AFTER A 12-YEAR HIATUS, CHEF MICHELLE BERNSTEIN HAS BROUGHT BACK SRA. MARTINEZ. THIS ISN’T JUST A REOPENING—IT’S A REINVENTION.
BY STEPHANIE DAVIS SMITH
A decade after its initial run in Miami’s Design District, Michelle Bernstein’s beloved Sra. Martinez has returned—this time in Coral Gables—with a renewed spirit, a fresh look, and the same magnetic energy that made it a South Florida favorite in the late aughts. For Bernstein and her husband, David Martinez, reopening Sra. Martinez is more than a nostalgic revival—it’s a long-awaited homecoming.
“Every day for the last 10 years, I’ve been asked to bring it back,” Bernstein says. “It’s been sorely missed.” But don’t call it a rebirth. “Reset doesn’t quite describe it,” Bernstein explains. “It’s a new design, a new city, a more mature attitude and mind space, and the type of cuisine you can eat every week.”
While Sra. Martinez carries echoes of its past, it’s very much a restaurant of the present. Designed by Thomas Schlesser, the new space is warm and inviting, with an upscale yet approachable neighborhood feel. Bernstein credits Schlesser’s work, along with Chef Andrew Gilbert’s culinary creativity and a bar menu that oozes sophistication, as the key elements that make the experience unique.
Some dishes from the original menu make a return, but the culinary team has introduced exciting new flavors as well. “The crispy eggplant with molasses, fried artichokes with coriander dipping sauce, and black rice with cuttlefish are all new,” Bernstein shares. One dish that has quickly become a fan favorite? “The oxtail paella,” Bernstein says without hesitation.
For those wondering what a perfect meal at Sra. Martinez might look like, chefs Bernstein and Gilbert have their own ideal orders. Bernstein suggests starting with eggplant chips and a Stealth margarita before moving on to beef tartare and a Greek-ish salad, followed by chermoula-smothered fish or a house-aged steak with hand-cut fries. Dessert? Sabayon ice cream with local strawberries and Cava gelée.
Gilbert leans into an opener of pan con tomate with boquerones, egg yolk carpaccio, and butifarra before choosing either an aged steak or whole fish for the main dish, accompanied by a well-aged Rioja. His finale: torrejas, a Spanish-style bread pudding.
If there was one thing the original Sra. Martinez had in spades, it was a vibe. And that’s not lost this time around.
“It’s a neighborhood place—upscale, yet casual and approachable,” Bernstein describes. “We want people to feel like they’re going out for the evening, listening to different types of live music every night, but still cozy enough to sit at the bar and have a great burger.”
Music plays a big role in the experience. The new space in Coral Gables was formerly The Stage, a live music venue, and when the city asked Bernstein and Martinez to bring live performances back, they jumped at the chance.
“We try to decide on the type of music according to the type of evening ahead,” she says. “Lively and intense on weekends, more subdued on Sundays and Tuesdays.” Music lovers can snag a spot at the 15-seat bar or 24-seat cocktail lounge, both reserved for walk-ins.
Perhaps the biggest testament to Sra. Martinez’s lasting impact is the outpouring of love from longtime patrons.
“Every single night we get at least a dozen regulars,” Bernstein says.
Despite their inclination to always move forward, Bernstein and Martinez knew this was the right time to look back.
“It’s always a chance when you’re opening a new restaurant, and this is the first time we’ve brought something back,” she admits.
“The funny thing is, David and I are the type of people to never look back. But when it comes to Sra. Martinez, it was a bit more like the one that got away. It wasn’t only missed by the public—we missed it. So, it has been a true pleasure for us to enjoy it once again.”
