a very large portion and I was not able to finish it. I also ordered the meatloaf but I was not feeling well and I asked our server to cancel it. There seemed to be some concern about my well being so the server brought me herbal tea. I thought that was nice. Dessert came to the table and although I wasn't feeling up to it I could not pass up a taste of the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding.
(4)
Adriana W.
I went back for a party with my coworkers and RAUL the bartender was simply the BEST! He can make a mean Sour Apple cocktail and his Cosmos are pretty awesome! I bought like 16 ounces of the butter pecan spread for my pregnant sister, who's been dying for this since last year. The service here is amazing! I am definitely going back here only for RAUL though, he was great!
(4)
Anya W.
Looks good from the out side, looks hopeful when you get in and then goes down hill from then on until the relief of walking out the door. Unfortunately, I went back because it was convenient and thought it may have been just a bad night. Na. No love in the cooking, no imagination in the menu and unimpressive service. Ambience is quite nice, OK for a drink maybe but this place is lacking someone to oversee what is driving it to being such a disappointment. Don't mind spending money on a good experience but not on crap food like that.
(1)
Alejandra S.
Best margaritas ever and the food is always delicious. Ask for the shrimp and grits if they have them.
(5)
Colleen R.
Sorry, what did you say? I'm sorry, I can't hear you. You went WHERE for WHAT? Oh my goodness, I was at City Hall for a business lunch with two others and I could not hear a THING!! I mean the restaurant is beautiful! Very cool 20s decor like Anthony mentioned, but MAN - there is nothing to soak up any of the noise in this place! Its like you are in a freakin' garage. Everything echoes and you hear EVERYONE'S conversations. I had to lean in constantly just to hear what my two fellow lunchers were saying and they were two feet away! Seriously, they need something to soak up the noise, I mean just a few tablecloths would help. I get a headache just THINKING about going back here. Ok, now that I got that off my chest, a few notes on the service and food - both were pretty stellar. The service was a BIT OCD, we were asked four times how our meals were, they refilled our glasses before they were half empty, and we were approached twice by the manager to make sure everything was to our satisfaction. I won't look a gift horse in the mouth, I'd rather have more attention than not enough, but all of us commented on the repeated visits to our table. For food, I was actually pretty happy here. The only reason I am rating it 3 stars is because I couldn't hear a THING... LOL... seriously the acoustics are horrible. I had a lump meat crab salad with eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and a spicy ranch dressing. Pretty tasty! My fellow lunchers had a turkey burger wrap (pretty unique but he said it was excellent) and a steak salad (she cleaned her plate!). Prices are a bit on the steep side, our bill was about $50 for the three of us and we did not have coffee or alcohol. I do have to note it is a pretty hip spot, we had several local government officials in the restaurant for lunch and some local celebrities (most of which said hi!). Great place, just bring earplugs and don't expect to talk to each other.
(3)
Mags M.
Came here for a late night dinner, the food was really good. The pecan butter was amazing, best butter I had. The service was also top notch. My water glass was never empty (I never had to lift a finger to fill it) also my martini was never empty as well! I am excited and looking forward to going again!
(4)
Nick J.
Yum! I went to this restaurant during Miami Spice. I had the brunch menu..a mimosa (just because), French toast, with a corn flake crust, and bourbon-infused pure maple syrup, and thick-cut applewood smoked bacon. Definitely a great look, I must say. The ambience was nice, a good place for a date. Customer service was good. I'd like to return here for dinner, hopefully it isn't too pricey when I come back!
(4)
Itzela C.
First let me start of by saying that the service is excellent! Appetizer and entree exceptional. Okay, let's talk food: My Entree was the garlic herb chicken. I shared a calamari appetizer with a friend . The garlic herb chicken was amazing which came with a side order of sliced potatoes. The potatoes were a bit dry in my opinion, the dish also came with another side order of garlic asparagus which were perfectly cooked. The calamari appetizer...what can I say...City Hall knows how to handle their calamari!! Delish! Well over all, I would say my meal at City Hall Restaurant, was memorable, but I found their prices a tad bit high. I guess that's the price you pay (literally) for food that's prepared well and with great service. I'll be back :)
(4)
Gus M.
I truly had a great time here tonight. The service was prompt, my water was full 100% of the time, the food was hot, fresh and delicious. We made reservations for 8:30 and walked there. The place was not completely full, and we were immediately seated. The decor is wonderful, with some really nice artwork on the second floor. Our drinks were quickly brought out, as well as the deliciously warm bread with a sweet and savory honey-pecan butter. I ordered the meatloaf. $17.95 for a brick of meatloaf, crispy onions on top, gravy on the side, chorizo macaroni and cheese, and green beans. I was blown away by every item on my plate. I ended up taking half the meatloaf (that thing is huge!) and some of the mac & cheese, and I'm someone who usually finishes my plate, no matter how big. My girlfriend got a crispy fried chicken with some deliciously prepared corn, honey, and mashed potatoes. She was equally ecstatic about it, and got equally full halfway through. Next time, we're sharing.
(5)
Brad B.
Went for Sunday brunch. I asked the waitress about the menu and she had nothing positive to say about it. She alerted that she hadn't tried the items on it, which seemed very odd to me. Working in the restaurant biz in the past, I know the importance of trying the food in order to explain them to the customer. So, I order the breakfast pizza. When I placed my order, the waitress asked, "breakfast pizza?" She had no idea they even had a breakfast pizza! I was shocked. Super strange experience. The pizza wasn't anything special. The corned beef hash wasn't that good. A bit on the peppery side. The dough was the better part of it. I wouldn't order it again, nor would I do brunch there again. The restaurant during the daytime isn't appealing. It had a cold stale atmosphere... had no warmth to it. Nothing positive to say about it. The price for brunch there didn't compliment the taste!
(2)
Trabbit L.
Have to say I'm surprised by the low stars. Although it wasn't very busy when we were there, so maybe service is better when they are less busy? Either that, or they have corrected whatever problems they had before. Server slipped and called my sister "mami". We thought that was hilarious. We ordered blue cheese crusted oysters (was ok. blue cheese was a little too strong), gumbo (great! one person thought it was too fishy, the rest loved it), and duck + truffle pizza (super awesome! Everyone's favorite. Nicely cheesy and you could really taste the duck and truffles) for appetizers. Then for entree we had meat loaf (great), mahi over risotto (a special, and everyone's least favorite but still very decent), and fried chicken (tasted like any slightly salty fried chicken, but the honey dip was very clever and actually made it super good) And for dessert, we all shared the chocolate croissant bread pudding thing, which was HEAVENLY. Perfect ending and we all loved it. Although it was super rich and the portion was big, so I don't know how one person would be able to finish even half of it. Perfect for sharing, which made it a good deal. All of us agreed the food was fantastic. Decor was beautiful, service prompt and attentive. We enjoyed every bit of it.
(5)
Carly N.
Me and my boyfriend were on vacation and saw that city hall was on the Miami spice menu. When we arrived for brunch the door was locked even though your restaurant was open. We were seated at a dirty table and only upon requesting the Miami spice menu did we receive it. Not to mention that the menu was on a crumpled up piece of computer paper. Our waiter Luis F. Was by far the worst server I have ever had in my life. He forgot what we ordered, never came to check on us, tried to drop the check before giving us the dessert that we already ordered, and then he stood in the back of the restaurant looking at his paycheck for 20 minutes. Another server had to present us with our check and charge us because Luis was to busy doing nothing. We would have tipped 00 dollars but the busboys were very nice and attentive and they deserved a tip. Furthermore there was a manager walking around handing out paychecks, we tried to get her attention but that didn't work. She was also too busy helping the table behind us that had 4 screaming children at 10am. As someone who works in this industry I can say that during brunch your manager should be touching tables. Or at least notice the 2 pissed off people that were sitting right in front of her. We will never be coming back here. EVER!
(1)
Patrice A.
I love and hate yelp because of the people. The people that praise are usually accurate, and people that enjoy food. The haters are just that, haters, usually way too high on their horses, complaining about water temperature or getting their food in 30 mins on a busy night. I'm not trying to write a novel, but my GF and I went to CH for the first time for Miami Spice. Simple parking, attentive polite staff. We ordered the spinach salad, corvina and bread pudding, and shrimp tempura, NY strip and another bread pudding. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious from the bread with honey pecan butter, to dessert. The drinks were very good, full pour decent price. I would recommend City Hall to anyone, and will definitely come again. Good staff, nice ambiance, excellent food.
(5)
Katrina W.
City Hall was one of the places on my spontaneous list of birthday week pitstops! Spontaneous meaning...it was a drunk, 'let's roam the city and find some greasy, bad-for-you foods and not drive anywhere', kinda night. Thanks to my husband, we've also been hitting up all of the places that are on OpenTable, so we can rack up the dining points for dining checks. City Hall was one of the few close by. We came in at about 10:00 pm and got a table immediately. The place was desolate. The staff was all very friendly and went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. I ordered the duck confit flatbread with gorgonzola cheese and I think there were pears on it...? This plate was very delicious and flavorful. The drink of choice for the evening was H20 and the server was completely on top of it. Refills galore. My husband got the burger with a side of brussels, which were far superior to that of any french fry. Prices were fair considering the location. We finished off the meal with a birthday dessert, candle, and some awkward singing. This part was definitely not the highlight of the evening, but it was quite a spectacle. I wasn't impressed with the banana pie, but it was the thought that really counted. I might be back.
(3)
Kathryn S.
Not too bad. I had a pretty good experience at City Hall Restaurant, but not enough of a great experience that I would give them 4 stars. I went for a late dinner, around 10pm, when they were starting up there happy hour again. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love a good happy hour, so I was pretty happy about that. The alcohol wasn't the best, so I was too impressed with the happy hour. But, I drank hoping dinner would be better. My friends and I did something special where we were having breakfast for dinner, so we did not have the regular menu. I'm actually not sure if this is completely normal or not. One of my friends is very friendly with the owner, so I'm not sure if this was special or not. So, even though I went for dinner, I guess this is a brunch review. We all tried something different, and I had the pancakes. They were pretty good for regular pancakes. Nothing special. I would visit City Hall Restaurant again to try the regular menu and see if it has anything that catches my attention. From my experience this place is literally just A-OK. Nothing extraordinary, but will hit the spot if needed.
(3)
Stephen F.
I had wanted to come here for a long time after hearing many great reviews from friends. Spice provided me the perfect opportunity to stop by for lunch. I had the chicken wings, burger, and cookie. I was stuff and left completely happy. Nothing fancy or over the top, just simply good food. I would return.
(4)
Alessandra P.
I have been here already two times and I love it. For brunch, it's amazing. I had the eggs Benedict with Apple bacon, but you can have it with something else besides bacon. My brother in law had the French toast and he said it was amazing (it looked amazing too!) If you go, ask for Richard, he took care of my family and I and made sure we had everything. I recommend coming here and making reservations.
(5)
Rachael B.
Created by the founder of Miami Spice, this is a must eat for any Miami resident. I love the food, ambiance, and incredible service here. My only comment would be that the concept isn't incredibly clear.. there are a lot of different types of food and it is a in between an upscale steak house and a trendy midtown bar. I highly recommend trying the cinnamon butter that comes with the bread as well as the duck pizza with truffle oil. The fusion of foods is very interesting and honestly everything is delicious!
(4)
Victor O.
Their menus al always good, and food it's just delicious... The ambiance is very nice and the service its outstanding
(5)
V P.
Kind of expensive for what you get, which is very ordinary, uninspiring, moderately well-executed dishes. Had the short ribs with polenta. It was okay. The decor makes me sad, but it's hard to put a finger on why. Maybe it's the lighting or something. The place is in Art Deco style and they've done a decent job with that. It isn't run down; seems well kept up. Just seems like a sad place. Also the 80s music needs to change bc it just clashes with everything else. Journey?! at at art deco brunch?!
(2)
Jacqueline M.
I usually venture to City Hall before or after a show at the Arscht Center with or without reservations. The Bad: They advertise self parking in their "private lot" but when you arrive there's a sweaty valet guy there collecting your $5. All 3 visits, I've parked my own car in the lot only to be told he will move it and I owe him money...pfffft. On this particular visit, there were no burgers or pizzas allowed to be ordered from the menu, silly little rule because of new year's eve I assume! I was looking forward to the appetizer flatbread I had tried on a previous visit so I was bummed about that. Why in cheese's name can't I get a flat bread!!!??? Ugh! Communism! The Good: So I ordered the Fried Chicken with honey, potatoes and a biscuit. I've had it before so I knew what to expect and ordered a Mac and Cheese as well because ya know... we're fatties and it's good. Food was great. I love fried chicken, I love honey, i love Mac and Cheese but.... The Ugly: That biscuit was horrible. It was stale and hard. If you can't make a mean biscuit, give me a roll, a garlic bread or maybe a corn bread but don't give me a funky biscuit!!! Overall City Hall is a convenient option when attending the Arscht Center. Service is fast and friendly but I'm going to minus that 5th star for the crummy biscuit, parking fraud and food communism...cause I dreamt about that flatbread and they crushed my dreams of having it.
(4)
Dacier I.
This place is amazing from start to finish. We made reservations on Open Table; a plus just because of the convenience. We were seated immediately and greeted by the manager as soon as we sat down. We started with the pecan butter and artisan loaf...omg heavenly! The appetizers, main course, and dessert were delicious. Our waiter was great too, a French guy that knows his wine. He paired up all of my courses with a glass of wine and did a perfect job. We went during Miami Spice and portions are nice and filling...good spot if you're going with your man. Parking is right behind the restaurant and can be paid with an app. There is nothing I can complain about this restaurant. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Drew B.
Had a great dinner here last night after a show at Arscht center (sp). It was a short walking distance. The bread with the whipped pecan butter is really amazing. Started with a Signature drink called The Commissioner and it was a delicious mango mojito. I had the steak salad and Gorgonzola pizza. The steak was incredible with so much flavor and the dressing had just a hint of a spicy kick. I loved the pizza with just enough crunchy fried onions and BBQ sauce. I don't give out a lot of 5 stars, but last nights meal earned it. I forgot to mention that Dwayne Wade from the Heat came in for a late dinner so that was fun
(5)
Michelle N.
Absolutely a must try!!! We had a large group of 14 and everyone was raving about their dish. The food was rich and flavorful. Portions were perfect as well. You also must stay and have the bread pudding dessert! We will definitely be back, Thank you for a great experience!
(4)
Kiet H.
I have been here twice, and I love the food and service. I even saw a celebrity and her Miami Heat player boyfriend here once when I had dinner at 11p. The bread and the whipped maple pecan butter was to die for! I would come back again for this dish alone! I would recommend making a reservation if you come for dinner. The last time I came it was packed and we had to wait for about 20 minutes before we got seats at the bar. I had the Thai steak salad and it was amazing. The steak was juicy and cooked perfectly. It was large, with generous portions of steak.
(5)
Yanessa E.
Came here before a show at the arsht center on a Wednesday night for cocktails and light bites. We sat at the bar as we were told by the manager that this would be the quickest service (we were about an hour from showtime.) It was our bartenders first day at the bar but you would have never known. He recommended the city clerk cocktail when I mentioned I wanted a "fruity" drink, when it came it was just what I wanted, coconut rum, pineapple juice, peach schnapps and lime juice all perfectly mixed. To eat we chose the Gorgonzola pizza and the maple chorizo Mac n cheese. The pizza had pancetta, sweet onion cream, fig jam and crispy onions together with the Gorgonzola cheese. It was great! The pancetta was almost bacon like and the fig jam made the perfect compliment to the Gorgonzola cheese, I love crispy onions and the pizza had plenty. The Mac n cheese was delicious! Creamy, cheesy, semi sweet because of the maple but savory because of the cheese and chorizo. The restaurant has a great vibe to it, loved the brasserie style decor. I will definitely come back to try out their brunch.
A fantastic American bistro! I had heard a lot about this place and couldn't wait to try it, today I finally went for lunch and it was amazing!! The food was incredibly tasty, inventive and made with the freshest ingredients, the staff was beyond friendly and helpful and the drinks strong and delicious, what more could we ask for? For appetizer, we had the Gorgonzola pizza with dates and bacon topped with crunchy onions it was amazing! Huge portion, I was so full with this I was barely able to eat my entree. For lunch both me and my husband had the special express lunch menu. This is a great option available during lunch Monday through Friday. For under $12 you get soup or salad, an entree of your choice (some options to choose from are the BBQ brisket sandwich, bolognese pasta, truffled egg salad sandwich, mahi mahi wrap etc...) the menu also comes with a dessert (lemon pound cake or a giant chocolate chip cookie). They have some really good sides and we tried the chorizo Mac and cheese, it was out of this world!! The portion was big and the taste was amazing! The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful! Our server was Derek and he is awesome! The host was super friendly too and we truly enjoyed talking to him. Even the food runner was incredibly friendly and attentive. It is really refreshing to find a Miami eatery that has all the elements of great food and awesome service. We will definitely come back soon!!
(5)
Amorriece M.
Had a really nice experience here. This could actually be my #1 spot especially on Sundays. The hosts and waiters are marvelous. Their service is excellent and food is great!!!!
(5)
Karen M.
This is a really neat place with an art deco theme. It was so cool to see such a different looking decor! The fiance and I walked down from our hotel, so we didn't have to deal with the parking lot which looked like a bit of a pain in back. I ordered the atlantic salmon with jasmine rice and cashews. The salmon was cooked perfectly, and the flavors were fantastic. I thought the cashews overwhelmed the delicate salmon, so I mixed them with the rice, which I thought worked better together. The prices seemed a bit expensive, but I'm not familiar with the area, so am not sure if thats on par with the area. City Hall would get 4 stars, but the service was slooooow. Its so frustrating when you wait and see your waiter keep walking by while you try to flag them down. I don't live in the area, but if I did, I would definitely be back even with the slow service.
(3)
Aimee R.
Hands down one of the greatest dining experiences we have ever had. We celebrated my husbands birthday there this weekend and we were beyond amazed with everything. From the incredible food, the impeccable service and fantastic drinks, our party of 18 had one incredible evening!! I have to thank in particular Steve Haas who went above and beyond to make our evening so special. Never had I had the pleasure of meeting a restaurant owner who was so accommodating, friendly and down right a really nice guy! Our servers Jose and Frederick were phenomenal - and I apologize for not remembering the hosts name, who was also so charming. Thank you Steve, your staff and City Hall for one fabulous evening. We will definitely see each other again soon!
(5)
Emily R.
This Sunday morning the restaurant was practically empty and yet the service was extremely slow. My husband found his omelet to be overlooked and the cheesy grits to lack a cheese flavor. Very disappointing. The meatloaf I ordered was so salty that I could' t eat it. The mash potatoes and gravy were good. We actually had to get up to locate the waiter to get the check. I doubt we will be back until we hear the kitchen has stepped up its game.
(2)
Brian R.
Our first visit was marred a bit by bad service. The wait staff is short handed when they are slammed and the upstairs seems to be a problem. We waited a while for a server. We didn't order much, an appetizer and a pair of sides. The order came back wrong twice and I would avoid the mussels because they cracked open a couple that should have been tossed and they were good for a little altar time with the porcelain god. Parking is valet in the back. Food looks good and it's s nice menu but avoid this place any time around showtime at the Arsht down the street unless they pony up for another waiter to take the pressure off the staff. I'm sure our server is fine when she could breathe and think but she made a muddle out of the order and there was a complete disconnect with the servers who drop food. Second visit: the restaurant was much less crowded, the waiter far better, and downstairs is much closer to the kitchen things seem to be moving much more smoothly. The bar is very good and tequilas and vodkas, and bourbon whiskey's which I happen to like, but they do have Cardhu which is an amazing Scottish whiskey you get most buyers seem to miss but is very popular in Europe. I'm improving their reading one star for the better outing.
(4)
Adam S.
Good, albeit heavy & rich, food here at reasonable prices with above average service here. The ribeye here is delicious as are the Parmesan fries it comes with. They have something similar to a Miami Spice menu year around here which is also nice for people who are watching their budget. The calamari is good, but not the best thing on the menu here. Try the bread pudding. This place is a favorite among the political crowd in town (both the hacks and politicians themselves), so if you have any political juice around here you will probably run into a couple of familiar faces if you come here for dinner.
(4)
Natalie I.
Friday was my first time here but the word that comes to mind is Big as in Big furniture Big Plates Lots of food. It was a party of four and we had a great time. Service was on point it was busy but not loud we were able to easily converses with each other. 2 people got the sea scallops I have to say the looked and smelled delicious. 1 got the skirt steak. I got fried chicken nothing was left over. I got the fried chicken i do not know why because I do not really like fried chicken because i have never had good fried chicken. However this was some seriously good fried chicken. It was moist and crunchy! Just yummy. However i hate chicken on the bone so that made it a but hard to eat. The desert was very yummy. Moose is my favorite deserts and it have a lovely textural element with the crunch. It was solid food and solid service give it a try.
It's a nice space, a little too loud for talking over Sunday brunch. My family enjoyed their meals, but my eggs benedict came out completely cold, and when I asked the waiter if he could heat the eggs and toast, he took it to the kitchen and it came back microwaved and totally inedible. Will probably not each brunch here ever again.
(2)
Lorena M.
I love this spot. I live across the street and every time I've gone, this place never disappoints! Some of my favorite items- Gorgonzola pizza, shrimp & grits, wedge salad, duck pizza. Everything has great flavor and the portions are hefty! I highly recommend this place. Especially the items I specified. Prices are slightly high, but totally worth it.
(5)
Melissa C.
Fabulous food and the service is outstanding!! Definitely recommend coming here. Great selection of food.
(5)
Matt C.
Prior to dinner I had a Makers Mark Manhattan (UP) and it was very tasty. For dinner I had the Seared Ahi Tuna (off the dinner menu) and it was REALLY GOOD. It's a good location, one side of the restaurant is lined with large windows, you can look out and watch the world go by. I had a couple bites of the shrimp & grits also very tasty. Good one.
(4)
Lily O.
Absolutely loved this place !! Miami spice's best menu!! Service was awesome. Everyone was super friendly. I loved that chocolate dessert.
(5)
Sally R.
Came here for brunch 2 weeks ago. The atmosphere is very nice and they had live music which it was very entertaining. however, the food was not good and pricey. To pay these prices I rather stay in Brickell area or Coconut Grove. So we had the salmon with jasmine rice. bok choy and miso glaze. I was not good at all, the rice did not tasted like real jasmine rice, bok choy was too soft, salmon was dry and the glaze was salty. It was a terrible meal for 25$ ceasar salad was average but overpriced for 10$ I did not see anything special in the rest of the plates my friends were eating. I heard the pancakes were good. In my opinion when you are paying for these prices at least the food should be delicious. It is not worth it the two stars are for service because our waiter gave us excellent customer service.
(2)
David C.
2nd time there. Really enjoyed it both times. I LOVE the fresh bread with the maple pecan butter. It's just amazing
(5)
Rebecca B.
The express lunch is a great deal, three mini courses. Food cooked just right. I'm a huge tuna fan and their nicoise is just right. Yellow fin tuna nicely seared. Nice happy hour and wine by the glass list.
We go to park in the parKing lot, and you have to download an app to pay to park. The app is not the sane one used in the rest of miami. Almost left because of that, but as we were leaving, found street parking. Service was lovely. Ourv server was really informed, pleasant, and experienced. Best part of the whole experience. Atmosphere was lovely. Food came very quickly. The food was insanely overpriced for the quality. I took a few bites, wasn't feeling it, finished my drink and left. Id compare the food quality to that of a decent chain restaurant, but with the price of trulucks. Im glad I checked it out, but if I returned, it would be for a couple of drinks if they have a happy hour.
(3)
Summer E.
I really like this place... It has a great location, really cool decorations, and has a really great family feel. The food is also really good and the owner walked around to make sure everybody was taken care of.
(4)
Alexandre H.
Gospel music and brunch, now that's an idea! A friend invited us for brunch at City Hall, I was not in the mood for brunch, but when he mentioned that they have a lady signing Gospel music he changed my mind, I had to see (hear) that. But let's start with the food: some in my group took the Miami Spice for a spin (wings as an appetizer, juicy hamburger with caramelized onions and fries, and a big cookie and vanilla ice cream for desert, all very good). We also had Braised Beef Short Ribs (with Polenta, Fried Eggs and Exotic Mushroom Sauce), Three egg omelet (with pastrami, scallions, mushrooms, Swiss cheese and French fries), and also Buttermilk Pancakes with Maple syrup. All very good, no complaints. The deco is nice, NY style decor. Guests of all types: young and trendy, older and happy, middle aged with family, kids, etc. And a very energetic and enthusiastic gospel singer, she really injected fun in the ambiance. Very nice. Recommended!
(4)
Luis E.
City Hall has nailed it as far as it goes for me. The atmosphere is very metropolitan. Lots of architectural lines, and angular shaped lighting. The service is phenomenal. They serve you iced water as soon as you are seated, and the server is very educated with the menu. They even bag your food for you once you are done eating. But my favorite part of the menu is the drinks. There is a spicy and sweet passionfruit martini that is beyond amazing. I had the pleasure of enjoying the fish stew which came with succulent fish,scallops, and muscles. And even though the server told me that they ran out of scallops that evening the restaurant went the extra mile to get a hold of scallops to add to the stew. They have an amazing wine menu. And even though I did not have dessert I am sure that they have something exquisite to offer. This is certainly a place to take a hot date. Very upscale and classy
(5)
Katerina S.
I was excited to try City Hall as I'd heard lots of great things. Unfortunately, each dish we ordered were really below average. We started off with the baked eggplant for appetizer - this had so much potential but it had wayyyyy too much cheese inside and outside the eggplant - this was cheese with eggplant not eggplant with cheese. Furthermore, I ordered the fish stew, which was bordering disgusting as several of the "fish" pieces were some type of pure gelatin-consistency fat portion of the fish. That turned me off to the entire dish. My husband ate a simply grilled Grouper with vegetables - that was basic and ok but a bit overcooked. Our friends enjoyed their lamb but their steak was covered in a thick layer of Parmesan cheese (way to ruin any decent steak). Anyways, I doubt I'll be coming back. The next morning we all had stomach issues. Far too many mishaps.
(1)
Rachel S.
I was excited to try this restaurant after receiving a recommendation and seeing favorable ratings on Check Please South Florida. My boyfriend and I decided to dine here before seeing the Billy Joel concert. We made a reservation for 6:15 and arrived about 5 minutes early. We were impressed that they asked if we were going to the concert b/c they said they would make note of it so our service would be faster. We had no problem being seated - the host recommended we sit at either a high top downstairs or a lowtop upstairs because the lowtops downstairs would be uncomfortable for my boyfriend. I found that weird, but I appreciate the recommendation. We opted to go upstairs b/c I do not like high tops. We definitely are glad we put in reservations as the restaurant got very busy. I think there was a lot going on downtown that night. Upstairs was very nice and we had a nice view of the restaurant. We quickly put our order in - a pizza appetizer, lemon chicken and meatloaf, as well as our drinks. Our waiter confirmed we were going to a concert. So far so good! Our drinks came out promptly with warm bread and a delicious butter. That was the high point of the meal. The pizza came out relatively quickly too - about 10 minutes later and it was good. Then we waited. And waited. Never saw our waiter. I had to ask a bus boy for a refill on my soda. And Waited. It is now 7 p.m. and our food is nowhere to be seen. We see people who arrived after us get their food (including those at the hightop we were offered) Finally the waiter stops by to say he's checking with the kitchen and will talk to the manager because he knows we have to leave for the concert, which begins at 8. He comes back and says it will be out in a few minutes. Fine. It doesn't take very long to eat. 15 minutes later I call the manager over and I explain that we have an 8 p.m. concert we have to get to. He said it will be fine, don't worry, the food will be great and he'll even offer us free dessert! Five minutes later the food finally comes and it is a disappointment. My boyfriend enjoyed his meat loaf, but didn't think it was amazing. I was less than impressed with the chicken limon over linguine. The chicken was fine, but the pasta was horrible. Everything was luke warm and the pasta stuck together and was sticky. We get our bill and the manager comes over and asks again if we want dessert. It is not 7:40, 20 minutes before the concert, and we have to get a cab and get through traffic. Even if we wanted dessert, we simply did not have time for it. To cut the restaurant slack, it was a very business night. However, It should never take an hour and 20 minutes to receive an entree. Especially when you are a table for two. Food was mediocre. Perhaps this is more of a burger joint. Most likely will not be back, but you never know!
(2)
Lina V.
Came here for a friend's birthday party, nice place however was not impressed with the food and the service. The pizza appetizers are good and huge, so you can easily split it with a friend (which the waiter did not mention). The seafood stew was bland with only one scallop inside, mostly fish and overlooked shrimp, it comes with a tiny plate of cilantro rice. The waiter did not explain or give any beneficial suggestions, so maybe other food is good but overall disappointing!
(3)
Savanna M.
After having City Hall's shrimp and grits at a New Times Iron Fork some years back I knew I had to have it again, however the 3 star reviews from many of my yelp friends had me a little apprehensive and in no rush. Recently, I spotted a Living Social deal and decided that that was enough incentive to make me finally go get those shrimp and grits. After parking ($5 for valet that we had to pay up front and then park ourselves) the bf was a little annoyed. I tried to remind him that it was Miami, but quite frankly I was annoyed at us paying up front! We walked in and the host immediately questioned if we were here for the Kanye West concert later that night (we were) and promised to make sure the kitchen took care of us in a timely manner - plus points for that. I decided to order my go to rum and coke after seeing the specialty cocktails were $12 each, not really a savings since my drink was $11! and the bf ordered a reasonably priced beer. After about 2 or 3 servers dropped by (yes the service was extremely attentive/friendly/helpful yet strange that we had so many different people) we ordered the tuna tartare to start - recommended by one of our servers. Honestly, the wonton chips it came with weren't the easiest eating tool, but that was one of the best tuna tartare I've ever had! I may have been inspired to start a tuna tartare list just because of this one! Mains - I had the shrimp and grits obviously, and yes it was just as good as I remembered it! I've had better, but it's up there with the best! The bf ordered a special of the night - skirt steak with blue cheese mashed potatoes, sauteed shrimp and vegetables, and despite the steak coming out a little bit more well done than he had asked (I get it skirt steak can be difficult cause it's so thin) he was impressed and so was I!! Expensive when we finally saw the price on the check, but it was worth it. Dessert - despite the fact that I was full, really full, we got talked into ordered the bread pudding made with chocolate chip croissants and topped with some kinda of cream.... yes get this... I'm drooling just thinking back about it! Overall, yes we'll be back. The food was good, better than the yelp reviews led me to believe, and the service was good as well. I did feel as though the atmosphere was a little weird, maybe too open, or too much of a dark steakhouse feel that didn't match the menu, but hey I'm all about the food!
(4)
Stephanie W.
Amazing food! Went and got the duck pizza, chicken wings and hummus as appetizer. All were amazing and devoured. The table all got burgers medium rare which were cooked medium but they were so good we didn't complain. The wings were my favorite as they were super crispy and delicious. Definitely will be returning!
(5)
Shaun H.
The atmosphere is trendy and cool, we enjoyed a business lunch this afternoon with a key client relationship. The service was good as well.
(4)
Terry L.
This establishment has a great location in Downtown Miami (not that far from the arena). They have valet available for a cost ($5 when I arrived) but I opted for the complimentary self parking lot right next to the valet area! Upon entering the restaurant I fell in love with the design... It has two floors, a centered bar and street art on the walls with keeping a upscale style. I came in around 4pm on a Thursday and it was dead which I liked as I was flying solo. I opted to sit at the bar and the bartender took some time to address me... After finally saying Hello and providing the menus (making no recommendations) I choose to start with the crab cake and choose my entree as the Fried Chicken. Overall the crab cake was good as it mainly consisted of actual crab. As for the fried chicken... I've had better... The pieces were small and seemed overcooked, it also came with a biscuit and mashed potatoes, the potatoes were good and the biscuit had no flavor. The restaurant has potential and I feel that due to me coming in when it was dead I didn't get the level of service and food that normally is provided. I'm gonna suck it up and try this place again and will then update this review.
City Hall is one of those places where I love the appetizers and desserts but the main courses aren't my favorite. I've been here and few times and always get the meatloaf and it is good but not great. I do like the relaxed and casual atmosphere and for the Miami area the prices are pretty good. They have a decent beer and wine selection and their craft cocktails are cleverly named and very good. I would reccomend the duck flat bread and the bread pudding for dessert.
(4)
Jessie R.
The service was great all the way around - from the male host to the server and bus people! Very happy to help and warm. The atmosphere is also nice, the lighting and music were perfect for dinner. The food was nothing to extra to write home about, but enjoyable non the less! Will recommend! Will come back for more!
(5)
William K.
Too much hype for no reason. Overly expensive for no reason. The food is decent but is very typical of your average chain restaurants. Not sure what they hype is all about simply because it is located in mid town.
(1)
Darin P.
Parking: Valet is next to the restaurant, but free parking is literally 20 feet further down on the same side of the street. Bengal has signs there, but the fine print says City Hall parking as well. Waiter was French and hot upset that we did not want the amazing-looking bread. Then he was fine when we explained it was for Lent (carb free). That only left us with one option on the menu. We both had the Thai Steal Salad. It was a delicious mix of veggies with Thai dressing. Watercress was the greens for the salad. The steak was cooked perfectly and there was about 8-10 ounces on the plate. A very good deal compared to the price of other menu items. As Ahnold said, "I'll be back!"
(5)
Natty G.
So, we've been here a few times and we're not very impressed. This restaurant looks nice and the menu is eclectic but the food is merely OK. The service is slow and if you go during Sunday brunch prepare yourself for a headache. The music is so loud you can't enjoy a conversation with a nice group. The menu is made up of mostly comfort style food, however; you don't feel particularly comforted. Maybe it's the brunch that is too crazy for a Sunday after having just woken up. Overall, it's just OK.
(3)
elayne s.
The food is superb. Cudos to Chef Luis Lopez. Terrific lunch specials priced right. Dinner are divine with fab specials.
(5)
Katrella S.
Love this place for lunch. They have an 11.50 lunch special. Today I'm having shrimp jambalaya. The crusty bread with pecan butter makes my day. Also coming with my lunch is salad and desert. Um um good
(5)
Jamie W.
I've been to City Hall twice and both times I was very impressed with the atmosphere, service, and of course, food! This particular review is from my 2nd visit, which was last night. I knew from my 1st visit that the "not your usual French Onion soup" was very good according to my colleague, so I tried it this time. And she was right! The dish comes out with 3 onion-filled dumplings and cheese in the bowl. Then the soup is poured into the bowl right in front of you. A nice, cute, different touch. I also ordered the brussell sprouts side dish. It was quite large and definitely could have been shared with another person. I wasn't a big fan of the aioli that came with it....seemed a bit mayo-ish and heavy. Nevertheless, the sprouts were delicious! City Hall is a great place in an area with not too many good restaurants. I highly recommend it if you're visiting the area!
(4)
Kara T.
Fun gospel brunch, good service, and pretty good food. It's not Miami's best menu, but it's in a great location and gospel brunch rocks. I've gotten the club a few times and it's a huge portion. I enjoy it. I take my out-of-towners there after church. I've also been for professional luncheons and it's always good then. We do family style and salads and everything else is always nice. I recommend it.
Friendly and fast service and reasonably priced American food with some healthful options made for an enjoyable Columbus Day lunch. Mom and dad love these kind of places when they visit from Berlin. Free parking in the back is a plus, so is the fact that they don't automatically slap on 18% gratuity. We started munching on some sweet potato fries while we waited. They could have used more salt and/ or some kind of spice rub but they were fresh, well cooked and non-greasy. Our waiter was great. My dad thoroughly enjoyed his Cobb salad. What is there to say- the man likes chicken, eggs and bacon. The avocado dressing, he said, was also yummy. My salmon was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I could have done with a little less oil in the salad dressing, since the salmon was already oily. Other than that, the salad dressing was great and surprisingly, having strawberries and grapes with salmon actually worked. Our waiter was very confident about the croissant bread pudding and he was right. This bread pudding is nothing short of awesome. The croissants make it moist and fluffy, it is served steaming warm with incredibly rich and decadent chunks of molten dark chocolate throughout and a bourbon vanilla sauce on the side. The serving is so big that even I couldn't possibly eat this alone. This is sooooo much better than Blue Collar's B.P. The only chocolate B.P. that comes close is Morgan's chocolate and pecan variation. I will be back to try their brunch. Or maybe just to have bread pudding as my main course.
(4)
Farris J.
What a low life operation! Valet parking with attendant no where to be found. Servers who can't even get orders right and looking like they are just out of rehab. And, management with non customer service attitudes. Remember buddies, retaining customers and creating good will is what hospitality management is all about....not going head to head and toe to toe to mistreat customers for the sake of a buck....when your ethics and morals are thrown out the window. What goes around, comes around and soon you'll find yourself out-of-business. Stay as clear away from this want-to-be as far as you possibly can.
(1)
Danny D.
Let me be clear. I am giving City Hall 3 1/2 stars. I faced a decision between rounding up or rounding down and I made a choice to round down. I was decisive and took action, because that's what people in City Hall should do. Let me tell you, the American people, why I made that decision. I came to City Hall on an early Sunday afternoon around 12:30 p.m. The day after facing perhaps the most crucial tailgate in this UM alumni's history. UM vs. FSU 2012. But make no mistake. This wasn't an ordinary UM-FSU game. It also happened to be Homecoming. It wasn't easy, but I managed to make it through. Here's the deal. I needed water, a good brunch, and a Bloody Mary. Now look, I had been to City Hall in the past and thought it was phenomenal. But let me be clear. You're only as good as your latest performance. Thank you basedgod for those last two debates. I sat down in City Hall with one of my advisors and we were promptly poured water and asked if we would like anything to drink. Here's the deal. The only reason I decided to come to City Hall is because I remembered their excellent Bloody Mary's... so I ordered one. To eat, I decided to skip brunch and order the shrimp po boy. Now, make no mistake. I knew it wouldn't be easy to beat the recently discovered Bloody Marys at Mercadito, but their brunch was just ok and I thought that City Hall could offer a way forward. I was wrong. The Bloody Mary was good in the sense that it was strong, but let me be clear. It was not as tasty as I had hoped. I ended up having to put a large amount of Tobasco sauce in it and the juice of four lemon wedges. After that it was good, but... they didn't build that! As far as the shrimp sandwich goes, it was good but unremarkable. That's why it only gets one sentence. Make no mistake, I said that I came to City Hall to recover from the previous day, and that's exactly what I intended on doing. I ordered a coffee after I had finished eating. Here's the deal. You can give me bad service and I'll forgive you. But let me be clear. You don't not give me my coffee. After 20 minutes without seeing any coffee, I asked for the check and left. That is why I rounded down. Will I go back to City Hall? Yes. Just please, move forward.
(3)
Natalie Q.
I get to be City Hall's 100th review...woohoo! Got to dine here on Valentine's Day. The ambiance was great, I love the decor and they weren't as busy as I expected. They had a special Valentine's Day menu which was not the least bit intriguing. I took the waiters suggestion and ordered the meatloaf and chorizo mac and cheese. I love me some mac and cheese, but this one was way too heavy. The meatloaf itself was OK. The gravy left something to be desired. I was underwhelmed until our dessert came...croissant and chocolate bread pudding which saved the day. I'd come back but just for cocktails and dessert.
(3)
Stephanie C.
My son, daughter-in-law with their kids along with my husband and I stopped by after an afternoon playing at a local park with the grandkids. At first, I though we were terribly under dressed but the staff made us feel quite at home. We requested to sit in an out of the way location so as to not disturb any of their older guests. Again, they were very accommodating. They have a kids menu, a 3 course adult dinner menu "deal" along with their regular menu. We ordered off of all three menus. Their potato parmesan cheese soup was delicious - it was the soup of the day, wish I had that recipe! My son enjoyed the burger said he loved the bacon, cheese, onion combination on their own baked bread. The kids had pizza and fries, the fries were tri-colored using pink, purple, sweet and regular potatoes in the mix. My husband had pork chops with sweet potato which he said was well flavored and cooked. My daughter-in-law had the encrusted tuna dinner. She liked it enough, she ate half and wanted the other half for lunch the next day! I got the meatloaf and potatoes ....love comfort food! Again, it did not disappoint! My only complaint was that none of us had room for dessert! The wait staff was attentive but not overbearing. The management made it a point to come over to the table and ask us how things were going. I must say that overall I had a terrific experience with City Hall Restaurant. I would make it a regular watering hole if only I lived here locally!!! Wish we had one in Colorado Springs!!!
(5)
Martin O.
We arrived for our Saturday 7pm reservation for a table of 4. The first thing I noticed was that the inside of this restaurant with both upstairs and downstairs dinning rooms is very modern and nice inside. What type of restaurant is this (Comfort Food, Upscale or Premium Comfort Food). I started with the Crispy Pancetta and Onion Pizza with Gorganzola Cheese (very delicious and rich, I would go back for this) with a bottle of Stella Beer. Others in my party ordered the Burratta Mozzarella with crisp Pancetta, Baby Arugula and Toasted Pine nuts. For a main course, I had the Meat Loaf (very, very good) with Chorizo-Maple Mac'n Cheese (good, not great). One of our party members had the Grilled Turkey Burger (a very thick burger). The W had a Seafood Pot Pie that had a nice crust (had to be sent back because it wasn't hot enough). For dessert, we shared a Warm Crumble Berry Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. I noticed that many people bought their own bottles of wine. This might be common for a Saturday night or because the restaurant just opened. There is a large bar inside if you are dining alone. There is valet parking in back for 4 bills. You will also find metered parking by the nearby Auto Dealer. In summary, it's nice to have a new Upscale Comfort Food Restaurant is this part of town. It's right across from the Citi Condos/The Daily and next door to the Indian restaurant.
(4)
Danielle C.
I ate at city hall a few days ago. It was really unimpressive. I don't think I'll be returning. Nah, I won't be going back. Nothing was terrible, it just wasn't good. I couldn't find one reason to eat here, except for maybe the wedge salad. But I can get a wedge salad anywhere else... We found our food to be just average. Gumbo, "unconventional" onion soup, scallops... no interesting flavors. I will say that I had a skirt steak and the meat tasted great. Really nice bold meat flavor. But that's pretty much it. Everything else on the plate was just "blah." As for dessert, that part was actually below average. Did that "bread pudding" swimming in whipped cream really need to be drenched in that bourbon anglaise sauce? Seriously, what was that? And were those chocolate croissants from Costco? Seriously, what was that? I don't really think service should factor into an opinion about a restaurant, but if that bothers you, that's another strike against City Hall. Everyone was really confused, and the restaurant wasn't even that full. Speaking of confusion, can somebody please explain the theme? What is up with that mural on the wall? And what does art deco have to do with Southern cuisine? In sum, don't bother. And if you happen to go despite my review, I highly recommend that you opt out of dessert and go for the martini or Stella on the Miami Spice menu.
(2)
Katherine G.
As others have said, City Hall is not a cheap place. But...you get what you pay for. City Hall is becoming known for its impeccable service, quality, and atmosphere. I really enjoyed myself. I ordered the Power Lunch on a weekend day...I think Sunday...the other week. I started with the chicken corn chowder. WOW. I sucked up every drop shamelessly. It was that good. It tasted like how love feels. Then I had the brisket sandwich, with a salad on the side instead of fries. I was making an effort not to go whole hog. :) The sandwich was very good. The only drawback was that the meat was a bit fatty. I know that it's laughable to pay attention to that when you have just ordered a barbeque brisket sandwich, but nevermind...I removed the fat when it was excessive and enjoyed the meat without the unnecessary bread--gigantic pieces of Texas toast. Biscayne is becoming better and better for dinner options. People who live nearby also MUST run to Bengal too!!
(4)
Lee R.
Great service, everyone was so nice and friendly! We did the Miami Spice menu that was being offered early...I recommend the pork chop and the carrot cake! And the maple butter that comes out with the bread before dinner is to die for!
(5)
Tennison Z.
I live in the area and am always excited when a new restaurant pops up around the block so I decided to give it a shot. I showed up with my girlfriend on an early Friday night (with no reservations, I totally recommend you do if you decide to go around peak hours - I even believe they use OpenTable online) but we're promptly sat down. The decor and service is definitely the first impression that you get of this restaurant, and we were delighted with the ode to Gotham city that the interior decoration gives the place. The service we received by our host and waitress was solid in comparison to other restaurants in the area that charge the same price, as well as how the restaurant was filling up (quite quickly might I add). It looks like the menu is in a limbo (while they tinker out what works and what doesn't) but we decided to stray safe and share our Miami Spice meal with another appetizer. It worked out perfect for us since we were not able to finish our meals. The portions are filling enough for one if you decide to have a three course meal. A definite plus were the drinks that we ordered, that were recommended by our friendly waitress. She also took the time to explain the Miami Spice menu, drink menu and recommendations and even gave us a little explanation on how Steve Haas doesn't like to cut corners on his Miami Spice menus. The point is that she didn't race through the specials but actually engaged in a conversation to enhance the experience. The bread with the pecan butter sauce was definitely a hit. If a restaurant takes the time to make the free food taste good its a good start. I went with the gumbo with the appetizer because I'm a fan of stew/soups. It had a good taste - would like it to have a bit more "cajun" in it though. For our entrees, I ordered the couscous and skirt steak while my girlfriend ordered the confit duck pizza. We ended up devouring the steak plate and saving the pizza for seconds. The pizza is good but be aware the the cheese is very rich and it could be a little heavy. We ordered a couple of espressos with our coffee creme brulee and we're quite satisfied with it. Overall, the decor and service were definite upsides if you are looking for a "cherry on top" of your meal and you get what you pay for with the food. We definitely want to give it another shot to see if it becomes a regular spot where we can have a great meal. The biggest plus for me about this place is that it is not like most restaurants in Miami that focus on being posh but look like they genuinely want to make you feel welcome. I'm not yet leaning towards a fantastic experience, but it is one that I have the confidence to recommend.
(4)
Rebecca R.
Hustle + bustle = noise Popped in to City Hall for a late dinner during the frenzy of Miami Spice; loved the decor, liked the food, disliked the noise. My partner opted for the Spice menu, whereas I ordered a la carte. None of the dishes seemed superb, and the scallops with black bean salad? Yawn. I hear brunch is amazing, and the menu looks scrumptious. Hope that the management figures out how to dim the noise without killing the energy. Will return once the chef has tweaked the menu with hopes of a more inspiring, metropolitan theme.
(3)
Tulin L.
We got delivered a complete dinner from City Hall restaurant . We ordered the duck confit pizza, braised beef short rib stuffed potato, the meatloaf with chorizo-mac&cheese, cheesecake and the carrot cake. Our order has been arrived in 30 minutes as on time. The confit pizza was nice. The flavors worked very well together. The only thing they put the pizza in a plastic container so it lost the crispiness a little bit. It would be much better if we eat in the restaurant just right from the oven. Or if they would put in a cartoon pizza box. The meatloaf was very moist and tasty. The mac & cheese was also very delicious. We also liked the side fresh green beans with garlic glaze. It was nice and fresh. The stuffed potato skins were very delicious. It was not too oily. The flavors were delicious. Moreover, the port wine syrup was a great addition to both the confit duck pizza and the stuffed potato skins. The desserts were also very delicious and fresh. Even though it was a delivery order they portioned all the food very nicely and decoratively. They put nice fresh mint leaf on the deserts. It was a really nice touch. It is the first time we tried this restaurant. If the delivery is this successful I am pretty sure the dining in the restaurant would be much better. I will definitely go to this restaurant in person and continue to get delivery from them. ;)) this place is not your ordinary place . It is very gourmet style.
(4)
Miguel F.
For weeks I kept on hearing about City Hall -- "so good" "you have to go" "cute place" "best food I've had in a long time" Finally went last week with my best friend and my friends weren't kidding... its pretty good. I had the Miami Spice menu. Spicy -- Grilled Skirt Steak -- perfectly cooked, with so much flavor. The couscous, Kalamata olives and feta cheese all added to it. Martinis -- we asked for blue cheese olives and the cocktail was perfection My best friend also had some crab cake appetizer and I had a bite and it was so good! Medium - Gumbo appetizer -- it was pretty good, not the best but pretty good Mild -- Coffee Creme Brulee. It had a very thick consistency and normally creme brulee is a thinner, silkier. It wasn't horrible, and it was pretty big. The desserts on the Spice menu are to share, btw. I was very impressed with City Hall and can't wait to come back!
(4)
Jessica R.
I went back here recently because their grits at the Grand Tasting were so good. Got there early so it was quiet and it does look like they've installed sound dampers. The waiter was awesome out of the gate and made me a hot chocolate even though it's not on the menu, but then he just...disappeared. Twice my brunch partner had to wait 15 mins for a coffee refill. Add to that the grits were nowhere near as good as at the grand tasting. This place still just seem meh.
(3)
Alicia T.
3.5* Miami REALLY??!!! Since I'm rare in Miami (full blooded American who grew up on southern comfort food in the Midwest) I feel like I know what I'm talking about here. I'm not sure, but maybe yelpers are coming here with the wrong expectations? Of all the pretentious, disappointing or mediocre places I've tried in this area because Miami yelpers rated them 4-5*, we should seriously be ashamed of the low star rating this place has! As far as I'm concerned, this is THE place to come when you want to get the ITIS (pronounced eye-tus) in Miami. And if you are not familiar with the "eye-tus" it is a hood term used to describe what happens to your body after a very satisfying yet heavy meal. It's somewhat of a coma, but you are still conscious. If you are looking for Maserati's and Ferrari's on the curb to make you feel like you've "arrived" at the best restaurant in Miami, go elsewhere. If you are vegetarian, sorry, southern food (historically) includes lots of tasty 4-legged animals and their fats. If you're looking for quiet, go to the library. Yes, it was loud, but I expected to have to scream at the top of my lungs after reading these reviews (it was just as loud as any local Cheesecake Factory on any night of the week). I still would be impressed here on a first date. Ambiance: The dark wood, high ceilings, and decor made me feel like I left Miami for a moment while inside. Very nice, and a huge TV screen is projected (on silent) toward the front of the restaurant so guys if you do bring a date here, you can still get bonus points with her and check the score throughout the night. Service: As most reviewers have mentioned, 5 stars all around. Much appreciated in this city where normally the servers feel they are doing you a favor by showing up. A bus boy even happily took a drink order for us and walked me to the restroom instead of pointing across the restaurant in its direction. Food: I wanted to lie on the floor and take a nap afterwards. Great portions, great presentation, and great food. Here's what we had: Appetizer, Gorgonzola pizza with panchetta, sweet onion cream, fig jam and crispy onions: The other foodies at my table (two NY'ers and a WV girl) and I nearly fought over this freaking thing. Thanks City Hall. It was large enough to have as your meal (which I definitely will be doing for lunch one day) but delicious enough that if someone tries to take a piece you may want to stab them in the hand with your fork (or maybe that's just me). It was down to the last piece and we were all doing the polite stare off while we had small talk but internally determining who was going to be able to eat it. Country Fried chicken: You'll definitely think your granny fried this chicken somewhere in the country when your plate arrives. The crispy, crunchy, flavorful skin reminds me of other great fried chicken at gourmet soul food restaurants I have tried in places like Los Angeles (Roscoes Chicken & Waffles), Washington DC (Georgia Browns), Chicago (Chicago's Roscoes), and Detroit (Southern Fires) who all serve their chicken with honey on the side, YES! And here they give you a whole HALF of a freaking chicken. Who does that?! I wound up eating 3 pieces just because I got lost in the flavor argh! I didn't like the corn, but the red skinned mashed potatoes were PERFECT. They even gave me a little pot of red hot sauce to dip my chicken in (upon request). I was in little fat girl heaven. Grilled pork chop: with bourbon sweet potatoes and collards. Yes, collards, only the best and most sought after greens when it comes to southern food. My NY friend nearly licked his plate after he was done, I didn't even get to taste any of it except the sweet potatoes which tasted like pure candy (no lie). Scallops: I didn't taste them but my friend loved them, although a bit spicy for her so maybe ask for the jalapeno stuff on the side. Nothing can ever be too spicy for me. Dessert: Well, whoever created the recipe for this bread pudding should be under arrest (or if they are single maybe I should marry them). We were way TOO full for dessert but thank God I read the reviews that told me NOT to leave without trying that bread pudding. It is clearly one of the most awesome desserts I've ever had at any restaurant anywhere (but I am a serious bread pudding lover also). My little WV girlfriend HATES bread pudding and only put a little on her plate. I said "No dear, you'll want to brace yourself for this one" and gave her a little more so she wouldn't be disappointed after we ravished the rest. Amazing, the type of dessert that you put a little in your mouth, pause, look around at your table mates and say "Oh my GOD, this is SO good" and then wish you had another stomach to eat the rest of it with. So this is not the place to come to before the beach, or if you are monitoring your blood sugar levels, fat content, or carbs. Come if you want great comfort good, great service, and a lovely atmosphere to enjoy it all.
(5)
Corey D.
I have been waiting quite some time for this restaurant to open. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the anticipation. The best part of the experience is the bar, the drinks are flawless. However, we had to wait 20 mins at the bar to get a drink. Our server, Victoria was very good. But there is no team work. Everyone walks around with tunnel vision and give answers that clearly let you know "that is not my job." So just wait until your very busy server has time to get back to you. We started with the french onion soup--that has no croutons or the lovely cheesiness or finish that we come to expect. We also order the short rib stuffed potato skins. One shrivled up little potato? There should be four halves. Flavor was good but the presentation felt skimpy. I ordered the fried chicken. It was super greasy and bland as if it were cooked at to low a temperature. Another newcomer, Tudor House, serves much better fried chicken. I sent it back and got the pork chop instead. The chop and the yams were excellent. But the collard greens were so overcooked that they were black and chewy with no pot liquor--unrecognizable. So very disappointing. My friend had the meatloaf, it was good not great. He said the mac and cheese was long on mac and short on cheese. Our other friend was happy with his skirt steak with olives and goat cheese. My fourth friend had the tuna and it was good although he was confused by the sauce that accompanied it. City Hall tries too hard to be over the top when it comes to the food. As much as I love comfort food--it just feel duplicative, inauthentic and dated. The loud dining room and uninspired decor make for a less than impressive evening. Luckily, we were with great friends. But, I absolutely will not be back. Too many great new restaurants, too little time.
(2)
Matthew P.
Every since North One 10 closed a year or three back, Miami has been aching for a restaurant that abandons all pretension in favor of well-crafted, well-executed American chow. It's gratifying and exciting to see City Hall bring it back. The menu reads like an American cookbook: spicy gumbo, crisp fried chicken with pan gravy, fresh scallops. There's enough of a twist to keep everything fresh - that fried chicken comes with local honey, a platter of mussels is spiked with chorizo. And, God bless the USA, my filet mignon was a complete meal instead of an a la carte cop out... crispy Brussels sprouts and a homey potato gratin. There is is lots of bacon, as it should be. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable, the service is spot on. It was crazy loud on Saturday night, but, seriously, you're too busy eating to talk.
(4)
Jessica B.
A M A Z I N G!!!!!!! Its an understatement, service excellent, superb ambiance, food delicious. Went with friends for my birthday and we all ordered different appetizers and plates so we can all try each others, Every single plate was so good including the potato bread with apple pecan butter. The bread pudding was excellent also.
(5)
Steph D.
MIAMI SPICE REVIEW I went to City Hall last night for dinner with my husband. We had been to City Hall before and thought it was okay. We visited in the first month it was opened, so were willing to give it another try with Miami Spice. It was a lackluster experience. I will give the staff credit for honestly promoting Miami Spice and encouraging patrons to order from the menu. (I hate when participant restaurants do not give you the menu up-front). I will also give our waiter credit for answering our wine question with out a $10 up sell, as I had expected him to do. I ordered the crab cake for an appetizer, the Shrimp & Grits for an entree and the Bread Pudding for dessert. The crab cake was just that- one crab cake. The restaurant pared down their regular 2 crab cake appetizer for Miami Spice. The crab cake was small- maybe 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter, less than an inch thick and with no obvious lumps of crab in the cake. You could taste the crab, but it was more cake than crab. I would not order it again, nor suggest it. As for the Shrimp & Grits....the grits and the sauce were amazing! I really liked the creamy nature of the grits and the tasty sauce. The grits were then topped with 6 medium sized shrimp. Shrimp & Grits are not on the regular menu....however, I hear they might be added. It will be interesting to see the price point. I believe the price would be fair between $18 and $22. In the end, the shrimp & grits were good, but for such an inventive restaurant, I expected something else with the shrimp & grits... sausages, bell peppers, something. Kinda Plain Jane for City Hall. My husband had the mussels for an appetizer and the twin filet for dinner. The mussels were well done and beautifully presented; although, the chorizo flavor was missing from the dish. The mussel sauce was also tasty with the bread. As for the twin filet, the first attempt was horrid. He ordered the steaks medium-rare and received well done. Our waiter promptly agreed and corrected the situation immediately. (Thanks!) The second round was much better- the steaks also looked like filet, not hamburger. The filet was served with a wine reduction sauce, grill Brussels sprouts and blue cheese mashed potatoes. Both the sauce and the Brussels sprouts were delicious and added to the dish. I want to start making grilled sprouts at home. However, the blue cheese mashed potatoes just tasted like potatoes...the blue cheese favor (which should have been easy to taste) was missing. All in all, the filet was cooked well and enjoyable, on the second go round. Lots of people near us ordered the filet...and the dish look every different at each table...strange inconsistencies in the size and style of the cut of meat. I expect filets to look round and have some height....some pieces were skinnier and spread out horizontally. The overcooked portion was on the of flatter ones. Dessert was the best course of the evening. I LOVED the bread pudding with chocolate chips. Since the printing of the menu, the restaurant has changed it's policy....bread pudding can now be ordered by one person, since the dish has been re-sized for Miami Spice. I believe they did that with all the dessert. However, the new, individual size of bread pudding is more than enough. The service was very fast, almost too fast. We had hardly finished our appetizers, when the entrees were placed in front of us. Bottomline: I would have been better off skipping the Miami Spice menu, I didn't feel like it represented a great deal. However, my husband definitely scored with the filet and mussels. Just a note of caution: be careful with the filet...there seemed to be a wide range of variation in what came out of the kitchen. Not sure I'll be back again....Spice or not.
(3)
Frank M.
I rarely write a review after one visit, but I thought I should take the time. The place has charm and I was hoping to really like this place. Unfortunately I did not make a reservation. While the crowd was mixed between extremely casual and dressed for a date it seems they prefer reservations. My party of two was told we would have to wait 5 minutes. There is no waiting area, they did ask if we would like to grab a cocktail and wait by the bar. After 25 minutes we were escorted to our seats, to only find out there was no table available. A few minutes later we sat down. We were only planning a small meal and it didn't seem like the waiter was too happy with our choice of small meals. The menu does look good and I feel there is a good mix of price levels. My overall impression was that the food is good but not up to compete with the level of the new restaurants in midtown/design district.
(3)
Michael A.
Food was excellent esp the Gorgonzola pizza. And the pecan butter was delish. Would have been 4 stars except the menu on web site was outdated by "months" according to the waiter. We had seen items on the web site and wanted to try them but they were off the menu. Very disappointing.
(3)
Ethan A.
Needed a late Sunday lunch, and this place was one of the few places we could do. It wasn't anything special, and the management seemed a bit fake-acting. But the food was acceptable, and I have no complaints.
(3)
Martha G.
Been meaning to give a nod to City Hall. The host Reggie, with the Where's Waldo glasses is the best. My friends and I have dined here three times. On each occasion he seated us with no problems on a Saturday night, after each of us had experienced independently either jet lag, buyers remorse, or day drunk head-ache. The Pork Chop was recommended twice and I ordered it once, it was overcooked. Not a big deal since we are group of girls and share everything, which I am sure is in poor taste, but, meh. The service, food, and ambiance are all on point. In addition, there is parking and not a huge annoying scene. Love love love
(4)
Patrick R.
I like this place. I like that decent restaurants continue to move into this area of Miami. Opted for the Gorgonzola pizza minus the meat and the caesar salad. Both were very good and the combo was filling. (If you notice a theme in my reviews I love caesar and pizza.) The standout was the dessert. The bread pudding was delicious. The service was outstanding. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgable. He led us through the menu and their off menu offerings (vegetarians can order the vegetarian special in which the chef prepare's a custom made and on the spot inspired dish). Yes, I will be coming back to this place.
(3)
Ashley R.
My husband and I brought my parents (visiting from PA) and my brother here for Miami Spice. We warned them, though, that many Miami Spice menus (although great deals) are limited and are very small portions. But still an opportunity to try a great restaurant. But City Hall did NOT skimp on the Miami Spice menu. Our waiter told us Steve Haas invented Miami Spice 10 years ago... so we expected good things from his City Hall menu. We had heard good things about City Hall, but it far exceeded my expectations. My husband and I kept looking around admiring the non-Miami feel... it felt like the restaurant was built in an entirely different city. Maybe because so many other restaurants -- whether intended or not -- have an overall Latin feel. But this didn't, which was good, because I like things to be different sometimes. I started off with a jumbo lump crab cake with spicy tomato glaze (which isn't on the online Miami Spice menu for some reason). Delicious. Moved on to the Asian-inspired Salmon entree with shiitake jasmine rice. Also delicious. My husband ate my baby bok choy, so I'm not sure how that was. And for dessert, we ate pretty much everything: chocolate banana cream pie (not my favorite, but I was too full to take more than one bite, which was overly banana-y), berry pie (very good berries!) and a carrot cake. The carrot cake was nice because (as the waiter pointed out) the icing isn't as strong as with most carrot cakes. It allowed me to taste more of the cake and less of the usually overpowering icing. My favorite dessert, however, was the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding with bourbon anglaise and chocolate ganache. I love chocolate croissants. It was divine. I mean, seriously. Out of this world. Would love to go back sometime soon!
(5)
Melody Y.
Wow. That meatloaf was UH-MAZING!!! I went to City Hall for a business party last night and I just could not end my day without writing about the experience. The atmosphere was awesome. The service was perfect but at times they were too perfect, if that makes any sense. I wasn't too hungry so I just ordered the Calamari. It was tasty but a little on the dry side. My boss however, went all out and ordered the meatloaf meal. First of all, it was huge and it looked amazing. She gave me maybe 1/4 of it, which was a really big chunk. THEN THE FLAVOR BUS HIT ME. It was sooooo good. I wanted to snatch the food off of her plate, but I restrained myself. I was however, staring at her meal all night. Next time, I will definitely be getting the meatloaf! Side note: The music was entirely too loud. I could barely hear the conversation. But the food made up for it!
(4)
Vanessa G.
Went here for brunch on a Sunday. The food was alright. The decor was very urban but elegant. Nice hang out spot. There was a lady singing that day but the volume was way too high to converse with anyone in our table kind of annoying! However don't hate it would recommend if you want to go somewhere hip with good food.
(3)
Ricardo B.
Trendy, nicely decorated. Steve Haas, the owner can be seen walking around greeting people. Service in the beginning was very good but at the end it was a little sloppy. Food was very good - had the shrimp po'boy and the chocolate croissant for dessert. Dessert was really good. A bit pricey for the food. The place of the moment to be seen and to see i guess it's what it is
(3)
Giancarlo B.
I had read about City Hall on Thrillist, and while the review of the food was good what really drew me in was the decor. So naturally, when Ashley S. suggested that we eat at City Hall for dinner one random Friday night, I was quite excited. Upon entering, we were greeted by the Host and sure enough, once you enter, you feel like you're in 1920's art deco NYC - I loved it. We didn't realize that this restaurant was part of Miami Spice and we didn't have a reservation. It was still pretty early for a Friday night so they sat us upstairs. After reviewing their standard menu we quickly realized that the Miami Spice menu was quite the deal, especially considering that they gave you the option of foregoing the 3rd (dessert) course for a martini or beer... jackpot! For appetizers, Ashley ordered the crab with corn whereas I ordered their iceberg lettuce with bacon and blue cheese dressing. Ashley definitely won that round. Although, to be perfectly honest, their Miami Spice appetizer selection wasn't that great. For the main course, I ordered their pork chop with mashed sweet potato and collard greens and Ashley S. ordered the pan seared sea scallops. Both dishes were absolutely delicious. The scallops were probably the sweetest and freshest I've ever tasted and my pork chop was cooked to perfection. We were both blown away by our entrees. Besides the food, the service was great too. Our waiter was not only friendly, but also extremely knowledgeable. He entertained a conversation with us as if he were sitting down at our table without being intrusive. Overall, I'm really happy with my experience and would definitely recommend City Hall to everyone I know.
(4)
Milad S.
So happy I finally stumbled into this gem. I have driven past this restaurant so many times while going to the Daily that I decided one night to actually make a visit...and boy was I glad that I did. Everything was first class from top down. I had the fried chicken which was great , but a little bit in the dry side. My lady had the porkchop which was amazing! This restaurant has the best drinks in Miami, very very good. Make sure to have the bread pudding dessert if you have space! The portion sizes here are large, but you get what you are paying for. Great place, great service, and great food. Can't ask for more. Comfort food done right.
(5)
Gabriel C.
Brunch was mediocre at best.
(2)
George C.
Just awesome! NYC has come down to the 305. You seriously feel like you have traveled to NY, but it's all happening on Biscayne Blvd. The place is loud, but you can actually hear yourselves speak. From the amazing maple butter at the start to entrees that will blow your mind- Steve Haas has truly perfected this place. Don't miss the meatloaf or the NY strip, as both are simply DELICOUS! I've been three times in one week and will keep going back. The turkey burger is also amazing. If you like olives, get the skirt steak. I will try it out for brunch. One of my new favorite places in Miami!
(5)
Vanessa M.
City Hall looks like it's straight out of a Batman movie--Art Deco decor and accents give it a Gotham City feel. The entire night I was expecting Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton version) to make an appearance, but alas, he did not (I kid). City Hall was my first Miami Spice experience and I was surprisingly very impressed with the service. When my friend and I walked in the Maitre 'D charmed us with a friendly greeting and charming compliments (+ 10 for City Hall! ). I actually breathed a sigh of relief because dining in pretentious atmospheres make me uncomfortable most of the time. Our waiter also went out and beyond to please my party of 6; he had the patience of a saint. Seriously, he deserves a bonus or something. For appetizer I ordered the braised short ribs stuffed potato skins--this was the one item on the Miami Spice menu that lured me over to City Hall and it fulfilled my every little expectation. But here's the best part. It was not on the actual menu at the restaurant! We mentioned to our waiter that we were looking forward to trying the potato skins and so he had a word with the chef and, presto! Thanks, dude! Our waiter also let us order one dessert per person (we were 6) instead of 1 per 2 people--isn't he the nicest? For my entree I had the pork chops with mashed potato's. The food was on point and perfectly cooked each course. I definitely plan on going back again and hopefully, I get the same waiter!
(3)
Clarine F.
This place is really awesome! The food is excellent as far as presentation & taste goes. It had me the most excited i've been about somewhere in a while! Its a to-do when in the Midtown/Downtown area in Miami for sure!
(4)
Jesse L.
Absolutely a disappointment! Not only did it take a while to order food, but my wife and I noticed everyone around us (even the folks that arrived after us) were getting their food. By mere chance the waiter walked by and remembered we existed. We finally got our food and realized that we were better off without it. My wife had the fried chicken. Not only was it tasteless, it appeared to be under cooked. On the other hand, I had the cheese pizza and they spared not heat on my dish. My pizza was burnt to a crisp! This restaurant tries too hard to be sophisticated, they should work on the basics like attentiveness and attention to details. The atmosphere was ok, but they have not mastered the art of turning down the music. Also, it was freezing... I would hope to dissuade you from wasting your money, please learn from my bad experience.
(1)
Jade P.
I went here on a Sunday morning for brunch and was pleasantly surprised. A really large and trendy space and, if you're lucky, you'll catch a performance by a guest singer/band, which really adds to the ambiance of the establishment. The wait was less than desirable, however, as I waited for a small party of 3 for about one hour! The staff was extremely courteous and helpful, but I suggest that you make reservations should you decide to come in for Sunday brunch. I had the braised beef short ribs, which were delicious. The meat was soft and literally melted off the bone, but the polenta was pretty dry and not quite as refined as you'd expect from a restaurant of this caliber. The portions were large and the prices fairly reasonable for what you get. Although I didn't try them, it looked like the French Toast is a popular item- I'll probably go with that next time around. A great place to hang out on a Sunday, just be prepared to wait.
(3)
Todd N.
I've been there twice... and there will be a 3rd time. From being greeted by the nicest people to a wait staff that really knows the menu inside and out - our experience was very delightful. The foods were rich with flavor and the atmosphere was beautiful. We had an incredible bottle of wine, appetizers and some very nice meals. Our waiter was very attentive, our courses arrived in good time and we even splurged on desserts. After all, it was my birthday. All in all our experience was excellent. We will be going back and bringing friends. I would imagine that once word gets out, this place will be hopping from open to close and I'd expect a reservation would be important. I'm looking forward to having my future business lunches at City Hall. Great food, great atmosphere, 5 Stars!
(5)
Milica P.
Amazing warm atmosphere, excellent cocktails and food that makes me hug my belly with delight! True comfort food, in a wonderfully elegant, yet comfortable atmosphere - a true home away from home.
(5)
Jamie C.
The food here is awesome, they have a great variety and everything is delicious. The wine and cocktails are also great, and the service is amazing. The ambiance is very New Yorkish, on a busy night it could be a little loud, but nothing that would stop me from coming back. I highly recommend the tuna tartare with truffle oil, and the must-try dessert is the warm berry pie, its out of this world!!
(4)
Maureen A.
amazing food and service, even for miami spice back in August 2012. bartender personally came to our table to ask if we liked the drinks and to describe them, the martini's came with some extra in the shaker which they let us all have to keep it chilled. server was good to us as well. here is what we had at our table for MIami Spice and it was all amazing! Caesar Salad, very good! crab cakes with corn on side, good. Pork Chop with Sweet Potatoes, good Roasted Chicken with Potatoes and Broccolini, good Filet Mignon with Brussel Sprouts, they made me like brusells for the first time! Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding, amazing!!! Plum Cheesecake, or some sort of fruit cheesecake. very good! Chocolate cake. was just ok. warm artisan bread with maple pecan butter. so good! peach martini and coconut martini. both good!
(4)
Henry S.
Over-hyped. There are a lot better restaurants in the area.
(2)
Jamie F.
Visited City Hall and sat at the bar. The bartender was super friendly and helpful in choosing our drinks of which there is an extensive selection of cool cocktails. The food was good. Mussels were great but order extra bread for the sauce. The braised short rib potato skins were pretty over the top and the pizzas are light and crisp with a mouthful of flavor. My only complaint is the noise is out of hand. This place was built without thinking about sound control - put some pads on on the walls or ceilings people! Fun place for a quick and casual night out.
(4)
Kolja P.
We went for Miami Spice and the food wasn't great. Fish drowned in oil, soup tasted like it was from a can, and the sandwich was distinctly average.
(3)
Mia D.
A friend and I went there for happy hour last week. We shared two appetizers, which were delish...and a great deal at about $6 each. But the beer- oh the beer! $7 a beer... During happy hour. We spent $28 on four beers. The place is nice, though - and the food was good - so I give them props for that
(3)
Tamar M.
Living in the south for a long time,I was happy to hear about city hall. Unfortunately I was kinda disappointed by the menu choices. Don't get me wrong, the fish i ordered was good but I had my heart set on some real southern food.. This was more a reg American menu like a Apple bees..
(3)
K N.
I've eaten there twice during Miami Spice already. Amazing ribeye. Restaurant design was fabulous. Waitstaff responsive and efficient.
(4)
Raquel S.
So many places to choose from Midtown but City Hall is new and a must. From the outside it may not look like much but inside it has great decor and its spacious. For lunch, try their salads which are fresh and hearty without weighing you down. Great place to have a business lunch. I also attended an event which they offered special drinks which were worth a try and tasty. Too fruitty for my palate but I like the fact that they have offer their own drinks, shows originality.
(5)
fred h.
I think Steve Haas has a winner on his hands here. I rarely write a review after only one visit, especially for a newly opened place. For a restaurant to be truly good it requires good team. Any place can have a bad day. Hey, servers and cooks are human, how were you after you went through a breakup? And .... teams take time to build and get in sync. I have been here several times now for both brunch and dinner and have to say I like it a lot. The dinner menu is good; excellent Roast Chicken and delicious Ribs, but my absolute fave is the Seafood Pot Pie. Talk about heaven on a plate; the pastry was perfect and the filling divine. The brunch menu isnt huge, but has decent variety with near perfect execution. This is one of the few restaurants that can poach an egg right. I believe City Hall will be our new weekend breakfast joint. The service has always been friendly and attentive. Our first visit was right after they opened and the service was slow. These problems seem to be fixed. I will be back. See you there!
(4)
Mark W.
I went there with friends and didn't know what to expect. Turns out, the food was great and the service great too. We went for the Sunday brunch and I was disapointed that even with reservations we were seated downstairs and not up where the music would be playing. Well, it ended up we had the best table in the house because the band and jaz singer was above us and actually looked down on everyone in the restaurant! She then walked around and visited each table as she preformed. It was great! All in all I had a great time, the food was fine and so was the service. Only draw back was it was on the pricy side, but for the expereince, it was worth it. I will be going there again!
(4)
Irene Z.
The duck confit pizza is amazing!
(4)
Jimmy Z.
City Hall,is expensive and the food is ok. I wouldn't pay the prices for the food.
(3)
Seth J.
I had this place bookmarked for quite a while and finally made the effort for a weekday lunch. First impression was very good. Plenty of private parking it he back, but I imagine during a busy time it would be difficult to park. The place is much more upscale then I expected. Service was very friendly. Food selection is unique and easy to understand. Mussels in Guinness was awesome. Hot fresh bread at each table. They were out of the brisket, so I will be back. Overall a great place. Food took a bit long to arrive on a fast paced lunch day, but I was still very satisfied.
(4)
JamesBrownInMiami ..
Good food. Attentive staff.
(3)
Dan M.
Brought to you by one of the Veterans of the Miami food scene - along with all his friends (who all excel at what they do.) Only caveat - it can get loud/noisy.
(5)
S B.
Happy with the experience. Went on a Sunday night and had great food with good service. Enjoyed the duck appetizer and the yellowfin tuna dinner
(4)
Dianna B.
OK, it isn't BAD...but for a new restaurant coming onto the scene in Miami's growing foody culture, i found it's lackluster redundancy really disappointing. It's basically just another ritzy uptown chop house, lots of heavy dishes with too many tired buzzword ingredients, and the interior made me feel like i was eating at semi upscale airport restaurant. (maybe terminal D at O'Hare?) ...so not great, and with so many more compelling options around doing more creative stuff - I feel no need to return.
(2)
Camely M.
City Hall The Restaurant... OMG! Absolutely DELICIOSO! You really have to go and try their food. Trendy, fun and friendly ambience... The staff is phenomenal and the location is perfect!
(5)
Precious T.
Food is AhhMazing here...staff are very courteous! Reggie is almost just as awesome as Steve but love them both to pieces!!! Xoxo
(5)
David Y.
The staff is great. Love turkey burger wrap. The pecan butter on the hot bread was great! Great vibe!
(4)
Nancy M.
Brunch is excellent visited this past Sunday and was delightfully suprized with the live music. Best french toast in town!
(4)
Julie P.
I went there for the first time with a group of 13 from work to grab an end of the month Miami Spice lunch. With my reservation - no waiting. We were in and out in a reasonable amount of time. Service was very good compared to the snails pace I have come to expect at restaurants for such a large table. The food was great. Everything I had was fantastic from the bread with the amazing maple pecan butter to the nectarine cheesecake. No complaints from anyone! Definitely a do over!
(5)
Cookie C.
Long maxi, flats and a toe bag. Wear them here. The breakfast menu was amazing. They also have a gospel brunch on Sunday's. It was a lovely lunchy brunch that I experienced. I did love the concept...city hall, major decisions, etc. Its cute. So, you can bring someone you'd like to chat with. The menu itself is a conversation piece.
(3)
Marj O.
Disappointed in Sunday Brunch. Gospel singer and band too loud and too intrusive. Difficult to talk or be heard. I don't like people coming to my table and asking me to respond. Food good but not great. Valet parking or meters. Probably won't return.
(3)
Cova N.
Went to City Hall this past Sunday for Mother's Day. Even though the place was packed we were greeted and seated right away. The service was slow and the food was acceptable, but the best part was to have the opportunity to hear the fabulous Mariel Epps singing. She is thShe has this amazing voice and energy that makes everybody feel good!!! I will definetely come back to City Hall for brunch on Sundays!!!!
(4)
Jenna M.
I really like this place. I've been here twice and have had delicious food both times. The ambiance is fun and inviting; a good place to have dinner with family or friends. The burger with brie is to die for. Also, the duck flatbread appetizer is very good. My husband had the fried chicken last time which was amazing but HUGE. We are planning to share the fried chicken the next time we visit City Hall for dinner.
(4)
Crystal H.
this place was great. Nice atmosphere, waiters, and good food. I came here for Miami spice on a Friday night. In addition to half my party being late, i also had to have them modify 1 to 2 dishes because i cannot have dairy. They were super accommodating. Considering how bad service in Miami can be, I consider that a huge plus. I did not give them 5 stars because i think they could be a bit more creative with the menu. The food was good, but I kept thinking i could come up with the menu options. I had the Miami spice menu so i might be biased.
(4)
Duke V.
This is a jewel of Biscayne Blvd.Amazing customer service from Manager(Reggie)down to busboy every body so hospitable.Food is something else in this place!!!!Churasco steak,Crab Cakes OMG!!!Almost to forget,Chocolate croisant bread puding,everybody needs to try this in a lifetime at least once!!
(5)
maor r.
Some of the criticisms are so unwarranted that I had to give this place 5-stars to fairly pull the average back up. Folks, this is NOT a 3.5 star restaurant. The food is wonderfully flavorful, the staff is very friendly and accommodating and the atmosphere is casual-chic. Some reviewers criticize their not being pampered and the fact that their waitstaff weren't up to speed on 12-year scotches. This is certainly the exception rather than the rule, and a personal experience with their service. That same review does state that all the food is great but then gives readers the unfair impression that it is a 3-star restaurant going by his rating. Folks, this is a casual restaurant with TV's all over the place and not t an aristocratic-pamper-you type place. For a well-read sommelier with a British accent and the history of all 12+ year scotches, Capital Grill, Prime 112, and others will be happy to take heaping piles of your money. This is what matters: The food is great! I'm not even a fan of comfort food but who can turn down homemade & tender, crunchy fried chicken, Sushi-grade tuna ceviche with a drizzle of truffle oil, phenomenal burgers and mac & cheese and on and on.... And my experience with the service is that, most importantly, they are friendly and attentive. Cant wait to go back and try more of their menu!
(5)
Marcia G.
Went to City Hall for a late dinner with my boyfriend last Friday night to celebrate his birthday & actually we both really liked it! I was a little hesitant about this place after reading the mixed reviews but everything (for the most part) was great. I made a reservation for 10 but we got there at 9:45 & were seated right away (the restaurant wasn't too packed). My boyfriend ordered the unconventional french onion soup, which was a really cool idea & very tasty. The cheese at the bottom & wontons were really good, as was the broth. Our only criticism was that it didn't have enough onions for a french onion soup, you want to have onions in every spoonful!! The bread, while not artesenal in any way (it's just a small loaf of white bread) was good & the pecan butter was amazing!! For our entrees my boyfriend ordered the turkey burger (which I tried & was really yummy) and I had the meatloaf. The meatloaf itself was really moist & delicious. The maple chorizo mac & cheese was very good also, really different with it's sweet & spicy flavors. Totally unlike any mac & cheese I've ever had! To round out, the green beans were garlicky & amazing! Unfortunately after all that (and a few of the craft beers they have), we were too full to order dessert. I absolutely must go back to have the Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding, our waiter recomended it & I've heard nothing but good things! Speaking of our waiter, I have to say he was probably the only real downside to our night. He was a little annoying & pushy, coming over every 2 minutes until we ordered & seemed very eager to get us out of there. I don't know if it's because it was late & he wanted to go home but they close at midnight on the weekends so it was kind of rude. Other than that, our dining experience at City Hall was great & I can't wait to go back for the dessert & to try their brunch!!!
(4)
Jeff M.
I want to like this place. The location is great, decor old fashioned but cozy, the owner/chef is always there and the service is very good. I've been 4 times and haven't yet fallen in love. The menu items are the opposite of cutting edge; most dishes are heavy. I LOVED the crab salad at lunch but was barely able to eat the roast chicken. It was tasteless and dry. Deserts are pretty good. I will go back for the crab salad and continue trying other dishes but I prefer other restaurants in the vicinity like Michael's. Nemesis and Mandolin,
(3)
Jorge G.
Even better than first time. Great drinks/atmosphere. Grilled pork chop was heavenly as was the tuna tartar appitizer. Will be back.
(5)
eglys h.
went to celebrate a friend's bday here. 1st time coming to this restaurant. they were able to accommodate approx 30 of us in a nice area upstairs. i do have mixed feelings about the place. 1st - i find it to be nice - big. waitress we had was ok - she did i have to say put up with me "cause i was not at my best (nerves)" in regards to requesting separate bills - note: they usually do not do it - cause it is too much of a hassle for them... but some how (i guess after my little tantrum) they were able to do so for us - which was awesome.... 2nd - food - i went for the meatloaf plate - good price for quantity and taste of food - this was truly a "small" meatloaf for each plate! it is baked in one of those pound cake individual pans. this i have to say was tasty and filling.. nice side dishes too...green beans & a delicious mac & cheese - had enough to take home for lunch. 3rd hubby's dish was a smaller portion - salmon on a bed of rice and some other stuff (sorry i do not remember) but he did not have any leftovers (actually he could of used a bigger serving) it was ok........ Even thou the place is nice, we did not enjoy the Loudness - it is truly so loud you can not carry a conversation with the table... unless you join in on the screaming like everyone else. bathroon situation - it was nice to have a small area for all of us (mind you there were other patrons sitting around as well) - there is only 1 bathroom on the second floor. found it to be not working so i had to go downstairs to use the restroom. this was a nice walk up & down.... kinda helped with the digesting of my dinner!!! it was clean thou and i do have to say, it was with a rubber band, but they did attempt to repair bathroom upstairs asap. all around it was ok - food ok - service ok - LOUDNESS NOT SO OK.... parking ok - (right behind restaurant & free just tip them)
(3)
Ke N.
this place SUCKS!!! everything is OVER PRICED and taste like CRAP. and if your not into GAY GUYS... NO ONE will pay attention to you. the servers are all to busy trying to get into each others pants to give you decent attention. plus they totally ripped off WHISKEY TANGO'S super famous SPAGHETTI SANDWICH which is HALF the price, DOUBLE the SIZE, and TRIPLE the FLAVOR. this place SUCKS!!!
(1)
Andrea W.
The first time I went to City Hall it was such a great experience I found myself coming back 2 other times during that week. I have tried their meatloaf which is big enough for probably three people. For brunch I had the creamy polenta w/short ribs and the mushroom encroute. Every dish I have had here has always been pleasing to my tastebuds. I can't wait to go back to have the short rib potato skins!
(5)
Amanda M.
I tried this restaurant last night and I had a great experience. I had the short rib stuffed potato skins as an appetizer and the grilled turkey burger. My friend had the pork chop with bourbon sweet potatoes. All three menu items had delicious flavor and overall were quite excellent. I also liked the decor of the restaurant. You don't realize how big and stylish the inside based on the outside, which is just like any other unassuming building on Biscayne Blvd. As for the service, I didn't have the bad experience that so many others have mentioned. Our waiters were very attentive. I do have to say though, that we went for an early dinner (around 5:45), well before most Miami dinners make it out. So if the restaurant is full, it might be a different story. In my opinion, City Hall's dressed-up comfort food and elegant decor definitely make it worth a try.
(4)
Strawberry F.
Let me tell you something every time I have visited this place the food is on point as well as the service. I walk in there are smiles there to greet you and seating is pretty fast like always! I have brought groups, friends, and evened dined solo @ the bar here and it is proving to be a fail safe place for me and that's rare! I love it and the menu is killer and all edible for everyone:)
(5)
Argenis M.
If you're vegetarian/vegan (like me) this is definitely not the place. The menu is quite tempting for carnivorous people. I felt sad when I could only order one dish out of the whole menu and it was breakfast ($9 for scramble eggs and potatoes house). The service, music and decor were very good but food choices for me was the ultimate deal breaker.
(2)
Millie A.
Delicious dinner. We had the filet mignon and tuna entree followed by the bread pudding which is a must. This place delivers on food, drink and ambiance.
(4)
Elizabeth S.
I thought I would rate this place a 5 star, but then I thought back on my experience and I, sadly, can't rate it that high for a number of reasons. However, to start off with the things that do get 5 stars: - Our server was very friendly - The decor is amazing in here. I felt like I was in Gotham (as in Batman, not as in the steak restaurant) - Creative drinks named in a cute manner that had a decent amount of alcohol to taste ratio - Although we came on a Saturday and did not have reservations, we were seated in about 30 minutes, even though there was a wait. Extra stars for that one! Probably due to the fact that there were 2 of us and the rest of the parties were large. - Valet Parking for $4 in the back I really did love the rich feeling of this place. Everything is dark, art deco, and classy looking. There were people dressed in varying degrees of fancy-ness, so you could definitely rock some cute jeans and a stylish top here, but you could also go for a dress. It would be a good place to go for a date with someone you don't necessarily want to talk to, because the place is LOUD. Also, icebox cold, so bring a wrap. On to the less than 5 stars: We went to the bar to get some drinks as we were waiting for our table. Unfortunately the drink menu is not listed on their website and I forgot what I had, but my friend had some kind of spicy drink that was great. Our mixed drinks came in Martini shakers, cute touch, although a tad overused. Our total came to $24 and I put a $50 in the little glass our bill came in. I really REALLY really HATE when I have to ask for my change back. Do you seriously think I'm giving you a $26 tip? You didn't do a spectacular job, you just gave us our drinks, which is in itself your job. I knew there was no intention of giving me my change unless I asked, since he was perusing the bar as if looking for something else to do. For dinner we ordered: More drinks :) I wanted wine and there were some by the glass that were not on the menu that our waiter told us about. I had a Syrah and it was delicious. Sweet Potato Fries and a salad that came with a citrus dressing, sunflower seeds, avocado, cucumbers and tomato. The salad was refreshing and deliciously simple, the Sweet Potato Fries were exactly that. Nothing more, nothing less and they didn't come with any type of sauce. Although I get they're a side, I think they could have come with something. I asked for honey and it was delivered immediately. I wanted to get the Oven roasted Portabella Mushroom listed on the menu on the website, but it was not on the menu and I didn't ask, so I settled for the Ricotta stuffed homemade JumboSpinach Gnocchi baked in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce &Spiced Walnuts (18.00) - This was really good but very rich. I could only actually eat two of them, and there were 7 in the bowl, swimming in a soup of cream sauce (literally about 1 1/2 inches of it). Although the Gnocchi itself was very light, fluffy and extremely delicious, the cream sauce was just too much. My advice would be to share this along with a lighter dish, as it doesn't reheat well if you want to take it with you (the cream sauce is likely to separate). Pepper seared Yellow fin Tuna with Vegetable Quinoa, Wild Mushrooms, Garlic, Japanese Eggplant, Sweet & Spicy peppers and Maui Onion Beurre Blanc - this was ordered Medium and came out rare, so I would ask if the chef on duty cooks towards the rare or not if you don't want sushi. The serving portion was huge and it looked delicious as well. I think 2 people could have put that down. Dessert was a HUGE disappointment. We really wanted to share something, and after our waiter told us about how amazing the Chocolate Banana Cream Pie is, he finished it off with "So it's too bad we're out of that". Thanks. Really. Thanks a lot. We got the Warm Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding with Bourbon Anglaise & Chocolate Ganache instead and it came out as a stale croissant that had been barely warmed up in the microwave swimming in anglaise and drizzled with a hershey style chocolate syrup. Such a bad finish to a decent meal. In all, it was fun because it was a new restaurant, the server was extremely nice and tried to correct the mistake with the dessert (although at that point we were no longer in the mood). I would like to go back for their brunch, but I'm not sure I'll be back for dinner.
(3)
Oscar D.
Cool ambiance, and great american/continental food! parking a little scarce, but an overall good experience.
(4)
Lisa J.
Went to City Hall for the first time today & although it's only my first time there I'm really surprised by some of the negative and some not so positive reviews. My husband & I loved it & we are not easy to please especially me. Let's start with the artisan bread. It was really good & the maple syrup butter it was served with made it even better We both ordered the following off the lunch spice menu: The gumbo-delicious It tasted exactly the same as gumbo I've had in New Orleans. The shrimp po boy sandwich was huge & really tasty as well. Now the dessert which was the chocolate croissant bread pudding with bourbon cream sauce. I'm not a bread pudding or bourbon person but it was absolutely delicious. We have no complaints about the food or the service & will definitely be back to try something else off the menu, especially the chocolate banana cream pie. Can't wait!
(5)
Tania H.
Apparently this is the place to eat when you are staying downtown Miami, because both the hotel and a business acquaintance insisted we go there. 5 of us showed up after work for dinner and it was a nice short walk from the downtown Hilton. This is an American fare restaurant with an interesting menu and we received excellent service. Everyone enjoyed their meal and there was no real criticism to be made. I'd definitely come back for a good meal.
(4)
holladay s.
Great Place! Just came back from Miami Spice lunch there. Food is fresh, abundant, attractively presented and DELICIOUS! This place is a winner! I had a wonderful bowl of seafood and sausage gumbo, cornmeal crusted shrimp po boy sandwich (enough for two) and apple cheesecake. Mom had a huge platter of homemade meatloaf, mash, and green beans - excellent. Our family all loved the restaurant and would definitely return soon. It is a great addition to the Miami dining scene.
(4)
Kevin R.
Service was awful! Hostess was delightful and friendly, servers were pleasant enough but had no training or standards. Food was mediocre and the dishes a jumble of items whose flavors didn't blend well. As we departed, the manager and owner stood near the door and said goodbye, no one bothered to ask "how was everything"; perhaps they already know! Won't go back and cannot recommend.
(1)
Kristin K.
nice ambiance, fun atmosphere. Good drinks & service. Ordered from the Miami Spice menu = blue crab ravioli & gumbo for apps, scallops & pork chops for entree. warm chocolate croissant bread pudding for dessert. Nothing was really a wow for me. All good, but again - no wow.
This was my first time and it will not be my last!!! My waiter was Chris and he was GREAT!!!!!! Great service, delissssshhhh food and nice atmosphere! Will be back for more ! Thanks Chris !!!!!!!
(5)
Patricia K.
Food is just OK-most plates are tasteful (we were a party of five and we all ordered different plates); quantities are BIG (so 1 plate is more than enough for 2 persons) but service is NOT good. We went on a Monday and our dinner took around 3hrs, which I found to be unaceptable for how relatively "empty" the place was and for how quick we had ordered (as soon as we sat down). We also didn't like that the bill was not accurate.
(2)
Jeanette E.
I'm just chiming in with a lot of the other reviews. The food is solid. The noise is unbearable. I apologize to those that like the live music during brunch but it was unbearable. We had been there for dinner before and went yesterday for brunch for the first time. There was a gospel singer on the balcony and because the acoustics are SO bad, it was painful to the ears. We had to walk out. When we've gone in the past we've resigned ourselves to the fact that we were NOT going to be able to talk. This is not a place to come catch up with anyone. They need to invest in acoustical panels and pronto. When you add a very strong singing voice blaring over a microphone, you end up with excruciatingly painful eardrums. All that being said, the food and serviced is solid so as soon as they invest in correcting the noise problem they will definitely go up a star or even two!
(3)
Alejandra M.
I went here for a company party and let me tell you that although the place looks small from the outside it is not. It is a very relaxed atmosphere with a nice decor. The service was great and the food was excellent. I only got to tast about 4 different things in the menu, but I would not mind going back!
City Hall can be counted on for a consistently good meal, time after time. It is beautifully decorated and is a comfortable place to dine. The menu is varied with steak, hamburgers, chicken and fish dishes. The owner Steve Haas has been around the restaurant business forever, and knows what he is doing, plus he's a great host. There is a great need for his type of restaurant. A place where you can get a really good meal at a reasonable price. Highly recommended.
(5)
Lynn M.
I saw some so-so reviews on Yelp that left me a little anxious about what my experience would be like.....but after having dinner at City Hill tonight i can safely say that I am no longer concerned. The husband and I had a great time! Dinner was fantastic and the service was wonderful and attentive. We had the crab cake (appetizer), turkey burger, fried chicken and the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding. Everything was delicious. I also had a really good martini/cocktail (The Commissioner) as well. We will definitely go back and try some new items on our next visit.
(4)
Brooke E.
Came to City Hall because we saw the ad in Your Neck of the Woods. Excellent service, great food and the banana something desert with wafers and Heath bar- I have no words, never have I ever had a desert like this!!!
(4)
Nick U.
I want to like this place, I really do... especially since I live across the street. BUT, the service just doesn't cut it. Our waiter was pushy, rude, and didn't even bother to listen to what we were asking (maybe he was just hard of hearing, and it was obnoxiously loud). We asked what his favorite dish on the menu was and he said "Filet Mignon... now what do you want to drink." What an asshole The food is alright - nothing to write home about - but between the noise and the rude servers, I'd rather drive somewhere else... and that sucks!
(2)
Tawanna-Patrice M.
My Wife chose City Hall for Valentine's Day... and it was a good pick. The parking situation was not the best - small lot, on-street parking, and no valet - but once we got over that hurdle, everything else was amazing. We were seated very fast; the service, a bit awkward to start; and the food was yummy, delicious, and plentiful. First Impression.... the decor was really nice; amd I loved the backlit wall. The menu was separated into terms using the jargon you would find at an actual city hall meeting - primary decisions, closing arguments, etc. I think white table clothes would have added some contrast to the room since the table, walls, and floor were all in the same color scheme which gets a bit murky in the dim lighting. The Food... we bypassed the special Valentine's Day Menu and ordered from their regular menu. The Braised Beef Short Rib Stuffed Potato Skins with Taleggio Cheese, Swiss Chard, and Tomato Marmalade was solidly delicious. Not too much cheese; no too much marmalade; meaty and just damn good! I ordered the Grilled Pork Chop w Bourbon Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Southern-Style Collard Greens and my Wife ordered the Meatloaf with Chorizo-Maple Macaroni and Cheese. The pork chop was huge... and cooked to perfection, crisp and charred on the outside from the grill and juicy and full of flavor on the inside. The Creole Mustard reduction that came with it was not even really necessary - the pork chop stood alone. The Sweet Potatoes and the Collard Greesn were good as well. I was skeptial about the collard greens since most places add loads of brown sugar and apple cider vinegar in the attempt to make the "southern-style." I prefer mine savory and smoky. The collards at City Hall had a little sweetness and tang to them... just a little so that the savory edge was still present... not bad; not bad at all. My Wife loved the meatloaf, which was tender and yummy. She liked the Chorizo-Maple Macaroni and Cheese... though she expected a different flavor and not a mellowed out chorizo that almost tasted like ground beef. After having half of our meals packed for takeaway; we shared the Warm Chocolate Chip Crossaint Bread Pudding with Bourbon Anglaise... absolutely divinely richly sublime. It was generous enough for three people. The Service.... awkard to start... maybe a new server - but very friendly and very attentive... well deserving of the hefty tip we left behind. We left that night already making plans to return for the City Hall brunch... and another meal.
(4)
Claudia G.
I would definitely come again even though last night was the first time the place was open. The service was optimal and their oyster appetizer is to die for! The ambience was very lively with a great open space and great new york feel decor. Thank you for the complimentary drinks! :)
(4)
Barbara S.
The Sunday Gospel brunch is amazing. Celebrated my birthday with friends on February 24 and had the best time, the best food, the best birthday! We all had the Reuben (corned beef) and Rachel (pastrami) sandwiches which were beyond delicious. Great chocolate crunch cake for dessert complete with birthday singing by Maryel Epps, the gospel/jazz singer who performs there every Sunday. Maryel was so much fun, really loves what she does, and made the overall experience truly memorable.
(5)
Michelle G.
My sister in law invited me to City Hall - The Restaurant for a birthday brunch and I'll have to say this is one of the nicest restaurants for brunch in this neck of the woods. While you're ordering, the server brings fresh artisan bread with a soft and warm honey maple butter to the table which is absolutely addicting and unbelievable. I ended up ordering eggs benedict with spinach which is only comparable to one delicious place I enjoyed this dish at in Maui. Absolutely out of this world. It was also accompanied with a refreshing mimosa. My husband enjoyed amazingly fluffy chocolate chip pancakes which are the size of someone's head, with fresh whipped cream rather than maple syrup. My sister in law enjoyed a vegetable three egg omelette with cheesy tots. The lunch and dinner menu also look incredible and we will definitely return when we're in the area for a show or play. All should come out to enjoy this great find.
(5)
Martin G.
The positives: the ambiance and Santiago, the server, along with all the busboys. The negatives: the booths are way too long--hard to explain but sit at a table if you go there. The food: Over-priced and not memorable. We started with the Duck Confit Pizza with wild mushrooms which was tasty, hot and more than enough for 2. The house bread was tasteless and really shouldn't have been served with the pizza plus the biscuit I got with my main course. Allen ordered the NY Strip which came with mash potatoes and Santiago substituted brussel sprouts for the spinach per Allen's request. He was not thrilled with the potatoes or the sauce on the steak. Where did start with my dish? We were going to the theatre so I really didn't want to order the City Hall Timpano--a heavy assorted pasta, sausage, meatball and cheese dish--which i really did want LOL--I asked for a couple of suggestions and should have had the pork chops buy instead went for the fried chicken with mashed potatoes, corn and bacon, honey, gravy and a biscuit--glad I didn't want something too heavy! Everything was crowded on to the plate making it almost impossible to get to the poatoes. Luckily the chicken was finger food but there was no side dish (only service mistake made--the bread and butter dishes were taken away when we finished the pizza) for the bones. I had to take the gravy, honey and corn monkey dishes off the main plate and put on table. Some of the chicken was bloody while the breast piece was over-cooked and dry. Allen had a diet coke and I had coffee. The check for both of us plus a 20% tip came to $85 Oh yes, a pet peeve--no manager, host or owner ever came to the table.
(2)
Vivian P.
great food, great drinks, great service. We were a pretty large party so we all ordered something different. the best plates on the table were the Tuna tartar app with a truffle soy vinegrette and the prosciutto & goat cheese pizza. I had the NY Strip with mac & cheese and creamed spinach which were tasty but just as tasty as any other top notch steak place. Signature drinks were good and the bottles of wine are perfectly priced. Looking forward to trying the place out for Brunch.
(4)
Karen K.
I use to love this place, but the last two times I have eaten here, was not as impressed. it seems the quality of food, and service are declining. I took my Dad for his birthday last night, made the reservation using open-table and mentioned that we were celebrating his 84th birthday. I would have expected something would have been done to acknowledge this, nothing...and btw he was the only elderly person at the table, so it shouldn't have been that hard to figure it out. The music was on so loud when we walked in and the place was empty, the noise level in this restaurant is so loud you have to scream to hear each other. The food was not as good as it had been in the past. I ordered the pork chops and I have had them here before. The meat was tough, and it was as if the pork chop were sitting in the back for hours and they just threw hot gravy on top. My nephew sent his back, my dads skirt steak was tough and he sent that back. I also had the crab cake appetizer, it tasted like corn meal, I didn't see or taste any crab. The service was horrible, we had to ask for everything, instead of being asked if we needed anything. Prior to last night I went with friends and my roasted chicken was made from poor quality chicken, not a lot of meat, all bone. I don't think I will be going back anytime soon.
(3)
Marcus K.
Really thought I'd love this place from all the recommendations that I've received from others who have lived in Miami for a while. Went during Miami Spice 2012. Sampled the mussels, crab cake, and caesar salad for appetizers. Mussels seemed to be well cooked, tender, and flavorful, but not extraordinary. The crab cake was small and very mediocre with only fine wisps of crab (no chunks seen at all). The caesar salad, was well, a caesar salad. Nothing to write home about. Had the filet mignon, which was cooked nicely, and had a nice reduction sauce over it. But I would have been very disappointed if I had paid more than $30 for it. Definitely not worth the regular retail price. The dessert sampling included cheesecake, chocolate crisp/mousse thing, carrot cake, and the bread pudding. The bread pudding was easily the best thing. Cheese cake was rather sad with little character, and soggy crust (which is usually the best part!). Carrot cake, blah (and I usually like carrot cake). I'd go back to try a few things on the entree list just because they sound interesting and this place is walkable from me (which is a plus so I don't have to pay for parking!), but then again, there may be better places elsewhere in Miami.
(3)
Kelly K.
City hall is very close to my house so I went with some friends to try it for the first time. I LOVED it. Its very nice inside (a little on the chilly side), the kitchen is open so you can see the chef and his team work. The drink list is extensive. We had a bottle of wine that was reasonably priced and very good. Each of us ordered something different. I had the Meatloaf that came with mac n cheese and I ate every single bite!!! My friend had the pork chops which were delicious, however, the sweet potatoes and spinach sides were everyone's favorite part of her meal. Another friend ordered a flatbread pizza and gave rave reviews. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. The desserts looked amazing and I only wish we had room to try some. I would recommend a reservation to secure a table.
(5)
Natalie M.
I was so excited to try this new restaurant across the street from my house.... after a very anticipated wait they couldn't have given me a better experience. To my surprise even though it is brand new (and anyone that knows anything about the restaurant business can understand that it is very difficult to get everything perfect after being open for such a short amount of time) our entire night was excellent. Everything from service, to food, to style, architecture.... the place is absolutely amazing for American Bistro, comfort food style. We sat down in some booths, very large and spacey..... Very nice hostess..... We started off our evening with the Tuna Tartar appetizer; Tuna with avocado and papaya, wakame, and crispy wontons, finger-licking greatness. For my entree I ordered the Gorgonzola pizza; this is I think if not my favorite, one of my favorite pizzas I've ever had.... thin crusted gorgonzola pizza, drizzled with fig jam, finished off with crispy fried onions. Mouth watering goodness.... the combination is excellent! My husband had the Pot Pie; Maine Lobster, scallops, parsnip, seafood veloute... he was very happy with his dish.... I tried it and although I am not a big fan of Pot Pies I though it was very good. The cocktails offered here are very good.... I had the mojito drink, Cruzan mango rum with mint ...... very nice size.... we finished off with the Chocolate Banana Pie .... I thought the desert was absolutely delicious! The service was excellent and very rare for your typical Miami restaurant where excellent service is hard to find. I have no idea why the gentleman up there wrote that it was horrible service. On the contrary I ONLY have good things to write and say about this restaurant and service. Not only was the waitress nice, the whole staff was eager to help the waitress and definitely 100% team work. Something very rare that really put the cherry on the cake for us; the owner, Mr. Haas was so kind enough to come to our table and introduce himself to us and was really into pleasing us. I have learned that in life it is very hard to please everybody so there will always be someone unhappy and complaining about everything in life. I am so glad I have a very nice restaurant across the street from my house.... I recommend it, 100%!! Congrats to Mr. Haas and the Chef!!
(5)
Larry R.
A Gospel Brunch--Interesting and Rather Good. Went to meet friends who were visiting from the North and was pleasantly surprised by City Hall, yes it's VERY noisy, but it feels as if we came into a party into a very nicely decorated (1920's) space. Maybe it was the time of year, it seemed very festive and the Gospel Singer had a great voice and fabulous personality that we really liked. The service was attentive, not overwhelming and the real surprise was the quality of the food, my salmon and rice were done to perfection. Definitely a unique treat.
