Riviera Focacceria Italiana

For a genuine, totally immersive Italian experience head to Riviera Focacceria Italian, where the stracchino cheese is imported weekly, the pasta is fresh and the pesto and focaccia are made much the same way they are in Genoa where they originated. The industrial decor feels deliberately understated so as to not detract from the delicious, Ligurian-inspired menu that includes dishes like Mandilli di Seta al Pesto with Riviera’s homemade sweet basil peso, and the Pansoti al Sugo di Noci, little cheese-filled pockets covered in a delicate walnut sauce. Lunchtime and weekends are busy given its location in the bustling Shops at Midtown Miami, though Riviera’s enclosed patio and selection of namesake focaccias are idyllic for a quick respite from the crowds.