Fabulous staff, incredible food. Miami Spice Menu = awesome. We had one of everything on the special menu. OMG I'll fly back 2 do it again. Ryan our server was great, Saved 4 ladies from a majorly wasted guy discreetly & w/o causing a scene.
(5)
Michele C.
hands down the BEST food and dining experience i've had in miami. the staff were extremely friendly and made the experience that much better.
(5)
Carol C.
This place is awesome. It's definitely pricey but it's all well worth it and definitely perfect for a special night or when you need to impress. The hotel is an experience in and of itself but the decor in the restaurant is beautiful. My only gripe would be the noise and yet, it's intimate. From the white glove service, to the specially baked bread, to the classic and adventorous food options, it will not disappoint. The people watching ain't bad either. My favorite meal in a realllllllly long time.
(5)
Victoria L.
Sunday brunch was great! $50 will get you unlimited mimosas, bloody mary and bellinis in addition to lavish buffet. The buffet offers many more options than anywhere in 15 miles radius. The service was good. Many families with kids. Lively atmosphere. Happy times.
(4)
Anthony D.
Scarpetta is excellent. I'm reluctant to give 5 stars, but they deserve it. Excellent service, atmosphere and service. Arrive a little early for a drink at the bar with Mike.
(5)
Foodie Z.
After my girlfriend and I suffered thru an awful experience at Blade, the Sushi place at the fontainbleau hotel, we were still starving, so we went to Scarpetta. As some of you may know, Scott Conants NYC Scarpetta outpost is an excellent restaurant in the meatpacking area that I frequent, so I was at least confident that this place should suffice. I was happily proved correct. Scott himself was there, and he was very gracious to give us a table despite the fact that the place was fairly busy (not full). The service was very attentive, the atmosphere was lively and fun and the crowd was very eclectic. George Hamilton was at a table near us (looking orange as usual) and there was a very entertaining Vegas-style couple next to us wearing some awesomely garish clothes. We ordered two different pastas - a veal ravioli and a mushroom ravioli. Both excellent. Home made, melt in your mouth fresh and a bit heavy for the Miami climate - but i liked them nonetheless. The Lemon Cheesecake dessert was outstanding and they were kind enough to offer us free chilled Limoncello's as an after dinner drink. Overall, Scott saved our dining experience that evening after a dismal visit to Blade down the hall. I recommend this place.
(3)
Sarah S.
Everything about Scarpetta was excellent! The bar area where we waited is elegant and we had great mixed drinks - we chose to eat outside because despite being July there was a lovely breeze. We were over looking one of the (many) pool areas and it was lovely. The service (both waiter and bus boys) were excellent - friendly, helpful efficient, knowledgeable etc. - and cute! The bread basket is top-notch - totally different (and yummy) breads/dips. We had the mushroom polenta (signature dish!) and a tuna appetizer - both were fantastic - the polenta truly deserve its reputation! We then had the halibut entree and black pasta - both were superb - perfect in every way. We were full - so skipped desert (possibly a mistake - they looked wonderful!) - we will absolutely go back - the prices are high but the food, service and decor make it worth it!
(5)
kb j.
This restaurant is located in the Fountainbleu. The resort in which it is located is enormous (you might consider leaving a bread crumb trail to find your way back to the main entrance). The restaurant is large. There is a nice bar area up front. The main dining room has a great feel to it. The food was well prepared, the service was top level and the wine list was well-chosen.
(5)
N S.
We stayed at the hotel and checked out Scarpetta for dinner one night. Beautiful restaurant, I liked it much better than the NYC location. Service is ok, but the food is fabulous. Highly recommend.
(5)
R Z.
I've never experienced such pushy waiters in my life. The food was good but the experience was ruined by our waiter who kept trying to jack up our bill by hassling us to order the most expensive items on the menu. He was beyond aggressive. Once I saw the bill and realized that that added a mandatory gratuity then I understood why. Avoid Scarpetta!
(2)
a a.
Excellent Miami Spice menu! My husband and I are Miami locals and decided to head to the Fountainbleu to enjoy one of the MIami Spice menus being offered. We considered the menus at Hakkasan, Gotham Steak and Scarpetta, finally settling on the last. These are all restaurants we would otherwise like to try - but considering the $35 menu, we couldn't resist. Scarpetta by far exceeded our expectations. From the bread through the desserts, everything was great! The branzino was by far one of the best entrees I have had in a Miami restaurant all year. I would go back tomorrow to have it again. A superb meal for an absolute steal!
(5)
Rachel P.
It's that good. My friend and I took a late night reservation and were seated within about 10 min of the 10 p.m. ressie...not ideal, but fine. And a great table, even in the midst of the SoBe Wine & Food insanity. Started with the terrific bread basket with a trio of "dips"...buttery mascarpone cheese, amazing citrus infused olive oil, which was light and sweet. And the best eggplant caponata. It was terrific. Just terrific. Then the apps...I had the raw yellowtail, which was lightly seasoned with chili oil and marinated onions...sort of a salted shallot mignonette flavor. Simply delish. My friend had the braised short ribs on a farro risotto. Both were just exquisite. For dinner, she had the house specialty - spaghetti pomodoro. Unreal. Salty, non-acidic tomato sauce doused with lots of basil. Unbelievable. And I had quite possibly my favorite entree ever...the black cod with the "concentrated" (or dried) tomatoes and roasted fennel. I can't handle the fact that I can't have it every single night. Unreal. For dessert we shared the apple tort with a small scoop of ginger ice cream and a rum cream. So good. The service was the best we had at the Fontainebleau (which on the whole missed the service mark a bit). What the waiter at Scarpetta lacked in enthusiasm, he made up for in timeliness, diligence and knowledge. Just really great service. Really. I would recommend this to ANYONE, and I'm dying to get to the one in NYC soon. Really amazing.
(5)
Sean E.
one of the best restaurants in miami. great service & incredible food. we had the chef's tasting menu withthe wine paring and felt we got our money's worth. would recommend this place to anyone who doesn't mind paying for great food.
(5)
Sadia A.
I LOVE Fountainebleau but i was very disappointed by scarpetta :( The food was sooooo mediocre. Its beautiful from inside and all but the foods just not worth it at all. Very pricey tiny portions. Def. wont be going there again.
(2)
Sooj K.
I thought the food was excellent but the service wasn't that great. I think it was because we look young even though we are in our late 20's? We were looking around the service they gave to everyone else and it was pretty intresting. Oh Well!! The interior made it seem like you were inside a cruise ship which was pretty cute. For appetizer the octopus dish was amazing. It was perfectly cooked! For dinner the scallops melted in your mouth. Overall.. Food was good. service could be a lot better.
(2)
j g.
We were curious about what the hype was so... Friday night drive down to the famous Scarpetta restaurant! The outdoor seating was available but we decided on indoor seating. This hip but very loud restaurant is located in Fountainebleu.The theme was mariner all throughout the interior of the restaurant which was quite interesting. It was very busy and crowded many young people out on dates, hanging out at the bar,some older men looking for younger chicks...this IS the Miami scene! The club LIV was located inside the hotel too and it was quite packed with the anticipation of the guest rapper PITbull. Now unto the food... We ordered the burratta mozzerella and heirloom tomatoes-which was quite small?( I was warned it would be!)It looked a bit sloppy on the presentation side. The steak tartare was ordered by friends-there comment was it was okay,not the best. The entrees of the "famous" spaghetti was good not great- bf concluded after a taste that it was like "chef boyardee"with a little heat NOT worth $24...his entree was duck and foie gras which was tasty, again, not great... The other friend had the raviolini's and that was small portioned too and okay tasting as well. The dessert was chocolate zeppoli with creme anglaise and nutella filling which was sweet and delicious. The service was top notch for such a busy venue. All in all, it was good,not great. (Now maybe if you are inebriated you can say its 5 stars but it certainly wasn't going to garner that in my book!) I've been to far more awesome and delicious italian restaurants in south florida!!
(2)
Tom A.
I was staying at the Fontainebleau for a company conference and decided to stay a few extra nights with my wife. We are big fans of the Food Network Channel show, Chopped, and we were very excited to see that one of the celebrity judges, Scott Conant, had a restaurant that we could try. So much for celebrities! The restaurant itself is very nicely decorated with a nice waiting area, but the inside is very cramped and the tables are WAY TOO close together. After being seated, we waited for a while before we were served some tap water. We waited even further for bread to be served and the wine list to be delivered. Most of the wines are very over priced and either Italian or French, so thank god for the sommelier who came to our rescue. Now on to the service and food. The waiter was very inattentive and it was extremely difficult to flag him down for any type of service whatsoever. When we ordered a bottle of wine, he poured us each a small taste and walked away with the bottle. He didn't bother to ask if we wanted it on the table or in a chiller near the table, just walked away with it. Strange. We probably waited another ten minutes before we could get him back to pour another glass. Sure they were busy, but that's no excuse for ridiculously poor service. Not my fault for the outragously priced meal. Now, on to the food and time to critique the judge! For appetizers, my wife ordered the Tuna Susci and I orded the Arugula salad. The salad was wonderful. Arugula has a very distinct and powerful taste and the dressing was a great compliment. However, my wifes appetizer was very boring, very strange taste and not much of a tuna flavor. Basically a bland mash. Now on to round two, as they say on chopped, the entree. My wife ordered the Mediterranean Branzino. What came out was completely unexpected. By the description, we were expecting a shrimp dish. Instead, she received a Mediterranean SeaBass with a crispy, in our opinion over-cooked, skin on a piece of fish. Scott, if you're going to put SeaBass on the menu, why not include it in the description? I ordered the Monkfish. Very nice piece of meat, cooked just right and a decent compliment of flavors. HOWEVER, the portion was a lunch, not dinner size. Sorry Scott, in college I worked in a fish restaurant and part of my job was cutting the fish into lunch and dinner portions. I think you are missing about 3-4 ounces there for that price. To complete the dinner, we ordered a dessert to share and both decided on the mocha cheesecake. We both LOVED it! Definitely a winner to end the meal. So, in summary I say pass. Scott needs to be a contestant on his own show. Way, way over priced meal for what you get and the service was horrible. Buyer beware, not worth the money and don't expect to be served well for the already included 20% tip. I guess when the waiter doesn't have to work for the tip, they have no incentive to work for it!
(2)
song c.
had the 5 course tasting ($85) and it was good. not great, but good. i love scott conant but i was expecting a bit more. the polenta was dynamite....as was the bread served at the beginning of the meal. a little disappointed with the main courses. on the plus side, arrived with kids at 6pm (when the restaurant opens) and they were very accommodating.
(3)
Holly B.
Excellent Italian food, excellent food period. My friend & I started the evening at the bar with the Torrino, delicious drink. The 3 in my party all ordered from the Miami Spice menu and our waiter could hardly help to hide his dismay that not only we were ordering the $35 prix fix menu but we already had ordered and paid for our cocktails. I understand that his livelihood is affected by the price points of what we order, but PLEASE try not to be so obvious w/ your disappointment, it makes for a less then ideal dining experience. I subtract a star for our waiters behavior. Now onto the savory food. I had the burrata, my friend had the creamy polenta w/ 'shrooms and hub had the mackerel crudo. All were spectacular. I think the creamy polenta w/ mushrooms was the favorite, truly outstanding flavors exploding on your palate, i loved the creamy texture mixed with the pungent smokiness of the mushrooms. I got the notorious spaghetti and hub/friend both had the branzino w/ shrimp, clams and tomatoes. Again, all dishes were stellar. The fish fresh, cooked to perfection, crispy on outside soft and flaky inside with hints of garlic and sitting atop fresh chunks of seafood. The spaghetti was cooked to perfection with a creamy tomato sauce. Surprisingly, the portions were large, I could not finish the pasta dish. Onto dessert, I had the panna cotta with guava/passion fruit/pineapple sauce, husband had the polenta crusted cheesecake with lemon sorbet and strawberry sauce, and friend had the molten dark chocolate cake with espresso ice cream. Each dessert was perfection. All in all, come here for the spectacular food, and try to ignore the whole song & dance of being at the fountainblue: the parking, the scene and the remarkable attitude.
(4)
Igor S.
My sister came to visit me, and I want to invite her to a special place where we can have dinner that she couldn't forget, and I decide went to the Scarpetta restaurant @ Luxury Fontaineblue Miami Beach, and in the middle of our dinner a luxury cockroach join us and jump to my shirt, the short story it's no body care about that, the mattress said that's normal cause we dinning close to the pool and the beach, and the manager?? I don't but I think he is dumb because he doesn't say a word, at least at the end actually was a night to remember, no?
(1)
Alice F.
This restaurant made it to my top 5 list of Miami restaurants. The only reason why I don't give five stars is that we went there only once and therefore have not been able to check if they are consistent in the quality. Very nice setting. Good service. The food was absolutely delicious. The Miami spice menu is a real deal. I had the polenta (perfect really), followed by the pasta (huge portion, absolutely delicious) and the mango cheese cake (very impressed).
(4)
Anastasia P.
Wonderful food! Fabulous service!! Definitely get the 4 course option!
(5)
Heather C.
awesome! And the best spaghetti I've ever ever ever tasted.
(5)
Marilyn A.
This place is definitely unique for the usual Italian restaurant. First of all the decor is like no other in Miami. The restaurants designer David Collins really outdid himself. The location in the Fontainebleau hotel is incredible, it was a wrap around balcony for outdoor dining facing the ocean. Now I get to the food, they do Italian food with a twist, they have the best simple spaghetti in the world, the sauce is like no other. Steak and fish are always great. Every person that has been there always dies for their polenta with the truffle mushroom sauce, even people that never ate polenta in their lives swear by it. My favorite restaurant in Miami hands down. Its also nice that you have the incredible blue bar for drinks in the hotel lobby for after drinks.
(5)
Judy D.
We and another couple had dinner at Scarpetta last night, using the Miami Spice menu. I must admit that we went expecting to be treated as second class citizens on that account. Nothing could have been further from the reality we experienced. We had reservations and were seated at a nice table. The decor was a modern take on the nautical theme....very slick and classy. We each had something different for appetizers, entrees and desserts. Every bite of every single thing was absolutely delicious. The polenta with wild mushrooms was one step away from heaven, the fish was perfectly cooked, the prime filet cut like butter, the raw mackerel appitizer was so very fresh....I could go on and on but have now drooled all over my keyboard. The service was impeccable, the waiter was delightful and we were tended to as though we were the only patrons there. All of us will DEFINITELY return....and soon!
(5)
B. L.
my pasta was somewhat soggy. the only good thing about my meal was the appetizer, which was the tuna sushi sashimi style wrapped on baby greens...it's like a maki roll but instead of rice inside, it's baby greens. the tuna was very fresh/delicious and tipped in a perfect olive oil sauce. we wanted to order a gd bottle of wine but the wine specialist wasn't avail, so the waiter wasn't able to assist us, so we ordered a wine we're familar with. we were there on a fri ngt around 8pm and the restaurant was ~half full; so to our surprise it wasn't packed like we expected, esp b/c it's inside the famous fontaine bleu hotel. I gave it a 3 star b/c of the tuna sushi appetizer and the bread basket; otherwise, the pasta (my husband's as well) was overcooked/soggy. also, the perseca / orginal - not flavored (italian sparkling wine was delicious)
(3)
Tom S.
Last year i tried Scarpetta Las Vegas and was not impressed. Being a fan of Scott Conant, the tv personality, I thought I would give him another chance during a weekend visit to Miami. All I can say after visiting two of his restaurants is that he needs to be a little less arrogant when judging others' food. Don't get me wrong, the food was above average, but not meaningful. I tried the famous spaghetti dish and was not wowed by it. A simple dish done perfectly should wow you. There are too many other good restaurants to give Scott another chance.
(2)
Ha L.
Read in a magazine that the spaghetti here is Beyonce and Jay Z's favorite in NYC. Tried it and all I have to say is they were seriously tripping. Oh yes - and $24 for a dirty martini?? That's the same price as my bland spaghetti. No thank you.
(2)
Ben P.
Love this place! Excellent food, service, decor with ocean views. I highly recommend this place. Garrett took great care of us. The food is ridiciously good. Portions are not huge, but just the right size. If you are looking for a place to eat in Miami Beach, then go here!!
(5)
Julie J.
I went for Miami Spice and it was exactly what I was expecting. It was very chic, upscale, and beautiful. It fits in perfect with the Fountain Blue. I had a sirloin plate which the sauce gave it an amazing taste. I recommend it especially if you are in the hotel.
(4)
Vicki T.
Had a romantic dinner with my hubby there, outstanding as always! We ordered the Chef tasting, it's a small bit of the whole menu....excellent as always and had to bring some home it was so much
Both the turbot $32 and halibut $39 were great. Brocollini $12 was pretty good. Complimentary bread basket was standard. Service was very good--waters refilled often. 18% automatic gratuity as is the custom in Miami. The waiter didn't offer us the Miami Spice menu. We actually didn't know about it but overheard two tables nearby ask for that menu. We had already ordered our food though so too late for us. Hmm, sounds like a missed opportunity to try new dishes. I wish the server had informed us. Located in the Fountain Blu hotel so plenty of Ferraris, Lambos, and Bentleys in valet to feast your eyes on as you walk in.
(4)
Noa L.
Scarpetta's chef is a friend of mine but I will say the truth. Scarpetta used to be EXCELLENT: I would give it a 10 on a scale of 1 to 5! Food was like tasting heaving. Was my favorite place for food. But the quality has gone down to (still) very good, just inconsistent: If you're lucky that day, it would be like heavenly, if not, it'd still be very good. I can easily say I've been to Scarpetta at least 50 times in 2 years. And if you go there often, you're treated like royalty. If you've never been: GO. On a side note: The good thing is the floor manager that used to work there was a b*tch. Rude. She was hitting on every single man right in front of their wives, it was embarrassing, pretending it's the first time she meets "the girl" and treating her like an escort. She's the reason why my circle of friends and I stopped going. But she no longer works there. Either way, if you've never been, you should definitely pay it a visit. They have an EXCELLENT variety of wine (by the glass or bottle). If you want to see what it looks like, go grab a drink at the bar. Try the Cabernet by the glass (such a great one), or a Lychee Martini if you're more in a cocktail mood. If you're hungry, definitely order that famous SPAGHETTI, it is just perfect if you're lucky that day. What's so special? Just trust me and order, and let me know what you think later. The Duck au Foie Gras ravioli is really amazing too, if you like liver. If you're just in the mood for appetizers, the Polenta is fantastic, definitely top of the list. The Raw Yellowtail, Tuna Tartare, Steak Tartare and Burrata are good too, if you're more in the mood. On the dessert menu, their Chocolate Zeppole and Souffle are a great pick. Enjoy and good luck!
(4)
Grace R.
I love Scarpetta - it's one of my favorite places in Miami. And it would have to be THAT good for me to put up with the hassle of getting here, finding a parking spot (because the valet is swamped and very expensive even with validation) and walking a few blocks in the summer heat to get to. The Polenta with fricasee of mushrooms was on Food Network's "best things I ever ate" show, and it's on that same list for me too. Word of warning though: it seems to continue expanding AFTER you eat it, so if you are a pig and eat an entire serving of this yourself, you are going to pay for it when you struggle with dessert. I always have a different main whenever I go, and they are all great. The pastas can be very rich, and are best shared with a date (like the polenta). If you are eating both polenta AND a pasta in the same meal, you'd better be running in a marathon the next day (and Scarpetta does in fact have a promotion the same weekend as the Miami Marathon for this exact reason). Speaking of promotions, Scarpetta is one of the best options every year during Miami Spice (our version of "restaurant week" that lasts 2 months in late summer), and I look forward to going in months when Spice returns and the tourists depart.
(5)
Alli P.
Definitely my favorite restaurant in The Fontainebleau. On the opposite site of the lobby and Liv Nightclub entrance , the restaurant is much quieter and maintains a peaceful and classy vibe. Going with a group, I was able to try an assortment of things, each taster than the next. From breads and burrata salad, to pasta and some truffle and cream concoction, there wasn't a single unappetizing item on the menu... Definitely worth enjoying a meal there at least once whether living in, or visiting Miami.
(4)
Charlie S.
Delicious. Sharing appetizers and entrees between a table of four meant I got to taste a significant chunk of the menu. Scarpetta isn't quite five stars for me, but the wonderful pasta brings it extremely close. My impressions of the food: - The short rib appetizer was good, but not great. There's better short rib to be had at many other places in Miami. I'd skip it. - Creamy polenta with mushrooms was a creamy delight. - Spaghetti was simple, flavorful, and superb. This is an important-for-everyone-at-the-table-to-try dish, and for that reason I recommend ordering a spaghetti as an appetizer for the table. This was my second favorite dish. - Tagliatelle with crab and uni was a tasty dish, but there was no discernible flavor of uni. Since it was the uni that had drawn me to this dish, it fell short of my expectations. - Duck and foie gras ravioli was the best dish by far. Full of wonderful and subtle flavors, each ravioli was meant to be savored and to dissolve in one's mouth. Really great. It is a small (but rich) portion. - In every pasta dish, the pasta was fresh and phenomenal. Service was excellent. Our server demonstrated substantial knowledge of the menu and its ingredients when we had questions.
(4)
Danay A.
One of my favorite restaurant. The food always perfect. The spaguetti simply amazing the polenta really good and the dessert you should tried the coconut panacota is really really perfect one of my favorite dessert and I love dessert, oh I almost forgot the complimentary bread 4 different breads.
Disappointed. Not disappointed that the food was not very good, it was. Just disappointed that it wasn't outstanding, especially given the price and the ambience. In fairness, we carried exceedingly high - but reasonable given the hype - expectations but left feeling slightly underwhelmed. Service was very good save for two dishes - the server oddly struggled to adequately describe the dishes. Not good. To the credit of the restaurant, it was obviously noticed and server did not return. Two dishes were overly salted. Simply too much sprinkled just prior to serving. And I generally like quite a bit of salt. Annoying. Excellent polenta. "Divine""would also fit here if you are a polenta fanatic. Mushrooms are a must-have. Short ribs were just OK - far too many things going on with the dish. I've had much better. Ravioli was outstanding - our favorite dish. Pasta was superb. As was the "gravy".
Excellent night at Scarpetta. Scarpetta is located in the Foutainebleau, an iconic South Beach hotel. We had reservations at 8:30. We arrived, checked in with the hostess and then proceeded to the bar for a pre-dinner cocktail. The restaurant decor is hip and trendy. The bar staff was attentive, but wine by the glass and bottle beer menu is limit. They do not stock any domestic beer. After about 10 minutes at the bar, we were approached by the hostess who let us know our table was ready. The dinning room is loud and energetic. I found it a bit on the dark side and we saw several customers using their cell phone lights to read the menus. We were promptly greeted by our wait staff and the wine steward. The bottle wine menu was overwhelming with 30+ pages of vino from all corners of the world. We kept it simple with a nice bottle of Dutton Goldfield Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley $75. It was excellent. For starters we had the creamy polenta recommended by our waiter (and many on Yelp). The polenta was outstanding with a creamy texture and an earthy taste from the truffled mushrooms that are served separate but meant to be poured over the polenta. I used some of the fresh bread from the table to dip and soak up the the polenta. The serving size is more than enough for 2 to share. This is a must have starter. Both of our entrees came highly recommended by our waiter. First the home made spaghetti with tomato and fresh basil. The pasta is all made fresh in-house. While a very simple dish, for the pasta lover this is true perfection. The pasta was perfectly al dente' with a very fresh tomato basil sauce nicely seasoned with parmesan. It needed nothing else. Next we had the Atlantic Halibut. It was poached and served over morel mushrooms, corn and favs beans. The fish was plump and perfectly moist. The mushrooms added a woody taste and the locally selected corn gave the dish a fresh finish. By the time we completed our entrees, we had no room for dessert.
(5)
Jennifer O.
Is a Beautifull restaurant with great views Excellent food and service Must try the short rib pasta !!!! Miami spice is worth it! Must go!
(5)
Madison M.
Excellent restaurant!!! Loved everything about it including the service, the ambiance and the food. I went with a small group during Miami Spice Month where they offer your choice of appetizer, entree and dessert for a fixed price. First they bring you a bread basket with variety of different breads and delicious toppings which included sun dried tomatoes and a lemon oil. For appetizer, I had the mushroom polenta and for the entree, I shared the short rib pasta and the snapper. Both dishes were delicious. Yes, the menu prices were high but it was expected being a restaurant inside the Fountainbleau and with such high quality food. Our waiter also told us about a Sunday dinner experience that includes various appetizers and entrees for a fixed rate. May be back soon for that!
(5)
Stedine L.
The food here is delicious!!! It's so good I want to come back and taste the rest of their menu. I had the polenta with wild mushroom, oven roasted chicken and chocolate cake for dessert. Every course was delectable
(5)
Preeti M.
Perfection, every time. From the stunning atmosphere to the stellar service to the down right delicious food, Scarpetta never disappoints. I wish more restaurants took a page from this one's books and learned how to be classy in every way. The pastas are to die for and the portions are not as small as you think so be warned. They always present it as a Primi, Secondi but there is no need to go beyond Primi (trust me!). The Octopus appetizer is delicious and my staple dish here is the simple yet gorgeous tomato basil spaghetti. Voila! Love.
(4)
Derek D.
Heard this place was known for its pasta, and the chef did not disappoint. The service and friendliness of the waitstaff is impeccable. Eduardo is a master of his craft, and it was a great move to order the Chef Special served family-style. During the second corse, I was able to taste pasta, served on pasta, with a side of pasta ravioli, and foie gras. Needless to say, this meal was a solid success, and I recommend it highly. Enjoy!
(5)
Natalia E.
The food was amazing. I've been here before, but didn't have such a great experience. Yum, yum, yum. Try - The polenta, spaghetti with tomato sauce... Sound boring, but they are grrrrreat!
(5)
Amanda G.
Excellent dinner at Scarpetta! We were celebrating a bachelorette party with 11 ladies and we ordered the tasting menu for the table at the waiters recommendation. Starters were the creamy polenta, tomato mozzarella salad and short rib. All were fantastic! Also must try the prosciutto bread in the bread basket. So good and I don't normally eat prosciutto. The main courses were sea bass, roast chicken, tomato and basil spaghetti, duck and foie gras ravioli. The simple spaghetti was to die for as well as the roast chicken. The table favorites were the creamy polenta and the duck and foie gras ravioli. Dessert was also delicious, cheesecake parfait yummmm! Passion fruit panna cotta and a decadent chocolate cake. This was by far the best option for our table to try a variety of their specialties. The waiters were very accommodating for our large group and the ambiance was very nice for the evening. I felt like we had the restaurant to ourselves! Wonderful evening!
(5)
Rach K.
Yum! I'm a frequent visitor of Scott Conant's NYC location so when a group of friends and I were heading to Miami for the weekend, I promptly requested that we make a reservation here. We were seated in the prettiest, brightest part of the restaurant overlooking the ocean. The staff brought over menus and filled our water glasses promptly. We each tried to order a different dish so that we could try a bunch of different things. One of us got scallops, one of us got the scialatelli with lobster, one of us got the short rib agnolotti, one of us got the corn raviolini, and I got the infamous tomato & basil spaghetti. The friend who ordered the raviolini didn't like her dish and one of the staff overheard so he replaced it with a dish of her choosing (the tomato & basil spaghetti) which we thought was so thoughtful and generous. Everything was delicious. The tomato & basil spaghetti is such a simple dish but it's incredible. I definitely recommend it; even Alton Brown says he'd eat it as a last meal. For dessert we had the amadei chocolate cake. It was a little disappointing; I think the NY location does a better job making it. The almond gelato didn't have much almond flavor but it was still delicious. I mean, we ate the whole thing. If you're in the mood for some delicious fresh pasta, Scarpetta is an obvious choice.
(5)
Jarret S.
This was our 4th visit to Scarpetta and it was the first time we left without saying 'wow'. We went for Miami Spice and this year they have changed things, adding a $12 UPCHARGE for choosing the Tomato & Basil Pasta (the most amazing pasta you'll ever eat) as your entree. To be charged an EXTRA $12 for choosing pasta over chicken, short ribs or fish is ludicrous. On the dinner menu, the pasta is priced at a lower price point than any of the other entree offerings, yet for the spice menu, they want to charge you more. This makes zero sense from a consumer perspective as well as a kitchen/restaurant cost perspective. The desserts served on the spice menu, honestly, were borderline embarrassing: the tiramisu, while nice in flavor was served in a water glass and took up only the bottom 1/4 of the glass. The almond panna cotta had a gelatinous (not smooth) consistency and lacked flavor. The service we received from our server was excellent however this was the first time we noticed the support staff (drinks, hostess, water, food runners, bread, etc.) showing less professionalism than in previous visits. As always, valet parking there is a nightmare. Be prepared to add an hour to your dinner to allow for drop-off and pick-up of your vehicle.
(4)
Jessica M.
Waitstaff is so enthusiastic and knowledgable here! The waiter recommended the pasta stuffed with duck and the truffle pasta. This was definitely out of the comfort zone with the flavored but I'm so glad we got them. They were delicious! We paired them with a bottle of wine and finished off with dessert! Great restaurant inside Fontainebleau
(5)
E M.
I live in South Beach, so I am not surprised when service is less-than-great. I can live with that. But this place... wow. We made a reservation for 8:30... arrived at 8:20, in advance of the reservation (we were in a hurry to get to the next place after dinner)... we were seated at 10pm... If you can't seat us for the reservation... why in the hell would you take the reservation? Don't inconvenience us, give us the opportunity to choose some other place that actually can serve us. Once seated, service was slow and inattentive. We actually had to stand up and hunt down the our waiter to bring us our food after another hour of waiting. We didn't get out of there until 11:30pm, and that's only because we hurried through the actual eating. The food was unspectacular. The waitstaff was incredibly inattentive (probably due to overbooking and poor training)... and again, this is being said by someone who is used to South Beach and pretty laid back. And making us wait 1.5 hours when we had a reservation... that's just stupid. I can go to countless places and pay $250-300 for dinner for 2 that are outstanding in all categories. This place stinks.
(1)
Ash P.
Wasn't very impressed with the "Miami Spice" for 52$ just to add spaghetti I wasn't very happy! Especially considering I drove an hour away and went to the one in NYC got a way better menu to choose from and only paid 35$!
(1)
Cathy M.
I went to this restaurant when I was in Miami for my birthday. It's a little bit hard to find because it's really far back in the Fountainbleau, but it's worth the walk. The food is sooo good. I had the truffle dinner and they were very generous with the truffles. The ambiance is nice and this place is always packed. Just don't forget your wallet--this restaurant is expensive, but so worth it for a special occasion. I can't wait to go back to Miami, because I'll definitely be going back here for dinner.
(4)
Michelle G.
Scott hits another home Run! We are long time NY fans. We had all the classic dishes and everyone was amazing and delicious. We have eaten in NY , La , Las Vegas and Miami and the meal never disappoints. My husband has followed Scott for the past 20 years from little NYC places to scarpetta.
(5)
Kimberly L.
Came here for a 30th birthday celebration with a large group of 15 ladies and had a wonderful meal! We contacted Gail ahead of time and had a delicious family style menu for $65 per person. We got to try 3 different appetizers, 4 entrees and 2 desserts. I've had the pleasure of eating at Scott's private space in NYC and Scarpetta in Manhattan and each experience is so amazing. We started with the burrata then the braised short ribs and the polenta. OMG the polenta was to die for. For the main course, we got the spaghetti, the duck foie gras ravioli, the orate and the chicken. My favorite was the ravioli. For dessert I was so stuffed but we had chocolate cake and a citrus parfait. Yum Yum Yum. Everything was so good. The ambiance was romantic and intimate. I will certainly be telling any friends in Miami to go here!
Been wanting to try Scott Conant's place for a while now...didn't disappoint! The foie gras and duck ravioli was superb and their signature spaghetti was great...I don't know about $25 for spaghetti great, but I can see why it's so popular. Service was exceptional.
(4)
Brian C.
Great food, good service, and a great wine list and Sommelier make Scarpetta an all around hit. It isn't cheap, but this is Miami Beach so what do you expect? We may have overdone it here on our initial dinner, but really enjoyed everything - polenta with mushrooms, short rib, duck & foie ravioli, parmesan raviolini, and the local snapper entree. We even splurged on dessert with a pumpkin souffle which was great and the Sommelier selected an excellent bottle of white wine (Italian, of course) that complemented our entire meal well and [by South Beach standards] was not too crazy at $120. He also suggested a lower priced option, and did exactly what a good Sommelier should do by adding to the meal's enjoyment, and selecting good bottles of wine at all price points while not being condescenting or looking down on regular people who don't spend $1000 on a bottle of wine. It was a bit strange that we were asked to sit in the bar area prior to being seated in a wide open restaurant, but overall Scarpetta was exactly the 5 star experience you would expect. Very nicely done.
(5)
Maria C.
Great restaurant. Have been there several times and have enjoyed everything. The spaghetti is to die for.
(5)
Patrick D.
If you can find it -- it's somewhat buried within the Fountainbleau -- this place is certainly a "destination" restaurant. Very expensive, and the portions were relatively small, but the food was excellent. Warning: For whatever reason, it's extremely noisy in the dining area...it was hard to hear my dinner companions. Pace was veerrryyyyy slooooooowwwww (2 and a half hours), but maybe when you're paying this much, they figure you want to drag it out as much as possible.
(4)
Julie L.
Will NEVER come back. EVER. To start I have been here many times, having used to live 4 blocks away. The food and service were always amazing in the past, so naturally when we had a big dinner party to celebrate a major occasion we reserved a large table with them. First we had a reservation but still waited 30 minutes to be seated. Imagine 14 people in the tiny bar area and you can see how us standing there for 30 min became annoying. Then we go to the table and without telling us they split us into two tables. The whole point of the dinner was to celebrate and have our families meet each other and we had been talking to the restaurant for over 3 weeks about this reservation, with no mention of putting us at two separate tables. They then acted like they were doing US a major service by giving us one table which is what we had been asking for all along. Then comes our incredibly rude waiter. First he goes around to the families being condescending, saying well I hope your not hungry because what you ordered is small, and making comments on literally everything that people ordered. He was visibly annoyed when two people asked to split an entree and an app for dinner and made multiple comments. This of course is because he has automatic gratuity and so he was pushing for us to ring up the bill. Then comes the fact that we ordered 2 bottles of wine and without even telling us he opens additional bottles and then of course charges us for them. I literally had to tell the man to stop opening bottles. Then, because literally 2 out of the 3 families that were with us were offended, I felt like I had to do something as I had made the reservation for the group. I am a doctor but spent 7 years as a waitress in a high end restaurant in NYC and knew this service was incredibly poor for a "nice restaurant." I go to speak with the manager and immediately he says to me "well it seems like you are just having a ton of problems tonight." Insinuating that I am being dramatic. Then he is demanding with me and goes "so what is this about, do you just want something off the check?" And I told him, No I just thought he would want to know AS THE MANAGER that the service was terrible and I have literally had to apologize to my guests for their wait staff's behavior. He basically was dismissive, partly due to the fact that I was a young woman in my late twenties, and we still paid our 800$ check with automatic gratuity. That being said NO ONE at that party will EVER be back again. One of the guests works for a Fortune 500 company and immediately sent an email to his corporate telling them to take Scarpettas off of the list as a recommended venue. The other guest works for Jackson health and said they were thinking about having a conference there but now seeing the way they behave they have also changed their mind. In summary if you are going to spend $800 on a nice dinner with family and friends- do it elsewhere. These people are rude and disgusting, with honestly deplorable management. I was mortified that I took a large group of my closest family and friends there. Now having this experience I will continue to make everyone I know aware of how scarpettas really treats their guests.
(1)
Mark S.
Miami Spice 2014: All the Fountainbleau options are expensive, and Scott Conant's SoBe destination is no exception, with mains easily topping the mid-$30s. For this reason, I try and go every August or September to get a 3-course dinner for just over the price of an entree on the regular menu. Usually in my Sunday 6:30 slot I'm one of the few people to do so, but last night was busy, so I guess word has spread, though service has suffered a little as a result (very similar to another popular Miami Spice destination this summer: Bourbon Steak). APPS: I've been here enough times to never stray in my choice of appetizer: the CREAMY POLENTA (served with fricassee of truffled mushrooms) is probably the signature dish of Scarpetta (where apps and desserts usually outshine the main courses). If you go with a group (even a group of 2), at least one of you must order this dish. I love a good STEAK TARTARE, but with a supplemental charge of $12, it would have destroyed the "value proposition" of Miami Spice: it's $22 on the regular menu (the other choices, including the Polenta, are $18), so a $3, or even $5 supplement would be sensible, not $12. MAINS: the $12 supplement for the famous SPAGHETTI on the MS website requires explanation: this is to get the dish WITH a main, not INSTEAD of a main. If you've never had it, it's fantastic, but if you also get the polenta app, you are going to leave the table feeling ill (so I'd recommend it as a "share", not a "solo supplement"). MAINS: The LOCAL SNAPPER (w/ fregola, shrimp & mushroom-fennel brodetto) was not the most beautiful appearance I've ever seen, but a good piece of fish with crispy skin. I skipped the OVEN ROASTED CHICKEN because it's hard to impress me with chicken. I also skipped another $12 supplement on the PRIME SIRLOIN OF BEEF (again: $12 supplement, on sirloin, is a little out of line). The CORN RAVIOLI (baby zucchini & chanterelle mushrooms) was more up to Scarpetta standards: great looks, very rich, and delicious. If I were Italian I would protest at the thought of a pasta as a main dish, but if you go, this is worth a try (or, like the polenta and the spaghetti, worth sharing - a whole plate of this rich pasta would be a little over-the-top for one person). DESSERT options have not changed in forever, and the way to go is still the COCONUT PANNA COTTA (with caramelized pineapple & guava "soup"). The COFFEE SEMIFREDO, was a distant second. If you go with the polenta and the panna cotta, you are going to have a great meal no matter what you have as the main. Also nice is a 3-flight pairing option for $25. Scarpetta was a reliable 5-star vote for me in the past, but this year it was more of a "4". The Polenta was still very good, but seemed to have lost a tiny bit of its magic. The mains also lacked the "wow" of the past, and the service was very irregular (from robotic descriptions to a VERY long wait for our check after dessert). Could some of this be due to the head chef's departure earlier this year? Perhaps. Or perhaps other alternatives have appeared on the Miami scene (Shikany being the best example) that have stolen some of Scarpetta's thunder. The $12 valet charge doesn't help either.
(4)
Cristina K.
Wow the food here is amazing! the service unbelievable and the ambience very cool. Never thought a simple spaghetti basil and tomato dish could taste this good. The burrata appetizer was a winner. The wine list ranges from $75-$11,000 and is sure to wow you as well. The only reason why I am not giving the wonderful restaurant 5 stars here is because the Fontaineblue valet (mind you the hotel does not have parking so everyone bringing a vehicle HAS to valet) is incredibly busy and it will take you at least 15 minutes to get your car to the valet runners and it took us 30-45 minutes to get our car back for when we left. So if you're staying at the hotel then you're in great shape because you will not have to worry about this!!! The valet really does need a newer more efficient system. Restaurant was great!
(4)
Steven G.
What a diaappointment, Scott C. is so authortize on TV, and ususally expensive places are great. This missed the mark on many levels from entry to finish. My four lovely friends arrived first and they would not seat them in an empty resaurant as I was not there yet. Sent to the sofa! There were three hostesses, good hostess, bad hostess and clueless hostess. I got clueless, she could not locate the party altough only a few tables were seated. Found the table myself. The charming waiter was attentive until food arrived then he ignored us until I called him over to tell him that my fish was cold. And the stone crab app had shells and cartilage. They did not remove the crab from the bill. No one came over to apologize for either mistake. Room grew very loud, no acoustical tiles. Mens room was filthy. Had to stand in a puddle of urine. Not acceptable. Major disappointment. Bad food and service and very expensive.
(2)
Alex A.
Friday night dinner. Was pretty good. There were some 1-3 star reviews on here. No restaurant can be five stars all the time and there will always be people pissed for some reason. Just like those people that like to send food back all the time. We enjoyed our time here. My wife had the spaghetti. This dish is their signature. I think we make a pretty great bowl of this at home so for us this wasn't a grand slam but still good. Just when we spend 28 dollars on noodles we expect it to be something we can't do at home. I had the short rib anglotti which were awesome and I definetely can't make these myself. Had yellowtail tuna and burata appetizers which were both good. The burata was nothing revolutionary but still tasty. The chocolate cake dessert was great...great molten center and good caramel ice cream. We would come again. Was tasty. For two people...2 apps...2 entrees...2 drinks...18% service charge...20 dollar tip....195 bux. Kind of pricey, but not a waste.
(4)
Hernan B.
Per-fec-tion Impeccable service and incredibly well crafted menu. Pasta is perfect. A breath of fresh air in a Miami where Italian foods means extra garlic.
(5)
Lily L.
My BF had surprised me to this Wonderful Restaurant, as he knows I love to watch Food Network, and Scott Conant. We had the Tasting course, and let me tell ya- It Is the most Amazing dishes I've had!! EVERYTHING was perfect and Amazing!! Great service as well!
(5)
Rebecca G.
I had been looking forward to eating at Scarpetta since a few episodes into the Top Chef New Orleans season. Nina Compton's food was captivating, and I needed to try it. D wasn't as enthusiastic, so this was a meal that we had very split opinions about, but that's obviously bound to happen and does in fact happen often. His plate: Spaghetti, tomato basil Whole Orata, corn succotash, fingerling potatoes Her plate: Gemelli, lobster and uni, bread crumbs Local Snapper, baby vegetables and clam brodo So, a few notes about service. It's as impeccable as you'd expect with a restaurant of this caliber, and our waiter was friendly and a little overly helpful. But two things here stood out, that I'd never seen before, or at least never seen executed well. Firstly, after we were seated, the hostess took my (white) napkin away and said she'd be right back with a different one. Strange? Well, she returned with a black one, which we realized was because I was wearing a dark navy dress. And the white napkin would've stood out too much on it. I've never had that happen before, and while that could be seen as an over the top touch, I guess it is nicer if the napkin is camouflaged? Being less aware of the formalities of dining and just getting to focus on the food is nice. But, still, wow. Secondly, our waiter greeted us and asked if he could recommend cocktails. My brain leapt to assume that he'd be discussing their drink specials, or house specialties, but no - he actually stood in thought for a moment and then spot on, perfectly, amazingly, completely nailed personalized recommendations for each of us. Ten seconds after having greeted us, not knowing or asking any preferences. He suggested a cucumber vodka, melon, cherry tomato cocktail for me, and a tequila cocktail for D that was somewhere between a margarita and mojito. Both feeling a little shocked, and mind-read, we consented to try them. Both were fantastic. We ordered pastas and entrees, not hungry enough to add primis as well. We differed in our opinions of the pasta. While my gemelli was one of my favorite things I've ever eaten, D did not like his spaghetti at all - he found it too lightly sauced and didn't like the texture of the pasta - gummy and eggy. I liked the spaghetti - it is subtle, but deliciously fresh. The gemelli, however, was amazingly oceanic - salty with the rich uni, and dotted with perfectly cooked lobster knuckles and claws. The bread crumbs added a nice texture, and it was a well-rounded and perfectly balanced dish. I would eat this every day. We both really enjoyed our fish - the snapper was perfectly cooked and the broth had a nice amount of clam flavor and good body. The orata was delicious - mild and delicate, with lovely vegetable accompaniments. We didn't try dessert - absolutely stuffed - but I would love to go back again sometime.
(4)
Aylin M.
Scarpetta offered just about everything you want out of a romantic evening: good food, great service, beautiful interior design and all with a breathtaking ocean view. I had the Grilled Bone in Pork Chop and it exceeded my expectations. As an appetizer we had the Mediterranean Octopus and it was okay. And for dessert I had the Tiramisu, which was very good.
(5)
Buo Z.
The food here is identical to Scarpetta in NYC and is pretty good overall. Food: Buffala mozzarella - delicious and so soft and creamy Foie gras ravioli - delicious Spaghetti with tomato and basil - delicious Creamy polenta - must get this one
(4)
Eli A.
Impeccable service, lovely ambiance, great drinks and delicious food. Did I mention impeccable service?! I had a wonderful time and will keep going back.
(5)
Scott L.
I was introduced to Scarpetta by force for someone's birthday and felt immediate regret when I checked in and got Yelp's High Roller badge. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Yelp gives you badges kind of like if you were a boy/girl scout. This one in particular is given for checking into three different places that are obscenely expensive. I've eaten at many fine dining establishments, and most of them leaving you feeling like you just threw away your money. I don't mind eating at places like this on an expense account, but not on my dime. I guess that's what it's like to wipe your 'ars' with Benjamins. The place is gorgeous, with several different rooms all with different styles. The front area is very dark and trendy. The back are is like an indoor garden terrace. I'd suggest asking for a table in the back. It has huge windows, and it's a great space as the night spawns. The food selection here is very unique, and this began to turn my opinion. For example, one of the specials was a dumpling wrapped in an eggplant flour. I didn't try it, but the menu is cluttered with great dishes. Little did I know, but we came here during Spice Week (like restaurant week in NYC). The menu had tons of choices to choose from that made it hard for me to make a decision it also helped my wallet. I ultimately choose tuna appetizer, the aged steak entree, house spaghetti, and a semi frozen berry icecream for dessert. The tuna was decent, but I would recommend the mushroom polenta that everyone at my table raved about it. The steak was a mind blowing experience, and took me by surprise with the flavor. It was a smokey aged taste that was very different than most aged steaks. It was smaller in portion though (6 ounces). The spaghetti was oversold, and was average in flavor. The berry icecream was pretty good, and was more like a pudding. It was very different, and I would recommend. All deserts looked amazing, and no one complained about their choice. What separated Scarpetta from the rest of my fine dining experience s was the waiter, George. It's rare that you find a waiter so knowledge about the food and who also makes you feel like there's a personal relationship. George was great at both, and made it feel like we were old friends. His ability to communicate is much higher than I would ever expect for a waiter, but I really appreciated his efforts to describe everything in detail. I would recommend Scarpetta, but only on a loose budget. The food selection is great, but not everything is amazing. The staff, service and ambiance make it worth it though.
(4)
Daniel F.
We walked in for dessert as it was about a half hour before they were closing but after a look at the menu we stayed to have a second dinner. The decor and vibe is nautical and sophisticated. Gorgeous window set overlooking the ocean and some of the best people watching I saw in miami. The menu was limited and flowed well, always a good sign and it was very hard to decide. I ate everything even though I hadn't walked in hungry and the chocolate cake they had on the dessert menu was so good we ordered a second one immediately. Will be back next time I'm in town
(5)
Brian M.
Chose here for an anniversary dinner with my girlfriend as it looked like one of the more solid spots in Miami Beach, and partly also because of Nina who unfortunately left just before we ate here. No matter. Losing a star for a couple reasons. First, parking. We were staying down in South Beach. I would NOT recommend driving here. Couldn't find self park (not sure if they exist), went to Valet. Valet area a zoo, no one came to the car, people running everywhere, honking because it was backed up, etc. Just a mess. Finally I get out of the car, find someone I can communicate with and they tell me it's full, go to the next VIP area (right in front of the hotel). Go there, they tell me they're full. WTF. Thent hey say, oh, do you have reservations at one of our restaurants? Yes I do. Come on in! Goofs. Restaurant experience is what you would expect from this type of place. Very good food (snapper crudo in particular), a bit higher priced because of the name and location, attentive service, beautifully decorated, etc. Also I was a bit surprised to see fellow diners in t-shirts and athletic shorts here but I guess they don't turn people away. Overall I doubt anyone would ever walk away from here unhappy, but still nothing blew me away so can't give it the full 5 stars.
(4)
Jessica R.
It doesn't get much better! I have been here on both special occasions/truffle tasting meni or just a spaghetti craving and it's a heavenly experience. The staff has always been outstanding including my last visit where manager Jason came to check on us a few times when I told him I am gonna name my first born Scott in honor of the spaghetti he promised to let him know in his report. While everything is amazing the spaghetti gives me life!!! A must is also the bread with their eggplant dip..loads of flavor! The chocolate cake with ice cream is a signature of theirs and brings a tear to your eye reminding you what a dessert should be! Props to the whole staff front and back of house!
(5)
Deryn H.
The food is exquisite! The chief is a food magician; I've never had food as good as food served at Scarpetta. The oven roasted chicken and spaghetti are to die for! As are the chocolate zeppoles. The portion sizes are perfect for those who don't want a platter plate full of food. As for the service, amazing! The waiters are extremely polite and make your dining experience very comfortable; they work together like a well oiled machine. If you're in the Miami Beach area, Scarpetta is must!
(5)
Laaly N.
My husband and I were there recently with another couple and decided to try their tasting menu. We were able to try several main dishes, sides and desserts. From the seafood to the steak and pasta, it was all divine. The four of us are well travelled and pretty picky when it comes to food. I recommend the tasting menu at Scarpettas, it's pricy but worth it!
(5)
Kellie P.
The polenta with mushrooms is as good as it gets, and the bread basket with assorted breads is worth the embarrassment of asking for a second basket! The one with cheese and prosciutto is my fave. Great food, Cozy atmosphere and good service definitely will bring me back. The only wrinkle is the valet parking at Fountainbleu on a weekend night. Be prepared to wait before and after.
(5)
Lindsay B.
I went here for my first time last night. I've lived in Miami about four years and had yet to go; I must say that I ABSOLUTELY regret waiting this long. When I was seated the hostess promptly brought me a black linen(I was wearing a black dress). Although this is a small gesture many restaurants to don't take the initiative. The ambiance in the dining room was romantic, and chic. The cocktails were expertly crafted, I'm assuming they have high caliber mixologists because they were VERY on point. Our server Victor was very helpful and made lovely suggestions on the menu. He shared a personal story pertaining to our experience and truly made us feel at home. Finally, the most important part--the food. Both entrees we had were absolutely delicious. I had the duck foie gras ravioli and my boyfriend had the veal. Both were amazing. I think mine was a little better than my boyfriends though ;). My only complaint about my meal was that it was a teeny portion, but it was expected in a restaurant like this. For dessert I had the coconut panna cotta, which was to die for. The flavors in the dessert, mixed with the crunch of the topping were sweet perfection. I will absolutely be back and look forward to trying the chefs tasting menu.
(5)
Marc B.
Oh Scott I remember when you cooked at 55th and 2nd- in Manhattan- and you haven't let us down- Every Scarpetta is consistently great like you are in the kitchen making that spaghetti and polenta. The Miami restaurant once again this week was great and always has been- Scarpetta classics are great- we came with 3 infants and the staff was so nice and accomodating- the room is beautiful- the sommelier picked out a great reasonable priced wine for us exactly what were looking for. Nothing bad to say- You want great food, service and friendly staff come here- its not a trendy place, just plain good. Food musts- polenta, spaghetti, scallops, the short ribs, we ate most of the menu...
(5)
Jerry T.
Since visiting the NY location, I was craving it again. The food is some of the best I've ever eaten, and the service is even better. Note that the food is small portion, but full of flavor, and can be pricey to some. Understand this before you go or you may be in for a surprise. I had the veal special and would definitely order it again. The go-tos for entrees are the spaghetti and duck ravioli, which I had in NY. The fried cheese (can't remember the name) and the creamy polenta appetizers are so delicious, I highly recommend these. Side note, you have to valet park at the Fontainebleau hotel. I was able to get my parking validated at Scarpetta but it still costs $12 (+ tip if you're nice). I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Hicham D.
We seriously think we just had one of the best meals of our lives! And the best Thanksgiving dinner. Let me begin with service: PERFECT. Everyone from the hostess to the waiter to the sommelier were outstanding. And so was the chef whom we thanked personally at the end of our meal. The butternut squash soup was amazing. The rabbit pasta we got next was outstanding. The roasted turkey and stuffing had an explosion of different flavors. This dining experience was beyond our expectations! The deserts were succulent. The wine, a 2009 Margaux from Chateau Margaux was exquisite. Although that part we knew going in :) Love this place!!!
(5)
Cessie C.
I went to Scarpetta for my friends birthday dinner. It was a group of girls and most of us had never been there before. The place is gorgeous, very beautifully decorated. My favorite is the bar, which has a very cool purplish backdrop. The best way to enjoy everything this amazing restaurant has to offer is by going all in and going for the Chef's Tasting Menu. Here is what we had: RAW YELLOWTAIL (delicious) Sashimi style hamachi brushed with chili oil, ginger oil and Hawaiian sea salt. Smoked tuna tartare avocado, lemon emulsion & osetra caviar CREAMY POLENTA (THIS WAS BY FAR MY FAVORITE) served with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms MOZZARELLA IN CARROZZA Panko breaded and pan-fried buffalo mozzarella served over stewed baby tomatoes. BRAISED SHORT RIBS OF BEEF served over vegetable farro risotto MEDITERRANEAN OCTOPUS served over a potato creama, olives, capers and confit tomatoes. PASTA COURSE DUCK & FOIE GRAS RAVIOLI (This was my favorite pasta dish- it was the perfect mix of sweet & salty) finished with a marsala reduction. SPAGHETTI (AMAZING spin on classic dish!) Handmade spaghetti tossed with tomato sauce, basil and parmigiano. PICI served with lobster, calabrese chilis and nduja sausage. BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLINI Roasted Butternut squash raviolini, baby vegetables and Ricotta Salata PROTEIN/ENTRÉE COURSE MEDITERRANEAN BRANZINO Mediterranean branzino served with confit baby vegetables and almond brown butter brodetto. FENNEL DUSTED BLACK COD (fresh, soft, sweet & delciious) Fennel spiced black cod served on top of baccala mantecato, concentrated tomatoes and black olive oil LONG ISLAND DUCK Long Island duck, roasted carrots, mustard greens & sour cherry jus 21 DAY AGED SIRLOIN OF BEEF Porcini Mushrooms, Salsa di Pane & Smoked Bone Marrow DESSERT Coconut Panna Cotta Coconut flavored eggless custard held together with gelatin. Served with guava soup, caramelized pineapples,coconut sorbet and a coconut tuille. Amadei Chocolate Cake Made from dark Italian chocolate (Amadei). Served warm with toasted almond gelato, a salted caramel sauce and a chocolate cigarette. Coffee Semifreddo Frozen coffee mousse set in a bowl, garnished with crystallized hazelnuts, anise infused chantilly cream, served with lemon sorbet Each course came with its appropriate wine pairings and by the time we were done, I was ready for my BED, but, we ended up at LIV instead. And managed to dance some of the calories off. Aside from the fact that everything about this meal was PERFECT, the service at Scarpetta is what really topped the evening. From the front staff, the waiters & even the GM, who personally came & checked on our meal- the service was beyond comparison to any other restaurant. I really want to go back for brunch soon!
(5)
Elle R.
We had a great time ...good food & Ben Goldman is a fantastic General Manager. Our group was well taken care of & was given great service once Ben got involved. The blonde manager seemed lost in the headlights, she could not manage foreseeable problems. But Ben came in & saved the day! This was for a larger group. The food was wonderful & the atmosphere was very beautiful.
(4)
Laura S.
Wonderful experience! We had the scallop app. Spaghetti and aged steak for entrees and chocolate cake for dessert. All of it was soooo good. Amazing waiter. Very helpful. Just a great time all around. Will most def be back.
(5)
Lily Z.
One of the best meals I've had in awhile. We opted for the tasting menu which was the best decision ever! Our server Victor was fabulous. Friendly, knowledgable and took all of our requests to the chef to execute the perfect tasting menu for us. Amuse bouche: yellow tail and tuna tartar bites. We were a little ignorant and thought this was our appetizer. Ensue angry bitching....until Victor asked us how it was and told us that was just a little something from the kitchen and our real appetizer was coming. Whew! What a relief! Appetizer: tuna tartar and yellowtail hamachi. Delicious! Both were so unique and delicate tasting. So creative and perfectly portioned! Pasta course: THE pasta pomodoro, duck & foie gras ravioli and a seafood linguine. Of course the star of this course was the spaghetti. It was so good that I came back the next night and ordered a portion to go! I could've done without the seafood linguine, which was tasty but nothing spectacular compared to the other 2 pasta dishes. Entrees: fennel dusted snapper and the 28 dry aged beef. Both delicious and by this point I am so full that I can't really breathe. The fish had a very intense woodsy flavor and the beef was cooked perfectly. Dessert:.....a panna cotta with guava soup that was light and refreshing. The molten chocolate cake was pretty good also as it wasn't too sweet. The whole meal was worth the price. I highly recommend it. I can't wait to attempt to make the spaghetti in my own kitchen!
(5)
Lindsey B.
Really loved this place. Went with a big group for a bachelorette party. They sat us right away and the service was great. It's an open place with big windows that look out at the Fontainebleau resort. The prices are a little expensive but the food is delicious. All their pastas are home made so they are very very good. Just the plain old spaghetti and tomato sauce was some of the best I've ever had. The carpaccio was also very good. I would recommend this place however wouldn't suggest for kids- More of an adult dining experience. Also would suggest making reservations in advance
(4)
Joe R.
Best food in Miami period Michael the bartender is awesome and a real pro The pasta is like eating in Italy truly outstanding the filet and lamb chop entrees also outstanding Don't miss this beautiful hotspot
(5)
Kimberley C.
Fantastic Italian restaurant. Awesome in Miami and the food is just as good in Beverly HIlls..... just has a different vibe altogether.
(5)
Annette R.
We had a dinner for four on Tuesday night. The lights are noticeably dim, so you have to light a lighter to read the menu. Overall atmosphere is nice, and you can tell the waters are trying hard to make this place look more classy.
(4)
Allison F.
This review is dedicated to my favorite chef, Nina Compton: My company holiday party took place at Scarpetta a few months ago. After watching and obsessing over Nina's food on Top Chef, we had incredibly high expectations...all which were met and exceeded with FLYING colors. The meal started with unbelievable service from Luis and Eddy -- two of the best servers I've ever had the privilege of dining with. These two gentlemen made us feel like family, a welcome and unexpected rarity for upscale Miami restaurants. Our first taste of heaven was when the bread came, accompanied by a sun-dried tomato spread, olive oil and butter (which I thought was cheese and smeared heavily on my focaccia....sorry, I'm not sorry). Next, came a delicate pile of burrata joined by the most tender braised short ribs and melt in your mouth truffled mushroom polenta. Full yet? No way. To follow, we sampled the freshest handmade spaghetti I've ever tasted, dressed in the perfect amount of tomato and basil, and duck and foie gras ravioli that I would literally pay all my money to eat on a daily basis. Throughout each of these courses, Luis and Eddy were like skilled spies, refilling our wine glasses to perfection after each and every tiny sip...5-star service. For the main course, we sampled juicy filet mignon, roasted chicken and some mystery fish dish that I loved. Even though there were 40 mouths to feed in our party, Luis and Eddy managed to make us feel like we were their first priority at all times. For dessert, we indulged in coconut panna cotta, chocolate lava cake, a heavenly sorbet and a creamy caramel concoction that I couldn't get enough of. The entire meal can be summed up in two words: more, please. I am incredibly grateful to Luis and Eddy for making me feel like an old friend, for ensuring that we got second dibs at all the dishes before our hungry coworkers and for going out of their way to allow us to meet and take photos with Nina and Scott, two of my culinary heroes. Amazing service, amazing food, amazing experience.
