La Dorada serves a royal feast

Entering La Dorada is like setting sail for a Spanish fishing village and preparing for a royal feast. The food is extraordinary yet simple.

The host, Domingo Gandara, makes everyone feel like a king. His passion is contagious as he carefully explains the wonderful cuisine he has created. As he describes each dish he actually shows the guests what he is planning by bringing the fish to the table and proudly explaining that merely hours ago it was swimming in the Mediterranean.

His wine list would be the envy of any astute connoisseur -- wines so rare that even though they are on the wine list they are considered masterpieces and too rare to sell. Listening to him describe his wine cellar is like hearing a museum curator describing priceless paintings. The wine that was chosen for us seemed to be perfectly designed for that meal.

This gem is quietly nestled in Coral Gables, making it one of Florida’s well-kept secrets. It is first the Spanish restaurant to win the prestigious and exclusive “International Five Star Diamond Award,” a coveted award given by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences. The award is obviously a rare accolade but well deserved.

Bring your appetite as well as your sense of adventure and you, too, will become a fan of this Spanish treasure.

Make reservations soon because word is getting out and making it harder to get a table. La Dorada is slowly becoming one of South Florida’s places to be wined and dined and, of course, one place to be seen.