Italian, Miami

If you must eat any Italian food in the city of Miami, let it be here.....the place is just a total delight to spend an evening......upon entering the restaurant you are greeted by the owner himself....who will either sit you or direct you to the restaurant bar....come early come late this place is ALWAYS PACKED !!!! and the reason is the food...JUST AMAZING.....the service is perfect and the atmosphere is great. The prices are excellent; plates run from $11 to $30 on the high side......a small restaurant but it has plenty of charm and I would HIGHLY recommended it to anyone a perfect 10 out of 10 !!!!!

Favorite Dish: Black ravioli with lobster chunks !!! just amazing...and for the dessert the chocolate pyramid with hot mango sauce......mouth watering !!!!

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We had a wonderful dinner at the Hosteria Romana - and as the name suggests it is run by people from Rome... to "really" appreciate the atmosphere you really need to understand some italian - and if you can deal with typical roman humour, even better.

The restaurant has two locations, one on Espaniola way, and one on 1230 Ocean Drive. We chsoe the first so that we could sit outside, enjoy our dinner, and avoid havng cars driving up and down next to us.

Favorite Dish: While there are a lot of delicious things on the menu, after having a chat (and a laugh) with the waiters we chose our wine, a bottle of (overpriced but delicious) Falanghina - which ed them to recommend some mixed grilled seafood (which wasn't in the menu)...

We had lobster, king prawns, crab, grouper and a couple of other fishes I don't remember. The portions of fish was so huge that we had to skip dessert...

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This is just past of the menu:
Ceasar salad
parmegiano cheese, croutons with the traditional ceasar dressing
Fried Calamari
served over romaine lettuce, fennel, and raddicchio
Grilled Calamari
served over romaine lettuce , radicchio, and fennel
Grilled imported jumbo shrimp with head on
served over a mixed green salad and tomatoes
Fried jumbo shrimp with head on
served over a bed of lettuce Mixed green lettuce, tomato, fennel and corn
Greek salad
mixed green lettuce, tomatoes, feta cheese, cucumbers and olives
"Summer style salad"
mixed green lettuce, chunks of imported tuna fish, tomatoes, corn and bufala mozzarella
Mixed green salad "Mountain Man style"
with prosciutto, blue cheese, olives and tomatoes
Calzones
Calzone with prosciutto and mozzarella
Calzone with prosciutto, mozzarella cheese, and mushrooms
Pizzas
Margherita
cheese and homemade tomato sauce
Boscaiolo
mushrooms, cheese, and tomato sauce
Capricciosa
cheese, prosciutto, tomato sauce, mushrooms, artichokes, and olives
Sausage and mushroom
mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce
"Mountain style"
mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce and prosciutto
Spicy calabrese salami
tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese
Pepperoni
mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce

Favorite Dish: This is my favorite: Risotto
Seafood Risotto "Fisherman's Style": mixed seafood with tender calamari, baby clams, shrimp,
This was by far the best restaurant in South Beach. The bartenders and staff are amazing. They sing, laugh, tell jokes...just know how to get you to relax and have a great time. The bartender was by far the best bartender that I've ever seen. His martinis were the best I've ever had. You just have to go there and see for yourself. It's also in a great location.
Hours: Monday - Sunday Lunch & Dinner from 12pm until 1am
Cuisine: Italian, Roman, Jewish
Appetizers: from $5, Entrees: from $12

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So we are walking on Ocean Drive and looking for someplace to eat. We are tired of walking so we just choose this place. It was a little more pricey then others but the food was awesome. I have no idea what this place is called. Just remember... anything and everything on South Beach is pricey.

Favorite Dish: I had some bento box thing which was to die for! My other 2 friends had the $60 filet minon!! Which they also said was to die for!

Restaurant has been around about 10 years now and it quickly took off.
Good ambiance, good quality food, similar to quality of Macaroni Grill with a more family style to it.

Favorite Dish: Antipastos: Fried Calamari / Artichoke dip are excellent

Main Course: Shrimp Scampi / Chicken Arrabiata *(sp)? / Roasted boneless pork / Fettucini Alfredo (ask for salmon on top) are all delicious!

Known for their chocolate dessert!

One of the best restaurants in the city is well worth the drive into Doral if you like Italian food. Also unlike most other nice restaurants and chain franchises, you can get a table without the wait on busy nights (well, usually). Service is good, food is excellent, but the place is really loud.

Favorite Dish: everything

Absolutely fantastic scenery, right on the waters of Biscayne Bay. Kinda 'uppity' if you ask me, but the people were friendly. Only stopped by for an Amstel on our way to Little Habana, but will certainly check it out on the next trip.

About the "Conga Lounge" aspect. I've been asked to elaborate on this topic. Behind Lombardi's is this really cheesy little 'thatched hut' thingy. On weekends, they have this "Ricky Ricardo" band that comes in and performs. I suppose this establishment is catering to the "Cruise Crowd" (since this is a major stepping-off point for the cruise lines). Fortunately, I missed that part. But the hut *does* look suspicious.

This is by far one of the best restaurants in Miami Beach. The staff is extremely attentive. The food is exquisite. And the atmosphere is elegant yet relaxed.

Favorite Dish: Their pasta dishes are innovative in taste and combination of ingredients.