Curating the perfect dining palette is a combination of talent and location to create a recipe for success.
These are the qualities of the collaboration between notable Miami chef Jorge Ramos and CREC — Florida’s leading, independent, full-service commercial real estate firm — to bring the third installment by the culinary mastermind to Coral Gables — Puña. To be the area’s first rooftop restaurant on Giralda Plaza, it will present approximately 5,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor seating at 120 Giralda Avenue upon opening in the third quarter of 2019.
The announcement of this new dining concept is on the heels of a culinary renaissance currently taking place in Downtown Coral Gables, following the multi-million streetscape renovations of Giralda Plaza and Miracle Mile. Puña, which will introduce a Mediterranean-influenced menu, is anticipated to serve as a catalyst to driving an elevated lifestyle experience by Ramos’ Barley Hospitality. It promises to deliver an epicurean environment of bold flavors, refined tastes and innovative design that sparks a new level of sophisticated, yet social dining.
“We are thrilled to work with Chef Ramos, once again, to achieve a prominent restaurant location for this new concept that will electrify the market,” said Carol Greenberg Brooks, CREC president and co-founder. “Through our ability to step into the mindset of an entrepreneurial chef and share in his vision, our team was able to strategically identify a unique real estate proposition on a buzzing thoroughfare.”
Puña’s design composition is that of rustic sophistication throughout with a nostalgic Mediterranean feel. The space will feature a significant outdoor seating area on the building’s sprawling rooftop with vistas of the city skyline. Fruit trees and small gardens will add to the décor of the restaurant, serving as design focal points that also double as sources of ingredients.
Attracting an audience of those who appreciate craft selections, Puña’s repertoire of offerings will include lunch, happy hour, dinner and a lively late-night scene. The menu will incorporate coal-infused coastal fare from Spain, Greece and Italy that includes cold plates, pastas, gyros, a raw bar and fresh vegetables — a culmination of fresh recipes by the chef and his team. Complementing the menu will be a standout bar program to feature refreshing cocktails, frozen drinks and carefully selected spirits.
“Upon driving Chef Ramos’ attention to this distinctive destination, we worked hand-in-hand to customize a dining concept that was aligned with Coral Gables’ lifestyle and the desires of its neighborhood patrons,” added Rafael Romero, CREC vice resident of Retail Leasing. “Through our direction, his team was able to realize the true potential of embarking on this venture and capturing this audience, following our successful collaboration at Downtown Dadeland.”
CREC continues its track record of reshaping the retail blueprint of lifestyle shopping destinations in Florida. The firm is behind the revitalized tenant mix at Downtown Dadeland, which it repositioned as a premier Miami location for chef-driven restaurants.
The pedestrian-friendly, open-air environment is home to Ramos’ successful Barley American Brasserie and Bar Abi, which are among four James Beard Award winners and nominees, including Pubbelly Sushi, Harry’s Pizzeria, The Brick and Ghee Indian Kitchen.
As part of Coral Gables’ streetscape project, Giralda Plaza now is considered the area’s “Restaurant Row” and home to established eateries as Talavera Cocinera Mexicana, Local Craft Food & Drink and Threefold Cafe.
Formerly occupied by the Church of Scientology, 120 Giralda Avenue, includes multi-story spaces and a new rooftop component, totaling 14,534 square feet. Its ground floor offers 3,000-11,000 square feet of retail space, with the hip, fast-casual eatery of Coyo Taco to be one of its newest tenants. The building is undergoing a renovation to be complete by the fourth quarter of 2018.
Romero, along with Steven Henenfeld, CREC senior vice president and director of leasing, oversees leasing of 120 Giralda Avenue.
For more information, visit www.crec.com.
