Ryan F.
Yelp
Grabbed lunch at Artisan Kitchen & Bar on Saturday afternoon. Ordered a Latte to drink and then split the Serrano Creamy Croquetas, Venezuelan Tasting, and Artisan Fries for food.
Quality
After hanging out at the beach on Key Biscayne, I searched for a place to grab coffee and a snack. I found Artisan Kitchen & Bar and figured we would give it a shot. I started with a Latte, and it is hard to complain too much about any place using Panther Coffee. We then opted to share some fried Spanish treats rather than go the traditional meal route. First was the Serrano Creamy Croquetas. They were tiny, but packed with great taste. With a perfectly crispy outside and an inside oozing with rich flavor, it was an solid dish. We also ordered the Venezuelan Tasting, which came with 2 tequenos, 1 minicacapa, 2 crispy arepas, 2 bolarepas, and 2 mini empanadas. Just a mix of staples, shrunk down a bit. The highlight for me was the cheesy tequenos, which went perfectly with the guava sauce on the side. On the other end, I was disappointed by the mini empanadas, which were so tiny they barely had any meat inside. We also opted to get the Artisan Fries, just to make sure we did not leave hungry. The skinny style fries were decent, but nothing too special.
Quantity
We ordered primarily off the appetizer menu, but the few items we ordered were more than enough for a light yet heavy lunch. The Venezuelan Tasting especially, with its a combination of fried and cheesy items, can fill you up quick.
Value
Even though our order was confined to smaller shared bites, the entire menu presented reasonable prices. It would be no problem finding a filling lunch for under $15.
Ambiance
Artisan Kitchen & Bar is located within the village of Key Biscayne. This cafe, restaurant, and bar, takes up the corner unit of a strip mall among the other stores and restaurants on the key. Outside the restaurant has a few tables set up, which were a popular area for folks sipping on coffee. The majority of seating however is inside. Immediately inside you have a small lounge area, that seems set up for folks who may want to do some work. Tables surround these couches, and then continue to the back of the space. Along the left wall there is a bar seating, and they do have a selection of beers and wines you can order. Above the bar a single television hung, which unsurprisingly was showing a soccer match. In the background Spanish music was playing softly, preventing awkward silence, but not interrupting conversation.
Crowd
The busiest part of the restaurant was its small outdoor patio, which had each of its tables full. Inside however, things were much calmer with just a few diners. I got the impression that this spot is popular with locals, mostly from the abundance of golf carts sitting in the parking lot. It is a casual space, but one that fits the bill for folks looking to relax with a coffee or with a beer.
Service
The staff was welcoming and friendly. Our waitress let us know a few of her favorite items on the menu and made sure to get our food out quickly.
Parking
The restaurant is located in a small strip mall. They have a good sized private parking lot, which was very easy to access.
Extra
Artisan Kitchen & Bar, was not at all what I thought it would be. It functions as a one size fits all space, providing an option for people looking for coffee, food, or a drink. I also must admit I was not expecting the Venezuelan style cuisine, but overall I enjoyed it. It is not a bad place to find yourself for weekend lunch.