Cara Mia Trattoria
1040 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL, 33139
Cara Mia Trattoria Menu
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Address :
1040 Alton Rd
Miami Beach, FL, 33139 - Phone (305) 397-8624
- Website https://caramiatrattoria.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 11:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Amanda M.
Place was solid. Just wasn't blown away. We were seated promptly Saturday evening without a reservation. I had the seafood risotto. Portion was satisfying including the amount of seafood. Rice was almost cooked to perfection, but would have liked a bit more 'chew.' That didn't bother me too much. I thought the sauce wasn't too memorable and there was a bit too much of it, as it was a little saucy/soupy. Seafood was cooked properly however. Service was great. Staff was attentive and friendly. Ambiance of the place was decent, but average.
(3)Jenn S.
I was really looking forward to eating here given all of the excellent reviews but left feeling hungry and annoyed. We came on a weeknight for dinner, and were seated quickly (nobody was sitting inside, only 2 tables occupied outside). We were given a basket of cold bread after a 10 minute wait. My friend and I ordered the Linguine con Vongole ($17) while my other friend had the Lasagna Classica ($16) and Caprese ($11). When the linguine came, the noodles were very undercooked, to the point of being crunchy. We sent the noodles back and they were very accommodating in fixing the dish, but the linguine came back dripping in olive oil. They clearly just put the pasta back in the pan for a couple of minutes and added more oil (the clams were jumbled with the pasta when they came out the second time). There was barely any flavor in the very oily pasta and the clams were slightly gritty as well. My friend enjoyed her caprese salad, and the lasagna was cooked well, but tasted EXACTLY like chef boyardee (not an exaggeration, we all thought so). In conclusion, this was the lowest point of my trip to Miami, overpriced and overrated; would not recommend.
(1)Sonia A.
The Antipasto appetizer was delightful! The seafood pasta however was o k, could've been better. The server was friendly and nice and the place really cute. They have a very pretty outdoor sitting area. Would go again but not for the seafood pasta...
(3)Marie M.
Love this place on south beach. A hidden treasure next to whole foods! Great decor and perfect ambiance for a date. The managers are so helpful and hands on here with the guest. So the last time I went in I had a different yet unhappy experience. The outdoor seating was full and the inside had about two tables so we decided to sit outside to smoke. Upon arrival the server came over and we ordered an app with water while we browsed the wine menu. The app came to the table we ate and he still hadn't come back to our table for an order or to check how our food came out. The manager we spoke to guided us toward a wine. Again the server didn't come to open for us not get our entree order. The Busser took over the table. He was extremely helpful considering the situation. Once our food was arrived we ate and still no server ........ Once we were done the server finally came to ask if we wanted desert. We ask for the check, ......waited.......waited.....asked the manager for the check.....paid and left. Not too sure I will be returning back for a while. Not too happy . I got the octopus carpaccio. That was good, the fish of the day. Branzino was good, my boyfriend had the chick parm , he said it was good. Wine was ok. Once better service this place can be great.
(3)Anh n.
Meh. We went here because it was close to the Mondrian, but we really thought the food was no bueno. The wine was equally as bad(it was a sour Pinot Noir). Maybe it's because we've had some pretty amazing Italian food back home, but I personally was not happy with the food and wine. I don't even remember what we got. It was forgettable. The worse part was waiting 30 minutes to get our check... And yea, it was not crowded.
(1)Tommy H.
Great food, great service and best of all, great price. Entrees are mostly under $20 and you can get bottles of wine for about $25 - $30. Menu is distinct yet simple. The staff was attentive to my one food allergy and made sure I enjoyed an excellent, allergen free meal. If you are in Miami and willing to walk just a bit you can have an amazing meal at 1/2 the price of the traps by the beach. Buon Appetite! Also, they take the Yelp discount without a flinch. No questions or guilt. :)
(5)Christina T.
Saturday and Sunday brunch with all you can drink mimosas and bellinis for 15$? Yes please. We love this place. Food is superb, vibe is laid back, decor is chic and Tim is wonderful. They treat everyone like VIP's here. Great place in south beach.
(5)First L.
Had risotto... which was nowhere near good. Wet rice does not risotto make. Skirt steak was athletic-stiff. Sides were ok, but flavor-less. Gave some suggestions to the owner on how to improve on it. Nice and friendly staff. Though would be nice to learn ingredients of your food in English. Ok atmosphere. Not coming back.
(2)Larry S.
Excellent Italian food. Many other restaurants say they are a real italian restaurant. Cara Mia really is!
(5)Joesph D.
When you live on a beach you want good food and you probably want to stay away from tourists. IF you like italian - come here. Great food and service. Many locals come here
(5)Alex D.
Being italian, i must tell you that its very difficult to find a true authentic italian cuisine restaurant in Miami. However, after dining at Cara Mia i was totally impressed! The food was 1st class and the service was out of this world. Bravo Ragazzi!
(5)Lis K.
So, for my first time eating here, I was overall pretty satisfied. The atmosphere was nice, you could sit indoors or out (I sat outdoors and it was a very relaxing atmosphere). I had the beef carpaccio to start...delicious!! One of their pasta dishes for my main course and it was excellent. I have only 2 complaints..the bread they served was cold and they charge for refills on soda. So...my husband and I each got one refill on our soda and didn't realize until the check came. $12 for diet coke that probably amounted to 16 ounces of soda between the two of us??! Really?! I would go back for the food, but next time, I'll just get a glass of wine...at least I can rationalize spending the extra money on that.
(3)Nathaly L.
I kept driving past this place thinking it was a salon or spa....Until i saw a few reviews of this place and put it together. This place is adorable. Its casual, small, and the combination of the quaint place and delicious food makes me feel like my Italian grandmother from another life was making me dinner. First by checking in, yelp offered me 10% off the entire bill!!! wohooo! The daily soup was chick pea soup- I tell you i was hesitant at first, when i asked the server was it pureed and he said "no the chickpeas are whole"i thought that was strange and it wouldn't taste good. It was one of the best soups i have ever had. It tasted homemade. Most of the soup is pureed, but there are also whole chik peas in the soup and its tomato based. But OMG please try i am sure you will enjoy it as well. Next, the bread at the table was very fresh, and delicious too. I also ordered the caprese salad and that was disappointing because the tomato were not ripe. There was a pasta dish in a pink sauce that they gladly omitted the sausage to make it vegetarian which was nice, originally it comes with sausage, sun dried tomato and spinach in a pink sauce. I tried it minus the sausage and it was soooo good. I love pink sauce and i love sun dried tomato. My partner in crime had the mushroom risotto which was very good as well. The red wine i had was pretty good too, by the time we were done we were unable to order dessert, i was about to explode. But for the next few days we discussed the soup. Actually, i think i am over hyping it which may only lead to disappointment due to the high expectations. So just go there when you're in the area or in the mood for some casual Italian dining that is reasonably priced.
(4)Brien O.
