14 January 23-29, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | wine bottles that will surely make you fall in love. Helmed by Chef Michael Pirolo, his menu of rustic pasta and entrées is truly au- thentic. The flavors are forward and simple, as made known in its salumi plate, a salad of heirloom tomatoes and locally made burrata cheese, a tagliatelle ai funghi, or a whole braised fish. The wine list is similarly con- cise. 820 Alton Rd., Miami Beach; 305-534- 2124; macchialina.com. Mandolin Aegean Bistro: Take a stroll along NE Second Avenue in the Design District and stop at the blue-framed door of Mandolin Ae- gean Bistro, one of Miami’s most loved res- taurants. Enter the 1940s home, and you will feel like you’re in a Greek village, complete with blue and white accents and white tables. Head to the romantic back patio with bistro lights for a complete Grecian experience, and enjoy housemade bread and a trio of dips, whole grilled sea bass, chicken kebabs, and more. 4312 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-749- 9140; mandolinmiami.com. The Surf Club Restaurant: If your idea of op- timal romance lies in a Fred Astaire and Gin- ger Rogers movie, then Thomas Keller’s the Surf Club Restaurant is the only setting that will do. This exquisite restaurant is all “cham- pagne wishes and caviar dreams,” as they say. Thomas Keller’s menu is a hit list of every decadent classic white tablecloth dish: caesar salad served tableside, lobster thermidor, Do- ver sole, and beef Wellington executed excep- tionally. It’s truly a romantic must-do. 9011 Collins Ave., Surfside; 305-768-9440; surf- clubrestaurant.com. Sapore di Mare: Sapore di Mare is a hidden gem in the Grove that features seafood dishes from Campania, a region in Italy that includes Naples and the Amalfi Coast. All of the fish is sourced exclusively from the Mediterranean, and Sapore is known for its crudo selection. If you choose to veer off the seafood path, try the tagliolini cacio e pepe served in a barrel of cheese. Sapore has achieved the kind of con- vivial atmosphere that attracts the most envi- able clientele: year-round locals looking for romance. 3111 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove; 305-476-8292; saporedimaremiami.com. Sospiro Natural Wine Bar: This cozy and quaint Coral Gables gem just (quietly) screams romantic date night. From its selection of nat- ural wines from small, independent growers, paired with its Mediterranean-inspired Italian menu, Sospiro is a romantic delight. Enjoy its cozy backyard garden as you savor small plates, charcuterie, oysters, pasta, and risotto. Plus, the spot offers wine flights, which is the perfect way to break the ice on a date early on in any relationship. 2626 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables; 305-631-2029; sospirowinebar.com. Sunny’s Steakhouse: Even though Sunny’s Steakhouse recently opened in Little River, its gorgeous, Americana-meets-Floridian-in- spired dining room, bar, and outdoor patio make it a romantic staple. Here, whether you sit outside under the bistro-lit tree on the patio, take a seat at the beautiful bar, or sit at a booth in the Flor- ida-style dining room facing French-style doors, you are in for a treat. From the great cocktail list to its array of pasta dishes, steaks, a full raw bar, and ex- citing desserts, it’s the perfect choice for a ro- mantic evening. 7357 NW Miami Ct., Miami; sunnysmia.com. Zucca Miami: Since opening in March 2017 inside Coral Gables’ historic Hotel St. Michel, Zucca has become a staple in Coral Gables, known for its traditional Italian cuisine, an award-winning wine cellar with more than 2,000 bottles, and warm hospitality. Chef de cuisine Manuel Garcia, who has honed his skills in Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe, leads the kitchen. His signature dishes, such as veal parmesan and stuffed zucchini flowers, have won the hearts of lo- cals. 162 Alcazar Ave., Coral Gables; 786-580- 3731; zuccamiami.com. [email protected] SUNNY’S GORGEOUS, AMERICANA- MEETS- FLORIDIAN- INSPIRED DINING ROOM MAKES IT A ROMANTIC STAPLE. Hungry for Love? from p13 Photo by Cleveland Jennings Sunny’s Steakhouse opened a permanent restaurant and brought back Jaguar Sun’s popular corn agnolotti with blue crab.
