MIAMI’S MOST OBNOXIOUS TREND IS EXPENSIVE ITALIAN RESTAURANTS

Miami, we need to talk — specifically, we need to talk about our obsession with high-end Italian restaurants.

Look, I love a good plate of cacio e pepe as much as the next person, but why is every new spot in town trying to be the next Carbone? Do we really need another $35 bowl of carbonara when we’re sitting in a city with one of the most diverse culinary scenes in the country?

I get it. Carbone came, conquered, and became the darling of the Instagram set. Its old-school, over-the-top Italian vibe has certainly made waves — not just here but all over the country. But it feels like every restaurateur is copying the playbook, trying to hit those same notes of “luxury” and “nostalgia” at prices that would make even the most loyal customer think twice.

Here’s the thing: Miami doesn’t have a massive Italian population. Yet, we’re acting like we’re the next Florence with the sheer number of Italian spots popping up. In the past six months, Miami has welcomed more than a dozen flashy new Italian restaurants, from outposts of internationally acclaimed chefs to popular spots expanding from other cities and countries. And don’t get me wrong, it’s not about bashing Italian food — some of these spots do it really well — it’s about variety. This trend feels like it’s all for the tourists, those with deep pockets looking for a “Miami scene” over plates of pasta. But what about us locals? What about the people who live here and crave something different?

Where are the chefs pushing boundaries? Where’s the bold, diverse representation? Miami’s food scene should reflect its rich cultural mix, and while we’ve nailed it with Latin American cuisine (hello, Peruvian, Cuban, and Argentine food), but there’s so much more to explore. Why aren’t we seeing more Asian fusion spots that aren’t just sushi, or African restaurants, or even Afghan food? We’ve got the audience — we just need the offerings.

Even some of our favorite local chefs, like Giorgio Rapicavoli, Niven Patel, and José Mendín, have joined the wave by opening Italian spots in recent years. And while they’ve done a great job adding their spin to the cuisine, it’s hard not to wonder what else they might create. These chefs have proven their creativity and skill with other restaurants, so it’d be exciting to see them apply that same innovation to something new and unexpected for Miami.

At this rate, Miami’s food scene risks becoming a caricature of itself — where mediocrity is cloaked in fancy decor and tourist dollars. The joke’s already started among us food writers: “Oh, look, Miami’s got another fancy Italian spot.”

And sadly, it’s not really a joke anymore.

It’s time to do better, Miami. Let’s move beyond $28 cacio e pepe and offer the city something worth getting excited about. We owe it to ourselves — and to the city’s food culture — to push for more interesting, more inclusive, and, dare I say it, more delicious offerings.

Not everyone can be Carbone. Let’s stop trying to be.

2024-10-01T13:08:29Z dg43tfdfdgfd