Thank you YELP for letting us know about this great little gem! Just down the street from Whole Foods this is a wonderful neighborhood restaurant. Met at the door by the owner (Gg?) he showed us to our outdoor table. We got there a little early but apparently another couple who we saw at our B&B read Yelp as well. Soon two other couples who appeared to be regulars joined us in the court yard. Ok - service quick and friendly. Bread warm and fresh. Caprice salad great(could have used more basil) and entrees large and wonderful. Yes as a couple you could split an entree. Eat here if you're looking for a small LOCAL Italian dinner! You won't be disappointed.
(5)Amor S.
This place is blocks away from home so is like walking into my living room. The food is so good ant flavorful, authentic Italian done well, without it being too fussy or pretentious. Staff gets to know you and treat you like family after the first couple of times you go. Hard to narrow best dishes down to a few since they are all so good, but if I had to, I would recommend the carpaccio di polipo, any of their soups is delicious, pasta with either San Marzano or Carbonara sauces are oh so good, outstanding lasagna, chicken Parmesan or piccata very very good too, dreamy cheesecakes made in house different flavors every day, and great eggs Benedict for brunch to go with endless mimosas.... See what I mean? Can't shut up about this place. Give it a try and then let me know.
(4)Sylke C.
They have good set course dinner options and endless mimosas on Sunday. Service could be better, got two bottles of wine and not once did they come and refill. Food is not bad, but definitely better places just that his is walking distance. Our waiter was nice this time around. Not sure if they offer happy hour but that would be a good idea.
(2)Clint W.
Why is this place not packed every night? Since my last update, my wife and I have had the opportunity to go to Cara Mia for the "early bird" dinner and for the Sunday Brunch. Both were nothing short of outstanding. For the Early Bird dinner the price is MORE than worth it. We started with the Lentil soup and Caprese salad. Both were excellent. I found my tomato and goat cheese perfectly balanced with the basil, especially on a hot day. My wife found her soup delicious as well. Our main course we had the Salmon for here and the Capellini for myself. Great is the only way to describe it! The salmon was cooked perfectly and my pasta was just the way that like it, just a little "al dente" with the perfect amount of sauce and spice. Its a real pleasure to eat food that is simply prepared yet delicious. Its a great departure from the over-sauced foods you find these days. Dessert was the chocolate mouse with sliced strawberry. Also awesome. Small and yet satisfying. So that definitely made us come back from the Sunday Brunch.... The Brunch meal has a limited selection, but the entire menu is still available. I chose steak and eggs and my wife chose the Spinach and Egg omlette My steak and eggs (picture on yelp) was a nice healthy portion of food with a simple side salad with tomato. The eggs and the steak were cooked perfectly. There was PLENTY of food on the plate. After some recent breakfasts that have cost me the same or more money in TINY little sizes, this meal was a treat! The also offer "bottomless" bellinis, mimosas or Peroni for an additional 15 dollars per person. GET IT! Its worth it as it complimented the meal perfectly. My wife Spinach and egg omlette was also great, she also had some Italian ham included in the omlette which gave it a great flavor. Her dish (photo also on Yelp) had a nice portion of food We finished with two cappuccinos and a Pana Cotta. The Pana Cotta is another must have! Light and goes great with coffee. Really all their desserts are wonderful. In conclusion, get away from Lincoln Road. Walk down Alton to 11th street near Whole Foods and GO TO CARA MIA! This is a restaurant that deserves to be successful in a town where so many places come and go.. A well deserved fifth star!
(5)Leslie C.
Max is an amazing bartender !!!! Our food was delicious . Calamari was made to perfection. Great wine list and service. The ambience is cozy and romantic. We are coming back for the brunch !
(5)Ute L.
Recently came back for dinner and was happy to see that at 7:30 PM on Saturday every table was occupied. Not so happy about the fact that they were out of the ricotta cheesecake. The word has gotten out, I wonder what moron is responsible for that?!? Tim remembered me by name from three months ago (wow) and made us feel as welcome as last time. Here are some tips based on my repeat visit: - great place for a date or quiet family dinner away from the SoBe hustle and bustle - make a reservation during prime time - great fix price dinner and early bird specials - be prepared to wait between courses and spend at least 2 hours for dinner - fresh baked (in house) bread and desserts - bring change for the parking meters - risotto is awesome
(4)James T.
Carla and Alvaro are the best servers Great authentic Italian food Get the early bird before 7:00
(5)David M.
Beautiful restaurant. Service was great. Food was excellent. Quick and kind. Loved it.
(5)Klara S.
Prices are great, and service is very good. I am really picky about Italian food, so I did not love it. I had the mushroom risotto which was not great (a little too chewy and the mushroom flavor slaps you in the face) but my friends really enjoyed their meals (lasagna and a seafood pasta). I also did not like the wine - I thought it was a little sour but again, my friends liked it. 3 stars to balance my experience and theirs. They might be back, but I'll try somewhere new.
(3)Hab B.
Great service, even better food. Quiet, cozy and authentic dining experience. Have eaten here regularly over the last few years and would highly recommend. With so many options on the beach, this place can be easily overlooked but assure you that if you give it a try, you will definitely be back. If you like dining outdoors, the patio addition will not disappoint.
(5)Kate S.
Awesome Italian restaurant that is reasonably priced really charming atmosphere. I had the spaghetti carbonara and my fiancé had the chicken parm and it was delicious. Even my daughter, a picky eater, liked her meal. Great wine list and delicious ricotta cheesecake. Their antipasto misto was outrageous...it had delicious meats and fried olives!! There are so many Italian restaurants in SoBe that are totally overrated, so Cara Mia is a real gem. Definitely the only Italian restaurant to visit while you are in SoBe. Excellent service and great atmosphere. Perfect for couples, but great for families, too.
(5)Sarah H.
Food was great, prices and portions fair, and service excellent. Eggplant, meat balls, spaghetti cacio peep, and salmon delicious! Thank you!
(4)Lena O.
Delicious and well priced. Generous servings. Lovely attentive service. We ordered the calamari and lasagna as entrees thinking they would be actual entrée size but they were generous and one dish would've been enough. I had the veal which was tender and had great flavour. Sadly we had no room for dessert. Used the Yelp 10% discount offer and total came to $63.
(5)Tonia B.
Cara Mia is the BEST kept brunch secret of South Beach! I regularly go to brunch with a group of friends and we always have an amazing time! It's a small place and easy to overlook when driving on Alton but it's worth getting away from Lincoln Rd and the beach for this restaurant. Of course, with Cara Mia being one of the few spots left with bottomless mimosas and bellinis for $15, you can't go wrong. Our glasses were never left empty so the bottomless is truly bottomless. Everyone enjoys their food--between all of us we have ordered most of the brunch menu and everything is delicious. It's hard to choose but I think my favorites might be the Spinach and Goat Cheese omelette or the Chicken, Basil and Pesto Panini. The servers and owner are the most attentive I've seen in Miami and it keeps me coming back to this place. We have designated this as our new regular brunch spot and you should too! I definitely recommend Cara Mia to anyone and everyone local or visiting wanting a delicious, affordable and enjoyable Sunday brunch!
(5)Darris A.