(4)
Lara d.
Great addition for the downtown lunch crowd. There is free parking behind the location and there is ample seating inside to accommodate a busy crowd. The modern, dark but trendy interior makes you feel separated from Miami, it has more of a northern state feel. The lunch selection is varied with inventive dishes combined with traditional favorites. For those who crave a corn beef sandwich or pastrami sandwich then this is the place to head to. Personally I ate the BBQ brisket sandwich which was tender and had a great sauce and was served on toasted Texas toast. The crab imperial reminds me of a 70's classic dish, shredded crab meat served with a melted cheese on top served in a seashell shaped dish. The portions are large and give you a great value for your money.
(4)
Carlos P.
Beer selection is very standard, nothing on tap and no quality ale's are offered. Honestly I wasn't extremely hungry so I went straight to ordering an entree. Decided to go with the fried chicken. Comes with a corn side and potatoes (both were fine) and the half a fried chicken. Actually the meal (along with the bread that is served) was pretty filling so I am glad I skipped appetizers and salad. At first bite I wasn't overly impressed with the fried chicken till I started dipping the chicken in both the gravy and honey which really made it good. Left fairly satisfied with the food, wish they would improve on the beer selection. Would return.
(4)
M M.
Service good. Not outstanding. Menu looks fantastic. Food:meh. Arrived cold to lukewarm, despite descriptions most was bland, nothing stellar for a foodie here. Parking bad, but we were told it is OK to park in the empty bank lot, despite towing signs, and had no problem with that. Decor is lovely. Drinks poured with a light hand. Not woth a return visit as far as we are concerned. There are too many other great options in the area. Chef and kitchen need to step it up!
(2)
John C.
I"m giving this place a 5, what an awesome looking room...lousy on the acoustics, but great food...had the pork chop tonight....to die for.....my friend had the Meat Loaf, also good. The mac and cheese could use a little tweaking (check out Flip Burger's mac and cheese). Pricing pretty reasonable....will update this on my next visit.
(5)
Leah S.
Loved the decor... you feel you have been transported to the Big Apple- NYC. Food was ok. It didnt rock my world and they have absolutely no beer selection and the beer was warm. Big no, no. My mate ordered the wedge salad. Applewood smoked bacon was awesome but he wasnt too thrilled about cutting up his own salad at the table. Seems like alot of work, why not just bring it chopped? I lucked out on this one I ordered the crab cakes which were definitely the better choice. For entrees I had the scallops and my mate had the skirt steak. Both were ok. Skirt steak was definitely the better choice and juicy. Desert was again "ok" we shared the berry filled crumb cake I think it was called. Overall I would give it a three. I think I would try one more time just to see. Would like to try the brunch.
(3)
Mark S.
Place was recommended for dinner by maitre d'hotel and it did not disappoint. Both the food and service were excellent. I had the salmon and my dining companion the meatloaf with mac 'n cheese. Preparations were very good - salmon had a nice miso glaze and was served over rice with stir-fry-type bok choy on the side. Meatloaf was plain old comfort food with delicious meat blend and the mac 'n cheese had a maple flavor that seemed strange on the menu but worked well on the plate. Both dishes were very tasty with slight twists on tradition but not overdone or just for the sake of being different. Servings were very generous - be prepared to eat a lot of food or take some home. Interior and furnishings are black and chrome but very comfortable - not ostentatious or over-the-top. Prices were a little on the high side (total tab for two plus drinks and tip was about $65) but worth every bit in the end.
(4)
Liana V.
I went to city hall for lunch on Saturday for the first time, and I can honestly say I can't wait to go back. The restaurant was not full when we got there at about 2pm, but it was probably the time of day it was. The service was great. Our server was very attentive and gave good information about all the questions that we had. Appetizer- Tuna tartar was exceptional. It tasted very fresh and the wonton chips it came with were excellent. Lunch - I ordered the duck pizza. Although it didn't come too hot it was amazing. The amount of duck and cheese etc was perfect. I had been on search for a good duck pizza when they took it off the menu at another restaurant and I have definitely found it. My friend ordered the meatloaf and there is nothing to complain about. HUGE portion for anyone who is starving or wants to take leftovers home. Finally, I ordered a side of tri-colored fries. I would say that I would probably not order this again there, just because i don't like thick cut fries and they were a bit cold. At $7 it's not really worth it. I look forward to going back for dinner as the options looked amazing.
(4)
David G.
More of a 3.5 than a 3 when it comes to the food. I went on a Wednesday night and 3 of the objects I ordered were out of stock. The server was very nice, but the food and drinks took a very long time to reach our table. The pizza with fig jam is alright, but definitely doesn't live up to the hype.
(3)
Ken J.
They really aim to please. When u walk in you will b greeted with a smile. You can also expect a hot tasty meal.
(4)
Angie M.
The food was excellent!!! However, our waitress was a bit of a Looney Toon and neglected us most of the night. We ordered a bottle of wine and some martinis. She brought out the martinis and left the wine bottle unopened in the middle of the table. We saw her walk to her other tables and take their orders! It took so long that we asked one of the busboys to get us a corkscrew!! She finally came and opened the bottle after he got her. It's so loud in the restaurant that we had a hard time hearing anything our waitress said (which might've been a saver! lol)! But nonetheless it was a great atmosphere and the food was perfectly portioned, we left with a food buzz!
(4)
Jeremy J.
With its artistic decor, clever menu and delectable food, this is one "city hall" worth making a resolution about. We ate here as part of Miami Spice, which allowed us to enjoy a three-course meal for $35 per person. Our evening consisted of the half roasted chicken and pork chop entrees, which came with such sides as whipped sweet mashed potatoes, broccoli, and a corn and bacon casserole. Just when our palates were satisfied, we shared our final course of dessert: chocolate bread pudding with a white bourbon cream sauce. It was probably one of the best desserts we have ever tasted; warm, sweet and big enough for two people to share. This is definitely a place to check out, and one that will leave your taste buds yearning for another trip to City Hall.
(4)
Joey D.
This place was amazing! Try the pork and share the chocolate croissant bread pudding dessert.
(4)
Ian M.
I first tried City Hall during Miami Spice and liked it enough to go back. I like the location, love the space and the ambience. If your looking for a quiet dinner it may not be the place for you (depending on the night I guess) as the noise factor can be "up there." Ok, the food. We started with the potatoe skins stuffed with short ribs and topped with talleggio cheese; definitely one for sharing. Good but not if your on a health kick. I then had the crispy fried chicken with mashed poatoes. This is served with a small side of honey and gravy both of which are ok; there is also a side of corn and bacon stew which is actually quite tasty although it looks like something the dog through up and as a result I really couldn't eat it. Which reminded me of the grilled sea scallops I had during Miami Spice. The scallpos themselves were delicious! Plump and grilled to perfection BUT uneccessarily topped with an aioli mayonnaise and crumpled applewood smoked bacon. Sometimes simpler is better. I think the mantra at City Hall is "More is better" but to me too many ingredients spoil the main dish and for me this is the problem with City Hall. The main courses themselves are actually pretty good but overdone with too many uneccessary "extra" toppings; it detracts from the flavours. DESSERT: Go for the chocolate bread pudding with creme anglaise; delicious and decadent. I consider City Hall a step above a high class diner; our bill for basic fare with tip $120!! I can think of a lot of other places I'd rather spend my $120 (for 2). Oh, before I forget; "The Service" quick, quick, quick, quick, sloooooww. Suddenly when waiting for the cheque our waiter had disappeared, Its the first time I've left 15% in a long time.
(3)
Mari P.
Uffffffff the bread and butter...enuff said!
(4)
Anuka S.
City Hall was amazing! First time there and won't be the last. The food was excellent and the service was great!
(5)
Mark S.
Place was recommended for dinner by maitre d'hotel and it did not disappoint. Both the food and service were excellent. I had the salmon and my dining companion the meatloaf with mac 'n cheese. Preparations were very good - salmon had a nice miso glaze and was served over rice with stir-fry-type bok choy on the side. Meatloaf was plain old comfort food with delicious meat blend and the mac 'n cheese had a maple flavor that seemed strange on the menu but worked well on the plate. Both dishes were very tasty with slight twists on tradition but not overdone or just for the sake of being different. Servings were very generous - be prepared to eat a lot of food or take some home. Interior and furnishings are black and chrome but very comfortable - not ostentatious or over-the-top. Prices were a little on the high side (total tab for two plus drinks and tip was about $65) but worth every bit in the end.
(4)
Liana V.
I went to city hall for lunch on Saturday for the first time, and I can honestly say I can't wait to go back. The restaurant was not full when we got there at about 2pm, but it was probably the time of day it was. The service was great. Our server was very attentive and gave good information about all the questions that we had. Appetizer- Tuna tartar was exceptional. It tasted very fresh and the wonton chips it came with were excellent. Lunch - I ordered the duck pizza. Although it didn't come too hot it was amazing. The amount of duck and cheese etc was perfect. I had been on search for a good duck pizza when they took it off the menu at another restaurant and I have definitely found it. My friend ordered the meatloaf and there is nothing to complain about. HUGE portion for anyone who is starving or wants to take leftovers home. Finally, I ordered a side of tri-colored fries. I would say that I would probably not order this again there, just because i don't like thick cut fries and they were a bit cold. At $7 it's not really worth it. I look forward to going back for dinner as the options looked amazing.
(4)
David G.
More of a 3.5 than a 3 when it comes to the food. I went on a Wednesday night and 3 of the objects I ordered were out of stock. The server was very nice, but the food and drinks took a very long time to reach our table. The pizza with fig jam is alright, but definitely doesn't live up to the hype.
(3)
Ken J.
They really aim to please. When u walk in you will b greeted with a smile. You can also expect a hot tasty meal.
(4)
Angie M.
The food was excellent!!! However, our waitress was a bit of a Looney Toon and neglected us most of the night. We ordered a bottle of wine and some martinis. She brought out the martinis and left the wine bottle unopened in the middle of the table. We saw her walk to her other tables and take their orders! It took so long that we asked one of the busboys to get us a corkscrew!! She finally came and opened the bottle after he got her. It's so loud in the restaurant that we had a hard time hearing anything our waitress said (which might've been a saver! lol)! But nonetheless it was a great atmosphere and the food was perfectly portioned, we left with a food buzz!
(4)
Brooke E.
Came to City Hall because we saw the ad in Your Neck of the Woods. Excellent service, great food and the banana something desert with wafers and Heath bar- I have no words, never have I ever had a desert like this!!!
(4)
Nick U.
I want to like this place, I really do... especially since I live across the street. BUT, the service just doesn't cut it. Our waiter was pushy, rude, and didn't even bother to listen to what we were asking (maybe he was just hard of hearing, and it was obnoxiously loud). We asked what his favorite dish on the menu was and he said "Filet Mignon... now what do you want to drink." What an asshole The food is alright - nothing to write home about - but between the noise and the rude servers, I'd rather drive somewhere else... and that sucks!
(2)
Jeremy J.
With its artistic decor, clever menu and delectable food, this is one "city hall" worth making a resolution about. We ate here as part of Miami Spice, which allowed us to enjoy a three-course meal for $35 per person. Our evening consisted of the half roasted chicken and pork chop entrees, which came with such sides as whipped sweet mashed potatoes, broccoli, and a corn and bacon casserole. Just when our palates were satisfied, we shared our final course of dessert: chocolate bread pudding with a white bourbon cream sauce. It was probably one of the best desserts we have ever tasted; warm, sweet and big enough for two people to share. This is definitely a place to check out, and one that will leave your taste buds yearning for another trip to City Hall.
(4)
Joey D.
This place was amazing! Try the pork and share the chocolate croissant bread pudding dessert.
(4)
Ian M.
I first tried City Hall during Miami Spice and liked it enough to go back. I like the location, love the space and the ambience. If your looking for a quiet dinner it may not be the place for you (depending on the night I guess) as the noise factor can be "up there." Ok, the food. We started with the potatoe skins stuffed with short ribs and topped with talleggio cheese; definitely one for sharing. Good but not if your on a health kick. I then had the crispy fried chicken with mashed poatoes. This is served with a small side of honey and gravy both of which are ok; there is also a side of corn and bacon stew which is actually quite tasty although it looks like something the dog through up and as a result I really couldn't eat it. Which reminded me of the grilled sea scallops I had during Miami Spice. The scallpos themselves were delicious! Plump and grilled to perfection BUT uneccessarily topped with an aioli mayonnaise and crumpled applewood smoked bacon. Sometimes simpler is better. I think the mantra at City Hall is "More is better" but to me too many ingredients spoil the main dish and for me this is the problem with City Hall. The main courses themselves are actually pretty good but overdone with too many uneccessary "extra" toppings; it detracts from the flavours. DESSERT: Go for the chocolate bread pudding with creme anglaise; delicious and decadent. I consider City Hall a step above a high class diner; our bill for basic fare with tip $120!! I can think of a lot of other places I'd rather spend my $120 (for 2). Oh, before I forget; "The Service" quick, quick, quick, quick, sloooooww. Suddenly when waiting for the cheque our waiter had disappeared, Its the first time I've left 15% in a long time.
(3)
Elad H.
I took my wife to City Hall for her 31st Birthday dinner and she absolutely loved it. The place is so new, she never heard of it, so she was surprised when we drove up near the disappointing Bengal to this not-quite-so-hidden gem. From the outside, City Hall doesn't look like much. The dark glass obscures the interior but once you step inside, it's hard not to be awed by the beautiful shades of color, the mural, the amazing stained glass, and the open and comfortable atmosphere. We arrived for an early dinner at 6pm on Saturday to find the restaurant empty. We were seated immediately and our waiter wasted no time introducing himself and making friendly small talk. After soaking in the interior a little bit, our eyes devoured the menu. Being Spice Month, of course, we went first to the small white menus but we quickly realized the Spice menu is somewhat lacking while the actual menu is almost overflowing with incredible sounding dishes. The one dish that I knew my wife would love and was raved about here on Yelp was the Seafood Pot Pie, which unfortunately is no longer available. I guess it was too time consuming and expensive to produce. It's a shame, but there's a lot more great stuff on the menu. It was very difficult to decide what to order, since so much sounded delicious. We decided on two appetizers and two entrees (Spice-style). We got the Guiness braised mussels with chorizo and crispy calamari with pomodoro and a lemon pepper aioli. The mussels were prepared very well with a thick sauce and pieces of meat mixed in that gave the dish a smoky flavor. It came with two pieces of cheese-coated bread that were PERFECT for dipping. The calamari was excellent, as well, large pieces with a flaky crust and two distinct dipping sauces. For our main dishes, we decided on the scallops with black bean salsa and a filet mignon with crispy brussel sprouts and potato gratin. Both dishes were excellent. The scallops were plump and seared well, the black bean and corn salsa complimented the scallop very well. It was a fairly straightforward but satisfying dish. The filet mignon came topped with a blue cheese crumble and was easily one of the best steaks I've had in awhile. There was a lot going on that plate, with the delicious brussel sprouts and the bacon-topped potatoes. I tried my best finish it all but did not succeed. Finally, dessert. We chose the chocolate croissant bread pudding and were amazed at the texture and the excessive chocolate-ness of the dish. It comes with a beautiful presentation and a large portion. Also, I could not mention our meal without a nod to the excellent pecan-butter that comes with the complimentary bread. It was so flavorful we knew from our first bite at City Hall that we would have an amazing meal. And that we would back to try it again.
(4)
Desiree P.
Props to the owner and chef! You have done something beautiful right here on Biscayne Blvd ! Finally a decent American restaurant on this neighborhood Went here with my parents for dinner and couldn't have been more pleased. The owner is welcoming and the staff very friendly. Everything we ate was delicious , portions are big enough to share ( at least some of them) The pecan butter they served with a freshly baked bread was so delicious that we had to ask for more. never taste any butter like that before... For appetizers we had the Guinness Braised Mediterranean Mussels with Homemade Chorizo in tomato /garlic sauce ( pretty delicious, with a soft spice touch, full of flavor) and the Onion soup ( oh dear, that was something...Sooo good!) For entrees we had Grilled Pork Chop with Bourbon whipped Sweet Potatoes ( I dont eat pork that often, and was really impressed with this one. Everyone at the table had a taste of it and liked it a lot. The meat was tender, the sauce very rich)) The meat loaf with Chorizo-Maple Mac'n Cheese was pretty yummy and good enough to share as well. LOVED the Mac'n Cheese here! . The desserts were to die for , but the chocolate Banana Cream Pie with Caramel drizzles & shaved Chocolate was by far our favorite! Will definitely come back for more. Cant wait for Sunday's Brunch .
(4)
David R.
I've been their twice and its only ok, at best. The food profiles are so busy - lets throw more salt, fat, sweet, sour, etc on a plate - the only problem is that its not good. Had the pork twice, Big piece of meat, but the collard greens and sweet potatoes were inedible. NO subtlety. The skirt steak also has all sorts of flavors going on - olives, cheese, etc. Not good. The scallops on the menu mention plantains I think - it had two chips from a bag. The desserts are like NY - but maybe like a diner. Big, sweet, but no yums at the table. Obviously the other reviews are folks who want this to succeed...as do I, but get a new chef.
(2)
Lillian D.
Went there for lunch for the first time, it was fantastic! You must try the goat cheese, gorgonzola & fig pizza, it was to die for. The chocolate croissant bread pudding was orgasmic. The tri-color potatoes were incredible. The service was great; the wait staff was friendly, helpful and funny. The hostess and maître D were also friendly & welcoming. Overall a wonderful experience, I will go again.
(4)
B Lauren S.
I'd been wanting to try this place out, considering its relatively close to me, and I'm always looking for new places! I didn't make a reservation, considering it was a monday, I didn't think it was needed.. I do think they prefer (was asked upon entering), however, I was seated promptly. The service was very friendly, and very attentive. Throughout our entire meal the servers were checking on us, bringing us things.. and I didn't have an empty glass or plate sitting in front of me, which is a huuuge deal to me. ..So.. I'm usually a wino, but decided to try some of their signature cocktails.. I had the, key to the city?(i think) which was delicious! The wine list prices were completely reasonable. (Good to know for future).. Bread is offered with a pecan butter, which I didn't get to try due to allergies, but my husband loved it... they were kind enough to bring me regular butter without hesitation. We started out with the mussels which were brought out steaming and hot, and we saved some of that bread for dipping.. SO good.. At first we were thinking they were all tiny tiny mussels, but managed to find some larger ones on the bottom :) .. for our meals I had the salmon with jasmine rice.. I love salmon, and this was cooked perfectly. I was so full yet tried to finish every last bite. My husband had the peppered strip steak, slightly overcooked but nothing to complain about, still very delicious. It came with a creamed spinach. We also order the tri colored potatoes.. Everything we ordered was fantastic. I hope it maintains consistency for my next time around.. 4 stars for atmosphere.. It wasn't a place I could see myself going and hanging out for drinks after.. We ate finished our drinks and left. Although, benefit of the doubt, it was early on a Monday, so there was not much of a crowd to people watch just yet.. I'm not sure what time of crowd they're aiming for.. its fine dining without the white tables cloths, so casual enough for jeans, yet, dressier than flip flops. Maybe a business casual approach. I plan to go back, hoping everything is just as good as the first time! Oh- Parking lot out back, bonus.. valet was very nice as well..
(4)
V A.
I had read about City Hall since its opening and then heard about it from a friend who posted on FB that it was great..and so wanting to try a new restaurant about two weeks ago I took the opportunity to go with friends who had just arrived from Italy for a one week vacation. Sad to say that I wish I had taken them somewhere else. Our arrival was good, host welcomed us and we were very impressed with the look of the restaurant. It has a NYC feel to it when you walk in and certainly looks like they spent quite a bit of money when building the restaurant. Too bad that the service after our arrival went downhill. I would not say it's terrible service, but it's definitely not what I expect at a restaurant of this caliber. For the most part, it's EXTREMELY casual and inattentive...or may I call it as I did when I was speaking to my friend the other day and telling her about my experience......its "flamboyantly casual". Food on the other hand was good and tasty. It's a bit busy with a lot of different flavors and portions are a good size (or some may think big). Desert not so good! Overall based on my experience, I would not recommend it or go back. Been there..done that! Now if you want to know some details....I'll share a few...We get seated and at first the server seemed ok as he welcomed us. They automatically brought flat water to the table which is fine, except that we drink sparkling...we asked for sparkling and they brought it and left the flat on the table then continued to mix our water throughout the night with the flat water or continued to bring out the flat, instead of the sparkling...it was just confusing to them. As we were browsing the menus, I was finished with my before dinner drink and asked for the wine list to order a glass of wine. We decided to order a bottle, I gave the list to our friend who is very versed with his wines. As he is browsing the list, the server came by and said "my God it's only a glass of wine" at this point not realizing that we decided to order a bottle of a wine. I happen to find his comment a bit casual and not needed. Then as our server is taking our order he noticed a friend of his sitting at the bar and literally yelled his name from our table to say hello. They said their hello's without having any calms about the fact that we were in the middle of placing our order. My husband and I decided to try the Spice Menu and after the server took all of our orders I realized my husband had not ordered his desert that typically comes with the Spice Menu and so I asked our server to add the second desert, the server told me that the Spice only included one dessert per two people (I guess I didn't read the fine print) but after telling me that its one desert per two people he then said he would bring it anyhow. Ok not so bad at this point. When our appetizers came to the table the food runner brought out everyone's appetizer except for mine...but instead brought out the seafood gumbo which none of us ordered. Our server came by to browse at the table to see if all was okay but did not ask if all was okay and walked away. By this time I am a little ticked about the lack of service and off course was waiting to see if he noticed that I didn't get my appetizer...but since he didn't notice, my husband called him over and brought to his attention that my appetizer was missing. The server asked ME what I ordered although he wrote everything down....I told him and said he could take the gumbo away but he told me to keep it "there is nothing I could do with it now" he said. We ate our appetizers and enjoyed them...even the Gumbo was good. At the table we shared the Tuna Tartare..which was very good. For main I had the Pork Chop which was delightful...it was very tender and tasteful. After our main course the server then came back to ask me what deserts I had ordered as he didn't remember...again, he wrote this down...now I had to remember what it was I ordered..so I had so I had to ask him to repeat the choices and I then chose the two that I thought I ordered. Thankfully we were full from the appetizers and main because by the time desert came we were full and unfortunately the cheesecake and the bread pudding were not as delightful as they sounded. When looking around staff were standing by chit chatting and they all seemed confused and all over the place so it wasn't just our server. The staff definitely needs training on how to work at an upscale restaurant ....and if the restaurant is not meant to be upscale, then it needs to lower its prices and present itself differently. This is not a restaurant I would frequent even if the service was good because the menu selections are not that enticing and the food is heavy, but if they could get the service together, then the experience would be much better.
(2)
Susan T.
We arrived last night at 9 pm and the first thing that we noticed was the bad lighting. Way too bright, we we pointed out immediately. Fortunately, shortly after walking in you are greeted by a VERY friendly and courteous host and hostess who were both smiling and seated us immediately. That's actually very refreshing and an unusual experience in Miami. Our server was also great. He gave us suggestions, knew the menu well, and just seemed at ease and comfortable with us, but at the same time, very professional. The way that you wish every server in Miami was!!! The suggestion for the tuna tartare came from both the server and the guy who brought us water, so we felt that was a must. We opted for a bunch of appetizers, versus ordering main courses, so we could share more of a variety- tuna tartare, the mussels, the duck pizza and a side order of creamed spinach. The tuna tartare, although a nice presentation, lacked flavor. I blamed this last night on the fact that I just returned from Italy, where the food has so much more flavor than here, but I think it just lacked seasoning. Either that or it was refrigerated for too long, I can't really put my finger on it! The mussels, were tasty, but they didn't stand out. The best thing that we ordered was the duck pizza, but that also seemed to be missing something. The spinach was good, but was a little dry for creamed spinach. Overall, the food was decent, but there is definitely room for improvement.
(3)
Tessie B.
I was really excited to try this new place out. I think both the name and the location are extremely clever. It was pretty busy on a Tuesday night, but the host should have told us the wait was 45 min instead of 15 min and then increasing it in 10 min intervals. Trying to get the attention of the bartender was a mission in itself. It seemed as though the bartender was overwhelmed and did not know how to make 2 mixed drinks simultaneously. We ended up just finding seats at the bar and ordering the duck confit pizza (which is more like flatbread style) and the mussels. The duck pizza was alright, but I must admit the mussels were absolutely delicious. What DID bug me was that it was not a significantly large portion and 4 mussels were closed shut. For dessert we had the banana cream pie which was good, just difficult to split because it comes in this long sundae glass. The food was at best, average. Not sure if I'll be back, maybe if some friends are going and they want company.
(2)
NY C.
This place was located near my brother's apartment, so we (5 people) thought we would give it a try. Everything about this place - the ambiance, size, comfort-food menu, service, pricing, was spot-on! The space is huge, w/2 floors, TVs, a full bar, and booths large enough for 6 people. The ambiance was casual, yet upscale. I could see a lot of finance people dining here, mixing w/sports fanatics and families w/kids. There is something for everyone. The food was slammin'! I highly recommend the duck confit pizza, the fried chicken, the short rib stuffed potato skins (whaaat???) and their enormous "timpano" (indescribably delicious pasta dish w/meatballs s& sausage stuffed in a huge domed calzone shell). That timpano could feed 4 people, it was so large. We believe it weighed about 5 lbs, if not more! It's been several days and we STILL have leftovers! For dessert, we managed to choke down their delicious caramel-drizzled banana cream pie (DEEEEE-lectable). Our server was so warm, sweet and friendly. She had an adorable personality and a great sense of humor. She accommodated substitutions for us without so much as a blink of an eye, and came back to check on us every now and then to make sure we were okay, but without being intrusive at all. The bread they served was warm and delicious, the wine list was great, my nephew got to watch the game while eating, the prices were decent ($15-30 range) for what you got, I could go on and on. We recommended this place to about 6 people already, and we can't wait to go back next time!
(5)
Angel D.
I like this place a lot. The service is good and the place has a very cool vibe. For appetizer I would suggest the potato skins. For your entree, definitely try the meat loaf. I am not a big meatloaf fan, and usually will not order it, but my girlfriend tried it, so I had a little. Wow. Best dish there. I have also had the salmon and the filet miginon, both very good. The fried chicken was not impressive. Make reservations, as this place gets packed pretty quickly.
(4)
Alex G.
Super hip Miami vibe, loud and crowded but not in a negative way. We sat upstairs, which is not as good as downstairs (next time I'll specifically reserve a booth downstairs). Still, the atmosphere is cool and urban, and the place hopping with upscale eye candy and Rolex watches. The menu is New American comfort food, with no dish over $30 - a real treat in Miami. They even have a prix fix menu of three courses for $35. The bread and walnut maple butter was amazingly good, and the drink menu was top notch. Unfortunately, it took a LONG time for food to arrive. Very slow. And employees kept dropping things - trays, dishes, etc - which was somewhat unnerving. Appetizers were solid, but uninspiring. Calamari was a tad stringy and oily; I have had better elsewhere. Onion soup was creatively served, but lacked strong flavor -- fairly mundane tasting. The main courses shined, and the portions were large. The filet mignon with crispy brussel sprouts and potato cake was outstanding, and perfectly prepared. The pork chop with collard greens was extremely tasty -- and a darn big chop to boot. The tuna steak was sliced and served rare -- absolutely delicious and boat-fresh. The scallops were also excellent and perfectly cooked. As an aside, the drink menu was creative and well made, with delicious drinks made with fresh ingredients. Overall, a 3.5 star restaurant, certainly fun for a night out; I may not run back, but I would not hesitate to join friends if they suggested this venue.
(3)
C R.
The decor is nice and upscale, but I was a little disappointed on my first visit to City Hall for lunch. I ordered a BBQ beef brisket sandwich on texas toast with potatotes, and seafood chowder for an appetizer (a "special"). The chowder was a mixed seafood array with shrimp, calamari and fish-- it was ok, sort of light on flavor in the broth. My sandwich which I was expecting to be amazing was disappointing-- it was very salty and very fatty. It was as if they didn't trim any of the large fat chunks from the side of the beef before serving it. I love BBQ of all kinds and I have never had anything served to me that tasted sooo salty. I don't get it. I only ate a few bites and discarded the rest (I rarely do that). It was $20 for sandwich and soup, so it's a bit pricey for being on a relatively dead area of Biscayne Blvd and not that great on taste.... Probably won't return here. My friend that was dining with me also had similar feedback on his lunch entre as well.
(2)
Don E.
One of the worst dining experiences I've had in Miami. Hostess was too busy having fun with co-hostess and manager to help anyone. A kind couple was getting up from bar and offered their seats, but, warned us of the poor service at the bar...man was she right. The disinterested, nose dripping bartender was less than attentive. I'm still waiting for my water. The manager who was too busy to deal with our channel change request asked his other bartender to ask "what we wanted to change the channel to" and we never received a response, let alone rational reason. Food was average at best. The only thing that is unconventional about the French Onion Soup, is that it is NOT GOOD. Too many good places in Miami, with GOOD SERVICE to bother with this place. My only positive feedback is that the valet was courteous and quick, maybe because the lot wasn't full....speaks volumes!!!
(1)
holladay s.
Great Place! Just came back from Miami Spice lunch there. Food is fresh, abundant, attractively presented and DELICIOUS! This place is a winner! I had a wonderful bowl of seafood and sausage gumbo, cornmeal crusted shrimp po boy sandwich (enough for two) and apple cheesecake. Mom had a huge platter of homemade meatloaf, mash, and green beans - excellent. Our family all loved the restaurant and would definitely return soon. It is a great addition to the Miami dining scene.
(4)
Tito C.
Reviews raved about the chocolate bread pudding. Pudding missing in action. Thus, it was not a pudding nor a custard but a whipped cream and croissant concoction which this restaurant called a bread pudding dessert. Also, methinks that if the restaurant wants its patrons to pass by the kitchen door on the way to the restrooms, the restaurant should keep the kitchen floor clean or SHUT THE KITCHEN DOOR. My grandma thought me that if the kitchen was not clean, don't expect a clean bathroom. Not only was the bathroom not clean but the toilet did not work and it was apparent that it had not been working for a while. The bathroom/kitchen disappointment paled to the bumper car experience of the wait staff trying to move between their kitchen work stations and the customers trying to get to the bathrooms. However, all paled in comparison to the mediocre food. Too heavy a dressing on the wedge salad, could have done without the couscous with my skirt steak. It was not a good flavor combination between the lemony/tomato flavor of the couscous and the overly sweet glaze on the steak. My table companion had the turkey burger and scraped off the spinanch/mushroom combination. By the way, the first glasses of wine ordered were rejected. They tasted more like vinegar. For that style restaurant, the meal took almost 2 hours.
I get to be City Hall's 100th review...woohoo! Got to dine here on Valentine's Day. The ambiance was great, I love the decor and they weren't as busy as I expected. They had a special Valentine's Day menu which was not the least bit intriguing. I took the waiters suggestion and ordered the meatloaf and chorizo mac and cheese. I love me some mac and cheese, but this one was way too heavy. The meatloaf itself was OK. The gravy left something to be desired. I was underwhelmed until our dessert came...croissant and chocolate bread pudding which saved the day. I'd come back but just for cocktails and dessert.
(3)
Stephanie C.
My son, daughter-in-law with their kids along with my husband and I stopped by after an afternoon playing at a local park with the grandkids. At first, I though we were terribly under dressed but the staff made us feel quite at home. We requested to sit in an out of the way location so as to not disturb any of their older guests. Again, they were very accommodating. They have a kids menu, a 3 course adult dinner menu "deal" along with their regular menu. We ordered off of all three menus. Their potato parmesan cheese soup was delicious - it was the soup of the day, wish I had that recipe! My son enjoyed the burger said he loved the bacon, cheese, onion combination on their own baked bread. The kids had pizza and fries, the fries were tri-colored using pink, purple, sweet and regular potatoes in the mix. My husband had pork chops with sweet potato which he said was well flavored and cooked. My daughter-in-law had the encrusted tuna dinner. She liked it enough, she ate half and wanted the other half for lunch the next day! I got the meatloaf and potatoes ....love comfort food! Again, it did not disappoint! My only complaint was that none of us had room for dessert! The wait staff was attentive but not overbearing. The management made it a point to come over to the table and ask us how things were going. I must say that overall I had a terrific experience with City Hall Restaurant. I would make it a regular watering hole if only I lived here locally!!! Wish we had one in Colorado Springs!!!
(5)
Martin O.
We arrived for our Saturday 7pm reservation for a table of 4. The first thing I noticed was that the inside of this restaurant with both upstairs and downstairs dinning rooms is very modern and nice inside. What type of restaurant is this (Comfort Food, Upscale or Premium Comfort Food). I started with the Crispy Pancetta and Onion Pizza with Gorganzola Cheese (very delicious and rich, I would go back for this) with a bottle of Stella Beer. Others in my party ordered the Burratta Mozzarella with crisp Pancetta, Baby Arugula and Toasted Pine nuts. For a main course, I had the Meat Loaf (very, very good) with Chorizo-Maple Mac'n Cheese (good, not great). One of our party members had the Grilled Turkey Burger (a very thick burger). The W had a Seafood Pot Pie that had a nice crust (had to be sent back because it wasn't hot enough). For dessert, we shared a Warm Crumble Berry Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. I noticed that many people bought their own bottles of wine. This might be common for a Saturday night or because the restaurant just opened. There is a large bar inside if you are dining alone. There is valet parking in back for 4 bills. You will also find metered parking by the nearby Auto Dealer. In summary, it's nice to have a new Upscale Comfort Food Restaurant is this part of town. It's right across from the Citi Condos/The Daily and next door to the Indian restaurant.
(4)
Danielle C.
I ate at city hall a few days ago. It was really unimpressive. I don't think I'll be returning. Nah, I won't be going back. Nothing was terrible, it just wasn't good. I couldn't find one reason to eat here, except for maybe the wedge salad. But I can get a wedge salad anywhere else... We found our food to be just average. Gumbo, "unconventional" onion soup, scallops... no interesting flavors. I will say that I had a skirt steak and the meat tasted great. Really nice bold meat flavor. But that's pretty much it. Everything else on the plate was just "blah." As for dessert, that part was actually below average. Did that "bread pudding" swimming in whipped cream really need to be drenched in that bourbon anglaise sauce? Seriously, what was that? And were those chocolate croissants from Costco? Seriously, what was that? I don't really think service should factor into an opinion about a restaurant, but if that bothers you, that's another strike against City Hall. Everyone was really confused, and the restaurant wasn't even that full. Speaking of confusion, can somebody please explain the theme? What is up with that mural on the wall? And what does art deco have to do with Southern cuisine? In sum, don't bother. And if you happen to go despite my review, I highly recommend that you opt out of dessert and go for the martini or Stella on the Miami Spice menu.
(2)
Katherine G.
As others have said, City Hall is not a cheap place. But...you get what you pay for. City Hall is becoming known for its impeccable service, quality, and atmosphere. I really enjoyed myself. I ordered the Power Lunch on a weekend day...I think Sunday...the other week. I started with the chicken corn chowder. WOW. I sucked up every drop shamelessly. It was that good. It tasted like how love feels. Then I had the brisket sandwich, with a salad on the side instead of fries. I was making an effort not to go whole hog. :) The sandwich was very good. The only drawback was that the meat was a bit fatty. I know that it's laughable to pay attention to that when you have just ordered a barbeque brisket sandwich, but nevermind...I removed the fat when it was excessive and enjoyed the meat without the unnecessary bread--gigantic pieces of Texas toast. Biscayne is becoming better and better for dinner options. People who live nearby also MUST run to Bengal too!!
(4)
Lee R.
Great service, everyone was so nice and friendly! We did the Miami Spice menu that was being offered early...I recommend the pork chop and the carrot cake! And the maple butter that comes out with the bread before dinner is to die for!
(5)
Tennison Z.
I live in the area and am always excited when a new restaurant pops up around the block so I decided to give it a shot. I showed up with my girlfriend on an early Friday night (with no reservations, I totally recommend you do if you decide to go around peak hours - I even believe they use OpenTable online) but we're promptly sat down. The decor and service is definitely the first impression that you get of this restaurant, and we were delighted with the ode to Gotham city that the interior decoration gives the place. The service we received by our host and waitress was solid in comparison to other restaurants in the area that charge the same price, as well as how the restaurant was filling up (quite quickly might I add). It looks like the menu is in a limbo (while they tinker out what works and what doesn't) but we decided to stray safe and share our Miami Spice meal with another appetizer. It worked out perfect for us since we were not able to finish our meals. The portions are filling enough for one if you decide to have a three course meal. A definite plus were the drinks that we ordered, that were recommended by our friendly waitress. She also took the time to explain the Miami Spice menu, drink menu and recommendations and even gave us a little explanation on how Steve Haas doesn't like to cut corners on his Miami Spice menus. The point is that she didn't race through the specials but actually engaged in a conversation to enhance the experience. The bread with the pecan butter sauce was definitely a hit. If a restaurant takes the time to make the free food taste good its a good start. I went with the gumbo with the appetizer because I'm a fan of stew/soups. It had a good taste - would like it to have a bit more "cajun" in it though. For our entrees, I ordered the couscous and skirt steak while my girlfriend ordered the confit duck pizza. We ended up devouring the steak plate and saving the pizza for seconds. The pizza is good but be aware the the cheese is very rich and it could be a little heavy. We ordered a couple of espressos with our coffee creme brulee and we're quite satisfied with it. Overall, the decor and service were definite upsides if you are looking for a "cherry on top" of your meal and you get what you pay for with the food. We definitely want to give it another shot to see if it becomes a regular spot where we can have a great meal. The biggest plus for me about this place is that it is not like most restaurants in Miami that focus on being posh but look like they genuinely want to make you feel welcome. I'm not yet leaning towards a fantastic experience, but it is one that I have the confidence to recommend.
(4)
Rebecca R.
Hustle + bustle = noise Popped in to City Hall for a late dinner during the frenzy of Miami Spice; loved the decor, liked the food, disliked the noise. My partner opted for the Spice menu, whereas I ordered a la carte. None of the dishes seemed superb, and the scallops with black bean salad? Yawn. I hear brunch is amazing, and the menu looks scrumptious. Hope that the management figures out how to dim the noise without killing the energy. Will return once the chef has tweaked the menu with hopes of a more inspiring, metropolitan theme.
(3)
Tulin L.
We got delivered a complete dinner from City Hall restaurant . We ordered the duck confit pizza, braised beef short rib stuffed potato, the meatloaf with chorizo-mac&cheese, cheesecake and the carrot cake. Our order has been arrived in 30 minutes as on time. The confit pizza was nice. The flavors worked very well together. The only thing they put the pizza in a plastic container so it lost the crispiness a little bit. It would be much better if we eat in the restaurant just right from the oven. Or if they would put in a cartoon pizza box. The meatloaf was very moist and tasty. The mac & cheese was also very delicious. We also liked the side fresh green beans with garlic glaze. It was nice and fresh. The stuffed potato skins were very delicious. It was not too oily. The flavors were delicious. Moreover, the port wine syrup was a great addition to both the confit duck pizza and the stuffed potato skins. The desserts were also very delicious and fresh. Even though it was a delivery order they portioned all the food very nicely and decoratively. They put nice fresh mint leaf on the deserts. It was a really nice touch. It is the first time we tried this restaurant. If the delivery is this successful I am pretty sure the dining in the restaurant would be much better. I will definitely go to this restaurant in person and continue to get delivery from them. ;)) this place is not your ordinary place . It is very gourmet style.
(4)
Miguel F.
For weeks I kept on hearing about City Hall -- "so good" "you have to go" "cute place" "best food I've had in a long time" Finally went last week with my best friend and my friends weren't kidding... its pretty good. I had the Miami Spice menu. Spicy -- Grilled Skirt Steak -- perfectly cooked, with so much flavor. The couscous, Kalamata olives and feta cheese all added to it. Martinis -- we asked for blue cheese olives and the cocktail was perfection My best friend also had some crab cake appetizer and I had a bite and it was so good! Medium - Gumbo appetizer -- it was pretty good, not the best but pretty good Mild -- Coffee Creme Brulee. It had a very thick consistency and normally creme brulee is a thinner, silkier. It wasn't horrible, and it was pretty big. The desserts on the Spice menu are to share, btw. I was very impressed with City Hall and can't wait to come back!
(4)
Corey D.
I have been waiting quite some time for this restaurant to open. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the anticipation. The best part of the experience is the bar, the drinks are flawless. However, we had to wait 20 mins at the bar to get a drink. Our server, Victoria was very good. But there is no team work. Everyone walks around with tunnel vision and give answers that clearly let you know "that is not my job." So just wait until your very busy server has time to get back to you. We started with the french onion soup--that has no croutons or the lovely cheesiness or finish that we come to expect. We also order the short rib stuffed potato skins. One shrivled up little potato? There should be four halves. Flavor was good but the presentation felt skimpy. I ordered the fried chicken. It was super greasy and bland as if it were cooked at to low a temperature. Another newcomer, Tudor House, serves much better fried chicken. I sent it back and got the pork chop instead. The chop and the yams were excellent. But the collard greens were so overcooked that they were black and chewy with no pot liquor--unrecognizable. So very disappointing. My friend had the meatloaf, it was good not great. He said the mac and cheese was long on mac and short on cheese. Our other friend was happy with his skirt steak with olives and goat cheese. My fourth friend had the tuna and it was good although he was confused by the sauce that accompanied it. City Hall tries too hard to be over the top when it comes to the food. As much as I love comfort food--it just feel duplicative, inauthentic and dated. The loud dining room and uninspired decor make for a less than impressive evening. Luckily, we were with great friends. But, I absolutely will not be back. Too many great new restaurants, too little time.
(2)
Matthew P.
Every since North One 10 closed a year or three back, Miami has been aching for a restaurant that abandons all pretension in favor of well-crafted, well-executed American chow. It's gratifying and exciting to see City Hall bring it back. The menu reads like an American cookbook: spicy gumbo, crisp fried chicken with pan gravy, fresh scallops. There's enough of a twist to keep everything fresh - that fried chicken comes with local honey, a platter of mussels is spiked with chorizo. And, God bless the USA, my filet mignon was a complete meal instead of an a la carte cop out... crispy Brussels sprouts and a homey potato gratin. There is is lots of bacon, as it should be. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable, the service is spot on. It was crazy loud on Saturday night, but, seriously, you're too busy eating to talk.
(4)
Jessica B.
A M A Z I N G!!!!!!! Its an understatement, service excellent, superb ambiance, food delicious. Went with friends for my birthday and we all ordered different appetizers and plates so we can all try each others, Every single plate was so good including the potato bread with apple pecan butter. The bread pudding was excellent also.
(5)
Steph D.
MIAMI SPICE REVIEW I went to City Hall last night for dinner with my husband. We had been to City Hall before and thought it was okay. We visited in the first month it was opened, so were willing to give it another try with Miami Spice. It was a lackluster experience. I will give the staff credit for honestly promoting Miami Spice and encouraging patrons to order from the menu. (I hate when participant restaurants do not give you the menu up-front). I will also give our waiter credit for answering our wine question with out a $10 up sell, as I had expected him to do. I ordered the crab cake for an appetizer, the Shrimp & Grits for an entree and the Bread Pudding for dessert. The crab cake was just that- one crab cake. The restaurant pared down their regular 2 crab cake appetizer for Miami Spice. The crab cake was small- maybe 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter, less than an inch thick and with no obvious lumps of crab in the cake. You could taste the crab, but it was more cake than crab. I would not order it again, nor suggest it. As for the Shrimp & Grits....the grits and the sauce were amazing! I really liked the creamy nature of the grits and the tasty sauce. The grits were then topped with 6 medium sized shrimp. Shrimp & Grits are not on the regular menu....however, I hear they might be added. It will be interesting to see the price point. I believe the price would be fair between $18 and $22. In the end, the shrimp & grits were good, but for such an inventive restaurant, I expected something else with the shrimp & grits... sausages, bell peppers, something. Kinda Plain Jane for City Hall. My husband had the mussels for an appetizer and the twin filet for dinner. The mussels were well done and beautifully presented; although, the chorizo flavor was missing from the dish. The mussel sauce was also tasty with the bread. As for the twin filet, the first attempt was horrid. He ordered the steaks medium-rare and received well done. Our waiter promptly agreed and corrected the situation immediately. (Thanks!) The second round was much better- the steaks also looked like filet, not hamburger. The filet was served with a wine reduction sauce, grill Brussels sprouts and blue cheese mashed potatoes. Both the sauce and the Brussels sprouts were delicious and added to the dish. I want to start making grilled sprouts at home. However, the blue cheese mashed potatoes just tasted like potatoes...the blue cheese favor (which should have been easy to taste) was missing. All in all, the filet was cooked well and enjoyable, on the second go round. Lots of people near us ordered the filet...and the dish look every different at each table...strange inconsistencies in the size and style of the cut of meat. I expect filets to look round and have some height....some pieces were skinnier and spread out horizontally. The overcooked portion was on the of flatter ones. Dessert was the best course of the evening. I LOVED the bread pudding with chocolate chips. Since the printing of the menu, the restaurant has changed it's policy....bread pudding can now be ordered by one person, since the dish has been re-sized for Miami Spice. I believe they did that with all the dessert. However, the new, individual size of bread pudding is more than enough. The service was very fast, almost too fast. We had hardly finished our appetizers, when the entrees were placed in front of us. Bottomline: I would have been better off skipping the Miami Spice menu, I didn't feel like it represented a great deal. However, my husband definitely scored with the filet and mussels. Just a note of caution: be careful with the filet...there seemed to be a wide range of variation in what came out of the kitchen. Not sure I'll be back again....Spice or not.
(3)
Frank M.
I rarely write a review after one visit, but I thought I should take the time. The place has charm and I was hoping to really like this place. Unfortunately I did not make a reservation. While the crowd was mixed between extremely casual and dressed for a date it seems they prefer reservations. My party of two was told we would have to wait 5 minutes. There is no waiting area, they did ask if we would like to grab a cocktail and wait by the bar. After 25 minutes we were escorted to our seats, to only find out there was no table available. A few minutes later we sat down. We were only planning a small meal and it didn't seem like the waiter was too happy with our choice of small meals. The menu does look good and I feel there is a good mix of price levels. My overall impression was that the food is good but not up to compete with the level of the new restaurants in midtown/design district.
(3)
Michael A.
Food was excellent esp the Gorgonzola pizza. And the pecan butter was delish. Would have been 4 stars except the menu on web site was outdated by "months" according to the waiter. We had seen items on the web site and wanted to try them but they were off the menu. Very disappointing.
(3)
Ethan A.
Needed a late Sunday lunch, and this place was one of the few places we could do. It wasn't anything special, and the management seemed a bit fake-acting. But the food was acceptable, and I have no complaints.
(3)
Martha G.
Been meaning to give a nod to City Hall. The host Reggie, with the Where's Waldo glasses is the best. My friends and I have dined here three times. On each occasion he seated us with no problems on a Saturday night, after each of us had experienced independently either jet lag, buyers remorse, or day drunk head-ache. The Pork Chop was recommended twice and I ordered it once, it was overcooked. Not a big deal since we are group of girls and share everything, which I am sure is in poor taste, but, meh. The service, food, and ambiance are all on point. In addition, there is parking and not a huge annoying scene. Love love love
(4)
Patrick R.
I like this place. I like that decent restaurants continue to move into this area of Miami. Opted for the Gorgonzola pizza minus the meat and the caesar salad. Both were very good and the combo was filling. (If you notice a theme in my reviews I love caesar and pizza.) The standout was the dessert. The bread pudding was delicious. The service was outstanding. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgable. He led us through the menu and their off menu offerings (vegetarians can order the vegetarian special in which the chef prepare's a custom made and on the spot inspired dish). Yes, I will be coming back to this place.
(3)
Ashley R.
My husband and I brought my parents (visiting from PA) and my brother here for Miami Spice. We warned them, though, that many Miami Spice menus (although great deals) are limited and are very small portions. But still an opportunity to try a great restaurant. But City Hall did NOT skimp on the Miami Spice menu. Our waiter told us Steve Haas invented Miami Spice 10 years ago... so we expected good things from his City Hall menu. We had heard good things about City Hall, but it far exceeded my expectations. My husband and I kept looking around admiring the non-Miami feel... it felt like the restaurant was built in an entirely different city. Maybe because so many other restaurants -- whether intended or not -- have an overall Latin feel. But this didn't, which was good, because I like things to be different sometimes. I started off with a jumbo lump crab cake with spicy tomato glaze (which isn't on the online Miami Spice menu for some reason). Delicious. Moved on to the Asian-inspired Salmon entree with shiitake jasmine rice. Also delicious. My husband ate my baby bok choy, so I'm not sure how that was. And for dessert, we ate pretty much everything: chocolate banana cream pie (not my favorite, but I was too full to take more than one bite, which was overly banana-y), berry pie (very good berries!) and a carrot cake. The carrot cake was nice because (as the waiter pointed out) the icing isn't as strong as with most carrot cakes. It allowed me to taste more of the cake and less of the usually overpowering icing. My favorite dessert, however, was the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding with bourbon anglaise and chocolate ganache. I love chocolate croissants. It was divine. I mean, seriously. Out of this world. Would love to go back sometime soon!
(5)
Nicole K.
I went here for lunch with a friend and it was such a disappointment. I will caveat this slightly passive-agressive review in saying that the menu looked phenomenal and maybe I should have tried ordering something a bit more original, but... Like several other reviewers, the service was very poor. The host first tried to seat us in the very back corner of the restaurant in a super tight table against the wall, even though the place was maybe a quarter full. After insisting a bit, we finally finagled a booth. The waiter seemed very preoccupied and not very into his job. Definitely not friendly. The food was "meh. We started with the eggplant and crab cakes appetizers. Eggplant was very good but the crab cakes were a goopy mess. The corn accompaniment, however, was pretty decent. We both ordered the Reuben sandwich. Now, for $12 ($15 once you include a side) I expect a fairly decent sandwich. What I received was not. It seems that our food was, at various stages of preparation, left out way too long. The bread was incredibly stale, not "grilled" or "toasted" just plane stale. Biting into the sandwich meant the bread pretty much crumbled apart. The meat was also that dark color corned beef can get if left to air dry. The potatoes had to be sent back because they were cold - waiter was not to pleased about that. So for a $36 lunch I ended up with a stale sandwich and pissy attitude. Not cool, city hall. Not cool...
(1)
Kate L.
Went on a Friday night as a party of seven for a birthday. Not crowded at all and easily accommodated us when we needed to make our reservation later than expected. Sat us upstairs and it was more quiet and intimate which was nice. The experience with the food was meh. The shrimp and grits looks nothing like the picture one user posted on yelp. The grits were dry like mashed potatoes and in a solid form in the middle of the dish. The shrimp were shrimpy--tiny little guys that I'd expect from a frozen bag of Publix shrimp. Edible but certainly not what one would expect. This dish isn't on many menus, and my feeling is that you shouldn't serve it if you can't impress. My boyfriend ordered the filet mignon cooked medium. I can't tell you what the waiter brought out but it was unlike any cut of filet mignon I've ever seen. It was tough and dry and cooked medium well. To his credit, the waiter was very accommodating. He offered for another dish to be brought out and, feeling obligated, we went for the ribeye (which the waiter initially recommended over the filet mignon---which I now realize is because the restaurant did not actually have the cut that night). By this time, most of the table had finished their dishes (portion sizes seem to vary but for most dishes it's on the smaller end). We decided to cancel the ribeye all together and then out walks a server with what appeared to be a skirt steak on a bed of fries. I can't be certain because we didn't let it touch the table, but, in my experience, ribeye has a pretty identifiable shape, and that's not long and thin. The meatloaf was a little dry but ok. The Mac and cheese is light on the cheese but still pretty good. The table seemed to enjoy the scallops but I didn't try that dish. The two desserts we ordered were pretty delicious: Bread pudding and a very chocolatey cake. Would recommend both. I hear brunch is great. I thought the warier was pretty attentive and although he allowed us to order the most expensive item on the menu and served something subpar in its place, I think he responded well to our displeasure. I assume he gets his direction from someone else and has to work with what he's got. His service is the reason I give the restaurant 3 instead of 2 stars. If you head out to City Hall, maybe try a burger of something hard to get wrong. Or just stick with dessert or happy hour.
(3)
Andy R.
Went to city Hall prior to a performace at the Arsht Center. The art deco design is impressive and the dining room is comfortable and energetic. The service was very prompt, almost too prompt. The entrees came out while we were still eating our onion soup. I had finished so the waiter left my entree but took the other three back. The waiter was friendly about it but it's a lapse in service that shouldn't happen in a restaurant such as this. The onion soup itself was a creatively presented but a little disappointing; not enough onions and the wonton was very heavy- I wish it had been stuffed with something rather than just be a wad of dough. Our entrees were all good. I had a nice, tender pork chopand my partner had the very good fried chicken. The martinis we had were excellent' as my friend said " I drink a lot and this is the best martini I ever had!" I would certainly go back, especially as it's convenient to the Arsht Center.
(3)
Rick G.
I had the Miami Spice menu or as they call it here it was the Better Than Miami Spice menu. The chicken has a great sauce that included wild mushroom. The salad had a homemade dressing that tasted like a fantastic combination of cucumber and avocado. Desert was a gigantic chocolate chip cookie; the best I've ever had.
(5)
Luis S.
I guess walking into an almost empty restaurant on a Saturday night should have been my first clue. Clue 2 might have been the hostess scuffing at our request for a booth even tho there was one available. The decor is ok, looks like something out of the Dick Tracy movie. Now on to the food: I would have loved to try the bread with pecan butter but unfortunately the waiter didn't bring it out till we were almost done with our entree. My meal was not bad, fried chicken with mashed potatoes and a biscuit. Honey sauce was a nice touch. My date ordered the lemon butter chicken. This was not impressing at all, and the pasta accompanying it had an odd flavor we could not place. One bright spot was the chorizo mac and cheese. Very Good. But overall I doubt I'd return.
(2)
MissLiteEyes S.
I recently ordered delivery from here! im very picky but the food was amazing! I ordered the fried chicken with red skin mashed potatoes & gravy..sweet corn with a mac&cheese side! OMG I was in heaven it's freshly made..just great! for delivery food I was very impressed I was so confused with the guy taking my delivery order! he is a very lost soul has no idea what he was doing took about 30mins to take my order..needs more training
(4)
Teresa K.
Went here with Husband for our wedding anniversary. He had 2 apps, the eggplant and the short rib stuffed potato skins. I had the meatloaf with chorizo mac & cheese and green beans. The food was fantastic. It was incredibly rich, flavorful and filling. We both had leftovers. Then we went for the carrot cake for dessert. It was huge! No joke it was about a foot tall. The frosting was delicious too and the candied pecans gave it a wonderful crunch. Seriously though it is enough cake for 4 people. The service was also very good. Well timed, polite and helpful with menu selections. The space itself is cool and nicely decorated.
(4)
Lonny P.
City Hall is a great downtown restaurant that people pass by every day without knowing how wonderful it is. I've been there several times in the past, but now with Miami Spice, and it being all of 6 blocks from my house, I've been there with my friends the last two Fridays. Their service is impeccable, their food is amazingly good, and the chocolate croissant bread pudding, as well as their cheesecake, is AMAZING. City Hall is a great place for anyone in downtown Miami or Brickell looking for quality food at a great price..
(5)
Guillermo F.
I really wanted to enjoy my meal at City Hall last night... I did... When faced with the prospect of eating a meal at 11 PM on a Friday in Miami, one is usually faced with either insufferable crowds, or some really bad 24 hour national chain. City Hall came very highly recommended and seeing as how it was generally close to the Adrienne Arsht Center, we chose to give it a shot. The place is very well decorated, with double height ceilings (I'm a big fan of that) a great looking bar, and huge screens all over the place broadcasting that evening's sporting event. The experience started choppy once they made us wait 10 mins for a booth in a half empty restaurant. Once seated the waiter (who spoke a peculiar brand of English, even for Miami standards) proceeded to give us the menu and hound us every two minutes for our drink an food order. The food was great! I had the tuna tartare topped w chopped papaya, truffle oil, spicy mayo, a side of wakame salad and fried wonton chips as an appetizer, and, as a main course, the grilled salmon crusted with black sesame seeds and topped w cashews, with a side of Bok choi and rice. The tuna tartare was a delicious starter to my meal , and the papaya on it was a revelation to me. My salmon was perfectly medium rare, just as I had asked for it to be, something that really surprised and delighted me since I've grown accustomed to my request for undercooked salmon to fall to deaf ears and produce a charred lump of shoe leather only suitable to be consumed by cats. The food portion of the meal was an A+, a tad overpriced as I've come to expect in this town, but worth the dime in my humble opinion. The reason for my two star deduction has more to do with the service in general... Our waiter was not friendly and treated us in a surprisingly rushed manner since the place was pretty empty, and the "hostess" spent the entire night on the phone giggling like a schoolgirl and running up and down the stairs screaming and acting like a hormone crazed teenager (we were on a booth next to her stand). Most of the staff was in that "we're closing, let's get outa here" attitude 2 hours before their advertised closing time... Is it wrong for me to ask for good service at 11PM from a place that closes at 1AM and charges $30 an entree? I will be back for that tartare... I will... But this time I won't expect Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast to serve and host my meal.
(3)
Melynda H.
After months of wanting to try, we went on a Saturday night around 6:45; we were seated right away. Not only that, the host was FABULOUS, as he greated us at the door with a huge smile and a "come on in right now" kind of attitude. Ordered the burger, which was slightly undercooked, but corrected right away. Also, ordered spaghetti and meatballs with butter and parmesan in lieu of marinara for my 6 year old; we received dryish, linguini noodles with a light amount of butter and no meatballs. This was taken off of our bill. Lastly, my husband ordered linguini and shrimp - was excellent! Overally, the service was good and the host EXCELLENT - you have to have a great experience at the door; if they great you nonchallantly as if your business doesn't mean anything, than your experience will be the same; the food flavor was great, just minor imperfections. Hence, the 4 stars. Ambience was great, as well. Hope this helps make your decision. Enjoy.
(4)
Vanessa M.
City Hall looks like it's straight out of a Batman movie--Art Deco decor and accents give it a Gotham City feel. The entire night I was expecting Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton version) to make an appearance, but alas, he did not (I kid). City Hall was my first Miami Spice experience and I was surprisingly very impressed with the service. When my friend and I walked in the Maitre 'D charmed us with a friendly greeting and charming compliments (+ 10 for City Hall! ). I actually breathed a sigh of relief because dining in pretentious atmospheres make me uncomfortable most of the time. Our waiter also went out and beyond to please my party of 6; he had the patience of a saint. Seriously, he deserves a bonus or something. For appetizer I ordered the braised short ribs stuffed potato skins--this was the one item on the Miami Spice menu that lured me over to City Hall and it fulfilled my every little expectation. But here's the best part. It was not on the actual menu at the restaurant! We mentioned to our waiter that we were looking forward to trying the potato skins and so he had a word with the chef and, presto! Thanks, dude! Our waiter also let us order one dessert per person (we were 6) instead of 1 per 2 people--isn't he the nicest? For my entree I had the pork chops with mashed potato's. The food was on point and perfectly cooked each course. I definitely plan on going back again and hopefully, I get the same waiter!
(3)
Clarine F.
This place is really awesome! The food is excellent as far as presentation & taste goes. It had me the most excited i've been about somewhere in a while! Its a to-do when in the Midtown/Downtown area in Miami for sure!
(4)
Jesse L.
Absolutely a disappointment! Not only did it take a while to order food, but my wife and I noticed everyone around us (even the folks that arrived after us) were getting their food. By mere chance the waiter walked by and remembered we existed. We finally got our food and realized that we were better off without it. My wife had the fried chicken. Not only was it tasteless, it appeared to be under cooked. On the other hand, I had the cheese pizza and they spared not heat on my dish. My pizza was burnt to a crisp! This restaurant tries too hard to be sophisticated, they should work on the basics like attentiveness and attention to details. The atmosphere was ok, but they have not mastered the art of turning down the music. Also, it was freezing... I would hope to dissuade you from wasting your money, please learn from my bad experience.
(1)
Jade P.
I went here on a Sunday morning for brunch and was pleasantly surprised. A really large and trendy space and, if you're lucky, you'll catch a performance by a guest singer/band, which really adds to the ambiance of the establishment. The wait was less than desirable, however, as I waited for a small party of 3 for about one hour! The staff was extremely courteous and helpful, but I suggest that you make reservations should you decide to come in for Sunday brunch. I had the braised beef short ribs, which were delicious. The meat was soft and literally melted off the bone, but the polenta was pretty dry and not quite as refined as you'd expect from a restaurant of this caliber. The portions were large and the prices fairly reasonable for what you get. Although I didn't try them, it looked like the French Toast is a popular item- I'll probably go with that next time around. A great place to hang out on a Sunday, just be prepared to wait.
(3)
Todd N.
I've been there twice... and there will be a 3rd time. From being greeted by the nicest people to a wait staff that really knows the menu inside and out - our experience was very delightful. The foods were rich with flavor and the atmosphere was beautiful. We had an incredible bottle of wine, appetizers and some very nice meals. Our waiter was very attentive, our courses arrived in good time and we even splurged on desserts. After all, it was my birthday. All in all our experience was excellent. We will be going back and bringing friends. I would imagine that once word gets out, this place will be hopping from open to close and I'd expect a reservation would be important. I'm looking forward to having my future business lunches at City Hall. Great food, great atmosphere, 5 Stars!
(5)
Milica P.
Amazing warm atmosphere, excellent cocktails and food that makes me hug my belly with delight! True comfort food, in a wonderfully elegant, yet comfortable atmosphere - a true home away from home.
(5)
Jamie C.
The food here is awesome, they have a great variety and everything is delicious. The wine and cocktails are also great, and the service is amazing. The ambiance is very New Yorkish, on a busy night it could be a little loud, but nothing that would stop me from coming back. I highly recommend the tuna tartare with truffle oil, and the must-try dessert is the warm berry pie, its out of this world!!
(4)
Maureen A.
amazing food and service, even for miami spice back in August 2012. bartender personally came to our table to ask if we liked the drinks and to describe them, the martini's came with some extra in the shaker which they let us all have to keep it chilled. server was good to us as well. here is what we had at our table for MIami Spice and it was all amazing! Caesar Salad, very good! crab cakes with corn on side, good. Pork Chop with Sweet Potatoes, good Roasted Chicken with Potatoes and Broccolini, good Filet Mignon with Brussel Sprouts, they made me like brusells for the first time! Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding, amazing!!! Plum Cheesecake, or some sort of fruit cheesecake. very good! Chocolate cake. was just ok. warm artisan bread with maple pecan butter. so good! peach martini and coconut martini. both good!
(4)
Henry S.
Over-hyped. There are a lot better restaurants in the area.
(2)
Tamar M.
Living in the south for a long time,I was happy to hear about city hall. Unfortunately I was kinda disappointed by the menu choices. Don't get me wrong, the fish i ordered was good but I had my heart set on some real southern food.. This was more a reg American menu like a Apple bees..
(3)
K N.
I've eaten there twice during Miami Spice already. Amazing ribeye. Restaurant design was fabulous. Waitstaff responsive and efficient.
(4)
Jamie F.
Visited City Hall and sat at the bar. The bartender was super friendly and helpful in choosing our drinks of which there is an extensive selection of cool cocktails. The food was good. Mussels were great but order extra bread for the sauce. The braised short rib potato skins were pretty over the top and the pizzas are light and crisp with a mouthful of flavor. My only complaint is the noise is out of hand. This place was built without thinking about sound control - put some pads on on the walls or ceilings people! Fun place for a quick and casual night out.
(4)
Kolja P.
We went for Miami Spice and the food wasn't great. Fish drowned in oil, soup tasted like it was from a can, and the sandwich was distinctly average.
(3)
Mia D.
A friend and I went there for happy hour last week. We shared two appetizers, which were delish...and a great deal at about $6 each. But the beer- oh the beer! $7 a beer... During happy hour. We spent $28 on four beers. The place is nice, though - and the food was good - so I give them props for that
(3)
Raquel S.
So many places to choose from Midtown but City Hall is new and a must. From the outside it may not look like much but inside it has great decor and its spacious. For lunch, try their salads which are fresh and hearty without weighing you down. Great place to have a business lunch. I also attended an event which they offered special drinks which were worth a try and tasty. Too fruitty for my palate but I like the fact that they have offer their own drinks, shows originality.
(5)
fred h.
I think Steve Haas has a winner on his hands here. I rarely write a review after only one visit, especially for a newly opened place. For a restaurant to be truly good it requires good team. Any place can have a bad day. Hey, servers and cooks are human, how were you after you went through a breakup? And .... teams take time to build and get in sync. I have been here several times now for both brunch and dinner and have to say I like it a lot. The dinner menu is good; excellent Roast Chicken and delicious Ribs, but my absolute fave is the Seafood Pot Pie. Talk about heaven on a plate; the pastry was perfect and the filling divine. The brunch menu isnt huge, but has decent variety with near perfect execution. This is one of the few restaurants that can poach an egg right. I believe City Hall will be our new weekend breakfast joint. The service has always been friendly and attentive. Our first visit was right after they opened and the service was slow. These problems seem to be fixed. I will be back. See you there!
(4)
Mark W.
I went there with friends and didn't know what to expect. Turns out, the food was great and the service great too. We went for the Sunday brunch and I was disapointed that even with reservations we were seated downstairs and not up where the music would be playing. Well, it ended up we had the best table in the house because the band and jaz singer was above us and actually looked down on everyone in the restaurant! She then walked around and visited each table as she preformed. It was great! All in all I had a great time, the food was fine and so was the service. Only draw back was it was on the pricy side, but for the expereince, it was worth it. I will be going there again!
(4)
Irene Z.
The duck confit pizza is amazing!
(4)
Jimmy Z.
City Hall,is expensive and the food is ok. I wouldn't pay the prices for the food.
(3)
Seth J.
I had this place bookmarked for quite a while and finally made the effort for a weekday lunch. First impression was very good. Plenty of private parking it he back, but I imagine during a busy time it would be difficult to park. The place is much more upscale then I expected. Service was very friendly. Food selection is unique and easy to understand. Mussels in Guinness was awesome. Hot fresh bread at each table. They were out of the brisket, so I will be back. Overall a great place. Food took a bit long to arrive on a fast paced lunch day, but I was still very satisfied.
(4)
JamesBrownInMiami ..
Good food. Attentive staff.
(3)
Dan M.
Brought to you by one of the Veterans of the Miami food scene - along with all his friends (who all excel at what they do.) Only caveat - it can get loud/noisy.
(5)
S B.
Happy with the experience. Went on a Sunday night and had great food with good service. Enjoyed the duck appetizer and the yellowfin tuna dinner
(4)
Dianna B.
OK, it isn't BAD...but for a new restaurant coming onto the scene in Miami's growing foody culture, i found it's lackluster redundancy really disappointing. It's basically just another ritzy uptown chop house, lots of heavy dishes with too many tired buzzword ingredients, and the interior made me feel like i was eating at semi upscale airport restaurant. (maybe terminal D at O'Hare?) ...so not great, and with so many more compelling options around doing more creative stuff - I feel no need to return.
(2)
Camely M.
City Hall The Restaurant... OMG! Absolutely DELICIOSO! You really have to go and try their food. Trendy, fun and friendly ambience... The staff is phenomenal and the location is perfect!
(5)
Precious T.
Food is AhhMazing here...staff are very courteous! Reggie is almost just as awesome as Steve but love them both to pieces!!! Xoxo
(5)
David Y.
The staff is great. Love turkey burger wrap. The pecan butter on the hot bread was great! Great vibe!
(4)
Nancy M.
Brunch is excellent visited this past Sunday and was delightfully suprized with the live music. Best french toast in town!
(4)
Julie P.
I went there for the first time with a group of 13 from work to grab an end of the month Miami Spice lunch. With my reservation - no waiting. We were in and out in a reasonable amount of time. Service was very good compared to the snails pace I have come to expect at restaurants for such a large table. The food was great. Everything I had was fantastic from the bread with the amazing maple pecan butter to the nectarine cheesecake. No complaints from anyone! Definitely a do over!
(5)
Cookie C.
Long maxi, flats and a toe bag. Wear them here. The breakfast menu was amazing. They also have a gospel brunch on Sunday's. It was a lovely lunchy brunch that I experienced. I did love the concept...city hall, major decisions, etc. Its cute. So, you can bring someone you'd like to chat with. The menu itself is a conversation piece.
(3)
Marj O.
Disappointed in Sunday Brunch. Gospel singer and band too loud and too intrusive. Difficult to talk or be heard. I don't like people coming to my table and asking me to respond. Food good but not great. Valet parking or meters. Probably won't return.
(3)
Cova N.
Went to City Hall this past Sunday for Mother's Day. Even though the place was packed we were greeted and seated right away. The service was slow and the food was acceptable, but the best part was to have the opportunity to hear the fabulous Mariel Epps singing. She is thShe has this amazing voice and energy that makes everybody feel good!!! I will definetely come back to City Hall for brunch on Sundays!!!!
(4)
Jenna M.
I really like this place. I've been here twice and have had delicious food both times. The ambiance is fun and inviting; a good place to have dinner with family or friends. The burger with brie is to die for. Also, the duck flatbread appetizer is very good. My husband had the fried chicken last time which was amazing but HUGE. We are planning to share the fried chicken the next time we visit City Hall for dinner.
(4)
Crystal H.
this place was great. Nice atmosphere, waiters, and good food. I came here for Miami spice on a Friday night. In addition to half my party being late, i also had to have them modify 1 to 2 dishes because i cannot have dairy. They were super accommodating. Considering how bad service in Miami can be, I consider that a huge plus. I did not give them 5 stars because i think they could be a bit more creative with the menu. The food was good, but I kept thinking i could come up with the menu options. I had the Miami spice menu so i might be biased.
(4)
Duke V.
This is a jewel of Biscayne Blvd.Amazing customer service from Manager(Reggie)down to busboy every body so hospitable.Food is something else in this place!!!!Churasco steak,Crab Cakes OMG!!!Almost to forget,Chocolate croisant bread puding,everybody needs to try this in a lifetime at least once!!
(5)
maor r.
Some of the criticisms are so unwarranted that I had to give this place 5-stars to fairly pull the average back up. Folks, this is NOT a 3.5 star restaurant. The food is wonderfully flavorful, the staff is very friendly and accommodating and the atmosphere is casual-chic. Some reviewers criticize their not being pampered and the fact that their waitstaff weren't up to speed on 12-year scotches. This is certainly the exception rather than the rule, and a personal experience with their service. That same review does state that all the food is great but then gives readers the unfair impression that it is a 3-star restaurant going by his rating. Folks, this is a casual restaurant with TV's all over the place and not t an aristocratic-pamper-you type place. For a well-read sommelier with a British accent and the history of all 12+ year scotches, Capital Grill, Prime 112, and others will be happy to take heaping piles of your money. This is what matters: The food is great! I'm not even a fan of comfort food but who can turn down homemade & tender, crunchy fried chicken, Sushi-grade tuna ceviche with a drizzle of truffle oil, phenomenal burgers and mac & cheese and on and on.... And my experience with the service is that, most importantly, they are friendly and attentive. Cant wait to go back and try more of their menu!
(5)
Marcia G.
Went to City Hall for a late dinner with my boyfriend last Friday night to celebrate his birthday & actually we both really liked it! I was a little hesitant about this place after reading the mixed reviews but everything (for the most part) was great. I made a reservation for 10 but we got there at 9:45 & were seated right away (the restaurant wasn't too packed). My boyfriend ordered the unconventional french onion soup, which was a really cool idea & very tasty. The cheese at the bottom & wontons were really good, as was the broth. Our only criticism was that it didn't have enough onions for a french onion soup, you want to have onions in every spoonful!! The bread, while not artesenal in any way (it's just a small loaf of white bread) was good & the pecan butter was amazing!! For our entrees my boyfriend ordered the turkey burger (which I tried & was really yummy) and I had the meatloaf. The meatloaf itself was really moist & delicious. The maple chorizo mac & cheese was very good also, really different with it's sweet & spicy flavors. Totally unlike any mac & cheese I've ever had! To round out, the green beans were garlicky & amazing! Unfortunately after all that (and a few of the craft beers they have), we were too full to order dessert. I absolutely must go back to have the Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding, our waiter recomended it & I've heard nothing but good things! Speaking of our waiter, I have to say he was probably the only real downside to our night. He was a little annoying & pushy, coming over every 2 minutes until we ordered & seemed very eager to get us out of there. I don't know if it's because it was late & he wanted to go home but they close at midnight on the weekends so it was kind of rude. Other than that, our dining experience at City Hall was great & I can't wait to go back for the dessert & to try their brunch!!!
(4)
Jeff M.
I want to like this place. The location is great, decor old fashioned but cozy, the owner/chef is always there and the service is very good. I've been 4 times and haven't yet fallen in love. The menu items are the opposite of cutting edge; most dishes are heavy. I LOVED the crab salad at lunch but was barely able to eat the roast chicken. It was tasteless and dry. Deserts are pretty good. I will go back for the crab salad and continue trying other dishes but I prefer other restaurants in the vicinity like Michael's. Nemesis and Mandolin,
(3)
Jorge G.
Even better than first time. Great drinks/atmosphere. Grilled pork chop was heavenly as was the tuna tartar appitizer. Will be back.
(5)
eglys h.
went to celebrate a friend's bday here. 1st time coming to this restaurant. they were able to accommodate approx 30 of us in a nice area upstairs. i do have mixed feelings about the place. 1st - i find it to be nice - big. waitress we had was ok - she did i have to say put up with me "cause i was not at my best (nerves)" in regards to requesting separate bills - note: they usually do not do it - cause it is too much of a hassle for them... but some how (i guess after my little tantrum) they were able to do so for us - which was awesome.... 2nd - food - i went for the meatloaf plate - good price for quantity and taste of food - this was truly a "small" meatloaf for each plate! it is baked in one of those pound cake individual pans. this i have to say was tasty and filling.. nice side dishes too...green beans & a delicious mac & cheese - had enough to take home for lunch. 3rd hubby's dish was a smaller portion - salmon on a bed of rice and some other stuff (sorry i do not remember) but he did not have any leftovers (actually he could of used a bigger serving) it was ok........ Even thou the place is nice, we did not enjoy the Loudness - it is truly so loud you can not carry a conversation with the table... unless you join in on the screaming like everyone else. bathroon situation - it was nice to have a small area for all of us (mind you there were other patrons sitting around as well) - there is only 1 bathroom on the second floor. found it to be not working so i had to go downstairs to use the restroom. this was a nice walk up & down.... kinda helped with the digesting of my dinner!!! it was clean thou and i do have to say, it was with a rubber band, but they did attempt to repair bathroom upstairs asap. all around it was ok - food ok - service ok - LOUDNESS NOT SO OK.... parking ok - (right behind restaurant & free just tip them)
(3)
Ke N.
this place SUCKS!!! everything is OVER PRICED and taste like CRAP. and if your not into GAY GUYS... NO ONE will pay attention to you. the servers are all to busy trying to get into each others pants to give you decent attention. plus they totally ripped off WHISKEY TANGO'S super famous SPAGHETTI SANDWICH which is HALF the price, DOUBLE the SIZE, and TRIPLE the FLAVOR. this place SUCKS!!!
(1)
Andrea W.
The first time I went to City Hall it was such a great experience I found myself coming back 2 other times during that week. I have tried their meatloaf which is big enough for probably three people. For brunch I had the creamy polenta w/short ribs and the mushroom encroute. Every dish I have had here has always been pleasing to my tastebuds. I can't wait to go back to have the short rib potato skins!
(5)
Amanda M.
I tried this restaurant last night and I had a great experience. I had the short rib stuffed potato skins as an appetizer and the grilled turkey burger. My friend had the pork chop with bourbon sweet potatoes. All three menu items had delicious flavor and overall were quite excellent. I also liked the decor of the restaurant. You don't realize how big and stylish the inside based on the outside, which is just like any other unassuming building on Biscayne Blvd. As for the service, I didn't have the bad experience that so many others have mentioned. Our waiters were very attentive. I do have to say though, that we went for an early dinner (around 5:45), well before most Miami dinners make it out. So if the restaurant is full, it might be a different story. In my opinion, City Hall's dressed-up comfort food and elegant decor definitely make it worth a try.
(4)
Strawberry F.
Let me tell you something every time I have visited this place the food is on point as well as the service. I walk in there are smiles there to greet you and seating is pretty fast like always! I have brought groups, friends, and evened dined solo @ the bar here and it is proving to be a fail safe place for me and that's rare! I love it and the menu is killer and all edible for everyone:)
(5)
Argenis M.
If you're vegetarian/vegan (like me) this is definitely not the place. The menu is quite tempting for carnivorous people. I felt sad when I could only order one dish out of the whole menu and it was breakfast ($9 for scramble eggs and potatoes house). The service, music and decor were very good but food choices for me was the ultimate deal breaker.
(2)
Millie A.
Delicious dinner. We had the filet mignon and tuna entree followed by the bread pudding which is a must. This place delivers on food, drink and ambiance.
(4)
Elizabeth S.
I thought I would rate this place a 5 star, but then I thought back on my experience and I, sadly, can't rate it that high for a number of reasons. However, to start off with the things that do get 5 stars: - Our server was very friendly - The decor is amazing in here. I felt like I was in Gotham (as in Batman, not as in the steak restaurant) - Creative drinks named in a cute manner that had a decent amount of alcohol to taste ratio - Although we came on a Saturday and did not have reservations, we were seated in about 30 minutes, even though there was a wait. Extra stars for that one! Probably due to the fact that there were 2 of us and the rest of the parties were large. - Valet Parking for $4 in the back I really did love the rich feeling of this place. Everything is dark, art deco, and classy looking. There were people dressed in varying degrees of fancy-ness, so you could definitely rock some cute jeans and a stylish top here, but you could also go for a dress. It would be a good place to go for a date with someone you don't necessarily want to talk to, because the place is LOUD. Also, icebox cold, so bring a wrap. On to the less than 5 stars: We went to the bar to get some drinks as we were waiting for our table. Unfortunately the drink menu is not listed on their website and I forgot what I had, but my friend had some kind of spicy drink that was great. Our mixed drinks came in Martini shakers, cute touch, although a tad overused. Our total came to $24 and I put a $50 in the little glass our bill came in. I really REALLY really HATE when I have to ask for my change back. Do you seriously think I'm giving you a $26 tip? You didn't do a spectacular job, you just gave us our drinks, which is in itself your job. I knew there was no intention of giving me my change unless I asked, since he was perusing the bar as if looking for something else to do. For dinner we ordered: More drinks :) I wanted wine and there were some by the glass that were not on the menu that our waiter told us about. I had a Syrah and it was delicious. Sweet Potato Fries and a salad that came with a citrus dressing, sunflower seeds, avocado, cucumbers and tomato. The salad was refreshing and deliciously simple, the Sweet Potato Fries were exactly that. Nothing more, nothing less and they didn't come with any type of sauce. Although I get they're a side, I think they could have come with something. I asked for honey and it was delivered immediately. I wanted to get the Oven roasted Portabella Mushroom listed on the menu on the website, but it was not on the menu and I didn't ask, so I settled for the Ricotta stuffed homemade JumboSpinach Gnocchi baked in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce &Spiced Walnuts (18.00) - This was really good but very rich. I could only actually eat two of them, and there were 7 in the bowl, swimming in a soup of cream sauce (literally about 1 1/2 inches of it). Although the Gnocchi itself was very light, fluffy and extremely delicious, the cream sauce was just too much. My advice would be to share this along with a lighter dish, as it doesn't reheat well if you want to take it with you (the cream sauce is likely to separate). Pepper seared Yellow fin Tuna with Vegetable Quinoa, Wild Mushrooms, Garlic, Japanese Eggplant, Sweet & Spicy peppers and Maui Onion Beurre Blanc - this was ordered Medium and came out rare, so I would ask if the chef on duty cooks towards the rare or not if you don't want sushi. The serving portion was huge and it looked delicious as well. I think 2 people could have put that down. Dessert was a HUGE disappointment. We really wanted to share something, and after our waiter told us about how amazing the Chocolate Banana Cream Pie is, he finished it off with "So it's too bad we're out of that". Thanks. Really. Thanks a lot. We got the Warm Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding with Bourbon Anglaise & Chocolate Ganache instead and it came out as a stale croissant that had been barely warmed up in the microwave swimming in anglaise and drizzled with a hershey style chocolate syrup. Such a bad finish to a decent meal. In all, it was fun because it was a new restaurant, the server was extremely nice and tried to correct the mistake with the dessert (although at that point we were no longer in the mood). I would like to go back for their brunch, but I'm not sure I'll be back for dinner.
(3)
Oscar D.
Cool ambiance, and great american/continental food! parking a little scarce, but an overall good experience.
(4)
Lisa J.
Went to City Hall for the first time today & although it's only my first time there I'm really surprised by some of the negative and some not so positive reviews. My husband & I loved it & we are not easy to please especially me. Let's start with the artisan bread. It was really good & the maple syrup butter it was served with made it even better We both ordered the following off the lunch spice menu: The gumbo-delicious It tasted exactly the same as gumbo I've had in New Orleans. The shrimp po boy sandwich was huge & really tasty as well. Now the dessert which was the chocolate croissant bread pudding with bourbon cream sauce. I'm not a bread pudding or bourbon person but it was absolutely delicious. We have no complaints about the food or the service & will definitely be back to try something else off the menu, especially the chocolate banana cream pie. Can't wait!
(5)
Melody Y.
Wow. That meatloaf was UH-MAZING!!! I went to City Hall for a business party last night and I just could not end my day without writing about the experience. The atmosphere was awesome. The service was perfect but at times they were too perfect, if that makes any sense. I wasn't too hungry so I just ordered the Calamari. It was tasty but a little on the dry side. My boss however, went all out and ordered the meatloaf meal. First of all, it was huge and it looked amazing. She gave me maybe 1/4 of it, which was a really big chunk. THEN THE FLAVOR BUS HIT ME. It was sooooo good. I wanted to snatch the food off of her plate, but I restrained myself. I was however, staring at her meal all night. Next time, I will definitely be getting the meatloaf! Side note: The music was entirely too loud. I could barely hear the conversation. But the food made up for it!
(4)
Vanessa G.
Went here for brunch on a Sunday. The food was alright. The decor was very urban but elegant. Nice hang out spot. There was a lady singing that day but the volume was way too high to converse with anyone in our table kind of annoying! However don't hate it would recommend if you want to go somewhere hip with good food.
(3)
Ricardo B.
Trendy, nicely decorated. Steve Haas, the owner can be seen walking around greeting people. Service in the beginning was very good but at the end it was a little sloppy. Food was very good - had the shrimp po'boy and the chocolate croissant for dessert. Dessert was really good. A bit pricey for the food. The place of the moment to be seen and to see i guess it's what it is
(3)
Farris J.
What a low life operation! Valet parking with attendant no where to be found. Servers who can't even get orders right and looking like they are just out of rehab. And, management with non customer service attitudes. Remember buddies, retaining customers and creating good will is what hospitality management is all about....not going head to head and toe to toe to mistreat customers for the sake of a buck....when your ethics and morals are thrown out the window. What goes around, comes around and soon you'll find yourself out-of-business. Stay as clear away from this want-to-be as far as you possibly can.
(1)
Jessica R.
I went back here recently because their grits at the Grand Tasting were so good. Got there early so it was quiet and it does look like they've installed sound dampers. The waiter was awesome out of the gate and made me a hot chocolate even though it's not on the menu, but then he just...disappeared. Twice my brunch partner had to wait 15 mins for a coffee refill. Add to that the grits were nowhere near as good as at the grand tasting. This place still just seem meh.
(3)
Alicia T.
3.5* Miami REALLY??!!! Since I'm rare in Miami (full blooded American who grew up on southern comfort food in the Midwest) I feel like I know what I'm talking about here. I'm not sure, but maybe yelpers are coming here with the wrong expectations? Of all the pretentious, disappointing or mediocre places I've tried in this area because Miami yelpers rated them 4-5*, we should seriously be ashamed of the low star rating this place has! As far as I'm concerned, this is THE place to come when you want to get the ITIS (pronounced eye-tus) in Miami. And if you are not familiar with the "eye-tus" it is a hood term used to describe what happens to your body after a very satisfying yet heavy meal. It's somewhat of a coma, but you are still conscious. If you are looking for Maserati's and Ferrari's on the curb to make you feel like you've "arrived" at the best restaurant in Miami, go elsewhere. If you are vegetarian, sorry, southern food (historically) includes lots of tasty 4-legged animals and their fats. If you're looking for quiet, go to the library. Yes, it was loud, but I expected to have to scream at the top of my lungs after reading these reviews (it was just as loud as any local Cheesecake Factory on any night of the week). I still would be impressed here on a first date. Ambiance: The dark wood, high ceilings, and decor made me feel like I left Miami for a moment while inside. Very nice, and a huge TV screen is projected (on silent) toward the front of the restaurant so guys if you do bring a date here, you can still get bonus points with her and check the score throughout the night. Service: As most reviewers have mentioned, 5 stars all around. Much appreciated in this city where normally the servers feel they are doing you a favor by showing up. A bus boy even happily took a drink order for us and walked me to the restroom instead of pointing across the restaurant in its direction. Food: I wanted to lie on the floor and take a nap afterwards. Great portions, great presentation, and great food. Here's what we had: Appetizer, Gorgonzola pizza with panchetta, sweet onion cream, fig jam and crispy onions: The other foodies at my table (two NY'ers and a WV girl) and I nearly fought over this freaking thing. Thanks City Hall. It was large enough to have as your meal (which I definitely will be doing for lunch one day) but delicious enough that if someone tries to take a piece you may want to stab them in the hand with your fork (or maybe that's just me). It was down to the last piece and we were all doing the polite stare off while we had small talk but internally determining who was going to be able to eat it. Country Fried chicken: You'll definitely think your granny fried this chicken somewhere in the country when your plate arrives. The crispy, crunchy, flavorful skin reminds me of other great fried chicken at gourmet soul food restaurants I have tried in places like Los Angeles (Roscoes Chicken & Waffles), Washington DC (Georgia Browns), Chicago (Chicago's Roscoes), and Detroit (Southern Fires) who all serve their chicken with honey on the side, YES! And here they give you a whole HALF of a freaking chicken. Who does that?! I wound up eating 3 pieces just because I got lost in the flavor argh! I didn't like the corn, but the red skinned mashed potatoes were PERFECT. They even gave me a little pot of red hot sauce to dip my chicken in (upon request). I was in little fat girl heaven. Grilled pork chop: with bourbon sweet potatoes and collards. Yes, collards, only the best and most sought after greens when it comes to southern food. My NY friend nearly licked his plate after he was done, I didn't even get to taste any of it except the sweet potatoes which tasted like pure candy (no lie). Scallops: I didn't taste them but my friend loved them, although a bit spicy for her so maybe ask for the jalapeno stuff on the side. Nothing can ever be too spicy for me. Dessert: Well, whoever created the recipe for this bread pudding should be under arrest (or if they are single maybe I should marry them). We were way TOO full for dessert but thank God I read the reviews that told me NOT to leave without trying that bread pudding. It is clearly one of the most awesome desserts I've ever had at any restaurant anywhere (but I am a serious bread pudding lover also). My little WV girlfriend HATES bread pudding and only put a little on her plate. I said "No dear, you'll want to brace yourself for this one" and gave her a little more so she wouldn't be disappointed after we ravished the rest. Amazing, the type of dessert that you put a little in your mouth, pause, look around at your table mates and say "Oh my GOD, this is SO good" and then wish you had another stomach to eat the rest of it with. So this is not the place to come to before the beach, or if you are monitoring your blood sugar levels, fat content, or carbs. Come if you want great comfort good, great service, and a lovely atmosphere to enjoy it all.
(5)
Giancarlo B.
I had read about City Hall on Thrillist, and while the review of the food was good what really drew me in was the decor. So naturally, when Ashley S. suggested that we eat at City Hall for dinner one random Friday night, I was quite excited. Upon entering, we were greeted by the Host and sure enough, once you enter, you feel like you're in 1920's art deco NYC - I loved it. We didn't realize that this restaurant was part of Miami Spice and we didn't have a reservation. It was still pretty early for a Friday night so they sat us upstairs. After reviewing their standard menu we quickly realized that the Miami Spice menu was quite the deal, especially considering that they gave you the option of foregoing the 3rd (dessert) course for a martini or beer... jackpot! For appetizers, Ashley ordered the crab with corn whereas I ordered their iceberg lettuce with bacon and blue cheese dressing. Ashley definitely won that round. Although, to be perfectly honest, their Miami Spice appetizer selection wasn't that great. For the main course, I ordered their pork chop with mashed sweet potato and collard greens and Ashley S. ordered the pan seared sea scallops. Both dishes were absolutely delicious. The scallops were probably the sweetest and freshest I've ever tasted and my pork chop was cooked to perfection. We were both blown away by our entrees. Besides the food, the service was great too. Our waiter was not only friendly, but also extremely knowledgeable. He entertained a conversation with us as if he were sitting down at our table without being intrusive. Overall, I'm really happy with my experience and would definitely recommend City Hall to everyone I know.
(4)
Milad S.
So happy I finally stumbled into this gem. I have driven past this restaurant so many times while going to the Daily that I decided one night to actually make a visit...and boy was I glad that I did. Everything was first class from top down. I had the fried chicken which was great , but a little bit in the dry side. My lady had the porkchop which was amazing! This restaurant has the best drinks in Miami, very very good. Make sure to have the bread pudding dessert if you have space! The portion sizes here are large, but you get what you are paying for. Great place, great service, and great food. Can't ask for more. Comfort food done right.
(5)
Gabriel C.
Brunch was mediocre at best.
(2)
George C.
Just awesome! NYC has come down to the 305. You seriously feel like you have traveled to NY, but it's all happening on Biscayne Blvd. The place is loud, but you can actually hear yourselves speak. From the amazing maple butter at the start to entrees that will blow your mind- Steve Haas has truly perfected this place. Don't miss the meatloaf or the NY strip, as both are simply DELICOUS! I've been three times in one week and will keep going back. The turkey burger is also amazing. If you like olives, get the skirt steak. I will try it out for brunch. One of my new favorite places in Miami!
This was my first time and it will not be my last!!! My waiter was Chris and he was GREAT!!!!!! Great service, delissssshhhh food and nice atmosphere! Will be back for more ! Thanks Chris !!!!!!!
(5)
Kevin R.
Service was awful! Hostess was delightful and friendly, servers were pleasant enough but had no training or standards. Food was mediocre and the dishes a jumble of items whose flavors didn't blend well. As we departed, the manager and owner stood near the door and said goodbye, no one bothered to ask "how was everything"; perhaps they already know! Won't go back and cannot recommend.
(1)
Tania H.
Apparently this is the place to eat when you are staying downtown Miami, because both the hotel and a business acquaintance insisted we go there. 5 of us showed up after work for dinner and it was a nice short walk from the downtown Hilton. This is an American fare restaurant with an interesting menu and we received excellent service. Everyone enjoyed their meal and there was no real criticism to be made. I'd definitely come back for a good meal.
(4)
Kristin K.
nice ambiance, fun atmosphere. Good drinks & service. Ordered from the Miami Spice menu = blue crab ravioli & gumbo for apps, scallops & pork chops for entree. warm chocolate croissant bread pudding for dessert. Nothing was really a wow for me. All good, but again - no wow.
(3)
Patricia K.
Food is just OK-most plates are tasteful (we were a party of five and we all ordered different plates); quantities are BIG (so 1 plate is more than enough for 2 persons) but service is NOT good. We went on a Monday and our dinner took around 3hrs, which I found to be unaceptable for how relatively "empty" the place was and for how quick we had ordered (as soon as we sat down). We also didn't like that the bill was not accurate.
(2)
Jeanette E.
I'm just chiming in with a lot of the other reviews. The food is solid. The noise is unbearable. I apologize to those that like the live music during brunch but it was unbearable. We had been there for dinner before and went yesterday for brunch for the first time. There was a gospel singer on the balcony and because the acoustics are SO bad, it was painful to the ears. We had to walk out. When we've gone in the past we've resigned ourselves to the fact that we were NOT going to be able to talk. This is not a place to come catch up with anyone. They need to invest in acoustical panels and pronto. When you add a very strong singing voice blaring over a microphone, you end up with excruciatingly painful eardrums. All that being said, the food and serviced is solid so as soon as they invest in correcting the noise problem they will definitely go up a star or even two!
(3)
Alejandra M.
I went here for a company party and let me tell you that although the place looks small from the outside it is not. It is a very relaxed atmosphere with a nice decor. The service was great and the food was excellent. I only got to tast about 4 different things in the menu, but I would not mind going back!
City Hall can be counted on for a consistently good meal, time after time. It is beautifully decorated and is a comfortable place to dine. The menu is varied with steak, hamburgers, chicken and fish dishes. The owner Steve Haas has been around the restaurant business forever, and knows what he is doing, plus he's a great host. There is a great need for his type of restaurant. A place where you can get a really good meal at a reasonable price. Highly recommended.
(5)
Lynn M.
I saw some so-so reviews on Yelp that left me a little anxious about what my experience would be like.....but after having dinner at City Hill tonight i can safely say that I am no longer concerned. The husband and I had a great time! Dinner was fantastic and the service was wonderful and attentive. We had the crab cake (appetizer), turkey burger, fried chicken and the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding. Everything was delicious. I also had a really good martini/cocktail (The Commissioner) as well. We will definitely go back and try some new items on our next visit.
(4)
Tawanna-Patrice M.
My Wife chose City Hall for Valentine's Day... and it was a good pick. The parking situation was not the best - small lot, on-street parking, and no valet - but once we got over that hurdle, everything else was amazing. We were seated very fast; the service, a bit awkward to start; and the food was yummy, delicious, and plentiful. First Impression.... the decor was really nice; amd I loved the backlit wall. The menu was separated into terms using the jargon you would find at an actual city hall meeting - primary decisions, closing arguments, etc. I think white table clothes would have added some contrast to the room since the table, walls, and floor were all in the same color scheme which gets a bit murky in the dim lighting. The Food... we bypassed the special Valentine's Day Menu and ordered from their regular menu. The Braised Beef Short Rib Stuffed Potato Skins with Taleggio Cheese, Swiss Chard, and Tomato Marmalade was solidly delicious. Not too much cheese; no too much marmalade; meaty and just damn good! I ordered the Grilled Pork Chop w Bourbon Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Southern-Style Collard Greens and my Wife ordered the Meatloaf with Chorizo-Maple Macaroni and Cheese. The pork chop was huge... and cooked to perfection, crisp and charred on the outside from the grill and juicy and full of flavor on the inside. The Creole Mustard reduction that came with it was not even really necessary - the pork chop stood alone. The Sweet Potatoes and the Collard Greesn were good as well. I was skeptial about the collard greens since most places add loads of brown sugar and apple cider vinegar in the attempt to make the "southern-style." I prefer mine savory and smoky. The collards at City Hall had a little sweetness and tang to them... just a little so that the savory edge was still present... not bad; not bad at all. My Wife loved the meatloaf, which was tender and yummy. She liked the Chorizo-Maple Macaroni and Cheese... though she expected a different flavor and not a mellowed out chorizo that almost tasted like ground beef. After having half of our meals packed for takeaway; we shared the Warm Chocolate Chip Crossaint Bread Pudding with Bourbon Anglaise... absolutely divinely richly sublime. It was generous enough for three people. The Service.... awkard to start... maybe a new server - but very friendly and very attentive... well deserving of the hefty tip we left behind. We left that night already making plans to return for the City Hall brunch... and another meal.
(4)
Claudia G.
I would definitely come again even though last night was the first time the place was open. The service was optimal and their oyster appetizer is to die for! The ambience was very lively with a great open space and great new york feel decor. Thank you for the complimentary drinks! :)
(4)
Michelle G.
My sister in law invited me to City Hall - The Restaurant for a birthday brunch and I'll have to say this is one of the nicest restaurants for brunch in this neck of the woods. While you're ordering, the server brings fresh artisan bread with a soft and warm honey maple butter to the table which is absolutely addicting and unbelievable. I ended up ordering eggs benedict with spinach which is only comparable to one delicious place I enjoyed this dish at in Maui. Absolutely out of this world. It was also accompanied with a refreshing mimosa. My husband enjoyed amazingly fluffy chocolate chip pancakes which are the size of someone's head, with fresh whipped cream rather than maple syrup. My sister in law enjoyed a vegetable three egg omelette with cheesy tots. The lunch and dinner menu also look incredible and we will definitely return when we're in the area for a show or play. All should come out to enjoy this great find.
(5)
Martin G.
The positives: the ambiance and Santiago, the server, along with all the busboys. The negatives: the booths are way too long--hard to explain but sit at a table if you go there. The food: Over-priced and not memorable. We started with the Duck Confit Pizza with wild mushrooms which was tasty, hot and more than enough for 2. The house bread was tasteless and really shouldn't have been served with the pizza plus the biscuit I got with my main course. Allen ordered the NY Strip which came with mash potatoes and Santiago substituted brussel sprouts for the spinach per Allen's request. He was not thrilled with the potatoes or the sauce on the steak. Where did start with my dish? We were going to the theatre so I really didn't want to order the City Hall Timpano--a heavy assorted pasta, sausage, meatball and cheese dish--which i really did want LOL--I asked for a couple of suggestions and should have had the pork chops buy instead went for the fried chicken with mashed potatoes, corn and bacon, honey, gravy and a biscuit--glad I didn't want something too heavy! Everything was crowded on to the plate making it almost impossible to get to the poatoes. Luckily the chicken was finger food but there was no side dish (only service mistake made--the bread and butter dishes were taken away when we finished the pizza) for the bones. I had to take the gravy, honey and corn monkey dishes off the main plate and put on table. Some of the chicken was bloody while the breast piece was over-cooked and dry. Allen had a diet coke and I had coffee. The check for both of us plus a 20% tip came to $85 Oh yes, a pet peeve--no manager, host or owner ever came to the table.
(2)
Barbara S.
The Sunday Gospel brunch is amazing. Celebrated my birthday with friends on February 24 and had the best time, the best food, the best birthday! We all had the Reuben (corned beef) and Rachel (pastrami) sandwiches which were beyond delicious. Great chocolate crunch cake for dessert complete with birthday singing by Maryel Epps, the gospel/jazz singer who performs there every Sunday. Maryel was so much fun, really loves what she does, and made the overall experience truly memorable.
(5)
Mari P.
Uffffffff the bread and butter...enuff said!
(4)
Anuka S.
City Hall was amazing! First time there and won't be the last. The food was excellent and the service was great!
(5)
Karen K.
I use to love this place, but the last two times I have eaten here, was not as impressed. it seems the quality of food, and service are declining. I took my Dad for his birthday last night, made the reservation using open-table and mentioned that we were celebrating his 84th birthday. I would have expected something would have been done to acknowledge this, nothing...and btw he was the only elderly person at the table, so it shouldn't have been that hard to figure it out. The music was on so loud when we walked in and the place was empty, the noise level in this restaurant is so loud you have to scream to hear each other. The food was not as good as it had been in the past. I ordered the pork chops and I have had them here before. The meat was tough, and it was as if the pork chop were sitting in the back for hours and they just threw hot gravy on top. My nephew sent his back, my dads skirt steak was tough and he sent that back. I also had the crab cake appetizer, it tasted like corn meal, I didn't see or taste any crab. The service was horrible, we had to ask for everything, instead of being asked if we needed anything. Prior to last night I went with friends and my roasted chicken was made from poor quality chicken, not a lot of meat, all bone. I don't think I will be going back anytime soon.
(3)
Marcus K.
Really thought I'd love this place from all the recommendations that I've received from others who have lived in Miami for a while. Went during Miami Spice 2012. Sampled the mussels, crab cake, and caesar salad for appetizers. Mussels seemed to be well cooked, tender, and flavorful, but not extraordinary. The crab cake was small and very mediocre with only fine wisps of crab (no chunks seen at all). The caesar salad, was well, a caesar salad. Nothing to write home about. Had the filet mignon, which was cooked nicely, and had a nice reduction sauce over it. But I would have been very disappointed if I had paid more than $30 for it. Definitely not worth the regular retail price. The dessert sampling included cheesecake, chocolate crisp/mousse thing, carrot cake, and the bread pudding. The bread pudding was easily the best thing. Cheese cake was rather sad with little character, and soggy crust (which is usually the best part!). Carrot cake, blah (and I usually like carrot cake). I'd go back to try a few things on the entree list just because they sound interesting and this place is walkable from me (which is a plus so I don't have to pay for parking!), but then again, there may be better places elsewhere in Miami.
(3)
Kelly K.
City hall is very close to my house so I went with some friends to try it for the first time. I LOVED it. Its very nice inside (a little on the chilly side), the kitchen is open so you can see the chef and his team work. The drink list is extensive. We had a bottle of wine that was reasonably priced and very good. Each of us ordered something different. I had the Meatloaf that came with mac n cheese and I ate every single bite!!! My friend had the pork chops which were delicious, however, the sweet potatoes and spinach sides were everyone's favorite part of her meal. Another friend ordered a flatbread pizza and gave rave reviews. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. The desserts looked amazing and I only wish we had room to try some. I would recommend a reservation to secure a table.
(5)
Vivian P.
great food, great drinks, great service. We were a pretty large party so we all ordered something different. the best plates on the table were the Tuna tartar app with a truffle soy vinegrette and the prosciutto & goat cheese pizza. I had the NY Strip with mac & cheese and creamed spinach which were tasty but just as tasty as any other top notch steak place. Signature drinks were good and the bottles of wine are perfectly priced. Looking forward to trying the place out for Brunch.
(4)
Natalie M.
I was so excited to try this new restaurant across the street from my house.... after a very anticipated wait they couldn't have given me a better experience. To my surprise even though it is brand new (and anyone that knows anything about the restaurant business can understand that it is very difficult to get everything perfect after being open for such a short amount of time) our entire night was excellent. Everything from service, to food, to style, architecture.... the place is absolutely amazing for American Bistro, comfort food style. We sat down in some booths, very large and spacey..... Very nice hostess..... We started off our evening with the Tuna Tartar appetizer; Tuna with avocado and papaya, wakame, and crispy wontons, finger-licking greatness. For my entree I ordered the Gorgonzola pizza; this is I think if not my favorite, one of my favorite pizzas I've ever had.... thin crusted gorgonzola pizza, drizzled with fig jam, finished off with crispy fried onions. Mouth watering goodness.... the combination is excellent! My husband had the Pot Pie; Maine Lobster, scallops, parsnip, seafood veloute... he was very happy with his dish.... I tried it and although I am not a big fan of Pot Pies I though it was very good. The cocktails offered here are very good.... I had the mojito drink, Cruzan mango rum with mint ...... very nice size.... we finished off with the Chocolate Banana Pie .... I thought the desert was absolutely delicious! The service was excellent and very rare for your typical Miami restaurant where excellent service is hard to find. I have no idea why the gentleman up there wrote that it was horrible service. On the contrary I ONLY have good things to write and say about this restaurant and service. Not only was the waitress nice, the whole staff was eager to help the waitress and definitely 100% team work. Something very rare that really put the cherry on the cake for us; the owner, Mr. Haas was so kind enough to come to our table and introduce himself to us and was really into pleasing us. I have learned that in life it is very hard to please everybody so there will always be someone unhappy and complaining about everything in life. I am so glad I have a very nice restaurant across the street from my house.... I recommend it, 100%!! Congrats to Mr. Haas and the Chef!!
(5)
Larry R.
