Miami area top Italian

[Emory Palmer]

Looking for a great Italian Restaurant for dinner in the Miami /Ft. laurdale area.

[Mat Josher]

I was really blown away by Casale in Miami Beach. It's not your usual death-by-garlic kind of place. They refer to themselves as a pizzeria / mozzarella bar. That's an understatement. The dinner entrees and atmosphere are excellent. Highly recommended.

-----
Casale Pizzeria - Mozzarella Bar
1800 Bay Road, Miami Beach, FL 33139

[mcolon]

Il Gabiano on Brickell, yes a bit expensive but good quality food and big portions. amazing view to the bay at night too!

[morganeats]

Cafe Vialetto in coral gables is awesome

[mikek]

Vialetto has some odd, odd combinations that just do not work at all (melon in a cheesy risotto?). While it is a decent meal, it is not close to the top in the area (sorry! :) ).

I would put Osteria del Teatro right at the top for Miami. Romeo's Cafe is supposed to be great as well.

[morganeats]

ok, I know you had melon and risotto there ONCE and thought it was weird, but seriously vialetto has REALLY good italian food. It is especially good if you like fish (cod or yellowtail). There is no doubt that it is on the top of the italian food chain in miami and is not one of these hyped up nyc overpriced outposts that everyone seems to be in to lately. Some ppl, i suppose, are into that. But I for one, think that vialetto is a quality spot in the coral gables area

[Frodnesor]

I went to Cafe Vialetto once and was not terribly pleased. Half the entrées were slicked with some sticky beige bechamel like sauce. And melon & risotto would hardly be the only suspicious combination. The menu they have up online currently has the following -

- tuna on top of arugula and spinach with sun dried tomato, goat cheese and blueberry dressing
- spicy beef salad with caramelized cashews, apple, blue cheese and sweet spicy chili sauce
- scallops in lobster bisque topped with melted provolone
- beer battered shrimp tempura in spicy chili guava paste

I don't know what you would call that, but it sure isn't Italian and it sounds like a train wreck.

[freckleface782]

Tratoria Luna in South Miami

[Frodnesor]

There's an existing "Top Italian in Fla" thread which includes several Miami/FTL suggestions ->
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/318973

Currently, in Miami I would probably go with Scarpetta and Sardinia as my top 2. There are folks who like Il Gabbiano but I find it rather pricey for what you get (though this is not necessarily speaking of quantity - some love the way they stuff you with fried zucchini and hunks of parmigiano reggiano before you even order).

www.foodforthoughtmiami.com

[pilches]

We really like Sardinia, but love Valentino's. So far everything we've had there has been wonderful. We used to really like Casa D'Angelo, but the last to visits were disappointing.

-----
Casa D'Angelo
1201 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

[HabaneroJane]

Heard so much hype on Il Gabbiano and was thoroughly disappointed on the entire experience. Il Mulino redux. Meh.

-----
Il Mulino
1800 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

[Frodnesor]

It is quite literally Il Mulino redux - there's a family connection there. I find it very overpriced for what it is and just not very exciting.

[gblcsw]

We love Valentino's on S. Federal Hwy in Fort Lauderdale.