Christabelle's Quarter

Description:

• Although this restaurant intends to appear as if it was shipped right from the French Quarter, because it's in mainstream Coconut Grove, it feels more like an exhibit in EPCOT's World Showcase. And that's not a bad thing. After leaving post-Katrina New Orleans for Miami, chef Alex Patout set up shop in the kitchen here as investors pumped in millions of dollars to recreate this French Quarter masterpiece (visually speaking). The cuisine, unfortunately, pales in comparison to the ornate wrought iron railings, brick walls, chandeliers, and stained glass ceiling and dome. Sure, you can order a variety of gumbos, crab cakes, oysters, and étoufée, but when it comes to high-priced Creole cuisine, we'd rather eat at Emeril's. Because of that, Patout left the restaurant in October 2007. Owners said the food was too heavy and planned to lighten the dishes up. Not sure how they're going to do that with Creole cuisine, but stay tuned. For entertainment purposes, however, Christabelle's reigns, with live Dixie jazz bands, jazz brunches and, because it's Miami, not New Orleans, a gorgeous upstairs bar, complete with DJ, bouncers, and dreaded cover charge. Les bonnes temps, indeed.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2010