When you see Pascal's on Ponce from the side of the road, it looks like a veritable hole in the wall, tucked between two other places that you learn to ignore. Stepping inside, there is a soft music playing in the background, and a wait staff eager to help seat you. 

 

From Open Table
Award-winning Pascal’s on Ponce, the 55-seat, upscale, yet unpretentious French restaurant in Coral Gables has wowed critics and diners for years by virtue of its delicious fare, impeccable service and charming atmosphere. The restaurant’s success is owned by critically acclaimed chef/owner Pascal Oudin (45) who insists on creating an elegant French dining experience without the fussiness and reminiscent of a classic Parisian bistro. The restaurant boasts sublime contemporary French cuisine, featuring local ingredients and utilizing the classical French techniques. White tables draped with crisp, white linens sport fresh flowers bouquets for an aromatic touché. This unpretentious, yet elegant atmosphere is the perfect backdrop for Chef Oudin’s stellar talents which shine throughout his magnifique menu. Wine Spectator Award and Wine Enthusiast Magazine Distinction Wine List. 

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In my personal opinion, Pascal's offers unparalleld French food that you just can't find it Miami. The soup of the day, a mushroom soup, was the best I ever had, creamy and perfectly salted but still with the distilled taste of mushrooms throughout. The boeuf bourguignon was as simple and yet as perfect as you would expect it to be. It was the ideal beef stew, one you might find in a french home, but with the attentive-touches of a great restaurant. It was simply served in a large bowl with an impossibly rich sauce (not a reduction) and with thin homemade pasta that were almost translucent. I ate the profiteroles, which were served with a sweet vanilla ice cream and slightly bitter chocolate sauce, in three minutes.

For Pascal's, I offer no jokes or sarcastic observations. The food, which spoke for itself, was unpretentious and yet sophisticated, a study in restraint without the deprivation. Everything was excellent.

If you go into Pascal's in a bad mood, just eat anything, and you'll start smiling again because of how insanely good the food is.

My Rating for Pascal's- AAAA
It is one of the best restaurants that Miami has to offer, not because of what is put into its food, but what is left out.