(5)
Pam C.
Dining at it's best. Excellent courses from beginning to end. Meals were prepared and presented to perfection. Our family had pasta with black trumpet, veal and filet mignon. Every bite was delicious. Courses were nicely spread out, we never felt rushed. If you are in a hurry I would let your waitstaff know ahead of time. This is a full dining experience so expect it to be spaced out.
(5)
Marco M.
Come hungry and try the tasting menu, and you will be happy you did. Antipasti: Assortment of polenta with mushrooms, short rib and farro and fresh burrata and tomatoes to start the meal 2 signature pastas: spaghetti and pomodoro and duck foie gras ravioli with balsamic reduction Choice of meat, chicken or fish - all excellent Dolci: similar to a passion fruit panna cotta and a chocolate cake The servers were all excellent. Ryan was on point with us and they were all very attentive. Ambiance is perfect and you can request to sit closer to the windows for a view of the pool and ocean outside of the center dining hall. Buon Appetito!
(5)
Kate T.
After having been to the New York location I was SO looking forward to checking out the Miami one. I made reservations for Saturday night at 8:30. We arrived a little early to enjoy a drink at the bar. We were approached by the staff and told to enjoy our drink and to let them know when we were ready to be seated. We were seated at a great seat, overlooking the restaurant and water. We were greeted with a variety and breads and spreads, including a marscapone butter, a garlic olive oil and a roasted eggplant speard, all delish! We decided to enjoy the Chef Tasting menu, which included a variety if Scarpetta's most favorite dishes. 1st course, Yellowtail Hamachi with a Tuna Tartare. 2nd course, Sauteed mushroooms over polenta and a short rib (fall off the bone short rib!). 3rd course, the pasta! We tasted the tomato basil, duck ravioli and a cream tagliatelle. 4th course. Salmon with black grain rice and a RibEye, smoked to perfection. And, finally, the 5th course, dessert. A chocolate molten cake with a cocunut sorbet and papaya gelee. Not only did every bite of the tasting menu hit the spot, the wine pairings that they provided went SO well. The service did not disappoint and overall, like Scarpetta in New York, this is by far one of my favorite restaurants I have had the pleasure of dininig out. I do hope I can get back, if not, continue to taste Chef Scott Conant's menus around the country.
(5)
Brittany P.
Everything about this is amazing! Service and food were on point and I cannot wait to go back! Must have the pasta marinara!!!!!
(5)
Michael S.
If you are looking for a nice place to eat in Miami, I highly recommend Scarpetta. From the bread they give you when you sit down, to the chocolate cake we had for desert, I enjoyed my meal. The highlights had to be the Creamy Polenta, Duck And Foie Gras Ravioli, and Chocolate Cake. We also had the Short Rib appetizer (which was the one thing I thought was just ok) and the Chestnut Cavatelli (which was very good, but not quite as amazing as the ravioli). The service at the restaurant was also very good. Our waiter was very attentive and gave us good recommendations. The support staff were also always there at the times you needed them (They were quick to refill my water when it was almost out, and they cleared our plates when we finished). Note that they automatically include a 18% gratuity on your bill. I actually prefer this, but it may be a sticking point to some.
(5)
Mariel P.
Came here just for dinner while staying in South Beach for my partner's birthday dinner and although the food was good and the restaurant was nice, I ended up very disappointed. I asked the hostess to make a note that it was my partners birthday and she even asked me for his name. I was waiting the entire night for a dessert surprise, but then they bring over a dessert menu which threw me off because they typically just bring something over. I go over to the hostess who was different then the one who checked us in and she did see the note I left and said the waiter knew, but we ordered a dessert and NOTHING!! I didn't even want dessert!! I just wanted a birthday surprise!!This would never happen in NYC.
(2)
Carla Z.
Scott Conant does it again! I've wanted to try this place since I saw Chef Nina on top chef. We were lucky enough to be in Miami for Miami Spice. The concept is similar to NY Restaurant week where participating restaurants have prix fixe menus for a certain time period. We started with a flight of wines. The only weird part was all 3 of our wines came out at the same time? At a table with four girls, it felt clumsy to have that many full regular stemmed wine glasses at the table. The food though was amazing. We had mushrooms and polenta to start. I can eat this by the bucket load. Then as a main course, I had the over roasted chicken with spaetzle. And concluded with a panna cotta. I'd definitely come back for the food. I don't know if I came on an off night, but I was expecting a larger crowd.
(3)
Roxy S.
From the gracious welcome of maitre'd and hostess, to the attentive service team, each team member was well-mannered, knowledgeable about the courses and unobtrusive. We were provided name recognition by so many of the front of house, it gave the impression we were truly valued guests. Our second time dining at Scarpetta was as memorable as the first. Preset menu for Thanksgiving started with a surprisingly, well layered soup of butternut squash frenched over foie gras, diced Granny Smith Apple, chopped shiitake mushrooms, braised celery and thin carrot discs. Followed by perfectly, al dente, housemade cavatelli pasta, braised rabbit, mirepoix in rabbit jus, topped with Parmesan. Choice entree of seared scallops with polenta or turkey breast and thigh roulade accompanied by smokey, greens, fresh cranberry sauce and the best dressing ever. Ginger-poached, sliced pear tart with cranberry-slivered almond crumble and a cannel of vanilla gelato. Quite an impressive Thanksgiving feast!
(5)
Sarah W.
I had been wanting to try Scarpetta for a few years when my husband surprised me with a last minute trip to Miami for one night to eat at Scarpetta. We did the chef's tasting menu and were pleasantly surprised by not only the food, which was incredible, but by the amount of food, the service and the restaurant itself. I could review all 10 plates of food, but it would be repetitive because everything was fantastic. I don't think I can come up with a criticism, just prepare to leave stuffed with amazing food. Also, order the pannacotta- it is a much needed refreshing way to end your meal. We will be back.
(5)
Diane A.
During visit to Scarpetta I was seated outside, which I loved. It was night time so we could hear the ocean if you listen close enough and the breeze was amazing. Our waiter was excellent and very patient with our group. The first thing that I loved was the variety of breads they bring out! I can't tell you which one was better the the rest because they were all great! I ordered the polenta and thought it was fantastic. I also had the spaghetti but wasn't as impressed. However, my boyfriend ordered the short ribs and they ware great. All in all, it was a successful night.
(5)
Janice L.
What a flop of a restaurant for me to choose for my birthday. Be warned if you're ..let's just say it...high-maintenance, picky eater, true foodie, steak fiend, water picky, etc. You may be judged at and talked down upon by your waiters if you ask what type of water they have, etc. Because of the fact 18% gratuity is automatically added; I honestly felt like my waiters took advantage of my situations and questions about the food and drinks available. Then barely showing up after our appetizers. Don't get me wrong, I ALWAYS tip 20-30%. Just give me that option so I know I can gauge how much the waiters have earned in my eyes. It was amazing up until entrees. Then entrees killed my mood and taste buds. Desserts brought it back up a bit...but overall...really disappointed I chose this place to celebrate my birthday. I thought I'd have a great experience like I did at the one in NY... Appetizers: Raw yellowtail ($17)- so fresh, buttery, melt in your mouth sashimi slices with a memorable crunch texture of sea salt, and other things. So simple but delicious. 4 pieces. Steak tartare- this was amazing! I usually have stayed away from meat tartare in the past because it's been too gamey at other places. This one was PERFECT and recommended by our waiter. Not gamey at all but so tender, and delicious served on perfectly buttered, toasted French baguette or brioche slices. Wine: Not a big drinker but I love a glass of red wine here and there. The Barbera de Alba from Piedmont was lovely! And at $14 a glass, it was really a great pick. Tasted wonderful! Entrees: Special of the night- Sliced Bone-In Ribeye for 2/28oz. ($95) I don't even want to go into this whole fiasco and how it was handled but let's just say I've had some incredible steaks in a lot of places and I'm from Texas. We love our meat and steak! This one was incredibly DISAPPOINTING. For that price, I was expecting prime at least certified angus. It honestly tasted like choice. Or the way it was cooked made it taste like select. Yes, that horrible. So tough, bland, chewy, and served cold. Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli ($26): delicious. Filling melts in your mouth. Drizzled with a balsamic reduction sauce. Yum!! Desserts ($12) chocolate cake: yummy. If you want a richer, heavier, chocolate-y dessert go with this. Or go with what I did and eat two. Coconut Panna Cotta- WOW! This wasn't what I expected. So refreshing, delicious...confusing because it was that good...made me question why I've never had panna cotta before. Probably because I've always pictured it as a custard filled dome. Ended with cappuccino & espresso. Good. Note to management: You knew about our situation because you comped a dessert for us but neglected to come say anything to us. Thanks for comping a $12 dessert for my horrendous birthday entree worth $95. Sounds like we're even. *inserts sarcasm* Haha. Won't be back ever. Maybe just NY's location when I'm there. Poorly handled in all ways
We were staying at the Fontainebleau Resort, and being both Food Network fans and lazy, decided to try Scarpetta since it was in the hotel. Foie gras has been a very guilty pleasure of mine since moving to New York (it's banned in California), so I couldn't resist when I saw the duck and foie gras ravioli on the menu. All I can say is that I'm no longer able to eat ravioli any other way and I believe in miracles. The house cocktails were solid too, which I'm always on the search for. Definitely a must try if you are in Miami.
(5)
Todd S.
A beautiful place located inside the Fountainbleau Hotel. Ocean views. Beautiful decor for a classy design and feel. Service was very good, professional, helpful, and very attentative to all your needs. Staff made you feel welcome and saw to your every need. a great menu selection of fine Italian dining and the food was excellent. A large wine menu. We started with Palenta with fricase of wild mushrooms and truffle oil and the vegetable risotto. Pasta course we had black ink linguine with clams, duck and foie grois ravioli which were all amazing. Then we had the fish of the day and a sliced steak entree. Chocolate sufflet and cheescake. It was a menu prepared by the chef. Amazing meal. Will definitely be back soon.
(5)
Jacob K.
The service is great and the food is scrumptious. I attended the restaurant for dinner with my family and this is what we had and what was delicious or okay: Liked: Creamy polenta Probably one of my favorites Mediterranean Octopus Delicious Honey spiced Long Island Duck Cooked to perfection but don't expect it to be crispy Spagghetti with mushroom Very nice if you like truffle Coconut ice cream with guava soup Duck and Foie Gras ravioli ( Everybody seemed to like it for me it was okay but I don't like Foie gras) Okay: Yellowtail Nothing special Chocolate Zappole Expected much more since I love nutella Overall it is a very nice place with delicious food
(4)
Heath W.
I eat here all the time, at least once a month, if I could I would eat here more often. I have never ever received poor service and every meal is spot on. I read a few of the reviews and have never received the type of service ever. In fact the first time I came here it was an after party dinner after a major concert, there were around 50 people spread out throughout the dinning room, we had the place to our selves and the food and the service was amazing. My normal fare is the burrata, steak tartare, and the tuna tartare, duck & foie gras ravioli, their signature and always perfect spaghetti, Brussels sprouts and roaster mushrooms, but you can't go wrong on anything. If you need to pick one Restruant in Miami beach to visit, this is it.
(5)
J F.
The service was impeccable, and the vibe at the place is nice. But holy cow is it overpriced, especially considering the 18% surcharge. It would be nice if there were some simpler items in the menu, but literally everything was uber complicated or drenched in truffle oil. The bread served at the table was delicious, but the waiters kept taking it for some reason. It was bizarre. Dessert was delicious, but it too was all overly complicated. It may be cool to have Rosemary gelato, but is it necessary? I won't go back, it just wasn't a good enough experience for the price.
(3)
Bao N.
I've been here a few times and each time I've been it has been fantastic. There are some drawbacks because you do have to go into th lavish Fontainbleu hotel to get in, valet your car and pay for super expensive drinks. But it doesn't stop me from going to Scarpetta. It is rather spendy and the portions are small but I think it is perfect for a romantic dinner out. The bread is always good here as a starter and I always forget the name of the dish that I order but the people I always dine with love the food here. I'll be back here for another dinner one of these days and look forward to trying something yummy on their menu.
(4)
Remington T.
Maybe it's because I'm an elitist New Yorker who knows what a good restaurant looks like or that a well priced meal should buy quality to match, but this place was a huge disappointment. Service was subpar, environment was mediocre, and the food (we had pasta and fish) was lackluster. Over-seasoned, overcooked, and didn't precisely match the description on the menu. You can walk into an any unrated, under-the-radar seafood restaurant in NYC and get far better quality. I apologize to the many Miamians who have written radiant reviews of this place that might find my review disparaging to them and their city. I have only been to Scarpetta once--granted, on a very busy night. Perhaps it deserves a second chance, but in dining, first impressions are critical.
(2)
Zubayr M.
Try the spaghetti and grilled calamari. They are honestly the best two dishes on the menu. We always end up ordering them somehow. Typical Miami prices, good service, and even better atmosphere.
(4)
Dov B.
The grilled octopus is amazing and the froi gras ravioli wasn't for me, but my wife enjoyed it. It was enjoyable enough for dinner and the service was stellar, but in all honesty I probably would not rush back anytime soon.
(4)
Vanessa V.
Scarpetta's is our go to for special occasions. We love everything about this restaurant, from the location to the menu and the service is always amazing. We usually request Eddie as our host and also request the sommelier to select our wine pairings. The only tip I would add is to make your reservations well in advance, 2 to 3 months for holidays or notable days like Mother's Day or Valentines as they are usually booked.
(5)
Amy S.
Great spot if you are staying at the Fountainebleau. Food is on point - everything we had was lovely. I ordered the spaghetti and it was amazing (maybe just a tad too salty though)...loved the perfectly al dente texture. Great views if you come for dinner right around sunset!
(4)
Yuliana D.
Tuna tartare: A little heavy on oil, greasy! I had better. It's supposed to be "smoked" - well it's lightly smoked so hard to detect. I would say it's a wow tuna. It's ok, even disappointing! I don't suggest u spend $20 on it. Bread: For the place I expected much better. Below average bread. Simple bread you get at a casual restaurant. Eggplant that came w bread was delicious. But that was it. Disappointing. Duck raviolli: Yum! If you love duck and foie gras - this is for you! Yet a little too heavy on oil, so doesn't get 5 stars from me, more like 4. Portion is tiny! So trust me - it's like an appetizer portion, u will be hungry unless ur happy w appetizer portion. I wonder why they wouldn't make it an appetizer? It's small enough! Bar: Medium size closer to small. Not the best social scene. Its an odd mix of people. Service: Great! Not impeccable but superbly great. Would I go back? No, it's overpriced for what it has to offer. I am comparing it w similar restaurant in ny and Miami so if ur a foodie - u probably will be disappointed a lot or somewhat. I love fine dining and go to plenty of amazing restaurants. This one is more famous cause of the hotel rather than food I think. NY place is soooooo much better in terms of food!!!! Miami just doesn't have it.
(3)
Monica M.
This place is like corked wine! I've been to Scarpetta many times and never have I been as disappointed as last night. First of all, despite the place being half empty on a Friday night, they gave us a hard time about changing our reservation for 30 minutes later. We had brought some bottles of wine which we were willing to pay a corkage fee ($45/bottle) and the hostesses offered to hold the wine for us while we waited for our table. We got seated 1hour & 30 minutes later. The late members of our party brought more wine to the birthday dinner. Fine ... our fault for being late. Once seated, we were told there was a two-bottle maximum per table. None of us had never heard of such an arbitrary limit before. We were clearly a big party (9 people) which could have easily been separated into four tables. Despite this, the sommelier refused to cork our other bottles. Looking on the Scarpetta website, there is absolutely no place where this "Policy" is stated so if you are a savvy researcher, don't expect to be put on notice about this well thought out and clearly stated policy. Then we asked the manager (Garrett) if he could please make an exception since it was my best friend's birthday. He said he would try and see what he could do. But then Garrett LEFT US HANGING with no answer for virtually THE ENTIRE DINNER!! I finally had to approach him on the way to the ladies room. He passed the buck and blamed it on the sommelier's failure to let us know that the cork policy could not be bent even by one bottle. Still, even after I spoke to Garrett and he said he would try to make it better, he still avoided showing his face at our table and telling us the truth. Instead he left us hanging, tainted our experience and acted like it never happened. Here's the thing Scarpetta-- leave your customers hanging and the food will not be as good and the experience will not be as memorable for the right reasons!!!! The only star this place deserves is half a star for the chef and the other half for our server. I won't be going back since I know that if I have an issue, management will act as if they CAN find a solution and if it's not what I was looking for-- they will PRETEND it never happened.
(1)
Joseph C.
Had an 8:00 reservation sat us at 9:15 at the worst table in the restaurant. We actually made them move us. This is there way of getting everyone to get a drink at the bar Appetizers were miniature and tasteless Entrees were ok Sauce on the spaghetti was oily Was not impressed at all
This review isn't for the food - because we didn't get that far. Had a 9pm reservation showed up 5 minutes late and had to wait 25 minutes. Finally got showed to our table and it was awful - they have an awesome dinning area but my party was showed to a separate side dining room. I normally wouldn't complain but it was Saturday night and there was a crying baby at the table next to us. We talked to the hostess about going to the main dining room (there was a table open) but was informed someone that had a reservation was going to be sitting there... Even though we waited 25 minutes and we had a table they could have taken. Would not go back to try the food because the menu was just okay and the service was awful
(1)
BJ M.
Had dinner at Scarpetta Saturday. Our server was Steve (Australian dude) and he was awesome. Very knowledgable of the menu and super friendly. He recommended the chef tasting menu - and it was a great idea. Dinner was superb - yellow tail, short ribs, duck foie gras ravioli, spaghetti, colorado lamb chops just to name a few. I highly recommend a visit.
(4)
Renato S.
The feel of this restaurant hits you as soon as you walk into the door. Just a fresh looking dining area, with nice outdoor dining. I had the miami spice pre fixe which including a mushroom and potato appetizer? Really? It was good but a strange start for me. My gf had the shortrib, very good, but once again...an app? Anyway, we both had the spaghetti which I found quite tastey. No meat though so I should have gone with the chicken breast, looked really good. The waiter service was very impersonal, so they lose a star. Other than that, one of the ONLY reasons to come to this hotel. I stayed for 3 nights and thought it blew but the restaurant was very good. 4.5 Scarpetta.
(4)
Chris C.
Absolutely fantastic food! The duck and foe gras ravioli was amazing. The creamy polenta is a must have. The spaghetti, while simple, was fantastic.
(5)
Andrea P.
S Sophisticated C Classy A Amazing R Romantic P Pleasant E Excellent T Tasteful T Terrific A Attractive I LOVE THIS PLACE ;)
(5)
Anthony K.
Scarpetta Review (1st Anniversary Edition) Preface (A Love Note) : To Urban Solace (San Diego) - I've loved you from the beginning, but since I've moved to Florida...there's been someone else. And I just have to tell you, this one last important thing : Scarpetta is carrying my foodie love child - Amor, Antonio Prologue (A perfect Pair) : Me and the girlfriend are food network / foodie geeks. We love to watch Next Iron Chef, Best thing I ever ate / Made / Chopped. Having the ability to experience food network for a first "romantic" anniversary date in person : Priceless : Entre.......Scarpetta !! Chapter 1 : (A table for 2) - Reservations were made through Open Table - and within the hour the restaurant called to confirm our arrival and any special requests. I requested it to be known that we would be celebrating our Anniversary and the hostess was very gracious over the phone. Chapter 2 : (The Arrival) - Located in the swanky fontainebleu. Neon blue lighting illuminates the lobby. Me and the bonita, dressed to the nines, made our way down the hallway in giddy anticipation. Hostess greeted us with a welcome and wished us a Happy Anniversary. How Nice :) The Ambiance - Low Lit, candles at each table...very romantic. Chapter 3 : (Decisions, Decisions) - Our Waiter Introduced himself and was very gracious and attentive, throughout the entire meal. Oh what to eat - Everything sounds delicious (and we had seen a couple dishes prepared by Scott Conant on t.v. prior). We decided to do a la carte and try a few (I mean a lot), of selections. For those that don't know : There's a chef prepared 4 and 5 course menu (if you wish) - The chef chooses key dishes and for an extra fee, will pair them with wine selections. There is also a vegetarian menu (This made the bonita happy) Chapter 4 : (A race well run) : We began our foodie marathon with bread service. A variety of breads (I dont remember them all, just the one with this perfect sliver of salami which I profess is better than any bacon that I've had in my life) w/ a trio platter of toppings : Garlic infused olive oil / Mascarpone Butter / Caponata. Next was our cold course : I ordered a stone crab claw w/ garlic aoli and mostarda (Excellent presentation that came out on a bed of shaved ice). We also ordered the Arugula Plate (This was delicious, but a bit too big), and also the Burrata Plate (The tastiest tomatoes ever...delicately coated in olive oil..simple and perfect...this is my go to cold course from here on...forever). Pasta Course : I believe for both of us, this was the highlight of the evening. Note : Nothing you ever see on t.v. looks like what you order...until now. Watching Scott make this spaghetti was enough to bring me in. Just for this dish - and it did not disappoint. It came out covered w/ a white porcelain dome and the wait staff waited just a tad to do the "unveiling" - It was a real bit of food magic...and ta-da !! It looked just like it did on t.v. - This perfect wound up mound of deliciosity !! So simple, yet so deliciously complex. Perfectly cooked al dente pasta, the sauce is bath-able, better yet, a facial. I cannot describe any more, I just don't have the words, better yet I can describe the action : You know the part in Lady and the Tramp where they do the spaghetti kiss ? The pasta was magical enough for us to re-enact the scene. The bonita ordered the Butternut Squash Ravioli : Slightly sweet, yet creamy filling w/ another to die for sauce. The slight crunch of the almonds on top was on point and completed the dish. At this point - We hit the foodie marathon wall....A wall that we were not expecting, but then came our entree courses...In the running community it's called runner's high, at Scarpetta it's Foodie Nirvana - a state of culinary bliss that few ever achieve and even fewer come down from. We both felt like floating balloons, and even the wait staff offered us a cart to wheel us out to the valet stand...but we weren't done yet. We must...finish...the fooood !! Main Course : I ordered the Long Island Duck : Perfectly cooked and delicious. The bonita ordered the creamy polenta w/ mushrooms (Pillowy Soft - We both stated we could make a bed of it - That soft !!). The bonita loves panna cotta - Oh look, coconut panna cotta w/ a guava and pineapple reduction (Sweet and Creamy, Tropical, refreshing). And I ordered the chocolate cake (Seductively sweet and Heavenly). In the celebration of our anniversary both of our dessert plates had delicately chocolate written Happy Anniversary messages complete with heart shaped "i" dots and exclamation points. It's fine touches like these that show the professionalism and sincerity, the willingness to go the extra mile. Compliments to the chef and team at scarpetta. Epilogue (Best thing I ever....) : With our meal complete, we left with smiles, and affirmed that we would begin a new tradition of making a monthly visit. Best things I ever ate indeed !!
(5)
Will M.
Braised short ribs, yellowtail himachi, Duck and fois ravioli, white truffle steak All outstanding. So was service. I didn't spoil myself with white truffle tasting menu, but would've been a great choice. Ravioli was outstanding.
(5)
Erin M.
Their Miami Spice menu looked the best out of the 3 Fontainebleu restaurants, and it was sooo good. MUST order the creamy polenta. The rib appetizer was good but small. Sirloin was good, but spaghetti would have been worth it. Some ordered the chicken dish but didn't rave about it. The chocolate cake with salted caramel...yum! We left very satisfied. Their Miami Spice menu is worth every penny, just watch it with the wine if your on a budget...
(4)
Joseph C.
I went to Scarpetta for their two year celebration and took advantage of the $55 four-course prix-fix dinner with complimentary wine pairing. I have to say that my overall experience here was incredible. This was the last restaurant of the big three at Fontainebleau that I had yet to try and it was just as amazing as the other two. Ambiance The restaurant itself is beautiful. The decor, layout, lighting, furniture, and overall set up are all perfect. I opted to sit outside because it was cool out and I wanted to take advantage of the weather. The seating outside consisted of regular tables as well as tables with couches for seats which were super comfortable. The outside seating area provides a nice view of the pool area for you to enjoy while you eat. Food When you sit they bring a basket of freshly baked breads to the table. They come with a garlic infused olive oil, an eggpant spread, and butter. My favorite was the stromboli bread. I'm pretty sure you'll be ordering extra of that particluar bread. I say this because the waiter laughed when I asked for more which lead me to believe that most people do. The four items that I chose from the menu were the braised short ribs, tomato basil pasta, prime aged sirloin, and the amedei chocolate cake.The short ribs were perfectly seasoned and incrdibly tender. They would literally break apart when I would touch them with my fork. The ribs sat atop a bed of risotto that was rich and creamy. The tomato basil pasta was as good as advertised. Its amazing how such a simple dish could be so amazing. The pasta is homemade and the sauce is delicious. Since it was perfectly cooked "al dente" you really have to try this pasta to truly appreciate its texture. I can't really put it into words but its something that you have to experience if you love pasta. I ordered my steak medium and it came perfectly cooked. It was also seasoned well and was very tender. The roasted potatoes and caramelized onions were a great side to this wonderful steak. You may be wondering why I opted for the steak at an Italian restaurant. The problem was that my reservation was for 10 PM so by the time I got there, they had run out of the Branzino with the Shrimp Fricasee. That is what i really wanted to have but I had to settle for the steak. It was great so I really didnt mind. The amedei choclate cake was to die for if you are a chocolate lover. It is a warm chocolate cake but made in the style of a suflee. The center was filled with what seemed to be a very rich dark chocolate. The warm cake paired with the cold almond ice cream was decadent. Luckily for me the meal with a complimentary wine pairing. It was basically one red and one white wine that were pre selected for any of the four courses that you chose. The best part was that it was a "free" pour which means that you can have as much of the wines as you want. Needless to say, I took full advantage of this opportunity. The wines weren't spectacular but the red one in particular was pretty good. Service I had made a reservation and I arrived on time. When we arrived at the restaurant we we greeted and promptly taken to our seats. As many people who frequent these types of restuarants knows, this isn't always the case. We were initially taken to a table inside the main dining room, but when I realized they had outdoor seating as well I asked the hostess if she could accomodate us. She gladly took us outside and gave us a nice table with a comfortable couch for a seat. Our waiter did a great job of explaining the items, wine pairings, and how the prix fix menu worked. He was always around to provide us with whatever we needed and most importantly, kept our wine glasses full. If you like Italian food and enjoy the whole "fine dining" restaurant experience, I would stronlgly suggest you give Scarpetta a try. Scarpetta is a AAA FOUR DIAMOND AWARD winner and you will surely see why.
(5)
Mindy A.
My husband and I recently stayed in Miami Beach for a few nights and wanted to treat ourselves to a fantastic meal while we were here. After being largely unimpressed with several of the spots along Ocean Drive, we turned to Yelp and searched the area for something special. We were looking for a Monday night dinner, so we had no problem grabbing reservations for Scarpetta. We were not dissappointed! This place is five-stars from the minute you walk in. While we were waiting for our table we grabbed some bubbly from the bar, which is nothing short of stylish. After a brief toast, we were seated and our server promptly arrived. After taking a look at our menu, we found it hard to choose apps and entrees....so we went all out and ordered the four course chef's tasting dinner. This was definitely a splurge, but hey, we were on vacation! For what its worth, if you're OK spending a bit of $$, the tasting menu was amazing. It included two apps (truffled mushroom polenta & short ribs), three half-orders of pasta (their famous duck foie gras ravioli & spaghetti and something else with pancetta & clams), two entrees (swordfish & perfectly cooked sirloin), and two desserts (dark chocolate cake/almond ice cream & mango panna cotta). Good thing we were hungry! Of those selections, the out-of-the-park homeruns included the polenta, ravioli, spaghetti, sirloin, and panna cotta. Everything else was fantastic as well. We enjoyed all of that, plus the complimentary "small bites" they brought to the table--amazing tuna sashimi--and their salami & smoked mozzarella bread basket (wow). Honestly, the bread basket alone, with its selection of three spreads, won us over immediately. On top of the amazing food, the service was fantastic. Our server explained each course and served the first bits to both my husband and I (everything was brought to the table to share). At one point, I actually saw him RUN, not walk, over to make sure he could serve us first, before I grabbed the spoon to serve us myself. Now that is putting in the extra effort. He was quick to refill our wine glasses and friendly throughout the meal. After our 2-1/2 hour "dining experience," we took a few minutes to walk around the famous Fountainebleu Hotel and check out the pool. The setting, especially the pool, really is something else. The hotel is built like a resort. All in all, Scarpetta is pricey, but lives up to its reputation. I'd recommend for a special occasion, and don't be afraid to order the tasting menu if you want an extra special experience!
(5)
Valerie M.
Went here specifically for spaghetti pomodoro, which we've seen touted in several newspapers and television shows as the most amazing pasta dish ever. It was really, really good, though maybe not exactly what I was expecting. Maybe it was just too built up. It's definitely worth a trip to the restaurant just for that dish (but be prepared to pay for it).
(4)
May R.
This place is so perfect! It's a perfect fine dining experience. The interior decors of the place is so breathtaking and everything is just well organized. The waiter is so patient and helpful, he knows everything on the menu. The food was served to us with so much class. Everything really looks delicious. The food was so unique, that every bite will make you want to have more of their food. The money spent here is just worth it, and no money can ever replace the experience I had.
(5)
Susan J.
Tasteless and expensive hotel food with intrusive service.
(2)
Andrew C.
Had family in town for a wedding so I decided I would take them to one of the best Italian restaurants in Miami. We had great service last time, so this time we requested the same waiters again, Eddy and Luis, and they did not disappoint. We had the polenta, colorado lamb saddle, and farmer's market salad. Everything was tasty, the plating was stunning, and the polenta was as good as last time. I highly recommended the polenta to my guests so I was hoping it wouldn't be a disappointment (I knew it wouldn't). They wanted a straw so they could suck up every last grain or whatever you call it. They said that they would die happy after eating the polenta so I guess it did not disappoint. For entrees we tried the short rib agnolotti, the oven roasted chicken, and sirloin. Again, everything was spectacular. The "made in house" pastas' have the perfect texture, the agnolotti was tender and exploded with flavor when bit into. Both sirloins were cooked as requested, the steak was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. I am always hesitant to order chicken when ordering out because I am afraid it will be overcooked, alas I should have never doubted Scarpetta. It was the juiciest chicken I have ever had. Full of flavor and they managed to get the skin to the perfect crispiness. For dessert we had the chocolate cake, passion fruit semifreddo, and coconut panacotta. The people across from us probably thought something was wrong because all that was coming from our table were "uuhhhh" "mmmhmmmmm" "oh my" Everything was wonderful! The chocolate cake was super rich and the inside was warm, gooey, and chocolate oozed out when cut into. The semifreddo had the perfect amount of tart to go well with the best banana gelato I have ever had. It tasted like if someone got a perfectly ripe banana, mixed it up with rich cream and threw it into an ice cream maker. The service was spectacular, Eddy and Luis sounded like they could recite the menu in their sleep. And they treated us extra special because I had guests from out of town. What it was they did I will not mention, but I praise them for making it such a memorable experience. I highly recommend these two waiters. If I ever feel like self-indulging or I have family/friends from out of town, Scarpetta is tops on my list to go to! *Best Dish - The polenta, or pretty much anything on their menu! lol*
(5)
Karen G.
We had dinner here as we were already staying in the hotel and I'd long wanted to try the original Scarpetta in NYC. The tagliolini was the best dish of our entire trip. In fact, it's one of the best pasta dishes I've had, EVER. the flavor was delicate and subtle, and so good I kept stealing bites from my husband's plate. The foie gras and duck ravioli ended up being disappointing compared to the tagliolini. It might be an unfair comparison, but the flavor ended up being too earthy, too much.
(4)
Brenda P.
I feel I need to update my review because my experience the 2nd time was just so different than my first. Arrived on time for a 7pm reservation and got seated right away. Our server came over right away and introduced himself. He listed the specials and spoke to us about the tasting menus. We opted for the 5 course tasting menu without the wine pairing. Instead we settled on a bottle of Col Solare which would go with everything. Let me tell you this, IT IS A LOT OF FOOD. I have done many tastings all over the country (including a 21 course at BAZAAR in L.A) and this was just a lot of food. What makes it over the top is that what some restaurants call a "course" is not the same here. I will explain. In most restaurants, a "course" within a tasting consists on ONE usually small portioned entree per person. At Scarpetta, each "course" has 2-3 different "courses within the course" and served family style. Still following? Good thing we opted out of the 9 course option. Phew! and as a disclaimer, I can eat. You would not think so but I really can. We were full halfway through and there was no turning back, only many request to pack this and that up! For the amuse bouche they brought out a sliced yellowtail with Himalayan salt (divine) and a swordfish. In addition was their version of a fritto misto with shredded veggies and assorted seafood. Should not have finished that! But I did. The courses officially began with the mushroom polenta. The taste is unlike any I have ever had. Consistency could have been thicker. They serve it separately than the mushroom mix so it could be that when combined it waters it down a bit? Still amazing. I was trying to restrain myself a bit but I should have gone for dipping the bread in whatever was left. I didn't. Sigh. Did I say bread? The bread basket hides this one specialty that has salami inside of it. Really? because hot bread is not tempting enough? Of course I had to have it. It comes with a trio of spreads- olive oil, butter and an eggplant tomato mix. Still on the first course, there was also a serving of their short ribs. Delicious. Not the best I have ever had but up there somewhere. 2nd course was when I transformed into a moaning fool. Yes, you read right. I went completely Meg Ryan at the table with every bite. No, my husband (unfortunately) had nothing to do with it. TMI? Oh well. This is where they hooked me to always and forever return to Scarpetta. The 2nd course consisted of not one, not two, but THREE pasta dishes. Up first was their foie gras ravioli, followed by their spaghetti followed by their orecchiette with pancetta and broccoli. It was just obscene. It really was. All homemade. All amazing. The orecchiette was in third place and that's actually an insulting place for it to be because it was also very good. And it had broccoli. I hate broccoli but did not hate this. This is how pasta is cooked. I could have that spaghetti every day of my life. It is so simple but my goodness, it is incredible. I will tell you that I love cheese and I did not want to spoil that plate of spaghetti by adding it because it was perfect as they served it. There was not a speck of pasta left on those three plates! 3rd course was their black cod as well as their scallops. Again, two course within the one course. These were perfectly cooked as well but we really just took a bite or so of each to try it because we were pretty much done. We had to struggle to fit more food in. 4th course was their sirloin and the duck. Also beautifully presented and cooked. Another thing to pack up after the obligatory bites to try it. 5th course was dessert. Why is it that no matter how full you are, you always manage to fit dessert? This night they had a coconut panna cotta in a guava soup with what seemed like a sugar coated pineapple slice? the second dessert was a chocolate cake with salted caramel ice cream and a chocolate thin cigar. We managed to have most of that despite the fullness. Delicious. If you are still reading, I am sure you feel full too. Admit it. Service was impeccable all night. It was still light out when we arrived and as it got darker, so did the restaurant. They don't turn many lights on. They solely depend on the table candles for light. The music also went louder as the night went on. Even on a Sunday which is when we went. The bathroom is outside the restaurant and a little bit of a walk but not too bad. Park on the south entrance of the hotel. You will be closer. We ended with some coffee and vowed to come back next time with our eyes on the price: PASTA! and you my fellow Yelper, should do the same! P.S. They handed us the bill and this little card promoting for us to leave a review on Trip Advisor. Huh? How 2005 of them. I made sure to tell them that needs to change ASAP to promote YELP instead. Real People, Real Reviews minus all the pop up screens. Easy decision if you ask
(5)
Amos N.
Very good. We were a party of 4 and did the tasting menu. Duck pate ravioli was a highlight as was the polenta with mushrooms. Huge wine list. Service was 5 star. Didn't love the room, a little 80's feeling and cold. Food was pretty heavy and rich. Worth a visit for sure.
(4)
Luke S.
Located at the Fountainbleau in Miami. Great ambience, fantastic service, quality of food was outstanding and full of flavor. Must make reservations and be prepared to spend some dough as it will get expensive.
(5)
Jackie N.
My gf and I came here for our last dinner in Miami. We go to the restaurant and the hostess suggested we get a drink at the bar because our table was just finishing up dessert. Right when our wine was put in front of us, our table was ready. But the hostess was nice enough to carry both our glasses of wine on a tray to our table. We opted for the 4 course tasting menu which is served to the table for, I believe, $78 per person. Starter/Amuse bouch - a piece of the raw yellowtail appetizer with marinated onions and baby greens and a piece of hamachi. Both were delicious Appetizer - They gave us braised short ribs with veggies and risotto which were good, not amazing but good. They gave us a full portion of the creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms. OH...EM...GEE. These were delicious! You have the option to get freshly shaved truffles on top, but that's an extra $25 and the sauce already has a strong essence from the truffle oil they probably used. *The couple next to us didn't hear the extra $25 part and after the waiter informed her, she told her boyfriend she thought it was cheese...d'oh!* Pasta - We got cute little bowls of 3 different pastas. First, the scialatielli, which was supposed to have shrimp and calamari..but we didn't see either. It wasn't our favorite. The classic spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce which was very simple but very good with some parmesan cheese on top. The duck and fois gras ravioli was the best pasta we had and our small portion was perfect. It is a bit too much for a normal serving of pasta. Meat/Fish - The black cod with roasted fennel had an amazing sauce which made the dish. The sirloin was really yummy and came with shaved fois gras on top. Yum! Dessert - They ended with a dense chocolate cake with almond gelato and the coconut panna cotta. Both were yum! If I were to come back, i would get the creamy polenta, hamachi, and duck and fois gras ravioli to share. However, I don't know if I would come back. I thought the food was good, but average for the amount I spent. It was about 100/person including tip, which is more than all the other meals in Miami and I was the least satisfied with this meal. Also - the portions (on the regular menu, not even the tasting menu) are really small!
(3)
Tenzo A.
All the talk about about the spaghetti being good, yeah no. I'm not sure if it was because it seemed like we were the last reservation so they rushed our order but it was under cooked. I had everyone on the table try it to confirm that I wasn't the only one who felt that way. The only reason I didn't complain to the waiter is because he was such a RUDE guy that I didn't even want to deal with him. So here's where I got the rude from .. So we get there and place our order. I ordered one of their signature cocktails and asked the waiter if he could ask the bartender to add jalapenos in the cocktail. NOW I know every restaurant doesn't have jalapenos in their bar, but I can say that 95% of the restaurants I've gone to have had them. It's one thing to nicely tell me you don't have jalapenos but this guy went out of his way to make me feel like I asked him the dumbest question heard to mankind. He looked at me like I was from another planet and told me they don't have jalapenos and NO BAR has jalapenos .. Like really he responded like I asked him to add toothpaste to my drink. So I said ok most places have it but thats okay thank you. A little later, he came back AND GUESS. WHAT. my freakin drink had jalapenos in it and ALL OF a sudden he was the nicest waiter. I don't know I'm just big on service and NO ONE should treat not just their customers but people in general like that. Now the only reason I gave this place 2 stars was because of their yellowtail. SO good. Make sure you order that.
(2)
Steven W.
"Why would you want to go to Scarpetta in Miami when there is one in New York!?!!" I lifted this question out of Wendy L's review below from 4/6/2012 where her date asked: The answer is in the question...BECAUSE THERE IS ONE IN NEW YORK!...stay with me here... With so many great restaurant to try in NYC, there's no way get to them all, especially if you don't reside there. If I have the opportunity to try a place with a sterling reputation, that has a sister spot in another city, that from all I've heard/read mimics the original to a tee, then I'm going in...If for no other reason to check it off the list and open up a spot for a future NYC endeavor...that may only make sense to me, but I guess that's all that's important. Scarpetta was 5 Stars across the board...from the staff, who were all super friendly, helpful, and seemed generally excited to have us as customers...to the people in the kitchen, who are putting out the kind of food that solidifies Scott Conant's reputation in the industry. We had a few dishes that seem get a lot of press...Polenta w/mushrooms and Spaghetti with tomato sauce and basil. We also had a Mediterranean Sea Bass, Dessert, etc...The details don't really matter. Everything was perfectly executed from a preparation and flavor perspective. Even the bread basket, with the bread that had the salami and cheese baked into it, started the meal off simply surpassing my expectations. The whole "Event," I will call it, made me appreciate Scott's talent in this business, and I'm sure I'll see his comments on chopped in a slightly different light. Hats off to the people actually running the place as well! They are doing all of the heavy lifting. Scarpetta is a restaurant I would definitely return to, take others to etc...so much for my theory of trying something so I won't have to go there when I'm in New York.
(5)
Elizabeth Y.
Miami Spice. Dress nice. Good excuse to dress up for a date with my boo. We decided to get diff things on the menu so that we could share. We decided to each get wine flights where you get a glass for each course of the meal. Their bread basket brings you an assortment of diff types of bread along with some type of eggplant dipping sauce. And if you're extra hungry you can ask for more bread if you finish the basket. Appetizer: winner - the polenta! Anything that has truffles will make my mouth water and drool. Main dish: My bf got the yellowtail and I got the oven roasted chicken, as we thought we should try something else besides their spaghetti. Well my bf's face dropped a little when he saw how small the yellowtail dish was, so we opted to switch as my chicken had more substance lol. Either both dishes were good, but nothing really wowed us. Dessert: Winner: Mascarpone custard and mango sorbet. I love mascarpone! It always reminds me of tiramisu. Very expensive meal but for miami spice it was worth the experience. Great service too. Can't say I will come back though.
(4)
Alexa A.
I usually stay at the fontaine bleau in miami when i visit but when i wanted italian food i came to scarpettas it was a bit expensive but whocares the food made me feel like i was back at home it was amazing
(5)
Nelson A.
Two stars because the quality of the food does not match what you pay. The waiter recommended the "spaghetti", saying that this was what people visited this restaurant for. The famous spaghetti ended up being a HUGE disappointment, overpriced and completely ordinary.
(2)
Mario P.
Good place! The creamy polenta was really good. The entries, gemelli and foi gras ravioli were ok. Gemelli is a pasta with lobster and shellfish, I have definitely try better one for less price, not in Miami. The dessert was chocolate cake with ice cream, really good. So if I would go again, I'd order polenta and dessert, lol. The service is really good too, they are always around. One thing, I went for my gf birthday and they knew we there for that, and we were expecting a courtesy dessert or something. Usually restaurants (less fancy ones at least) give a especial dessert, but not here :(
(4)
Elaine D.
Great pasta. Really beautiful decor. Ocean view available . Bring a sweater. It's freezing in the restaurant
(5)
Cristina F.
From the beginning to the end, it was an amazing experience dining at Scarpetta. I went with one of my friends who was visiting from out of town, and we both loved every minute of it. The service and food are top notch. Since we arrived a bit earlier than our reservation, we sat at the bar and ordered dirty martinis. I don't know where or how they get their olives for the dirty martinis, but they were the most amazing olives that I've ever had. I'm not crazy, my friend agreed. I'm seriously talking about green olives right now. The drink was strong, and perfect. Best dirty martni, hands down. At the table, after a lovely conversation with the sommelier, we ordered a bottle of the Villa di Capezzano Carmignano 2006 and it was truly delicious. The bread basket and olive oils to accompany the basket were unique and we both enjoyed it very much. For starters, we tried the steak tartare and the creamy polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms. Both of these just melted in our mouths. The tartare was one of the best I've had and I really didn't want that polenta to end. For our main course, I ordered the duck and foie gras ravioli and my friend had the filet mignon. Again, the ravioli just melted in my mouth, really buttery. Simply divine combination of flavors, and nothing too overpowering. The filet mignon was also great, and cooked perfectly. We were so stuffed by the end of the night, that we couldn't move. It was well worth it, though. I can't wait to do it again.
(5)
Carlos A.
This is one of my favorite restaurants as Conant's meals are phenomenal. Get the Miami Spice deal for $39 for a 3 course and get the wine tour. The octopus and the pork are exceptional.
(5)
Justin T.
We tried this place for Miami Spice because we heard that it's supposed to have "the best spaghetti you've ever had in your life!" To be honest, it tasted like Chef Boyardee! The Miami Spice menu that was listed online was totally different than the Miami Spice menu that they actually offered once we were there. The service was great- our waiter was very nice and attentive. And the atmosphere was great- we had a view of the ocean while we ate our mediocre food. But we went for the food! And it was highly disappointing :-( We won't be going back and we wouldn't recommend Scarpetta to anyone.
(2)
Hesham E.
We had a three course meal here for Valentine's Day and we were not at all disappointed. The food, service and ambiance make for a perfect romantic night out. If you're in the mood for pasta, this is the place to go. Everything is made fresh to order and you can certainly tell.
(5)
Mike D.
This is the 3rd Scarpetta I have been to and let me disclaim that the other 2 got 5 stars from me as well, which tells you a few things: This place is amazing, the food is consistently mind blowing, and lastly I have a bad addiction to the culture SC has created! I have traveled to Miami quite often and this is the number 1 place in my book. The location is stunning, the menu is the typical greatness you would expect from Scott, the wine list, though overwhelming, is quite extensive and the service is impeccable. Here is my recommendation: Go in a get greeted by the gracious host. Walk through this beautiful restaurant and let the sweeping views of the Atlantic ocean envelop you. Sit done and take a deep breathe! Ask to talk to the sommelier and explain to him what you like in a wine. The reason I am saying wine over a cocktail is because a good wine will help develop and accentuate the flavors you are about to experience and trust me the sommelier on hand is one of the best in the area for sure. Next, stop and look around at the restaurant to get a great feel of what modern American meets classic Italian looks like. This will help prepare you for the food to come. I'm not going to itemize what you should get because quite simply, everything on the menus has such a focus on detail that you will not be disappointed buy anything they have to offer. What I do recommend is get an app, 2 pastas, and and entree, this will help you understand what they are doing here as far as cuisine goes. Also, save room for dessert, do not say your are going somewhere else, or that you are full because the desserts, especially the panna cotta are life altering. I hope one day when my wife and I are indulging in a great meal at any of the Scarpetta or DOCG restaurants, Scott walks in with the swagger and confidence he exuded in his food, walks by us, say 'sup' and 'are you the guy that LOVES all my restaurants?", I will proceed by pushing out a chair for him, ordering a wonderful bottle of Amarone or Brunello and just thank him for creating such a wonderful culture and for giving us the opportunity to indulge in one of the best restaurants in county.
(5)
S M.
I am beginning to feel like the odd man out with some of my reviews. The plusses: Decor was great and all glass surroundings beautiful. Service was very good. Our waiter was friendly and "earned" the service charge. Wine list is incredible. The wine list is as big as the local newspaper. Polenta appetizer is superb. The minuses: Really weird hipster sort of music playing incredibly loud spoils the experience. Many of the dishes are way over the top too rich. When I say too rich, both me and my companion felt sick by the end of the night. Didn't quite see the "Miami" crowd I was hoping for. I had the oven roasted chicken. Dry, salty, just not that great. My companion had the swordfish. That was good, poached, but nonetheless too rich! The desserts were absolutely over the top. I had the chocolate cake. I was stupid enough to eat half of it and I literally had stomach aches from the richness afterward. Granted I had the equivalent of 2 glasses of wine with my meal, but it wasn't just me, my companion felt the same and she didn't drink anything. I am glad we went. The hotel is always nice to visit. But I will not go to Scarpetta again.
(3)
Ryan P.
We had been to Scarpetta's in Las Vegas and had the time of our lives.... So, we were looking forward to a fantastic night in Miami! Hmmm.... Sometimes it is just hard to recreate a memory and this certainly was not the same! We had gone to one of the Foutainebleau restaurants the night before and had the 'Miami Spice' Special.... so all five of us chose that route along with the wine pairing! - I had read all the reviews and we decided to add the Crispy Fritto Misto and the Creamy Polenta with truffled mushrooms to our price fixed menu. I think all 5 of us would agree that those 2 items were the best of all the items we ate that night. / This is a perfect example of getting what you pay for.... while the overall special was certainly priced well...it wasn't right. Scott is a great chef and while we may not have liked this meal...we will be back!
(3)
Melissa F.
The food is always amazing here. My waiter was okay, he could have been nicer or idk... a little different. He seemed to neglect us a tiny bit.. I know it wasn't just me either cause my husband said something to me about it. I usually don't want to complain cause sometimes that sets the tone for the night. All in all though I love the food there... So I would go back..
(4)
Garrett K.
I love this place. Gourmet Italian! Scott Conant is a culinary genius!
(5)
Saulo C.
very expensive, forced a truffle $ 50, I did not understand that the waiter offered me, kinda empurou to sell more ..
(3)
David L.
Food: 4 Decor: 4 Service: 4 Came here for dinner around 9:30pm Tuesday. Didn't have a reservation and opted for bar seating. 1. BRAISED SHORT RIBS OF BEEF 16 vegetable & farro risotto ~Really good. Beef was tender and cooked perfectly, and the jus complemented the risotto very well. 2. SPAGHETTI 24 tomato & basil ~Really good. Best plate of spaghetti I've ever had, despite it being so simple and somewhat expensive. Service was good, although it would have been nice to get my bread before my starter. Bread was a bit stale, but the eggplant marinara dip was pretty good.
(4)
Rina N.
I came here with a party of 9 for my birthday dinner. I made reservations a few days prior; I made changes to the number of people attending a few times and they were very accommodating to my needs. They have the best basket of bread - 3 types (I believe they were focaccia, Cuban style and butter rolls). We asked for maybe 3 refills! It was complimented by 3 different spreads (mascarpone butter, olive oil and a tomato eggplant mixture). Most of us ordered the Miami Spice menu (~$39/pp). I ordered the tuna carpaccio appetizer, local snapper (caught that day) and a coffee semifreddo for dessert. Hands down the best meal I've had in quite a long time. Price was extremely reasonable for the Miami Spice. I can't forget to mention that our server was tremendously knowledgable of their offerings - I'm pretty sure he went through the entire menu items in exact detail without a single breathe haha. Really appreciated his service, we gave him additional tip on top of the already 18% included gratuity. We left the restaurant comfortably stuffed and super content. Would definitely recommend this place for any special occasion or date. I even saw some families with their kids so it's family/kid friendly too!
(5)
Claudia C.
what a joke!!!!! Like seriously , where is the hidden camera. personnel was rude, unprofessional and totally out of line Place was desserted but they refused to add a 5th chair because according to them they were booked for the night......yeah rigth! We were there for 2 hours and no one walked in those doors. We knew it was expensive, but the portions are offensive. Perhaps we caught them on a off night but I would never recommend or go back to this place. Seriously there is nothing spectacular about their food but the prices and the snobish attitude from the staff (they were confused perhaps as to who the customers were?) I found totally unforgivable. Never ever coming back I resent Yelp for falling into this brand name trap :(
(1)
Alison R.
A lovely dining rooms in Miami Beach are a dime a dozen. So why does the decor of Scarpetta stand out? Yeah, the ocean view is stunning, but it's the damn good Italian that makes this room glow. Love this joint for mini reunions, girlfriend dates and romantic nights out.
(4)
Kristina C.
Got to spend Valentine's Day here with my amazing boyfriend! The service was excellent. You would think on such a holiday, the service would be terrible but on the contrary they were very accommodating! The food was good. I wouldn't say it was my favorite but again my taste buds do not venture too much. The steak was delicious and the waiters were good about cleaning up and clearing excess plates/utensils. Overall it's a very romantic, nice place to spend with your spouse/significant other. I would recommend it!
(4)
Dave M.
First of all its VERY noisy. Went for an intimate dinner with my wife and we couldn't hear each other across the table. Food is good but not fantastic and for the price they charge it should be. All in all overrated in my opinion.
(2)
Camille O.
Came in on a Friday night with another couple. We ordered the Chef's Tasting for the whole table. Crudos came as amuse bouche. Next was braised short ribs with risotto, wild mushroom creamy polenta, which were amazing. Next was the pasta course. My favorites were the spaggetti pomodoro and the foie gras ravioli. For main course we had a crispy skin snapper and beef tenderloin medallions in a demi glace sauce. Finally desserts and they were to die for. My favorite was the warm chocolate cake but the guava panna cotta was a favorite at the table. The waiter discouraged me to order a la carte when the rest of the table was ordering the tasting because I would be waiting for my meal while others would be eating appetizers and other courses of the tasting while my meal was coursed with the others guests entrees. I suggest not to eat the bread if doing tasting because it is a lot of good food and you want to eat it all. Great place for special occasions and also if you want to impress a client on a business dinner.
(5)
Rhonda H.
Magnificent room that any aging starlet would appreciate for it's lighting . Service extraordinaire with the manager coming over at the finale to do any damage control. (We had 20% taken off our check for late seating and bad first table), food, exceptional, really, spaghetti, that good? Dinner bill uh oh here's where the star is taken off. For the food portions served (I don't mind, I hate overeating ) the bill should have been half the price. I love the domes brought over the plates and then Voilla! Oh my! where's the food?
(4)
Annie H.
Amazing northern Italian food and service! Their hospitality is unbeatable. The manager, Jason, and staff, made our experience at the FontainBleau an unforgettable one! We will certainly be back to visit!
(5)
Rachel A.
Literally everything we put in our mouth was to die for!! This was a girls night of 3~ There was a wait so we started off with drinks at the bar - love the ambiance and the scene here - pretty people dressed for a night out~ Once we got to our table, service was prompt. The bread was brought out and our fav dip was the eggplant - so flavorful! We got the creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms...amazing consistency and flavor! I ordered the butter squash raviolini w broccoli rabe pesto - you know how normally veg options are a hit or miss? This was a definite hit!! I ate every bit off my plate! My friend ordered the spaghetti - delicious - the noodles alone are tasty! My other friend ordered the duck and foie gras ravioli - another hit. We finished off with the budino di mascarpone which was mascarpone custard, mango salad & mango sorbet - wonderful flavors and pretty presentation! What a fab foundation before a long night of drinks and dancing at LIV! Gotta work those calories off! Always impressed by the quality of food at the Fountainebleu - will be back!
(5)
Nicole R.
I was a little hesitant going here because im not very adventurous with food, but my bf & I got the chef's tasting and everything was AMAZING. The service was impeccable and everything was so fresh. I loved the butternut squash raviolis and the smoked steak... Also the palenta with truffles. I HIGHLY recommend. Its a lot of food for 2 people.
(5)
Al M.
(This is 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because I want the average to creep up to 4.5) Let me start bestowing my compliments on Scarpetta: - The menu is focused, very seasonal, and has real Mediterranean ingredients. For Florida, the land of stupid excess, this is a rare treat. - This is a very large restaurant but the service is very personal. - Octopus appetizer is the very best octopus I've eaten. Please try it. - Stracciatella (mozzarella w/ lobster and beets) was delicious and unexpected. - Yes, the spaghetti is really really good. It's the pasta itself, not just the sauce. Maybe not $25 good, but really darn good. Splitting it makes an excellent pasta course for 2. - Did I mention the octopus? - Branzino was OFF the HOOK. Expertly prepared, well seasoned, well sauced. - When one course was very very late, we got three separate apologies and a free pasta dish which they shaved white truffles on top of. So that's like a $95 free dish. - Service was top-notch. (See above) A few misses: - The thing that earned us the free pasta was pretty damn late. We waited one hour from being seated to receiving our first course. (Kitchen's fault, not the server's) - The wines by the glass are just too expensive, even for an expensive restaurant. Offering one or two $20 glasses of wine is one thing, but for most of them to be $20+ that's difficult. - A mushroom side dish was watery and lacked the flavors that were promised in the description. - The dining room is super-cool and there's hip uptempo dance music playing. If this were a Vegas steakhouse I'd be psyched but for a Northern Italian place of this quality, it doesn't match. Overall - a really delicious meal. The Fontainbleu is a really swank hotel (like a giant Vegas nightclub) and this food lives up to its reputation. For a fancy-pants place, it hits the mark.
(5)
Lu T.
First night in Miami and we wanted to start it off right and have dinner at Scarpetta at the iconic Fontainebleau. Fine dining was out of the question for any other night as we were very likely to be smashed for the remainder of our trip and therefore could not savor things like this. Why Scarpetta? Well I'd be lying if I didn't say the $35 prix fixe Miami Spice menu didn't play a significant role in that decision but also because I really wanted to see what all the hoopla was about with the spaghetti. I got to sample plenty of things that night and it was a lot of gut-busting fun. First off was the braised short ribs of beef and polenta. Fantastic starters in my humble opinion. The braised short ribs were just tender beyond belief and was texturally complemented by the risotto. Probably one of the better if not best examples of short ribs I have had. The polenta is also well known here, very creamy and smooth but strong enough to stand up to the earthiness of the truffled-mushrooms that was added table-side. The main course included samples of the prime filet of beef, the branzino and of course the spaghetti. The beef was perfectly cooked but lacked anything special to really punctuate and make the dish memorable. I think Scott Conant played it safe with this one and just needed something for the Miami Spice menu. The branzino was criminally salty. The delicate white meat was tainted by the fry treatment the skin got, what a waste of a perfectly good fish that came so far just to be on my plate. The spaghetti was easily the best of the three. Even so, I don't think this was a re-invention of the wheel that deserves all the attention it has been receiving. It was a good pasta made with fresh, quality ingredients, simple yet effective. Spaghetti in a tomato-basil sauce shouldn't cost that much people, save your $23 and make it at home. The dessert. I can't eat. Too sweet. I think I'm diabetic now. By the way, skip the wine pairing if you're ordering from the Miami Spice menu. It sucks and it's overpriced. Scarpetta served as a swanky, sexy backdrop to our first evening in Miami that I thoroughly enjoyed. Although the night had a few very poignant moments food-wise, the quality of some of the main dishes ultimately fell short and that was what stood out in my memory. P.S. Just cause we're ordering from the Miami Spice menu doesn't mean we're cheap, it just means we're Asian so please be nicer to us. You got your 20% gratuity anyways.
(3)
Stephanie L.