Vacationing in Miami looking for a brunch spot with unlimited mimosas. Some how we end up running into this place. It's small but VERY NICE and clean! It's 7 of us. We get our mimosas and we all order. I didn't try and of my friends food but I ordered the steak and eggs! It came with 3 eggs, toast, potatoes, bacon or sausage, a small salad and a rib eye steak. It was all very delicious. Seriously. And on TOP OF THAT. They offer 10% off the entire bill (not just your food) with a check in. And all my friends loved their food as well. The bathrooms were also very clean. Prices are good, food is great, service is good. Definitely stop by here if you're in Miami
(5)Marilyn R.
Superb. Simple honest cooking raised to the sublime of trattoria cooking.
(5)carol n.
Cucina Italiana deliziosa!! The quality of food and service were excellent. The servers were friendly and processional and gave great suggestions on the wine selection to compliment our dinner. We noticed there were a few Italians dining and that was automatically a good sign. The dining experience topped my expectations and I'll be spreading the word around town. After reading the Sunday brunch reviews, I'll be coming again soon!
(5)eglys h.
In agreement with many of my fellow yelpers - this place is amazing!!! It is a small place packed with huge flavor!!! Prior to going to an 8:00pm show hubby found this place on yelp and after reading a few reviews, set it up for us to go to an early dinner. Such our luck, they even offer an early dinner menu - cost between $16-$19 3 course meal - Appetizer, entree and dessert. This menu actually has a lot of nice offerings. We were quick to make our decisions. I went with the soup of the day which was a potato/onion soup - never before had this combination - it was different yet flavorful. Hubby went with the better choice of the Caprese salad - this was delicious thick slices of firm tomato topped of with a nice size portion of fresh mozzarella - it was amazing. For my entree I went with the Spaghetti alla Carbonara - and this was my first time ever having this type of dish. Friends have spoken to me about this delicious combination made up of pancetta, egg, parmigiano & pecorino romano cheese mixed with angel hair al dente pasta - OMG! It was amazing... Very generous amount of crispy delicious pancetta! The freshness of the pasta with the consistence of the cream, egg and cheeses was a 5 star party in my mouth!!! It was served with a small piece of garlic toast which was very small but it did not matter for the bold yet delightful taste of the dish was out of this world!!! Hubby went with the Salmone alla Griglia - grilled wild salmon filet brushed with herbs, lemon and olive oil. It too was delicious.. Dessert was only one choice - Chocolate Mousse - but no need for another. This light fluffy, creamy chocolate was served in a chilled martini want to be glass accompanied by sliced strawberries and dressed up with a nice dollop of whipped cream. An awesome ending to an amazing meal. Prices on regular menu not too bad at all - so no worries if you are not up to the early bird dinner - 5-7 i believe. it is still very much affordable and most worthy of a try.. Bon appetite my fellow yelpers!!!
(5)Leah G.
We found this place by accident and I'm so glad we did! I ordered the special which was lobster ravioli and it was delicious! I'm very picky about seafood and the lobster tasted fresh and there was a lot of it in each ravioli. The creamy tomato sauce even tasted like it was cooked with lobster in it. For the quality of the food I could not believe how reasonable the pricing was. We had 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine and our bill was $76. You just can't beat that on Miami beach. The service was also very good. Several servers and managers made sure we had everything we needed and kept our water and wine glasses full. I highly recommend this restaurant. Food as good as prime Italian at a fraction of the price.
(5)Antonella R.
Very good Italian food in a real Italian restaurant. I am Italian and I don't go often to Italian restaurant, as a lot of time I find the food not good as in Italy. Here was different, the food was excellent and real Italian! We will come back. Nice ambience, great service and wonderful bread made by them.
(5)Lourdes G.
Exquisite! I had dinner with some friends and we ordered a variety of appetizers that were all delicious. I had the special, Chilean Sea Bass... scrumptious! The owners suggested a good wine and I had a mouth watering tiramisu for dessert. I cant wait to go back! Grazie Cara Mia Trattoria! Ciao for now!
(5)Zoe C.
I have no idea how this place gets a 4.5 stars on Yelp. I ordered a three course dinner and it's just really bad. I didn't even finish 1/3 of my main dish.
(2)Christina S.
How I wanted this place to be good! Not so much. I give it 2 stars instead of 1 because of how friendly the server was. However, the food was just bad. I got the "special", which was lamb and noodles and it almost killed my lust for lamb. Maybe the other fare is tasty, but the lamb reminded me of dog food--low quality and chopped into bite sized pieces just like pedigree. And it had gristle and bones mixed in which is bitterly disappointing. Will. Not. Repeat.
(2)Guillermo P.
Good Italian food. That's it. Good ambiance. The waiters were friendly, so was the manager. Tried some pretty basic pasta and carpaccio and they were both good. Prices invited me to come back for dinner soon.
(4)Martha D.
I love finding delicious local restaurants in South Beach...especially as we lose more and more of the old staples on Lincoln Road. This little Italian restaurant is located on Alton Road on the same block as Whole Foods. Parking is actually quite easy, so no worries about that. I have been there about 4 times and each time, I have had a wonderful experience. The burrata is delicious, the prosciutto is amazing, the eggplant parmigiana was beyond yummy...I could go on and on. It's a super easy spot for dinner with family and friends. No fuss, no muss...all good ;)
(4)Jennifer S.
Very cozy private little spot on south beach. Would highly recommend for a quiet unique dinner experience. Very authentic menu and wine list. Super!
(4)Alex D.
Nice people, but the food does not live up to the reviews. Plus the restaurant was almost completely empty on a Friday night. Really don't understand these reviews.
(2)Cathy M.
EXCELLENT customer service. The entrees were wonderful...ask about the special--a seafood linguini, wrapped and baked in paper to seal in flavors and aroma, then opened tableside, like a delicious gift! I'm a dessert lover, and unfortunately the tiramisu was crunchy (eh?). Overall, a great experience and highly recommended :)
(4)Christopher K.
Looks very authentic Italian. Owners and staff all friendly and Italians. Good decor. All lead to too much expectation? Food was 6 on a scale of 10.
(3)Rich S.
Not great. The reviews made me try it and maybe they caused me to expect more. The wait staff was friendly and the atmosphere was nice. My party tried 4 dishes. The lasagna, steak, spaghetti carbonara and the chicken parm. Each pasta dish was unbelievably salty. It tasted like it was boiled in sea water. The steak was also over salted. We made mention of it to the waiter who offered some free deserts to make up for it, but we were ready to leave by then. I wanted to love it but I don't think I will ever return. :-(
(2)Alex g.