A Gospel Brunch--Interesting and Rather Good. Went to meet friends who were visiting from the North and was pleasantly surprised by City Hall, yes it's VERY noisy, but it feels as if we came into a party into a very nicely decorated (1920's) space. Maybe it was the time of year, it seemed very festive and the Gospel Singer had a great voice and fabulous personality that we really liked. The service was attentive, not overwhelming and the real surprise was the quality of the food, my salmon and rice were done to perfection. Definitely a unique treat.
(4)
Lara d.
Great addition for the downtown lunch crowd. There is free parking behind the location and there is ample seating inside to accommodate a busy crowd. The modern, dark but trendy interior makes you feel separated from Miami, it has more of a northern state feel. The lunch selection is varied with inventive dishes combined with traditional favorites. For those who crave a corn beef sandwich or pastrami sandwich then this is the place to head to. Personally I ate the BBQ brisket sandwich which was tender and had a great sauce and was served on toasted Texas toast. The crab imperial reminds me of a 70's classic dish, shredded crab meat served with a melted cheese on top served in a seashell shaped dish. The portions are large and give you a great value for your money.
(4)
Carlos P.
Beer selection is very standard, nothing on tap and no quality ale's are offered. Honestly I wasn't extremely hungry so I went straight to ordering an entree. Decided to go with the fried chicken. Comes with a corn side and potatoes (both were fine) and the half a fried chicken. Actually the meal (along with the bread that is served) was pretty filling so I am glad I skipped appetizers and salad. At first bite I wasn't overly impressed with the fried chicken till I started dipping the chicken in both the gravy and honey which really made it good. Left fairly satisfied with the food, wish they would improve on the beer selection. Would return.
(4)
M M.
Service good. Not outstanding. Menu looks fantastic. Food:meh. Arrived cold to lukewarm, despite descriptions most was bland, nothing stellar for a foodie here. Parking bad, but we were told it is OK to park in the empty bank lot, despite towing signs, and had no problem with that. Decor is lovely. Drinks poured with a light hand. Not woth a return visit as far as we are concerned. There are too many other great options in the area. Chef and kitchen need to step it up!
(2)
John C.
I"m giving this place a 5, what an awesome looking room...lousy on the acoustics, but great food...had the pork chop tonight....to die for.....my friend had the Meat Loaf, also good. The mac and cheese could use a little tweaking (check out Flip Burger's mac and cheese). Pricing pretty reasonable....will update this on my next visit.
(5)
Leah S.
Loved the decor... you feel you have been transported to the Big Apple- NYC. Food was ok. It didnt rock my world and they have absolutely no beer selection and the beer was warm. Big no, no. My mate ordered the wedge salad. Applewood smoked bacon was awesome but he wasnt too thrilled about cutting up his own salad at the table. Seems like alot of work, why not just bring it chopped? I lucked out on this one I ordered the crab cakes which were definitely the better choice. For entrees I had the scallops and my mate had the skirt steak. Both were ok. Skirt steak was definitely the better choice and juicy. Desert was again "ok" we shared the berry filled crumb cake I think it was called. Overall I would give it a three. I think I would try one more time just to see. Would like to try the brunch.
(3)
Emily R.
This Sunday morning the restaurant was practically empty and yet the service was extremely slow. My husband found his omelet to be overlooked and the cheesy grits to lack a cheese flavor. Very disappointing. The meatloaf I ordered was so salty that I could' t eat it. The mash potatoes and gravy were good. We actually had to get up to locate the waiter to get the check. I doubt we will be back until we hear the kitchen has stepped up its game.
(2)
Patrice A.
I love and hate yelp because of the people. The people that praise are usually accurate, and people that enjoy food. The haters are just that, haters, usually way too high on their horses, complaining about water temperature or getting their food in 30 mins on a busy night. I'm not trying to write a novel, but my GF and I went to CH for the first time for Miami Spice. Simple parking, attentive polite staff. We ordered the spinach salad, corvina and bread pudding, and shrimp tempura, NY strip and another bread pudding. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious from the bread with honey pecan butter, to dessert. The drinks were very good, full pour decent price. I would recommend City Hall to anyone, and will definitely come again. Good staff, nice ambiance, excellent food.
(5)
Michelle N.
Absolutely a must try!!! We had a large group of 14 and everyone was raving about their dish. The food was rich and flavorful. Portions were perfect as well. You also must stay and have the bread pudding dessert! We will definitely be back, Thank you for a great experience!
(4)
Kiet H.
I have been here twice, and I love the food and service. I even saw a celebrity and her Miami Heat player boyfriend here once when I had dinner at 11p. The bread and the whipped maple pecan butter was to die for! I would come back again for this dish alone! I would recommend making a reservation if you come for dinner. The last time I came it was packed and we had to wait for about 20 minutes before we got seats at the bar. I had the Thai steak salad and it was amazing. The steak was juicy and cooked perfectly. It was large, with generous portions of steak.
(5)
Yanessa E.
Came here before a show at the arsht center on a Wednesday night for cocktails and light bites. We sat at the bar as we were told by the manager that this would be the quickest service (we were about an hour from showtime.) It was our bartenders first day at the bar but you would have never known. He recommended the city clerk cocktail when I mentioned I wanted a "fruity" drink, when it came it was just what I wanted, coconut rum, pineapple juice, peach schnapps and lime juice all perfectly mixed. To eat we chose the Gorgonzola pizza and the maple chorizo Mac n cheese. The pizza had pancetta, sweet onion cream, fig jam and crispy onions together with the Gorgonzola cheese. It was great! The pancetta was almost bacon like and the fig jam made the perfect compliment to the Gorgonzola cheese, I love crispy onions and the pizza had plenty. The Mac n cheese was delicious! Creamy, cheesy, semi sweet because of the maple but savory because of the cheese and chorizo. The restaurant has a great vibe to it, loved the brasserie style decor. I will definitely come back to try out their brunch.
A fantastic American bistro! I had heard a lot about this place and couldn't wait to try it, today I finally went for lunch and it was amazing!! The food was incredibly tasty, inventive and made with the freshest ingredients, the staff was beyond friendly and helpful and the drinks strong and delicious, what more could we ask for? For appetizer, we had the Gorgonzola pizza with dates and bacon topped with crunchy onions it was amazing! Huge portion, I was so full with this I was barely able to eat my entree. For lunch both me and my husband had the special express lunch menu. This is a great option available during lunch Monday through Friday. For under $12 you get soup or salad, an entree of your choice (some options to choose from are the BBQ brisket sandwich, bolognese pasta, truffled egg salad sandwich, mahi mahi wrap etc...) the menu also comes with a dessert (lemon pound cake or a giant chocolate chip cookie). They have some really good sides and we tried the chorizo Mac and cheese, it was out of this world!! The portion was big and the taste was amazing! The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful! Our server was Derek and he is awesome! The host was super friendly too and we truly enjoyed talking to him. Even the food runner was incredibly friendly and attentive. It is really refreshing to find a Miami eatery that has all the elements of great food and awesome service. We will definitely come back soon!!
(5)
Amorriece M.
Had a really nice experience here. This could actually be my #1 spot especially on Sundays. The hosts and waiters are marvelous. Their service is excellent and food is great!!!!
(5)
Karen M.
This is a really neat place with an art deco theme. It was so cool to see such a different looking decor! The fiance and I walked down from our hotel, so we didn't have to deal with the parking lot which looked like a bit of a pain in back. I ordered the atlantic salmon with jasmine rice and cashews. The salmon was cooked perfectly, and the flavors were fantastic. I thought the cashews overwhelmed the delicate salmon, so I mixed them with the rice, which I thought worked better together. The prices seemed a bit expensive, but I'm not familiar with the area, so am not sure if thats on par with the area. City Hall would get 4 stars, but the service was slooooow. Its so frustrating when you wait and see your waiter keep walking by while you try to flag them down. I don't live in the area, but if I did, I would definitely be back even with the slow service.
(3)
Aimee R.
Hands down one of the greatest dining experiences we have ever had. We celebrated my husbands birthday there this weekend and we were beyond amazed with everything. From the incredible food, the impeccable service and fantastic drinks, our party of 18 had one incredible evening!! I have to thank in particular Steve Haas who went above and beyond to make our evening so special. Never had I had the pleasure of meeting a restaurant owner who was so accommodating, friendly and down right a really nice guy! Our servers Jose and Frederick were phenomenal - and I apologize for not remembering the hosts name, who was also so charming. Thank you Steve, your staff and City Hall for one fabulous evening. We will definitely see each other again soon!
(5)
Brian R.
Our first visit was marred a bit by bad service. The wait staff is short handed when they are slammed and the upstairs seems to be a problem. We waited a while for a server. We didn't order much, an appetizer and a pair of sides. The order came back wrong twice and I would avoid the mussels because they cracked open a couple that should have been tossed and they were good for a little altar time with the porcelain god. Parking is valet in the back. Food looks good and it's s nice menu but avoid this place any time around showtime at the Arsht down the street unless they pony up for another waiter to take the pressure off the staff. I'm sure our server is fine when she could breathe and think but she made a muddle out of the order and there was a complete disconnect with the servers who drop food. Second visit: the restaurant was much less crowded, the waiter far better, and downstairs is much closer to the kitchen things seem to be moving much more smoothly. The bar is very good and tequilas and vodkas, and bourbon whiskey's which I happen to like, but they do have Cardhu which is an amazing Scottish whiskey you get most buyers seem to miss but is very popular in Europe. I'm improving their reading one star for the better outing.
(4)
Adam S.
Good, albeit heavy & rich, food here at reasonable prices with above average service here. The ribeye here is delicious as are the Parmesan fries it comes with. They have something similar to a Miami Spice menu year around here which is also nice for people who are watching their budget. The calamari is good, but not the best thing on the menu here. Try the bread pudding. This place is a favorite among the political crowd in town (both the hacks and politicians themselves), so if you have any political juice around here you will probably run into a couple of familiar faces if you come here for dinner.
(4)
Natalie I.
Friday was my first time here but the word that comes to mind is Big as in Big furniture Big Plates Lots of food. It was a party of four and we had a great time. Service was on point it was busy but not loud we were able to easily converses with each other. 2 people got the sea scallops I have to say the looked and smelled delicious. 1 got the skirt steak. I got fried chicken nothing was left over. I got the fried chicken i do not know why because I do not really like fried chicken because i have never had good fried chicken. However this was some seriously good fried chicken. It was moist and crunchy! Just yummy. However i hate chicken on the bone so that made it a but hard to eat. The desert was very yummy. Moose is my favorite deserts and it have a lovely textural element with the crunch. It was solid food and solid service give it a try.
It's a nice space, a little too loud for talking over Sunday brunch. My family enjoyed their meals, but my eggs benedict came out completely cold, and when I asked the waiter if he could heat the eggs and toast, he took it to the kitchen and it came back microwaved and totally inedible. Will probably not each brunch here ever again.
(2)
Lorena M.
I love this spot. I live across the street and every time I've gone, this place never disappoints! Some of my favorite items- Gorgonzola pizza, shrimp & grits, wedge salad, duck pizza. Everything has great flavor and the portions are hefty! I highly recommend this place. Especially the items I specified. Prices are slightly high, but totally worth it.
(5)
Melissa C.
Fabulous food and the service is outstanding!! Definitely recommend coming here. Great selection of food.
(5)
Matt C.
Prior to dinner I had a Makers Mark Manhattan (UP) and it was very tasty. For dinner I had the Seared Ahi Tuna (off the dinner menu) and it was REALLY GOOD. It's a good location, one side of the restaurant is lined with large windows, you can look out and watch the world go by. I had a couple bites of the shrimp & grits also very tasty. Good one.
(4)
Lily O.
Absolutely loved this place !! Miami spice's best menu!! Service was awesome. Everyone was super friendly. I loved that chocolate dessert.
(5)
Sally R.
Came here for brunch 2 weeks ago. The atmosphere is very nice and they had live music which it was very entertaining. however, the food was not good and pricey. To pay these prices I rather stay in Brickell area or Coconut Grove. So we had the salmon with jasmine rice. bok choy and miso glaze. I was not good at all, the rice did not tasted like real jasmine rice, bok choy was too soft, salmon was dry and the glaze was salty. It was a terrible meal for 25$ ceasar salad was average but overpriced for 10$ I did not see anything special in the rest of the plates my friends were eating. I heard the pancakes were good. In my opinion when you are paying for these prices at least the food should be delicious. It is not worth it the two stars are for service because our waiter gave us excellent customer service.
(2)
David C.
2nd time there. Really enjoyed it both times. I LOVE the fresh bread with the maple pecan butter. It's just amazing
(5)
Rebecca B.
The express lunch is a great deal, three mini courses. Food cooked just right. I'm a huge tuna fan and their nicoise is just right. Yellow fin tuna nicely seared. Nice happy hour and wine by the glass list.
We go to park in the parKing lot, and you have to download an app to pay to park. The app is not the sane one used in the rest of miami. Almost left because of that, but as we were leaving, found street parking. Service was lovely. Ourv server was really informed, pleasant, and experienced. Best part of the whole experience. Atmosphere was lovely. Food came very quickly. The food was insanely overpriced for the quality. I took a few bites, wasn't feeling it, finished my drink and left. Id compare the food quality to that of a decent chain restaurant, but with the price of trulucks. Im glad I checked it out, but if I returned, it would be for a couple of drinks if they have a happy hour.
(3)
Summer E.
I really like this place... It has a great location, really cool decorations, and has a really great family feel. The food is also really good and the owner walked around to make sure everybody was taken care of.
(4)
Alexandre H.
Gospel music and brunch, now that's an idea! A friend invited us for brunch at City Hall, I was not in the mood for brunch, but when he mentioned that they have a lady signing Gospel music he changed my mind, I had to see (hear) that. But let's start with the food: some in my group took the Miami Spice for a spin (wings as an appetizer, juicy hamburger with caramelized onions and fries, and a big cookie and vanilla ice cream for desert, all very good). We also had Braised Beef Short Ribs (with Polenta, Fried Eggs and Exotic Mushroom Sauce), Three egg omelet (with pastrami, scallions, mushrooms, Swiss cheese and French fries), and also Buttermilk Pancakes with Maple syrup. All very good, no complaints. The deco is nice, NY style decor. Guests of all types: young and trendy, older and happy, middle aged with family, kids, etc. And a very energetic and enthusiastic gospel singer, she really injected fun in the ambiance. Very nice. Recommended!
(4)
Carla L.
I was very surprised to see some of the not so perfect reviews from some of my favorite Yelpers. HOW could it be?? How could this NOT have been the most perfect food, most perfect experience for everyone?? I don't know. All I know is what my experience was and this story I shall tell. We have heard some pretty good things from people about City Hall - The Restaurant, so we decided the Miami Spice Menu would be a great excuse to try it. We came at an odd time, happy hour, not lunch, not dinner. We got the lunch spice menu but were told we could choose either. That was a total win since two of us ordered from the Lunch and one from the Dinner. By the way - Amir is awesome. Friendly, amazing service, big smile and ready to share his love of [my favorite city on earth] Paris, his hometown. PLUS he will make you any cocktail you want - no mixers. He hooked me up with an amazing red Cabernet Sauvingon after asking me if I liked my red wine light or heavier.. I said heavier and YUM. I started with a most yummy Eggplant appetizer. It was basically a small Eggplant Parmesan, but the flavor was full and rich. My hubby got a nice bowl of salad, it was abundant and the dressing yummy. Our daughter had the Crab Cake (sans bacon), the only thing was it was a tad tiny. She liked it, and she would have liked more. My hubby and I ordered Mahi Mahi and our daughter ordered the Shrimp and Grits. Her grits were delicious and although her music loving twin John Paul G (hey dude, sup?) didn't have the best experience hers were perfectly made. I know, because I "helped" her eat it. Now this next point is really, really, really, important. The Mahi Mahi? The best fish I have ever had. Ever. Please know this is no lie, no exaggeration. We both were so surprised, we just did NOT believe it. It came with a delicious spinach and Quinoa. When dessert came we kept on trying each others and the only words out of our mouths was "Wow, try hers", "Wow, try mine" and "Wow, try his" and then "Oh my GOD, WOW"! At this point I can genuinely and honestly say this is the best meal I have had in Miami. Did we get lucky and get them on a good day? I do not know, I guess I need to return to find out. Again, this is my experience.
(5)
Brittney W.
Am I the only one who wants to inject the pecan butter into her bloodstream?!? seriously, I find myself always ordering loaves of their bread to take home making sure that they throw in a few butter balls for a midnight snack. But besides the bread and butter, I've never had a meal at City Hall that I didn't enjoy. I love coming here late night after a Heat game or performance at the Arsht Center. And depending on the event going on around the area, there's always a prefixed menu option featuring some of the restaurant favorites.
(5)
Tania G.
i can sum up my visit in 3 words: i wasn't wowed. the bread is worth mentioning- the pecan butter was pretty damn good. other items...well... the meatloaf was good; not $18 worth, but good. and the gravy was terrible!!! the mac and cheese was not memorable- i'm not sure what other people find so great about it to be quite honest. maybe it was a bad batch, but it was pretty bland for my buds. the braised beef stuffed potato skins were not as good as i would have hoped. the flavor of the ribs was odd. the gorgonzola pizza was the probably the best thing we had. the figs gave it a nice, sweet touch. in summary, the things worth mentioning are the bread and the pizza - go figure! service was good yet like other yelpers have mentioned, it does get noisy.
(3)
Lia P.
I really wanna give this place 4 stars but it just missed the mark for me and my husband. So really it's closer to 3.5 stars. I've been here a couple times and still haven't been WOWed like I expect. Both times I've had good service, whether it was at the bar or from a waiter/waitress. Everyone has been really professional. I appreciated that when my husband asked for a malbec suggestion last time the waiter didn't choose the most expensive bottle. The food hasn't been great. The first time I went I had a salad and I was supposed to get it with an herb vinagrette but they brought a creamy dressing...when I asked them to correct this the guy looked at me confused and asked if I meant balsamic vinegar. No...not what I meant. So I was left with an awkwardly thick creamy dressing. Last time however I got a mixed baby greens salad and that was GOOD! Big portion for only $7 and super fresh. And low and behold, there was my herb vinagrette I wanted last time! I also got the Guinness braised mussels and omg, were those awesome. Amazing flavor between the Guinness, chorizo, and fresh mussels. Other standouts from the night were the blue cheese mashed potatoes that came with my husband's steak, and the bread pudding. Non-standouts include the cocktails and the portion size of the Miami Spice offerings. I want to love this place because the atmosphere's so nice and everyone on the staff seems awesome but it doesn't seem to be the best value.
(3)
Ed B.
I will start with saying the service is excellent... Very friendly hosts and hostess. Atmosphere was cool and great happy hour.. Half off martinis and glasses of wine.. Food was really good too.. Bread is great with a sweet butter. I had the Chicken Limon which was very tasty. My wife had the beefsteak tomatoes and mozzarella which she loved.. It was a really good experience and I would return..
(4)
Diogo M.
Perfect!! Try the sweet and spicy martini, it's omg! And the bread pudding! Coming back for sure!
(5)
Andrea C.
Sunday brunch comes with live musical entertainment! We had the duck and mushroom pizza which was tasty. The scallop plate was good but skimpy with only 3 scallops for $28.50. The shrimp and grits were good. Warm bread and apple butter is always served. Service was attentive. This is a great and convenient location for attending any of the downtown venues (AAA or Arsht.)
Pros: Happy hour, happy hour, happy hour. GREAT bartenders. Fabulous host. They deliver. The meatloaf with chorizo mac and cheese. Cons: Prices. Inconsistent to mediocre food. Inconsistent or just plain bad service. Go get a burger somewhere else and do not order the fries.
(3)
Brian G.
City Hall is a big restaurant with 2 floors and high ceilings, and very good food!! their menu is extensive, so you have a lot of choices. they also have a brunch, menu on Sunday and a very good blues singer preformed when we were there. the room can get noisy, but the restaurant is very friendly and the service is good. this place is a lot of fun!!! and the prices are not too bad. the starter dishes were or are almost of entree size. so enjoy.
(4)
Waylon R.
Amazing find! Had dinner before going to the Arscht Center and was in awe of how amazing it was. We sat at the bar because we were rushed for time and the bartender was extremely helpful with suggestions. House Cabernet is amazing, Coppola Directors Cut, I have never had such a good house wine before. We started with the Tuna Tartar and as a tuna fan, I was in heaven. Light and perfect with fresh crispy wontons. It was happy hour so we also indulged in the Truffle Parmesean Brussel Sprouts and the Honey Herb Wings.... Both amazing. I love both of these and can eat them anytime and they took them to the next level. The wings are soaked overnight in honey so they have an amazing sweetness to them. The brussel sprouts were cooked to perfection. The bartender recommended so great choices and we went with the Pork Chop, and I was amazed how great it was. BEST PORK CHOP IVE EVER HAD!! hands down.. Thick cut and cooked perfectly, juicy and the accompanying sauce was amazing! Sweet potato mash was the perfect pair for it. Will totally be back with friends
(5)
Alive S.
I will never ever ever get tired of City Hall from the friendly smile when you walk in to the most delicious bread pudding a girl can want. Top notch service & consistent food beats trendy typical Miami restaurants any day.
(5)
Morgan's M.
Come here for the best French Toast on the planet! I've been to City Hall several times and the Chicken & French Toast is always perfect. The pecan butter they serve with warm bread is the stuff dreams. The grits a great as we'll. I've only had one disappointing meal, Short Rib w/ palenta . Ribs were too fatty. But short ribs are always a gamble.
(5)
C.K. L.
I dine here often and have yet to find something I haven't loved. The menu is ever-revolving, the service is perfect--no one hovering over you, but all you have to do is look up and your Waiter is at your table. The Miami Spice menu is the best I've sampled anywhere. My particular favorite is the Sesame Coated Salmon, yet I wouldn't turn down any of the appetizers and/or main courses. Desserts? All are yummy, but their Banana Cream Pie is OMG! I've brought most everyone I know there for lunch and dinner, and they all go back again and again. If you're meeting the Laurences for dinner, expect it to be at City Hall the Restaurant...
(5)
Laura D.
I came here after someone I know well recommended it. As I walked in, I noticed that the ambiance and decor was nice. I felt like I was in NYC for some reason. I sat down and waited for my clients to arrive. We then ordered and it all went down hill. The waiter forgot the side dish that I had ordered and was no where to be found when we were done with our meal. Another waiter asked if we wanted anything else so we asked for espresso coffee to finish our meals and then the check. Then 10 or 15 minutes go by with no coffee and no check. Finally our original waiter comes out (he was missing for all this time) and we repeat our coffee order and desire for the check. Another 10 minutes go by and finally our coffee arrives. We quickly get up and go once we finish our coffee. I will likely not be returning here. The food everyone had was just OKaY and service was terrible. Sorry City Hall, I will likely not be returning.
(2)
Amanda F.
Heard the meatloaf was good... But yuck. The Mac and cheese that comes with it was even WORSE! Don't order it. Mom and dad loved the tuna tar tar and the shrimps and grits. Guess I wasn't the lucky one -.- good service tho!
(4)
Jennifer A.
I went with my husband and friends on Saturday night and we all ate from the Miami Spice menu. The restaurant was only about 40 to 50% full downstairs (never went upstairs). Despite the emptiness of the restaurant, our server was SLOW, and he seemed a little clueless about the menu and wine pairing advertised. The martini menu was creative, and offered several non-vodka options that were good. Watch out for the Special Master, it is actually quite spicy. We all ate from the Miami Spice menu, and I got to taste most of what was ordered. Overall, most of the food was very good, with the exception of (of course) my "pan seared mahi." It was supposed to be pan-seared, but what I got was a dry, tough piece of unappetizing fish that I couldn't finish. Hy hubby's "famous fried chicken" was outstanding: crispy, moist meat and not greasy. My baked eggplant appetizer was also delicious, as was the corn chowder and the chocolate-chip croissant bread pudding. The ho-hum marscapone carrot cake was nothing to write home about. The title sounded more appetizing than it actually was. While I would go back, I would definitely stay away from the fish (inedible) and carrot cake (not worth the calories).
(3)
Espicubi E.
Amazing! Crab cakes Benedict delicious.. But the best item on menu was the cornflakes crusted French toast and their delicious warm bread with maple almond butter! This place is amazing.
(5)
Fred G.
Great service! But the food was so disappointing. I had high expectations for the burger as it was mouth watering described. It was way too greasy and the bread was very very old.
(1)
Tiffany G.
Was so excited to try this place out 'cause of all the hype. Total Fail! The eggplant parm arrived cold, my shrimp and grits was plate with instant grits...Nothing special... I didn't even end up eating dessert. Even the sparkling water was hot. How'd they manage that!? In addition to the not so good food, waiters kept ramming into our table. Overall, not a place I would return to.
(1)
Ken D.
A big booth, a big martini, and a big meal at City Hall made for one big night with friends in more ways than one. Reading the reviews of my fellow Yelpers, I had hopes and trepidation about the evening, and, fortunately, left both pleasantly surprised and full. A few highlights: - The friendly, almost giddy host and hostess. All of us wearing 'mango'. - The aforementioned martini...big, extra dry, extra cold, shaken til it hurt. (I listened as it was being mixed to ensure that this was the case, and indeed it was.) - The unconventional French onion soup with cheese on the bottom and wonton was an interesting surprise, and assembled table side. While it won't replace the real thing in my heart, it was a different twist on a classic. - The Timpani, which almost killed me as I struggled to eat the entire thing. If you've seen the movie 'Big Night', you know what this is, and I've never seen it in a restaurant. What a treat! A few low lights: - The 'artisinal' bread was just a loaf of white bread. City Hall, you might want to rethink this as it doesn't read 'artisinal' at table. - The fried chicken was overly brined, and way too salty. - The large screen TV, which competes with the decor and smacks of sports bar. We just aren't target market for this feature. Are there many Nielsen families in the area? So, in summary, if you can order thoughtfully, I say try it. As they say, you can't fight City Hall, so why even try?
(4)
Olga Z.
The Insider said: The bartender (Meno) makes a guava mojito that's not on the southern comfort food stylr menu but is one of City Hall's best kept secrets. It's a must try. I've read a couple of negative reviews and can't relate. My friends and I met up for dinner here. We received professional and friendly service from the host to the server (Perla) to the bartender to the bussers. Between the drinks, the bread that comes with an addictive honey butter spread, the huge portions of delicious food, we were all more than happy. The food: We ordered... ok, so I forget what exactly my friends ordered (blame it squarely on that mojito) I ordered the house blend meatloaf with chorizo-maple, mac and cheese, green beans and natural gravy downside. The maple flavor on the meatloaf for me was magnificent. To our delight, our server surprised us with a complimentary warm chocolate chip bread pudding with bourbon anglaise, just because ;) I'm happy. That service, that drink, that honey butter, that meatloaf, that free boubon anglaise. I hope you have a fun and great experience as well.
(5)
Jackie S.
My recent trip to City Hall completely erased any lingering luke warm memories. This time the service was terrific (big shout out to our waiter Doug) and the food was outstanding!!!! Here's the lowdown: Group Appetizer: Short Rib potato skins -2 insanely flavorful giant potato skins!!! The combination of the meat, cheeses & tomato marmalade is ridiculously good! Entrees: My Skirt Steak - very juicy with goat cheese crumbles & a layer of couscous underneath...yummm!!! My bf's pork chop - Plump is the best adjective to describe this giant cut of meat. One of the better pork chops I've ever tasted. The sweet potatoes were sweet but not overwhelming, good combination w/ the chop. Garlic herb chicken - a damn good chicken dish but in this abundance of robust flavors I would not recommend, unless your trying to play it safe. And the hands down Oscar winner of the night...the fried chicken!!! Finger lickin good :p
(5)
Rashida C.
Okay so after going to City Hall and having several "MISS"'s, I decided it was time for my review. I must say the entertainment by Maryel Epps at Sunday brunch is phenomenal,Hence the 2 stars! She's very lively, interactive and has a special way of connecting with the crowd! Onto the service.... On Friday I called and made a reservation for 1:00 on Sunday. I arrived at 12:50 and wasn't seated until 1:40! I requested a complimentary mimosa for the guest on my party. 4 people. The MANAGER Sasha came to the table to address me. She NEVER apologized and curtly told me that EVERYONE in the restaurant had a reservation and waited even longer than I did because it was Sunday brunch. She said the answer to my was no and walked away. LOL! She was so rude that I had to laugh. Soooo, I should make a reservation 1 hour before the time I really want to have a reservation? GTFOH! Now, on to the food... Yet another MISS!! Don't have much to say about it because this was the 4th time it's been a miss in the past 6 visits. So, typical. My server.... NEVER took drink orders, spilled mayonnaise on my aunt and followed up with spilling water on her. WAY TO GO! I love the entertainment so it's not a place that I wouldn't patronize anymore, however, drinks at the bar is all I'm willing to do at this point.
(2)
Kae D.
Best Meal we had in Miami. Beautifully decorated restaurant- Art Deco - superior service - great menu - impressive wine list - all were surpassed by the remarkable meal. We defaulted to the Prix Fixe meal - and the six of us were highly impressed - exquisite! Presentation, quality - the Salmon was prepared perfectly - desserts to die for...
(5)
Doris L.
Looking for a spot to eat after a late afternoon event at the nearby AAA. I wish City Hall delivered the triple- A experience some of my Yelp friends apparently experienced. Alas, I had a C+ kind of night. A solid menu full of variety, from cerviche to turkey burgers, gave us lots of options. Our gang ordered muscles and scallops and that cerviche, plus the grilled chicken from the kids menu and some salads. The muscles were the best of the lot. The rest melded into a sea of proverbial mediocrity. My martini was a little light on mojo, too. Sorry City Hall, Your servers are sweet. Your ambience and location, sublime. Your food- regretably, forgettable.
(2)
Kaleena S.
Amazing. The only reason they get a star down is that its kind of on the pricey side which limits me from going as often as i would want. Went there for date night before the symphony concert we were going to see. We knew it was pricey going in but we decided to split a 3 course since our insider told us portions were pretty big. The waiter was awesome and provided a great wine recommendation and confirmed our large portion suspicion. They did have a concert prix fixe menu but we opted for the regular menu. After placing our order some fresh bread came out with honey nut butter. Honey butters have a place in my heart so I knew this night was going somewhere good. We started out with the duck flat bread. I love duck but my boyfriend was hesitant. After this he was a changed man. The red wine reduction that was drizzled over the top tied it all together. Then we split the Filet Mignon entree which came with fried Brussels sprouts and potatoes au gratin and again it was a pretty large portion. If you have never had fried Brussels sprouts in your life give them a try here. Since we did a whole bunch of splitting we actually had some room for dessert. We had the chocolate chip bread pudding that's served with a bourbon anglaise. Now ive said the portions are pretty large that means dessert too. Easily 2 desserts in one. We finished the dessert without feeling like either of us didn't have enough. When the check came it was like an ordinary night out for 2 at moderately priced placed. Overall very good experience. Long story short version: Large portions, good food, good service, but on the pricey side. Opt to split the dishes and you'll come out ok.
(4)
Adrianna B.
Thai Steak salad was so flavorful! I wanted the ribeye but decided on a healthy option this time. (not like me) I was really shocked how good it was. My overview of the room: chic, trendy, dark trim, a bit mafioso. That's just my opinion. Great Sunday afternoon spot for friends, couples, anybody.
(5)
Jay K.
Not a steakhouse. Tired, old place. Hostess preached her religion to us in a canned speech. Food was mediocre at best. Way overpriced. Traffic noise from outside.
(1)
Jose A.
Great happy hour, very friendly staff. Very good food!!!
(5)
Ming P.
I had dinner with my little sister. as per her review your crab cake came closed to Shula's. Service was OK. The decor is lovely. Food wise a 3 star.
(3)
Carlos J.
Went for brunch just after 11, started to get crowded just ayer we arrived so 11 or do is a good time to arrive. Good service and great food, best French Toast I've ever had! Will definitely come back.
(4)
Jim L.
Ask the guest relations where to have brunch and he recommend Cityhall. I ordered the smocked salmon omelet and a fruit plate my sister had the short rib w/ three eggs and it was awesome. The environment is pleasing and friendly.
(4)
Endless O.
I went to City Hall this past Saturday evening for a friend's birthday gathering. It was late. The decor in here is like a Gotham city type theme. It was really dark in there and I wasn't feeling the lighting because I was with a birthday group. I think the lighting is suited more so for couples. I also could barely read the menu without a cell phone light. All of the wait staff was male; we didn't quite understand why though lol Any who, the bread was DELICIOUS. I love hot bread that is prepared well. I ordered some wine for dinner and had lots of water with lemon AND limes. I am funny about new restaurants and trying new food on menus that I am not familiar with so I kept it simple. I special ordered a grilled chicken salad. The salad was delicious no complaints there. The gratuity was automatically added. Our waiter and bus-boys were great so I had no problem with the automatic tip. I probably would have tipped more if not for the gratuity already being in there.
(3)
Chris C.
Nothing corrupt about this court room! This waiter was so charming you'd think he was the one that got OJ Simpson off the hook (no it's not too soon for an OJ joke). Southern cooking at its best with an occasional hint of Miami flavor. It was a delicious episode of Law and Order where the only crime is the fact that it took me so long to try this place out. THE FOOD: "Your honor, this fried chicken assaulted my client...and he liked it!" This chicken, along with the mashed potatoes should be sentenced to several years on my plate! The chicken was so buttery, perfectly fried and delicious that I did not feel the least bit guilty eating it...no pun intended. "I, scallops covered in home made pico de gallo and black bean sauce with one delicious plantain drizzled with sugar plead guilty to holding this poor man's taste buds hostage for the duration of the meal." Enough said. To add to the great food, you must try "The Commissioner". This is a martini with a shaker that brings nearly 3 refills! One or two of these you'll know what its like for our commissioners to get the job done! Final Verdict: If this place catered Jury Duty...I'd gladly attend.
(5)
Mit P.
This is one of Miami's best restaurants. Great decor, excellent service, but most importantly - Some of the most delicious American food I have had in a long time! Totally puts Barton G to shame. What I like? 1) The appetizers. The gumbo is superb. The calamari and the tuna tartare also. And the shrimp ceviche. The salads are quite distinctive and special. Especially the iceberg and romaine lump crab salad, also the wedge. 2) Some very good mains and sides. I particularly like the meatloaf. I also like the country fried chicken. I'm looking forward to trying the other dishes. I have my eye on the salmon. 3) Great desserts. Banoffee pie is one of my favorites and these guys have the best rendition of this masterpiece. The bread pudding is also excellent. 4) Great service. Staff are really friendly. They are also there whenever you need anything. For Miami it is amazing. 5) Nice decor. The place is cool. 6) Lots of parking options. 7) The pecan honey butter is genius. What thy could do better: 1) A wider selection of breads at dinner.
(5)
Falen A.
I love this place. I been here at least 5 times for brunch. Best French toast ever! Very good braised beef, and eggs benedict. Ive also had the omelettes. I could eat anything off the menu to be honest. Bloody Mary was spicy just how I like it. I also came here for dinner once and got the meatloaf... OMG.. best meatloaf Ive ever had. The glaze they have on the side is to die for. I cant wait to go back to have it again. Love Love Love. Service is always a pleasure and tentative. I hope this place stays in miami forever!
(5)
Seth W.
Truth be told, my rating is between 3 & 4 stars. I've always had excellent service and good food at City Hall. Atmosphere can vary - I will NOT sit in the back room again. It's dark and out of the way of the rest of the guests, but without privacy or peace. Instead, diners in the back room are frequently subjected to blasts of bright light, noise and traffic from the kitchen. The only dish I ever had an issue with was a cobb salad, and that was a long time ago. It was soggy and small and heaped in the center of what appeared to be a wide-brimmed soup bowl. The Steak Salad is excellent, so are the burgers (both beef and turkey). I've enjoyed the meatloaf and gumbo, and I make a point to carefully review specials.
(3)
Annie W.
2 words --- Pecan Butter. Absolutely one of the best things I've ever put to my lips. I've been here a few times and everything was exceptional. I will say they are known for lunch and dinner so if you go for breakfast items during their brunch, get something unusual like the French toast. I was being a little boring with my choice of the omelet and it was fairly average. Go for the Gospel Brunch on Sunday for live music. It isn't preachy at all --- just good deep soul with a full band that isn't loud and a perfect jazzy ambiance. I recommend the items that gear more towards lunch. If you're going for the brunch get there early or make a reservation as seats fill up fast! Parking is very limited on the street however.
(5)
Sergio N.
Customer services fixed. Happy to visit again.
(5)
Jose S.
We celebrated my wife's 30 something birthday last night. The staff and the food were amazing. Reggie's reception was so hospitable. The birthday champagne was unexpected and appreciated. We started with the hummus that arrived with the house bread and pecan butter. Wow. Wow. Our main courses were the fried chicken for me and the meatloaf for my wife. Delectable, no other word would describe, maybe delicious but that doesn't cut it. We sweetened it up with the chocolate chip croissant bread pudding. Let me repeat that. CHOCOLATE CHIP.CROISSANT.BREAD.PUDDING. The ambiance made us feel like we stepped into the 1930's Art Deco setting where we'd find Bonnie and Clyde splitting a bottle in the table next to ours. City Hall is definitely our new spot!
(5)
Sheila T.
Food here is always tasty, but service is equally as spotty. We had to ask for a glass of ice 3 times. Restaurant is very busy at lunch so reservations are a must, especially with the $11.50 Miami spice lunch offerings. We never got bread, either. The regular menu is also available, with everything from sandwiches, salads, meat loaf, beef burgers and turkey burgers, pork chop, salmon,etc. Happy hour menu ( with reduced wine, beer and vodka prices ),has also changed with many more additions.There are chicken wings, hummus (3 different kinds) and pita plate, fried brussel sprouts with parmesan cheese, .taco, etc. all at reduced prices . TIP: if you are in a hurry, be sure to tell the waitstaff as service can be very slow.
(4)
Zarina R.
2/7/12 -- The moment I walked into the restaurant everyone from the Hostess to the waiters were extremely friendly. The restaurant was quite spacious and made me feel like I was eating at a restaurant in New York. All our dishes were well made and they served large portions. I had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. I ordered the house blend Meat Loaf with Chorizo-Maple Mac'n Cheese, Baby French Green Beans, Natural Gravy & Fried Onions. The meatloaf was succulent, moist, and flavorful. My friend ordered the grilled Skirt Steak with Israeli Couscous, Kalamata Olives, Crumbled Goat Cheese & Tomato-Coriander Vinaigrette. The steak was cooked to perfection and the meat was extremely tender. We ended the night with their "Warm Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding" with Bourbon Anglaise & Chocolate Ganache ( Wowzers was it amazing). Do not leave this restaurant without trying the Bread Pudding.
(3)
Apreski C.
The host Noel was extremely rude when we walked in as was the waiter who walked away in the middle of us ordering. The staff here is disrespectful and snarky as if doing their job is actually a favor. Horrible service overall and the food is mediocre. Not worth the trip.
(2)
Jee J.
Sorry
(5)
Tiffany J.
A friend of mine wanted to try something new for lunch. It was Christmas Eve and we were tired of holiday food. I ordered the meatloaf with Mac n cheese good lawd! that food was on point my friend order the fried chicken and it was so juicy and crispy. Now the drinks were the business, they bring you the shaker to the table and we were able to get 3 drinks out of the shaker without ordering more. City hall will see me again.
(4)
Paul W.
I came here with a group of 4 on a recent Wednesday afternoon for lunch. As other reviewers have mentioned, I'd heard a lot of hype about this restaurant and I'd read reviews that were pretty much all over the road. Personally, I felt it was nothing more than "A-OK", as 3 stars on Yelp denotes. Pros: -We arrived at about 1:15 p.m. and found plenty of open parking in their lot, and were seated almost immediately (a booth happened to open up just as we were walking in, so once it was cleaned, we were seated right away). -The service was very good. I noticed that all the staff that took care of us on this day were a bit older than I'm used to seeing (not a bad thing) but all were friendly, attentive and threw out a quick joke here and there. -I really enjoyed the decor with the dark woods, leather upholstery, copper ceilings and art deco lighting fixtures. -The presentation and the way they serve their french onion soup is a bit unique and creative IMO. -The warm crumble berry pie with vanilla ice cream that I had a taste of was VERY good, and the cappuccino I ordered was perfect on this wet, drizzly and overcast day. Cons: -I found the lunch menu to be limited. Oddly enough, when I checked out their lunch menu on their website it looked OK, but the menu we were given when we arrived was 1 page, on the front was the food menu which was laid out differently than what I'd seen online, and on the back was the drink and cocktail menu. -When our server offered dessert, he explained that they had no dessert menu to show us, but he could tell us what they had available. After we ordered, our server returned and explained that the selection 2 of us chose was not available. -This place is pricey for what it is. $15 for a lunch salad that left me so unfulfilled that I hit the snack machine immediately once I returned to work? Really?? -My entree salad wasn't very flavorful, nor was the meat that came with it. Another in our party said the amount of cheese on his confit duck pizza was so overwhelming that he had to remove much of it and left it on his plate. -Another tables' drink order was given to us by mistake. It only consisted of 2 drinks, but we took them since we thought these were the drinks that 2 of the people at our table had ordered...Our server arrived a few moments later with our tables' entire drink order. While it was nice for a few of us to get 2 so we didn't need to ask for refills later, this shows a bit of disorganization. I'm not sure if the other table ever got their beverages. -As others have mentioned, this place is loud/noisy inside. Every surface in this restaurant from the wood to the full height windows, the glass lighting fixtures and copper ceilings is all reflective. When we were here the place wasn't even that full, and we still had to speak loudly during our lunch conversation in order to be heard by everyone in our booth. My guess is that the volume becomes deafeningly loud during dinner times and on weekends. I also understand they invite bands to play here at certain times, which must be incredibly noisy. In the end, this lunch experience was just OK. Not bad, but nothing outstanding, either. If someone I was with suggested it, I'd return here. Otherwise, there are too many other options in this general vicinity and in the nearby design district to bother returning to City Hall.
(3)
Lauren S.
Sunday brunch is amazing! Great menu, food, staff is smiley and attentive & best of all is the gospel singing. Joyful & delicious!
(5)
Stephanie L.
A bit slow I suppose, I've been wanting to try City Hall since it opened, and even moreso after hearing some great things about it. Finally made it the other night and managed to find parking in one of their back lots. Inside the restaurant is gorgeous! Like someone said, kind of reminds me of a Disney/Universal version of Gotham City. Tin ceiling, sumptuous leather booths, it is elegant yet not stuffy, the whole thing is very New York and completely fabulous. As soon as we sat down they brought over a cutting board with a huge piping hot roll, crusty on the outside and soft, hot yeasty goodness inside. It came with a sweet maple pecan butter too that was delicious. The two of us weren't exactly starving so we opted to share a salad and the meatloaf. The staff was wonderful and even brought us our own half portions of each. The salad we went with was the buratta, which was a bit less solid than I would have liked. The cheese was disappointingly so gloppy that it was hard to eat with a fork. The tomato though was grilled and fantastically juicy. My overall impression of the salad though was that with the bacon and argula, it was a bit too salty. Kinda sad since I feel it's pretty hard to mess up a caprese salad. For the next course, the meatloaf was like an upscale version of a classic. The meatloaf was very well-cooked and perfectly tender. With the onions and gravy it seemed like a nice throwback to 50s-style home-cooking. My dining partner thought it was a bit too sweet, possibly from ketchup inside, although I thought it was fine. Not WOW-worthy, but decent. However, the side of mac and cheese with maple and chorizo was another huge miss for me! Not only was there no cheese in sight, just some dry macaroni, but it too seemed like someone had been far too liberal with the salt shaker. The chorizo was a nice thought but it was really the only flavor other than the plain pasta that I tasted. None of the dessert options really sounded so enticing that we could resist, but if you want a basic slice of chocolate cake or pie it might be just what you're looking for. Really I have to say again how wonderful and friendly all the staff was, from hostess to waiters, they were wonderful. Also, we were there on a Monday night and while it wasn't completely full, it was still pretty crowded and noise was never a problem for us. Overall I loved the atmosphere and service enough to give it another chance, but I probably won't be going with the same selections...
(3)
Robbie M.
Steve Haas has done it again! great atmosphere, staff, and food! Its a great spot to have a meal or just grab a drink and talk with friendly locals or the super friendly bar staff. I often get together with friends and go on Sunday for their Gospel Brunch; you can't help but leave in a great mood after the good food, awesome bloody mary's, and fun soulful singing!
(5)
Elmer j L.
My first time at the Restaurant and brought my family and friends visiting from France and we loved it. The food was great and the staff very friendly. We order the Shrimp with grits, Flank steak with the couscous and the Mahi with veggies. All entrees were very tasty and presented. And for the sweet tooth the Banana cream pie and the pudding. No complaints.
(5)
Paul M.
After going to City Hall, the first thing that came to mind was "WEEDS". It wasn't because I felt like I was high in a California suburb though - it was because these dudes were in the WEEDS big time. For those who have worked hospitality you know exactly what I am talking about - place is slammed beyond belief and you are watching the disaster happen helpless in slow motion. Kitchen teetering out of control trying to keep up with the mass of orders piling in yet more and more guests keep arriving. Servers scrambling everywhere like chickens without heads trying to keep up. The unfortunate collateral damage is water not filled for 2 hours, having to ask for bread 3 times, and dinners that last for 3 EFFING hours. Pissed off diners everywhere. Gordon Ramsey needed to come in and open a can of whoop ass on these donkeys!!!! When we arrived at 6PM the place was busy, but not too full. We were one of the first tables seated upstairs so I really can't understand how our server and the kitchen got so overwhelmed. It's really too bad as we were really looking forward to trying this place based on the recommendations of my trusted yelpers. The venue was extremely nice, the food was good. Service - HORRENDOUS! Here we go: Pros: Good food - Skirt steak was enjoyed by our friend. Nice Venue Strong Drinks Good Miami Spice Menu - All 3 appetizers were great. Pork chop was GIGANTIC. Place was packed beyond belief. Cons: 3+ HOUR FREAKING DINNER - are you kidding me? I could have driven to the ocean, dove in and caught scallops, driven home and grilled them, and baked a cake in that time. Speaking of Scallops, where's the beef? We had 4 of the most microscopic scallops I have ever seen. Very surprising considering Tom was served gigantic scallops in his review. More like an appetizer. Table upstairs was FREEZING under the vent - I had icicles on my nipples by the end of dinner. Had to ask for bread 3 times. Asked for water and was never refilled. Dessert took 45 minutes to come out. There was no souffle order so maybe they had to drive across town to pick it up. SO LOUD - we had to yell to converse with the other side of the table. To his credit, the manager Robert did apologize when we mentioned the exorbitant time our dinner took. He said the kitchen was in fact overloaded. He offered to buy us drinks but by that point we wanted to just get out of there and defrost. We'll see if we come back again and take him up on his offer. Get it together City Hall! Service like that closes places in 6 months...
(2)
Steven M.
Absolutely fantastic. I always try a place a few times before writing a review and I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal here. The menu is creative, the service is good, the price is decent, and I always leave happy and full. A southern comfort style menu with a modern twist. I highly recommend the duck flatbread and French toast. Enjoy!
(5)
Monica C.
Because the food was so delish, I went back to City Hall for Dinner. What a difference!! We were seated right away, my waiter was attentive but not too pushy. He made great suggestions, made sure our glasses were full and our table was clean. I had the skirt steak for dinner with the jasmine rice. Perfection!! I also found out that they have a private room for parties. I was allowed to look at the room. It is private and spacious. Definitely recommend it for an event (I was trying to come up with an event to have a party myself.)
(5)
Whitney K.
Dear waitstaff: didn't your guidance counselor ever explain to you that no means no?No, I would not like another drink. No, seriously, I really don't want another drink. No, I am not going to choose your recommendations over my own selection. No, I would not like dessert. No, I don't care that it's included in the Miami Spice menu. No, I'm not going to change my mind. If we were on a date, I'm pretty sure you'd be trying to date rape me right about now. While I appreciate the enthusiasm, I don't appreciate your lack of confidence in my ability to make decisions about what I want for dinner. I also think it's a little problematic that I remember your service better than I remember my meal.
(2)
S I.
Was there twice, both times enjoyed good food and friendly service. A great place for a quick lunch. The menu items are great, but the lunch buffet is also a treat. Make sure you try the Chicken Kurma. Their beef items are also quite good, considering not all Indian places serve beef.
(4)
Lourdes D.
You guys, the gospel brunch here is worth praising. See what I did thar? You gotta get the Corn Flakes encrusted French toast and the mushroom and spinach en croute. A mimosa or two doesn't hurt either. Be sure to make reservations between 12:30 - 1:00 p.m. for the gospel tunes. And get ready to sing, too. Side parking available and good times to be had by all.
(5)
Mylo G.
Yeah soooo... Really. Lots of marketing behind this place. Tried the Miami Spice menu for an intro deal & didn't pass. This is definitely not a "come backer". Hype doesn't match the service and food. So'wy
(2)
Cam C.
I've been to this place only once for brunch. I was happily surprised. Even though we didn't have a reservation, the staff was very accommodating. Every single employee was friendly, all smiles, acknowledgeable. Wow! They truly made us feel like home. The food was great. We had salmon and a salad. The mimosas were good as well. The big surprise was the gospel singer walking all around the restaurant, going up and down the stairs entertaining everybody. What a nice lady!!! Everybody was singing and clapping along with her. The place was packed. I can't say enough good things about this place. I will definitely go back.
(5)
Samantha L.
I originally planned to go to this place for the Miami Spice menu and read tons of good reviews, so I decided why not go for a special occassion and decided this would be the spot to hit up for our anniversary celebration. First off, why make reservations if when you get there you have to wait over 30 minutes. Next, I understand that at any venue you want to maximize space but placing a table right next to the doors where the servers come out of is less than pleasing, so as soon as the hostess decided that she would sit us their I kindly declined. She later sat us next to these other two seater tables which I guess yea I am being a bit picky but I'm really not into being all up in peoples space, and mind you there were these two super annoying chics sitting next to us that made the dining experience less than enjoyable. We looked over the Miami Spice menu and realized that what we wanted to try wasn't on it so we quickly switched menus and ordered, now here comes the kicker since I went to this place over a year ago, this place fell so short of my expectations that at this very moment I can't even hardly recall what I ordered. It must have not been that great I do remember that as an appetizer I ordered the french onion soup that tasted like garbage, the cheese and bread were most of what the bowl was consumed with and for me, being the french onion soup lover, there needs to be the perfect broth to cheese to bread ratio. I did try the bread pudding but was definetly not blown away, good but not amazing.
(2)
Patrick F.
Nice place on Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Great comfort food with an upscale twist. Shrimp bisque is great too!
(4)
Juan S.
If you enjoy shouting at the dinner table to someone right in front of you on a Saturday night, this is the place for you. EXTREMELY loud restaurant. Had reservations and was seated about a half hour after the reservation time, with no apology or explanation. Not a good way to start out the night. The food was decent. Not bad, but not great either. Nothing really memorable here. though...maybe I tried the wrong thing?. The service was ok, again nothing special. Doubtful I'd be back.
(2)
Maxine V.
I came here for lunch. I got a turkey burger which was decent. If I ever come back I'll probably try the turkey wrap. We had a large table and the server was ok. No one cleared the table of empty glasses, which annoyed me. It also seemed that the server was only capable of bringing one item at a time. Nothing on the menu seemed to be too impressive. Overall I would only come back for a meeting that someone else set up here.
(3)
Johnny T.
I don't mean to drop a bomb but... no. I came here dressed up after a fancy schmancy party downtown and I was ready to do some serious eating. I'd heard great things about the menu and vibe and I was looking forward to the experience. Things started well enough. Well, sorta. My party was first seated in a pretty undesirable section of real estate but a quick conversation with the hostess later, all was well and butts were in booth. Bueno. Then came the non-bueno. We got there around 10 pm on a Saturday night. Granted, later than the usual dinner crowd but early enough given the restaurant is open until 1. Our came the bread and pecan butter (as good as advertised). Our waiter, while seeming affable, was clearly not in the mood to serve us. Several times (several) while asking questions, he was staring off at other tables or had to ask us to repeat ourselves. Kudos to him for being attentive to *some*one, but when that someone isn't the person in front of you and you're a waiter... problem. Questions asked, we prepared to order. Turns out "there was a big rush on the kitchen earlier in the night" and they were out of a lot of items. Calamari? Gone. Tostones for the scallops? Nowhere to be found. Pork chop? "Let me check on the greens." Why was this restaurant open if there was no food to be served? Annoyed, I settled on a cocktail, resolved to use the men's room and come back to try again. This is where the story takes a dark turn. I am pretty fastidious when it comes to hand washing. Anyone who knows me knows this. So, imagine my horror when I am in the men's room with someone who passes by me as I was *standing* in the men's room (not to be graphic; I'm am trying to convey a sense of location) and walks right out of the door. Mouth ajar and pearls broken from clutching, I washed my hands and returned to my table and recounted my tale of terror... and then I saw him. No. It couldn't be. Surely, he was a guest. It couldn't be that the man I saw leave the bathroom (remember, he had to pass me... as I stood... don't make me completely spell it out) without washing his hands was an employee. He wasn't wearing the same clothes as our waiter (who, by the way, had not yet returned with my cocktail) but, he wasn't wearing street clothes either. Nancy Drew-training in hand, I pretended to take a cell phone call by the bar/kitchen. A few head-tossed cackles and stunned looks as I 'received' shocking news which required me to pace back and forth, darting furtive looks to the kitchen... and I saw him. He had some defining characteristics that were immediately obvious. It was him. I went right back to the table and told me friends of the situation. We had to leave. I don't doubt nasty stuff happens in kitchens all of the time. I don't want to see it. I don't want to know it. There was no way I could have enjoyed my meal knowing what I knew and seeing what I saw. To her credit, the hostess was mortified. She got the manager, asked for a description, knew who it was from the first details, apologized, and promised to resolve it. Nice to know but... I had to leave. Funnily enough, as we packed up, my cocktail came. Par for the course. Sorry City Hall, but you need to clean up your act.
(1)
Amy Jo A.
Two stars for the food. Big group for a business dinner. Restaurant was empty, service was rushed, loud and pushy. There are too many great places to eat to go back here. This was a miss for sure.
(2)
Shanley W.
I had an exceptional experience at City Hall, I was staying at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Miami on Biscayne blvd. The food at the hotel was horribly subpar and I was stuck here at a conference for 4 days. I ate at City Hall 3 out of the 4 days and I wasn't disappointed once! I believe the host goes by Lincoln and he was absolutely gracious. He gave me recommendations for fun things to do in the area and really took care of me. The food was great I highly recommend the mussels, salmon, duck pizza and meatloaf. Mitch was my bartender on the last night and I feel bad I don't remember the young lady who served me but she was great as well. On my third and last visit I felt like a regular. Please give this restaurant a try if your staying anywhere in the area. Our concierges at the hotel kept steering me towards the Doubletree, I went to the Doubletree but I definitely felt more comfortable and taken care of by City Hall and their crew. If I'm ever back in the Miami area I will be sure to stop by and you should as well!
(5)
Melissa D.
Caveat: I really think this place deserves 3 1/2 stars because I was between a 3 and a 4. The staff here deserve 5 stars. I also tried this place during Miami Spice month. The menu at City Hall is both diverse and traditional. They offer slight twists on classic dishes - like blue cheese mashed potatoes (great idea!). It really is upscale diner food with an ethnic pinch. I usually wince when I see too many cultures present on a menu... I mean how can they get them ALL right?! And the answer is, unless they've got a small United Nations in their kitchen, they can't and don't. But City Hall offers satisfaction with hearty meals that make it ok to want to finish everything on your plate - or take it home as leftovers. However, I would lean toward their American home-style selections over Asian inspired ones. I had the seared salmon, which was cooked perfectly (I asked for medium rare and actually got medium rare), but the jasmine rice was totally overcooked and as a result, a little mushy; moreover, the flavor was pretty bland and kind of felt like it came out of a box (I'm sure it didn't). My friend had the pork chop and the filet mignon which were much more successful dishes. Definite highlight for me was the nectarine and plum cheesecake. I fancy myself a cheesecake aficionado and this slice was as light and creamy as it was tangy and sweet... with homemade whipped cream... a must for me. I also tried their famous chocolate chip croissant bread pudding... a desert I described to my friend as a warm hug. Don't go here if you're on a diet or not in the mood for rich food. This place requires a little gluttony. And the service was excellent. Really friendly staff adds to that upscale diner feel.
(3)
Michael G.
Great lunch if not on the heavy side. Service was great. Not really my scranton but cant find fault with anything.
(4)
Nicole F.
I just had the worst experience going to City Hall. We were five; can you believe we picked this restaurant out of many to go for a group lunch? The place is nice, it started well. We were seated, the waiter came to our table, provided the menus. The food ordering was bit awkward but nothing out of the ordinary. The waiting period was lengthy even though we ordered from the 30 minutes or less lunch menu. When the food arrived, he didn't know who ordered what. Meanwhile, the appetizer did not arrive, when we enquired, the waiter said he forgot to place the order and apologized. He asked if we still wanted it, he can place the order, (really!!?). Then the bread arrived -after the food. The food was okay; the water was not replenished unless we asked. The kicker... we finished and were patiently waiting for the dessert (which we pre-ordered) since it was part of the lunch menu. The waiter brings the dessert menu, to our surprise. He seemed surprised and lost and we kindly reminded him that he had already taken our dessert orders. Furthermore, he asked us if we didn't receive our desserts (what!!!?). Well ... it really went downhill from there. He (Luis) comes with another waiter with the desserts, not knowing who ordered what again. The other waiter had his finder holding the cookies onto the plate, omg !!! Our manager was upset and went to speak with the restaurant manager (Sasha) who evasively just apologized. Luis tried to redeem himself by offering a bread pudding, which, I though was excessive considering we had already eaten dessert. It could have been a nice gesture, if Luis didn't slam the desserts plates unto the table. By that time I was completely horrified and discouraged. Wow!!! That performance was worthy of a Grammy, he must have been under the influence or maybe they pulled him out of washing the dishes due to lack of staff. Maybe we were on candid camera!!? Finally, when we're trying to come to grip with this awful reality, they decided to offer everyone at the table a 10% discount in the event one would decide to come back. "Adios amigos" you will never see me/us again; there are too many restaurants in this city to torture myself by coming back to this joke of a restaurant.
(1)
Rags M.
Disappointed. I thought I'd give it a try on Miami Spice for possibly adding it to the all too short list of places to go before or after events at the Arscht or the Triple A. Forget it. Our food arrived promptly but only luke warm at best. Service seems intent on high turnover, at the sacrifice of the kitchen. Even the mussels must sit on a warming tray somewhere, waiting for the waiters to scoop them up rather than being cooked to order. Nothing (eggplant app, mahi main and a rib eye main plus the mussels) was anything to boast about. I've scratched this one from that still too short list.
(2)
Tracy C.
Recommended by the hotel concierge as a nice place, close enough for us to walk. I'm so glad he did! Place was local dinner chic - with dark paneling, black and white floors, big wood bar - very nice but not overly fancy. Party of 6 we were immediately seated, and had a waiter taking care of us at all times. Food was excellent and fresh, the drinks were very tasty (a bit expensive), and they even gave us several free desserts as hotel "sends" All in all a VERY good meal, nice service and fun atmosphere. Recommend for anyone who is looking for a way above average night out.
(4)
David C.
What a pleasant surprise. It reminds me of some of the more sophisticated, metro places to eat in Chicago and NYC. Miami needs to support this place and give it some love. To start, they have the best bar I have been to in a while and the bartender made me a fantastic martini. Starters: Flat bread - awesome and must be shared Oysters - with bleu cheese - super tasty Mussels - in a great sauce and a nice portion size Chicken wings - great, but there is other stuff a bit better Entrees: Steak - fillet was perfectly made Meatloaf - huge and super tasty BONUS TIME: You must try the banana cream pie. It was the best I have ever had. The chocolate tart was also solid. Chef Tom was super pleasant and humble. This place is great and the location is conveniently off South Beach. TIP: Valet your car, it is cheap
(4)
Sergio E.
Great food fantastic atmosphere! Sunday Brunch is an great event... life music ... Just be ready for a noisy fun experience!
(4)
Dana R.
Perfect dinner spot in every way. Let's start off with the bread. Warm, soft, impossible to practice portion control. Not to mention the butter is unlike anywhere else...it is sweet and I would be perfectly content eating it on its own (don't judge!). As I skim the menu I struggle with what to order simply because I've thoroughly enjoyed everything I've sampled at City Hall. Last night I got the tuna tartare which is perfectly prepared with avocado, seaweed salad, papaya, and a truffle soy vinaigrette. I also ordered the duck and wild mushroom pizza- wow. It was so good and so filling that we made our neighbors eat our remaining slices and I can confidently say that they were equally impressed. Next time I go back will be for City Hall's Gospel Sunday brunch. Can't wait to dive into some crab cake benedict!
(5)
Sandra F.
This review is for the Sunday Gospel brunch. What a fun time! I tried to grand marnier french toast and the mushrooms and eggs encroute. I thought everything was very good including the mimosas. Make sure to confirm advertised prices as they charged us more for mimosas than on the flyer but when we brought it to their attention they adjusted the price. The singer was fun and even got the crowd involved. I'll be back!
(3)
Maria O.
We live very close to City Hall so we go there very often. It is a great place both to have a drink and eat appetizers or to have a full meal. The bar tenders are very nice, service is great and food is really exquisite. Try the tuna tartar, the gorgonzola and guava pizza and definitely the bread pudding for dessert!
(4)
Sloan s.
Very disappointed! Menu changed. I ordered take out asked for seafood gumbo which was 8.95 and got some crap at $28.50. They forgot my Mac and cheese and Bread Pudding. The best thing was the Pancheta and Gorgonzola pizza was the best thing going. So overprice, ripoff with missing food and bland. Sad very sad!
(2)
Josi D.
First, I'll say my review is slightly biased. Being in the industry, we probably knew 3/4 of the staff that night including the manager and owner, and probably had better service than your average guest, in that kind of "guy talk, treat me like a trophy wife who clearly doesn't care to have an actual dinner conversation, just listen in on the guys" kind of way. That being said.... The rootbeer cocktail was a weird experience. It's on the menu, I ordered it. The waiter told me I would not like it, to choose something else. I insisted I like rootbeer, so he brought it to me. Then they told me again I probably did not like it, that it tasted like cough syrup, that they were soon replacing it, and should I prefer something else - let them know. A couple months later it's still on their menu, and I did like it. I don't remember everything we ate, but the potato skins were only slightly more impressive than TGIFriday's, unfortunately. The brussel sprouts were absolutely amazing, melting in your mouth. The meatloaf, yes, good - but I just can't justify paying so much for food like this. Being American, this is comfort food - and meatloaf is not exactly what you eat on a splurge night out. It's just strange. I absolutely have to say, with much regret, that my gravy was disgusting. It tasted like corn starch. Mac & Cheese was good, but again, it's mac & cheese. I feel like every menu in 2010 had mac and cheese. And I definitely ate my fair share of .59 kraft boxed dinners as a kid - I just can't justify gourmet mac and cheese. I wish I would have tried the fried chicken. My husband had a steak, which was delicious - I was jealous and bitter that I had fallen for the homey American fare via ex China Grill staff. Should have known better I guess. The bread pudding was absolutely insane. Gooey and chocolatey and worth every spoonful. I would go back for it. Maybe it's because I'm not from NY, I don't understand the decor, it just feels cold and clashes oddly with the trying to be warm and cozy menu. The service, had we not known the staff, would have most likely been bad, judging by other tables. One of the girl servers had her shirt unbuttoned (no, not even gracing us with cleavage unfortunately) with a white wife beater tank top and gold pimpish chain and messy stringy hair hanging all around, bounced around the restaurant flirting with the staff, then left through the front door with her purse, extra set of clothes, and work shoes in her hand, completely unappetizing and unattractive. Our server was excellent, but in a forced "the owner is watching me with this table" type way. I hear the gospel brunch on Sunday's is worth checking out - maybe I will go, and update. I love these guys and wish I could have been blown away.
(3)
Oregna J.
The atmosphere is great. However, the iceberg salad and mussels with cream sauce was absolutely horrible. The waiter Noel was very cold towards us. He's extremely argumentive with customers. Simply removing an item from the check does not suffice. It's not able the money, but the experience.My visit was during lunch, perhaps dinner made be better. I'll never eat at this place again.
(1)
Eric J.
Um...ok...so there are good parts and bad parts to our experience at City Hall and its abotu 50/50 between them so I'm just going to lay this out chronologically. I made the reservation a couple of days ago and was profoundly impressed with the level of professionalism shown by the gentleman (name eludes me) who not only took my reservation but called the day -of to confirm. We got there and were promptly seated and were optimistic that things were very much headed in the right direction. The interior design was right on and the urban feel palpable. The menu looked great but from the start it was clear...Houston, we have a problem.... The waiter was a nice enough guy I'm sure but clearly, management had not armed this guy with enough tools to get him through a drive through at Krystal Burger.... ME : So do you happen to know what single malt scotches you have... WAITER GUY: No. [ Incredibly long, uncomfortable...waiting for a punch line...no really here's the list...pause] ME: Guess, I'll get up and go see for myself (as I wandered down stairs to see there mediocre if pasable list of scotches... Ok so downhill from here... We ordered about a half a dozen apps and one entree and after the waiter asked me if "I'll have a double" meant "double ice", he took the order and left. 20 (or more likely 30) minutes later he came over to "confirm the order", Apparently that was code for "I didn't put in your order ...oops..." Anyhoos...we got a new waiter..manager was nice but a little lost and perhaps undertrained as well...replacement watiress was cool...now the food The food saved it... We ordered Cevice, Shortrib stuffed potato skins (what could be wrong with that), salad (sorry I don't remember but it was great), Blue cheese oyster, Mussels, Truffle pizza and the fried chicken. I won't go into each dish other than to say they were all order agains....except the fried chicken which is only order again if there is no KFC near where you live. For dessert we had the bread pudding (awesome and worth the trip on its own) and the something, something, something trapped in chocolate (which I'm craving as I write this".... On balance, the place was good...maybe even very good but its hard to tell because the service absolutely was awful... I should clarify that neither the guy that didn't know if I meant double rocks or anyone else that worked there should be blamed for the pisspoor service. The problem there was clearly systemic and whoever is responsible for training staff...well, there's always night school
(3)
Michele P.
I came to City Hall just to get something to eat. Little did I know that I would be in for such a treat. Simply put the food and venue are worth every dime you spend. The server staff is friendly and on their game. Then the center attraction is the food. just take a look at the pictures. What more needs to be said.
(4)
Br. Jason F.
I've had the pleasure of dining here at least five times in the last six months. I am reminded of NYC as I sit in one of City Halls large booths. Everything on the menu is first rate. I'm fond of their meatloaf. Their appetizers are plentiful and easily shared. Deserts are huge and can be shared between two. The service is of the highest quality I have never sat for more than two minutes with a half-glass of water. Adult beverages are made perfectly even for the most finicky of diners. You won't be disappointed if you choose to eat at City Hall.
(5)
Anthony C.
Oh, how it pains me to give this place only three stars! FINALLY, I get the opportunity to make my way over to City Hall, a new addition to the ever growing gastro scene of Miami. Upon arrival I am digging the "Roaring 20's" decor with the tall ceiling, mural, and second story overlooking the first floor. This vibe combined with the classy but trendy feeling makes the place totally authentic. BUT, if only I could judge City Hall on decor alone..... OK, I get it. Elaborated American classics such as your meatloaf, fried chicken, pork chops, etc. Fine. I was looking forward to see how it would all turn out. So, now that you have an idea of the expectation, I decided to order the pork chop. Foolish me. A pork chop? Granted the pork was of good quality, but like I said, it was just that: a pork chop. That's the thing. I just couldn't muster up the feeling of excitement in reading over the menu items. I mean, c'mon, would you get excited too over some elaborated meat loaf, pork chops, and fried chicken? These items are meant to be "comfort" foods made in the comfort of your own home, not in some trendy establishment that kind of zaps the magic out of them. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm glad I went to uncover what this place is all about, and it sure is a worthy restaurant, but I wasn't crazy about it. Sorry, Steve Haas!
(3)
Alexis Y.
City Hall reminds me of a restaurant from the set of a movie where two rich mobsters are making a deal. Overall I enjoyed my visit to City Hall. The restaurant has two floors. The top floor might be for private events but it was closed on Friday night so we sat on the first floor. I was very impressed with the service that evening. We were offered sparkling water (yay) and fresh baked bread with pecan butter that is made on location. I ordered the unconventional french onion soup which has two cheese filled wantons instead of bread and the onion and beef broth soup is poured table side. It was a very large portion and I was not able to finish it. I also ordered the meatloaf but I was not feeling well and I asked our server to cancel it. There seemed to be some concern about my well being so the server brought me herbal tea. I thought that was nice. Dessert came to the table and although I wasn't feeling up to it I could not pass up a taste of the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding.
(4)
Adriana W.
I went back for a party with my coworkers and RAUL the bartender was simply the BEST! He can make a mean Sour Apple cocktail and his Cosmos are pretty awesome! I bought like 16 ounces of the butter pecan spread for my pregnant sister, who's been dying for this since last year. The service here is amazing! I am definitely going back here only for RAUL though, he was great!
(4)
Anya W.
Looks good from the out side, looks hopeful when you get in and then goes down hill from then on until the relief of walking out the door. Unfortunately, I went back because it was convenient and thought it may have been just a bad night. Na. No love in the cooking, no imagination in the menu and unimpressive service. Ambience is quite nice, OK for a drink maybe but this place is lacking someone to oversee what is driving it to being such a disappointment. Don't mind spending money on a good experience but not on crap food like that.
(1)
Alejandra S.
Best margaritas ever and the food is always delicious. Ask for the shrimp and grits if they have them.
(5)
Colleen R.
Sorry, what did you say? I'm sorry, I can't hear you. You went WHERE for WHAT? Oh my goodness, I was at City Hall for a business lunch with two others and I could not hear a THING!! I mean the restaurant is beautiful! Very cool 20s decor like Anthony mentioned, but MAN - there is nothing to soak up any of the noise in this place! Its like you are in a freakin' garage. Everything echoes and you hear EVERYONE'S conversations. I had to lean in constantly just to hear what my two fellow lunchers were saying and they were two feet away! Seriously, they need something to soak up the noise, I mean just a few tablecloths would help. I get a headache just THINKING about going back here. Ok, now that I got that off my chest, a few notes on the service and food - both were pretty stellar. The service was a BIT OCD, we were asked four times how our meals were, they refilled our glasses before they were half empty, and we were approached twice by the manager to make sure everything was to our satisfaction. I won't look a gift horse in the mouth, I'd rather have more attention than not enough, but all of us commented on the repeated visits to our table. For food, I was actually pretty happy here. The only reason I am rating it 3 stars is because I couldn't hear a THING... LOL... seriously the acoustics are horrible. I had a lump meat crab salad with eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and a spicy ranch dressing. Pretty tasty! My fellow lunchers had a turkey burger wrap (pretty unique but he said it was excellent) and a steak salad (she cleaned her plate!). Prices are a bit on the steep side, our bill was about $50 for the three of us and we did not have coffee or alcohol. I do have to note it is a pretty hip spot, we had several local government officials in the restaurant for lunch and some local celebrities (most of which said hi!). Great place, just bring earplugs and don't expect to talk to each other.
(3)
Mags M.
Came here for a late night dinner, the food was really good. The pecan butter was amazing, best butter I had. The service was also top notch. My water glass was never empty (I never had to lift a finger to fill it) also my martini was never empty as well! I am excited and looking forward to going again!
(4)
Nick J.
Yum! I went to this restaurant during Miami Spice. I had the brunch menu..a mimosa (just because), French toast, with a corn flake crust, and bourbon-infused pure maple syrup, and thick-cut applewood smoked bacon. Definitely a great look, I must say. The ambience was nice, a good place for a date. Customer service was good. I'd like to return here for dinner, hopefully it isn't too pricey when I come back!
(4)
Itzela C.
First let me start of by saying that the service is excellent! Appetizer and entree exceptional. Okay, let's talk food: My Entree was the garlic herb chicken. I shared a calamari appetizer with a friend . The garlic herb chicken was amazing which came with a side order of sliced potatoes. The potatoes were a bit dry in my opinion, the dish also came with another side order of garlic asparagus which were perfectly cooked. The calamari appetizer...what can I say...City Hall knows how to handle their calamari!! Delish! Well over all, I would say my meal at City Hall Restaurant, was memorable, but I found their prices a tad bit high. I guess that's the price you pay (literally) for food that's prepared well and with great service. I'll be back :)
(4)
Gus M.
I truly had a great time here tonight. The service was prompt, my water was full 100% of the time, the food was hot, fresh and delicious. We made reservations for 8:30 and walked there. The place was not completely full, and we were immediately seated. The decor is wonderful, with some really nice artwork on the second floor. Our drinks were quickly brought out, as well as the deliciously warm bread with a sweet and savory honey-pecan butter. I ordered the meatloaf. $17.95 for a brick of meatloaf, crispy onions on top, gravy on the side, chorizo macaroni and cheese, and green beans. I was blown away by every item on my plate. I ended up taking half the meatloaf (that thing is huge!) and some of the mac & cheese, and I'm someone who usually finishes my plate, no matter how big. My girlfriend got a crispy fried chicken with some deliciously prepared corn, honey, and mashed potatoes. She was equally ecstatic about it, and got equally full halfway through. Next time, we're sharing.
(5)
Brad B.
Went for Sunday brunch. I asked the waitress about the menu and she had nothing positive to say about it. She alerted that she hadn't tried the items on it, which seemed very odd to me. Working in the restaurant biz in the past, I know the importance of trying the food in order to explain them to the customer. So, I order the breakfast pizza. When I placed my order, the waitress asked, "breakfast pizza?" She had no idea they even had a breakfast pizza! I was shocked. Super strange experience. The pizza wasn't anything special. The corned beef hash wasn't that good. A bit on the peppery side. The dough was the better part of it. I wouldn't order it again, nor would I do brunch there again. The restaurant during the daytime isn't appealing. It had a cold stale atmosphere... had no warmth to it. Nothing positive to say about it. The price for brunch there didn't compliment the taste!
(2)
Trabbit L.
Have to say I'm surprised by the low stars. Although it wasn't very busy when we were there, so maybe service is better when they are less busy? Either that, or they have corrected whatever problems they had before. Server slipped and called my sister "mami". We thought that was hilarious. We ordered blue cheese crusted oysters (was ok. blue cheese was a little too strong), gumbo (great! one person thought it was too fishy, the rest loved it), and duck + truffle pizza (super awesome! Everyone's favorite. Nicely cheesy and you could really taste the duck and truffles) for appetizers. Then for entree we had meat loaf (great), mahi over risotto (a special, and everyone's least favorite but still very decent), and fried chicken (tasted like any slightly salty fried chicken, but the honey dip was very clever and actually made it super good) And for dessert, we all shared the chocolate croissant bread pudding thing, which was HEAVENLY. Perfect ending and we all loved it. Although it was super rich and the portion was big, so I don't know how one person would be able to finish even half of it. Perfect for sharing, which made it a good deal. All of us agreed the food was fantastic. Decor was beautiful, service prompt and attentive. We enjoyed every bit of it.
(5)
Carly N.
Me and my boyfriend were on vacation and saw that city hall was on the Miami spice menu. When we arrived for brunch the door was locked even though your restaurant was open. We were seated at a dirty table and only upon requesting the Miami spice menu did we receive it. Not to mention that the menu was on a crumpled up piece of computer paper. Our waiter Luis F. Was by far the worst server I have ever had in my life. He forgot what we ordered, never came to check on us, tried to drop the check before giving us the dessert that we already ordered, and then he stood in the back of the restaurant looking at his paycheck for 20 minutes. Another server had to present us with our check and charge us because Luis was to busy doing nothing. We would have tipped 00 dollars but the busboys were very nice and attentive and they deserved a tip. Furthermore there was a manager walking around handing out paychecks, we tried to get her attention but that didn't work. She was also too busy helping the table behind us that had 4 screaming children at 10am. As someone who works in this industry I can say that during brunch your manager should be touching tables. Or at least notice the 2 pissed off people that were sitting right in front of her. We will never be coming back here. EVER!
(1)
Danny D.
Let me be clear. I am giving City Hall 3 1/2 stars. I faced a decision between rounding up or rounding down and I made a choice to round down. I was decisive and took action, because that's what people in City Hall should do. Let me tell you, the American people, why I made that decision. I came to City Hall on an early Sunday afternoon around 12:30 p.m. The day after facing perhaps the most crucial tailgate in this UM alumni's history. UM vs. FSU 2012. But make no mistake. This wasn't an ordinary UM-FSU game. It also happened to be Homecoming. It wasn't easy, but I managed to make it through. Here's the deal. I needed water, a good brunch, and a Bloody Mary. Now look, I had been to City Hall in the past and thought it was phenomenal. But let me be clear. You're only as good as your latest performance. Thank you basedgod for those last two debates. I sat down in City Hall with one of my advisors and we were promptly poured water and asked if we would like anything to drink. Here's the deal. The only reason I decided to come to City Hall is because I remembered their excellent Bloody Mary's... so I ordered one. To eat, I decided to skip brunch and order the shrimp po boy. Now, make no mistake. I knew it wouldn't be easy to beat the recently discovered Bloody Marys at Mercadito, but their brunch was just ok and I thought that City Hall could offer a way forward. I was wrong. The Bloody Mary was good in the sense that it was strong, but let me be clear. It was not as tasty as I had hoped. I ended up having to put a large amount of Tobasco sauce in it and the juice of four lemon wedges. After that it was good, but... they didn't build that! As far as the shrimp sandwich goes, it was good but unremarkable. That's why it only gets one sentence. Make no mistake, I said that I came to City Hall to recover from the previous day, and that's exactly what I intended on doing. I ordered a coffee after I had finished eating. Here's the deal. You can give me bad service and I'll forgive you. But let me be clear. You don't not give me my coffee. After 20 minutes without seeing any coffee, I asked for the check and left. That is why I rounded down. Will I go back to City Hall? Yes. Just please, move forward.
(3)
Luis E.
City Hall has nailed it as far as it goes for me. The atmosphere is very metropolitan. Lots of architectural lines, and angular shaped lighting. The service is phenomenal. They serve you iced water as soon as you are seated, and the server is very educated with the menu. They even bag your food for you once you are done eating. But my favorite part of the menu is the drinks. There is a spicy and sweet passionfruit martini that is beyond amazing. I had the pleasure of enjoying the fish stew which came with succulent fish,scallops, and muscles. And even though the server told me that they ran out of scallops that evening the restaurant went the extra mile to get a hold of scallops to add to the stew. They have an amazing wine menu. And even though I did not have dessert I am sure that they have something exquisite to offer. This is certainly a place to take a hot date. Very upscale and classy
(5)
Katerina S.
I was excited to try City Hall as I'd heard lots of great things. Unfortunately, each dish we ordered were really below average. We started off with the baked eggplant for appetizer - this had so much potential but it had wayyyyy too much cheese inside and outside the eggplant - this was cheese with eggplant not eggplant with cheese. Furthermore, I ordered the fish stew, which was bordering disgusting as several of the "fish" pieces were some type of pure gelatin-consistency fat portion of the fish. That turned me off to the entire dish. My husband ate a simply grilled Grouper with vegetables - that was basic and ok but a bit overcooked. Our friends enjoyed their lamb but their steak was covered in a thick layer of Parmesan cheese (way to ruin any decent steak). Anyways, I doubt I'll be coming back. The next morning we all had stomach issues. Far too many mishaps.
(1)
Rachel S.
I was excited to try this restaurant after receiving a recommendation and seeing favorable ratings on Check Please South Florida. My boyfriend and I decided to dine here before seeing the Billy Joel concert. We made a reservation for 6:15 and arrived about 5 minutes early. We were impressed that they asked if we were going to the concert b/c they said they would make note of it so our service would be faster. We had no problem being seated - the host recommended we sit at either a high top downstairs or a lowtop upstairs because the lowtops downstairs would be uncomfortable for my boyfriend. I found that weird, but I appreciate the recommendation. We opted to go upstairs b/c I do not like high tops. We definitely are glad we put in reservations as the restaurant got very busy. I think there was a lot going on downtown that night. Upstairs was very nice and we had a nice view of the restaurant. We quickly put our order in - a pizza appetizer, lemon chicken and meatloaf, as well as our drinks. Our waiter confirmed we were going to a concert. So far so good! Our drinks came out promptly with warm bread and a delicious butter. That was the high point of the meal. The pizza came out relatively quickly too - about 10 minutes later and it was good. Then we waited. And waited. Never saw our waiter. I had to ask a bus boy for a refill on my soda. And Waited. It is now 7 p.m. and our food is nowhere to be seen. We see people who arrived after us get their food (including those at the hightop we were offered) Finally the waiter stops by to say he's checking with the kitchen and will talk to the manager because he knows we have to leave for the concert, which begins at 8. He comes back and says it will be out in a few minutes. Fine. It doesn't take very long to eat. 15 minutes later I call the manager over and I explain that we have an 8 p.m. concert we have to get to. He said it will be fine, don't worry, the food will be great and he'll even offer us free dessert! Five minutes later the food finally comes and it is a disappointment. My boyfriend enjoyed his meat loaf, but didn't think it was amazing. I was less than impressed with the chicken limon over linguine. The chicken was fine, but the pasta was horrible. Everything was luke warm and the pasta stuck together and was sticky. We get our bill and the manager comes over and asks again if we want dessert. It is not 7:40, 20 minutes before the concert, and we have to get a cab and get through traffic. Even if we wanted dessert, we simply did not have time for it. To cut the restaurant slack, it was a very business night. However, It should never take an hour and 20 minutes to receive an entree. Especially when you are a table for two. Food was mediocre. Perhaps this is more of a burger joint. Most likely will not be back, but you never know!
(2)
Lina V.
Came here for a friend's birthday party, nice place however was not impressed with the food and the service. The pizza appetizers are good and huge, so you can easily split it with a friend (which the waiter did not mention). The seafood stew was bland with only one scallop inside, mostly fish and overlooked shrimp, it comes with a tiny plate of cilantro rice. The waiter did not explain or give any beneficial suggestions, so maybe other food is good but overall disappointing!
(3)
Savanna M.
After having City Hall's shrimp and grits at a New Times Iron Fork some years back I knew I had to have it again, however the 3 star reviews from many of my yelp friends had me a little apprehensive and in no rush. Recently, I spotted a Living Social deal and decided that that was enough incentive to make me finally go get those shrimp and grits. After parking ($5 for valet that we had to pay up front and then park ourselves) the bf was a little annoyed. I tried to remind him that it was Miami, but quite frankly I was annoyed at us paying up front! We walked in and the host immediately questioned if we were here for the Kanye West concert later that night (we were) and promised to make sure the kitchen took care of us in a timely manner - plus points for that. I decided to order my go to rum and coke after seeing the specialty cocktails were $12 each, not really a savings since my drink was $11! and the bf ordered a reasonably priced beer. After about 2 or 3 servers dropped by (yes the service was extremely attentive/friendly/helpful yet strange that we had so many different people) we ordered the tuna tartare to start - recommended by one of our servers. Honestly, the wonton chips it came with weren't the easiest eating tool, but that was one of the best tuna tartare I've ever had! I may have been inspired to start a tuna tartare list just because of this one! Mains - I had the shrimp and grits obviously, and yes it was just as good as I remembered it! I've had better, but it's up there with the best! The bf ordered a special of the night - skirt steak with blue cheese mashed potatoes, sauteed shrimp and vegetables, and despite the steak coming out a little bit more well done than he had asked (I get it skirt steak can be difficult cause it's so thin) he was impressed and so was I!! Expensive when we finally saw the price on the check, but it was worth it. Dessert - despite the fact that I was full, really full, we got talked into ordered the bread pudding made with chocolate chip croissants and topped with some kinda of cream.... yes get this... I'm drooling just thinking back about it! Overall, yes we'll be back. The food was good, better than the yelp reviews led me to believe, and the service was good as well. I did feel as though the atmosphere was a little weird, maybe too open, or too much of a dark steakhouse feel that didn't match the menu, but hey I'm all about the food!
(4)
Terry L.
This establishment has a great location in Downtown Miami (not that far from the arena). They have valet available for a cost ($5 when I arrived) but I opted for the complimentary self parking lot right next to the valet area! Upon entering the restaurant I fell in love with the design... It has two floors, a centered bar and street art on the walls with keeping a upscale style. I came in around 4pm on a Thursday and it was dead which I liked as I was flying solo. I opted to sit at the bar and the bartender took some time to address me... After finally saying Hello and providing the menus (making no recommendations) I choose to start with the crab cake and choose my entree as the Fried Chicken. Overall the crab cake was good as it mainly consisted of actual crab. As for the fried chicken... I've had better... The pieces were small and seemed overcooked, it also came with a biscuit and mashed potatoes, the potatoes were good and the biscuit had no flavor. The restaurant has potential and I feel that due to me coming in when it was dead I didn't get the level of service and food that normally is provided. I'm gonna suck it up and try this place again and will then update this review.
City Hall is one of those places where I love the appetizers and desserts but the main courses aren't my favorite. I've been here and few times and always get the meatloaf and it is good but not great. I do like the relaxed and casual atmosphere and for the Miami area the prices are pretty good. They have a decent beer and wine selection and their craft cocktails are cleverly named and very good. I would reccomend the duck flat bread and the bread pudding for dessert.
(4)
Jessie R.
The service was great all the way around - from the male host to the server and bus people! Very happy to help and warm. The atmosphere is also nice, the lighting and music were perfect for dinner. The food was nothing to extra to write home about, but enjoyable non the less! Will recommend! Will come back for more!
(5)
William K.
Too much hype for no reason. Overly expensive for no reason. The food is decent but is very typical of your average chain restaurants. Not sure what they hype is all about simply because it is located in mid town.
(1)
Darin P.
Parking: Valet is next to the restaurant, but free parking is literally 20 feet further down on the same side of the street. Bengal has signs there, but the fine print says City Hall parking as well. Waiter was French and hot upset that we did not want the amazing-looking bread. Then he was fine when we explained it was for Lent (carb free). That only left us with one option on the menu. We both had the Thai Steal Salad. It was a delicious mix of veggies with Thai dressing. Watercress was the greens for the salad. The steak was cooked perfectly and there was about 8-10 ounces on the plate. A very good deal compared to the price of other menu items. As Ahnold said, "I'll be back!"
(5)
Natty G.
So, we've been here a few times and we're not very impressed. This restaurant looks nice and the menu is eclectic but the food is merely OK. The service is slow and if you go during Sunday brunch prepare yourself for a headache. The music is so loud you can't enjoy a conversation with a nice group. The menu is made up of mostly comfort style food, however; you don't feel particularly comforted. Maybe it's the brunch that is too crazy for a Sunday after having just woken up. Overall, it's just OK.
(3)
elayne s.
The food is superb. Cudos to Chef Luis Lopez. Terrific lunch specials priced right. Dinner are divine with fab specials.
(5)
Katrella S.
Love this place for lunch. They have an 11.50 lunch special. Today I'm having shrimp jambalaya. The crusty bread with pecan butter makes my day. Also coming with my lunch is salad and desert. Um um good
(5)
Jamie W.
I've been to City Hall twice and both times I was very impressed with the atmosphere, service, and of course, food! This particular review is from my 2nd visit, which was last night. I knew from my 1st visit that the "not your usual French Onion soup" was very good according to my colleague, so I tried it this time. And she was right! The dish comes out with 3 onion-filled dumplings and cheese in the bowl. Then the soup is poured into the bowl right in front of you. A nice, cute, different touch. I also ordered the brussell sprouts side dish. It was quite large and definitely could have been shared with another person. I wasn't a big fan of the aioli that came with it....seemed a bit mayo-ish and heavy. Nevertheless, the sprouts were delicious! City Hall is a great place in an area with not too many good restaurants. I highly recommend it if you're visiting the area!
(4)
Ute L.
Friendly and fast service and reasonably priced American food with some healthful options made for an enjoyable Columbus Day lunch. Mom and dad love these kind of places when they visit from Berlin. Free parking in the back is a plus, so is the fact that they don't automatically slap on 18% gratuity. We started munching on some sweet potato fries while we waited. They could have used more salt and/ or some kind of spice rub but they were fresh, well cooked and non-greasy. Our waiter was great. My dad thoroughly enjoyed his Cobb salad. What is there to say- the man likes chicken, eggs and bacon. The avocado dressing, he said, was also yummy. My salmon was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I could have done with a little less oil in the salad dressing, since the salmon was already oily. Other than that, the salad dressing was great and surprisingly, having strawberries and grapes with salmon actually worked. Our waiter was very confident about the croissant bread pudding and he was right. This bread pudding is nothing short of awesome. The croissants make it moist and fluffy, it is served steaming warm with incredibly rich and decadent chunks of molten dark chocolate throughout and a bourbon vanilla sauce on the side. The serving is so big that even I couldn't possibly eat this alone. This is sooooo much better than Blue Collar's B.P. The only chocolate B.P. that comes close is Morgan's chocolate and pecan variation. I will be back to try their brunch. Or maybe just to have bread pudding as my main course.
(4)
Brad H.
Really pretty average. I may have given the food 3 stars but the poor service bumped it to only 2. Went with the family for Mother's Day brunch and service was really pretty bad. Omelette, pancakes etc we good but not in any way remarkable.
Nice atmosphere and overall good vibe but pretty pedestrian food, nothing really special . But I'd say my experience was marred by poor service which has nothing to do with the kitchen. The waitstaff is amicable and does make an effort but they could be understaffed perhaps? I'd say the manager and owner need to pay closer attention to service. I waited close to 40 minutes to pay my check. The waiter had a large party he was just sat and never stopped back to get my check. I dropped it off to the manager who was sitting at the at bar eating. We waited even longer as they dropped my credit card behind their service stand. After it all was done they wanted to offer us 10% off the bill. You get that at Yelp Check in. At that point and he just looked at me and said 20%. AND the owner was there watching this unfold, didn't even offer an apology or say anything which was surprising as I've heard he's a decent guy. I suggested they comp the check as it really ruined the dining experience. I'd go again but given the fact that there are many other choices in area,not so sure.
(2)
Spencer A.
Looking to have an amazing brunch serenaded the acclaimed singer, songwriter, and actress, Maryel Epps? Look no further than City Hall and listen to South Florida's most exciting diva pound out gospel, jazz and blues. The food? I hardly noticed...but my turkey burger was good enough and everyone in my party seemed happy. The service? We were upstairs and our poor waiter was having to trek the food up and down. There was some delay in getting the order in and right. A 20% tip was already included. But who cares when it's brunch and Ms. Epps is rocking the house? The downstairs was crowded with pretty people. I loved it and will be back. But would prefer to sit downstairs. Valet parking $5. Should be free in my opinion.
(4)
Jasmine L.
I was in town for a few days, staying at the Hilton, and picked City Hall for a late lunch. I sat at the bar and Danny recommended the tuna tartare. I also ordered the maple chorizo mac and cheese. Both were amazing!! The $8 "side" of mac and cheese was HUGE. I was more than satisfied. I had great conversation with Danny, who also gave me a little espresso as my after lunch treat. This place is a real gem. I'm so happy I stumbled upon it during my trip.
(5)
Momo B.
OPENING SCENE MEMORABLE Not too distant from the performing arts center, the first impression is memorable. Cleverly they titled their prix fixe menu as their Performer's Dinners. As I had expressed as my Yelp tip, it may be more advantageous and less mentally taxing to select from their time tested program. We ordered with the intention to share. Salad, appetizer, pork chop, rib steak, and carrot cake accompanied by ice cream. Collectively more than enough food and even detrimental to staying awake during a live theater performance or movie. LoL. The pork chop takes first prize as outatanding performance. Grilled rib steak would have been better served as a prime rib. My other concern would be the noise level generated from their loft. Even with the high ceiling, the loud microphone usage diminished what should have been a very stylish and upscale dining experience. It's just a personal preference for a quiet setting when the prices are $$$.
(4)
Kara T.
Fun gospel brunch, good service, and pretty good food. It's not Miami's best menu, but it's in a great location and gospel brunch rocks. I've gotten the club a few times and it's a huge portion. I enjoy it. I take my out-of-towners there after church. I've also been for professional luncheons and it's always good then. We do family style and salads and everything else is always nice. I recommend it.
What makes a great place are so many things especially if an owner is not present, which we found out later the case. The decor is modern chic. Comfortable tables and a very nice bar. The food starting with the bread with the pecan butter, to the crab cakes and clams, were outstanding. Did I say the bread was to die for? Or was it the butter...simply wow. I had the Veal Chop bone in and it was amazing. I asked for medium rare and it was done just right. All this was on their Miami Spice menu which was highly recommend which I also highly recommend. Desserts were another surprise. I had their carrot cake which was good but their bread pudding was something to behold. Presentation to the last course was again, a level above the rest. The front managers Ian and Reggie were as professional as can be and checked on our table several times throughout the meal as did the server and even food runner. If you're looking for a wonderful dining experience, be sure to pay them a visit. You won't be disappointed. And ask for Reggie.
(5)
Elena S.
Food was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Came here after a terrible experience at Prohibition on midtown. This place NEVER disappoints! The service was great and the food was even better. Got a great Pinot Grigio for $35! The bread is delicious. Melts in your mouth with that sweet maple butter! I had the churrasco with couscous!!! Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm My date had grilled lemon chicken with linguini. So amazing!!!! Can't wait to come back and have this dish again Good for the bread pudding after
(5)
Katrina W.
City Hall was one of the places on my spontaneous list of birthday week pitstops! Spontaneous meaning...it was a drunk, 'let's roam the city and find some greasy, bad-for-you foods and not drive anywhere', kinda night. Thanks to my husband, we've also been hitting up all of the places that are on OpenTable, so we can rack up the dining points for dining checks. City Hall was one of the few close by. We came in at about 10:00 pm and got a table immediately. The place was desolate. The staff was all very friendly and went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. I ordered the duck confit flatbread with gorgonzola cheese and I think there were pears on it...? This plate was very delicious and flavorful. The drink of choice for the evening was H20 and the server was completely on top of it. Refills galore. My husband got the burger with a side of brussels, which were far superior to that of any french fry. Prices were fair considering the location. We finished off the meal with a birthday dessert, candle, and some awkward singing. This part was definitely not the highlight of the evening, but it was quite a spectacle. I wasn't impressed with the banana pie, but it was the thought that really counted. I might be back.
(3)
Kathryn S.
Not too bad. I had a pretty good experience at City Hall Restaurant, but not enough of a great experience that I would give them 4 stars. I went for a late dinner, around 10pm, when they were starting up there happy hour again. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love a good happy hour, so I was pretty happy about that. The alcohol wasn't the best, so I was too impressed with the happy hour. But, I drank hoping dinner would be better. My friends and I did something special where we were having breakfast for dinner, so we did not have the regular menu. I'm actually not sure if this is completely normal or not. One of my friends is very friendly with the owner, so I'm not sure if this was special or not. So, even though I went for dinner, I guess this is a brunch review. We all tried something different, and I had the pancakes. They were pretty good for regular pancakes. Nothing special. I would visit City Hall Restaurant again to try the regular menu and see if it has anything that catches my attention. From my experience this place is literally just A-OK. Nothing extraordinary, but will hit the spot if needed.
(3)
Stephen F.
I had wanted to come here for a long time after hearing many great reviews from friends. Spice provided me the perfect opportunity to stop by for lunch. I had the chicken wings, burger, and cookie. I was stuff and left completely happy. Nothing fancy or over the top, just simply good food. I would return.
(4)
Alessandra P.
I have been here already two times and I love it. For brunch, it's amazing. I had the eggs Benedict with Apple bacon, but you can have it with something else besides bacon. My brother in law had the French toast and he said it was amazing (it looked amazing too!) If you go, ask for Richard, he took care of my family and I and made sure we had everything. I recommend coming here and making reservations.
(5)
Rachael B.
Created by the founder of Miami Spice, this is a must eat for any Miami resident. I love the food, ambiance, and incredible service here. My only comment would be that the concept isn't incredibly clear.. there are a lot of different types of food and it is a in between an upscale steak house and a trendy midtown bar. I highly recommend trying the cinnamon butter that comes with the bread as well as the duck pizza with truffle oil. The fusion of foods is very interesting and honestly everything is delicious!
(4)
Victor O.
Their menus al always good, and food it's just delicious... The ambiance is very nice and the service its outstanding
(5)
V P.
Kind of expensive for what you get, which is very ordinary, uninspiring, moderately well-executed dishes. Had the short ribs with polenta. It was okay. The decor makes me sad, but it's hard to put a finger on why. Maybe it's the lighting or something. The place is in Art Deco style and they've done a decent job with that. It isn't run down; seems well kept up. Just seems like a sad place. Also the 80s music needs to change bc it just clashes with everything else. Journey?! at at art deco brunch?!
(2)
Jacqueline M.
I usually venture to City Hall before or after a show at the Arscht Center with or without reservations. The Bad: They advertise self parking in their "private lot" but when you arrive there's a sweaty valet guy there collecting your $5. All 3 visits, I've parked my own car in the lot only to be told he will move it and I owe him money...pfffft. On this particular visit, there were no burgers or pizzas allowed to be ordered from the menu, silly little rule because of new year's eve I assume! I was looking forward to the appetizer flatbread I had tried on a previous visit so I was bummed about that. Why in cheese's name can't I get a flat bread!!!??? Ugh! Communism! The Good: So I ordered the Fried Chicken with honey, potatoes and a biscuit. I've had it before so I knew what to expect and ordered a Mac and Cheese as well because ya know... we're fatties and it's good. Food was great. I love fried chicken, I love honey, i love Mac and Cheese but.... The Ugly: That biscuit was horrible. It was stale and hard. If you can't make a mean biscuit, give me a roll, a garlic bread or maybe a corn bread but don't give me a funky biscuit!!! Overall City Hall is a convenient option when attending the Arscht Center. Service is fast and friendly but I'm going to minus that 5th star for the crummy biscuit, parking fraud and food communism...cause I dreamt about that flatbread and they crushed my dreams of having it.
(4)
Dacier I.
This place is amazing from start to finish. We made reservations on Open Table; a plus just because of the convenience. We were seated immediately and greeted by the manager as soon as we sat down. We started with the pecan butter and artisan loaf...omg heavenly! The appetizers, main course, and dessert were delicious. Our waiter was great too, a French guy that knows his wine. He paired up all of my courses with a glass of wine and did a perfect job. We went during Miami Spice and portions are nice and filling...good spot if you're going with your man. Parking is right behind the restaurant and can be paid with an app. There is nothing I can complain about this restaurant. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Drew B.
Had a great dinner here last night after a show at Arscht center (sp). It was a short walking distance. The bread with the whipped pecan butter is really amazing. Started with a Signature drink called The Commissioner and it was a delicious mango mojito. I had the steak salad and Gorgonzola pizza. The steak was incredible with so much flavor and the dressing had just a hint of a spicy kick. I loved the pizza with just enough crunchy fried onions and BBQ sauce. I don't give out a lot of 5 stars, but last nights meal earned it. I forgot to mention that Dwayne Wade from the Heat came in for a late dinner so that was fun
(5)
Brittany P.
So we went during Sunday gospel brunch. A little loud but great experience nonetheless. Service was decent but food was pretty good and atmosphere was popping!
(4)
Jacquelyn B.
Can I give negative stars? I just called to place a Togo order and was told the kitchen is closed because they have been slow. Don't want to be slow, be able to serve people when you advertise to be open.
(1)
Alissa W.
We went for the Gospel brunch on Sunday and had a blast !!! I was looking for a brunch place for us to eat in my area. I wanted to try something new, then I remembered a neighbor telling me about Gospel brunch. We decided to check it out. I got the smoked salmon bagel that had truffle flavor was really good and enormous ! I only could eat half. I have to say the waiter forgot a few things from the order. The service could have been better I admit. The concept is fun and I will definitely be back !
(4)
Theresa F.
We had brunch here (and I'm not a brunch person) and it was FANTASTIC. Both dishes we ordered were simple, clean, and well portioned. Service was great and so was the coffee. Laid back and versatile atmosphere. Would make the most casual outfitted person to the most decked out church-goer feel comfortable here. Thank you, Check Please for the suggestion!
(5)
Joseph C.
Find some Comfort @ City Hall Miami A few of my friends and I decided to visit City Hall Restaurant after the theater. Nice high ceilings, brightly lit and comfortable setting, city hall features all American traditional comfort foods. I had the meatloaf and chorizo maple mac & cheese and it was delicious. Try the lychee martini to start, yum. Ready for an uncomplicated all American dining experience, City Hall is the place!
(4)
Mitchell F.
This was a fantastic find! We had a discount coupon, but even without a discount the food's quality far exceeded the price. One of their signature dishes, is a modified, upscale BLT with blood orange reduction. I asked for a side cup of the blood orange reduction because it was so fantastic. The server was very knowledgeable about the menu, made great (honest) suggestions, and we loved every bite! This is a highly recommend restaurant if you happen to be in Miami!
(5)
Laura A.
Went to City Hall for the 3rd time this afternoon during their Gospel Brunch, and once again, I was not disappointed. The food and service is fantastic, and the live music during brunch was a nice touch. Must Haves: The meatloaf & chorizo maple mac & cheese. Best I've had. EVER. Chocolate croissant bread pudding for dessert. YES. CROISSANT. You read that right. Also, wine bottles are available at affordable prices. Overall, great experience every time.
(5)
Mark C.
The service let me start by saying was AMAZING! The host was ok. The waiter on the other hand was super friendly and was always checking up on to make sure our cup was full of water and when it wasn't the manager him self came to fill it. The waiter told us the special of the day it sounded great so we went ahead and got that. No mistake there it was amazing so so amazing and the bread with pecan butter just did it! Then the dessert came the banana cream pie omg too good I melted with the first bite! I honestly wish I was hungrier so I could have fit more because any of the food I know would have been good! In the end I didn't care so much about my budget my taste buds and stomach were satisfied to the max! Since I live so close now I know I'll be going there regularly. When ever you get a chance to swing by do it!
(5)
Amaranta M.
Great lunch menu! I had soup, jambalaya and dulce de leche for desdert for $11.50 :D Definetly going back!
(4)
Priscilla N.
The Corn Flake crusted Grand Marnier French Toast is heavenly! However, I had trouble making a reservation for sunday brunch and once I arrived I realized my party was the first one of the day. Service was great, aside from our waitress being overly concerned about the amount of the bottomless we had.
(4)
Maris D.
Hands down, the most perfectly executed burger I've had EVER! Seriously. And I eat A LOT. Order it as the appetizer so you can still try some of their other goodies. The service is sometimes a 10 and sometimes a 5. Trying out that Miami pretentious thing I guess. Please stop.
(4)
Jessica E.
My new favorite place! MUST TRY Skirt Steak dish YUMMY Staff was amazing !
(5)
Yahaira A.
I LOVE City Hall. A great addition to the neighborhood! My first visit was for lunch (took my boss for his birthday) and it was GREAT - food, atmosphere, service and price. I thought the service for lunch was stellar but when I went back for dinner I was floored. I took my fiance there for his birthday dinner and it was the most outstanding meal ever. Our server was funny, knew the menu inside out, had great recommendations, was extremely accommodating and attentive. Applause to the front manager for outstanding staff. The food is just DELICIOUS, something for everybody. I have no complaints about anything I've tried to date. Two thumbs up to the Chef for taste, creativity and quality. The only reason I didn't give City Hall five stars is because of the poor serve at the bar. A young hostesses saved my dinner experience on my third visit for dinner. If not for her my experience would have been a real downer because of the bartender. He wasn't attentive (not only to my section but the entire bar which wasn't slammed), he made mistakes on numerous orders, had no customer service skills, looked annoyed to be there, etc. He may have had a bad night but I've heard the same from friends that decided to have a casual meal at the bar. All-in-All OUTSTANDING!