After hearing so many great things about Scarpetta, I couldn't wait to go during Miami Spice! Any restaurant that can be known simply for making a basic spaghetti amazing is a must try! Went in the middle of the week with a couple of friends. Although we had a reservation, we ended up waiting a few minutes and got to take the opportunity to relax in the lounge. Modern, dim and chic, pretty much exactly what I expected from a restaurant at the Fountainbleau. When we got seated in the main dining room was a little surprised by the decor. It was still classy, but it seemed reminiscent of an upscale yacht, complete with "port window" style mirrors, and lots of rope decor. Interesting. Immediately received a basket of the infamous bread, complete with the famous soft and salty, stromboli pick (pretty good!). They also served several additions for the bread including an eggplant tapenade, a citrus infused olive oil and a creamy butter. Definitely some of the freshest and well cooked bread I've had at a restaurant. We ordered from a waitress who did seem a little less than thrilled we mostly went with the Miami Spice. She however did bring out the "flight of wines" very quickly and was very nice in explaining what each glass was. All three of the picks turned out to be excellent! Without too much waiting they brought our our first course... Polenta was thick and creamy, and the truffled mushrooms were a wonderful addition. Both were served in their own little cups and they mixed the two tableside for a nice extra presentation. The burrata was so soft and moist that it melted like butter and was a nice light beginning. The short ribs were succulent and juicy with a hard farro that complemented it well. All were superb choices! Next was the entrees, and that's where it all came crashing to a halt. No matter how great the ambiance, or how excellent the starters, if the entrees are over-seasoned it's tough to leave happy. I had the branzino, which was beautifully prepared, with a simple presentation, crisp outside, tender and fresh. However, I'm not sure if it was the sauce, the capers or the fish, but something was WAY too salty. It was like eating the fish in the ocean. My friend who got the legendary pasta was equally disappointed with her choice. I tried it and immediately noted the cause of her distress. Al dente, yes. Fresh tomato, cheese and basil in the sauce to break up the flavor, yes. Abundance of white pepper drenching the dish and so potent you couldn't taste much else, unfortunately the answer was also yes. The beef entree too was not particularly great, with lots of dried fat running through. Also, a vegetarian friend who had ordered off the Spice menu and had gotten the zuchinni ravioli thought it had a salty, and not at all subtle, very strong fishy taste. After inquiring with the server she found out it was prepared with an not-mentioned anchovy butter. They were though, very nice and prompt to bring out a replacement sans the fish flavor. Such a completely disappointing round! After feeling a bit let down we got the dessert course. The chocolate lava cake with caramel and salted almond gelato definitely helped perk me up a bit. Hot, gooey melted chocolate center to what looked like an enlarged hockey puck, it was decadent and rich but also toned down nicely with the gelato. As for the coconut panna cotta, it was creamy and a creative tropical take on a classic Italian dessert, but the guava proved a bit too sweet to provide any nice balance. All in all, the apps, wine and desserts weren't bad, but the entrees were not good at all, leading to a pretty mediocre meal overall. I guess I should know better than to get my expectations too high, but I really had believed I would leave with an epic meal. As we all walked back towards the lobby though the sentiment was pretty much "yeah, glad I finally tried it, but especially glad I did it during Spice." I know everyone loves it, and I did really want to, but I just didn't find it to be more than adequate. As my Italian friends have taught me, just because Miami has a lot of Italian imports and restaurants, doesn't necessarily mean that Miami has a lot of great Italian cuisine.
(3)
Elnaz D.
I am definitely a fan of this place. I made a reservation for two the morning of and had no problem getting a reservation for dinner on a Friday night. For appetizer we got one order of Spaghetti (tomato and basil) and they brought it out in two cute bowls for us. It was hands down the BEST spaghetti I have EVER had in my life. Their noodles are made fresh everyday! If you go to this place, which I recommend, you definitely want to get the Spaghetti or you will regret it!
(4)
Michelle W.
I had the pleasure of dining at Scarpetta with some amazing people for Miami Spice. We had a rezzi and of course the table wasn't ready, which annoys me... but, this is a pretty common thing in MIA. Anyhow, other than that the service was great! Overall it was surprisingly loud in the restaurant, so it could be difficult to have a romantic evening here. I started out with the burrata, which was delicious. I absolutely adore heirloom tomatoes and this dish did not let me down. I had the spaghetti for my main course after hearing rave reviews for it. It was good, the texture was perfect. The noodles were pretty large & flat, more like linguine than spaghetti though. The sauce was good, but I felt like it was missing something, I couldn't quite put my finger on what though. Which is why it's not the best I ever had. It was good though & I ate ever last bit of it. I finished with the coconut panna cotta, which was interesting. But, nothing to write home about. Overall, an excellent dinning experience. I would love to go back again. If money is tight definitely give it a spin during special times like Miami Spice. You won't be disappointed, totally worth it.
(4)
Angela S.
So, I guess the last chef Nina Compton left the restaurant. This seems to be the her general excuse of the recent lack f enthusiasm for this restaurant's food. I did not know about Nina before my dinner at Scarpetta's, so I was just expecting a good Italian meal for my birthday dinner, from a place and location that should deliver nothing less than excellence for the sake of reputation and prices. The bread was awesome. The mushroom polenta awesome. And that's where it stopped. Oh, and the cocktails were fine. It would have been a travesty if not. The steak tartar which you pay an extra 12 dollars for on the Miami spice menu, (at which point it becomes pointless to do) was tasteless, the fish my husband had was bland , and my raviolis, a sweet and salty attempt (ravioli is my favorite pasta, if not food & sweet and salty anything is my favorite) forgot the salty part. So... It's not that it was a bad meal. It is just that you expect a certain level of food quality at an establishment on the fountain bleu establishment, and with the reputation Scarpetta's has...you just expect more. But the service was excellent.
(3)
Christopher Z.
Many thanks to the Fontainbleu for bringing in Scott Conant! Scarpetta is perhaps the best in-hotel restaruant in Miami today. His classic signature pasta dishes are always enhanced by some new creation, such as foie gras and duck ravioli or squid ink risotto. The chef does wonders with all sorts of fresh fish and this is the only restaurant where I will order chicken and get it better than my homemade beer can version! The location and decor, the view and the fellow patrons, and most especially the fantastic staff all add up to the best overall restaurant experience in Miami.
(5)
Tim L.
The entire meal was excellent. Great wine choices, excellent service. The Tartare was perfect, the Short Ribs superb and the polenta was so good we ordered a second. Definitely worth it.
(5)
Jerry B.
Okay, this is a 4-5 star restaurant. BUT, our server was a piece of poo. We can clearly afford to dine there, but the server was more interested in giving his attention to everyone older than us and the larger parties. I would personally NEVER recommend dining here, but the food is tasty.
(4)
Nicole S.
Unfortunately never got to taste the food.... We had reservations for 9pm, so we were slightly annoyed (we were starving) when we arrived at 9 and were told our table was not ready yet. Upon walking to the bar we saw plenty of empty tables in the bar section as well as in the main dining room. We ordered a drink and just tried to fight the hunger. 15 minutes later we ask the flighty blonde hostess (who ignored us as she passed us several times) how much longer we would have to wait. with her back turned to us she said she would ask the maitre'd. after waiting another ten minutes we were finally escorted passed the posh, trendy dining room, into an enclosed patio. the tables and chairs looked suitable to host breakfast and lunch for people in wet bathing suits coming from the beach and pools, not people who were dressed up for dinner. it was a special dinner and my bf and myself wanted it to be romantic, so my bf politely went back to the hostess and asked if we could be seated at the empty table in the nice dining room. she said that table was being filled any moment for a party with a 930 reservation. (HE was confused bc we also had a reservation and could have easily been seated at the table 30 minutes prior). He attempted to persuade the girl to let us have the table , to which she reponded we would have to wait 20 MINUTES for another table to clear. He immediately walked back into the patio to let me know we were leaving. We were not going to spend our romantic dinner in the most un-romantic setting, even if the restaurant has good food or not. We went to Il Gabbiano for 5 star italian food, on Biscayne Blvd in Downtown Miami, its worth the 20 min cab ride.
(1)
Jes R.
Hands down best spaghetti I have ever had. Amazing burrata salad and polenta too. Love the atmosphere and hotel. Wish there was one in Boston!
(5)
Jennifer H.
Miami spice menu was ok but I took my own route. So the spaghetti is supposed to be off the hook here. Had the octopus lamb chops and rack of lamb
(5)
Michelle B.
So the first time I ever entered this place was due to last years Miami Spice. You won't find me there any other time. Sorry officer, but a regular pasta dish for almost $30 makes me feel as though I'm trading in my 25 year old extensive sticker collection for a blank floppy disk. Anyways, there are three things I remember from my visit. Basically, the bread basket, the menu choices, and that all newborn babies look like Danny Devito. You can make your own sandwich with that bread basket, (yes, theres salami in it) and have enough to feed all the birds that migrate during the winter. The quality and quantity of the menu choices really made the price just right. Since Miami Spice is currently in full effect, it's the best time to go. You might just see me or Danny Devito...but don't be fooled, it's most probably a newborn.
(4)
rhett t.
It just keeps getting better. The change in chefs has made little difference and the tweaks are for the better. The spaghetti remains the best bowl of spaghetti on the continent. I detected a slightly spicier sauce but, if anything, that only improves upon perfection. The sirloin (not my favorite cut) was beautifully marbled and seasoned. My only issue was that the bitter mustard greens do not pair well with the rest of the dish. I understand cutting sweet on sweet, but the smoked potato is more creamy than sweet and the flavors do not blend. But, oh let me tell you about the potatoes! Awesome, the herbs are mild and mesh with the other flavors rather than overpower them. The lamb Agnolotti is phenomenal.
(5)
Rick J.
Yes, yes, yes! You won't be disappointed :)
(5)
j t.
Not what I expected from all the hype. The dishes were hit and miss. The creamy polenta is worth its weight in gold. This is definitely a must if you visit the restaurant. The polenta was very creamy, filling, and could stand on its own. I could have done without the accompanying mushrooms. Skip the braised short ribs. They were a bit salty and bland. The should just remove it from the menu. Their signature spaghetti was tasty, but not really worth the $20+. The spaghetti was al dente, but there needed to be more sauce with it. The sauce itself was tasty and properly thickened with various cheeses. The oven roased duck was crispy and tasty but nothing to right home about. There was something in the spaetzle that overwhelmed the savoriness of the chicken. Do stay away from the rice pudding dessert. The rice pudding was not flavorful and lacked imagination both in taste and presentation. Save your hard earned money for something else.
(3)
Joaquin R.
Food is okay compared to the price you pay. Decor is beautiful. Great place to have drinks.
(3)
Nancy C.
I was staying in Miami Beach for business and on my last night, decided to treat myself to Scarpetta. Since I was going to be dining by myself, I planned to eat at the bar. But when I got there, I decided to get seated in the main dining room and I'm glad I did. The vibe was cool & hip, but not overly and service was impeccable. Starting with the very sweet hostess who seated me to the professional and helpful waiter to the nice guy re-filling my water & taking away my plates, service left nothing more to be desired. Started off with a bread basket and a trio of olive oil, eggplant spread, & mascarpone butter. Other than the stromboli (very good!), the bread was mostly uninteresting...which was a good thing so that I didn't fill up on bread before my meal! Ordered the Creamy Polenta to start...OMG. It was amazingly delicious. Really. The creaminess of the polenta with the truffle mushrooms is pure genius. It's a MUST have. Then had the Duck and Foie Gras Ravioli for my main. Very very good. Portion size looked small, but after the polenta, it was perfect and I finished every bite. I loved that they were bite size pieces and not overly sauced...it was clean and flavorful, simple without anything to distract from the flavors of the dish. Having finished most of the polenta and then all of the ravioli, I was stuffed. But because everything was on the rich side, I wanted to have something refreshing and light for my dessert. At the waiter's recommendation, I got the Coconut Panna Cotta with Guava Soup. It was the perfect ending to a fabulous meal. So refreshing and the flavors really worked well together. I wasn't able to finish it, but there's always next time. There's a location in BH that I will have to check out! All in all, this was a great dining experience and I would definitely recommend trying it.
(4)
Jake K.
The waiter took my order and I never saw him again until he brought the bill. My glass was empty throughout the entire meal. Terrible service and a poor wine selection. The food wasn't able to make up for it either.
(2)
Theresa N.
The food here is amazing! Thank goodness for Miami Spice! For $35/person, we were able to sample more dishes than we would have otherwise. The variety of bread and spreads that they give you is yummy! There was one bread that was stuffed with salami and some cheeses. I had to stop myself so that I would still have an appetite for the rest of dinner! We got the braised short ribs and creamy mushroom polenta for appetizers. The ribs were average but man oh man the polenta was awesome! The little mushrooms were nice and juicy and the sauce was so rich and flavorful. For the entree, we ordered the spaghetti with tomato and basil and the oven roasted chicken. The spaghetti had a very strong basil flavor, which I love. But my fave was the chicken. It was tender and juicy with a nice almond crunchy skin. On to dessert! I had the raspberry cheesecake but the all-time best dish of the night was the coconut panna cotta. It was AMAZING!! Definitely the best restaurant we went to all weekend. You gotta try it!
(5)
Hannah K.
Just went tonight. Maybe it was an off night, but someone in the kitchen had a heavy hand with the salt shaker. We had the Miami Spice menu + octupus appetizer + spaghetti. The mackerel tartar was decent- tasted like salmon tartar with a slight smokiness. I didn't love it or hate it. The polenta was very creamy but my god were the mushrooms salty. I might have liked this if the seasonings were perfect, but not tonight. The octopus were large tentacles... honestly, Pubbelly's version of octopus a la plancha is similar but more tasty since they char the legs more and serve it with a more interesting sauce. The spaghetti was ok. I was expecting it to rival Delfina's spaghetti al pomodoro in San Francisco, but it lacks the depth of flavor that Delfina has. Scarpetta's overall menu is similar to Delfina, but Delfina wins hands down in everything... but I guess Scarpetta is decent for Italian in Miami? The short rib agnolotti were fine- my husband compared it to being punched in the face with beef flavor. My branzino had nice crispy skin, but the left side of my fish was sooo salty. The sour pickled vegetables underneath didn't help. I couldn't enjoy it. The desserts were nothing special; we didn't finish them. The best part of the meal was the bread, especially the salami bread. That made me sad for about $160 all in (before valet). I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Diane T.
Best meal I had on my trip
(4)
Jenny L.
An absolutely GORGEOUS restaurant. The views are fantastic of the pool and the ocean. The wait staff is friendly, but not as attentive as should be expected for such an establishment. I had the prix fixe menu which included a short rib appetizer, spaghetti, and a dessert that I don't remember. The food was very good, but not mind-blowing. 3 for food and service, but last star for being such a pretty place.
(4)
LORNA H.
Amazing food. Beautiful restaurant. So so service. I ordered the octopus which was perfectly flavored, though a bit too much olive oil. Followed that with the scialatelli. That dish was a plate of pasta perfection. The pasta had the right amount of pepper; the clams and shrimp cooked just so - not one hint of chewiness; the sauce was light and seasoned with perfect amounts of salt, butter and garlic. The waiter and manager were at a loss when asked for a wine recommendation. They were also quick to take away two place settings when guests 3 and 4 were a bit late. However, highly recommended because the food is just so good.
(4)
Rob E.
My wife and I have been meaning to visit the NY outpost but haven't had a chance so while on vacation in Miami we wanted to give it a try. We chose the tasting menu, 5 course, which was too much food. I have to admit that I'm typically a big eater and pack an appetite but this was just too much. 4 course would have been just perfect. The sashimi appetizers were good but I almost felt like they should be served at a Japanese restaurant, not an Italian one. The creamy polenta was delicious and memorable. Pastas were good, I really liked the fois gras ravioli. The fish and meat for the main course were ok, nothing that was extraordinary. Overall, the food was salty, and I even told our waiter that, my comment was disregarded.
(3)
Desiree D.
I would give this place more stars if I could. It was that good! Everything from the service to the timing of food was perfect. Not to mention the shear deliciousness of each bite! None of the drinks ever went empty, the table was completely cleaned between courses and even trips to the restroom were encountered with well-trained staff at each step. We were a party of 20-something at 3-4 separates tables in the back overlooking the pool and ocean (stunningly gorgeous views!). Over several hours we enjoyed a five course meal, with each course including several options of family-style dishes. Among them was a delicious assortment of breads, eggplant tapanade, truffle butter, and citrus-infused olive oil. Then came fried mozzarella, heirloom tomato salad, salted yellowtail sashimi, and mushroom polenta. Followed by the course with homemade spaghetti and short rib cavatelli, both melted in your mouth. Next up was enormous diver scallops, incredibly juicy chicken in a delectable sauce with baked brussels sprouts, and tender filet of beef. Lastly was an array of desserts, the best of which was a coconut panacotta.
(5)
Miguel F.
What a great place! I went Sunday for brunch (yes I know another brunch review LOL) to celebrate my best friend's birthday with a group of friends. We sat outdoors because the weather was great -- you can't go wrong during the Winter in Miami. From the moment we sat down.. the service was spectacular. The servers treated us like gold. Brunch here is different from other places. There is only one choice -- the unlimited buffet for 49.95. It may sound pricey but it is definitely worth it. The buffet has everything you can think of: Sausage and eggs, shrimp cocktail, assorted cheeses, prosciutto, polenta (which i must say is delicious), asparagus, cold salads, etc. Here's the the different part -- you order one main entree. I ordered the skirt steak with poached eggs and it was very good. Other options include pasta, scallops, chicken, short ribs, etc. The price includes unlimited bloody marys, bellinis or Mimosas. When they say unlimited they mean it. Every single one of us was getting a new drink, right when we were finishing our other one. Perfection! The buffet also has desserts. Everything from tiramisu, carrot cake, chocolate cake, croissants, breads, muffins, scones, etc. The bite-size cakes are a must-try. Just a side-note on the service -- one of the many presents we gave my friend was a massive wine cup. The server immediately took it, washed it and then served him a bloody mary in it! The view was also great... you can see the beach, and the amazing pool at the Fontainebleau. Overall we had a great experience at Scarpetta and would definitely recommend it.
(5)
Mark R.
Unbelievably noisy. Overattentive service. Overpriced wine list. Good food.
(2)
Andy L.
Located in the Sorrento wing of the hotel, south of the main building and lobby of the Fontainebleau, is Scarpetta. It's a smart, glitzy space comprised of two rooms: a bar/lounge and a dining room. This Italian restaurant was running on all eight cylinders last night, from the attentive service to the mixed bread basket which included foccacia and stromboli (bread stuffed with Italian salami and cheese). Appetizers we tried were a tender Octopus ($17), fresh Burrata served with heirloom tomatoes ($16), Tuna Susci ($16) which is raw fish wrapped around tender vegetables, a Creamy Polenta with mushrooms laced with truffle oil ($16) and melt-in-your-mouth boneless Beef Short Ribs ($15). Two homemade pastas appeared: Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli ($24) drizzled with an unctious, sweet Marsala reduction and Pappardelle ($23) in a beef short rib ragout. Both were bursting with flavor, although the pappardelle was a bit overcooked. Main courses were even better. Extremely fresh fish was prepared simply, with the distinct flavors of each fish showing through in the different dishes. The Branzino ($30) was sauteed and had a nice, crispy skin, while Black Cod ($28) and Alaskan Halibut ($29) were both roasted perfectly. The Veal Chop ($42) was fried and served with sweetbreads and spaetzle. The chop was cooked as ordered and was tender and juicy. The entire dish, however, was marred by overseasoning. The wine list is extensive, but is skewed toward higher priced selections. Bring lots of cash. A Sardinian Cannonau from Sella & Mosca may be the least expensive wine on the list at $35, but a bottle of 1990 Chateau Petrus will run you $10,000. The restaurant was packed on a Wednesday night, so make a reservation before you go.
(5)
Charlie B.
Thought i would never give any restaurant 5 stars but this one deserves six!. From the moment we walked in and were greeted to the delicious Martinis at the bar (prepared by Carlos). to a wonderful dining experience (thanks to Jen's keen attention to service), Scarpetta is exactly what the name means "An Italian expression that means "little shoe" - or the shape bread takes when used to soak up a dish - Scarpetta represents the pure pleasure of savoring a meal down to its very last taste." - scarpettanyc.com I did however did have some inside help and tips from some of my foodie friends on twitter "ergagit" and "4theloveoffood" were quite helpful in completing my Scarpetta experience - thx guys! Ok the food - going to eat with a group of your bffs has some benefits, you get to taste a little of everything. I had the Miami Spice Special which was actually highly encouraged by our server Jen (a first for me)...the braised short rib appetizer was fork tender, juicy and oh so tasty, however I have to admit, I was able to taste the creamy polenta with mushroom and truffle oil - which I have to admit was foodgasmic (multiple in fact), also got to taste the burratta with heirloom tomatoes which were quite good as well. For dinner I had the seared scallops - which were seared to perfection..a delicate golden crust followed by a delicious moist soft center. I was able to taste the duck and foie gras raviolis which I have to say were off the charts good, spaghetti with tomato basil was well balanced, hearty and reminded me of my Italian roots, For dessert we shared the olive oil cake (which was my fave), mango cheesecake, choc cake with toasted almond gelato, and coconut panna cotta with guava soup which also gave me multiple foodgasms I've come to learn about a new word, gastrosexual, and after experiencing Scarpetta I can see why I'm not only a gastrosexual, but a flaming one
(5)
Arthur W.
Was staying at the Fontainebleau for a business trip in December of '08 and decided to try the "in house" restaurant. Scarpetta was the only real restaurant open after the remodel. Service was prompt and very friendly and the food was very good. The server had recommended to me the spaghetti (tomato and basil) which, to this date, has been the best spaghetti I have had. I also ordered the Black Cod, which wasn't as amazing as the simple spaghetti but still of good quality. If a restaurant makes the most simple dishes amazing, the chef certainly knows what he's doing.
(5)
Kari S.
Had an amazing time here while on vacation in South Beach. My friend and I did the 4-course chef tasting menu. For the $85 per person, it was beyond worth it. You get SO much food for the price and it is all absolutely delicious. I don't think I can say one bad thing about any of the dishes we had. My favorite was the spaghetti with tomato basil sauce. Sounds simple...but it was the best pasta I have had with such clean, simple flavors. The duck and fois gras ravioli was so rich and really did melt in your mouth. I can go on and on about how amazing everything was, but I suggest going for yourself and getting the tasting menu!
(5)
Selene S.
Music was not fitting for this italian restaurant and was way too loud. It was touch to hear my friend and I speak to each other. Room was way too dark, I get mood lighting but when every person is taking out a cell phone or trying to use the candle to read the menu, make it a tad brighter.
(3)
Lauren S.
I never write reviews on Yelp, but this place was SO good that it deserves one. This ornate little restaurant is located in Miami Beach's Fontainebleau Hotel, and overlooks the ocean which adds to the experience. I ordered the sirloin which was absolutely delectable. The meat was substantially tender and flavorful, and the pearl onions and potatoes paired perfectly with the meat. Not only that but the portions were absolutely perfect, unlike most of these upscale restaurants which serve you the most miniscule dishes. For dessert I ordered the strawberry cheesecake which was incredibly delicious, although I regretted my decision as soon as I tried the chocolate cake my boyfriend ordered. It was so rich and warm, and had melted chocolate in the center of it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. Needless to say, it was to die for. This place is rather pricey, but if you're willing to pay good money for good food, then it's a definite must. I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Felicia B.
Let me begin by saying I walked out of their brunch along with my group of 7 in March due to a rude and unaccommodating server. However, when I returned for dinner in June it was a much more pleasant experience. On the negative they like to make you wait in the lounge area and spend money at the bar, but all other aspects of the experience (save for the closing of their bathroom for much needed maintenance) were very enjoyable. The bread and the accompaniments were first rate. The sea bass was perfectly prepared and delicious and the fois gras ravioli was truly excellent. The dining room was beautiful and the servers were personable, knowledgeable and attentive. First rate except for the aforementioned restroom issue.
(4)
Lin Z.
My Husband and I celebrated our 14 yr. Annyv. so we stayed at the hotel ,and decided to eat here. I loved it. Very romantic and exactly what i hoped it would be. Maritni's were delish (loved the bartender!) had the fois gras ravioli, truly excellent and Hub had the Sea Bass.. pleasure to savor!
(5)
Gail A.
This was supposed to be an elegant dinner highlight for my friend's bachelorette weekend, which all of us were quite excited about. The evening started off well with some good cocktails by the bar area, and we were off to be seated for our reservation. When we had our reservation, we were told that because of our large party number we would have to order "family style," which usually means we order whatever we want and it comes out as big plates to share. Here, they meant that we were limited to a selection 3 appetizers and 3 entrees and they would bring out 4-5 servings of each. I'm sorry, that is not the definition of family style. On top of that, our first manager did not fully explain what this meant at all and left us to wonder how to order, and the servers didn't take any time explaining the dishes that were brought out. The best dishes we ordered were the creamy polenta and the duck-foie gras ravioli. Everything else was mediocre at best. Even though they gave our celebrant free champagne, that didn't take away the bad taste we had from the beginning of the night.
(2)
Natalia K.
Thoroughly enjoyed the Chef's Tasting menu. Especially felt that the polenta was to die for! The signature pasta dish also didn't disappoint. We ate right in the lounge area by choice and loved the atmosphere, the decor and our service was also great!
(5)
Carol T.
POW! POW! POW!...those are my taste buds being bombarded throught an unbelievable meal! Based on a personal recommendation ( and other Yelp reviewers), my husband and I had dinner here on a recent visit to Miami Beach. From start to finish, we had a wonderful experience. Food alone, as we all know, does not make a meal. The young lady who initially took the reservation over the phone, remembered my husband and greeted him warmly. The wait staff was friendly, attentive and unobtrusive throughout the meal but the food was the main atttraction here. We selected the polenta with wild mushrooms as an appetizer. Not being a big fan of polenta, I didn't know what to excpect but wanted to give it a try anyway. Taste bud assault #1! Creamy polenta topped with sauteed mushrooms. The portion was more than enough for two to share. Along with this came a complimentary side of lightly fried, panko-encrusted mozzarella cheese (3). Already I was getting filled up with these two items plus the bread basket! Taste bud assaults #2, 3, 4 and 5: We each chose a different entree plus a side of fingerling poatoes and shared each dish. One dish was duck with a light cherry sauce and the other was branzino. I'm not a "duck person" but the way this was cooked and served was more like beef medallions. It was flavorful but not greasy. The fish has a lightly fried crust and was moist and flaky inside. Each had an accompaniment of vegetables. When the potatoes came out, along with it came an unexpected, complimentary side of house-made spaghetti! We were overwhelmed with food. Each dish tasting as good as the last one. The potatoes had a light crust on the outside but were tender on the inside. The spaghetti... Mamma Mia! Made in-house and having the density you can't find in store bought pasta. So, did the two little piggies have dessert? Sadly, no. We knew our limits. We finished our wine and were content.
(5)
Robert M.
I would say out of the three signature restaurants at Fountainbleu, this is the best of the lot. Service was good, food was simple and flavorful. What I most appreciate about this place is that they make their pasta. It drives me nuts that the majority of Italian restaurants in the U.S. use dried pasta instead of making it on their own. This is not difficult, and any Italian resto worth a bean should be making fresh pasta every day. Not only does Scarpetta get this right, they also cook it right. Because the next thing that drives me nuts is overcooked pasta. The sauce was very good. Simple, nice flavor, nice stick to the pasta. The mozz was very good and the short rib was outstanding. Only complaints is the arugula salad and the brussel sprouts were both salty. The is the only restaurant at the Fountainbleu that may be worth a repeat visit in my opinion...although they are all overpriced for what you get.
(4)
Jeremy J.
Scrumptious food. Delicious decor. Impressive wine list. However ... very uneven service (server forgot a dessert and ignored 2 requests for extra bread) and a bit loud with the house music thumpa-cherking in the background. I don't know that I'd go back, simply because the service was so scattered and lackadaisical.
(3)
Mindy G.
Recently came for Miami spice dinner. Everything was great from the food to the service. The wait staff are very attentive. The fish was great, a smaller portion than I would have liked and the tuna bresaola was great too.
(5)
Jennifer J.
i was disappointed by Scarpetta and would not go back. I did not feel the spaghetti was as great as previous reviewers felt. I have had the best italian homemade pastas in NYC and Boston and this did not compare. I also had the ravioli, which were initially delicious but the squash stuffing left a strange baby food like texture and taste in my mouth, which I did not appreciate. The mozzarella carozza was delicious though.
(2)
Ed L.
Great time at this Italian restaurant. The food was amazing. It's must try for anyone visiting fontainebleau miami beach
(5)
Amara S.
Miami Spice Menu is awesome. Miami is doing a promotion where they allow you to chose an appetizer, an entree, and a desert all for 35 dollars which is a steal at a fine dining restaurant. I ordered a arugula salad for my appetizer which tasted like arugula. Bitter and fresh, just the way I like it. For my entree, I ordered the Mediterranean Branzino which was Sea bass and it was delicious. So good! For my dessert I ordered the caramel bananas and I hated them. I've had better at the State Fair. Our server was extremely attentive. I loved every bit of it.
(4)
Dawn B.
Scarpetta After A year of waiting to find an excuse to head all the way down to Miami for a dinner at Scott Conant's Scarpetta, I finally found my opportunity. To summarize my experience I will take you through my dining experience course by course. We arrived a little earlier than we anticipated, our table was ready but we opted to head to the bar for a cocktail before dinner. At the bar to accompany our cocktails we were given a nice basket of fresh deep fried potato chips topped with some flash fried rosemary, as delicious as they were, I indulged in just a couple, I wanted to save room for the main event. After a glass of wine we were off to our table. The view was spectacular, the seating quaint. Not the place for small children or crying babies. As soon as we were seated a bread basket arrived accompanied with a trio of spreads. Mascarpone butter, eggplant ratatouille and a dipping oil. The bread was great! Especially the focaccia stuffed with prosciutto, how could one possibly go wrong stuffing salty, butter, melt in your mouth aged prosciutto into a fresh baked soft bread? No complaints so far. The service was on point and very professional, although I do need to mention that I did not see a single female member on their wait staff other than the hostesses. It was time to make our dinner decisions, I chose from the MIAMI SPICE menu while my dinner partner opted for some other items from the main menu. Our appetizer round consisted of the Creamy Polenta served with a Fricassee of Truffled Mushrooms and the Steak Tartar. The polenta had barely any truffle flavor at all and very much reminded me of eating a bowl of porridge. Needless to say, I was not impressed. The steak tartar was served with a garlic grilled toast that I found to completely over power the delicacy of the tartar itself, and was not served as described in the menu. On to our main course. Agnolotti Dal Plin, a small tortellini stuffed with lamb and minted bread crumbs and the Duck and Fois Gras Ravioli with a Marsala reduction. If there was any lamb in my agnolotti, I could not taste it. It was over salted and lacked any flavors. The ravioli was over salted as well and was not served with a sufficient amount of the sweet Marsala reduction; it was very monotone in flavors, once again, other than salt. Feeling my blood pressure rise, I could not finish half of my plate. The waiter was very accommodating and asked if I would like to replace it with the Spaghetti, which on the MIAMI SPICE menu is an additional $12.00, but I opted out. This was the third strike. My choice for desert was the AMEDEI CHOCOLATE CAKE with toasted almond gelato & salted caramel. To our pleasant surprise our waiter arrived with a trio of deserts and two glasses of desert wine on the house. It was kind of hard to not smile out of delight and end our dining experience on a high note, how clever of them. However, for a $200+ dinner was it worth it for the dining experience? No! Was the experience worth earning extra credit? Yes! Will I ever return to Scarpetta? No! Taking one off the bucket list? Priceless! Scott Conant, you have been chopped!
(2)
NatdeMontreal G.
At the Fontainbleu hotel- feels a little like New Jersey in short dresses. Very dressy. Excellent service- the polenta with mushrooms was excellent. We recommend the tasting menu,,, however, it is very expensive for fine Italian food.
(4)
jon w.
The restaurant makes an effort to look like it's trying to give good service, but in the end way overpriced, marginal quality, Italian food.
(1)
Mary M.
We went to Scarpetta for my husband's birthday and it was amazing!! One of the best meals we've had and it was such a treat. The decor of the restaurant is beautiful with a nautical nod being right beside the ocean, loved the modern bar area, stunning. We had the ahi tuna appetizer and squash blossoms, delicious. My husband had the lamb as his main and it was seasoned perfectly and I couldn't resist but to get the spaghetti and it was by far the most delicious past I've ever had, perfect. The service is outstanding, everyone was incredibly attentive and knowledgeable. Wine list is great as well. We are also huge top chef fans and we had the chance to see Nina, which basically made the experience that much more fabulous. She is so sweet and kind and we just loved meeting her! I cannot wait to come back to the Fontainbleu and more importantly this restaurant. We will definitely be back the next time we are in Miami!
(5)
Lucia M.
That is my second visit to Scarpetta. The first experience was amazing and I thought it would be perfect to take the family to celebrate my husband birthday. But I did not get the same impression. We decided to skip the chef's menu this time and go for individual orders. I remembered the polenta from last visit and decided to repeat it, wonderful, still my favorite. For the second plate I was thinking in something lighter but I let the waiter persuaded me on the pasta with pork and it was too robust for my taste. I would rather have the mouthwatering ravioli again. In fact, the only drawback for this second visit was the waiter - too forceful on giving suggestion for food and drinks to everyone. For me, there is a very fine line between excellent service and intrusive service and this waiter crossed it.
(4)
Ryan J.
The polenta was fantastic, highly recommended. Everything else was good but nothing too mind-blowing or interesting. The pasta pomodoro was a bit of a let down. It's a good restaurant, but overpriced for what it is (I mean, it's in Fontainebleau so it's not like you should expect something cheap).
(4)
Maura C.
I love getting the opportunity to visit a celebrity chef's restaurant. Scarpetta is a beautiful high end restaurant in a beautiful setting. Miami Beach is a very posh place and so Scarpetta in the Fountainebleau fits right in. With stellar service, an amazing cocktail and wine list and fantastic food options, I was in heaven! I was able to sample a few dishes - steak tartare, braised short ribs with farro risotto, and the duck and foie gras ravioli. All were absolutely rich, decant, and melted in my mouth! Watching Scott Conant rip apart chef dishes on Chopped is a riot... so it is good to know that the dishes at his restaurant were worthy enough to stay off the chopping block!
(5)
Peter I.
Just have the spagetti with tomato and basil and call it a day. Simple and perfect. Service at both I've been to is very good. Tell them to take their time and serve the food at your schedule not theirs. Good solid wine list and starter menu. Good spot
(5)
Julie D.
Went with my husband and three children for Mother's Day brunch and was greatly disappointed. We didn't realize that Sunday brunch was buffet style, which we tend to not enjoy, but we decided that after schlepping from Hollywood with the kids we would keep an open mind. After all, Scarpetta is supposed to be amazing with THE BEST pasta. Boy, were we disappointed. Let me start by saying that the service is wonderful, however, I can't say the same about the food. Everything that we tasted was sub-par at best. The pasta that everyone raves about was absolutely nothing special. The only thing that I can honestly say that I even enjoyed was the polenta and the brussel sprouts. The desserts were bland and even the cannolis were terrible!! My kids wouldn't eat the chocolate chip cookies! Little did we know that the worst part of the day was to come with the bill - $85 per adult and $45 per child!! We had just spent $90 for 2 bowls of pasta with butter!! How can a restaurant have the gall to charge $45 for a 3 and 6 yr old to eat?! I'm surprised that we weren't charged a bottle fee for my infant son's bottle of Similac! Very, very disappointed. Will never go back.
(1)
H. Y.
The food is out of this world (as is the service). Everything we got was amazing. I would recommend the short rib appetizer above all else. Ordering any of the pastas would be a great call. It is pretty expensive, but if you're looking to treat yourself or someone else, this is the place to go.
(5)
Wendy L.
I can't give Scott Conant anything less than 5 stars. "Why would you want to go to Scarpetta in Miami when there is one in New York!?!!" cried my date. Well, you see, they have SPECIALS on their menu that are not on our menu here!!!!! Like for example, the $25 stone crab claw. Made of gold? Not the real kind no, but I'm sure in Taste-Bud Land, this is the stuff made of golden crack. Also amazing unavailable in New York (can we do something about this??) - the prawns! So gigundo and delicious. And the steak tartare! I was not allowed to order the spaghetti with tomato and basil (tear) so instead we got the bigoli with hunks of lobster and blue crab tangled in the homemade pasta, and the tagliolini with the super rich pork ragu. Both very good, but I was pretty stuffed by this time because I am unable to exercise any self control when the stromboli bread basket is placed in front of me. Banana souffle! Of course we got this. I, for one, can never resist a good souffle, and this one did not disappoint - so light and fluffy it was like eating sweet, expensive air.
(5)
Stephanie E.
Cocktails and dinner were really good. We came to take advantage of the July specials that some of the restaurants in the Hotel were having this month. It was a special menu for $54/person. With drinks, the bill averaged $100/person. I know some in the group thought that some of the dishes were on the small side, but being that it was a 3 course meal and they constantly brought the bread basket to the table, we all left very full. Check out the dishes we all tried from the July Special menu here: fontainebleau.com/web/di…
(4)
Bill S.
When I went to the Anthony Bourdain book signing, he mentioned Scarpetta in his book is in the Fontainebleau Resort. Then, on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate", Ted Allen says the best pasta he's ever eaten is at Scarpetta. Why would I not come to my favorite NYC restaurant while visiting Miami? If you're familiar with the NYC Scarpetta restaurant, the Miami restaurant has a different feel. The hotel and the restaurant are as one, it feels like a cruise ship! This place is huge and the outside patio has a nice view of the water. Very Miami, very hip. The first thing I order is the signature NYC Scarpetta drink, the San Remo. Spot on! Then I see the menu, there is Miami Spice going on, I'm assuming its like restaurant week in NYC. My wife and I order off this menu. I order the Branzino which is cooked to perfection and my wife orders the Ted Allen recommended spaghetti which is makes Scarpetta the place for homemade pasta. I dream of this pasta and trust me, no other restaurant holds a candle to this dish. The food tastes exactly the same as NYC. The to die for polenta and the short ribs. Everything taste the same! *Side note - The Scarpetta signature bread plate is exactly the same as NYC. Olive oil with a hint of lemon, mascarpone butter and rat-tat-tooie. Enjoy a taste of NYC! Miami, you have it just like NYC. Except you have bikini girls and we have naked cowboy dude on roller skates...
(5)
Maria C.
From start to finish, this place is it. Chef de Cuisine Nina Compton and her team execute spectacular dishes and the best part is that they are consistent! To start, the creamy polenta and fricase of mushroom will make you want to lick the plate. I also recommend the steak tartare. Spaghetti is a must, and so is the duck and foie gras ravioli. Long Island Duck is out of this world and the branzino is crazy good!!! Don't miss this place!!!!
(5)
Kathy G.
We stay at the Fontainebleau in Miami once or twice a year and this restaurant is amazing! The decor is an upscale, modern nautical theme and has very comfy booths that overlook the ocean. They also have patio seating, but it's always been too windy to sit outside when we have been there. Their bar area is just as nice too. The food is to die for. Probably the best fine dining Italian that I've ever had. Great service as well. Great bread, tomato salad, and OMG you have to try the Creamy polenta!!!! It is one of my favorite things I've ever eaten! My fiance hates mushrooms, and he gobbled this up! We scraped the dish clean. Duck and fois ravioli-delicious! And if you want something substantial to share, you simply must try the Milk fed veal chop It is fabulous! If you are in the mood for home made pasta, try the scialatelli-it is a seafood pasta dish that is super rich and just as delicious. I don't think we've ever had room for dessert here. I think I never get very much sleep after eating here either, my heart is fluttering the night away from all the butter, I think...small price to pay.....
(5)
Inga W.
The food was amazing! I have to start off with that because that's what we walked away with, having an amazing meal on a nice weekend getaway. The service was great right off from when we came in and checked in with the hostess, everyone was professional and friendly yet not stuffy. Italian food is about great ingredients and enjoying the meal and that is what we did. We decided to share a bunch of things rather than commit to a few. So we started with the hamachi, which was fresh and delicate but the salt on top overpowered it, then we had the buratta, which was amazing. Followed by the duck and foi gras ravioli and veal. Both were so tender, refined in taste, every bit full of flavor and the most delicate textures. Every dish was split for us which was very nice, I couldn't get enough. Wine of course, love the Italian wines. Finally we had espressos to finish off. Everything from start to finish was amazing and the atmosphere at the restaurant was nice, comfortable but not too formal. It had the nice feel of a restaurant on the beach. This is a place to have a nice dinner for a special occasion or just for those that love food.
(4)
Bibi S.
We arrived at Scarpetta on time for our reservation but our table was not ready. We enjoyed a drink at the bar while we waited an although it was not the best dirty martini I had ever had, I still enjoyed the ambiance and the company. The restaurant is very tastefully decorated in a chic maritime motif. The bar is not very big but we still had enough space to stand around the bar without anyone giving us a hard time. The floral arrangements were beautiful and added a nice touch. When we were seated, I was not thrilled with our table but it was okay. They sat us outside the main dining room and I felt like I was in a large hallway instead of the restaurant. The table wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. While we waited for the server to take our orders, we enjoyed the amazing bread basket that they brought to our table. The best one is hands down the stromboli bread with cheese and salami. It was bursting with flavor and I literally had to stop myself from eating it all. They also served a mini cibatta and a few other options with your choice of butter, lemon alioli and lastly eggplant caponata. They were all very very good. For dinner I ordered the creamy polenta with mushrooms from the Spice menu which was absolutely fantastic! It was creamy and rich without being over powering. Then I had what is probably the most simple dish on their menu but quite frankly the best. It is the fresh pasta with pomodoro sauce. The pasta was al dente and the fresh tomato and basil sauce was simple yet dressed the pasta perfectly. I tasted the duck foie gras ravioli (not on the spice menu) and I thought it was excellent but a good dish to share because the richness of the dish would be overpowering after a while. I also asked for a glass of wine and when the bill arrived I was shocked at the $25 price for just one glass. It was delicious, but a little steep. Lastly if I can add one last tiny criticism I would say that they should not allow people to enter the bar or dining room if they are improperly dressed. I saw a man at the bar in shorts, a t-shirt, flip flops and a backwards facing baseball cap. I realize that the restaurant is in a hotel, but its tacky folks. I'm not sayin' you need to wear a suit to dine here but proper shoes and no hats please!
(5)
Stephanie M.
Great spot. First off, even though we had a reservation, they made us wait at the bar for almost 25 minutes - which was very frustrating because the hostess was being overly vague and unhelpful. The food was fantastic - the burrata appetizer was a hit - so flavorful and delicious. The CREAMY POLENTA was also fantastic - so rich and smooth. the RAW YELLOWTAIL was good, but nothing exceptional. I had the pasta special, which was a fettucini in a butter and olive oil sauce, with fresh table shide shaved truffles. It was aweome. The service was great and the waiters were super attentive and helpful. The space is great - the chairs are super comfortable and the place isnt too loud, though we did notice the music started quite subtle and ended up being quite aggressive by the time we left... when in rome.
(5)
Claudia W.
Have been dying to try this place since I am a huge "Chopped" fan and watch owner Scott Conant on the show all the time. His standards seem very high as he is constantly telling people they don't know how to cook pasta or risotto properly. We were seated right away, although the hostess and her comrades at the front were not very friendly. We didn't even get one smile. I personally like to start my meal off with smiles (LOL). The decor was nice however it was pretty dark in there. I guess kind of romantic, but I would prefer slightly more light so i can see what I am eating a little better. The meal started off with a bang as we tasted their insanely good bread. The warm bread that had salami in it was amazing and the other types of bread offered were no joke either. The mascarapone butter and caponata served with the bread were excellent (this is coming from someone who doesn't even like eggplant). My husband's martini arrived in a chilled glass and was the epitome of perfection. The appetizers were very good. I had the fritto misto which included very lightly fried (not greasy) seafood and zucchini plus bits of fried rosemary. I have never thought of eating rosemary whole in such large quantities but it was really very good. Nice touch. My husband had the steak tartare, one of his favorites at a slew of restaurants. He liked it and I tried it and found the flavors interesting. The only complaint would be that they overdid it on the truffle oil, so that flavor permeated the entire dish so that after a few bites all you tasted was truffle oil. For our main course we ordered three pastas to share. The traditional spaghetti pomodoro was very good. The fresh pasta was excellent and the sauce was tasty. It was a little plain as a dish however I happen to like plain sometimes. Am I dying to go back and eat this again? Not really. We also had the duck and foie gras ravioli. Again very well made and perfectly cooked and the flavors were nice. It was a little rich so after two bites I was done. Would be better as an appetizer in a small portion. The last pasta we got was the seafood one with lobster and crab. I found it to be very fishy and didn't care for it. My husband thought it was just OK but wasn't really a fan. The meal ended with a fantastic dessert: a small chocolate cake with salted caramel sauce and toasted almond gelato. The combo of all three was legendary. That salted caramel was incredible. Yes, I am dying to go back and eat this dish again. Only problem was they need to give more ice cream that way you have enough to pair some with each bite of cake. Overall the place was very good and I would go back. Perhaps we made the wrong decision only ordering pasta for our main course?
(4)
Vicky P.
This place is GORGEOUS!!! My best friends and I came here for a 25th birthday celebration...and it was just perfect. From the service to the food..I was happy to spend every penny in there. The ambiance is very different from other high end restaurants in Miami. It has a classic, upscale boathouse feel to it, with Ocean views. Scarpetta has the BEST spaghetti pomodoro EVER!!!! I DREAM about it. I know you're probably wondering to yourself....."why would I order spaghetti with tomato sauce at an upscale Italian restaurant??" Trust me, it's worth it. It's simplicity at its finest. The freshest ingredients, from the tomatoes, to homemade pasta......a very rustic dish....Might I add that, it's Jay-Z and Beyonce's favorite dish when they dine here:) I also had the creamy polenta with fricassee of mushrooms..(I'm drooling as I type) it was so delicious!!!!! The bread basket is very good, my favorite one is with the salami, shaped into a pinwheel....I cant help but to always ask for more ( insert bbm embarrassed face) lol I am looking forward to coming back!
(5)
Jordan N.
PROS: + Nice ambience - better indoors than outdoors; but during the day, outdoors will give you a nice beachview. + Complimentary bread was delicious, especially one stuffed with Italian ham and cheese. Came with lemon-infused olive oil, mascarpone butter, and sauteed eggplants. + Delicious polenta with fricasseed truffled mushrooms - A MUST + Burrata with heirloom tomatoes, baby basil, and arugula salad was tasty and refreshing + Duck foie gras ravioli dressed in balsamic glaze was good. + Slow-roasted berkshire pork w/ gigante bean ragu & pancetta spices was even better. + Pineapple panna cotta with guava "soup" was good, but a tad bit too sweet (they put so much of the "soup" into the bowl). Plus, I just don't think there's any better twist than on the Cuban classic of Cascos de Guayaba con Queso (cream cheese & guava shells). This reminded me of that so much. Still tasty and good - but I'd like to try that Amedei chocolate cake next time (a true Chocolatier would tell you that there's no chocolate better than Amedei, fabricated in Italy with the cream of the crop of Venezuelan cacao). Of what I ordered, the starters or primi piatti were the best part of the meal - so for sure, I wouldn't hesitate on coming back for some Italian tapas-styled meal with these starters. I still would like to come back to try the other bigger plates.
(4)
Eschel H.
Had a nice dinner with my wife and another couple here on Saturday night, and I can honestly say that I feel no compulsion to go back. Although the meal and the atmosphere at the restaurant were nice enough, and a number of the dishes we ordered were excellent (highlights included the prime aged sirloin on the bone, the polenta with mushrooms, and duck foie gras raviolis), there's enough wrong here to dissuade me from returning: 1. It may have been because of spring break, but the hotel property had literally dozens of teenagers EVERYWHERE. They were inescapable except specifically during our meal. 2. Parking is only possible through valet, which AFTER validation costs $12. 3. Our waiter tried to railroad us into a $100 bottle of wine, when I specifically was trying to ask about a couple bottles that were significantly cheaper. 4. Although it was a lovely night and we started our meal on the balcony overlooking the ocean and pool, we had to move back inside because there was a wedding on the property blasting music. The manager even claimed that they'd called asking to lower the volume and were ignored. With so many high priced restaurants to choose from on Miami Beach alone, I'll spend my hard-earned dollars elsewhere...
(3)
Alicia C.
I visited Scarpetta on a busy Saturday night to celebrate my birthday, as well as a family friend's. We were both looking forward to this dinner for quite a while, and we left happy. As per my usual reviews, I will list the positives and negatives about this five-star dining establishment The good: -The environment and atmosphere were delightful. The music was sultry, but not blaring; the lights were dimmed enough to enjoy the atmosphere (menu reading was a tad difficult, but they provided small hand-held lights if needed); and, the nautical theme was tasteful and not tacky in the least. I can't truly speak for the view, as we did visit on a Saturday night and sat away from the view, but it had the potential to be beautiful, as it does overlook the beach/ocean. -The food is delicious. Every dish is rich and specially crafted. I had spaghetti with tomato and basil and it was obvious that the pasta was handmade on site (thick, hearty noodles). I had the fingerling potatoes appetizer which was yummy!! Imagine a flavorful marriage between french fries and roasted potatoes, mixed with herbs. My dessert was so-so, but more on that later... -Wonderful selection of drinks. I enjoyed a fruity mango, passion fruit, raspberry mixed drink with Vodka. It was a wonderful drink that lasted throughout the meal, and I did get a buzz. -I never felt rushed, which was nice, as it was a special birthday dinner. I spent about 2+ hours eating and relaxing The not so good: -I am not a dessert orderer, but as it was my special *Golden* Birthday, I decided to splurge on the chocolate zeppole, mainly because it had a nutella center. Much to my dissapointment, I could only eat one of the five donuts because it was... well, not very tasty! For a five-star, EXPENSIVE dining establishment at The Fountain Bleu (I mean, c'mon, The Fountain freakin' bleu!), I would have expected much, much more. All of my guests agreed that the dessert just was not very sweet and we ended up taking home the rest of it. I don't think I've EVER taken home a dessert from a restaurant, let alone a fancy, shmancy one. -Our server was wonderful in terms of providing recommendations (he led me to a delicious drink), but unfortunately, he had... well, a bit of a spitting problem when he spoke. As unappetizing as this sounds, he spit in my friend's eye as she was ordering and tarnished her contacts. Not a wonderful way to begin a meal -Be prepared to SPEND A LOT OF MONEY. My spaghetti meal was $24, and that was a cheap dish. Our server told us that most guests order several pasta dishes to share and then an entree as a main dish (I don't have that kind of money...). My spaghetti dish was not overflowing off the small plate, let's just leave it at that. It was delicious, albeit small and pricey. Would I go again? I might. I'm not completely sold on this establishment, and because Miami Beach, South Beach, and downtown Miami have so many wonderful restaurants, I'd like to try others before ever visiting this again. Was I grateful for the experience and the delectable meal? For sure, but again, it wasn't the best restaurant I've ever visited.
(4)
Adam G.
Swordfish was the best I've ever had. Didn't expect anything so tender. Anyone who likes swordfish should try this. Also really impressed with steak tartare. Rivals any I've ever had. The one problem is the cost, and location. The staff was amazing, but you would expect that for the style of dining.
(5)
Vivi M.
If you're in the mood for Italian this is the place to go. The food and service was great. I was staying a the Eden Roc and decided to go there for my Birthday Dinner. The Fontainebleau is right next door to the Eden Roc. We ordered the Polenta as our appetizer and.....WOW IT WAS SO GOOD!!! For my main course I went with the Spaghetti because I heard so many wonderful things about it and I will say.....I wasn't disappointed at all. I was afraid all the hype would leave me expecting more.....honestly it was as good as it gets. I can't remember what my boyfriend ordered but it was some sort of meat. Oh....and I you happen to order what he had....you'll see what appears to be chopped up tomatoes. Well that's not tomato....it's bone marrow. Yes...bone marrow. We ate a few, thought they were the strangest tasting tomatoes ever and had to ask, "What kind of tomato is this?". Oops! Not sure why some say the service isn't good. I guess some people expect servers to tuck in their chair, drape their napkin over their lap and wipe their mouths....who knows. I think the service was exactly what it needed to be.
(5)
Andre C.
Went for Miami Spice, super duper fancy, really good food, but not extraordinary. the creamy polenta is amazing. But while more and more restaurants are going for the casual with good prices and great food. it feels that this one stands more on the looks over the food, feels not welcome unless u look super rich.
(3)
Leila S.
Dined here on a business trip in Miami. Both the food and the service was excellent. Our boss is allergic to shellfish and ordered a fish dish, that didn't mention little shrimps would be adorning his entree. The server quickly exchanged his entree to another dish without the shellfish garnish. I ordered a special fund-raising meal where they had three courses (appetizer, entree and dessert). Apparently a certain amount of the proceeds would be given to the Susan B. Komen foundation. While everything I ordered was extremely tasty (bass with shrimp; chocolate molten cake), the one thing that stands out in my mind is the every so creamy and delightful polenta with truffled mushrooms. The chef took something very basic - polenta - and augmented it into something extraordinary and unforgettable. The polenta is creamy and rich, while the truffled mushrooms are earthy and savory, complementing the polenta perfectly. To put it simply, this was the best polenta I've ever eaten. Scarpetta's polenta is comfort food at it's finest.
(5)
Nayla B.
Scarpetta has incredible service, a cool vibe, and pretty good food. Their bread is AMAZING (honestly the best thing there loll). It comes with separate dipping sauces such as eggplant with tomato and also mascarpone (delicious). In terms of their pasta, I must say 2 of the 3 we ordered were slightly salty, but overall, they were yummy! Definitely get the tomato/basil pasta... It was cooked perfectly and is the closest you can get to south Italy! :)
(4)
Salvatore P.
Awesome! Went to Miami location first then found it in the city. Been twice so far and both times excellent.
(5)
LISA M.
Wonderful food and a great location . I loved sitting outside watching the people go by food 5 stars ..service was just ok... so that 's why it's not a 5 ..He didn't offer dessert they weren't busy..I would go back when I am in the area
(5)
Margarite S.
I don't understand the hype for this restaurant. Anticipating what I thought was going to be an amazing dining experience from a recommendation, I was shocked at the quality of food here. Now, the service is fine and the decor is beautiful. Placed in the Fountainebleau Hotel, it is one of three restaurants the hotel offers. I was staying at the hotel with a friend of mine and we decided to dine here. We ordered the braised short ribs, an order of brussel sprouts, the duck and foie gras ravioli and some other pasta that was so unmemorable I can't think of the name of it - though it came with shrimp. Okay, so the braised short rib and brussel sprouts come out first. The braised short rib is not horrible but nothing to rave out from a supposed 5 star restaurant. It was also small, I'm sure my dog would not be full from the serving... but okay, on to the brussel sprouts - BURNT. How could you even manage that? The pastas come. Better size portions I suppose except I had two bites and stopped eating. The "famous" duck and foie gras left less to be desired with a bad aftertaste. The individual raviolis were the size of my thumb. The other pasta that came with shrimp tasted more like Chinese noodles than Italian pasta. After a few bites of each, I left. While it may have been a Sunday night at 10 pm for the reason the food was horrible, I really just don't know. I wouldn't take any chances returning. The prices weren't even an issue - just give me edible food.
(1)
Richard K.
One of the best Italian restaurants in Miami and thanks to Miami Spice, I could finally afford to come to Scarpetta. I would like to start by thanking executive chef Scott Conant in my best chairman voice for a "wonderfully cooked meal". Furthermore, the service was fantastic and the ambiance oozed of class and romance in the air. My three choices were Japanese Mackerel, Sirloin of Beef, and Coconut Panna Cotta. Also, I was fortunate enough to have April V to allow me to taste the much talked about Spaghetti and Amedei Chocolate Cake. APPETIZER (Primi Piatti): I had JAPANESE MACKEREL with cucumber, black olive oil and grape tomatoes. All the elements together made the dish very light. The fish was very fresh and was well cut. ENTREE (Priatti): I had SIRLOIN OF BEEF with fingerling potatoes, mushrooms,and parmigiano. Oh my Lord, what a Sirloin! WOW! It was incredibly tender and juicy. Simply, perfect. Also, I had SPAGHETTI with tomato and basil. The noodles were thicker than normal spaghetti. With thicker noodles, it added to the spaghetti in a positive way. This spaghetti was very "herbal' in nature. There was a good amount of basil infused as one with the spaghetti. The taste came in strongly and was another nice element. However, with that said, this classic spaghetti was on the dry side. I would appreciated more sauce. Overall, it did not blow my mind; simply, it was solid. DESSERT (Dolce): I had COCONUT PANNA COTTA with caramelized pineapple and guava "soup" I think this dessert was missing an ingredient in the description.....crack. I could not stop coming back for more of this dessert. The guava soup with the panna cotta left me holding my breath. Also, I had AMEDEI CHOCOLATE CAKE. It was great, but after one bite; it was just way too much chocolate for my taste. Overall, it is one of my favorite Italian dining experiences in Miami, but I will probably return only for Miami Spice or if Monica Belluci is my girlfriend. Probably, the latter will happen first.
(4)
Candy C.
Incredibly stylish restaurant in the beautiful Fountainbleu hotel. You can tell some places try too hard, but not Scarpetta. This restaurant exudes sexiness and romanticism . The table service is outstanding. I had the pleasure of dining at the Scarpetta during the Miami Spice Event. My three course dinner consisted of: 1. Creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms, 2. Mediterranean Branzino (sea bass), 3. Coconut Panna Cotta (pineapple and guava "soup"). The creamy polenta was out of this world. The polenta came in a little cast iron looking bowl with lid and the truffled mushrooms in a separate dish. This was very rich but I just could not stop until the very last drop was eaten. The server removes he lid and mixes the mushrooms with the polenta for you! You should see their hand movements as they spoon over the mushrooms and mix. It was like art! The Branzino was delicious as well but I love the sea bass at OLA better. Lastly the dessert was definitely mouth watering. Never thought a fruit soup would taste so delicious. This is definitely a first date, wedding proposal, birthday, bachelorette, anniversary kind of restaurant ! Scarpetta makes fine dining an art.
(4)
Manuela F.
I was there yesterday night with my husband and two friends. We tried miami spice menu....was really good . For sure I will be back. If you left your car at the wallet, inside the restaurant they give you a discount .
(4)
Ashley C.
Yelpers raved about Scarpetta so my bro and I were very excited to check it out. The restaurant is chic, modern and dark which gives it a "hip" yet classy vibe. Appetizers: creamy polenta and the ribs. The polenta was great (yelpers got this one right) but the ribs were alright; nothing special and definitely nothing to write home about Main course: dad ordered the spaghetti, which was another dish that yelpers went crazy over. Honestly, the taste reminded me of chef boyardee. My dad wasn't too impressed but he said that the more he ate, the better it tasted. How tricky. I ordered the bigoli which is a lobster and crab dish. This dish was 'just ok' for me as well and it wasn't something I fell in love with. My bother got the branzino (sea bass) dish which was great! Don't think anyone would be disappointed by it. We were able to try another ravioli dish, compliments of the chef. Can't remember the name but it starts with a C (it's the only ravioli dish that starts with a 'C' so it shouldn't be difficult to find it). That dish was amazing! All three of us loved it and I would definitely recommend it. All in all, it's worth trying it out with friends or family. Just be prepared to pay $$$$
(3)
Hilaru W.
Great service- waiter was knowledgeable and gave personal recommendations. He was especially attentive to food restrictions in our party, which was really appreciated! I had an amazing soup-roast cauliflower, and my friends had lamb ravioli and steak tartare- all wonderful. I had Branzina for the main, which was pan seared-crispy on the outside, juicy and soft inside. It was served with a delicious variety of roast vegetables. We ordered the carmelized brussels sprouts. They were salty, but I like that. Very glamorous crowd. Loved it! Only regret is that we had no room for dessert....
