Italian is by far my favorite type of food. Throughout my years, I've been lucky enough to try a bunch of Italian restaurants in South Florida and then in Rome while studying abroad. I can pretty much call myself an expert when it comes to identifying which restaurants down here truly live up to the standard of Italian cuisine you'll find in Italy. So here are my personal favorites when I need some good food in my life or when I'm missing the Eternal City. We'll go ahead and start with the basics, pizza. Everyone that's ever been to Italy knows that their pizza is a super thin crusted, magical plate of cheesy goodness.
Forget about Domino's, Pizza Hut, Papa John's, and all their thick crust pizzas. Instead, go to Domenico's for the most authentic pizza in Miami. Whether you get just plain cheese, or go all out with supreme, you really can't go wrong. This restaurant is owned by an Italian family and has been around for quite some time, the staff is extremely nice and always makes some fire pizza as well as pasta and subs! As far as pizza goes, I won't even bother mentioning other restaurants cause this is the creme of the crop, so let's move on to pasta.
All of the following restaurants have fantastic pasta, no matter which one you choose, but each one has a specific dish that is mind-blowingly good and up to par with (or even better than) what you can find in Rome.
Sosta Caffe is located in Pembroke Pines and is probably one of my all time favorite restaurants. This place can't do anything wrong. Their pasta is absolutely incredible no matter what dish you order. My go-to and the one I always recommend is their Fettucine al Salmone e Burrata. I'll let the photo speak for itself. Some of their other highlights include their lasagna, fiocchi, and chicken parm! I know it's hard to but try to save room for dessert. They do not have a dessert menu but instead you go to the main counter and choose from the fresh selections they have that day.
Anacapri is another gem for delicious Italian food. They have the best and my favorite gnocchi, the Gnocchi Michelangelo that comes with peas, prosciutto, and onions in a white cream sauce *chef's kiss*. One of their other notable dishes is the Fiocchi (pictured), a pear and four cheese-filled pasta. This sweet but savory, creamy pasta is unique and flavorful and definitely a must order. An added plus is that they have an incredible wine selection to pair with your meal!
Sal's has quite a few locations across South Florida but don't let that scare you off. Their Penne alla Vodka is not to be slept on and is one of the best I have ever had. For all my Carmine's and Tony di Napoli fans, this penne alla vodka is just as good.
Macchialina is another fantastic Italian restaurant but to be saved for a special occasion or date night as it's on the higher end price-wise. View the TikTok above for a look at the space, drinks, and food. But as a brief overview they have a small menu and you can tell their food is extremely fresh and made with love. They do have specials varying by the day and also offer a 5-course tasting menu if that's your jam!
If you're ever feeling like eating some amazing, authentic Italian food in Miami, go to one of these places and you won't be disappointed.
Article originally published for Spoon University.
https://spoonuniversity.com/place/where-to-find-the-best-italian-restaurants-in-miami