(4)
Jennifer P.
Worst restaurant experience ever! The waitress was unfriendly and was annoyed when we asked to exchange a drink. We were celebrating my husbands bday and I had call beforehand so that they could sing to him. They completely forgot which just added to the horrible experience. The food was ok, nothing impressive. Would not recommend this place or return again.
(1)
Johanna S.
My pancakes were RAW on the inside!!! I couldn't even believe it! On top of that management didn't even comp it!! Really upset with this place. We complained and they still charged us for the crappy food. They didn't even care. Such a bad experience. Please don't go here.
(1)
Yari B.
Love it! We went at 4pm and they graciously gave us the option if ordering both from the brunch and dinner menus. Favorites at the table were the country dried chicken with its amazing flavors and the burger with Brie cheese. The tuna tartar was excellent. If you like eggs and polenta definitely try the short rib from the brunch menu. The Brussel sprouts side dish was yummy, but that is if you like your Brussel sprouts charred and crunchy like I do! Salmon salad also got thumbs up. Service was great. Ladies don't forget to bring a sweater if you are not a fan of polar temperatures.
(4)
Blair S.
So not impressed with this place. My boyfriend and I came with friends for a late dinner. After hearing some good things, we were pretty excited. My boyfriend and I each ordered an entree and split an appetizer, and each had one cocktail- however some how our bill came to over $200! Now this would be alright if the food was good, but everything was so...bland. They really missed the mark on comfort food. The fried chicken was over cooked and dry, the bread pudding was less than flavorful, and the soup tasted like it came out of a can. Don't fall for the hype.
(3)
Brenda P.
MIAMI SPICE REVIEW Went on a Sunday during brunch hours which are 10-4pm. Used their $4 valet service which was both convenient and inexpensive. Half of us did the Miami Spice menu and the other half ordered off the regular menu. In a nutshell, the food was great, the place has a great vibe but the service was lackluster. The restaurant is a mix between masculine and art deco decor. There are booths, tables and high tops. They started us with some heartwarming hot bread with pecan maple butter. It was absolutely perfect. We also had some bloody Mary's. Those were good too. Our waiter was nice but aloof to the entire process. I don't know if it was his first day or if he just could not care less to be there and do his job well. These were our choices: * Mussels- regular menu. Delicious * Mixed Baby Greens- cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrot, avocado, toasted sunflower seed herb dressing that tasted like peanut and we loved. * Thai Steak salad- regular menu- good * Lemon Caper Shrimp Fettuccine- regular menu- Delicious * House Blend Meatloaf- this was really great. The meatloaf was moist and the mashed potatoes were dreamy. The green beans were crisp and do I really have to explain crispy onions? mmm mmm mmm * Chocolate Bread Pudding- exceptional * Chocolate Crunch Cake- Delicious The mussels were brought out but it took several minutes to get plates and silverware for them. Three of us had finished with the appetizers but I was still working on my salad. They removed everyone's plate, left me eating and brought out the entrees. Um, hello, I am still eating the salad can you not see that? Badly timed. At least they did refresh the silverware in between courses. I finally finished my salad and that plate stayed there until we finished our entrees. Once the entrees came out I realized we had ordered a chorizo mac & cheese and we never got it. When I inquired about it our waiter looked a little lost. He left to find out and then said "Oh yeah, we don't offer that during lunch" (even though by now it was about 3:00 and their dinner service begins at 4:00pm). He could have said that too when I ordered it first no? Then once again, one of us was still eating while the remaining dishes had been cleared. Our waiter started to set our table for desserts and was ready to take our orders. When I mentioned that we were not ready for dessert he picked up the spoons he had started to put down, briefly apologized and left. We also ate the entire time with the bread crumbs noticeably still on the table from when they first brought out the bread. We also had to remind him several times for drinks and other small things. There was a gospel jazz singer who sang on this day. She had a great voice and was entertaining. She walked around and had people sing along with her, etc.(even owner Steven Hass sang!) At one point though, she decided to sing the national anthem (odd choice during lunch) and then got upset because people were still talking and SHHHHHH'd everyone. That was random. I agree the anthem demands respect but it was also not the time nor the place to sing it. Overall though, it was nice to have live music with our meal. I have an upcoming event here on a weekend night and I am eager to see how it compares (and maybe have some of that chorizo mac & cheese). I really had a good time and I loved every single item we ate. For that, it gets 4 stars.
(4)
Dorrell C.
The decoration in this restaurant is gorgeous the food is to die for and the staff is very friendly, I love this place
(5)
Steve K.
We flew into Miami and stayed the night before traveling to the Keys. I asked the front staff at our hotel for a recommendation for a burger and a beer, and they said to try City Hall down the street. My wife and I walked on down the road and found the restaurant. We walked in and were intimidated by the place. It seem a little more on the upscale side. White table cloths and people dress in business casual dress ( we had just gotten off a plane and we were wearing shorts and t-shirts). The hostess greeted us with a smile and sat us upstairs. Our waiter came up right away and when asked to suggest a local beer he asked a couple of questions and guided me to a Florida beer, that turned out to be very tasty (monk in the trunk). Looking at the menus, my wife and I were kinda hesitant. There was one burger on the menu. We ordered the burgers and waited. When the burgers came out I was floored. A nice big juicy burger with bacon, cheese and caramelized onions. My first bite was heaven. Truly this might be one of the best burgers I have ever had. They put a basil aioli that pulls the whole burger together. Now I know that the atmosphere has a lot do with your experience. I don't know if being on a plane all day, had anything to do with it, but this was a damn good burger. The restaurant is nice and is decorated nicely. There were a couple of large groups eating when we were seated, but it seemed like the kitchen had no problem getting their orders out. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgable. I am definitely recommending their burger and their restruant.
(5)
Joseph J.
I just don't understand the low-ish ratings. We were a group of 15. The salmon (fresh) was cooked med-rare and was one of the best meals I ever had. Spectacular! Fresh fish cooked med rare, where it jus flakes off, can't be beat. And I'll be looking for the house Char. I really liked it but my wife probably wouldn't have liked it but then---- who's right, anyway!
(5)
Megan M.
Came in with my mom for Miami Spice. I tried their bread pudding at this year's Iron Fork and it was to die for, so I thought I'd come in to see if everything else on the menu was just as tasty. Service and ambiance are great here. Too bad the food didn't measure up. My mom had the mussels which she enjoyed for her appetizer. My vegetable soup tasted like it came from a can. For entrees, we both got the steak. The side of fries were really good- crispy and flavorful, but the steak was SO fatty. No kidding, half my steak was fat. Dessert was the winner. The bread pudding was delicious. I'd come back for coffee and bread pudding, but that's about it!
(3)
Monica B.
We came here to celebrate and it was honestly such a great experience. We got there before our reservations, but we were immediately seated anyway. The ambiance is so cool and it has a great "retro" feel. Our server was very helpful with his recommendations, since we had never been here. My boyfriend ordered a filet mignon and I ordered the rib eye and both were outstanding. We both LOVED the butter they give with the bread. The dessert, a croissant bread pudding, was out of this world, but its size got the best of us. lol The best part of the meal were the drinks!! They are generous with the alcohol and the tastes are all very distinctive and yummy. Kinda of pricey but appropriate for a special day.
(4)
Charity Z.
First let me say packed! We had a reservation and they seated us immediately. We were 12 and it wasnt an issue. I gave this place a 4 mainly because of the service and the pecan butter, i could bathe in the the butter! Omg the butter is so good ,i bought an 8oz tub to take home. This place is in the heart of biscayne oh and what a gem. I loved everything about this place. The crowd,the ambiance,the food,the service. Ill tell you, a bit pricey but worth it. To start i had the eggplant parm and oh what a treat. The scallops with potatoe croquette ...something...amazing, everything else ordered by our party was pretty good, but im jumping straight to dessert! The warm chocolate croissant bread pudding is all i can say. what a dream! Id come here everyday just to have it. It mealts in your mouth.The marriage of the food and capacity of my wallet blend perfectly. Definetly will be back!
(4)
Cat E.
First you must know that I'm super picky. I have been to City Hall a couple of times. All the previous times have been good and satisfactory but this last time was exceptional. The food was good and the service was great! My friend and I order the lunch special short ribs, the turkey melt w/herb mayo instead of mustard and both dishes were good. To top it off, we ordered cookies which were to die for! At first I thought they were going to be hard because of how big they are but they were the complete opposite, soft and warm, with chocolate chip melted inside. Our lunch suddenly got better when we were offered milk to go with our delicious cookies. Now the service... We had a late lunch and they seem to be in the middle of a shift change, so we had two great waiters who were very pleasent, friendly and really made us feel like they wanted us to have a fun and pleasent time. Each time they came to our table, they had excellent timing (inlcuding the rest of the team, the person who refilled our water, and the person who helped clean our table) and great attitude. I eat lunch out (a lot) in the edgewater area, this includes midtown, wynwood, and the biscayne area and most of the places are okay, but I was very impressed with City Hall, it was a great balance with the food and service and has been consistently ok to great, never a horrible experience. I say Ok to GRAT because shit (exuse me) does happen, and service industry can be hard (i can only imagine, so I have to have some consideration). Some background - It wasn't too busy, wasn't too loud, and it was a late lunch. Thanks City Hall.
(5)
Paul E.
City Hall was near our hotel, so we tried it out for dinner one night. Duck confit pizza with fig was a great starter--probably enough for a meal. It's a nice mixture of salty and sweet. I had meat loaf with maple mac and cheese as an entree. The meat loaf was very nice, and the serving was tremendous. That maple mac and cheese is awesome. It sounds a little strange, but it's really just a touch of syrup--just enough that you notice it. It's unusual and definitely worth trying. On a second visit, I had the scallops, which were also fantastic. I might skip the appetizer if I ever go back. It was too much rich food to finish. It's a little too expensive, maybe, but the food and service are excellent.
(4)
Sandra M.
On New Year's Day before attending a show at the Arsht Center my friends and I decided on trying out City Hall. Lucky enough it was conveniently located and it was a great experience. The ambiance at the restaurant is very nice, the decor is very inviting and I noticed there was a large room on the second floor. Our server was very attentive and animated. He knew the menu well and he was able to make recommendations. The food was overall good. We had the wings and calamari for appetizer, the complimentary bread with pecan butter was to die for! As my dinner I had the meatloaf with a side of Mac and cheese, I was not a huge fan of the meatloaf nor the Mac and cheese I've had better. One of my friends had the shrimp pasta which was very yummy, and the other shared a ribeye. For dessert we had the apple crisp which was delicious. I will definitely come back to City Hall especially since I work nearby. Let me not forget that I tried their guava mojito and it was great!
(5)
Kelley D.
Amazing restaurant to eat brunch at! We had New Year Day brunch but can go very Sunday for Gospel live music. Awesome service, amazing food, great atmosphere, & location downtown!
(5)
Arturo B.
I enjoyed City Hall quite a bit. I only had a small plate for main course - the tuna tartare - so cannot comment extensively on food, my dish was very delicious. Rare tuna with Sriracha, avocado and seaweed. Paired with homemade chips. Tasty indeed. For cocktails old-fashioneds were ordered one after another. City Hall's version was less sweet than what I am used to, which was nice. It reminded me of a Manhattan on the rocks. The decor is cool. You will feel like you are back in time or part of a superhero comic book. Think Batman! Tons of street parking on the adjacent streets.
(4)
Ilia M.
Have the spicy and sweet martini. Amazing! The infused pepper vodka is made at City Hall.
(5)
Lillian Y.
I've been here multiple times for lunch / brunch, and each time it's been great. Good service from an attentive wait staff, solid food, an all American bistro.
OMG! What an awesome surprise City Hall was! We had a Living Social voucher for $50. We weren't too hungry as we'd been sight seeing and not burning ANY calories, but we did have this voucher and this was the last night of our vacation to use it. As soon as we arrived, I told the host about my Living Social voucher and showed him it was on my smart phone. He was very sweet and made us feel very welcomed. He said "no problem, it's happy hour sit wherever you want" so we got the happy hour menu and started ordering tapas style. We ordered a couple of cocktails that we'd never had before (at our server, Derek's suggestion)and we ordered some food off of the happy hour menu. Derek was very accommodating and attentive and gave us a lot of good suggestions. First he recommended a lychee and vodka drink...yummy! Then he suggested a jalapeño, mango and vodka drink...amazing!!! Ps...they don't cheap out on alcohol or food quality. Our "tapas" off of the appetizer menu were asahi tuna won tons, fried shrimp tacos, brussel sprouts and honey chicken wings. All were delicious! Problem...When it came time for the check, the manager came over and said they "weren't going to honor the voucher cuz you can't do happy hour on it." I told him that we weren't trying to hustle anyone out of anything, and if we were told no happy hour, we would have ordered off of the regular menu. He said "the best he could do was 10% off of the bill". For me it was the principal of the thing. I mentioned to the host that they weren't going to honor my voucher and he talked to someone and all of a sudden they took it! Cool! We did leave about a 30% tip (before the voucher credit) for Derek as he was all about great customer service. Tip: Make sure you don't use your voucher on happy hour. Make sure that everyone knows you have a voucher. Final score: Manager=Sketchy, Host=Sweet, Derek=Awesome! With or without a voucher, a treat for your palate and a definite do over ;)
(5)
Alexa B.
This place is adorable and the jazz singer brunch is so fun, but I won't be back because of the service. I made a reservation online and for some reason the bartender was also our server, so he was MIA for most of our meal. If we wanted anything we had to go find him at the bar. Toward the end of our meal he told us they have an app we could download to request things like extra ketchup but honestly that's a lot of work just to get some service. My friend found a match in her food so that was the last straw. She tried to complain but our server/bartender somehow lost it and couldn't show it to the manager....sketch. Also parking is annoying, its either $5 or you have to drive around the block looking for street parking. I can see why this place was empty for Sunday brunch.
(1)
Melanie A.
I saw the owner of City Hall - The restaurant on the news talking about Miami spice week and what do ya know? The very next day myself and a fellow yelper decided to check this place out. It was quite disorganized as literally 4 people came by to ask us if we wanted something to drink other than water and were like in disbelief that we politely declined. Hi, it's 2:00pm, I don't feel like getting drunk right now but thanks!!!!!! I just ordered the calamari with spicy tomato sauce and let's just say it was very bland and tasteless. If the calamari isn't good, I highly doubt their filet mignon or other dishes are spectacular! I won't be back, The only reason this gets two stars is because the person who finally ended up serving us was very nice and made sure we were always taken care of. The Daily is a better lunch option just down the street!
(2)
Danielle M.
We stumbled upon City Hall because it was within walking distance from our hotel (The DoubleTree Grand). My husband and I had the duck confit pizza as an appetizer and it was great--not greasy or too fatty and a really tasty combination of savory and sweet. My chicken limonata was really good and I appreciated that the pasta was fresh. My husband had the meatloaf, which he loved. The maple bacon mac and cheese that accompanied it was also great. The next day, we came back with my colleagues from work. The service was great both days and they had no problems splitting the check amongst seven people which we really appreciated because we know what a pain it can be for a server to have to do this.
(5)
Stella Z.
Went here for the first time tonight. Food is very mediocre for the price. I felt like I was eating at a Chili's. It's just average food.
(3)
Teri W.
Attended a luncheon at City Hall Restaurant today. The service was outstanding. The waiter took care of a private room with approximately 25 people and managed to get every order correct and provide excellent attention to the guests. The food was great. Their legendary bread with sweet butter was delicious! I had their shrimp salad and ate every morsel. Others ordered the mahi-mahi wrap, burgers, pasta bolognese and there was not one complaint about the food. We even had dessert; I had their lemon pound cake and it was light and tasty. I hope to make it back for brunch or dinner.
(5)
Juli M.
Great food great everything!!!! This is a must come to if you come to Miami! Love love love cornflakes chicken are the best!
(5)
Leilani D.
I ate here once, around the same time last year for Miami Spice, and the only way that I can describe this place is average. There is absolutely nothing about it that stands out. The service was fairly attentive, but not overly informed. I know I had a crab cake appetizer to start, a filet as my entree, and a chocolate chip bread pudding for dessert. All of that sounds pretty good right? It wasn't. It was by no means bad, but it was entirely boring. I think the biggest disappointment was probably the steak - just because I love filet and it didn't taste much better than anything you might get at a Chli's. Another major gripe is that even during Miami Spice (which was a great deal compared to the menu prices) we ended up spending well over $100 for two people with a reasonably priced bottle of wine. If there had been no special and we had ordered similarly, the bill would have been $150+ and I would have been furious. Maybe we ordered the wrong things - maybe they only do the country classics well - but at these prices, I'm not going to throw away another benjamin to find out. If for whatever reason you do decide you want to eat here - make reservations. For some unknown reason, it's always pretty packed.
(2)
David W.
Good late night burger after a show. Service was good. Not a big selection of beer. Host spent too much time on his cell phone but was otherwise very friendly. Waited and staff was prompt, friendly and professional.
(4)
Michelle L.
Finally got the chance to check out City Hall this past Saturday. The host asked us if we had reservations or if we were interested in their dining in the dark package. That sounded like fun but we went with regular dining experience. To our surprise, there was a $37 3 course dinner menu. Our waitor Danny, who was very fun and helpful throughout our night, told us that the menu changes and we wouldn't be disappointed. So we went with the 3 course meal. For starters I ordered the half clams in lemon butter sauce (I highly recommend) and my cousins the ceasar salad. Ask for an order of fresh bread, they serve it fresh out of the oven. For main course we got the fried chicken, pork chop over butternut squash mash, and rib eye with truffle butter fries. I didn't like the fried chicken (atleast it wasnt what I envisioned in my head) the waitor withot hesitation removed it and asked if I prefered something else but that it would be atleast 15 more minutes to prepare. I told him that I wouldnt mind the wait. The chef specially prepared it and brought it to me in 10 min flat. Thats service!! I was pleased. And for dessert, the warm bread pudding was out of control good. We were so pleased with the service and the 3 course menu was amazingly good. Way to treat your patrons, I will definitely return.
(5)
nunya b.
One of the top three breakfasts I've ever had in my life. So amazing. Everything was spectacular. Star of the show was the bread pudding at the end. Calamari, mushroom puff pastry thing, braised short ribs and polenta and French toast to die for!
(5)
Miriana M.
Came here on saturday night for miami spice dinner. We had reservations so we were seated right away. Waiter came over and offered us some drinks, we politely asked for sparkling water to start. I had the eggplant for starters and it was delicious! The portion was pretty big, enough to share if i wanted to, but i had no intentions to do so. I then had the pork chop with mashed sweet potatoes. Let me say that most people in my table ordered the rib eye and boy was i spot on by ordering the pork chop. It was by far better than everybody else's steak. Very tender, very flavorful- highly recommendable. For dessert I had the carrot cake, but i should've had the chocolate chip croissant bread pudding .. It definitely was the dessert superstar so go for that instead ;) All of our dishes were delicious .. but MANNN, our waiter was extremely annoying. He was super pushy throughout our whole dinner for us to order drinks. I kid you not, he at least asked us 4 times in the roughly 2 hrs we were there even though we let him now we'd have digestifs after we finished eating. Almost made us wish we had ordered to go. Minus 1 star for this annoyance.
(4)
Ann W.
This restaurant is conveniently located near the downtown Miami Hilton. Nice ambience and comfortable booth seating. The waitstaff are professional and attentative. The food is just okay. I had the Thai steak salad and the portion was ample with lots of meat and arugula. It was drenched in a sickly sweet Thai basil dressing that overpowered the taste of the meal. I think it would have been fine if I had asked for the dressing on the side but didn't and was disappointed. Don't think I will go back on future visits to Miami.
(3)
Athina L.
One of the best dining experiences in Miami. A must. Steve Haas did it with this one.
(5)
Ray B.
I've been there 2 times now and sadly will not be going back. The food is OK, not great but OK, a little bland for my taste but the service is beyond horrible. Our server didn't know the menu, we didn't get the appetizers we ordered, we asked to take our leftovers to go but our server decided to throw them away instead, we asked for dessert and coffee but got coffee 3 to 5 minutes before dessert. Oh and dessert, talk about a disgusting gooey mess. Or server recommended the roulade as it was the dessert of the day. It was a flavorless sticky congealed spongy thing. Whatever that was it does not belong on a restaurant menu, not this restaurant, not any restaurant. Also I had called earlier to make lunch reservations, they said it was not necessary but failed to mention that the restaurant was under renovations and that work would take place during lunch ours, the noise was unbearable. Not a good experience at all. Would NOT recommend to anyone.
(2)
L. R.
Sunday Gospel brunch with Maryel Epps was . . . lively. She's a class act with a great, powerful voice. Thought about the egg white omelet but my waiter suggested the "signature" chicken and waffles (actually French toast). I wish I ordered the omelet. Good dish, but really, really sweet. The best dish among my friends was the en croute egg dish. I will order that at my next brunch visit. FYI, valet parking behind the building is $5.
(3)
Rhena S.
The decor was beautiful but unfortunately the food was not good. Came here for the very first time with a group of 10 for brunch. I decided to try the eggs Benedict. It had no flavor and was very fresh. I thought it was just my food so I tried my bf's oatmeal, that was fresh also, no sugar in it what so ever. I had a piece of bacon as well and even that was fresh, tasted like they soaked it over night in water. Needless to say that was the worst bacon I've ever had in my life. Idk what was going on lol. Other than my food having no taste to it everything else was good. The service was great, the place is super clean, and the drinks were good. If I ever do come back again it won't for brunch. Maybe the lunch and/or dinner food will taste good.
(2)
Alex D.
Pleasantly surprised. I had heard from friends that City Hall was "hit" or "miss." I must have gone on a "hit" night. Our meals were up to par and service was great. Dessert was just OK and seemed "bought" rather than home made. Will be back, but skipping dessert.
(3)
Catie G.
Out of all the brunch options in Miami this one sets itself apart with a gospel sideshow featuring Maryel Epps. She has an impressive voice, numerous costume changes but the volume is kept so you can still chat with your companions. This is not the only reason to visit. Their menu has ingenious sweet options like the Grand Marnier French Toast. But don't despair because savory items like the Crab Cake Benedict are equally decadent & satisfying. We did not imbibe so I'm unsure about a free flowing mimosa special(s).
(5)
Rich B.
Excellent Corvinha and dessert too! Loved our salads mine the spinach and wifes chopped. Service excellent too thank you Derrick! Even friendly when they took our last min Friday reservation. We will be back when in Miami.
(5)
Natalia P.
We went for miami spice and it was a group of 12. The service was great and the food was delicious! The mahi was a little dry... The seafood pasta entree from the miami spice menu was delicious. Ohhhh.... Highly recommend the Brussels sprouts!! Sooooo good.
(4)
Donna J.
Great fast service. The burger with brie, carmelized onion and bacon was delicious - and huge. The girls ate pizza and part of our burger. Wish we could have stayed for a more relaxed dinner. Next show at The Arsht Center we will be here.
(5)
Robyn M.
The hummus was fantastic. I got the Thai Steak Salad. The steak was not cooked to the temp requested and was frankly a little blue and cold. If it had been warm it would have been okay. My husband got the meatloaf (huge piece, enough for four) and the Chorizo Maple Mac and Cheese. He said the meatloaf was good but the mac and cheese was too spicy. Service was fantastic. I am not sure I would go back.
(3)
Hamlet G.
I love to eat lunch at city hall , its lunch menu is just delicious and fast with a great price!
(4)
Stephanie W.
Amazing food! Went and got the duck pizza, chicken wings and hummus as appetizer. All were amazing and devoured. The table all got burgers medium rare which were cooked medium but they were so good we didn't complain. The wings were my favorite as they were super crispy and delicious. Definitely will be returning!
(5)
Shaun H.
The atmosphere is trendy and cool, we enjoyed a business lunch this afternoon with a key client relationship. The service was good as well.
(4)
Roselin S.
This is my favorite spot for Sunday brunch. If you arrive around Noon or so, stick around for gospel music. It is truly a unique and memorable experience: gospel Sunday + divine cuisine! Can't beat the corn flake crusted french toast, it is absolute perfection and the portion is large enough to share as a dessert among 3-4 in a group OR as an entree for 1-2. For a true brunch meal, the short rib with fried egg is delish.
(5)
Pam R.
We went to City Hall (May 2014) and it was an amazing place. Maricel was the singer there and she did 2 shows while we were there. The food was good and the service was on point. Truly a gem
(4)
Giuseppe M.
This is the place to be if you are in the mood for fresh, unique and food with dynamic flavor. Once there, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, the very attentive staff and the creative menu.
(4)
Michael A.
I went here for Sunday brunch and everything about it was amazing, including the menu. I would highly recommend this place
(5)
Dre B.
Update 12/2014: Menu has been paired down slightly and the prices a bit higher. But the food is still good and the device always excellent. Still 5 stars. Great food and great, friendly staff. The weekend brunch is amazing. I don't care much for the singer coming by my table during brunch but most seem to enjoy her and she's very jovial. Definitely a place to bring out of town friends or a date. Great food and great, friendly staff. The weekend brunch is amazing. I don't care much for the singer coming by my table during brunch but most seem to enjoy her and she's very jovial. Definitely a place to bring out of town friends or a date. Great food and great, friendly staff. The weekend brunch is amazing. I don't care much for the singer coming by my table during brunch but most seem to enjoy her and she's very jovial. Definitely a place to bring out of town friends or a date.
(5)
Allen F.
Average at best for food, above average for drinks. I live across the street from this restaurant and find myself there when I don't want to venture out too far. The food is good, though not consistent; the same item is prepared differently and tastes differently each time. But the convenience of the location and the variety keeps me coming back. On a positive note, the bar is well stocked and the bartenders are great. This place may not win a memorable place on your mind, but it's worth a try.
Great place! Huge portions, ok prices, prompt service. I had the roasted half chicken with broccolini and sweet potato fries (instead of white potatoes). Huge portion, great sauce, perfectly cooked and delicious crispy fries. My husband got the meatloaf served with mac & cheese and green beans, topped with fried onions. Huge portion again and delicious taste! None of us could finish our plate so we have great leftovers!! Their bread is good, very light with a crispy crust. The pecan butter is interesting... Special taste but it works with the bread. We unfortunately didn't get refill on bread. Definitely recommend it and will go back again soon hopefully!
(4)
Vanessa P.
After seeing KODO at the Adrienne Arscht Center we came here to satisfy a late night craving. Having heard nothing but good things I had high expectations, and from our experience it fit the bill. We were promptly seated and since I didn't want to go too overboard for an after 10pm meal, I went with their tuna tartar and their iceberg wedge salad. The tuna tartar was insanely delicious! Truth be told, I never wanted it to end. Layers and layers of juicy tuna, avocado and other delicious ingredients (papaya) plus a side of crispy chips to help shovel it all in. As for the salad, I have an affinity for wedge salads and this hit the spot. The mac and cheese with chorizo was also very good. Creamy cheesy goodness with specs of salty and spicy chorizo. Made me think why mom's mac and cheese never tasted this good? Regardless, my taste-buds were wholly satisfied. City Hall was the right place at the right time for us, Although we normally don;t frequent the downtown dining area, we'd definitely come back to try the rest of the menu options.
(4)
Sue S.
City Hall was good, but meatloaf was cold in center. They warmed it up,and it was okay, but I'd try something else next time. There are many great choices. My friend got a hamburger and truffle fries; he said it was great.
(4)
Andrew C.
Came here with a big group of about 15 people. The hostess, manager, and waiter were all really nice and accommodating. They had the checks split up before hand as requested and no one was billed incorrectly. The couple blemishes I would say about service is that I was splitting the bill and one of us had cash while the other had a credit card. When the waiter saw this he came back and asked me if I just wanted to keep the cash instead and put everything on the card.....there is a reason there is cash there. Also, my friend had a groupon and forgot to tell the waiter before hand (she felt bad) but when she gave him the groupon after our meal, he made this grimace and just stood there with his hand on his forehead for like 30 seconds while telling her that she should have told him before. Yeah she was wrong, but hey you're making over $100 on one table, suck it up. Anyway, on to the food. We had the gorgonzola pizza for an appetizer. We were undecided for our entree, but the waiter HIGHLY recommended the pork chop with whipped sweet potato so we ended up sharing that. The pizza is thin crust style and is good enough as an app for two people. It was delicious. The crust was perfectly crisp as was the pancetta and they were pretty generous with the toppings. The sweet jam went really well with the salty pancetta, cheese, and fried onions. Before our entree arrived, they served us freshly baked bread and holy crap this was fantastic. You could hear the "oohs" and "aaahhs" around the table. The bread had a nice crust and inside was still hot, soft and fluffy, it crumbled under the pressure of the knife as I tried to cut it. It is also served with this amazing pecan butter. We all ordered more bread. I was excited for our entree because the appetizer and bread were so amazing but when it arrived and I took my first bite, I was let down. The pork chop was a tad bit on the dry side and the mustard sauce was good, but nothing that would knock my socks off. The sweet potato tasted ordinary too, it was supposed to have a hint of bourbon, but I could not taste it. I also ordered the chorizo maple mac and cheese. The mac was better, but it was lacking in maple flavor and their mac and cheese does not have a crust on top. For dessert we ordered the famous croissant chocolate chip bread pudding (which the waiter said was their best dessert) and it is definitely for sharing like the menu says, it was fairly large. The bread pudding comes straight out of the oven and it is served with a side of creme anglaise. Unfortunately it was mostly one note and if it was not for the chocolate chips, it would have been rather bland. It needed a bit more vanilla, sugar, or maybe some lemon zest or something. Again, good, but nothing great. Overall I was satisfied with the meal and the prices are decent for the portion sizes, but with all the other fantastic restaurants in the area, I would be hard pressed to come back here so soon.
(3)
Gustavo A. L.
Having heard this name come up in conversation several times during other gastronomic experiences with randomly different groups of friends, business associates and clients, we decided to once and for all find out if this place was, indeed, that good. City Hall delivered an experience to remember, with spot on service, wonderful recommendations from our waiter, and a meal that was simply perfect. Sure, we can blame this all to the wonderful bottle of wine that we consumed throughout the experience, but Wine can only make a good thing better so, it was not the wine, it was that City Hall is simply a good place with good food, good service and good people.
(5)
Lesley E.
I was overall disappointed with the entire experience. My favorite part was the complimentary maple butter that came with the bread. The ambiance was nice and a bit romantic. I got the country fried chicken and my boyfriend got the salmon. We also got a side of the Mac & cheese. My dish was not worth $23. There was a small portion of mashed potatoes, a brick hard biscuit and a couple of average pieces of chicken. My boyfriends salmon was good but there was wayyyy to many sesame seeds. WAY too many. The Mac & cheese was bad. It tasted like cheesy bacon.
(3)
Stephanie P.
Food and service was amazing! I had the tuna tartar, as my meal and it was more than filling (however, I'm a small woman). It was my friends birthday and they gave us two warm chocolate bread pudding which was TO DIE FOR! Everyone else loved there entrees as well.
(5)
Ghaz I.
It used to be a good place with a good service and food. Lately for some reason their service has become so bad. Last time we ordered for pick up and after 30 minutes went to pick up out order, they hadn't even entered it in the system nor prepared it. The receptionist offered the order on the house if we waited but we just walked out. We just called today (3 times) to place another order for pick up. No one picked up the phone. We live across the street from the restaurant but they've lost us for sure as regular clients.
(1)
MICHELLE C.
American Cuisine in a trendy NY style decor setting. After about four visits here, yes I really like this new restaurant. The decor is dark browns, comfy booths, high top tables surrounding the bar, a separate dining area room in the back and a lovely second floor sexy dining area. From the moment you walk in the hostess are wonderful. Very friendly and engaging in conversation, making you feel very welcome. Steve, the owner seems to be there often making sure everyone is happy, he is appreciative and touches as many tables as he can just to say thanks for your support. The service is impeccable, never worrying about anything, you will not go without refills on drinks, bread, etc... The food comes out in a timely matter, cooked to order so everything is pipping hot and fresh. The Filet Mignon, the half baked chicken, the meatloaf, the pasta dishes and oh the pizza is all scrumptious. The french onion soup is divine and the pizza's are awesome. After several meals here I find all of the entrees and appetizers to be great! I have yet to have something I did not care for. The menu has enough to please everyone, and I like that they have a good variety of some good home-cooked meals that are not over the top with trendy ingredients. Sometimes simplicity is better. One evening we went just for cocktails and we hung out at the bar. These gorgeous bartenders know how to make a drink. Get ready, they are strong and large. You get your glass filled to the rim then they give you a shaker filled with the rest. So you really get two full drinks and they surer know how to mix them. The eye candy in this place is well oh very nice. Gay men seem to flock here and they are ever so handsome and very friendly. I have met some really cool people here. This place deserves five stars, between the great service, awesome food, and amazing drinks. See you soon!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Blair S.
So not impressed with this place. My boyfriend and I came with friends for a late dinner. After hearing some good things, we were pretty excited. My boyfriend and I each ordered an entree and split an appetizer, and each had one cocktail- however some how our bill came to over $200! Now this would be alright if the food was good, but everything was so...bland. They really missed the mark on comfort food. The fried chicken was over cooked and dry, the bread pudding was less than flavorful, and the soup tasted like it came out of a can. Don't fall for the hype.
(3)Mariel D.
Before deciding to come to City Hall, we had a reservation in a restaurant that I got a groupon at... long story short the restaurants address in their website was wrong and got stuck in middle of downtown traffic for 30 minutes. We decided to cancel that reservation and with frustration start driving out of downtown , we have seen City Hall and been wanting to go for a really long time so we decided to give it a try... last minute without reservation and really hungry...the host accommodate us within minutes! This place it's a great discovery! I had the special which its 39$ for appetize(Cobb Salad), main course( N.Y Strip) and dessert (red velvet cake) , my fiancé had calamari as appetizer and a delicious homemade meat loaf with mashed potatoes as entrée. We had cocktails the bread its bananas with homemade pecan butter. The ambience its perfect for a relaxing romantic yet fun dinner. Highly recommended!!!
(5)Priscilla N.
The Corn Flake crusted Grand Marnier French Toast is heavenly! However, I had trouble making a reservation for sunday brunch and once I arrived I realized my party was the first one of the day. Service was great, aside from our waitress being overly concerned about the amount of the bottomless we had.
(4)Yari B.
Love it! We went at 4pm and they graciously gave us the option if ordering both from the brunch and dinner menus. Favorites at the table were the country dried chicken with its amazing flavors and the burger with Brie cheese. The tuna tartar was excellent. If you like eggs and polenta definitely try the short rib from the brunch menu. The Brussel sprouts side dish was yummy, but that is if you like your Brussel sprouts charred and crunchy like I do! Salmon salad also got thumbs up. Service was great. Ladies don't forget to bring a sweater if you are not a fan of polar temperatures.
(4)Christine S.
OMG! What an awesome surprise City Hall was! We had a Living Social voucher for $50. We weren't too hungry as we'd been sight seeing and not burning ANY calories, but we did have this voucher and this was the last night of our vacation to use it. As soon as we arrived, I told the host about my Living Social voucher and showed him it was on my smart phone. He was very sweet and made us feel very welcomed. He said "no problem, it's happy hour sit wherever you want" so we got the happy hour menu and started ordering tapas style. We ordered a couple of cocktails that we'd never had before (at our server, Derek's suggestion)and we ordered some food off of the happy hour menu. Derek was very accommodating and attentive and gave us a lot of good suggestions. First he recommended a lychee and vodka drink...yummy! Then he suggested a jalapeño, mango and vodka drink...amazing!!! Ps...they don't cheap out on alcohol or food quality. Our "tapas" off of the appetizer menu were asahi tuna won tons, fried shrimp tacos, brussel sprouts and honey chicken wings. All were delicious! Problem...When it came time for the check, the manager came over and said they "weren't going to honor the voucher cuz you can't do happy hour on it." I told him that we weren't trying to hustle anyone out of anything, and if we were told no happy hour, we would have ordered off of the regular menu. He said "the best he could do was 10% off of the bill". For me it was the principal of the thing. I mentioned to the host that they weren't going to honor my voucher and he talked to someone and all of a sudden they took it! Cool! We did leave about a 30% tip (before the voucher credit) for Derek as he was all about great customer service. Tip: Make sure you don't use your voucher on happy hour. Make sure that everyone knows you have a voucher. Final score: Manager=Sketchy, Host=Sweet, Derek=Awesome! With or without a voucher, a treat for your palate and a definite do over ;)
(5)Alexa B.
This place is adorable and the jazz singer brunch is so fun, but I won't be back because of the service. I made a reservation online and for some reason the bartender was also our server, so he was MIA for most of our meal. If we wanted anything we had to go find him at the bar. Toward the end of our meal he told us they have an app we could download to request things like extra ketchup but honestly that's a lot of work just to get some service. My friend found a match in her food so that was the last straw. She tried to complain but our server/bartender somehow lost it and couldn't show it to the manager....sketch. Also parking is annoying, its either $5 or you have to drive around the block looking for street parking. I can see why this place was empty for Sunday brunch.
(1)Melanie A.
I saw the owner of City Hall - The restaurant on the news talking about Miami spice week and what do ya know? The very next day myself and a fellow yelper decided to check this place out. It was quite disorganized as literally 4 people came by to ask us if we wanted something to drink other than water and were like in disbelief that we politely declined. Hi, it's 2:00pm, I don't feel like getting drunk right now but thanks!!!!!! I just ordered the calamari with spicy tomato sauce and let's just say it was very bland and tasteless. If the calamari isn't good, I highly doubt their filet mignon or other dishes are spectacular! I won't be back, The only reason this gets two stars is because the person who finally ended up serving us was very nice and made sure we were always taken care of. The Daily is a better lunch option just down the street!
(2)Danielle M.
We stumbled upon City Hall because it was within walking distance from our hotel (The DoubleTree Grand). My husband and I had the duck confit pizza as an appetizer and it was great--not greasy or too fatty and a really tasty combination of savory and sweet. My chicken limonata was really good and I appreciated that the pasta was fresh. My husband had the meatloaf, which he loved. The maple bacon mac and cheese that accompanied it was also great. The next day, we came back with my colleagues from work. The service was great both days and they had no problems splitting the check amongst seven people which we really appreciated because we know what a pain it can be for a server to have to do this.
(5)Stella Z.
Went here for the first time tonight. Food is very mediocre for the price. I felt like I was eating at a Chili's. It's just average food.
(3)Teri W.
Attended a luncheon at City Hall Restaurant today. The service was outstanding. The waiter took care of a private room with approximately 25 people and managed to get every order correct and provide excellent attention to the guests. The food was great. Their legendary bread with sweet butter was delicious! I had their shrimp salad and ate every morsel. Others ordered the mahi-mahi wrap, burgers, pasta bolognese and there was not one complaint about the food. We even had dessert; I had their lemon pound cake and it was light and tasty. I hope to make it back for brunch or dinner.
(5)Juli M.
Great food great everything!!!! This is a must come to if you come to Miami! Love love love cornflakes chicken are the best!
(5)Leilani D.
I ate here once, around the same time last year for Miami Spice, and the only way that I can describe this place is average. There is absolutely nothing about it that stands out. The service was fairly attentive, but not overly informed. I know I had a crab cake appetizer to start, a filet as my entree, and a chocolate chip bread pudding for dessert. All of that sounds pretty good right? It wasn't. It was by no means bad, but it was entirely boring. I think the biggest disappointment was probably the steak - just because I love filet and it didn't taste much better than anything you might get at a Chli's. Another major gripe is that even during Miami Spice (which was a great deal compared to the menu prices) we ended up spending well over $100 for two people with a reasonably priced bottle of wine. If there had been no special and we had ordered similarly, the bill would have been $150+ and I would have been furious. Maybe we ordered the wrong things - maybe they only do the country classics well - but at these prices, I'm not going to throw away another benjamin to find out. If for whatever reason you do decide you want to eat here - make reservations. For some unknown reason, it's always pretty packed.
(2)David W.
Good late night burger after a show. Service was good. Not a big selection of beer. Host spent too much time on his cell phone but was otherwise very friendly. Waited and staff was prompt, friendly and professional.
(4)Paul M.
After going to City Hall, the first thing that came to mind was "WEEDS". It wasn't because I felt like I was high in a California suburb though - it was because these dudes were in the WEEDS big time. For those who have worked hospitality you know exactly what I am talking about - place is slammed beyond belief and you are watching the disaster happen helpless in slow motion. Kitchen teetering out of control trying to keep up with the mass of orders piling in yet more and more guests keep arriving. Servers scrambling everywhere like chickens without heads trying to keep up. The unfortunate collateral damage is water not filled for 2 hours, having to ask for bread 3 times, and dinners that last for 3 EFFING hours. Pissed off diners everywhere. Gordon Ramsey needed to come in and open a can of whoop ass on these donkeys!!!! When we arrived at 6PM the place was busy, but not too full. We were one of the first tables seated upstairs so I really can't understand how our server and the kitchen got so overwhelmed. It's really too bad as we were really looking forward to trying this place based on the recommendations of my trusted yelpers. The venue was extremely nice, the food was good. Service - HORRENDOUS! Here we go: Pros: Good food - Skirt steak was enjoyed by our friend. Nice Venue Strong Drinks Good Miami Spice Menu - All 3 appetizers were great. Pork chop was GIGANTIC. Place was packed beyond belief. Cons: 3+ HOUR FREAKING DINNER - are you kidding me? I could have driven to the ocean, dove in and caught scallops, driven home and grilled them, and baked a cake in that time. Speaking of Scallops, where's the beef? We had 4 of the most microscopic scallops I have ever seen. Very surprising considering Tom was served gigantic scallops in his review. More like an appetizer. Table upstairs was FREEZING under the vent - I had icicles on my nipples by the end of dinner. Had to ask for bread 3 times. Asked for water and was never refilled. Dessert took 45 minutes to come out. There was no souffle order so maybe they had to drive across town to pick it up. SO LOUD - we had to yell to converse with the other side of the table. To his credit, the manager Robert did apologize when we mentioned the exorbitant time our dinner took. He said the kitchen was in fact overloaded. He offered to buy us drinks but by that point we wanted to just get out of there and defrost. We'll see if we come back again and take him up on his offer. Get it together City Hall! Service like that closes places in 6 months...
(2)Steven M.
Absolutely fantastic. I always try a place a few times before writing a review and I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal here. The menu is creative, the service is good, the price is decent, and I always leave happy and full. A southern comfort style menu with a modern twist. I highly recommend the duck flatbread and French toast. Enjoy!
(5)Monica C.
Because the food was so delish, I went back to City Hall for Dinner. What a difference!! We were seated right away, my waiter was attentive but not too pushy. He made great suggestions, made sure our glasses were full and our table was clean. I had the skirt steak for dinner with the jasmine rice. Perfection!! I also found out that they have a private room for parties. I was allowed to look at the room. It is private and spacious. Definitely recommend it for an event (I was trying to come up with an event to have a party myself.)
(5)Michelle L.
Finally got the chance to check out City Hall this past Saturday. The host asked us if we had reservations or if we were interested in their dining in the dark package. That sounded like fun but we went with regular dining experience. To our surprise, there was a $37 3 course dinner menu. Our waitor Danny, who was very fun and helpful throughout our night, told us that the menu changes and we wouldn't be disappointed. So we went with the 3 course meal. For starters I ordered the half clams in lemon butter sauce (I highly recommend) and my cousins the ceasar salad. Ask for an order of fresh bread, they serve it fresh out of the oven. For main course we got the fried chicken, pork chop over butternut squash mash, and rib eye with truffle butter fries. I didn't like the fried chicken (atleast it wasnt what I envisioned in my head) the waitor withot hesitation removed it and asked if I prefered something else but that it would be atleast 15 more minutes to prepare. I told him that I wouldnt mind the wait. The chef specially prepared it and brought it to me in 10 min flat. Thats service!! I was pleased. And for dessert, the warm bread pudding was out of control good. We were so pleased with the service and the 3 course menu was amazingly good. Way to treat your patrons, I will definitely return.
(5)nunya b.
One of the top three breakfasts I've ever had in my life. So amazing. Everything was spectacular. Star of the show was the bread pudding at the end. Calamari, mushroom puff pastry thing, braised short ribs and polenta and French toast to die for!
(5)Miriana M.
Came here on saturday night for miami spice dinner. We had reservations so we were seated right away. Waiter came over and offered us some drinks, we politely asked for sparkling water to start. I had the eggplant for starters and it was delicious! The portion was pretty big, enough to share if i wanted to, but i had no intentions to do so. I then had the pork chop with mashed sweet potatoes. Let me say that most people in my table ordered the rib eye and boy was i spot on by ordering the pork chop. It was by far better than everybody else's steak. Very tender, very flavorful- highly recommendable. For dessert I had the carrot cake, but i should've had the chocolate chip croissant bread pudding .. It definitely was the dessert superstar so go for that instead ;) All of our dishes were delicious .. but MANNN, our waiter was extremely annoying. He was super pushy throughout our whole dinner for us to order drinks. I kid you not, he at least asked us 4 times in the roughly 2 hrs we were there even though we let him now we'd have digestifs after we finished eating. Almost made us wish we had ordered to go. Minus 1 star for this annoyance.
(4)Ray B.
I've been there 2 times now and sadly will not be going back. The food is OK, not great but OK, a little bland for my taste but the service is beyond horrible. Our server didn't know the menu, we didn't get the appetizers we ordered, we asked to take our leftovers to go but our server decided to throw them away instead, we asked for dessert and coffee but got coffee 3 to 5 minutes before dessert. Oh and dessert, talk about a disgusting gooey mess. Or server recommended the roulade as it was the dessert of the day. It was a flavorless sticky congealed spongy thing. Whatever that was it does not belong on a restaurant menu, not this restaurant, not any restaurant. Also I had called earlier to make lunch reservations, they said it was not necessary but failed to mention that the restaurant was under renovations and that work would take place during lunch ours, the noise was unbearable. Not a good experience at all. Would NOT recommend to anyone.
(2)L. R.
Sunday Gospel brunch with Maryel Epps was . . . lively. She's a class act with a great, powerful voice. Thought about the egg white omelet but my waiter suggested the "signature" chicken and waffles (actually French toast). I wish I ordered the omelet. Good dish, but really, really sweet. The best dish among my friends was the en croute egg dish. I will order that at my next brunch visit. FYI, valet parking behind the building is $5.
(3)Rhena S.
The decor was beautiful but unfortunately the food was not good. Came here for the very first time with a group of 10 for brunch. I decided to try the eggs Benedict. It had no flavor and was very fresh. I thought it was just my food so I tried my bf's oatmeal, that was fresh also, no sugar in it what so ever. I had a piece of bacon as well and even that was fresh, tasted like they soaked it over night in water. Needless to say that was the worst bacon I've ever had in my life. Idk what was going on lol. Other than my food having no taste to it everything else was good. The service was great, the place is super clean, and the drinks were good. If I ever do come back again it won't for brunch. Maybe the lunch and/or dinner food will taste good.
(2)Alex D.
Pleasantly surprised. I had heard from friends that City Hall was "hit" or "miss." I must have gone on a "hit" night. Our meals were up to par and service was great. Dessert was just OK and seemed "bought" rather than home made. Will be back, but skipping dessert.
(3)Catie G.
Out of all the brunch options in Miami this one sets itself apart with a gospel sideshow featuring Maryel Epps. She has an impressive voice, numerous costume changes but the volume is kept so you can still chat with your companions. This is not the only reason to visit. Their menu has ingenious sweet options like the Grand Marnier French Toast. But don't despair because savory items like the Crab Cake Benedict are equally decadent & satisfying. We did not imbibe so I'm unsure about a free flowing mimosa special(s).
(5)Michael A.
I went here for Sunday brunch and everything about it was amazing, including the menu. I would highly recommend this place
(5)Dre B.
Update 12/2014: Menu has been paired down slightly and the prices a bit higher. But the food is still good and the device always excellent. Still 5 stars. Great food and great, friendly staff. The weekend brunch is amazing. I don't care much for the singer coming by my table during brunch but most seem to enjoy her and she's very jovial. Definitely a place to bring out of town friends or a date. Great food and great, friendly staff. The weekend brunch is amazing. I don't care much for the singer coming by my table during brunch but most seem to enjoy her and she's very jovial. Definitely a place to bring out of town friends or a date. Great food and great, friendly staff. The weekend brunch is amazing. I don't care much for the singer coming by my table during brunch but most seem to enjoy her and she's very jovial. Definitely a place to bring out of town friends or a date.
(5)Allen F.
Average at best for food, above average for drinks. I live across the street from this restaurant and find myself there when I don't want to venture out too far. The food is good, though not consistent; the same item is prepared differently and tastes differently each time. But the convenience of the location and the variety keeps me coming back. On a positive note, the bar is well stocked and the bartenders are great. This place may not win a memorable place on your mind, but it's worth a try.
(3)Pam R.
We went to City Hall (May 2014) and it was an amazing place. Maricel was the singer there and she did 2 shows while we were there. The food was good and the service was on point. Truly a gem
(4)Giuseppe M.
This is the place to be if you are in the mood for fresh, unique and food with dynamic flavor. Once there, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, the very attentive staff and the creative menu.
(4)Abigail B.
My fiancé and I came here over the weekend for a late lunch. It was slow, as can be expected for 3:00 in the afternoon. I can see how this space would be fun at night with a dinner crowd. I had the duck and mushroom pizza. It was loaded with duck meat (almost too much, but I can't really complain about that). I had the spicy sorrano pepper cocktail - PERFECT for me! I love a little spice in my drinks! My fiancé had a turkey burger wrap, which he said was really good. It came with fries, and that was the only disappointing thing we had. For as good as all the other food was, City Hall, please step up your fry game!! lol Service was stellar!! From the hostess, to our waiter, to every other employee we encountered, everyone was friendly, smiling, and happy to make suggestions. We will be back for sure to try dinner!
(4)Laure M.
Great place! Huge portions, ok prices, prompt service. I had the roasted half chicken with broccolini and sweet potato fries (instead of white potatoes). Huge portion, great sauce, perfectly cooked and delicious crispy fries. My husband got the meatloaf served with mac & cheese and green beans, topped with fried onions. Huge portion again and delicious taste! None of us could finish our plate so we have great leftovers!! Their bread is good, very light with a crispy crust. The pecan butter is interesting... Special taste but it works with the bread. We unfortunately didn't get refill on bread. Definitely recommend it and will go back again soon hopefully!
(4)Andrew C.
Came here with a big group of about 15 people. The hostess, manager, and waiter were all really nice and accommodating. They had the checks split up before hand as requested and no one was billed incorrectly. The couple blemishes I would say about service is that I was splitting the bill and one of us had cash while the other had a credit card. When the waiter saw this he came back and asked me if I just wanted to keep the cash instead and put everything on the card.....there is a reason there is cash there. Also, my friend had a groupon and forgot to tell the waiter before hand (she felt bad) but when she gave him the groupon after our meal, he made this grimace and just stood there with his hand on his forehead for like 30 seconds while telling her that she should have told him before. Yeah she was wrong, but hey you're making over $100 on one table, suck it up. Anyway, on to the food. We had the gorgonzola pizza for an appetizer. We were undecided for our entree, but the waiter HIGHLY recommended the pork chop with whipped sweet potato so we ended up sharing that. The pizza is thin crust style and is good enough as an app for two people. It was delicious. The crust was perfectly crisp as was the pancetta and they were pretty generous with the toppings. The sweet jam went really well with the salty pancetta, cheese, and fried onions. Before our entree arrived, they served us freshly baked bread and holy crap this was fantastic. You could hear the "oohs" and "aaahhs" around the table. The bread had a nice crust and inside was still hot, soft and fluffy, it crumbled under the pressure of the knife as I tried to cut it. It is also served with this amazing pecan butter. We all ordered more bread. I was excited for our entree because the appetizer and bread were so amazing but when it arrived and I took my first bite, I was let down. The pork chop was a tad bit on the dry side and the mustard sauce was good, but nothing that would knock my socks off. The sweet potato tasted ordinary too, it was supposed to have a hint of bourbon, but I could not taste it. I also ordered the chorizo maple mac and cheese. The mac was better, but it was lacking in maple flavor and their mac and cheese does not have a crust on top. For dessert we ordered the famous croissant chocolate chip bread pudding (which the waiter said was their best dessert) and it is definitely for sharing like the menu says, it was fairly large. The bread pudding comes straight out of the oven and it is served with a side of creme anglaise. Unfortunately it was mostly one note and if it was not for the chocolate chips, it would have been rather bland. It needed a bit more vanilla, sugar, or maybe some lemon zest or something. Again, good, but nothing great. Overall I was satisfied with the meal and the prices are decent for the portion sizes, but with all the other fantastic restaurants in the area, I would be hard pressed to come back here so soon.
(3)Vanessa P.
After seeing KODO at the Adrienne Arscht Center we came here to satisfy a late night craving. Having heard nothing but good things I had high expectations, and from our experience it fit the bill. We were promptly seated and since I didn't want to go too overboard for an after 10pm meal, I went with their tuna tartar and their iceberg wedge salad. The tuna tartar was insanely delicious! Truth be told, I never wanted it to end. Layers and layers of juicy tuna, avocado and other delicious ingredients (papaya) plus a side of crispy chips to help shovel it all in. As for the salad, I have an affinity for wedge salads and this hit the spot. The mac and cheese with chorizo was also very good. Creamy cheesy goodness with specs of salty and spicy chorizo. Made me think why mom's mac and cheese never tasted this good? Regardless, my taste-buds were wholly satisfied. City Hall was the right place at the right time for us, Although we normally don;t frequent the downtown dining area, we'd definitely come back to try the rest of the menu options.
(4)Sue S.
City Hall was good, but meatloaf was cold in center. They warmed it up,and it was okay, but I'd try something else next time. There are many great choices. My friend got a hamburger and truffle fries; he said it was great.
(4)Gustavo A. L.
Having heard this name come up in conversation several times during other gastronomic experiences with randomly different groups of friends, business associates and clients, we decided to once and for all find out if this place was, indeed, that good. City Hall delivered an experience to remember, with spot on service, wonderful recommendations from our waiter, and a meal that was simply perfect. Sure, we can blame this all to the wonderful bottle of wine that we consumed throughout the experience, but Wine can only make a good thing better so, it was not the wine, it was that City Hall is simply a good place with good food, good service and good people.
(5)Lesley E.
I was overall disappointed with the entire experience. My favorite part was the complimentary maple butter that came with the bread. The ambiance was nice and a bit romantic. I got the country fried chicken and my boyfriend got the salmon. We also got a side of the Mac & cheese. My dish was not worth $23. There was a small portion of mashed potatoes, a brick hard biscuit and a couple of average pieces of chicken. My boyfriends salmon was good but there was wayyyy to many sesame seeds. WAY too many. The Mac & cheese was bad. It tasted like cheesy bacon.
(3)Stephanie P.
Food and service was amazing! I had the tuna tartar, as my meal and it was more than filling (however, I'm a small woman). It was my friends birthday and they gave us two warm chocolate bread pudding which was TO DIE FOR! Everyone else loved there entrees as well.
(5)Ghaz I.
It used to be a good place with a good service and food. Lately for some reason their service has become so bad. Last time we ordered for pick up and after 30 minutes went to pick up out order, they hadn't even entered it in the system nor prepared it. The receptionist offered the order on the house if we waited but we just walked out. We just called today (3 times) to place another order for pick up. No one picked up the phone. We live across the street from the restaurant but they've lost us for sure as regular clients.
(1)Carla L.
I was very surprised to see some of the not so perfect reviews from some of my favorite Yelpers. HOW could it be?? How could this NOT have been the most perfect food, most perfect experience for everyone?? I don't know. All I know is what my experience was and this story I shall tell. We have heard some pretty good things from people about City Hall - The Restaurant, so we decided the Miami Spice Menu would be a great excuse to try it. We came at an odd time, happy hour, not lunch, not dinner. We got the lunch spice menu but were told we could choose either. That was a total win since two of us ordered from the Lunch and one from the Dinner. By the way - Amir is awesome. Friendly, amazing service, big smile and ready to share his love of [my favorite city on earth] Paris, his hometown. PLUS he will make you any cocktail you want - no mixers. He hooked me up with an amazing red Cabernet Sauvingon after asking me if I liked my red wine light or heavier.. I said heavier and YUM. I started with a most yummy Eggplant appetizer. It was basically a small Eggplant Parmesan, but the flavor was full and rich. My hubby got a nice bowl of salad, it was abundant and the dressing yummy. Our daughter had the Crab Cake (sans bacon), the only thing was it was a tad tiny. She liked it, and she would have liked more. My hubby and I ordered Mahi Mahi and our daughter ordered the Shrimp and Grits. Her grits were delicious and although her music loving twin John Paul G (hey dude, sup?) didn't have the best experience hers were perfectly made. I know, because I "helped" her eat it. Now this next point is really, really, really, important. The Mahi Mahi? The best fish I have ever had. Ever. Please know this is no lie, no exaggeration. We both were so surprised, we just did NOT believe it. It came with a delicious spinach and Quinoa. When dessert came we kept on trying each others and the only words out of our mouths was "Wow, try hers", "Wow, try mine" and "Wow, try his" and then "Oh my GOD, WOW"! At this point I can genuinely and honestly say this is the best meal I have had in Miami. Did we get lucky and get them on a good day? I do not know, I guess I need to return to find out. Again, this is my experience.
(5)Ed B.
I will start with saying the service is excellent... Very friendly hosts and hostess. Atmosphere was cool and great happy hour.. Half off martinis and glasses of wine.. Food was really good too.. Bread is great with a sweet butter. I had the Chicken Limon which was very tasty. My wife had the beefsteak tomatoes and mozzarella which she loved.. It was a really good experience and I would return..
(4)Diogo M.
Perfect!! Try the sweet and spicy martini, it's omg! And the bread pudding! Coming back for sure!
(5)MICHELLE C.
American Cuisine in a trendy NY style decor setting. After about four visits here, yes I really like this new restaurant. The decor is dark browns, comfy booths, high top tables surrounding the bar, a separate dining area room in the back and a lovely second floor sexy dining area. From the moment you walk in the hostess are wonderful. Very friendly and engaging in conversation, making you feel very welcome. Steve, the owner seems to be there often making sure everyone is happy, he is appreciative and touches as many tables as he can just to say thanks for your support. The service is impeccable, never worrying about anything, you will not go without refills on drinks, bread, etc... The food comes out in a timely matter, cooked to order so everything is pipping hot and fresh. The Filet Mignon, the half baked chicken, the meatloaf, the pasta dishes and oh the pizza is all scrumptious. The french onion soup is divine and the pizza's are awesome. After several meals here I find all of the entrees and appetizers to be great! I have yet to have something I did not care for. The menu has enough to please everyone, and I like that they have a good variety of some good home-cooked meals that are not over the top with trendy ingredients. Sometimes simplicity is better. One evening we went just for cocktails and we hung out at the bar. These gorgeous bartenders know how to make a drink. Get ready, they are strong and large. You get your glass filled to the rim then they give you a shaker filled with the rest. So you really get two full drinks and they surer know how to mix them. The eye candy in this place is well oh very nice. Gay men seem to flock here and they are ever so handsome and very friendly. I have met some really cool people here. This place deserves five stars, between the great service, awesome food, and amazing drinks. See you soon!
(5)Lia P.
I really wanna give this place 4 stars but it just missed the mark for me and my husband. So really it's closer to 3.5 stars. I've been here a couple times and still haven't been WOWed like I expect. Both times I've had good service, whether it was at the bar or from a waiter/waitress. Everyone has been really professional. I appreciated that when my husband asked for a malbec suggestion last time the waiter didn't choose the most expensive bottle. The food hasn't been great. The first time I went I had a salad and I was supposed to get it with an herb vinagrette but they brought a creamy dressing...when I asked them to correct this the guy looked at me confused and asked if I meant balsamic vinegar. No...not what I meant. So I was left with an awkwardly thick creamy dressing. Last time however I got a mixed baby greens salad and that was GOOD! Big portion for only $7 and super fresh. And low and behold, there was my herb vinagrette I wanted last time! I also got the Guinness braised mussels and omg, were those awesome. Amazing flavor between the Guinness, chorizo, and fresh mussels. Other standouts from the night were the blue cheese mashed potatoes that came with my husband's steak, and the bread pudding. Non-standouts include the cocktails and the portion size of the Miami Spice offerings. I want to love this place because the atmosphere's so nice and everyone on the staff seems awesome but it doesn't seem to be the best value.
(3)Andrea C.
Sunday brunch comes with live musical entertainment! We had the duck and mushroom pizza which was tasty. The scallop plate was good but skimpy with only 3 scallops for $28.50. The shrimp and grits were good. Warm bread and apple butter is always served. Service was attentive. This is a great and convenient location for attending any of the downtown venues (AAA or Arsht.)
(4)Rony M.
OkCupid has an iPhone app with a 'Locals' section, a virtual meat market where users have the option to show their interest and plan dates. Weekdays you can usually find me at the Democratic Republic of Beer because craft beer six-packs start at only $20 between 4:30-7:30. I was with my coworkers one Thursday and we're halfway into our second "I Don't Drink Beer Unless It Has An Animal On It" sixer when my phone lit up with a little pink message -- "Suzy_Schmoozy is nearby and wants to meet you!" I have a look at her pictures and she's a cutie, but something is a little off. I pass my phone around and my buddies give her 4 enthusiastic thumbs up! What the hell do they know, they're both married with children. I blame my hesitation on the a-a-a-a-alcohol and respond. 5 or 6 volleys later she invites me to City Hall. I stroll in and an enthusiastic pantsuited lady with a name-tag wants to know, "Are you here for the Florida Bar Somethin' Somethin' Mixer?" Simultaneously I feel a vice grip around my bicep like someone taking my blood pressure and hear a silky jazz vocalist's voice say, "He's with me." I turn around and almost eye to eye with a taller and significantly more athletic woman than the pics advertised. Imagine a fair-skinned Gabby Reece with a strawberry-blonde bob haircut -- peterreadmiller.com/inde… I needed a drink but the bar looked like an impenetrable phalanx formation. Instead of legionnaires, the ranks appeared to be filled with mannequins from Men's Warehouse. Everyone was wearing the same suit and shirt combo but different ties. A waiter stopped by to take my order and I tell him to surprise me. He does...by not bringing me a drink for 20 minutes. 1st time I question him with my eyes, he answers with astonished eyes. 2nd time he crosses my path he looks at my empty hands and scampers off. 3rd time he exclaims, "You don't have your drink yet?" I don't know why he asked me that, as if it was supposed to come down from the ceiling in a basket?! Meanwhile this fifi is blabbing on about triathlons and Cerebral Palsy foundations but I can't concentrate. It's deafeningly loud and I'm trying to inspect her for the 3 telltale signs of transvestism. No Adam's apple..CHECK..no bulge in her pants..CHECK..no man hands...well 2 out of 3 is a risk I'm willing to take. Finally my adult beverage arrives along with largest glass of wine I've ever seen, seriously half a bottle of Fume Blanc went into that thing. I pull out my card and the waiter waves it away while quoting my favorite Lil' Wayne mixtape, "Sorry for the wait." I also sampled -- City Clerk has Flor de Caña, Root liqueur, coke and almond sizzurp. The drink version of the Flaming Dr. Pepper shot, with less inebriating effects. The Douche was a berry caipirinha-esque drink specifically crafted for the event. If I had a pair of ovaries, I would think this drink was "yums". Oysters baked with blue cheese, bacon, spinach and arugula ranch. In Dominican Spanish we have a saying, "Eres capaz de comerte un moco." Which translates to "You're capable of eating snot." Dairy with fish or shellfish make me nauseous, and this tasted like strep throat. Duck Confit Pizza with parmesan, mushrooms and truffle béchamel drizzled with port wine sauce. I didn't try it because of the overpowering stench of mushrooms that came off it but Suzy gave it 2 thumbs down. For the dryness of the meat and the overly sweet sauce. Gorgonzola Pizza topped with pancetta, sweet onion cream cheese, fig jam and a nest of crispy onions. This pie was painful to the palate, as the jam was about a hundred degrees hotter than the rest of he pizza. Perhaps I would've made some better food choices had I not been so distracted by how defined and vascular my date's arms were. I knew I should've paid more attention during that 'anthropometry and photographic statistical height estimation' lecture in college. In closing, if it was up to the food, I'd call this place 'Shitty Hall'. I still want to try the Timpano and the Meatloaf but I fear the much adored Maple-Chorizo Mac N' Cheese might be more of the same sickly-sweet fare that doomed my first experience. As far as drinks go, my compliments to the bartender. ...and if you're wondering about Suzy Schmoozyberg...she's an exceptional woman that moved her happy androgynous ass to DC to work for an elite law practice.
(3)Rachel S.
Pros: Happy hour, happy hour, happy hour. GREAT bartenders. Fabulous host. They deliver. The meatloaf with chorizo mac and cheese. Cons: Prices. Inconsistent to mediocre food. Inconsistent or just plain bad service. Go get a burger somewhere else and do not order the fries.
(3)Brian G.
City Hall is a big restaurant with 2 floors and high ceilings, and very good food!! their menu is extensive, so you have a lot of choices. they also have a brunch, menu on Sunday and a very good blues singer preformed when we were there. the room can get noisy, but the restaurant is very friendly and the service is good. this place is a lot of fun!!! and the prices are not too bad. the starter dishes were or are almost of entree size. so enjoy.
(4)Brittney W.
Am I the only one who wants to inject the pecan butter into her bloodstream?!? seriously, I find myself always ordering loaves of their bread to take home making sure that they throw in a few butter balls for a midnight snack. But besides the bread and butter, I've never had a meal at City Hall that I didn't enjoy. I love coming here late night after a Heat game or performance at the Arsht Center. And depending on the event going on around the area, there's always a prefixed menu option featuring some of the restaurant favorites.
(5)Tania G.
i can sum up my visit in 3 words: i wasn't wowed. the bread is worth mentioning- the pecan butter was pretty damn good. other items...well... the meatloaf was good; not $18 worth, but good. and the gravy was terrible!!! the mac and cheese was not memorable- i'm not sure what other people find so great about it to be quite honest. maybe it was a bad batch, but it was pretty bland for my buds. the braised beef stuffed potato skins were not as good as i would have hoped. the flavor of the ribs was odd. the gorgonzola pizza was the probably the best thing we had. the figs gave it a nice, sweet touch. in summary, the things worth mentioning are the bread and the pizza - go figure! service was good yet like other yelpers have mentioned, it does get noisy.
(3)Amanda F.
Heard the meatloaf was good... But yuck. The Mac and cheese that comes with it was even WORSE! Don't order it. Mom and dad loved the tuna tar tar and the shrimps and grits. Guess I wasn't the lucky one -.- good service tho!
(4)Waylon R.
Amazing find! Had dinner before going to the Arscht Center and was in awe of how amazing it was. We sat at the bar because we were rushed for time and the bartender was extremely helpful with suggestions. House Cabernet is amazing, Coppola Directors Cut, I have never had such a good house wine before. We started with the Tuna Tartar and as a tuna fan, I was in heaven. Light and perfect with fresh crispy wontons. It was happy hour so we also indulged in the Truffle Parmesean Brussel Sprouts and the Honey Herb Wings.... Both amazing. I love both of these and can eat them anytime and they took them to the next level. The wings are soaked overnight in honey so they have an amazing sweetness to them. The brussel sprouts were cooked to perfection. The bartender recommended so great choices and we went with the Pork Chop, and I was amazed how great it was. BEST PORK CHOP IVE EVER HAD!! hands down.. Thick cut and cooked perfectly, juicy and the accompanying sauce was amazing! Sweet potato mash was the perfect pair for it. Will totally be back with friends
(5)Alive S.
I will never ever ever get tired of City Hall from the friendly smile when you walk in to the most delicious bread pudding a girl can want. Top notch service & consistent food beats trendy typical Miami restaurants any day.
(5)Morgan's M.
Come here for the best French Toast on the planet! I've been to City Hall several times and the Chicken & French Toast is always perfect. The pecan butter they serve with warm bread is the stuff dreams. The grits a great as we'll. I've only had one disappointing meal, Short Rib w/ palenta . Ribs were too fatty. But short ribs are always a gamble.
(5)C.K. L.
I dine here often and have yet to find something I haven't loved. The menu is ever-revolving, the service is perfect--no one hovering over you, but all you have to do is look up and your Waiter is at your table. The Miami Spice menu is the best I've sampled anywhere. My particular favorite is the Sesame Coated Salmon, yet I wouldn't turn down any of the appetizers and/or main courses. Desserts? All are yummy, but their Banana Cream Pie is OMG! I've brought most everyone I know there for lunch and dinner, and they all go back again and again. If you're meeting the Laurences for dinner, expect it to be at City Hall the Restaurant...
(5)Laura D.
I came here after someone I know well recommended it. As I walked in, I noticed that the ambiance and decor was nice. I felt like I was in NYC for some reason. I sat down and waited for my clients to arrive. We then ordered and it all went down hill. The waiter forgot the side dish that I had ordered and was no where to be found when we were done with our meal. Another waiter asked if we wanted anything else so we asked for espresso coffee to finish our meals and then the check. Then 10 or 15 minutes go by with no coffee and no check. Finally our original waiter comes out (he was missing for all this time) and we repeat our coffee order and desire for the check. Another 10 minutes go by and finally our coffee arrives. We quickly get up and go once we finish our coffee. I will likely not be returning here. The food everyone had was just OKaY and service was terrible. Sorry City Hall, I will likely not be returning.
(2)Jennifer A.
I went with my husband and friends on Saturday night and we all ate from the Miami Spice menu. The restaurant was only about 40 to 50% full downstairs (never went upstairs). Despite the emptiness of the restaurant, our server was SLOW, and he seemed a little clueless about the menu and wine pairing advertised. The martini menu was creative, and offered several non-vodka options that were good. Watch out for the Special Master, it is actually quite spicy. We all ate from the Miami Spice menu, and I got to taste most of what was ordered. Overall, most of the food was very good, with the exception of (of course) my "pan seared mahi." It was supposed to be pan-seared, but what I got was a dry, tough piece of unappetizing fish that I couldn't finish. Hy hubby's "famous fried chicken" was outstanding: crispy, moist meat and not greasy. My baked eggplant appetizer was also delicious, as was the corn chowder and the chocolate-chip croissant bread pudding. The ho-hum marscapone carrot cake was nothing to write home about. The title sounded more appetizing than it actually was. While I would go back, I would definitely stay away from the fish (inedible) and carrot cake (not worth the calories).
(3)Espicubi E.
Amazing! Crab cakes Benedict delicious.. But the best item on menu was the cornflakes crusted French toast and their delicious warm bread with maple almond butter! This place is amazing.
(5)Fred G.
Great service! But the food was so disappointing. I had high expectations for the burger as it was mouth watering described. It was way too greasy and the bread was very very old.
(1)Tiffany G.
Was so excited to try this place out 'cause of all the hype. Total Fail! The eggplant parm arrived cold, my shrimp and grits was plate with instant grits...Nothing special... I didn't even end up eating dessert. Even the sparkling water was hot. How'd they manage that!? In addition to the not so good food, waiters kept ramming into our table. Overall, not a place I would return to.
(1)Ken D.
A big booth, a big martini, and a big meal at City Hall made for one big night with friends in more ways than one. Reading the reviews of my fellow Yelpers, I had hopes and trepidation about the evening, and, fortunately, left both pleasantly surprised and full. A few highlights: - The friendly, almost giddy host and hostess. All of us wearing 'mango'. - The aforementioned martini...big, extra dry, extra cold, shaken til it hurt. (I listened as it was being mixed to ensure that this was the case, and indeed it was.) - The unconventional French onion soup with cheese on the bottom and wonton was an interesting surprise, and assembled table side. While it won't replace the real thing in my heart, it was a different twist on a classic. - The Timpani, which almost killed me as I struggled to eat the entire thing. If you've seen the movie 'Big Night', you know what this is, and I've never seen it in a restaurant. What a treat! A few low lights: - The 'artisinal' bread was just a loaf of white bread. City Hall, you might want to rethink this as it doesn't read 'artisinal' at table. - The fried chicken was overly brined, and way too salty. - The large screen TV, which competes with the decor and smacks of sports bar. We just aren't target market for this feature. Are there many Nielsen families in the area? So, in summary, if you can order thoughtfully, I say try it. As they say, you can't fight City Hall, so why even try?
(4)Olga Z.
The Insider said: The bartender (Meno) makes a guava mojito that's not on the southern comfort food stylr menu but is one of City Hall's best kept secrets. It's a must try. I've read a couple of negative reviews and can't relate. My friends and I met up for dinner here. We received professional and friendly service from the host to the server (Perla) to the bartender to the bussers. Between the drinks, the bread that comes with an addictive honey butter spread, the huge portions of delicious food, we were all more than happy. The food: We ordered... ok, so I forget what exactly my friends ordered (blame it squarely on that mojito) I ordered the house blend meatloaf with chorizo-maple, mac and cheese, green beans and natural gravy downside. The maple flavor on the meatloaf for me was magnificent. To our delight, our server surprised us with a complimentary warm chocolate chip bread pudding with bourbon anglaise, just because ;) I'm happy. That service, that drink, that honey butter, that meatloaf, that free boubon anglaise. I hope you have a fun and great experience as well.
(5)Jackie S.
My recent trip to City Hall completely erased any lingering luke warm memories. This time the service was terrific (big shout out to our waiter Doug) and the food was outstanding!!!! Here's the lowdown: Group Appetizer: Short Rib potato skins -2 insanely flavorful giant potato skins!!! The combination of the meat, cheeses & tomato marmalade is ridiculously good! Entrees: My Skirt Steak - very juicy with goat cheese crumbles & a layer of couscous underneath...yummm!!! My bf's pork chop - Plump is the best adjective to describe this giant cut of meat. One of the better pork chops I've ever tasted. The sweet potatoes were sweet but not overwhelming, good combination w/ the chop. Garlic herb chicken - a damn good chicken dish but in this abundance of robust flavors I would not recommend, unless your trying to play it safe. And the hands down Oscar winner of the night...the fried chicken!!! Finger lickin good :p
(5)Rashida C.
Okay so after going to City Hall and having several "MISS"'s, I decided it was time for my review. I must say the entertainment by Maryel Epps at Sunday brunch is phenomenal,Hence the 2 stars! She's very lively, interactive and has a special way of connecting with the crowd! Onto the service.... On Friday I called and made a reservation for 1:00 on Sunday. I arrived at 12:50 and wasn't seated until 1:40! I requested a complimentary mimosa for the guest on my party. 4 people. The MANAGER Sasha came to the table to address me. She NEVER apologized and curtly told me that EVERYONE in the restaurant had a reservation and waited even longer than I did because it was Sunday brunch. She said the answer to my was no and walked away. LOL! She was so rude that I had to laugh. Soooo, I should make a reservation 1 hour before the time I really want to have a reservation? GTFOH! Now, on to the food... Yet another MISS!! Don't have much to say about it because this was the 4th time it's been a miss in the past 6 visits. So, typical. My server.... NEVER took drink orders, spilled mayonnaise on my aunt and followed up with spilling water on her. WAY TO GO! I love the entertainment so it's not a place that I wouldn't patronize anymore, however, drinks at the bar is all I'm willing to do at this point.
(2)Kae D.
Best Meal we had in Miami. Beautifully decorated restaurant- Art Deco - superior service - great menu - impressive wine list - all were surpassed by the remarkable meal. We defaulted to the Prix Fixe meal - and the six of us were highly impressed - exquisite! Presentation, quality - the Salmon was prepared perfectly - desserts to die for...
(5)Doris L.
Looking for a spot to eat after a late afternoon event at the nearby AAA. I wish City Hall delivered the triple- A experience some of my Yelp friends apparently experienced. Alas, I had a C+ kind of night. A solid menu full of variety, from cerviche to turkey burgers, gave us lots of options. Our gang ordered muscles and scallops and that cerviche, plus the grilled chicken from the kids menu and some salads. The muscles were the best of the lot. The rest melded into a sea of proverbial mediocrity. My martini was a little light on mojo, too. Sorry City Hall, Your servers are sweet. Your ambience and location, sublime. Your food- regretably, forgettable.
(2)Kaleena S.
Amazing. The only reason they get a star down is that its kind of on the pricey side which limits me from going as often as i would want. Went there for date night before the symphony concert we were going to see. We knew it was pricey going in but we decided to split a 3 course since our insider told us portions were pretty big. The waiter was awesome and provided a great wine recommendation and confirmed our large portion suspicion. They did have a concert prix fixe menu but we opted for the regular menu. After placing our order some fresh bread came out with honey nut butter. Honey butters have a place in my heart so I knew this night was going somewhere good. We started out with the duck flat bread. I love duck but my boyfriend was hesitant. After this he was a changed man. The red wine reduction that was drizzled over the top tied it all together. Then we split the Filet Mignon entree which came with fried Brussels sprouts and potatoes au gratin and again it was a pretty large portion. If you have never had fried Brussels sprouts in your life give them a try here. Since we did a whole bunch of splitting we actually had some room for dessert. We had the chocolate chip bread pudding that's served with a bourbon anglaise. Now ive said the portions are pretty large that means dessert too. Easily 2 desserts in one. We finished the dessert without feeling like either of us didn't have enough. When the check came it was like an ordinary night out for 2 at moderately priced placed. Overall very good experience. Long story short version: Large portions, good food, good service, but on the pricey side. Opt to split the dishes and you'll come out ok.
(4)Adrianna B.
Thai Steak salad was so flavorful! I wanted the ribeye but decided on a healthy option this time. (not like me) I was really shocked how good it was. My overview of the room: chic, trendy, dark trim, a bit mafioso. That's just my opinion. Great Sunday afternoon spot for friends, couples, anybody.
(5)Jay K.
Not a steakhouse. Tired, old place. Hostess preached her religion to us in a canned speech. Food was mediocre at best. Way overpriced. Traffic noise from outside.
(1)Jose A.
Great happy hour, very friendly staff. Very good food!!!
(5)Ming P.
I had dinner with my little sister. as per her review your crab cake came closed to Shula's. Service was OK. The decor is lovely. Food wise a 3 star.
(3)Carlos J.
Went for brunch just after 11, started to get crowded just ayer we arrived so 11 or do is a good time to arrive. Good service and great food, best French Toast I've ever had! Will definitely come back.
(4)Jim L.
Ask the guest relations where to have brunch and he recommend Cityhall. I ordered the smocked salmon omelet and a fruit plate my sister had the short rib w/ three eggs and it was awesome. The environment is pleasing and friendly.
(4)Endless O.
I went to City Hall this past Saturday evening for a friend's birthday gathering. It was late. The decor in here is like a Gotham city type theme. It was really dark in there and I wasn't feeling the lighting because I was with a birthday group. I think the lighting is suited more so for couples. I also could barely read the menu without a cell phone light. All of the wait staff was male; we didn't quite understand why though lol Any who, the bread was DELICIOUS. I love hot bread that is prepared well. I ordered some wine for dinner and had lots of water with lemon AND limes. I am funny about new restaurants and trying new food on menus that I am not familiar with so I kept it simple. I special ordered a grilled chicken salad. The salad was delicious no complaints there. The gratuity was automatically added. Our waiter and bus-boys were great so I had no problem with the automatic tip. I probably would have tipped more if not for the gratuity already being in there.
(3)Chris C.
Nothing corrupt about this court room! This waiter was so charming you'd think he was the one that got OJ Simpson off the hook (no it's not too soon for an OJ joke). Southern cooking at its best with an occasional hint of Miami flavor. It was a delicious episode of Law and Order where the only crime is the fact that it took me so long to try this place out. THE FOOD: "Your honor, this fried chicken assaulted my client...and he liked it!" This chicken, along with the mashed potatoes should be sentenced to several years on my plate! The chicken was so buttery, perfectly fried and delicious that I did not feel the least bit guilty eating it...no pun intended. "I, scallops covered in home made pico de gallo and black bean sauce with one delicious plantain drizzled with sugar plead guilty to holding this poor man's taste buds hostage for the duration of the meal." Enough said. To add to the great food, you must try "The Commissioner". This is a martini with a shaker that brings nearly 3 refills! One or two of these you'll know what its like for our commissioners to get the job done! Final Verdict: If this place catered Jury Duty...I'd gladly attend.
(5)Mit P.
This is one of Miami's best restaurants. Great decor, excellent service, but most importantly - Some of the most delicious American food I have had in a long time! Totally puts Barton G to shame. What I like? 1) The appetizers. The gumbo is superb. The calamari and the tuna tartare also. And the shrimp ceviche. The salads are quite distinctive and special. Especially the iceberg and romaine lump crab salad, also the wedge. 2) Some very good mains and sides. I particularly like the meatloaf. I also like the country fried chicken. I'm looking forward to trying the other dishes. I have my eye on the salmon. 3) Great desserts. Banoffee pie is one of my favorites and these guys have the best rendition of this masterpiece. The bread pudding is also excellent. 4) Great service. Staff are really friendly. They are also there whenever you need anything. For Miami it is amazing. 5) Nice decor. The place is cool. 6) Lots of parking options. 7) The pecan honey butter is genius. What thy could do better: 1) A wider selection of breads at dinner.
(5)Falen A.
I love this place. I been here at least 5 times for brunch. Best French toast ever! Very good braised beef, and eggs benedict. Ive also had the omelettes. I could eat anything off the menu to be honest. Bloody Mary was spicy just how I like it. I also came here for dinner once and got the meatloaf... OMG.. best meatloaf Ive ever had. The glaze they have on the side is to die for. I cant wait to go back to have it again. Love Love Love. Service is always a pleasure and tentative. I hope this place stays in miami forever!
(5)Seth W.
Truth be told, my rating is between 3 & 4 stars. I've always had excellent service and good food at City Hall. Atmosphere can vary - I will NOT sit in the back room again. It's dark and out of the way of the rest of the guests, but without privacy or peace. Instead, diners in the back room are frequently subjected to blasts of bright light, noise and traffic from the kitchen. The only dish I ever had an issue with was a cobb salad, and that was a long time ago. It was soggy and small and heaped in the center of what appeared to be a wide-brimmed soup bowl. The Steak Salad is excellent, so are the burgers (both beef and turkey). I've enjoyed the meatloaf and gumbo, and I make a point to carefully review specials.
(3)Annie W.
2 words --- Pecan Butter. Absolutely one of the best things I've ever put to my lips. I've been here a few times and everything was exceptional. I will say they are known for lunch and dinner so if you go for breakfast items during their brunch, get something unusual like the French toast. I was being a little boring with my choice of the omelet and it was fairly average. Go for the Gospel Brunch on Sunday for live music. It isn't preachy at all --- just good deep soul with a full band that isn't loud and a perfect jazzy ambiance. I recommend the items that gear more towards lunch. If you're going for the brunch get there early or make a reservation as seats fill up fast! Parking is very limited on the street however.
(5)Sergio N.
Customer services fixed. Happy to visit again.
(5)Jose S.
We celebrated my wife's 30 something birthday last night. The staff and the food were amazing. Reggie's reception was so hospitable. The birthday champagne was unexpected and appreciated. We started with the hummus that arrived with the house bread and pecan butter. Wow. Wow. Our main courses were the fried chicken for me and the meatloaf for my wife. Delectable, no other word would describe, maybe delicious but that doesn't cut it. We sweetened it up with the chocolate chip croissant bread pudding. Let me repeat that. CHOCOLATE CHIP.CROISSANT.BREAD.PUDDING. The ambiance made us feel like we stepped into the 1930's Art Deco setting where we'd find Bonnie and Clyde splitting a bottle in the table next to ours. City Hall is definitely our new spot!
(5)Sheila T.
Food here is always tasty, but service is equally as spotty. We had to ask for a glass of ice 3 times. Restaurant is very busy at lunch so reservations are a must, especially with the $11.50 Miami spice lunch offerings. We never got bread, either. The regular menu is also available, with everything from sandwiches, salads, meat loaf, beef burgers and turkey burgers, pork chop, salmon,etc. Happy hour menu ( with reduced wine, beer and vodka prices ),has also changed with many more additions.There are chicken wings, hummus (3 different kinds) and pita plate, fried brussel sprouts with parmesan cheese, .taco, etc. all at reduced prices . TIP: if you are in a hurry, be sure to tell the waitstaff as service can be very slow.
(4)Zarina R.
2/7/12 -- The moment I walked into the restaurant everyone from the Hostess to the waiters were extremely friendly. The restaurant was quite spacious and made me feel like I was eating at a restaurant in New York. All our dishes were well made and they served large portions. I had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. I ordered the house blend Meat Loaf with Chorizo-Maple Mac'n Cheese, Baby French Green Beans, Natural Gravy & Fried Onions. The meatloaf was succulent, moist, and flavorful. My friend ordered the grilled Skirt Steak with Israeli Couscous, Kalamata Olives, Crumbled Goat Cheese & Tomato-Coriander Vinaigrette. The steak was cooked to perfection and the meat was extremely tender. We ended the night with their "Warm Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding" with Bourbon Anglaise & Chocolate Ganache ( Wowzers was it amazing). Do not leave this restaurant without trying the Bread Pudding.
(3)Apreski C.
The host Noel was extremely rude when we walked in as was the waiter who walked away in the middle of us ordering. The staff here is disrespectful and snarky as if doing their job is actually a favor. Horrible service overall and the food is mediocre. Not worth the trip.
(2)Jee J.
Sorry
(5)Tiffany J.
A friend of mine wanted to try something new for lunch. It was Christmas Eve and we were tired of holiday food. I ordered the meatloaf with Mac n cheese good lawd! that food was on point my friend order the fried chicken and it was so juicy and crispy. Now the drinks were the business, they bring you the shaker to the table and we were able to get 3 drinks out of the shaker without ordering more. City hall will see me again.
(4)Robbie M.
Steve Haas has done it again! great atmosphere, staff, and food! Its a great spot to have a meal or just grab a drink and talk with friendly locals or the super friendly bar staff. I often get together with friends and go on Sunday for their Gospel Brunch; you can't help but leave in a great mood after the good food, awesome bloody mary's, and fun soulful singing!
(5)Elmer j L.
My first time at the Restaurant and brought my family and friends visiting from France and we loved it. The food was great and the staff very friendly. We order the Shrimp with grits, Flank steak with the couscous and the Mahi with veggies. All entrees were very tasty and presented. And for the sweet tooth the Banana cream pie and the pudding. No complaints.
(5)Paul W.
I came here with a group of 4 on a recent Wednesday afternoon for lunch. As other reviewers have mentioned, I'd heard a lot of hype about this restaurant and I'd read reviews that were pretty much all over the road. Personally, I felt it was nothing more than "A-OK", as 3 stars on Yelp denotes. Pros: -We arrived at about 1:15 p.m. and found plenty of open parking in their lot, and were seated almost immediately (a booth happened to open up just as we were walking in, so once it was cleaned, we were seated right away). -The service was very good. I noticed that all the staff that took care of us on this day were a bit older than I'm used to seeing (not a bad thing) but all were friendly, attentive and threw out a quick joke here and there. -I really enjoyed the decor with the dark woods, leather upholstery, copper ceilings and art deco lighting fixtures. -The presentation and the way they serve their french onion soup is a bit unique and creative IMO. -The warm crumble berry pie with vanilla ice cream that I had a taste of was VERY good, and the cappuccino I ordered was perfect on this wet, drizzly and overcast day. Cons: -I found the lunch menu to be limited. Oddly enough, when I checked out their lunch menu on their website it looked OK, but the menu we were given when we arrived was 1 page, on the front was the food menu which was laid out differently than what I'd seen online, and on the back was the drink and cocktail menu. -When our server offered dessert, he explained that they had no dessert menu to show us, but he could tell us what they had available. After we ordered, our server returned and explained that the selection 2 of us chose was not available. -This place is pricey for what it is. $15 for a lunch salad that left me so unfulfilled that I hit the snack machine immediately once I returned to work? Really?? -My entree salad wasn't very flavorful, nor was the meat that came with it. Another in our party said the amount of cheese on his confit duck pizza was so overwhelming that he had to remove much of it and left it on his plate. -Another tables' drink order was given to us by mistake. It only consisted of 2 drinks, but we took them since we thought these were the drinks that 2 of the people at our table had ordered...Our server arrived a few moments later with our tables' entire drink order. While it was nice for a few of us to get 2 so we didn't need to ask for refills later, this shows a bit of disorganization. I'm not sure if the other table ever got their beverages. -As others have mentioned, this place is loud/noisy inside. Every surface in this restaurant from the wood to the full height windows, the glass lighting fixtures and copper ceilings is all reflective. When we were here the place wasn't even that full, and we still had to speak loudly during our lunch conversation in order to be heard by everyone in our booth. My guess is that the volume becomes deafeningly loud during dinner times and on weekends. I also understand they invite bands to play here at certain times, which must be incredibly noisy. In the end, this lunch experience was just OK. Not bad, but nothing outstanding, either. If someone I was with suggested it, I'd return here. Otherwise, there are too many other options in this general vicinity and in the nearby design district to bother returning to City Hall.
(3)Lauren S.
Sunday brunch is amazing! Great menu, food, staff is smiley and attentive & best of all is the gospel singing. Joyful & delicious!
(5)Stephanie L.
A bit slow I suppose, I've been wanting to try City Hall since it opened, and even moreso after hearing some great things about it. Finally made it the other night and managed to find parking in one of their back lots. Inside the restaurant is gorgeous! Like someone said, kind of reminds me of a Disney/Universal version of Gotham City. Tin ceiling, sumptuous leather booths, it is elegant yet not stuffy, the whole thing is very New York and completely fabulous. As soon as we sat down they brought over a cutting board with a huge piping hot roll, crusty on the outside and soft, hot yeasty goodness inside. It came with a sweet maple pecan butter too that was delicious. The two of us weren't exactly starving so we opted to share a salad and the meatloaf. The staff was wonderful and even brought us our own half portions of each. The salad we went with was the buratta, which was a bit less solid than I would have liked. The cheese was disappointingly so gloppy that it was hard to eat with a fork. The tomato though was grilled and fantastically juicy. My overall impression of the salad though was that with the bacon and argula, it was a bit too salty. Kinda sad since I feel it's pretty hard to mess up a caprese salad. For the next course, the meatloaf was like an upscale version of a classic. The meatloaf was very well-cooked and perfectly tender. With the onions and gravy it seemed like a nice throwback to 50s-style home-cooking. My dining partner thought it was a bit too sweet, possibly from ketchup inside, although I thought it was fine. Not WOW-worthy, but decent. However, the side of mac and cheese with maple and chorizo was another huge miss for me! Not only was there no cheese in sight, just some dry macaroni, but it too seemed like someone had been far too liberal with the salt shaker. The chorizo was a nice thought but it was really the only flavor other than the plain pasta that I tasted. None of the dessert options really sounded so enticing that we could resist, but if you want a basic slice of chocolate cake or pie it might be just what you're looking for. Really I have to say again how wonderful and friendly all the staff was, from hostess to waiters, they were wonderful. Also, we were there on a Monday night and while it wasn't completely full, it was still pretty crowded and noise was never a problem for us. Overall I loved the atmosphere and service enough to give it another chance, but I probably won't be going with the same selections...
(3)Whitney K.
Dear waitstaff: didn't your guidance counselor ever explain to you that no means no?No, I would not like another drink. No, seriously, I really don't want another drink. No, I am not going to choose your recommendations over my own selection. No, I would not like dessert. No, I don't care that it's included in the Miami Spice menu. No, I'm not going to change my mind. If we were on a date, I'm pretty sure you'd be trying to date rape me right about now. While I appreciate the enthusiasm, I don't appreciate your lack of confidence in my ability to make decisions about what I want for dinner. I also think it's a little problematic that I remember your service better than I remember my meal.
(2)S I.
Was there twice, both times enjoyed good food and friendly service. A great place for a quick lunch. The menu items are great, but the lunch buffet is also a treat. Make sure you try the Chicken Kurma. Their beef items are also quite good, considering not all Indian places serve beef.
(4)Lourdes D.
You guys, the gospel brunch here is worth praising. See what I did thar? You gotta get the Corn Flakes encrusted French toast and the mushroom and spinach en croute. A mimosa or two doesn't hurt either. Be sure to make reservations between 12:30 - 1:00 p.m. for the gospel tunes. And get ready to sing, too. Side parking available and good times to be had by all.
(5)Mylo G.
Yeah soooo... Really. Lots of marketing behind this place. Tried the Miami Spice menu for an intro deal & didn't pass. This is definitely not a "come backer". Hype doesn't match the service and food. So'wy
(2)Cam C.
I've been to this place only once for brunch. I was happily surprised. Even though we didn't have a reservation, the staff was very accommodating. Every single employee was friendly, all smiles, acknowledgeable. Wow! They truly made us feel like home. The food was great. We had salmon and a salad. The mimosas were good as well. The big surprise was the gospel singer walking all around the restaurant, going up and down the stairs entertaining everybody. What a nice lady!!! Everybody was singing and clapping along with her. The place was packed. I can't say enough good things about this place. I will definitely go back.
(5)Samantha L.
I originally planned to go to this place for the Miami Spice menu and read tons of good reviews, so I decided why not go for a special occassion and decided this would be the spot to hit up for our anniversary celebration. First off, why make reservations if when you get there you have to wait over 30 minutes. Next, I understand that at any venue you want to maximize space but placing a table right next to the doors where the servers come out of is less than pleasing, so as soon as the hostess decided that she would sit us their I kindly declined. She later sat us next to these other two seater tables which I guess yea I am being a bit picky but I'm really not into being all up in peoples space, and mind you there were these two super annoying chics sitting next to us that made the dining experience less than enjoyable. We looked over the Miami Spice menu and realized that what we wanted to try wasn't on it so we quickly switched menus and ordered, now here comes the kicker since I went to this place over a year ago, this place fell so short of my expectations that at this very moment I can't even hardly recall what I ordered. It must have not been that great I do remember that as an appetizer I ordered the french onion soup that tasted like garbage, the cheese and bread were most of what the bowl was consumed with and for me, being the french onion soup lover, there needs to be the perfect broth to cheese to bread ratio. I did try the bread pudding but was definetly not blown away, good but not amazing.
(2)Patrick F.
Nice place on Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Great comfort food with an upscale twist. Shrimp bisque is great too!
(4)Juan S.
If you enjoy shouting at the dinner table to someone right in front of you on a Saturday night, this is the place for you. EXTREMELY loud restaurant. Had reservations and was seated about a half hour after the reservation time, with no apology or explanation. Not a good way to start out the night. The food was decent. Not bad, but not great either. Nothing really memorable here. though...maybe I tried the wrong thing?. The service was ok, again nothing special. Doubtful I'd be back.
(2)Maxine V.
I came here for lunch. I got a turkey burger which was decent. If I ever come back I'll probably try the turkey wrap. We had a large table and the server was ok. No one cleared the table of empty glasses, which annoyed me. It also seemed that the server was only capable of bringing one item at a time. Nothing on the menu seemed to be too impressive. Overall I would only come back for a meeting that someone else set up here.
(3)Johnny T.
I don't mean to drop a bomb but... no. I came here dressed up after a fancy schmancy party downtown and I was ready to do some serious eating. I'd heard great things about the menu and vibe and I was looking forward to the experience. Things started well enough. Well, sorta. My party was first seated in a pretty undesirable section of real estate but a quick conversation with the hostess later, all was well and butts were in booth. Bueno. Then came the non-bueno. We got there around 10 pm on a Saturday night. Granted, later than the usual dinner crowd but early enough given the restaurant is open until 1. Our came the bread and pecan butter (as good as advertised). Our waiter, while seeming affable, was clearly not in the mood to serve us. Several times (several) while asking questions, he was staring off at other tables or had to ask us to repeat ourselves. Kudos to him for being attentive to *some*one, but when that someone isn't the person in front of you and you're a waiter... problem. Questions asked, we prepared to order. Turns out "there was a big rush on the kitchen earlier in the night" and they were out of a lot of items. Calamari? Gone. Tostones for the scallops? Nowhere to be found. Pork chop? "Let me check on the greens." Why was this restaurant open if there was no food to be served? Annoyed, I settled on a cocktail, resolved to use the men's room and come back to try again. This is where the story takes a dark turn. I am pretty fastidious when it comes to hand washing. Anyone who knows me knows this. So, imagine my horror when I am in the men's room with someone who passes by me as I was *standing* in the men's room (not to be graphic; I'm am trying to convey a sense of location) and walks right out of the door. Mouth ajar and pearls broken from clutching, I washed my hands and returned to my table and recounted my tale of terror... and then I saw him. No. It couldn't be. Surely, he was a guest. It couldn't be that the man I saw leave the bathroom (remember, he had to pass me... as I stood... don't make me completely spell it out) without washing his hands was an employee. He wasn't wearing the same clothes as our waiter (who, by the way, had not yet returned with my cocktail) but, he wasn't wearing street clothes either. Nancy Drew-training in hand, I pretended to take a cell phone call by the bar/kitchen. A few head-tossed cackles and stunned looks as I 'received' shocking news which required me to pace back and forth, darting furtive looks to the kitchen... and I saw him. He had some defining characteristics that were immediately obvious. It was him. I went right back to the table and told me friends of the situation. We had to leave. I don't doubt nasty stuff happens in kitchens all of the time. I don't want to see it. I don't want to know it. There was no way I could have enjoyed my meal knowing what I knew and seeing what I saw. To her credit, the hostess was mortified. She got the manager, asked for a description, knew who it was from the first details, apologized, and promised to resolve it. Nice to know but... I had to leave. Funnily enough, as we packed up, my cocktail came. Par for the course. Sorry City Hall, but you need to clean up your act.
(1)Amy Jo A.
Two stars for the food. Big group for a business dinner. Restaurant was empty, service was rushed, loud and pushy. There are too many great places to eat to go back here. This was a miss for sure.
(2)Shanley W.
I had an exceptional experience at City Hall, I was staying at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Miami on Biscayne blvd. The food at the hotel was horribly subpar and I was stuck here at a conference for 4 days. I ate at City Hall 3 out of the 4 days and I wasn't disappointed once! I believe the host goes by Lincoln and he was absolutely gracious. He gave me recommendations for fun things to do in the area and really took care of me. The food was great I highly recommend the mussels, salmon, duck pizza and meatloaf. Mitch was my bartender on the last night and I feel bad I don't remember the young lady who served me but she was great as well. On my third and last visit I felt like a regular. Please give this restaurant a try if your staying anywhere in the area. Our concierges at the hotel kept steering me towards the Doubletree, I went to the Doubletree but I definitely felt more comfortable and taken care of by City Hall and their crew. If I'm ever back in the Miami area I will be sure to stop by and you should as well!
(5)Nicole K.
I went here for lunch with a friend and it was such a disappointment. I will caveat this slightly passive-agressive review in saying that the menu looked phenomenal and maybe I should have tried ordering something a bit more original, but... Like several other reviewers, the service was very poor. The host first tried to seat us in the very back corner of the restaurant in a super tight table against the wall, even though the place was maybe a quarter full. After insisting a bit, we finally finagled a booth. The waiter seemed very preoccupied and not very into his job. Definitely not friendly. The food was "meh. We started with the eggplant and crab cakes appetizers. Eggplant was very good but the crab cakes were a goopy mess. The corn accompaniment, however, was pretty decent. We both ordered the Reuben sandwich. Now, for $12 ($15 once you include a side) I expect a fairly decent sandwich. What I received was not. It seems that our food was, at various stages of preparation, left out way too long. The bread was incredibly stale, not "grilled" or "toasted" just plane stale. Biting into the sandwich meant the bread pretty much crumbled apart. The meat was also that dark color corned beef can get if left to air dry. The potatoes had to be sent back because they were cold - waiter was not to pleased about that. So for a $36 lunch I ended up with a stale sandwich and pissy attitude. Not cool, city hall. Not cool...
(1)Luis S.
I guess walking into an almost empty restaurant on a Saturday night should have been my first clue. Clue 2 might have been the hostess scuffing at our request for a booth even tho there was one available. The decor is ok, looks like something out of the Dick Tracy movie. Now on to the food: I would have loved to try the bread with pecan butter but unfortunately the waiter didn't bring it out till we were almost done with our entree. My meal was not bad, fried chicken with mashed potatoes and a biscuit. Honey sauce was a nice touch. My date ordered the lemon butter chicken. This was not impressing at all, and the pasta accompanying it had an odd flavor we could not place. One bright spot was the chorizo mac and cheese. Very Good. But overall I doubt I'd return.
(2)MissLiteEyes S.
I recently ordered delivery from here! im very picky but the food was amazing! I ordered the fried chicken with red skin mashed potatoes & gravy..sweet corn with a mac&cheese side! OMG I was in heaven it's freshly made..just great! for delivery food I was very impressed I was so confused with the guy taking my delivery order! he is a very lost soul has no idea what he was doing took about 30mins to take my order..needs more training
(4)Kate L.
Went on a Friday night as a party of seven for a birthday. Not crowded at all and easily accommodated us when we needed to make our reservation later than expected. Sat us upstairs and it was more quiet and intimate which was nice. The experience with the food was meh. The shrimp and grits looks nothing like the picture one user posted on yelp. The grits were dry like mashed potatoes and in a solid form in the middle of the dish. The shrimp were shrimpy--tiny little guys that I'd expect from a frozen bag of Publix shrimp. Edible but certainly not what one would expect. This dish isn't on many menus, and my feeling is that you shouldn't serve it if you can't impress. My boyfriend ordered the filet mignon cooked medium. I can't tell you what the waiter brought out but it was unlike any cut of filet mignon I've ever seen. It was tough and dry and cooked medium well. To his credit, the waiter was very accommodating. He offered for another dish to be brought out and, feeling obligated, we went for the ribeye (which the waiter initially recommended over the filet mignon---which I now realize is because the restaurant did not actually have the cut that night). By this time, most of the table had finished their dishes (portion sizes seem to vary but for most dishes it's on the smaller end). We decided to cancel the ribeye all together and then out walks a server with what appeared to be a skirt steak on a bed of fries. I can't be certain because we didn't let it touch the table, but, in my experience, ribeye has a pretty identifiable shape, and that's not long and thin. The meatloaf was a little dry but ok. The Mac and cheese is light on the cheese but still pretty good. The table seemed to enjoy the scallops but I didn't try that dish. The two desserts we ordered were pretty delicious: Bread pudding and a very chocolatey cake. Would recommend both. I hear brunch is great. I thought the warier was pretty attentive and although he allowed us to order the most expensive item on the menu and served something subpar in its place, I think he responded well to our displeasure. I assume he gets his direction from someone else and has to work with what he's got. His service is the reason I give the restaurant 3 instead of 2 stars. If you head out to City Hall, maybe try a burger of something hard to get wrong. Or just stick with dessert or happy hour.
(3)Andy R.
Went to city Hall prior to a performace at the Arsht Center. The art deco design is impressive and the dining room is comfortable and energetic. The service was very prompt, almost too prompt. The entrees came out while we were still eating our onion soup. I had finished so the waiter left my entree but took the other three back. The waiter was friendly about it but it's a lapse in service that shouldn't happen in a restaurant such as this. The onion soup itself was a creatively presented but a little disappointing; not enough onions and the wonton was very heavy- I wish it had been stuffed with something rather than just be a wad of dough. Our entrees were all good. I had a nice, tender pork chopand my partner had the very good fried chicken. The martinis we had were excellent' as my friend said " I drink a lot and this is the best martini I ever had!" I would certainly go back, especially as it's convenient to the Arsht Center.