(5)
Andrea F.
I feel like the odd man out here. I've been so excited to try Scarpetta for over a year, and it has come recommended by so many people whose opinion I value. So to say I was disappointed with my recent visit would be an understatement. We made reservations for a friend's birthday on a Sunday night. We wanted to go to a Miami Spice location and she chose the spot. The space was very pretty and our table was lovely. The service was also great. The food all looked great. Some of it tasted great, I really enjoyed the Burrata app. But the entrees all fell short. The bottom line is that everything was so salty it couldn't be saved. The signature pasta with tomato sauce? Salt city. The Branzino was cooked perfectly, then drenched in salt. I was so disappointed with the food I couldn't believe it. The polenta cheesecake helped end the meal on a better note. They even wrote Happy Birthday to our special friend and sang to her. But I can tell you mostly everyone at the table was in agreement, perhaps it was an off night, or there was some crazy person attacking the food with salt, but I was not impressed at all with our meal, I was thankful we were there for Spice and not paying full price.
(2)
Elizabeth R.
This restaurant has really wonderful food. These are all the things we got: Polenta: awesome awesome awesome, this dish is dreamy (I don't eat mushrooms but they come separately so you don't have to eat them) Tuna susci: not that good, fresh fish but bogged down with other ingredients Spagetti with tomato sauce: really wonderful, best pasta with tomato sauce I've ever had, the pasta is so so fresh and cooked perfectly Duck and fois gras ravioli: my fiance loved this so much, everything about it he said was awesome Diver sea scallops: this was good but not great Oven roasted chicken: everyone loved this dish Swordfish but with the branzino preparation: OMG, this was the best swordfish I've ever eaten. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The lemon caper emulsion was soooo flavorful. The escarole was pretty good. The gigante beans tasted like they were canned...I love beans but these were not good. Chocolate zeppole: just okay, not chocolaty enough
(5)
James M.
Fantastic dinner at Scarpetta's. service was exceptional, food was also great. We had Black Cod which was done to perfection as well as the spaghetti. Hard to think you cold make spaghetti differentiated....but theirs is outstanding. All in, best dinner we had all week in Miami
(5)
Sandra F.
Spending a night at the Fontainebleau is always fun, and I've been wanting to try Scarpetta for a long time so Miami Spice was the perfect opportunity. First of all, the bread is really something. Prosciutto in my bread? Yes please! Appetizer: Creamy truffle polenta - definitely the highlight of the meal Entree: Spaghetti - it was good but kind of plain. I would have preferred a meat sauce. Dessert: Chocolate cake. Delicious but not so unique. Again, this is the way to try a Miami hot spot for $35. Of course you'll end up spending $75 with wine but whatever!
(4)
Vickey L.
My girlfriends and I went to Miami Beach for a mini vacation. In addition to looking up nearby attractions, one of my missions was to find us a fine dining restaurant. I stumbled upon Scarpetta upon my research. I was glad I did, because my friends and I loved our experience there! We located the Fontainbleau Hotel and drove up the driveway where the valet parker was nice enough to inform me that parking was $7 with validation from Scarpetta. We then entered through a double-door and walked down the corridor and Scarpetta was located on our left. My first impression of the restaurant was... ehhh. The hostess seemed a bit snobbish and didn't seem like she enjoyed her job. Maybe she's had a long day? We walked past the lounge/waiting area, past the bar, and into the main dining room. The decor was ahh-mazing! It seemed newly furnished and the ambiance was great as well. We sat next to the windows with the ocean view. I requested patio seating when I made the reservation weeks ago but changed my mind last minute because it was pretty humid at the time. The iced tea tasted like it was freshly brewed and had brown sugar ice cubes? I wasn't sure. But they sure weren't your typical ice cubes haha. The food was excellent! We started off with the short ribs as appetizer and, ohemgee, the beef melted in our mouths as soon as we took a bite! It was verrry flavorful. I wouldn't have minded if I died and went straight to heaven then. Oh wait, maybe after I tried my foie gras ravioli first... I ordered the duck and foie gras ravioli. I usually don't go for raviolis, but they had me at "foie gras". My friends ordered strozzapreti and scialatelli, which were pasta dishes. One with some sort of pasta I've never seen and lobster meat and another was creamy fettucini with clams and shrimps. The portions seemed a bit small for its price, but it did fill us up by the end of the meal. But us girls always have a hidden stomach for desserts. My friends and I ordered a chocolate cake that came in bit-size and was sprinkled with powder sugar and almond pieces. Our waiter, Lucas, later brought out a plate of cookies with a candle and "Happy Birthday" scribbled in chocolate syrup for our friend's birthday! Great food, good service, okay pricing, and nice ambience. It was a great way to end our vacation. I would definitely visit again in the future when I get the chance. What more could we possibly ask for?
(5)
Christy C.
Scarpetta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you! You gave me the most delicious meal that I had in Miami! We stayed at the FB and you guys were just down stairs to us!!! YAY! I have had the pleasure in trying out alot of your food during Miami Spice. That's because the 5 of us were picking each other's plates to try to try everything out. My appetitzer japanese mackerel sashimi was OFF THE CHAIN!!! It was so fresh, so delicious. We also tried the braised short ribs and burrata... it was heavenly. Then for the main course- I ordered the roasted chicken- just something simple. GOODNESS! It was so tender, juicy, it was so good! I was sad that I had to share (haha, jk) 2 of the girls ordered Spagetti- It was soo good and the texture of it is just amazing and another girl ordered the Sirlion Beef... It was so good and there were so hidden yummy mushrooms... so amazing Then to dessert- My Coconut Panna Cotta was just amazing. I was so impressed that I didn't know what to do with myself. I havent been able to think about the party in my mouth since we dine there.
(5)
Alexandra L.
Amazing service, food, decor and overall experience. Love going out to dinner here and is a long time favorite! Eddie is an amazing server! The Burrata, Bronzino, Steak Tartare and Hamachi are a must.
(5)
Joseluis A.
not so long ago, i invited myself for dinner with three ladies. the ladies did not oppose to this and allowed me to dine with them. cheers ladies, i salute you. we had a reservation at 9pm, we arrived on time but our table wasnt ready. we waited for about 15 minutes and we finally got seated. the restaurant is elegant of course but i wish it wasnt so cramped. the lights are low so this is a great place for a date, except that if was to drop two benjies for a romantic dinner, i wouldnt want a dude sitting 3 inches away from me and my lady(ies). just saying. we went during miami spice month and we all opted for this menu. i got the short ribs for appetizer or primi piatti as they call it which is not a proper translation but nice try. my main dish was the sirloin of beef and i got the chocolate cake for dessert. the food was excellent. no doubt. portions are decent and for the miami spice flat rate, this was a great deal. also, service was flawless. this was a great dinning experience. im very glad i got to sample this restaurant and i will for sure come back for dinner on a very special occasion, hopefully with 3 hot ladies again.
(4)
Rob C.
First the good - the service. And now the bad: the short ribs where dried out and the tagliolini with sucking pig had bone chips in the meat. Two rookie errors for a high-end restaurant. Something to keep in mind with many restaurants in the Miami Beach area, including this one, is they include gratuity. I think it's because of the high international tourism, but it's stupid and presumptuous.
(2)
Cliff F.
A really great experience all around. Located in the beautiful Fontainebleau on Miami Beach, the feel of Scarpetta is hopelessly chic, though not even remotely stuffy. Wearing a slight nautical theme, the decor is beautiful and the environment was electric. Service was close to perfection, but was missing the verve that would push it truly over the edge. The food, however, was brilliant. The Miami Spice menu presented a fantastic selection of options that gave a great feel for what the actual menu tries to convey. Meal included the burrata--with astonishingly delicious cheese, braised beef short ribs--which literally melted in your mouth, branzino with saffron & mixed seafood--perfectly prepared (better even than the branzino at Batali's B&B Ristorante), sirloin--also perfectly prepared, and chocolate cake, which was, for lack of a better word, EPIC. panna cotta was not a standout, unfortunately. Great restaurant.
(5)
McKenzie T.
Thank goodness for Miami Spice! Service was great and food was amazing! What we tried: EVERYTHING! Luckily I went with a group of 8 girls and we each got something different. I had the Mackerel Sashimi, Spaghetti, and the Molten Chocolate Cake w/ Almond Gelato and Salted Caramel. Fresh fish, the most amazing meatless spaghetti I've ever had in my life, and an extremely sweet dessert (too sweet for me). The Polenta had amazing flavor, but it's so rich I'm not sure I personally would be able to eat it all. Steak was flavorful and not over cooked. Portions are good. I wish I didn't hit up Liv (the club at the hotel) right after dinner...I wanted to take my leftover spaghetti soooooo bad. I kick myself everyday for not taking it. Scarpetta...we shall meet again.
(5)
Whitey M.
Delicious food with a great venue and view!! Love this place!!
(5)
Lourdes D.
I love Miami Spice, but often feel that I make bad food choices, resulting in less than stellar reviews. Scarpetta, unforsh, has met the fate of my bad decisions. I went for a friend's birthday, who had made a reservation at 10:30 p.m. for four people. We got there just in time, but it was for naught, as the super swanky hostesses informed us that we would have to wait a few more minutes for a table to open up. So we went over to the bar to pass the time. The place was PACKED. Not one table was empty, not one bar stool was up for grabs, NOTHING. It was just tanned Miami bodies EVERY DAMN WHERE. There was bumpin' music, the lights were dim. Once we finally got seated, our waiter came by pretty quickly, and the bread soon followed. There were like 5 different types of bread that came with mascarpone cheese, some type of fancy olive oil and some eggplant something or other. It was HEAVENLY. All of it. As for the Miami Spice menu, here were my choices, some filled with fail, and other not: Appetizer: Creamy polenta with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms Verdict: Delish. I had never had this before, so it was a nice change of pace for me. However, my friend ordered the braised short ribs of meat, and those were, as my 90s self would say, "off the chain." So, mistake #1. Entree: Sirloin of beef with fingerling potatoes, trumpet royale and parmigiano Verdict: Ehhhh. Some of the pieces of meat had huge pieces of hard fat, and the outer parts of it were practically charred. Two of my friends got the Mediterranean branzino, which looked amazing. I should've asked them for a taste. D'oh! Mistake #2. Dessert: Coconut panna cotta in a caramelized pineapple and guava "soup" Verdict: Winner! It was very interesting. The taste, the consistency. In fact, the panna cotta was more like a sherbert, and not flan-esque as I'm used to. I did really like it though, so no mistake here! The restaurant is in the lovely Fontainebleau, so ladies and gents should dress to impress, and wear comfortable shoes, because it takes a hot minute to get anywhere in this hotel. Parking - we all know the deal here. Valet or fight with other patrons that want to park in the free adjacent lot.
(3)
Arden C.
FountainBleau (the hotel it's in) is gorgeous, a very trendy dining experience. It's Miami Spice (present tasting menu's for 1 month) so I was excited to try a lot of different dishes. We started with Braised Short Ribs of Beef, very flavorful & tender. I also tried the Creamy Polenta (fricassee of truffled mushrooms) which is a must! It's just so amazing, I can't even describe it. For the meal we had the Mediterranean Branzino which was pretty good and the Sirloin of Beef (medium rare) but it was a tad over cooked and a bit dry. We also ordered a Spaghetti on top of the Miami Spice Menu because that's what they're known for. It was my favorite part of the meal so definitely order the spaghetti! The deserts were good but nothing spectacular. Overall, it's worth the experience and I'd definitely go back!
(4)
Jennifer T.
Being that this was my first time at Scarpetta, I think it's too early to throw out the 5th star. My friends and I were here for a nice dinner to celebrate a bachelorette party. The ambiance was perfect for a nice date or any other special occasion. Before going into the restaurant, I had asked a few employees of the Fountainbleu Hotel about their favorite dishes at Scarpetta. The spaghetti was consistently recommended, so I went with the pasta. Upon first sight, it looked pretty ordinary, but once my sense of smell was engaged my expectations heightened. Beautiful balance of basil and sauce! The pasta was perfect: texture, density, and portion. I usually prefer some protein when eating spaghetti, but this dish held its own. I could eat this every day! I know..it's just spaghetti, but this was well worth the trip. My friends ordered a foie gras dish and a lobster pasta. Both were rich and tasty, but all agreed that mine had the best flavor.
(4)
Sesilia S.
Wow what a great dinner experience! My husband and I went to Scarpetta for dinner and we were blown away with the food! The best dishes we ordered were the creamy polenta and the Coconut Panna Cota. The polenta was super delicious, creamy but not too overpowering. The chef definitely aced this dish! The panna cota was really tasty and its consistency was just perfect! Other dishes that we had were the Rosemary Braised Lentils (which was very rich and yummy), the Roasted Baby Vegetables and the Roasted Whole Orata. They were all good dishes but the polenta and the panna cota are definitely must-try dishes. On top of the nice food, the service was really good. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. This was the best dining experience we had in Miami! Tips: if you do valet parking with the hotel, make sure you ask for ticket validation, that way the parking fee becomes more reasonable.
(5)
Ramona C.
I must say that this restaurant never disappoints me, no matter what. The service, the food, the ambiance, impeccable. These people are the best in their professions. I had last night the lobster claw, the pasta with tomato sous and basil and some veal. Excellent!
(5)
Jade P.
Wow... sexy, delicious, and great service--everything I look for in a fine dining establishment. The ambience is pretty unparalleled. The lights are muted, there is lots of candlelight, and the decor is modern and sexy. I went for Miami Spice and everything I had was amazing. Here's what I had: -the Branzino (this fish is perfectly cooked, plus the portions are generous!) -the molten chocolate cake with almond gelato and salted caramel (YUM! so rich and creamy- just like a molten cake should be) -the creamy polenta (unlike anything you'll ever have- divine!) The only reason why this restaurant lost 1 star is because several of the people at my table had the steak and every dish was overcooked and underseasoned. A great place for a date or a night out with your friends! One of the best places I've been to in Miami- not just trendy, but has the food to back up the reputation (and price)!
(4)
Nina V.
I was so blown away by Scarpetta. I'm a die hard top chef fan and so when I went to Miami for my birthday, I knew I had to eat there and try and meet the head chef Nina. There was a group of 11 of us and we got seated immediately in a private area. As soon as I walked in and met the waiter, I told him what a fan I was of Nina and asked if I could meet her. After sitting down for five minutes, she came out to our table and gave me a hug and introduced herself. Then she sent us out some delicious appetizers compliments of the chef. Oh, and the food was INSANE. The polenta is probably the best thing I've ever eaten, or no wait it was the spaghetti (which sounds ridiculous because why would you order spaghetti with tomato sauce at a five star restaurant?) UMMM because it melts in your mouth. After two drinks and a ton of amazing food, we were getting ready to go when our waiter came out with a business card from the head chef, chocolate lava cake with a candle and a complimentary glass of champagne for my birthday from the head chef. I can't even begin to tell you how impressed I was with the service and the food. I would absolutely come back here again (in fact I can't ever imagine coming to Miami again and not going there!) And I'm crossing my fingers and toes hoping Nina wins top chef NOLA!!! She rocks!
(5)
Meo M.
everything we tried was good. the duck is so tender. Hand-made pasta is to die for.
(5)
Erik Y.
I went the night before the ING Marathon when they had a $35 runners special (although I was not running the next day, the rest of my group was). I was apprehensive at first because I thought it was going to be a shared app, 1 pasta choice, and a cheap dessert. Was I ever wrong! The restraunt itself is beautiful inside. Dark colors and deep woods, dimly lit. Music created a laid back yet somewhat upbeat ambiance. All servers were dressed to perfection. Food: For my appertizer, I got the raw yellowfin tuna. Came out with 4 smallish peices. Had some greens on it and cracked sea salt. The flavor was out of this world!! Entree: Duck ravioli and foie gras. Amazing, albeit after several bites it got a little redundant. Dessert: I do not recall what the dish was called, but it had a coconut ice cream with chunks of pineapple in it, sitting atop a mango gelatin-type thing, all surrounded by a sea of tropical fruit liquid. I know that doesn't sound glamorous, but it was out of this world good!!! I am not a dessert fan by any means, but this rocked. Truly rocked. Table mates got their famous spaghetti (i tried some, awesome), the salad (uninspired but still good), and the chocolate cake (great and rich, but mine was better!) Overall, awesome romantic place with a great atmosphere and wonderful food. Wine list was outrageous (ie. the only cheap glasses were $12+ and most bottles were 150-1000 range). If you have some cash to burn and want a great night out (with 5 star service!!!) go here!
(4)
Valerie V.
One of the most delicious meals of my life!!! Went here with a group of ladies for a nice dinner during my Bachelorette weekend. I insisted on Scarpetta because I have a huge foodie crush on Chef Scott Conant. From the second we walked in, we were wowed by the decor, the ambiance, and the service. Our table was ready and waiting when we walked in and the server that greeted us was patient and relaxed but still totally on time. The food!!! We each had our own apps, then we shared pasta dishes, and then had our own entrees. All accompanied by wine of course. The food highlights---Appetizers: creamy polenta & mushroom fricasse, steak tartar with quail egg, and the squash blossoms. Pastas: the duck foie gras ravioli (AMAZINGGGGG!) and the classic spaghetti that will redefine your notion of what spaghetti is. Entrees: Black Cod, the Duck Breast. In short, we loved Scarpetta and I will 100% be back my next time in Miami. Next time I just hope Chef Conant is around for a picture and kiss on the cheek.
(5)
Marco S.
Very good place to have a serious meal. Nice experience for service and ambiance. Italian wine list is notable, so is the service. The creamy polenta is a must. Also is the tartare. The veal is awesome, and the duck along with the sirloin steak. Waiting to go back try the sea ulrich. The deserts are also good, the banana soufle is delightful.
(5)
Saskia M.
Ohhh Scarpetta...The ambiance, the service, the decor, the FOOD... all so well executed. Starting by the house made deliciously fresh bread rolls, so warm... The Stromboli one: wow, filled soppressata and mozzarella... you will definitely ask for seconds. Appetizers: Scott Conant's creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms is such a remarkable plate. The polenta's just right texture and its subtle flavor pairs of perfectly with the truffled mushrooms fricassee. Pouring that mushroom fricassee on top of that polenta is such a awesomely great idea!! We also ordered the short ribs with vegetable and farro rissotto. Very good flavor profiles, deep, heavy, and very well cooked. Nonetheless, the creamy polenta wins the appetizer round! First plate: Duck and foie gras ravioli, OH My! You need to order these ravioli. The pasta is so fresh and perfectly cooked, the filling is so amazing, you are able to identify both the duck and the foie gras flavors so well and the marsala wine reduction that tops them off provides the right touch of sweetness to each bite. Second plate: Black Cod with concentrated tomatoes and roasted fennel. Great crispy skin on the fish and well cooked. The tomato on this plate is as much as a star as the cod is; the flavors compete a little but still pair off well. Next to come: the 21Day Aged Sirloin of Beef, doesn't just the name make you want to order this already? Read a little more, it's served with bone marrow, romano beans and chanterelle mushrooms. Cooked to perfection, all the flavors complement each other so well. This is definitely the winner in the second round. Not only was the food ridiculously delicious, but the service was excellent and on point. They also provided the perfect wine pairing recommendations along the entire meal. Scarpetta has left so many thoughts in me, the experience is definitely one to remember and one to repeat!!
(5)
Karla D.
We traveled to Key West for a week and stopped in Miami for 2 nights before heading home. On the first night we had the tasting menu at Scarpetta. Simply DELICIOUS!! From beginning to the end, the food was amazing. If you're in Miami go have dinner there. You won't regret it.
(5)
Rob H.
Go for the 4-course Chef's Tasting. This is as good as it gets. If I could give it more stars, I would. The Duck Foie Gras Ravioli is simply amazing. Spaghetti...normal fucking spaghetti...was delicious. Scialatielli was, also, amazing. Roasted Skate Wing in citrus brown butter...WOW. 21 Day Aged Sirloin of Beef....so tender and so delicious. For the dessert course, the Coconut Panna Cotta, seriously, might be the best dessert I've ever had in my entire life. Honestly, pretty much everything that came in the Chef's Tasting was absolutely delicious. It's worth every penny. As for the service, it's what you expect. Impeccable. Gabriel, our server, was as nice, attentive, and knowledgeable as you can ask for. Very nice guy and made us feel welcomed and at home.
(5)
Jonah K.
Awesome miami spice menu. We got a pasta as well which was excellent. The portions are small, and the prices are high, but I would come back to do the tasting menu. Overall excellent view of the ocean, great service, and the food is spot on.
(5)
Alissa W.
This is one of the best places I have EVER eaten. The service in impeciable, and they do not rush you at all. The food is 6 stars, and being inside the famous Fountian Bleu Hotel it is so nice to walk around after. The food is out of this world too !For appetizers we started out with the burrata, and heriloom tomatoes, and the himachi. I definitely reccomend the burrata, it melts in your mouth. They even split the portion in the back for us. For my entree I ordered the cavaletti with chunks of fresh lobster, and capers. WOW the pasta is as fresh as can be. Not to many places in Miami can you get fresh pasta. For dessert, the main reason I go here. I ordered the coconut panna cota. This just melts in your mouth. This restaurant has great ambiance, and I love they do not rush you. Fine dining without a rush to turnover tables in Miami is not very common. Definitely make a reservation !!!!
(5)
Mai S.
My family and I dined during the Miami Spice week. It was a wonderful experience with my 3 kids (7-16 yrs old) as we had not been to the beautiful Fountainbleau hotel before. The restaurant decor was gorgeous & the ambience was very trendy and hip. The service & staff were great and attentive! The staff were seasoned and well trained to service fine dining. The food as other had written was fabulous!! The polenta was amazing as raved by the critics!! The brazino fish was a little dry for me - but beautifully presented. I am sorry we did not tried the spaghetti - as we thought that would be too simple for fine dining. It sounds like we missed out on a creative dish by the chef. I would definitely recommend this restaurant highly - even just for the experience of walking through the hotel. BEAUTIFULLY designed!!!
(5)
Fernando V.
Some people think Italian food is all the same. Truth is, this is a great place to experience REAL northern Italian (the best) Italian cuisine. My experience was during Miami spice, and still it was so good and memorable I am writing a review o. February 2012. Maybe the fact the wines are all Italian is a bit of a turn off for me but let me tell you this place will deliver. Service was great, respectful, prompt, informative, personable but not fastidious. The food was exquisite, well timed sequence of courses... It kinda sucks to valet with the hotel people but oh we'll...this is Miami. A little on the loud side. Overall, highly recommended.
(4)
Kate K.
Holy amazing. Welcome to heaven!! An impressive menu accompanied by a worldly wine list and a knowledgeable solmoneau to help you navigate. Let's start with the bread basket. MEOW! Te breads are delectable especially the prosciutto and mozzarella bread. The mascarpone butter literally melted in your mouth. Eggplant tapenade was Delish and the oil was exotically stimulating. The Sauvignon blanc by the glass was an utal dream and everything you want in a Sauvignon. Light, crisp and refreshing. The waiter was so helpful but said his job was easy to make recommendations for because you just can't go wrong; and we didn't. The mozzarella over stewed tomatoes was amazing and the tuna sashimi had the perfect accompanying crunch. Round #2 the duck ravioli. YOU MUST! They were little pockets of explosive magnificence. My girlfriend got the spaghetti but wasn't kind enough to share, lol but it looked spectacular. Unfortunately we were too stuffed for desert, but it was worth going back or and can't wait to try it in new York. If you're a guest of the hotel they offer a 20% off coupon for off times. Kudos Scarpetta!
(5)
Laura G.
Angels sang and a beam of light shined down on my plate revealing my own Anton Ego- Ratatouille moment. Flashbacks of my childhood rushed past me as the amazing dish that is the Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli melted in my mouth and was accompanied by the prosecco e dried fragole cocktail. I sent complements to the chef, the bartender, the owner, the manager, the waiter... My GF and I decided to try Scarpetta for a "Special Night." Scarpetta means "little shoe" in Italian and is also the action of cleaning your plate with a piece of bread attached to your fork like ...well, a little shoe. And that I did. I let my bread soak up all the remnants of my amazing dish, any passerby would have thought I had received an empty plate because of how clean it was. We were wowed from the moment we walked inside. The decor was superb and an ocean breeze graces the outside tables and diners. One thing I did not enjoy was the bread(s) selection and their toppings. I could have had three little dishes of marscapone butter (amazing) instead of that strange tapenade or lemon infused oil. Eh. The large piece of plain bread was delicious but that other salami and mozzarella bread, not so much. This is the kind of place I do not mind spending a little bit more money to enjoy. I loved Scarpetta and it exceeded my expectations.
(5)
Derek M.
Love this place! Food is always great and consistent!!! Service is okay sometimes they can be a little rude. Still give it 5 stars.
(5)
Holden W.
Great food, service, design, and views plus hot crowd. The restaurant starts with a well appointed, stylish but not gaudy, bar area. Ask/bribe the waiter to sit you by the window and see if you can reserve such a table in advance. I would recommend polenta with truffled mushrooms for starters, branzino for entry and panna cotta for dessert but I am sure there are other delish options that would strike your fancy.
(5)
Erin W.
This place is fantastic and has great service. The bread they serve, with prosciutto wrapped inside is amazing!! So fresh and tasty. Salad was great. The creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms was to die for! So delicious!
(5)
Joe M.
This is a tough one to review.Probably more like 3 1/2 stars. When we arrived at 6 30 the ambiance was really nice. Ocean view and reasonably quiet. By the time we left at 9 30 I was bordering on a headache. Loud obnoxious music which caused diners to shout at each other to carry on a conversation. I though I was at Club Liv instead of a first class restaurant. We each ordered the $70, 4 course tasting menu. Believe me thats all you got was a "taste." Most of the items were absolutely delishious such as the creamy polenta with a truffled mushroom sauce and and the duck ravioli. A few items, such as the spagetti with red sauce, were only average. Two out of three deserts were also magnificent. One thing is certain...the service was 6 stars! Impeccable! Water glasses, wine glasses, bread basket were all carefully watched and attended to.Any crumbs that fell to the table were quickly scooped up. The servers worked effortlessly in well orchestrated teams. One final note even with the restaurant stamping your valet ticket you will pay $12 to park!
(4)
Cricket L.
Five stars for the unbelievable spaghetti. It was chewy and perfect and life-changing. One star for the excruciatingly loud atmosphere. I left with a satisfied belly and a huge headache. All said and done, I would definitely go back -- that spaghetti was unreal. But I'd have to be prepared for it -- and I warn all my friends who go.
(4)
James U.
This one is goign to be short and sweet. It was before I started yelp-ing and man I wish I wrote down everything I had. I was down for the Winter Music Conference and we did a dinner with some exec's and was blown out of the water by the service and food. Dean the manager took care of us and wow did we eat. The most memorable was the polenta with mushrooms on the side (it was like crack!) and their signature Spaggetti, the Duck and Fois Ravioli and oh as I read these reviews on the side as I type it brings back memories. Everything was absolutely amazing. My last meal I would re-create this meal all over again it was that good. When I am back this year in Miami its either dinner here or Prime 112....gonna be a tough decision!
(5)
andrew s.
Classy and delicious. Stick with the classic italian pastas and starchy favorites and you will do no wrong. Having spent 4 months in Italy, I can say that most of these dishes are authentic and delicious. The spaghetti in tomato sauce is a must have. Service is great, and prices aren't too overwhelming.
(4)
Nina T.
amazing polenta and spaghetti. mediocre and overpriced lamb chops(per husband). not impressed w dessert. husband wants to give this place a 3 star but due to tasty pasta, giving it a 4.
(4)
Jocelyn J.
This is a "do-not-miss" Italian restaurant. Location, food, wine and service are all top-notch. The hubby surprised me on our anniversary by taking me here. We tried their tasting menu which was WAY too much food but every bite was scrumptious!! I LOVE this restaurant and can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jason O.
This review is for their Miami Spice 2010, though I believe the comments are valid for the restaurant in general. The restaurant goes along with the Miami-swank of the rest of the fountainbleu, albeit a little less trend, a little more Disney Yacht Club meets Miami Beach. Nice space, although it does not really feel like an Italian restaurant, or an Italian restaurant on the beach. The server treated us like garbage from the get-go. Unfortunately, it was three of us, and each of us missed comments she made at one time or other. Had we all heard all her comments, we probably would have up and left and enjoyed ourselves elsewhere. The night started just fine. We walked up to the restaurant and the hostess gave us the usual it'll be a few minutes - please spend some nice money at the bar routine. No big deal. We actually had three great drinks at $15 or so each. $55 with tip and tax before we sit down, but seriously, kudos to the bartenders for knowing what the heck they're doing back there. Hostess comes, takes us to our seats. We're introduced to the waitress "Jennifer". Jennifer will be mentioned frequently in my letter to the Fountainbleu and Scarpetta. Anyhow, Jennifer asks if we would like still or sparkling bottled water. We say neither, we'd like regular Miami water just fine, thank you. She snaps "Yeah, ok." serious attitude that cannot be conveyed here. Anyhow, I had my back to her for most of this, simply because the table of three (table spacing was crowded) really allows for no maneuverability of the servers or diners. Somehow I missed it, but she follows up with "You must be here for Miami Spice." WOW. I guess the bread was that good (it IS good) Time to order comes I asked for a bottle of Salviano 2005 Turlo, $45. Fantastic bottle. She sneers but manages an "I will get that for you right away," I let the face go, she's trying to be amicable. Order time comes, and apparently I order the only appetizer of the 4 the other two in our group don't want to taste. Jennifer chimes in, "You could just get the burrata off the menu." I reply "I think that sounds like too much food" - "It's not" "No it probably is, just give me the burrata appetizer." Serving time comes they brought out the wrong app. The server apologizes and takes it away. Jennifer accompanies the server as he brings me the burrata and as he puts it down she says, "here's the burrata, and its ok" "Excuse me," I reply. "Yeah, it's ok. You ordered the fish but now you want the burrata. it's ok, just as long as you know I did not screw up your order, you did." Now, as reasonable adults, it was absolutely understandable from where the confusion came. It was a small, excusable confusion in a loud restaurant. I just looked at her and said, "Now that is a problem." The rest of the meal went more or less the same. We minimized our interaction with Jennifer, as the rest of the staff was polite and attentive. My wife's fish entree was close to inedible (poorly made, the fish seemed more or less fresh) and so she left it, no complaints. No questions were asked when they took back an untouched plate. Desserts were good but not fantastic. My sister had the spaghetti, which probably the best dish of the night, but I ABSOLUTELY cannot believe the amount of hype Scott Conant gets, nor the sort of superior attitude he often exudes when judging on various Food Network shows based on what we saw at Scarpetta. We could have had a very nice night out, and honestly, we spent about $260 by the time it was all done for 3 people. If you cannot find semi decent servers averaging that per cover, something is wrong. Would I try it again? Not on my dime, the food quality and execution were not as high as I expect. I might, however, stop in for another drink.
(1)
Kent C.
Service and decor are the first things you will notice when entering Scarpetta at Miami Beach. Even while waiting for our table to be ready- we were catered to with their special "chips." When we sat down- our waiter was very attentive and the rest of staff never let our water get too low, a napkin to be left unfolded, or a question unanswered. Food consisted of shallow (in terms of physical depth) portions- each uniquely created. Their special "breads" were a meal into themselves- very delicious. We left the restaurant thinking that we would be hungry- but that was not the case. It was just enough in retrospect and certainly unique in taste. We were told to try pasta dishes because they were all freshly made at the restaurant - and definitely tasted that way. Did I expect a little more? Maybe. Was I disappointed? No. Will I go back? Yes. Maybe in a different city as well.....
(4)
Linda T.
All hail Miami Spice Restaurant Week and a bachelorette party filled with 8 sexy foodies who love to share entrees :) Needless to say, I sampled a bit of everything that night (in more ways than 1!). Let's do a Scarpetta roll call here: Appetizers--check! - Polenta: Presented in 2 dishes--1 for the polenta, 1 for the mushroom topping. The polenta was creamy, smooth without losing texture, and mushrooms drizzled on top made for a perfect bite each time. - Short ribs: Tender and densely flavorful. You know how meat gets that caramelized, almost sticky texture and is compacted into tiny, dark morsels of flavor? Yea. You're welcome. - Burrata: Can't go wrong with this delicately fatty cheese. It was like tomato, basil, mozzarella on steroids. Entrees--check! - Spaghetti: It really is a no frills, no fuss spaghetti. Just good pasta with fresh tomatoes tossed in parmaean and coated with basil infused extra virgin olive oil. While I'm a fan of avante-garde food and molecular gastronomy (apologies to those offended by this dated term), I appreciate it when food tastes like how it should. The hand-made spaghetti was plump andthe flavors resembled just a little like chicken stock. Immensely savory. - Branzino: Perfect crisped skin, non-greasy and airy, encases moist and flaky white meat. Most of the flavor is present in the crust as Branzino itself is pretty mild. It was set upon a bed of flavored foam. Put the foam in your mouth and all you get a whisp of intense flavor. Pretty cool. - Oven roasted chicken: Almond crumbles hug this juicy cut of poultry. Simple and delicious. - Sirloins of beef: I sense a theme here--entrees that enhance, rather than mask, the main ingredients best features. Once again, this dish has no frills and was perfectly cooked. Dessert--check and check! - Panna cotta: My heart be still... The presentation was a bit deceiving. I though the coconut ice cream on top was the panna cotta sitting on top of guava soup (their terminology, not mine). Alas! As I dug past the soup, I discovered a giant bowlful of delicious cooked cream! Paired with the coconut ice cream and guava sauce, it was a tropical treat. - Chocolate cake: Inside lies a warm, gooey, chocolaty center. While good, it was just too rich to continue eating past a few bites. - Cheesecake: The texture was smooth and highlighted the accents more than the cheesecake itself. Bienvenido a Mee-ah-mee!
(5)
Shawn P.
Scarpetta gets 4 stars just because of the view alone. I have lived in Miami area for 10 years and run along the beach past the hotel all the time but seeing the beach and ocean on a moon light night from an all marble table with candle light flickering is amazing. They could have brought out Chef Boyardee and and Dr, Pibb and I would have been set. Luckily they didn't and stepped it up. I had Spagehetto pomador which sound like a no brainer but was so good my South Philly Italian mom's need to tread lightly - this was better. Sorry Mrs. Battaglia Japanese mackerel ? Did not know such I thing existed but very very good. I am a nom nom good food guy more swayed by good service than great food but throw in the spectacular view, this place is a solid 5 stars for me.
(5)
Josh D.
Scarpetta is a very Chic Italian Restaurant in the popular Fontaine Blue hotel. For me the ambiance was more of a focus than the food itself, not to say it was bad I just felt the ambiance was a bit overbearing. At first the bread with the mascarpone butter and Ratatouille was delicious, I loved the idea of opening a meal with these wonderful flavors. We ordered the fresh fried mozzarella as an appetizer, and of course it was one of the best I've ever had. Clean tasting Mozzarella with a beautifully crisp crust. Our server was not entirely the nicest guy, but he got the job done. My dad and I like to ask questions, as a Chef I like to inquire about the food I'm going to eat when we're talking $30+ for a dish. I ordered the Braised Short-rib Tagliatelle which was a great dish. I really enjoyed it as the short-rib was perfectly braised and full of flavor. For some reason it just didn't pop with any real flavor that I was looking for. Since it was my birthday they brought me out a plate with Nutella-Hazelnut Zeppolis with a Creme Anglais dipping sauce. Now this was an amazing item. The pastry chef certainly knows how to do his/her job, and I could appreciate a perfectly cooked Zeppoli. Overall I would definitely take a date here, but for a family outing this seems a little too much for my taste.
(4)
pracheta t.
I felt like I was the star of a movie as the hostess escorted my hot husband and I to our table that was overlooking the pool and was accompanied by a slight, warm breeze. The entire night was like magic thanks to the romantic, trendy ambiance and seriously amazing drinks. One of the most perfect nights of food, drinks and love. Def go here. With friends, on a date - whatever!
(5)
Dennis M.
world renown or whatever. spaghetti was tasty not what you pay for tasty. i suggest eating all their bread that they keep feeding you and drinking a bottle of wine, then you'll be gold.
(3)
Jenaia F.
If you're looking for a great restaurant to check out while Miami Spice is in effect, Scarpetta should definitely be on your list. Stopped in on Sunday and had an amazing dining experience - one that I would definitely pay full price for. The staff was extremely attentive and friendly. The food was exquisite. The ambiance was lovely. No complaints. I'm a sucker for mushrooms, so the polenta is a must try if you feel the same way. It was unreal... creamy, rich, perfect!!! The presentation wasn't too shabby either. It's something you should definitely check out.
(5)
John Y. C.
The restaurant is located in the fabulous Fontainbleau Hotel. Note that the restaurant is located in the new tower, so if you enter through the main lobby, expect a 3 min (although lovely) walk. The hostess that greeted us was young, and you can tell by her demeanor. Nothing negative. I guess i'm just getting older. We were seated outdoors, not facing the main pool, but the back pool which directly overlooks the ocean. It was a windy night, but was not a distraction. Our server, Rick, was perfect in every manner. Present only when necessary, and made no interruptions. The wine glasses were always full. The braised short rib of beef was tender and had the great flavor of the beef. The risotto accompanied the beef well, not intruding into the flavor of the beef. The black cod was cooked to perfection. A nice large piece that flaked with the fork. The duck w/ foie gras ravioli was good. The individual raviolis were small, so there was not much filling. There weren't any accompaniments with the dish. Just a simple plate of little raviolis. Have a after-dinner apertif at the Bleau Bar and then party the night away at LIV. If you become a little tipsy, spend the night, and then lounge at the pool the next day.
(4)
Gordon G.
Good, Thats was far as it goes. Not great , not amazing, good. The setting and ambience amazing. VERY LOUD! Not a place for kids, not a place for a frugal wine drinker like me. 180 US on Borello we bought in Italy this summer for 18 Euros??? Come on! Maybe NYC version is better, but there are definitely better ways to waste your money.
(4)
Tracy M.
Loved having dinner here the other night! We called for reservations, 30 minutes before there last seating, got a reservation for 6 at 10:30 and were greeted and accomodated very nicely. Drinks were well prepared. All of us ordered different dishes from the Miami Spice menu. What a treat!!! Drinks, service, food, portions, ambiance...everything was perfect! I'll come back even without Miami Spice. I know this is not the cheapest restaurant in Miami, but they do seem to make it all worth it! Kudos!
(5)
Vivian L.
I'm home & I am deeply missing the food, experience, etc. My cousins & I celebrated a night out & chose to go here. It was great that we chose Scarpetta. The decor was very 'Z Gallery'. The servers were very nice, attentive & cute..(Hey Carlos, lol). Since I was out with the girls I sampled everything from short ribs & polenta to their spaghetti & prime filet. Everything was so delicious!!! I would pay the orig prices like another reviewer mentioned. The dessert was orgasmic. I scarfed the amedei chocolate cake down. Also had a bite of the coconut panna cotta (yummy) y mocha cheesecake. The cheesecake was good but a little too mocha for my tastebuds. I also want to add that we indulged a little bit more & bought a couple wine bottles. It was a great offer so I couldn't refuse (hehehe). All in all it was a great night with great food, great company, & great ambiance. This place is definitely worth it.
(5)
Vanessa S.
Want to make someone feel like a million without spending a million, bring them to Scarpetta! A surprise dinner from my girls included me getting dressed without knowing where we were off to and as we pulled up to the gorgeous Fountainbleu my jaw dropped! We took a nice half booth outside, no regrets here the outside patio was well lit, cozy and not unbearably hot. I munched on their bread served with 3 nice spreads as I looked over the wine menu. I'll be honest, I know nothing of Italian wines so I told the waiter what flavors I liked and he picked out the perfect glass of red wine for me. It went with everything we ordered! Onto the menu, simple, freshly prepared pastas, all types of meat and fish and that feeling you get when you want to order one of everything! Since we couldn't order everything we went with two appetizers to start, the polenta and mushroom fricassee appetizer along with the short rib over orzo appetizer. I knew polenta and truffle oil would be decadent, but I never imagined the marriage of flavors would be that good, I wanted to buy a gallon of it and take it home with me. The short ribs were perfection, not soggy, but fork tender and the cheese and orzo added a special taste to a familiar favorite. We followed our entree rule, when ordering entrees no one can order the same thing, this way it takes care of that wanting to order everything feeling. Four diners, four entrees. I had the agnolotti dal plin, a tortellini type pasta filled with a meat paste and cheese, quite tasty. My dining mates ordered, Spaghetti in tomato & basil simple yet well prepared. Scialatelli which I didn't try and Black Tagliolini which had fresh delicious pieces of squid in it, I almost ordered that and glad my friend did so I could taste it. We ate almost in silence from how good all the food was. We munched away, talked, drank our wine and just barely noticed our waiters, yes there were several of them, all night they zoomed by the table making sure we were doing well. They did this so seamlessly it deserves being mentioned. Despite not needing to we decided to order not one, but two desserts! The first was an almond chocolate cake served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. WOW!! The warm cake was dense like a flourless and had the right amount of decadent chocolate in it, not repugnant but really chocolaty. The second dessert was chocolate (yes, more chocolate) Zeppoles with a mascarpone dipping sauce. They were described by one of my friends as an Italian version of a Thai Donut. All I know is that I could eat about a dozen of those things, they were lightly dusted with toasted hazelnut and made me want a glass of milk real bad! They were the perfect end to an awesome meal! Let me just say It's not one thing that makes a restaurant five star worthy. For me, it's a combination of all aspects, leaving the place feeling I got precisely what I paid for and came for, being fed well and served well. This is what my Scarpetta experience accomplished, it covered all bases perfectly without making me beg. I say for a couple bucks more than Romano's, Scarpetta delivers something delicious and special, it's worthy of your time and dollars. As a local though, I suggest steering clear during high tourist time.
(5)
Jessica P.
I just went to Scarpetta for the second time and still LOVE this place. I went with three other close friends so we were all trying each others dishes. Below are the items we ordered: Apps: Braised Short Ribs of Beef - Very tender and delicious. Served with vegetable & Farro risotto. Polenta - Creamy amazing goodness served with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms Raw Yellowtail - So simple, yet so incredible. Very fresh and tasty. Crispy Frito Misto - Shoe string fried seafood and vegetables. Very good. Burrata w/ heirloom tomatoes and arugula/basil - Tasted like a caprese. Came with buttery toasted baguette, yum. Main plates: Strozzapreti - Lobster w/ tomatoes and capers. Buttery and delicious. Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli - melts in your mouth Duck - Had a great orange scented au jus. Very tender. Branzino - A white fish seared and crispy on one side, served over gnocchi and asparagus bean. The chef brought us an extra plate of Spaghetti - So surprised at how amazing this simple dish could be, I wish I ordered this. Dessert: Panna Cotta w/ Coconut Ice Cream in guava sauce - Awesome light dessert Mocha Cheesecake w/ Espresso Sorbet - Tasty Chocolate cake - WOW I could have had 4 more of these. All in all Scarpetta is definitely a 5 star restaurant and worth the 5 star price. Great service and atmosphere and incredible food.
(5)
Erica L.
We stayed at the Fontainebleu for 4 days and we ate here the first night. AMAZING food, great ambience and great customer service. We didn't experience any waiting time at the bar while we waited for our table like other reviewers experienced, we were brought right over to our table. We shared the fritto misto for the appetizer and I had the duck & foie gras ravioli and my boyfriend had the chicken...I forgot what it was called but that was excellent. I make a great roast chicken but I might try to copy that one!! For dessert we had the chocolate and nutella zeppoli, not really like a zeppoli think of it more as a warm brownie with a nutella center. I don't really care what it is it was delicious. We are definitely going to Scarpetta in NYC now that we're home!
(5)
Richard M.
Excellent. Having been to Miami many times I truly regret not having come here before. Service was par excellence and the atmosphere it's equal. Food was very good. Staying in the hotel I also ate at Gotham Steak and to put these two restaurants on the same footing is laughable. Really, they don't even come close. The wine menu was very thorough with glass starting at $8, apps were of large portions and very well done. All in all I would highly recommend.
(5)
Sol H.
Fontainbleau Miami Beach Cant beat that already. Not just because I worked there for 2 years, it is the best restaurant in all of Miami as far as Italian Cuisine, Service, and ambiance. Chef Scott Conant from the TV show Chopped and 24 restaurant battle is the owner. The Chef de Cuisine is Michael PIrolo my homie. If you ever go just make sure you get a tasting menu because for the money, you get so much food, and everything on the menu is so delicious its worth every penny.
(5)
Selma M.
Wow! Oh Scarpetta, why have I waited so long to try you?! From the bread you put in my mouth that melted away, to the amuse-bouche of sashimi that you teased me with, and to the four courses of never ending amazing you filled me with, I am forever going to want to come back for more!
I had high expectations with all the great reviews... My wife and I got the chefs tasting menu... It was ok.. Nothing memorable.. Even their signature dish house-made spaghetti was good not great. The pasta was fresh but sauce lacked flavor. Service was good... Little all over the place... Have to tighten it up. Really wanted it to be good.
(2)
Kortni L.
Over a year later and I would still hop a plane to Miami just to be at Scarpetta. Chef Scott Conant does not disappoint!
(5)
Lucy K.
Amazing restaurant. I went here for my boyfriends birthday. I had called and set everything up beforehand. We're both big fans of Nina from Top Chef and we couldn't wait to try her food. We got drinks at the bar beforehand, which were excellent and creative. For food, we ordered: Apps: Polenta with mushroom: 5 stars, incredible. One of the best polenta dishes I have ever had Octopus: 4 stars. Super moist and flavorful Dinner: Duck and foie gras ravioli (as reported by my boyfriend): 4 stars, very good Black cod: 5 stars. I couldn't even tell you all the components I ate but they were all amazing. Everything worked so well together and the fish was cooked perfectly Duck: 4 stars: super moist with a great sauce At the end of the night, they wished him happy birthday and gave him a card signed by the manager. Very professional service. The ambience was romantic and not to loud. Expensive but worth it. We asked if we could meet Nina, but unfortunately she wasn't there that night. Still so happy to have tried her restaurant and the excellent cuisine.
(5)
Rima R.
For dinner we had a beef tar tar - love it!!! :) Duck was - so so.. And chocolate dessert - good one! :)
(4)
Rue F.
The first thing you notice when you walk in is that it is FREEZING in there. Take a sweater for sure. The ambiance is so so but the food is terrific. My husband had their tasting menu, I had the Long Island Duck. His started out with appetizers of tuna tartar and a seared scallops. Both great. Then he had the pasta portion which had two dishes, a spaghetti to die for and a duck foie gras ravioli that was out of this world. Raves on those two dishes. The main dish was a steak that was good. For dessert he got a mango flan soup that was amazing and a chocolate cake that was okay. He highly recommends doing the tasting menu. My duck was also wonderful. Tender and prepared to temperature not overdone. Only complaint here was the coffee was ordered with cream, milk was delivered. Seems to be a theme at all restaurants at the Fontainebleau Our waiter Eric was wonderful. Ask for him. Would I go back again? Absolutely!!
(5)
Rick S.
The food is good, and service unpredictible. We got there around 7pm as a walk in, asked about reservations, they said 8:15pm, so when waited in the bar area, when 8:15 rolled around, we inquired, and were given a pretty bland uncompassionate response that fell between a shrug and rolling of the eyes, so we continued to wait, inquired now and then the same attitude, and finally got seated at 9:30pm. If you subscribe to the adage of "what's the point of making a reservation if it's not going to be honored?" - - then I'd probably avoid this place, as most places in South Beach, Miami - - or once the time hits and you've not been seated, cut your losses and find alternative dining plans so you don't invest too much or more than you can afford to. The service inside was good, the food was served fast and with polite demeanor. The spaghetti was supposed to be awesome, others at the table proclaim. The duck was very good, and if you get it "medium rare" that's perfect and it's moist and tender (be sure to eat the skin too, it's tasty and not too fatty). The portion, as with duck at most non-Chinese restaurants is a small breast fillet, so cut elegantly, but a small portion. Eat a lot of the bread to fill you up first. The bread is excellent by the way. I'd say the one thing South Beach and this restaurant should abolish is the 18% service fee, since mandatory tipping provides no incentive nor motivation for your employees to actually perform, excel or get an indication of the quality of their work. I think a tip should be earned, it's not an entitlement. That's probably why they call it a Service Fee / Service Charge (and it applies to all purchases, whether it's a $100 bottle of wine or $1,900 single serving of 55 year old scotch (by the way, I'm now storing 2013 scotch so that I can make a killing in 2078 in 55 years!), as well as for a party of 1 or 10 people)... I guess if you can afford a $1,900 cup of alcohol, you can afford the $342 they'll charge you to pour it and bring it to you (referring to the 18% service charge)
The food here was not that great . Not quite sure why it got 4 stars. The ambiance is nice the service is great but besides that not really sure what the rave is all about. We ordered the local squash blossom which has some kind of risotto rice and the mozerella in Carozza which is essentially fried cheese sticks . The bread platter has meat in it so if your vegetarian make sure to ask for a plate of just bread . Our waiter was really amazing food is sub par. Ice tea is great as a side note . Continue to follow me for more Miami posts !
(2)
Mrs. D M.
This is my favorite spot for Italian in Miami. Yes, going to the Fontainebleu can be a mission (or a real treat, depending on your mood and the night crowd), but it's worth a go! Beautiful, Mediterranean decor, with ocean front views. Even if you sit inside the restaurant, still a nice atmosphere! Love the mixed bread basket in the beginning. Must trys: Polenta (with an wonderful mushroom ragu), Spaghetti (just get it, it's so fresh!) and the branzino or seabass they are offering. To me, they get the perfect crispness and saltiness on the outside, and the moistness you expect on seabass on the inside. Love it! Have also tasted the duck ravioli, which was really good, although the portion a bit small. Don't go here expecting a carb-free experience; that'd be a waste! Definitely a good spot to take out of towners for a fun experience.
(5)
Lundy P.
Dined here last weekend for my 49th birthday along with my wife and her daughter and her daughter's family. The best part about the meal was the atmosphere. As to be expected in Sobe, the mood was festive. The food was good but did not really meet my expectations especially considering the cost. Service kept up with our needs but again it left something to be desired. I may dine here again but it would not be my first choice.
(4)
Erica L.
Where to begin...we did the 4 course tasting menu, and I can't remember all the food we got but everything was exceptional. Pasta perfectly al dente, the highlight being the foie gras pasta (I think it was a ravioli?). Desserts were amazing as well - I think we got a coconut panna cotta and a caramel pudding with a side of passionfruit sorbet - yum!
(4)
Eriko M.
I would only go for special occasions. It was my birthday. The creamy polenta and the flourless chocolate cake were to DIE for. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. And although I had no idea what anything was on the cocktail menu, whatever I had, it was delicious!! The main dishes were meh...I had the duck/foie gras ravioli and my date had some seafood pasta. Service was great. I would go back on another special occasion for the cocktail, polenta, chocolate cake and an excuse to dress up.
(4)
A P.
Service was the best part of the meal! However food was disappointing. Only complimentary prosciutto bread was good (eggplant dip was too salty). In general food was oversalted. Mushroom polenta was ok but runny. Not as flavorful as before. Short rib stuffed pasta was disappointing, both in appearance and in taste. Sirloin (Miami spice extra) was also lacking flavor and texture. Guava panacotta was actually good. Hope they can do something to restore things in the kitchen (like check on the supervising chef) Atmosphere could be better where it not for large groups and kids (too much mass market hotel clientele).
(2)
Aimee C.
Service was in the restaurant was phenomenal! Went for the Miami Spice menu and my friends and I were served every dish on the menu family style! The favored dishes were the creamy polenta, short rib stuffed ravioli, sirloin, tomato basil spaghetti and guava panacotta paired with a lovely French Sancerre wine! Will definitely be back with my foodie boyfriend. Only gave it 3 stars due to the avoidable mishap at valet. They charged me double the valet fee, argued with me as to how much I should get back, then told me I had to wait 8 days to get my refund. Customer service was not at it's highest here!
(3)
Sepi B.
Had Thanksgiving dinner here with our families (party of 14 or so). Service was excellent. They accomodated us with an infant. We sat outside and it was nice - a bit chilly - no heaters. The inside was bustling with lovely decor. Most of us did the Thanksgiving menu ($75, pic attached). Everything was delicious. The signature pasta was amazing as always (had it at the Beverly Hills location). The burrata salad was good. The carrots and pumpkin were such a perfect addition. It may have been a bit bland though. The prime sirloin was juicy and tender. For sides I got the pureed potatoes (wonderful) and the haricot vert (ok). The dessert I had was the bread pudding and it was amazinggggg. All in all a fabulous dinner with fam!
(4)
Catalina P.
I went last Friday to Scarpetta to try the spice menu with a group of 6 people. The server was hostile as hell!!...since the moment that we sat down and asked for the spice menu he got super rude and treated us like we were begging for some "free" food. Im sure that these waiters give a good service based on your pocket...what a shame for a restaurant has this kind of people or employees! Good food but experience overall was opaque by the service!...don't recommend it and I will not come back again. I would rather suggest to try the new Miami located in Wynwood or Midtown which is less pretentious and more foodie than in Miami Beach. I would not recommend this to a friend!
(2)
Daniele G.
the perfect place to dine at before clubbing at LIV. 11:30pm and still pretty busy, probably 80% capacity. Hostess went out of her way to accommodate us at a quiter table in the veranda. Every dish was good to very good, a few were a bit "stretched" for being Italian, the risott was positively great. service was smooth and unintrusive.
(4)
Tiffany C.
Came here last night for dinner. Although we had reservations we had to wait 15 minutes for our table. Mind you it wasn't even that packed. Strike 1. When we finally sat down it looked like smooth sailing for a while. The steak tartar and the creamy polenta were awesome, but that was probably the only 2 good things we had that night. After our appetizers the service slowed down tremendously. We probably waited another 30 mins for our food or for anyone to come by to check on us. Don't order the duck ravioli especially if you have high blood pressure. It's saltier than the Dead Sea. I guess the only redeeming factor was when I told them the food was too salty and they gave us free dessert. That was after another 30 minutes though of no one coming by.
(2)
Mya J.
Fabulous authentic Northern Italian cuisine. Started with the Yellowtail and Arugula salad. Main courses were the homemade pasta marinara and black truffle ravioli with a broccolini side dish and finished with the out of this world chocolate cake. Another perfect and romantic dinner.
(5)
judy n.
we had just gotten into miami beach, checked into our hotel & needed to find somewhere to eat after 8pm. scarpetta was within walking distance but seemed a bit on the high end side for our needs (& our attire) but we decided to give it a go anyway. despite our lackluster appearance, they seated us anyway, which was generous on their part. gotta say, it was the best meal we ate on our entire week-long trip. the service was stellar: multiple servers that were friendly & very attentive plus piping hot food served quickly. we had: lobster & peach salad w/burrata which sounds weird but was delicious. misto frito which sounds boring but was exceptional. so lightly fried & delightfully salty. duck & foie gras ravioli which was very rich but surprisingly not heavy. lamb ragu pasta which was meaty & satisfying. while the loud house music was odd, i would still go back if i'm ever in miami beach again.
(5)
Constantine H.
The best chicken you will ever have IN YOUR LIFE. -Fin
(5)
Tara W.
I loooove the Scarpetta in NY in spite of myself, because I don't usually go for celeb-chef multi-city restos, but somehow we ended up here with a large group. Rather than have everyone do an individual order, we went with the tasting menu which provided a variety of dishes in stuffing portions at bargain prices. We ended up getting the Scarpetta all-stars like the short ribs, polenta, burrata, and spaghetti as well as a few ringers we wouldn't necessarily have chosen. I'm admittedly a food snob and usually tone it down when around others who aren't of the same persuasion, and I feel like Scarpetta was a happy medium for that. My only complaints are about the restroom, timing of dishes, and credit card limits. The ladies room is in the hotel, not the restaurant, and it's quite a hike on wine wobbly high heels. I feel like 4 of our courses arrived at once which was overwhelming. And they would only split the bill between 6 cards, so be prepared. But these were only mild obstacles in an otherwise great meal.
(4)
Steve T.
Impeccable service with numerous people taking care of each table. Their dinner bread was delicious especially the Stromobi. I had the short rib and bone marrow ravioli that was the highlight of my meal. The duck and foie ravioli was a bit strong/bitter for my taste but still had good flavor. My wife had the riccota truffle ravioli that was also quite tasty. The portions are small so get ready to order a few items per person. I forgot about their creamy polenta, but we'll be back.
(4)
Alex S.
Scarpetta was probably one of the best meals I've I had in my life. Every dish from beginning to end was great. The polenta with mushrooms lives up to all the hype and the oven roasted chicken and scallops were great too! This is a place where I feel like you can't go wrong trying anything on the menu.
(5)
Chantel M.
The service was great, ambiance was really romantic and the food was up to par, but as a food critic i must be honest. Not everything rocked my world. Presentation of the food was exquisite. We started with complimentary bread and spreads: butter, eggplant and cheddar infused something spread lmao (my personal fave), and olive oil Appetizers: 1.Steak tartare w/ quail egg (yes all raw) 2. The best/creamiest Polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms EVER! (This was sooo mouth watery) the fricassee made it very light and kept us wanting more! I would come back for this and i dont like gritty texture food but this was almost like drinking a bowl of soup. Perfecto! Pasta/main course and side dish: 1. Tomato/basil housemade spaghetti Definitely the best spaghetti I've ever had! I hate saucy spaghetti, so this was perfect. The noodles wear perfectly chewy with the sauce delicately mixed into the noodles. 2. Duck/foei gras ravioli There's lots of different taste buds pleased with this dish, and the fact that it just melts in ur mouth after biting into it is very salivating. BUT, it is a relatively heavy dish, if i was eating a 4 course meal again, i would not get this unless im sharing. 3. Long island duck garnished with baby carrots, mustard greens & sour cherry jus I say garnished bc there wasn't much much of the other stuff, if that was the #miamispice portion it was a pretty good portion bc the picture i have here was only half the dish since i was sharing. It was good but did not rock my world. Maybe bc im Chinese and ive had my fair share of well cooked duck. 4. Brussel sprouts caramelized with shallots & pancetta. The brussel sprouts came out perfect; however it could done well without pacetta. With the pacetta, it made the dish a little salty. Maybe good to another person, but for me, if it's a side dish that is suppose to complement the duck it sure did overpower it. I wanna blend it with the duck so it feels the dishes go together....not let it steal the thunder of the main course. Dessert: 1.Coconut Panna Cotta w/ caramelized pineapple & guava "soup" Not really a soup, but very refreshing the texture was like flan but much smoother....more like really soft tofu desserts with guava syrup on top and pinapple/coconut gelato on top. Really good my faves! Id come back for this. 2.Budino Di Mascarpone mascarpone custard, mango salad & mango sorbet Over all everything was really good, the mascarpone was like a creamier version of a cheesecake, the mango salad was not really a salad.it was more like mango bits on the bottom. But by the time we got to this dish. We were too full to enjoy it bc it is heavy for a dessert.
