Five Essential Dishes at Otto & Pepe, Wynwood’s Game-Changing Pasta Bar
Miami’s first pasta bar, Otto & Pepe, has arrived in Wynwood. The playful Italian restaurant offers a central 28-seat bar in a lively dining room where you can witness the alchemy of pasta-making, as well as an intimate enoteca stocked with shelves of natural wines curated by Miami wine veteran Karina Iglesias, and a cozy garden courtyard that’s perfect for drinks and antipasti (sorry, no pastas outdoors). In a year of more Italian restaurant openings than we can count, this upscale-casual Wynwood spot is one worth making time for, not least for how lightly it wears its excellence and the sheer quality of its cooking.
Inspired by travels across Europe and Miami’s irrepressible energy, the pasta-centric menu imagined by Italian chef Viviana Varese – known for her Michelin-starred restaurants in Milan and Sicily – is broken down into four simple categories: red sauce pasta, white sauce pasta, more pasta, and not pasta. While that might sound like they’ve made things easier, choosing from so many excellent handmade pastas isn’t always an easy task.
We chatted with Otto & Pepe’s co-founders Gabriela Chiriboga and Samuel Ghouzi (who are also behind Wynwood’s 1-800-Lucky food hall) about some of their favorite dishes on the menu, which surely includes their made-from-scratch pastas and some of those “not pastas.” Here’s what to get.
Gazpacho e Stracciatella
While much of Otto & Pepe’s Italian menu remains traditional, begin your meal with a creative dish that blends the best of Spanish and Italian flavors. Gazpacho e stracciatella is a refreshing dish consisting of a chilled tomato and pepper gazpacho, topped with creamy stracciatella cheese and crispy croutons. Together, the dish offers a balance of tangy and savory flavors and blend of textures.
“Gazpacho, as a classic refreshing Spanish dish, introduces fresh flavors, while the stracciatella brings a creamy Italian touch,” Chiriboga explains. “The idea behind this culinary creation was taking a tomato-based dish and spinning it to showcase an authentic taste of Italy.”
Vitello Tonnato
This timeless Italian classic features tender slices of cold veal, elegantly draped in a creamy tuna and caper sauce (don’t knock it until you try it) – one of the many traditional and comforting plates Otto & Pepe serves. Veal is known for its smooth and velvety texture, and with its topping of a creamy tuna-caper sauce, each bite is simultaneously rich yet tangy and bright.
“Our version stays true to the original recipe and is inspired by its simplicity and elegance. while the flavors are a perfect balance of creamy and savory,” Ghouzi says.
Tagliolini Limone e Caviale
Otto & Pepe’s homemade tagliolini is a ribbon-like egg pasta that’s thinner than traditional tagliatelle. They use it as the base for their luxuriously creamy tagliolini limone e caviale, featuring a rich sauce of butter and zesty lemon that feels both indulgent and light.
“This traditional lemon pasta has been topped with Oscietra caviar to transport you to the Italian coast with the freshness of the lemon and saltiness of the caviar,” Chiriboga says. “With our straightforward pasta-focused menu, the introduction of caviar provides an indulgent treat and layered taste experience.”
White Truffle Pasta
A seasonal special (Italy’s white truffle seasons typically runs through December), this white truffle pasta ensconces that same homemade tagliolini in a decadent butter sauce that’s finished with freshly shaved white truffle sourced directly from Alba, Italy.
White truffles are considered the most sought-after truffle for their more delicate, subtly nutty flavor (as opposed to black truffles’ bolder umami notes), making Otto & Pepe’s version a highly sophisticated take. “The earthy aroma and rich flavors of the truffle elevate each bite, making for an unforgettable, aromatic dining experience,” Ghouzi says.
Tiramisu
Made from scratch and inspired by the team’s travels across Europe, chef Varese’s traditional tiramisu combines layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers and velvety mascarpone. It’s prepared in house each morning using traditional Italian recipes and ingredients, an approach reminiscent of the kind of time-honored recipes that have been passed through generations. It’s a dish that, unsurprisingly, that Chiriboga loves: “With each bite, the layers come alive,” he enthuses.
Lyssa Goldberg is a Miami-based freelance writer and content strategist. She loves telling stories about food, wellness, and travel, and you can find her byline in Parade, The Points Guy, U.S. News & World Report, American Way, Mashable, Time Out, and more. Follow her on Instagram and X. Follow Resy, too.
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