(3)Rick G.
I had the Miami Spice menu or as they call it here it was the Better Than Miami Spice menu. The chicken has a great sauce that included wild mushroom. The salad had a homemade dressing that tasted like a fantastic combination of cucumber and avocado. Desert was a gigantic chocolate chip cookie; the best I've ever had.
(5)Elad H.
I took my wife to City Hall for her 31st Birthday dinner and she absolutely loved it. The place is so new, she never heard of it, so she was surprised when we drove up near the disappointing Bengal to this not-quite-so-hidden gem. From the outside, City Hall doesn't look like much. The dark glass obscures the interior but once you step inside, it's hard not to be awed by the beautiful shades of color, the mural, the amazing stained glass, and the open and comfortable atmosphere. We arrived for an early dinner at 6pm on Saturday to find the restaurant empty. We were seated immediately and our waiter wasted no time introducing himself and making friendly small talk. After soaking in the interior a little bit, our eyes devoured the menu. Being Spice Month, of course, we went first to the small white menus but we quickly realized the Spice menu is somewhat lacking while the actual menu is almost overflowing with incredible sounding dishes. The one dish that I knew my wife would love and was raved about here on Yelp was the Seafood Pot Pie, which unfortunately is no longer available. I guess it was too time consuming and expensive to produce. It's a shame, but there's a lot more great stuff on the menu. It was very difficult to decide what to order, since so much sounded delicious. We decided on two appetizers and two entrees (Spice-style). We got the Guiness braised mussels with chorizo and crispy calamari with pomodoro and a lemon pepper aioli. The mussels were prepared very well with a thick sauce and pieces of meat mixed in that gave the dish a smoky flavor. It came with two pieces of cheese-coated bread that were PERFECT for dipping. The calamari was excellent, as well, large pieces with a flaky crust and two distinct dipping sauces. For our main dishes, we decided on the scallops with black bean salsa and a filet mignon with crispy brussel sprouts and potato gratin. Both dishes were excellent. The scallops were plump and seared well, the black bean and corn salsa complimented the scallop very well. It was a fairly straightforward but satisfying dish. The filet mignon came topped with a blue cheese crumble and was easily one of the best steaks I've had in awhile. There was a lot going on that plate, with the delicious brussel sprouts and the bacon-topped potatoes. I tried my best finish it all but did not succeed. Finally, dessert. We chose the chocolate croissant bread pudding and were amazed at the texture and the excessive chocolate-ness of the dish. It comes with a beautiful presentation and a large portion. Also, I could not mention our meal without a nod to the excellent pecan-butter that comes with the complimentary bread. It was so flavorful we knew from our first bite at City Hall that we would have an amazing meal. And that we would back to try it again.
(4)Desiree P.
Props to the owner and chef! You have done something beautiful right here on Biscayne Blvd ! Finally a decent American restaurant on this neighborhood Went here with my parents for dinner and couldn't have been more pleased. The owner is welcoming and the staff very friendly. Everything we ate was delicious , portions are big enough to share ( at least some of them) The pecan butter they served with a freshly baked bread was so delicious that we had to ask for more. never taste any butter like that before... For appetizers we had the Guinness Braised Mediterranean Mussels with Homemade Chorizo in tomato /garlic sauce ( pretty delicious, with a soft spice touch, full of flavor) and the Onion soup ( oh dear, that was something...Sooo good!) For entrees we had Grilled Pork Chop with Bourbon whipped Sweet Potatoes ( I dont eat pork that often, and was really impressed with this one. Everyone at the table had a taste of it and liked it a lot. The meat was tender, the sauce very rich)) The meat loaf with Chorizo-Maple Mac'n Cheese was pretty yummy and good enough to share as well. LOVED the Mac'n Cheese here! . The desserts were to die for , but the chocolate Banana Cream Pie with Caramel drizzles & shaved Chocolate was by far our favorite! Will definitely come back for more. Cant wait for Sunday's Brunch .
(4)David R.
I've been their twice and its only ok, at best. The food profiles are so busy - lets throw more salt, fat, sweet, sour, etc on a plate - the only problem is that its not good. Had the pork twice, Big piece of meat, but the collard greens and sweet potatoes were inedible. NO subtlety. The skirt steak also has all sorts of flavors going on - olives, cheese, etc. Not good. The scallops on the menu mention plantains I think - it had two chips from a bag. The desserts are like NY - but maybe like a diner. Big, sweet, but no yums at the table. Obviously the other reviews are folks who want this to succeed...as do I, but get a new chef.
(2)Lillian D.
Went there for lunch for the first time, it was fantastic! You must try the goat cheese, gorgonzola & fig pizza, it was to die for. The chocolate croissant bread pudding was orgasmic. The tri-color potatoes were incredible. The service was great; the wait staff was friendly, helpful and funny. The hostess and maître D were also friendly & welcoming. Overall a wonderful experience, I will go again.
(4)B Lauren S.
I'd been wanting to try this place out, considering its relatively close to me, and I'm always looking for new places! I didn't make a reservation, considering it was a monday, I didn't think it was needed.. I do think they prefer (was asked upon entering), however, I was seated promptly. The service was very friendly, and very attentive. Throughout our entire meal the servers were checking on us, bringing us things.. and I didn't have an empty glass or plate sitting in front of me, which is a huuuge deal to me. ..So.. I'm usually a wino, but decided to try some of their signature cocktails.. I had the, key to the city?(i think) which was delicious! The wine list prices were completely reasonable. (Good to know for future).. Bread is offered with a pecan butter, which I didn't get to try due to allergies, but my husband loved it... they were kind enough to bring me regular butter without hesitation. We started out with the mussels which were brought out steaming and hot, and we saved some of that bread for dipping.. SO good.. At first we were thinking they were all tiny tiny mussels, but managed to find some larger ones on the bottom :) .. for our meals I had the salmon with jasmine rice.. I love salmon, and this was cooked perfectly. I was so full yet tried to finish every last bite. My husband had the peppered strip steak, slightly overcooked but nothing to complain about, still very delicious. It came with a creamed spinach. We also order the tri colored potatoes.. Everything we ordered was fantastic. I hope it maintains consistency for my next time around.. 4 stars for atmosphere.. It wasn't a place I could see myself going and hanging out for drinks after.. We ate finished our drinks and left. Although, benefit of the doubt, it was early on a Monday, so there was not much of a crowd to people watch just yet.. I'm not sure what time of crowd they're aiming for.. its fine dining without the white tables cloths, so casual enough for jeans, yet, dressier than flip flops. Maybe a business casual approach. I plan to go back, hoping everything is just as good as the first time! Oh- Parking lot out back, bonus.. valet was very nice as well..
(4)Susan T.
We arrived last night at 9 pm and the first thing that we noticed was the bad lighting. Way too bright, we we pointed out immediately. Fortunately, shortly after walking in you are greeted by a VERY friendly and courteous host and hostess who were both smiling and seated us immediately. That's actually very refreshing and an unusual experience in Miami. Our server was also great. He gave us suggestions, knew the menu well, and just seemed at ease and comfortable with us, but at the same time, very professional. The way that you wish every server in Miami was!!! The suggestion for the tuna tartare came from both the server and the guy who brought us water, so we felt that was a must. We opted for a bunch of appetizers, versus ordering main courses, so we could share more of a variety- tuna tartare, the mussels, the duck pizza and a side order of creamed spinach. The tuna tartare, although a nice presentation, lacked flavor. I blamed this last night on the fact that I just returned from Italy, where the food has so much more flavor than here, but I think it just lacked seasoning. Either that or it was refrigerated for too long, I can't really put my finger on it! The mussels, were tasty, but they didn't stand out. The best thing that we ordered was the duck pizza, but that also seemed to be missing something. The spinach was good, but was a little dry for creamed spinach. Overall, the food was decent, but there is definitely room for improvement.
(3)Tessie B.
I was really excited to try this new place out. I think both the name and the location are extremely clever. It was pretty busy on a Tuesday night, but the host should have told us the wait was 45 min instead of 15 min and then increasing it in 10 min intervals. Trying to get the attention of the bartender was a mission in itself. It seemed as though the bartender was overwhelmed and did not know how to make 2 mixed drinks simultaneously. We ended up just finding seats at the bar and ordering the duck confit pizza (which is more like flatbread style) and the mussels. The duck pizza was alright, but I must admit the mussels were absolutely delicious. What DID bug me was that it was not a significantly large portion and 4 mussels were closed shut. For dessert we had the banana cream pie which was good, just difficult to split because it comes in this long sundae glass. The food was at best, average. Not sure if I'll be back, maybe if some friends are going and they want company.
(2)NY C.
This place was located near my brother's apartment, so we (5 people) thought we would give it a try. Everything about this place - the ambiance, size, comfort-food menu, service, pricing, was spot-on! The space is huge, w/2 floors, TVs, a full bar, and booths large enough for 6 people. The ambiance was casual, yet upscale. I could see a lot of finance people dining here, mixing w/sports fanatics and families w/kids. There is something for everyone. The food was slammin'! I highly recommend the duck confit pizza, the fried chicken, the short rib stuffed potato skins (whaaat???) and their enormous "timpano" (indescribably delicious pasta dish w/meatballs s& sausage stuffed in a huge domed calzone shell). That timpano could feed 4 people, it was so large. We believe it weighed about 5 lbs, if not more! It's been several days and we STILL have leftovers! For dessert, we managed to choke down their delicious caramel-drizzled banana cream pie (DEEEEE-lectable). Our server was so warm, sweet and friendly. She had an adorable personality and a great sense of humor. She accommodated substitutions for us without so much as a blink of an eye, and came back to check on us every now and then to make sure we were okay, but without being intrusive at all. The bread they served was warm and delicious, the wine list was great, my nephew got to watch the game while eating, the prices were decent ($15-30 range) for what you got, I could go on and on. We recommended this place to about 6 people already, and we can't wait to go back next time!
(5)Angel D.
I like this place a lot. The service is good and the place has a very cool vibe. For appetizer I would suggest the potato skins. For your entree, definitely try the meat loaf. I am not a big meatloaf fan, and usually will not order it, but my girlfriend tried it, so I had a little. Wow. Best dish there. I have also had the salmon and the filet miginon, both very good. The fried chicken was not impressive. Make reservations, as this place gets packed pretty quickly.
(4)Alex G.
Super hip Miami vibe, loud and crowded but not in a negative way. We sat upstairs, which is not as good as downstairs (next time I'll specifically reserve a booth downstairs). Still, the atmosphere is cool and urban, and the place hopping with upscale eye candy and Rolex watches. The menu is New American comfort food, with no dish over $30 - a real treat in Miami. They even have a prix fix menu of three courses for $35. The bread and walnut maple butter was amazingly good, and the drink menu was top notch. Unfortunately, it took a LONG time for food to arrive. Very slow. And employees kept dropping things - trays, dishes, etc - which was somewhat unnerving. Appetizers were solid, but uninspiring. Calamari was a tad stringy and oily; I have had better elsewhere. Onion soup was creatively served, but lacked strong flavor -- fairly mundane tasting. The main courses shined, and the portions were large. The filet mignon with crispy brussel sprouts and potato cake was outstanding, and perfectly prepared. The pork chop with collard greens was extremely tasty -- and a darn big chop to boot. The tuna steak was sliced and served rare -- absolutely delicious and boat-fresh. The scallops were also excellent and perfectly cooked. As an aside, the drink menu was creative and well made, with delicious drinks made with fresh ingredients. Overall, a 3.5 star restaurant, certainly fun for a night out; I may not run back, but I would not hesitate to join friends if they suggested this venue.
(3)C R.
The decor is nice and upscale, but I was a little disappointed on my first visit to City Hall for lunch. I ordered a BBQ beef brisket sandwich on texas toast with potatotes, and seafood chowder for an appetizer (a "special"). The chowder was a mixed seafood array with shrimp, calamari and fish-- it was ok, sort of light on flavor in the broth. My sandwich which I was expecting to be amazing was disappointing-- it was very salty and very fatty. It was as if they didn't trim any of the large fat chunks from the side of the beef before serving it. I love BBQ of all kinds and I have never had anything served to me that tasted sooo salty. I don't get it. I only ate a few bites and discarded the rest (I rarely do that). It was $20 for sandwich and soup, so it's a bit pricey for being on a relatively dead area of Biscayne Blvd and not that great on taste.... Probably won't return here. My friend that was dining with me also had similar feedback on his lunch entre as well.
(2)Don E.
One of the worst dining experiences I've had in Miami. Hostess was too busy having fun with co-hostess and manager to help anyone. A kind couple was getting up from bar and offered their seats, but, warned us of the poor service at the bar...man was she right. The disinterested, nose dripping bartender was less than attentive. I'm still waiting for my water. The manager who was too busy to deal with our channel change request asked his other bartender to ask "what we wanted to change the channel to" and we never received a response, let alone rational reason. Food was average at best. The only thing that is unconventional about the French Onion Soup, is that it is NOT GOOD. Too many good places in Miami, with GOOD SERVICE to bother with this place. My only positive feedback is that the valet was courteous and quick, maybe because the lot wasn't full....speaks volumes!!!
(1)Tito C.
Reviews raved about the chocolate bread pudding. Pudding missing in action. Thus, it was not a pudding nor a custard but a whipped cream and croissant concoction which this restaurant called a bread pudding dessert. Also, methinks that if the restaurant wants its patrons to pass by the kitchen door on the way to the restrooms, the restaurant should keep the kitchen floor clean or SHUT THE KITCHEN DOOR. My grandma thought me that if the kitchen was not clean, don't expect a clean bathroom. Not only was the bathroom not clean but the toilet did not work and it was apparent that it had not been working for a while. The bathroom/kitchen disappointment paled to the bumper car experience of the wait staff trying to move between their kitchen work stations and the customers trying to get to the bathrooms. However, all paled in comparison to the mediocre food. Too heavy a dressing on the wedge salad, could have done without the couscous with my skirt steak. It was not a good flavor combination between the lemony/tomato flavor of the couscous and the overly sweet glaze on the steak. My table companion had the turkey burger and scraped off the spinanch/mushroom combination. By the way, the first glasses of wine ordered were rejected. They tasted more like vinegar. For that style restaurant, the meal took almost 2 hours.
(2)Ashleigh H.
I had a few good experiences previously with friends (including the awesome happy hour pizzas), and tonight suggested City Hall to my extremely critical/picky boyfriend, who had never been. Every detail with both of our meals was perfect. The guava mojito is the best kept secret in Miami - its not on the menu, but it is possibly the best drink I've ever had. Ask for extra maple pecan butter with the bread, because it tastes like candy, and the bread is always hot. I had the roasted chicken entrée, soaked in a deliciously flavorful sauce and fell right off the bone. Boyfriend had the meatloaf, he was very impressed - and he's never very impressed. Even the green beans were incredible. For dessert, there's a reason the chocolate chip bread pudding is highly recommended, you absolutely cannot leave without trying it. It is heavenly! The service was top notch, as it has been every time I've visited. The restaurant was fairly busy for a Monday night, but everything was faster than expected, our waiter made perfect recommendations and left nothing to be desired. Neither of us could think of a more enjoyable dining experience in Miami, and we are not easy to please!
(5)V A.
I had read about City Hall since its opening and then heard about it from a friend who posted on FB that it was great..and so wanting to try a new restaurant about two weeks ago I took the opportunity to go with friends who had just arrived from Italy for a one week vacation. Sad to say that I wish I had taken them somewhere else. Our arrival was good, host welcomed us and we were very impressed with the look of the restaurant. It has a NYC feel to it when you walk in and certainly looks like they spent quite a bit of money when building the restaurant. Too bad that the service after our arrival went downhill. I would not say it's terrible service, but it's definitely not what I expect at a restaurant of this caliber. For the most part, it's EXTREMELY casual and inattentive...or may I call it as I did when I was speaking to my friend the other day and telling her about my experience......its "flamboyantly casual". Food on the other hand was good and tasty. It's a bit busy with a lot of different flavors and portions are a good size (or some may think big). Desert not so good! Overall based on my experience, I would not recommend it or go back. Been there..done that! Now if you want to know some details....I'll share a few...We get seated and at first the server seemed ok as he welcomed us. They automatically brought flat water to the table which is fine, except that we drink sparkling...we asked for sparkling and they brought it and left the flat on the table then continued to mix our water throughout the night with the flat water or continued to bring out the flat, instead of the sparkling...it was just confusing to them. As we were browsing the menus, I was finished with my before dinner drink and asked for the wine list to order a glass of wine. We decided to order a bottle, I gave the list to our friend who is very versed with his wines. As he is browsing the list, the server came by and said "my God it's only a glass of wine" at this point not realizing that we decided to order a bottle of a wine. I happen to find his comment a bit casual and not needed. Then as our server is taking our order he noticed a friend of his sitting at the bar and literally yelled his name from our table to say hello. They said their hello's without having any calms about the fact that we were in the middle of placing our order. My husband and I decided to try the Spice Menu and after the server took all of our orders I realized my husband had not ordered his desert that typically comes with the Spice Menu and so I asked our server to add the second desert, the server told me that the Spice only included one dessert per two people (I guess I didn't read the fine print) but after telling me that its one desert per two people he then said he would bring it anyhow. Ok not so bad at this point. When our appetizers came to the table the food runner brought out everyone's appetizer except for mine...but instead brought out the seafood gumbo which none of us ordered. Our server came by to browse at the table to see if all was okay but did not ask if all was okay and walked away. By this time I am a little ticked about the lack of service and off course was waiting to see if he noticed that I didn't get my appetizer...but since he didn't notice, my husband called him over and brought to his attention that my appetizer was missing. The server asked ME what I ordered although he wrote everything down....I told him and said he could take the gumbo away but he told me to keep it "there is nothing I could do with it now" he said. We ate our appetizers and enjoyed them...even the Gumbo was good. At the table we shared the Tuna Tartare..which was very good. For main I had the Pork Chop which was delightful...it was very tender and tasteful. After our main course the server then came back to ask me what deserts I had ordered as he didn't remember...again, he wrote this down...now I had to remember what it was I ordered..so I had so I had to ask him to repeat the choices and I then chose the two that I thought I ordered. Thankfully we were full from the appetizers and main because by the time desert came we were full and unfortunately the cheesecake and the bread pudding were not as delightful as they sounded. When looking around staff were standing by chit chatting and they all seemed confused and all over the place so it wasn't just our server. The staff definitely needs training on how to work at an upscale restaurant ....and if the restaurant is not meant to be upscale, then it needs to lower its prices and present itself differently. This is not a restaurant I would frequent even if the service was good because the menu selections are not that enticing and the food is heavy, but if they could get the service together, then the experience would be much better.
(2)Brad H.
Really pretty average. I may have given the food 3 stars but the poor service bumped it to only 2. Went with the family for Mother's Day brunch and service was really pretty bad. Omelette, pancakes etc we good but not in any way remarkable.
(2)Lindsay B.
This place is absolutely amazing. The service is excellent and my server was very knowledgeable of the menu. The restaurant is dimly lit and cozy, had a romantic vibe. The food was to die for and the drinks were very good as well. To drink I had the lychee martini, which packed some serious punch... I had the Mussels and the Gorgonzola pizza. Both were absolutely excellent. For dessert I had the apple crumble. I would describe it as a soufflé with apples and gooey-ness inside and topped with ice cream. Oh my god, just delicious. Excited to return for brunch which I've heard is amazing also.I will definitely be frequently returning and am recommending it to everyone I know.
(5)Robyn M.
The hummus was fantastic. I got the Thai Steak Salad. The steak was not cooked to the temp requested and was frankly a little blue and cold. If it had been warm it would have been okay. My husband got the meatloaf (huge piece, enough for four) and the Chorizo Maple Mac and Cheese. He said the meatloaf was good but the mac and cheese was too spicy. Service was fantastic. I am not sure I would go back.
(3)Hamlet G.
I love to eat lunch at city hall , its lunch menu is just delicious and fast with a great price!
(4)Steve W.
Nice atmosphere and overall good vibe but pretty pedestrian food, nothing really special . But I'd say my experience was marred by poor service which has nothing to do with the kitchen. The waitstaff is amicable and does make an effort but they could be understaffed perhaps? I'd say the manager and owner need to pay closer attention to service. I waited close to 40 minutes to pay my check. The waiter had a large party he was just sat and never stopped back to get my check. I dropped it off to the manager who was sitting at the at bar eating. We waited even longer as they dropped my credit card behind their service stand. After it all was done they wanted to offer us 10% off the bill. You get that at Yelp Check in. At that point and he just looked at me and said 20%. AND the owner was there watching this unfold, didn't even offer an apology or say anything which was surprising as I've heard he's a decent guy. I suggested they comp the check as it really ruined the dining experience. I'd go again but given the fact that there are many other choices in area,not so sure.
(2)Spencer A.
Looking to have an amazing brunch serenaded the acclaimed singer, songwriter, and actress, Maryel Epps? Look no further than City Hall and listen to South Florida's most exciting diva pound out gospel, jazz and blues. The food? I hardly noticed...but my turkey burger was good enough and everyone in my party seemed happy. The service? We were upstairs and our poor waiter was having to trek the food up and down. There was some delay in getting the order in and right. A 20% tip was already included. But who cares when it's brunch and Ms. Epps is rocking the house? The downstairs was crowded with pretty people. I loved it and will be back. But would prefer to sit downstairs. Valet parking $5. Should be free in my opinion.
(4)Jasmine L.
I was in town for a few days, staying at the Hilton, and picked City Hall for a late lunch. I sat at the bar and Danny recommended the tuna tartare. I also ordered the maple chorizo mac and cheese. Both were amazing!! The $8 "side" of mac and cheese was HUGE. I was more than satisfied. I had great conversation with Danny, who also gave me a little espresso as my after lunch treat. This place is a real gem. I'm so happy I stumbled upon it during my trip.
(5)Momo B.
OPENING SCENE MEMORABLE Not too distant from the performing arts center, the first impression is memorable. Cleverly they titled their prix fixe menu as their Performer's Dinners. As I had expressed as my Yelp tip, it may be more advantageous and less mentally taxing to select from their time tested program. We ordered with the intention to share. Salad, appetizer, pork chop, rib steak, and carrot cake accompanied by ice cream. Collectively more than enough food and even detrimental to staying awake during a live theater performance or movie. LoL. The pork chop takes first prize as outatanding performance. Grilled rib steak would have been better served as a prime rib. My other concern would be the noise level generated from their loft. Even with the high ceiling, the loud microphone usage diminished what should have been a very stylish and upscale dining experience. It's just a personal preference for a quiet setting when the prices are $$$.
(4)Ivan H.
What makes a great place are so many things especially if an owner is not present, which we found out later the case. The decor is modern chic. Comfortable tables and a very nice bar. The food starting with the bread with the pecan butter, to the crab cakes and clams, were outstanding. Did I say the bread was to die for? Or was it the butter...simply wow. I had the Veal Chop bone in and it was amazing. I asked for medium rare and it was done just right. All this was on their Miami Spice menu which was highly recommend which I also highly recommend. Desserts were another surprise. I had their carrot cake which was good but their bread pudding was something to behold. Presentation to the last course was again, a level above the rest. The front managers Ian and Reggie were as professional as can be and checked on our table several times throughout the meal as did the server and even food runner. If you're looking for a wonderful dining experience, be sure to pay them a visit. You won't be disappointed. And ask for Reggie.
(5)Elena S.
Food was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Came here after a terrible experience at Prohibition on midtown. This place NEVER disappoints! The service was great and the food was even better. Got a great Pinot Grigio for $35! The bread is delicious. Melts in your mouth with that sweet maple butter! I had the churrasco with couscous!!! Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm My date had grilled lemon chicken with linguini. So amazing!!!! Can't wait to come back and have this dish again Good for the bread pudding after
(5)Ann W.
This restaurant is conveniently located near the downtown Miami Hilton. Nice ambience and comfortable booth seating. The waitstaff are professional and attentative. The food is just okay. I had the Thai steak salad and the portion was ample with lots of meat and arugula. It was drenched in a sickly sweet Thai basil dressing that overpowered the taste of the meal. I think it would have been fine if I had asked for the dressing on the side but didn't and was disappointed. Don't think I will go back on future visits to Miami.
(3)Athina L.
One of the best dining experiences in Miami. A must. Steve Haas did it with this one.
(5)Rich B.
Excellent Corvinha and dessert too! Loved our salads mine the spinach and wifes chopped. Service excellent too thank you Derrick! Even friendly when they took our last min Friday reservation. We will be back when in Miami.
(5)Natalia P.
We went for miami spice and it was a group of 12. The service was great and the food was delicious! The mahi was a little dry... The seafood pasta entree from the miami spice menu was delicious. Ohhhh.... Highly recommend the Brussels sprouts!! Sooooo good.
(4)Donna J.
Great fast service. The burger with brie, carmelized onion and bacon was delicious - and huge. The girls ate pizza and part of our burger. Wish we could have stayed for a more relaxed dinner. Next show at The Arsht Center we will be here.
(5)Roselin S.
This is my favorite spot for Sunday brunch. If you arrive around Noon or so, stick around for gospel music. It is truly a unique and memorable experience: gospel Sunday + divine cuisine! Can't beat the corn flake crusted french toast, it is absolute perfection and the portion is large enough to share as a dessert among 3-4 in a group OR as an entree for 1-2. For a true brunch meal, the short rib with fried egg is delish.
(5)Brittany P.
So we went during Sunday gospel brunch. A little loud but great experience nonetheless. Service was decent but food was pretty good and atmosphere was popping!
(4)Jacquelyn B.
Can I give negative stars? I just called to place a Togo order and was told the kitchen is closed because they have been slow. Don't want to be slow, be able to serve people when you advertise to be open.
(1)Alissa W.
We went for the Gospel brunch on Sunday and had a blast !!! I was looking for a brunch place for us to eat in my area. I wanted to try something new, then I remembered a neighbor telling me about Gospel brunch. We decided to check it out. I got the smoked salmon bagel that had truffle flavor was really good and enormous ! I only could eat half. I have to say the waiter forgot a few things from the order. The service could have been better I admit. The concept is fun and I will definitely be back !
(4)Theresa F.
We had brunch here (and I'm not a brunch person) and it was FANTASTIC. Both dishes we ordered were simple, clean, and well portioned. Service was great and so was the coffee. Laid back and versatile atmosphere. Would make the most casual outfitted person to the most decked out church-goer feel comfortable here. Thank you, Check Please for the suggestion!
(5)Joseph C.
Find some Comfort @ City Hall Miami A few of my friends and I decided to visit City Hall Restaurant after the theater. Nice high ceilings, brightly lit and comfortable setting, city hall features all American traditional comfort foods. I had the meatloaf and chorizo maple mac & cheese and it was delicious. Try the lychee martini to start, yum. Ready for an uncomplicated all American dining experience, City Hall is the place!
(4)Mitchell F.
This was a fantastic find! We had a discount coupon, but even without a discount the food's quality far exceeded the price. One of their signature dishes, is a modified, upscale BLT with blood orange reduction. I asked for a side cup of the blood orange reduction because it was so fantastic. The server was very knowledgeable about the menu, made great (honest) suggestions, and we loved every bite! This is a highly recommend restaurant if you happen to be in Miami!
(5)Laura A.
Went to City Hall for the 3rd time this afternoon during their Gospel Brunch, and once again, I was not disappointed. The food and service is fantastic, and the live music during brunch was a nice touch. Must Haves: The meatloaf & chorizo maple mac & cheese. Best I've had. EVER. Chocolate croissant bread pudding for dessert. YES. CROISSANT. You read that right. Also, wine bottles are available at affordable prices. Overall, great experience every time.
(5)Mark C.
The service let me start by saying was AMAZING! The host was ok. The waiter on the other hand was super friendly and was always checking up on to make sure our cup was full of water and when it wasn't the manager him self came to fill it. The waiter told us the special of the day it sounded great so we went ahead and got that. No mistake there it was amazing so so amazing and the bread with pecan butter just did it! Then the dessert came the banana cream pie omg too good I melted with the first bite! I honestly wish I was hungrier so I could have fit more because any of the food I know would have been good! In the end I didn't care so much about my budget my taste buds and stomach were satisfied to the max! Since I live so close now I know I'll be going there regularly. When ever you get a chance to swing by do it!
(5)Amaranta M.
Great lunch menu! I had soup, jambalaya and dulce de leche for desdert for $11.50 :D Definetly going back!
(4)Maris D.
Hands down, the most perfectly executed burger I've had EVER! Seriously. And I eat A LOT. Order it as the appetizer so you can still try some of their other goodies. The service is sometimes a 10 and sometimes a 5. Trying out that Miami pretentious thing I guess. Please stop.
(4)Jessica E.
My new favorite place! MUST TRY Skirt Steak dish YUMMY Staff was amazing !
(5)Yahaira A.
I LOVE City Hall. A great addition to the neighborhood! My first visit was for lunch (took my boss for his birthday) and it was GREAT - food, atmosphere, service and price. I thought the service for lunch was stellar but when I went back for dinner I was floored. I took my fiance there for his birthday dinner and it was the most outstanding meal ever. Our server was funny, knew the menu inside out, had great recommendations, was extremely accommodating and attentive. Applause to the front manager for outstanding staff. The food is just DELICIOUS, something for everybody. I have no complaints about anything I've tried to date. Two thumbs up to the Chef for taste, creativity and quality. The only reason I didn't give City Hall five stars is because of the poor serve at the bar. A young hostesses saved my dinner experience on my third visit for dinner. If not for her my experience would have been a real downer because of the bartender. He wasn't attentive (not only to my section but the entire bar which wasn't slammed), he made mistakes on numerous orders, had no customer service skills, looked annoyed to be there, etc. He may have had a bad night but I've heard the same from friends that decided to have a casual meal at the bar. All-in-All OUTSTANDING!
(4)Jennifer P.
Worst restaurant experience ever! The waitress was unfriendly and was annoyed when we asked to exchange a drink. We were celebrating my husbands bday and I had call beforehand so that they could sing to him. They completely forgot which just added to the horrible experience. The food was ok, nothing impressive. Would not recommend this place or return again.
(1)Johanna S.
My pancakes were RAW on the inside!!! I couldn't even believe it! On top of that management didn't even comp it!! Really upset with this place. We complained and they still charged us for the crappy food. They didn't even care. Such a bad experience. Please don't go here.
(1)Brenda P.
MIAMI SPICE REVIEW Went on a Sunday during brunch hours which are 10-4pm. Used their $4 valet service which was both convenient and inexpensive. Half of us did the Miami Spice menu and the other half ordered off the regular menu. In a nutshell, the food was great, the place has a great vibe but the service was lackluster. The restaurant is a mix between masculine and art deco decor. There are booths, tables and high tops. They started us with some heartwarming hot bread with pecan maple butter. It was absolutely perfect. We also had some bloody Mary's. Those were good too. Our waiter was nice but aloof to the entire process. I don't know if it was his first day or if he just could not care less to be there and do his job well. These were our choices: * Mussels- regular menu. Delicious * Mixed Baby Greens- cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrot, avocado, toasted sunflower seed herb dressing that tasted like peanut and we loved. * Thai Steak salad- regular menu- good * Lemon Caper Shrimp Fettuccine- regular menu- Delicious * House Blend Meatloaf- this was really great. The meatloaf was moist and the mashed potatoes were dreamy. The green beans were crisp and do I really have to explain crispy onions? mmm mmm mmm * Chocolate Bread Pudding- exceptional * Chocolate Crunch Cake- Delicious The mussels were brought out but it took several minutes to get plates and silverware for them. Three of us had finished with the appetizers but I was still working on my salad. They removed everyone's plate, left me eating and brought out the entrees. Um, hello, I am still eating the salad can you not see that? Badly timed. At least they did refresh the silverware in between courses. I finally finished my salad and that plate stayed there until we finished our entrees. Once the entrees came out I realized we had ordered a chorizo mac & cheese and we never got it. When I inquired about it our waiter looked a little lost. He left to find out and then said "Oh yeah, we don't offer that during lunch" (even though by now it was about 3:00 and their dinner service begins at 4:00pm). He could have said that too when I ordered it first no? Then once again, one of us was still eating while the remaining dishes had been cleared. Our waiter started to set our table for desserts and was ready to take our orders. When I mentioned that we were not ready for dessert he picked up the spoons he had started to put down, briefly apologized and left. We also ate the entire time with the bread crumbs noticeably still on the table from when they first brought out the bread. We also had to remind him several times for drinks and other small things. There was a gospel jazz singer who sang on this day. She had a great voice and was entertaining. She walked around and had people sing along with her, etc.(even owner Steven Hass sang!) At one point though, she decided to sing the national anthem (odd choice during lunch) and then got upset because people were still talking and SHHHHHH'd everyone. That was random. I agree the anthem demands respect but it was also not the time nor the place to sing it. Overall though, it was nice to have live music with our meal. I have an upcoming event here on a weekend night and I am eager to see how it compares (and maybe have some of that chorizo mac & cheese). I really had a good time and I loved every single item we ate. For that, it gets 4 stars.
(4)Dorrell C.
The decoration in this restaurant is gorgeous the food is to die for and the staff is very friendly, I love this place
(5)Steve K.
We flew into Miami and stayed the night before traveling to the Keys. I asked the front staff at our hotel for a recommendation for a burger and a beer, and they said to try City Hall down the street. My wife and I walked on down the road and found the restaurant. We walked in and were intimidated by the place. It seem a little more on the upscale side. White table cloths and people dress in business casual dress ( we had just gotten off a plane and we were wearing shorts and t-shirts). The hostess greeted us with a smile and sat us upstairs. Our waiter came up right away and when asked to suggest a local beer he asked a couple of questions and guided me to a Florida beer, that turned out to be very tasty (monk in the trunk). Looking at the menus, my wife and I were kinda hesitant. There was one burger on the menu. We ordered the burgers and waited. When the burgers came out I was floored. A nice big juicy burger with bacon, cheese and caramelized onions. My first bite was heaven. Truly this might be one of the best burgers I have ever had. They put a basil aioli that pulls the whole burger together. Now I know that the atmosphere has a lot do with your experience. I don't know if being on a plane all day, had anything to do with it, but this was a damn good burger. The restaurant is nice and is decorated nicely. There were a couple of large groups eating when we were seated, but it seemed like the kitchen had no problem getting their orders out. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgable. I am definitely recommending their burger and their restruant.
(5)Joseph J.
I just don't understand the low-ish ratings. We were a group of 15. The salmon (fresh) was cooked med-rare and was one of the best meals I ever had. Spectacular! Fresh fish cooked med rare, where it jus flakes off, can't be beat. And I'll be looking for the house Char. I really liked it but my wife probably wouldn't have liked it but then---- who's right, anyway!
(5)Megan M.
Came in with my mom for Miami Spice. I tried their bread pudding at this year's Iron Fork and it was to die for, so I thought I'd come in to see if everything else on the menu was just as tasty. Service and ambiance are great here. Too bad the food didn't measure up. My mom had the mussels which she enjoyed for her appetizer. My vegetable soup tasted like it came from a can. For entrees, we both got the steak. The side of fries were really good- crispy and flavorful, but the steak was SO fatty. No kidding, half my steak was fat. Dessert was the winner. The bread pudding was delicious. I'd come back for coffee and bread pudding, but that's about it!
(3)Monica B.
We came here to celebrate and it was honestly such a great experience. We got there before our reservations, but we were immediately seated anyway. The ambiance is so cool and it has a great "retro" feel. Our server was very helpful with his recommendations, since we had never been here. My boyfriend ordered a filet mignon and I ordered the rib eye and both were outstanding. We both LOVED the butter they give with the bread. The dessert, a croissant bread pudding, was out of this world, but its size got the best of us. lol The best part of the meal were the drinks!! They are generous with the alcohol and the tastes are all very distinctive and yummy. Kinda of pricey but appropriate for a special day.
(4)Charity Z.
First let me say packed! We had a reservation and they seated us immediately. We were 12 and it wasnt an issue. I gave this place a 4 mainly because of the service and the pecan butter, i could bathe in the the butter! Omg the butter is so good ,i bought an 8oz tub to take home. This place is in the heart of biscayne oh and what a gem. I loved everything about this place. The crowd,the ambiance,the food,the service. Ill tell you, a bit pricey but worth it. To start i had the eggplant parm and oh what a treat. The scallops with potatoe croquette ...something...amazing, everything else ordered by our party was pretty good, but im jumping straight to dessert! The warm chocolate croissant bread pudding is all i can say. what a dream! Id come here everyday just to have it. It mealts in your mouth.The marriage of the food and capacity of my wallet blend perfectly. Definetly will be back!
(4)Cat E.
First you must know that I'm super picky. I have been to City Hall a couple of times. All the previous times have been good and satisfactory but this last time was exceptional. The food was good and the service was great! My friend and I order the lunch special short ribs, the turkey melt w/herb mayo instead of mustard and both dishes were good. To top it off, we ordered cookies which were to die for! At first I thought they were going to be hard because of how big they are but they were the complete opposite, soft and warm, with chocolate chip melted inside. Our lunch suddenly got better when we were offered milk to go with our delicious cookies. Now the service... We had a late lunch and they seem to be in the middle of a shift change, so we had two great waiters who were very pleasent, friendly and really made us feel like they wanted us to have a fun and pleasent time. Each time they came to our table, they had excellent timing (inlcuding the rest of the team, the person who refilled our water, and the person who helped clean our table) and great attitude. I eat lunch out (a lot) in the edgewater area, this includes midtown, wynwood, and the biscayne area and most of the places are okay, but I was very impressed with City Hall, it was a great balance with the food and service and has been consistently ok to great, never a horrible experience. I say Ok to GRAT because shit (exuse me) does happen, and service industry can be hard (i can only imagine, so I have to have some consideration). Some background - It wasn't too busy, wasn't too loud, and it was a late lunch. Thanks City Hall.
(5)Paul E.
City Hall was near our hotel, so we tried it out for dinner one night. Duck confit pizza with fig was a great starter--probably enough for a meal. It's a nice mixture of salty and sweet. I had meat loaf with maple mac and cheese as an entree. The meat loaf was very nice, and the serving was tremendous. That maple mac and cheese is awesome. It sounds a little strange, but it's really just a touch of syrup--just enough that you notice it. It's unusual and definitely worth trying. On a second visit, I had the scallops, which were also fantastic. I might skip the appetizer if I ever go back. It was too much rich food to finish. It's a little too expensive, maybe, but the food and service are excellent.
(4)Sandra M.
On New Year's Day before attending a show at the Arsht Center my friends and I decided on trying out City Hall. Lucky enough it was conveniently located and it was a great experience. The ambiance at the restaurant is very nice, the decor is very inviting and I noticed there was a large room on the second floor. Our server was very attentive and animated. He knew the menu well and he was able to make recommendations. The food was overall good. We had the wings and calamari for appetizer, the complimentary bread with pecan butter was to die for! As my dinner I had the meatloaf with a side of Mac and cheese, I was not a huge fan of the meatloaf nor the Mac and cheese I've had better. One of my friends had the shrimp pasta which was very yummy, and the other shared a ribeye. For dessert we had the apple crisp which was delicious. I will definitely come back to City Hall especially since I work nearby. Let me not forget that I tried their guava mojito and it was great!
(5)Kelley D.
Amazing restaurant to eat brunch at! We had New Year Day brunch but can go very Sunday for Gospel live music. Awesome service, amazing food, great atmosphere, & location downtown!
(5)Arturo B.
I enjoyed City Hall quite a bit. I only had a small plate for main course - the tuna tartare - so cannot comment extensively on food, my dish was very delicious. Rare tuna with Sriracha, avocado and seaweed. Paired with homemade chips. Tasty indeed. For cocktails old-fashioneds were ordered one after another. City Hall's version was less sweet than what I am used to, which was nice. It reminded me of a Manhattan on the rocks. The decor is cool. You will feel like you are back in time or part of a superhero comic book. Think Batman! Tons of street parking on the adjacent streets.
(4)Ilia M.
Have the spicy and sweet martini. Amazing! The infused pepper vodka is made at City Hall.
(5)Lillian Y.
I've been here multiple times for lunch / brunch, and each time it's been great. Good service from an attentive wait staff, solid food, an all American bistro.
(4)Teresa K.
Went here with Husband for our wedding anniversary. He had 2 apps, the eggplant and the short rib stuffed potato skins. I had the meatloaf with chorizo mac & cheese and green beans. The food was fantastic. It was incredibly rich, flavorful and filling. We both had leftovers. Then we went for the carrot cake for dessert. It was huge! No joke it was about a foot tall. The frosting was delicious too and the candied pecans gave it a wonderful crunch. Seriously though it is enough cake for 4 people. The service was also very good. Well timed, polite and helpful with menu selections. The space itself is cool and nicely decorated.
(4)Lonny P.
City Hall is a great downtown restaurant that people pass by every day without knowing how wonderful it is. I've been there several times in the past, but now with Miami Spice, and it being all of 6 blocks from my house, I've been there with my friends the last two Fridays. Their service is impeccable, their food is amazingly good, and the chocolate croissant bread pudding, as well as their cheesecake, is AMAZING. City Hall is a great place for anyone in downtown Miami or Brickell looking for quality food at a great price..
(5)Melissa D.
Caveat: I really think this place deserves 3 1/2 stars because I was between a 3 and a 4. The staff here deserve 5 stars. I also tried this place during Miami Spice month. The menu at City Hall is both diverse and traditional. They offer slight twists on classic dishes - like blue cheese mashed potatoes (great idea!). It really is upscale diner food with an ethnic pinch. I usually wince when I see too many cultures present on a menu... I mean how can they get them ALL right?! And the answer is, unless they've got a small United Nations in their kitchen, they can't and don't. But City Hall offers satisfaction with hearty meals that make it ok to want to finish everything on your plate - or take it home as leftovers. However, I would lean toward their American home-style selections over Asian inspired ones. I had the seared salmon, which was cooked perfectly (I asked for medium rare and actually got medium rare), but the jasmine rice was totally overcooked and as a result, a little mushy; moreover, the flavor was pretty bland and kind of felt like it came out of a box (I'm sure it didn't). My friend had the pork chop and the filet mignon which were much more successful dishes. Definite highlight for me was the nectarine and plum cheesecake. I fancy myself a cheesecake aficionado and this slice was as light and creamy as it was tangy and sweet... with homemade whipped cream... a must for me. I also tried their famous chocolate chip croissant bread pudding... a desert I described to my friend as a warm hug. Don't go here if you're on a diet or not in the mood for rich food. This place requires a little gluttony. And the service was excellent. Really friendly staff adds to that upscale diner feel.
(3)Michael G.
Great lunch if not on the heavy side. Service was great. Not really my scranton but cant find fault with anything.
(4)Guillermo F.
I really wanted to enjoy my meal at City Hall last night... I did... When faced with the prospect of eating a meal at 11 PM on a Friday in Miami, one is usually faced with either insufferable crowds, or some really bad 24 hour national chain. City Hall came very highly recommended and seeing as how it was generally close to the Adrienne Arsht Center, we chose to give it a shot. The place is very well decorated, with double height ceilings (I'm a big fan of that) a great looking bar, and huge screens all over the place broadcasting that evening's sporting event. The experience started choppy once they made us wait 10 mins for a booth in a half empty restaurant. Once seated the waiter (who spoke a peculiar brand of English, even for Miami standards) proceeded to give us the menu and hound us every two minutes for our drink an food order. The food was great! I had the tuna tartare topped w chopped papaya, truffle oil, spicy mayo, a side of wakame salad and fried wonton chips as an appetizer, and, as a main course, the grilled salmon crusted with black sesame seeds and topped w cashews, with a side of Bok choi and rice. The tuna tartare was a delicious starter to my meal , and the papaya on it was a revelation to me. My salmon was perfectly medium rare, just as I had asked for it to be, something that really surprised and delighted me since I've grown accustomed to my request for undercooked salmon to fall to deaf ears and produce a charred lump of shoe leather only suitable to be consumed by cats. The food portion of the meal was an A+, a tad overpriced as I've come to expect in this town, but worth the dime in my humble opinion. The reason for my two star deduction has more to do with the service in general... Our waiter was not friendly and treated us in a surprisingly rushed manner since the place was pretty empty, and the "hostess" spent the entire night on the phone giggling like a schoolgirl and running up and down the stairs screaming and acting like a hormone crazed teenager (we were on a booth next to her stand). Most of the staff was in that "we're closing, let's get outa here" attitude 2 hours before their advertised closing time... Is it wrong for me to ask for good service at 11PM from a place that closes at 1AM and charges $30 an entree? I will be back for that tartare... I will... But this time I won't expect Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast to serve and host my meal.
(3)Melynda H.
After months of wanting to try, we went on a Saturday night around 6:45; we were seated right away. Not only that, the host was FABULOUS, as he greated us at the door with a huge smile and a "come on in right now" kind of attitude. Ordered the burger, which was slightly undercooked, but corrected right away. Also, ordered spaghetti and meatballs with butter and parmesan in lieu of marinara for my 6 year old; we received dryish, linguini noodles with a light amount of butter and no meatballs. This was taken off of our bill. Lastly, my husband ordered linguini and shrimp - was excellent! Overally, the service was good and the host EXCELLENT - you have to have a great experience at the door; if they great you nonchallantly as if your business doesn't mean anything, than your experience will be the same; the food flavor was great, just minor imperfections. Hence, the 4 stars. Ambience was great, as well. Hope this helps make your decision. Enjoy.
(4)Nicole F.
I just had the worst experience going to City Hall. We were five; can you believe we picked this restaurant out of many to go for a group lunch? The place is nice, it started well. We were seated, the waiter came to our table, provided the menus. The food ordering was bit awkward but nothing out of the ordinary. The waiting period was lengthy even though we ordered from the 30 minutes or less lunch menu. When the food arrived, he didn't know who ordered what. Meanwhile, the appetizer did not arrive, when we enquired, the waiter said he forgot to place the order and apologized. He asked if we still wanted it, he can place the order, (really!!?). Then the bread arrived -after the food. The food was okay; the water was not replenished unless we asked. The kicker... we finished and were patiently waiting for the dessert (which we pre-ordered) since it was part of the lunch menu. The waiter brings the dessert menu, to our surprise. He seemed surprised and lost and we kindly reminded him that he had already taken our dessert orders. Furthermore, he asked us if we didn't receive our desserts (what!!!?). Well ... it really went downhill from there. He (Luis) comes with another waiter with the desserts, not knowing who ordered what again. The other waiter had his finder holding the cookies onto the plate, omg !!! Our manager was upset and went to speak with the restaurant manager (Sasha) who evasively just apologized. Luis tried to redeem himself by offering a bread pudding, which, I though was excessive considering we had already eaten dessert. It could have been a nice gesture, if Luis didn't slam the desserts plates unto the table. By that time I was completely horrified and discouraged. Wow!!! That performance was worthy of a Grammy, he must have been under the influence or maybe they pulled him out of washing the dishes due to lack of staff. Maybe we were on candid camera!!? Finally, when we're trying to come to grip with this awful reality, they decided to offer everyone at the table a 10% discount in the event one would decide to come back. "Adios amigos" you will never see me/us again; there are too many restaurants in this city to torture myself by coming back to this joke of a restaurant.
(1)Rags M.
Disappointed. I thought I'd give it a try on Miami Spice for possibly adding it to the all too short list of places to go before or after events at the Arscht or the Triple A. Forget it. Our food arrived promptly but only luke warm at best. Service seems intent on high turnover, at the sacrifice of the kitchen. Even the mussels must sit on a warming tray somewhere, waiting for the waiters to scoop them up rather than being cooked to order. Nothing (eggplant app, mahi main and a rib eye main plus the mussels) was anything to boast about. I've scratched this one from that still too short list.
(2)Tracy C.
Recommended by the hotel concierge as a nice place, close enough for us to walk. I'm so glad he did! Place was local dinner chic - with dark paneling, black and white floors, big wood bar - very nice but not overly fancy. Party of 6 we were immediately seated, and had a waiter taking care of us at all times. Food was excellent and fresh, the drinks were very tasty (a bit expensive), and they even gave us several free desserts as hotel "sends" All in all a VERY good meal, nice service and fun atmosphere. Recommend for anyone who is looking for a way above average night out.
(4)David C.
What a pleasant surprise. It reminds me of some of the more sophisticated, metro places to eat in Chicago and NYC. Miami needs to support this place and give it some love. To start, they have the best bar I have been to in a while and the bartender made me a fantastic martini. Starters: Flat bread - awesome and must be shared Oysters - with bleu cheese - super tasty Mussels - in a great sauce and a nice portion size Chicken wings - great, but there is other stuff a bit better Entrees: Steak - fillet was perfectly made Meatloaf - huge and super tasty BONUS TIME: You must try the banana cream pie. It was the best I have ever had. The chocolate tart was also solid. Chef Tom was super pleasant and humble. This place is great and the location is conveniently off South Beach. TIP: Valet your car, it is cheap
(4)Sergio E.
Great food fantastic atmosphere! Sunday Brunch is an great event... life music ... Just be ready for a noisy fun experience!
(4)Dana R.
Perfect dinner spot in every way. Let's start off with the bread. Warm, soft, impossible to practice portion control. Not to mention the butter is unlike anywhere else...it is sweet and I would be perfectly content eating it on its own (don't judge!). As I skim the menu I struggle with what to order simply because I've thoroughly enjoyed everything I've sampled at City Hall. Last night I got the tuna tartare which is perfectly prepared with avocado, seaweed salad, papaya, and a truffle soy vinaigrette. I also ordered the duck and wild mushroom pizza- wow. It was so good and so filling that we made our neighbors eat our remaining slices and I can confidently say that they were equally impressed. Next time I go back will be for City Hall's Gospel Sunday brunch. Can't wait to dive into some crab cake benedict!
(5)Sandra F.
This review is for the Sunday Gospel brunch. What a fun time! I tried to grand marnier french toast and the mushrooms and eggs encroute. I thought everything was very good including the mimosas. Make sure to confirm advertised prices as they charged us more for mimosas than on the flyer but when we brought it to their attention they adjusted the price. The singer was fun and even got the crowd involved. I'll be back!
(3)Maria O.
We live very close to City Hall so we go there very often. It is a great place both to have a drink and eat appetizers or to have a full meal. The bar tenders are very nice, service is great and food is really exquisite. Try the tuna tartar, the gorgonzola and guava pizza and definitely the bread pudding for dessert!
(4)Sloan s.
Very disappointed! Menu changed. I ordered take out asked for seafood gumbo which was 8.95 and got some crap at $28.50. They forgot my Mac and cheese and Bread Pudding. The best thing was the Pancheta and Gorgonzola pizza was the best thing going. So overprice, ripoff with missing food and bland. Sad very sad!
(2)Josi D.
First, I'll say my review is slightly biased. Being in the industry, we probably knew 3/4 of the staff that night including the manager and owner, and probably had better service than your average guest, in that kind of "guy talk, treat me like a trophy wife who clearly doesn't care to have an actual dinner conversation, just listen in on the guys" kind of way. That being said.... The rootbeer cocktail was a weird experience. It's on the menu, I ordered it. The waiter told me I would not like it, to choose something else. I insisted I like rootbeer, so he brought it to me. Then they told me again I probably did not like it, that it tasted like cough syrup, that they were soon replacing it, and should I prefer something else - let them know. A couple months later it's still on their menu, and I did like it. I don't remember everything we ate, but the potato skins were only slightly more impressive than TGIFriday's, unfortunately. The brussel sprouts were absolutely amazing, melting in your mouth. The meatloaf, yes, good - but I just can't justify paying so much for food like this. Being American, this is comfort food - and meatloaf is not exactly what you eat on a splurge night out. It's just strange. I absolutely have to say, with much regret, that my gravy was disgusting. It tasted like corn starch. Mac & Cheese was good, but again, it's mac & cheese. I feel like every menu in 2010 had mac and cheese. And I definitely ate my fair share of .59 kraft boxed dinners as a kid - I just can't justify gourmet mac and cheese. I wish I would have tried the fried chicken. My husband had a steak, which was delicious - I was jealous and bitter that I had fallen for the homey American fare via ex China Grill staff. Should have known better I guess. The bread pudding was absolutely insane. Gooey and chocolatey and worth every spoonful. I would go back for it. Maybe it's because I'm not from NY, I don't understand the decor, it just feels cold and clashes oddly with the trying to be warm and cozy menu. The service, had we not known the staff, would have most likely been bad, judging by other tables. One of the girl servers had her shirt unbuttoned (no, not even gracing us with cleavage unfortunately) with a white wife beater tank top and gold pimpish chain and messy stringy hair hanging all around, bounced around the restaurant flirting with the staff, then left through the front door with her purse, extra set of clothes, and work shoes in her hand, completely unappetizing and unattractive. Our server was excellent, but in a forced "the owner is watching me with this table" type way. I hear the gospel brunch on Sunday's is worth checking out - maybe I will go, and update. I love these guys and wish I could have been blown away.
(3)Oregna J.
The atmosphere is great. However, the iceberg salad and mussels with cream sauce was absolutely horrible. The waiter Noel was very cold towards us. He's extremely argumentive with customers. Simply removing an item from the check does not suffice. It's not able the money, but the experience.My visit was during lunch, perhaps dinner made be better. I'll never eat at this place again.
(1)Eric J.
Um...ok...so there are good parts and bad parts to our experience at City Hall and its abotu 50/50 between them so I'm just going to lay this out chronologically. I made the reservation a couple of days ago and was profoundly impressed with the level of professionalism shown by the gentleman (name eludes me) who not only took my reservation but called the day -of to confirm. We got there and were promptly seated and were optimistic that things were very much headed in the right direction. The interior design was right on and the urban feel palpable. The menu looked great but from the start it was clear...Houston, we have a problem.... The waiter was a nice enough guy I'm sure but clearly, management had not armed this guy with enough tools to get him through a drive through at Krystal Burger.... ME : So do you happen to know what single malt scotches you have... WAITER GUY: No. [ Incredibly long, uncomfortable...waiting for a punch line...no really here's the list...pause] ME: Guess, I'll get up and go see for myself (as I wandered down stairs to see there mediocre if pasable list of scotches... Ok so downhill from here... We ordered about a half a dozen apps and one entree and after the waiter asked me if "I'll have a double" meant "double ice", he took the order and left. 20 (or more likely 30) minutes later he came over to "confirm the order", Apparently that was code for "I didn't put in your order ...oops..." Anyhoos...we got a new waiter..manager was nice but a little lost and perhaps undertrained as well...replacement watiress was cool...now the food The food saved it... We ordered Cevice, Shortrib stuffed potato skins (what could be wrong with that), salad (sorry I don't remember but it was great), Blue cheese oyster, Mussels, Truffle pizza and the fried chicken. I won't go into each dish other than to say they were all order agains....except the fried chicken which is only order again if there is no KFC near where you live. For dessert we had the bread pudding (awesome and worth the trip on its own) and the something, something, something trapped in chocolate (which I'm craving as I write this".... On balance, the place was good...maybe even very good but its hard to tell because the service absolutely was awful... I should clarify that neither the guy that didn't know if I meant double rocks or anyone else that worked there should be blamed for the pisspoor service. The problem there was clearly systemic and whoever is responsible for training staff...well, there's always night school
(3)Michele P.
I came to City Hall just to get something to eat. Little did I know that I would be in for such a treat. Simply put the food and venue are worth every dime you spend. The server staff is friendly and on their game. Then the center attraction is the food. just take a look at the pictures. What more needs to be said.
(4)Br. Jason F.
I've had the pleasure of dining here at least five times in the last six months. I am reminded of NYC as I sit in one of City Halls large booths. Everything on the menu is first rate. I'm fond of their meatloaf. Their appetizers are plentiful and easily shared. Deserts are huge and can be shared between two. The service is of the highest quality I have never sat for more than two minutes with a half-glass of water. Adult beverages are made perfectly even for the most finicky of diners. You won't be disappointed if you choose to eat at City Hall.
(5)Anthony C.
Oh, how it pains me to give this place only three stars! FINALLY, I get the opportunity to make my way over to City Hall, a new addition to the ever growing gastro scene of Miami. Upon arrival I am digging the "Roaring 20's" decor with the tall ceiling, mural, and second story overlooking the first floor. This vibe combined with the classy but trendy feeling makes the place totally authentic. BUT, if only I could judge City Hall on decor alone..... OK, I get it. Elaborated American classics such as your meatloaf, fried chicken, pork chops, etc. Fine. I was looking forward to see how it would all turn out. So, now that you have an idea of the expectation, I decided to order the pork chop. Foolish me. A pork chop? Granted the pork was of good quality, but like I said, it was just that: a pork chop. That's the thing. I just couldn't muster up the feeling of excitement in reading over the menu items. I mean, c'mon, would you get excited too over some elaborated meat loaf, pork chops, and fried chicken? These items are meant to be "comfort" foods made in the comfort of your own home, not in some trendy establishment that kind of zaps the magic out of them. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm glad I went to uncover what this place is all about, and it sure is a worthy restaurant, but I wasn't crazy about it. Sorry, Steve Haas!
(3)Alexis Y.
City Hall reminds me of a restaurant from the set of a movie where two rich mobsters are making a deal. Overall I enjoyed my visit to City Hall. The restaurant has two floors. The top floor might be for private events but it was closed on Friday night so we sat on the first floor. I was very impressed with the service that evening. We were offered sparkling water (yay) and fresh baked bread with pecan butter that is made on location. I ordered the unconventional french onion soup which has two cheese filled wantons instead of bread and the onion and beef broth soup is poured table side. It was a very large portion and I was not able to finish it. I also ordered the meatloaf but I was not feeling well and I asked our server to cancel it. There seemed to be some concern about my well being so the server brought me herbal tea. I thought that was nice. Dessert came to the table and although I wasn't feeling up to it I could not pass up a taste of the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding.
(4)Adriana W.
I went back for a party with my coworkers and RAUL the bartender was simply the BEST! He can make a mean Sour Apple cocktail and his Cosmos are pretty awesome! I bought like 16 ounces of the butter pecan spread for my pregnant sister, who's been dying for this since last year. The service here is amazing! I am definitely going back here only for RAUL though, he was great!
(4)Anya W.
Looks good from the out side, looks hopeful when you get in and then goes down hill from then on until the relief of walking out the door. Unfortunately, I went back because it was convenient and thought it may have been just a bad night. Na. No love in the cooking, no imagination in the menu and unimpressive service. Ambience is quite nice, OK for a drink maybe but this place is lacking someone to oversee what is driving it to being such a disappointment. Don't mind spending money on a good experience but not on crap food like that.
(1)Alejandra S.
Best margaritas ever and the food is always delicious. Ask for the shrimp and grits if they have them.
(5)Colleen R.
Sorry, what did you say? I'm sorry, I can't hear you. You went WHERE for WHAT? Oh my goodness, I was at City Hall for a business lunch with two others and I could not hear a THING!! I mean the restaurant is beautiful! Very cool 20s decor like Anthony mentioned, but MAN - there is nothing to soak up any of the noise in this place! Its like you are in a freakin' garage. Everything echoes and you hear EVERYONE'S conversations. I had to lean in constantly just to hear what my two fellow lunchers were saying and they were two feet away! Seriously, they need something to soak up the noise, I mean just a few tablecloths would help. I get a headache just THINKING about going back here. Ok, now that I got that off my chest, a few notes on the service and food - both were pretty stellar. The service was a BIT OCD, we were asked four times how our meals were, they refilled our glasses before they were half empty, and we were approached twice by the manager to make sure everything was to our satisfaction. I won't look a gift horse in the mouth, I'd rather have more attention than not enough, but all of us commented on the repeated visits to our table. For food, I was actually pretty happy here. The only reason I am rating it 3 stars is because I couldn't hear a THING... LOL... seriously the acoustics are horrible. I had a lump meat crab salad with eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and a spicy ranch dressing. Pretty tasty! My fellow lunchers had a turkey burger wrap (pretty unique but he said it was excellent) and a steak salad (she cleaned her plate!). Prices are a bit on the steep side, our bill was about $50 for the three of us and we did not have coffee or alcohol. I do have to note it is a pretty hip spot, we had several local government officials in the restaurant for lunch and some local celebrities (most of which said hi!). Great place, just bring earplugs and don't expect to talk to each other.
(3)Mags M.
Came here for a late night dinner, the food was really good. The pecan butter was amazing, best butter I had. The service was also top notch. My water glass was never empty (I never had to lift a finger to fill it) also my martini was never empty as well! I am excited and looking forward to going again!
(4)Nick J.
Yum! I went to this restaurant during Miami Spice. I had the brunch menu..a mimosa (just because), French toast, with a corn flake crust, and bourbon-infused pure maple syrup, and thick-cut applewood smoked bacon. Definitely a great look, I must say. The ambience was nice, a good place for a date. Customer service was good. I'd like to return here for dinner, hopefully it isn't too pricey when I come back!
(4)Itzela C.
First let me start of by saying that the service is excellent! Appetizer and entree exceptional. Okay, let's talk food: My Entree was the garlic herb chicken. I shared a calamari appetizer with a friend . The garlic herb chicken was amazing which came with a side order of sliced potatoes. The potatoes were a bit dry in my opinion, the dish also came with another side order of garlic asparagus which were perfectly cooked. The calamari appetizer...what can I say...City Hall knows how to handle their calamari!! Delish! Well over all, I would say my meal at City Hall Restaurant, was memorable, but I found their prices a tad bit high. I guess that's the price you pay (literally) for food that's prepared well and with great service. I'll be back :)
(4)Gus M.
I truly had a great time here tonight. The service was prompt, my water was full 100% of the time, the food was hot, fresh and delicious. We made reservations for 8:30 and walked there. The place was not completely full, and we were immediately seated. The decor is wonderful, with some really nice artwork on the second floor. Our drinks were quickly brought out, as well as the deliciously warm bread with a sweet and savory honey-pecan butter. I ordered the meatloaf. $17.95 for a brick of meatloaf, crispy onions on top, gravy on the side, chorizo macaroni and cheese, and green beans. I was blown away by every item on my plate. I ended up taking half the meatloaf (that thing is huge!) and some of the mac & cheese, and I'm someone who usually finishes my plate, no matter how big. My girlfriend got a crispy fried chicken with some deliciously prepared corn, honey, and mashed potatoes. She was equally ecstatic about it, and got equally full halfway through. Next time, we're sharing.
(5)Brad B.
Went for Sunday brunch. I asked the waitress about the menu and she had nothing positive to say about it. She alerted that she hadn't tried the items on it, which seemed very odd to me. Working in the restaurant biz in the past, I know the importance of trying the food in order to explain them to the customer. So, I order the breakfast pizza. When I placed my order, the waitress asked, "breakfast pizza?" She had no idea they even had a breakfast pizza! I was shocked. Super strange experience. The pizza wasn't anything special. The corned beef hash wasn't that good. A bit on the peppery side. The dough was the better part of it. I wouldn't order it again, nor would I do brunch there again. The restaurant during the daytime isn't appealing. It had a cold stale atmosphere... had no warmth to it. Nothing positive to say about it. The price for brunch there didn't compliment the taste!
(2)Trabbit L.
Have to say I'm surprised by the low stars. Although it wasn't very busy when we were there, so maybe service is better when they are less busy? Either that, or they have corrected whatever problems they had before. Server slipped and called my sister "mami". We thought that was hilarious. We ordered blue cheese crusted oysters (was ok. blue cheese was a little too strong), gumbo (great! one person thought it was too fishy, the rest loved it), and duck + truffle pizza (super awesome! Everyone's favorite. Nicely cheesy and you could really taste the duck and truffles) for appetizers. Then for entree we had meat loaf (great), mahi over risotto (a special, and everyone's least favorite but still very decent), and fried chicken (tasted like any slightly salty fried chicken, but the honey dip was very clever and actually made it super good) And for dessert, we all shared the chocolate croissant bread pudding thing, which was HEAVENLY. Perfect ending and we all loved it. Although it was super rich and the portion was big, so I don't know how one person would be able to finish even half of it. Perfect for sharing, which made it a good deal. All of us agreed the food was fantastic. Decor was beautiful, service prompt and attentive. We enjoyed every bit of it.
(5)Carly N.
Me and my boyfriend were on vacation and saw that city hall was on the Miami spice menu. When we arrived for brunch the door was locked even though your restaurant was open. We were seated at a dirty table and only upon requesting the Miami spice menu did we receive it. Not to mention that the menu was on a crumpled up piece of computer paper. Our waiter Luis F. Was by far the worst server I have ever had in my life. He forgot what we ordered, never came to check on us, tried to drop the check before giving us the dessert that we already ordered, and then he stood in the back of the restaurant looking at his paycheck for 20 minutes. Another server had to present us with our check and charge us because Luis was to busy doing nothing. We would have tipped 00 dollars but the busboys were very nice and attentive and they deserved a tip. Furthermore there was a manager walking around handing out paychecks, we tried to get her attention but that didn't work. She was also too busy helping the table behind us that had 4 screaming children at 10am. As someone who works in this industry I can say that during brunch your manager should be touching tables. Or at least notice the 2 pissed off people that were sitting right in front of her. We will never be coming back here. EVER!
(1)Patrice A.
I love and hate yelp because of the people. The people that praise are usually accurate, and people that enjoy food. The haters are just that, haters, usually way too high on their horses, complaining about water temperature or getting their food in 30 mins on a busy night. I'm not trying to write a novel, but my GF and I went to CH for the first time for Miami Spice. Simple parking, attentive polite staff. We ordered the spinach salad, corvina and bread pudding, and shrimp tempura, NY strip and another bread pudding. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious from the bread with honey pecan butter, to dessert. The drinks were very good, full pour decent price. I would recommend City Hall to anyone, and will definitely come again. Good staff, nice ambiance, excellent food.
(5)Katrina W.
City Hall was one of the places on my spontaneous list of birthday week pitstops! Spontaneous meaning...it was a drunk, 'let's roam the city and find some greasy, bad-for-you foods and not drive anywhere', kinda night. Thanks to my husband, we've also been hitting up all of the places that are on OpenTable, so we can rack up the dining points for dining checks. City Hall was one of the few close by. We came in at about 10:00 pm and got a table immediately. The place was desolate. The staff was all very friendly and went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. I ordered the duck confit flatbread with gorgonzola cheese and I think there were pears on it...? This plate was very delicious and flavorful. The drink of choice for the evening was H20 and the server was completely on top of it. Refills galore. My husband got the burger with a side of brussels, which were far superior to that of any french fry. Prices were fair considering the location. We finished off the meal with a birthday dessert, candle, and some awkward singing. This part was definitely not the highlight of the evening, but it was quite a spectacle. I wasn't impressed with the banana pie, but it was the thought that really counted. I might be back.
(3)Kathryn S.
Not too bad. I had a pretty good experience at City Hall Restaurant, but not enough of a great experience that I would give them 4 stars. I went for a late dinner, around 10pm, when they were starting up there happy hour again. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love a good happy hour, so I was pretty happy about that. The alcohol wasn't the best, so I was too impressed with the happy hour. But, I drank hoping dinner would be better. My friends and I did something special where we were having breakfast for dinner, so we did not have the regular menu. I'm actually not sure if this is completely normal or not. One of my friends is very friendly with the owner, so I'm not sure if this was special or not. So, even though I went for dinner, I guess this is a brunch review. We all tried something different, and I had the pancakes. They were pretty good for regular pancakes. Nothing special. I would visit City Hall Restaurant again to try the regular menu and see if it has anything that catches my attention. From my experience this place is literally just A-OK. Nothing extraordinary, but will hit the spot if needed.
(3)Stephen F.
I had wanted to come here for a long time after hearing many great reviews from friends. Spice provided me the perfect opportunity to stop by for lunch. I had the chicken wings, burger, and cookie. I was stuff and left completely happy. Nothing fancy or over the top, just simply good food. I would return.
(4)Alessandra P.
I have been here already two times and I love it. For brunch, it's amazing. I had the eggs Benedict with Apple bacon, but you can have it with something else besides bacon. My brother in law had the French toast and he said it was amazing (it looked amazing too!) If you go, ask for Richard, he took care of my family and I and made sure we had everything. I recommend coming here and making reservations.
(5)Rachael B.
Created by the founder of Miami Spice, this is a must eat for any Miami resident. I love the food, ambiance, and incredible service here. My only comment would be that the concept isn't incredibly clear.. there are a lot of different types of food and it is a in between an upscale steak house and a trendy midtown bar. I highly recommend trying the cinnamon butter that comes with the bread as well as the duck pizza with truffle oil. The fusion of foods is very interesting and honestly everything is delicious!
(4)Victor O.
Their menus al always good, and food it's just delicious... The ambiance is very nice and the service its outstanding
(5)V P.
Kind of expensive for what you get, which is very ordinary, uninspiring, moderately well-executed dishes. Had the short ribs with polenta. It was okay. The decor makes me sad, but it's hard to put a finger on why. Maybe it's the lighting or something. The place is in Art Deco style and they've done a decent job with that. It isn't run down; seems well kept up. Just seems like a sad place. Also the 80s music needs to change bc it just clashes with everything else. Journey?! at at art deco brunch?!
(2)Jacqueline M.
I usually venture to City Hall before or after a show at the Arscht Center with or without reservations. The Bad: They advertise self parking in their "private lot" but when you arrive there's a sweaty valet guy there collecting your $5. All 3 visits, I've parked my own car in the lot only to be told he will move it and I owe him money...pfffft. On this particular visit, there were no burgers or pizzas allowed to be ordered from the menu, silly little rule because of new year's eve I assume! I was looking forward to the appetizer flatbread I had tried on a previous visit so I was bummed about that. Why in cheese's name can't I get a flat bread!!!??? Ugh! Communism! The Good: So I ordered the Fried Chicken with honey, potatoes and a biscuit. I've had it before so I knew what to expect and ordered a Mac and Cheese as well because ya know... we're fatties and it's good. Food was great. I love fried chicken, I love honey, i love Mac and Cheese but.... The Ugly: That biscuit was horrible. It was stale and hard. If you can't make a mean biscuit, give me a roll, a garlic bread or maybe a corn bread but don't give me a funky biscuit!!! Overall City Hall is a convenient option when attending the Arscht Center. Service is fast and friendly but I'm going to minus that 5th star for the crummy biscuit, parking fraud and food communism...cause I dreamt about that flatbread and they crushed my dreams of having it.
(4)Dacier I.
This place is amazing from start to finish. We made reservations on Open Table; a plus just because of the convenience. We were seated immediately and greeted by the manager as soon as we sat down. We started with the pecan butter and artisan loaf...omg heavenly! The appetizers, main course, and dessert were delicious. Our waiter was great too, a French guy that knows his wine. He paired up all of my courses with a glass of wine and did a perfect job. We went during Miami Spice and portions are nice and filling...good spot if you're going with your man. Parking is right behind the restaurant and can be paid with an app. There is nothing I can complain about this restaurant. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)Drew B.
Had a great dinner here last night after a show at Arscht center (sp). It was a short walking distance. The bread with the whipped pecan butter is really amazing. Started with a Signature drink called The Commissioner and it was a delicious mango mojito. I had the steak salad and Gorgonzola pizza. The steak was incredible with so much flavor and the dressing had just a hint of a spicy kick. I loved the pizza with just enough crunchy fried onions and BBQ sauce. I don't give out a lot of 5 stars, but last nights meal earned it. I forgot to mention that Dwayne Wade from the Heat came in for a late dinner so that was fun
(5)Michelle N.
Absolutely a must try!!! We had a large group of 14 and everyone was raving about their dish. The food was rich and flavorful. Portions were perfect as well. You also must stay and have the bread pudding dessert! We will definitely be back, Thank you for a great experience!
(4)Kiet H.
I have been here twice, and I love the food and service. I even saw a celebrity and her Miami Heat player boyfriend here once when I had dinner at 11p. The bread and the whipped maple pecan butter was to die for! I would come back again for this dish alone! I would recommend making a reservation if you come for dinner. The last time I came it was packed and we had to wait for about 20 minutes before we got seats at the bar. I had the Thai steak salad and it was amazing. The steak was juicy and cooked perfectly. It was large, with generous portions of steak.
(5)Yanessa E.
Came here before a show at the arsht center on a Wednesday night for cocktails and light bites. We sat at the bar as we were told by the manager that this would be the quickest service (we were about an hour from showtime.) It was our bartenders first day at the bar but you would have never known. He recommended the city clerk cocktail when I mentioned I wanted a "fruity" drink, when it came it was just what I wanted, coconut rum, pineapple juice, peach schnapps and lime juice all perfectly mixed. To eat we chose the Gorgonzola pizza and the maple chorizo Mac n cheese. The pizza had pancetta, sweet onion cream, fig jam and crispy onions together with the Gorgonzola cheese. It was great! The pancetta was almost bacon like and the fig jam made the perfect compliment to the Gorgonzola cheese, I love crispy onions and the pizza had plenty. The Mac n cheese was delicious! Creamy, cheesy, semi sweet because of the maple but savory because of the cheese and chorizo. The restaurant has a great vibe to it, loved the brasserie style decor. I will definitely come back to try out their brunch.
(4)Judy M.
Delicious comfort food...great ambiance...excellent service...delicious bread pudding dessert!
(4)Liliana Z.
A fantastic American bistro! I had heard a lot about this place and couldn't wait to try it, today I finally went for lunch and it was amazing!! The food was incredibly tasty, inventive and made with the freshest ingredients, the staff was beyond friendly and helpful and the drinks strong and delicious, what more could we ask for? For appetizer, we had the Gorgonzola pizza with dates and bacon topped with crunchy onions it was amazing! Huge portion, I was so full with this I was barely able to eat my entree. For lunch both me and my husband had the special express lunch menu. This is a great option available during lunch Monday through Friday. For under $12 you get soup or salad, an entree of your choice (some options to choose from are the BBQ brisket sandwich, bolognese pasta, truffled egg salad sandwich, mahi mahi wrap etc...) the menu also comes with a dessert (lemon pound cake or a giant chocolate chip cookie). They have some really good sides and we tried the chorizo Mac and cheese, it was out of this world!! The portion was big and the taste was amazing! The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful! Our server was Derek and he is awesome! The host was super friendly too and we truly enjoyed talking to him. Even the food runner was incredibly friendly and attentive. It is really refreshing to find a Miami eatery that has all the elements of great food and awesome service. We will definitely come back soon!!
(5)Amorriece M.
Had a really nice experience here. This could actually be my #1 spot especially on Sundays. The hosts and waiters are marvelous. Their service is excellent and food is great!!!!
(5)Karen M.
This is a really neat place with an art deco theme. It was so cool to see such a different looking decor! The fiance and I walked down from our hotel, so we didn't have to deal with the parking lot which looked like a bit of a pain in back. I ordered the atlantic salmon with jasmine rice and cashews. The salmon was cooked perfectly, and the flavors were fantastic. I thought the cashews overwhelmed the delicate salmon, so I mixed them with the rice, which I thought worked better together. The prices seemed a bit expensive, but I'm not familiar with the area, so am not sure if thats on par with the area. City Hall would get 4 stars, but the service was slooooow. Its so frustrating when you wait and see your waiter keep walking by while you try to flag them down. I don't live in the area, but if I did, I would definitely be back even with the slow service.
(3)Aimee R.
Hands down one of the greatest dining experiences we have ever had. We celebrated my husbands birthday there this weekend and we were beyond amazed with everything. From the incredible food, the impeccable service and fantastic drinks, our party of 18 had one incredible evening!! I have to thank in particular Steve Haas who went above and beyond to make our evening so special. Never had I had the pleasure of meeting a restaurant owner who was so accommodating, friendly and down right a really nice guy! Our servers Jose and Frederick were phenomenal - and I apologize for not remembering the hosts name, who was also so charming. Thank you Steve, your staff and City Hall for one fabulous evening. We will definitely see each other again soon!
(5)Emily R.
This Sunday morning the restaurant was practically empty and yet the service was extremely slow. My husband found his omelet to be overlooked and the cheesy grits to lack a cheese flavor. Very disappointing. The meatloaf I ordered was so salty that I could' t eat it. The mash potatoes and gravy were good. We actually had to get up to locate the waiter to get the check. I doubt we will be back until we hear the kitchen has stepped up its game.
(2)Brian R.
Our first visit was marred a bit by bad service. The wait staff is short handed when they are slammed and the upstairs seems to be a problem. We waited a while for a server. We didn't order much, an appetizer and a pair of sides. The order came back wrong twice and I would avoid the mussels because they cracked open a couple that should have been tossed and they were good for a little altar time with the porcelain god. Parking is valet in the back. Food looks good and it's s nice menu but avoid this place any time around showtime at the Arsht down the street unless they pony up for another waiter to take the pressure off the staff. I'm sure our server is fine when she could breathe and think but she made a muddle out of the order and there was a complete disconnect with the servers who drop food. Second visit: the restaurant was much less crowded, the waiter far better, and downstairs is much closer to the kitchen things seem to be moving much more smoothly. The bar is very good and tequilas and vodkas, and bourbon whiskey's which I happen to like, but they do have Cardhu which is an amazing Scottish whiskey you get most buyers seem to miss but is very popular in Europe. I'm improving their reading one star for the better outing.
(4)Adam S.
Good, albeit heavy & rich, food here at reasonable prices with above average service here. The ribeye here is delicious as are the Parmesan fries it comes with. They have something similar to a Miami Spice menu year around here which is also nice for people who are watching their budget. The calamari is good, but not the best thing on the menu here. Try the bread pudding. This place is a favorite among the political crowd in town (both the hacks and politicians themselves), so if you have any political juice around here you will probably run into a couple of familiar faces if you come here for dinner.
(4)Natalie I.
Friday was my first time here but the word that comes to mind is Big as in Big furniture Big Plates Lots of food. It was a party of four and we had a great time. Service was on point it was busy but not loud we were able to easily converses with each other. 2 people got the sea scallops I have to say the looked and smelled delicious. 1 got the skirt steak. I got fried chicken nothing was left over. I got the fried chicken i do not know why because I do not really like fried chicken because i have never had good fried chicken. However this was some seriously good fried chicken. It was moist and crunchy! Just yummy. However i hate chicken on the bone so that made it a but hard to eat. The desert was very yummy. Moose is my favorite deserts and it have a lovely textural element with the crunch. It was solid food and solid service give it a try.
(4)André D.
It's a nice space, a little too loud for talking over Sunday brunch. My family enjoyed their meals, but my eggs benedict came out completely cold, and when I asked the waiter if he could heat the eggs and toast, he took it to the kitchen and it came back microwaved and totally inedible. Will probably not each brunch here ever again.
(2)Lorena M.
I love this spot. I live across the street and every time I've gone, this place never disappoints! Some of my favorite items- Gorgonzola pizza, shrimp & grits, wedge salad, duck pizza. Everything has great flavor and the portions are hefty! I highly recommend this place. Especially the items I specified. Prices are slightly high, but totally worth it.
(5)Melissa C.
Fabulous food and the service is outstanding!! Definitely recommend coming here. Great selection of food.
(5)Matt C.
Prior to dinner I had a Makers Mark Manhattan (UP) and it was very tasty. For dinner I had the Seared Ahi Tuna (off the dinner menu) and it was REALLY GOOD. It's a good location, one side of the restaurant is lined with large windows, you can look out and watch the world go by. I had a couple bites of the shrimp & grits also very tasty. Good one.
(4)Lily O.
Absolutely loved this place !! Miami spice's best menu!! Service was awesome. Everyone was super friendly. I loved that chocolate dessert.
(5)Sally R.
Came here for brunch 2 weeks ago. The atmosphere is very nice and they had live music which it was very entertaining. however, the food was not good and pricey. To pay these prices I rather stay in Brickell area or Coconut Grove. So we had the salmon with jasmine rice. bok choy and miso glaze. I was not good at all, the rice did not tasted like real jasmine rice, bok choy was too soft, salmon was dry and the glaze was salty. It was a terrible meal for 25$ ceasar salad was average but overpriced for 10$ I did not see anything special in the rest of the plates my friends were eating. I heard the pancakes were good. In my opinion when you are paying for these prices at least the food should be delicious. It is not worth it the two stars are for service because our waiter gave us excellent customer service.
(2)David C.
2nd time there. Really enjoyed it both times. I LOVE the fresh bread with the maple pecan butter. It's just amazing
(5)Rebecca B.
The express lunch is a great deal, three mini courses. Food cooked just right. I'm a huge tuna fan and their nicoise is just right. Yellow fin tuna nicely seared. Nice happy hour and wine by the glass list.
(4)Jo W.
After a long week at work, Friday was finally here and I needed happy hour in my life. City Hall happened to be the right choice because they were offering a Miami spice menu and happy hour. Walking into city hall was a welcoming experience. The hostess there is awesome and makes sure you feel good from the start to the finish of the meal. Since my fiancé was joining me, we both ordered off the Miami spice menu and shared. The first appetizer was the Steak Carpaccio. I am not really a huge fan of steak and I'm scared to eat it rare so this was a huge leap for me. I actually loved it and it made me want to eat steak. Guess raw is the way to go. The other appetizer was the Shrimp Tempura. In comparison it was blah, well in itself it was blah. My entrée was the Mediterranean Seafood Pasta. It was a big plate of food and a decent amount of seafood. The sauce was nice; creamy, but not thick and milky. My fiancé had the 12oz New York Strip. They overcooked it so he had to sent it back, but they gladly obliged and made it how he had requested without issue. First up for desserts was the Chocolate Crunch Cake. Chocolicious! Then was City Hall's Famous Chocolate Chip Croissant Bread Pudding which was delish. While it was not an extraordinary experience, I had a good time and a good meal.
(3)Steffi M.
We go to park in the parKing lot, and you have to download an app to pay to park. The app is not the sane one used in the rest of miami. Almost left because of that, but as we were leaving, found street parking. Service was lovely. Ourv server was really informed, pleasant, and experienced. Best part of the whole experience. Atmosphere was lovely. Food came very quickly. The food was insanely overpriced for the quality. I took a few bites, wasn't feeling it, finished my drink and left. Id compare the food quality to that of a decent chain restaurant, but with the price of trulucks. Im glad I checked it out, but if I returned, it would be for a couple of drinks if they have a happy hour.
(3)Summer E.
I really like this place... It has a great location, really cool decorations, and has a really great family feel. The food is also really good and the owner walked around to make sure everybody was taken care of.
(4)Alexandre H.
Gospel music and brunch, now that's an idea! A friend invited us for brunch at City Hall, I was not in the mood for brunch, but when he mentioned that they have a lady signing Gospel music he changed my mind, I had to see (hear) that. But let's start with the food: some in my group took the Miami Spice for a spin (wings as an appetizer, juicy hamburger with caramelized onions and fries, and a big cookie and vanilla ice cream for desert, all very good). We also had Braised Beef Short Ribs (with Polenta, Fried Eggs and Exotic Mushroom Sauce), Three egg omelet (with pastrami, scallions, mushrooms, Swiss cheese and French fries), and also Buttermilk Pancakes with Maple syrup. All very good, no complaints. The deco is nice, NY style decor. Guests of all types: young and trendy, older and happy, middle aged with family, kids, etc. And a very energetic and enthusiastic gospel singer, she really injected fun in the ambiance. Very nice. Recommended!
(4)Luis E.
City Hall has nailed it as far as it goes for me. The atmosphere is very metropolitan. Lots of architectural lines, and angular shaped lighting. The service is phenomenal. They serve you iced water as soon as you are seated, and the server is very educated with the menu. They even bag your food for you once you are done eating. But my favorite part of the menu is the drinks. There is a spicy and sweet passionfruit martini that is beyond amazing. I had the pleasure of enjoying the fish stew which came with succulent fish,scallops, and muscles. And even though the server told me that they ran out of scallops that evening the restaurant went the extra mile to get a hold of scallops to add to the stew. They have an amazing wine menu. And even though I did not have dessert I am sure that they have something exquisite to offer. This is certainly a place to take a hot date. Very upscale and classy
(5)Katerina S.
I was excited to try City Hall as I'd heard lots of great things. Unfortunately, each dish we ordered were really below average. We started off with the baked eggplant for appetizer - this had so much potential but it had wayyyyy too much cheese inside and outside the eggplant - this was cheese with eggplant not eggplant with cheese. Furthermore, I ordered the fish stew, which was bordering disgusting as several of the "fish" pieces were some type of pure gelatin-consistency fat portion of the fish. That turned me off to the entire dish. My husband ate a simply grilled Grouper with vegetables - that was basic and ok but a bit overcooked. Our friends enjoyed their lamb but their steak was covered in a thick layer of Parmesan cheese (way to ruin any decent steak). Anyways, I doubt I'll be coming back. The next morning we all had stomach issues. Far too many mishaps.
(1)Rachel S.
I was excited to try this restaurant after receiving a recommendation and seeing favorable ratings on Check Please South Florida. My boyfriend and I decided to dine here before seeing the Billy Joel concert. We made a reservation for 6:15 and arrived about 5 minutes early. We were impressed that they asked if we were going to the concert b/c they said they would make note of it so our service would be faster. We had no problem being seated - the host recommended we sit at either a high top downstairs or a lowtop upstairs because the lowtops downstairs would be uncomfortable for my boyfriend. I found that weird, but I appreciate the recommendation. We opted to go upstairs b/c I do not like high tops. We definitely are glad we put in reservations as the restaurant got very busy. I think there was a lot going on downtown that night. Upstairs was very nice and we had a nice view of the restaurant. We quickly put our order in - a pizza appetizer, lemon chicken and meatloaf, as well as our drinks. Our waiter confirmed we were going to a concert. So far so good! Our drinks came out promptly with warm bread and a delicious butter. That was the high point of the meal. The pizza came out relatively quickly too - about 10 minutes later and it was good. Then we waited. And waited. Never saw our waiter. I had to ask a bus boy for a refill on my soda. And Waited. It is now 7 p.m. and our food is nowhere to be seen. We see people who arrived after us get their food (including those at the hightop we were offered) Finally the waiter stops by to say he's checking with the kitchen and will talk to the manager because he knows we have to leave for the concert, which begins at 8. He comes back and says it will be out in a few minutes. Fine. It doesn't take very long to eat. 15 minutes later I call the manager over and I explain that we have an 8 p.m. concert we have to get to. He said it will be fine, don't worry, the food will be great and he'll even offer us free dessert! Five minutes later the food finally comes and it is a disappointment. My boyfriend enjoyed his meat loaf, but didn't think it was amazing. I was less than impressed with the chicken limon over linguine. The chicken was fine, but the pasta was horrible. Everything was luke warm and the pasta stuck together and was sticky. We get our bill and the manager comes over and asks again if we want dessert. It is not 7:40, 20 minutes before the concert, and we have to get a cab and get through traffic. Even if we wanted dessert, we simply did not have time for it. To cut the restaurant slack, it was a very business night. However, It should never take an hour and 20 minutes to receive an entree. Especially when you are a table for two. Food was mediocre. Perhaps this is more of a burger joint. Most likely will not be back, but you never know!
(2)Lina V.
Came here for a friend's birthday party, nice place however was not impressed with the food and the service. The pizza appetizers are good and huge, so you can easily split it with a friend (which the waiter did not mention). The seafood stew was bland with only one scallop inside, mostly fish and overlooked shrimp, it comes with a tiny plate of cilantro rice. The waiter did not explain or give any beneficial suggestions, so maybe other food is good but overall disappointing!
(3)Savanna M.
After having City Hall's shrimp and grits at a New Times Iron Fork some years back I knew I had to have it again, however the 3 star reviews from many of my yelp friends had me a little apprehensive and in no rush. Recently, I spotted a Living Social deal and decided that that was enough incentive to make me finally go get those shrimp and grits. After parking ($5 for valet that we had to pay up front and then park ourselves) the bf was a little annoyed. I tried to remind him that it was Miami, but quite frankly I was annoyed at us paying up front! We walked in and the host immediately questioned if we were here for the Kanye West concert later that night (we were) and promised to make sure the kitchen took care of us in a timely manner - plus points for that. I decided to order my go to rum and coke after seeing the specialty cocktails were $12 each, not really a savings since my drink was $11! and the bf ordered a reasonably priced beer. After about 2 or 3 servers dropped by (yes the service was extremely attentive/friendly/helpful yet strange that we had so many different people) we ordered the tuna tartare to start - recommended by one of our servers. Honestly, the wonton chips it came with weren't the easiest eating tool, but that was one of the best tuna tartare I've ever had! I may have been inspired to start a tuna tartare list just because of this one! Mains - I had the shrimp and grits obviously, and yes it was just as good as I remembered it! I've had better, but it's up there with the best! The bf ordered a special of the night - skirt steak with blue cheese mashed potatoes, sauteed shrimp and vegetables, and despite the steak coming out a little bit more well done than he had asked (I get it skirt steak can be difficult cause it's so thin) he was impressed and so was I!! Expensive when we finally saw the price on the check, but it was worth it. Dessert - despite the fact that I was full, really full, we got talked into ordered the bread pudding made with chocolate chip croissants and topped with some kinda of cream.... yes get this... I'm drooling just thinking back about it! Overall, yes we'll be back. The food was good, better than the yelp reviews led me to believe, and the service was good as well. I did feel as though the atmosphere was a little weird, maybe too open, or too much of a dark steakhouse feel that didn't match the menu, but hey I'm all about the food!
(4)Stephanie W.
Amazing food! Went and got the duck pizza, chicken wings and hummus as appetizer. All were amazing and devoured. The table all got burgers medium rare which were cooked medium but they were so good we didn't complain. The wings were my favorite as they were super crispy and delicious. Definitely will be returning!
(5)Shaun H.
The atmosphere is trendy and cool, we enjoyed a business lunch this afternoon with a key client relationship. The service was good as well.
(4)Terry L.
This establishment has a great location in Downtown Miami (not that far from the arena). They have valet available for a cost ($5 when I arrived) but I opted for the complimentary self parking lot right next to the valet area! Upon entering the restaurant I fell in love with the design... It has two floors, a centered bar and street art on the walls with keeping a upscale style. I came in around 4pm on a Thursday and it was dead which I liked as I was flying solo. I opted to sit at the bar and the bartender took some time to address me... After finally saying Hello and providing the menus (making no recommendations) I choose to start with the crab cake and choose my entree as the Fried Chicken. Overall the crab cake was good as it mainly consisted of actual crab. As for the fried chicken... I've had better... The pieces were small and seemed overcooked, it also came with a biscuit and mashed potatoes, the potatoes were good and the biscuit had no flavor. The restaurant has potential and I feel that due to me coming in when it was dead I didn't get the level of service and food that normally is provided. I'm gonna suck it up and try this place again and will then update this review.
(3)Natasha C.
We went recently to experience the Sunday Gospel Brunch. We truly enjoyed the performance. The hostess was polite & professional. Apparently their dishwasher had issues because all of our glasses weren't washed properly. As for our food: French Toast & Fried Chicken: French toast was delicious but Fried Chicken was Flavorless. Salmon & Cream cheese omelette & fries: Very yummy! Limon Chicken: Chicken flavorless & an excessive amount of butter. Braised Beef Short Ribs: Beef delicious, scrambled eggs were literally disgusting. Sautéed Sesame Salmon: Wayyyy to much Sesame seeds on the Salmon. After scraping off the seeds it was discovered that the Salmon had absolutely zero seasoning added to it!! Our waiter was quite an odd person but he still did his job well. So the staff is good but the food is where the restaurant needs lots of improvement.
(3)Michael H.
City Hall is one of those places where I love the appetizers and desserts but the main courses aren't my favorite. I've been here and few times and always get the meatloaf and it is good but not great. I do like the relaxed and casual atmosphere and for the Miami area the prices are pretty good. They have a decent beer and wine selection and their craft cocktails are cleverly named and very good. I would reccomend the duck flat bread and the bread pudding for dessert.
(4)Jessie R.
The service was great all the way around - from the male host to the server and bus people! Very happy to help and warm. The atmosphere is also nice, the lighting and music were perfect for dinner. The food was nothing to extra to write home about, but enjoyable non the less! Will recommend! Will come back for more!
(5)William K.
Too much hype for no reason. Overly expensive for no reason. The food is decent but is very typical of your average chain restaurants. Not sure what they hype is all about simply because it is located in mid town.
(1)Darin P.
Parking: Valet is next to the restaurant, but free parking is literally 20 feet further down on the same side of the street. Bengal has signs there, but the fine print says City Hall parking as well. Waiter was French and hot upset that we did not want the amazing-looking bread. Then he was fine when we explained it was for Lent (carb free). That only left us with one option on the menu. We both had the Thai Steal Salad. It was a delicious mix of veggies with Thai dressing. Watercress was the greens for the salad. The steak was cooked perfectly and there was about 8-10 ounces on the plate. A very good deal compared to the price of other menu items. As Ahnold said, "I'll be back!"
(5)Natty G.
So, we've been here a few times and we're not very impressed. This restaurant looks nice and the menu is eclectic but the food is merely OK. The service is slow and if you go during Sunday brunch prepare yourself for a headache. The music is so loud you can't enjoy a conversation with a nice group. The menu is made up of mostly comfort style food, however; you don't feel particularly comforted. Maybe it's the brunch that is too crazy for a Sunday after having just woken up. Overall, it's just OK.
(3)elayne s.
The food is superb. Cudos to Chef Luis Lopez. Terrific lunch specials priced right. Dinner are divine with fab specials.
(5)Katrella S.
Love this place for lunch. They have an 11.50 lunch special. Today I'm having shrimp jambalaya. The crusty bread with pecan butter makes my day. Also coming with my lunch is salad and desert. Um um good
(5)Jamie W.
I've been to City Hall twice and both times I was very impressed with the atmosphere, service, and of course, food! This particular review is from my 2nd visit, which was last night. I knew from my 1st visit that the "not your usual French Onion soup" was very good according to my colleague, so I tried it this time. And she was right! The dish comes out with 3 onion-filled dumplings and cheese in the bowl. Then the soup is poured into the bowl right in front of you. A nice, cute, different touch. I also ordered the brussell sprouts side dish. It was quite large and definitely could have been shared with another person. I wasn't a big fan of the aioli that came with it....seemed a bit mayo-ish and heavy. Nevertheless, the sprouts were delicious! City Hall is a great place in an area with not too many good restaurants. I highly recommend it if you're visiting the area!
(4)Kara T.
Fun gospel brunch, good service, and pretty good food. It's not Miami's best menu, but it's in a great location and gospel brunch rocks. I've gotten the club a few times and it's a huge portion. I enjoy it. I take my out-of-towners there after church. I've also been for professional luncheons and it's always good then. We do family style and salads and everything else is always nice. I recommend it.
(4)Maisha G.
Fairly reasonable prices for that area of the city. Was little underwhelmed by the house salad: why drown the poor thing in dressing? Won back by the honey wings and shrimp & grits. Wished we had more time & appetite to try a couple other entrées: maybe next time?
(4)Ute L.
Friendly and fast service and reasonably priced American food with some healthful options made for an enjoyable Columbus Day lunch. Mom and dad love these kind of places when they visit from Berlin. Free parking in the back is a plus, so is the fact that they don't automatically slap on 18% gratuity. We started munching on some sweet potato fries while we waited. They could have used more salt and/ or some kind of spice rub but they were fresh, well cooked and non-greasy. Our waiter was great. My dad thoroughly enjoyed his Cobb salad. What is there to say- the man likes chicken, eggs and bacon. The avocado dressing, he said, was also yummy. My salmon was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I could have done with a little less oil in the salad dressing, since the salmon was already oily. Other than that, the salad dressing was great and surprisingly, having strawberries and grapes with salmon actually worked. Our waiter was very confident about the croissant bread pudding and he was right. This bread pudding is nothing short of awesome. The croissants make it moist and fluffy, it is served steaming warm with incredibly rich and decadent chunks of molten dark chocolate throughout and a bourbon vanilla sauce on the side. The serving is so big that even I couldn't possibly eat this alone. This is sooooo much better than Blue Collar's B.P. The only chocolate B.P. that comes close is Morgan's chocolate and pecan variation. I will be back to try their brunch. Or maybe just to have bread pudding as my main course.
(4)Farris J.
What a low life operation! Valet parking with attendant no where to be found. Servers who can't even get orders right and looking like they are just out of rehab. And, management with non customer service attitudes. Remember buddies, retaining customers and creating good will is what hospitality management is all about....not going head to head and toe to toe to mistreat customers for the sake of a buck....when your ethics and morals are thrown out the window. What goes around, comes around and soon you'll find yourself out-of-business. Stay as clear away from this want-to-be as far as you possibly can.
(1)Danny D.
Let me be clear. I am giving City Hall 3 1/2 stars. I faced a decision between rounding up or rounding down and I made a choice to round down. I was decisive and took action, because that's what people in City Hall should do. Let me tell you, the American people, why I made that decision. I came to City Hall on an early Sunday afternoon around 12:30 p.m. The day after facing perhaps the most crucial tailgate in this UM alumni's history. UM vs. FSU 2012. But make no mistake. This wasn't an ordinary UM-FSU game. It also happened to be Homecoming. It wasn't easy, but I managed to make it through. Here's the deal. I needed water, a good brunch, and a Bloody Mary. Now look, I had been to City Hall in the past and thought it was phenomenal. But let me be clear. You're only as good as your latest performance. Thank you basedgod for those last two debates. I sat down in City Hall with one of my advisors and we were promptly poured water and asked if we would like anything to drink. Here's the deal. The only reason I decided to come to City Hall is because I remembered their excellent Bloody Mary's... so I ordered one. To eat, I decided to skip brunch and order the shrimp po boy. Now, make no mistake. I knew it wouldn't be easy to beat the recently discovered Bloody Marys at Mercadito, but their brunch was just ok and I thought that City Hall could offer a way forward. I was wrong. The Bloody Mary was good in the sense that it was strong, but let me be clear. It was not as tasty as I had hoped. I ended up having to put a large amount of Tobasco sauce in it and the juice of four lemon wedges. After that it was good, but... they didn't build that! As far as the shrimp sandwich goes, it was good but unremarkable. That's why it only gets one sentence. Make no mistake, I said that I came to City Hall to recover from the previous day, and that's exactly what I intended on doing. I ordered a coffee after I had finished eating. Here's the deal. You can give me bad service and I'll forgive you. But let me be clear. You don't not give me my coffee. After 20 minutes without seeing any coffee, I asked for the check and left. That is why I rounded down. Will I go back to City Hall? Yes. Just please, move forward.
(3)Natalie Q.
I get to be City Hall's 100th review...woohoo! Got to dine here on Valentine's Day. The ambiance was great, I love the decor and they weren't as busy as I expected. They had a special Valentine's Day menu which was not the least bit intriguing. I took the waiters suggestion and ordered the meatloaf and chorizo mac and cheese. I love me some mac and cheese, but this one was way too heavy. The meatloaf itself was OK. The gravy left something to be desired. I was underwhelmed until our dessert came...croissant and chocolate bread pudding which saved the day. I'd come back but just for cocktails and dessert.
(3)Stephanie C.
My son, daughter-in-law with their kids along with my husband and I stopped by after an afternoon playing at a local park with the grandkids. At first, I though we were terribly under dressed but the staff made us feel quite at home. We requested to sit in an out of the way location so as to not disturb any of their older guests. Again, they were very accommodating. They have a kids menu, a 3 course adult dinner menu "deal" along with their regular menu. We ordered off of all three menus. Their potato parmesan cheese soup was delicious - it was the soup of the day, wish I had that recipe! My son enjoyed the burger said he loved the bacon, cheese, onion combination on their own baked bread. The kids had pizza and fries, the fries were tri-colored using pink, purple, sweet and regular potatoes in the mix. My husband had pork chops with sweet potato which he said was well flavored and cooked. My daughter-in-law had the encrusted tuna dinner. She liked it enough, she ate half and wanted the other half for lunch the next day! I got the meatloaf and potatoes ....love comfort food! Again, it did not disappoint! My only complaint was that none of us had room for dessert! The wait staff was attentive but not overbearing. The management made it a point to come over to the table and ask us how things were going. I must say that overall I had a terrific experience with City Hall Restaurant. I would make it a regular watering hole if only I lived here locally!!! Wish we had one in Colorado Springs!!!
(5)Martin O.
We arrived for our Saturday 7pm reservation for a table of 4. The first thing I noticed was that the inside of this restaurant with both upstairs and downstairs dinning rooms is very modern and nice inside. What type of restaurant is this (Comfort Food, Upscale or Premium Comfort Food). I started with the Crispy Pancetta and Onion Pizza with Gorganzola Cheese (very delicious and rich, I would go back for this) with a bottle of Stella Beer. Others in my party ordered the Burratta Mozzarella with crisp Pancetta, Baby Arugula and Toasted Pine nuts. For a main course, I had the Meat Loaf (very, very good) with Chorizo-Maple Mac'n Cheese (good, not great). One of our party members had the Grilled Turkey Burger (a very thick burger). The W had a Seafood Pot Pie that had a nice crust (had to be sent back because it wasn't hot enough). For dessert, we shared a Warm Crumble Berry Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. I noticed that many people bought their own bottles of wine. This might be common for a Saturday night or because the restaurant just opened. There is a large bar inside if you are dining alone. There is valet parking in back for 4 bills. You will also find metered parking by the nearby Auto Dealer. In summary, it's nice to have a new Upscale Comfort Food Restaurant is this part of town. It's right across from the Citi Condos/The Daily and next door to the Indian restaurant.
(4)Danielle C.
I ate at city hall a few days ago. It was really unimpressive. I don't think I'll be returning. Nah, I won't be going back. Nothing was terrible, it just wasn't good. I couldn't find one reason to eat here, except for maybe the wedge salad. But I can get a wedge salad anywhere else... We found our food to be just average. Gumbo, "unconventional" onion soup, scallops... no interesting flavors. I will say that I had a skirt steak and the meat tasted great. Really nice bold meat flavor. But that's pretty much it. Everything else on the plate was just "blah." As for dessert, that part was actually below average. Did that "bread pudding" swimming in whipped cream really need to be drenched in that bourbon anglaise sauce? Seriously, what was that? And were those chocolate croissants from Costco? Seriously, what was that? I don't really think service should factor into an opinion about a restaurant, but if that bothers you, that's another strike against City Hall. Everyone was really confused, and the restaurant wasn't even that full. Speaking of confusion, can somebody please explain the theme? What is up with that mural on the wall? And what does art deco have to do with Southern cuisine? In sum, don't bother. And if you happen to go despite my review, I highly recommend that you opt out of dessert and go for the martini or Stella on the Miami Spice menu.
(2)Katherine G.
As others have said, City Hall is not a cheap place. But...you get what you pay for. City Hall is becoming known for its impeccable service, quality, and atmosphere. I really enjoyed myself. I ordered the Power Lunch on a weekend day...I think Sunday...the other week. I started with the chicken corn chowder. WOW. I sucked up every drop shamelessly. It was that good. It tasted like how love feels. Then I had the brisket sandwich, with a salad on the side instead of fries. I was making an effort not to go whole hog. :) The sandwich was very good. The only drawback was that the meat was a bit fatty. I know that it's laughable to pay attention to that when you have just ordered a barbeque brisket sandwich, but nevermind...I removed the fat when it was excessive and enjoyed the meat without the unnecessary bread--gigantic pieces of Texas toast. Biscayne is becoming better and better for dinner options. People who live nearby also MUST run to Bengal too!!
(4)Lee R.
Great service, everyone was so nice and friendly! We did the Miami Spice menu that was being offered early...I recommend the pork chop and the carrot cake! And the maple butter that comes out with the bread before dinner is to die for!
(5)Tennison Z.