(4)
Nate B.
Over priced is one thing. Of course you pay for a top resort environment. Crappy service is another thing. Don't waste your money
(1)
Maria T.
I was in Miami for a bachelorette party and we made dinner reservations here. The wait time was quiet annoying considering we had reservations however the food and cocktails where so good! I'm a food snob especially with Italian. Only because my family is from Italy. I was very happy with everything I ordered which was the Mazzerella in carrozza and spaghetti with tomato and basil.
(4)
Sarina W.
My boyfriend and I are big Top Chef fans and we were definitely rooting for Chef Nina to win from the beginning. When we took a trip to Miami - South Beach for his Triathlon he knew he wanted a celebration dinner at Scarpetta. The hotel the restaurant is located in is chic, posh, and oh so lovely and modern. The restaurant is also chic and modern in its decor. I really liked the ambiance the moment you walked in. I had a Torino cocktail and it was so yummy and refreshing. Our table had about 6 adults and we ordered an array of foods. But the #1 plate on the table was definitely the Duck And Foie Gras Ravioli. It melts in your mouth and just tastes devine! Simply devine! I would come back just for this dish. I kmow everyone raves about the spaghetti, nut that one was a bit disappointing actually. The pasta itself was cooked to perfection but the sauce is mediocre. Nothing tomrabe about. Seriously, order the Duck And Foie Gras Ravioli. You will not he disappointed! It was simply perfection! So juicy, so flavorful, and melts like butter in your mouth. I do have some complaints though and the major one is service! There were a few folks who were sweet, helpful, and overall nice to talk to such as the bartender. But the overall table service was mostly a miss than a hit. At one point the waiter took our bread back without asking if we were done yet. We were still enjoying that bread! C'mon! They didnt even tell us their specials until we asked. And their overall vibe was that they didn't care that much. They just didn't go beyond was was expected of them that's all. Lots of room for improvement in this area I must say.
(4)
Alejandra O.
Great risotto and short ribs, however my moscow mule was not the best. Total cost $58, which included tax.
(4)
C N.
Obnoxious service! Went with a group of friends and we were appalled by the utter arrogance of our server. Maybe because we were not purchasing $700 bottles of wine so he couldn't be bothered but he was downright snooty and condescending. Maybe if the food at the restaurant was phenomenal, I could cut some slack but we have eaten at amazing restaurants all over the world and this was just "good" not "great." Too many other "great" restaurants to ever go back to this one. If you are in the mood to be belittled by a waiter, then go this restaurant, otherwise look elsewhere.
(2)
Bari A.
The service and food were excellent. I ordered the Scallops. They were delicious but there were only 3 scallops. I was still hungry after an appetizer and an entree. The ambiance, decor and view were wonderful. I would recommend but pricey for small portion.
(4)
Jose A.
Very good ... The pasta is amazing a must have . Service is very good . Wine list is top of the line . Make sure you reserve a table otherwise long waits . Service is very good .
(4)
Tanja Z.
Service was ok. The food is not all that great. I'm starting to wonder if anybody on yelp rating this place has ever had authentic Italian food. The spaghetti sauce literally tasted like canned spaghetti'os. The braised beef ravioli tasted like pot roasted and the risotto was awful. They use a barley rice that looks and has the texture of oatmeal.
(3)
Elizabeth R.
ONE OF THE BEST MEALS I'VE EVER HAD IN MIAMI. Truly. No exaggeration. Atmosphere, food, wine, service--everything exceeded expectations. We purchased a Gilt City deal for 4-courses with wine pairings, and everything--every sip, every bite--was amazing from the bread basket and amuse-bouche to the stroll by the beach after dinner. Positively stellar. We were seated at a romantic corner table by the window, and our charming young waiter took his time to talk to us about the menu, explain the wine pairings, and listen to our food preferences. Highlights of the meal included the oft-aforementioned spaghetti pomodoro and polenta with mushroom, but the real superstar was the Long Island duck. It was the best duck dish I've ever had. Typically, I avoid meat and gluten, but on this particular night, I set all food restrictions aside. If you ever feel like splurging, Scarpetta is the place. Two words to describe Scarpetta: WORTH IT.
(5)
Rachel O.
Stayed at the Fontaine Bleu and decided to try Scarpetta out. Very good experience overall! Beautiful setting... we had the best seat in the restaurant. Closest seat to the ocean in the far left corner. Service was amazing. Our waiter was very attentive and made sure he answered every question we had about the menu and gave suggestions. I wish the portions were a little bit bigger. I will say I had the best dish I have ever tasted. The gnocchi in mushrooms and corn. Absolutely amazing.. Melt in your mouth. Also had the best bread experience! The four different house made breads... Mmmm! My boyfriend ordered the spaghetti and the house made pasta was on point as well. Great experience and would definitely recommend!
(4)
Mrs. G.
Best Italian in Miami beach. It's difficult to find good places to eat here in Miami, but this one is solid. You cannot go wrong with any dish here and the service is very good. Short rib, spaghetti, the special with truffles are all delicious! Love it!
(5)
Neena B.
One of the best Italian meals I've had. We got the tasting with the wine pairing. If you have never gone to Scarpetta it's certainly the way to go. Our waiter Serkan was absolutely amazing. He explained the tasting to us and each wine with every course. I had told him I had heard great things about the spaghetti and the duck and foie gras ravioli and he made sure that they would be on the tasting. The tasting included so many dishes but the perfect amount where you didn't feel stuffed. They gave two starters, three types of pasta, two main courses, and two desserts. Highlights: -Amuse bouche of spicy tuna tartar and yellowtail sashimi. -Bread assortment featuring a panini with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto. -Creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms: I will never look at polenta the same way again. An absolute must try!! -Spaghetti. I was so skeptical since it is spaghetti and sauce. No meat. No special ingredients. But it is as perfect as everyone says. -Duck and foie gras ravioli: So creamy and decadent. There are caramelized onions in the ravioli that gives it this amazing balance. -Red snapper: Incredibly fresh with perfectly crisp skin. It's hard to say highlights because there was honestly no bad dishes. But if I came again, the polenta, spaghetti, and ravioli are absolute musts!! Great food, great service, great ambiance. I'll certainly be coming back!
(5)
Tatiana R.
Polenta and the homemade spaghetti are a must And not having for dessert guava pannacotta would be a big mistake Small menu but all dishes are amazing
(5)
Thomas W.
The Meatpacking District NYC definitely exists at the Miami Fountainbleau. I love Scott Conant's Scarpetta restaurants. New York, Las Vegas, Miami, Beverly HIlls, Toronto--He has it covered. The simple spaghetti dish here is unmatched in today's world. It is perhaps my favorite spaghetti dish today! The scallps, tuna tartare, and duck foie gras ravioli are truly special. Make sure you have a reservation, arrive for a drink with the beautiful people of South Beach, and are dressed for a nice nightclub, because this place is truly the spot to be seen. It is a special place in the Miami Fountainbleau!
(5)
Karli M.
Along with the rest of the staff, Tim, our server, was unbelievable. He was so kind, knowledgable and accommodating when I told him I was vegan. I let him choose my entire 4 course meal and every bit of it was DELICIOUS. I have nothing but amazing memories of this place, from their staff to their food, and I eagerly look forward to my next visit.
(5)
Talisha M.
Overrated and didn't meet the hype. The restaurant is gorgeous and sheik. The service was good and we got to meet the chef who happened to be on Top Chef which was great. We had the prefixed menu that samples most everything. It was all decently good but not mind blowing. The traditional spaghetti was very good. Think there are far better Italian in soflo.
(3)
Alexandra N.
Very disappointed. The ambiance was great, but the service was horrible. Our server was rude and unwilling to substitute any of the meals to accommodate my nut and fish allergies. He claimed the food and pasta was already made and the ingredients could not be changed. Wasn't in the mood to waste efforts on arguing, so I ordered the most expensive and most plain salad I've ever had, since everything seemed to have nuts or fish in it. For the price of the meals, the food should be freshly made and substitutions to avoid allergic reactions should be accommodated. I'm honestly not sure how this restaurant is acclaimed to be one of the best.
(2)
Coco K.
What a disappointment. I am very familiar with the kind of food Scarpetta restaurants can produce - I have dined at both the LA & Las Vegas locations and had amazing experiences. This one however was shocking sub-par. The waiter's table side manner was both fake and insincere, and included long periods of inattentiveness especially once we finished our meal and declined to order desert. The famous Scarpetta pastas were cold when they arrived at our table, which changed the consistency of the tomato sauce specifically to be sticky and unappetizing. That dish tasted as though they made a huge batch of the pasta and had it sitting under a heat lamp for hours. We we're supposed to be impressed by the news that Nina from Top Chef was cooking in the kicthen that night but that bit of info just added to the massive let down that was our meal. Mass produced and little attention to detail are 2 things that come to mind when I think of this location. Save your money.
(2)
Greg N Belle W.
Just recently had my first experience! OMG!!! AMAZING! This restaurant is not only beautiful but the staff and food is perfection! I had the best meal I have ever had. My husband and I went for my bday. We decided to experiment with the menu so we had a couple of different things. Of course, one of those plates were the spaghetti; which was amazing! Our waiter was BEYOND helpful and not too annoying. This is a MUST go!
(5)
John O.
i have been to the scarpetta in NYC and beverly hills and finally got around to the scarpetta in miami while at this conference at the fontainebleau. spaghetti was amazing as always, and because of the conference, scarpetta was open for lunch with a buffet. the downside was that it was probably about $50 (i don't remember, because it was on an expense account). but the upside was that you had some great selections--prime rib, short rib ravioli, and of course the spaghetti. you also had a cured meats selection, some decent desserts, and some other antipasti. they don't offer the lunch buffet except on private events but even cooked in mass quantities, the spaghetti rocked.
(5)
Eva Z.
This place is worth the money!! I came here with 3 of my friends for my birthday dinner. I was nervous when I saw the prices but my fears were quickly put to rest, as the service was great, and the food was to die for. The basket of bread includes homemade stromboli, which we were all fighting over. The eggplant, olive oil, and marscapone that come with the breads were also delicious, and we were quickly offered another basket of bread after we scarfed down the first (more stromboli!!!). The waiter was very patient with helping us make wine and entree choices, as we were all very indecisive. I ended up having the short rib agnolotti, which was incredible. My friends also loved all of their dishes (sweet corn ravioli and duck and fois gras ravioli). Our waiter was awkwardly hanging around the table when we were finished, even though we had said we were much too full for dessert. Of course he insisted we look at the dessert menu, and when I said that I really was much too full for dessert and didnt want anything, out came my birthday chocolate lava cake complete with candle and Happy Birthday written in chocolate!! The waiter did a great job with the surprise and I managed to stuff a couple of bites of cake in, which was just as delicious as the rest of our food. Such a great experience and meal, can't wait to try the NYC location.
(4)
Robert J.
I can see why this place got a 4diamond rating. IT's one of the ultra-snooty, high class, high class, holier-than-thou places that probably spends way too much on a chef. The food was over-the-top tasty/interesting, but small portions that left no one satisfied. The waiter kind of scoffed at us when we said we were coming by for Happy Hour. Look dude, it means we're here for early evening beverages during our business meeting... not that we're here to get drunk on $3 PBRs. They have some sort of dedicated wine host who seemed to know every wine and tried to get us to change our mind when we had picked a bottle. The made us wait in the lobby for 2 minutes because we were there before they were "opened" (rather than allowing us to wait at a table). They also don't open until 6pm.... WHY? It's delicious food and high class, but definitely not my style. Maybe if I had flashed my Bentley keys or a $100k watch they might have treated us a little better.
(3)
Christopher S.
Arrive at this place last night and ate at the bar. Michael was awesome and exceeded my expectations, and provided helpful information regarding nightlife options! I had the octopus and roasted chicken which were awesome!
(5)
Anita O.
This place has such great reviews, so I was very confused by my experience. I am a New Yorker and have lived in Italy, so I know good Italian food. I LOVE Italian food, so my husband and I visited Scarpetta on Christmas night. We ordered raw scallops and braised short ribs for our appetizers. They were okay, but certainly not impressive. For our meal, I ordered the black linguine. I normally love black linguine-- nothing beats its texture and flavor. So I was so excited when it arrived, and so incredibly disappointed when I took my first bite. The pasta was wayyy overcooked. It was probably pre-cooked and sat in a pot for a couple of hours, the way it tasted. I understand a big restaurant sometimes has to precook pasta, but black linguine goes limp incredibly fast and needs to be cooked al dente when ordered, otherwise you get a black mush, which is what I had to deal with. On top of that, the sauce was very mediocre. Just the wrong blend of spices and too much garlic, I think. It was so bad that I couldn't eat it. And I rarely leave that much food on my plate, even if I don't like the dish. My husband liked his pasta ok...it was a gimelli pasta with lobster. The pasta was cooked well but the sauce was lacking. Our bottle of wine was very good. And the grilled ricotta pound cake was VERY good, the best part of the meal in fact. An extra star just for the dessert. To be fair, Scarpetta had amazing service. Management asked us how we enjoyed our food and listened to our criticisms instead of waving us off. They also did take the black linguine off our bill, which was very nice of them. Sorry, but won't be returning to Scarpetta, not even in NY after this experience. We've just had so much better Italian...
(2)
Alexander R.
Overpriced and some of the worst service I've ever gotten. Also the patio areas has terrible acoustics, feels like a noisy cafeteria, you can't hear anyone more than a few chairs away. I was there in a group of 12, most of which were trying out the Miami Spice menu. I'm not sure if this is why our server Carlos was so rude and dismissive, but I expected better from such a nice restaurant. The food was great, though nothing special for the price. I suppose it would've still been a 3-to-4-star experience except when it came time to split the bill, Carlos said it would take too long to split so we'd have to do it ourselves. After 30 minutes of not being able to come up with the correct total, it turns out we had been over-charged ~$125 in extra drinks and and extra Spice dinner. We had to call the manager to finally have our checks split. I would've demanded my gratuity be taken off my check if not for the fear that it would've taken another 30 minutes. Cool place if you want to impress a date, just make sure you don't get Carlos as a waiter.
(2)
Charles M.
So delicious I wonder what's in the sauce, in a good way. Just, so so good. The wifey got gluten free pasta that had me stealing bites left and right. I usually hate her gluten-free food. My lobster homemade pasta dish was divine. Desert was heaven, and our waiter just took great care of us. I just got done ripping on 74 in the same hotel. Maybe someone here could teach 74 a lesson or two, but I'd bet Scarpetta wouldn't risk it.
(5)
Johnny E.
Really had an enjoyable experience. 'Korean' Tim was our server and without a doubt perhaps the best service I have ever had. He brought us a sample of so much food without us even asking for it. He understood quickly what our taste palate was and made excellent recommendations. The food was not heavy, perfectly balanced. We had the tuna, spaghetti, mozzarella, creamy polenta, and the snapper. And Tim surprised us with three different dessert entrees. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Rachel P.
F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!! From the moment you walk in, you are surrounded by a super posh interior. What a beautiful spot to dine while overlooking the ocean. I feel this spot is one of the closest in proximity to the ocean in most, if not all of Miami. The service was perfect (thanks to our australian waiter and crew), the ambiance was perfect, the food and drinks were perfect, I don't think I could have asked for anything more! To start with they have a very interesting cocktail menu, I opted for their apple vodka creation with all sorts of berries. It was red in color and it was probably one of the best cocktails I have ever tasted. The name escapes me, but something with a T.....about 4th down on their drink menu. As for entrees, I couldn't pass up their spagetti dish. Loved it. 3 of us at the table all had to order it. My husband ordered the Garganelli pasta dish; which was tasty too! For a side, I enjoyed their crispy brussel sprouts and I must say they were cooked exactly the way I like them-crispy and not soggy! My husband ordered the braised short ribs and they were excellent! I also tried the creamy polenta and I think next time I would order this as well. As for dessert, we tried both the CHOCOLATE ZEPPOLE which was nutella center, vanilla anglaise & candied hazelnuts (pretty much Nutella donuts)-they were outstanding! We also had AMEDEI CHOCOLATE CAKE with toasted almond gelato & salted caramel sauce (their version of a chocolate lava cake)-also very tasty. We can't wait to find another reason to return back to Scarpetta!
(5)
Anita G.
Been coming here since they opened. Service atmosphere and food all perfect. Will be there again soon and always recommending to my friends who are never disappointed.
(5)
Geoff And Jenni G.
Cocktails were excellent, wine was fabulous, tasting menu was superb... Nothing but good things to say... really enjoyed the food/evening and would definitely return...
(5)
Nathaly L.
Spaghetti amazing! i cant help order the same entree time and time again. i am obsessed with their simple yet amazing spaghetti pomodoro. i love it, nothing fancy its spaghetti guys!!! but its so simply delicious. i also recommend their farmers salad yummy! and they have a creamy polenta with a mushroom ragu sauce that i loove (if u like polenta). Nice vibe, intimate, trendy, fun date night place... one con: the last table i sat on was right under the a/c vent making it extremely cold for me, a bit uncomfortable.
(5)
Annah T.
Most amazing Italian food. Rather pricey but all in all completely worth it. The best part was the service and the round of tequila the manager brought out for us at the end. Thank you so much for contributing to our great time in Miami!
(5)
Jason S.
What we ate: Creamy Polenta - Amazing! A must! Stone Crab Appetizer - A Miami staple, but small portions. Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli - Creamy & Delicious! Spaghetti - Supposedly a signature dish but just Meh. Chocolate Cake - Good but not memorable. & Complimentary Petit Fours What we experienced: Great customer service! We mentioned to the waitress that we were not only Top Chef fans, but fans of Chef Nina. Halfway through our dinner, the waitress surprised us with Chef Nina, herself! She sat down with us, took a picture and chatted briefly as it was a busy Saturday night! Not only that, but Chef Nina sent a complimentary Petit Fours our way as we were celebrating my birthday. This is a beautifully decorated restaurant in the equally amazing Fontainebleu! What else? Make reservations as it seems pretty busy with tourists and corporate diners alike.
(4)
Cristina C.
From what I hear, the menu is fantastic but I only order three things off the menu: creamy polenta appetizer, tomato basil spaghetti (filled with buttery, cheesy goodness in addition to the freshest tomato sauce ever) and any chocolate dessert they're offering. I don't bother trying anything else. They're just that good.
(5)
Dan R.
I always tell myself that if I had to live somewhere other than New York City, it would be Miami. Domestically speaking, of course. And I've only ever been in the Magic City for a handful of days at a time, but each time, I always enjoy it a little too much, and then start day-dreaming about some alternate timeline I've got going for myself where I wear an obnoxious amount of white morning, noon, and night. But, in the unlikely event I actually leave New York, I'd most likely miss the food above all else. Thankfully, there are Gotham transplants like Scarpetta to get me through the pain. Pici is one of my favorite types of pasta (picture thick spaghetti), and Scarpetta's offering has got to be one of the best I've ever had. Tossed with lobster, Calabrese spices, and a spreadable sausage called 'nduja (Italian slang for andouille, although the meats are not the same), this exceptional dish was bursting with flavor, a soul-warming land-and-sea medley in each forkful. The Burrata (served over heriloom tomatoes, baby basil, and arugula salad) was equally delicious in its own right - milky, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. And how often do you get to talk about bread baskets? Well, Scarpetta's is worth the shout-out - I'm lookin' at you, salami-filled stromboli! Despite the impressively extensive wine list, I opted for a cocktail, specifically their signature San Remo (Carpano Antica, Campari, elderflower liqueur, a splash of Maker's Mark, and, although not listed as an ingredient on the menu, and because, after all, this is Florida, I swear there's some secret citrus in there). Both masculine and refreshing, this one lived up to its much-promoted, go-to status. Thanks to its coveted Fontainebleau location and vintage-navy, gold-trimmed, ocean liner decor, Scarpetta doubles as both a date night destination and birthday group dinner celebration spot before hitting the club. Or a place for seniors with money who know what's up, because we saw a few of those, too. Again, this is Florida. Even with a Scarpetta in my very own city, God help me if I wait until retirement age to come down here again. The Old Country, New York, New Jersey, Miami, it doesn't matter - this is some of the best Italian your hard-earned money can buy. Anywhere.
(5)
Gnome H.
We had a party of four (we are usually just two) and were glad because we all did the tasting menu and were treated to 4 different choices with each round - so basically we were each getting 4 different small tastes each time. They even let us suggest things we don't like and things we do, so we could avoid the "in" meals like duck and get something better. (we have ducks in our pond, why would I ever want to eat one) A little more than we wanted to spend the night before a cruise, but well worth it. We do a lot of tasting menus and this stands out for value. The courses themselves weren't NYC caliber dining... but were still upscale. Check out their spaghetti - it was good, but not really top chef material. Service was excellent. Not just our waiter but others were stopping by making sure we had what we needed. The wine pairing was average. We would actually go back and try different things. The true test of a place is if you would go back, isn't it? Yes, I would recommend Scarpetta. Thanks Miami.
(4)
Cecily K.
The duck foie gras ravioli is absolutely delicious, perhaps one of the best things I ever ate. It's a smaller portion, so you might want to also order an appetizer or additional side.
(5)
Tony L.
Great Italian spot in south beach. One of the few places where you will get consistent great Italian food! Arugula salad is a great start. Spaghetti is delicious and fish is always fresh. I had the snapper this time which was cooked to perfection. I really enjoy eating here at the fountain blu. You will not be disappointed.
(4)
Michelle R.
Hands down the best meal of 2014. From start to finish, the service was outstanding and the food was possibly the best Italian I've ever had. I'm so glad we chose Scarpetta during our stay in Miami. I'm 100% certain that everything on the menu is delicious, so I won't get into everything we ordered, but I will say: order the spaghetti. You'll never have spaghetti with red sauce again without thinking of this perfect dish. Totally worth it.
(5)
Jonelle P.
The creamy polenta, the Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli were amazing!!! Those are a must try! The service was really great too.
(5)
S S.
I have been here twice. I don't have one bad thing to say about it. The service was awesome and the food was spectacular. I know it is pricey, but it completely worth it. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Michael D.
Very classy and intimate vibe here, I really liked it, great for a date. The food was insane too. Started off with arugula salad and their bread. Moved on to entrees - wife got short rib risotto and I got the Long Island duck. Both were crazy good. Desert was nutella filled cake bites, perfect way to finish. Lost a couple bills from this dinner but it was worth it on a weekend trip to Miami. I'd have to save it for a special occasion if I was local. But if I was a local living on South Beach, I guess I would have the 'resources' to go here whenever.
(5)
Patrick L.
I'd heard of the famous spaghetti and creamy polenta featured at this famous NYC-Miami Italian eatery. Of course, as a hardcore Miami local, I would typically not think of dining at the Fontainebleau, tending to avoid places frequented by tourists. But during Miami Spice? Three course meal at Scarpetta for $39? I'm in. The Scarpetta experience begins with a most excellent bread basket, notable for its salami bread first and foremost. The lemon olive oil, eggplant tapenade, and mascarpone butter they serve with it...these aren't bad either. I ordered the mackerel tartare for the appetizer, which ended up being my favorite course. It was a great dish - light, fresh and flavorful. I also got a chance to try some of Scott Conant's famed creamy polenta with wild mushroom fricasee. While this is no doubt a decadent tasty treat, it's on the side of "too decadent." So tasty, but so creamy, so heavy.....it's too much. I'd like to see more of a deft hand with the richness and more pure corn flavor. Sirloin was next for me, and while this wasn't the most creative plate out there - sirloin with a red wine sauce and au gratin potatoes on the side - the meat was perfectly cooked to my medium rare specification.....and paired quite well with the inky red wine included in the "Riserva" flight for which I opted ($30 for 3 3-4oz pours). Speaking of which, I just thought of this - the wines in the flight were very good, but I wish the wait staff had provided more information about them. I don't even know what I was drinking, and at the time, I didn't think to ask. It would have been nice to gain a little more knowledge about the wines. This was the only dull spot on what was otherwise resplendent service. For dessert, chocolate tart with vanilla bean gelato. The chocolate tart was very rich and a little salty. Again, decadent and enjoyable, but dense and heavy. The gelato, however, was mind-blowing. For me, chocolate can skew toward the too-dense side, but there's no way anyone can provide enough concentrated vanilla flavor for me. This was close. It was one of the most overwhelmingly-vanilla treats I've ever had the pleasure of pushing past my lips. Even if I hadn't enjoyed the rest of my meal, this would probably have sealed the deal for me. In fact, I would have taken 2-3 scoops of the vanilla gelato and forsaken the chocolate altogether. Overall, this is a beautiful restaurant with seriously tasty Italian-inflected plates. I'd just like to see some of the heaviness dialed down a level or two. Maybe one star too over-the-top for my tastes - therefore, a solid 4.
(4)
Rebecca H.
Not a consistent reviewer but had to share about our experience here. My husband and I dine out, at least, half of each month so when a restaurant blows us away it certainly is more meaningful. Start to finish, service to food, wine to ambiance everything at Scarpetta was perfect. The food was perfectly executed, the sommelier offered perfect pairings.
(5)
Bri B.
We had dinner at scarpetta tonight (me and my husband) and things couldn't get worse; food and wines are expensive so you expect service is impeccable, unfortunately we are very disappointed. Food was really good but the restaurant felt overcrowded, too much screaming people, inhospitable. We sat next to a very loud party of 10. Lots of people left the restaurant early because of this "Fraternity house out of control" and after our complaints the waiter just mentioned that "at least there's a crowd". Really???????
(1)
Allan S.
Indeed, as good as it gets. As I write I am trying to find something negative to say. Except for the valet sending us in the wrong direction when we first arrived I can't think of a single area for improvement. This ranks as one of the finest dining experiences my wife and I have ever had and we have had more than a few. We tried the four course sampling menu for both our meal and the wine service. Amazing. I can't recommend it enough. Each dish is meant to be shared. We began with a ceviche and sashimi appetizer accompanied by a lovely prosecco. The fish melted in our mouths. The next course was creamy polenta topped with fricassee of truffled mushrooms and braised short ribs accompanied by a nice fruity dry white wine. Each bite was a treat. The third course were three signature pasta dishes: spaghetti bolognese with tomato, basil and parmesean cheese, duck and foie gras ravioli, and Scaliatierlli. It is hard to choose a favorite here because all three dishes were outstanding. This was paired by a delicious red from central Italy. The fourth course was duck and branzino. Now I'm usually not a fan of duck and never before tried branzino, but loved both dishes. The crowning jewel though was the accompanying red which provided an explosion of flavor with every sip. As we were celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary the sommelier, Zarko Stankovik who was absolutely brilliant, brought us one of a rare red whose name escapes me along with a dessert wine from Northern CA and desserts of molten chocolate cake and passion fruit gelato. Ahhhhhhhh. Finally, a visit to the Fontainebleau is an adventure in and of itself. Beautiful people, beautiful venue, women dressed to the nines. The ambiance is as enjoyable as the cuisine. I'm running out of adjectives and so will cut to the chase. From our interactions with the hostess, the server to the sommelier Zarko and from our first to our last bite, we loved it. In terms of cost, your wallet will take a pounding, but it's worth every cent. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Joseph H.
Food was good. There was a $45 table fee. Didn't get that. Had a few too many to realize until the next day. Service was slow but they had some hot chicks that made it easy to hang.
(4)
Kristine M.
Sat in bar waiting for table 33in asked for drink menu. Then ignored, next talked to hostess - nothing more time passes - left - unreal - don't go
(1)
Christina M.
Just celebrated my sister's birthday there & loved the food & ambiance! Highly recommend the spaghetti & coconut dessert!
(5)
Bettina S.
We went to Scarpetta for our last dinner in Miami this past Wednesday. Both myself and the friend I went with to the restaurant found that the hostess wasn't very friendly, so that was a bit of a turn off, and the room we were seated in was extremely loud because of two large groups that were having dinner there. However the food was very good, and the service, particularly our waiter Victor, was great. They were able to accommodate my gluten free needs and were knowledgeable about the menu and what I could and couldn't have.
(4)
Eve C.
I'd been wanting to try Scarpetta for quite a while, and recently had the opportunity to check it out for Miami Spice. While the regular menu prices are pretty high, it's about average for a restaurant of this quality and location. But for the $35 prix fixe Miami Spice menu, how can you go wrong? I started my meal with the creamy polenta with the wild mushroom fricasse. These are served on the same plate in neighboring containers, and you're to mix the mushrooms into the polenta to your own taste. It was phenomenal. No creamy and delicious...mmm! Two of my dining companions opted for the burrata with heirloom tomatoes, which was out of this world. The hold-out got the short ribs, and said they were delicious. For my main course, I knew i had to try that famous Scarpetta spaghetti. I've read and heard many praises for it, and couldn't pass up the opportunity to try it myself. It was quite delicious, with the clearly homemade noodles cooked to a perfect al dente. The sauce was light and had a slight tang to it. Without a doubt, delicious. Not sure if it's the best pasta dish I've ever had (that may be reserved for an amazing bowl (or 3) of gnocchi Sorrentino I had in Naples, Italy), but it's up there. Two in our group ordered the steak, which I was fortunate enough to taste, and it was quite tasty as well. For the finale, I opted for the polenta crusted cheesecake with strawberry and rhubarb, cause I'm a sucker for anything that involves strawberries and rhubarb. It came with come tart lemon sorbet that was light and refreshing. The whole thing was very tasty. Two at our table got the chocolate cake, which was rich and decadent, and the other got the coconut panna cotta. Everything was yummy. The service, once we were seated, was spot-on. Our water and wine glasses were never empty, and the bread that kicked off our meal was brought out hot and tempting from the oven. Of course, despite being on time for our 9pm reservation, we were told our table wasn't yet ready, and to enjoy a drink at the bar. We all know this ploy, and instead saved our money from the over-inflated drink prices and relaxed at the entrance for our table to be ready. Valet is really the only parking option, but be sure to get your ticket validated at the restaurant, or you might be paying more than expected to retrieve your vehicle. I'd definitely return to Scarpetta, but probably only during Miami Spice, or if someone else is footing the bill.
(4)
Ryan D.
The food was very nice. The place is over the top and can come across a little pretentious. The price is up there but the food is worth a taste. Wine list is rather extensive and be prepared to part with your hard earned cash when ordering a bottle. Overall worth checking out.
(4)
Sasha H.
The food here is a DREAM. Everything, from start to finish, was absolutely scrumptious and perfect. We could not have had a better meal, and our server, Ramon (I believe) was a native NY-er to boot! He was so kind and took the best care of us! Here's to hoping that Scarpetta NY lives up to the high bar set by Miami! Tiny criticism - we were seated ALLLLLL the way in the back dining room at 7:30 pm, when about 2/3 of the restaurant was empty. It was freezing and sort of isolated back there. We are 3 cute/classy girls in our mid-twenties... why, I ask? Didn't enjoy that. Can someone in FOH please PM me and explain that to me, really. Were y'all afraid we would WOO too loudly and scare the main room diners? Yo no comprendo. Besides that, the entire restaurant is beautiful, and service is outstanding and professional.
(4)
Stefanie C.
I don't know where to even begin. I wasn't sure what to think of this place upon walking in. It seemed so tiny. Little did I know once you walk passed the bar area, it open up to a huge, beautiful dining area. We had a table of about 20 people. A waiter immediately greeted us and took each of our drink orders. I would say it took a total of 5 minutes and everyone at the table had a drink. We had a pre set menu that was picked for us a head of time. We started with an arugula salad, polenta with truffles, braised short ribs and steak tartare. All were absolutely wonderful! Honestly the arugula salad and the braised short ribs had to be my favorite but the other to came in pretty close. For our second course it was two types of pasta which I cannot comment on because I cant eat pasta. But everyone at the table was ranting and raving about how wonderful it was. With this followed the black cod and sirloin beef. The two of these were absolutely amazing. So many wonderful flavors and cooked perfectly! For desert we were give a chocolate cake, cheesecake and mascarpone custard. I was only able to eat the custard but I have absolutely no complaints. It was wonderful. Overall the ambiance was great. It had a romantic feel. It was busy without being loud. The service was wonderful. They were so quick and friendly. As for the food, it was unbelievable. This place is a MUST when in Miami. I'll be sure to stop by again on my next trip!
(5)
Christine C.
Amazing food and more amazing pasta! Certainly one of the best pasta I've had in miami beach. And the service was just fantastic, too!
(5)
Stephanie M.
Normally I think "fancy Italian food, all kinda the same" until I ate at Scarpetta. I was fortunate enough to be in Miami during Restaurant Week, and they had a great 3 course special so I got to try some of their most popular dishes without being overwhelmed by a ton of food. I was iffy about the polenta, being that every one I have had has been gritty and lacking flavor, but their polenta was so rich, creamy and delicious it made me sad I had not been looking forward to it! I didn't think it could get any better after the polenta until they brought out the spaghetti. Who gets that excited about spaghetti, right? OMG this was to DIE for. The pasta was hand made that day, and cooked to absolute perfection. They added the sauce (if you can even call it a sauce) in just the right way that it gently coated the spaghetti and soaked into it a bit - if everyplace made spaghetti this way, I would actually order it. I'm not usually a big fan of duck, but the duck and foie gras ravioli was really good in its own right. All in all, AMAZING.
(5)
Shibei R.
I loved eating at Scarpetta. What an experience! We had the chefs tasting and plus the cheese course. The food was so delicious, and the coconut Pena cotta dessert was the best dessert I have ever had in my life. I will definitely go back again. Great fine dining experience.
(5)
Kathryn S.
On the first stop of my tour de Miami Spice I decided to make my way over to Scarpetta. My first impression of the restaurant was that the decor and location is beautiful. The restaurant overlooks the Fontainebleau pool area and you can also see the ocean from the outside seating area. Before my friend and I got to order our meal, we were offered a bread basket. I am never one to shy away from a bread basket so I tried every single one of the breads offered. They were all exceptional, but my friend was particularly in love with the bread that comes with ham and cheese. As an appetizer I got the creamy polenta. The polenta was very good and very filling. The special truffled mushrooms that you put on top of the polenta was exceptional. My friend got the braised beef short ribs and said they were great. We both decided on trying the renowned spaghetti for our meals. The spaghetti was served al dente and was pretty good. I don't think it is as amazing as some people make it out to be, but it was still really good spaghetti. For dessert we both got the chocolate terrine and thought it was the best part of the menu. It was just absolutely delicious and really made the dinner wonderful. I had a very nice and delicious meal at Scarpetta, but I don't think the food is worth the regular prices. I am happy I went during Miami Spice so I could try the food at a more economical price.
(4)
Megan F.
You have never tasted pasta like this! It is God sent. Absolutely heaven! The tomato basil spaghetti and the creamy polenta are MUSTS! I would focus more on the amazing savory dishes and skip dessert. Their cocktails are great and go down way too easy, totally lethal but delicious! It's pricey but worth every penny
(5)
Katherine A.
my dream restaurant loved it
(5)
Arlynes H.
II was totally disappointed at the way they treated us the day that I went with a party of ten to celebrate my birthday. The food tasted really good but the service was awful, a waiter simply let us hanging and the manager did not give us any satisfaction for this unfortunate event and that was not the only issue. Something totally unacceptable: We asked the waiter to charge certain amount on one of the credit cards, and without asking the owner of the card, they charge a higher amount of what it was requested, he said that he did it to balanced the total amount of the bill. the waiter made the decision without asking. I don't appreciate the overall experience that I had at this place on my especial day. This is not our first visit to this type of fine dinning restaurant, we have had great service and quality delicious food at many other restaurants in Miami, New York, California therefore I still can't find a reason of the whole waiter situation and the lack of attentiveness from the management to make my Birthday night an especial one as I was expecting.
(2)
Michelle C.
One of my favorite "fancy" restaurants in Miami. This is definitely a special occasion meal, especially because every time we go, we order the chefs tasting. The appetizers are a delight. If you're going to get just one, go with the polenta with mushrooms. The polenta is so creamy, I don't want to think about what they have to add to get it that way. The mushrooms come on the side in a very rich sauce that is mixed in table side. If you are dining with a non-mushroom water (like my husband) then lucky you, more mushrooms! The octopus is perfectly cooked. It comes with a very light sauce that brings out the flavor of the octopus without overpowering it. Unsurprisingly, the pastas are really where this place shines. With the chefs tasting menu, we usually end up with the duck and foie ravioli, the spaghetti, and a fish pasta. The duck and foie is just amazing. It's very rich and melts in your mouth. There really is no other way to describe it. As for the spaghetti, this is a surprise! When we first sat down at our table during our initial trip to Scarpetta, a woman about 3 tables over was eating the spaghetti. I remarked to my dining companions that it was ridiculous to come to a place like this to get spaghetti with tomato sauce I could make at home. Then I tasted it. And now I understand why. It's hands down the best spaghetti I've ever had. The sauce is very light, so if you're looking for a thick tomato sauce you're ordering the wrong thing. The spaghetti is lightly coated with sauce. Perfectly cooked. The only thing I don't tend to enjoy is the fish pasta, but that's a personal preference. It tastes like they use a little too much squid ink, and it's just too overpowering for me. But we always finish with the two best desserts in the house. They have an amazing warm chocolate cake. However, the grand finale is the panna cotta. It is light, airy, and the perfect end to a delightful meal. We have always had exceptional service, but maybe we've just gotten lucky! I'm looking forward to returning for my birthday in October!
(5)
Lama B.
Scarpetta, Scarpetta. You give me hope. Really, we started with a bottle of Champagne at the bar, and great conversation with the Sommelier and the bartender. Oh how charming. We then headed over to our table and began the adventure. First, they gave us a plate of the famous pasta with basil and tomato sauce on the house. BEST PASTA EVER. I didn't order it as we wanted to try other dishes, but this one blew our socks off. The fois gras pasta was a plate of pockets of goodness, and the lamb ragu was to die for. The polenta with mushrooms, I mean really? I don't like polenta, but this time I was more than happy to inhale a vat of butter. OH yum. This meal, from champagne and rosemary chips at the bar, to Salami bread and classic excellent pasta was a dream. Thank you Scarpetta for making our night AWESOME!
(5)
Cristina L.
The atmosphere is very nice. As a small eater, I got the rib as appetizer. It was delicious. It was soft and tender. I got the spaghetti as my entree, it was delicious. My friend got the ravioli as her entree, it was too salty. The cocktails were also good. I got something with raspberry and would definitely recommend it to anyone that likes fruity drinks. Overall it was a nice experience.
(5)
Lee T.
I wanted to have one fancy pants meal in Miami and since I haven't made it to Scarpetta in NYC yet, I figured I go here. The Fontainebleu is kind of my nightmare - I had to ask for directions three times to find the restaurant, but I got over the cruise ship atmosphere once I was comfortably seated on my banquette. First of all, stromboli bread - I could have made a meal of that alone. As we nibbled on the bread basket, our waiter was very helpful in selecting wine for the evening. He recommended a very fair priced white to start with before we cracked open the Barolo, It was the perfect acidic punch to wake up our palettes. To begin, we shared the burrata, the polenta and the fritto misto. All were excellent, but the polenta was the star. I don't even want to know what they do to that cornmeal to make it so rich and creamy. We followed the apps with a middle course of the spaghetti with tomato and basil. This was pretty much my dream; fresh pasta with the most beautiful simple pomodoro basilico. If you can make the simple things sing like that, then you are a true master of your craft. Our entrees were the beef and the veal chop. The veal chop was without a doubt the most outstanding veal I have tasted. Prepared sous vide, it was pink as a pork loin, tender as anything and the most clean, delicate veal flavor one could imagine. A revelation really. The one downside to the plate was that the accompaniment to the chop was slightly over-seasoned, which detracted from the dish's overall impact. For dessert, we shared the olive oil cake and the coconut panna cotta - both fantastic, but the panna cotta was the true winner. I could eat that everyday without guilt or shame. The purest coconut flavor contrasted with a bite of cleansing citrus. Scarpetta is one of the few places in this town where you are actually paying for the quality of the food rather than the scene or the view. I know I'll be stopping by in NYC if for nothing more than that pasta al pomodoro and a glass of wine.
(5)
Joseph P.
I can sit here and write a long review that might bore people but I don't want to do that. Sometimes a short, straight to the point review will suffice. All I can say about this place is that it is exceptional. I highly recommend it and you will not be disappointed. From the hostess, to the sommelier, Zach to our server Dereck. This wasn't dinner, it was an experience.
(5)
Marcus T.
Worst place I have ever dined. Raw Scallops and Fatty Veal. Huge waste of time and money. Really, skip this place. I am miffed by the other reviews.
(1)
marcelo w.
Ok, I LOVE the scene and The Fontainebleau Hotel, but Scarpetta is a major blemish in this beautiful place to hang out and have a good time. I have a theory that a place in which the bread and the desert (tiramisu) are the best menu items you ate usually mean that the real food sucks! Which is the case here. I'm ok with a very limited menu, makes choosing easier and usually means that they can do a few things better, not the case. The Scialatelli pasta was below average and my wife's Pappardelle was not good either. I was there with a group of 10 and nobody had a single good thing to say about the place. I feel bad for having suggested it, but in life you gotta try new things...just don't try this place...walk to Blade or Gotham.
(1)
Chad T.
My experience at Scarpetta was absolutely delightful. I have eaten at Gotham Steakhouse at the Fountainbleu and was impressed, and I have always heard that Scarpetta was even better. I wanted my experience to be for a special occasion, so I decided to propose to my girlfriend centered around a dinner at the hotel. After my experience, I must agree that this is now on my list of truly phenomenal restaurants in Miami. My experience began at the Bleau Bar near the lobby. My girlfriend (at the time) and I had a few cocktails in preparation for dinner. Mine were more to ease the nerves! We took a stroll around the grounds of the hotel, and at sunset, I proposed on Miami Beach. She said YES! I'm not sure what my review would have been like had she said no. From there, my new fiance and I went for dinner at Scarpetta. We had reservations for 9:30 and arrived a few minutes before. The only downside of the whole night was that our table was not ready, but we decided to sit near the bar and have another drink. The table was worth the wait. We were at the corner, facing out towards the ocean with a great view of the entire restaurant. I called the day before to explain that I was proposing, and I feel that they went above and beyond to make the night special. The waiter was great, and had a broad knowledge of the menu. My fiance ordered the scialatelli, which was a sorrento pasta with spot prawns - the flavor was great. I had the roasted lobster with sunchoke and sea urchin. The waiter talked me out of having it prepared the traditional way (with the sea urchin on top of the lobster), and instead to have the urchin on the side. He said he did not like the flavor, and had complaints in the past with the urchin. I have never tried urchin before, so opted to have it on the side. I was unique, but tasty. Either way, the entrees were phenomenal! For dessert we had the chocolate zepolles, which were filled with melted Nutella and had a vanilla cream on the side. The chef wrote "Congratulations" in chocolate on the plate, which was a nice touch. It was accompanied with a great champagne. I felt that the portions were just right, though some may say they are small. Personally, I feel that most restaurant's portions are too big. I will definitely be returning to Scarpetta's again, and I highly recommend it for any special occasion.
(5)
Melanie Z.
Holy delicious breads! I think it was some kind of bacon or salami bread that they bring to the table before your food, but it was SOOOO good. Just dined there with a group of 10 girls and LOVED IT! The Hamachi- absolutely delicious.... very cool spot at the hotel- would highly recommend!
(5)
Carlos P.
From the ocean side view to the beautiful decor, Scarpetta is exquisite in every sense of the word. We went for brunch this past Sunday and were treated like royalty. We treated ourselves to the all you can eat buffet which had everything from fresh cheeses, cucumber salad, salmon lox, eggs and sausage and their famous polenta with mushrooms. Everything was delicious. For my entree, i went with the skirt steak with poached eggs. The steak was just perfect, not too thick and cooked just right. The stars of the show were of course the unlimited Bellini's, bloody mary's and mimosas. If you had just about a sip left in your glass, before you knew it the waiter was bringing you a fresh glass. Like i said, the service here is top notch and the ambiance is divine. If I could afford it, I would be here at least once a week.
(5)
Diana N.
This was the 3rd restaurant we tried for Miami Spice and was my favorite! It's located inside the Fontainebleu Hotel which is huge and gorgeous and a great place to people watch.l Very reminiscent of Vegas hotels sans casino. We arrived spot on for our 8:00 pm reservation. We were taken to the lounge/bar while to wait for our table. My only complaint here was that it took 30 minutes for our table which meant we just HAD to order one of their yummy $14 cocktails. The restaurant was very chic with an airy wide open feel. We ended up seated in the patio. Since it was such a windy night, curtains were put up. I'm sure the view would've been nice otherwise. We ordered off the Miami Spice menu and were very pleased. I ordered the braised short ribs which were oh so tender and flavorful. what i LOVED was my friend's Creamy Polenta with truffled mushrooms. OMG that was the epitome of fancy comfort food! Perfect texture, total flavor party in your mouth. For the entree, I had the famed Spaghetti, which don't get me wrong was delicious, but would have to say did not live up to its hype. The pasta was homemade and al dente. The tomato basil sauce was light and fresh. The winner of the night was the Coconut Panna Cotta with guava "soup." It was so HEAVENLY.. delicate and silky. The coconut and guava complemented each other so well along with the pineapple crisp which added a light fun crunch. i was in love. The Amedei Chocolate cake with almond gelato was quite wonderful as well. Melts in your mouth. Service was very attentive. Not snooty. Really enjoyed my time here! Would love to go back to try the other things on the menu next time i'm in miami!
(5)
Matt M.
I don't know if it was how we were dressed or that they somehow knew we were staying at the hotel or simply good luck, but we did not have any of the service issues the others who reviewed this place had (not that I'm inferring that those incidents ever happen). I don't recall any of the names of those who served us, but everybody was friendly. We got the pollenta as an appetizer, it was delicious. My wife got the mahi mahi and I got very large pork chop ( i think, its been a few months since we ate there), what I do remember though was that both dishes and the sides were very tasty. That said, this place is not inexpensive (but its not super expensive either), I'd say for 2 to eat well (without alcohol or too many sodas..since they are about $4 each), bring at least $150 (incl tip).. + good food + friendly service (at least in our case) - pricey - odd decor for an italian place
(4)
Rich K.
Celebrated my sister's birthday here recently. The meal and service was fantastic. The majority of our party ordered off the Miami Spice menu, and expressed their pleasure with each dish served. After asking the server to name the best dish on the menu and hearing him mention the Veal Loin. I had no choice but to order this dish discreetly, since everyone had agreed to only order from the Miami Spice menu. The veal was the most tender and mouth watering meat I have had in a long long time. I wanted to go back the next night and have it again. Thankfully I didn't, because then I would have missed a 5 star meal at the Forge. Scarpetta's only gets 3 stars, specifically because they overcharged our group for an extra meal. Otherwise I would have given them 5 stars.
(3)
Rhiannon R.
This is one of the best restaurants in Miami. Everything on the menu is delicious. The best thing on the menu is just their plain spaghetti. Sounds boring, and well, plain. It is anything but that. Love it here!
(5)
Adam B.
One of the dividing lines separating a great restaurant from the rest is how they prepare the simplest of dishes. I know that when people decide to dine at a place like Scarpetta they are expecting to have their palates treated to new culinary experiences. Trust me, Scarpetta delivers this in spades. Never the less, I am a big believer that only the best restaurants can take a classic dish, stretch it to the limit, but still make it taste like it was made by your grandmother. This is the feeling I got when I tried the spaghetti with tomato & basil. I have eaten around (if you know what I mean...) and this was as close to pasta perfection as I have had in a long LONG time. Here are the rest of the items we ordered. - Raw Yellowtail with olio di zenzero, marinated onions & baby greens - Burrata with heirloom tomatoes, baby basil & arugula salad - Mediterranean Branzino with ricotta gnocchi, cauliflower & lobster fricassee (this was amazing!) Overall, Scarpetta was an excellent dining experience! While this is not the cheapest of restaurants, it is by no means outrageous. (Scarpetta's Chinese neighbour Hakkasan has that covered!) I would highly recommend you get out and give it a try.
(5)
Lauren D.
I was EXTREMELY disappointed in Scarpetta! Ambiance is lovely, made up like the inside of the Titanic ballroom. Beautiful! Sweet smelling and very rad-di-da! The food was actually quite good but the service was TERRIBLE!!! I'm talking absolutely absurd! Our waitress, Jenny, didn't even introduce herself or explain anything about the restaurant. I went for my boyfriends birthday as a recommendation from a coworker who used to work there. The coworker had called ahead so we were quite possibly a VIP which may have been why Jenny did not seem to give a RATS A$# about us! We racked up a $300 bill and she neglected to tell us that gratuity was included. I am a waitress myself and we are always advised to circle the gratuity out of courtesy to the guests. LUCKILY, the bussboy/food runner was amazing. I believe his name was George and he was so sweet, kind, knowledgeable and courteous. He went out of his way to explain everything to us and he was very personable. I wish HE had been our server. All in all the food was pretty good but Jenny pretty much ruined the experience. We try a different restaurant every week and it was sadly the biggest disappointment we have encountered in all of Miami. I even called the next day and was directed to the HR department where I was told to leave a message. I did so and was never called or contacted back.... All in all the food was not worth the service. If you're looking for a really tasty joint to spend a special occasion I suggest finding a hidden gem somewhere and not going for the obvious...because even MCdonald's treats you better!
(2)
Christy D.
Only reason I went here was because my cousin comped us! It's a little dark and loud but the food takes you to a whole nother level! I had the tuna app with my boyfriend, tasted like it was right off the boat! I then had a chicken dish which was superb as well. We had a few drinks, which were tiny, but since I'm tiny they did the trick! They have the cutest little desserts, which I'm not sure if they are available on the regular menu or if she had treated us with something special. I highly recommend reservations and credit cards. This place is $$$$$$.
(5)
Anh P.
decided to do a nice dinner our last night in miami and we spent hours and hours trying to figure out where to go, finally decided on scarpetta. the trip alone to the fontaine bleau hotel was already worth it, it's gorgeous, hip and HUGE! and the restaurant was beautifully decorated with just the perfect lighting by candlelight. service was eh.. i wish we had a better server who actually cared about our table and explained the menu better instead of a very timid one who was just trying to up sell us on the wine, etc. boo! but i have to say, i had the most indulgent dinner anyone could ever possibly have. creamy polenta with mushroom and truffle oil. absolutely delicious, i don't see how anyone could possibly eat this entire thing by themselves thoug, way too.. flavorful. for dinner i had the duck and foie grois ravioli, oh my lordie lord, they litterally melted in your mouth and was so rich. i could really only eat a few of the raviolis. and i finished off with their new chocolate cake with salted caramel and candied almond ice cream and i was already full. and washed everything down with a good bottle of wine
(5)
Matthew H.
We stayed at the Fontaine Bleau for a conference and decided to visit this restaurant with a couple friends from the UK. 2 of us got the tasting menu and while we were finishing up the 1st course we were joined by 2 other friends from overseas. Without skipping a beat, the staff rearranged the table and accommodated our additional guests. They quickly presented their first course and kept everything at a smooth pace throughout the night. All in all, some of the best service we've received anywhere (which is a departure from the service throughout the rest of the FB resort...) The food was A+ as well. At first I thought $23 was an insane price to pay for basic spaghetti with red sauce (it came as part of the tasting menu) but it was the best I've ever tasted. Quite pricey but definitely worth it if you're looking for great food close to the FB.
(5)
Dannielle C.
Phenomenal Italian food in miami!!! Must try the regular spaghetti, as normal as it may be, it is delicious!
(4)
Brien W.
We had the chef's tasting menu with wine pairing (5) course and loved it. Nice selection of menu hi-lights and the pasta and fish were stand-outs. Everyone loved the (2) ravioli dishes. Restaurant is beautiful but the noise level is borderline ear damaging, especially the large party near us (2 tables of 10 that were toasting and screaming about every 10 minutes) They need to fix this, put in some fabric or noise absorbing panels....
(4)
Lauren F.
I went there for Miami Spice and it was a delicious and wonderful experience. I went with two other people and everything we had (6 dishes) we delicious. Although I am not a chicken person, I ordered the chicken with morels, peas, and polenta. It was the best chicken I have ever eaten, and was left speechless. The spaghetti with tomato and basil is also amazing, it has a slight lemon zest flavor in it, that is surprising and delicious. There is also a great selection on the Miami spice menu, and you are getting a lot for $35. I will definitely go back and order of the regular menu.
(5)
Brian L.
15 words or less: Liquor prices so high I am still upset. But the food is excellent. 15 words or more: Each August, Miami rolls out the spice menu. This is a great opportunity to have a three course meal at a restaurant for a fair price ($35). The spice menu offered here was tremendous. None of the usual fare that most places offer just to participate--that is, a mixed green salad to start, an entree that is a choice of chicken, salmon, or skirt steak, and then an afterthought of a dessert. This place went all in with the menu to make a good impression, and it did. But let us start with the bad. And I mean very bad. The bar. We walked in for an 8:30 p.m. reservation and were given the proverbial: "Oh, your table will be ready in a few minutes so please have a drink at the bar." I know this is a line to get you to buy a drink, but this was a total poke in the eye. Our walk to the bar revealed no less than ten available tables. And now I know why Scarpetta pushes you so hard to have a drink at the bar. The prices. What a total rip off. I have to say that again. What a total rip off. It was $22 for a glass of dolcetto. I can buy a bottle for that price. How could a glass of dolcetto cost more than my Hendrick's martini or the glass of champagne one of my dining companions had. Thank you kindly Scarpetta for giving me a bowl of potato chips to snack on at the bar gratis, but if that is causing you to charge so much, then please stop with the chips. I am sure Scarpetta will say it has to do with Miami Beach or various taxes, but I cannot think of any other place with such a sticker price. With that said, let us move to the good. Service. The service (and perhaps the somewhat generous pour of the Hendrick's) helped make up for the bar banging I received. The server could not have been better. He did not make a face or skip a beat because all four of us dining that evening had the spice menu. He was just as attentive to us and helpful as he was to the next table over that had the chef's tasting menu. Bread. Am I really writing about bread? Yup, because most places treat bread as an afterthought. Not here. After you order, you will receive a bread basket. Just eat the Stromboli, which is one of the three breads in the basket. It was awesome. Smoked mozzarella and pepperoni rolled into bread. Think of a cinnabon but savory and Italian. They were awesome. Our kind waiter even brought us a second round. Appetizers. For appetizers, two of us had the burrata and the other two had the short rib. The short rib was tender as could be and with the taste to match. It was not too rich, but still had enough decadence. The burrata was perfect. Cool, refreshing, and offering the combination of velvety cheese with a hint of saltiness. Entrees. For the entrees, three of us had the branzino and one had the steak. The skin on the branzino was perfectly crispy. Once you break through the skin, you reached the flaky fish underneath. And keep in mind, at some restaurants (hello Il Gabbiano), you will be charged $65 for this dish. Here we are, eating the same dish, expertly prepared, for $35 (including appetizer and dessert). Dessert. For desserts, we had the cheesecake and the chocolate cake. Both were great, although I leaned more toward the chocolate cake. It was like a rich, warm brownie, but with a somewhat crunchy, crusty exterior. It was a great combination for the senses. Think about what we had for $35--burrata or short rib, branzino or steak, and cheesecake or chocolate cake. These were just some of the options. What a deal and what a great way to get me to the restaurant. I certainly would go again, although I may have a drink elsewhere before I go into the restaurant.
(4)
Whitney H.
I love feeling fancy! My brother was in town and I felt it was my duty to show him a Miami hot spot, Fountianbleau. We had reservations and 9:30 and after waiting for only a minute at the bar we were escorted to our table with our drinks carried for us. The atmosphere was beautiful. A charming, sophisticated and unique take on a nautical theme. Picture it as what Harry Cipriani in NYC was going for. My whole party ordered off the spice menu so needless to say I tried everything. Before I get to the food I want to say what my favorite thing was. For four people we ordered one bottle and where it could have easily been drained in one round, the waiter made the whole bottle last the whole dinner. It was great! It honestly felt like the most considerate thing a restaurant has every done! Our glasses were filled promptly but never over poured. On the food. I had the Burratta, paperdelle with short rib ragu with fava beans and the olive oil cake. I also tried the truffeled poleta, short ribs ( both apps) scallops (entree) and the chocolate cake and cheese cake ( desserts) off of other peoples plates ;) burratta is a delicious fresh mozzarella creamy type cheese. My favorite was the polenta so light and creamy with a delicious essence of truffle which I might add they didn't skimp on. Shorts ribs are one of my favorite foods and these were delicious. The scallops were cooked to perfection and my parperdelle was the perfect amount of richness. Dessert was to die for. Olive cake is like the Italian version of pound cake, olive oil instead of butter. It had a wonderful soft, moist texture. The chocolate cake was to die for! It was like an amazing brownie served with salted Carmel ice cream. I will say I didn't like the cheesecake it had a weird tang. Try this place. Spice menu was great to accommodate the pickiest eater and prices in the standard menu aren't that. Serves is outstanding and the ampnosphere is delightful.
(4)
J O.
Went here on 5/29 with 2 other girls and had an amazing experience. We split the polenta, octopus, tomato basil pasta, branzino, truffle pasta, nutella zeppoles and chocolate lava cake. It has been one of my most memorable dining experiences yet. Our waiter was so nice and knowledgeable and treated us like we had been there a hundred times. The food was sooo good. We all fell in love with Scarpetta in Miami as we already love the one in the city. We thought we had good meals in other Miami spots but this blows everything out of the water.
(5)
West C.
It has been a while since I last wrote a review , but I thought this one was worth. Scarpetta is a five star High End Italian Restaurant located inside of a beautiful hotel. It's not a Family style Restaurant,and the portions are very small therefore dishes are not made to be shared so make sure to order appetizers, dinner , desert and Coffee. They have a large variety of wines and champagne in the menu so you ll find from the house wine to expensive wines to choose from if you prefer you can also have cocktails. The Decor is Modern and sophisticated and they also offer inside and outside sitting , which I don't recommend in the summer. I really enjoy dinning at this Restaurant and the atmosphere. Service is always great and food consistent. If you are a local or just visiting make sure to stop by for a great dinner and please try the creamy mushroom polenta for me : ) .
(5)
Sabrina Anna C.
