Everything You Need To Know About Fiola Miami, the Ultimate In Italian Fine Dining

1. When ordering, you can leave it in the chef’s hands …

The menu draws inspiration from regional Italian dishes, local and seasonal ingredients, and Trabocchi’s own family traditions (he’s originally from the Adriatic Coast of Italy). At the helm of the Coral Gables outpost is executive chef Danny Ganem, who adds his personal touch with only-for-Miami dishes such as Florida wahoo semi-cotto and spaghetti alla chitarra served seasonally with black or white truffles.

If you’re a first-timer overwhelmed by all of your choices, you can trust the chef to be your guide: The Pasta Omakase lets you sample smaller portions of several top pasta choices – which is what you’re coming to Fiola for in the first place.

And there’s also the new Degustazione di Verdura menu – a fully vegetarian tasting including four courses, plus a canapé, amuse, intermezzo, and dessert that’s a testament to locally sourced produce.

2. … Or you can simply order yourself. 

If you want to order à la carte, take our personal recommendations: To start, we suggest the bison tartare with cured egg yolk and the ​​porcini mushroom “cappuccino” (a creamy mushroom soup with Parmesan foam and tortellini poured into a cappuccino mug).

Be sure your pasta order includes the signature lobster ravioli, a dish Trabocchi been making since the late ’90s and says he’ll never take off the menu. Made with ginger, hearty hunks of lobster, and encased in a steamed wonton instead of traditional pasta dough, it leans more dumpling than ravioli, and you’ll lap up every last bit of the luxurious lobster cream sauce.

Whatever you do, leave room for the grand chocolate cake, a massive slice of chocolate cake with gianduja ganache and hazelnut streusel that says it serves two. This isn’t your typical one-note, rich chocolate dessert — think of it as a giant Ferrero Rocher, in cake form.

3. Service includes not only tableside dishes but also drinks.

Given Fiola’s D.C. flagship is Michelin-star rated, you can also expect exceptional service and hospitality here in Miami.

Tableside presentations are the cornerstone of Fiola’s top-notch service. From whole fish deboned tableside to the aforementioned bison tartare — which is plated on a wooden board with fresh florals and splattered with Parmigiano crema, like a vibrant work of art, before being tossed with egg yolk by your server — almost every dish involves some form of interaction.

And that extends to certain cocktails. The Kassidy (a refreshing Champagne cocktail named for owner Thomas Angelo’s daughter) features a bubbly pour of Laurent Perrier Brut, topped off by a show-stopping smoky blend of St. Germain, Bacardi rye cask, and grapefruit. Whisky lovers will enjoy The Rare Breed, featuring a blend of Macallan 15 Double Cask single-malt scotch, coffee-infused Carpano Antica vermouth, and liqueurs poured tableside from a glass barrel.

4. The wine program is equally impressive.

Thanks to a wine cellar filled with 8,000 bottles, Fiola Miami has held Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence since 2019 — the magazine’s second highest award recognizing restaurants that have gone the extra mile with an extensive, thoughtfully curated wine list, featuring a wide breadth of quality selections. This also makes Fiola the perfect place to host frequent wine pairing dinners (over 80 to date) with vineyards and winemakers like Gaja, Antinori, and Vega Sicilia. 

“Led by Daniel Bishop, the beverage team is passionate about enhancing the dining experience with both the wine and the cocktail program,” Angelo notes. 

One of the rarer selections on the wine list is a 2008 Royal Tokaji Essencia, a Hungarian dessert wine made from a concentrated essence of the ripest grapes, which some call liquid gold. You can order it on its own, as a $65 syrupy sweet pour in a spoon, or experience it as part of the Tokaj dessert wine flight. 

5. Seek out stunning rooftop views at La Terrazza (now open to the public!)

Earlier this year, Fiola opened up its stunning rooftop to the public. Previously a members-only venue, La Terrazza da Fiola is a more casual concept (but only barely) located on the penthouse level of the adjacent building. The VIP vibe remains, however, as you’ll make your way through a separate private entrance with its own valet, crossing velvet ropes to take an elevator up to the penthouse.

La Terrazza offers its own menu inspired by the Amalfi Coast (plus a few Fiola favorites), sweeping views of the city’s treetop canopy, and nightly programming from cigar nights to sunset happy hour. Perhaps the most impressive part, though, is the retractable roof — they’ve literally got you covered from Miami’s unpredictable weather. 

Bonus: If you fall in love with Fiola, their membership now includes preferred seating on La Terrazza’s rooftop and downstairs in Fiola’s dining room, concierge service for reservations, and exclusive discounts.

6. Bookmark this: There’s a reason to dine any day of the week.

Fiola Miami’s owners wanted to serve locals with extended hours (compared to the D.C. location, which offers only dinner), approachable prix fixe menu options, and community programming. 

So whether you’re looking to dine at Fiola or the La Terrazza rooftop, there’s something special almost any day or night of the week. The current rundown:

• During lunch (Tuesday – Friday from noon to 2:30 p.m.), there’s a 3-course prix fixe option for $42.
• Aperitivo Hour (Wednesday – Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.) includes $10 wine and cocktail specials and Italian nibbles averaging $12.
• On Monday nights, Fiola offers 25% off the entire wine list.
  
• For a wine tasting experience at an excellent value, you can book a reservation after 9 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday and enjoy the 3-course Late Night Wine & Dine Menu that includes unlimited sommelier-selected wine tastings for $85 per person.
• Upstairs at La Terrazza, there’s live music on Thursday and Friday nights; Cigar Nights with visiting cigar ambassadors and two-for-one cocktails on Thursdays; and Sunset Happy Hour (Wednesday – Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.) with $5 beer, $9 wine by the glass, and $10 cocktails and small bites.
• The main event, of course, is Sunday Jazz Brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. — a lively, family-friendly affair featuring live jazz and signature brunch plates, alongside heartier options and a tableside Bloody Mary cart.