I live in the area and am always excited when a new restaurant pops up around the block so I decided to give it a shot. I showed up with my girlfriend on an early Friday night (with no reservations, I totally recommend you do if you decide to go around peak hours - I even believe they use OpenTable online) but we're promptly sat down. The decor and service is definitely the first impression that you get of this restaurant, and we were delighted with the ode to Gotham city that the interior decoration gives the place. The service we received by our host and waitress was solid in comparison to other restaurants in the area that charge the same price, as well as how the restaurant was filling up (quite quickly might I add). It looks like the menu is in a limbo (while they tinker out what works and what doesn't) but we decided to stray safe and share our Miami Spice meal with another appetizer. It worked out perfect for us since we were not able to finish our meals. The portions are filling enough for one if you decide to have a three course meal. A definite plus were the drinks that we ordered, that were recommended by our friendly waitress. She also took the time to explain the Miami Spice menu, drink menu and recommendations and even gave us a little explanation on how Steve Haas doesn't like to cut corners on his Miami Spice menus. The point is that she didn't race through the specials but actually engaged in a conversation to enhance the experience. The bread with the pecan butter sauce was definitely a hit. If a restaurant takes the time to make the free food taste good its a good start. I went with the gumbo with the appetizer because I'm a fan of stew/soups. It had a good taste - would like it to have a bit more "cajun" in it though. For our entrees, I ordered the couscous and skirt steak while my girlfriend ordered the confit duck pizza. We ended up devouring the steak plate and saving the pizza for seconds. The pizza is good but be aware the the cheese is very rich and it could be a little heavy. We ordered a couple of espressos with our coffee creme brulee and we're quite satisfied with it. Overall, the decor and service were definite upsides if you are looking for a "cherry on top" of your meal and you get what you pay for with the food. We definitely want to give it another shot to see if it becomes a regular spot where we can have a great meal. The biggest plus for me about this place is that it is not like most restaurants in Miami that focus on being posh but look like they genuinely want to make you feel welcome. I'm not yet leaning towards a fantastic experience, but it is one that I have the confidence to recommend.
(4)Rebecca R.
Hustle + bustle = noise Popped in to City Hall for a late dinner during the frenzy of Miami Spice; loved the decor, liked the food, disliked the noise. My partner opted for the Spice menu, whereas I ordered a la carte. None of the dishes seemed superb, and the scallops with black bean salad? Yawn. I hear brunch is amazing, and the menu looks scrumptious. Hope that the management figures out how to dim the noise without killing the energy. Will return once the chef has tweaked the menu with hopes of a more inspiring, metropolitan theme.
(3)Tulin L.
We got delivered a complete dinner from City Hall restaurant . We ordered the duck confit pizza, braised beef short rib stuffed potato, the meatloaf with chorizo-mac&cheese, cheesecake and the carrot cake. Our order has been arrived in 30 minutes as on time. The confit pizza was nice. The flavors worked very well together. The only thing they put the pizza in a plastic container so it lost the crispiness a little bit. It would be much better if we eat in the restaurant just right from the oven. Or if they would put in a cartoon pizza box. The meatloaf was very moist and tasty. The mac & cheese was also very delicious. We also liked the side fresh green beans with garlic glaze. It was nice and fresh. The stuffed potato skins were very delicious. It was not too oily. The flavors were delicious. Moreover, the port wine syrup was a great addition to both the confit duck pizza and the stuffed potato skins. The desserts were also very delicious and fresh. Even though it was a delivery order they portioned all the food very nicely and decoratively. They put nice fresh mint leaf on the deserts. It was a really nice touch. It is the first time we tried this restaurant. If the delivery is this successful I am pretty sure the dining in the restaurant would be much better. I will definitely go to this restaurant in person and continue to get delivery from them. ;)) this place is not your ordinary place . It is very gourmet style.
(4)Miguel F.
For weeks I kept on hearing about City Hall -- "so good" "you have to go" "cute place" "best food I've had in a long time" Finally went last week with my best friend and my friends weren't kidding... its pretty good. I had the Miami Spice menu. Spicy -- Grilled Skirt Steak -- perfectly cooked, with so much flavor. The couscous, Kalamata olives and feta cheese all added to it. Martinis -- we asked for blue cheese olives and the cocktail was perfection My best friend also had some crab cake appetizer and I had a bite and it was so good! Medium - Gumbo appetizer -- it was pretty good, not the best but pretty good Mild -- Coffee Creme Brulee. It had a very thick consistency and normally creme brulee is a thinner, silkier. It wasn't horrible, and it was pretty big. The desserts on the Spice menu are to share, btw. I was very impressed with City Hall and can't wait to come back!
(4)Jessica R.
I went back here recently because their grits at the Grand Tasting were so good. Got there early so it was quiet and it does look like they've installed sound dampers. The waiter was awesome out of the gate and made me a hot chocolate even though it's not on the menu, but then he just...disappeared. Twice my brunch partner had to wait 15 mins for a coffee refill. Add to that the grits were nowhere near as good as at the grand tasting. This place still just seem meh.
(3)Alicia T.
3.5* Miami REALLY??!!! Since I'm rare in Miami (full blooded American who grew up on southern comfort food in the Midwest) I feel like I know what I'm talking about here. I'm not sure, but maybe yelpers are coming here with the wrong expectations? Of all the pretentious, disappointing or mediocre places I've tried in this area because Miami yelpers rated them 4-5*, we should seriously be ashamed of the low star rating this place has! As far as I'm concerned, this is THE place to come when you want to get the ITIS (pronounced eye-tus) in Miami. And if you are not familiar with the "eye-tus" it is a hood term used to describe what happens to your body after a very satisfying yet heavy meal. It's somewhat of a coma, but you are still conscious. If you are looking for Maserati's and Ferrari's on the curb to make you feel like you've "arrived" at the best restaurant in Miami, go elsewhere. If you are vegetarian, sorry, southern food (historically) includes lots of tasty 4-legged animals and their fats. If you're looking for quiet, go to the library. Yes, it was loud, but I expected to have to scream at the top of my lungs after reading these reviews (it was just as loud as any local Cheesecake Factory on any night of the week). I still would be impressed here on a first date. Ambiance: The dark wood, high ceilings, and decor made me feel like I left Miami for a moment while inside. Very nice, and a huge TV screen is projected (on silent) toward the front of the restaurant so guys if you do bring a date here, you can still get bonus points with her and check the score throughout the night. Service: As most reviewers have mentioned, 5 stars all around. Much appreciated in this city where normally the servers feel they are doing you a favor by showing up. A bus boy even happily took a drink order for us and walked me to the restroom instead of pointing across the restaurant in its direction. Food: I wanted to lie on the floor and take a nap afterwards. Great portions, great presentation, and great food. Here's what we had: Appetizer, Gorgonzola pizza with panchetta, sweet onion cream, fig jam and crispy onions: The other foodies at my table (two NY'ers and a WV girl) and I nearly fought over this freaking thing. Thanks City Hall. It was large enough to have as your meal (which I definitely will be doing for lunch one day) but delicious enough that if someone tries to take a piece you may want to stab them in the hand with your fork (or maybe that's just me). It was down to the last piece and we were all doing the polite stare off while we had small talk but internally determining who was going to be able to eat it. Country Fried chicken: You'll definitely think your granny fried this chicken somewhere in the country when your plate arrives. The crispy, crunchy, flavorful skin reminds me of other great fried chicken at gourmet soul food restaurants I have tried in places like Los Angeles (Roscoes Chicken & Waffles), Washington DC (Georgia Browns), Chicago (Chicago's Roscoes), and Detroit (Southern Fires) who all serve their chicken with honey on the side, YES! And here they give you a whole HALF of a freaking chicken. Who does that?! I wound up eating 3 pieces just because I got lost in the flavor argh! I didn't like the corn, but the red skinned mashed potatoes were PERFECT. They even gave me a little pot of red hot sauce to dip my chicken in (upon request). I was in little fat girl heaven. Grilled pork chop: with bourbon sweet potatoes and collards. Yes, collards, only the best and most sought after greens when it comes to southern food. My NY friend nearly licked his plate after he was done, I didn't even get to taste any of it except the sweet potatoes which tasted like pure candy (no lie). Scallops: I didn't taste them but my friend loved them, although a bit spicy for her so maybe ask for the jalapeno stuff on the side. Nothing can ever be too spicy for me. Dessert: Well, whoever created the recipe for this bread pudding should be under arrest (or if they are single maybe I should marry them). We were way TOO full for dessert but thank God I read the reviews that told me NOT to leave without trying that bread pudding. It is clearly one of the most awesome desserts I've ever had at any restaurant anywhere (but I am a serious bread pudding lover also). My little WV girlfriend HATES bread pudding and only put a little on her plate. I said "No dear, you'll want to brace yourself for this one" and gave her a little more so she wouldn't be disappointed after we ravished the rest. Amazing, the type of dessert that you put a little in your mouth, pause, look around at your table mates and say "Oh my GOD, this is SO good" and then wish you had another stomach to eat the rest of it with. So this is not the place to come to before the beach, or if you are monitoring your blood sugar levels, fat content, or carbs. Come if you want great comfort good, great service, and a lovely atmosphere to enjoy it all.
(5)Corey D.
I have been waiting quite some time for this restaurant to open. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the anticipation. The best part of the experience is the bar, the drinks are flawless. However, we had to wait 20 mins at the bar to get a drink. Our server, Victoria was very good. But there is no team work. Everyone walks around with tunnel vision and give answers that clearly let you know "that is not my job." So just wait until your very busy server has time to get back to you. We started with the french onion soup--that has no croutons or the lovely cheesiness or finish that we come to expect. We also order the short rib stuffed potato skins. One shrivled up little potato? There should be four halves. Flavor was good but the presentation felt skimpy. I ordered the fried chicken. It was super greasy and bland as if it were cooked at to low a temperature. Another newcomer, Tudor House, serves much better fried chicken. I sent it back and got the pork chop instead. The chop and the yams were excellent. But the collard greens were so overcooked that they were black and chewy with no pot liquor--unrecognizable. So very disappointing. My friend had the meatloaf, it was good not great. He said the mac and cheese was long on mac and short on cheese. Our other friend was happy with his skirt steak with olives and goat cheese. My fourth friend had the tuna and it was good although he was confused by the sauce that accompanied it. City Hall tries too hard to be over the top when it comes to the food. As much as I love comfort food--it just feel duplicative, inauthentic and dated. The loud dining room and uninspired decor make for a less than impressive evening. Luckily, we were with great friends. But, I absolutely will not be back. Too many great new restaurants, too little time.
(2)Matthew P.
Every since North One 10 closed a year or three back, Miami has been aching for a restaurant that abandons all pretension in favor of well-crafted, well-executed American chow. It's gratifying and exciting to see City Hall bring it back. The menu reads like an American cookbook: spicy gumbo, crisp fried chicken with pan gravy, fresh scallops. There's enough of a twist to keep everything fresh - that fried chicken comes with local honey, a platter of mussels is spiked with chorizo. And, God bless the USA, my filet mignon was a complete meal instead of an a la carte cop out... crispy Brussels sprouts and a homey potato gratin. There is is lots of bacon, as it should be. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable, the service is spot on. It was crazy loud on Saturday night, but, seriously, you're too busy eating to talk.
(4)Jessica B.
A M A Z I N G!!!!!!! Its an understatement, service excellent, superb ambiance, food delicious. Went with friends for my birthday and we all ordered different appetizers and plates so we can all try each others, Every single plate was so good including the potato bread with apple pecan butter. The bread pudding was excellent also.
(5)Steph D.
MIAMI SPICE REVIEW I went to City Hall last night for dinner with my husband. We had been to City Hall before and thought it was okay. We visited in the first month it was opened, so were willing to give it another try with Miami Spice. It was a lackluster experience. I will give the staff credit for honestly promoting Miami Spice and encouraging patrons to order from the menu. (I hate when participant restaurants do not give you the menu up-front). I will also give our waiter credit for answering our wine question with out a $10 up sell, as I had expected him to do. I ordered the crab cake for an appetizer, the Shrimp & Grits for an entree and the Bread Pudding for dessert. The crab cake was just that- one crab cake. The restaurant pared down their regular 2 crab cake appetizer for Miami Spice. The crab cake was small- maybe 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter, less than an inch thick and with no obvious lumps of crab in the cake. You could taste the crab, but it was more cake than crab. I would not order it again, nor suggest it. As for the Shrimp & Grits....the grits and the sauce were amazing! I really liked the creamy nature of the grits and the tasty sauce. The grits were then topped with 6 medium sized shrimp. Shrimp & Grits are not on the regular menu....however, I hear they might be added. It will be interesting to see the price point. I believe the price would be fair between $18 and $22. In the end, the shrimp & grits were good, but for such an inventive restaurant, I expected something else with the shrimp & grits... sausages, bell peppers, something. Kinda Plain Jane for City Hall. My husband had the mussels for an appetizer and the twin filet for dinner. The mussels were well done and beautifully presented; although, the chorizo flavor was missing from the dish. The mussel sauce was also tasty with the bread. As for the twin filet, the first attempt was horrid. He ordered the steaks medium-rare and received well done. Our waiter promptly agreed and corrected the situation immediately. (Thanks!) The second round was much better- the steaks also looked like filet, not hamburger. The filet was served with a wine reduction sauce, grill Brussels sprouts and blue cheese mashed potatoes. Both the sauce and the Brussels sprouts were delicious and added to the dish. I want to start making grilled sprouts at home. However, the blue cheese mashed potatoes just tasted like potatoes...the blue cheese favor (which should have been easy to taste) was missing. All in all, the filet was cooked well and enjoyable, on the second go round. Lots of people near us ordered the filet...and the dish look every different at each table...strange inconsistencies in the size and style of the cut of meat. I expect filets to look round and have some height....some pieces were skinnier and spread out horizontally. The overcooked portion was on the of flatter ones. Dessert was the best course of the evening. I LOVED the bread pudding with chocolate chips. Since the printing of the menu, the restaurant has changed it's policy....bread pudding can now be ordered by one person, since the dish has been re-sized for Miami Spice. I believe they did that with all the dessert. However, the new, individual size of bread pudding is more than enough. The service was very fast, almost too fast. We had hardly finished our appetizers, when the entrees were placed in front of us. Bottomline: I would have been better off skipping the Miami Spice menu, I didn't feel like it represented a great deal. However, my husband definitely scored with the filet and mussels. Just a note of caution: be careful with the filet...there seemed to be a wide range of variation in what came out of the kitchen. Not sure I'll be back again....Spice or not.
(3)Frank M.
I rarely write a review after one visit, but I thought I should take the time. The place has charm and I was hoping to really like this place. Unfortunately I did not make a reservation. While the crowd was mixed between extremely casual and dressed for a date it seems they prefer reservations. My party of two was told we would have to wait 5 minutes. There is no waiting area, they did ask if we would like to grab a cocktail and wait by the bar. After 25 minutes we were escorted to our seats, to only find out there was no table available. A few minutes later we sat down. We were only planning a small meal and it didn't seem like the waiter was too happy with our choice of small meals. The menu does look good and I feel there is a good mix of price levels. My overall impression was that the food is good but not up to compete with the level of the new restaurants in midtown/design district.
(3)Michael A.
Food was excellent esp the Gorgonzola pizza. And the pecan butter was delish. Would have been 4 stars except the menu on web site was outdated by "months" according to the waiter. We had seen items on the web site and wanted to try them but they were off the menu. Very disappointing.
(3)Ethan A.
Needed a late Sunday lunch, and this place was one of the few places we could do. It wasn't anything special, and the management seemed a bit fake-acting. But the food was acceptable, and I have no complaints.
(3)Martha G.
Been meaning to give a nod to City Hall. The host Reggie, with the Where's Waldo glasses is the best. My friends and I have dined here three times. On each occasion he seated us with no problems on a Saturday night, after each of us had experienced independently either jet lag, buyers remorse, or day drunk head-ache. The Pork Chop was recommended twice and I ordered it once, it was overcooked. Not a big deal since we are group of girls and share everything, which I am sure is in poor taste, but, meh. The service, food, and ambiance are all on point. In addition, there is parking and not a huge annoying scene. Love love love
(4)Patrick R.
I like this place. I like that decent restaurants continue to move into this area of Miami. Opted for the Gorgonzola pizza minus the meat and the caesar salad. Both were very good and the combo was filling. (If you notice a theme in my reviews I love caesar and pizza.) The standout was the dessert. The bread pudding was delicious. The service was outstanding. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgable. He led us through the menu and their off menu offerings (vegetarians can order the vegetarian special in which the chef prepare's a custom made and on the spot inspired dish). Yes, I will be coming back to this place.
(3)Ashley R.
My husband and I brought my parents (visiting from PA) and my brother here for Miami Spice. We warned them, though, that many Miami Spice menus (although great deals) are limited and are very small portions. But still an opportunity to try a great restaurant. But City Hall did NOT skimp on the Miami Spice menu. Our waiter told us Steve Haas invented Miami Spice 10 years ago... so we expected good things from his City Hall menu. We had heard good things about City Hall, but it far exceeded my expectations. My husband and I kept looking around admiring the non-Miami feel... it felt like the restaurant was built in an entirely different city. Maybe because so many other restaurants -- whether intended or not -- have an overall Latin feel. But this didn't, which was good, because I like things to be different sometimes. I started off with a jumbo lump crab cake with spicy tomato glaze (which isn't on the online Miami Spice menu for some reason). Delicious. Moved on to the Asian-inspired Salmon entree with shiitake jasmine rice. Also delicious. My husband ate my baby bok choy, so I'm not sure how that was. And for dessert, we ate pretty much everything: chocolate banana cream pie (not my favorite, but I was too full to take more than one bite, which was overly banana-y), berry pie (very good berries!) and a carrot cake. The carrot cake was nice because (as the waiter pointed out) the icing isn't as strong as with most carrot cakes. It allowed me to taste more of the cake and less of the usually overpowering icing. My favorite dessert, however, was the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding with bourbon anglaise and chocolate ganache. I love chocolate croissants. It was divine. I mean, seriously. Out of this world. Would love to go back sometime soon!
(5)Melody Y.
Wow. That meatloaf was UH-MAZING!!! I went to City Hall for a business party last night and I just could not end my day without writing about the experience. The atmosphere was awesome. The service was perfect but at times they were too perfect, if that makes any sense. I wasn't too hungry so I just ordered the Calamari. It was tasty but a little on the dry side. My boss however, went all out and ordered the meatloaf meal. First of all, it was huge and it looked amazing. She gave me maybe 1/4 of it, which was a really big chunk. THEN THE FLAVOR BUS HIT ME. It was sooooo good. I wanted to snatch the food off of her plate, but I restrained myself. I was however, staring at her meal all night. Next time, I will definitely be getting the meatloaf! Side note: The music was entirely too loud. I could barely hear the conversation. But the food made up for it!
(4)Vanessa G.
Went here for brunch on a Sunday. The food was alright. The decor was very urban but elegant. Nice hang out spot. There was a lady singing that day but the volume was way too high to converse with anyone in our table kind of annoying! However don't hate it would recommend if you want to go somewhere hip with good food.
(3)Ricardo B.
Trendy, nicely decorated. Steve Haas, the owner can be seen walking around greeting people. Service in the beginning was very good but at the end it was a little sloppy. Food was very good - had the shrimp po'boy and the chocolate croissant for dessert. Dessert was really good. A bit pricey for the food. The place of the moment to be seen and to see i guess it's what it is
(3)Giancarlo B.
I had read about City Hall on Thrillist, and while the review of the food was good what really drew me in was the decor. So naturally, when Ashley S. suggested that we eat at City Hall for dinner one random Friday night, I was quite excited. Upon entering, we were greeted by the Host and sure enough, once you enter, you feel like you're in 1920's art deco NYC - I loved it. We didn't realize that this restaurant was part of Miami Spice and we didn't have a reservation. It was still pretty early for a Friday night so they sat us upstairs. After reviewing their standard menu we quickly realized that the Miami Spice menu was quite the deal, especially considering that they gave you the option of foregoing the 3rd (dessert) course for a martini or beer... jackpot! For appetizers, Ashley ordered the crab with corn whereas I ordered their iceberg lettuce with bacon and blue cheese dressing. Ashley definitely won that round. Although, to be perfectly honest, their Miami Spice appetizer selection wasn't that great. For the main course, I ordered their pork chop with mashed sweet potato and collard greens and Ashley S. ordered the pan seared sea scallops. Both dishes were absolutely delicious. The scallops were probably the sweetest and freshest I've ever tasted and my pork chop was cooked to perfection. We were both blown away by our entrees. Besides the food, the service was great too. Our waiter was not only friendly, but also extremely knowledgeable. He entertained a conversation with us as if he were sitting down at our table without being intrusive. Overall, I'm really happy with my experience and would definitely recommend City Hall to everyone I know.
(4)Milad S.
So happy I finally stumbled into this gem. I have driven past this restaurant so many times while going to the Daily that I decided one night to actually make a visit...and boy was I glad that I did. Everything was first class from top down. I had the fried chicken which was great , but a little bit in the dry side. My lady had the porkchop which was amazing! This restaurant has the best drinks in Miami, very very good. Make sure to have the bread pudding dessert if you have space! The portion sizes here are large, but you get what you are paying for. Great place, great service, and great food. Can't ask for more. Comfort food done right.
(5)Gabriel C.
Brunch was mediocre at best.
(2)George C.
Just awesome! NYC has come down to the 305. You seriously feel like you have traveled to NY, but it's all happening on Biscayne Blvd. The place is loud, but you can actually hear yourselves speak. From the amazing maple butter at the start to entrees that will blow your mind- Steve Haas has truly perfected this place. Don't miss the meatloaf or the NY strip, as both are simply DELICOUS! I've been three times in one week and will keep going back. The turkey burger is also amazing. If you like olives, get the skirt steak. I will try it out for brunch. One of my new favorite places in Miami!
(5)Vanessa M.
City Hall looks like it's straight out of a Batman movie--Art Deco decor and accents give it a Gotham City feel. The entire night I was expecting Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton version) to make an appearance, but alas, he did not (I kid). City Hall was my first Miami Spice experience and I was surprisingly very impressed with the service. When my friend and I walked in the Maitre 'D charmed us with a friendly greeting and charming compliments (+ 10 for City Hall! ). I actually breathed a sigh of relief because dining in pretentious atmospheres make me uncomfortable most of the time. Our waiter also went out and beyond to please my party of 6; he had the patience of a saint. Seriously, he deserves a bonus or something. For appetizer I ordered the braised short ribs stuffed potato skins--this was the one item on the Miami Spice menu that lured me over to City Hall and it fulfilled my every little expectation. But here's the best part. It was not on the actual menu at the restaurant! We mentioned to our waiter that we were looking forward to trying the potato skins and so he had a word with the chef and, presto! Thanks, dude! Our waiter also let us order one dessert per person (we were 6) instead of 1 per 2 people--isn't he the nicest? For my entree I had the pork chops with mashed potato's. The food was on point and perfectly cooked each course. I definitely plan on going back again and hopefully, I get the same waiter!
(3)Clarine F.
This place is really awesome! The food is excellent as far as presentation & taste goes. It had me the most excited i've been about somewhere in a while! Its a to-do when in the Midtown/Downtown area in Miami for sure!
(4)Jesse L.
Absolutely a disappointment! Not only did it take a while to order food, but my wife and I noticed everyone around us (even the folks that arrived after us) were getting their food. By mere chance the waiter walked by and remembered we existed. We finally got our food and realized that we were better off without it. My wife had the fried chicken. Not only was it tasteless, it appeared to be under cooked. On the other hand, I had the cheese pizza and they spared not heat on my dish. My pizza was burnt to a crisp! This restaurant tries too hard to be sophisticated, they should work on the basics like attentiveness and attention to details. The atmosphere was ok, but they have not mastered the art of turning down the music. Also, it was freezing... I would hope to dissuade you from wasting your money, please learn from my bad experience.
(1)Jade P.
I went here on a Sunday morning for brunch and was pleasantly surprised. A really large and trendy space and, if you're lucky, you'll catch a performance by a guest singer/band, which really adds to the ambiance of the establishment. The wait was less than desirable, however, as I waited for a small party of 3 for about one hour! The staff was extremely courteous and helpful, but I suggest that you make reservations should you decide to come in for Sunday brunch. I had the braised beef short ribs, which were delicious. The meat was soft and literally melted off the bone, but the polenta was pretty dry and not quite as refined as you'd expect from a restaurant of this caliber. The portions were large and the prices fairly reasonable for what you get. Although I didn't try them, it looked like the French Toast is a popular item- I'll probably go with that next time around. A great place to hang out on a Sunday, just be prepared to wait.
(3)Todd N.
I've been there twice... and there will be a 3rd time. From being greeted by the nicest people to a wait staff that really knows the menu inside and out - our experience was very delightful. The foods were rich with flavor and the atmosphere was beautiful. We had an incredible bottle of wine, appetizers and some very nice meals. Our waiter was very attentive, our courses arrived in good time and we even splurged on desserts. After all, it was my birthday. All in all our experience was excellent. We will be going back and bringing friends. I would imagine that once word gets out, this place will be hopping from open to close and I'd expect a reservation would be important. I'm looking forward to having my future business lunches at City Hall. Great food, great atmosphere, 5 Stars!
(5)Milica P.
Amazing warm atmosphere, excellent cocktails and food that makes me hug my belly with delight! True comfort food, in a wonderfully elegant, yet comfortable atmosphere - a true home away from home.
(5)Jamie C.
The food here is awesome, they have a great variety and everything is delicious. The wine and cocktails are also great, and the service is amazing. The ambiance is very New Yorkish, on a busy night it could be a little loud, but nothing that would stop me from coming back. I highly recommend the tuna tartare with truffle oil, and the must-try dessert is the warm berry pie, its out of this world!!
(4)Maureen A.
amazing food and service, even for miami spice back in August 2012. bartender personally came to our table to ask if we liked the drinks and to describe them, the martini's came with some extra in the shaker which they let us all have to keep it chilled. server was good to us as well. here is what we had at our table for MIami Spice and it was all amazing! Caesar Salad, very good! crab cakes with corn on side, good. Pork Chop with Sweet Potatoes, good Roasted Chicken with Potatoes and Broccolini, good Filet Mignon with Brussel Sprouts, they made me like brusells for the first time! Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding, amazing!!! Plum Cheesecake, or some sort of fruit cheesecake. very good! Chocolate cake. was just ok. warm artisan bread with maple pecan butter. so good! peach martini and coconut martini. both good!
(4)Henry S.
Over-hyped. There are a lot better restaurants in the area.
(2)Jamie F.
Visited City Hall and sat at the bar. The bartender was super friendly and helpful in choosing our drinks of which there is an extensive selection of cool cocktails. The food was good. Mussels were great but order extra bread for the sauce. The braised short rib potato skins were pretty over the top and the pizzas are light and crisp with a mouthful of flavor. My only complaint is the noise is out of hand. This place was built without thinking about sound control - put some pads on on the walls or ceilings people! Fun place for a quick and casual night out.
(4)Kolja P.
We went for Miami Spice and the food wasn't great. Fish drowned in oil, soup tasted like it was from a can, and the sandwich was distinctly average.
(3)Mia D.
A friend and I went there for happy hour last week. We shared two appetizers, which were delish...and a great deal at about $6 each. But the beer- oh the beer! $7 a beer... During happy hour. We spent $28 on four beers. The place is nice, though - and the food was good - so I give them props for that
(3)Tamar M.
Living in the south for a long time,I was happy to hear about city hall. Unfortunately I was kinda disappointed by the menu choices. Don't get me wrong, the fish i ordered was good but I had my heart set on some real southern food.. This was more a reg American menu like a Apple bees..
(3)K N.
I've eaten there twice during Miami Spice already. Amazing ribeye. Restaurant design was fabulous. Waitstaff responsive and efficient.
(4)Raquel S.
So many places to choose from Midtown but City Hall is new and a must. From the outside it may not look like much but inside it has great decor and its spacious. For lunch, try their salads which are fresh and hearty without weighing you down. Great place to have a business lunch. I also attended an event which they offered special drinks which were worth a try and tasty. Too fruitty for my palate but I like the fact that they have offer their own drinks, shows originality.
(5)fred h.
I think Steve Haas has a winner on his hands here. I rarely write a review after only one visit, especially for a newly opened place. For a restaurant to be truly good it requires good team. Any place can have a bad day. Hey, servers and cooks are human, how were you after you went through a breakup? And .... teams take time to build and get in sync. I have been here several times now for both brunch and dinner and have to say I like it a lot. The dinner menu is good; excellent Roast Chicken and delicious Ribs, but my absolute fave is the Seafood Pot Pie. Talk about heaven on a plate; the pastry was perfect and the filling divine. The brunch menu isnt huge, but has decent variety with near perfect execution. This is one of the few restaurants that can poach an egg right. I believe City Hall will be our new weekend breakfast joint. The service has always been friendly and attentive. Our first visit was right after they opened and the service was slow. These problems seem to be fixed. I will be back. See you there!
(4)Mark W.
I went there with friends and didn't know what to expect. Turns out, the food was great and the service great too. We went for the Sunday brunch and I was disapointed that even with reservations we were seated downstairs and not up where the music would be playing. Well, it ended up we had the best table in the house because the band and jaz singer was above us and actually looked down on everyone in the restaurant! She then walked around and visited each table as she preformed. It was great! All in all I had a great time, the food was fine and so was the service. Only draw back was it was on the pricy side, but for the expereince, it was worth it. I will be going there again!
(4)Irene Z.
The duck confit pizza is amazing!
(4)Jimmy Z.
City Hall,is expensive and the food is ok. I wouldn't pay the prices for the food.
(3)Seth J.
I had this place bookmarked for quite a while and finally made the effort for a weekday lunch. First impression was very good. Plenty of private parking it he back, but I imagine during a busy time it would be difficult to park. The place is much more upscale then I expected. Service was very friendly. Food selection is unique and easy to understand. Mussels in Guinness was awesome. Hot fresh bread at each table. They were out of the brisket, so I will be back. Overall a great place. Food took a bit long to arrive on a fast paced lunch day, but I was still very satisfied.
(4)JamesBrownInMiami ..
Good food. Attentive staff.
(3)Dan M.
Brought to you by one of the Veterans of the Miami food scene - along with all his friends (who all excel at what they do.) Only caveat - it can get loud/noisy.
(5)S B.
Happy with the experience. Went on a Sunday night and had great food with good service. Enjoyed the duck appetizer and the yellowfin tuna dinner
(4)Dianna B.
OK, it isn't BAD...but for a new restaurant coming onto the scene in Miami's growing foody culture, i found it's lackluster redundancy really disappointing. It's basically just another ritzy uptown chop house, lots of heavy dishes with too many tired buzzword ingredients, and the interior made me feel like i was eating at semi upscale airport restaurant. (maybe terminal D at O'Hare?) ...so not great, and with so many more compelling options around doing more creative stuff - I feel no need to return.
(2)Camely M.
City Hall The Restaurant... OMG! Absolutely DELICIOSO! You really have to go and try their food. Trendy, fun and friendly ambience... The staff is phenomenal and the location is perfect!
(5)Precious T.
Food is AhhMazing here...staff are very courteous! Reggie is almost just as awesome as Steve but love them both to pieces!!! Xoxo
(5)David Y.
The staff is great. Love turkey burger wrap. The pecan butter on the hot bread was great! Great vibe!
(4)Nancy M.
Brunch is excellent visited this past Sunday and was delightfully suprized with the live music. Best french toast in town!
(4)Julie P.
I went there for the first time with a group of 13 from work to grab an end of the month Miami Spice lunch. With my reservation - no waiting. We were in and out in a reasonable amount of time. Service was very good compared to the snails pace I have come to expect at restaurants for such a large table. The food was great. Everything I had was fantastic from the bread with the amazing maple pecan butter to the nectarine cheesecake. No complaints from anyone! Definitely a do over!
(5)Cookie C.
Long maxi, flats and a toe bag. Wear them here. The breakfast menu was amazing. They also have a gospel brunch on Sunday's. It was a lovely lunchy brunch that I experienced. I did love the concept...city hall, major decisions, etc. Its cute. So, you can bring someone you'd like to chat with. The menu itself is a conversation piece.
(3)Marj O.
Disappointed in Sunday Brunch. Gospel singer and band too loud and too intrusive. Difficult to talk or be heard. I don't like people coming to my table and asking me to respond. Food good but not great. Valet parking or meters. Probably won't return.
(3)Cova N.
Went to City Hall this past Sunday for Mother's Day. Even though the place was packed we were greeted and seated right away. The service was slow and the food was acceptable, but the best part was to have the opportunity to hear the fabulous Mariel Epps singing. She is thShe has this amazing voice and energy that makes everybody feel good!!! I will definetely come back to City Hall for brunch on Sundays!!!!
(4)Jenna M.
I really like this place. I've been here twice and have had delicious food both times. The ambiance is fun and inviting; a good place to have dinner with family or friends. The burger with brie is to die for. Also, the duck flatbread appetizer is very good. My husband had the fried chicken last time which was amazing but HUGE. We are planning to share the fried chicken the next time we visit City Hall for dinner.
(4)Crystal H.
this place was great. Nice atmosphere, waiters, and good food. I came here for Miami spice on a Friday night. In addition to half my party being late, i also had to have them modify 1 to 2 dishes because i cannot have dairy. They were super accommodating. Considering how bad service in Miami can be, I consider that a huge plus. I did not give them 5 stars because i think they could be a bit more creative with the menu. The food was good, but I kept thinking i could come up with the menu options. I had the Miami spice menu so i might be biased.
(4)Duke V.
This is a jewel of Biscayne Blvd.Amazing customer service from Manager(Reggie)down to busboy every body so hospitable.Food is something else in this place!!!!Churasco steak,Crab Cakes OMG!!!Almost to forget,Chocolate croisant bread puding,everybody needs to try this in a lifetime at least once!!
(5)maor r.
Some of the criticisms are so unwarranted that I had to give this place 5-stars to fairly pull the average back up. Folks, this is NOT a 3.5 star restaurant. The food is wonderfully flavorful, the staff is very friendly and accommodating and the atmosphere is casual-chic. Some reviewers criticize their not being pampered and the fact that their waitstaff weren't up to speed on 12-year scotches. This is certainly the exception rather than the rule, and a personal experience with their service. That same review does state that all the food is great but then gives readers the unfair impression that it is a 3-star restaurant going by his rating. Folks, this is a casual restaurant with TV's all over the place and not t an aristocratic-pamper-you type place. For a well-read sommelier with a British accent and the history of all 12+ year scotches, Capital Grill, Prime 112, and others will be happy to take heaping piles of your money. This is what matters: The food is great! I'm not even a fan of comfort food but who can turn down homemade & tender, crunchy fried chicken, Sushi-grade tuna ceviche with a drizzle of truffle oil, phenomenal burgers and mac & cheese and on and on.... And my experience with the service is that, most importantly, they are friendly and attentive. Cant wait to go back and try more of their menu!
(5)Marcia G.
Went to City Hall for a late dinner with my boyfriend last Friday night to celebrate his birthday & actually we both really liked it! I was a little hesitant about this place after reading the mixed reviews but everything (for the most part) was great. I made a reservation for 10 but we got there at 9:45 & were seated right away (the restaurant wasn't too packed). My boyfriend ordered the unconventional french onion soup, which was a really cool idea & very tasty. The cheese at the bottom & wontons were really good, as was the broth. Our only criticism was that it didn't have enough onions for a french onion soup, you want to have onions in every spoonful!! The bread, while not artesenal in any way (it's just a small loaf of white bread) was good & the pecan butter was amazing!! For our entrees my boyfriend ordered the turkey burger (which I tried & was really yummy) and I had the meatloaf. The meatloaf itself was really moist & delicious. The maple chorizo mac & cheese was very good also, really different with it's sweet & spicy flavors. Totally unlike any mac & cheese I've ever had! To round out, the green beans were garlicky & amazing! Unfortunately after all that (and a few of the craft beers they have), we were too full to order dessert. I absolutely must go back to have the Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding, our waiter recomended it & I've heard nothing but good things! Speaking of our waiter, I have to say he was probably the only real downside to our night. He was a little annoying & pushy, coming over every 2 minutes until we ordered & seemed very eager to get us out of there. I don't know if it's because it was late & he wanted to go home but they close at midnight on the weekends so it was kind of rude. Other than that, our dining experience at City Hall was great & I can't wait to go back for the dessert & to try their brunch!!!
(4)Jeff M.
I want to like this place. The location is great, decor old fashioned but cozy, the owner/chef is always there and the service is very good. I've been 4 times and haven't yet fallen in love. The menu items are the opposite of cutting edge; most dishes are heavy. I LOVED the crab salad at lunch but was barely able to eat the roast chicken. It was tasteless and dry. Deserts are pretty good. I will go back for the crab salad and continue trying other dishes but I prefer other restaurants in the vicinity like Michael's. Nemesis and Mandolin,
(3)Jorge G.
Even better than first time. Great drinks/atmosphere. Grilled pork chop was heavenly as was the tuna tartar appitizer. Will be back.
(5)eglys h.
went to celebrate a friend's bday here. 1st time coming to this restaurant. they were able to accommodate approx 30 of us in a nice area upstairs. i do have mixed feelings about the place. 1st - i find it to be nice - big. waitress we had was ok - she did i have to say put up with me "cause i was not at my best (nerves)" in regards to requesting separate bills - note: they usually do not do it - cause it is too much of a hassle for them... but some how (i guess after my little tantrum) they were able to do so for us - which was awesome.... 2nd - food - i went for the meatloaf plate - good price for quantity and taste of food - this was truly a "small" meatloaf for each plate! it is baked in one of those pound cake individual pans. this i have to say was tasty and filling.. nice side dishes too...green beans & a delicious mac & cheese - had enough to take home for lunch. 3rd hubby's dish was a smaller portion - salmon on a bed of rice and some other stuff (sorry i do not remember) but he did not have any leftovers (actually he could of used a bigger serving) it was ok........ Even thou the place is nice, we did not enjoy the Loudness - it is truly so loud you can not carry a conversation with the table... unless you join in on the screaming like everyone else. bathroon situation - it was nice to have a small area for all of us (mind you there were other patrons sitting around as well) - there is only 1 bathroom on the second floor. found it to be not working so i had to go downstairs to use the restroom. this was a nice walk up & down.... kinda helped with the digesting of my dinner!!! it was clean thou and i do have to say, it was with a rubber band, but they did attempt to repair bathroom upstairs asap. all around it was ok - food ok - service ok - LOUDNESS NOT SO OK.... parking ok - (right behind restaurant & free just tip them)
(3)Ke N.
this place SUCKS!!! everything is OVER PRICED and taste like CRAP. and if your not into GAY GUYS... NO ONE will pay attention to you. the servers are all to busy trying to get into each others pants to give you decent attention. plus they totally ripped off WHISKEY TANGO'S super famous SPAGHETTI SANDWICH which is HALF the price, DOUBLE the SIZE, and TRIPLE the FLAVOR. this place SUCKS!!!
(1)Andrea W.
The first time I went to City Hall it was such a great experience I found myself coming back 2 other times during that week. I have tried their meatloaf which is big enough for probably three people. For brunch I had the creamy polenta w/short ribs and the mushroom encroute. Every dish I have had here has always been pleasing to my tastebuds. I can't wait to go back to have the short rib potato skins!
(5)Amanda M.
I tried this restaurant last night and I had a great experience. I had the short rib stuffed potato skins as an appetizer and the grilled turkey burger. My friend had the pork chop with bourbon sweet potatoes. All three menu items had delicious flavor and overall were quite excellent. I also liked the decor of the restaurant. You don't realize how big and stylish the inside based on the outside, which is just like any other unassuming building on Biscayne Blvd. As for the service, I didn't have the bad experience that so many others have mentioned. Our waiters were very attentive. I do have to say though, that we went for an early dinner (around 5:45), well before most Miami dinners make it out. So if the restaurant is full, it might be a different story. In my opinion, City Hall's dressed-up comfort food and elegant decor definitely make it worth a try.
(4)Strawberry F.
Let me tell you something every time I have visited this place the food is on point as well as the service. I walk in there are smiles there to greet you and seating is pretty fast like always! I have brought groups, friends, and evened dined solo @ the bar here and it is proving to be a fail safe place for me and that's rare! I love it and the menu is killer and all edible for everyone:)
(5)Argenis M.
If you're vegetarian/vegan (like me) this is definitely not the place. The menu is quite tempting for carnivorous people. I felt sad when I could only order one dish out of the whole menu and it was breakfast ($9 for scramble eggs and potatoes house). The service, music and decor were very good but food choices for me was the ultimate deal breaker.
(2)Millie A.
Delicious dinner. We had the filet mignon and tuna entree followed by the bread pudding which is a must. This place delivers on food, drink and ambiance.
(4)Elizabeth S.
I thought I would rate this place a 5 star, but then I thought back on my experience and I, sadly, can't rate it that high for a number of reasons. However, to start off with the things that do get 5 stars: - Our server was very friendly - The decor is amazing in here. I felt like I was in Gotham (as in Batman, not as in the steak restaurant) - Creative drinks named in a cute manner that had a decent amount of alcohol to taste ratio - Although we came on a Saturday and did not have reservations, we were seated in about 30 minutes, even though there was a wait. Extra stars for that one! Probably due to the fact that there were 2 of us and the rest of the parties were large. - Valet Parking for $4 in the back I really did love the rich feeling of this place. Everything is dark, art deco, and classy looking. There were people dressed in varying degrees of fancy-ness, so you could definitely rock some cute jeans and a stylish top here, but you could also go for a dress. It would be a good place to go for a date with someone you don't necessarily want to talk to, because the place is LOUD. Also, icebox cold, so bring a wrap. On to the less than 5 stars: We went to the bar to get some drinks as we were waiting for our table. Unfortunately the drink menu is not listed on their website and I forgot what I had, but my friend had some kind of spicy drink that was great. Our mixed drinks came in Martini shakers, cute touch, although a tad overused. Our total came to $24 and I put a $50 in the little glass our bill came in. I really REALLY really HATE when I have to ask for my change back. Do you seriously think I'm giving you a $26 tip? You didn't do a spectacular job, you just gave us our drinks, which is in itself your job. I knew there was no intention of giving me my change unless I asked, since he was perusing the bar as if looking for something else to do. For dinner we ordered: More drinks :) I wanted wine and there were some by the glass that were not on the menu that our waiter told us about. I had a Syrah and it was delicious. Sweet Potato Fries and a salad that came with a citrus dressing, sunflower seeds, avocado, cucumbers and tomato. The salad was refreshing and deliciously simple, the Sweet Potato Fries were exactly that. Nothing more, nothing less and they didn't come with any type of sauce. Although I get they're a side, I think they could have come with something. I asked for honey and it was delivered immediately. I wanted to get the Oven roasted Portabella Mushroom listed on the menu on the website, but it was not on the menu and I didn't ask, so I settled for the Ricotta stuffed homemade JumboSpinach Gnocchi baked in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce &Spiced Walnuts (18.00) - This was really good but very rich. I could only actually eat two of them, and there were 7 in the bowl, swimming in a soup of cream sauce (literally about 1 1/2 inches of it). Although the Gnocchi itself was very light, fluffy and extremely delicious, the cream sauce was just too much. My advice would be to share this along with a lighter dish, as it doesn't reheat well if you want to take it with you (the cream sauce is likely to separate). Pepper seared Yellow fin Tuna with Vegetable Quinoa, Wild Mushrooms, Garlic, Japanese Eggplant, Sweet & Spicy peppers and Maui Onion Beurre Blanc - this was ordered Medium and came out rare, so I would ask if the chef on duty cooks towards the rare or not if you don't want sushi. The serving portion was huge and it looked delicious as well. I think 2 people could have put that down. Dessert was a HUGE disappointment. We really wanted to share something, and after our waiter told us about how amazing the Chocolate Banana Cream Pie is, he finished it off with "So it's too bad we're out of that". Thanks. Really. Thanks a lot. We got the Warm Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding with Bourbon Anglaise & Chocolate Ganache instead and it came out as a stale croissant that had been barely warmed up in the microwave swimming in anglaise and drizzled with a hershey style chocolate syrup. Such a bad finish to a decent meal. In all, it was fun because it was a new restaurant, the server was extremely nice and tried to correct the mistake with the dessert (although at that point we were no longer in the mood). I would like to go back for their brunch, but I'm not sure I'll be back for dinner.
(3)Oscar D.
Cool ambiance, and great american/continental food! parking a little scarce, but an overall good experience.
(4)Lisa J.
Went to City Hall for the first time today & although it's only my first time there I'm really surprised by some of the negative and some not so positive reviews. My husband & I loved it & we are not easy to please especially me. Let's start with the artisan bread. It was really good & the maple syrup butter it was served with made it even better We both ordered the following off the lunch spice menu: The gumbo-delicious It tasted exactly the same as gumbo I've had in New Orleans. The shrimp po boy sandwich was huge & really tasty as well. Now the dessert which was the chocolate croissant bread pudding with bourbon cream sauce. I'm not a bread pudding or bourbon person but it was absolutely delicious. We have no complaints about the food or the service & will definitely be back to try something else off the menu, especially the chocolate banana cream pie. Can't wait!
(5)Tania H.
Apparently this is the place to eat when you are staying downtown Miami, because both the hotel and a business acquaintance insisted we go there. 5 of us showed up after work for dinner and it was a nice short walk from the downtown Hilton. This is an American fare restaurant with an interesting menu and we received excellent service. Everyone enjoyed their meal and there was no real criticism to be made. I'd definitely come back for a good meal.
(4)holladay s.
Great Place! Just came back from Miami Spice lunch there. Food is fresh, abundant, attractively presented and DELICIOUS! This place is a winner! I had a wonderful bowl of seafood and sausage gumbo, cornmeal crusted shrimp po boy sandwich (enough for two) and apple cheesecake. Mom had a huge platter of homemade meatloaf, mash, and green beans - excellent. Our family all loved the restaurant and would definitely return soon. It is a great addition to the Miami dining scene.
(4)Kevin R.
Service was awful! Hostess was delightful and friendly, servers were pleasant enough but had no training or standards. Food was mediocre and the dishes a jumble of items whose flavors didn't blend well. As we departed, the manager and owner stood near the door and said goodbye, no one bothered to ask "how was everything"; perhaps they already know! Won't go back and cannot recommend.
(1)Kristin K.
nice ambiance, fun atmosphere. Good drinks & service. Ordered from the Miami Spice menu = blue crab ravioli & gumbo for apps, scallops & pork chops for entree. warm chocolate croissant bread pudding for dessert. Nothing was really a wow for me. All good, but again - no wow.
(3)Charlie B.
Food was pretty good...kinda noisy though...roast chicken and creme brûlée were the highlights!
(3)Felicia B.
2.5... Demerits for service and being out of everything I wanted at 7pm on Sunday (both dishes!)- also told us we snagged the last 2 glasses of cotes de rhone(?!)...and we had a lot of difficulty with seating. They did get kudos for well (not over) dressed salads. Caesar salad and gumbo got the most applause. The brussels sprouts were ok as were the pork, fried chicken and scallop entrees. Desert disappointed with a creme brûlée that was way off, save for the biscotti that sat aside it, which was delicious. Best things about this place = the fun decor/ambiance (good for groups), location and ease of parking.
(3)Brandy V.
This was my first time and it will not be my last!!! My waiter was Chris and he was GREAT!!!!!! Great service, delissssshhhh food and nice atmosphere! Will be back for more ! Thanks Chris !!!!!!!
(5)Patricia K.
Food is just OK-most plates are tasteful (we were a party of five and we all ordered different plates); quantities are BIG (so 1 plate is more than enough for 2 persons) but service is NOT good. We went on a Monday and our dinner took around 3hrs, which I found to be unaceptable for how relatively "empty" the place was and for how quick we had ordered (as soon as we sat down). We also didn't like that the bill was not accurate.
(2)Jeanette E.
I'm just chiming in with a lot of the other reviews. The food is solid. The noise is unbearable. I apologize to those that like the live music during brunch but it was unbearable. We had been there for dinner before and went yesterday for brunch for the first time. There was a gospel singer on the balcony and because the acoustics are SO bad, it was painful to the ears. We had to walk out. When we've gone in the past we've resigned ourselves to the fact that we were NOT going to be able to talk. This is not a place to come catch up with anyone. They need to invest in acoustical panels and pronto. When you add a very strong singing voice blaring over a microphone, you end up with excruciatingly painful eardrums. All that being said, the food and serviced is solid so as soon as they invest in correcting the noise problem they will definitely go up a star or even two!
(3)Alejandra M.
I went here for a company party and let me tell you that although the place looks small from the outside it is not. It is a very relaxed atmosphere with a nice decor. The service was great and the food was excellent. I only got to tast about 4 different things in the menu, but I would not mind going back!
(4)Mari V.
This is my first time eating at this establishment, & I must admit I was underwhelmed. First, the live singer on Sunday was so loud that we had to yell just to have a conversation. We ordered mimosas that were brought out in dirty wine glasses. Upon ordering the waiter told us he was going to bring out our pancakes first due to the fact we were sitting at a table too small to support the order. My fiancé ordered steak & eggs with French fries. I had the egg white, bacon, Brie, tomato, & spinach omelet. It also came with fries. The pancakes were the true stars of the show. The only minor issue was they give a pat of butter & very little maple syrup. There was nothing special about the flavor of my dish or my fiancé's. I would have thought this place would serve fresh cut fries; however, they are frozen fries that you find in your local supermarket (overly dry). After $73 for this less than stellar meal, it's safe to say I will never return.
(2)Ron H.
City Hall can be counted on for a consistently good meal, time after time. It is beautifully decorated and is a comfortable place to dine. The menu is varied with steak, hamburgers, chicken and fish dishes. The owner Steve Haas has been around the restaurant business forever, and knows what he is doing, plus he's a great host. There is a great need for his type of restaurant. A place where you can get a really good meal at a reasonable price. Highly recommended.
(5)Lynn M.
I saw some so-so reviews on Yelp that left me a little anxious about what my experience would be like.....but after having dinner at City Hill tonight i can safely say that I am no longer concerned. The husband and I had a great time! Dinner was fantastic and the service was wonderful and attentive. We had the crab cake (appetizer), turkey burger, fried chicken and the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding. Everything was delicious. I also had a really good martini/cocktail (The Commissioner) as well. We will definitely go back and try some new items on our next visit.
(4)Brooke E.
Came to City Hall because we saw the ad in Your Neck of the Woods. Excellent service, great food and the banana something desert with wafers and Heath bar- I have no words, never have I ever had a desert like this!!!
(4)Nick U.
I want to like this place, I really do... especially since I live across the street. BUT, the service just doesn't cut it. Our waiter was pushy, rude, and didn't even bother to listen to what we were asking (maybe he was just hard of hearing, and it was obnoxiously loud). We asked what his favorite dish on the menu was and he said "Filet Mignon... now what do you want to drink." What an asshole The food is alright - nothing to write home about - but between the noise and the rude servers, I'd rather drive somewhere else... and that sucks!
(2)Tawanna-Patrice M.
My Wife chose City Hall for Valentine's Day... and it was a good pick. The parking situation was not the best - small lot, on-street parking, and no valet - but once we got over that hurdle, everything else was amazing. We were seated very fast; the service, a bit awkward to start; and the food was yummy, delicious, and plentiful. First Impression.... the decor was really nice; amd I loved the backlit wall. The menu was separated into terms using the jargon you would find at an actual city hall meeting - primary decisions, closing arguments, etc. I think white table clothes would have added some contrast to the room since the table, walls, and floor were all in the same color scheme which gets a bit murky in the dim lighting. The Food... we bypassed the special Valentine's Day Menu and ordered from their regular menu. The Braised Beef Short Rib Stuffed Potato Skins with Taleggio Cheese, Swiss Chard, and Tomato Marmalade was solidly delicious. Not too much cheese; no too much marmalade; meaty and just damn good! I ordered the Grilled Pork Chop w Bourbon Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Southern-Style Collard Greens and my Wife ordered the Meatloaf with Chorizo-Maple Macaroni and Cheese. The pork chop was huge... and cooked to perfection, crisp and charred on the outside from the grill and juicy and full of flavor on the inside. The Creole Mustard reduction that came with it was not even really necessary - the pork chop stood alone. The Sweet Potatoes and the Collard Greesn were good as well. I was skeptial about the collard greens since most places add loads of brown sugar and apple cider vinegar in the attempt to make the "southern-style." I prefer mine savory and smoky. The collards at City Hall had a little sweetness and tang to them... just a little so that the savory edge was still present... not bad; not bad at all. My Wife loved the meatloaf, which was tender and yummy. She liked the Chorizo-Maple Macaroni and Cheese... though she expected a different flavor and not a mellowed out chorizo that almost tasted like ground beef. After having half of our meals packed for takeaway; we shared the Warm Chocolate Chip Crossaint Bread Pudding with Bourbon Anglaise... absolutely divinely richly sublime. It was generous enough for three people. The Service.... awkard to start... maybe a new server - but very friendly and very attentive... well deserving of the hefty tip we left behind. We left that night already making plans to return for the City Hall brunch... and another meal.
(4)Claudia G.
I would definitely come again even though last night was the first time the place was open. The service was optimal and their oyster appetizer is to die for! The ambience was very lively with a great open space and great new york feel decor. Thank you for the complimentary drinks! :)
(4)Barbara S.
The Sunday Gospel brunch is amazing. Celebrated my birthday with friends on February 24 and had the best time, the best food, the best birthday! We all had the Reuben (corned beef) and Rachel (pastrami) sandwiches which were beyond delicious. Great chocolate crunch cake for dessert complete with birthday singing by Maryel Epps, the gospel/jazz singer who performs there every Sunday. Maryel was so much fun, really loves what she does, and made the overall experience truly memorable.
(5)Michelle G.
My sister in law invited me to City Hall - The Restaurant for a birthday brunch and I'll have to say this is one of the nicest restaurants for brunch in this neck of the woods. While you're ordering, the server brings fresh artisan bread with a soft and warm honey maple butter to the table which is absolutely addicting and unbelievable. I ended up ordering eggs benedict with spinach which is only comparable to one delicious place I enjoyed this dish at in Maui. Absolutely out of this world. It was also accompanied with a refreshing mimosa. My husband enjoyed amazingly fluffy chocolate chip pancakes which are the size of someone's head, with fresh whipped cream rather than maple syrup. My sister in law enjoyed a vegetable three egg omelette with cheesy tots. The lunch and dinner menu also look incredible and we will definitely return when we're in the area for a show or play. All should come out to enjoy this great find.
(5)Martin G.
The positives: the ambiance and Santiago, the server, along with all the busboys. The negatives: the booths are way too long--hard to explain but sit at a table if you go there. The food: Over-priced and not memorable. We started with the Duck Confit Pizza with wild mushrooms which was tasty, hot and more than enough for 2. The house bread was tasteless and really shouldn't have been served with the pizza plus the biscuit I got with my main course. Allen ordered the NY Strip which came with mash potatoes and Santiago substituted brussel sprouts for the spinach per Allen's request. He was not thrilled with the potatoes or the sauce on the steak. Where did start with my dish? We were going to the theatre so I really didn't want to order the City Hall Timpano--a heavy assorted pasta, sausage, meatball and cheese dish--which i really did want LOL--I asked for a couple of suggestions and should have had the pork chops buy instead went for the fried chicken with mashed potatoes, corn and bacon, honey, gravy and a biscuit--glad I didn't want something too heavy! Everything was crowded on to the plate making it almost impossible to get to the poatoes. Luckily the chicken was finger food but there was no side dish (only service mistake made--the bread and butter dishes were taken away when we finished the pizza) for the bones. I had to take the gravy, honey and corn monkey dishes off the main plate and put on table. Some of the chicken was bloody while the breast piece was over-cooked and dry. Allen had a diet coke and I had coffee. The check for both of us plus a 20% tip came to $85 Oh yes, a pet peeve--no manager, host or owner ever came to the table.
(2)Vivian P.
great food, great drinks, great service. We were a pretty large party so we all ordered something different. the best plates on the table were the Tuna tartar app with a truffle soy vinegrette and the prosciutto & goat cheese pizza. I had the NY Strip with mac & cheese and creamed spinach which were tasty but just as tasty as any other top notch steak place. Signature drinks were good and the bottles of wine are perfectly priced. Looking forward to trying the place out for Brunch.
(4)Karen K.
I use to love this place, but the last two times I have eaten here, was not as impressed. it seems the quality of food, and service are declining. I took my Dad for his birthday last night, made the reservation using open-table and mentioned that we were celebrating his 84th birthday. I would have expected something would have been done to acknowledge this, nothing...and btw he was the only elderly person at the table, so it shouldn't have been that hard to figure it out. The music was on so loud when we walked in and the place was empty, the noise level in this restaurant is so loud you have to scream to hear each other. The food was not as good as it had been in the past. I ordered the pork chops and I have had them here before. The meat was tough, and it was as if the pork chop were sitting in the back for hours and they just threw hot gravy on top. My nephew sent his back, my dads skirt steak was tough and he sent that back. I also had the crab cake appetizer, it tasted like corn meal, I didn't see or taste any crab. The service was horrible, we had to ask for everything, instead of being asked if we needed anything. Prior to last night I went with friends and my roasted chicken was made from poor quality chicken, not a lot of meat, all bone. I don't think I will be going back anytime soon.
(3)Marcus K.
Really thought I'd love this place from all the recommendations that I've received from others who have lived in Miami for a while. Went during Miami Spice 2012. Sampled the mussels, crab cake, and caesar salad for appetizers. Mussels seemed to be well cooked, tender, and flavorful, but not extraordinary. The crab cake was small and very mediocre with only fine wisps of crab (no chunks seen at all). The caesar salad, was well, a caesar salad. Nothing to write home about. Had the filet mignon, which was cooked nicely, and had a nice reduction sauce over it. But I would have been very disappointed if I had paid more than $30 for it. Definitely not worth the regular retail price. The dessert sampling included cheesecake, chocolate crisp/mousse thing, carrot cake, and the bread pudding. The bread pudding was easily the best thing. Cheese cake was rather sad with little character, and soggy crust (which is usually the best part!). Carrot cake, blah (and I usually like carrot cake). I'd go back to try a few things on the entree list just because they sound interesting and this place is walkable from me (which is a plus so I don't have to pay for parking!), but then again, there may be better places elsewhere in Miami.
(3)Kelly K.
City hall is very close to my house so I went with some friends to try it for the first time. I LOVED it. Its very nice inside (a little on the chilly side), the kitchen is open so you can see the chef and his team work. The drink list is extensive. We had a bottle of wine that was reasonably priced and very good. Each of us ordered something different. I had the Meatloaf that came with mac n cheese and I ate every single bite!!! My friend had the pork chops which were delicious, however, the sweet potatoes and spinach sides were everyone's favorite part of her meal. Another friend ordered a flatbread pizza and gave rave reviews. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. The desserts looked amazing and I only wish we had room to try some. I would recommend a reservation to secure a table.
(5)Natalie M.
I was so excited to try this new restaurant across the street from my house.... after a very anticipated wait they couldn't have given me a better experience. To my surprise even though it is brand new (and anyone that knows anything about the restaurant business can understand that it is very difficult to get everything perfect after being open for such a short amount of time) our entire night was excellent. Everything from service, to food, to style, architecture.... the place is absolutely amazing for American Bistro, comfort food style. We sat down in some booths, very large and spacey..... Very nice hostess..... We started off our evening with the Tuna Tartar appetizer; Tuna with avocado and papaya, wakame, and crispy wontons, finger-licking greatness. For my entree I ordered the Gorgonzola pizza; this is I think if not my favorite, one of my favorite pizzas I've ever had.... thin crusted gorgonzola pizza, drizzled with fig jam, finished off with crispy fried onions. Mouth watering goodness.... the combination is excellent! My husband had the Pot Pie; Maine Lobster, scallops, parsnip, seafood veloute... he was very happy with his dish.... I tried it and although I am not a big fan of Pot Pies I though it was very good. The cocktails offered here are very good.... I had the mojito drink, Cruzan mango rum with mint ...... very nice size.... we finished off with the Chocolate Banana Pie .... I thought the desert was absolutely delicious! The service was excellent and very rare for your typical Miami restaurant where excellent service is hard to find. I have no idea why the gentleman up there wrote that it was horrible service. On the contrary I ONLY have good things to write and say about this restaurant and service. Not only was the waitress nice, the whole staff was eager to help the waitress and definitely 100% team work. Something very rare that really put the cherry on the cake for us; the owner, Mr. Haas was so kind enough to come to our table and introduce himself to us and was really into pleasing us. I have learned that in life it is very hard to please everybody so there will always be someone unhappy and complaining about everything in life. I am so glad I have a very nice restaurant across the street from my house.... I recommend it, 100%!! Congrats to Mr. Haas and the Chef!!
(5)Larry R.
A Gospel Brunch--Interesting and Rather Good. Went to meet friends who were visiting from the North and was pleasantly surprised by City Hall, yes it's VERY noisy, but it feels as if we came into a party into a very nicely decorated (1920's) space. Maybe it was the time of year, it seemed very festive and the Gospel Singer had a great voice and fabulous personality that we really liked. The service was attentive, not overwhelming and the real surprise was the quality of the food, my salmon and rice were done to perfection. Definitely a unique treat.
(4)Lara d.
Great addition for the downtown lunch crowd. There is free parking behind the location and there is ample seating inside to accommodate a busy crowd. The modern, dark but trendy interior makes you feel separated from Miami, it has more of a northern state feel. The lunch selection is varied with inventive dishes combined with traditional favorites. For those who crave a corn beef sandwich or pastrami sandwich then this is the place to head to. Personally I ate the BBQ brisket sandwich which was tender and had a great sauce and was served on toasted Texas toast. The crab imperial reminds me of a 70's classic dish, shredded crab meat served with a melted cheese on top served in a seashell shaped dish. The portions are large and give you a great value for your money.
(4)Carlos P.
Beer selection is very standard, nothing on tap and no quality ale's are offered. Honestly I wasn't extremely hungry so I went straight to ordering an entree. Decided to go with the fried chicken. Comes with a corn side and potatoes (both were fine) and the half a fried chicken. Actually the meal (along with the bread that is served) was pretty filling so I am glad I skipped appetizers and salad. At first bite I wasn't overly impressed with the fried chicken till I started dipping the chicken in both the gravy and honey which really made it good. Left fairly satisfied with the food, wish they would improve on the beer selection. Would return.
(4)M M.
Service good. Not outstanding. Menu looks fantastic. Food:meh. Arrived cold to lukewarm, despite descriptions most was bland, nothing stellar for a foodie here. Parking bad, but we were told it is OK to park in the empty bank lot, despite towing signs, and had no problem with that. Decor is lovely. Drinks poured with a light hand. Not woth a return visit as far as we are concerned. There are too many other great options in the area. Chef and kitchen need to step it up!
(2)John C.
I"m giving this place a 5, what an awesome looking room...lousy on the acoustics, but great food...had the pork chop tonight....to die for.....my friend had the Meat Loaf, also good. The mac and cheese could use a little tweaking (check out Flip Burger's mac and cheese). Pricing pretty reasonable....will update this on my next visit.
(5)Leah S.
Loved the decor... you feel you have been transported to the Big Apple- NYC. Food was ok. It didnt rock my world and they have absolutely no beer selection and the beer was warm. Big no, no. My mate ordered the wedge salad. Applewood smoked bacon was awesome but he wasnt too thrilled about cutting up his own salad at the table. Seems like alot of work, why not just bring it chopped? I lucked out on this one I ordered the crab cakes which were definitely the better choice. For entrees I had the scallops and my mate had the skirt steak. Both were ok. Skirt steak was definitely the better choice and juicy. Desert was again "ok" we shared the berry filled crumb cake I think it was called. Overall I would give it a three. I think I would try one more time just to see. Would like to try the brunch.
(3)Mark S.
Place was recommended for dinner by maitre d'hotel and it did not disappoint. Both the food and service were excellent. I had the salmon and my dining companion the meatloaf with mac 'n cheese. Preparations were very good - salmon had a nice miso glaze and was served over rice with stir-fry-type bok choy on the side. Meatloaf was plain old comfort food with delicious meat blend and the mac 'n cheese had a maple flavor that seemed strange on the menu but worked well on the plate. Both dishes were very tasty with slight twists on tradition but not overdone or just for the sake of being different. Servings were very generous - be prepared to eat a lot of food or take some home. Interior and furnishings are black and chrome but very comfortable - not ostentatious or over-the-top. Prices were a little on the high side (total tab for two plus drinks and tip was about $65) but worth every bit in the end.
(4)Liana V.
I went to city hall for lunch on Saturday for the first time, and I can honestly say I can't wait to go back. The restaurant was not full when we got there at about 2pm, but it was probably the time of day it was. The service was great. Our server was very attentive and gave good information about all the questions that we had. Appetizer- Tuna tartar was exceptional. It tasted very fresh and the wonton chips it came with were excellent. Lunch - I ordered the duck pizza. Although it didn't come too hot it was amazing. The amount of duck and cheese etc was perfect. I had been on search for a good duck pizza when they took it off the menu at another restaurant and I have definitely found it. My friend ordered the meatloaf and there is nothing to complain about. HUGE portion for anyone who is starving or wants to take leftovers home. Finally, I ordered a side of tri-colored fries. I would say that I would probably not order this again there, just because i don't like thick cut fries and they were a bit cold. At $7 it's not really worth it. I look forward to going back for dinner as the options looked amazing.
(4)David G.
More of a 3.5 than a 3 when it comes to the food. I went on a Wednesday night and 3 of the objects I ordered were out of stock. The server was very nice, but the food and drinks took a very long time to reach our table. The pizza with fig jam is alright, but definitely doesn't live up to the hype.
(3)Ken J.
They really aim to please. When u walk in you will b greeted with a smile. You can also expect a hot tasty meal.
(4)Angie M.
The food was excellent!!! However, our waitress was a bit of a Looney Toon and neglected us most of the night. We ordered a bottle of wine and some martinis. She brought out the martinis and left the wine bottle unopened in the middle of the table. We saw her walk to her other tables and take their orders! It took so long that we asked one of the busboys to get us a corkscrew!! She finally came and opened the bottle after he got her. It's so loud in the restaurant that we had a hard time hearing anything our waitress said (which might've been a saver! lol)! But nonetheless it was a great atmosphere and the food was perfectly portioned, we left with a food buzz!
(4)Jeremy J.
With its artistic decor, clever menu and delectable food, this is one "city hall" worth making a resolution about. We ate here as part of Miami Spice, which allowed us to enjoy a three-course meal for $35 per person. Our evening consisted of the half roasted chicken and pork chop entrees, which came with such sides as whipped sweet mashed potatoes, broccoli, and a corn and bacon casserole. Just when our palates were satisfied, we shared our final course of dessert: chocolate bread pudding with a white bourbon cream sauce. It was probably one of the best desserts we have ever tasted; warm, sweet and big enough for two people to share. This is definitely a place to check out, and one that will leave your taste buds yearning for another trip to City Hall.
(4)Joey D.
This place was amazing! Try the pork and share the chocolate croissant bread pudding dessert.
(4)Ian M.
I first tried City Hall during Miami Spice and liked it enough to go back. I like the location, love the space and the ambience. If your looking for a quiet dinner it may not be the place for you (depending on the night I guess) as the noise factor can be "up there." Ok, the food. We started with the potatoe skins stuffed with short ribs and topped with talleggio cheese; definitely one for sharing. Good but not if your on a health kick. I then had the crispy fried chicken with mashed poatoes. This is served with a small side of honey and gravy both of which are ok; there is also a side of corn and bacon stew which is actually quite tasty although it looks like something the dog through up and as a result I really couldn't eat it. Which reminded me of the grilled sea scallops I had during Miami Spice. The scallpos themselves were delicious! Plump and grilled to perfection BUT uneccessarily topped with an aioli mayonnaise and crumpled applewood smoked bacon. Sometimes simpler is better. I think the mantra at City Hall is "More is better" but to me too many ingredients spoil the main dish and for me this is the problem with City Hall. The main courses themselves are actually pretty good but overdone with too many uneccessary "extra" toppings; it detracts from the flavours. DESSERT: Go for the chocolate bread pudding with creme anglaise; delicious and decadent. I consider City Hall a step above a high class diner; our bill for basic fare with tip $120!! I can think of a lot of other places I'd rather spend my $120 (for 2). Oh, before I forget; "The Service" quick, quick, quick, quick, sloooooww. Suddenly when waiting for the cheque our waiter had disappeared, Its the first time I've left 15% in a long time.
(3)Mari P.
Uffffffff the bread and butter...enuff said!
(4)Anuka S.
City Hall was amazing! First time there and won't be the last. The food was excellent and the service was great!
(5)Mark S.
Place was recommended for dinner by maitre d'hotel and it did not disappoint. Both the food and service were excellent. I had the salmon and my dining companion the meatloaf with mac 'n cheese. Preparations were very good - salmon had a nice miso glaze and was served over rice with stir-fry-type bok choy on the side. Meatloaf was plain old comfort food with delicious meat blend and the mac 'n cheese had a maple flavor that seemed strange on the menu but worked well on the plate. Both dishes were very tasty with slight twists on tradition but not overdone or just for the sake of being different. Servings were very generous - be prepared to eat a lot of food or take some home. Interior and furnishings are black and chrome but very comfortable - not ostentatious or over-the-top. Prices were a little on the high side (total tab for two plus drinks and tip was about $65) but worth every bit in the end.
(4)Liana V.
I went to city hall for lunch on Saturday for the first time, and I can honestly say I can't wait to go back. The restaurant was not full when we got there at about 2pm, but it was probably the time of day it was. The service was great. Our server was very attentive and gave good information about all the questions that we had. Appetizer- Tuna tartar was exceptional. It tasted very fresh and the wonton chips it came with were excellent. Lunch - I ordered the duck pizza. Although it didn't come too hot it was amazing. The amount of duck and cheese etc was perfect. I had been on search for a good duck pizza when they took it off the menu at another restaurant and I have definitely found it. My friend ordered the meatloaf and there is nothing to complain about. HUGE portion for anyone who is starving or wants to take leftovers home. Finally, I ordered a side of tri-colored fries. I would say that I would probably not order this again there, just because i don't like thick cut fries and they were a bit cold. At $7 it's not really worth it. I look forward to going back for dinner as the options looked amazing.
(4)David G.
More of a 3.5 than a 3 when it comes to the food. I went on a Wednesday night and 3 of the objects I ordered were out of stock. The server was very nice, but the food and drinks took a very long time to reach our table. The pizza with fig jam is alright, but definitely doesn't live up to the hype.
(3)Ken J.
They really aim to please. When u walk in you will b greeted with a smile. You can also expect a hot tasty meal.
(4)Angie M.
The food was excellent!!! However, our waitress was a bit of a Looney Toon and neglected us most of the night. We ordered a bottle of wine and some martinis. She brought out the martinis and left the wine bottle unopened in the middle of the table. We saw her walk to her other tables and take their orders! It took so long that we asked one of the busboys to get us a corkscrew!! She finally came and opened the bottle after he got her. It's so loud in the restaurant that we had a hard time hearing anything our waitress said (which might've been a saver! lol)! But nonetheless it was a great atmosphere and the food was perfectly portioned, we left with a food buzz!
(4)Brooke E.
Came to City Hall because we saw the ad in Your Neck of the Woods. Excellent service, great food and the banana something desert with wafers and Heath bar- I have no words, never have I ever had a desert like this!!!
(4)Nick U.
I want to like this place, I really do... especially since I live across the street. BUT, the service just doesn't cut it. Our waiter was pushy, rude, and didn't even bother to listen to what we were asking (maybe he was just hard of hearing, and it was obnoxiously loud). We asked what his favorite dish on the menu was and he said "Filet Mignon... now what do you want to drink." What an asshole The food is alright - nothing to write home about - but between the noise and the rude servers, I'd rather drive somewhere else... and that sucks!
(2)Jeremy J.
With its artistic decor, clever menu and delectable food, this is one "city hall" worth making a resolution about. We ate here as part of Miami Spice, which allowed us to enjoy a three-course meal for $35 per person. Our evening consisted of the half roasted chicken and pork chop entrees, which came with such sides as whipped sweet mashed potatoes, broccoli, and a corn and bacon casserole. Just when our palates were satisfied, we shared our final course of dessert: chocolate bread pudding with a white bourbon cream sauce. It was probably one of the best desserts we have ever tasted; warm, sweet and big enough for two people to share. This is definitely a place to check out, and one that will leave your taste buds yearning for another trip to City Hall.
(4)Joey D.
This place was amazing! Try the pork and share the chocolate croissant bread pudding dessert.
(4)Ian M.
I first tried City Hall during Miami Spice and liked it enough to go back. I like the location, love the space and the ambience. If your looking for a quiet dinner it may not be the place for you (depending on the night I guess) as the noise factor can be "up there." Ok, the food. We started with the potatoe skins stuffed with short ribs and topped with talleggio cheese; definitely one for sharing. Good but not if your on a health kick. I then had the crispy fried chicken with mashed poatoes. This is served with a small side of honey and gravy both of which are ok; there is also a side of corn and bacon stew which is actually quite tasty although it looks like something the dog through up and as a result I really couldn't eat it. Which reminded me of the grilled sea scallops I had during Miami Spice. The scallpos themselves were delicious! Plump and grilled to perfection BUT uneccessarily topped with an aioli mayonnaise and crumpled applewood smoked bacon. Sometimes simpler is better. I think the mantra at City Hall is "More is better" but to me too many ingredients spoil the main dish and for me this is the problem with City Hall. The main courses themselves are actually pretty good but overdone with too many uneccessary "extra" toppings; it detracts from the flavours. DESSERT: Go for the chocolate bread pudding with creme anglaise; delicious and decadent. I consider City Hall a step above a high class diner; our bill for basic fare with tip $120!! I can think of a lot of other places I'd rather spend my $120 (for 2). Oh, before I forget; "The Service" quick, quick, quick, quick, sloooooww. Suddenly when waiting for the cheque our waiter had disappeared, Its the first time I've left 15% in a long time.
(3)Elad H.
I took my wife to City Hall for her 31st Birthday dinner and she absolutely loved it. The place is so new, she never heard of it, so she was surprised when we drove up near the disappointing Bengal to this not-quite-so-hidden gem. From the outside, City Hall doesn't look like much. The dark glass obscures the interior but once you step inside, it's hard not to be awed by the beautiful shades of color, the mural, the amazing stained glass, and the open and comfortable atmosphere. We arrived for an early dinner at 6pm on Saturday to find the restaurant empty. We were seated immediately and our waiter wasted no time introducing himself and making friendly small talk. After soaking in the interior a little bit, our eyes devoured the menu. Being Spice Month, of course, we went first to the small white menus but we quickly realized the Spice menu is somewhat lacking while the actual menu is almost overflowing with incredible sounding dishes. The one dish that I knew my wife would love and was raved about here on Yelp was the Seafood Pot Pie, which unfortunately is no longer available. I guess it was too time consuming and expensive to produce. It's a shame, but there's a lot more great stuff on the menu. It was very difficult to decide what to order, since so much sounded delicious. We decided on two appetizers and two entrees (Spice-style). We got the Guiness braised mussels with chorizo and crispy calamari with pomodoro and a lemon pepper aioli. The mussels were prepared very well with a thick sauce and pieces of meat mixed in that gave the dish a smoky flavor. It came with two pieces of cheese-coated bread that were PERFECT for dipping. The calamari was excellent, as well, large pieces with a flaky crust and two distinct dipping sauces. For our main dishes, we decided on the scallops with black bean salsa and a filet mignon with crispy brussel sprouts and potato gratin. Both dishes were excellent. The scallops were plump and seared well, the black bean and corn salsa complimented the scallop very well. It was a fairly straightforward but satisfying dish. The filet mignon came topped with a blue cheese crumble and was easily one of the best steaks I've had in awhile. There was a lot going on that plate, with the delicious brussel sprouts and the bacon-topped potatoes. I tried my best finish it all but did not succeed. Finally, dessert. We chose the chocolate croissant bread pudding and were amazed at the texture and the excessive chocolate-ness of the dish. It comes with a beautiful presentation and a large portion. Also, I could not mention our meal without a nod to the excellent pecan-butter that comes with the complimentary bread. It was so flavorful we knew from our first bite at City Hall that we would have an amazing meal. And that we would back to try it again.
(4)Desiree P.
Props to the owner and chef! You have done something beautiful right here on Biscayne Blvd ! Finally a decent American restaurant on this neighborhood Went here with my parents for dinner and couldn't have been more pleased. The owner is welcoming and the staff very friendly. Everything we ate was delicious , portions are big enough to share ( at least some of them) The pecan butter they served with a freshly baked bread was so delicious that we had to ask for more. never taste any butter like that before... For appetizers we had the Guinness Braised Mediterranean Mussels with Homemade Chorizo in tomato /garlic sauce ( pretty delicious, with a soft spice touch, full of flavor) and the Onion soup ( oh dear, that was something...Sooo good!) For entrees we had Grilled Pork Chop with Bourbon whipped Sweet Potatoes ( I dont eat pork that often, and was really impressed with this one. Everyone at the table had a taste of it and liked it a lot. The meat was tender, the sauce very rich)) The meat loaf with Chorizo-Maple Mac'n Cheese was pretty yummy and good enough to share as well. LOVED the Mac'n Cheese here! . The desserts were to die for , but the chocolate Banana Cream Pie with Caramel drizzles & shaved Chocolate was by far our favorite! Will definitely come back for more. Cant wait for Sunday's Brunch .
(4)David R.
I've been their twice and its only ok, at best. The food profiles are so busy - lets throw more salt, fat, sweet, sour, etc on a plate - the only problem is that its not good. Had the pork twice, Big piece of meat, but the collard greens and sweet potatoes were inedible. NO subtlety. The skirt steak also has all sorts of flavors going on - olives, cheese, etc. Not good. The scallops on the menu mention plantains I think - it had two chips from a bag. The desserts are like NY - but maybe like a diner. Big, sweet, but no yums at the table. Obviously the other reviews are folks who want this to succeed...as do I, but get a new chef.
(2)Lillian D.
Went there for lunch for the first time, it was fantastic! You must try the goat cheese, gorgonzola & fig pizza, it was to die for. The chocolate croissant bread pudding was orgasmic. The tri-color potatoes were incredible. The service was great; the wait staff was friendly, helpful and funny. The hostess and maître D were also friendly & welcoming. Overall a wonderful experience, I will go again.
(4)B Lauren S.
I'd been wanting to try this place out, considering its relatively close to me, and I'm always looking for new places! I didn't make a reservation, considering it was a monday, I didn't think it was needed.. I do think they prefer (was asked upon entering), however, I was seated promptly. The service was very friendly, and very attentive. Throughout our entire meal the servers were checking on us, bringing us things.. and I didn't have an empty glass or plate sitting in front of me, which is a huuuge deal to me. ..So.. I'm usually a wino, but decided to try some of their signature cocktails.. I had the, key to the city?(i think) which was delicious! The wine list prices were completely reasonable. (Good to know for future).. Bread is offered with a pecan butter, which I didn't get to try due to allergies, but my husband loved it... they were kind enough to bring me regular butter without hesitation. We started out with the mussels which were brought out steaming and hot, and we saved some of that bread for dipping.. SO good.. At first we were thinking they were all tiny tiny mussels, but managed to find some larger ones on the bottom :) .. for our meals I had the salmon with jasmine rice.. I love salmon, and this was cooked perfectly. I was so full yet tried to finish every last bite. My husband had the peppered strip steak, slightly overcooked but nothing to complain about, still very delicious. It came with a creamed spinach. We also order the tri colored potatoes.. Everything we ordered was fantastic. I hope it maintains consistency for my next time around.. 4 stars for atmosphere.. It wasn't a place I could see myself going and hanging out for drinks after.. We ate finished our drinks and left. Although, benefit of the doubt, it was early on a Monday, so there was not much of a crowd to people watch just yet.. I'm not sure what time of crowd they're aiming for.. its fine dining without the white tables cloths, so casual enough for jeans, yet, dressier than flip flops. Maybe a business casual approach. I plan to go back, hoping everything is just as good as the first time! Oh- Parking lot out back, bonus.. valet was very nice as well..
(4)V A.
I had read about City Hall since its opening and then heard about it from a friend who posted on FB that it was great..and so wanting to try a new restaurant about two weeks ago I took the opportunity to go with friends who had just arrived from Italy for a one week vacation. Sad to say that I wish I had taken them somewhere else. Our arrival was good, host welcomed us and we were very impressed with the look of the restaurant. It has a NYC feel to it when you walk in and certainly looks like they spent quite a bit of money when building the restaurant. Too bad that the service after our arrival went downhill. I would not say it's terrible service, but it's definitely not what I expect at a restaurant of this caliber. For the most part, it's EXTREMELY casual and inattentive...or may I call it as I did when I was speaking to my friend the other day and telling her about my experience......its "flamboyantly casual". Food on the other hand was good and tasty. It's a bit busy with a lot of different flavors and portions are a good size (or some may think big). Desert not so good! Overall based on my experience, I would not recommend it or go back. Been there..done that! Now if you want to know some details....I'll share a few...We get seated and at first the server seemed ok as he welcomed us. They automatically brought flat water to the table which is fine, except that we drink sparkling...we asked for sparkling and they brought it and left the flat on the table then continued to mix our water throughout the night with the flat water or continued to bring out the flat, instead of the sparkling...it was just confusing to them. As we were browsing the menus, I was finished with my before dinner drink and asked for the wine list to order a glass of wine. We decided to order a bottle, I gave the list to our friend who is very versed with his wines. As he is browsing the list, the server came by and said "my God it's only a glass of wine" at this point not realizing that we decided to order a bottle of a wine. I happen to find his comment a bit casual and not needed. Then as our server is taking our order he noticed a friend of his sitting at the bar and literally yelled his name from our table to say hello. They said their hello's without having any calms about the fact that we were in the middle of placing our order. My husband and I decided to try the Spice Menu and after the server took all of our orders I realized my husband had not ordered his desert that typically comes with the Spice Menu and so I asked our server to add the second desert, the server told me that the Spice only included one dessert per two people (I guess I didn't read the fine print) but after telling me that its one desert per two people he then said he would bring it anyhow. Ok not so bad at this point. When our appetizers came to the table the food runner brought out everyone's appetizer except for mine...but instead brought out the seafood gumbo which none of us ordered. Our server came by to browse at the table to see if all was okay but did not ask if all was okay and walked away. By this time I am a little ticked about the lack of service and off course was waiting to see if he noticed that I didn't get my appetizer...but since he didn't notice, my husband called him over and brought to his attention that my appetizer was missing. The server asked ME what I ordered although he wrote everything down....I told him and said he could take the gumbo away but he told me to keep it "there is nothing I could do with it now" he said. We ate our appetizers and enjoyed them...even the Gumbo was good. At the table we shared the Tuna Tartare..which was very good. For main I had the Pork Chop which was delightful...it was very tender and tasteful. After our main course the server then came back to ask me what deserts I had ordered as he didn't remember...again, he wrote this down...now I had to remember what it was I ordered..so I had so I had to ask him to repeat the choices and I then chose the two that I thought I ordered. Thankfully we were full from the appetizers and main because by the time desert came we were full and unfortunately the cheesecake and the bread pudding were not as delightful as they sounded. When looking around staff were standing by chit chatting and they all seemed confused and all over the place so it wasn't just our server. The staff definitely needs training on how to work at an upscale restaurant ....and if the restaurant is not meant to be upscale, then it needs to lower its prices and present itself differently. This is not a restaurant I would frequent even if the service was good because the menu selections are not that enticing and the food is heavy, but if they could get the service together, then the experience would be much better.
(2)Susan T.
We arrived last night at 9 pm and the first thing that we noticed was the bad lighting. Way too bright, we we pointed out immediately. Fortunately, shortly after walking in you are greeted by a VERY friendly and courteous host and hostess who were both smiling and seated us immediately. That's actually very refreshing and an unusual experience in Miami. Our server was also great. He gave us suggestions, knew the menu well, and just seemed at ease and comfortable with us, but at the same time, very professional. The way that you wish every server in Miami was!!! The suggestion for the tuna tartare came from both the server and the guy who brought us water, so we felt that was a must. We opted for a bunch of appetizers, versus ordering main courses, so we could share more of a variety- tuna tartare, the mussels, the duck pizza and a side order of creamed spinach. The tuna tartare, although a nice presentation, lacked flavor. I blamed this last night on the fact that I just returned from Italy, where the food has so much more flavor than here, but I think it just lacked seasoning. Either that or it was refrigerated for too long, I can't really put my finger on it! The mussels, were tasty, but they didn't stand out. The best thing that we ordered was the duck pizza, but that also seemed to be missing something. The spinach was good, but was a little dry for creamed spinach. Overall, the food was decent, but there is definitely room for improvement.
(3)Tessie B.
I was really excited to try this new place out. I think both the name and the location are extremely clever. It was pretty busy on a Tuesday night, but the host should have told us the wait was 45 min instead of 15 min and then increasing it in 10 min intervals. Trying to get the attention of the bartender was a mission in itself. It seemed as though the bartender was overwhelmed and did not know how to make 2 mixed drinks simultaneously. We ended up just finding seats at the bar and ordering the duck confit pizza (which is more like flatbread style) and the mussels. The duck pizza was alright, but I must admit the mussels were absolutely delicious. What DID bug me was that it was not a significantly large portion and 4 mussels were closed shut. For dessert we had the banana cream pie which was good, just difficult to split because it comes in this long sundae glass. The food was at best, average. Not sure if I'll be back, maybe if some friends are going and they want company.
(2)NY C.
This place was located near my brother's apartment, so we (5 people) thought we would give it a try. Everything about this place - the ambiance, size, comfort-food menu, service, pricing, was spot-on! The space is huge, w/2 floors, TVs, a full bar, and booths large enough for 6 people. The ambiance was casual, yet upscale. I could see a lot of finance people dining here, mixing w/sports fanatics and families w/kids. There is something for everyone. The food was slammin'! I highly recommend the duck confit pizza, the fried chicken, the short rib stuffed potato skins (whaaat???) and their enormous "timpano" (indescribably delicious pasta dish w/meatballs s& sausage stuffed in a huge domed calzone shell). That timpano could feed 4 people, it was so large. We believe it weighed about 5 lbs, if not more! It's been several days and we STILL have leftovers! For dessert, we managed to choke down their delicious caramel-drizzled banana cream pie (DEEEEE-lectable). Our server was so warm, sweet and friendly. She had an adorable personality and a great sense of humor. She accommodated substitutions for us without so much as a blink of an eye, and came back to check on us every now and then to make sure we were okay, but without being intrusive at all. The bread they served was warm and delicious, the wine list was great, my nephew got to watch the game while eating, the prices were decent ($15-30 range) for what you got, I could go on and on. We recommended this place to about 6 people already, and we can't wait to go back next time!
(5)Angel D.
I like this place a lot. The service is good and the place has a very cool vibe. For appetizer I would suggest the potato skins. For your entree, definitely try the meat loaf. I am not a big meatloaf fan, and usually will not order it, but my girlfriend tried it, so I had a little. Wow. Best dish there. I have also had the salmon and the filet miginon, both very good. The fried chicken was not impressive. Make reservations, as this place gets packed pretty quickly.
(4)Alex G.
Super hip Miami vibe, loud and crowded but not in a negative way. We sat upstairs, which is not as good as downstairs (next time I'll specifically reserve a booth downstairs). Still, the atmosphere is cool and urban, and the place hopping with upscale eye candy and Rolex watches. The menu is New American comfort food, with no dish over $30 - a real treat in Miami. They even have a prix fix menu of three courses for $35. The bread and walnut maple butter was amazingly good, and the drink menu was top notch. Unfortunately, it took a LONG time for food to arrive. Very slow. And employees kept dropping things - trays, dishes, etc - which was somewhat unnerving. Appetizers were solid, but uninspiring. Calamari was a tad stringy and oily; I have had better elsewhere. Onion soup was creatively served, but lacked strong flavor -- fairly mundane tasting. The main courses shined, and the portions were large. The filet mignon with crispy brussel sprouts and potato cake was outstanding, and perfectly prepared. The pork chop with collard greens was extremely tasty -- and a darn big chop to boot. The tuna steak was sliced and served rare -- absolutely delicious and boat-fresh. The scallops were also excellent and perfectly cooked. As an aside, the drink menu was creative and well made, with delicious drinks made with fresh ingredients. Overall, a 3.5 star restaurant, certainly fun for a night out; I may not run back, but I would not hesitate to join friends if they suggested this venue.
(3)C R.
The decor is nice and upscale, but I was a little disappointed on my first visit to City Hall for lunch. I ordered a BBQ beef brisket sandwich on texas toast with potatotes, and seafood chowder for an appetizer (a "special"). The chowder was a mixed seafood array with shrimp, calamari and fish-- it was ok, sort of light on flavor in the broth. My sandwich which I was expecting to be amazing was disappointing-- it was very salty and very fatty. It was as if they didn't trim any of the large fat chunks from the side of the beef before serving it. I love BBQ of all kinds and I have never had anything served to me that tasted sooo salty. I don't get it. I only ate a few bites and discarded the rest (I rarely do that). It was $20 for sandwich and soup, so it's a bit pricey for being on a relatively dead area of Biscayne Blvd and not that great on taste.... Probably won't return here. My friend that was dining with me also had similar feedback on his lunch entre as well.
(2)Don E.
One of the worst dining experiences I've had in Miami. Hostess was too busy having fun with co-hostess and manager to help anyone. A kind couple was getting up from bar and offered their seats, but, warned us of the poor service at the bar...man was she right. The disinterested, nose dripping bartender was less than attentive. I'm still waiting for my water. The manager who was too busy to deal with our channel change request asked his other bartender to ask "what we wanted to change the channel to" and we never received a response, let alone rational reason. Food was average at best. The only thing that is unconventional about the French Onion Soup, is that it is NOT GOOD. Too many good places in Miami, with GOOD SERVICE to bother with this place. My only positive feedback is that the valet was courteous and quick, maybe because the lot wasn't full....speaks volumes!!!
(1)holladay s.
Great Place! Just came back from Miami Spice lunch there. Food is fresh, abundant, attractively presented and DELICIOUS! This place is a winner! I had a wonderful bowl of seafood and sausage gumbo, cornmeal crusted shrimp po boy sandwich (enough for two) and apple cheesecake. Mom had a huge platter of homemade meatloaf, mash, and green beans - excellent. Our family all loved the restaurant and would definitely return soon. It is a great addition to the Miami dining scene.
(4)Tito C.
Reviews raved about the chocolate bread pudding. Pudding missing in action. Thus, it was not a pudding nor a custard but a whipped cream and croissant concoction which this restaurant called a bread pudding dessert. Also, methinks that if the restaurant wants its patrons to pass by the kitchen door on the way to the restrooms, the restaurant should keep the kitchen floor clean or SHUT THE KITCHEN DOOR. My grandma thought me that if the kitchen was not clean, don't expect a clean bathroom. Not only was the bathroom not clean but the toilet did not work and it was apparent that it had not been working for a while. The bathroom/kitchen disappointment paled to the bumper car experience of the wait staff trying to move between their kitchen work stations and the customers trying to get to the bathrooms. However, all paled in comparison to the mediocre food. Too heavy a dressing on the wedge salad, could have done without the couscous with my skirt steak. It was not a good flavor combination between the lemony/tomato flavor of the couscous and the overly sweet glaze on the steak. My table companion had the turkey burger and scraped off the spinanch/mushroom combination. By the way, the first glasses of wine ordered were rejected. They tasted more like vinegar. For that style restaurant, the meal took almost 2 hours.
(2)Ashleigh H.
I had a few good experiences previously with friends (including the awesome happy hour pizzas), and tonight suggested City Hall to my extremely critical/picky boyfriend, who had never been. Every detail with both of our meals was perfect. The guava mojito is the best kept secret in Miami - its not on the menu, but it is possibly the best drink I've ever had. Ask for extra maple pecan butter with the bread, because it tastes like candy, and the bread is always hot. I had the roasted chicken entrée, soaked in a deliciously flavorful sauce and fell right off the bone. Boyfriend had the meatloaf, he was very impressed - and he's never very impressed. Even the green beans were incredible. For dessert, there's a reason the chocolate chip bread pudding is highly recommended, you absolutely cannot leave without trying it. It is heavenly! The service was top notch, as it has been every time I've visited. The restaurant was fairly busy for a Monday night, but everything was faster than expected, our waiter made perfect recommendations and left nothing to be desired. Neither of us could think of a more enjoyable dining experience in Miami, and we are not easy to please!
(5)Natalie Q.
I get to be City Hall's 100th review...woohoo! Got to dine here on Valentine's Day. The ambiance was great, I love the decor and they weren't as busy as I expected. They had a special Valentine's Day menu which was not the least bit intriguing. I took the waiters suggestion and ordered the meatloaf and chorizo mac and cheese. I love me some mac and cheese, but this one was way too heavy. The meatloaf itself was OK. The gravy left something to be desired. I was underwhelmed until our dessert came...croissant and chocolate bread pudding which saved the day. I'd come back but just for cocktails and dessert.
(3)Stephanie C.
My son, daughter-in-law with their kids along with my husband and I stopped by after an afternoon playing at a local park with the grandkids. At first, I though we were terribly under dressed but the staff made us feel quite at home. We requested to sit in an out of the way location so as to not disturb any of their older guests. Again, they were very accommodating. They have a kids menu, a 3 course adult dinner menu "deal" along with their regular menu. We ordered off of all three menus. Their potato parmesan cheese soup was delicious - it was the soup of the day, wish I had that recipe! My son enjoyed the burger said he loved the bacon, cheese, onion combination on their own baked bread. The kids had pizza and fries, the fries were tri-colored using pink, purple, sweet and regular potatoes in the mix. My husband had pork chops with sweet potato which he said was well flavored and cooked. My daughter-in-law had the encrusted tuna dinner. She liked it enough, she ate half and wanted the other half for lunch the next day! I got the meatloaf and potatoes ....love comfort food! Again, it did not disappoint! My only complaint was that none of us had room for dessert! The wait staff was attentive but not overbearing. The management made it a point to come over to the table and ask us how things were going. I must say that overall I had a terrific experience with City Hall Restaurant. I would make it a regular watering hole if only I lived here locally!!! Wish we had one in Colorado Springs!!!
(5)Martin O.
We arrived for our Saturday 7pm reservation for a table of 4. The first thing I noticed was that the inside of this restaurant with both upstairs and downstairs dinning rooms is very modern and nice inside. What type of restaurant is this (Comfort Food, Upscale or Premium Comfort Food). I started with the Crispy Pancetta and Onion Pizza with Gorganzola Cheese (very delicious and rich, I would go back for this) with a bottle of Stella Beer. Others in my party ordered the Burratta Mozzarella with crisp Pancetta, Baby Arugula and Toasted Pine nuts. For a main course, I had the Meat Loaf (very, very good) with Chorizo-Maple Mac'n Cheese (good, not great). One of our party members had the Grilled Turkey Burger (a very thick burger). The W had a Seafood Pot Pie that had a nice crust (had to be sent back because it wasn't hot enough). For dessert, we shared a Warm Crumble Berry Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. I noticed that many people bought their own bottles of wine. This might be common for a Saturday night or because the restaurant just opened. There is a large bar inside if you are dining alone. There is valet parking in back for 4 bills. You will also find metered parking by the nearby Auto Dealer. In summary, it's nice to have a new Upscale Comfort Food Restaurant is this part of town. It's right across from the Citi Condos/The Daily and next door to the Indian restaurant.
(4)Danielle C.
I ate at city hall a few days ago. It was really unimpressive. I don't think I'll be returning. Nah, I won't be going back. Nothing was terrible, it just wasn't good. I couldn't find one reason to eat here, except for maybe the wedge salad. But I can get a wedge salad anywhere else... We found our food to be just average. Gumbo, "unconventional" onion soup, scallops... no interesting flavors. I will say that I had a skirt steak and the meat tasted great. Really nice bold meat flavor. But that's pretty much it. Everything else on the plate was just "blah." As for dessert, that part was actually below average. Did that "bread pudding" swimming in whipped cream really need to be drenched in that bourbon anglaise sauce? Seriously, what was that? And were those chocolate croissants from Costco? Seriously, what was that? I don't really think service should factor into an opinion about a restaurant, but if that bothers you, that's another strike against City Hall. Everyone was really confused, and the restaurant wasn't even that full. Speaking of confusion, can somebody please explain the theme? What is up with that mural on the wall? And what does art deco have to do with Southern cuisine? In sum, don't bother. And if you happen to go despite my review, I highly recommend that you opt out of dessert and go for the martini or Stella on the Miami Spice menu.
(2)Katherine G.
As others have said, City Hall is not a cheap place. But...you get what you pay for. City Hall is becoming known for its impeccable service, quality, and atmosphere. I really enjoyed myself. I ordered the Power Lunch on a weekend day...I think Sunday...the other week. I started with the chicken corn chowder. WOW. I sucked up every drop shamelessly. It was that good. It tasted like how love feels. Then I had the brisket sandwich, with a salad on the side instead of fries. I was making an effort not to go whole hog. :) The sandwich was very good. The only drawback was that the meat was a bit fatty. I know that it's laughable to pay attention to that when you have just ordered a barbeque brisket sandwich, but nevermind...I removed the fat when it was excessive and enjoyed the meat without the unnecessary bread--gigantic pieces of Texas toast. Biscayne is becoming better and better for dinner options. People who live nearby also MUST run to Bengal too!!
(4)Lee R.
Great service, everyone was so nice and friendly! We did the Miami Spice menu that was being offered early...I recommend the pork chop and the carrot cake! And the maple butter that comes out with the bread before dinner is to die for!
(5)Tennison Z.
I live in the area and am always excited when a new restaurant pops up around the block so I decided to give it a shot. I showed up with my girlfriend on an early Friday night (with no reservations, I totally recommend you do if you decide to go around peak hours - I even believe they use OpenTable online) but we're promptly sat down. The decor and service is definitely the first impression that you get of this restaurant, and we were delighted with the ode to Gotham city that the interior decoration gives the place. The service we received by our host and waitress was solid in comparison to other restaurants in the area that charge the same price, as well as how the restaurant was filling up (quite quickly might I add). It looks like the menu is in a limbo (while they tinker out what works and what doesn't) but we decided to stray safe and share our Miami Spice meal with another appetizer. It worked out perfect for us since we were not able to finish our meals. The portions are filling enough for one if you decide to have a three course meal. A definite plus were the drinks that we ordered, that were recommended by our friendly waitress. She also took the time to explain the Miami Spice menu, drink menu and recommendations and even gave us a little explanation on how Steve Haas doesn't like to cut corners on his Miami Spice menus. The point is that she didn't race through the specials but actually engaged in a conversation to enhance the experience. The bread with the pecan butter sauce was definitely a hit. If a restaurant takes the time to make the free food taste good its a good start. I went with the gumbo with the appetizer because I'm a fan of stew/soups. It had a good taste - would like it to have a bit more "cajun" in it though. For our entrees, I ordered the couscous and skirt steak while my girlfriend ordered the confit duck pizza. We ended up devouring the steak plate and saving the pizza for seconds. The pizza is good but be aware the the cheese is very rich and it could be a little heavy. We ordered a couple of espressos with our coffee creme brulee and we're quite satisfied with it. Overall, the decor and service were definite upsides if you are looking for a "cherry on top" of your meal and you get what you pay for with the food. We definitely want to give it another shot to see if it becomes a regular spot where we can have a great meal. The biggest plus for me about this place is that it is not like most restaurants in Miami that focus on being posh but look like they genuinely want to make you feel welcome. I'm not yet leaning towards a fantastic experience, but it is one that I have the confidence to recommend.
(4)Rebecca R.
Hustle + bustle = noise Popped in to City Hall for a late dinner during the frenzy of Miami Spice; loved the decor, liked the food, disliked the noise. My partner opted for the Spice menu, whereas I ordered a la carte. None of the dishes seemed superb, and the scallops with black bean salad? Yawn. I hear brunch is amazing, and the menu looks scrumptious. Hope that the management figures out how to dim the noise without killing the energy. Will return once the chef has tweaked the menu with hopes of a more inspiring, metropolitan theme.
(3)Tulin L.
We got delivered a complete dinner from City Hall restaurant . We ordered the duck confit pizza, braised beef short rib stuffed potato, the meatloaf with chorizo-mac&cheese, cheesecake and the carrot cake. Our order has been arrived in 30 minutes as on time. The confit pizza was nice. The flavors worked very well together. The only thing they put the pizza in a plastic container so it lost the crispiness a little bit. It would be much better if we eat in the restaurant just right from the oven. Or if they would put in a cartoon pizza box. The meatloaf was very moist and tasty. The mac & cheese was also very delicious. We also liked the side fresh green beans with garlic glaze. It was nice and fresh. The stuffed potato skins were very delicious. It was not too oily. The flavors were delicious. Moreover, the port wine syrup was a great addition to both the confit duck pizza and the stuffed potato skins. The desserts were also very delicious and fresh. Even though it was a delivery order they portioned all the food very nicely and decoratively. They put nice fresh mint leaf on the deserts. It was a really nice touch. It is the first time we tried this restaurant. If the delivery is this successful I am pretty sure the dining in the restaurant would be much better. I will definitely go to this restaurant in person and continue to get delivery from them. ;)) this place is not your ordinary place . It is very gourmet style.
(4)Miguel F.
For weeks I kept on hearing about City Hall -- "so good" "you have to go" "cute place" "best food I've had in a long time" Finally went last week with my best friend and my friends weren't kidding... its pretty good. I had the Miami Spice menu. Spicy -- Grilled Skirt Steak -- perfectly cooked, with so much flavor. The couscous, Kalamata olives and feta cheese all added to it. Martinis -- we asked for blue cheese olives and the cocktail was perfection My best friend also had some crab cake appetizer and I had a bite and it was so good! Medium - Gumbo appetizer -- it was pretty good, not the best but pretty good Mild -- Coffee Creme Brulee. It had a very thick consistency and normally creme brulee is a thinner, silkier. It wasn't horrible, and it was pretty big. The desserts on the Spice menu are to share, btw. I was very impressed with City Hall and can't wait to come back!
(4)Corey D.
I have been waiting quite some time for this restaurant to open. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the anticipation. The best part of the experience is the bar, the drinks are flawless. However, we had to wait 20 mins at the bar to get a drink. Our server, Victoria was very good. But there is no team work. Everyone walks around with tunnel vision and give answers that clearly let you know "that is not my job." So just wait until your very busy server has time to get back to you. We started with the french onion soup--that has no croutons or the lovely cheesiness or finish that we come to expect. We also order the short rib stuffed potato skins. One shrivled up little potato? There should be four halves. Flavor was good but the presentation felt skimpy. I ordered the fried chicken. It was super greasy and bland as if it were cooked at to low a temperature. Another newcomer, Tudor House, serves much better fried chicken. I sent it back and got the pork chop instead. The chop and the yams were excellent. But the collard greens were so overcooked that they were black and chewy with no pot liquor--unrecognizable. So very disappointing. My friend had the meatloaf, it was good not great. He said the mac and cheese was long on mac and short on cheese. Our other friend was happy with his skirt steak with olives and goat cheese. My fourth friend had the tuna and it was good although he was confused by the sauce that accompanied it. City Hall tries too hard to be over the top when it comes to the food. As much as I love comfort food--it just feel duplicative, inauthentic and dated. The loud dining room and uninspired decor make for a less than impressive evening. Luckily, we were with great friends. But, I absolutely will not be back. Too many great new restaurants, too little time.
(2)Matthew P.
Every since North One 10 closed a year or three back, Miami has been aching for a restaurant that abandons all pretension in favor of well-crafted, well-executed American chow. It's gratifying and exciting to see City Hall bring it back. The menu reads like an American cookbook: spicy gumbo, crisp fried chicken with pan gravy, fresh scallops. There's enough of a twist to keep everything fresh - that fried chicken comes with local honey, a platter of mussels is spiked with chorizo. And, God bless the USA, my filet mignon was a complete meal instead of an a la carte cop out... crispy Brussels sprouts and a homey potato gratin. There is is lots of bacon, as it should be. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable, the service is spot on. It was crazy loud on Saturday night, but, seriously, you're too busy eating to talk.