4.5 Stars is the True Rating. Dear Scarpetta, You have truly shown Miami what a great restaurant can be. From the "waiting area" bar (that's what I will cal it - out front of the restaurant, but not part of the lobby of the hotel) where you graciously sip cocktails while awaiting your table, to the elegance in the atmosphere, you provide the foundation for all guests to have a wonderful dining experience. I have noticed that your Brunch reviews have not been the most spectacular, and I have to wonder why, since dinner was such a pleasure. I do hope you find a way to correct that tainted image because I plan on brunching there very soon! We were here with a group for a business meeting (along with Karina A.), so luckily, the bf and I did not have to worry about the tab (Phew!), but your menu is a bit pricey, however, worth every cent. We started with the Tuna Susci, the Burrata, the Creamy Polenta and the Crispy Fritto Misto. WOW. I will say that the Fritto Misto was my least favorite as some of the seafood tasted very fishy, and that's not my thing. The Tuna was PHENOMENAL. It melted in the mouth like butter. A new favorite with a twist on the classic. The creamy Polenta was just sumptuous, with the mushrooms and truffle oil. A new personal favorite. And the Burrata was simply divine. It was my first time trying it and now I will look for this cheesy wonder wherever I go. For our next course, we were then served several of the pastas for our sampling. The Duck and Foie Gras Ravioli with its Marsala reduction sauce was so good that there aren't enough adjectives to describe the flavor. I'll just say they were very well done and a must-try for all patrons. :) There was also the Spaghetti, which was good, but plain in my opinion. Then again, how exciting can one really make that classic dish? It's vegetarian friendly though, which was good for our group. The last pasta dish we were served was the Agnolotti Dal Plin, which was filled with mixed meat (we were told its a blend of chicken, pork and beef) and fonduta (the creamiest and tastiest cheese ever!), mushrooms and parmigiano! Mmmm Mmmm GOOD! This was my favorite of the pastas. Finally, our main courses came (do we even have room!?!?) and I thought for sure your staff would have to roll me out. I had ordered the Moist-Roasted Capretto (baby Goat), which came with roasted potatoes, Pancetta & English peas. WOW. That's all I can say. I ate almost every bite because it was just SO DAMN GOOD. The bf ordered the Seared Scallops, which were fresh, soft, and perfect. Also include that our group of 7 shared 2 bottles of wine, so afterwards, there was no room left for dessert. Overall, my dear Scarpetta, this was a great dinner and an excellent location for our Power Business Dinner. ;-) I even got to see Scott in action, as I accidentally turned towards the kitchen when trying to exit to the bathroom... Oops! LOL I am looking forward to coming back and seeing what brunch is like for myself. Thank you for a wonderful evening, Sabrina*
(5)
Jen O.
If swanky Italian is your thing, this is your place. The burrata with heirloom tomatoes is pure bliss, and if you devour the bread basket (meat bread?!) I am hoping you wore your elastic waist pants because the entrees are superb. After the initial sticker shock of the $24 price tag on the signature spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce, it's well worth every dollar. This is a simple dish done just beautifully, with homemade pasta and an addictive sauce (I've heard that butter is the secret ingredient). I completely agree with the poster who mentioned wanting to lick his plate.
(4)
Bette Ann S.
Wow. This restaurant was delicious. I took my parents here a week ago while they were in town. My dad is an old time Brooklyn-er, so he knows his Italian food. We all LOVED it. I started off with the beet and la tur salad; my boyfriend and my mom had the polenta, and my dad had the yellow fin sashimi. Everything was delicious. I thought my salad could have used a bit more La Tur cheese (but I am a cheese freak). The polenta was OUT OF THIS WORLD. Party in my mouth. For main courses, I had the fois gras ravioli, my boyfriend had the spaghetti, my mom had the chicken, and my dad had some sort of fish. I didn't try the fish, but everything else was out of this world. I actually hate fois gras...I would never touch it with a 10 foot fork, but I had heard the fois gras raviolis were like nothing you have ever tasted, so I went for it. They were truly delicious. Amazing actually. The spaghetti was so simple, yet phenomenal, and the chicken was so tender. For dessert, I had the nutella filled donut type thingies...amazing. Scarpetta's currently had a price fixed menu for $47, and it had some of their best dishes (pollenta, chicken, spaghetti, etc). I think having this menu is great because Scarpetta's is pricey. My only complaint was that although the circular tables are great for talking to each other, it made eating a little tight. There were 6 people in my party, and I just felt there was not enough room for everything on the table. Maybe we just eat too much?
(4)
Ximena C.
By far one of the best restaurants in Miami. I am quick to judge pricey restaurants for their lack of quality to price ratio... but I must admit that this place is well worth the buck. I had one of the best meals I have ever come across. Their fungi creamy polenta simply melted in your mouth and their spaghetti, as simple a dish as it might sound, really was amazing. Their desserts... well, I couldn't possibly pick just one because all three of which I tried were delicious. Their one downfall is the noise level. I know, I always complain about noise, but I need peace in order to enjoy my meal and this place ranked under "I can't even hear myself think about the taste of the food" Kind of sad, because it takes away from the culinary experience. I hope to return to their savory arms soon.
(5)
Kathy G.
Eating at Scarpetta really rounded out my week. It is a beautiful restaurant. Although I found that the tables were much too close together if you sat at one of the tables along the wall. My sister and I constantly were trying to talk low since we were discussing family gossip. But at the same time had a hard time conversing because it was LOUD in there. The starters they brought out were fantastic. We attacked the different breads in the basket with a vengeance. The polenta with the mushrooms with truffle oil was amazing. Then came the burrata and tomatoes which was delicious. We were so full with the starters that we ended up sharing a main dish. The Mediterranean Brazino 'Acqua Pazza' was just perfect. It was seabass with couscous in this yummy lobster and tomato broth. Did not have dessert since we were full but I had an espresso since I needed energy to go to Liv that night. Quick note on the service - our waiter was really nice and funny when he was around. He kept going m.i.a. Very helpful tho when talking about the menu and perfect amount of small talk.
(4)
Frank B.
really nice food and atmosphere service was great and the staff was very receptive would go there again once back in miami
(4)
Danielle R.
Ironically I was on Phase 1 of the South Beach diet while in South Beach (no carbs, no sugars, etc). Surprisingly, it is challenging to maintain the plan while in South Beach. Did a decent job here with great bright flavors in a highly lively atmosphere. The burrata with heirloom tomatoes, baby basil, and arugula was a fresh, flavorful, colorful plate. For dinner I had the slow cooked pork with a bean ragu. The slow cooking provided a rich pork dish that is made even better with extra pork in the form of pancetta! I did have one strand of my friend's pasta, which was a perfectly al dente thick spaghetti with a flavorful basil rich tomato sauce. Service was uneven -- friendly and helpful when we had their attention, but seemingly awol otherwise. A bit too much of the south beach vibe here, but a reasonable place to escape the dj lobby of the hotel!
(3)
Amanda N.
Worth every penny.
(5)
Lindsay G.
I find this place overrated. I should tart with the caveat that I do not really like Italian food to begin with but even the shrimp appetizer left something to be desired. I tasted my friends pasta and yes, it was good and fresh but nothing to write home about. At 50 bucks a person I expect to be wowed. The atmosphere is beautiful and the service is good but the whole song and dance about truffle is a little overboard. Just my "food for thought."
(2)
Preston C.
I am reviewing Sunday Brunch here... I really liked this place. Yes it was expen$ive, but the food was top notch with service to match. First you get a huge buffet consisting of cheeses, fruits, salads, mushrooms, shrimp, etc... I tried 90% of the stuff out there and I liked it all, everything was prepared very good. then you get to choose from a menu your main course. I had the short ribs over risotto. They were very good and very rich, perhaps too rich for brunch but just as described... maybe my bad for ordering. And here comes the good part.. Dessert!! I am one of those people that never orders it! but here I went nuts! Panna Cotta with berries, Tiramisu, and chocolate mousse. overall very good, but a little pricey and the decor of the place was not my favorite, that's why not 5 instead of 4 stars.
(4)
Kenya C.
three words," foie gras ravioli " scruptralescent! squash blossoms, I cant remember anything else after that. Oh yes mojito!! very good too. Service was great and management is engaged with their guests. great job staff very warm welcoming.
(4)
Kristin K.
opted for the Miami Spice menu with friends: polenta, short rib, spaghetti, fish, panna cota, chocolate cake & off the menu - the duck ravioli... which was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. AMAZING!!!! The Raviolis alone - is pure perfection. The service was first class, quick but not rushed.
(4)
Jinny B.
I called on a Wednesday for dinner reservations for that Saturday evening at 8pm and had no problem. I know that there is so much hype for the newly renovated Fountainbleau but I have to say that I am not so impressed. It looks cheesy inside, like hotel on the Las Vegas strip. The hotel is so big that it feels more like a convention center than an elegant hotel. Once we found the restaurant I will say that I agree with the other reviews that the interior of the restaurant is beautiful-- elegant and has a good vibe. There is a rather large bar area where you can have drinks and order food off the bar menu. The food was very good. I think the menu was limited. I expected more choices, but perhaps that is the way they ensure that what they do serve is excellent? Because it was-- the food was excellent. I ordered the chestnut soup as an appetizer and had the steak for my entree. My husband had a salad and their one of their signature dishes is their spaghetti pomodoro. The food and the wine that the waiter suggested was perfection. There is an extensive bread presentation at the beginning of the meal with several types of bread and 3 different condiments. We didn't have any desert. Be sure to have your parking ticket validated if you used valet parking. It was $10 with the validated stamp. Okay, so I would go back. But I hope they have some specials as an addition to the menu. I can see getting tired of this menu after a visit or two.
(4)
Eric S.
Amazing meal, excellent service, we got the taster menu and the wine tasting too. It was the best, a little noisy because the place is small.
(5)
Amy S.
I took my husband here Wednesday night to celebrate his birthday. when i made the reservation i told them it was his birthday. We got there a little early but they were able to seat us right away, they said they gave us the most romantic table in the restaurant, i dont know about that, but it had a pretty few and we sat next to each other on the booth. I thought the decor was interesting and nicely done but not necessarily fitting to the menu or experience. The service was very good and everyone was extremely friendly. We had a great bottle of wine recommended by the sommelier, their menu was 95% italian and french wines which is understandable but i would have included a few more south americans just to be thorough. We had the burrata to start. It was seasoned perfectly but there wasnt enough cheese in proportion to tomatoes and arugula. My husband had the Branzino and i had a pasta filled with meat of some kind. Both were very flavorful. My pasta was not as al dente as i liked it though. For dessert we ordered sorbet and the panna cotta. When they brought it out, it had a candle and they had written Happy Birthday Boris in chocolate on the plate, i thought it was a very nice touch considering i had only mentioned it on the phone reservation. The panna cotta was perfect. It was so light and i loved that it was done with diced fruits. i dont like sweet desserts so this was the best thing i could have to end a meal! The bill was high but i was expecting it.
(4)
Henrique R.
Food ok, but REALLY small portions. I went there with my girlfriend and we were treated badly, apparently we didn't have enough money or age to be there. Our waiter barely looked at us. Definitely not coming back. There are other much better Italian restaurants in town.
(2)
Denise P.
I have been to Scarpetta a few times and glad I returned for a visit recently. I had come to Scarpette the first time as a Miami Spice patron. I was not wow'd although the food was very good. I think I was a little overwhelmed by the loud music and not very warm solo dining experience (wasn't rude, just seemed very "Oh, you are alone" and I seemed to be seeking service more than having it delivered?--You solo diners know what I mean). I came back with my husband this past week and yes, was BLOWN AWAY by the food! We went for the full tasting menus - I had the Chef's tasting menu and my hubby went with the new Truffle tasting menu. No, not usual to have two separate tastings, yet we had an unusual night and it worked. The Chef's tasting menu was excellent. The tuna starter was small, but every bit of the Amuse Bush that I anticipated. Next I had a creamy polenta that was truly fantastic and melt-in-your-mouth. The branzino fish was expertly and perfectly done (crispy skin, very tender and flavorful), the aged beef crazy good! I had the chocolate dense cake with caramel sauce and a gelato that was equally amazing. One tremendous value at only $89 per person. My husband had the truffle which had several additional courses - the melt-in-your-mouth truffle delivered expertly by Cesar was fantastic and truly enhanced each dish. His favorite dishes included the smoked lobster tartare beginner, the aged steak, the pasta dishes (I think his words were "crazy amazing" or simliar) and his olive oil custard which does not sound as fantastic as it tasted. It was light, pleasantly savory, and truly a great finish to the meal. Yes, $225 per person is somewhat pricey, yet it was worth it for the experience and taste. The service was at least as fantastic as the dinner, which for me was unexpected. Marie, our main server and sommelier, was pleasant, funny, engaging, personable and made great pairings with our meal. Cesar was equally omni-present with the Truffle Entourage (fun!), Mercedes was very nice and exuberant, and finally, Chef Josh paid a visit to the table to round out the amazing experience. He was very interested in our thoughts on the dishes and warmly welcomed us back to try another tasting --he mentioned that Chef's enjoy making the tasting menus so they can have the freedom and range to demonstrate and engage diners. Well done, Scarpetta. Glad I made the return trip.
(5)
Steven C.
About 6 wks ago, 11 of us ran up a tab of $1800, but the waiter AND manager refused to accept individual credit cards. There was nothing on the menu stating a maximum number of cards (which the manager said was 6) and they refused to split the food and liquor bills and then use 6 and 5 cards for payment. They expected us to be walking around with at least $200 cash and were not nice about trying to settle the problem. Although the food and service were excellent, the waiter was a bit pushy, suggesting more food than was necessary - however, because of the manager's attitude and refusal to accept more than 6 credit cards for payment, none of us plan to ever come back (we are physicians and 3 of us live in Miami or Miami Beach). Furthermore we have told our colleagues about what happened, discouraging them from bringing any groups to the restaurant.
(1)
Daniel P.
Outstanding service. Delicious food.
(5)
Maria T.
This place gets 5 stars for ambiance and service but the food was really not so great...what a letdown, right? So after much anticipation, I decided to venture to the recently rennovated Fontainebleau with a bunch of gal pals for brunch there today. The property is breathtaking -- everything from the pool to the light fixtures are absolutely outrageous. Scarpetta is beautiful -- it's a marine-decorated dream. The service is impeccable but unfortunately, the food is disappointing. I'm an eggs-waffles-bacon-sausage-french-toast kinda gal and the brunch here is any thing but that. The menu is plain weird -- the choices at the buffet include shrimp cocktail, beet salad, chickpea salad, polenta, olives, eggplant salad, mushroom salad -- again, weird. Where's the bacon? Scrambled eggs? Pancakes? Crepes? No where. But I had a GREAT mid-morning with my gal pals and the mimosas where fab. So no, I won't be going back but I had an unforgettable time.
Although some of the reviews claim the service is subpar, and the food is pricey, this place is one of the best places I've eaten in my life. I'll start with dinner. The menu although not as full as some I've seen has it all. Be warned, if you are looking for Macoroni Grill Italian pasta and bread, go elsewhere. This is a HIGH END restaurant with HIGH END food, that come at a big price and smaller than your normal portions (or should I say ... correct size portions?) We started off with their bread basket, and quickly found the salami and cheese bread. It's amazing. To be honest, it's a very fancy Calzone, and so worth it. We could have eaten the bread and wine all night and left very happy. After bread, we got the Mozzarella In Carozza Stewed baby tomatoes It was delicious. For my main meal I got the Bistecca Di Manzo. (Steak) It was 1 of the best meals I've ever eaten. I am not kidding. It was cooked to perfection and I bragged about so much my family went in the next night for it. My dinner partner ordered the Mediterranean Branzino and although it wasn't what she expected, she liked it, and would have it again. Brunch, Two words. Bottemless Balinis... what more can you ask for on a Sunday at 11? We sat there until 4 and no one bothered us, and the drinks kept coming. We never had to ask for me. There is plenty of food to find something you will like. I ordered the English Muffin with Eggs and cheese for my "main" course, and had zuchini and beans for other food. All was amazing. It doesn't have pancakes and waffles, but you will be able to find a few breakfast bread items. This is NOT a buffet for kids. This is a mature line of food. Lots of vegetables, a fruit platter, fish, cheese, meats. It was all you could ask for. The bottomless drinks made the $50. pp price tag worth it. At the Fountainbleau 2 drinks after tax and gratuity would come to that. We had drank or $50.00 and then ate on top of it. The inside DOES look like a cruise ship, but to be 100% honest, that's the look they were going for. I was too busy looking at my food to care, savoring each bite. Wondering if I could make it last forever. For two people we got out of there for $194.00 including Tip. I state.. there is NO pasta and meatballs. It's FANCY Italian food, and for those that know... Italian food is actually more Fish than pasta. Well done. I can't wait to go back
(5)
Kris M.
Read further as to why it's 2 stars. Anticipated this visit for a long time. Moved to S Florida over a year ago and Scarpetta was at the top of our restaurant list. A very important celebration found ous there tonight. We arrived a few minutes early and ordered 2 great cocktails from the bar. They mimic old style cocktails to go with the old Miami feel. Because our table became available right away the hostess picked these up and delivered these to our table as we were seated. Upon being greeted by the server, the first thing we said was that we were 'not' in a hurry and that we wanted to take our time. This was at 7:30pm. It was a celebration and wanted to enjoy our moment. We ordered sweetbreads for a shared appetizer, spaghetti and duck and foie gras ravioli. All the food was fabulous. The problem was that our entrees were on the table by 7:50. Not good!! -- especially when we asked our server that we weren't in a hurry. We pointed this out to the server and his response was he couldn't control the kitchen. Because they automatically add an 18% gratuity to every check, I guess he didn't really care. Liked the food but not worth the price. Bottom line don't 'rush' to go there.
(2)
Nancy H.
The best restaurant of the ones located within Fontainebleau. We ordered the short ribs and duck ravioli for appetizers. Short ribs were a little salty, my friends loved the duck ravioli, I wasn't a huge fan, but may have been the liver taste I didn't like. We ordered the branzino, halibut, and spaghetti. The server was very honest and cool. The halibut was better than the branzino, the spaghetti was ridiculously good. A friend in NY had raved and raved about the spaghetti. You really don't think that something as simple as spaghetti can be book, but this was really freaking amazing. I am going to go back in NY just for the spaghetti! For the desserts we had the chocolate donuts and the chocolate souffle. Both were nice but not amazing. The bread basket comes with a bread baked with mozzarella and ham or sausage? It's VERY good, could have probably just ate that for dinner.
(4)
Ana M.
I'm in love. I'm in love with this place. I think I need to get a better job, just so that I can afford to eat here every day. I had a really great time here last night. We went for Miami Spice and the menu was great. We had the creamy polenta, the ice smoked fish appetizer, the chicken and the branzino. The portions are small, but heavenly. The food is traditional, but different. Its Italian, so its all rich and flavorful. Every dish was very different. I heard the spaghetti was really good. I want to go back an try it. For desert we had the panna cotta and the cheesecake. Both really good. The place was empty when we got there at 6:30, but by the time we left it was packed, so make reservations. We had a really good waiter. He explained all the dishes, he was attentive, he was charismatic, he was very knowledgeable and he was just overall nice. Not intrusive- just right. Valet is 12 bucks with validation and I think we spent like 110 bucks on dinner. Not too back. Its a nice place. So- Believe the hype. This restaurant is great. I would go back.... right now.. lets go.
(5)
theFOOD E.
Recommended for a contemporary classy dinner next time you're in South Beach. I would describe this restaurant as having amazing neuvo contemporary northern italian cuisine. A good dim ambiance...quite enough for a conversation. The portions are not huge like you would expect from traditional Italian rest. They were more "polite" sized, so I had to order mutliple entrees. The pasta comes with a well balanced light tomato sauce (made with a touch of creme fresch) - no bolognese or meatball options which I crave b/c I'm more on the carnivorous side at dinner time. We also got the turbo fish and another fish- both perfectly cooked with thin crispy skin on one side. I heard the white truffles are amazing - didn't get to try them tho. Desserts were great too.
(4)
Jennifer B.
The restaurant is situated in a beautiful modern/contemporary hotel. We were seated right away and the server was welcoming and polite. We started off with their fresh bread, including mini stromboli rolls which were very good. There is a nice selection on the menu but be forewarned: generally the portions are small (one appetizer consisted of two medium size shrimp. Really.), which makes ordering multiple courses necessary if you have a good appetite. This is where the dining experience can get expensive. We were happy with each course, which included the aforementioned shrimp appetizer, pasta with tomato basil, roasted chicken, and sirloin. The dessert--zeppoles filled with nutella-- was very delish. The only downside is that we were waiting a long time between courses. I'm all for leisurely dining and enjoying the experience, but it was way too long.
(4)
Sabrina F.
I have not had many meals that changed my life, but this one did. We came here for their anniversary, which was some crazy prix-fixe deal, and it was truly tremendous. The service was outstanding and generous--the server kept pressing more wine on us--and the food was just as good. The menu was like a greatest hits: the spaghetti was excellent, the polenta incredible, the short rib, the fish... Anyway. I'm not typically one for lavish meals, but our dinner here would have been a bargain at twice the price. Which is probably what we would have paid if we had come another time.
(5)
Pinklious L.
I went to this place last year and I am still thinking about how good the food was! The mushroom polenta, duck ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs basil tomato sauce, bread basket. I tried at least 9 different entrees because everything was so delicious.
Both the turbot $32 and halibut $39 were great. Brocollini $12 was pretty good. Complimentary bread basket was standard. Service was very good--waters refilled often. 18% automatic gratuity as is the custom in Miami. The waiter didn't offer us the Miami Spice menu. We actually didn't know about it but overheard two tables nearby ask for that menu. We had already ordered our food though so too late for us. Hmm, sounds like a missed opportunity to try new dishes. I wish the server had informed us. Located in the Fountain Blu hotel so plenty of Ferraris, Lambos, and Bentleys in valet to feast your eyes on as you walk in.
(4)
Vicki T.
Had a romantic dinner with my hubby there, outstanding as always! We ordered the Chef tasting, it's a small bit of the whole menu....excellent as always and had to bring some home it was so much
(5)
Noa L.
Scarpetta's chef is a friend of mine but I will say the truth. Scarpetta used to be EXCELLENT: I would give it a 10 on a scale of 1 to 5! Food was like tasting heaving. Was my favorite place for food. But the quality has gone down to (still) very good, just inconsistent: If you're lucky that day, it would be like heavenly, if not, it'd still be very good. I can easily say I've been to Scarpetta at least 50 times in 2 years. And if you go there often, you're treated like royalty. If you've never been: GO. On a side note: The good thing is the floor manager that used to work there was a b*tch. Rude. She was hitting on every single man right in front of their wives, it was embarrassing, pretending it's the first time she meets "the girl" and treating her like an escort. She's the reason why my circle of friends and I stopped going. But she no longer works there. Either way, if you've never been, you should definitely pay it a visit. They have an EXCELLENT variety of wine (by the glass or bottle). If you want to see what it looks like, go grab a drink at the bar. Try the Cabernet by the glass (such a great one), or a Lychee Martini if you're more in a cocktail mood. If you're hungry, definitely order that famous SPAGHETTI, it is just perfect if you're lucky that day. What's so special? Just trust me and order, and let me know what you think later. The Duck au Foie Gras ravioli is really amazing too, if you like liver. If you're just in the mood for appetizers, the Polenta is fantastic, definitely top of the list. The Raw Yellowtail, Tuna Tartare, Steak Tartare and Burrata are good too, if you're more in the mood. On the dessert menu, their Chocolate Zeppole and Souffle are a great pick. Enjoy and good luck!
(4)
Grace R.
I love Scarpetta - it's one of my favorite places in Miami. And it would have to be THAT good for me to put up with the hassle of getting here, finding a parking spot (because the valet is swamped and very expensive even with validation) and walking a few blocks in the summer heat to get to. The Polenta with fricasee of mushrooms was on Food Network's "best things I ever ate" show, and it's on that same list for me too. Word of warning though: it seems to continue expanding AFTER you eat it, so if you are a pig and eat an entire serving of this yourself, you are going to pay for it when you struggle with dessert. I always have a different main whenever I go, and they are all great. The pastas can be very rich, and are best shared with a date (like the polenta). If you are eating both polenta AND a pasta in the same meal, you'd better be running in a marathon the next day (and Scarpetta does in fact have a promotion the same weekend as the Miami Marathon for this exact reason). Speaking of promotions, Scarpetta is one of the best options every year during Miami Spice (our version of "restaurant week" that lasts 2 months in late summer), and I look forward to going in months when Spice returns and the tourists depart.
(5)
Alli P.
Definitely my favorite restaurant in The Fontainebleau. On the opposite site of the lobby and Liv Nightclub entrance , the restaurant is much quieter and maintains a peaceful and classy vibe. Going with a group, I was able to try an assortment of things, each taster than the next. From breads and burrata salad, to pasta and some truffle and cream concoction, there wasn't a single unappetizing item on the menu... Definitely worth enjoying a meal there at least once whether living in, or visiting Miami.
(4)
Charlie S.
Delicious. Sharing appetizers and entrees between a table of four meant I got to taste a significant chunk of the menu. Scarpetta isn't quite five stars for me, but the wonderful pasta brings it extremely close. My impressions of the food: - The short rib appetizer was good, but not great. There's better short rib to be had at many other places in Miami. I'd skip it. - Creamy polenta with mushrooms was a creamy delight. - Spaghetti was simple, flavorful, and superb. This is an important-for-everyone-at-the-table-to-try dish, and for that reason I recommend ordering a spaghetti as an appetizer for the table. This was my second favorite dish. - Tagliatelle with crab and uni was a tasty dish, but there was no discernible flavor of uni. Since it was the uni that had drawn me to this dish, it fell short of my expectations. - Duck and foie gras ravioli was the best dish by far. Full of wonderful and subtle flavors, each ravioli was meant to be savored and to dissolve in one's mouth. Really great. It is a small (but rich) portion. - In every pasta dish, the pasta was fresh and phenomenal. Service was excellent. Our server demonstrated substantial knowledge of the menu and its ingredients when we had questions.
(4)
Danay A.
One of my favorite restaurant. The food always perfect. The spaguetti simply amazing the polenta really good and the dessert you should tried the coconut panacota is really really perfect one of my favorite dessert and I love dessert, oh I almost forgot the complimentary bread 4 different breads.
Disappointed. Not disappointed that the food was not very good, it was. Just disappointed that it wasn't outstanding, especially given the price and the ambience. In fairness, we carried exceedingly high - but reasonable given the hype - expectations but left feeling slightly underwhelmed. Service was very good save for two dishes - the server oddly struggled to adequately describe the dishes. Not good. To the credit of the restaurant, it was obviously noticed and server did not return. Two dishes were overly salted. Simply too much sprinkled just prior to serving. And I generally like quite a bit of salt. Annoying. Excellent polenta. "Divine""would also fit here if you are a polenta fanatic. Mushrooms are a must-have. Short ribs were just OK - far too many things going on with the dish. I've had much better. Ravioli was outstanding - our favorite dish. Pasta was superb. As was the "gravy".
Excellent night at Scarpetta. Scarpetta is located in the Foutainebleau, an iconic South Beach hotel. We had reservations at 8:30. We arrived, checked in with the hostess and then proceeded to the bar for a pre-dinner cocktail. The restaurant decor is hip and trendy. The bar staff was attentive, but wine by the glass and bottle beer menu is limit. They do not stock any domestic beer. After about 10 minutes at the bar, we were approached by the hostess who let us know our table was ready. The dinning room is loud and energetic. I found it a bit on the dark side and we saw several customers using their cell phone lights to read the menus. We were promptly greeted by our wait staff and the wine steward. The bottle wine menu was overwhelming with 30+ pages of vino from all corners of the world. We kept it simple with a nice bottle of Dutton Goldfield Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley $75. It was excellent. For starters we had the creamy polenta recommended by our waiter (and many on Yelp). The polenta was outstanding with a creamy texture and an earthy taste from the truffled mushrooms that are served separate but meant to be poured over the polenta. I used some of the fresh bread from the table to dip and soak up the the polenta. The serving size is more than enough for 2 to share. This is a must have starter. Both of our entrees came highly recommended by our waiter. First the home made spaghetti with tomato and fresh basil. The pasta is all made fresh in-house. While a very simple dish, for the pasta lover this is true perfection. The pasta was perfectly al dente' with a very fresh tomato basil sauce nicely seasoned with parmesan. It needed nothing else. Next we had the Atlantic Halibut. It was poached and served over morel mushrooms, corn and favs beans. The fish was plump and perfectly moist. The mushrooms added a woody taste and the locally selected corn gave the dish a fresh finish. By the time we completed our entrees, we had no room for dessert.
(5)
Jennifer O.
Is a Beautifull restaurant with great views Excellent food and service Must try the short rib pasta !!!! Miami spice is worth it! Must go!
(5)
Madison M.
Excellent restaurant!!! Loved everything about it including the service, the ambiance and the food. I went with a small group during Miami Spice Month where they offer your choice of appetizer, entree and dessert for a fixed price. First they bring you a bread basket with variety of different breads and delicious toppings which included sun dried tomatoes and a lemon oil. For appetizer, I had the mushroom polenta and for the entree, I shared the short rib pasta and the snapper. Both dishes were delicious. Yes, the menu prices were high but it was expected being a restaurant inside the Fountainbleau and with such high quality food. Our waiter also told us about a Sunday dinner experience that includes various appetizers and entrees for a fixed rate. May be back soon for that!
(5)
Stedine L.
The food here is delicious!!! It's so good I want to come back and taste the rest of their menu. I had the polenta with wild mushroom, oven roasted chicken and chocolate cake for dessert. Every course was delectable
(5)
Preeti M.
Perfection, every time. From the stunning atmosphere to the stellar service to the down right delicious food, Scarpetta never disappoints. I wish more restaurants took a page from this one's books and learned how to be classy in every way. The pastas are to die for and the portions are not as small as you think so be warned. They always present it as a Primi, Secondi but there is no need to go beyond Primi (trust me!). The Octopus appetizer is delicious and my staple dish here is the simple yet gorgeous tomato basil spaghetti. Voila! Love.
(4)
Derek D.
Heard this place was known for its pasta, and the chef did not disappoint. The service and friendliness of the waitstaff is impeccable. Eduardo is a master of his craft, and it was a great move to order the Chef Special served family-style. During the second corse, I was able to taste pasta, served on pasta, with a side of pasta ravioli, and foie gras. Needless to say, this meal was a solid success, and I recommend it highly. Enjoy!
(5)
Natalia E.
The food was amazing. I've been here before, but didn't have such a great experience. Yum, yum, yum. Try - The polenta, spaghetti with tomato sauce... Sound boring, but they are grrrrreat!
(5)
Amanda G.
Excellent dinner at Scarpetta! We were celebrating a bachelorette party with 11 ladies and we ordered the tasting menu for the table at the waiters recommendation. Starters were the creamy polenta, tomato mozzarella salad and short rib. All were fantastic! Also must try the prosciutto bread in the bread basket. So good and I don't normally eat prosciutto. The main courses were sea bass, roast chicken, tomato and basil spaghetti, duck and foie gras ravioli. The simple spaghetti was to die for as well as the roast chicken. The table favorites were the creamy polenta and the duck and foie gras ravioli. Dessert was also delicious, cheesecake parfait yummmm! Passion fruit panna cotta and a decadent chocolate cake. This was by far the best option for our table to try a variety of their specialties. The waiters were very accommodating for our large group and the ambiance was very nice for the evening. I felt like we had the restaurant to ourselves! Wonderful evening!
(5)
Rach K.
Yum! I'm a frequent visitor of Scott Conant's NYC location so when a group of friends and I were heading to Miami for the weekend, I promptly requested that we make a reservation here. We were seated in the prettiest, brightest part of the restaurant overlooking the ocean. The staff brought over menus and filled our water glasses promptly. We each tried to order a different dish so that we could try a bunch of different things. One of us got scallops, one of us got the scialatelli with lobster, one of us got the short rib agnolotti, one of us got the corn raviolini, and I got the infamous tomato & basil spaghetti. The friend who ordered the raviolini didn't like her dish and one of the staff overheard so he replaced it with a dish of her choosing (the tomato & basil spaghetti) which we thought was so thoughtful and generous. Everything was delicious. The tomato & basil spaghetti is such a simple dish but it's incredible. I definitely recommend it; even Alton Brown says he'd eat it as a last meal. For dessert we had the amadei chocolate cake. It was a little disappointing; I think the NY location does a better job making it. The almond gelato didn't have much almond flavor but it was still delicious. I mean, we ate the whole thing. If you're in the mood for some delicious fresh pasta, Scarpetta is an obvious choice.
(5)
Jarret S.
This was our 4th visit to Scarpetta and it was the first time we left without saying 'wow'. We went for Miami Spice and this year they have changed things, adding a $12 UPCHARGE for choosing the Tomato & Basil Pasta (the most amazing pasta you'll ever eat) as your entree. To be charged an EXTRA $12 for choosing pasta over chicken, short ribs or fish is ludicrous. On the dinner menu, the pasta is priced at a lower price point than any of the other entree offerings, yet for the spice menu, they want to charge you more. This makes zero sense from a consumer perspective as well as a kitchen/restaurant cost perspective. The desserts served on the spice menu, honestly, were borderline embarrassing: the tiramisu, while nice in flavor was served in a water glass and took up only the bottom 1/4 of the glass. The almond panna cotta had a gelatinous (not smooth) consistency and lacked flavor. The service we received from our server was excellent however this was the first time we noticed the support staff (drinks, hostess, water, food runners, bread, etc.) showing less professionalism than in previous visits. As always, valet parking there is a nightmare. Be prepared to add an hour to your dinner to allow for drop-off and pick-up of your vehicle.
(4)
Jessica M.
Waitstaff is so enthusiastic and knowledgable here! The waiter recommended the pasta stuffed with duck and the truffle pasta. This was definitely out of the comfort zone with the flavored but I'm so glad we got them. They were delicious! We paired them with a bottle of wine and finished off with dessert! Great restaurant inside Fontainebleau
(5)
E M.
I live in South Beach, so I am not surprised when service is less-than-great. I can live with that. But this place... wow. We made a reservation for 8:30... arrived at 8:20, in advance of the reservation (we were in a hurry to get to the next place after dinner)... we were seated at 10pm... If you can't seat us for the reservation... why in the hell would you take the reservation? Don't inconvenience us, give us the opportunity to choose some other place that actually can serve us. Once seated, service was slow and inattentive. We actually had to stand up and hunt down the our waiter to bring us our food after another hour of waiting. We didn't get out of there until 11:30pm, and that's only because we hurried through the actual eating. The food was unspectacular. The waitstaff was incredibly inattentive (probably due to overbooking and poor training)... and again, this is being said by someone who is used to South Beach and pretty laid back. And making us wait 1.5 hours when we had a reservation... that's just stupid. I can go to countless places and pay $250-300 for dinner for 2 that are outstanding in all categories. This place stinks.
(1)
Ash P.
Wasn't very impressed with the "Miami Spice" for 52$ just to add spaghetti I wasn't very happy! Especially considering I drove an hour away and went to the one in NYC got a way better menu to choose from and only paid 35$!
(1)
Cathy M.
I went to this restaurant when I was in Miami for my birthday. It's a little bit hard to find because it's really far back in the Fountainbleau, but it's worth the walk. The food is sooo good. I had the truffle dinner and they were very generous with the truffles. The ambiance is nice and this place is always packed. Just don't forget your wallet--this restaurant is expensive, but so worth it for a special occasion. I can't wait to go back to Miami, because I'll definitely be going back here for dinner.
(4)
Michelle G.
Scott hits another home Run! We are long time NY fans. We had all the classic dishes and everyone was amazing and delicious. We have eaten in NY , La , Las Vegas and Miami and the meal never disappoints. My husband has followed Scott for the past 20 years from little NYC places to scarpetta.
(5)
Kimberly L.
Came here for a 30th birthday celebration with a large group of 15 ladies and had a wonderful meal! We contacted Gail ahead of time and had a delicious family style menu for $65 per person. We got to try 3 different appetizers, 4 entrees and 2 desserts. I've had the pleasure of eating at Scott's private space in NYC and Scarpetta in Manhattan and each experience is so amazing. We started with the burrata then the braised short ribs and the polenta. OMG the polenta was to die for. For the main course, we got the spaghetti, the duck foie gras ravioli, the orate and the chicken. My favorite was the ravioli. For dessert I was so stuffed but we had chocolate cake and a citrus parfait. Yum Yum Yum. Everything was so good. The ambiance was romantic and intimate. I will certainly be telling any friends in Miami to go here!
Been wanting to try Scott Conant's place for a while now...didn't disappoint! The foie gras and duck ravioli was superb and their signature spaghetti was great...I don't know about $25 for spaghetti great, but I can see why it's so popular. Service was exceptional.
(4)
Brian C.
Great food, good service, and a great wine list and Sommelier make Scarpetta an all around hit. It isn't cheap, but this is Miami Beach so what do you expect? We may have overdone it here on our initial dinner, but really enjoyed everything - polenta with mushrooms, short rib, duck & foie ravioli, parmesan raviolini, and the local snapper entree. We even splurged on dessert with a pumpkin souffle which was great and the Sommelier selected an excellent bottle of white wine (Italian, of course) that complemented our entire meal well and [by South Beach standards] was not too crazy at $120. He also suggested a lower priced option, and did exactly what a good Sommelier should do by adding to the meal's enjoyment, and selecting good bottles of wine at all price points while not being condescenting or looking down on regular people who don't spend $1000 on a bottle of wine. It was a bit strange that we were asked to sit in the bar area prior to being seated in a wide open restaurant, but overall Scarpetta was exactly the 5 star experience you would expect. Very nicely done.
(5)
Maria C.
Great restaurant. Have been there several times and have enjoyed everything. The spaghetti is to die for.
(5)
Lily L.
My BF had surprised me to this Wonderful Restaurant, as he knows I love to watch Food Network, and Scott Conant. We had the Tasting course, and let me tell ya- It Is the most Amazing dishes I've had!! EVERYTHING was perfect and Amazing!! Great service as well!
(5)
Patrick D.
If you can find it -- it's somewhat buried within the Fountainbleau -- this place is certainly a "destination" restaurant. Very expensive, and the portions were relatively small, but the food was excellent. Warning: For whatever reason, it's extremely noisy in the dining area...it was hard to hear my dinner companions. Pace was veerrryyyyy slooooooowwwww (2 and a half hours), but maybe when you're paying this much, they figure you want to drag it out as much as possible.
(4)
Julie L.
Will NEVER come back. EVER. To start I have been here many times, having used to live 4 blocks away. The food and service were always amazing in the past, so naturally when we had a big dinner party to celebrate a major occasion we reserved a large table with them. First we had a reservation but still waited 30 minutes to be seated. Imagine 14 people in the tiny bar area and you can see how us standing there for 30 min became annoying. Then we go to the table and without telling us they split us into two tables. The whole point of the dinner was to celebrate and have our families meet each other and we had been talking to the restaurant for over 3 weeks about this reservation, with no mention of putting us at two separate tables. They then acted like they were doing US a major service by giving us one table which is what we had been asking for all along. Then comes our incredibly rude waiter. First he goes around to the families being condescending, saying well I hope your not hungry because what you ordered is small, and making comments on literally everything that people ordered. He was visibly annoyed when two people asked to split an entree and an app for dinner and made multiple comments. This of course is because he has automatic gratuity and so he was pushing for us to ring up the bill. Then comes the fact that we ordered 2 bottles of wine and without even telling us he opens additional bottles and then of course charges us for them. I literally had to tell the man to stop opening bottles. Then, because literally 2 out of the 3 families that were with us were offended, I felt like I had to do something as I had made the reservation for the group. I am a doctor but spent 7 years as a waitress in a high end restaurant in NYC and knew this service was incredibly poor for a "nice restaurant." I go to speak with the manager and immediately he says to me "well it seems like you are just having a ton of problems tonight." Insinuating that I am being dramatic. Then he is demanding with me and goes "so what is this about, do you just want something off the check?" And I told him, No I just thought he would want to know AS THE MANAGER that the service was terrible and I have literally had to apologize to my guests for their wait staff's behavior. He basically was dismissive, partly due to the fact that I was a young woman in my late twenties, and we still paid our 800$ check with automatic gratuity. That being said NO ONE at that party will EVER be back again. One of the guests works for a Fortune 500 company and immediately sent an email to his corporate telling them to take Scarpettas off of the list as a recommended venue. The other guest works for Jackson health and said they were thinking about having a conference there but now seeing the way they behave they have also changed their mind. In summary if you are going to spend $800 on a nice dinner with family and friends- do it elsewhere. These people are rude and disgusting, with honestly deplorable management. I was mortified that I took a large group of my closest family and friends there. Now having this experience I will continue to make everyone I know aware of how scarpettas really treats their guests.
(1)
Scott L.
I was introduced to Scarpetta by force for someone's birthday and felt immediate regret when I checked in and got Yelp's High Roller badge. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Yelp gives you badges kind of like if you were a boy/girl scout. This one in particular is given for checking into three different places that are obscenely expensive. I've eaten at many fine dining establishments, and most of them leaving you feeling like you just threw away your money. I don't mind eating at places like this on an expense account, but not on my dime. I guess that's what it's like to wipe your 'ars' with Benjamins. The place is gorgeous, with several different rooms all with different styles. The front area is very dark and trendy. The back are is like an indoor garden terrace. I'd suggest asking for a table in the back. It has huge windows, and it's a great space as the night spawns. The food selection here is very unique, and this began to turn my opinion. For example, one of the specials was a dumpling wrapped in an eggplant flour. I didn't try it, but the menu is cluttered with great dishes. Little did I know, but we came here during Spice Week (like restaurant week in NYC). The menu had tons of choices to choose from that made it hard for me to make a decision it also helped my wallet. I ultimately choose tuna appetizer, the aged steak entree, house spaghetti, and a semi frozen berry icecream for dessert. The tuna was decent, but I would recommend the mushroom polenta that everyone at my table raved about it. The steak was a mind blowing experience, and took me by surprise with the flavor. It was a smokey aged taste that was very different than most aged steaks. It was smaller in portion though (6 ounces). The spaghetti was oversold, and was average in flavor. The berry icecream was pretty good, and was more like a pudding. It was very different, and I would recommend. All deserts looked amazing, and no one complained about their choice. What separated Scarpetta from the rest of my fine dining experience s was the waiter, George. It's rare that you find a waiter so knowledge about the food and who also makes you feel like there's a personal relationship. George was great at both, and made it feel like we were old friends. His ability to communicate is much higher than I would ever expect for a waiter, but I really appreciated his efforts to describe everything in detail. I would recommend Scarpetta, but only on a loose budget. The food selection is great, but not everything is amazing. The staff, service and ambiance make it worth it though.
(4)
Daniel F.
We walked in for dessert as it was about a half hour before they were closing but after a look at the menu we stayed to have a second dinner. The decor and vibe is nautical and sophisticated. Gorgeous window set overlooking the ocean and some of the best people watching I saw in miami. The menu was limited and flowed well, always a good sign and it was very hard to decide. I ate everything even though I hadn't walked in hungry and the chocolate cake they had on the dessert menu was so good we ordered a second one immediately. Will be back next time I'm in town
(5)
Brian M.
Chose here for an anniversary dinner with my girlfriend as it looked like one of the more solid spots in Miami Beach, and partly also because of Nina who unfortunately left just before we ate here. No matter. Losing a star for a couple reasons. First, parking. We were staying down in South Beach. I would NOT recommend driving here. Couldn't find self park (not sure if they exist), went to Valet. Valet area a zoo, no one came to the car, people running everywhere, honking because it was backed up, etc. Just a mess. Finally I get out of the car, find someone I can communicate with and they tell me it's full, go to the next VIP area (right in front of the hotel). Go there, they tell me they're full. WTF. Thent hey say, oh, do you have reservations at one of our restaurants? Yes I do. Come on in! Goofs. Restaurant experience is what you would expect from this type of place. Very good food (snapper crudo in particular), a bit higher priced because of the name and location, attentive service, beautifully decorated, etc. Also I was a bit surprised to see fellow diners in t-shirts and athletic shorts here but I guess they don't turn people away. Overall I doubt anyone would ever walk away from here unhappy, but still nothing blew me away so can't give it the full 5 stars.
(4)
Jessica R.
It doesn't get much better! I have been here on both special occasions/truffle tasting meni or just a spaghetti craving and it's a heavenly experience. The staff has always been outstanding including my last visit where manager Jason came to check on us a few times when I told him I am gonna name my first born Scott in honor of the spaghetti he promised to let him know in his report. While everything is amazing the spaghetti gives me life!!! A must is also the bread with their eggplant dip..loads of flavor! The chocolate cake with ice cream is a signature of theirs and brings a tear to your eye reminding you what a dessert should be! Props to the whole staff front and back of house!
(5)
Deryn H.
The food is exquisite! The chief is a food magician; I've never had food as good as food served at Scarpetta. The oven roasted chicken and spaghetti are to die for! As are the chocolate zeppoles. The portion sizes are perfect for those who don't want a platter plate full of food. As for the service, amazing! The waiters are extremely polite and make your dining experience very comfortable; they work together like a well oiled machine. If you're in the Miami Beach area, Scarpetta is must!
(5)
Laaly N.
My husband and I were there recently with another couple and decided to try their tasting menu. We were able to try several main dishes, sides and desserts. From the seafood to the steak and pasta, it was all divine. The four of us are well travelled and pretty picky when it comes to food. I recommend the tasting menu at Scarpettas, it's pricy but worth it!
(5)
Kellie P.
The polenta with mushrooms is as good as it gets, and the bread basket with assorted breads is worth the embarrassment of asking for a second basket! The one with cheese and prosciutto is my fave. Great food, Cozy atmosphere and good service definitely will bring me back. The only wrinkle is the valet parking at Fountainbleu on a weekend night. Be prepared to wait before and after.
(5)
Lindsay B.
I went here for my first time last night. I've lived in Miami about four years and had yet to go; I must say that I ABSOLUTELY regret waiting this long. When I was seated the hostess promptly brought me a black linen(I was wearing a black dress). Although this is a small gesture many restaurants to don't take the initiative. The ambiance in the dining room was romantic, and chic. The cocktails were expertly crafted, I'm assuming they have high caliber mixologists because they were VERY on point. Our server Victor was very helpful and made lovely suggestions on the menu. He shared a personal story pertaining to our experience and truly made us feel at home. Finally, the most important part--the food. Both entrees we had were absolutely delicious. I had the duck foie gras ravioli and my boyfriend had the veal. Both were amazing. I think mine was a little better than my boyfriends though ;). My only complaint about my meal was that it was a teeny portion, but it was expected in a restaurant like this. For dessert I had the coconut panna cotta, which was to die for. The flavors in the dessert, mixed with the crunch of the topping were sweet perfection. I will absolutely be back and look forward to trying the chefs tasting menu.
(5)
Marc B.
Oh Scott I remember when you cooked at 55th and 2nd- in Manhattan- and you haven't let us down- Every Scarpetta is consistently great like you are in the kitchen making that spaghetti and polenta. The Miami restaurant once again this week was great and always has been- Scarpetta classics are great- we came with 3 infants and the staff was so nice and accomodating- the room is beautiful- the sommelier picked out a great reasonable priced wine for us exactly what were looking for. Nothing bad to say- You want great food, service and friendly staff come here- its not a trendy place, just plain good. Food musts- polenta, spaghetti, scallops, the short ribs, we ate most of the menu...
(5)
Jerry T.
Since visiting the NY location, I was craving it again. The food is some of the best I've ever eaten, and the service is even better. Note that the food is small portion, but full of flavor, and can be pricey to some. Understand this before you go or you may be in for a surprise. I had the veal special and would definitely order it again. The go-tos for entrees are the spaghetti and duck ravioli, which I had in NY. The fried cheese (can't remember the name) and the creamy polenta appetizers are so delicious, I highly recommend these. Side note, you have to valet park at the Fontainebleau hotel. I was able to get my parking validated at Scarpetta but it still costs $12 (+ tip if you're nice). I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Hicham D.
We seriously think we just had one of the best meals of our lives! And the best Thanksgiving dinner. Let me begin with service: PERFECT. Everyone from the hostess to the waiter to the sommelier were outstanding. And so was the chef whom we thanked personally at the end of our meal. The butternut squash soup was amazing. The rabbit pasta we got next was outstanding. The roasted turkey and stuffing had an explosion of different flavors. This dining experience was beyond our expectations! The deserts were succulent. The wine, a 2009 Margaux from Chateau Margaux was exquisite. Although that part we knew going in :) Love this place!!!
(5)
Cessie C.
I went to Scarpetta for my friends birthday dinner. It was a group of girls and most of us had never been there before. The place is gorgeous, very beautifully decorated. My favorite is the bar, which has a very cool purplish backdrop. The best way to enjoy everything this amazing restaurant has to offer is by going all in and going for the Chef's Tasting Menu. Here is what we had: RAW YELLOWTAIL (delicious) Sashimi style hamachi brushed with chili oil, ginger oil and Hawaiian sea salt. Smoked tuna tartare avocado, lemon emulsion & osetra caviar CREAMY POLENTA (THIS WAS BY FAR MY FAVORITE) served with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms MOZZARELLA IN CARROZZA Panko breaded and pan-fried buffalo mozzarella served over stewed baby tomatoes. BRAISED SHORT RIBS OF BEEF served over vegetable farro risotto MEDITERRANEAN OCTOPUS served over a potato creama, olives, capers and confit tomatoes. PASTA COURSE DUCK & FOIE GRAS RAVIOLI (This was my favorite pasta dish- it was the perfect mix of sweet & salty) finished with a marsala reduction. SPAGHETTI (AMAZING spin on classic dish!) Handmade spaghetti tossed with tomato sauce, basil and parmigiano. PICI served with lobster, calabrese chilis and nduja sausage. BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLINI Roasted Butternut squash raviolini, baby vegetables and Ricotta Salata PROTEIN/ENTRÉE COURSE MEDITERRANEAN BRANZINO Mediterranean branzino served with confit baby vegetables and almond brown butter brodetto. FENNEL DUSTED BLACK COD (fresh, soft, sweet & delciious) Fennel spiced black cod served on top of baccala mantecato, concentrated tomatoes and black olive oil LONG ISLAND DUCK Long Island duck, roasted carrots, mustard greens & sour cherry jus 21 DAY AGED SIRLOIN OF BEEF Porcini Mushrooms, Salsa di Pane & Smoked Bone Marrow DESSERT Coconut Panna Cotta Coconut flavored eggless custard held together with gelatin. Served with guava soup, caramelized pineapples,coconut sorbet and a coconut tuille. Amadei Chocolate Cake Made from dark Italian chocolate (Amadei). Served warm with toasted almond gelato, a salted caramel sauce and a chocolate cigarette. Coffee Semifreddo Frozen coffee mousse set in a bowl, garnished with crystallized hazelnuts, anise infused chantilly cream, served with lemon sorbet Each course came with its appropriate wine pairings and by the time we were done, I was ready for my BED, but, we ended up at LIV instead. And managed to dance some of the calories off. Aside from the fact that everything about this meal was PERFECT, the service at Scarpetta is what really topped the evening. From the front staff, the waiters & even the GM, who personally came & checked on our meal- the service was beyond comparison to any other restaurant. I really want to go back for brunch soon!
(5)
Talisha M.
Overrated and didn't meet the hype. The restaurant is gorgeous and sheik. The service was good and we got to meet the chef who happened to be on Top Chef which was great. We had the prefixed menu that samples most everything. It was all decently good but not mind blowing. The traditional spaghetti was very good. Think there are far better Italian in soflo.
(3)
Lily Z.
One of the best meals I've had in awhile. We opted for the tasting menu which was the best decision ever! Our server Victor was fabulous. Friendly, knowledgable and took all of our requests to the chef to execute the perfect tasting menu for us. Amuse bouche: yellow tail and tuna tartar bites. We were a little ignorant and thought this was our appetizer. Ensue angry bitching....until Victor asked us how it was and told us that was just a little something from the kitchen and our real appetizer was coming. Whew! What a relief! Appetizer: tuna tartar and yellowtail hamachi. Delicious! Both were so unique and delicate tasting. So creative and perfectly portioned! Pasta course: THE pasta pomodoro, duck & foie gras ravioli and a seafood linguine. Of course the star of this course was the spaghetti. It was so good that I came back the next night and ordered a portion to go! I could've done without the seafood linguine, which was tasty but nothing spectacular compared to the other 2 pasta dishes. Entrees: fennel dusted snapper and the 28 dry aged beef. Both delicious and by this point I am so full that I can't really breathe. The fish had a very intense woodsy flavor and the beef was cooked perfectly. Dessert:.....a panna cotta with guava soup that was light and refreshing. The molten chocolate cake was pretty good also as it wasn't too sweet. The whole meal was worth the price. I highly recommend it. I can't wait to attempt to make the spaghetti in my own kitchen!
(5)
Lindsey B.
Really loved this place. Went with a big group for a bachelorette party. They sat us right away and the service was great. It's an open place with big windows that look out at the Fontainebleau resort. The prices are a little expensive but the food is delicious. All their pastas are home made so they are very very good. Just the plain old spaghetti and tomato sauce was some of the best I've ever had. The carpaccio was also very good. I would recommend this place however wouldn't suggest for kids- More of an adult dining experience. Also would suggest making reservations in advance
(4)
Joe R.
Best food in Miami period Michael the bartender is awesome and a real pro The pasta is like eating in Italy truly outstanding the filet and lamb chop entrees also outstanding Don't miss this beautiful hotspot
(5)
D M.
The food here was not that great . Not quite sure why it got 4 stars. The ambiance is nice the service is great but besides that not really sure what the rave is all about. We ordered the local squash blossom which has some kind of risotto rice and the mozerella in Carozza which is essentially fried cheese sticks . The bread platter has meat in it so if your vegetarian make sure to ask for a plate of just bread . Our waiter was really amazing food is sub par. Ice tea is great as a side note . Continue to follow me for more Miami posts !
(2)
Nate B.
Over priced is one thing. Of course you pay for a top resort environment. Crappy service is another thing. Don't waste your money
(1)
Allison F.
This review is dedicated to my favorite chef, Nina Compton: My company holiday party took place at Scarpetta a few months ago. After watching and obsessing over Nina's food on Top Chef, we had incredibly high expectations...all which were met and exceeded with FLYING colors. The meal started with unbelievable service from Luis and Eddy -- two of the best servers I've ever had the privilege of dining with. These two gentlemen made us feel like family, a welcome and unexpected rarity for upscale Miami restaurants. Our first taste of heaven was when the bread came, accompanied by a sun-dried tomato spread, olive oil and butter (which I thought was cheese and smeared heavily on my focaccia....sorry, I'm not sorry). Next, came a delicate pile of burrata joined by the most tender braised short ribs and melt in your mouth truffled mushroom polenta. Full yet? No way. To follow, we sampled the freshest handmade spaghetti I've ever tasted, dressed in the perfect amount of tomato and basil, and duck and foie gras ravioli that I would literally pay all my money to eat on a daily basis. Throughout each of these courses, Luis and Eddy were like skilled spies, refilling our wine glasses to perfection after each and every tiny sip...5-star service. For the main course, we sampled juicy filet mignon, roasted chicken and some mystery fish dish that I loved. Even though there were 40 mouths to feed in our party, Luis and Eddy managed to make us feel like we were their first priority at all times. For dessert, we indulged in coconut panna cotta, chocolate lava cake, a heavenly sorbet and a creamy caramel concoction that I couldn't get enough of. The entire meal can be summed up in two words: more, please. I am incredibly grateful to Luis and Eddy for making me feel like an old friend, for ensuring that we got second dibs at all the dishes before our hungry coworkers and for going out of their way to allow us to meet and take photos with Nina and Scott, two of my culinary heroes. Amazing service, amazing food, amazing experience.
(5)
Pam C.
Dining at it's best. Excellent courses from beginning to end. Meals were prepared and presented to perfection. Our family had pasta with black trumpet, veal and filet mignon. Every bite was delicious. Courses were nicely spread out, we never felt rushed. If you are in a hurry I would let your waitstaff know ahead of time. This is a full dining experience so expect it to be spaced out.
(5)
Marco M.
Come hungry and try the tasting menu, and you will be happy you did. Antipasti: Assortment of polenta with mushrooms, short rib and farro and fresh burrata and tomatoes to start the meal 2 signature pastas: spaghetti and pomodoro and duck foie gras ravioli with balsamic reduction Choice of meat, chicken or fish - all excellent Dolci: similar to a passion fruit panna cotta and a chocolate cake The servers were all excellent. Ryan was on point with us and they were all very attentive. Ambiance is perfect and you can request to sit closer to the windows for a view of the pool and ocean outside of the center dining hall. Buon Appetito!
(5)
Kate T.
After having been to the New York location I was SO looking forward to checking out the Miami one. I made reservations for Saturday night at 8:30. We arrived a little early to enjoy a drink at the bar. We were approached by the staff and told to enjoy our drink and to let them know when we were ready to be seated. We were seated at a great seat, overlooking the restaurant and water. We were greeted with a variety and breads and spreads, including a marscapone butter, a garlic olive oil and a roasted eggplant speard, all delish! We decided to enjoy the Chef Tasting menu, which included a variety if Scarpetta's most favorite dishes. 1st course, Yellowtail Hamachi with a Tuna Tartare. 2nd course, Sauteed mushroooms over polenta and a short rib (fall off the bone short rib!). 3rd course, the pasta! We tasted the tomato basil, duck ravioli and a cream tagliatelle. 4th course. Salmon with black grain rice and a RibEye, smoked to perfection. And, finally, the 5th course, dessert. A chocolate molten cake with a cocunut sorbet and papaya gelee. Not only did every bite of the tasting menu hit the spot, the wine pairings that they provided went SO well. The service did not disappoint and overall, like Scarpetta in New York, this is by far one of my favorite restaurants I have had the pleasure of dininig out. I do hope I can get back, if not, continue to taste Chef Scott Conant's menus around the country.
(5)
Brittany P.
Everything about this is amazing! Service and food were on point and I cannot wait to go back! Must have the pasta marinara!!!!!
(5)
Michael S.
If you are looking for a nice place to eat in Miami, I highly recommend Scarpetta. From the bread they give you when you sit down, to the chocolate cake we had for desert, I enjoyed my meal. The highlights had to be the Creamy Polenta, Duck And Foie Gras Ravioli, and Chocolate Cake. We also had the Short Rib appetizer (which was the one thing I thought was just ok) and the Chestnut Cavatelli (which was very good, but not quite as amazing as the ravioli). The service at the restaurant was also very good. Our waiter was very attentive and gave us good recommendations. The support staff were also always there at the times you needed them (They were quick to refill my water when it was almost out, and they cleared our plates when we finished). Note that they automatically include a 18% gratuity on your bill. I actually prefer this, but it may be a sticking point to some.
(5)
Mariel P.
Came here just for dinner while staying in South Beach for my partner's birthday dinner and although the food was good and the restaurant was nice, I ended up very disappointed. I asked the hostess to make a note that it was my partners birthday and she even asked me for his name. I was waiting the entire night for a dessert surprise, but then they bring over a dessert menu which threw me off because they typically just bring something over. I go over to the hostess who was different then the one who checked us in and she did see the note I left and said the waiter knew, but we ordered a dessert and NOTHING!! I didn't even want dessert!! I just wanted a birthday surprise!!This would never happen in NYC.
(2)
Carla Z.
Scott Conant does it again! I've wanted to try this place since I saw Chef Nina on top chef. We were lucky enough to be in Miami for Miami Spice. The concept is similar to NY Restaurant week where participating restaurants have prix fixe menus for a certain time period. We started with a flight of wines. The only weird part was all 3 of our wines came out at the same time? At a table with four girls, it felt clumsy to have that many full regular stemmed wine glasses at the table. The food though was amazing. We had mushrooms and polenta to start. I can eat this by the bucket load. Then as a main course, I had the over roasted chicken with spaetzle. And concluded with a panna cotta. I'd definitely come back for the food. I don't know if I came on an off night, but I was expecting a larger crowd.
