The Grove Spot provides its own version of a Dutch treat

The Grove Spot, located at 3300 Virginia Street, Miami, FL, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The restaurant has a full liquor bar, including tap beers and a happy hour period every day. Photo by Jessica Hodder

It resembles a pub stolen from a European town where locals, tourists and college students can dine in a casual and homey environment that owner Olav Smit intentionally created for The Grove Spot.

The restaurant, 3324 Virginia St., opened in February as a “grand café,” where people from all walks of life can show up and have a good, affordable meal and experience, Smit said.

The Spot’s everyone-is-welcome policy keeps the restaurant busy in coming up with ideas that cater to its eclectic clientele.

From Sunday football specials that let customers take in a game shown on the restaurant’s large plasma screen TVs, to events that promote the restaurant’s varied beer selection, to the Friday night live music performed by local bands, the Spot gives customers a lot of reasons to check it out for the first visit, then to come back to try something different.

“Every week there are specials, and the events are a great place to mingle with singles,” said Smit, a native of The Netherlands.

The restaurant’s free wireless connection, for example, is popular among college students.

“I come here to hang out in between my study sessions because sometimes I just want to get off campus,” said Florida International University senior Diane Ramirez. “This place is awesome and helps take the load off.”

A former partner at the Titanic restaurant in Coral Gables, Smit prides himself in keeping within his comfort zone, which includes serving breakfast and specialty coffees throughout the day: “Miami coffee drinkers commonly drink Segafredo and I personally love it,” Smit said. “And that’s why I want it in my restaurant.”

The breakfast menu features American and European specialties, including “The Breakfast Sandwich” – Smit’s favorite – which consists of bacon, eggs cooked to order and cheese on a hoagie ($6.50). There are “Bangers & Eggs,” two eggs, Irish sausage and multigrain toast ($7.25); and the “Uitsmitjer (Dutch for all-day), two eggs sunny side up over multigrain bread topped with Tavern ham and Gouda cheese ($7.25).

Popular non-breakfast offerings include the chicken fajita ($10.75); wiener schnitzel, a breaded veal cutlet served with red cabbage and mashed potatoes ($10.85), and a filet of Dover sole served with a garlic sauce and mashed potatoes ($12.95). A house salad is included with each entree.

Adding to the “comfort” element are indoor and outdoor seating that capitalizes on South Florida winter weather, and the ambient jazz that plays throughout the day.