Wow do we like our Italian food. It seems that every new restaurant is Italian in Miami these days. And many of them are very good. I have been experiencing an odyssey of good Italian these days, often accompanied by Lambrusco! The last round of places I took in included Bottura’s Torno Subito, Lido at the Four Seasons Surfside, Bar Bucce, Macchialina and the new opening of Giotto in downtown Miami!
The dining room at Torno Subito, the main hallway of the Moore Building and its rooftop bar.
Let’s start with Bottura, of Osteria Francescana fame, as who wouldn’t? The Miami location is in the sleek Moore Building, which functions as social club, office and hotel. The welcoming space has floral wallpaper pasted over its ceiling in Wynwood. The classic aged Parmigiano Reggiano and balsamic vinegar appetizer is served, along with a delicious log of roasted carrots. The tortellini in Parmigiano and cream were among some of the best that I have ever had! The rooftop bar, open to the public, is divine and serves great Negronis.
Across town in South Beach, Macchialina is serving up some classic–and less so–Italian food in extremely laid-back digs. Both the garden, and the dining room, are set off the street. On Wednesdays the restaurant serves up a very indulgent pasta and crudo omakase: featuring three appetizers and three pastas. It is over the top and indulgent and pairs so well with the bubbles, such as Roger Coulon Champagne, that the bar serves up with it. I adored the unorthodox melon and prosciutto soup!
The dining room at Macchialina and the patio at Bar Bucce.
The Priolo family is a big supporter of Lambrusco, read all about it here. And many iterations of it are served at the supremely relaxed Bar Bucce restaurant in Little River. This restaurant is the little engine that could, stocked with wines and foods to go! It also features pasta for the rasta: a Sunday night festival featuring reggae music. Prosciutto, delicious blue cheese and classic pizzas appear on most tables as you can watch cute, local three-year-olds get down with their parents and the singers.
Meanwhile Across Town
Giotto opened a new location in downtown Miami. The joint has some great Umbrian beer: Mastri Birrai Umbri, red and bitter and so food friendly and great pizzas. The soft and tender meatballs were also delicious. The wine list was not fleshed out when I went but they expect to ramp up. Back down in South Beach Cotoletta is no longer really Cotoletta, but thankfully the cotoletta–now just an item on the menu–is still good! The owner has added risotto and typically Emilian food such as plates of Mortatdella with hot pockets of bread called gnocchi (see below).
I also had an opportunity to take my mother for her 90th birthday–go mom–to Lido at the Four Seasons Surfside. So let’s talk one of the most elegant foliage-draped dining rooms in town (see picture above to the right). Great cocktails, perfect service and a less-than-classic take on Italian food. The angolotti del plin were a favorite: it is a classic, rich Piedmontese dish. The small pasta is stuffed with guinea hen. Some of the crudos are also lovely, but I would have preferred them with fewer accoutrements.
