A friendly staff greets you at City Hall. It’s as if you’re in your neighborhood joint and they’re excited to see you again. And once you see the menu du jour you’ll be excited, too. But first take a few minutes to enjoy a cocktail at this midtown eatery’s solidly handsome bar where your eyes will be dazzled by the light box mural created by Andrew Reid and installed high above the dining room running 80 feet, almost the full length of the room. If you took a seat at one of the comfortable leather banquettes lining the floor to ceiling windows of the facade you could easily miss it which would be a shame as it’s a focal point and strikingly beautiful. Such is the evocative nature of City Hall, a 6,000 square foot, two-story brasserie-style restaurant, located a short five blocks north of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. It makes you think of a time gone by and that is by no means an easy feat in a town like Miami where things are here one day then gone tomorrow. Chef Tom Azar’s moderately priced menu takes old fashioned standards to new heights and is designed to appeal to diners who love down home dishes as well as to those with a more sophisticated palate. Think grandmom’s best efforts with extras.
Warm home-baked bread arrives with butter pecan butter, a first in my book. Appetizers like a jumbo lump blue crab imperial with corn & bacon and spiced tomato glaze and an unconventional French onion soup served with the cheese on the bottom of the dish set a new level of appreciation for comfort food with a twist. Keep that groove going with a gorgonzola pizza with fig jam, pancetta and sweet and slivery onion rings … unlike any pizza you’ve ever eaten!Old school entrees like meatloaf arrives just plucked from its own tiny individual pan with a covered Pyrex side dish of macaroni and cheese, again, like a walk down memory lane and crispy fried chicken would have the Colonel turning over in his grave. Desserts are mouth watering here, especially the caramel apple cheesecake and the warm berry crumble pie served with vanilla bean ice cream, of course.
City Hall borrows the art deco trappings of South Beach establishments and puts them to good use here in the Biscayne Corridor. A massive chandelier reproduced in the period grounds the dining room while silver metallic railings on the second floor in a strong deco motif delineate the upper level dining room. A linear cushioned wall in the far corner adjoins another spectacular mural, this one executed by Miami based artist Michelle Rojas and set dead center, depicting Mother Justice in a blatant hype on the restaurant’s name. Vintage deco pendants, reminiscent of your fourth grade schoolroom, center over the large cushy booths that can easily seat six. Yes, it’s all about channelling the things that made you feel good here at City Hall. Says owner and civic leader, Steve Haas …”We wanted to offer people a comfortable, cosmopolitan place to meet with friends for dinner or even step out for lunch during the workday and enjoy a great meal in a convivial atmosphere.” Steve, keep up the good work. You’re definitely doing something right!
City Hall
2004 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33137
305-764-3130