I’d love to take credit for discovering this local gem but all credit goes to my husband, Nelson! I am typically the planner for all things- dinners, trips, weekend activities…. you name it, I planned out most every detail. But not this particular evening. I was told that date night was planned and to get a little dolled up (i.e. no lounge wear). So that’s what I did! I unboxed my new heels that I received as a Christmas gift and was ready to take them out on their maiden voyage. So with heels on and my hot hubby next to me, I got in the car still unaware of where we would end up. Now to some, this may sound like torture, but this girl loves a good surprise!
About 35 minutes later, we pulled up to a building in Rotonda. I have not spent much time in Rotonda other than our wedding reception which was in Rotonda 18 years ago. And honestly that may have been the last time I had been out that way. The outside of the building did not prepare me for the beauty that was inside! Wow! As we stepped into Cape Haze Tavern, I was blown away with the stunning interior! It was filled with gorgeous wood, beautiful lighting and luscious greenery everywhere! We were seated in a comfortable booth and proceeded to order cocktails to start our evening. I had the French 75 (because your girl loves champagne) and Nelson had the waiter’s drink recommendation which was the Blood Orange Cosmo. Both were visually appealing and tasted refreshing! Cape Haze Tavern has a great variety on their cocktail menu and it is obvious that there was a lot of time put in to creating it.
Next it was time to order a starter. We chose the Duck and Filthy Cherries appetizer. It was perfectly cooked slices of duck topped with a balsamic sweet soy sauce and crispy prosciutto. Those cherries were to die for. This will not be the last I have these cherries on this particular evening, but more on that later.
For our main entrees, I had the Half Roasted Chicken. It was served with baby potatoes, leeks, mushrooms and a magical gravy! Nelson went with the Farro Island Salmon that was presented over Lobster Risotto. That risotto was out of this world! The Chef here does an outstanding job. Now the menu is not pages and pages long. But it is obvious that the selections on the menu are done extremely well and that is what I look for at a Chef driven establishment.
The desserts are all prepared by a Ukrainian Pastry Chef. Not only are they beautiful looking but they tasted incredible as well. They have actual flavor and balance in the textures of the desserts.
We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our dinner. The service was spot on, the ambiance was stunning and the food was perfectly prepared. But our night did not end there. The next stop was just a few steps away at The Rabbit Hole. Unfortunately, The Rabbit Hole is closed for the summer except for private events. But it will reopen open in the fall. We were lucky to have enjoyed the last evening there before it closed for the season.
The Rabbit Hole is a fun experience while being completely different than The Tavern experience. The Rabbit Hole has a completely different vibe but is equally as amazing. When you enter the hallway, it is immediately evident that much creativity went into the design. The wood, the colors and the sleekness really catch your eye. Then as you enter the actual area, it is just stunning and relaxing all at the same time. They offer live music. The cocktail offerings at The Rabbit Hole are different than what is offered at Cape Haze Tavern. I love that. It took us just a minute to walk there yet I can have an entirely different drink adventure here. Though they are different, they are both excellent in their offerings.
I love grapefruit so I was excited to try the Grapefruit Reset cocktail. It was balanced and not too tart. I would order this again. A bonus to this delectable drink was the filthy cherry that garnished it! Man, those cherries are amazing! Nelson went with the Caribbean Iced Mocha. It was served in a retro glass that was very fitting for the atmosphere.
We left with full bellies and smiles on our faces. It was lovely to spend an evening not being rushed through a meal and taking the time to savor all the components that worked so well together. We will definitely be back! If you head to The Rabbit Hole or Cape Haze Tavern, they do take reservations which I appreciate. They are closed on Sundays and Mondays and open at 4 pm the rest of the week. The owners are truly lovely! These two spots are true gems and should not be missed!