How does a nice local restaurant located on the busy Alton Road go somewhat unnoticed? Tim, the host, met us at the door. He asked where we wanted to sit in the empty trattoria. He insisted the two of us sit at a table for 4. A bottle of white to start the meal and water poured from a repurposed Gavi wine bottle, just like they'd do in Roma or my house. We had a choice of the Miami Spice ( ilovemiamispice.com ) or standard menu. We started with the Polpette di Granchio (stone crab cakes stuffed with mozzeralla (in NJ it's pronounced, mutz), mesculin salad, and cayenne citrus sauce). Probably the best crab cakes I've ever had. Get them, you'll thank me. Lisa had the Lasagna, a traditional bolognese lasagna with bechamel and mutz This is how my family had made it since before I had teeth. It wasn't al dente, but rather it soft, almost like gnocchi mashed to make the pasta. It was delicious! When I order it next time, I'm asking them not to add what seemed like marinara sauce on top. I'm used to a drier lasagna and look forward to it being as much like the lasagna I've always grown up eating. I had the Salmone alla Griglia, a grilled Norwegian salmon filet, lobster cream sauce, and veggies (broc and carrots), accompanied with scalloped potatoes. It was very good. Great fish plate to request. By this time (approximately 9:00 PM), the bar was full and the restaurant was filling up. There was a hum of chatter and clanking of utensils, plates and glasses. For dessert we shared a lemon cheesecake. It's not NY cheesecake, so it's soft, not firm and thick. It doesn't stick to the roof of your mouth, but it it flavorful. Lastly, I ordered a macchiatto, but they ran out of milk. Antonio informed me that Tim went out and got milk at Whole Foods around the corner. Within a few minutes, I was enjoying a my espresso mixed with milk - not to be confused with a cappuccino, which you only have at breakfast. The bill was reasonable. The service was attentive, friendly, and prompt. Cara Mia has a daily lunch prix-fixe for $10. The food is very good! In brief, "Si mangia bene, si paga poco." Take your appetite, a few friends, a date, or your car mechanic to Cara Mia for an authentic Italian meal, no pizza and more than pasta. Cara Mia is MAMMA MIA! TIP: Parking is available at the meters out front, or at the lot around the corner across from Whole Foods (10th Street between Alton and West). Outdoor dining patio will starts in Fall 2012.
(4)G H.
Simply excellent. Actually went back the next night. It's off the beach but worth the trip. Staff was outstanding. I was unsure what wine to order and when I asked for a suggestion the brought samples instead. Both nights the meals were excellent.
(5)Alejandro M.
This place has great service and the waiters have perfect manners. The food tastes authentic and the atmosphere is very nice. Highly recommend.
(5)Shane M.
This was our first time in Miami and we thought we would try something new. Through Yelp we found the most incredible Italian place we have ever encountered. You must, must come here and eat, there is truly no way you can be disappointed. I would fly back from Utah just to eat here again. The chicken Parma was to die for and then to top it off with the best cheesecake ever.
(5)Jennifer L.
What a delicious and affordable meal. The Lasagna was amazing, the seafood pasta special was fresh and delightful. Great pre-fix special or order ala-carte. This is a local, off the beaten path restaurant and one that you should not miss!
(4)Donald M.
I LOVE this place! First time I came here from Atlanta, we stayed on 6th and West Ave and randomly started walking down Alton to find something to eat with my friends and he was sitting outside and we asked where is a good place to eat. He said, "Right here" thinking this place can't possibly be good since it was empty. Little did we know the restaurant had only been open a couple of weeks. We decided to eat here and have been raving about it ever since! A year later I came back with 12 other friends and was just as good as before! I had the risotto, the mussels, and tried the lamb, and the chicken parmigiana. He was very hospitable and could not ask for a better experience! Thank you Tim for a great time.
(5)Diane G.
We absolutely loved the food. You could have made a meal with the appetizers, but save room for the prima or second course! The wine was great. They also did not rush you. Fun time and worth the money.
(5)Jennifer G.
I can't say enough about this place - it's amazing!! I love it so much I had my birthday dinner there. The staff had a spectacular table set up for us and the service was outstanding. Everyone raved about how great the food was - and the bill was unbelievably reasonable! I love love love this place! Go - you will not be disappointed!!
(5)Mindy G.
This place never looked extremely inviting from the exterior but after reading all the yelp reviews we decided to give it a shot. Ordered goat cheese/strawberry salad, pollo piccata and a glass of wine. Everything was good. It was pretty quiet here on a Wednesday night. They gave us 10% off the check for checking in on yelp. Overall, good food and very reasonably priced ($33 including tip for the whole meal).
(4)Emmy V.
BEST ITALIAN FOOD ON THE BEACH!!!!! This place is great! I've tried practically everything on the menu and each dish is phenomenal. I highly recommend trying this place. Sometimes the delivery takes forever, but for the most part it's like that only on the weekends. You also have to keep in mind that its just one delivery guy on a bike and this place is a popular spot. For the price and the quality you can't beat it. The staff and delivery guy are always extremely sweet.
(5)Rob M.
Wonderful food, service, and ambience. Manager came out to speak to us and we had a great time. Loved the food, served in the Classic Italian manner, with the decadent tastes of the Italy. Had the veal, calamari, and mousse. Couldn't possibly have any complaints about food service or anything else. If I came back to Miami would definitely come back to this restaurant.
(5)Nick A.
This place was BOMB. I spent a four-day weekend in Miami Beach with a group of 10 friends and this was where we went on our last night in town. As soon as we had a taste of the bruschetta, we knew we were in for a treat. We tried a bunch of stuff on the menu and everything was absolutely incredible. Linguine con Vologne (clams), Farfalle San Remo (sausage), Carpaccio di Polipo (octopus), and the salmon were all out of this world. Everything is quite reasonably priced as well, including the wine AND there was a Yelp check-in deal for 10% off! The service was really great too, and we will definitely be coming back to Cara Mia Trattoria the next time we are in Miami Beach.
(5)Julie H.
I would give our night there 3.5 stars. Food was good. Our service was so-so. The server's English wasn't too good, and neither of us speak Italian. The server didn't quite understand how I wanted my steak cooked, but we did our best. The server came back to our table after about 25 minutes after our order was placed to say they were out of the steak, so I ordered salmon. Later when they brought out the food, the server said, there is a problem, they had the steak, but not the lamb shank (which my partner ordered) so they gave us steak and salmon. The food was tasty, but I think they tried to rush the salmon to finish cooking after my steak was made and they tried to keep the steak warm, as one side was cooked more than the other. The salmon was not cooked all the way through. We just ate and enjoyed the nice restaurant ambiance, but didn't appreciate lack of service we received even though we were being understanding about the errors.
(3)Cami S.
Based on the recommendations found on yelp, we decided to try this restaurant. It did not disappoint. From the service to the wide selection on the menu, we were immediately impressed. Everything was really good. It was a wonderful change from the overpriced and underwhelming restaurants on Ocean dr. The experience was delightful.
(5)Teresa K.
We had a groupon to this place and went for dinner. The food was good but nothing that stood out to me. The service was again, good but nothing memorable.
(3)Fred L.
Excellent in every single way...from the smile from the hostess upon arrival to the extra attentiveness from the servers and finally incredibly fresh genuine italian food. The linguine vongole were the best I have tasted outside of italy. This is a true hidden gem!
(5)Jonathan R.
This restaurant is great. The food was excellent as well as the service and it really makes a big difference knowing that the employees are Italian, including the chef. The wine selection is good too, we order the house house wine: Quattro Mani 2010 (Barbera)and it was delish. I highly recommended this restaurant if your in town or even for a nice date night.
(5)Erin M.
Fantastic. Best meal of our trip. The waiters and manager were so kind. The food was outstanding. Thank you, Cara Mia!!
(5)Merri L.
