Italian food is by far my favorite. I’ve been lucky enough to try a bunch of Italian restaurants in Miami and now in Rome while studying abroad. I can pretty much call myself an expert when it comes to identifying which restaurants in Miami 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.
Pizza
Let’s 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.
Domenico’s Italian Restaurant
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 can't go wrong.
Pasta
Moving on to the mother load: pasta. Each of these restaurants has 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.
Scarpetta
Scarpetta is home to the most amazing gnocchi I’ve ever had in my life (yes, even compared to the one’s I’ve tried in Rome). Unfortunately, they only have it every so often as a special, but all of their pasta is great. They also have an amazing burrata appetizer that's nice and creamy and comes with fresh tomatoes.
Anacapri
There are a few locations in different parts of Miami. Once again, all their pasta is great but the most notable is the fiocchi, a pear and four cheese-filled pasta. This sweet but savory, creamy pasta is the king of all pastas and is honestly my favorite of all time.
Sal’s Italian Ristorante
With a bunch of locations all across Florida, this is another gem when it comes to pasta. Their penne alla vodka is so good, it's one of the best I’ve ever had.
Café Vialetto
Last, but not least, is this small restaurant that has the best risotto. They have a bunch of different varieties, but their champagne risotto (with or without meat or fish on top) is a must.
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.