18 September 18-24, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | September 18-24, 2025 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Bernstein’s PBS show Check, Please! and Guy Fieri’s popular Food Network series Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. La Leggenda Pizzeria 224 Española Way, Miami Beach 305-763-8566 laleggendapizzeria.com Napoli-born and raised chef/owner Giovanni Gagliardi, dubbed La Leggenda (the Legend) by friends in Italy for his pizzaiolo skills, is making some of the best Neapolitan-style pies in South Florida. Gagliardi performs his magic in a small space tucked away near the eastern terminus of Española Way, where his domed, wood-fueled oven turns out from- scratch pizzas with crusts that are invariably soft, airy, and perfectly blistered. Don’t miss the “Margherita STG,” made with real-deal mozzarella di bufala campana and fragrant fresh basil. Non-pizza highlights include gn- occhi alla sorrentina, an Instagrammable cre- ation that delivers sublimely creamy gnocchi dished up in an edible blistered-dough bowl. Desserts are as good as the pizzas, but good luck deciding between a pistachio-flecked gelato the color of early spring leaves and a cocoa-dusted tower of tiramisu so generous with the mascarpone that it jiggles. L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon 151 NE 41st St. Ste. 235, Miami 305-402-9070 latelier-miami.com Much like great fashion houses, the great chefs of the world create restaurants that keep their legacies alive. Although Joël Robu- chon died in 2018, his name lives on at this Design District gem that marries the interac- tive ambiance of Japanese sushi counters with the casual spirit of Spain’s tapas bars and Robuchon’s take on modern French cuisine. Today, the chef’s protégés stay true to his legacy with a menu of iconic Robouchon creations alongside dishes that highlight South Florida’s regional bounty. Grab a seat at the communal bar facing the kitchen and order the “Evolution” tasting menu, or go à la carte with “Le Burger,” a patty that blends foie gras and beef. Either way, you’ll appreci- ate why L’Atelier is the only restaurant in Florida to earn two Michelin stars. Le Bouchon du Grove 3430 Main Highway, Coconut Grove 305-448-6060 lebouchondugrove.net Le Bouchon Du Grove has been a hidden gem in the Cocowalk area since 1994. In an ever- changing city, this establishment has re- mained dedicated to challenging the misconceptions of French cuisine. Unfussy and devoid of attitude, this quaint bistro, in- spired by the city of Lyon, serves food that’s hearty, authentic, and deeply flavorful. At once rustic and refined, the menu captures the flavors of France, whether at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Mornings bring French om- elets and raspberry pancakes, evenings fea- ture traditional starters like escargot and French onion soup and entrées like the ex- quisite moules marinières pommes frites. For dessert any time of the day, try crème brûlée or chocolate mousse. Le Jardinier 151 NE 41st St. Ste. 135, Miami 305-402-9060 lejardinier-miami.com Located in the Design District, Le Jardinier is the southern outpost of Alain Verzeroli’s first solo restaurant (also called Le Jardi- nier), which opened in 2019 in a luxury building in midtown Manhattan and quickly earned a Michelin star. For two decades, Verzeroli worked alongside the great Joël Robuchon, helping the French chef assem- ble menus and a small galaxy of Michelin accolades. On his own after Robuchon’s death in 2018, Verzeroli runs his restaurant in partnership with the same company that operates L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, which is located a spiral staircase up from Le Jardi- nier. As its name suggests, Le Jardinier ad- heres to the increasingly fashionable “eat your vegetables” ethos, with a menu that changes constantly with an eye to what’s in season. That doesn’t mean you’re limited to rabbit food; you might just as well be tempted by a bavette steak resting in its own juices and served with roasted artichokes and royal trumpet mushrooms. No surprise that Verzeroli’s pristine Miami outpost earned a Michelin star in the guide’s Florida debut. Lil Greenhouse Grill 1300 NW Third Ave., Miami 786-277-3582 lilgreenhousegrill.com Karim Bryant and Nicole Gates own this charming little spot in Overtown that offers modern takes on classic soul- food dishes. Bryant, who over- sees the kitchen, has a solid