I am not the biggest italian restaurant fan, but i had literally not eaten all day, so when my friends wanted to try it out, I said fine, I'll eat ANYTHING. We made a reservation, then got very lost on the way there, because my friend was using his iphone maps instead of google maps. The restaurant was super nice and understanding and held our table for us and wasn't the slightest bit mad or rude when we got there, as often happens when you're late. The staff was so attentive, and they asked us if if was ok if we got a training waiter. We said sure and both the training waiter and the others were super nice. And then...everything was delicious! The bread was great. It's been a month, so I cant remember what appetizer we had, but it was good too. What i do remember is the entree. Two of the three of us had the special, which was linguine with seafood, wrapped and baked in parchment paper. MMM. The pasta was so homemade and fresh, and the fish was so flavorful. I've never had pasta prepared that way, but the flavors of the fish just imbued themselves into the pasta too. My friend couldn't stop talking about his food afterward. My other friend got the lasagna, which was good too, but not as good, and super rich for him due to the bechamel sauce, but that's to be expected. He still overall loved the restaurant. Basically, I came, expecting nothing, and got great service and awesome food, and good prices! They asked us a lot of times to review them on yelp. I've never seen a business ask so many times, so that was a bit weird, but I was planning to get around to doing it anyway. If any of us lived in the area, we'd definitely be coming here again. The place wasn't busy at all, which i assume was their reason for pushing for the yelp reviews, but I expect they will be soon, if they haven't become so in the month since.
(5)Samantha G.
yummy brunch spot...this is a nice little restaurant on Alton next to whole foods. they have a great Italian menu with a early bird special. on Sundays they have a bottomless Bellini or mimosa or peronis for 15$, their brunch menu is a la carte. However the menu is very reasonable, the eggs Benedict were on point and so was the service. they do have a patio so i plan on dinner their with the pup. overall a nice change from the hustle and bustle of Lincoln road on a Sunday!
(5)Evelina C.
Used a LivingSocial voucher here but the prices are reasonable regardless. The food was delicious, so lovingly and expertly made, especially the strawberry cheesecake - every bite was heavenly. We finished it all, even the bread basket (the bread is baked fresh every day and I found myself pausing my meal to have more bread & olive oil). The service was prompt and our (Italian!) server Mirko was really funny and friendly. My boyfriend and I were in Miami for the night and found respite in the calm ambience far removed from Miami Beach's crazy hostel/club scene (although it was a Sunday night so they were not busy, I hear they are swamped on Fridays/Saturdays). The owner, Tim, is really wonderful. After we finished our dinner we sat at the bar with him for another hour and just chatted over beers (just us of course). All in all this place is perfect for a date or any occasion if you want delicious food, a cozy ambience and friendly staff. I'd use any excuse to come here, too bad we live in Maryland, we can't wait to come back!
(5)Vanessa S.
Cara Mia is a hidden gem. We had dinner there on a Saturday night, and again on New Years Eve and both times the food and the service was great. It feels more like a spot for in-the-know locals than tourists, and it's easily accessible on foot or there is available street parking nearby. The pricing is very reasonable. The menu is not too overwhelming and the portion sizes were reasonable- not too big, not too small. We had the chicken piccante and the chicken parmesean the first night (both were good, including the scalloped potatoes that came with them). The servers all seem to work together in harmony, which is great- our water glasses didn't go empty and they were all very friendly. On New Years Eve it was nice to have a reservation, and for them to seat us right away. We had the fettuccine (it had the texture of house-made, though I can't remember if that was actually the case) with duck ragu, and it was satisfying and delicious. The only detractor were the sizes of the dessert portions- they were huge! We should have split one dessert, but instead ended up with two half finished ones. The flavors were good, but they were too rich for the quantity. If you're looking for a great meal apart from the crazy club-thumping music scene, this is your place.
(5)Nancy L.
Had lunch there yesterday and it was so good I went back for dinner. The vibe reminds me of great NYC restaurants and the food & service were outstanding. Very lovely italian decor and fellini movie with subtitles played on the tv. My cousin had tuna carpaccio starter and it was beautifully prepared and equally delicious. The calamari i had melted in my mouth. They have a new chef and he is off the charts fantastic. This is my new favorite place in south beach!!!
(5)Ramona C.
I went there last night, I had a beef carpaccio and some pasta with sea food, it was delicious! My boyfriend is Italian, a very picky one, he loved it. And I agree with him: "this is the best Italian restaurant in South Beach!" We payed around $60 for 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 glasses of wine. I would describe this place like that traditional place where you go and eat the food that your mom was cooking in Italy. Enjoy guys, you will not regret it!
(5)David M.
The food and service here is bar none! Our server was Gianni and he is the friendliest and coolest waiter! The whole staff made us feel like family here. We ordered the mixed antipasta appetizer, soup of the day, seafood pasta in parchment paper, and tiramisu. Every bite was amazing and if you are in Miami this a a must stop. Amazing experience I would recommend to anyone!
(5)Chris M.
had a pre-christmas dinner here with my uncle who lives across the street. he's been raving about this place for months and by now pretty much lives on their to-go menu. comfortable upscale feel without the upscale prices. tasty traditional recipe grub, the lasagna might have been better than mom's, (shhh). good music selection. staff bought us a round cause a/c was on the fritz, perfectly comfortable in the dining room. looking forward to the outdoor area.
(4)Derrick S.
Great Service, good food! I ordered the Ribeye Steak and Red Snapper but good- A lil havy on the salt but that may have been from the olives or capers but over all good stuff and the severs are awesome-I will return again in the future.
(4)Bören G.
We had very nice dinner with their three course menu. Defintely superb food for a good price. Very pleasant staff, too. Thank you!
(5)Sherry S.
I for once stayed on the other side of Ocean Drive during my stay in south beach and stumbled across Cara Mia. I was very pleasantly surprised! The decor was really nice and welcoming. Great for a casual lunch or you can dress up a bit for dinner as l did and still fit in. My fiance and I had the fried Calamari, the chicken piccata and some pasta and everything was cooked perfectly and was so flavorful. The service was fantastic and I will make sure to go back next time i'm in the area. So happy this place opened up! :)
(5)Barb B.
We went to Cara to get away from the thumping sounds of Ocean drive and to experience good, quality Italian food. We accomplished both. The ambience was perfect, music at just the right level for chatting, lighting bright enough to see the menu but romantic at the same time. We were charmingly and efficiently served by a young man who was only 6 months in the US -- from Italy -- who expertly served us with grace and humour. We started with an antipasto plate that was ample enough for four chock full of meat, cheese and tasty black and green olives. The bread and oil was a perfect compliment. I had the veal scallopine with spinach, sided by the most delicious potatoes and fresh veggies. It came hot and perfectly cooked. My husband enjoyed the night's special -- a seafood linguine -- pan seared and combined with the pasta and baked in parchment paper...it again was perfectly done and nuclear hot. My daughter's dish was a pasta and shrimp combination...again, no complaints. The chocolate mousse and tiramisu was, bar none, the best i have ever tasted. I wanted to lick the champagne glass it came from to get every last bit. The coffee is made by the cup ... Italian style...hot and strong. To our delight, we were offered complimentary sambuca or lemoncello after dinner. We fell in love with Cara right then and there. It was out most memorable dinner in our 4 days in SoBe. Try it, you wont be disappointed.
(4)Catie J.
