When was the last you visited John Martin’s Irish Pub? *It had been a while for me. Breakwater Hospitality (The Wharf) revived and updated the landmark restaurant a couple of years after we thought we had lost it forever.
I was skeptical about the changes and the revamp because, often, these renovations tend to unknowingly remove the restaurant’s essence. You have nothing to worry about; it is still John Martin’s but with a contemporary vibe.
John Martin’s in Coral Gables
The bar, where I ate many lunch meals and drank plenty of ice-cold draft beers, was beautifully redone.
The front room now has a sunroof that lets natural light into the space. Marcela and I chose to sit there for lunch. The portraits of John Martin’s founders, John Clarke and Martin Lynch, are a nice touch.
We were given the lunch menu to peruse, and I went online to compare it to the dinner one. The only real difference appears to be the removal of sandwiches and adding a Daily Chef Special. Don’t forget about Sunday’s brunch menu!
Appetizers and Small Plates
I was tempted to get the soup but saved myself for the truffle pastrami croquetas, chicken wings, and osso bucco pig wings. The pork belly bites and Guinness-glazed meatballs also made it to our table.
We dove into the croqueta first since I can’t resist minced meat in mini-spheres. They didn’t disappoint, even though I’m not much for truffles.
The Irish-chicharrones, aka the pork belly bites (pork, belly chunks, honey garlic glaze, green kale, sesame seeds, scallions), and their glaze are perfect for snacking on at the bar while sipping drinks.
Their chargrilled chicken wings are phenomenal and disruptive with that char. These fellas caught me totally off guard. If you dip them in any sauce, I would consider calling the cops on you after I take them away from you because you don’t deserve them.
The osso bucco pork wings are the love child of the pork belly and chicken wings. It inherited the attributes of each parent, but I preferred their parents, sorry, son.
Marcela prefers those overprocessed meatballs that are all over the freezer aisles in supermarkets, so she steered clear of Guinness-glazed meatballs. It was great news for a meatball lover like me cause they were freakin’ delicious, and that bed of cheddar grits they were laying on was next level.
Just as all the appetizers and small plates came out, the server brought a platter that included buffalo, harissa, ketchup, and Au Poivre sauces. I was so enamored with the dishes that I didn’t pay much attention, but I did catch Marcela dipping fries in them.
Ribs for Marcela
What about baby back ribs and three different burgers, if that wasn’t enough?
I tried the spare ribs, but I’m not an expert. I like to stick to what I know about. Were they tasty? Hell yeah, but they’re more in Marcela‘s wheelhouse, and she didn’t stop raving about them. However, that street corn elote won my heart.
Burger Talk
The Bacon Smash, the Guinness, and John Martin’s Signature Burgers arrive almost simultaneously, like a photo finish in a well-contested foot race. I’m not sure why I thought that this would be a good idea after everything else, but your BEAST must come through for you.
All these fellas are half-pounders with a side of fries, so loosen up your belt before consumption:
Bacon Smash Burger – Two 8oz smash patties with caramelized onions, bacon jam, American cheese, and John Martin’s signature sauce on a potato bun
The Guinness – 8oz dry-aged beef patty topped with arugula, a beer brat sausage, and creamy Guinness beer brie fondue on a soft pretzel bun
John Martin’s Signature Burger – 8oz house-blend burger topped with arugula, tomatoes, caramelized onions, roasted pork belly, John Martin’s signature sauce, and a Tallegio truffle fondue on a toasted brioche bun
Which was my favorite? I gotta give it to the John Martin’s Signature Burger. The trio of caramelized onions, roasted pork belly, and Tallegio truffle fondue sealed the deal.
I need to mention the fries, which were fantastic but impossible to eat alongside the burger after the spread we ate.