(3)
Roxy S.
From the gracious welcome of maitre'd and hostess, to the attentive service team, each team member was well-mannered, knowledgeable about the courses and unobtrusive. We were provided name recognition by so many of the front of house, it gave the impression we were truly valued guests. Our second time dining at Scarpetta was as memorable as the first. Preset menu for Thanksgiving started with a surprisingly, well layered soup of butternut squash frenched over foie gras, diced Granny Smith Apple, chopped shiitake mushrooms, braised celery and thin carrot discs. Followed by perfectly, al dente, housemade cavatelli pasta, braised rabbit, mirepoix in rabbit jus, topped with Parmesan. Choice entree of seared scallops with polenta or turkey breast and thigh roulade accompanied by smokey, greens, fresh cranberry sauce and the best dressing ever. Ginger-poached, sliced pear tart with cranberry-slivered almond crumble and a cannel of vanilla gelato. Quite an impressive Thanksgiving feast!
(5)
Sarah W.
I had been wanting to try Scarpetta for a few years when my husband surprised me with a last minute trip to Miami for one night to eat at Scarpetta. We did the chef's tasting menu and were pleasantly surprised by not only the food, which was incredible, but by the amount of food, the service and the restaurant itself. I could review all 10 plates of food, but it would be repetitive because everything was fantastic. I don't think I can come up with a criticism, just prepare to leave stuffed with amazing food. Also, order the pannacotta- it is a much needed refreshing way to end your meal. We will be back.
(5)
Rima R.
For dinner we had a beef tar tar - love it!!! :) Duck was - so so.. And chocolate dessert - good one! :)
(4)
Rue F.
The first thing you notice when you walk in is that it is FREEZING in there. Take a sweater for sure. The ambiance is so so but the food is terrific. My husband had their tasting menu, I had the Long Island Duck. His started out with appetizers of tuna tartar and a seared scallops. Both great. Then he had the pasta portion which had two dishes, a spaghetti to die for and a duck foie gras ravioli that was out of this world. Raves on those two dishes. The main dish was a steak that was good. For dessert he got a mango flan soup that was amazing and a chocolate cake that was okay. He highly recommends doing the tasting menu. My duck was also wonderful. Tender and prepared to temperature not overdone. Only complaint here was the coffee was ordered with cream, milk was delivered. Seems to be a theme at all restaurants at the Fontainebleau Our waiter Eric was wonderful. Ask for him. Would I go back again? Absolutely!!
(5)
Janice L.
What a flop of a restaurant for me to choose for my birthday. Be warned if you're ..let's just say it...high-maintenance, picky eater, true foodie, steak fiend, water picky, etc. You may be judged at and talked down upon by your waiters if you ask what type of water they have, etc. Because of the fact 18% gratuity is automatically added; I honestly felt like my waiters took advantage of my situations and questions about the food and drinks available. Then barely showing up after our appetizers. Don't get me wrong, I ALWAYS tip 20-30%. Just give me that option so I know I can gauge how much the waiters have earned in my eyes. It was amazing up until entrees. Then entrees killed my mood and taste buds. Desserts brought it back up a bit...but overall...really disappointed I chose this place to celebrate my birthday. I thought I'd have a great experience like I did at the one in NY... Appetizers: Raw yellowtail ($17)- so fresh, buttery, melt in your mouth sashimi slices with a memorable crunch texture of sea salt, and other things. So simple but delicious. 4 pieces. Steak tartare- this was amazing! I usually have stayed away from meat tartare in the past because it's been too gamey at other places. This one was PERFECT and recommended by our waiter. Not gamey at all but so tender, and delicious served on perfectly buttered, toasted French baguette or brioche slices. Wine: Not a big drinker but I love a glass of red wine here and there. The Barbera de Alba from Piedmont was lovely! And at $14 a glass, it was really a great pick. Tasted wonderful! Entrees: Special of the night- Sliced Bone-In Ribeye for 2/28oz. ($95) I don't even want to go into this whole fiasco and how it was handled but let's just say I've had some incredible steaks in a lot of places and I'm from Texas. We love our meat and steak! This one was incredibly DISAPPOINTING. For that price, I was expecting prime at least certified angus. It honestly tasted like choice. Or the way it was cooked made it taste like select. Yes, that horrible. So tough, bland, chewy, and served cold. Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli ($26): delicious. Filling melts in your mouth. Drizzled with a balsamic reduction sauce. Yum!! Desserts ($12) chocolate cake: yummy. If you want a richer, heavier, chocolate-y dessert go with this. Or go with what I did and eat two. Coconut Panna Cotta- WOW! This wasn't what I expected. So refreshing, delicious...confusing because it was that good...made me question why I've never had panna cotta before. Probably because I've always pictured it as a custard filled dome. Ended with cappuccino & espresso. Good. Note to management: You knew about our situation because you comped a dessert for us but neglected to come say anything to us. Thanks for comping a $12 dessert for my horrendous birthday entree worth $95. Sounds like we're even. *inserts sarcasm* Haha. Won't be back ever. Maybe just NY's location when I'm there. Poorly handled in all ways
Very disappointed. The ambiance was great, but the service was horrible. Our server was rude and unwilling to substitute any of the meals to accommodate my nut and fish allergies. He claimed the food and pasta was already made and the ingredients could not be changed. Wasn't in the mood to waste efforts on arguing, so I ordered the most expensive and most plain salad I've ever had, since everything seemed to have nuts or fish in it. For the price of the meals, the food should be freshly made and substitutions to avoid allergic reactions should be accommodated. I'm honestly not sure how this restaurant is acclaimed to be one of the best.
(2)
Todd S.
A beautiful place located inside the Fountainbleau Hotel. Ocean views. Beautiful decor for a classy design and feel. Service was very good, professional, helpful, and very attentative to all your needs. Staff made you feel welcome and saw to your every need. a great menu selection of fine Italian dining and the food was excellent. A large wine menu. We started with Palenta with fricase of wild mushrooms and truffle oil and the vegetable risotto. Pasta course we had black ink linguine with clams, duck and foie grois ravioli which were all amazing. Then we had the fish of the day and a sliced steak entree. Chocolate sufflet and cheescake. It was a menu prepared by the chef. Amazing meal. Will definitely be back soon.
(5)
Jacob K.
The service is great and the food is scrumptious. I attended the restaurant for dinner with my family and this is what we had and what was delicious or okay: Liked: Creamy polenta Probably one of my favorites Mediterranean Octopus Delicious Honey spiced Long Island Duck Cooked to perfection but don't expect it to be crispy Spagghetti with mushroom Very nice if you like truffle Coconut ice cream with guava soup Duck and Foie Gras ravioli ( Everybody seemed to like it for me it was okay but I don't like Foie gras) Okay: Yellowtail Nothing special Chocolate Zappole Expected much more since I love nutella Overall it is a very nice place with delicious food
(4)
Heath W.
I eat here all the time, at least once a month, if I could I would eat here more often. I have never ever received poor service and every meal is spot on. I read a few of the reviews and have never received the type of service ever. In fact the first time I came here it was an after party dinner after a major concert, there were around 50 people spread out throughout the dinning room, we had the place to our selves and the food and the service was amazing. My normal fare is the burrata, steak tartare, and the tuna tartare, duck & foie gras ravioli, their signature and always perfect spaghetti, Brussels sprouts and roaster mushrooms, but you can't go wrong on anything. If you need to pick one Restruant in Miami beach to visit, this is it.
(5)
J F.
The service was impeccable, and the vibe at the place is nice. But holy cow is it overpriced, especially considering the 18% surcharge. It would be nice if there were some simpler items in the menu, but literally everything was uber complicated or drenched in truffle oil. The bread served at the table was delicious, but the waiters kept taking it for some reason. It was bizarre. Dessert was delicious, but it too was all overly complicated. It may be cool to have Rosemary gelato, but is it necessary? I won't go back, it just wasn't a good enough experience for the price.
(3)
Karli M.
Along with the rest of the staff, Tim, our server, was unbelievable. He was so kind, knowledgable and accommodating when I told him I was vegan. I let him choose my entire 4 course meal and every bit of it was DELICIOUS. I have nothing but amazing memories of this place, from their staff to their food, and I eagerly look forward to my next visit.
(5)
Remington T.
Maybe it's because I'm an elitist New Yorker who knows what a good restaurant looks like or that a well priced meal should buy quality to match, but this place was a huge disappointment. Service was subpar, environment was mediocre, and the food (we had pasta and fish) was lackluster. Over-seasoned, overcooked, and didn't precisely match the description on the menu. You can walk into an any unrated, under-the-radar seafood restaurant in NYC and get far better quality. I apologize to the many Miamians who have written radiant reviews of this place that might find my review disparaging to them and their city. I have only been to Scarpetta once--granted, on a very busy night. Perhaps it deserves a second chance, but in dining, first impressions are critical.
(2)
Zubayr M.
Try the spaghetti and grilled calamari. They are honestly the best two dishes on the menu. We always end up ordering them somehow. Typical Miami prices, good service, and even better atmosphere.
(4)
Dov B.
The grilled octopus is amazing and the froi gras ravioli wasn't for me, but my wife enjoyed it. It was enjoyable enough for dinner and the service was stellar, but in all honesty I probably would not rush back anytime soon.
(4)
Vanessa V.
Scarpetta's is our go to for special occasions. We love everything about this restaurant, from the location to the menu and the service is always amazing. We usually request Eddie as our host and also request the sommelier to select our wine pairings. The only tip I would add is to make your reservations well in advance, 2 to 3 months for holidays or notable days like Mother's Day or Valentines as they are usually booked.
(5)
Amy S.
Great spot if you are staying at the Fountainebleau. Food is on point - everything we had was lovely. I ordered the spaghetti and it was amazing (maybe just a tad too salty though)...loved the perfectly al dente texture. Great views if you come for dinner right around sunset!
(4)
Yuliana D.
Tuna tartare: A little heavy on oil, greasy! I had better. It's supposed to be "smoked" - well it's lightly smoked so hard to detect. I would say it's a wow tuna. It's ok, even disappointing! I don't suggest u spend $20 on it. Bread: For the place I expected much better. Below average bread. Simple bread you get at a casual restaurant. Eggplant that came w bread was delicious. But that was it. Disappointing. Duck raviolli: Yum! If you love duck and foie gras - this is for you! Yet a little too heavy on oil, so doesn't get 5 stars from me, more like 4. Portion is tiny! So trust me - it's like an appetizer portion, u will be hungry unless ur happy w appetizer portion. I wonder why they wouldn't make it an appetizer? It's small enough! Bar: Medium size closer to small. Not the best social scene. Its an odd mix of people. Service: Great! Not impeccable but superbly great. Would I go back? No, it's overpriced for what it has to offer. I am comparing it w similar restaurant in ny and Miami so if ur a foodie - u probably will be disappointed a lot or somewhat. I love fine dining and go to plenty of amazing restaurants. This one is more famous cause of the hotel rather than food I think. NY place is soooooo much better in terms of food!!!! Miami just doesn't have it.
(3)
Mrs. D M.
This is my favorite spot for Italian in Miami. Yes, going to the Fontainebleu can be a mission (or a real treat, depending on your mood and the night crowd), but it's worth a go! Beautiful, Mediterranean decor, with ocean front views. Even if you sit inside the restaurant, still a nice atmosphere! Love the mixed bread basket in the beginning. Must trys: Polenta (with an wonderful mushroom ragu), Spaghetti (just get it, it's so fresh!) and the branzino or seabass they are offering. To me, they get the perfect crispness and saltiness on the outside, and the moistness you expect on seabass on the inside. Love it! Have also tasted the duck ravioli, which was really good, although the portion a bit small. Don't go here expecting a carb-free experience; that'd be a waste! Definitely a good spot to take out of towners for a fun experience.
(5)
Lundy P.
Dined here last weekend for my 49th birthday along with my wife and her daughter and her daughter's family. The best part about the meal was the atmosphere. As to be expected in Sobe, the mood was festive. The food was good but did not really meet my expectations especially considering the cost. Service kept up with our needs but again it left something to be desired. I may dine here again but it would not be my first choice.
(4)
Erica L.
Where to begin...we did the 4 course tasting menu, and I can't remember all the food we got but everything was exceptional. Pasta perfectly al dente, the highlight being the foie gras pasta (I think it was a ravioli?). Desserts were amazing as well - I think we got a coconut panna cotta and a caramel pudding with a side of passionfruit sorbet - yum!
(4)
Eriko M.
I would only go for special occasions. It was my birthday. The creamy polenta and the flourless chocolate cake were to DIE for. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. And although I had no idea what anything was on the cocktail menu, whatever I had, it was delicious!! The main dishes were meh...I had the duck/foie gras ravioli and my date had some seafood pasta. Service was great. I would go back on another special occasion for the cocktail, polenta, chocolate cake and an excuse to dress up.
(4)
A P.
Service was the best part of the meal! However food was disappointing. Only complimentary prosciutto bread was good (eggplant dip was too salty). In general food was oversalted. Mushroom polenta was ok but runny. Not as flavorful as before. Short rib stuffed pasta was disappointing, both in appearance and in taste. Sirloin (Miami spice extra) was also lacking flavor and texture. Guava panacotta was actually good. Hope they can do something to restore things in the kitchen (like check on the supervising chef) Atmosphere could be better where it not for large groups and kids (too much mass market hotel clientele).
(2)
Aimee C.
Service was in the restaurant was phenomenal! Went for the Miami Spice menu and my friends and I were served every dish on the menu family style! The favored dishes were the creamy polenta, short rib stuffed ravioli, sirloin, tomato basil spaghetti and guava panacotta paired with a lovely French Sancerre wine! Will definitely be back with my foodie boyfriend. Only gave it 3 stars due to the avoidable mishap at valet. They charged me double the valet fee, argued with me as to how much I should get back, then told me I had to wait 8 days to get my refund. Customer service was not at it's highest here!
(3)
Sepi B.
Had Thanksgiving dinner here with our families (party of 14 or so). Service was excellent. They accomodated us with an infant. We sat outside and it was nice - a bit chilly - no heaters. The inside was bustling with lovely decor. Most of us did the Thanksgiving menu ($75, pic attached). Everything was delicious. The signature pasta was amazing as always (had it at the Beverly Hills location). The burrata salad was good. The carrots and pumpkin were such a perfect addition. It may have been a bit bland though. The prime sirloin was juicy and tender. For sides I got the pureed potatoes (wonderful) and the haricot vert (ok). The dessert I had was the bread pudding and it was amazinggggg. All in all a fabulous dinner with fam!
(4)
Catalina P.
I went last Friday to Scarpetta to try the spice menu with a group of 6 people. The server was hostile as hell!!...since the moment that we sat down and asked for the spice menu he got super rude and treated us like we were begging for some "free" food. Im sure that these waiters give a good service based on your pocket...what a shame for a restaurant has this kind of people or employees! Good food but experience overall was opaque by the service!...don't recommend it and I will not come back again. I would rather suggest to try the new Miami located in Wynwood or Midtown which is less pretentious and more foodie than in Miami Beach. I would not recommend this to a friend!
(2)
Daniele G.
the perfect place to dine at before clubbing at LIV. 11:30pm and still pretty busy, probably 80% capacity. Hostess went out of her way to accommodate us at a quiter table in the veranda. Every dish was good to very good, a few were a bit "stretched" for being Italian, the risott was positively great. service was smooth and unintrusive.
(4)
Tiffany C.
Came here last night for dinner. Although we had reservations we had to wait 15 minutes for our table. Mind you it wasn't even that packed. Strike 1. When we finally sat down it looked like smooth sailing for a while. The steak tartar and the creamy polenta were awesome, but that was probably the only 2 good things we had that night. After our appetizers the service slowed down tremendously. We probably waited another 30 mins for our food or for anyone to come by to check on us. Don't order the duck ravioli especially if you have high blood pressure. It's saltier than the Dead Sea. I guess the only redeeming factor was when I told them the food was too salty and they gave us free dessert. That was after another 30 minutes though of no one coming by.
(2)
Mya J.
Fabulous authentic Northern Italian cuisine. Started with the Yellowtail and Arugula salad. Main courses were the homemade pasta marinara and black truffle ravioli with a broccolini side dish and finished with the out of this world chocolate cake. Another perfect and romantic dinner.
(5)
judy n.
we had just gotten into miami beach, checked into our hotel & needed to find somewhere to eat after 8pm. scarpetta was within walking distance but seemed a bit on the high end side for our needs (& our attire) but we decided to give it a go anyway. despite our lackluster appearance, they seated us anyway, which was generous on their part. gotta say, it was the best meal we ate on our entire week-long trip. the service was stellar: multiple servers that were friendly & very attentive plus piping hot food served quickly. we had: lobster & peach salad w/burrata which sounds weird but was delicious. misto frito which sounds boring but was exceptional. so lightly fried & delightfully salty. duck & foie gras ravioli which was very rich but surprisingly not heavy. lamb ragu pasta which was meaty & satisfying. while the loud house music was odd, i would still go back if i'm ever in miami beach again.
(5)
Constantine H.
The best chicken you will ever have IN YOUR LIFE. -Fin
(5)
Tara W.
I loooove the Scarpetta in NY in spite of myself, because I don't usually go for celeb-chef multi-city restos, but somehow we ended up here with a large group. Rather than have everyone do an individual order, we went with the tasting menu which provided a variety of dishes in stuffing portions at bargain prices. We ended up getting the Scarpetta all-stars like the short ribs, polenta, burrata, and spaghetti as well as a few ringers we wouldn't necessarily have chosen. I'm admittedly a food snob and usually tone it down when around others who aren't of the same persuasion, and I feel like Scarpetta was a happy medium for that. My only complaints are about the restroom, timing of dishes, and credit card limits. The ladies room is in the hotel, not the restaurant, and it's quite a hike on wine wobbly high heels. I feel like 4 of our courses arrived at once which was overwhelming. And they would only split the bill between 6 cards, so be prepared. But these were only mild obstacles in an otherwise great meal.
(4)
Steve T.
Impeccable service with numerous people taking care of each table. Their dinner bread was delicious especially the Stromobi. I had the short rib and bone marrow ravioli that was the highlight of my meal. The duck and foie ravioli was a bit strong/bitter for my taste but still had good flavor. My wife had the riccota truffle ravioli that was also quite tasty. The portions are small so get ready to order a few items per person. I forgot about their creamy polenta, but we'll be back.
(4)
Alex S.
Scarpetta was probably one of the best meals I've I had in my life. Every dish from beginning to end was great. The polenta with mushrooms lives up to all the hype and the oven roasted chicken and scallops were great too! This is a place where I feel like you can't go wrong trying anything on the menu.
(5)
Chantel M.
The service was great, ambiance was really romantic and the food was up to par, but as a food critic i must be honest. Not everything rocked my world. Presentation of the food was exquisite. We started with complimentary bread and spreads: butter, eggplant and cheddar infused something spread lmao (my personal fave), and olive oil Appetizers: 1.Steak tartare w/ quail egg (yes all raw) 2. The best/creamiest Polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms EVER! (This was sooo mouth watery) the fricassee made it very light and kept us wanting more! I would come back for this and i dont like gritty texture food but this was almost like drinking a bowl of soup. Perfecto! Pasta/main course and side dish: 1. Tomato/basil housemade spaghetti Definitely the best spaghetti I've ever had! I hate saucy spaghetti, so this was perfect. The noodles wear perfectly chewy with the sauce delicately mixed into the noodles. 2. Duck/foei gras ravioli There's lots of different taste buds pleased with this dish, and the fact that it just melts in ur mouth after biting into it is very salivating. BUT, it is a relatively heavy dish, if i was eating a 4 course meal again, i would not get this unless im sharing. 3. Long island duck garnished with baby carrots, mustard greens & sour cherry jus I say garnished bc there wasn't much much of the other stuff, if that was the #miamispice portion it was a pretty good portion bc the picture i have here was only half the dish since i was sharing. It was good but did not rock my world. Maybe bc im Chinese and ive had my fair share of well cooked duck. 4. Brussel sprouts caramelized with shallots & pancetta. The brussel sprouts came out perfect; however it could done well without pacetta. With the pacetta, it made the dish a little salty. Maybe good to another person, but for me, if it's a side dish that is suppose to complement the duck it sure did overpower it. I wanna blend it with the duck so it feels the dishes go together....not let it steal the thunder of the main course. Dessert: 1.Coconut Panna Cotta w/ caramelized pineapple & guava "soup" Not really a soup, but very refreshing the texture was like flan but much smoother....more like really soft tofu desserts with guava syrup on top and pinapple/coconut gelato on top. Really good my faves! Id come back for this. 2.Budino Di Mascarpone mascarpone custard, mango salad & mango sorbet Over all everything was really good, the mascarpone was like a creamier version of a cheesecake, the mango salad was not really a salad.it was more like mango bits on the bottom. But by the time we got to this dish. We were too full to enjoy it bc it is heavy for a dessert.
(4)
Maria T.
I was in Miami for a bachelorette party and we made dinner reservations here. The wait time was quiet annoying considering we had reservations however the food and cocktails where so good! I'm a food snob especially with Italian. Only because my family is from Italy. I was very happy with everything I ordered which was the Mazzerella in carrozza and spaghetti with tomato and basil.
(4)
Thomas W.
The Meatpacking District NYC definitely exists at the Miami Fountainbleau. I love Scott Conant's Scarpetta restaurants. New York, Las Vegas, Miami, Beverly HIlls, Toronto--He has it covered. The simple spaghetti dish here is unmatched in today's world. It is perhaps my favorite spaghetti dish today! The scallps, tuna tartare, and duck foie gras ravioli are truly special. Make sure you have a reservation, arrive for a drink with the beautiful people of South Beach, and are dressed for a nice nightclub, because this place is truly the spot to be seen. It is a special place in the Miami Fountainbleau!
(5)
Sarina W.
My boyfriend and I are big Top Chef fans and we were definitely rooting for Chef Nina to win from the beginning. When we took a trip to Miami - South Beach for his Triathlon he knew he wanted a celebration dinner at Scarpetta. The hotel the restaurant is located in is chic, posh, and oh so lovely and modern. The restaurant is also chic and modern in its decor. I really liked the ambiance the moment you walked in. I had a Torino cocktail and it was so yummy and refreshing. Our table had about 6 adults and we ordered an array of foods. But the #1 plate on the table was definitely the Duck And Foie Gras Ravioli. It melts in your mouth and just tastes devine! Simply devine! I would come back just for this dish. I kmow everyone raves about the spaghetti, nut that one was a bit disappointing actually. The pasta itself was cooked to perfection but the sauce is mediocre. Nothing tomrabe about. Seriously, order the Duck And Foie Gras Ravioli. You will not he disappointed! It was simply perfection! So juicy, so flavorful, and melts like butter in your mouth. I do have some complaints though and the major one is service! There were a few folks who were sweet, helpful, and overall nice to talk to such as the bartender. But the overall table service was mostly a miss than a hit. At one point the waiter took our bread back without asking if we were done yet. We were still enjoying that bread! C'mon! They didnt even tell us their specials until we asked. And their overall vibe was that they didn't care that much. They just didn't go beyond was was expected of them that's all. Lots of room for improvement in this area I must say.
(4)
Alejandra O.
Great risotto and short ribs, however my moscow mule was not the best. Total cost $58, which included tax.
(4)
C N.
Obnoxious service! Went with a group of friends and we were appalled by the utter arrogance of our server. Maybe because we were not purchasing $700 bottles of wine so he couldn't be bothered but he was downright snooty and condescending. Maybe if the food at the restaurant was phenomenal, I could cut some slack but we have eaten at amazing restaurants all over the world and this was just "good" not "great." Too many other "great" restaurants to ever go back to this one. If you are in the mood to be belittled by a waiter, then go this restaurant, otherwise look elsewhere.
(2)
Bari A.
The service and food were excellent. I ordered the Scallops. They were delicious but there were only 3 scallops. I was still hungry after an appetizer and an entree. The ambiance, decor and view were wonderful. I would recommend but pricey for small portion.
(4)
Jose A.
Very good ... The pasta is amazing a must have . Service is very good . Wine list is top of the line . Make sure you reserve a table otherwise long waits . Service is very good .
(4)
Tanja Z.
Service was ok. The food is not all that great. I'm starting to wonder if anybody on yelp rating this place has ever had authentic Italian food. The spaghetti sauce literally tasted like canned spaghetti'os. The braised beef ravioli tasted like pot roasted and the risotto was awful. They use a barley rice that looks and has the texture of oatmeal.
(3)
Elizabeth R.
ONE OF THE BEST MEALS I'VE EVER HAD IN MIAMI. Truly. No exaggeration. Atmosphere, food, wine, service--everything exceeded expectations. We purchased a Gilt City deal for 4-courses with wine pairings, and everything--every sip, every bite--was amazing from the bread basket and amuse-bouche to the stroll by the beach after dinner. Positively stellar. We were seated at a romantic corner table by the window, and our charming young waiter took his time to talk to us about the menu, explain the wine pairings, and listen to our food preferences. Highlights of the meal included the oft-aforementioned spaghetti pomodoro and polenta with mushroom, but the real superstar was the Long Island duck. It was the best duck dish I've ever had. Typically, I avoid meat and gluten, but on this particular night, I set all food restrictions aside. If you ever feel like splurging, Scarpetta is the place. Two words to describe Scarpetta: WORTH IT.
(5)
Rachel O.
Stayed at the Fontaine Bleu and decided to try Scarpetta out. Very good experience overall! Beautiful setting... we had the best seat in the restaurant. Closest seat to the ocean in the far left corner. Service was amazing. Our waiter was very attentive and made sure he answered every question we had about the menu and gave suggestions. I wish the portions were a little bit bigger. I will say I had the best dish I have ever tasted. The gnocchi in mushrooms and corn. Absolutely amazing.. Melt in your mouth. Also had the best bread experience! The four different house made breads... Mmmm! My boyfriend ordered the spaghetti and the house made pasta was on point as well. Great experience and would definitely recommend!
(4)
Mrs. G.
Best Italian in Miami beach. It's difficult to find good places to eat here in Miami, but this one is solid. You cannot go wrong with any dish here and the service is very good. Short rib, spaghetti, the special with truffles are all delicious! Love it!
(5)
Neena B.
One of the best Italian meals I've had. We got the tasting with the wine pairing. If you have never gone to Scarpetta it's certainly the way to go. Our waiter Serkan was absolutely amazing. He explained the tasting to us and each wine with every course. I had told him I had heard great things about the spaghetti and the duck and foie gras ravioli and he made sure that they would be on the tasting. The tasting included so many dishes but the perfect amount where you didn't feel stuffed. They gave two starters, three types of pasta, two main courses, and two desserts. Highlights: -Amuse bouche of spicy tuna tartar and yellowtail sashimi. -Bread assortment featuring a panini with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto. -Creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms: I will never look at polenta the same way again. An absolute must try!! -Spaghetti. I was so skeptical since it is spaghetti and sauce. No meat. No special ingredients. But it is as perfect as everyone says. -Duck and foie gras ravioli: So creamy and decadent. There are caramelized onions in the ravioli that gives it this amazing balance. -Red snapper: Incredibly fresh with perfectly crisp skin. It's hard to say highlights because there was honestly no bad dishes. But if I came again, the polenta, spaghetti, and ravioli are absolute musts!! Great food, great service, great ambiance. I'll certainly be coming back!
(5)
Tatiana R.
Polenta and the homemade spaghetti are a must And not having for dessert guava pannacotta would be a big mistake Small menu but all dishes are amazing
(5)
Coco K.
What a disappointment. I am very familiar with the kind of food Scarpetta restaurants can produce - I have dined at both the LA & Las Vegas locations and had amazing experiences. This one however was shocking sub-par. The waiter's table side manner was both fake and insincere, and included long periods of inattentiveness especially once we finished our meal and declined to order desert. The famous Scarpetta pastas were cold when they arrived at our table, which changed the consistency of the tomato sauce specifically to be sticky and unappetizing. That dish tasted as though they made a huge batch of the pasta and had it sitting under a heat lamp for hours. We we're supposed to be impressed by the news that Nina from Top Chef was cooking in the kicthen that night but that bit of info just added to the massive let down that was our meal. Mass produced and little attention to detail are 2 things that come to mind when I think of this location. Save your money.
(2)
Greg N Belle W.
Just recently had my first experience! OMG!!! AMAZING! This restaurant is not only beautiful but the staff and food is perfection! I had the best meal I have ever had. My husband and I went for my bday. We decided to experiment with the menu so we had a couple of different things. Of course, one of those plates were the spaghetti; which was amazing! Our waiter was BEYOND helpful and not too annoying. This is a MUST go!
(5)
John O.
i have been to the scarpetta in NYC and beverly hills and finally got around to the scarpetta in miami while at this conference at the fontainebleau. spaghetti was amazing as always, and because of the conference, scarpetta was open for lunch with a buffet. the downside was that it was probably about $50 (i don't remember, because it was on an expense account). but the upside was that you had some great selections--prime rib, short rib ravioli, and of course the spaghetti. you also had a cured meats selection, some decent desserts, and some other antipasti. they don't offer the lunch buffet except on private events but even cooked in mass quantities, the spaghetti rocked.
(5)
Eva Z.
This place is worth the money!! I came here with 3 of my friends for my birthday dinner. I was nervous when I saw the prices but my fears were quickly put to rest, as the service was great, and the food was to die for. The basket of bread includes homemade stromboli, which we were all fighting over. The eggplant, olive oil, and marscapone that come with the breads were also delicious, and we were quickly offered another basket of bread after we scarfed down the first (more stromboli!!!). The waiter was very patient with helping us make wine and entree choices, as we were all very indecisive. I ended up having the short rib agnolotti, which was incredible. My friends also loved all of their dishes (sweet corn ravioli and duck and fois gras ravioli). Our waiter was awkwardly hanging around the table when we were finished, even though we had said we were much too full for dessert. Of course he insisted we look at the dessert menu, and when I said that I really was much too full for dessert and didnt want anything, out came my birthday chocolate lava cake complete with candle and Happy Birthday written in chocolate!! The waiter did a great job with the surprise and I managed to stuff a couple of bites of cake in, which was just as delicious as the rest of our food. Such a great experience and meal, can't wait to try the NYC location.
(4)
Robert J.
I can see why this place got a 4diamond rating. IT's one of the ultra-snooty, high class, high class, holier-than-thou places that probably spends way too much on a chef. The food was over-the-top tasty/interesting, but small portions that left no one satisfied. The waiter kind of scoffed at us when we said we were coming by for Happy Hour. Look dude, it means we're here for early evening beverages during our business meeting... not that we're here to get drunk on $3 PBRs. They have some sort of dedicated wine host who seemed to know every wine and tried to get us to change our mind when we had picked a bottle. The made us wait in the lobby for 2 minutes because we were there before they were "opened" (rather than allowing us to wait at a table). They also don't open until 6pm.... WHY? It's delicious food and high class, but definitely not my style. Maybe if I had flashed my Bentley keys or a $100k watch they might have treated us a little better.
(3)
Christopher S.
Arrive at this place last night and ate at the bar. Michael was awesome and exceeded my expectations, and provided helpful information regarding nightlife options! I had the octopus and roasted chicken which were awesome!
(5)
Anita O.
This place has such great reviews, so I was very confused by my experience. I am a New Yorker and have lived in Italy, so I know good Italian food. I LOVE Italian food, so my husband and I visited Scarpetta on Christmas night. We ordered raw scallops and braised short ribs for our appetizers. They were okay, but certainly not impressive. For our meal, I ordered the black linguine. I normally love black linguine-- nothing beats its texture and flavor. So I was so excited when it arrived, and so incredibly disappointed when I took my first bite. The pasta was wayyy overcooked. It was probably pre-cooked and sat in a pot for a couple of hours, the way it tasted. I understand a big restaurant sometimes has to precook pasta, but black linguine goes limp incredibly fast and needs to be cooked al dente when ordered, otherwise you get a black mush, which is what I had to deal with. On top of that, the sauce was very mediocre. Just the wrong blend of spices and too much garlic, I think. It was so bad that I couldn't eat it. And I rarely leave that much food on my plate, even if I don't like the dish. My husband liked his pasta ok...it was a gimelli pasta with lobster. The pasta was cooked well but the sauce was lacking. Our bottle of wine was very good. And the grilled ricotta pound cake was VERY good, the best part of the meal in fact. An extra star just for the dessert. To be fair, Scarpetta had amazing service. Management asked us how we enjoyed our food and listened to our criticisms instead of waving us off. They also did take the black linguine off our bill, which was very nice of them. Sorry, but won't be returning to Scarpetta, not even in NY after this experience. We've just had so much better Italian...
(2)
Alexander R.
Overpriced and some of the worst service I've ever gotten. Also the patio areas has terrible acoustics, feels like a noisy cafeteria, you can't hear anyone more than a few chairs away. I was there in a group of 12, most of which were trying out the Miami Spice menu. I'm not sure if this is why our server Carlos was so rude and dismissive, but I expected better from such a nice restaurant. The food was great, though nothing special for the price. I suppose it would've still been a 3-to-4-star experience except when it came time to split the bill, Carlos said it would take too long to split so we'd have to do it ourselves. After 30 minutes of not being able to come up with the correct total, it turns out we had been over-charged ~$125 in extra drinks and and extra Spice dinner. We had to call the manager to finally have our checks split. I would've demanded my gratuity be taken off my check if not for the fear that it would've taken another 30 minutes. Cool place if you want to impress a date, just make sure you don't get Carlos as a waiter.
(2)
Charles M.
So delicious I wonder what's in the sauce, in a good way. Just, so so good. The wifey got gluten free pasta that had me stealing bites left and right. I usually hate her gluten-free food. My lobster homemade pasta dish was divine. Desert was heaven, and our waiter just took great care of us. I just got done ripping on 74 in the same hotel. Maybe someone here could teach 74 a lesson or two, but I'd bet Scarpetta wouldn't risk it.
(5)
Johnny E.
Really had an enjoyable experience. 'Korean' Tim was our server and without a doubt perhaps the best service I have ever had. He brought us a sample of so much food without us even asking for it. He understood quickly what our taste palate was and made excellent recommendations. The food was not heavy, perfectly balanced. We had the tuna, spaghetti, mozzarella, creamy polenta, and the snapper. And Tim surprised us with three different dessert entrees. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Rachel P.
F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!! From the moment you walk in, you are surrounded by a super posh interior. What a beautiful spot to dine while overlooking the ocean. I feel this spot is one of the closest in proximity to the ocean in most, if not all of Miami. The service was perfect (thanks to our australian waiter and crew), the ambiance was perfect, the food and drinks were perfect, I don't think I could have asked for anything more! To start with they have a very interesting cocktail menu, I opted for their apple vodka creation with all sorts of berries. It was red in color and it was probably one of the best cocktails I have ever tasted. The name escapes me, but something with a T.....about 4th down on their drink menu. As for entrees, I couldn't pass up their spagetti dish. Loved it. 3 of us at the table all had to order it. My husband ordered the Garganelli pasta dish; which was tasty too! For a side, I enjoyed their crispy brussel sprouts and I must say they were cooked exactly the way I like them-crispy and not soggy! My husband ordered the braised short ribs and they were excellent! I also tried the creamy polenta and I think next time I would order this as well. As for dessert, we tried both the CHOCOLATE ZEPPOLE which was nutella center, vanilla anglaise & candied hazelnuts (pretty much Nutella donuts)-they were outstanding! We also had AMEDEI CHOCOLATE CAKE with toasted almond gelato & salted caramel sauce (their version of a chocolate lava cake)-also very tasty. We can't wait to find another reason to return back to Scarpetta!
(5)
Anita G.
Been coming here since they opened. Service atmosphere and food all perfect. Will be there again soon and always recommending to my friends who are never disappointed.
(5)
Geoff And Jenni G.
Cocktails were excellent, wine was fabulous, tasting menu was superb... Nothing but good things to say... really enjoyed the food/evening and would definitely return...
I had high expectations with all the great reviews... My wife and I got the chefs tasting menu... It was ok.. Nothing memorable.. Even their signature dish house-made spaghetti was good not great. The pasta was fresh but sauce lacked flavor. Service was good... Little all over the place... Have to tighten it up. Really wanted it to be good.
(2)
Kortni L.
Over a year later and I would still hop a plane to Miami just to be at Scarpetta. Chef Scott Conant does not disappoint!
(5)
Lucy K.
Amazing restaurant. I went here for my boyfriends birthday. I had called and set everything up beforehand. We're both big fans of Nina from Top Chef and we couldn't wait to try her food. We got drinks at the bar beforehand, which were excellent and creative. For food, we ordered: Apps: Polenta with mushroom: 5 stars, incredible. One of the best polenta dishes I have ever had Octopus: 4 stars. Super moist and flavorful Dinner: Duck and foie gras ravioli (as reported by my boyfriend): 4 stars, very good Black cod: 5 stars. I couldn't even tell you all the components I ate but they were all amazing. Everything worked so well together and the fish was cooked perfectly Duck: 4 stars: super moist with a great sauce At the end of the night, they wished him happy birthday and gave him a card signed by the manager. Very professional service. The ambience was romantic and not to loud. Expensive but worth it. We asked if we could meet Nina, but unfortunately she wasn't there that night. Still so happy to have tried her restaurant and the excellent cuisine.
(5)
Christina M.
Just celebrated my sister's birthday there & loved the food & ambiance! Highly recommend the spaghetti & coconut dessert!
(5)
Rick S.
The food is good, and service unpredictible. We got there around 7pm as a walk in, asked about reservations, they said 8:15pm, so when waited in the bar area, when 8:15 rolled around, we inquired, and were given a pretty bland uncompassionate response that fell between a shrug and rolling of the eyes, so we continued to wait, inquired now and then the same attitude, and finally got seated at 9:30pm. If you subscribe to the adage of "what's the point of making a reservation if it's not going to be honored?" - - then I'd probably avoid this place, as most places in South Beach, Miami - - or once the time hits and you've not been seated, cut your losses and find alternative dining plans so you don't invest too much or more than you can afford to. The service inside was good, the food was served fast and with polite demeanor. The spaghetti was supposed to be awesome, others at the table proclaim. The duck was very good, and if you get it "medium rare" that's perfect and it's moist and tender (be sure to eat the skin too, it's tasty and not too fatty). The portion, as with duck at most non-Chinese restaurants is a small breast fillet, so cut elegantly, but a small portion. Eat a lot of the bread to fill you up first. The bread is excellent by the way. I'd say the one thing South Beach and this restaurant should abolish is the 18% service fee, since mandatory tipping provides no incentive nor motivation for your employees to actually perform, excel or get an indication of the quality of their work. I think a tip should be earned, it's not an entitlement. That's probably why they call it a Service Fee / Service Charge (and it applies to all purchases, whether it's a $100 bottle of wine or $1,900 single serving of 55 year old scotch (by the way, I'm now storing 2013 scotch so that I can make a killing in 2078 in 55 years!), as well as for a party of 1 or 10 people)... I guess if you can afford a $1,900 cup of alcohol, you can afford the $342 they'll charge you to pour it and bring it to you (referring to the 18% service charge)
I have been here twice. I don't have one bad thing to say about it. The service was awesome and the food was spectacular. I know it is pricey, but it completely worth it. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Patrick L.
I'd heard of the famous spaghetti and creamy polenta featured at this famous NYC-Miami Italian eatery. Of course, as a hardcore Miami local, I would typically not think of dining at the Fontainebleau, tending to avoid places frequented by tourists. But during Miami Spice? Three course meal at Scarpetta for $39? I'm in. The Scarpetta experience begins with a most excellent bread basket, notable for its salami bread first and foremost. The lemon olive oil, eggplant tapenade, and mascarpone butter they serve with it...these aren't bad either. I ordered the mackerel tartare for the appetizer, which ended up being my favorite course. It was a great dish - light, fresh and flavorful. I also got a chance to try some of Scott Conant's famed creamy polenta with wild mushroom fricasee. While this is no doubt a decadent tasty treat, it's on the side of "too decadent." So tasty, but so creamy, so heavy.....it's too much. I'd like to see more of a deft hand with the richness and more pure corn flavor. Sirloin was next for me, and while this wasn't the most creative plate out there - sirloin with a red wine sauce and au gratin potatoes on the side - the meat was perfectly cooked to my medium rare specification.....and paired quite well with the inky red wine included in the "Riserva" flight for which I opted ($30 for 3 3-4oz pours). Speaking of which, I just thought of this - the wines in the flight were very good, but I wish the wait staff had provided more information about them. I don't even know what I was drinking, and at the time, I didn't think to ask. It would have been nice to gain a little more knowledge about the wines. This was the only dull spot on what was otherwise resplendent service. For dessert, chocolate tart with vanilla bean gelato. The chocolate tart was very rich and a little salty. Again, decadent and enjoyable, but dense and heavy. The gelato, however, was mind-blowing. For me, chocolate can skew toward the too-dense side, but there's no way anyone can provide enough concentrated vanilla flavor for me. This was close. It was one of the most overwhelmingly-vanilla treats I've ever had the pleasure of pushing past my lips. Even if I hadn't enjoyed the rest of my meal, this would probably have sealed the deal for me. In fact, I would have taken 2-3 scoops of the vanilla gelato and forsaken the chocolate altogether. Overall, this is a beautiful restaurant with seriously tasty Italian-inflected plates. I'd just like to see some of the heaviness dialed down a level or two. Maybe one star too over-the-top for my tastes - therefore, a solid 4.
(4)
Rebecca H.
Not a consistent reviewer but had to share about our experience here. My husband and I dine out, at least, half of each month so when a restaurant blows us away it certainly is more meaningful. Start to finish, service to food, wine to ambiance everything at Scarpetta was perfect. The food was perfectly executed, the sommelier offered perfect pairings.
(5)
Michael D.
Very classy and intimate vibe here, I really liked it, great for a date. The food was insane too. Started off with arugula salad and their bread. Moved on to entrees - wife got short rib risotto and I got the Long Island duck. Both were crazy good. Desert was nutella filled cake bites, perfect way to finish. Lost a couple bills from this dinner but it was worth it on a weekend trip to Miami. I'd have to save it for a special occasion if I was local. But if I was a local living on South Beach, I guess I would have the 'resources' to go here whenever.
(5)
Allan S.
Indeed, as good as it gets. As I write I am trying to find something negative to say. Except for the valet sending us in the wrong direction when we first arrived I can't think of a single area for improvement. This ranks as one of the finest dining experiences my wife and I have ever had and we have had more than a few. We tried the four course sampling menu for both our meal and the wine service. Amazing. I can't recommend it enough. Each dish is meant to be shared. We began with a ceviche and sashimi appetizer accompanied by a lovely prosecco. The fish melted in our mouths. The next course was creamy polenta topped with fricassee of truffled mushrooms and braised short ribs accompanied by a nice fruity dry white wine. Each bite was a treat. The third course were three signature pasta dishes: spaghetti bolognese with tomato, basil and parmesean cheese, duck and foie gras ravioli, and Scaliatierlli. It is hard to choose a favorite here because all three dishes were outstanding. This was paired by a delicious red from central Italy. The fourth course was duck and branzino. Now I'm usually not a fan of duck and never before tried branzino, but loved both dishes. The crowning jewel though was the accompanying red which provided an explosion of flavor with every sip. As we were celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary the sommelier, Zarko Stankovik who was absolutely brilliant, brought us one of a rare red whose name escapes me along with a dessert wine from Northern CA and desserts of molten chocolate cake and passion fruit gelato. Ahhhhhhhh. Finally, a visit to the Fontainebleau is an adventure in and of itself. Beautiful people, beautiful venue, women dressed to the nines. The ambiance is as enjoyable as the cuisine. I'm running out of adjectives and so will cut to the chase. From our interactions with the hostess, the server to the sommelier Zarko and from our first to our last bite, we loved it. In terms of cost, your wallet will take a pounding, but it's worth every cent. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Joseph H.
Food was good. There was a $45 table fee. Didn't get that. Had a few too many to realize until the next day. Service was slow but they had some hot chicks that made it easy to hang.
(4)
Kristine M.
Sat in bar waiting for table 33in asked for drink menu. Then ignored, next talked to hostess - nothing more time passes - left - unreal - don't go
(1)
Bettina S.
We went to Scarpetta for our last dinner in Miami this past Wednesday. Both myself and the friend I went with to the restaurant found that the hostess wasn't very friendly, so that was a bit of a turn off, and the room we were seated in was extremely loud because of two large groups that were having dinner there. However the food was very good, and the service, particularly our waiter Victor, was great. They were able to accommodate my gluten free needs and were knowledgeable about the menu and what I could and couldn't have.
(4)
Eve C.
I'd been wanting to try Scarpetta for quite a while, and recently had the opportunity to check it out for Miami Spice. While the regular menu prices are pretty high, it's about average for a restaurant of this quality and location. But for the $35 prix fixe Miami Spice menu, how can you go wrong? I started my meal with the creamy polenta with the wild mushroom fricasse. These are served on the same plate in neighboring containers, and you're to mix the mushrooms into the polenta to your own taste. It was phenomenal. No creamy and delicious...mmm! Two of my dining companions opted for the burrata with heirloom tomatoes, which was out of this world. The hold-out got the short ribs, and said they were delicious. For my main course, I knew i had to try that famous Scarpetta spaghetti. I've read and heard many praises for it, and couldn't pass up the opportunity to try it myself. It was quite delicious, with the clearly homemade noodles cooked to a perfect al dente. The sauce was light and had a slight tang to it. Without a doubt, delicious. Not sure if it's the best pasta dish I've ever had (that may be reserved for an amazing bowl (or 3) of gnocchi Sorrentino I had in Naples, Italy), but it's up there. Two in our group ordered the steak, which I was fortunate enough to taste, and it was quite tasty as well. For the finale, I opted for the polenta crusted cheesecake with strawberry and rhubarb, cause I'm a sucker for anything that involves strawberries and rhubarb. It came with come tart lemon sorbet that was light and refreshing. The whole thing was very tasty. Two at our table got the chocolate cake, which was rich and decadent, and the other got the coconut panna cotta. Everything was yummy. The service, once we were seated, was spot-on. Our water and wine glasses were never empty, and the bread that kicked off our meal was brought out hot and tempting from the oven. Of course, despite being on time for our 9pm reservation, we were told our table wasn't yet ready, and to enjoy a drink at the bar. We all know this ploy, and instead saved our money from the over-inflated drink prices and relaxed at the entrance for our table to be ready. Valet is really the only parking option, but be sure to get your ticket validated at the restaurant, or you might be paying more than expected to retrieve your vehicle. I'd definitely return to Scarpetta, but probably only during Miami Spice, or if someone else is footing the bill.
(4)
Ryan D.
The food was very nice. The place is over the top and can come across a little pretentious. The price is up there but the food is worth a taste. Wine list is rather extensive and be prepared to part with your hard earned cash when ordering a bottle. Overall worth checking out.
(4)
Sasha H.
The food here is a DREAM. Everything, from start to finish, was absolutely scrumptious and perfect. We could not have had a better meal, and our server, Ramon (I believe) was a native NY-er to boot! He was so kind and took the best care of us! Here's to hoping that Scarpetta NY lives up to the high bar set by Miami! Tiny criticism - we were seated ALLLLLL the way in the back dining room at 7:30 pm, when about 2/3 of the restaurant was empty. It was freezing and sort of isolated back there. We are 3 cute/classy girls in our mid-twenties... why, I ask? Didn't enjoy that. Can someone in FOH please PM me and explain that to me, really. Were y'all afraid we would WOO too loudly and scare the main room diners? Yo no comprendo. Besides that, the entire restaurant is beautiful, and service is outstanding and professional.
(4)
Stefanie C.
I don't know where to even begin. I wasn't sure what to think of this place upon walking in. It seemed so tiny. Little did I know once you walk passed the bar area, it open up to a huge, beautiful dining area. We had a table of about 20 people. A waiter immediately greeted us and took each of our drink orders. I would say it took a total of 5 minutes and everyone at the table had a drink. We had a pre set menu that was picked for us a head of time. We started with an arugula salad, polenta with truffles, braised short ribs and steak tartare. All were absolutely wonderful! Honestly the arugula salad and the braised short ribs had to be my favorite but the other to came in pretty close. For our second course it was two types of pasta which I cannot comment on because I cant eat pasta. But everyone at the table was ranting and raving about how wonderful it was. With this followed the black cod and sirloin beef. The two of these were absolutely amazing. So many wonderful flavors and cooked perfectly! For desert we were give a chocolate cake, cheesecake and mascarpone custard. I was only able to eat the custard but I have absolutely no complaints. It was wonderful. Overall the ambiance was great. It had a romantic feel. It was busy without being loud. The service was wonderful. They were so quick and friendly. As for the food, it was unbelievable. This place is a MUST when in Miami. I'll be sure to stop by again on my next trip!
(5)
Christine C.
Amazing food and more amazing pasta! Certainly one of the best pasta I've had in miami beach. And the service was just fantastic, too!
(5)
Stephanie M.
Normally I think "fancy Italian food, all kinda the same" until I ate at Scarpetta. I was fortunate enough to be in Miami during Restaurant Week, and they had a great 3 course special so I got to try some of their most popular dishes without being overwhelmed by a ton of food. I was iffy about the polenta, being that every one I have had has been gritty and lacking flavor, but their polenta was so rich, creamy and delicious it made me sad I had not been looking forward to it! I didn't think it could get any better after the polenta until they brought out the spaghetti. Who gets that excited about spaghetti, right? OMG this was to DIE for. The pasta was hand made that day, and cooked to absolute perfection. They added the sauce (if you can even call it a sauce) in just the right way that it gently coated the spaghetti and soaked into it a bit - if everyplace made spaghetti this way, I would actually order it. I'm not usually a big fan of duck, but the duck and foie gras ravioli was really good in its own right. All in all, AMAZING.
(5)
Bri B.
We had dinner at scarpetta tonight (me and my husband) and things couldn't get worse; food and wines are expensive so you expect service is impeccable, unfortunately we are very disappointed. Food was really good but the restaurant felt overcrowded, too much screaming people, inhospitable. We sat next to a very loud party of 10. Lots of people left the restaurant early because of this "Fraternity house out of control" and after our complaints the waiter just mentioned that "at least there's a crowd". Really???????
(1)
Kathryn S.
On the first stop of my tour de Miami Spice I decided to make my way over to Scarpetta. My first impression of the restaurant was that the decor and location is beautiful. The restaurant overlooks the Fontainebleau pool area and you can also see the ocean from the outside seating area. Before my friend and I got to order our meal, we were offered a bread basket. I am never one to shy away from a bread basket so I tried every single one of the breads offered. They were all exceptional, but my friend was particularly in love with the bread that comes with ham and cheese. As an appetizer I got the creamy polenta. The polenta was very good and very filling. The special truffled mushrooms that you put on top of the polenta was exceptional. My friend got the braised beef short ribs and said they were great. We both decided on trying the renowned spaghetti for our meals. The spaghetti was served al dente and was pretty good. I don't think it is as amazing as some people make it out to be, but it was still really good spaghetti. For dessert we both got the chocolate terrine and thought it was the best part of the menu. It was just absolutely delicious and really made the dinner wonderful. I had a very nice and delicious meal at Scarpetta, but I don't think the food is worth the regular prices. I am happy I went during Miami Spice so I could try the food at a more economical price.
(4)
Megan F.
You have never tasted pasta like this! It is God sent. Absolutely heaven! The tomato basil spaghetti and the creamy polenta are MUSTS! I would focus more on the amazing savory dishes and skip dessert. Their cocktails are great and go down way too easy, totally lethal but delicious! It's pricey but worth every penny
(5)
Katherine A.
my dream restaurant loved it
(5)
Arlynes H.
II was totally disappointed at the way they treated us the day that I went with a party of ten to celebrate my birthday. The food tasted really good but the service was awful, a waiter simply let us hanging and the manager did not give us any satisfaction for this unfortunate event and that was not the only issue. Something totally unacceptable: We asked the waiter to charge certain amount on one of the credit cards, and without asking the owner of the card, they charge a higher amount of what it was requested, he said that he did it to balanced the total amount of the bill. the waiter made the decision without asking. I don't appreciate the overall experience that I had at this place on my especial day. This is not our first visit to this type of fine dinning restaurant, we have had great service and quality delicious food at many other restaurants in Miami, New York, California therefore I still can't find a reason of the whole waiter situation and the lack of attentiveness from the management to make my Birthday night an especial one as I was expecting.
(2)
Michelle C.
One of my favorite "fancy" restaurants in Miami. This is definitely a special occasion meal, especially because every time we go, we order the chefs tasting. The appetizers are a delight. If you're going to get just one, go with the polenta with mushrooms. The polenta is so creamy, I don't want to think about what they have to add to get it that way. The mushrooms come on the side in a very rich sauce that is mixed in table side. If you are dining with a non-mushroom water (like my husband) then lucky you, more mushrooms! The octopus is perfectly cooked. It comes with a very light sauce that brings out the flavor of the octopus without overpowering it. Unsurprisingly, the pastas are really where this place shines. With the chefs tasting menu, we usually end up with the duck and foie ravioli, the spaghetti, and a fish pasta. The duck and foie is just amazing. It's very rich and melts in your mouth. There really is no other way to describe it. As for the spaghetti, this is a surprise! When we first sat down at our table during our initial trip to Scarpetta, a woman about 3 tables over was eating the spaghetti. I remarked to my dining companions that it was ridiculous to come to a place like this to get spaghetti with tomato sauce I could make at home. Then I tasted it. And now I understand why. It's hands down the best spaghetti I've ever had. The sauce is very light, so if you're looking for a thick tomato sauce you're ordering the wrong thing. The spaghetti is lightly coated with sauce. Perfectly cooked. The only thing I don't tend to enjoy is the fish pasta, but that's a personal preference. It tastes like they use a little too much squid ink, and it's just too overpowering for me. But we always finish with the two best desserts in the house. They have an amazing warm chocolate cake. However, the grand finale is the panna cotta. It is light, airy, and the perfect end to a delightful meal. We have always had exceptional service, but maybe we've just gotten lucky! I'm looking forward to returning for my birthday in October!
(5)
Lama B.
Scarpetta, Scarpetta. You give me hope. Really, we started with a bottle of Champagne at the bar, and great conversation with the Sommelier and the bartender. Oh how charming. We then headed over to our table and began the adventure. First, they gave us a plate of the famous pasta with basil and tomato sauce on the house. BEST PASTA EVER. I didn't order it as we wanted to try other dishes, but this one blew our socks off. The fois gras pasta was a plate of pockets of goodness, and the lamb ragu was to die for. The polenta with mushrooms, I mean really? I don't like polenta, but this time I was more than happy to inhale a vat of butter. OH yum. This meal, from champagne and rosemary chips at the bar, to Salami bread and classic excellent pasta was a dream. Thank you Scarpetta for making our night AWESOME!
(5)
Cristina L.
The atmosphere is very nice. As a small eater, I got the rib as appetizer. It was delicious. It was soft and tender. I got the spaghetti as my entree, it was delicious. My friend got the ravioli as her entree, it was too salty. The cocktails were also good. I got something with raspberry and would definitely recommend it to anyone that likes fruity drinks. Overall it was a nice experience.
(5)
Andrew C.
Had family in town for a wedding so I decided I would take them to one of the best Italian restaurants in Miami. We had great service last time, so this time we requested the same waiters again, Eddy and Luis, and they did not disappoint. We had the polenta, colorado lamb saddle, and farmer's market salad. Everything was tasty, the plating was stunning, and the polenta was as good as last time. I highly recommended the polenta to my guests so I was hoping it wouldn't be a disappointment (I knew it wouldn't). They wanted a straw so they could suck up every last grain or whatever you call it. They said that they would die happy after eating the polenta so I guess it did not disappoint. For entrees we tried the short rib agnolotti, the oven roasted chicken, and sirloin. Again, everything was spectacular. The "made in house" pastas' have the perfect texture, the agnolotti was tender and exploded with flavor when bit into. Both sirloins were cooked as requested, the steak was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. I am always hesitant to order chicken when ordering out because I am afraid it will be overcooked, alas I should have never doubted Scarpetta. It was the juiciest chicken I have ever had. Full of flavor and they managed to get the skin to the perfect crispiness. For dessert we had the chocolate cake, passion fruit semifreddo, and coconut panacotta. The people across from us probably thought something was wrong because all that was coming from our table were "uuhhhh" "mmmhmmmmm" "oh my" Everything was wonderful! The chocolate cake was super rich and the inside was warm, gooey, and chocolate oozed out when cut into. The semifreddo had the perfect amount of tart to go well with the best banana gelato I have ever had. It tasted like if someone got a perfectly ripe banana, mixed it up with rich cream and threw it into an ice cream maker. The service was spectacular, Eddy and Luis sounded like they could recite the menu in their sleep. And they treated us extra special because I had guests from out of town. What it was they did I will not mention, but I praise them for making it such a memorable experience. I highly recommend these two waiters. If I ever feel like self-indulging or I have family/friends from out of town, Scarpetta is tops on my list to go to! *Best Dish - The polenta, or pretty much anything on their menu! lol*
(5)
Karen G.
We had dinner here as we were already staying in the hotel and I'd long wanted to try the original Scarpetta in NYC. The tagliolini was the best dish of our entire trip. In fact, it's one of the best pasta dishes I've had, EVER. the flavor was delicate and subtle, and so good I kept stealing bites from my husband's plate. The foie gras and duck ravioli ended up being disappointing compared to the tagliolini. It might be an unfair comparison, but the flavor ended up being too earthy, too much.
(4)
Brenda P.
