Swine: the name says it all ! Once you pass through its door, you’ll feel like you’re somewhere in the deep south like Alabama, Mississippi or Georgia. Tall wooden shelves stacked with chopped lumber and jars of pickled “everything”, a warm lit long communal table in the center surrounded by individual ones upstairs and downstairs, somewhat reminiscent of an old southern beer hall.
An extensive menu of mostly swine in its various barbecued forms. I picked the 1/2 lb 14-hour smoked brisket that was melt in your mouth delicious, served with South Carolina stoneground grits for $28. Side dishes such as mac and cheese, made with 5 different types of cheese, bacon and a crusty herb top for $10, were still that: mac and cheese .Alternatives for those who don’t eat meat are just a few but well worth a try like the shrimp with grits. When first served, the Florida pink were overcooked but quickly replaced with a delicious fresh batch that made this dish a very comforting one, in spite of the Virginia ham bit overload.
Starters such as the fried green tomatoes and the kale salad were spot on. Four slices of crunchy fried green tomatoes served with arugula and shavings of Manchego cheese for $13. Seasoned with a cider vinaigrette, the kale salad came with apples and raisins and delicious, of course, cornbread croutons for $13.
The dessert was a refreshing bite called slice of heaven, a homemade pie made with rich raspberry sorbet and vanilla ice-cream dusted with chopped hazelnuts on a sweet crust for $9.
All in all, Swine is a great take on the very best in southern cuisine we desperately need down in Florida. Whenever foreigners criticize American food, I always respond: You haven’t tried southern!
Swine
2415 Ponce de Leon Boulevard
Coral Gables, FL 331
786 360-6433
Foodfrisker.com 