If you’ve ever wished your dinner came with a side of old-school glamour, Contessa is here to grant that wish—wrapped in emerald-green velvet and topped with a parmesan cloud. This opulent Italian dining room in the Design District is the Miami outpost of Major Food Group, the team behind Carbone, meaning it’s got the same high-drama aesthetic, the same impossible-to-book reservations, and, yes, the same $27 burrata.
But Contessa isn’t just a sequel to Carbone—it’s a full-blown Lake Coumo chateau owned by an eccentric count, where every plate arrives like it’s ready for its Vogue close-up. The hand-cut wagyu carpaccio is absurdly delicate, the lobster capellini is unapologetically rich, and the veal Milanese is the size of a small raft, as it should be. And then there’s the rigatoni carbonara, the kind of dish that demands silence on the first bite.
Service is crisp, the wine list leans heavily into Italian vintages, and the crowd is exactly what you’d expect—polished, well-dressed, and taking their pasta very seriously. And while it’s definitely a scene, the food holds its own.
Is it over the top? Absolutely. But Contessa isn’t trying to be subtle. It’s here to dazzle, to seduce, and to remind you that Italian food can still be an event.