My husband and I found this gem via a travelzoo offer and will come back every time we are in Miami. The ambience is great, the staff is super friendly and the food was authentic, fabulous and well-priced. It was definitely how I wanted to celebrate my one year anniversary.
(5)bob m.
great discovery. the food was delicious and well cooked. very attentive and earnest, albeit not the most informed about the food and wine. but this is south beach, land of the aloof and incompetent service staff, and so anyone who puts some effort into it gets full props from me. i'm looking forward to going back for their happy hour, and even more so for their unlimited mimosa brunch.
(4)Aaron S.
I kept thinking about the food I had there last saturday all week, which rarely happens to me with a restaurant, so my wife and I went back for a follow-up dinner tonite. It was sooo good. First they brought some fresh yummy bread to have with balsamic vinegar and oil, then we ordered the calamari appetizer, which was delicious, sweet potato fries mixed in, with fresh hot marinara sauce to dip, a first time experience, since I've always had it with cold sauce, this was a treat, and so much calamari we couldn't finish it... definitely an appetizer to fill 3-4 people. Then I had the wild salmon, which as other reviewers have said, is great. excellent flavors inside and on the lightly broiled crust, and again the potatoes themselves are worth coming back for. My wife had the linguini which she really liked, lots of shrimp, a huge dinner portion. The best treat was the cheesecake. I don't do dairy, I'm a non-dairy person, but I took one tiny bite of it and it was so delicious, I wound up eating half of it. If you haven't been there yet, just go, it's gotta be south beach's best kept secret, hidden on Alton Road.
(5)Jeff A.
service was great food was excellent especially the dessert casa Mia is a nice place ..... I feel like I'm home, in NYC,not little italy ,but like a little place on the upper west side or soho,,,,,,, really like this place...... I'd give this an 8 , if it was outside dining an 8.5
(4)Susan D.
Excellent meal! My family all came last night for dinner and everyone enjoyed their meal a lot. The pasta was great, the fish was amazing and the steak was delicious. The tiramisu was the best I have had. The decor is nice and the staff makes you feel welcome. A must to try in South Beach!
(5)Sol D.
Lunch is great! for $12 you get soup or salad and 4-5 entrees to choose from. The portions are big! Love the chicken parmigiana and the carbonara. Only the angel hair and also the carbonara was a little bit too salty. The rest, perfect! and of course, service excellent!
(4)G B.
What an excellent place for locals and tourists alike. Amazing to find such good food and ambiance at such reasonable prices. We will definitely be back often!
(5)Emily E.
Just went for Miami Spice and the food and wine were great. The crab cakes were amazing, and the cheese cake was different from NY style but one of the best I've ever had. Wine was included, service was friendly, highly recommended!
(5)Nick P.
Just visited this place once again with my stepson and a few friends (5) all together , and we had a great time food was great once again! Had the seafood risotto in a red sauce , linguini in calm sauce and a few more things and they were all great! Desserts were good too , tiramisu was slamming, liked it so much we had lunch the next day .
(5)Laura B.
This place is amazing! I haven't had Italian food this good since I was in Italy. We got the antipasti misti to start-and everything on the platter was so good. Then I had the pasta of the day, cheese and spinach ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce (my favorite kind!) and my boyfriend got the chicken parm. Both were outstanding. Too bad we weren't hungry for dessert! Best meal we had on our vacation-I would come here again in a heart beat!
(5)Lara B.
Cute little neighborhood gem The atmosphere is trendy casual They have a small outdoor area Unfortunately it had just rained so I sat inside at the bar Just got wine and appetizers The fried olives stuffed with Gorgonzola were a tasty treat - next time I might ask for extra Gorgonzola. the calamari friti with shrimp was delicious. And too big for one person... The service was super friendly They also have a fun sunday evening happy hour Will def return
(4)Isabel M.
Food was admittedly excellent - a cut above many similar Italian restaurants. Portions were big and the service was good. Unfortunately, their menu is a bit deceptive. See my photo below - "secondi - served with potatoes and vegetables". Neither of the "secondi" we ordered came with either and the server just stated that the description didn't apply to all secondi plates. Well, they didn't make that very clear on the menu. In fact, we got considerably less food than we expected as a result of this unclear description. A shame, because the food really was great (I recommend the chicken Parmesan and the coffee panna cotta was to die for) but its shitty little deceptions like that on the menu that would prevent me returning here again.
(3)Paula V.
Stopped by Thursday night with my bf and best friend and we had an amazing dinner! We got there a little late before closing, restaurant was already empty, service was fast and efficient, we had wine, calamari appetizer, my main course was the lasagna, bf had one of the chicken dishes, we left full and happy, our waiter was friendly and attentive, I'm definitely bringing my parents next time. Great neighborhood gem.
(5)Chevonne W.
Quite a nice and hidden establishment. Even though it is on Alton Road, I never knew it existed but low and behold, it is right next to Whole Foods. I went for an early dinner last night and it was very slow, maybe one or two customers. We sat near the window and asked for wine suggestions. The waiter was very friendly and when we were not sure what we wanted, he brought us a couple of samples to try (unusual in Miami). We picked one we liked. This was a nice bonus to our visit. We ordered the meat platter (Italian name I don't remember) but it had Tomato with basil and burrata, olives, and an assortment of meats. it was fantastic. We were so full that we ended up just ordering the salads to finish dinner off. Tne ceasar and the pear salad. Both were delish. I would def go back and highly recommended for a nice night out without having to get dressed up. The table next t us had some sort of stuffed ravioli and it looked very good. Large portions as well and not too expensive, esp for Alton Road at the beach. Two Thumbs up!
(4)James M.
Shhhhhh.....it's for locals only..... Off the beaten path and worthy of a visit. We had the crabcakes, bistecca and carbonara and everything was cooked to perfection. For two, including a bottle of wine and tip brought the tab to about $100 which in Miami Beach is a bargain. If you're into corona bottles floating upside down in your mega-margarita glass sick to ocean drive..... If you want some great Italian food at a reasonable price (and in a cool setting), get to Cara Mia.... ....also plenty of off street parking.....
(4)R R.
Amazing!!!! I walked by and so glad I stopped. Ordered the Linguine Vongole and was so delicious. Actually couldn't decide what to order because the entire menu looked great. The owner was so friendly and suggested I order the Proscuitto to start. Best Italian meal I've had in South Beach in 12 years.
(5)Leilani D.
