Ola Miami is neatly tucked in Beach’s Sanctuary Hotel

By Josie GulliksenThe Sanctuary Hotel, located on residential James Avenue and just blocks away from Lincoln Road and Washington Avenue, is home to Ola Restaurant.Renowned Chef Douglas Rodriguez whose name became famous in ...  the mid-1980s, has created a stellar menu at this beautifully intimate and cozy restaurant. Even with 120 seats the almost mysterious light pink rock-like candleholders add a warm glow and gorgeous high-back chairs and bench seating almost beckon diners to eat, drink and stay a while.Bringing the menu to life is Executive Chef Horacio Rivadero whose passion and understanding of the Ola cuisine is unmatched.“We are serving Nuevo Latino cuisine by taking traditional recipes and putting a twist on everything from the cocktails to the desserts,” Rivadero said.Seven mojitos that incorporate ingredients like watermelon puree, pomegranate vodka, green tea vodka and a variety of rums are ideal starters to any meal.An entire page dedicated to ceviches shows off the imagination here. A royal trumpet ceviche with royal trumpet mushrooms marinated in a lime soy sauce, ginger, jalapenos, cilantro, red onion and micro celery elevates this traditional Peruvian favorite to another level.Delicate mystery meatballs are served on a bed of callampa mushroom sauce, almost too lovely to eat and incredibly tender. The braised pork, slow cooked all day and served with a black bean broth, steamed yuca, celery root and black trumpet mojo and topped with a light and airy chicharron is art on a plate.To finish off the meal, it’s a must to try the signature Chef Rodriguez dessert. A quaint cigar-shaped almond chocolate cake is filled with semisweet chocolate mousse and served with coffee ice cream and a candy matchbook. The square plate it’s served on even has a spot to rest the cigar.