(4)Jessica B.
A M A Z I N G!!!!!!! Its an understatement, service excellent, superb ambiance, food delicious. Went with friends for my birthday and we all ordered different appetizers and plates so we can all try each others, Every single plate was so good including the potato bread with apple pecan butter. The bread pudding was excellent also.
(5)Steph D.
MIAMI SPICE REVIEW I went to City Hall last night for dinner with my husband. We had been to City Hall before and thought it was okay. We visited in the first month it was opened, so were willing to give it another try with Miami Spice. It was a lackluster experience. I will give the staff credit for honestly promoting Miami Spice and encouraging patrons to order from the menu. (I hate when participant restaurants do not give you the menu up-front). I will also give our waiter credit for answering our wine question with out a $10 up sell, as I had expected him to do. I ordered the crab cake for an appetizer, the Shrimp & Grits for an entree and the Bread Pudding for dessert. The crab cake was just that- one crab cake. The restaurant pared down their regular 2 crab cake appetizer for Miami Spice. The crab cake was small- maybe 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter, less than an inch thick and with no obvious lumps of crab in the cake. You could taste the crab, but it was more cake than crab. I would not order it again, nor suggest it. As for the Shrimp & Grits....the grits and the sauce were amazing! I really liked the creamy nature of the grits and the tasty sauce. The grits were then topped with 6 medium sized shrimp. Shrimp & Grits are not on the regular menu....however, I hear they might be added. It will be interesting to see the price point. I believe the price would be fair between $18 and $22. In the end, the shrimp & grits were good, but for such an inventive restaurant, I expected something else with the shrimp & grits... sausages, bell peppers, something. Kinda Plain Jane for City Hall. My husband had the mussels for an appetizer and the twin filet for dinner. The mussels were well done and beautifully presented; although, the chorizo flavor was missing from the dish. The mussel sauce was also tasty with the bread. As for the twin filet, the first attempt was horrid. He ordered the steaks medium-rare and received well done. Our waiter promptly agreed and corrected the situation immediately. (Thanks!) The second round was much better- the steaks also looked like filet, not hamburger. The filet was served with a wine reduction sauce, grill Brussels sprouts and blue cheese mashed potatoes. Both the sauce and the Brussels sprouts were delicious and added to the dish. I want to start making grilled sprouts at home. However, the blue cheese mashed potatoes just tasted like potatoes...the blue cheese favor (which should have been easy to taste) was missing. All in all, the filet was cooked well and enjoyable, on the second go round. Lots of people near us ordered the filet...and the dish look every different at each table...strange inconsistencies in the size and style of the cut of meat. I expect filets to look round and have some height....some pieces were skinnier and spread out horizontally. The overcooked portion was on the of flatter ones. Dessert was the best course of the evening. I LOVED the bread pudding with chocolate chips. Since the printing of the menu, the restaurant has changed it's policy....bread pudding can now be ordered by one person, since the dish has been re-sized for Miami Spice. I believe they did that with all the dessert. However, the new, individual size of bread pudding is more than enough. The service was very fast, almost too fast. We had hardly finished our appetizers, when the entrees were placed in front of us. Bottomline: I would have been better off skipping the Miami Spice menu, I didn't feel like it represented a great deal. However, my husband definitely scored with the filet and mussels. Just a note of caution: be careful with the filet...there seemed to be a wide range of variation in what came out of the kitchen. Not sure I'll be back again....Spice or not.
(3)Frank M.
I rarely write a review after one visit, but I thought I should take the time. The place has charm and I was hoping to really like this place. Unfortunately I did not make a reservation. While the crowd was mixed between extremely casual and dressed for a date it seems they prefer reservations. My party of two was told we would have to wait 5 minutes. There is no waiting area, they did ask if we would like to grab a cocktail and wait by the bar. After 25 minutes we were escorted to our seats, to only find out there was no table available. A few minutes later we sat down. We were only planning a small meal and it didn't seem like the waiter was too happy with our choice of small meals. The menu does look good and I feel there is a good mix of price levels. My overall impression was that the food is good but not up to compete with the level of the new restaurants in midtown/design district.
(3)Michael A.
Food was excellent esp the Gorgonzola pizza. And the pecan butter was delish. Would have been 4 stars except the menu on web site was outdated by "months" according to the waiter. We had seen items on the web site and wanted to try them but they were off the menu. Very disappointing.
(3)Ethan A.
Needed a late Sunday lunch, and this place was one of the few places we could do. It wasn't anything special, and the management seemed a bit fake-acting. But the food was acceptable, and I have no complaints.
(3)Martha G.
Been meaning to give a nod to City Hall. The host Reggie, with the Where's Waldo glasses is the best. My friends and I have dined here three times. On each occasion he seated us with no problems on a Saturday night, after each of us had experienced independently either jet lag, buyers remorse, or day drunk head-ache. The Pork Chop was recommended twice and I ordered it once, it was overcooked. Not a big deal since we are group of girls and share everything, which I am sure is in poor taste, but, meh. The service, food, and ambiance are all on point. In addition, there is parking and not a huge annoying scene. Love love love
(4)Patrick R.
I like this place. I like that decent restaurants continue to move into this area of Miami. Opted for the Gorgonzola pizza minus the meat and the caesar salad. Both were very good and the combo was filling. (If you notice a theme in my reviews I love caesar and pizza.) The standout was the dessert. The bread pudding was delicious. The service was outstanding. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgable. He led us through the menu and their off menu offerings (vegetarians can order the vegetarian special in which the chef prepare's a custom made and on the spot inspired dish). Yes, I will be coming back to this place.
(3)Ashley R.
My husband and I brought my parents (visiting from PA) and my brother here for Miami Spice. We warned them, though, that many Miami Spice menus (although great deals) are limited and are very small portions. But still an opportunity to try a great restaurant. But City Hall did NOT skimp on the Miami Spice menu. Our waiter told us Steve Haas invented Miami Spice 10 years ago... so we expected good things from his City Hall menu. We had heard good things about City Hall, but it far exceeded my expectations. My husband and I kept looking around admiring the non-Miami feel... it felt like the restaurant was built in an entirely different city. Maybe because so many other restaurants -- whether intended or not -- have an overall Latin feel. But this didn't, which was good, because I like things to be different sometimes. I started off with a jumbo lump crab cake with spicy tomato glaze (which isn't on the online Miami Spice menu for some reason). Delicious. Moved on to the Asian-inspired Salmon entree with shiitake jasmine rice. Also delicious. My husband ate my baby bok choy, so I'm not sure how that was. And for dessert, we ate pretty much everything: chocolate banana cream pie (not my favorite, but I was too full to take more than one bite, which was overly banana-y), berry pie (very good berries!) and a carrot cake. The carrot cake was nice because (as the waiter pointed out) the icing isn't as strong as with most carrot cakes. It allowed me to taste more of the cake and less of the usually overpowering icing. My favorite dessert, however, was the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding with bourbon anglaise and chocolate ganache. I love chocolate croissants. It was divine. I mean, seriously. Out of this world. Would love to go back sometime soon!
(5)Nicole K.
I went here for lunch with a friend and it was such a disappointment. I will caveat this slightly passive-agressive review in saying that the menu looked phenomenal and maybe I should have tried ordering something a bit more original, but... Like several other reviewers, the service was very poor. The host first tried to seat us in the very back corner of the restaurant in a super tight table against the wall, even though the place was maybe a quarter full. After insisting a bit, we finally finagled a booth. The waiter seemed very preoccupied and not very into his job. Definitely not friendly. The food was "meh. We started with the eggplant and crab cakes appetizers. Eggplant was very good but the crab cakes were a goopy mess. The corn accompaniment, however, was pretty decent. We both ordered the Reuben sandwich. Now, for $12 ($15 once you include a side) I expect a fairly decent sandwich. What I received was not. It seems that our food was, at various stages of preparation, left out way too long. The bread was incredibly stale, not "grilled" or "toasted" just plane stale. Biting into the sandwich meant the bread pretty much crumbled apart. The meat was also that dark color corned beef can get if left to air dry. The potatoes had to be sent back because they were cold - waiter was not to pleased about that. So for a $36 lunch I ended up with a stale sandwich and pissy attitude. Not cool, city hall. Not cool...
(1)Kate L.
Went on a Friday night as a party of seven for a birthday. Not crowded at all and easily accommodated us when we needed to make our reservation later than expected. Sat us upstairs and it was more quiet and intimate which was nice. The experience with the food was meh. The shrimp and grits looks nothing like the picture one user posted on yelp. The grits were dry like mashed potatoes and in a solid form in the middle of the dish. The shrimp were shrimpy--tiny little guys that I'd expect from a frozen bag of Publix shrimp. Edible but certainly not what one would expect. This dish isn't on many menus, and my feeling is that you shouldn't serve it if you can't impress. My boyfriend ordered the filet mignon cooked medium. I can't tell you what the waiter brought out but it was unlike any cut of filet mignon I've ever seen. It was tough and dry and cooked medium well. To his credit, the waiter was very accommodating. He offered for another dish to be brought out and, feeling obligated, we went for the ribeye (which the waiter initially recommended over the filet mignon---which I now realize is because the restaurant did not actually have the cut that night). By this time, most of the table had finished their dishes (portion sizes seem to vary but for most dishes it's on the smaller end). We decided to cancel the ribeye all together and then out walks a server with what appeared to be a skirt steak on a bed of fries. I can't be certain because we didn't let it touch the table, but, in my experience, ribeye has a pretty identifiable shape, and that's not long and thin. The meatloaf was a little dry but ok. The Mac and cheese is light on the cheese but still pretty good. The table seemed to enjoy the scallops but I didn't try that dish. The two desserts we ordered were pretty delicious: Bread pudding and a very chocolatey cake. Would recommend both. I hear brunch is great. I thought the warier was pretty attentive and although he allowed us to order the most expensive item on the menu and served something subpar in its place, I think he responded well to our displeasure. I assume he gets his direction from someone else and has to work with what he's got. His service is the reason I give the restaurant 3 instead of 2 stars. If you head out to City Hall, maybe try a burger of something hard to get wrong. Or just stick with dessert or happy hour.
(3)Andy R.
Went to city Hall prior to a performace at the Arsht Center. The art deco design is impressive and the dining room is comfortable and energetic. The service was very prompt, almost too prompt. The entrees came out while we were still eating our onion soup. I had finished so the waiter left my entree but took the other three back. The waiter was friendly about it but it's a lapse in service that shouldn't happen in a restaurant such as this. The onion soup itself was a creatively presented but a little disappointing; not enough onions and the wonton was very heavy- I wish it had been stuffed with something rather than just be a wad of dough. Our entrees were all good. I had a nice, tender pork chopand my partner had the very good fried chicken. The martinis we had were excellent' as my friend said " I drink a lot and this is the best martini I ever had!" I would certainly go back, especially as it's convenient to the Arsht Center.
(3)Rick G.
I had the Miami Spice menu or as they call it here it was the Better Than Miami Spice menu. The chicken has a great sauce that included wild mushroom. The salad had a homemade dressing that tasted like a fantastic combination of cucumber and avocado. Desert was a gigantic chocolate chip cookie; the best I've ever had.
(5)Luis S.
I guess walking into an almost empty restaurant on a Saturday night should have been my first clue. Clue 2 might have been the hostess scuffing at our request for a booth even tho there was one available. The decor is ok, looks like something out of the Dick Tracy movie. Now on to the food: I would have loved to try the bread with pecan butter but unfortunately the waiter didn't bring it out till we were almost done with our entree. My meal was not bad, fried chicken with mashed potatoes and a biscuit. Honey sauce was a nice touch. My date ordered the lemon butter chicken. This was not impressing at all, and the pasta accompanying it had an odd flavor we could not place. One bright spot was the chorizo mac and cheese. Very Good. But overall I doubt I'd return.
(2)MissLiteEyes S.
I recently ordered delivery from here! im very picky but the food was amazing! I ordered the fried chicken with red skin mashed potatoes & gravy..sweet corn with a mac&cheese side! OMG I was in heaven it's freshly made..just great! for delivery food I was very impressed I was so confused with the guy taking my delivery order! he is a very lost soul has no idea what he was doing took about 30mins to take my order..needs more training
(4)Teresa K.
Went here with Husband for our wedding anniversary. He had 2 apps, the eggplant and the short rib stuffed potato skins. I had the meatloaf with chorizo mac & cheese and green beans. The food was fantastic. It was incredibly rich, flavorful and filling. We both had leftovers. Then we went for the carrot cake for dessert. It was huge! No joke it was about a foot tall. The frosting was delicious too and the candied pecans gave it a wonderful crunch. Seriously though it is enough cake for 4 people. The service was also very good. Well timed, polite and helpful with menu selections. The space itself is cool and nicely decorated.
(4)Lonny P.
City Hall is a great downtown restaurant that people pass by every day without knowing how wonderful it is. I've been there several times in the past, but now with Miami Spice, and it being all of 6 blocks from my house, I've been there with my friends the last two Fridays. Their service is impeccable, their food is amazingly good, and the chocolate croissant bread pudding, as well as their cheesecake, is AMAZING. City Hall is a great place for anyone in downtown Miami or Brickell looking for quality food at a great price..
(5)Guillermo F.
I really wanted to enjoy my meal at City Hall last night... I did... When faced with the prospect of eating a meal at 11 PM on a Friday in Miami, one is usually faced with either insufferable crowds, or some really bad 24 hour national chain. City Hall came very highly recommended and seeing as how it was generally close to the Adrienne Arsht Center, we chose to give it a shot. The place is very well decorated, with double height ceilings (I'm a big fan of that) a great looking bar, and huge screens all over the place broadcasting that evening's sporting event. The experience started choppy once they made us wait 10 mins for a booth in a half empty restaurant. Once seated the waiter (who spoke a peculiar brand of English, even for Miami standards) proceeded to give us the menu and hound us every two minutes for our drink an food order. The food was great! I had the tuna tartare topped w chopped papaya, truffle oil, spicy mayo, a side of wakame salad and fried wonton chips as an appetizer, and, as a main course, the grilled salmon crusted with black sesame seeds and topped w cashews, with a side of Bok choi and rice. The tuna tartare was a delicious starter to my meal , and the papaya on it was a revelation to me. My salmon was perfectly medium rare, just as I had asked for it to be, something that really surprised and delighted me since I've grown accustomed to my request for undercooked salmon to fall to deaf ears and produce a charred lump of shoe leather only suitable to be consumed by cats. The food portion of the meal was an A+, a tad overpriced as I've come to expect in this town, but worth the dime in my humble opinion. The reason for my two star deduction has more to do with the service in general... Our waiter was not friendly and treated us in a surprisingly rushed manner since the place was pretty empty, and the "hostess" spent the entire night on the phone giggling like a schoolgirl and running up and down the stairs screaming and acting like a hormone crazed teenager (we were on a booth next to her stand). Most of the staff was in that "we're closing, let's get outa here" attitude 2 hours before their advertised closing time... Is it wrong for me to ask for good service at 11PM from a place that closes at 1AM and charges $30 an entree? I will be back for that tartare... I will... But this time I won't expect Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast to serve and host my meal.
(3)Melynda H.
After months of wanting to try, we went on a Saturday night around 6:45; we were seated right away. Not only that, the host was FABULOUS, as he greated us at the door with a huge smile and a "come on in right now" kind of attitude. Ordered the burger, which was slightly undercooked, but corrected right away. Also, ordered spaghetti and meatballs with butter and parmesan in lieu of marinara for my 6 year old; we received dryish, linguini noodles with a light amount of butter and no meatballs. This was taken off of our bill. Lastly, my husband ordered linguini and shrimp - was excellent! Overally, the service was good and the host EXCELLENT - you have to have a great experience at the door; if they great you nonchallantly as if your business doesn't mean anything, than your experience will be the same; the food flavor was great, just minor imperfections. Hence, the 4 stars. Ambience was great, as well. Hope this helps make your decision. Enjoy.
(4)Vanessa M.
City Hall looks like it's straight out of a Batman movie--Art Deco decor and accents give it a Gotham City feel. The entire night I was expecting Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton version) to make an appearance, but alas, he did not (I kid). City Hall was my first Miami Spice experience and I was surprisingly very impressed with the service. When my friend and I walked in the Maitre 'D charmed us with a friendly greeting and charming compliments (+ 10 for City Hall! ). I actually breathed a sigh of relief because dining in pretentious atmospheres make me uncomfortable most of the time. Our waiter also went out and beyond to please my party of 6; he had the patience of a saint. Seriously, he deserves a bonus or something. For appetizer I ordered the braised short ribs stuffed potato skins--this was the one item on the Miami Spice menu that lured me over to City Hall and it fulfilled my every little expectation. But here's the best part. It was not on the actual menu at the restaurant! We mentioned to our waiter that we were looking forward to trying the potato skins and so he had a word with the chef and, presto! Thanks, dude! Our waiter also let us order one dessert per person (we were 6) instead of 1 per 2 people--isn't he the nicest? For my entree I had the pork chops with mashed potato's. The food was on point and perfectly cooked each course. I definitely plan on going back again and hopefully, I get the same waiter!
(3)Clarine F.
This place is really awesome! The food is excellent as far as presentation & taste goes. It had me the most excited i've been about somewhere in a while! Its a to-do when in the Midtown/Downtown area in Miami for sure!
(4)Jesse L.
Absolutely a disappointment! Not only did it take a while to order food, but my wife and I noticed everyone around us (even the folks that arrived after us) were getting their food. By mere chance the waiter walked by and remembered we existed. We finally got our food and realized that we were better off without it. My wife had the fried chicken. Not only was it tasteless, it appeared to be under cooked. On the other hand, I had the cheese pizza and they spared not heat on my dish. My pizza was burnt to a crisp! This restaurant tries too hard to be sophisticated, they should work on the basics like attentiveness and attention to details. The atmosphere was ok, but they have not mastered the art of turning down the music. Also, it was freezing... I would hope to dissuade you from wasting your money, please learn from my bad experience.
(1)Jade P.
I went here on a Sunday morning for brunch and was pleasantly surprised. A really large and trendy space and, if you're lucky, you'll catch a performance by a guest singer/band, which really adds to the ambiance of the establishment. The wait was less than desirable, however, as I waited for a small party of 3 for about one hour! The staff was extremely courteous and helpful, but I suggest that you make reservations should you decide to come in for Sunday brunch. I had the braised beef short ribs, which were delicious. The meat was soft and literally melted off the bone, but the polenta was pretty dry and not quite as refined as you'd expect from a restaurant of this caliber. The portions were large and the prices fairly reasonable for what you get. Although I didn't try them, it looked like the French Toast is a popular item- I'll probably go with that next time around. A great place to hang out on a Sunday, just be prepared to wait.
(3)Todd N.
I've been there twice... and there will be a 3rd time. From being greeted by the nicest people to a wait staff that really knows the menu inside and out - our experience was very delightful. The foods were rich with flavor and the atmosphere was beautiful. We had an incredible bottle of wine, appetizers and some very nice meals. Our waiter was very attentive, our courses arrived in good time and we even splurged on desserts. After all, it was my birthday. All in all our experience was excellent. We will be going back and bringing friends. I would imagine that once word gets out, this place will be hopping from open to close and I'd expect a reservation would be important. I'm looking forward to having my future business lunches at City Hall. Great food, great atmosphere, 5 Stars!
(5)Milica P.
Amazing warm atmosphere, excellent cocktails and food that makes me hug my belly with delight! True comfort food, in a wonderfully elegant, yet comfortable atmosphere - a true home away from home.
(5)Jamie C.
The food here is awesome, they have a great variety and everything is delicious. The wine and cocktails are also great, and the service is amazing. The ambiance is very New Yorkish, on a busy night it could be a little loud, but nothing that would stop me from coming back. I highly recommend the tuna tartare with truffle oil, and the must-try dessert is the warm berry pie, its out of this world!!
(4)Maureen A.
amazing food and service, even for miami spice back in August 2012. bartender personally came to our table to ask if we liked the drinks and to describe them, the martini's came with some extra in the shaker which they let us all have to keep it chilled. server was good to us as well. here is what we had at our table for MIami Spice and it was all amazing! Caesar Salad, very good! crab cakes with corn on side, good. Pork Chop with Sweet Potatoes, good Roasted Chicken with Potatoes and Broccolini, good Filet Mignon with Brussel Sprouts, they made me like brusells for the first time! Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding, amazing!!! Plum Cheesecake, or some sort of fruit cheesecake. very good! Chocolate cake. was just ok. warm artisan bread with maple pecan butter. so good! peach martini and coconut martini. both good!
(4)Henry S.
Over-hyped. There are a lot better restaurants in the area.
(2)Tamar M.
Living in the south for a long time,I was happy to hear about city hall. Unfortunately I was kinda disappointed by the menu choices. Don't get me wrong, the fish i ordered was good but I had my heart set on some real southern food.. This was more a reg American menu like a Apple bees..
(3)K N.
I've eaten there twice during Miami Spice already. Amazing ribeye. Restaurant design was fabulous. Waitstaff responsive and efficient.
(4)Jamie F.
Visited City Hall and sat at the bar. The bartender was super friendly and helpful in choosing our drinks of which there is an extensive selection of cool cocktails. The food was good. Mussels were great but order extra bread for the sauce. The braised short rib potato skins were pretty over the top and the pizzas are light and crisp with a mouthful of flavor. My only complaint is the noise is out of hand. This place was built without thinking about sound control - put some pads on on the walls or ceilings people! Fun place for a quick and casual night out.
(4)Kolja P.
We went for Miami Spice and the food wasn't great. Fish drowned in oil, soup tasted like it was from a can, and the sandwich was distinctly average.
(3)Mia D.
A friend and I went there for happy hour last week. We shared two appetizers, which were delish...and a great deal at about $6 each. But the beer- oh the beer! $7 a beer... During happy hour. We spent $28 on four beers. The place is nice, though - and the food was good - so I give them props for that
(3)Raquel S.
So many places to choose from Midtown but City Hall is new and a must. From the outside it may not look like much but inside it has great decor and its spacious. For lunch, try their salads which are fresh and hearty without weighing you down. Great place to have a business lunch. I also attended an event which they offered special drinks which were worth a try and tasty. Too fruitty for my palate but I like the fact that they have offer their own drinks, shows originality.
(5)fred h.
I think Steve Haas has a winner on his hands here. I rarely write a review after only one visit, especially for a newly opened place. For a restaurant to be truly good it requires good team. Any place can have a bad day. Hey, servers and cooks are human, how were you after you went through a breakup? And .... teams take time to build and get in sync. I have been here several times now for both brunch and dinner and have to say I like it a lot. The dinner menu is good; excellent Roast Chicken and delicious Ribs, but my absolute fave is the Seafood Pot Pie. Talk about heaven on a plate; the pastry was perfect and the filling divine. The brunch menu isnt huge, but has decent variety with near perfect execution. This is one of the few restaurants that can poach an egg right. I believe City Hall will be our new weekend breakfast joint. The service has always been friendly and attentive. Our first visit was right after they opened and the service was slow. These problems seem to be fixed. I will be back. See you there!
(4)Mark W.
I went there with friends and didn't know what to expect. Turns out, the food was great and the service great too. We went for the Sunday brunch and I was disapointed that even with reservations we were seated downstairs and not up where the music would be playing. Well, it ended up we had the best table in the house because the band and jaz singer was above us and actually looked down on everyone in the restaurant! She then walked around and visited each table as she preformed. It was great! All in all I had a great time, the food was fine and so was the service. Only draw back was it was on the pricy side, but for the expereince, it was worth it. I will be going there again!
(4)Irene Z.
The duck confit pizza is amazing!
(4)Jimmy Z.
City Hall,is expensive and the food is ok. I wouldn't pay the prices for the food.
(3)Seth J.
I had this place bookmarked for quite a while and finally made the effort for a weekday lunch. First impression was very good. Plenty of private parking it he back, but I imagine during a busy time it would be difficult to park. The place is much more upscale then I expected. Service was very friendly. Food selection is unique and easy to understand. Mussels in Guinness was awesome. Hot fresh bread at each table. They were out of the brisket, so I will be back. Overall a great place. Food took a bit long to arrive on a fast paced lunch day, but I was still very satisfied.
(4)JamesBrownInMiami ..
Good food. Attentive staff.
(3)Dan M.
Brought to you by one of the Veterans of the Miami food scene - along with all his friends (who all excel at what they do.) Only caveat - it can get loud/noisy.
(5)S B.
Happy with the experience. Went on a Sunday night and had great food with good service. Enjoyed the duck appetizer and the yellowfin tuna dinner
(4)Dianna B.
OK, it isn't BAD...but for a new restaurant coming onto the scene in Miami's growing foody culture, i found it's lackluster redundancy really disappointing. It's basically just another ritzy uptown chop house, lots of heavy dishes with too many tired buzzword ingredients, and the interior made me feel like i was eating at semi upscale airport restaurant. (maybe terminal D at O'Hare?) ...so not great, and with so many more compelling options around doing more creative stuff - I feel no need to return.
(2)Camely M.
City Hall The Restaurant... OMG! Absolutely DELICIOSO! You really have to go and try their food. Trendy, fun and friendly ambience... The staff is phenomenal and the location is perfect!
(5)Precious T.
Food is AhhMazing here...staff are very courteous! Reggie is almost just as awesome as Steve but love them both to pieces!!! Xoxo
(5)David Y.
The staff is great. Love turkey burger wrap. The pecan butter on the hot bread was great! Great vibe!
(4)Nancy M.
Brunch is excellent visited this past Sunday and was delightfully suprized with the live music. Best french toast in town!
(4)Julie P.
I went there for the first time with a group of 13 from work to grab an end of the month Miami Spice lunch. With my reservation - no waiting. We were in and out in a reasonable amount of time. Service was very good compared to the snails pace I have come to expect at restaurants for such a large table. The food was great. Everything I had was fantastic from the bread with the amazing maple pecan butter to the nectarine cheesecake. No complaints from anyone! Definitely a do over!
(5)Cookie C.
Long maxi, flats and a toe bag. Wear them here. The breakfast menu was amazing. They also have a gospel brunch on Sunday's. It was a lovely lunchy brunch that I experienced. I did love the concept...city hall, major decisions, etc. Its cute. So, you can bring someone you'd like to chat with. The menu itself is a conversation piece.
(3)Marj O.
Disappointed in Sunday Brunch. Gospel singer and band too loud and too intrusive. Difficult to talk or be heard. I don't like people coming to my table and asking me to respond. Food good but not great. Valet parking or meters. Probably won't return.
(3)Cova N.
Went to City Hall this past Sunday for Mother's Day. Even though the place was packed we were greeted and seated right away. The service was slow and the food was acceptable, but the best part was to have the opportunity to hear the fabulous Mariel Epps singing. She is thShe has this amazing voice and energy that makes everybody feel good!!! I will definetely come back to City Hall for brunch on Sundays!!!!
(4)Jenna M.
I really like this place. I've been here twice and have had delicious food both times. The ambiance is fun and inviting; a good place to have dinner with family or friends. The burger with brie is to die for. Also, the duck flatbread appetizer is very good. My husband had the fried chicken last time which was amazing but HUGE. We are planning to share the fried chicken the next time we visit City Hall for dinner.
(4)Crystal H.
this place was great. Nice atmosphere, waiters, and good food. I came here for Miami spice on a Friday night. In addition to half my party being late, i also had to have them modify 1 to 2 dishes because i cannot have dairy. They were super accommodating. Considering how bad service in Miami can be, I consider that a huge plus. I did not give them 5 stars because i think they could be a bit more creative with the menu. The food was good, but I kept thinking i could come up with the menu options. I had the Miami spice menu so i might be biased.
(4)Duke V.
This is a jewel of Biscayne Blvd.Amazing customer service from Manager(Reggie)down to busboy every body so hospitable.Food is something else in this place!!!!Churasco steak,Crab Cakes OMG!!!Almost to forget,Chocolate croisant bread puding,everybody needs to try this in a lifetime at least once!!
(5)maor r.
Some of the criticisms are so unwarranted that I had to give this place 5-stars to fairly pull the average back up. Folks, this is NOT a 3.5 star restaurant. The food is wonderfully flavorful, the staff is very friendly and accommodating and the atmosphere is casual-chic. Some reviewers criticize their not being pampered and the fact that their waitstaff weren't up to speed on 12-year scotches. This is certainly the exception rather than the rule, and a personal experience with their service. That same review does state that all the food is great but then gives readers the unfair impression that it is a 3-star restaurant going by his rating. Folks, this is a casual restaurant with TV's all over the place and not t an aristocratic-pamper-you type place. For a well-read sommelier with a British accent and the history of all 12+ year scotches, Capital Grill, Prime 112, and others will be happy to take heaping piles of your money. This is what matters: The food is great! I'm not even a fan of comfort food but who can turn down homemade & tender, crunchy fried chicken, Sushi-grade tuna ceviche with a drizzle of truffle oil, phenomenal burgers and mac & cheese and on and on.... And my experience with the service is that, most importantly, they are friendly and attentive. Cant wait to go back and try more of their menu!
(5)Marcia G.
Went to City Hall for a late dinner with my boyfriend last Friday night to celebrate his birthday & actually we both really liked it! I was a little hesitant about this place after reading the mixed reviews but everything (for the most part) was great. I made a reservation for 10 but we got there at 9:45 & were seated right away (the restaurant wasn't too packed). My boyfriend ordered the unconventional french onion soup, which was a really cool idea & very tasty. The cheese at the bottom & wontons were really good, as was the broth. Our only criticism was that it didn't have enough onions for a french onion soup, you want to have onions in every spoonful!! The bread, while not artesenal in any way (it's just a small loaf of white bread) was good & the pecan butter was amazing!! For our entrees my boyfriend ordered the turkey burger (which I tried & was really yummy) and I had the meatloaf. The meatloaf itself was really moist & delicious. The maple chorizo mac & cheese was very good also, really different with it's sweet & spicy flavors. Totally unlike any mac & cheese I've ever had! To round out, the green beans were garlicky & amazing! Unfortunately after all that (and a few of the craft beers they have), we were too full to order dessert. I absolutely must go back to have the Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding, our waiter recomended it & I've heard nothing but good things! Speaking of our waiter, I have to say he was probably the only real downside to our night. He was a little annoying & pushy, coming over every 2 minutes until we ordered & seemed very eager to get us out of there. I don't know if it's because it was late & he wanted to go home but they close at midnight on the weekends so it was kind of rude. Other than that, our dining experience at City Hall was great & I can't wait to go back for the dessert & to try their brunch!!!
(4)Jeff M.
I want to like this place. The location is great, decor old fashioned but cozy, the owner/chef is always there and the service is very good. I've been 4 times and haven't yet fallen in love. The menu items are the opposite of cutting edge; most dishes are heavy. I LOVED the crab salad at lunch but was barely able to eat the roast chicken. It was tasteless and dry. Deserts are pretty good. I will go back for the crab salad and continue trying other dishes but I prefer other restaurants in the vicinity like Michael's. Nemesis and Mandolin,
(3)Jorge G.
Even better than first time. Great drinks/atmosphere. Grilled pork chop was heavenly as was the tuna tartar appitizer. Will be back.
(5)eglys h.
went to celebrate a friend's bday here. 1st time coming to this restaurant. they were able to accommodate approx 30 of us in a nice area upstairs. i do have mixed feelings about the place. 1st - i find it to be nice - big. waitress we had was ok - she did i have to say put up with me "cause i was not at my best (nerves)" in regards to requesting separate bills - note: they usually do not do it - cause it is too much of a hassle for them... but some how (i guess after my little tantrum) they were able to do so for us - which was awesome.... 2nd - food - i went for the meatloaf plate - good price for quantity and taste of food - this was truly a "small" meatloaf for each plate! it is baked in one of those pound cake individual pans. this i have to say was tasty and filling.. nice side dishes too...green beans & a delicious mac & cheese - had enough to take home for lunch. 3rd hubby's dish was a smaller portion - salmon on a bed of rice and some other stuff (sorry i do not remember) but he did not have any leftovers (actually he could of used a bigger serving) it was ok........ Even thou the place is nice, we did not enjoy the Loudness - it is truly so loud you can not carry a conversation with the table... unless you join in on the screaming like everyone else. bathroon situation - it was nice to have a small area for all of us (mind you there were other patrons sitting around as well) - there is only 1 bathroom on the second floor. found it to be not working so i had to go downstairs to use the restroom. this was a nice walk up & down.... kinda helped with the digesting of my dinner!!! it was clean thou and i do have to say, it was with a rubber band, but they did attempt to repair bathroom upstairs asap. all around it was ok - food ok - service ok - LOUDNESS NOT SO OK.... parking ok - (right behind restaurant & free just tip them)
(3)Ke N.
this place SUCKS!!! everything is OVER PRICED and taste like CRAP. and if your not into GAY GUYS... NO ONE will pay attention to you. the servers are all to busy trying to get into each others pants to give you decent attention. plus they totally ripped off WHISKEY TANGO'S super famous SPAGHETTI SANDWICH which is HALF the price, DOUBLE the SIZE, and TRIPLE the FLAVOR. this place SUCKS!!!
(1)Andrea W.
The first time I went to City Hall it was such a great experience I found myself coming back 2 other times during that week. I have tried their meatloaf which is big enough for probably three people. For brunch I had the creamy polenta w/short ribs and the mushroom encroute. Every dish I have had here has always been pleasing to my tastebuds. I can't wait to go back to have the short rib potato skins!
(5)Amanda M.
I tried this restaurant last night and I had a great experience. I had the short rib stuffed potato skins as an appetizer and the grilled turkey burger. My friend had the pork chop with bourbon sweet potatoes. All three menu items had delicious flavor and overall were quite excellent. I also liked the decor of the restaurant. You don't realize how big and stylish the inside based on the outside, which is just like any other unassuming building on Biscayne Blvd. As for the service, I didn't have the bad experience that so many others have mentioned. Our waiters were very attentive. I do have to say though, that we went for an early dinner (around 5:45), well before most Miami dinners make it out. So if the restaurant is full, it might be a different story. In my opinion, City Hall's dressed-up comfort food and elegant decor definitely make it worth a try.
(4)Strawberry F.
Let me tell you something every time I have visited this place the food is on point as well as the service. I walk in there are smiles there to greet you and seating is pretty fast like always! I have brought groups, friends, and evened dined solo @ the bar here and it is proving to be a fail safe place for me and that's rare! I love it and the menu is killer and all edible for everyone:)
(5)Argenis M.
If you're vegetarian/vegan (like me) this is definitely not the place. The menu is quite tempting for carnivorous people. I felt sad when I could only order one dish out of the whole menu and it was breakfast ($9 for scramble eggs and potatoes house). The service, music and decor were very good but food choices for me was the ultimate deal breaker.
(2)Millie A.
Delicious dinner. We had the filet mignon and tuna entree followed by the bread pudding which is a must. This place delivers on food, drink and ambiance.
(4)Elizabeth S.
I thought I would rate this place a 5 star, but then I thought back on my experience and I, sadly, can't rate it that high for a number of reasons. However, to start off with the things that do get 5 stars: - Our server was very friendly - The decor is amazing in here. I felt like I was in Gotham (as in Batman, not as in the steak restaurant) - Creative drinks named in a cute manner that had a decent amount of alcohol to taste ratio - Although we came on a Saturday and did not have reservations, we were seated in about 30 minutes, even though there was a wait. Extra stars for that one! Probably due to the fact that there were 2 of us and the rest of the parties were large. - Valet Parking for $4 in the back I really did love the rich feeling of this place. Everything is dark, art deco, and classy looking. There were people dressed in varying degrees of fancy-ness, so you could definitely rock some cute jeans and a stylish top here, but you could also go for a dress. It would be a good place to go for a date with someone you don't necessarily want to talk to, because the place is LOUD. Also, icebox cold, so bring a wrap. On to the less than 5 stars: We went to the bar to get some drinks as we were waiting for our table. Unfortunately the drink menu is not listed on their website and I forgot what I had, but my friend had some kind of spicy drink that was great. Our mixed drinks came in Martini shakers, cute touch, although a tad overused. Our total came to $24 and I put a $50 in the little glass our bill came in. I really REALLY really HATE when I have to ask for my change back. Do you seriously think I'm giving you a $26 tip? You didn't do a spectacular job, you just gave us our drinks, which is in itself your job. I knew there was no intention of giving me my change unless I asked, since he was perusing the bar as if looking for something else to do. For dinner we ordered: More drinks :) I wanted wine and there were some by the glass that were not on the menu that our waiter told us about. I had a Syrah and it was delicious. Sweet Potato Fries and a salad that came with a citrus dressing, sunflower seeds, avocado, cucumbers and tomato. The salad was refreshing and deliciously simple, the Sweet Potato Fries were exactly that. Nothing more, nothing less and they didn't come with any type of sauce. Although I get they're a side, I think they could have come with something. I asked for honey and it was delivered immediately. I wanted to get the Oven roasted Portabella Mushroom listed on the menu on the website, but it was not on the menu and I didn't ask, so I settled for the Ricotta stuffed homemade JumboSpinach Gnocchi baked in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce &Spiced Walnuts (18.00) - This was really good but very rich. I could only actually eat two of them, and there were 7 in the bowl, swimming in a soup of cream sauce (literally about 1 1/2 inches of it). Although the Gnocchi itself was very light, fluffy and extremely delicious, the cream sauce was just too much. My advice would be to share this along with a lighter dish, as it doesn't reheat well if you want to take it with you (the cream sauce is likely to separate). Pepper seared Yellow fin Tuna with Vegetable Quinoa, Wild Mushrooms, Garlic, Japanese Eggplant, Sweet & Spicy peppers and Maui Onion Beurre Blanc - this was ordered Medium and came out rare, so I would ask if the chef on duty cooks towards the rare or not if you don't want sushi. The serving portion was huge and it looked delicious as well. I think 2 people could have put that down. Dessert was a HUGE disappointment. We really wanted to share something, and after our waiter told us about how amazing the Chocolate Banana Cream Pie is, he finished it off with "So it's too bad we're out of that". Thanks. Really. Thanks a lot. We got the Warm Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding with Bourbon Anglaise & Chocolate Ganache instead and it came out as a stale croissant that had been barely warmed up in the microwave swimming in anglaise and drizzled with a hershey style chocolate syrup. Such a bad finish to a decent meal. In all, it was fun because it was a new restaurant, the server was extremely nice and tried to correct the mistake with the dessert (although at that point we were no longer in the mood). I would like to go back for their brunch, but I'm not sure I'll be back for dinner.
(3)Oscar D.
Cool ambiance, and great american/continental food! parking a little scarce, but an overall good experience.
(4)Lisa J.
Went to City Hall for the first time today & although it's only my first time there I'm really surprised by some of the negative and some not so positive reviews. My husband & I loved it & we are not easy to please especially me. Let's start with the artisan bread. It was really good & the maple syrup butter it was served with made it even better We both ordered the following off the lunch spice menu: The gumbo-delicious It tasted exactly the same as gumbo I've had in New Orleans. The shrimp po boy sandwich was huge & really tasty as well. Now the dessert which was the chocolate croissant bread pudding with bourbon cream sauce. I'm not a bread pudding or bourbon person but it was absolutely delicious. We have no complaints about the food or the service & will definitely be back to try something else off the menu, especially the chocolate banana cream pie. Can't wait!
(5)Melody Y.
Wow. That meatloaf was UH-MAZING!!! I went to City Hall for a business party last night and I just could not end my day without writing about the experience. The atmosphere was awesome. The service was perfect but at times they were too perfect, if that makes any sense. I wasn't too hungry so I just ordered the Calamari. It was tasty but a little on the dry side. My boss however, went all out and ordered the meatloaf meal. First of all, it was huge and it looked amazing. She gave me maybe 1/4 of it, which was a really big chunk. THEN THE FLAVOR BUS HIT ME. It was sooooo good. I wanted to snatch the food off of her plate, but I restrained myself. I was however, staring at her meal all night. Next time, I will definitely be getting the meatloaf! Side note: The music was entirely too loud. I could barely hear the conversation. But the food made up for it!
(4)Vanessa G.
Went here for brunch on a Sunday. The food was alright. The decor was very urban but elegant. Nice hang out spot. There was a lady singing that day but the volume was way too high to converse with anyone in our table kind of annoying! However don't hate it would recommend if you want to go somewhere hip with good food.
(3)Ricardo B.
Trendy, nicely decorated. Steve Haas, the owner can be seen walking around greeting people. Service in the beginning was very good but at the end it was a little sloppy. Food was very good - had the shrimp po'boy and the chocolate croissant for dessert. Dessert was really good. A bit pricey for the food. The place of the moment to be seen and to see i guess it's what it is
(3)Farris J.
What a low life operation! Valet parking with attendant no where to be found. Servers who can't even get orders right and looking like they are just out of rehab. And, management with non customer service attitudes. Remember buddies, retaining customers and creating good will is what hospitality management is all about....not going head to head and toe to toe to mistreat customers for the sake of a buck....when your ethics and morals are thrown out the window. What goes around, comes around and soon you'll find yourself out-of-business. Stay as clear away from this want-to-be as far as you possibly can.
(1)Jessica R.
I went back here recently because their grits at the Grand Tasting were so good. Got there early so it was quiet and it does look like they've installed sound dampers. The waiter was awesome out of the gate and made me a hot chocolate even though it's not on the menu, but then he just...disappeared. Twice my brunch partner had to wait 15 mins for a coffee refill. Add to that the grits were nowhere near as good as at the grand tasting. This place still just seem meh.
(3)Alicia T.
3.5* Miami REALLY??!!! Since I'm rare in Miami (full blooded American who grew up on southern comfort food in the Midwest) I feel like I know what I'm talking about here. I'm not sure, but maybe yelpers are coming here with the wrong expectations? Of all the pretentious, disappointing or mediocre places I've tried in this area because Miami yelpers rated them 4-5*, we should seriously be ashamed of the low star rating this place has! As far as I'm concerned, this is THE place to come when you want to get the ITIS (pronounced eye-tus) in Miami. And if you are not familiar with the "eye-tus" it is a hood term used to describe what happens to your body after a very satisfying yet heavy meal. It's somewhat of a coma, but you are still conscious. If you are looking for Maserati's and Ferrari's on the curb to make you feel like you've "arrived" at the best restaurant in Miami, go elsewhere. If you are vegetarian, sorry, southern food (historically) includes lots of tasty 4-legged animals and their fats. If you're looking for quiet, go to the library. Yes, it was loud, but I expected to have to scream at the top of my lungs after reading these reviews (it was just as loud as any local Cheesecake Factory on any night of the week). I still would be impressed here on a first date. Ambiance: The dark wood, high ceilings, and decor made me feel like I left Miami for a moment while inside. Very nice, and a huge TV screen is projected (on silent) toward the front of the restaurant so guys if you do bring a date here, you can still get bonus points with her and check the score throughout the night. Service: As most reviewers have mentioned, 5 stars all around. Much appreciated in this city where normally the servers feel they are doing you a favor by showing up. A bus boy even happily took a drink order for us and walked me to the restroom instead of pointing across the restaurant in its direction. Food: I wanted to lie on the floor and take a nap afterwards. Great portions, great presentation, and great food. Here's what we had: Appetizer, Gorgonzola pizza with panchetta, sweet onion cream, fig jam and crispy onions: The other foodies at my table (two NY'ers and a WV girl) and I nearly fought over this freaking thing. Thanks City Hall. It was large enough to have as your meal (which I definitely will be doing for lunch one day) but delicious enough that if someone tries to take a piece you may want to stab them in the hand with your fork (or maybe that's just me). It was down to the last piece and we were all doing the polite stare off while we had small talk but internally determining who was going to be able to eat it. Country Fried chicken: You'll definitely think your granny fried this chicken somewhere in the country when your plate arrives. The crispy, crunchy, flavorful skin reminds me of other great fried chicken at gourmet soul food restaurants I have tried in places like Los Angeles (Roscoes Chicken & Waffles), Washington DC (Georgia Browns), Chicago (Chicago's Roscoes), and Detroit (Southern Fires) who all serve their chicken with honey on the side, YES! And here they give you a whole HALF of a freaking chicken. Who does that?! I wound up eating 3 pieces just because I got lost in the flavor argh! I didn't like the corn, but the red skinned mashed potatoes were PERFECT. They even gave me a little pot of red hot sauce to dip my chicken in (upon request). I was in little fat girl heaven. Grilled pork chop: with bourbon sweet potatoes and collards. Yes, collards, only the best and most sought after greens when it comes to southern food. My NY friend nearly licked his plate after he was done, I didn't even get to taste any of it except the sweet potatoes which tasted like pure candy (no lie). Scallops: I didn't taste them but my friend loved them, although a bit spicy for her so maybe ask for the jalapeno stuff on the side. Nothing can ever be too spicy for me. Dessert: Well, whoever created the recipe for this bread pudding should be under arrest (or if they are single maybe I should marry them). We were way TOO full for dessert but thank God I read the reviews that told me NOT to leave without trying that bread pudding. It is clearly one of the most awesome desserts I've ever had at any restaurant anywhere (but I am a serious bread pudding lover also). My little WV girlfriend HATES bread pudding and only put a little on her plate. I said "No dear, you'll want to brace yourself for this one" and gave her a little more so she wouldn't be disappointed after we ravished the rest. Amazing, the type of dessert that you put a little in your mouth, pause, look around at your table mates and say "Oh my GOD, this is SO good" and then wish you had another stomach to eat the rest of it with. So this is not the place to come to before the beach, or if you are monitoring your blood sugar levels, fat content, or carbs. Come if you want great comfort good, great service, and a lovely atmosphere to enjoy it all.
(5)Giancarlo B.
I had read about City Hall on Thrillist, and while the review of the food was good what really drew me in was the decor. So naturally, when Ashley S. suggested that we eat at City Hall for dinner one random Friday night, I was quite excited. Upon entering, we were greeted by the Host and sure enough, once you enter, you feel like you're in 1920's art deco NYC - I loved it. We didn't realize that this restaurant was part of Miami Spice and we didn't have a reservation. It was still pretty early for a Friday night so they sat us upstairs. After reviewing their standard menu we quickly realized that the Miami Spice menu was quite the deal, especially considering that they gave you the option of foregoing the 3rd (dessert) course for a martini or beer... jackpot! For appetizers, Ashley ordered the crab with corn whereas I ordered their iceberg lettuce with bacon and blue cheese dressing. Ashley definitely won that round. Although, to be perfectly honest, their Miami Spice appetizer selection wasn't that great. For the main course, I ordered their pork chop with mashed sweet potato and collard greens and Ashley S. ordered the pan seared sea scallops. Both dishes were absolutely delicious. The scallops were probably the sweetest and freshest I've ever tasted and my pork chop was cooked to perfection. We were both blown away by our entrees. Besides the food, the service was great too. Our waiter was not only friendly, but also extremely knowledgeable. He entertained a conversation with us as if he were sitting down at our table without being intrusive. Overall, I'm really happy with my experience and would definitely recommend City Hall to everyone I know.
(4)Milad S.
So happy I finally stumbled into this gem. I have driven past this restaurant so many times while going to the Daily that I decided one night to actually make a visit...and boy was I glad that I did. Everything was first class from top down. I had the fried chicken which was great , but a little bit in the dry side. My lady had the porkchop which was amazing! This restaurant has the best drinks in Miami, very very good. Make sure to have the bread pudding dessert if you have space! The portion sizes here are large, but you get what you are paying for. Great place, great service, and great food. Can't ask for more. Comfort food done right.
(5)Gabriel C.
Brunch was mediocre at best.
(2)George C.
Just awesome! NYC has come down to the 305. You seriously feel like you have traveled to NY, but it's all happening on Biscayne Blvd. The place is loud, but you can actually hear yourselves speak. From the amazing maple butter at the start to entrees that will blow your mind- Steve Haas has truly perfected this place. Don't miss the meatloaf or the NY strip, as both are simply DELICOUS! I've been three times in one week and will keep going back. The turkey burger is also amazing. If you like olives, get the skirt steak. I will try it out for brunch. One of my new favorite places in Miami!
(5)Charlie B.
Food was pretty good...kinda noisy though...roast chicken and creme brûlée were the highlights!
(3)Felicia B.
2.5... Demerits for service and being out of everything I wanted at 7pm on Sunday (both dishes!)- also told us we snagged the last 2 glasses of cotes de rhone(?!)...and we had a lot of difficulty with seating. They did get kudos for well (not over) dressed salads. Caesar salad and gumbo got the most applause. The brussels sprouts were ok as were the pork, fried chicken and scallop entrees. Desert disappointed with a creme brûlée that was way off, save for the biscotti that sat aside it, which was delicious. Best things about this place = the fun decor/ambiance (good for groups), location and ease of parking.
(3)Brandy V.
This was my first time and it will not be my last!!! My waiter was Chris and he was GREAT!!!!!! Great service, delissssshhhh food and nice atmosphere! Will be back for more ! Thanks Chris !!!!!!!
(5)Kevin R.
Service was awful! Hostess was delightful and friendly, servers were pleasant enough but had no training or standards. Food was mediocre and the dishes a jumble of items whose flavors didn't blend well. As we departed, the manager and owner stood near the door and said goodbye, no one bothered to ask "how was everything"; perhaps they already know! Won't go back and cannot recommend.
(1)Tania H.
Apparently this is the place to eat when you are staying downtown Miami, because both the hotel and a business acquaintance insisted we go there. 5 of us showed up after work for dinner and it was a nice short walk from the downtown Hilton. This is an American fare restaurant with an interesting menu and we received excellent service. Everyone enjoyed their meal and there was no real criticism to be made. I'd definitely come back for a good meal.
(4)Kristin K.
nice ambiance, fun atmosphere. Good drinks & service. Ordered from the Miami Spice menu = blue crab ravioli & gumbo for apps, scallops & pork chops for entree. warm chocolate croissant bread pudding for dessert. Nothing was really a wow for me. All good, but again - no wow.
(3)Patricia K.
Food is just OK-most plates are tasteful (we were a party of five and we all ordered different plates); quantities are BIG (so 1 plate is more than enough for 2 persons) but service is NOT good. We went on a Monday and our dinner took around 3hrs, which I found to be unaceptable for how relatively "empty" the place was and for how quick we had ordered (as soon as we sat down). We also didn't like that the bill was not accurate.
(2)Jeanette E.
I'm just chiming in with a lot of the other reviews. The food is solid. The noise is unbearable. I apologize to those that like the live music during brunch but it was unbearable. We had been there for dinner before and went yesterday for brunch for the first time. There was a gospel singer on the balcony and because the acoustics are SO bad, it was painful to the ears. We had to walk out. When we've gone in the past we've resigned ourselves to the fact that we were NOT going to be able to talk. This is not a place to come catch up with anyone. They need to invest in acoustical panels and pronto. When you add a very strong singing voice blaring over a microphone, you end up with excruciatingly painful eardrums. All that being said, the food and serviced is solid so as soon as they invest in correcting the noise problem they will definitely go up a star or even two!
(3)Alejandra M.
I went here for a company party and let me tell you that although the place looks small from the outside it is not. It is a very relaxed atmosphere with a nice decor. The service was great and the food was excellent. I only got to tast about 4 different things in the menu, but I would not mind going back!
(4)Mari V.
This is my first time eating at this establishment, & I must admit I was underwhelmed. First, the live singer on Sunday was so loud that we had to yell just to have a conversation. We ordered mimosas that were brought out in dirty wine glasses. Upon ordering the waiter told us he was going to bring out our pancakes first due to the fact we were sitting at a table too small to support the order. My fiancé ordered steak & eggs with French fries. I had the egg white, bacon, Brie, tomato, & spinach omelet. It also came with fries. The pancakes were the true stars of the show. The only minor issue was they give a pat of butter & very little maple syrup. There was nothing special about the flavor of my dish or my fiancé's. I would have thought this place would serve fresh cut fries; however, they are frozen fries that you find in your local supermarket (overly dry). After $73 for this less than stellar meal, it's safe to say I will never return.
(2)Ron H.
City Hall can be counted on for a consistently good meal, time after time. It is beautifully decorated and is a comfortable place to dine. The menu is varied with steak, hamburgers, chicken and fish dishes. The owner Steve Haas has been around the restaurant business forever, and knows what he is doing, plus he's a great host. There is a great need for his type of restaurant. A place where you can get a really good meal at a reasonable price. Highly recommended.
(5)Lynn M.
I saw some so-so reviews on Yelp that left me a little anxious about what my experience would be like.....but after having dinner at City Hill tonight i can safely say that I am no longer concerned. The husband and I had a great time! Dinner was fantastic and the service was wonderful and attentive. We had the crab cake (appetizer), turkey burger, fried chicken and the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding. Everything was delicious. I also had a really good martini/cocktail (The Commissioner) as well. We will definitely go back and try some new items on our next visit.
(4)Tawanna-Patrice M.
My Wife chose City Hall for Valentine's Day... and it was a good pick. The parking situation was not the best - small lot, on-street parking, and no valet - but once we got over that hurdle, everything else was amazing. We were seated very fast; the service, a bit awkward to start; and the food was yummy, delicious, and plentiful. First Impression.... the decor was really nice; amd I loved the backlit wall. The menu was separated into terms using the jargon you would find at an actual city hall meeting - primary decisions, closing arguments, etc. I think white table clothes would have added some contrast to the room since the table, walls, and floor were all in the same color scheme which gets a bit murky in the dim lighting. The Food... we bypassed the special Valentine's Day Menu and ordered from their regular menu. The Braised Beef Short Rib Stuffed Potato Skins with Taleggio Cheese, Swiss Chard, and Tomato Marmalade was solidly delicious. Not too much cheese; no too much marmalade; meaty and just damn good! I ordered the Grilled Pork Chop w Bourbon Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Southern-Style Collard Greens and my Wife ordered the Meatloaf with Chorizo-Maple Macaroni and Cheese. The pork chop was huge... and cooked to perfection, crisp and charred on the outside from the grill and juicy and full of flavor on the inside. The Creole Mustard reduction that came with it was not even really necessary - the pork chop stood alone. The Sweet Potatoes and the Collard Greesn were good as well. I was skeptial about the collard greens since most places add loads of brown sugar and apple cider vinegar in the attempt to make the "southern-style." I prefer mine savory and smoky. The collards at City Hall had a little sweetness and tang to them... just a little so that the savory edge was still present... not bad; not bad at all. My Wife loved the meatloaf, which was tender and yummy. She liked the Chorizo-Maple Macaroni and Cheese... though she expected a different flavor and not a mellowed out chorizo that almost tasted like ground beef. After having half of our meals packed for takeaway; we shared the Warm Chocolate Chip Crossaint Bread Pudding with Bourbon Anglaise... absolutely divinely richly sublime. It was generous enough for three people. The Service.... awkard to start... maybe a new server - but very friendly and very attentive... well deserving of the hefty tip we left behind. We left that night already making plans to return for the City Hall brunch... and another meal.
(4)Claudia G.
I would definitely come again even though last night was the first time the place was open. The service was optimal and their oyster appetizer is to die for! The ambience was very lively with a great open space and great new york feel decor. Thank you for the complimentary drinks! :)
(4)Michelle G.
My sister in law invited me to City Hall - The Restaurant for a birthday brunch and I'll have to say this is one of the nicest restaurants for brunch in this neck of the woods. While you're ordering, the server brings fresh artisan bread with a soft and warm honey maple butter to the table which is absolutely addicting and unbelievable. I ended up ordering eggs benedict with spinach which is only comparable to one delicious place I enjoyed this dish at in Maui. Absolutely out of this world. It was also accompanied with a refreshing mimosa. My husband enjoyed amazingly fluffy chocolate chip pancakes which are the size of someone's head, with fresh whipped cream rather than maple syrup. My sister in law enjoyed a vegetable three egg omelette with cheesy tots. The lunch and dinner menu also look incredible and we will definitely return when we're in the area for a show or play. All should come out to enjoy this great find.
(5)Martin G.
The positives: the ambiance and Santiago, the server, along with all the busboys. The negatives: the booths are way too long--hard to explain but sit at a table if you go there. The food: Over-priced and not memorable. We started with the Duck Confit Pizza with wild mushrooms which was tasty, hot and more than enough for 2. The house bread was tasteless and really shouldn't have been served with the pizza plus the biscuit I got with my main course. Allen ordered the NY Strip which came with mash potatoes and Santiago substituted brussel sprouts for the spinach per Allen's request. He was not thrilled with the potatoes or the sauce on the steak. Where did start with my dish? We were going to the theatre so I really didn't want to order the City Hall Timpano--a heavy assorted pasta, sausage, meatball and cheese dish--which i really did want LOL--I asked for a couple of suggestions and should have had the pork chops buy instead went for the fried chicken with mashed potatoes, corn and bacon, honey, gravy and a biscuit--glad I didn't want something too heavy! Everything was crowded on to the plate making it almost impossible to get to the poatoes. Luckily the chicken was finger food but there was no side dish (only service mistake made--the bread and butter dishes were taken away when we finished the pizza) for the bones. I had to take the gravy, honey and corn monkey dishes off the main plate and put on table. Some of the chicken was bloody while the breast piece was over-cooked and dry. Allen had a diet coke and I had coffee. The check for both of us plus a 20% tip came to $85 Oh yes, a pet peeve--no manager, host or owner ever came to the table.
(2)Barbara S.
The Sunday Gospel brunch is amazing. Celebrated my birthday with friends on February 24 and had the best time, the best food, the best birthday! We all had the Reuben (corned beef) and Rachel (pastrami) sandwiches which were beyond delicious. Great chocolate crunch cake for dessert complete with birthday singing by Maryel Epps, the gospel/jazz singer who performs there every Sunday. Maryel was so much fun, really loves what she does, and made the overall experience truly memorable.
(5)Mari P.
Uffffffff the bread and butter...enuff said!
(4)Anuka S.
City Hall was amazing! First time there and won't be the last. The food was excellent and the service was great!
(5)Karen K.
I use to love this place, but the last two times I have eaten here, was not as impressed. it seems the quality of food, and service are declining. I took my Dad for his birthday last night, made the reservation using open-table and mentioned that we were celebrating his 84th birthday. I would have expected something would have been done to acknowledge this, nothing...and btw he was the only elderly person at the table, so it shouldn't have been that hard to figure it out. The music was on so loud when we walked in and the place was empty, the noise level in this restaurant is so loud you have to scream to hear each other. The food was not as good as it had been in the past. I ordered the pork chops and I have had them here before. The meat was tough, and it was as if the pork chop were sitting in the back for hours and they just threw hot gravy on top. My nephew sent his back, my dads skirt steak was tough and he sent that back. I also had the crab cake appetizer, it tasted like corn meal, I didn't see or taste any crab. The service was horrible, we had to ask for everything, instead of being asked if we needed anything. Prior to last night I went with friends and my roasted chicken was made from poor quality chicken, not a lot of meat, all bone. I don't think I will be going back anytime soon.
(3)Marcus K.
Really thought I'd love this place from all the recommendations that I've received from others who have lived in Miami for a while. Went during Miami Spice 2012. Sampled the mussels, crab cake, and caesar salad for appetizers. Mussels seemed to be well cooked, tender, and flavorful, but not extraordinary. The crab cake was small and very mediocre with only fine wisps of crab (no chunks seen at all). The caesar salad, was well, a caesar salad. Nothing to write home about. Had the filet mignon, which was cooked nicely, and had a nice reduction sauce over it. But I would have been very disappointed if I had paid more than $30 for it. Definitely not worth the regular retail price. The dessert sampling included cheesecake, chocolate crisp/mousse thing, carrot cake, and the bread pudding. The bread pudding was easily the best thing. Cheese cake was rather sad with little character, and soggy crust (which is usually the best part!). Carrot cake, blah (and I usually like carrot cake). I'd go back to try a few things on the entree list just because they sound interesting and this place is walkable from me (which is a plus so I don't have to pay for parking!), but then again, there may be better places elsewhere in Miami.
(3)Kelly K.
City hall is very close to my house so I went with some friends to try it for the first time. I LOVED it. Its very nice inside (a little on the chilly side), the kitchen is open so you can see the chef and his team work. The drink list is extensive. We had a bottle of wine that was reasonably priced and very good. Each of us ordered something different. I had the Meatloaf that came with mac n cheese and I ate every single bite!!! My friend had the pork chops which were delicious, however, the sweet potatoes and spinach sides were everyone's favorite part of her meal. Another friend ordered a flatbread pizza and gave rave reviews. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. The desserts looked amazing and I only wish we had room to try some. I would recommend a reservation to secure a table.
(5)Vivian P.
great food, great drinks, great service. We were a pretty large party so we all ordered something different. the best plates on the table were the Tuna tartar app with a truffle soy vinegrette and the prosciutto & goat cheese pizza. I had the NY Strip with mac & cheese and creamed spinach which were tasty but just as tasty as any other top notch steak place. Signature drinks were good and the bottles of wine are perfectly priced. Looking forward to trying the place out for Brunch.
(4)Natalie M.
I was so excited to try this new restaurant across the street from my house.... after a very anticipated wait they couldn't have given me a better experience. To my surprise even though it is brand new (and anyone that knows anything about the restaurant business can understand that it is very difficult to get everything perfect after being open for such a short amount of time) our entire night was excellent. Everything from service, to food, to style, architecture.... the place is absolutely amazing for American Bistro, comfort food style. We sat down in some booths, very large and spacey..... Very nice hostess..... We started off our evening with the Tuna Tartar appetizer; Tuna with avocado and papaya, wakame, and crispy wontons, finger-licking greatness. For my entree I ordered the Gorgonzola pizza; this is I think if not my favorite, one of my favorite pizzas I've ever had.... thin crusted gorgonzola pizza, drizzled with fig jam, finished off with crispy fried onions. Mouth watering goodness.... the combination is excellent! My husband had the Pot Pie; Maine Lobster, scallops, parsnip, seafood veloute... he was very happy with his dish.... I tried it and although I am not a big fan of Pot Pies I though it was very good. The cocktails offered here are very good.... I had the mojito drink, Cruzan mango rum with mint ...... very nice size.... we finished off with the Chocolate Banana Pie .... I thought the desert was absolutely delicious! The service was excellent and very rare for your typical Miami restaurant where excellent service is hard to find. I have no idea why the gentleman up there wrote that it was horrible service. On the contrary I ONLY have good things to write and say about this restaurant and service. Not only was the waitress nice, the whole staff was eager to help the waitress and definitely 100% team work. Something very rare that really put the cherry on the cake for us; the owner, Mr. Haas was so kind enough to come to our table and introduce himself to us and was really into pleasing us. I have learned that in life it is very hard to please everybody so there will always be someone unhappy and complaining about everything in life. I am so glad I have a very nice restaurant across the street from my house.... I recommend it, 100%!! Congrats to Mr. Haas and the Chef!!
(5)Larry R.
A Gospel Brunch--Interesting and Rather Good. Went to meet friends who were visiting from the North and was pleasantly surprised by City Hall, yes it's VERY noisy, but it feels as if we came into a party into a very nicely decorated (1920's) space. Maybe it was the time of year, it seemed very festive and the Gospel Singer had a great voice and fabulous personality that we really liked. The service was attentive, not overwhelming and the real surprise was the quality of the food, my salmon and rice were done to perfection. Definitely a unique treat.
(4)Lara d.
Great addition for the downtown lunch crowd. There is free parking behind the location and there is ample seating inside to accommodate a busy crowd. The modern, dark but trendy interior makes you feel separated from Miami, it has more of a northern state feel. The lunch selection is varied with inventive dishes combined with traditional favorites. For those who crave a corn beef sandwich or pastrami sandwich then this is the place to head to. Personally I ate the BBQ brisket sandwich which was tender and had a great sauce and was served on toasted Texas toast. The crab imperial reminds me of a 70's classic dish, shredded crab meat served with a melted cheese on top served in a seashell shaped dish. The portions are large and give you a great value for your money.
(4)Carlos P.
Beer selection is very standard, nothing on tap and no quality ale's are offered. Honestly I wasn't extremely hungry so I went straight to ordering an entree. Decided to go with the fried chicken. Comes with a corn side and potatoes (both were fine) and the half a fried chicken. Actually the meal (along with the bread that is served) was pretty filling so I am glad I skipped appetizers and salad. At first bite I wasn't overly impressed with the fried chicken till I started dipping the chicken in both the gravy and honey which really made it good. Left fairly satisfied with the food, wish they would improve on the beer selection. Would return.
(4)M M.
Service good. Not outstanding. Menu looks fantastic. Food:meh. Arrived cold to lukewarm, despite descriptions most was bland, nothing stellar for a foodie here. Parking bad, but we were told it is OK to park in the empty bank lot, despite towing signs, and had no problem with that. Decor is lovely. Drinks poured with a light hand. Not woth a return visit as far as we are concerned. There are too many other great options in the area. Chef and kitchen need to step it up!
(2)John C.
I"m giving this place a 5, what an awesome looking room...lousy on the acoustics, but great food...had the pork chop tonight....to die for.....my friend had the Meat Loaf, also good. The mac and cheese could use a little tweaking (check out Flip Burger's mac and cheese). Pricing pretty reasonable....will update this on my next visit.
(5)Leah S.
Loved the decor... you feel you have been transported to the Big Apple- NYC. Food was ok. It didnt rock my world and they have absolutely no beer selection and the beer was warm. Big no, no. My mate ordered the wedge salad. Applewood smoked bacon was awesome but he wasnt too thrilled about cutting up his own salad at the table. Seems like alot of work, why not just bring it chopped? I lucked out on this one I ordered the crab cakes which were definitely the better choice. For entrees I had the scallops and my mate had the skirt steak. Both were ok. Skirt steak was definitely the better choice and juicy. Desert was again "ok" we shared the berry filled crumb cake I think it was called. Overall I would give it a three. I think I would try one more time just to see. Would like to try the brunch.
(3)Emily R.
This Sunday morning the restaurant was practically empty and yet the service was extremely slow. My husband found his omelet to be overlooked and the cheesy grits to lack a cheese flavor. Very disappointing. The meatloaf I ordered was so salty that I could' t eat it. The mash potatoes and gravy were good. We actually had to get up to locate the waiter to get the check. I doubt we will be back until we hear the kitchen has stepped up its game.
(2)Patrice A.
I love and hate yelp because of the people. The people that praise are usually accurate, and people that enjoy food. The haters are just that, haters, usually way too high on their horses, complaining about water temperature or getting their food in 30 mins on a busy night. I'm not trying to write a novel, but my GF and I went to CH for the first time for Miami Spice. Simple parking, attentive polite staff. We ordered the spinach salad, corvina and bread pudding, and shrimp tempura, NY strip and another bread pudding. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious from the bread with honey pecan butter, to dessert. The drinks were very good, full pour decent price. I would recommend City Hall to anyone, and will definitely come again. Good staff, nice ambiance, excellent food.
(5)Michelle N.
Absolutely a must try!!! We had a large group of 14 and everyone was raving about their dish. The food was rich and flavorful. Portions were perfect as well. You also must stay and have the bread pudding dessert! We will definitely be back, Thank you for a great experience!
(4)Kiet H.
I have been here twice, and I love the food and service. I even saw a celebrity and her Miami Heat player boyfriend here once when I had dinner at 11p. The bread and the whipped maple pecan butter was to die for! I would come back again for this dish alone! I would recommend making a reservation if you come for dinner. The last time I came it was packed and we had to wait for about 20 minutes before we got seats at the bar. I had the Thai steak salad and it was amazing. The steak was juicy and cooked perfectly. It was large, with generous portions of steak.
(5)Yanessa E.
Came here before a show at the arsht center on a Wednesday night for cocktails and light bites. We sat at the bar as we were told by the manager that this would be the quickest service (we were about an hour from showtime.) It was our bartenders first day at the bar but you would have never known. He recommended the city clerk cocktail when I mentioned I wanted a "fruity" drink, when it came it was just what I wanted, coconut rum, pineapple juice, peach schnapps and lime juice all perfectly mixed. To eat we chose the Gorgonzola pizza and the maple chorizo Mac n cheese. The pizza had pancetta, sweet onion cream, fig jam and crispy onions together with the Gorgonzola cheese. It was great! The pancetta was almost bacon like and the fig jam made the perfect compliment to the Gorgonzola cheese, I love crispy onions and the pizza had plenty. The Mac n cheese was delicious! Creamy, cheesy, semi sweet because of the maple but savory because of the cheese and chorizo. The restaurant has a great vibe to it, loved the brasserie style decor. I will definitely come back to try out their brunch.
(4)Judy M.
Delicious comfort food...great ambiance...excellent service...delicious bread pudding dessert!
(4)Liliana Z.
A fantastic American bistro! I had heard a lot about this place and couldn't wait to try it, today I finally went for lunch and it was amazing!! The food was incredibly tasty, inventive and made with the freshest ingredients, the staff was beyond friendly and helpful and the drinks strong and delicious, what more could we ask for? For appetizer, we had the Gorgonzola pizza with dates and bacon topped with crunchy onions it was amazing! Huge portion, I was so full with this I was barely able to eat my entree. For lunch both me and my husband had the special express lunch menu. This is a great option available during lunch Monday through Friday. For under $12 you get soup or salad, an entree of your choice (some options to choose from are the BBQ brisket sandwich, bolognese pasta, truffled egg salad sandwich, mahi mahi wrap etc...) the menu also comes with a dessert (lemon pound cake or a giant chocolate chip cookie). They have some really good sides and we tried the chorizo Mac and cheese, it was out of this world!! The portion was big and the taste was amazing! The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful! Our server was Derek and he is awesome! The host was super friendly too and we truly enjoyed talking to him. Even the food runner was incredibly friendly and attentive. It is really refreshing to find a Miami eatery that has all the elements of great food and awesome service. We will definitely come back soon!!
(5)Amorriece M.
Had a really nice experience here. This could actually be my #1 spot especially on Sundays. The hosts and waiters are marvelous. Their service is excellent and food is great!!!!
(5)Karen M.
This is a really neat place with an art deco theme. It was so cool to see such a different looking decor! The fiance and I walked down from our hotel, so we didn't have to deal with the parking lot which looked like a bit of a pain in back. I ordered the atlantic salmon with jasmine rice and cashews. The salmon was cooked perfectly, and the flavors were fantastic. I thought the cashews overwhelmed the delicate salmon, so I mixed them with the rice, which I thought worked better together. The prices seemed a bit expensive, but I'm not familiar with the area, so am not sure if thats on par with the area. City Hall would get 4 stars, but the service was slooooow. Its so frustrating when you wait and see your waiter keep walking by while you try to flag them down. I don't live in the area, but if I did, I would definitely be back even with the slow service.
(3)Aimee R.
Hands down one of the greatest dining experiences we have ever had. We celebrated my husbands birthday there this weekend and we were beyond amazed with everything. From the incredible food, the impeccable service and fantastic drinks, our party of 18 had one incredible evening!! I have to thank in particular Steve Haas who went above and beyond to make our evening so special. Never had I had the pleasure of meeting a restaurant owner who was so accommodating, friendly and down right a really nice guy! Our servers Jose and Frederick were phenomenal - and I apologize for not remembering the hosts name, who was also so charming. Thank you Steve, your staff and City Hall for one fabulous evening. We will definitely see each other again soon!
(5)Brian R.
Our first visit was marred a bit by bad service. The wait staff is short handed when they are slammed and the upstairs seems to be a problem. We waited a while for a server. We didn't order much, an appetizer and a pair of sides. The order came back wrong twice and I would avoid the mussels because they cracked open a couple that should have been tossed and they were good for a little altar time with the porcelain god. Parking is valet in the back. Food looks good and it's s nice menu but avoid this place any time around showtime at the Arsht down the street unless they pony up for another waiter to take the pressure off the staff. I'm sure our server is fine when she could breathe and think but she made a muddle out of the order and there was a complete disconnect with the servers who drop food. Second visit: the restaurant was much less crowded, the waiter far better, and downstairs is much closer to the kitchen things seem to be moving much more smoothly. The bar is very good and tequilas and vodkas, and bourbon whiskey's which I happen to like, but they do have Cardhu which is an amazing Scottish whiskey you get most buyers seem to miss but is very popular in Europe. I'm improving their reading one star for the better outing.
(4)Adam S.
Good, albeit heavy & rich, food here at reasonable prices with above average service here. The ribeye here is delicious as are the Parmesan fries it comes with. They have something similar to a Miami Spice menu year around here which is also nice for people who are watching their budget. The calamari is good, but not the best thing on the menu here. Try the bread pudding. This place is a favorite among the political crowd in town (both the hacks and politicians themselves), so if you have any political juice around here you will probably run into a couple of familiar faces if you come here for dinner.
(4)Natalie I.
Friday was my first time here but the word that comes to mind is Big as in Big furniture Big Plates Lots of food. It was a party of four and we had a great time. Service was on point it was busy but not loud we were able to easily converses with each other. 2 people got the sea scallops I have to say the looked and smelled delicious. 1 got the skirt steak. I got fried chicken nothing was left over. I got the fried chicken i do not know why because I do not really like fried chicken because i have never had good fried chicken. However this was some seriously good fried chicken. It was moist and crunchy! Just yummy. However i hate chicken on the bone so that made it a but hard to eat. The desert was very yummy. Moose is my favorite deserts and it have a lovely textural element with the crunch. It was solid food and solid service give it a try.
(4)André D.
It's a nice space, a little too loud for talking over Sunday brunch. My family enjoyed their meals, but my eggs benedict came out completely cold, and when I asked the waiter if he could heat the eggs and toast, he took it to the kitchen and it came back microwaved and totally inedible. Will probably not each brunch here ever again.
(2)Lorena M.
I love this spot. I live across the street and every time I've gone, this place never disappoints! Some of my favorite items- Gorgonzola pizza, shrimp & grits, wedge salad, duck pizza. Everything has great flavor and the portions are hefty! I highly recommend this place. Especially the items I specified. Prices are slightly high, but totally worth it.
(5)Melissa C.
Fabulous food and the service is outstanding!! Definitely recommend coming here. Great selection of food.
(5)Matt C.
Prior to dinner I had a Makers Mark Manhattan (UP) and it was very tasty. For dinner I had the Seared Ahi Tuna (off the dinner menu) and it was REALLY GOOD. It's a good location, one side of the restaurant is lined with large windows, you can look out and watch the world go by. I had a couple bites of the shrimp & grits also very tasty. Good one.
(4)Lily O.
Absolutely loved this place !! Miami spice's best menu!! Service was awesome. Everyone was super friendly. I loved that chocolate dessert.
(5)Sally R.
Came here for brunch 2 weeks ago. The atmosphere is very nice and they had live music which it was very entertaining. however, the food was not good and pricey. To pay these prices I rather stay in Brickell area or Coconut Grove. So we had the salmon with jasmine rice. bok choy and miso glaze. I was not good at all, the rice did not tasted like real jasmine rice, bok choy was too soft, salmon was dry and the glaze was salty. It was a terrible meal for 25$ ceasar salad was average but overpriced for 10$ I did not see anything special in the rest of the plates my friends were eating. I heard the pancakes were good. In my opinion when you are paying for these prices at least the food should be delicious. It is not worth it the two stars are for service because our waiter gave us excellent customer service.
(2)David C.
2nd time there. Really enjoyed it both times. I LOVE the fresh bread with the maple pecan butter. It's just amazing
(5)Rebecca B.
The express lunch is a great deal, three mini courses. Food cooked just right. I'm a huge tuna fan and their nicoise is just right. Yellow fin tuna nicely seared. Nice happy hour and wine by the glass list.
(4)Jo W.
After a long week at work, Friday was finally here and I needed happy hour in my life. City Hall happened to be the right choice because they were offering a Miami spice menu and happy hour. Walking into city hall was a welcoming experience. The hostess there is awesome and makes sure you feel good from the start to the finish of the meal. Since my fiancé was joining me, we both ordered off the Miami spice menu and shared. The first appetizer was the Steak Carpaccio. I am not really a huge fan of steak and I'm scared to eat it rare so this was a huge leap for me. I actually loved it and it made me want to eat steak. Guess raw is the way to go. The other appetizer was the Shrimp Tempura. In comparison it was blah, well in itself it was blah. My entrée was the Mediterranean Seafood Pasta. It was a big plate of food and a decent amount of seafood. The sauce was nice; creamy, but not thick and milky. My fiancé had the 12oz New York Strip. They overcooked it so he had to sent it back, but they gladly obliged and made it how he had requested without issue. First up for desserts was the Chocolate Crunch Cake. Chocolicious! Then was City Hall's Famous Chocolate Chip Croissant Bread Pudding which was delish. While it was not an extraordinary experience, I had a good time and a good meal.
(3)Steffi M.
We go to park in the parKing lot, and you have to download an app to pay to park. The app is not the sane one used in the rest of miami. Almost left because of that, but as we were leaving, found street parking. Service was lovely. Ourv server was really informed, pleasant, and experienced. Best part of the whole experience. Atmosphere was lovely. Food came very quickly. The food was insanely overpriced for the quality. I took a few bites, wasn't feeling it, finished my drink and left. Id compare the food quality to that of a decent chain restaurant, but with the price of trulucks. Im glad I checked it out, but if I returned, it would be for a couple of drinks if they have a happy hour.
(3)Summer E.
I really like this place... It has a great location, really cool decorations, and has a really great family feel. The food is also really good and the owner walked around to make sure everybody was taken care of.
(4)Alexandre H.
Gospel music and brunch, now that's an idea! A friend invited us for brunch at City Hall, I was not in the mood for brunch, but when he mentioned that they have a lady signing Gospel music he changed my mind, I had to see (hear) that. But let's start with the food: some in my group took the Miami Spice for a spin (wings as an appetizer, juicy hamburger with caramelized onions and fries, and a big cookie and vanilla ice cream for desert, all very good). We also had Braised Beef Short Ribs (with Polenta, Fried Eggs and Exotic Mushroom Sauce), Three egg omelet (with pastrami, scallions, mushrooms, Swiss cheese and French fries), and also Buttermilk Pancakes with Maple syrup. All very good, no complaints. The deco is nice, NY style decor. Guests of all types: young and trendy, older and happy, middle aged with family, kids, etc. And a very energetic and enthusiastic gospel singer, she really injected fun in the ambiance. Very nice. Recommended!
(4)Carla L.
I was very surprised to see some of the not so perfect reviews from some of my favorite Yelpers. HOW could it be?? How could this NOT have been the most perfect food, most perfect experience for everyone?? I don't know. All I know is what my experience was and this story I shall tell. We have heard some pretty good things from people about City Hall - The Restaurant, so we decided the Miami Spice Menu would be a great excuse to try it. We came at an odd time, happy hour, not lunch, not dinner. We got the lunch spice menu but were told we could choose either. That was a total win since two of us ordered from the Lunch and one from the Dinner. By the way - Amir is awesome. Friendly, amazing service, big smile and ready to share his love of [my favorite city on earth] Paris, his hometown. PLUS he will make you any cocktail you want - no mixers. He hooked me up with an amazing red Cabernet Sauvingon after asking me if I liked my red wine light or heavier.. I said heavier and YUM. I started with a most yummy Eggplant appetizer. It was basically a small Eggplant Parmesan, but the flavor was full and rich. My hubby got a nice bowl of salad, it was abundant and the dressing yummy. Our daughter had the Crab Cake (sans bacon), the only thing was it was a tad tiny. She liked it, and she would have liked more. My hubby and I ordered Mahi Mahi and our daughter ordered the Shrimp and Grits. Her grits were delicious and although her music loving twin John Paul G (hey dude, sup?) didn't have the best experience hers were perfectly made. I know, because I "helped" her eat it. Now this next point is really, really, really, important. The Mahi Mahi? The best fish I have ever had. Ever. Please know this is no lie, no exaggeration. We both were so surprised, we just did NOT believe it. It came with a delicious spinach and Quinoa. When dessert came we kept on trying each others and the only words out of our mouths was "Wow, try hers", "Wow, try mine" and "Wow, try his" and then "Oh my GOD, WOW"! At this point I can genuinely and honestly say this is the best meal I have had in Miami. Did we get lucky and get them on a good day? I do not know, I guess I need to return to find out. Again, this is my experience.
(5)Brittney W.
Am I the only one who wants to inject the pecan butter into her bloodstream?!? seriously, I find myself always ordering loaves of their bread to take home making sure that they throw in a few butter balls for a midnight snack. But besides the bread and butter, I've never had a meal at City Hall that I didn't enjoy. I love coming here late night after a Heat game or performance at the Arsht Center. And depending on the event going on around the area, there's always a prefixed menu option featuring some of the restaurant favorites.
(5)Tania G.
i can sum up my visit in 3 words: i wasn't wowed. the bread is worth mentioning- the pecan butter was pretty damn good. other items...well... the meatloaf was good; not $18 worth, but good. and the gravy was terrible!!! the mac and cheese was not memorable- i'm not sure what other people find so great about it to be quite honest. maybe it was a bad batch, but it was pretty bland for my buds. the braised beef stuffed potato skins were not as good as i would have hoped. the flavor of the ribs was odd. the gorgonzola pizza was the probably the best thing we had. the figs gave it a nice, sweet touch. in summary, the things worth mentioning are the bread and the pizza - go figure! service was good yet like other yelpers have mentioned, it does get noisy.
(3)Lia P.
I really wanna give this place 4 stars but it just missed the mark for me and my husband. So really it's closer to 3.5 stars. I've been here a couple times and still haven't been WOWed like I expect. Both times I've had good service, whether it was at the bar or from a waiter/waitress. Everyone has been really professional. I appreciated that when my husband asked for a malbec suggestion last time the waiter didn't choose the most expensive bottle. The food hasn't been great. The first time I went I had a salad and I was supposed to get it with an herb vinagrette but they brought a creamy dressing...when I asked them to correct this the guy looked at me confused and asked if I meant balsamic vinegar. No...not what I meant. So I was left with an awkwardly thick creamy dressing. Last time however I got a mixed baby greens salad and that was GOOD! Big portion for only $7 and super fresh. And low and behold, there was my herb vinagrette I wanted last time! I also got the Guinness braised mussels and omg, were those awesome. Amazing flavor between the Guinness, chorizo, and fresh mussels. Other standouts from the night were the blue cheese mashed potatoes that came with my husband's steak, and the bread pudding. Non-standouts include the cocktails and the portion size of the Miami Spice offerings. I want to love this place because the atmosphere's so nice and everyone on the staff seems awesome but it doesn't seem to be the best value.
(3)Ed B.
I will start with saying the service is excellent... Very friendly hosts and hostess. Atmosphere was cool and great happy hour.. Half off martinis and glasses of wine.. Food was really good too.. Bread is great with a sweet butter. I had the Chicken Limon which was very tasty. My wife had the beefsteak tomatoes and mozzarella which she loved.. It was a really good experience and I would return..
(4)Diogo M.
Perfect!! Try the sweet and spicy martini, it's omg! And the bread pudding! Coming back for sure!
(5)Andrea C.
Sunday brunch comes with live musical entertainment! We had the duck and mushroom pizza which was tasty. The scallop plate was good but skimpy with only 3 scallops for $28.50. The shrimp and grits were good. Warm bread and apple butter is always served. Service was attentive. This is a great and convenient location for attending any of the downtown venues (AAA or Arsht.)
(4)Rony M.
OkCupid has an iPhone app with a 'Locals' section, a virtual meat market where users have the option to show their interest and plan dates. Weekdays you can usually find me at the Democratic Republic of Beer because craft beer six-packs start at only $20 between 4:30-7:30. I was with my coworkers one Thursday and we're halfway into our second "I Don't Drink Beer Unless It Has An Animal On It" sixer when my phone lit up with a little pink message -- "Suzy_Schmoozy is nearby and wants to meet you!" I have a look at her pictures and she's a cutie, but something is a little off. I pass my phone around and my buddies give her 4 enthusiastic thumbs up! What the hell do they know, they're both married with children. I blame my hesitation on the a-a-a-a-alcohol and respond. 5 or 6 volleys later she invites me to City Hall. I stroll in and an enthusiastic pantsuited lady with a name-tag wants to know, "Are you here for the Florida Bar Somethin' Somethin' Mixer?" Simultaneously I feel a vice grip around my bicep like someone taking my blood pressure and hear a silky jazz vocalist's voice say, "He's with me." I turn around and almost eye to eye with a taller and significantly more athletic woman than the pics advertised. Imagine a fair-skinned Gabby Reece with a strawberry-blonde bob haircut -- peterreadmiller.com/inde… I needed a drink but the bar looked like an impenetrable phalanx formation. Instead of legionnaires, the ranks appeared to be filled with mannequins from Men's Warehouse. Everyone was wearing the same suit and shirt combo but different ties. A waiter stopped by to take my order and I tell him to surprise me. He does...by not bringing me a drink for 20 minutes. 1st time I question him with my eyes, he answers with astonished eyes. 2nd time he crosses my path he looks at my empty hands and scampers off. 3rd time he exclaims, "You don't have your drink yet?" I don't know why he asked me that, as if it was supposed to come down from the ceiling in a basket?! Meanwhile this fifi is blabbing on about triathlons and Cerebral Palsy foundations but I can't concentrate. It's deafeningly loud and I'm trying to inspect her for the 3 telltale signs of transvestism. No Adam's apple..CHECK..no bulge in her pants..CHECK..no man hands...well 2 out of 3 is a risk I'm willing to take. Finally my adult beverage arrives along with largest glass of wine I've ever seen, seriously half a bottle of Fume Blanc went into that thing. I pull out my card and the waiter waves it away while quoting my favorite Lil' Wayne mixtape, "Sorry for the wait." I also sampled -- City Clerk has Flor de Caña, Root liqueur, coke and almond sizzurp. The drink version of the Flaming Dr. Pepper shot, with less inebriating effects. The Douche was a berry caipirinha-esque drink specifically crafted for the event. If I had a pair of ovaries, I would think this drink was "yums". Oysters baked with blue cheese, bacon, spinach and arugula ranch. In Dominican Spanish we have a saying, "Eres capaz de comerte un moco." Which translates to "You're capable of eating snot." Dairy with fish or shellfish make me nauseous, and this tasted like strep throat. Duck Confit Pizza with parmesan, mushrooms and truffle béchamel drizzled with port wine sauce. I didn't try it because of the overpowering stench of mushrooms that came off it but Suzy gave it 2 thumbs down. For the dryness of the meat and the overly sweet sauce. Gorgonzola Pizza topped with pancetta, sweet onion cream cheese, fig jam and a nest of crispy onions. This pie was painful to the palate, as the jam was about a hundred degrees hotter than the rest of he pizza. Perhaps I would've made some better food choices had I not been so distracted by how defined and vascular my date's arms were. I knew I should've paid more attention during that 'anthropometry and photographic statistical height estimation' lecture in college. In closing, if it was up to the food, I'd call this place 'Shitty Hall'. I still want to try the Timpano and the Meatloaf but I fear the much adored Maple-Chorizo Mac N' Cheese might be more of the same sickly-sweet fare that doomed my first experience. As far as drinks go, my compliments to the bartender. ...and if you're wondering about Suzy Schmoozyberg...she's an exceptional woman that moved her happy androgynous ass to DC to work for an elite law practice.
(3)Rachel S.
Pros: Happy hour, happy hour, happy hour. GREAT bartenders. Fabulous host. They deliver. The meatloaf with chorizo mac and cheese. Cons: Prices. Inconsistent to mediocre food. Inconsistent or just plain bad service. Go get a burger somewhere else and do not order the fries.
(3)Brian G.
City Hall is a big restaurant with 2 floors and high ceilings, and very good food!! their menu is extensive, so you have a lot of choices. they also have a brunch, menu on Sunday and a very good blues singer preformed when we were there. the room can get noisy, but the restaurant is very friendly and the service is good. this place is a lot of fun!!! and the prices are not too bad. the starter dishes were or are almost of entree size. so enjoy.
(4)Waylon R.
Amazing find! Had dinner before going to the Arscht Center and was in awe of how amazing it was. We sat at the bar because we were rushed for time and the bartender was extremely helpful with suggestions. House Cabernet is amazing, Coppola Directors Cut, I have never had such a good house wine before. We started with the Tuna Tartar and as a tuna fan, I was in heaven. Light and perfect with fresh crispy wontons. It was happy hour so we also indulged in the Truffle Parmesean Brussel Sprouts and the Honey Herb Wings.... Both amazing. I love both of these and can eat them anytime and they took them to the next level. The wings are soaked overnight in honey so they have an amazing sweetness to them. The brussel sprouts were cooked to perfection. The bartender recommended so great choices and we went with the Pork Chop, and I was amazed how great it was. BEST PORK CHOP IVE EVER HAD!! hands down.. Thick cut and cooked perfectly, juicy and the accompanying sauce was amazing! Sweet potato mash was the perfect pair for it. Will totally be back with friends
(5)Alive S.
I will never ever ever get tired of City Hall from the friendly smile when you walk in to the most delicious bread pudding a girl can want. Top notch service & consistent food beats trendy typical Miami restaurants any day.
(5)Morgan's M.
Come here for the best French Toast on the planet! I've been to City Hall several times and the Chicken & French Toast is always perfect. The pecan butter they serve with warm bread is the stuff dreams. The grits a great as we'll. I've only had one disappointing meal, Short Rib w/ palenta . Ribs were too fatty. But short ribs are always a gamble.
(5)C.K. L.
I dine here often and have yet to find something I haven't loved. The menu is ever-revolving, the service is perfect--no one hovering over you, but all you have to do is look up and your Waiter is at your table. The Miami Spice menu is the best I've sampled anywhere. My particular favorite is the Sesame Coated Salmon, yet I wouldn't turn down any of the appetizers and/or main courses. Desserts? All are yummy, but their Banana Cream Pie is OMG! I've brought most everyone I know there for lunch and dinner, and they all go back again and again. If you're meeting the Laurences for dinner, expect it to be at City Hall the Restaurant...
(5)Laura D.
I came here after someone I know well recommended it. As I walked in, I noticed that the ambiance and decor was nice. I felt like I was in NYC for some reason. I sat down and waited for my clients to arrive. We then ordered and it all went down hill. The waiter forgot the side dish that I had ordered and was no where to be found when we were done with our meal. Another waiter asked if we wanted anything else so we asked for espresso coffee to finish our meals and then the check. Then 10 or 15 minutes go by with no coffee and no check. Finally our original waiter comes out (he was missing for all this time) and we repeat our coffee order and desire for the check. Another 10 minutes go by and finally our coffee arrives. We quickly get up and go once we finish our coffee. I will likely not be returning here. The food everyone had was just OKaY and service was terrible. Sorry City Hall, I will likely not be returning.
(2)Amanda F.
Heard the meatloaf was good... But yuck. The Mac and cheese that comes with it was even WORSE! Don't order it. Mom and dad loved the tuna tar tar and the shrimps and grits. Guess I wasn't the lucky one -.- good service tho!
(4)Jennifer A.
I went with my husband and friends on Saturday night and we all ate from the Miami Spice menu. The restaurant was only about 40 to 50% full downstairs (never went upstairs). Despite the emptiness of the restaurant, our server was SLOW, and he seemed a little clueless about the menu and wine pairing advertised. The martini menu was creative, and offered several non-vodka options that were good. Watch out for the Special Master, it is actually quite spicy. We all ate from the Miami Spice menu, and I got to taste most of what was ordered. Overall, most of the food was very good, with the exception of (of course) my "pan seared mahi." It was supposed to be pan-seared, but what I got was a dry, tough piece of unappetizing fish that I couldn't finish. Hy hubby's "famous fried chicken" was outstanding: crispy, moist meat and not greasy. My baked eggplant appetizer was also delicious, as was the corn chowder and the chocolate-chip croissant bread pudding. The ho-hum marscapone carrot cake was nothing to write home about. The title sounded more appetizing than it actually was. While I would go back, I would definitely stay away from the fish (inedible) and carrot cake (not worth the calories).
(3)Espicubi E.
Amazing! Crab cakes Benedict delicious.. But the best item on menu was the cornflakes crusted French toast and their delicious warm bread with maple almond butter! This place is amazing.
(5)Fred G.
Great service! But the food was so disappointing. I had high expectations for the burger as it was mouth watering described. It was way too greasy and the bread was very very old.
(1)Tiffany G.
Was so excited to try this place out 'cause of all the hype. Total Fail! The eggplant parm arrived cold, my shrimp and grits was plate with instant grits...Nothing special... I didn't even end up eating dessert. Even the sparkling water was hot. How'd they manage that!? In addition to the not so good food, waiters kept ramming into our table. Overall, not a place I would return to.
(1)Ken D.
A big booth, a big martini, and a big meal at City Hall made for one big night with friends in more ways than one. Reading the reviews of my fellow Yelpers, I had hopes and trepidation about the evening, and, fortunately, left both pleasantly surprised and full. A few highlights: - The friendly, almost giddy host and hostess. All of us wearing 'mango'. - The aforementioned martini...big, extra dry, extra cold, shaken til it hurt. (I listened as it was being mixed to ensure that this was the case, and indeed it was.) - The unconventional French onion soup with cheese on the bottom and wonton was an interesting surprise, and assembled table side. While it won't replace the real thing in my heart, it was a different twist on a classic. - The Timpani, which almost killed me as I struggled to eat the entire thing. If you've seen the movie 'Big Night', you know what this is, and I've never seen it in a restaurant. What a treat! A few low lights: - The 'artisinal' bread was just a loaf of white bread. City Hall, you might want to rethink this as it doesn't read 'artisinal' at table. - The fried chicken was overly brined, and way too salty. - The large screen TV, which competes with the decor and smacks of sports bar. We just aren't target market for this feature. Are there many Nielsen families in the area? So, in summary, if you can order thoughtfully, I say try it. As they say, you can't fight City Hall, so why even try?
(4)Olga Z.
The Insider said: The bartender (Meno) makes a guava mojito that's not on the southern comfort food stylr menu but is one of City Hall's best kept secrets. It's a must try. I've read a couple of negative reviews and can't relate. My friends and I met up for dinner here. We received professional and friendly service from the host to the server (Perla) to the bartender to the bussers. Between the drinks, the bread that comes with an addictive honey butter spread, the huge portions of delicious food, we were all more than happy. The food: We ordered... ok, so I forget what exactly my friends ordered (blame it squarely on that mojito) I ordered the house blend meatloaf with chorizo-maple, mac and cheese, green beans and natural gravy downside. The maple flavor on the meatloaf for me was magnificent. To our delight, our server surprised us with a complimentary warm chocolate chip bread pudding with bourbon anglaise, just because ;) I'm happy. That service, that drink, that honey butter, that meatloaf, that free boubon anglaise. I hope you have a fun and great experience as well.
(5)Jackie S.
My recent trip to City Hall completely erased any lingering luke warm memories. This time the service was terrific (big shout out to our waiter Doug) and the food was outstanding!!!! Here's the lowdown: Group Appetizer: Short Rib potato skins -2 insanely flavorful giant potato skins!!! The combination of the meat, cheeses & tomato marmalade is ridiculously good! Entrees: My Skirt Steak - very juicy with goat cheese crumbles & a layer of couscous underneath...yummm!!! My bf's pork chop - Plump is the best adjective to describe this giant cut of meat. One of the better pork chops I've ever tasted. The sweet potatoes were sweet but not overwhelming, good combination w/ the chop. Garlic herb chicken - a damn good chicken dish but in this abundance of robust flavors I would not recommend, unless your trying to play it safe. And the hands down Oscar winner of the night...the fried chicken!!! Finger lickin good :p
(5)Rashida C.
Okay so after going to City Hall and having several "MISS"'s, I decided it was time for my review. I must say the entertainment by Maryel Epps at Sunday brunch is phenomenal,Hence the 2 stars! She's very lively, interactive and has a special way of connecting with the crowd! Onto the service.... On Friday I called and made a reservation for 1:00 on Sunday. I arrived at 12:50 and wasn't seated until 1:40! I requested a complimentary mimosa for the guest on my party. 4 people. The MANAGER Sasha came to the table to address me. She NEVER apologized and curtly told me that EVERYONE in the restaurant had a reservation and waited even longer than I did because it was Sunday brunch. She said the answer to my was no and walked away. LOL! She was so rude that I had to laugh. Soooo, I should make a reservation 1 hour before the time I really want to have a reservation? GTFOH! Now, on to the food... Yet another MISS!! Don't have much to say about it because this was the 4th time it's been a miss in the past 6 visits. So, typical. My server.... NEVER took drink orders, spilled mayonnaise on my aunt and followed up with spilling water on her. WAY TO GO! I love the entertainment so it's not a place that I wouldn't patronize anymore, however, drinks at the bar is all I'm willing to do at this point.
(2)Kae D.
Best Meal we had in Miami. Beautifully decorated restaurant- Art Deco - superior service - great menu - impressive wine list - all were surpassed by the remarkable meal. We defaulted to the Prix Fixe meal - and the six of us were highly impressed - exquisite! Presentation, quality - the Salmon was prepared perfectly - desserts to die for...
(5)Doris L.
Looking for a spot to eat after a late afternoon event at the nearby AAA. I wish City Hall delivered the triple- A experience some of my Yelp friends apparently experienced. Alas, I had a C+ kind of night. A solid menu full of variety, from cerviche to turkey burgers, gave us lots of options. Our gang ordered muscles and scallops and that cerviche, plus the grilled chicken from the kids menu and some salads. The muscles were the best of the lot. The rest melded into a sea of proverbial mediocrity. My martini was a little light on mojo, too. Sorry City Hall, Your servers are sweet. Your ambience and location, sublime. Your food- regretably, forgettable.
(2)Kaleena S.
Amazing. The only reason they get a star down is that its kind of on the pricey side which limits me from going as often as i would want. Went there for date night before the symphony concert we were going to see. We knew it was pricey going in but we decided to split a 3 course since our insider told us portions were pretty big. The waiter was awesome and provided a great wine recommendation and confirmed our large portion suspicion. They did have a concert prix fixe menu but we opted for the regular menu. After placing our order some fresh bread came out with honey nut butter. Honey butters have a place in my heart so I knew this night was going somewhere good. We started out with the duck flat bread. I love duck but my boyfriend was hesitant. After this he was a changed man. The red wine reduction that was drizzled over the top tied it all together. Then we split the Filet Mignon entree which came with fried Brussels sprouts and potatoes au gratin and again it was a pretty large portion. If you have never had fried Brussels sprouts in your life give them a try here. Since we did a whole bunch of splitting we actually had some room for dessert. We had the chocolate chip bread pudding that's served with a bourbon anglaise. Now ive said the portions are pretty large that means dessert too. Easily 2 desserts in one. We finished the dessert without feeling like either of us didn't have enough. When the check came it was like an ordinary night out for 2 at moderately priced placed. Overall very good experience. Long story short version: Large portions, good food, good service, but on the pricey side. Opt to split the dishes and you'll come out ok.
(4)Adrianna B.
Thai Steak salad was so flavorful! I wanted the ribeye but decided on a healthy option this time. (not like me) I was really shocked how good it was. My overview of the room: chic, trendy, dark trim, a bit mafioso. That's just my opinion. Great Sunday afternoon spot for friends, couples, anybody.
(5)Jay K.
Not a steakhouse. Tired, old place. Hostess preached her religion to us in a canned speech. Food was mediocre at best. Way overpriced. Traffic noise from outside.
(1)Jose A.
Great happy hour, very friendly staff. Very good food!!!
(5)Ming P.
I had dinner with my little sister. as per her review your crab cake came closed to Shula's. Service was OK. The decor is lovely. Food wise a 3 star.
(3)Carlos J.
Went for brunch just after 11, started to get crowded just ayer we arrived so 11 or do is a good time to arrive. Good service and great food, best French Toast I've ever had! Will definitely come back.
(4)Jim L.
Ask the guest relations where to have brunch and he recommend Cityhall. I ordered the smocked salmon omelet and a fruit plate my sister had the short rib w/ three eggs and it was awesome. The environment is pleasing and friendly.
(4)Endless O.
I went to City Hall this past Saturday evening for a friend's birthday gathering. It was late. The decor in here is like a Gotham city type theme. It was really dark in there and I wasn't feeling the lighting because I was with a birthday group. I think the lighting is suited more so for couples. I also could barely read the menu without a cell phone light. All of the wait staff was male; we didn't quite understand why though lol Any who, the bread was DELICIOUS. I love hot bread that is prepared well. I ordered some wine for dinner and had lots of water with lemon AND limes. I am funny about new restaurants and trying new food on menus that I am not familiar with so I kept it simple. I special ordered a grilled chicken salad. The salad was delicious no complaints there. The gratuity was automatically added. Our waiter and bus-boys were great so I had no problem with the automatic tip. I probably would have tipped more if not for the gratuity already being in there.
(3)Chris C.
Nothing corrupt about this court room! This waiter was so charming you'd think he was the one that got OJ Simpson off the hook (no it's not too soon for an OJ joke). Southern cooking at its best with an occasional hint of Miami flavor. It was a delicious episode of Law and Order where the only crime is the fact that it took me so long to try this place out. THE FOOD: "Your honor, this fried chicken assaulted my client...and he liked it!" This chicken, along with the mashed potatoes should be sentenced to several years on my plate! The chicken was so buttery, perfectly fried and delicious that I did not feel the least bit guilty eating it...no pun intended. "I, scallops covered in home made pico de gallo and black bean sauce with one delicious plantain drizzled with sugar plead guilty to holding this poor man's taste buds hostage for the duration of the meal." Enough said. To add to the great food, you must try "The Commissioner". This is a martini with a shaker that brings nearly 3 refills! One or two of these you'll know what its like for our commissioners to get the job done! Final Verdict: If this place catered Jury Duty...I'd gladly attend.
(5)Mit P.
This is one of Miami's best restaurants. Great decor, excellent service, but most importantly - Some of the most delicious American food I have had in a long time! Totally puts Barton G to shame. What I like? 1) The appetizers. The gumbo is superb. The calamari and the tuna tartare also. And the shrimp ceviche. The salads are quite distinctive and special. Especially the iceberg and romaine lump crab salad, also the wedge. 2) Some very good mains and sides. I particularly like the meatloaf. I also like the country fried chicken. I'm looking forward to trying the other dishes. I have my eye on the salmon. 3) Great desserts. Banoffee pie is one of my favorites and these guys have the best rendition of this masterpiece. The bread pudding is also excellent. 4) Great service. Staff are really friendly. They are also there whenever you need anything. For Miami it is amazing. 5) Nice decor. The place is cool. 6) Lots of parking options. 7) The pecan honey butter is genius. What thy could do better: 1) A wider selection of breads at dinner.
(5)Falen A.
I love this place. I been here at least 5 times for brunch. Best French toast ever! Very good braised beef, and eggs benedict. Ive also had the omelettes. I could eat anything off the menu to be honest. Bloody Mary was spicy just how I like it. I also came here for dinner once and got the meatloaf... OMG.. best meatloaf Ive ever had. The glaze they have on the side is to die for. I cant wait to go back to have it again. Love Love Love. Service is always a pleasure and tentative. I hope this place stays in miami forever!
(5)Seth W.
Truth be told, my rating is between 3 & 4 stars. I've always had excellent service and good food at City Hall. Atmosphere can vary - I will NOT sit in the back room again. It's dark and out of the way of the rest of the guests, but without privacy or peace. Instead, diners in the back room are frequently subjected to blasts of bright light, noise and traffic from the kitchen. The only dish I ever had an issue with was a cobb salad, and that was a long time ago. It was soggy and small and heaped in the center of what appeared to be a wide-brimmed soup bowl. The Steak Salad is excellent, so are the burgers (both beef and turkey). I've enjoyed the meatloaf and gumbo, and I make a point to carefully review specials.