Five stars for the food - and one star for the service/execution. Maybe it's unfair to rate a restaurant based on a holiday (in this case Valentine's Day) dinner. Then again, when you know people are coming in for what they hope will be a special meal, you really should be on your A game. Let's start with the food. We ordered the burrata with prosciutto to start and it was TO DIE FOR. When we finished it, I looked sadly at the empty plate and figured that if I wasn't stuffed by meal's end I'd order another one. It was that good. From their special V-Day menu I also chose the Risotto a Mare e Monti. The risotto was perfectly cooked, flavorful and delicious. It was no Burrata, but it was very tasty and well done. Now onto the disappointment. It started from the very beginning - it seems our server was pretty busy and took about 10 minutes to even come to our table. Then, another 10 minutes to get our drinks and bread. Then, even though we had ordered the Burrata/Prosciutto at the very beginning (we'd had a lot of time to think at this point), it took at least 15 minutes to come out. After we were DONE EATING (not after it arrived) it probably took another 30 minutes for our entrees to come out. And then to add insult to injury: *The table to our left arrived at least 15 minutes after we did, and had finished eating their entire meal by the time we received our entrees. *My boyfriend kept trying to reassure me by telling me risotto always takes a long time to make - however a table that had to have ordered 15-20 minutes after us got the same risotto 5 minutes after I did. *My risotto arrived without shrimp. However, because I was starving I didn't notice until I was about halfway through, and I had waited so long for it that there was no way I was going to continue to wait for them to make me another one, so I just ate whatever incomplete risotto they had brought me. *There were no apologies for any of this. At no point did the waiter come to our table and let us know that our food would be arriving shortly, or that the kitchen had run out of anything (if that was even the case). In fact, when I flagged him down and asked him about it he said they had shooed him out of the kitchen? I really would want to want to come back to this place. But after they ruined my Valentine's Day dinner, I just don't think I can.
(2)Priya B.
Went to Cara Mia for the first time last Sunday for brunch and it's easily the best brunch experience I've had in Miami Beach! I've gone to places like Macchialina, Tongue and Cheek, Terrazza at Shore Club, Oliver's, Yardbird, and more. Though I definitely enjoy whimsical dishes, Cara Mia boasts simple yet scrumptious fare, and it works perfectly for them. For entrees, we got the florentine Benedict, French toast, and antipasti misto. Not only was everything delicious, but the portions were very generous. Bruschetta from the antipasti and French toast were our favorites !! We got both the peach and mango bellinis for drinks, our server was kind enough to leave not one but TWO large pitchers at our table and refilled them consistently (bottomless bellinis, mimosas, and Peroni for $18, unheard of for Miami). The best part is that it really is bottomless, I mean, we were sitting there for about 3 hours, you can only imagine the damage that was done -- and the server encouraged us to stay longer!! Overall, the hospitality was fantastic and the food was delicious!!! Our bill came out to under $40 a person for four people (10% off your bill if you check in on yelp). Go here immediately, you will be very very pleasantly surprised !!! We had a lovely experience!
(5)Antoine C.
Really good Italian restaurant in Miami beach. Very reasonable prices and big portions. The food is tasty and authentic. Good bread too. The service is nice but slow. But overall it's a pleasant experience. The intimate atmosphere makes for a good date spot. I definitely recommend it.
(4)Heather J.
I loved this place, it was a little off beaten path of Lincoln Road, but that's what makes it even more special. We had a nice bottle of Pinot Grigio for starters with the calamari. Perfect choice! The Lasagna was really good and though someone here said the bread was cold, we didn't find that to be the case. We didn't have any dessert, would've loved to linger and have some with expresso,
(3)German O.
This a beautifuland romantic venue with the best attention and the food was amazing. You have to try the Carpaccio Di Manzo, the Linguine Al Cartoccio and the Risotto Ai Funghi Porcini. Alessandro the chef is really good, Gigi is very nice and Max is just the best server. Last night I got engage and everything was perfect!
(5)RR M.
Went here for dinner last night & I wish I could give it 3.5 stars. My ONLY disappointment was the selection. I wish they offered more dinner choices. But, the food we did have was very good. The staff was attentive, but not overly.
(3)Wynn C.
Great food! Pasta was made perfectly al dente, if you're into that. I got the parchment wrapped seafood linguine, and it was awesome! Highly recommended. The seafood to pasta ratio was great, totally threw my normal eating proportions off (in a good way). Girlfriend got spaghetti carbonara, which was also decent. Pasta was pretty thick, creamy, and cheesy. I thought it was slightly on the salty side though. What's nice is that they use a real block of cheese to shave on top. Also their wine prices are very reasonable, so we got a QT (about two glasses) for $11. They even gave us a little more than usual I think! Dessert got the homemade tiramisu which was also pretty solid. Overall a pretty solid place, great food at a reasonable price. I expected dinner to be much more than we actually paid, especially with dessert and wine. If you like seafood pasta, definitely the parchment linguine!
(5)James K.
I would have liked to give three and a half stars but such is Yelp. Cara Mia is a cozy spot on Alton which, through no fault of their own, is taken down a charm notch by the ugly street construction outside. It's an eyesore, and also makes it next to impossible to find a legal parking spot. We had salads to start Caesar and Caprese which were decent but not overwhelming. The Risotto was excellent and I would recommend it. My two issues were with the wine. If you are going to serve what is ostensibly upscale Italian, then you need to have a more substantial wine list and decent glasses. They're not THAT expensive. I'm so sick of the shitty, coke bottle thick 8oz pieces of garbage that too many otherwise nice places have as standard. You've taken great pains to have a beautiful decor, and great food, why would you mar that? It's like putting a bumper sticker on a Mercedes. Otherwise the service was good, but as we were two of five people in there on a Friday night it's hard to really tell the typical service level. I would go back if I were in the area, but I don't think I will be going out of my way.
(3)Allyn I.
We wanted to enjoy somewhere low-key with good food and this place is it! Amazing food! The outside can be a little deceptive but the inside is nice and the garden is so quaint. The service....excellent. The owner was very involved and we were totally taken care of. We had the lasagna, caesar and caprices salads, chicken with champagne cream sauce and tiramisu. Everything was delicious, the caesar was classic but just the right amount of dressing and perfect flavors. THe lasagna was very authentic and meaty! But my favorite was the chicken dish with a champagne sauce! So so good! Large portions as well. I would definitely come back again!
(5)Christopher R.
good old school italian food
(5)Anna F.
Great service, very friendly and warm staff. Nice atmosphere. Good selection of Italian wine. Had beef carpaccio and bruschetta as starters, both very good! Lamb shank was very tender but could have been seasoned in a more interesting way. Lasagna meaty and plenty of taste, but not too rich which was a plus. Tiramisu and chocolate mouse as dessert we're both delicious! In total a very nice evening at a reasonable cost.
(4)Shiven G.
Tried out this place on a whim to break out of the typical south beach/downtown feel. We were amazed. Excellent wait staff - knowledgeable and friendly. Excellent food.
(5)Jeffery R.
Amazing food! Service can be slow when they are busy, but the food is totally worth the wait!
(4)Jeff J.
- Online Ordering Experience & Delivery (2/5) I was surprised to see a restaurant of Cara Mia Trattoria's caliber have an online ordering option on Yelp. To the owners of Cara-- if you're listening, take down that option! It sucked. 1) When I placed the o
(3)Collene S.
The real Italian food in Miami, no doubt about it! The atmosphere is amazing and the people there really make you feel as in an italian restaurant: believe me! Of course the food was great, and this is the first thing that is making me say: if I should get back to Miami, I MUST go there and eat again!
(5)Gabriel N.
The food here is fantastic. If you're looking for good food at a reasonable price in Miami Beach, this place rocks. We were here last week for a business dinner. I'd been once before a year ago and everyone who worked there was very friendly and very Italian. I'm not sure what happened in the past year... the food is still very good, but the atmosphere has changed radically. Our waitress was inattentive and pushing the border on being rude. We went long periods with empty water glasses. When asked for recommendations, she seemed put out and couldn't say anything helpful about the menu. I should add here that the place was relatively empty.... Maybe the place was just having an off night. I'd likely go back next time I'm in town, but might send in a spy to check on the vibe first.