foundation built on stints at Capital Grille, Prime 112, and BLT Prime in Doral. With a background in radio, Gates has the task of spreading the word and making sure customers — from the neighbor on the cor- ner to mega-celebrities Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King — stay happy. But who wouldn’t be happy when served a plate of barbecue smoked wings or chicken and waffles? Chase it with a selection from Lil Greenhouse Grill’s wine and beer menu — but be sure to save room for banana pudding. Los Félix 3413 Main Highway, Coconut Grove 786-391-1598 losfelixmiami.com The food community makes a lot of noise about heritage and honoring lost Indigenous pathways. Los Félix does something about it. Dedicated to the Mexican-born Milpa agri- culture — a system in which heirloom corn is interplanted with other crops, such as squash and beans, in order to share resources — Los Félix uses those ingredients to construct reci- pes. That’s why the housemade totopos (torti- lla chips), made with nixtamalized corn masa, are so damn good (especially when served with guacamole spiked with serranos). Every- thing on the menu reads as an authentic hom- age to Mesoamerica, right down to the biodynamic natural wines, cocktail ingredi- ents, and craft beers sourced from small fam- ily farms, artisanal producers, and breweries. Luca Osteria 116 Giralda Ave., Coral Gables 305-381-5097 lucamiami.com If you’re on a quest to find the best pasta in Mi- ami, consider Luca Osteria, where Giorgio Ra- picavoli channels his Italian heritage in a quaint spot named for his son. Located along the pedestrian-only stretch of Giralda Plaza, the restaurant offers the chef’s indulgent in- terpretations of classic dishes with the same spirit his beloved Eating House churns out quirky-creative riffs on American favorites. Here, homemade pastas pair with the bar’s se- lection of house spritzes, while hearty main plates do best with one of several takes on the classic negroni. Pasta is a must-order — be it bucatini all’amatriciana with aged 600-day prosciutto and sun-dried tomatoes or pap- pardelle smothered in a nutmeg-spiced short rib ragù. But the antipasti of patate fritte — Ra- picavoli’s bite-size balls of fried potato, served beneath a deluge of creamy parmigiano fon- duta flavored with black truffle and topped with a single egg yolk — is a can’t-miss dish. Lucali 1930 Bay Rd., Miami Beach lucali.com At first sight, Lucali, the Miami outpost of Mark Iacono’s famed Brooklyn flagship, looks like a regular pizza joint. Furnishings are unassuming — mismatched tables and chairs, an open kitchen, a working bench manned by T-shirted pizzaiolos — but by can- dlelight, everything glows. Men in white shine with sweat as they use empty wine bot- tles to roll dough. Pizza-makers take their time prepping pies for the wood-burning oven. Crusts eventually emerge thin and blis- tered, their surfaces puffed by blackened bubbles of golden dough and smeared with melted buffalo mozzarella and shredded Par- migiano-Reggiano that cocoons smooth to- mato sauce. Such attention to detail — and the resulting pies — earned Lucali a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation in 2022. Lung Yai Thai Tapas 1731 SW Eighth St., Miami 786-334-6262 lungyai.com If you’re not used to the searing heat of Thai spice, ask for Lung Yai Thai Tapas’ lab e-sarn — a chilled ground-pork salad spiked with hefty doses of cumin, chilies, and star anise. It’s one of a number of recipes chef/owner Bas Trisransi revived after learning at his grandfather’s side decades ago. Bas knows that the development of deep, complex fla- vors can’t be rushed. This is quality Thai food that’s both affordable and casual, and the tapas style will rightly tempt diners to sample everything on the menu. A meal at Lung Yai is a crash course for the palate — and the Mi- chelin Guide took note, awarding the restau- rant a Bib Gourmand designation in 2022. Macchialina 820 Alton Rd., Miami Beach 305-534-2124 macchialina.com Chef Michael Pirolo spent years traveling and cooking at Michelin-starred temples in Pied- mont, Lombardy, Bologna, and Campagne. When he returned to the United States, he linked up with Scott Conant and eventually led the opening of Scarpetta at the Fontaineb- leau Miami Beach before debuting his own Italian restaurant, Macchialina. Pirolo’s skills are many and precise, his menu focused and Le Jardinier Le Jardinier photo TOP TOP 100 100 RESTAURANTS