(3)Annie W.
2 words --- Pecan Butter. Absolutely one of the best things I've ever put to my lips. I've been here a few times and everything was exceptional. I will say they are known for lunch and dinner so if you go for breakfast items during their brunch, get something unusual like the French toast. I was being a little boring with my choice of the omelet and it was fairly average. Go for the Gospel Brunch on Sunday for live music. It isn't preachy at all --- just good deep soul with a full band that isn't loud and a perfect jazzy ambiance. I recommend the items that gear more towards lunch. If you're going for the brunch get there early or make a reservation as seats fill up fast! Parking is very limited on the street however.
(5)Sergio N.
Customer services fixed. Happy to visit again.
(5)Jose S.
We celebrated my wife's 30 something birthday last night. The staff and the food were amazing. Reggie's reception was so hospitable. The birthday champagne was unexpected and appreciated. We started with the hummus that arrived with the house bread and pecan butter. Wow. Wow. Our main courses were the fried chicken for me and the meatloaf for my wife. Delectable, no other word would describe, maybe delicious but that doesn't cut it. We sweetened it up with the chocolate chip croissant bread pudding. Let me repeat that. CHOCOLATE CHIP.CROISSANT.BREAD.PUDDING. The ambiance made us feel like we stepped into the 1930's Art Deco setting where we'd find Bonnie and Clyde splitting a bottle in the table next to ours. City Hall is definitely our new spot!
(5)Sheila T.
Food here is always tasty, but service is equally as spotty. We had to ask for a glass of ice 3 times. Restaurant is very busy at lunch so reservations are a must, especially with the $11.50 Miami spice lunch offerings. We never got bread, either. The regular menu is also available, with everything from sandwiches, salads, meat loaf, beef burgers and turkey burgers, pork chop, salmon,etc. Happy hour menu ( with reduced wine, beer and vodka prices ),has also changed with many more additions.There are chicken wings, hummus (3 different kinds) and pita plate, fried brussel sprouts with parmesan cheese, .taco, etc. all at reduced prices . TIP: if you are in a hurry, be sure to tell the waitstaff as service can be very slow.
(4)Zarina R.
2/7/12 -- The moment I walked into the restaurant everyone from the Hostess to the waiters were extremely friendly. The restaurant was quite spacious and made me feel like I was eating at a restaurant in New York. All our dishes were well made and they served large portions. I had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. I ordered the house blend Meat Loaf with Chorizo-Maple Mac'n Cheese, Baby French Green Beans, Natural Gravy & Fried Onions. The meatloaf was succulent, moist, and flavorful. My friend ordered the grilled Skirt Steak with Israeli Couscous, Kalamata Olives, Crumbled Goat Cheese & Tomato-Coriander Vinaigrette. The steak was cooked to perfection and the meat was extremely tender. We ended the night with their "Warm Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding" with Bourbon Anglaise & Chocolate Ganache ( Wowzers was it amazing). Do not leave this restaurant without trying the Bread Pudding.
(3)Apreski C.
The host Noel was extremely rude when we walked in as was the waiter who walked away in the middle of us ordering. The staff here is disrespectful and snarky as if doing their job is actually a favor. Horrible service overall and the food is mediocre. Not worth the trip.
(2)Jee J.
Sorry
(5)Tiffany J.
A friend of mine wanted to try something new for lunch. It was Christmas Eve and we were tired of holiday food. I ordered the meatloaf with Mac n cheese good lawd! that food was on point my friend order the fried chicken and it was so juicy and crispy. Now the drinks were the business, they bring you the shaker to the table and we were able to get 3 drinks out of the shaker without ordering more. City hall will see me again.
(4)Paul W.
I came here with a group of 4 on a recent Wednesday afternoon for lunch. As other reviewers have mentioned, I'd heard a lot of hype about this restaurant and I'd read reviews that were pretty much all over the road. Personally, I felt it was nothing more than "A-OK", as 3 stars on Yelp denotes. Pros: -We arrived at about 1:15 p.m. and found plenty of open parking in their lot, and were seated almost immediately (a booth happened to open up just as we were walking in, so once it was cleaned, we were seated right away). -The service was very good. I noticed that all the staff that took care of us on this day were a bit older than I'm used to seeing (not a bad thing) but all were friendly, attentive and threw out a quick joke here and there. -I really enjoyed the decor with the dark woods, leather upholstery, copper ceilings and art deco lighting fixtures. -The presentation and the way they serve their french onion soup is a bit unique and creative IMO. -The warm crumble berry pie with vanilla ice cream that I had a taste of was VERY good, and the cappuccino I ordered was perfect on this wet, drizzly and overcast day. Cons: -I found the lunch menu to be limited. Oddly enough, when I checked out their lunch menu on their website it looked OK, but the menu we were given when we arrived was 1 page, on the front was the food menu which was laid out differently than what I'd seen online, and on the back was the drink and cocktail menu. -When our server offered dessert, he explained that they had no dessert menu to show us, but he could tell us what they had available. After we ordered, our server returned and explained that the selection 2 of us chose was not available. -This place is pricey for what it is. $15 for a lunch salad that left me so unfulfilled that I hit the snack machine immediately once I returned to work? Really?? -My entree salad wasn't very flavorful, nor was the meat that came with it. Another in our party said the amount of cheese on his confit duck pizza was so overwhelming that he had to remove much of it and left it on his plate. -Another tables' drink order was given to us by mistake. It only consisted of 2 drinks, but we took them since we thought these were the drinks that 2 of the people at our table had ordered...Our server arrived a few moments later with our tables' entire drink order. While it was nice for a few of us to get 2 so we didn't need to ask for refills later, this shows a bit of disorganization. I'm not sure if the other table ever got their beverages. -As others have mentioned, this place is loud/noisy inside. Every surface in this restaurant from the wood to the full height windows, the glass lighting fixtures and copper ceilings is all reflective. When we were here the place wasn't even that full, and we still had to speak loudly during our lunch conversation in order to be heard by everyone in our booth. My guess is that the volume becomes deafeningly loud during dinner times and on weekends. I also understand they invite bands to play here at certain times, which must be incredibly noisy. In the end, this lunch experience was just OK. Not bad, but nothing outstanding, either. If someone I was with suggested it, I'd return here. Otherwise, there are too many other options in this general vicinity and in the nearby design district to bother returning to City Hall.
(3)Lauren S.
Sunday brunch is amazing! Great menu, food, staff is smiley and attentive & best of all is the gospel singing. Joyful & delicious!
(5)Stephanie L.
A bit slow I suppose, I've been wanting to try City Hall since it opened, and even moreso after hearing some great things about it. Finally made it the other night and managed to find parking in one of their back lots. Inside the restaurant is gorgeous! Like someone said, kind of reminds me of a Disney/Universal version of Gotham City. Tin ceiling, sumptuous leather booths, it is elegant yet not stuffy, the whole thing is very New York and completely fabulous. As soon as we sat down they brought over a cutting board with a huge piping hot roll, crusty on the outside and soft, hot yeasty goodness inside. It came with a sweet maple pecan butter too that was delicious. The two of us weren't exactly starving so we opted to share a salad and the meatloaf. The staff was wonderful and even brought us our own half portions of each. The salad we went with was the buratta, which was a bit less solid than I would have liked. The cheese was disappointingly so gloppy that it was hard to eat with a fork. The tomato though was grilled and fantastically juicy. My overall impression of the salad though was that with the bacon and argula, it was a bit too salty. Kinda sad since I feel it's pretty hard to mess up a caprese salad. For the next course, the meatloaf was like an upscale version of a classic. The meatloaf was very well-cooked and perfectly tender. With the onions and gravy it seemed like a nice throwback to 50s-style home-cooking. My dining partner thought it was a bit too sweet, possibly from ketchup inside, although I thought it was fine. Not WOW-worthy, but decent. However, the side of mac and cheese with maple and chorizo was another huge miss for me! Not only was there no cheese in sight, just some dry macaroni, but it too seemed like someone had been far too liberal with the salt shaker. The chorizo was a nice thought but it was really the only flavor other than the plain pasta that I tasted. None of the dessert options really sounded so enticing that we could resist, but if you want a basic slice of chocolate cake or pie it might be just what you're looking for. Really I have to say again how wonderful and friendly all the staff was, from hostess to waiters, they were wonderful. Also, we were there on a Monday night and while it wasn't completely full, it was still pretty crowded and noise was never a problem for us. Overall I loved the atmosphere and service enough to give it another chance, but I probably won't be going with the same selections...
(3)Robbie M.
Steve Haas has done it again! great atmosphere, staff, and food! Its a great spot to have a meal or just grab a drink and talk with friendly locals or the super friendly bar staff. I often get together with friends and go on Sunday for their Gospel Brunch; you can't help but leave in a great mood after the good food, awesome bloody mary's, and fun soulful singing!
(5)Elmer j L.
My first time at the Restaurant and brought my family and friends visiting from France and we loved it. The food was great and the staff very friendly. We order the Shrimp with grits, Flank steak with the couscous and the Mahi with veggies. All entrees were very tasty and presented. And for the sweet tooth the Banana cream pie and the pudding. No complaints.
(5)Paul M.
After going to City Hall, the first thing that came to mind was "WEEDS". It wasn't because I felt like I was high in a California suburb though - it was because these dudes were in the WEEDS big time. For those who have worked hospitality you know exactly what I am talking about - place is slammed beyond belief and you are watching the disaster happen helpless in slow motion. Kitchen teetering out of control trying to keep up with the mass of orders piling in yet more and more guests keep arriving. Servers scrambling everywhere like chickens without heads trying to keep up. The unfortunate collateral damage is water not filled for 2 hours, having to ask for bread 3 times, and dinners that last for 3 EFFING hours. Pissed off diners everywhere. Gordon Ramsey needed to come in and open a can of whoop ass on these donkeys!!!! When we arrived at 6PM the place was busy, but not too full. We were one of the first tables seated upstairs so I really can't understand how our server and the kitchen got so overwhelmed. It's really too bad as we were really looking forward to trying this place based on the recommendations of my trusted yelpers. The venue was extremely nice, the food was good. Service - HORRENDOUS! Here we go: Pros: Good food - Skirt steak was enjoyed by our friend. Nice Venue Strong Drinks Good Miami Spice Menu - All 3 appetizers were great. Pork chop was GIGANTIC. Place was packed beyond belief. Cons: 3+ HOUR FREAKING DINNER - are you kidding me? I could have driven to the ocean, dove in and caught scallops, driven home and grilled them, and baked a cake in that time. Speaking of Scallops, where's the beef? We had 4 of the most microscopic scallops I have ever seen. Very surprising considering Tom was served gigantic scallops in his review. More like an appetizer. Table upstairs was FREEZING under the vent - I had icicles on my nipples by the end of dinner. Had to ask for bread 3 times. Asked for water and was never refilled. Dessert took 45 minutes to come out. There was no souffle order so maybe they had to drive across town to pick it up. SO LOUD - we had to yell to converse with the other side of the table. To his credit, the manager Robert did apologize when we mentioned the exorbitant time our dinner took. He said the kitchen was in fact overloaded. He offered to buy us drinks but by that point we wanted to just get out of there and defrost. We'll see if we come back again and take him up on his offer. Get it together City Hall! Service like that closes places in 6 months...
(2)Steven M.
Absolutely fantastic. I always try a place a few times before writing a review and I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal here. The menu is creative, the service is good, the price is decent, and I always leave happy and full. A southern comfort style menu with a modern twist. I highly recommend the duck flatbread and French toast. Enjoy!
(5)Monica C.
Because the food was so delish, I went back to City Hall for Dinner. What a difference!! We were seated right away, my waiter was attentive but not too pushy. He made great suggestions, made sure our glasses were full and our table was clean. I had the skirt steak for dinner with the jasmine rice. Perfection!! I also found out that they have a private room for parties. I was allowed to look at the room. It is private and spacious. Definitely recommend it for an event (I was trying to come up with an event to have a party myself.)
(5)Whitney K.
Dear waitstaff: didn't your guidance counselor ever explain to you that no means no?No, I would not like another drink. No, seriously, I really don't want another drink. No, I am not going to choose your recommendations over my own selection. No, I would not like dessert. No, I don't care that it's included in the Miami Spice menu. No, I'm not going to change my mind. If we were on a date, I'm pretty sure you'd be trying to date rape me right about now. While I appreciate the enthusiasm, I don't appreciate your lack of confidence in my ability to make decisions about what I want for dinner. I also think it's a little problematic that I remember your service better than I remember my meal.
(2)S I.
Was there twice, both times enjoyed good food and friendly service. A great place for a quick lunch. The menu items are great, but the lunch buffet is also a treat. Make sure you try the Chicken Kurma. Their beef items are also quite good, considering not all Indian places serve beef.
(4)Lourdes D.
You guys, the gospel brunch here is worth praising. See what I did thar? You gotta get the Corn Flakes encrusted French toast and the mushroom and spinach en croute. A mimosa or two doesn't hurt either. Be sure to make reservations between 12:30 - 1:00 p.m. for the gospel tunes. And get ready to sing, too. Side parking available and good times to be had by all.
(5)Mylo G.
Yeah soooo... Really. Lots of marketing behind this place. Tried the Miami Spice menu for an intro deal & didn't pass. This is definitely not a "come backer". Hype doesn't match the service and food. So'wy
(2)Cam C.
I've been to this place only once for brunch. I was happily surprised. Even though we didn't have a reservation, the staff was very accommodating. Every single employee was friendly, all smiles, acknowledgeable. Wow! They truly made us feel like home. The food was great. We had salmon and a salad. The mimosas were good as well. The big surprise was the gospel singer walking all around the restaurant, going up and down the stairs entertaining everybody. What a nice lady!!! Everybody was singing and clapping along with her. The place was packed. I can't say enough good things about this place. I will definitely go back.
(5)Samantha L.
I originally planned to go to this place for the Miami Spice menu and read tons of good reviews, so I decided why not go for a special occassion and decided this would be the spot to hit up for our anniversary celebration. First off, why make reservations if when you get there you have to wait over 30 minutes. Next, I understand that at any venue you want to maximize space but placing a table right next to the doors where the servers come out of is less than pleasing, so as soon as the hostess decided that she would sit us their I kindly declined. She later sat us next to these other two seater tables which I guess yea I am being a bit picky but I'm really not into being all up in peoples space, and mind you there were these two super annoying chics sitting next to us that made the dining experience less than enjoyable. We looked over the Miami Spice menu and realized that what we wanted to try wasn't on it so we quickly switched menus and ordered, now here comes the kicker since I went to this place over a year ago, this place fell so short of my expectations that at this very moment I can't even hardly recall what I ordered. It must have not been that great I do remember that as an appetizer I ordered the french onion soup that tasted like garbage, the cheese and bread were most of what the bowl was consumed with and for me, being the french onion soup lover, there needs to be the perfect broth to cheese to bread ratio. I did try the bread pudding but was definetly not blown away, good but not amazing.
(2)Patrick F.
Nice place on Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Great comfort food with an upscale twist. Shrimp bisque is great too!
(4)Juan S.
If you enjoy shouting at the dinner table to someone right in front of you on a Saturday night, this is the place for you. EXTREMELY loud restaurant. Had reservations and was seated about a half hour after the reservation time, with no apology or explanation. Not a good way to start out the night. The food was decent. Not bad, but not great either. Nothing really memorable here. though...maybe I tried the wrong thing?. The service was ok, again nothing special. Doubtful I'd be back.
(2)Maxine V.
I came here for lunch. I got a turkey burger which was decent. If I ever come back I'll probably try the turkey wrap. We had a large table and the server was ok. No one cleared the table of empty glasses, which annoyed me. It also seemed that the server was only capable of bringing one item at a time. Nothing on the menu seemed to be too impressive. Overall I would only come back for a meeting that someone else set up here.
(3)Johnny T.
I don't mean to drop a bomb but... no. I came here dressed up after a fancy schmancy party downtown and I was ready to do some serious eating. I'd heard great things about the menu and vibe and I was looking forward to the experience. Things started well enough. Well, sorta. My party was first seated in a pretty undesirable section of real estate but a quick conversation with the hostess later, all was well and butts were in booth. Bueno. Then came the non-bueno. We got there around 10 pm on a Saturday night. Granted, later than the usual dinner crowd but early enough given the restaurant is open until 1. Our came the bread and pecan butter (as good as advertised). Our waiter, while seeming affable, was clearly not in the mood to serve us. Several times (several) while asking questions, he was staring off at other tables or had to ask us to repeat ourselves. Kudos to him for being attentive to *some*one, but when that someone isn't the person in front of you and you're a waiter... problem. Questions asked, we prepared to order. Turns out "there was a big rush on the kitchen earlier in the night" and they were out of a lot of items. Calamari? Gone. Tostones for the scallops? Nowhere to be found. Pork chop? "Let me check on the greens." Why was this restaurant open if there was no food to be served? Annoyed, I settled on a cocktail, resolved to use the men's room and come back to try again. This is where the story takes a dark turn. I am pretty fastidious when it comes to hand washing. Anyone who knows me knows this. So, imagine my horror when I am in the men's room with someone who passes by me as I was *standing* in the men's room (not to be graphic; I'm am trying to convey a sense of location) and walks right out of the door. Mouth ajar and pearls broken from clutching, I washed my hands and returned to my table and recounted my tale of terror... and then I saw him. No. It couldn't be. Surely, he was a guest. It couldn't be that the man I saw leave the bathroom (remember, he had to pass me... as I stood... don't make me completely spell it out) without washing his hands was an employee. He wasn't wearing the same clothes as our waiter (who, by the way, had not yet returned with my cocktail) but, he wasn't wearing street clothes either. Nancy Drew-training in hand, I pretended to take a cell phone call by the bar/kitchen. A few head-tossed cackles and stunned looks as I 'received' shocking news which required me to pace back and forth, darting furtive looks to the kitchen... and I saw him. He had some defining characteristics that were immediately obvious. It was him. I went right back to the table and told me friends of the situation. We had to leave. I don't doubt nasty stuff happens in kitchens all of the time. I don't want to see it. I don't want to know it. There was no way I could have enjoyed my meal knowing what I knew and seeing what I saw. To her credit, the hostess was mortified. She got the manager, asked for a description, knew who it was from the first details, apologized, and promised to resolve it. Nice to know but... I had to leave. Funnily enough, as we packed up, my cocktail came. Par for the course. Sorry City Hall, but you need to clean up your act.
(1)Amy Jo A.
Two stars for the food. Big group for a business dinner. Restaurant was empty, service was rushed, loud and pushy. There are too many great places to eat to go back here. This was a miss for sure.
(2)Shanley W.
I had an exceptional experience at City Hall, I was staying at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Miami on Biscayne blvd. The food at the hotel was horribly subpar and I was stuck here at a conference for 4 days. I ate at City Hall 3 out of the 4 days and I wasn't disappointed once! I believe the host goes by Lincoln and he was absolutely gracious. He gave me recommendations for fun things to do in the area and really took care of me. The food was great I highly recommend the mussels, salmon, duck pizza and meatloaf. Mitch was my bartender on the last night and I feel bad I don't remember the young lady who served me but she was great as well. On my third and last visit I felt like a regular. Please give this restaurant a try if your staying anywhere in the area. Our concierges at the hotel kept steering me towards the Doubletree, I went to the Doubletree but I definitely felt more comfortable and taken care of by City Hall and their crew. If I'm ever back in the Miami area I will be sure to stop by and you should as well!
(5)Melissa D.
Caveat: I really think this place deserves 3 1/2 stars because I was between a 3 and a 4. The staff here deserve 5 stars. I also tried this place during Miami Spice month. The menu at City Hall is both diverse and traditional. They offer slight twists on classic dishes - like blue cheese mashed potatoes (great idea!). It really is upscale diner food with an ethnic pinch. I usually wince when I see too many cultures present on a menu... I mean how can they get them ALL right?! And the answer is, unless they've got a small United Nations in their kitchen, they can't and don't. But City Hall offers satisfaction with hearty meals that make it ok to want to finish everything on your plate - or take it home as leftovers. However, I would lean toward their American home-style selections over Asian inspired ones. I had the seared salmon, which was cooked perfectly (I asked for medium rare and actually got medium rare), but the jasmine rice was totally overcooked and as a result, a little mushy; moreover, the flavor was pretty bland and kind of felt like it came out of a box (I'm sure it didn't). My friend had the pork chop and the filet mignon which were much more successful dishes. Definite highlight for me was the nectarine and plum cheesecake. I fancy myself a cheesecake aficionado and this slice was as light and creamy as it was tangy and sweet... with homemade whipped cream... a must for me. I also tried their famous chocolate chip croissant bread pudding... a desert I described to my friend as a warm hug. Don't go here if you're on a diet or not in the mood for rich food. This place requires a little gluttony. And the service was excellent. Really friendly staff adds to that upscale diner feel.
(3)Michael G.
Great lunch if not on the heavy side. Service was great. Not really my scranton but cant find fault with anything.
(4)Nicole F.
I just had the worst experience going to City Hall. We were five; can you believe we picked this restaurant out of many to go for a group lunch? The place is nice, it started well. We were seated, the waiter came to our table, provided the menus. The food ordering was bit awkward but nothing out of the ordinary. The waiting period was lengthy even though we ordered from the 30 minutes or less lunch menu. When the food arrived, he didn't know who ordered what. Meanwhile, the appetizer did not arrive, when we enquired, the waiter said he forgot to place the order and apologized. He asked if we still wanted it, he can place the order, (really!!?). Then the bread arrived -after the food. The food was okay; the water was not replenished unless we asked. The kicker... we finished and were patiently waiting for the dessert (which we pre-ordered) since it was part of the lunch menu. The waiter brings the dessert menu, to our surprise. He seemed surprised and lost and we kindly reminded him that he had already taken our dessert orders. Furthermore, he asked us if we didn't receive our desserts (what!!!?). Well ... it really went downhill from there. He (Luis) comes with another waiter with the desserts, not knowing who ordered what again. The other waiter had his finder holding the cookies onto the plate, omg !!! Our manager was upset and went to speak with the restaurant manager (Sasha) who evasively just apologized. Luis tried to redeem himself by offering a bread pudding, which, I though was excessive considering we had already eaten dessert. It could have been a nice gesture, if Luis didn't slam the desserts plates unto the table. By that time I was completely horrified and discouraged. Wow!!! That performance was worthy of a Grammy, he must have been under the influence or maybe they pulled him out of washing the dishes due to lack of staff. Maybe we were on candid camera!!? Finally, when we're trying to come to grip with this awful reality, they decided to offer everyone at the table a 10% discount in the event one would decide to come back. "Adios amigos" you will never see me/us again; there are too many restaurants in this city to torture myself by coming back to this joke of a restaurant.
(1)Rags M.
Disappointed. I thought I'd give it a try on Miami Spice for possibly adding it to the all too short list of places to go before or after events at the Arscht or the Triple A. Forget it. Our food arrived promptly but only luke warm at best. Service seems intent on high turnover, at the sacrifice of the kitchen. Even the mussels must sit on a warming tray somewhere, waiting for the waiters to scoop them up rather than being cooked to order. Nothing (eggplant app, mahi main and a rib eye main plus the mussels) was anything to boast about. I've scratched this one from that still too short list.
(2)Tracy C.
Recommended by the hotel concierge as a nice place, close enough for us to walk. I'm so glad he did! Place was local dinner chic - with dark paneling, black and white floors, big wood bar - very nice but not overly fancy. Party of 6 we were immediately seated, and had a waiter taking care of us at all times. Food was excellent and fresh, the drinks were very tasty (a bit expensive), and they even gave us several free desserts as hotel "sends" All in all a VERY good meal, nice service and fun atmosphere. Recommend for anyone who is looking for a way above average night out.
(4)David C.
What a pleasant surprise. It reminds me of some of the more sophisticated, metro places to eat in Chicago and NYC. Miami needs to support this place and give it some love. To start, they have the best bar I have been to in a while and the bartender made me a fantastic martini. Starters: Flat bread - awesome and must be shared Oysters - with bleu cheese - super tasty Mussels - in a great sauce and a nice portion size Chicken wings - great, but there is other stuff a bit better Entrees: Steak - fillet was perfectly made Meatloaf - huge and super tasty BONUS TIME: You must try the banana cream pie. It was the best I have ever had. The chocolate tart was also solid. Chef Tom was super pleasant and humble. This place is great and the location is conveniently off South Beach. TIP: Valet your car, it is cheap
(4)Sergio E.
Great food fantastic atmosphere! Sunday Brunch is an great event... life music ... Just be ready for a noisy fun experience!
(4)Dana R.
Perfect dinner spot in every way. Let's start off with the bread. Warm, soft, impossible to practice portion control. Not to mention the butter is unlike anywhere else...it is sweet and I would be perfectly content eating it on its own (don't judge!). As I skim the menu I struggle with what to order simply because I've thoroughly enjoyed everything I've sampled at City Hall. Last night I got the tuna tartare which is perfectly prepared with avocado, seaweed salad, papaya, and a truffle soy vinaigrette. I also ordered the duck and wild mushroom pizza- wow. It was so good and so filling that we made our neighbors eat our remaining slices and I can confidently say that they were equally impressed. Next time I go back will be for City Hall's Gospel Sunday brunch. Can't wait to dive into some crab cake benedict!
(5)Sandra F.
This review is for the Sunday Gospel brunch. What a fun time! I tried to grand marnier french toast and the mushrooms and eggs encroute. I thought everything was very good including the mimosas. Make sure to confirm advertised prices as they charged us more for mimosas than on the flyer but when we brought it to their attention they adjusted the price. The singer was fun and even got the crowd involved. I'll be back!
(3)Maria O.
We live very close to City Hall so we go there very often. It is a great place both to have a drink and eat appetizers or to have a full meal. The bar tenders are very nice, service is great and food is really exquisite. Try the tuna tartar, the gorgonzola and guava pizza and definitely the bread pudding for dessert!
(4)Sloan s.
Very disappointed! Menu changed. I ordered take out asked for seafood gumbo which was 8.95 and got some crap at $28.50. They forgot my Mac and cheese and Bread Pudding. The best thing was the Pancheta and Gorgonzola pizza was the best thing going. So overprice, ripoff with missing food and bland. Sad very sad!
(2)Josi D.
First, I'll say my review is slightly biased. Being in the industry, we probably knew 3/4 of the staff that night including the manager and owner, and probably had better service than your average guest, in that kind of "guy talk, treat me like a trophy wife who clearly doesn't care to have an actual dinner conversation, just listen in on the guys" kind of way. That being said.... The rootbeer cocktail was a weird experience. It's on the menu, I ordered it. The waiter told me I would not like it, to choose something else. I insisted I like rootbeer, so he brought it to me. Then they told me again I probably did not like it, that it tasted like cough syrup, that they were soon replacing it, and should I prefer something else - let them know. A couple months later it's still on their menu, and I did like it. I don't remember everything we ate, but the potato skins were only slightly more impressive than TGIFriday's, unfortunately. The brussel sprouts were absolutely amazing, melting in your mouth. The meatloaf, yes, good - but I just can't justify paying so much for food like this. Being American, this is comfort food - and meatloaf is not exactly what you eat on a splurge night out. It's just strange. I absolutely have to say, with much regret, that my gravy was disgusting. It tasted like corn starch. Mac & Cheese was good, but again, it's mac & cheese. I feel like every menu in 2010 had mac and cheese. And I definitely ate my fair share of .59 kraft boxed dinners as a kid - I just can't justify gourmet mac and cheese. I wish I would have tried the fried chicken. My husband had a steak, which was delicious - I was jealous and bitter that I had fallen for the homey American fare via ex China Grill staff. Should have known better I guess. The bread pudding was absolutely insane. Gooey and chocolatey and worth every spoonful. I would go back for it. Maybe it's because I'm not from NY, I don't understand the decor, it just feels cold and clashes oddly with the trying to be warm and cozy menu. The service, had we not known the staff, would have most likely been bad, judging by other tables. One of the girl servers had her shirt unbuttoned (no, not even gracing us with cleavage unfortunately) with a white wife beater tank top and gold pimpish chain and messy stringy hair hanging all around, bounced around the restaurant flirting with the staff, then left through the front door with her purse, extra set of clothes, and work shoes in her hand, completely unappetizing and unattractive. Our server was excellent, but in a forced "the owner is watching me with this table" type way. I hear the gospel brunch on Sunday's is worth checking out - maybe I will go, and update. I love these guys and wish I could have been blown away.
(3)Oregna J.
The atmosphere is great. However, the iceberg salad and mussels with cream sauce was absolutely horrible. The waiter Noel was very cold towards us. He's extremely argumentive with customers. Simply removing an item from the check does not suffice. It's not able the money, but the experience.My visit was during lunch, perhaps dinner made be better. I'll never eat at this place again.
(1)Eric J.
Um...ok...so there are good parts and bad parts to our experience at City Hall and its abotu 50/50 between them so I'm just going to lay this out chronologically. I made the reservation a couple of days ago and was profoundly impressed with the level of professionalism shown by the gentleman (name eludes me) who not only took my reservation but called the day -of to confirm. We got there and were promptly seated and were optimistic that things were very much headed in the right direction. The interior design was right on and the urban feel palpable. The menu looked great but from the start it was clear...Houston, we have a problem.... The waiter was a nice enough guy I'm sure but clearly, management had not armed this guy with enough tools to get him through a drive through at Krystal Burger.... ME : So do you happen to know what single malt scotches you have... WAITER GUY: No. [ Incredibly long, uncomfortable...waiting for a punch line...no really here's the list...pause] ME: Guess, I'll get up and go see for myself (as I wandered down stairs to see there mediocre if pasable list of scotches... Ok so downhill from here... We ordered about a half a dozen apps and one entree and after the waiter asked me if "I'll have a double" meant "double ice", he took the order and left. 20 (or more likely 30) minutes later he came over to "confirm the order", Apparently that was code for "I didn't put in your order ...oops..." Anyhoos...we got a new waiter..manager was nice but a little lost and perhaps undertrained as well...replacement watiress was cool...now the food The food saved it... We ordered Cevice, Shortrib stuffed potato skins (what could be wrong with that), salad (sorry I don't remember but it was great), Blue cheese oyster, Mussels, Truffle pizza and the fried chicken. I won't go into each dish other than to say they were all order agains....except the fried chicken which is only order again if there is no KFC near where you live. For dessert we had the bread pudding (awesome and worth the trip on its own) and the something, something, something trapped in chocolate (which I'm craving as I write this".... On balance, the place was good...maybe even very good but its hard to tell because the service absolutely was awful... I should clarify that neither the guy that didn't know if I meant double rocks or anyone else that worked there should be blamed for the pisspoor service. The problem there was clearly systemic and whoever is responsible for training staff...well, there's always night school
(3)Michele P.
I came to City Hall just to get something to eat. Little did I know that I would be in for such a treat. Simply put the food and venue are worth every dime you spend. The server staff is friendly and on their game. Then the center attraction is the food. just take a look at the pictures. What more needs to be said.
(4)Br. Jason F.
I've had the pleasure of dining here at least five times in the last six months. I am reminded of NYC as I sit in one of City Halls large booths. Everything on the menu is first rate. I'm fond of their meatloaf. Their appetizers are plentiful and easily shared. Deserts are huge and can be shared between two. The service is of the highest quality I have never sat for more than two minutes with a half-glass of water. Adult beverages are made perfectly even for the most finicky of diners. You won't be disappointed if you choose to eat at City Hall.
(5)Anthony C.
Oh, how it pains me to give this place only three stars! FINALLY, I get the opportunity to make my way over to City Hall, a new addition to the ever growing gastro scene of Miami. Upon arrival I am digging the "Roaring 20's" decor with the tall ceiling, mural, and second story overlooking the first floor. This vibe combined with the classy but trendy feeling makes the place totally authentic. BUT, if only I could judge City Hall on decor alone..... OK, I get it. Elaborated American classics such as your meatloaf, fried chicken, pork chops, etc. Fine. I was looking forward to see how it would all turn out. So, now that you have an idea of the expectation, I decided to order the pork chop. Foolish me. A pork chop? Granted the pork was of good quality, but like I said, it was just that: a pork chop. That's the thing. I just couldn't muster up the feeling of excitement in reading over the menu items. I mean, c'mon, would you get excited too over some elaborated meat loaf, pork chops, and fried chicken? These items are meant to be "comfort" foods made in the comfort of your own home, not in some trendy establishment that kind of zaps the magic out of them. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm glad I went to uncover what this place is all about, and it sure is a worthy restaurant, but I wasn't crazy about it. Sorry, Steve Haas!
(3)Alexis Y.
City Hall reminds me of a restaurant from the set of a movie where two rich mobsters are making a deal. Overall I enjoyed my visit to City Hall. The restaurant has two floors. The top floor might be for private events but it was closed on Friday night so we sat on the first floor. I was very impressed with the service that evening. We were offered sparkling water (yay) and fresh baked bread with pecan butter that is made on location. I ordered the unconventional french onion soup which has two cheese filled wantons instead of bread and the onion and beef broth soup is poured table side. It was a very large portion and I was not able to finish it. I also ordered the meatloaf but I was not feeling well and I asked our server to cancel it. There seemed to be some concern about my well being so the server brought me herbal tea. I thought that was nice. Dessert came to the table and although I wasn't feeling up to it I could not pass up a taste of the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding.
(4)Adriana W.
I went back for a party with my coworkers and RAUL the bartender was simply the BEST! He can make a mean Sour Apple cocktail and his Cosmos are pretty awesome! I bought like 16 ounces of the butter pecan spread for my pregnant sister, who's been dying for this since last year. The service here is amazing! I am definitely going back here only for RAUL though, he was great!
(4)Anya W.
Looks good from the out side, looks hopeful when you get in and then goes down hill from then on until the relief of walking out the door. Unfortunately, I went back because it was convenient and thought it may have been just a bad night. Na. No love in the cooking, no imagination in the menu and unimpressive service. Ambience is quite nice, OK for a drink maybe but this place is lacking someone to oversee what is driving it to being such a disappointment. Don't mind spending money on a good experience but not on crap food like that.
(1)Alejandra S.
Best margaritas ever and the food is always delicious. Ask for the shrimp and grits if they have them.
(5)Colleen R.
Sorry, what did you say? I'm sorry, I can't hear you. You went WHERE for WHAT? Oh my goodness, I was at City Hall for a business lunch with two others and I could not hear a THING!! I mean the restaurant is beautiful! Very cool 20s decor like Anthony mentioned, but MAN - there is nothing to soak up any of the noise in this place! Its like you are in a freakin' garage. Everything echoes and you hear EVERYONE'S conversations. I had to lean in constantly just to hear what my two fellow lunchers were saying and they were two feet away! Seriously, they need something to soak up the noise, I mean just a few tablecloths would help. I get a headache just THINKING about going back here. Ok, now that I got that off my chest, a few notes on the service and food - both were pretty stellar. The service was a BIT OCD, we were asked four times how our meals were, they refilled our glasses before they were half empty, and we were approached twice by the manager to make sure everything was to our satisfaction. I won't look a gift horse in the mouth, I'd rather have more attention than not enough, but all of us commented on the repeated visits to our table. For food, I was actually pretty happy here. The only reason I am rating it 3 stars is because I couldn't hear a THING... LOL... seriously the acoustics are horrible. I had a lump meat crab salad with eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and a spicy ranch dressing. Pretty tasty! My fellow lunchers had a turkey burger wrap (pretty unique but he said it was excellent) and a steak salad (she cleaned her plate!). Prices are a bit on the steep side, our bill was about $50 for the three of us and we did not have coffee or alcohol. I do have to note it is a pretty hip spot, we had several local government officials in the restaurant for lunch and some local celebrities (most of which said hi!). Great place, just bring earplugs and don't expect to talk to each other.
(3)Mags M.
Came here for a late night dinner, the food was really good. The pecan butter was amazing, best butter I had. The service was also top notch. My water glass was never empty (I never had to lift a finger to fill it) also my martini was never empty as well! I am excited and looking forward to going again!
(4)Nick J.
Yum! I went to this restaurant during Miami Spice. I had the brunch menu..a mimosa (just because), French toast, with a corn flake crust, and bourbon-infused pure maple syrup, and thick-cut applewood smoked bacon. Definitely a great look, I must say. The ambience was nice, a good place for a date. Customer service was good. I'd like to return here for dinner, hopefully it isn't too pricey when I come back!
(4)Itzela C.
First let me start of by saying that the service is excellent! Appetizer and entree exceptional. Okay, let's talk food: My Entree was the garlic herb chicken. I shared a calamari appetizer with a friend . The garlic herb chicken was amazing which came with a side order of sliced potatoes. The potatoes were a bit dry in my opinion, the dish also came with another side order of garlic asparagus which were perfectly cooked. The calamari appetizer...what can I say...City Hall knows how to handle their calamari!! Delish! Well over all, I would say my meal at City Hall Restaurant, was memorable, but I found their prices a tad bit high. I guess that's the price you pay (literally) for food that's prepared well and with great service. I'll be back :)
(4)Gus M.
I truly had a great time here tonight. The service was prompt, my water was full 100% of the time, the food was hot, fresh and delicious. We made reservations for 8:30 and walked there. The place was not completely full, and we were immediately seated. The decor is wonderful, with some really nice artwork on the second floor. Our drinks were quickly brought out, as well as the deliciously warm bread with a sweet and savory honey-pecan butter. I ordered the meatloaf. $17.95 for a brick of meatloaf, crispy onions on top, gravy on the side, chorizo macaroni and cheese, and green beans. I was blown away by every item on my plate. I ended up taking half the meatloaf (that thing is huge!) and some of the mac & cheese, and I'm someone who usually finishes my plate, no matter how big. My girlfriend got a crispy fried chicken with some deliciously prepared corn, honey, and mashed potatoes. She was equally ecstatic about it, and got equally full halfway through. Next time, we're sharing.
(5)Brad B.
Went for Sunday brunch. I asked the waitress about the menu and she had nothing positive to say about it. She alerted that she hadn't tried the items on it, which seemed very odd to me. Working in the restaurant biz in the past, I know the importance of trying the food in order to explain them to the customer. So, I order the breakfast pizza. When I placed my order, the waitress asked, "breakfast pizza?" She had no idea they even had a breakfast pizza! I was shocked. Super strange experience. The pizza wasn't anything special. The corned beef hash wasn't that good. A bit on the peppery side. The dough was the better part of it. I wouldn't order it again, nor would I do brunch there again. The restaurant during the daytime isn't appealing. It had a cold stale atmosphere... had no warmth to it. Nothing positive to say about it. The price for brunch there didn't compliment the taste!
(2)Trabbit L.
Have to say I'm surprised by the low stars. Although it wasn't very busy when we were there, so maybe service is better when they are less busy? Either that, or they have corrected whatever problems they had before. Server slipped and called my sister "mami". We thought that was hilarious. We ordered blue cheese crusted oysters (was ok. blue cheese was a little too strong), gumbo (great! one person thought it was too fishy, the rest loved it), and duck + truffle pizza (super awesome! Everyone's favorite. Nicely cheesy and you could really taste the duck and truffles) for appetizers. Then for entree we had meat loaf (great), mahi over risotto (a special, and everyone's least favorite but still very decent), and fried chicken (tasted like any slightly salty fried chicken, but the honey dip was very clever and actually made it super good) And for dessert, we all shared the chocolate croissant bread pudding thing, which was HEAVENLY. Perfect ending and we all loved it. Although it was super rich and the portion was big, so I don't know how one person would be able to finish even half of it. Perfect for sharing, which made it a good deal. All of us agreed the food was fantastic. Decor was beautiful, service prompt and attentive. We enjoyed every bit of it.
(5)Carly N.
Me and my boyfriend were on vacation and saw that city hall was on the Miami spice menu. When we arrived for brunch the door was locked even though your restaurant was open. We were seated at a dirty table and only upon requesting the Miami spice menu did we receive it. Not to mention that the menu was on a crumpled up piece of computer paper. Our waiter Luis F. Was by far the worst server I have ever had in my life. He forgot what we ordered, never came to check on us, tried to drop the check before giving us the dessert that we already ordered, and then he stood in the back of the restaurant looking at his paycheck for 20 minutes. Another server had to present us with our check and charge us because Luis was to busy doing nothing. We would have tipped 00 dollars but the busboys were very nice and attentive and they deserved a tip. Furthermore there was a manager walking around handing out paychecks, we tried to get her attention but that didn't work. She was also too busy helping the table behind us that had 4 screaming children at 10am. As someone who works in this industry I can say that during brunch your manager should be touching tables. Or at least notice the 2 pissed off people that were sitting right in front of her. We will never be coming back here. EVER!
(1)Danny D.
Let me be clear. I am giving City Hall 3 1/2 stars. I faced a decision between rounding up or rounding down and I made a choice to round down. I was decisive and took action, because that's what people in City Hall should do. Let me tell you, the American people, why I made that decision. I came to City Hall on an early Sunday afternoon around 12:30 p.m. The day after facing perhaps the most crucial tailgate in this UM alumni's history. UM vs. FSU 2012. But make no mistake. This wasn't an ordinary UM-FSU game. It also happened to be Homecoming. It wasn't easy, but I managed to make it through. Here's the deal. I needed water, a good brunch, and a Bloody Mary. Now look, I had been to City Hall in the past and thought it was phenomenal. But let me be clear. You're only as good as your latest performance. Thank you basedgod for those last two debates. I sat down in City Hall with one of my advisors and we were promptly poured water and asked if we would like anything to drink. Here's the deal. The only reason I decided to come to City Hall is because I remembered their excellent Bloody Mary's... so I ordered one. To eat, I decided to skip brunch and order the shrimp po boy. Now, make no mistake. I knew it wouldn't be easy to beat the recently discovered Bloody Marys at Mercadito, but their brunch was just ok and I thought that City Hall could offer a way forward. I was wrong. The Bloody Mary was good in the sense that it was strong, but let me be clear. It was not as tasty as I had hoped. I ended up having to put a large amount of Tobasco sauce in it and the juice of four lemon wedges. After that it was good, but... they didn't build that! As far as the shrimp sandwich goes, it was good but unremarkable. That's why it only gets one sentence. Make no mistake, I said that I came to City Hall to recover from the previous day, and that's exactly what I intended on doing. I ordered a coffee after I had finished eating. Here's the deal. You can give me bad service and I'll forgive you. But let me be clear. You don't not give me my coffee. After 20 minutes without seeing any coffee, I asked for the check and left. That is why I rounded down. Will I go back to City Hall? Yes. Just please, move forward.
(3)Luis E.
City Hall has nailed it as far as it goes for me. The atmosphere is very metropolitan. Lots of architectural lines, and angular shaped lighting. The service is phenomenal. They serve you iced water as soon as you are seated, and the server is very educated with the menu. They even bag your food for you once you are done eating. But my favorite part of the menu is the drinks. There is a spicy and sweet passionfruit martini that is beyond amazing. I had the pleasure of enjoying the fish stew which came with succulent fish,scallops, and muscles. And even though the server told me that they ran out of scallops that evening the restaurant went the extra mile to get a hold of scallops to add to the stew. They have an amazing wine menu. And even though I did not have dessert I am sure that they have something exquisite to offer. This is certainly a place to take a hot date. Very upscale and classy
(5)Katerina S.
I was excited to try City Hall as I'd heard lots of great things. Unfortunately, each dish we ordered were really below average. We started off with the baked eggplant for appetizer - this had so much potential but it had wayyyyy too much cheese inside and outside the eggplant - this was cheese with eggplant not eggplant with cheese. Furthermore, I ordered the fish stew, which was bordering disgusting as several of the "fish" pieces were some type of pure gelatin-consistency fat portion of the fish. That turned me off to the entire dish. My husband ate a simply grilled Grouper with vegetables - that was basic and ok but a bit overcooked. Our friends enjoyed their lamb but their steak was covered in a thick layer of Parmesan cheese (way to ruin any decent steak). Anyways, I doubt I'll be coming back. The next morning we all had stomach issues. Far too many mishaps.
(1)Rachel S.
I was excited to try this restaurant after receiving a recommendation and seeing favorable ratings on Check Please South Florida. My boyfriend and I decided to dine here before seeing the Billy Joel concert. We made a reservation for 6:15 and arrived about 5 minutes early. We were impressed that they asked if we were going to the concert b/c they said they would make note of it so our service would be faster. We had no problem being seated - the host recommended we sit at either a high top downstairs or a lowtop upstairs because the lowtops downstairs would be uncomfortable for my boyfriend. I found that weird, but I appreciate the recommendation. We opted to go upstairs b/c I do not like high tops. We definitely are glad we put in reservations as the restaurant got very busy. I think there was a lot going on downtown that night. Upstairs was very nice and we had a nice view of the restaurant. We quickly put our order in - a pizza appetizer, lemon chicken and meatloaf, as well as our drinks. Our waiter confirmed we were going to a concert. So far so good! Our drinks came out promptly with warm bread and a delicious butter. That was the high point of the meal. The pizza came out relatively quickly too - about 10 minutes later and it was good. Then we waited. And waited. Never saw our waiter. I had to ask a bus boy for a refill on my soda. And Waited. It is now 7 p.m. and our food is nowhere to be seen. We see people who arrived after us get their food (including those at the hightop we were offered) Finally the waiter stops by to say he's checking with the kitchen and will talk to the manager because he knows we have to leave for the concert, which begins at 8. He comes back and says it will be out in a few minutes. Fine. It doesn't take very long to eat. 15 minutes later I call the manager over and I explain that we have an 8 p.m. concert we have to get to. He said it will be fine, don't worry, the food will be great and he'll even offer us free dessert! Five minutes later the food finally comes and it is a disappointment. My boyfriend enjoyed his meat loaf, but didn't think it was amazing. I was less than impressed with the chicken limon over linguine. The chicken was fine, but the pasta was horrible. Everything was luke warm and the pasta stuck together and was sticky. We get our bill and the manager comes over and asks again if we want dessert. It is not 7:40, 20 minutes before the concert, and we have to get a cab and get through traffic. Even if we wanted dessert, we simply did not have time for it. To cut the restaurant slack, it was a very business night. However, It should never take an hour and 20 minutes to receive an entree. Especially when you are a table for two. Food was mediocre. Perhaps this is more of a burger joint. Most likely will not be back, but you never know!
(2)Lina V.
Came here for a friend's birthday party, nice place however was not impressed with the food and the service. The pizza appetizers are good and huge, so you can easily split it with a friend (which the waiter did not mention). The seafood stew was bland with only one scallop inside, mostly fish and overlooked shrimp, it comes with a tiny plate of cilantro rice. The waiter did not explain or give any beneficial suggestions, so maybe other food is good but overall disappointing!
(3)Savanna M.
After having City Hall's shrimp and grits at a New Times Iron Fork some years back I knew I had to have it again, however the 3 star reviews from many of my yelp friends had me a little apprehensive and in no rush. Recently, I spotted a Living Social deal and decided that that was enough incentive to make me finally go get those shrimp and grits. After parking ($5 for valet that we had to pay up front and then park ourselves) the bf was a little annoyed. I tried to remind him that it was Miami, but quite frankly I was annoyed at us paying up front! We walked in and the host immediately questioned if we were here for the Kanye West concert later that night (we were) and promised to make sure the kitchen took care of us in a timely manner - plus points for that. I decided to order my go to rum and coke after seeing the specialty cocktails were $12 each, not really a savings since my drink was $11! and the bf ordered a reasonably priced beer. After about 2 or 3 servers dropped by (yes the service was extremely attentive/friendly/helpful yet strange that we had so many different people) we ordered the tuna tartare to start - recommended by one of our servers. Honestly, the wonton chips it came with weren't the easiest eating tool, but that was one of the best tuna tartare I've ever had! I may have been inspired to start a tuna tartare list just because of this one! Mains - I had the shrimp and grits obviously, and yes it was just as good as I remembered it! I've had better, but it's up there with the best! The bf ordered a special of the night - skirt steak with blue cheese mashed potatoes, sauteed shrimp and vegetables, and despite the steak coming out a little bit more well done than he had asked (I get it skirt steak can be difficult cause it's so thin) he was impressed and so was I!! Expensive when we finally saw the price on the check, but it was worth it. Dessert - despite the fact that I was full, really full, we got talked into ordered the bread pudding made with chocolate chip croissants and topped with some kinda of cream.... yes get this... I'm drooling just thinking back about it! Overall, yes we'll be back. The food was good, better than the yelp reviews led me to believe, and the service was good as well. I did feel as though the atmosphere was a little weird, maybe too open, or too much of a dark steakhouse feel that didn't match the menu, but hey I'm all about the food!
(4)Terry L.
This establishment has a great location in Downtown Miami (not that far from the arena). They have valet available for a cost ($5 when I arrived) but I opted for the complimentary self parking lot right next to the valet area! Upon entering the restaurant I fell in love with the design... It has two floors, a centered bar and street art on the walls with keeping a upscale style. I came in around 4pm on a Thursday and it was dead which I liked as I was flying solo. I opted to sit at the bar and the bartender took some time to address me... After finally saying Hello and providing the menus (making no recommendations) I choose to start with the crab cake and choose my entree as the Fried Chicken. Overall the crab cake was good as it mainly consisted of actual crab. As for the fried chicken... I've had better... The pieces were small and seemed overcooked, it also came with a biscuit and mashed potatoes, the potatoes were good and the biscuit had no flavor. The restaurant has potential and I feel that due to me coming in when it was dead I didn't get the level of service and food that normally is provided. I'm gonna suck it up and try this place again and will then update this review.
(3)Natasha C.
We went recently to experience the Sunday Gospel Brunch. We truly enjoyed the performance. The hostess was polite & professional. Apparently their dishwasher had issues because all of our glasses weren't washed properly. As for our food: French Toast & Fried Chicken: French toast was delicious but Fried Chicken was Flavorless. Salmon & Cream cheese omelette & fries: Very yummy! Limon Chicken: Chicken flavorless & an excessive amount of butter. Braised Beef Short Ribs: Beef delicious, scrambled eggs were literally disgusting. Sautéed Sesame Salmon: Wayyyy to much Sesame seeds on the Salmon. After scraping off the seeds it was discovered that the Salmon had absolutely zero seasoning added to it!! Our waiter was quite an odd person but he still did his job well. So the staff is good but the food is where the restaurant needs lots of improvement.
(3)Michael H.
City Hall is one of those places where I love the appetizers and desserts but the main courses aren't my favorite. I've been here and few times and always get the meatloaf and it is good but not great. I do like the relaxed and casual atmosphere and for the Miami area the prices are pretty good. They have a decent beer and wine selection and their craft cocktails are cleverly named and very good. I would reccomend the duck flat bread and the bread pudding for dessert.
(4)Jessie R.
The service was great all the way around - from the male host to the server and bus people! Very happy to help and warm. The atmosphere is also nice, the lighting and music were perfect for dinner. The food was nothing to extra to write home about, but enjoyable non the less! Will recommend! Will come back for more!
(5)William K.
Too much hype for no reason. Overly expensive for no reason. The food is decent but is very typical of your average chain restaurants. Not sure what they hype is all about simply because it is located in mid town.
(1)Darin P.
Parking: Valet is next to the restaurant, but free parking is literally 20 feet further down on the same side of the street. Bengal has signs there, but the fine print says City Hall parking as well. Waiter was French and hot upset that we did not want the amazing-looking bread. Then he was fine when we explained it was for Lent (carb free). That only left us with one option on the menu. We both had the Thai Steal Salad. It was a delicious mix of veggies with Thai dressing. Watercress was the greens for the salad. The steak was cooked perfectly and there was about 8-10 ounces on the plate. A very good deal compared to the price of other menu items. As Ahnold said, "I'll be back!"
(5)Natty G.
So, we've been here a few times and we're not very impressed. This restaurant looks nice and the menu is eclectic but the food is merely OK. The service is slow and if you go during Sunday brunch prepare yourself for a headache. The music is so loud you can't enjoy a conversation with a nice group. The menu is made up of mostly comfort style food, however; you don't feel particularly comforted. Maybe it's the brunch that is too crazy for a Sunday after having just woken up. Overall, it's just OK.
(3)elayne s.
The food is superb. Cudos to Chef Luis Lopez. Terrific lunch specials priced right. Dinner are divine with fab specials.
(5)Katrella S.
Love this place for lunch. They have an 11.50 lunch special. Today I'm having shrimp jambalaya. The crusty bread with pecan butter makes my day. Also coming with my lunch is salad and desert. Um um good
(5)Jamie W.
I've been to City Hall twice and both times I was very impressed with the atmosphere, service, and of course, food! This particular review is from my 2nd visit, which was last night. I knew from my 1st visit that the "not your usual French Onion soup" was very good according to my colleague, so I tried it this time. And she was right! The dish comes out with 3 onion-filled dumplings and cheese in the bowl. Then the soup is poured into the bowl right in front of you. A nice, cute, different touch. I also ordered the brussell sprouts side dish. It was quite large and definitely could have been shared with another person. I wasn't a big fan of the aioli that came with it....seemed a bit mayo-ish and heavy. Nevertheless, the sprouts were delicious! City Hall is a great place in an area with not too many good restaurants. I highly recommend it if you're visiting the area!
(4)Ute L.
Friendly and fast service and reasonably priced American food with some healthful options made for an enjoyable Columbus Day lunch. Mom and dad love these kind of places when they visit from Berlin. Free parking in the back is a plus, so is the fact that they don't automatically slap on 18% gratuity. We started munching on some sweet potato fries while we waited. They could have used more salt and/ or some kind of spice rub but they were fresh, well cooked and non-greasy. Our waiter was great. My dad thoroughly enjoyed his Cobb salad. What is there to say- the man likes chicken, eggs and bacon. The avocado dressing, he said, was also yummy. My salmon was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I could have done with a little less oil in the salad dressing, since the salmon was already oily. Other than that, the salad dressing was great and surprisingly, having strawberries and grapes with salmon actually worked. Our waiter was very confident about the croissant bread pudding and he was right. This bread pudding is nothing short of awesome. The croissants make it moist and fluffy, it is served steaming warm with incredibly rich and decadent chunks of molten dark chocolate throughout and a bourbon vanilla sauce on the side. The serving is so big that even I couldn't possibly eat this alone. This is sooooo much better than Blue Collar's B.P. The only chocolate B.P. that comes close is Morgan's chocolate and pecan variation. I will be back to try their brunch. Or maybe just to have bread pudding as my main course.
(4)Brad H.
Really pretty average. I may have given the food 3 stars but the poor service bumped it to only 2. Went with the family for Mother's Day brunch and service was really pretty bad. Omelette, pancakes etc we good but not in any way remarkable.
(2)Lindsay B.
This place is absolutely amazing. The service is excellent and my server was very knowledgeable of the menu. The restaurant is dimly lit and cozy, had a romantic vibe. The food was to die for and the drinks were very good as well. To drink I had the lychee martini, which packed some serious punch... I had the Mussels and the Gorgonzola pizza. Both were absolutely excellent. For dessert I had the apple crumble. I would describe it as a soufflé with apples and gooey-ness inside and topped with ice cream. Oh my god, just delicious. Excited to return for brunch which I've heard is amazing also.I will definitely be frequently returning and am recommending it to everyone I know.
(5)Steve W.
Nice atmosphere and overall good vibe but pretty pedestrian food, nothing really special . But I'd say my experience was marred by poor service which has nothing to do with the kitchen. The waitstaff is amicable and does make an effort but they could be understaffed perhaps? I'd say the manager and owner need to pay closer attention to service. I waited close to 40 minutes to pay my check. The waiter had a large party he was just sat and never stopped back to get my check. I dropped it off to the manager who was sitting at the at bar eating. We waited even longer as they dropped my credit card behind their service stand. After it all was done they wanted to offer us 10% off the bill. You get that at Yelp Check in. At that point and he just looked at me and said 20%. AND the owner was there watching this unfold, didn't even offer an apology or say anything which was surprising as I've heard he's a decent guy. I suggested they comp the check as it really ruined the dining experience. I'd go again but given the fact that there are many other choices in area,not so sure.
(2)Spencer A.
Looking to have an amazing brunch serenaded the acclaimed singer, songwriter, and actress, Maryel Epps? Look no further than City Hall and listen to South Florida's most exciting diva pound out gospel, jazz and blues. The food? I hardly noticed...but my turkey burger was good enough and everyone in my party seemed happy. The service? We were upstairs and our poor waiter was having to trek the food up and down. There was some delay in getting the order in and right. A 20% tip was already included. But who cares when it's brunch and Ms. Epps is rocking the house? The downstairs was crowded with pretty people. I loved it and will be back. But would prefer to sit downstairs. Valet parking $5. Should be free in my opinion.
(4)Jasmine L.
I was in town for a few days, staying at the Hilton, and picked City Hall for a late lunch. I sat at the bar and Danny recommended the tuna tartare. I also ordered the maple chorizo mac and cheese. Both were amazing!! The $8 "side" of mac and cheese was HUGE. I was more than satisfied. I had great conversation with Danny, who also gave me a little espresso as my after lunch treat. This place is a real gem. I'm so happy I stumbled upon it during my trip.
(5)Momo B.
OPENING SCENE MEMORABLE Not too distant from the performing arts center, the first impression is memorable. Cleverly they titled their prix fixe menu as their Performer's Dinners. As I had expressed as my Yelp tip, it may be more advantageous and less mentally taxing to select from their time tested program. We ordered with the intention to share. Salad, appetizer, pork chop, rib steak, and carrot cake accompanied by ice cream. Collectively more than enough food and even detrimental to staying awake during a live theater performance or movie. LoL. The pork chop takes first prize as outatanding performance. Grilled rib steak would have been better served as a prime rib. My other concern would be the noise level generated from their loft. Even with the high ceiling, the loud microphone usage diminished what should have been a very stylish and upscale dining experience. It's just a personal preference for a quiet setting when the prices are $$$.
(4)Kara T.
Fun gospel brunch, good service, and pretty good food. It's not Miami's best menu, but it's in a great location and gospel brunch rocks. I've gotten the club a few times and it's a huge portion. I enjoy it. I take my out-of-towners there after church. I've also been for professional luncheons and it's always good then. We do family style and salads and everything else is always nice. I recommend it.
(4)Maisha G.
Fairly reasonable prices for that area of the city. Was little underwhelmed by the house salad: why drown the poor thing in dressing? Won back by the honey wings and shrimp & grits. Wished we had more time & appetite to try a couple other entrées: maybe next time?
(4)Ivan H.
What makes a great place are so many things especially if an owner is not present, which we found out later the case. The decor is modern chic. Comfortable tables and a very nice bar. The food starting with the bread with the pecan butter, to the crab cakes and clams, were outstanding. Did I say the bread was to die for? Or was it the butter...simply wow. I had the Veal Chop bone in and it was amazing. I asked for medium rare and it was done just right. All this was on their Miami Spice menu which was highly recommend which I also highly recommend. Desserts were another surprise. I had their carrot cake which was good but their bread pudding was something to behold. Presentation to the last course was again, a level above the rest. The front managers Ian and Reggie were as professional as can be and checked on our table several times throughout the meal as did the server and even food runner. If you're looking for a wonderful dining experience, be sure to pay them a visit. You won't be disappointed. And ask for Reggie.
(5)Elena S.
Food was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Came here after a terrible experience at Prohibition on midtown. This place NEVER disappoints! The service was great and the food was even better. Got a great Pinot Grigio for $35! The bread is delicious. Melts in your mouth with that sweet maple butter! I had the churrasco with couscous!!! Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm My date had grilled lemon chicken with linguini. So amazing!!!! Can't wait to come back and have this dish again Good for the bread pudding after
(5)Katrina W.
City Hall was one of the places on my spontaneous list of birthday week pitstops! Spontaneous meaning...it was a drunk, 'let's roam the city and find some greasy, bad-for-you foods and not drive anywhere', kinda night. Thanks to my husband, we've also been hitting up all of the places that are on OpenTable, so we can rack up the dining points for dining checks. City Hall was one of the few close by. We came in at about 10:00 pm and got a table immediately. The place was desolate. The staff was all very friendly and went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. I ordered the duck confit flatbread with gorgonzola cheese and I think there were pears on it...? This plate was very delicious and flavorful. The drink of choice for the evening was H20 and the server was completely on top of it. Refills galore. My husband got the burger with a side of brussels, which were far superior to that of any french fry. Prices were fair considering the location. We finished off the meal with a birthday dessert, candle, and some awkward singing. This part was definitely not the highlight of the evening, but it was quite a spectacle. I wasn't impressed with the banana pie, but it was the thought that really counted. I might be back.
(3)Kathryn S.
Not too bad. I had a pretty good experience at City Hall Restaurant, but not enough of a great experience that I would give them 4 stars. I went for a late dinner, around 10pm, when they were starting up there happy hour again. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love a good happy hour, so I was pretty happy about that. The alcohol wasn't the best, so I was too impressed with the happy hour. But, I drank hoping dinner would be better. My friends and I did something special where we were having breakfast for dinner, so we did not have the regular menu. I'm actually not sure if this is completely normal or not. One of my friends is very friendly with the owner, so I'm not sure if this was special or not. So, even though I went for dinner, I guess this is a brunch review. We all tried something different, and I had the pancakes. They were pretty good for regular pancakes. Nothing special. I would visit City Hall Restaurant again to try the regular menu and see if it has anything that catches my attention. From my experience this place is literally just A-OK. Nothing extraordinary, but will hit the spot if needed.
(3)Stephen F.
I had wanted to come here for a long time after hearing many great reviews from friends. Spice provided me the perfect opportunity to stop by for lunch. I had the chicken wings, burger, and cookie. I was stuff and left completely happy. Nothing fancy or over the top, just simply good food. I would return.
(4)Alessandra P.
I have been here already two times and I love it. For brunch, it's amazing. I had the eggs Benedict with Apple bacon, but you can have it with something else besides bacon. My brother in law had the French toast and he said it was amazing (it looked amazing too!) If you go, ask for Richard, he took care of my family and I and made sure we had everything. I recommend coming here and making reservations.
(5)Rachael B.
Created by the founder of Miami Spice, this is a must eat for any Miami resident. I love the food, ambiance, and incredible service here. My only comment would be that the concept isn't incredibly clear.. there are a lot of different types of food and it is a in between an upscale steak house and a trendy midtown bar. I highly recommend trying the cinnamon butter that comes with the bread as well as the duck pizza with truffle oil. The fusion of foods is very interesting and honestly everything is delicious!
(4)Victor O.
Their menus al always good, and food it's just delicious... The ambiance is very nice and the service its outstanding
(5)V P.
Kind of expensive for what you get, which is very ordinary, uninspiring, moderately well-executed dishes. Had the short ribs with polenta. It was okay. The decor makes me sad, but it's hard to put a finger on why. Maybe it's the lighting or something. The place is in Art Deco style and they've done a decent job with that. It isn't run down; seems well kept up. Just seems like a sad place. Also the 80s music needs to change bc it just clashes with everything else. Journey?! at at art deco brunch?!
(2)Jacqueline M.
I usually venture to City Hall before or after a show at the Arscht Center with or without reservations. The Bad: They advertise self parking in their "private lot" but when you arrive there's a sweaty valet guy there collecting your $5. All 3 visits, I've parked my own car in the lot only to be told he will move it and I owe him money...pfffft. On this particular visit, there were no burgers or pizzas allowed to be ordered from the menu, silly little rule because of new year's eve I assume! I was looking forward to the appetizer flatbread I had tried on a previous visit so I was bummed about that. Why in cheese's name can't I get a flat bread!!!??? Ugh! Communism! The Good: So I ordered the Fried Chicken with honey, potatoes and a biscuit. I've had it before so I knew what to expect and ordered a Mac and Cheese as well because ya know... we're fatties and it's good. Food was great. I love fried chicken, I love honey, i love Mac and Cheese but.... The Ugly: That biscuit was horrible. It was stale and hard. If you can't make a mean biscuit, give me a roll, a garlic bread or maybe a corn bread but don't give me a funky biscuit!!! Overall City Hall is a convenient option when attending the Arscht Center. Service is fast and friendly but I'm going to minus that 5th star for the crummy biscuit, parking fraud and food communism...cause I dreamt about that flatbread and they crushed my dreams of having it.
(4)Dacier I.
This place is amazing from start to finish. We made reservations on Open Table; a plus just because of the convenience. We were seated immediately and greeted by the manager as soon as we sat down. We started with the pecan butter and artisan loaf...omg heavenly! The appetizers, main course, and dessert were delicious. Our waiter was great too, a French guy that knows his wine. He paired up all of my courses with a glass of wine and did a perfect job. We went during Miami Spice and portions are nice and filling...good spot if you're going with your man. Parking is right behind the restaurant and can be paid with an app. There is nothing I can complain about this restaurant. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)Drew B.
Had a great dinner here last night after a show at Arscht center (sp). It was a short walking distance. The bread with the whipped pecan butter is really amazing. Started with a Signature drink called The Commissioner and it was a delicious mango mojito. I had the steak salad and Gorgonzola pizza. The steak was incredible with so much flavor and the dressing had just a hint of a spicy kick. I loved the pizza with just enough crunchy fried onions and BBQ sauce. I don't give out a lot of 5 stars, but last nights meal earned it. I forgot to mention that Dwayne Wade from the Heat came in for a late dinner so that was fun
(5)Brittany P.
So we went during Sunday gospel brunch. A little loud but great experience nonetheless. Service was decent but food was pretty good and atmosphere was popping!
(4)Jacquelyn B.
Can I give negative stars? I just called to place a Togo order and was told the kitchen is closed because they have been slow. Don't want to be slow, be able to serve people when you advertise to be open.
(1)Alissa W.
We went for the Gospel brunch on Sunday and had a blast !!! I was looking for a brunch place for us to eat in my area. I wanted to try something new, then I remembered a neighbor telling me about Gospel brunch. We decided to check it out. I got the smoked salmon bagel that had truffle flavor was really good and enormous ! I only could eat half. I have to say the waiter forgot a few things from the order. The service could have been better I admit. The concept is fun and I will definitely be back !
(4)Theresa F.
We had brunch here (and I'm not a brunch person) and it was FANTASTIC. Both dishes we ordered were simple, clean, and well portioned. Service was great and so was the coffee. Laid back and versatile atmosphere. Would make the most casual outfitted person to the most decked out church-goer feel comfortable here. Thank you, Check Please for the suggestion!
(5)Joseph C.
Find some Comfort @ City Hall Miami A few of my friends and I decided to visit City Hall Restaurant after the theater. Nice high ceilings, brightly lit and comfortable setting, city hall features all American traditional comfort foods. I had the meatloaf and chorizo maple mac & cheese and it was delicious. Try the lychee martini to start, yum. Ready for an uncomplicated all American dining experience, City Hall is the place!
(4)Mitchell F.
This was a fantastic find! We had a discount coupon, but even without a discount the food's quality far exceeded the price. One of their signature dishes, is a modified, upscale BLT with blood orange reduction. I asked for a side cup of the blood orange reduction because it was so fantastic. The server was very knowledgeable about the menu, made great (honest) suggestions, and we loved every bite! This is a highly recommend restaurant if you happen to be in Miami!
(5)Laura A.
Went to City Hall for the 3rd time this afternoon during their Gospel Brunch, and once again, I was not disappointed. The food and service is fantastic, and the live music during brunch was a nice touch. Must Haves: The meatloaf & chorizo maple mac & cheese. Best I've had. EVER. Chocolate croissant bread pudding for dessert. YES. CROISSANT. You read that right. Also, wine bottles are available at affordable prices. Overall, great experience every time.
(5)Mark C.
The service let me start by saying was AMAZING! The host was ok. The waiter on the other hand was super friendly and was always checking up on to make sure our cup was full of water and when it wasn't the manager him self came to fill it. The waiter told us the special of the day it sounded great so we went ahead and got that. No mistake there it was amazing so so amazing and the bread with pecan butter just did it! Then the dessert came the banana cream pie omg too good I melted with the first bite! I honestly wish I was hungrier so I could have fit more because any of the food I know would have been good! In the end I didn't care so much about my budget my taste buds and stomach were satisfied to the max! Since I live so close now I know I'll be going there regularly. When ever you get a chance to swing by do it!
(5)Amaranta M.
Great lunch menu! I had soup, jambalaya and dulce de leche for desdert for $11.50 :D Definetly going back!
(4)Priscilla N.
The Corn Flake crusted Grand Marnier French Toast is heavenly! However, I had trouble making a reservation for sunday brunch and once I arrived I realized my party was the first one of the day. Service was great, aside from our waitress being overly concerned about the amount of the bottomless we had.
(4)Maris D.
Hands down, the most perfectly executed burger I've had EVER! Seriously. And I eat A LOT. Order it as the appetizer so you can still try some of their other goodies. The service is sometimes a 10 and sometimes a 5. Trying out that Miami pretentious thing I guess. Please stop.
(4)Jessica E.
My new favorite place! MUST TRY Skirt Steak dish YUMMY Staff was amazing !
(5)Yahaira A.
I LOVE City Hall. A great addition to the neighborhood! My first visit was for lunch (took my boss for his birthday) and it was GREAT - food, atmosphere, service and price. I thought the service for lunch was stellar but when I went back for dinner I was floored. I took my fiance there for his birthday dinner and it was the most outstanding meal ever. Our server was funny, knew the menu inside out, had great recommendations, was extremely accommodating and attentive. Applause to the front manager for outstanding staff. The food is just DELICIOUS, something for everybody. I have no complaints about anything I've tried to date. Two thumbs up to the Chef for taste, creativity and quality. The only reason I didn't give City Hall five stars is because of the poor serve at the bar. A young hostesses saved my dinner experience on my third visit for dinner. If not for her my experience would have been a real downer because of the bartender. He wasn't attentive (not only to my section but the entire bar which wasn't slammed), he made mistakes on numerous orders, had no customer service skills, looked annoyed to be there, etc. He may have had a bad night but I've heard the same from friends that decided to have a casual meal at the bar. All-in-All OUTSTANDING!
(4)Jennifer P.
Worst restaurant experience ever! The waitress was unfriendly and was annoyed when we asked to exchange a drink. We were celebrating my husbands bday and I had call beforehand so that they could sing to him. They completely forgot which just added to the horrible experience. The food was ok, nothing impressive. Would not recommend this place or return again.
(1)Johanna S.
My pancakes were RAW on the inside!!! I couldn't even believe it! On top of that management didn't even comp it!! Really upset with this place. We complained and they still charged us for the crappy food. They didn't even care. Such a bad experience. Please don't go here.
(1)Yari B.
Love it! We went at 4pm and they graciously gave us the option if ordering both from the brunch and dinner menus. Favorites at the table were the country dried chicken with its amazing flavors and the burger with Brie cheese. The tuna tartar was excellent. If you like eggs and polenta definitely try the short rib from the brunch menu. The Brussel sprouts side dish was yummy, but that is if you like your Brussel sprouts charred and crunchy like I do! Salmon salad also got thumbs up. Service was great. Ladies don't forget to bring a sweater if you are not a fan of polar temperatures.
(4)Blair S.
So not impressed with this place. My boyfriend and I came with friends for a late dinner. After hearing some good things, we were pretty excited. My boyfriend and I each ordered an entree and split an appetizer, and each had one cocktail- however some how our bill came to over $200! Now this would be alright if the food was good, but everything was so...bland. They really missed the mark on comfort food. The fried chicken was over cooked and dry, the bread pudding was less than flavorful, and the soup tasted like it came out of a can. Don't fall for the hype.
(3)Brenda P.
MIAMI SPICE REVIEW Went on a Sunday during brunch hours which are 10-4pm. Used their $4 valet service which was both convenient and inexpensive. Half of us did the Miami Spice menu and the other half ordered off the regular menu. In a nutshell, the food was great, the place has a great vibe but the service was lackluster. The restaurant is a mix between masculine and art deco decor. There are booths, tables and high tops. They started us with some heartwarming hot bread with pecan maple butter. It was absolutely perfect. We also had some bloody Mary's. Those were good too. Our waiter was nice but aloof to the entire process. I don't know if it was his first day or if he just could not care less to be there and do his job well. These were our choices: * Mussels- regular menu. Delicious * Mixed Baby Greens- cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrot, avocado, toasted sunflower seed herb dressing that tasted like peanut and we loved. * Thai Steak salad- regular menu- good * Lemon Caper Shrimp Fettuccine- regular menu- Delicious * House Blend Meatloaf- this was really great. The meatloaf was moist and the mashed potatoes were dreamy. The green beans were crisp and do I really have to explain crispy onions? mmm mmm mmm * Chocolate Bread Pudding- exceptional * Chocolate Crunch Cake- Delicious The mussels were brought out but it took several minutes to get plates and silverware for them. Three of us had finished with the appetizers but I was still working on my salad. They removed everyone's plate, left me eating and brought out the entrees. Um, hello, I am still eating the salad can you not see that? Badly timed. At least they did refresh the silverware in between courses. I finally finished my salad and that plate stayed there until we finished our entrees. Once the entrees came out I realized we had ordered a chorizo mac & cheese and we never got it. When I inquired about it our waiter looked a little lost. He left to find out and then said "Oh yeah, we don't offer that during lunch" (even though by now it was about 3:00 and their dinner service begins at 4:00pm). He could have said that too when I ordered it first no? Then once again, one of us was still eating while the remaining dishes had been cleared. Our waiter started to set our table for desserts and was ready to take our orders. When I mentioned that we were not ready for dessert he picked up the spoons he had started to put down, briefly apologized and left. We also ate the entire time with the bread crumbs noticeably still on the table from when they first brought out the bread. We also had to remind him several times for drinks and other small things. There was a gospel jazz singer who sang on this day. She had a great voice and was entertaining. She walked around and had people sing along with her, etc.(even owner Steven Hass sang!) At one point though, she decided to sing the national anthem (odd choice during lunch) and then got upset because people were still talking and SHHHHHH'd everyone. That was random. I agree the anthem demands respect but it was also not the time nor the place to sing it. Overall though, it was nice to have live music with our meal. I have an upcoming event here on a weekend night and I am eager to see how it compares (and maybe have some of that chorizo mac & cheese). I really had a good time and I loved every single item we ate. For that, it gets 4 stars.
(4)Dorrell C.
The decoration in this restaurant is gorgeous the food is to die for and the staff is very friendly, I love this place
(5)Steve K.
We flew into Miami and stayed the night before traveling to the Keys. I asked the front staff at our hotel for a recommendation for a burger and a beer, and they said to try City Hall down the street. My wife and I walked on down the road and found the restaurant. We walked in and were intimidated by the place. It seem a little more on the upscale side. White table cloths and people dress in business casual dress ( we had just gotten off a plane and we were wearing shorts and t-shirts). The hostess greeted us with a smile and sat us upstairs. Our waiter came up right away and when asked to suggest a local beer he asked a couple of questions and guided me to a Florida beer, that turned out to be very tasty (monk in the trunk). Looking at the menus, my wife and I were kinda hesitant. There was one burger on the menu. We ordered the burgers and waited. When the burgers came out I was floored. A nice big juicy burger with bacon, cheese and caramelized onions. My first bite was heaven. Truly this might be one of the best burgers I have ever had. They put a basil aioli that pulls the whole burger together. Now I know that the atmosphere has a lot do with your experience. I don't know if being on a plane all day, had anything to do with it, but this was a damn good burger. The restaurant is nice and is decorated nicely. There were a couple of large groups eating when we were seated, but it seemed like the kitchen had no problem getting their orders out. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgable. I am definitely recommending their burger and their restruant.
(5)Joseph J.
I just don't understand the low-ish ratings. We were a group of 15. The salmon (fresh) was cooked med-rare and was one of the best meals I ever had. Spectacular! Fresh fish cooked med rare, where it jus flakes off, can't be beat. And I'll be looking for the house Char. I really liked it but my wife probably wouldn't have liked it but then---- who's right, anyway!
(5)Megan M.
Came in with my mom for Miami Spice. I tried their bread pudding at this year's Iron Fork and it was to die for, so I thought I'd come in to see if everything else on the menu was just as tasty. Service and ambiance are great here. Too bad the food didn't measure up. My mom had the mussels which she enjoyed for her appetizer. My vegetable soup tasted like it came from a can. For entrees, we both got the steak. The side of fries were really good- crispy and flavorful, but the steak was SO fatty. No kidding, half my steak was fat. Dessert was the winner. The bread pudding was delicious. I'd come back for coffee and bread pudding, but that's about it!
(3)Monica B.
We came here to celebrate and it was honestly such a great experience. We got there before our reservations, but we were immediately seated anyway. The ambiance is so cool and it has a great "retro" feel. Our server was very helpful with his recommendations, since we had never been here. My boyfriend ordered a filet mignon and I ordered the rib eye and both were outstanding. We both LOVED the butter they give with the bread. The dessert, a croissant bread pudding, was out of this world, but its size got the best of us. lol The best part of the meal were the drinks!! They are generous with the alcohol and the tastes are all very distinctive and yummy. Kinda of pricey but appropriate for a special day.
(4)Charity Z.
First let me say packed! We had a reservation and they seated us immediately. We were 12 and it wasnt an issue. I gave this place a 4 mainly because of the service and the pecan butter, i could bathe in the the butter! Omg the butter is so good ,i bought an 8oz tub to take home. This place is in the heart of biscayne oh and what a gem. I loved everything about this place. The crowd,the ambiance,the food,the service. Ill tell you, a bit pricey but worth it. To start i had the eggplant parm and oh what a treat. The scallops with potatoe croquette ...something...amazing, everything else ordered by our party was pretty good, but im jumping straight to dessert! The warm chocolate croissant bread pudding is all i can say. what a dream! Id come here everyday just to have it. It mealts in your mouth.The marriage of the food and capacity of my wallet blend perfectly. Definetly will be back!
(4)Cat E.
First you must know that I'm super picky. I have been to City Hall a couple of times. All the previous times have been good and satisfactory but this last time was exceptional. The food was good and the service was great! My friend and I order the lunch special short ribs, the turkey melt w/herb mayo instead of mustard and both dishes were good. To top it off, we ordered cookies which were to die for! At first I thought they were going to be hard because of how big they are but they were the complete opposite, soft and warm, with chocolate chip melted inside. Our lunch suddenly got better when we were offered milk to go with our delicious cookies. Now the service... We had a late lunch and they seem to be in the middle of a shift change, so we had two great waiters who were very pleasent, friendly and really made us feel like they wanted us to have a fun and pleasent time. Each time they came to our table, they had excellent timing (inlcuding the rest of the team, the person who refilled our water, and the person who helped clean our table) and great attitude. I eat lunch out (a lot) in the edgewater area, this includes midtown, wynwood, and the biscayne area and most of the places are okay, but I was very impressed with City Hall, it was a great balance with the food and service and has been consistently ok to great, never a horrible experience. I say Ok to GRAT because shit (exuse me) does happen, and service industry can be hard (i can only imagine, so I have to have some consideration). Some background - It wasn't too busy, wasn't too loud, and it was a late lunch. Thanks City Hall.
(5)Paul E.
City Hall was near our hotel, so we tried it out for dinner one night. Duck confit pizza with fig was a great starter--probably enough for a meal. It's a nice mixture of salty and sweet. I had meat loaf with maple mac and cheese as an entree. The meat loaf was very nice, and the serving was tremendous. That maple mac and cheese is awesome. It sounds a little strange, but it's really just a touch of syrup--just enough that you notice it. It's unusual and definitely worth trying. On a second visit, I had the scallops, which were also fantastic. I might skip the appetizer if I ever go back. It was too much rich food to finish. It's a little too expensive, maybe, but the food and service are excellent.
(4)Sandra M.
On New Year's Day before attending a show at the Arsht Center my friends and I decided on trying out City Hall. Lucky enough it was conveniently located and it was a great experience. The ambiance at the restaurant is very nice, the decor is very inviting and I noticed there was a large room on the second floor. Our server was very attentive and animated. He knew the menu well and he was able to make recommendations. The food was overall good. We had the wings and calamari for appetizer, the complimentary bread with pecan butter was to die for! As my dinner I had the meatloaf with a side of Mac and cheese, I was not a huge fan of the meatloaf nor the Mac and cheese I've had better. One of my friends had the shrimp pasta which was very yummy, and the other shared a ribeye. For dessert we had the apple crisp which was delicious. I will definitely come back to City Hall especially since I work nearby. Let me not forget that I tried their guava mojito and it was great!
(5)Kelley D.
Amazing restaurant to eat brunch at! We had New Year Day brunch but can go very Sunday for Gospel live music. Awesome service, amazing food, great atmosphere, & location downtown!
(5)Arturo B.
I enjoyed City Hall quite a bit. I only had a small plate for main course - the tuna tartare - so cannot comment extensively on food, my dish was very delicious. Rare tuna with Sriracha, avocado and seaweed. Paired with homemade chips. Tasty indeed. For cocktails old-fashioneds were ordered one after another. City Hall's version was less sweet than what I am used to, which was nice. It reminded me of a Manhattan on the rocks. The decor is cool. You will feel like you are back in time or part of a superhero comic book. Think Batman! Tons of street parking on the adjacent streets.
(4)Ilia M.
Have the spicy and sweet martini. Amazing! The infused pepper vodka is made at City Hall.
(5)Lillian Y.
I've been here multiple times for lunch / brunch, and each time it's been great. Good service from an attentive wait staff, solid food, an all American bistro.
(4)Mariel D.
Before deciding to come to City Hall, we had a reservation in a restaurant that I got a groupon at... long story short the restaurants address in their website was wrong and got stuck in middle of downtown traffic for 30 minutes. We decided to cancel that reservation and with frustration start driving out of downtown , we have seen City Hall and been wanting to go for a really long time so we decided to give it a try... last minute without reservation and really hungry...the host accommodate us within minutes! This place it's a great discovery! I had the special which its 39$ for appetize(Cobb Salad), main course( N.Y Strip) and dessert (red velvet cake) , my fiancé had calamari as appetizer and a delicious homemade meat loaf with mashed potatoes as entrée. We had cocktails the bread its bananas with homemade pecan butter. The ambience its perfect for a relaxing romantic yet fun dinner. Highly recommended!!!
(5)Christine S.
OMG! What an awesome surprise City Hall was! We had a Living Social voucher for $50. We weren't too hungry as we'd been sight seeing and not burning ANY calories, but we did have this voucher and this was the last night of our vacation to use it. As soon as we arrived, I told the host about my Living Social voucher and showed him it was on my smart phone. He was very sweet and made us feel very welcomed. He said "no problem, it's happy hour sit wherever you want" so we got the happy hour menu and started ordering tapas style. We ordered a couple of cocktails that we'd never had before (at our server, Derek's suggestion)and we ordered some food off of the happy hour menu. Derek was very accommodating and attentive and gave us a lot of good suggestions. First he recommended a lychee and vodka drink...yummy! Then he suggested a jalapeño, mango and vodka drink...amazing!!! Ps...they don't cheap out on alcohol or food quality. Our "tapas" off of the appetizer menu were asahi tuna won tons, fried shrimp tacos, brussel sprouts and honey chicken wings. All were delicious! Problem...When it came time for the check, the manager came over and said they "weren't going to honor the voucher cuz you can't do happy hour on it." I told him that we weren't trying to hustle anyone out of anything, and if we were told no happy hour, we would have ordered off of the regular menu. He said "the best he could do was 10% off of the bill". For me it was the principal of the thing. I mentioned to the host that they weren't going to honor my voucher and he talked to someone and all of a sudden they took it! Cool! We did leave about a 30% tip (before the voucher credit) for Derek as he was all about great customer service. Tip: Make sure you don't use your voucher on happy hour. Make sure that everyone knows you have a voucher. Final score: Manager=Sketchy, Host=Sweet, Derek=Awesome! With or without a voucher, a treat for your palate and a definite do over ;)
(5)Alexa B.
This place is adorable and the jazz singer brunch is so fun, but I won't be back because of the service. I made a reservation online and for some reason the bartender was also our server, so he was MIA for most of our meal. If we wanted anything we had to go find him at the bar. Toward the end of our meal he told us they have an app we could download to request things like extra ketchup but honestly that's a lot of work just to get some service. My friend found a match in her food so that was the last straw. She tried to complain but our server/bartender somehow lost it and couldn't show it to the manager....sketch. Also parking is annoying, its either $5 or you have to drive around the block looking for street parking. I can see why this place was empty for Sunday brunch.
(1)Melanie A.
I saw the owner of City Hall - The restaurant on the news talking about Miami spice week and what do ya know? The very next day myself and a fellow yelper decided to check this place out. It was quite disorganized as literally 4 people came by to ask us if we wanted something to drink other than water and were like in disbelief that we politely declined. Hi, it's 2:00pm, I don't feel like getting drunk right now but thanks!!!!!! I just ordered the calamari with spicy tomato sauce and let's just say it was very bland and tasteless. If the calamari isn't good, I highly doubt their filet mignon or other dishes are spectacular! I won't be back, The only reason this gets two stars is because the person who finally ended up serving us was very nice and made sure we were always taken care of. The Daily is a better lunch option just down the street!
(2)Danielle M.
We stumbled upon City Hall because it was within walking distance from our hotel (The DoubleTree Grand). My husband and I had the duck confit pizza as an appetizer and it was great--not greasy or too fatty and a really tasty combination of savory and sweet. My chicken limonata was really good and I appreciated that the pasta was fresh. My husband had the meatloaf, which he loved. The maple bacon mac and cheese that accompanied it was also great. The next day, we came back with my colleagues from work. The service was great both days and they had no problems splitting the check amongst seven people which we really appreciated because we know what a pain it can be for a server to have to do this.
(5)Stella Z.
Went here for the first time tonight. Food is very mediocre for the price. I felt like I was eating at a Chili's. It's just average food.
(3)Teri W.
Attended a luncheon at City Hall Restaurant today. The service was outstanding. The waiter took care of a private room with approximately 25 people and managed to get every order correct and provide excellent attention to the guests. The food was great. Their legendary bread with sweet butter was delicious! I had their shrimp salad and ate every morsel. Others ordered the mahi-mahi wrap, burgers, pasta bolognese and there was not one complaint about the food. We even had dessert; I had their lemon pound cake and it was light and tasty. I hope to make it back for brunch or dinner.
(5)Juli M.
Great food great everything!!!! This is a must come to if you come to Miami! Love love love cornflakes chicken are the best!
(5)Leilani D.
I ate here once, around the same time last year for Miami Spice, and the only way that I can describe this place is average. There is absolutely nothing about it that stands out. The service was fairly attentive, but not overly informed. I know I had a crab cake appetizer to start, a filet as my entree, and a chocolate chip bread pudding for dessert. All of that sounds pretty good right? It wasn't. It was by no means bad, but it was entirely boring. I think the biggest disappointment was probably the steak - just because I love filet and it didn't taste much better than anything you might get at a Chli's. Another major gripe is that even during Miami Spice (which was a great deal compared to the menu prices) we ended up spending well over $100 for two people with a reasonably priced bottle of wine. If there had been no special and we had ordered similarly, the bill would have been $150+ and I would have been furious. Maybe we ordered the wrong things - maybe they only do the country classics well - but at these prices, I'm not going to throw away another benjamin to find out. If for whatever reason you do decide you want to eat here - make reservations. For some unknown reason, it's always pretty packed.
(2)David W.
Good late night burger after a show. Service was good. Not a big selection of beer. Host spent too much time on his cell phone but was otherwise very friendly. Waited and staff was prompt, friendly and professional.
(4)Michelle L.
Finally got the chance to check out City Hall this past Saturday. The host asked us if we had reservations or if we were interested in their dining in the dark package. That sounded like fun but we went with regular dining experience. To our surprise, there was a $37 3 course dinner menu. Our waitor Danny, who was very fun and helpful throughout our night, told us that the menu changes and we wouldn't be disappointed. So we went with the 3 course meal. For starters I ordered the half clams in lemon butter sauce (I highly recommend) and my cousins the ceasar salad. Ask for an order of fresh bread, they serve it fresh out of the oven. For main course we got the fried chicken, pork chop over butternut squash mash, and rib eye with truffle butter fries. I didn't like the fried chicken (atleast it wasnt what I envisioned in my head) the waitor withot hesitation removed it and asked if I prefered something else but that it would be atleast 15 more minutes to prepare. I told him that I wouldnt mind the wait. The chef specially prepared it and brought it to me in 10 min flat. Thats service!! I was pleased. And for dessert, the warm bread pudding was out of control good. We were so pleased with the service and the 3 course menu was amazingly good. Way to treat your patrons, I will definitely return.
(5)nunya b.
One of the top three breakfasts I've ever had in my life. So amazing. Everything was spectacular. Star of the show was the bread pudding at the end. Calamari, mushroom puff pastry thing, braised short ribs and polenta and French toast to die for!
(5)Miriana M.
Came here on saturday night for miami spice dinner. We had reservations so we were seated right away. Waiter came over and offered us some drinks, we politely asked for sparkling water to start. I had the eggplant for starters and it was delicious! The portion was pretty big, enough to share if i wanted to, but i had no intentions to do so. I then had the pork chop with mashed sweet potatoes. Let me say that most people in my table ordered the rib eye and boy was i spot on by ordering the pork chop. It was by far better than everybody else's steak. Very tender, very flavorful- highly recommendable. For dessert I had the carrot cake, but i should've had the chocolate chip croissant bread pudding .. It definitely was the dessert superstar so go for that instead ;) All of our dishes were delicious .. but MANNN, our waiter was extremely annoying. He was super pushy throughout our whole dinner for us to order drinks. I kid you not, he at least asked us 4 times in the roughly 2 hrs we were there even though we let him now we'd have digestifs after we finished eating. Almost made us wish we had ordered to go. Minus 1 star for this annoyance.
(4)Ann W.
This restaurant is conveniently located near the downtown Miami Hilton. Nice ambience and comfortable booth seating. The waitstaff are professional and attentative. The food is just okay. I had the Thai steak salad and the portion was ample with lots of meat and arugula. It was drenched in a sickly sweet Thai basil dressing that overpowered the taste of the meal. I think it would have been fine if I had asked for the dressing on the side but didn't and was disappointed. Don't think I will go back on future visits to Miami.
(3)Athina L.
One of the best dining experiences in Miami. A must. Steve Haas did it with this one.
(5)Ray B.
I've been there 2 times now and sadly will not be going back. The food is OK, not great but OK, a little bland for my taste but the service is beyond horrible. Our server didn't know the menu, we didn't get the appetizers we ordered, we asked to take our leftovers to go but our server decided to throw them away instead, we asked for dessert and coffee but got coffee 3 to 5 minutes before dessert. Oh and dessert, talk about a disgusting gooey mess. Or server recommended the roulade as it was the dessert of the day. It was a flavorless sticky congealed spongy thing. Whatever that was it does not belong on a restaurant menu, not this restaurant, not any restaurant. Also I had called earlier to make lunch reservations, they said it was not necessary but failed to mention that the restaurant was under renovations and that work would take place during lunch ours, the noise was unbearable. Not a good experience at all. Would NOT recommend to anyone.
(2)L. R.
Sunday Gospel brunch with Maryel Epps was . . . lively. She's a class act with a great, powerful voice. Thought about the egg white omelet but my waiter suggested the "signature" chicken and waffles (actually French toast). I wish I ordered the omelet. Good dish, but really, really sweet. The best dish among my friends was the en croute egg dish. I will order that at my next brunch visit. FYI, valet parking behind the building is $5.
(3)Rhena S.
The decor was beautiful but unfortunately the food was not good. Came here for the very first time with a group of 10 for brunch. I decided to try the eggs Benedict. It had no flavor and was very fresh. I thought it was just my food so I tried my bf's oatmeal, that was fresh also, no sugar in it what so ever. I had a piece of bacon as well and even that was fresh, tasted like they soaked it over night in water. Needless to say that was the worst bacon I've ever had in my life. Idk what was going on lol. Other than my food having no taste to it everything else was good. The service was great, the place is super clean, and the drinks were good. If I ever do come back again it won't for brunch. Maybe the lunch and/or dinner food will taste good.
(2)Alex D.
Pleasantly surprised. I had heard from friends that City Hall was "hit" or "miss." I must have gone on a "hit" night. Our meals were up to par and service was great. Dessert was just OK and seemed "bought" rather than home made. Will be back, but skipping dessert.
(3)Catie G.
Out of all the brunch options in Miami this one sets itself apart with a gospel sideshow featuring Maryel Epps. She has an impressive voice, numerous costume changes but the volume is kept so you can still chat with your companions. This is not the only reason to visit. Their menu has ingenious sweet options like the Grand Marnier French Toast. But don't despair because savory items like the Crab Cake Benedict are equally decadent & satisfying. We did not imbibe so I'm unsure about a free flowing mimosa special(s).
(5)Rich B.
Excellent Corvinha and dessert too! Loved our salads mine the spinach and wifes chopped. Service excellent too thank you Derrick! Even friendly when they took our last min Friday reservation. We will be back when in Miami.
(5)Natalia P.
We went for miami spice and it was a group of 12. The service was great and the food was delicious! The mahi was a little dry... The seafood pasta entree from the miami spice menu was delicious. Ohhhh.... Highly recommend the Brussels sprouts!! Sooooo good.
(4)Donna J.
Great fast service. The burger with brie, carmelized onion and bacon was delicious - and huge. The girls ate pizza and part of our burger. Wish we could have stayed for a more relaxed dinner. Next show at The Arsht Center we will be here.
(5)Robyn M.
The hummus was fantastic. I got the Thai Steak Salad. The steak was not cooked to the temp requested and was frankly a little blue and cold. If it had been warm it would have been okay. My husband got the meatloaf (huge piece, enough for four) and the Chorizo Maple Mac and Cheese. He said the meatloaf was good but the mac and cheese was too spicy. Service was fantastic. I am not sure I would go back.
(3)Hamlet G.
I love to eat lunch at city hall , its lunch menu is just delicious and fast with a great price!
(4)Stephanie W.
Amazing food! Went and got the duck pizza, chicken wings and hummus as appetizer. All were amazing and devoured. The table all got burgers medium rare which were cooked medium but they were so good we didn't complain. The wings were my favorite as they were super crispy and delicious. Definitely will be returning!
(5)Shaun H.
The atmosphere is trendy and cool, we enjoyed a business lunch this afternoon with a key client relationship. The service was good as well.
(4)Roselin S.
This is my favorite spot for Sunday brunch. If you arrive around Noon or so, stick around for gospel music. It is truly a unique and memorable experience: gospel Sunday + divine cuisine! Can't beat the corn flake crusted french toast, it is absolute perfection and the portion is large enough to share as a dessert among 3-4 in a group OR as an entree for 1-2. For a true brunch meal, the short rib with fried egg is delish.
(5)Pam R.
We went to City Hall (May 2014) and it was an amazing place. Maricel was the singer there and she did 2 shows while we were there. The food was good and the service was on point. Truly a gem
(4)Giuseppe M.
This is the place to be if you are in the mood for fresh, unique and food with dynamic flavor. Once there, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, the very attentive staff and the creative menu.
(4)Michael A.
I went here for Sunday brunch and everything about it was amazing, including the menu. I would highly recommend this place
(5)Dre B.
Update 12/2014: Menu has been paired down slightly and the prices a bit higher. But the food is still good and the device always excellent. Still 5 stars. Great food and great, friendly staff. The weekend brunch is amazing. I don't care much for the singer coming by my table during brunch but most seem to enjoy her and she's very jovial. Definitely a place to bring out of town friends or a date. Great food and great, friendly staff. The weekend brunch is amazing. I don't care much for the singer coming by my table during brunch but most seem to enjoy her and she's very jovial. Definitely a place to bring out of town friends or a date. Great food and great, friendly staff. The weekend brunch is amazing. I don't care much for the singer coming by my table during brunch but most seem to enjoy her and she's very jovial. Definitely a place to bring out of town friends or a date.
(5)Allen F.
Average at best for food, above average for drinks. I live across the street from this restaurant and find myself there when I don't want to venture out too far. The food is good, though not consistent; the same item is prepared differently and tastes differently each time. But the convenience of the location and the variety keeps me coming back. On a positive note, the bar is well stocked and the bartenders are great. This place may not win a memorable place on your mind, but it's worth a try.
(3)Abigail B.
My fiancé and I came here over the weekend for a late lunch. It was slow, as can be expected for 3:00 in the afternoon. I can see how this space would be fun at night with a dinner crowd. I had the duck and mushroom pizza. It was loaded with duck meat (almost too much, but I can't really complain about that). I had the spicy sorrano pepper cocktail - PERFECT for me! I love a little spice in my drinks! My fiancé had a turkey burger wrap, which he said was really good. It came with fries, and that was the only disappointing thing we had. For as good as all the other food was, City Hall, please step up your fry game!! lol Service was stellar!! From the hostess, to our waiter, to every other employee we encountered, everyone was friendly, smiling, and happy to make suggestions. We will be back for sure to try dinner!
(4)Laure M.
Great place! Huge portions, ok prices, prompt service. I had the roasted half chicken with broccolini and sweet potato fries (instead of white potatoes). Huge portion, great sauce, perfectly cooked and delicious crispy fries. My husband got the meatloaf served with mac & cheese and green beans, topped with fried onions. Huge portion again and delicious taste! None of us could finish our plate so we have great leftovers!! Their bread is good, very light with a crispy crust. The pecan butter is interesting... Special taste but it works with the bread. We unfortunately didn't get refill on bread. Definitely recommend it and will go back again soon hopefully!
(4)Vanessa P.
After seeing KODO at the Adrienne Arscht Center we came here to satisfy a late night craving. Having heard nothing but good things I had high expectations, and from our experience it fit the bill. We were promptly seated and since I didn't want to go too overboard for an after 10pm meal, I went with their tuna tartar and their iceberg wedge salad. The tuna tartar was insanely delicious! Truth be told, I never wanted it to end. Layers and layers of juicy tuna, avocado and other delicious ingredients (papaya) plus a side of crispy chips to help shovel it all in. As for the salad, I have an affinity for wedge salads and this hit the spot. The mac and cheese with chorizo was also very good. Creamy cheesy goodness with specs of salty and spicy chorizo. Made me think why mom's mac and cheese never tasted this good? Regardless, my taste-buds were wholly satisfied. City Hall was the right place at the right time for us, Although we normally don;t frequent the downtown dining area, we'd definitely come back to try the rest of the menu options.
(4)Sue S.
City Hall was good, but meatloaf was cold in center. They warmed it up,and it was okay, but I'd try something else next time. There are many great choices. My friend got a hamburger and truffle fries; he said it was great.
(4)Andrew C.
Came here with a big group of about 15 people. The hostess, manager, and waiter were all really nice and accommodating. They had the checks split up before hand as requested and no one was billed incorrectly. The couple blemishes I would say about service is that I was splitting the bill and one of us had cash while the other had a credit card. When the waiter saw this he came back and asked me if I just wanted to keep the cash instead and put everything on the card.....there is a reason there is cash there. Also, my friend had a groupon and forgot to tell the waiter before hand (she felt bad) but when she gave him the groupon after our meal, he made this grimace and just stood there with his hand on his forehead for like 30 seconds while telling her that she should have told him before. Yeah she was wrong, but hey you're making over $100 on one table, suck it up. Anyway, on to the food. We had the gorgonzola pizza for an appetizer. We were undecided for our entree, but the waiter HIGHLY recommended the pork chop with whipped sweet potato so we ended up sharing that. The pizza is thin crust style and is good enough as an app for two people. It was delicious. The crust was perfectly crisp as was the pancetta and they were pretty generous with the toppings. The sweet jam went really well with the salty pancetta, cheese, and fried onions. Before our entree arrived, they served us freshly baked bread and holy crap this was fantastic. You could hear the "oohs" and "aaahhs" around the table. The bread had a nice crust and inside was still hot, soft and fluffy, it crumbled under the pressure of the knife as I tried to cut it. It is also served with this amazing pecan butter. We all ordered more bread. I was excited for our entree because the appetizer and bread were so amazing but when it arrived and I took my first bite, I was let down. The pork chop was a tad bit on the dry side and the mustard sauce was good, but nothing that would knock my socks off. The sweet potato tasted ordinary too, it was supposed to have a hint of bourbon, but I could not taste it. I also ordered the chorizo maple mac and cheese. The mac was better, but it was lacking in maple flavor and their mac and cheese does not have a crust on top. For dessert we ordered the famous croissant chocolate chip bread pudding (which the waiter said was their best dessert) and it is definitely for sharing like the menu says, it was fairly large. The bread pudding comes straight out of the oven and it is served with a side of creme anglaise. Unfortunately it was mostly one note and if it was not for the chocolate chips, it would have been rather bland. It needed a bit more vanilla, sugar, or maybe some lemon zest or something. Again, good, but nothing great. Overall I was satisfied with the meal and the prices are decent for the portion sizes, but with all the other fantastic restaurants in the area, I would be hard pressed to come back here so soon.
(3)Gustavo A. L.
Having heard this name come up in conversation several times during other gastronomic experiences with randomly different groups of friends, business associates and clients, we decided to once and for all find out if this place was, indeed, that good. City Hall delivered an experience to remember, with spot on service, wonderful recommendations from our waiter, and a meal that was simply perfect. Sure, we can blame this all to the wonderful bottle of wine that we consumed throughout the experience, but Wine can only make a good thing better so, it was not the wine, it was that City Hall is simply a good place with good food, good service and good people.
(5)Lesley E.
I was overall disappointed with the entire experience. My favorite part was the complimentary maple butter that came with the bread. The ambiance was nice and a bit romantic. I got the country fried chicken and my boyfriend got the salmon. We also got a side of the Mac & cheese. My dish was not worth $23. There was a small portion of mashed potatoes, a brick hard biscuit and a couple of average pieces of chicken. My boyfriends salmon was good but there was wayyyy to many sesame seeds. WAY too many. The Mac & cheese was bad. It tasted like cheesy bacon.
(3)Stephanie P.
Food and service was amazing! I had the tuna tartar, as my meal and it was more than filling (however, I'm a small woman). It was my friends birthday and they gave us two warm chocolate bread pudding which was TO DIE FOR! Everyone else loved there entrees as well.
(5)Ghaz I.
It used to be a good place with a good service and food. Lately for some reason their service has become so bad. Last time we ordered for pick up and after 30 minutes went to pick up out order, they hadn't even entered it in the system nor prepared it. The receptionist offered the order on the house if we waited but we just walked out. We just called today (3 times) to place another order for pick up. No one picked up the phone. We live across the street from the restaurant but they've lost us for sure as regular clients.
(1)MICHELLE C.
American Cuisine in a trendy NY style decor setting. After about four visits here, yes I really like this new restaurant. The decor is dark browns, comfy booths, high top tables surrounding the bar, a separate dining area room in the back and a lovely second floor sexy dining area. From the moment you walk in the hostess are wonderful. Very friendly and engaging in conversation, making you feel very welcome. Steve, the owner seems to be there often making sure everyone is happy, he is appreciative and touches as many tables as he can just to say thanks for your support. The service is impeccable, never worrying about anything, you will not go without refills on drinks, bread, etc... The food comes out in a timely matter, cooked to order so everything is pipping hot and fresh. The Filet Mignon, the half baked chicken, the meatloaf, the pasta dishes and oh the pizza is all scrumptious. The french onion soup is divine and the pizza's are awesome. After several meals here I find all of the entrees and appetizers to be great! I have yet to have something I did not care for. The menu has enough to please everyone, and I like that they have a good variety of some good home-cooked meals that are not over the top with trendy ingredients. Sometimes simplicity is better. One evening we went just for cocktails and we hung out at the bar. These gorgeous bartenders know how to make a drink. Get ready, they are strong and large. You get your glass filled to the rim then they give you a shaker filled with the rest. So you really get two full drinks and they surer know how to mix them. The eye candy in this place is well oh very nice. Gay men seem to flock here and they are ever so handsome and very friendly. I have met some really cool people here. This place deserves five stars, between the great service, awesome food, and amazing drinks. See you soon!
(5)