Whether adorned with white tablecloths or featuring quaint rustic tables, boasting breathtaking waterfront views, or offering a romantic candle-lit patio, each of these five Downtown restaurants exudes charm while delivering the epitome of Italian culinary excellence in the bustling Miami neighborhood:
Alloy Bistro Gourmet
Not your average Italian eatery, Alloy Bistro Gourmet is an effortless melange of French, Tunisian, and Italian fare in an upbeat, bright, and breezy atmosphere. Take a seat on their lush green patio and expect to be wowed by the artistry that goes into every dish. Truly, each course is a work of art presented in the utmost elevated manner. Rustic yet high-end, the city’s epicureans feel right at home at this awe-inspiring bistro.
Feast your way through the beautiful and tender grilled octopus, delicate branzino carpaccio, and homemade duck prosciutto. On to the mains, where organic calamarata pasta intertwines with tender lobster meat and organic Venere rice plays symphonies together with aromatic truffle oil and parmigiano cheese. At Alloy Bistro, desserts have just as much importance as the main fare, so one should, without a doubt, save room for the chocolate fudge and the homemade panna cotta infused with Madagascar vanilla beans. One might argue that Italian food is incomplete without wine and Alloy Bistro has an extensive list of vino to prove it.
Alloy Bistro Gourmet is located at 154 SE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, visit their official website.
Fratelli Milano
A dinner at Fratelli Milano transports you straight to the streets of Milan, where high-end cuisine is effortlessly served in unpretentious atmospheres. Inspired by the hearty Sunday feasts cooked by their grandmother in Northern Italy, twin Chefs Roberto and Emanuele Bearzi, alongside Roberto’s wife Fiorella, have been helming the Fratelli kitchen for nearly 20 years.
With a menu that speaks straight to the soul, crowd favorites include a wide array of fresh daily-made pastas like the penne tre funghi in a creamy truffle sauce and pappardelle Milano made with filet mignon and Chianti wine. Other must-haves include the crispy fried calamari, the scaloppine al limone made with succulent veal medallions, and, of course, the classic Vitello Milanese. Dolci should under no circumstance be skipped, and the tortino al cioccolato, a soft chocolate souffle with luscious creme anglaise, proves our point well.
Fratelli Milano is located at 213 SE 1st St, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, visit their official website.
Il Gabbiano
Oh Il Gabbiano, a love letter to the cuisine of Abruzzo. With its epic waterfront views, white tablecloths, and made-to-order pasta, it’s definitely a special occasion kind of place but well worth every penny. Each evening, the creme de la creme gathers in the posh dining room to try delicacies of the land and sea prepared to the highest standards.
Veal enthusiasts will be delighted to find a special veal menu of a dozen offerings. The most raved about being the costoletta alla valdostana — succulent veal chops stuffed with pate foie gras, fontina, and prosciutto, then sauteed with wild mushrooms. Other customer favorites include the crispy zucchine frite, a wide variety of daily hand-made ravioli, fresh baked fish, and an array of scampi. Cheers to the good life!
Il Gabbiano is located at 335 S Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, visit their official website.
Soya e Pomodoro
Soya e Pomodoro is an utterly charming Italian eatery where live jazz is as commonplace as freshly made pasta. Tucked away in the historical Shoreland Arcade that is now a century old, filled with beautiful archways, grandiose ceilings, and local art, the restaurant is uniquely unpretentious yet brims with charm.
The Italian cuisine here is warm and fuzzy comfort food that blends just beautifully with the soulful jazz tunes playing daily. Fresh pastas are the specialty, and Soya e Pomodoro offers a few varieties that you’d be hard pressed to come by at any other Italian restaurant. Case in point: the fazzoletti di formaggio e pera, fresh cheese, and pear-stuffed pasta sheets served with sauteed baby shrimp in a heavenly ricotta sauce. Other delectable provisions include cheese and cold cuts imported from the motherland, delicate beef carpaccio, and white wine-braised lamb shanks. With the ravishing atmosphere and boisterous entertainment, you’ll want to make reservations here day after day.
Soya e Pomodoro is located at 120 NE 1st St #2502, Miami, FL 33132. For more information, visit their official website.
Vero Italian
Tucked away in a quaint little space, the Italian trattoria puts its full focus on a lengthy menu of authentic dishes from each of the country’s regions. Travel across Italy with over 10 pages of various delicacies. By nightfall, Vero Italian turns into a romantic little haven, complete with candlelight and live music. The restaurant warns of the preparation times involved in making each dish fresh-to-order and from scratch, so be prepared for a thorough culinary experience.
The restaurant features lunch, dinner, and brunch menus alongside separate menus with kids, gluten-free and vegan options. Glancing through the list of provisions, you’ll find a myriad of bruschettas, fresh-made pasta (with a separate page dedicated to ravioli), proteins, and plenty of desserts. First-timers can delight in the bruschetta tricolore made with burrata, arugula, and tomatoes; ravioli aragosta, lobster ravioli served in a lobster bisque; or the irresistible spicy bucatini amatriciana prepared in the best of Roman traditions. One last tip — always ask for the specials, which are updated weekly.
Vero Italian is located at 90 SE 1st St, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, visit their official website.
