Ever since New York City’s always-in-demand Carbone opened on Miami Beach in March 2021, a meal there has become a litmus test to see if you’re actually someone obsessed with food. You’ve been, right? And you have a critical review of everything you ate? This especially became true since the New Yorker breezed in to say “the city's hottest restaurant moved the party to Miami,” making it that much harder to actually get a table. Can any restaurant really live up to this level of hype? Yes, well, not entirely, or maybe, actually, it’ll be exactly what you thought it would be.
It is, first and foremost, a place that feels special, that just oozes a celebratory vibe for that anniversary dinner or landmark birthday or someday-special-spot for when junior finally graduates from something. Inside, it's almost an overwhelming collection of things that also just works, like the garishly ornate crystal chandeliers, the bright green banquettes, the sherbert-colored curtains, and the chartreuse paint—like, everywhere. The bar is both old-school and upscale, with plush salmon-hued barstools and loads of lights illuminating everything in a Rat Pack-era filter. If you become over-stimulated, ask for a table outside, where the hedgerow creates a cozy little dining area.
Can any restaurant really live up to this level of hype? Yes, well, not entirely, or maybe, actually, it’ll be exactly what you thought it would be.
Once the food comes, you’ll likely find it quite good, quite expensive and quite possibly worth the money. You’ll need to order the spicy rigatoni vodka because everyone’s going to ask you about it, and you just might declare it glorious: The vodka sauce just the right thickness and clinging to the noodles perfectly, with just a hint of heat. From there, start with the baked clams, a simple affair with breading and a whole lot of butter. Get the big hulking rib covered in sweet peppers and then linguine vongole, or really any of the pasta dishes, which you’ll adore and perhaps deem the best ever. Did it live up to the hype? At the very least, you’ll be talking about it for long after you leave.
