Lovely experience! I first saw Estaci贸n Central on Instagram, following a recent trip to Spain, and was thrilled to have this dining concept in Miami. We decided to stop by on a Sunday afternoon ("linner" time), after a long day of errands. I mention this, because we were able to walk in and be seated immediately, as there was literally a table for two available in the back. The restaurant was packed, despite the "awkward" dining hour (4-5pm). That said, making a reservation is highly recommended.
Based solely on the Instagram photos, I thought the dining concept was more of a food hall concept, which has become popular in Miami. However, upon arriving, we learned it's a traditional dine-in restaurant.
The hostess was warm and welcoming, which always leaves a great impression. You enter through the "tunnel" arched entryway, past the bar, which opens into beautifully designed "Central Station", where you immediately get the impression that you will be taken on a culinary adventure of the Spanish cities outlined on the walls -- Sevilla, Barcelona, Santiago, Madrid, and Valencia.
By far, my favorite part of this experience was the atmosphere -- open kitchen in the back, black and white floor-to-ceiling subway tile, soaring two-story ceiling height with a statement-piece chandelier, beautiful architectural details, welcoming staff, comfortable conversational noise level, and good energy all around.
The fun menu design imitates the train stops, weaving the Central Station theme throughout.
We ordered from the tapa-style menu to sample multiple items on this first visit:
+ Pan con tomate
+ Jam贸n Ib茅rico
+ Croquetas
+ Pulpo Gallego
+ Calamari
This is where I considered removing a star, as the croquetas could have been much better. We will forego this item, the pan con tomate, and the calamari next time. The croquetas looked lovely, but they seemed to have chunks of cartilage (or something thick and chewy) in the mix, which was unpleasant to experience. The calamari and pan con tomate were good, but basic.
The jam贸n ib茅rico and pulpo gallego, however, were delicious!
They offer a good drink selection, and they seem to highly promote the sangria, which we did not order, because sangrias tend to be too sweet for my taste. We went with a Tempranillo instead, which was lovely.
The wine bottle prices are very reasonable, which adds to the overall experience, especially if you are dining with a group.
The dress code seemed a bit more relaxed, at least at this hour. Perhaps it's a different vibe during dinner time.
Because of its downtown Miami location, parking options are valet, limited street metered parking, or a small parking lot across the street. Something to consider when making plans.
I decided to give the full five stars, despite the two food items we didn't like, because the overall experience compensated for the rest. I do not want to judge the whole menu based on these items.
We will likely return for the dinner experience.
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