(3)Lou D.
Cara Mia is becoming one of my favorite spots to chill on the weekend. I live in the hood and while I always count on West Cafe (until it closed!) and Oliver's, Cara Mia has a mellow vibe that I love. It's great to go with my love, great to go with my love and the baby, great with just the baby and extra fine for dates with myself(love those). I was there yesterday with my love, the baby, our friend and the dog. We usually get omelets on Sundays, always delicious. Omelets, Prosecco and mellow Sunday. Everybody chilling and merry.
(4)Tim B.
I received a confirmation of an order from Eat Street. or Yelp as both names were listed on the confirmation email. If it was the Eat Street ordering system or the restaurant itself, I waited an hour and called to find there was no order however, my credit card had been charged. This is a time consuming mess contacting credit card companies to cancel orders that were confirmed. People take your business elsewhere. This happens too often on this clumsy network. I am still hungry and have a task to undo the credit card mess. UGH!!
(1)Dennis L.
Excellent food, excellent wine, and free lemonchella shots after dinner!! This place was about 2 blocks from where we were staying in south beach, but it isn't like other restaurants in miami beach with giant margaritas or people standing outside trying to wave you in to eat at their overpriced restaurant. This is the classy and elegant hole in the wall Italian restaurant that is perfect for dinner when in miami beach! They even have a large outdoor patio for those who want more sun! Anyhow, the food selection was great, each of the six dishes my table had were excellent in terms of portion size and taste. You get a good amount of food to fill you up, with great unique flavors that differentiate from regular dishes! We ended up ordering 3 different bottles of wine while we were here and I have to say, even the 3 cheapest wines on the menu were delicious. I had the linguine with seafood which had a ton of different seafoods and great wine sauce, and I also tried my girlfriends lasagna which was perfectly made with enough cheese and savory red sauce that was excellent as well! You'll end up spending around 60-70 for dinner and drinks for 2, but it is worth every penny because this spot is a must try restaurant when you're in the neighborhood!
(5)Susan R.
What a great little place. It was very quiet just my husband and I and one other couple. The Cesar salad was one of the best I've ever had. I had an a Eggplant dish it was delicious only complaint is it didn't come with pasta I has to add it on. I think all dishes in an Italian restaurant should come with pasta. Service was great food was delicious. We would definitely go there again if back in Miami.
(4)Jayna P.
Simple Italian. Wanted pasta but nothing too heavy-perfect place for that. They don't douse anything in cheese like most American Italian restaurants do. Everything is authentic and reasonably healthy. Pasta, vegetables and seafood were all fresh and delicious. Also walking distance from our 11th street location made it a plus :)
(4)veronica p.
Nice atmosphere, great service. We went there for our dinner as we live two block away from this little gem. We had really italian bruschetta with tomato and fresh basil.... Outstanding!!!! I order a glass 2, 3 of white wine suggested from Gigi and a cotoletta alla milanese really gnummy! My husband ordered a glass of red wine and and mahi mahi with veggy .... Best ever! chef is italian and we was impressed from the dessert selection: tiramesu, panna cotta , choco mousse!!! bravo chef Alessandro!!!!! We finished with coffe and sambuca!!!!!!mamma mia cara mia!!!!
(5)Rachel L.
Food was delicious, large portions were great. The outdoor patio was a hidden gem. We loved all of our appetizers, dinners and desserts!
(5)Judith S.
We've been to Cara Mia many times (at least a dozen over the past 2 years) but after tonight, we won't be going back. Not only was the service bad, but the food has really gone downhill. My husband was going to order a bottle of wine we have had before and liked, but the server recommended another one that she said was rated more highly (and of course cost more). We tried it, and not only was it served too warm, it was clearly inferior to our usual choice. My pasta (Cacio e Pepe) was almost inedible. The butter and cheese sauce was lumpy and tasteless. The pepper that was sprinkled on the edges of the bowl (and not on the pasta) wasn't freshly ground. The dressing on the pear salad tasted strange. The risotto was crunchy. We waited a very long time to be served, and then 3 of us received our dinners, while one of us waited another 5 minutes for his dinner. After we were all finished eating, we had to flag someone down, at which point we were offered the check, without being asked if we wanted dessert, coffee, after dinner drinks, etc. We then waited a long time for anyone to pick up our credit card. None of the people who used to greet or serve us were there, so we suspect it's under new management. Too bad....
(1)Morningstar S.
My husband and I went here for Valentine's Day. My husband works shift work and was working early the next day so we initially wasn't even sure if we would go out to eat. Last minute (the evening before valentines day.) he decided to make reservations and they had availability. Since it is nearly impossible to get a reservation that close to the day I didn't think they would be that great. I was wrong! When we got there we were about 5 minutes late but they sat us right away. Unheard of in Miami Beach on a busy day like V day. The food was wonderful appetizer, wine and main dishes and the ambiance was romantic. They were playing Roman Holiday on the televisions. I was very happy and so was my husband
(5)Kitty M.
Have been walking past for over a year and we decided we had to try this place. They have an adorable patio right off Alton that is really charming, so if you are looking in the window wondering where everyone is, look outside! We got apps to share--fried olives, octopus, and eggplant parm. The octopus was spectacular, I would go back just for this, eggplant parm was healthier than most, no too cheesy or fried or bready, maybe the best I've ever had honestly. Fried olives were a total letdown though--the way they are described I expected simple olives, but they were more like olive jalapeño poppers. Overall, great place to sit outside and enjoy the wine, food, and weather!
(4)Ramzi Z.
We went there for Saturday Brunch, loved the bottomless Mimosas! Delicious food & many options. Very professional and friendly service. Must try!!
(5)Pamela P.
I am very impressed with this place. It is between 10th & 11th and Alton and it is perfect for an intimate dinner, dim lights, romantic atmosphere and the service is fantastic. They also have outside seating in a little garden area that seems nice. The first time I came here I was on a diet so I had their special seared tuna and I have to say I wasn't expecting it to be that good at an Italian restaurant but I was happily wrong. It had a perfect sear on the outside and nice and medium rare on the inside as it should be. The salad and dressing were phenomenal. After a few questions, my waiter recommended the perfect wine that paired beautifully with this red fish. It was totally satisfying and I did not leave hungry. The waiter said I had to come back and try the pasta.. they are an Italian restaurant after all. So the second time I came here I treated myself to something sinful.. lasagna! It was simply )))decadent(((. I was told its their specialty. It melted in my mouth I savored every last bite and again... this was paired with a recommended wine that complemented it perfectly. ***The attention to the customer here is top notch and this in itself is worth 5 stars to me. I have no complaints at all but unfortunately for them, they are in a construciton area at the time so it messes with their flow. Doesn't matter to me, I am definitely coming back.... I would like to try more of their menu.
(5)Shulita M.
Great service and tasty, true Italian cuisine!I would definitely recommend it!The eggplant starter is a must and so is the tiramisu. Pastas are fresh and savoury. Will be back!
(5)