Level 6

 

Coconut Grove’s newest rooftop restaurant and lounge, Level 6, is the kind of place with such dazzling views that you half-expect the cuisine to be merely passable. So, it comes as a welcome surprise that the menu has no weak links. An even bigger surprise is how seamlessly the dinner menu segues into the restaurant’s new a la carte weekend brunch menu, which is offered every Saturday & Sunday, from 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM.

 

Be prepared for a lively scene on the roof of the same building that houses Amal, which boasts its own excellent menu of modern Lebanese choices. Both venues demonstrate that Miami foodies are more than willing to embrace high-end cuisines other than Italian—both southern and northern—that the city has always done so well. “Diners in the city have become increasingly sophisticated and daring,” says Marco Tiné, principal of Casa Collection Group. “And this is true in every neighborhood that has high home values. It was only a matter of time before Coconut Grove would enjoy the food renaissance that South Beach, Wynwood, and Brickell have already experienced.”

 

Carefully curated by INK Entertainment’s Corporate Chef Stuart Cameron, brunch-goers can expect an elevated Spanish-inspired menu that incorporates a unique take on American breakfast classics and vibrant, herbaceous cocktails. “My advice is to book a late reservation, and make this the meal of the day,” Tiné says. This advice is best achieved by starting with seafood standbys, then moving on to Spanish savory dishes that are Level 6’s signatures, and finally topping off the meal with something sweet, if you still have room. Celebrate the day with a spirited Forbidden Fruit Sangria made with white wine, sherry lychee juice, lavender, butterfly pea powder, prosecco, and fresh fruits.

 

Now, onto the sea: The oysters are fresh as can be, served with yuzu kosho mignonette, while the tuna tartare is accompanied by avocado, crispy lavash crackers, truffle, and crème fresh. The octopus has some snap, dressed with chickpeas, fingerling potatoes, salsa verde, Spanish olive oil, paprika, and capers. All of this is light enough to merely whet the appetite. And, if you’re doing the meal correctly, you’re sharing everything, tapas-style.

 

It is essential to sample Level 6’s Spanish ham—jamón ibérico bellota—which has a smooth, velvety texture, plus an impressive richness due to its generous marbling. This ham is a delicacy that comes from black Iberian pigs in Spain and Portugal, and the restaurant serves it two ways: on sourdough bread with tomato and Spanish olive oil, like bruschetta; and with Marcona almonds. The thinly sliced ham is addictive, and bound to be the centerpiece of the meal, so make sure you order enough for seconds. The jamón is nicely offset by the tomato salad enlivened by stracciatella—an utterly decadent traditional Italian cheese made from pulled mozzarella curds mixed with fresh cream.

 

By this point, you’ve probably realized that you haven’t indulged in any traditional breakfast items, a problem easily solved by ordering the Spanish French toast, which is fashioned with brioche, maple syrup, cinnamon sugar, ricotta cheese, and strawberries. It’s insanely good, and functions as a kind of dessert after that varied selection of savory tapas.