John Martin’s Irish Pub
253 Miracle Mile
Coral Gables, FL
(305) 209-0609
Website – https://johnmartinsmiami.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/johnmartinsmiami
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/JohnMartinsMiami
Monday 11:30 am – Midnight
Tuesday 11:30 am – Midnight
Wednesday 11:30 am – Midnight
Thursday 11:30 am – 2:00 am
Friday 11:30 am – 2:00 am
Saturday 11:30 am – 2:00 am
Sunday 11:00 am – Midnight
*Thank you to Breakwater Hospitality‘s Emi Guerra for inviting Marcela and me for lunch. We thoroughly enjoyed our conversation about the renovations to John Martin’s and the plans for the future.
On a side note, we previously worked with his brother, Eddy Guerra, during our Camacho Bold Burger Battle tour.
The Original John Martin’s
During the last few years of my retail management career, I worked across the street from John Martin’s Irish Pub. I made it my home away from home by eating there three to five times a week for lunch.
I became friendly with their general manager, Cristina, and owners, John and Martin. Yes, those are their names. They knew of my food blog and were following along on my adventures.
The menu expanded over the years, offering Irish specialties and pub grub. I always like to start my meal with hand-breaded wings or chicken tenders.
The almost neon-colored hot sauce served with the wings is also great for your tenders. The wings are crispy, and the tenders are about as perfect as a chicken strip/tender can be.
On the sandwich front, the burgers are at the forefront. I’ve had all of them multiple times, but if you were twisting my arm, I’d say the Pub Burger is the best. The Pub Burger is blackened, and if I were you, I’d ask for blue cheese instead of the Irish Cheddar it comes with; it’s just so perfect.
Best Buffalo Chicken Sandwich?
The buffalo chicken sandwich is probably one of the best I’ve ever eaten. Most folks swear by these chain buffalo chicken sandwiches, but this is the real deal: juicy breaded chicken breast covered in neon hot sauce and melted blue cheese crumbles nonsense.
And if you feel like going over the edge, they’ve got a Monte Cristo Sandwich. Yes, it’s like the one you remember from Bennigan’s, but it is good.
All your favorites are here: turkey, ham, Swiss, and American cheeses on white bread, which are then battered and fried. The Monte Cristo also comes with berry jam for dipping.
Do not eat this entire sandwich for lunch, and plan on returning to work at full capacity; it will do a number on you.
John Martin’s is more than just wings and sandwiches, though. I just scratched the surface of what is available here, and that’s not counting the daily lunch specials. There’s meatloaf, shepherd’s pie, bangers, and mash…the list goes on and on. The best part? It’s all great.
John Martin’s Burger Beast Menu
Since I was a regular at John Martin’s in Coral Gables, the bartenders knew what I liked to eat and drink in a Cheers-like fashion. One day, while eating lunch, General Manager Cristina asked if I’d create dishes for a one-night-only Burger Beast Menu.
Laura, John’s (of John Martin’s fame) daughter, created the menu with my input. We were trying to create dishes with food that was already available, such as the shepherd wedges, which took their potato wedges and smothered them in shepherd’s pie and cheese.
On Monday, July 6th, 2009, at 8 p.m. sharp, there were burgers, drink specials, and the Burger Beast Cast of Characters. The mini burgers were the most popular item that night.
The Burger Beast Menu party at John Martin’s was a blast and officially the first-ever Burger Beast Event.
My second Burger Beast event, the Burgie Awards, would also be held at John Martin’s a few months later.
One Last Delivery Order
In late 2019, I noticed that John Martin‘s delivery area included my Burger Museum. Unbeknownst to me, it would be the last time I ate from the original John Martin’s Irish Pub.
There was a lot of history between my blog and John Martin’s, so it was unfortunate that its original incarnation closed down in April 2020.
I’ve always been thankful for their help; I might never have gotten the shot to do an event without them. But I know one thing: John Martin’s will always be an integral part of the Burger Beast story.
You got this Kendallite’s taste buds salivating. I see a trip to the Gables in my near future.