I feel I need to update my review because my experience the 2nd time was just so different than my first. Arrived on time for a 7pm reservation and got seated right away. Our server came over right away and introduced himself. He listed the specials and spoke to us about the tasting menus. We opted for the 5 course tasting menu without the wine pairing. Instead we settled on a bottle of Col Solare which would go with everything. Let me tell you this, IT IS A LOT OF FOOD. I have done many tastings all over the country (including a 21 course at BAZAAR in L.A) and this was just a lot of food. What makes it over the top is that what some restaurants call a "course" is not the same here. I will explain. In most restaurants, a "course" within a tasting consists on ONE usually small portioned entree per person. At Scarpetta, each "course" has 2-3 different "courses within the course" and served family style. Still following? Good thing we opted out of the 9 course option. Phew! and as a disclaimer, I can eat. You would not think so but I really can. We were full halfway through and there was no turning back, only many request to pack this and that up! For the amuse bouche they brought out a sliced yellowtail with Himalayan salt (divine) and a swordfish. In addition was their version of a fritto misto with shredded veggies and assorted seafood. Should not have finished that! But I did. The courses officially began with the mushroom polenta. The taste is unlike any I have ever had. Consistency could have been thicker. They serve it separately than the mushroom mix so it could be that when combined it waters it down a bit? Still amazing. I was trying to restrain myself a bit but I should have gone for dipping the bread in whatever was left. I didn't. Sigh. Did I say bread? The bread basket hides this one specialty that has salami inside of it. Really? because hot bread is not tempting enough? Of course I had to have it. It comes with a trio of spreads- olive oil, butter and an eggplant tomato mix. Still on the first course, there was also a serving of their short ribs. Delicious. Not the best I have ever had but up there somewhere. 2nd course was when I transformed into a moaning fool. Yes, you read right. I went completely Meg Ryan at the table with every bite. No, my husband (unfortunately) had nothing to do with it. TMI? Oh well. This is where they hooked me to always and forever return to Scarpetta. The 2nd course consisted of not one, not two, but THREE pasta dishes. Up first was their foie gras ravioli, followed by their spaghetti followed by their orecchiette with pancetta and broccoli. It was just obscene. It really was. All homemade. All amazing. The orecchiette was in third place and that's actually an insulting place for it to be because it was also very good. And it had broccoli. I hate broccoli but did not hate this. This is how pasta is cooked. I could have that spaghetti every day of my life. It is so simple but my goodness, it is incredible. I will tell you that I love cheese and I did not want to spoil that plate of spaghetti by adding it because it was perfect as they served it. There was not a speck of pasta left on those three plates! 3rd course was their black cod as well as their scallops. Again, two course within the one course. These were perfectly cooked as well but we really just took a bite or so of each to try it because we were pretty much done. We had to struggle to fit more food in. 4th course was their sirloin and the duck. Also beautifully presented and cooked. Another thing to pack up after the obligatory bites to try it. 5th course was dessert. Why is it that no matter how full you are, you always manage to fit dessert? This night they had a coconut panna cotta in a guava soup with what seemed like a sugar coated pineapple slice? the second dessert was a chocolate cake with salted caramel ice cream and a chocolate thin cigar. We managed to have most of that despite the fullness. Delicious. If you are still reading, I am sure you feel full too. Admit it. Service was impeccable all night. It was still light out when we arrived and as it got darker, so did the restaurant. They don't turn many lights on. They solely depend on the table candles for light. The music also went louder as the night went on. Even on a Sunday which is when we went. The bathroom is outside the restaurant and a little bit of a walk but not too bad. Park on the south entrance of the hotel. You will be closer. We ended with some coffee and vowed to come back next time with our eyes on the price: PASTA! and you my fellow Yelper, should do the same! P.S. They handed us the bill and this little card promoting for us to leave a review on Trip Advisor. Huh? How 2005 of them. I made sure to tell them that needs to change ASAP to promote YELP instead. Real People, Real Reviews minus all the pop up screens. Easy decision if you ask
(5)
Amos N.
Very good. We were a party of 4 and did the tasting menu. Duck pate ravioli was a highlight as was the polenta with mushrooms. Huge wine list. Service was 5 star. Didn't love the room, a little 80's feeling and cold. Food was pretty heavy and rich. Worth a visit for sure.
(4)
Luke S.
Located at the Fountainbleau in Miami. Great ambience, fantastic service, quality of food was outstanding and full of flavor. Must make reservations and be prepared to spend some dough as it will get expensive.
(5)
Jackie N.
My gf and I came here for our last dinner in Miami. We go to the restaurant and the hostess suggested we get a drink at the bar because our table was just finishing up dessert. Right when our wine was put in front of us, our table was ready. But the hostess was nice enough to carry both our glasses of wine on a tray to our table. We opted for the 4 course tasting menu which is served to the table for, I believe, $78 per person. Starter/Amuse bouch - a piece of the raw yellowtail appetizer with marinated onions and baby greens and a piece of hamachi. Both were delicious Appetizer - They gave us braised short ribs with veggies and risotto which were good, not amazing but good. They gave us a full portion of the creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms. OH...EM...GEE. These were delicious! You have the option to get freshly shaved truffles on top, but that's an extra $25 and the sauce already has a strong essence from the truffle oil they probably used. *The couple next to us didn't hear the extra $25 part and after the waiter informed her, she told her boyfriend she thought it was cheese...d'oh!* Pasta - We got cute little bowls of 3 different pastas. First, the scialatielli, which was supposed to have shrimp and calamari..but we didn't see either. It wasn't our favorite. The classic spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce which was very simple but very good with some parmesan cheese on top. The duck and fois gras ravioli was the best pasta we had and our small portion was perfect. It is a bit too much for a normal serving of pasta. Meat/Fish - The black cod with roasted fennel had an amazing sauce which made the dish. The sirloin was really yummy and came with shaved fois gras on top. Yum! Dessert - They ended with a dense chocolate cake with almond gelato and the coconut panna cotta. Both were yum! If I were to come back, i would get the creamy polenta, hamachi, and duck and fois gras ravioli to share. However, I don't know if I would come back. I thought the food was good, but average for the amount I spent. It was about 100/person including tip, which is more than all the other meals in Miami and I was the least satisfied with this meal. Also - the portions (on the regular menu, not even the tasting menu) are really small!
(3)
Tenzo A.
All the talk about about the spaghetti being good, yeah no. I'm not sure if it was because it seemed like we were the last reservation so they rushed our order but it was under cooked. I had everyone on the table try it to confirm that I wasn't the only one who felt that way. The only reason I didn't complain to the waiter is because he was such a RUDE guy that I didn't even want to deal with him. So here's where I got the rude from .. So we get there and place our order. I ordered one of their signature cocktails and asked the waiter if he could ask the bartender to add jalapenos in the cocktail. NOW I know every restaurant doesn't have jalapenos in their bar, but I can say that 95% of the restaurants I've gone to have had them. It's one thing to nicely tell me you don't have jalapenos but this guy went out of his way to make me feel like I asked him the dumbest question heard to mankind. He looked at me like I was from another planet and told me they don't have jalapenos and NO BAR has jalapenos .. Like really he responded like I asked him to add toothpaste to my drink. So I said ok most places have it but thats okay thank you. A little later, he came back AND GUESS. WHAT. my freakin drink had jalapenos in it and ALL OF a sudden he was the nicest waiter. I don't know I'm just big on service and NO ONE should treat not just their customers but people in general like that. Now the only reason I gave this place 2 stars was because of their yellowtail. SO good. Make sure you order that.
(2)
Steven W.
"Why would you want to go to Scarpetta in Miami when there is one in New York!?!!" I lifted this question out of Wendy L's review below from 4/6/2012 where her date asked: The answer is in the question...BECAUSE THERE IS ONE IN NEW YORK!...stay with me here... With so many great restaurant to try in NYC, there's no way get to them all, especially if you don't reside there. If I have the opportunity to try a place with a sterling reputation, that has a sister spot in another city, that from all I've heard/read mimics the original to a tee, then I'm going in...If for no other reason to check it off the list and open up a spot for a future NYC endeavor...that may only make sense to me, but I guess that's all that's important. Scarpetta was 5 Stars across the board...from the staff, who were all super friendly, helpful, and seemed generally excited to have us as customers...to the people in the kitchen, who are putting out the kind of food that solidifies Scott Conant's reputation in the industry. We had a few dishes that seem get a lot of press...Polenta w/mushrooms and Spaghetti with tomato sauce and basil. We also had a Mediterranean Sea Bass, Dessert, etc...The details don't really matter. Everything was perfectly executed from a preparation and flavor perspective. Even the bread basket, with the bread that had the salami and cheese baked into it, started the meal off simply surpassing my expectations. The whole "Event," I will call it, made me appreciate Scott's talent in this business, and I'm sure I'll see his comments on chopped in a slightly different light. Hats off to the people actually running the place as well! They are doing all of the heavy lifting. Scarpetta is a restaurant I would definitely return to, take others to etc...so much for my theory of trying something so I won't have to go there when I'm in New York.
(5)
Elizabeth Y.
Miami Spice. Dress nice. Good excuse to dress up for a date with my boo. We decided to get diff things on the menu so that we could share. We decided to each get wine flights where you get a glass for each course of the meal. Their bread basket brings you an assortment of diff types of bread along with some type of eggplant dipping sauce. And if you're extra hungry you can ask for more bread if you finish the basket. Appetizer: winner - the polenta! Anything that has truffles will make my mouth water and drool. Main dish: My bf got the yellowtail and I got the oven roasted chicken, as we thought we should try something else besides their spaghetti. Well my bf's face dropped a little when he saw how small the yellowtail dish was, so we opted to switch as my chicken had more substance lol. Either both dishes were good, but nothing really wowed us. Dessert: Winner: Mascarpone custard and mango sorbet. I love mascarpone! It always reminds me of tiramisu. Very expensive meal but for miami spice it was worth the experience. Great service too. Can't say I will come back though.
(4)
Alexa A.
I usually stay at the fontaine bleau in miami when i visit but when i wanted italian food i came to scarpettas it was a bit expensive but whocares the food made me feel like i was back at home it was amazing
(5)
Nelson A.
Two stars because the quality of the food does not match what you pay. The waiter recommended the "spaghetti", saying that this was what people visited this restaurant for. The famous spaghetti ended up being a HUGE disappointment, overpriced and completely ordinary.
(2)
Shibei R.
I loved eating at Scarpetta. What an experience! We had the chefs tasting and plus the cheese course. The food was so delicious, and the coconut Pena cotta dessert was the best dessert I have ever had in my life. I will definitely go back again. Great fine dining experience.
(5)
Mario P.
Good place! The creamy polenta was really good. The entries, gemelli and foi gras ravioli were ok. Gemelli is a pasta with lobster and shellfish, I have definitely try better one for less price, not in Miami. The dessert was chocolate cake with ice cream, really good. So if I would go again, I'd order polenta and dessert, lol. The service is really good too, they are always around. One thing, I went for my gf birthday and they knew we there for that, and we were expecting a courtesy dessert or something. Usually restaurants (less fancy ones at least) give a especial dessert, but not here :(
(4)
Elaine D.
Great pasta. Really beautiful decor. Ocean view available . Bring a sweater. It's freezing in the restaurant
(5)
Cristina F.
From the beginning to the end, it was an amazing experience dining at Scarpetta. I went with one of my friends who was visiting from out of town, and we both loved every minute of it. The service and food are top notch. Since we arrived a bit earlier than our reservation, we sat at the bar and ordered dirty martinis. I don't know where or how they get their olives for the dirty martinis, but they were the most amazing olives that I've ever had. I'm not crazy, my friend agreed. I'm seriously talking about green olives right now. The drink was strong, and perfect. Best dirty martni, hands down. At the table, after a lovely conversation with the sommelier, we ordered a bottle of the Villa di Capezzano Carmignano 2006 and it was truly delicious. The bread basket and olive oils to accompany the basket were unique and we both enjoyed it very much. For starters, we tried the steak tartare and the creamy polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms. Both of these just melted in our mouths. The tartare was one of the best I've had and I really didn't want that polenta to end. For our main course, I ordered the duck and foie gras ravioli and my friend had the filet mignon. Again, the ravioli just melted in my mouth, really buttery. Simply divine combination of flavors, and nothing too overpowering. The filet mignon was also great, and cooked perfectly. We were so stuffed by the end of the night, that we couldn't move. It was well worth it, though. I can't wait to do it again.
(5)
Carlos A.
This is one of my favorite restaurants as Conant's meals are phenomenal. Get the Miami Spice deal for $39 for a 3 course and get the wine tour. The octopus and the pork are exceptional.
(5)
Justin T.
We tried this place for Miami Spice because we heard that it's supposed to have "the best spaghetti you've ever had in your life!" To be honest, it tasted like Chef Boyardee! The Miami Spice menu that was listed online was totally different than the Miami Spice menu that they actually offered once we were there. The service was great- our waiter was very nice and attentive. And the atmosphere was great- we had a view of the ocean while we ate our mediocre food. But we went for the food! And it was highly disappointing :-( We won't be going back and we wouldn't recommend Scarpetta to anyone.
(2)
Mike D.
This is the 3rd Scarpetta I have been to and let me disclaim that the other 2 got 5 stars from me as well, which tells you a few things: This place is amazing, the food is consistently mind blowing, and lastly I have a bad addiction to the culture SC has created! I have traveled to Miami quite often and this is the number 1 place in my book. The location is stunning, the menu is the typical greatness you would expect from Scott, the wine list, though overwhelming, is quite extensive and the service is impeccable. Here is my recommendation: Go in a get greeted by the gracious host. Walk through this beautiful restaurant and let the sweeping views of the Atlantic ocean envelop you. Sit done and take a deep breathe! Ask to talk to the sommelier and explain to him what you like in a wine. The reason I am saying wine over a cocktail is because a good wine will help develop and accentuate the flavors you are about to experience and trust me the sommelier on hand is one of the best in the area for sure. Next, stop and look around at the restaurant to get a great feel of what modern American meets classic Italian looks like. This will help prepare you for the food to come. I'm not going to itemize what you should get because quite simply, everything on the menus has such a focus on detail that you will not be disappointed buy anything they have to offer. What I do recommend is get an app, 2 pastas, and and entree, this will help you understand what they are doing here as far as cuisine goes. Also, save room for dessert, do not say your are going somewhere else, or that you are full because the desserts, especially the panna cotta are life altering. I hope one day when my wife and I are indulging in a great meal at any of the Scarpetta or DOCG restaurants, Scott walks in with the swagger and confidence he exuded in his food, walks by us, say 'sup' and 'are you the guy that LOVES all my restaurants?", I will proceed by pushing out a chair for him, ordering a wonderful bottle of Amarone or Brunello and just thank him for creating such a wonderful culture and for giving us the opportunity to indulge in one of the best restaurants in county.
(5)
S M.
I am beginning to feel like the odd man out with some of my reviews. The plusses: Decor was great and all glass surroundings beautiful. Service was very good. Our waiter was friendly and "earned" the service charge. Wine list is incredible. The wine list is as big as the local newspaper. Polenta appetizer is superb. The minuses: Really weird hipster sort of music playing incredibly loud spoils the experience. Many of the dishes are way over the top too rich. When I say too rich, both me and my companion felt sick by the end of the night. Didn't quite see the "Miami" crowd I was hoping for. I had the oven roasted chicken. Dry, salty, just not that great. My companion had the swordfish. That was good, poached, but nonetheless too rich! The desserts were absolutely over the top. I had the chocolate cake. I was stupid enough to eat half of it and I literally had stomach aches from the richness afterward. Granted I had the equivalent of 2 glasses of wine with my meal, but it wasn't just me, my companion felt the same and she didn't drink anything. I am glad we went. The hotel is always nice to visit. But I will not go to Scarpetta again.
(3)
Ryan P.
We had been to Scarpetta's in Las Vegas and had the time of our lives.... So, we were looking forward to a fantastic night in Miami! Hmmm.... Sometimes it is just hard to recreate a memory and this certainly was not the same! We had gone to one of the Foutainebleau restaurants the night before and had the 'Miami Spice' Special.... so all five of us chose that route along with the wine pairing! - I had read all the reviews and we decided to add the Crispy Fritto Misto and the Creamy Polenta with truffled mushrooms to our price fixed menu. I think all 5 of us would agree that those 2 items were the best of all the items we ate that night. / This is a perfect example of getting what you pay for.... while the overall special was certainly priced well...it wasn't right. Scott is a great chef and while we may not have liked this meal...we will be back!
(3)
Melissa F.
The food is always amazing here. My waiter was okay, he could have been nicer or idk... a little different. He seemed to neglect us a tiny bit.. I know it wasn't just me either cause my husband said something to me about it. I usually don't want to complain cause sometimes that sets the tone for the night. All in all though I love the food there... So I would go back..
(4)
Garrett K.
I love this place. Gourmet Italian! Scott Conant is a culinary genius!
(5)
Saulo C.
very expensive, forced a truffle $ 50, I did not understand that the waiter offered me, kinda empurou to sell more ..
(3)
David L.
Food: 4 Decor: 4 Service: 4 Came here for dinner around 9:30pm Tuesday. Didn't have a reservation and opted for bar seating. 1. BRAISED SHORT RIBS OF BEEF 16 vegetable & farro risotto ~Really good. Beef was tender and cooked perfectly, and the jus complemented the risotto very well. 2. SPAGHETTI 24 tomato & basil ~Really good. Best plate of spaghetti I've ever had, despite it being so simple and somewhat expensive. Service was good, although it would have been nice to get my bread before my starter. Bread was a bit stale, but the eggplant marinara dip was pretty good.
(4)
Rina N.
I came here with a party of 9 for my birthday dinner. I made reservations a few days prior; I made changes to the number of people attending a few times and they were very accommodating to my needs. They have the best basket of bread - 3 types (I believe they were focaccia, Cuban style and butter rolls). We asked for maybe 3 refills! It was complimented by 3 different spreads (mascarpone butter, olive oil and a tomato eggplant mixture). Most of us ordered the Miami Spice menu (~$39/pp). I ordered the tuna carpaccio appetizer, local snapper (caught that day) and a coffee semifreddo for dessert. Hands down the best meal I've had in quite a long time. Price was extremely reasonable for the Miami Spice. I can't forget to mention that our server was tremendously knowledgable of their offerings - I'm pretty sure he went through the entire menu items in exact detail without a single breathe haha. Really appreciated his service, we gave him additional tip on top of the already 18% included gratuity. We left the restaurant comfortably stuffed and super content. Would definitely recommend this place for any special occasion or date. I even saw some families with their kids so it's family/kid friendly too!
(5)
Hesham E.
We had a three course meal here for Valentine's Day and we were not at all disappointed. The food, service and ambiance make for a perfect romantic night out. If you're in the mood for pasta, this is the place to go. Everything is made fresh to order and you can certainly tell.
(5)
Claudia C.
what a joke!!!!! Like seriously , where is the hidden camera. personnel was rude, unprofessional and totally out of line Place was desserted but they refused to add a 5th chair because according to them they were booked for the night......yeah rigth! We were there for 2 hours and no one walked in those doors. We knew it was expensive, but the portions are offensive. Perhaps we caught them on a off night but I would never recommend or go back to this place. Seriously there is nothing spectacular about their food but the prices and the snobish attitude from the staff (they were confused perhaps as to who the customers were?) I found totally unforgivable. Never ever coming back I resent Yelp for falling into this brand name trap :(
(1)
Nathaly L.
Spaghetti amazing! i cant help order the same entree time and time again. i am obsessed with their simple yet amazing spaghetti pomodoro. i love it, nothing fancy its spaghetti guys!!! but its so simply delicious. i also recommend their farmers salad yummy! and they have a creamy polenta with a mushroom ragu sauce that i loove (if u like polenta). Nice vibe, intimate, trendy, fun date night place... one con: the last table i sat on was right under the a/c vent making it extremely cold for me, a bit uncomfortable.
(5)
Annah T.
Most amazing Italian food. Rather pricey but all in all completely worth it. The best part was the service and the round of tequila the manager brought out for us at the end. Thank you so much for contributing to our great time in Miami!
(5)
Jason S.
What we ate: Creamy Polenta - Amazing! A must! Stone Crab Appetizer - A Miami staple, but small portions. Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli - Creamy & Delicious! Spaghetti - Supposedly a signature dish but just Meh. Chocolate Cake - Good but not memorable. & Complimentary Petit Fours What we experienced: Great customer service! We mentioned to the waitress that we were not only Top Chef fans, but fans of Chef Nina. Halfway through our dinner, the waitress surprised us with Chef Nina, herself! She sat down with us, took a picture and chatted briefly as it was a busy Saturday night! Not only that, but Chef Nina sent a complimentary Petit Fours our way as we were celebrating my birthday. This is a beautifully decorated restaurant in the equally amazing Fontainebleu! What else? Make reservations as it seems pretty busy with tourists and corporate diners alike.
(4)
Cristina C.
From what I hear, the menu is fantastic but I only order three things off the menu: creamy polenta appetizer, tomato basil spaghetti (filled with buttery, cheesy goodness in addition to the freshest tomato sauce ever) and any chocolate dessert they're offering. I don't bother trying anything else. They're just that good.
(5)
Dan R.
I always tell myself that if I had to live somewhere other than New York City, it would be Miami. Domestically speaking, of course. And I've only ever been in the Magic City for a handful of days at a time, but each time, I always enjoy it a little too much, and then start day-dreaming about some alternate timeline I've got going for myself where I wear an obnoxious amount of white morning, noon, and night. But, in the unlikely event I actually leave New York, I'd most likely miss the food above all else. Thankfully, there are Gotham transplants like Scarpetta to get me through the pain. Pici is one of my favorite types of pasta (picture thick spaghetti), and Scarpetta's offering has got to be one of the best I've ever had. Tossed with lobster, Calabrese spices, and a spreadable sausage called 'nduja (Italian slang for andouille, although the meats are not the same), this exceptional dish was bursting with flavor, a soul-warming land-and-sea medley in each forkful. The Burrata (served over heriloom tomatoes, baby basil, and arugula salad) was equally delicious in its own right - milky, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. And how often do you get to talk about bread baskets? Well, Scarpetta's is worth the shout-out - I'm lookin' at you, salami-filled stromboli! Despite the impressively extensive wine list, I opted for a cocktail, specifically their signature San Remo (Carpano Antica, Campari, elderflower liqueur, a splash of Maker's Mark, and, although not listed as an ingredient on the menu, and because, after all, this is Florida, I swear there's some secret citrus in there). Both masculine and refreshing, this one lived up to its much-promoted, go-to status. Thanks to its coveted Fontainebleau location and vintage-navy, gold-trimmed, ocean liner decor, Scarpetta doubles as both a date night destination and birthday group dinner celebration spot before hitting the club. Or a place for seniors with money who know what's up, because we saw a few of those, too. Again, this is Florida. Even with a Scarpetta in my very own city, God help me if I wait until retirement age to come down here again. The Old Country, New York, New Jersey, Miami, it doesn't matter - this is some of the best Italian your hard-earned money can buy. Anywhere.
(5)
Gnome H.
We had a party of four (we are usually just two) and were glad because we all did the tasting menu and were treated to 4 different choices with each round - so basically we were each getting 4 different small tastes each time. They even let us suggest things we don't like and things we do, so we could avoid the "in" meals like duck and get something better. (we have ducks in our pond, why would I ever want to eat one) A little more than we wanted to spend the night before a cruise, but well worth it. We do a lot of tasting menus and this stands out for value. The courses themselves weren't NYC caliber dining... but were still upscale. Check out their spaghetti - it was good, but not really top chef material. Service was excellent. Not just our waiter but others were stopping by making sure we had what we needed. The wine pairing was average. We would actually go back and try different things. The true test of a place is if you would go back, isn't it? Yes, I would recommend Scarpetta. Thanks Miami.
(4)
Cecily K.
The duck foie gras ravioli is absolutely delicious, perhaps one of the best things I ever ate. It's a smaller portion, so you might want to also order an appetizer or additional side.
(5)
Tony L.
Great Italian spot in south beach. One of the few places where you will get consistent great Italian food! Arugula salad is a great start. Spaghetti is delicious and fish is always fresh. I had the snapper this time which was cooked to perfection. I really enjoy eating here at the fountain blu. You will not be disappointed.
(4)
Michelle R.
Hands down the best meal of 2014. From start to finish, the service was outstanding and the food was possibly the best Italian I've ever had. I'm so glad we chose Scarpetta during our stay in Miami. I'm 100% certain that everything on the menu is delicious, so I won't get into everything we ordered, but I will say: order the spaghetti. You'll never have spaghetti with red sauce again without thinking of this perfect dish. Totally worth it.
(5)
Jonelle P.
The creamy polenta, the Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli were amazing!!! Those are a must try! The service was really great too.
(5)
Rhonda H.
Magnificent room that any aging starlet would appreciate for it's lighting . Service extraordinaire with the manager coming over at the finale to do any damage control. (We had 20% taken off our check for late seating and bad first table), food, exceptional, really, spaghetti, that good? Dinner bill uh oh here's where the star is taken off. For the food portions served (I don't mind, I hate overeating ) the bill should have been half the price. I love the domes brought over the plates and then Voilla! Oh my! where's the food?
(4)
Annie H.
Amazing northern Italian food and service! Their hospitality is unbeatable. The manager, Jason, and staff, made our experience at the FontainBleau an unforgettable one! We will certainly be back to visit!
(5)
Rachel A.
Literally everything we put in our mouth was to die for!! This was a girls night of 3~ There was a wait so we started off with drinks at the bar - love the ambiance and the scene here - pretty people dressed for a night out~ Once we got to our table, service was prompt. The bread was brought out and our fav dip was the eggplant - so flavorful! We got the creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms...amazing consistency and flavor! I ordered the butter squash raviolini w broccoli rabe pesto - you know how normally veg options are a hit or miss? This was a definite hit!! I ate every bit off my plate! My friend ordered the spaghetti - delicious - the noodles alone are tasty! My other friend ordered the duck and foie gras ravioli - another hit. We finished off with the budino di mascarpone which was mascarpone custard, mango salad & mango sorbet - wonderful flavors and pretty presentation! What a fab foundation before a long night of drinks and dancing at LIV! Gotta work those calories off! Always impressed by the quality of food at the Fountainebleu - will be back!
(5)
Nicole R.
I was a little hesitant going here because im not very adventurous with food, but my bf & I got the chef's tasting and everything was AMAZING. The service was impeccable and everything was so fresh. I loved the butternut squash raviolis and the smoked steak... Also the palenta with truffles. I HIGHLY recommend. Its a lot of food for 2 people.
(5)
Lu T.
First night in Miami and we wanted to start it off right and have dinner at Scarpetta at the iconic Fontainebleau. Fine dining was out of the question for any other night as we were very likely to be smashed for the remainder of our trip and therefore could not savor things like this. Why Scarpetta? Well I'd be lying if I didn't say the $35 prix fixe Miami Spice menu didn't play a significant role in that decision but also because I really wanted to see what all the hoopla was about with the spaghetti. I got to sample plenty of things that night and it was a lot of gut-busting fun. First off was the braised short ribs of beef and polenta. Fantastic starters in my humble opinion. The braised short ribs were just tender beyond belief and was texturally complemented by the risotto. Probably one of the better if not best examples of short ribs I have had. The polenta is also well known here, very creamy and smooth but strong enough to stand up to the earthiness of the truffled-mushrooms that was added table-side. The main course included samples of the prime filet of beef, the branzino and of course the spaghetti. The beef was perfectly cooked but lacked anything special to really punctuate and make the dish memorable. I think Scott Conant played it safe with this one and just needed something for the Miami Spice menu. The branzino was criminally salty. The delicate white meat was tainted by the fry treatment the skin got, what a waste of a perfectly good fish that came so far just to be on my plate. The spaghetti was easily the best of the three. Even so, I don't think this was a re-invention of the wheel that deserves all the attention it has been receiving. It was a good pasta made with fresh, quality ingredients, simple yet effective. Spaghetti in a tomato-basil sauce shouldn't cost that much people, save your $23 and make it at home. The dessert. I can't eat. Too sweet. I think I'm diabetic now. By the way, skip the wine pairing if you're ordering from the Miami Spice menu. It sucks and it's overpriced. Scarpetta served as a swanky, sexy backdrop to our first evening in Miami that I thoroughly enjoyed. Although the night had a few very poignant moments food-wise, the quality of some of the main dishes ultimately fell short and that was what stood out in my memory. P.S. Just cause we're ordering from the Miami Spice menu doesn't mean we're cheap, it just means we're Asian so please be nicer to us. You got your 20% gratuity anyways.
(3)
Stephanie L.
After hearing so many great things about Scarpetta, I couldn't wait to go during Miami Spice! Any restaurant that can be known simply for making a basic spaghetti amazing is a must try! Went in the middle of the week with a couple of friends. Although we had a reservation, we ended up waiting a few minutes and got to take the opportunity to relax in the lounge. Modern, dim and chic, pretty much exactly what I expected from a restaurant at the Fountainbleau. When we got seated in the main dining room was a little surprised by the decor. It was still classy, but it seemed reminiscent of an upscale yacht, complete with "port window" style mirrors, and lots of rope decor. Interesting. Immediately received a basket of the infamous bread, complete with the famous soft and salty, stromboli pick (pretty good!). They also served several additions for the bread including an eggplant tapenade, a citrus infused olive oil and a creamy butter. Definitely some of the freshest and well cooked bread I've had at a restaurant. We ordered from a waitress who did seem a little less than thrilled we mostly went with the Miami Spice. She however did bring out the "flight of wines" very quickly and was very nice in explaining what each glass was. All three of the picks turned out to be excellent! Without too much waiting they brought our our first course... Polenta was thick and creamy, and the truffled mushrooms were a wonderful addition. Both were served in their own little cups and they mixed the two tableside for a nice extra presentation. The burrata was so soft and moist that it melted like butter and was a nice light beginning. The short ribs were succulent and juicy with a hard farro that complemented it well. All were superb choices! Next was the entrees, and that's where it all came crashing to a halt. No matter how great the ambiance, or how excellent the starters, if the entrees are over-seasoned it's tough to leave happy. I had the branzino, which was beautifully prepared, with a simple presentation, crisp outside, tender and fresh. However, I'm not sure if it was the sauce, the capers or the fish, but something was WAY too salty. It was like eating the fish in the ocean. My friend who got the legendary pasta was equally disappointed with her choice. I tried it and immediately noted the cause of her distress. Al dente, yes. Fresh tomato, cheese and basil in the sauce to break up the flavor, yes. Abundance of white pepper drenching the dish and so potent you couldn't taste much else, unfortunately the answer was also yes. The beef entree too was not particularly great, with lots of dried fat running through. Also, a vegetarian friend who had ordered off the Spice menu and had gotten the zuchinni ravioli thought it had a salty, and not at all subtle, very strong fishy taste. After inquiring with the server she found out it was prepared with an not-mentioned anchovy butter. They were though, very nice and prompt to bring out a replacement sans the fish flavor. Such a completely disappointing round! After feeling a bit let down we got the dessert course. The chocolate lava cake with caramel and salted almond gelato definitely helped perk me up a bit. Hot, gooey melted chocolate center to what looked like an enlarged hockey puck, it was decadent and rich but also toned down nicely with the gelato. As for the coconut panna cotta, it was creamy and a creative tropical take on a classic Italian dessert, but the guava proved a bit too sweet to provide any nice balance. All in all, the apps, wine and desserts weren't bad, but the entrees were not good at all, leading to a pretty mediocre meal overall. I guess I should know better than to get my expectations too high, but I really had believed I would leave with an epic meal. As we all walked back towards the lobby though the sentiment was pretty much "yeah, glad I finally tried it, but especially glad I did it during Spice." I know everyone loves it, and I did really want to, but I just didn't find it to be more than adequate. As my Italian friends have taught me, just because Miami has a lot of Italian imports and restaurants, doesn't necessarily mean that Miami has a lot of great Italian cuisine.
(3)
Elnaz D.
I am definitely a fan of this place. I made a reservation for two the morning of and had no problem getting a reservation for dinner on a Friday night. For appetizer we got one order of Spaghetti (tomato and basil) and they brought it out in two cute bowls for us. It was hands down the BEST spaghetti I have EVER had in my life. Their noodles are made fresh everyday! If you go to this place, which I recommend, you definitely want to get the Spaghetti or you will regret it!
(4)
Al M.
(This is 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because I want the average to creep up to 4.5) Let me start bestowing my compliments on Scarpetta: - The menu is focused, very seasonal, and has real Mediterranean ingredients. For Florida, the land of stupid excess, this is a rare treat. - This is a very large restaurant but the service is very personal. - Octopus appetizer is the very best octopus I've eaten. Please try it. - Stracciatella (mozzarella w/ lobster and beets) was delicious and unexpected. - Yes, the spaghetti is really really good. It's the pasta itself, not just the sauce. Maybe not $25 good, but really darn good. Splitting it makes an excellent pasta course for 2. - Did I mention the octopus? - Branzino was OFF the HOOK. Expertly prepared, well seasoned, well sauced. - When one course was very very late, we got three separate apologies and a free pasta dish which they shaved white truffles on top of. So that's like a $95 free dish. - Service was top-notch. (See above) A few misses: - The thing that earned us the free pasta was pretty damn late. We waited one hour from being seated to receiving our first course. (Kitchen's fault, not the server's) - The wines by the glass are just too expensive, even for an expensive restaurant. Offering one or two $20 glasses of wine is one thing, but for most of them to be $20+ that's difficult. - A mushroom side dish was watery and lacked the flavors that were promised in the description. - The dining room is super-cool and there's hip uptempo dance music playing. If this were a Vegas steakhouse I'd be psyched but for a Northern Italian place of this quality, it doesn't match. Overall - a really delicious meal. The Fontainbleu is a really swank hotel (like a giant Vegas nightclub) and this food lives up to its reputation. For a fancy-pants place, it hits the mark.
(5)
Michelle W.
I had the pleasure of dining at Scarpetta with some amazing people for Miami Spice. We had a rezzi and of course the table wasn't ready, which annoys me... but, this is a pretty common thing in MIA. Anyhow, other than that the service was great! Overall it was surprisingly loud in the restaurant, so it could be difficult to have a romantic evening here. I started out with the burrata, which was delicious. I absolutely adore heirloom tomatoes and this dish did not let me down. I had the spaghetti for my main course after hearing rave reviews for it. It was good, the texture was perfect. The noodles were pretty large & flat, more like linguine than spaghetti though. The sauce was good, but I felt like it was missing something, I couldn't quite put my finger on what though. Which is why it's not the best I ever had. It was good though & I ate ever last bit of it. I finished with the coconut panna cotta, which was interesting. But, nothing to write home about. Overall, an excellent dinning experience. I would love to go back again. If money is tight definitely give it a spin during special times like Miami Spice. You won't be disappointed, totally worth it.
(4)
Angela S.
So, I guess the last chef Nina Compton left the restaurant. This seems to be the her general excuse of the recent lack f enthusiasm for this restaurant's food. I did not know about Nina before my dinner at Scarpetta's, so I was just expecting a good Italian meal for my birthday dinner, from a place and location that should deliver nothing less than excellence for the sake of reputation and prices. The bread was awesome. The mushroom polenta awesome. And that's where it stopped. Oh, and the cocktails were fine. It would have been a travesty if not. The steak tartar which you pay an extra 12 dollars for on the Miami spice menu, (at which point it becomes pointless to do) was tasteless, the fish my husband had was bland , and my raviolis, a sweet and salty attempt (ravioli is my favorite pasta, if not food & sweet and salty anything is my favorite) forgot the salty part. So... It's not that it was a bad meal. It is just that you expect a certain level of food quality at an establishment on the fountain bleu establishment, and with the reputation Scarpetta's has...you just expect more. But the service was excellent.
(3)
Christopher Z.
Many thanks to the Fontainbleu for bringing in Scott Conant! Scarpetta is perhaps the best in-hotel restaruant in Miami today. His classic signature pasta dishes are always enhanced by some new creation, such as foie gras and duck ravioli or squid ink risotto. The chef does wonders with all sorts of fresh fish and this is the only restaurant where I will order chicken and get it better than my homemade beer can version! The location and decor, the view and the fellow patrons, and most especially the fantastic staff all add up to the best overall restaurant experience in Miami.
(5)
Tim L.
The entire meal was excellent. Great wine choices, excellent service. The Tartare was perfect, the Short Ribs superb and the polenta was so good we ordered a second. Definitely worth it.
(5)
Jerry B.
Okay, this is a 4-5 star restaurant. BUT, our server was a piece of poo. We can clearly afford to dine there, but the server was more interested in giving his attention to everyone older than us and the larger parties. I would personally NEVER recommend dining here, but the food is tasty.
(4)
Kimberley C.
Fantastic Italian restaurant. Awesome in Miami and the food is just as good in Beverly HIlls..... just has a different vibe altogether.
(5)
Annette R.
We had a dinner for four on Tuesday night. The lights are noticeably dim, so you have to light a lighter to read the menu. Overall atmosphere is nice, and you can tell the waters are trying hard to make this place look more classy.
(4)
Nicole S.
Unfortunately never got to taste the food.... We had reservations for 9pm, so we were slightly annoyed (we were starving) when we arrived at 9 and were told our table was not ready yet. Upon walking to the bar we saw plenty of empty tables in the bar section as well as in the main dining room. We ordered a drink and just tried to fight the hunger. 15 minutes later we ask the flighty blonde hostess (who ignored us as she passed us several times) how much longer we would have to wait. with her back turned to us she said she would ask the maitre'd. after waiting another ten minutes we were finally escorted passed the posh, trendy dining room, into an enclosed patio. the tables and chairs looked suitable to host breakfast and lunch for people in wet bathing suits coming from the beach and pools, not people who were dressed up for dinner. it was a special dinner and my bf and myself wanted it to be romantic, so my bf politely went back to the hostess and asked if we could be seated at the empty table in the nice dining room. she said that table was being filled any moment for a party with a 930 reservation. (HE was confused bc we also had a reservation and could have easily been seated at the table 30 minutes prior). He attempted to persuade the girl to let us have the table , to which she reponded we would have to wait 20 MINUTES for another table to clear. He immediately walked back into the patio to let me know we were leaving. We were not going to spend our romantic dinner in the most un-romantic setting, even if the restaurant has good food or not. We went to Il Gabbiano for 5 star italian food, on Biscayne Blvd in Downtown Miami, its worth the 20 min cab ride.
(1)
Jes R.
Hands down best spaghetti I have ever had. Amazing burrata salad and polenta too. Love the atmosphere and hotel. Wish there was one in Boston!
(5)
Jennifer H.
Miami spice menu was ok but I took my own route. So the spaghetti is supposed to be off the hook here. Had the octopus lamb chops and rack of lamb
(5)
Michelle B.
So the first time I ever entered this place was due to last years Miami Spice. You won't find me there any other time. Sorry officer, but a regular pasta dish for almost $30 makes me feel as though I'm trading in my 25 year old extensive sticker collection for a blank floppy disk. Anyways, there are three things I remember from my visit. Basically, the bread basket, the menu choices, and that all newborn babies look like Danny Devito. You can make your own sandwich with that bread basket, (yes, theres salami in it) and have enough to feed all the birds that migrate during the winter. The quality and quantity of the menu choices really made the price just right. Since Miami Spice is currently in full effect, it's the best time to go. You might just see me or Danny Devito...but don't be fooled, it's most probably a newborn.
(4)
Monica M.
This place is like corked wine! I've been to Scarpetta many times and never have I been as disappointed as last night. First of all, despite the place being half empty on a Friday night, they gave us a hard time about changing our reservation for 30 minutes later. We had brought some bottles of wine which we were willing to pay a corkage fee ($45/bottle) and the hostesses offered to hold the wine for us while we waited for our table. We got seated 1hour & 30 minutes later. The late members of our party brought more wine to the birthday dinner. Fine ... our fault for being late. Once seated, we were told there was a two-bottle maximum per table. None of us had never heard of such an arbitrary limit before. We were clearly a big party (9 people) which could have easily been separated into four tables. Despite this, the sommelier refused to cork our other bottles. Looking on the Scarpetta website, there is absolutely no place where this "Policy" is stated so if you are a savvy researcher, don't expect to be put on notice about this well thought out and clearly stated policy. Then we asked the manager (Garrett) if he could please make an exception since it was my best friend's birthday. He said he would try and see what he could do. But then Garrett LEFT US HANGING with no answer for virtually THE ENTIRE DINNER!! I finally had to approach him on the way to the ladies room. He passed the buck and blamed it on the sommelier's failure to let us know that the cork policy could not be bent even by one bottle. Still, even after I spoke to Garrett and he said he would try to make it better, he still avoided showing his face at our table and telling us the truth. Instead he left us hanging, tainted our experience and acted like it never happened. Here's the thing Scarpetta-- leave your customers hanging and the food will not be as good and the experience will not be as memorable for the right reasons!!!! The only star this place deserves is half a star for the chef and the other half for our server. I won't be going back since I know that if I have an issue, management will act as if they CAN find a solution and if it's not what I was looking for-- they will PRETEND it never happened.
(1)
Joseph C.
Had an 8:00 reservation sat us at 9:15 at the worst table in the restaurant. We actually made them move us. This is there way of getting everyone to get a drink at the bar Appetizers were miniature and tasteless Entrees were ok Sauce on the spaghetti was oily Was not impressed at all
This was supposed to be an elegant dinner highlight for my friend's bachelorette weekend, which all of us were quite excited about. The evening started off well with some good cocktails by the bar area, and we were off to be seated for our reservation. When we had our reservation, we were told that because of our large party number we would have to order "family style," which usually means we order whatever we want and it comes out as big plates to share. Here, they meant that we were limited to a selection 3 appetizers and 3 entrees and they would bring out 4-5 servings of each. I'm sorry, that is not the definition of family style. On top of that, our first manager did not fully explain what this meant at all and left us to wonder how to order, and the servers didn't take any time explaining the dishes that were brought out. The best dishes we ordered were the creamy polenta and the duck-foie gras ravioli. Everything else was mediocre at best. Even though they gave our celebrant free champagne, that didn't take away the bad taste we had from the beginning of the night.
(2)
Natalia K.
Thoroughly enjoyed the Chef's Tasting menu. Especially felt that the polenta was to die for! The signature pasta dish also didn't disappoint. We ate right in the lounge area by choice and loved the atmosphere, the decor and our service was also great!
(5)
Carol T.
POW! POW! POW!...those are my taste buds being bombarded throught an unbelievable meal! Based on a personal recommendation ( and other Yelp reviewers), my husband and I had dinner here on a recent visit to Miami Beach. From start to finish, we had a wonderful experience. Food alone, as we all know, does not make a meal. The young lady who initially took the reservation over the phone, remembered my husband and greeted him warmly. The wait staff was friendly, attentive and unobtrusive throughout the meal but the food was the main atttraction here. We selected the polenta with wild mushrooms as an appetizer. Not being a big fan of polenta, I didn't know what to excpect but wanted to give it a try anyway. Taste bud assault #1! Creamy polenta topped with sauteed mushrooms. The portion was more than enough for two to share. Along with this came a complimentary side of lightly fried, panko-encrusted mozzarella cheese (3). Already I was getting filled up with these two items plus the bread basket! Taste bud assaults #2, 3, 4 and 5: We each chose a different entree plus a side of fingerling poatoes and shared each dish. One dish was duck with a light cherry sauce and the other was branzino. I'm not a "duck person" but the way this was cooked and served was more like beef medallions. It was flavorful but not greasy. The fish has a lightly fried crust and was moist and flaky inside. Each had an accompaniment of vegetables. When the potatoes came out, along with it came an unexpected, complimentary side of house-made spaghetti! We were overwhelmed with food. Each dish tasting as good as the last one. The potatoes had a light crust on the outside but were tender on the inside. The spaghetti... Mamma Mia! Made in-house and having the density you can't find in store bought pasta. So, did the two little piggies have dessert? Sadly, no. We knew our limits. We finished our wine and were content.
(5)
Robert M.
I would say out of the three signature restaurants at Fountainbleu, this is the best of the lot. Service was good, food was simple and flavorful. What I most appreciate about this place is that they make their pasta. It drives me nuts that the majority of Italian restaurants in the U.S. use dried pasta instead of making it on their own. This is not difficult, and any Italian resto worth a bean should be making fresh pasta every day. Not only does Scarpetta get this right, they also cook it right. Because the next thing that drives me nuts is overcooked pasta. The sauce was very good. Simple, nice flavor, nice stick to the pasta. The mozz was very good and the short rib was outstanding. Only complaints is the arugula salad and the brussel sprouts were both salty. The is the only restaurant at the Fountainbleu that may be worth a repeat visit in my opinion...although they are all overpriced for what you get.
(4)
Jeremy J.
Scrumptious food. Delicious decor. Impressive wine list. However ... very uneven service (server forgot a dessert and ignored 2 requests for extra bread) and a bit loud with the house music thumpa-cherking in the background. I don't know that I'd go back, simply because the service was so scattered and lackadaisical.
(3)
Mindy G.
Recently came for Miami spice dinner. Everything was great from the food to the service. The wait staff are very attentive. The fish was great, a smaller portion than I would have liked and the tuna bresaola was great too.
(5)
Jennifer J.
i was disappointed by Scarpetta and would not go back. I did not feel the spaghetti was as great as previous reviewers felt. I have had the best italian homemade pastas in NYC and Boston and this did not compare. I also had the ravioli, which were initially delicious but the squash stuffing left a strange baby food like texture and taste in my mouth, which I did not appreciate. The mozzarella carozza was delicious though.
(2)
Ed L.
Great time at this Italian restaurant. The food was amazing. It's must try for anyone visiting fontainebleau miami beach
(5)
Diane A.
During visit to Scarpetta I was seated outside, which I loved. It was night time so we could hear the ocean if you listen close enough and the breeze was amazing. Our waiter was excellent and very patient with our group. The first thing that I loved was the variety of breads they bring out! I can't tell you which one was better the the rest because they were all great! I ordered the polenta and thought it was fantastic. I also had the spaghetti but wasn't as impressed. However, my boyfriend ordered the short ribs and they ware great. All in all, it was a successful night.
(5)
Bao N.
I've been here a few times and each time I've been it has been fantastic. There are some drawbacks because you do have to go into th lavish Fontainbleu hotel to get in, valet your car and pay for super expensive drinks. But it doesn't stop me from going to Scarpetta. It is rather spendy and the portions are small but I think it is perfect for a romantic dinner out. The bread is always good here as a starter and I always forget the name of the dish that I order but the people I always dine with love the food here. I'll be back here for another dinner one of these days and look forward to trying something yummy on their menu.
(4)
Dawn B.
Scarpetta After A year of waiting to find an excuse to head all the way down to Miami for a dinner at Scott Conant's Scarpetta, I finally found my opportunity. To summarize my experience I will take you through my dining experience course by course. We arrived a little earlier than we anticipated, our table was ready but we opted to head to the bar for a cocktail before dinner. At the bar to accompany our cocktails we were given a nice basket of fresh deep fried potato chips topped with some flash fried rosemary, as delicious as they were, I indulged in just a couple, I wanted to save room for the main event. After a glass of wine we were off to our table. The view was spectacular, the seating quaint. Not the place for small children or crying babies. As soon as we were seated a bread basket arrived accompanied with a trio of spreads. Mascarpone butter, eggplant ratatouille and a dipping oil. The bread was great! Especially the focaccia stuffed with prosciutto, how could one possibly go wrong stuffing salty, butter, melt in your mouth aged prosciutto into a fresh baked soft bread? No complaints so far. The service was on point and very professional, although I do need to mention that I did not see a single female member on their wait staff other than the hostesses. It was time to make our dinner decisions, I chose from the MIAMI SPICE menu while my dinner partner opted for some other items from the main menu. Our appetizer round consisted of the Creamy Polenta served with a Fricassee of Truffled Mushrooms and the Steak Tartar. The polenta had barely any truffle flavor at all and very much reminded me of eating a bowl of porridge. Needless to say, I was not impressed. The steak tartar was served with a garlic grilled toast that I found to completely over power the delicacy of the tartar itself, and was not served as described in the menu. On to our main course. Agnolotti Dal Plin, a small tortellini stuffed with lamb and minted bread crumbs and the Duck and Fois Gras Ravioli with a Marsala reduction. If there was any lamb in my agnolotti, I could not taste it. It was over salted and lacked any flavors. The ravioli was over salted as well and was not served with a sufficient amount of the sweet Marsala reduction; it was very monotone in flavors, once again, other than salt. Feeling my blood pressure rise, I could not finish half of my plate. The waiter was very accommodating and asked if I would like to replace it with the Spaghetti, which on the MIAMI SPICE menu is an additional $12.00, but I opted out. This was the third strike. My choice for desert was the AMEDEI CHOCOLATE CAKE with toasted almond gelato & salted caramel. To our pleasant surprise our waiter arrived with a trio of deserts and two glasses of desert wine on the house. It was kind of hard to not smile out of delight and end our dining experience on a high note, how clever of them. However, for a $200+ dinner was it worth it for the dining experience? No! Was the experience worth earning extra credit? Yes! Will I ever return to Scarpetta? No! Taking one off the bucket list? Priceless! Scott Conant, you have been chopped!
(2)
NatdeMontreal G.
At the Fontainbleu hotel- feels a little like New Jersey in short dresses. Very dressy. Excellent service- the polenta with mushrooms was excellent. We recommend the tasting menu,,, however, it is very expensive for fine Italian food.
(4)
jon w.
The restaurant makes an effort to look like it's trying to give good service, but in the end way overpriced, marginal quality, Italian food.
(1)
Amara S.
Miami Spice Menu is awesome. Miami is doing a promotion where they allow you to chose an appetizer, an entree, and a desert all for 35 dollars which is a steal at a fine dining restaurant. I ordered a arugula salad for my appetizer which tasted like arugula. Bitter and fresh, just the way I like it. For my entree, I ordered the Mediterranean Branzino which was Sea bass and it was delicious. So good! For my dessert I ordered the caramel bananas and I hated them. I've had better at the State Fair. Our server was extremely attentive. I loved every bit of it.
(4)
Mary M.
We went to Scarpetta for my husband's birthday and it was amazing!! One of the best meals we've had and it was such a treat. The decor of the restaurant is beautiful with a nautical nod being right beside the ocean, loved the modern bar area, stunning. We had the ahi tuna appetizer and squash blossoms, delicious. My husband had the lamb as his main and it was seasoned perfectly and I couldn't resist but to get the spaghetti and it was by far the most delicious past I've ever had, perfect. The service is outstanding, everyone was incredibly attentive and knowledgeable. Wine list is great as well. We are also huge top chef fans and we had the chance to see Nina, which basically made the experience that much more fabulous. She is so sweet and kind and we just loved meeting her! I cannot wait to come back to the Fontainbleu and more importantly this restaurant. We will definitely be back the next time we are in Miami!
(5)
Lucia M.
That is my second visit to Scarpetta. The first experience was amazing and I thought it would be perfect to take the family to celebrate my husband birthday. But I did not get the same impression. We decided to skip the chef's menu this time and go for individual orders. I remembered the polenta from last visit and decided to repeat it, wonderful, still my favorite. For the second plate I was thinking in something lighter but I let the waiter persuaded me on the pasta with pork and it was too robust for my taste. I would rather have the mouthwatering ravioli again. In fact, the only drawback for this second visit was the waiter - too forceful on giving suggestion for food and drinks to everyone. For me, there is a very fine line between excellent service and intrusive service and this waiter crossed it.
(4)
Ryan J.
The polenta was fantastic, highly recommended. Everything else was good but nothing too mind-blowing or interesting. The pasta pomodoro was a bit of a let down. It's a good restaurant, but overpriced for what it is (I mean, it's in Fontainebleau so it's not like you should expect something cheap).
(4)
Maura C.
I love getting the opportunity to visit a celebrity chef's restaurant. Scarpetta is a beautiful high end restaurant in a beautiful setting. Miami Beach is a very posh place and so Scarpetta in the Fountainebleau fits right in. With stellar service, an amazing cocktail and wine list and fantastic food options, I was in heaven! I was able to sample a few dishes - steak tartare, braised short ribs with farro risotto, and the duck and foie gras ravioli. All were absolutely rich, decant, and melted in my mouth! Watching Scott Conant rip apart chef dishes on Chopped is a riot... so it is good to know that the dishes at his restaurant were worthy enough to stay off the chopping block!
(5)
Julie D.
Went with my husband and three children for Mother's Day brunch and was greatly disappointed. We didn't realize that Sunday brunch was buffet style, which we tend to not enjoy, but we decided that after schlepping from Hollywood with the kids we would keep an open mind. After all, Scarpetta is supposed to be amazing with THE BEST pasta. Boy, were we disappointed. Let me start by saying that the service is wonderful, however, I can't say the same about the food. Everything that we tasted was sub-par at best. The pasta that everyone raves about was absolutely nothing special. The only thing that I can honestly say that I even enjoyed was the polenta and the brussel sprouts. The desserts were bland and even the cannolis were terrible!! My kids wouldn't eat the chocolate chip cookies! Little did we know that the worst part of the day was to come with the bill - $85 per adult and $45 per child!! We had just spent $90 for 2 bowls of pasta with butter!! How can a restaurant have the gall to charge $45 for a 3 and 6 yr old to eat?! I'm surprised that we weren't charged a bottle fee for my infant son's bottle of Similac! Very, very disappointed. Will never go back.
(1)
H. Y.
The food is out of this world (as is the service). Everything we got was amazing. I would recommend the short rib appetizer above all else. Ordering any of the pastas would be a great call. It is pretty expensive, but if you're looking to treat yourself or someone else, this is the place to go.
(5)
Wendy L.
I can't give Scott Conant anything less than 5 stars. "Why would you want to go to Scarpetta in Miami when there is one in New York!?!!" cried my date. Well, you see, they have SPECIALS on their menu that are not on our menu here!!!!! Like for example, the $25 stone crab claw. Made of gold? Not the real kind no, but I'm sure in Taste-Bud Land, this is the stuff made of golden crack. Also amazing unavailable in New York (can we do something about this??) - the prawns! So gigundo and delicious. And the steak tartare! I was not allowed to order the spaghetti with tomato and basil (tear) so instead we got the bigoli with hunks of lobster and blue crab tangled in the homemade pasta, and the tagliolini with the super rich pork ragu. Both very good, but I was pretty stuffed by this time because I am unable to exercise any self control when the stromboli bread basket is placed in front of me. Banana souffle! Of course we got this. I, for one, can never resist a good souffle, and this one did not disappoint - so light and fluffy it was like eating sweet, expensive air.
(5)
Stephanie E.
Cocktails and dinner were really good. We came to take advantage of the July specials that some of the restaurants in the Hotel were having this month. It was a special menu for $54/person. With drinks, the bill averaged $100/person. I know some in the group thought that some of the dishes were on the small side, but being that it was a 3 course meal and they constantly brought the bread basket to the table, we all left very full. Check out the dishes we all tried from the July Special menu here: fontainebleau.com/web/di…
(4)
Bill S.
When I went to the Anthony Bourdain book signing, he mentioned Scarpetta in his book is in the Fontainebleau Resort. Then, on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate", Ted Allen says the best pasta he's ever eaten is at Scarpetta. Why would I not come to my favorite NYC restaurant while visiting Miami? If you're familiar with the NYC Scarpetta restaurant, the Miami restaurant has a different feel. The hotel and the restaurant are as one, it feels like a cruise ship! This place is huge and the outside patio has a nice view of the water. Very Miami, very hip. The first thing I order is the signature NYC Scarpetta drink, the San Remo. Spot on! Then I see the menu, there is Miami Spice going on, I'm assuming its like restaurant week in NYC. My wife and I order off this menu. I order the Branzino which is cooked to perfection and my wife orders the Ted Allen recommended spaghetti which is makes Scarpetta the place for homemade pasta. I dream of this pasta and trust me, no other restaurant holds a candle to this dish. The food tastes exactly the same as NYC. The to die for polenta and the short ribs. Everything taste the same! *Side note - The Scarpetta signature bread plate is exactly the same as NYC. Olive oil with a hint of lemon, mascarpone butter and rat-tat-tooie. Enjoy a taste of NYC! Miami, you have it just like NYC. Except you have bikini girls and we have naked cowboy dude on roller skates...
(5)
Maria C.
From start to finish, this place is it. Chef de Cuisine Nina Compton and her team execute spectacular dishes and the best part is that they are consistent! To start, the creamy polenta and fricase of mushroom will make you want to lick the plate. I also recommend the steak tartare. Spaghetti is a must, and so is the duck and foie gras ravioli. Long Island Duck is out of this world and the branzino is crazy good!!! Don't miss this place!!!!
(5)
Kathy G.
We stay at the Fontainebleau in Miami once or twice a year and this restaurant is amazing! The decor is an upscale, modern nautical theme and has very comfy booths that overlook the ocean. They also have patio seating, but it's always been too windy to sit outside when we have been there. Their bar area is just as nice too. The food is to die for. Probably the best fine dining Italian that I've ever had. Great service as well. Great bread, tomato salad, and OMG you have to try the Creamy polenta!!!! It is one of my favorite things I've ever eaten! My fiance hates mushrooms, and he gobbled this up! We scraped the dish clean. Duck and fois ravioli-delicious! And if you want something substantial to share, you simply must try the Milk fed veal chop It is fabulous! If you are in the mood for home made pasta, try the scialatelli-it is a seafood pasta dish that is super rich and just as delicious. I don't think we've ever had room for dessert here. I think I never get very much sleep after eating here either, my heart is fluttering the night away from all the butter, I think...small price to pay.....
(5)
Inga W.
The food was amazing! I have to start off with that because that's what we walked away with, having an amazing meal on a nice weekend getaway. The service was great right off from when we came in and checked in with the hostess, everyone was professional and friendly yet not stuffy. Italian food is about great ingredients and enjoying the meal and that is what we did. We decided to share a bunch of things rather than commit to a few. So we started with the hamachi, which was fresh and delicate but the salt on top overpowered it, then we had the buratta, which was amazing. Followed by the duck and foi gras ravioli and veal. Both were so tender, refined in taste, every bit full of flavor and the most delicate textures. Every dish was split for us which was very nice, I couldn't get enough. Wine of course, love the Italian wines. Finally we had espressos to finish off. Everything from start to finish was amazing and the atmosphere at the restaurant was nice, comfortable but not too formal. It had the nice feel of a restaurant on the beach. This is a place to have a nice dinner for a special occasion or just for those that love food.
(4)
Bibi S.
We arrived at Scarpetta on time for our reservation but our table was not ready. We enjoyed a drink at the bar while we waited an although it was not the best dirty martini I had ever had, I still enjoyed the ambiance and the company. The restaurant is very tastefully decorated in a chic maritime motif. The bar is not very big but we still had enough space to stand around the bar without anyone giving us a hard time. The floral arrangements were beautiful and added a nice touch. When we were seated, I was not thrilled with our table but it was okay. They sat us outside the main dining room and I felt like I was in a large hallway instead of the restaurant. The table wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. While we waited for the server to take our orders, we enjoyed the amazing bread basket that they brought to our table. The best one is hands down the stromboli bread with cheese and salami. It was bursting with flavor and I literally had to stop myself from eating it all. They also served a mini cibatta and a few other options with your choice of butter, lemon alioli and lastly eggplant caponata. They were all very very good. For dinner I ordered the creamy polenta with mushrooms from the Spice menu which was absolutely fantastic! It was creamy and rich without being over powering. Then I had what is probably the most simple dish on their menu but quite frankly the best. It is the fresh pasta with pomodoro sauce. The pasta was al dente and the fresh tomato and basil sauce was simple yet dressed the pasta perfectly. I tasted the duck foie gras ravioli (not on the spice menu) and I thought it was excellent but a good dish to share because the richness of the dish would be overpowering after a while. I also asked for a glass of wine and when the bill arrived I was shocked at the $25 price for just one glass. It was delicious, but a little steep. Lastly if I can add one last tiny criticism I would say that they should not allow people to enter the bar or dining room if they are improperly dressed. I saw a man at the bar in shorts, a t-shirt, flip flops and a backwards facing baseball cap. I realize that the restaurant is in a hotel, but its tacky folks. I'm not sayin' you need to wear a suit to dine here but proper shoes and no hats please!
(5)
Stephanie M.
Great spot. First off, even though we had a reservation, they made us wait at the bar for almost 25 minutes - which was very frustrating because the hostess was being overly vague and unhelpful. The food was fantastic - the burrata appetizer was a hit - so flavorful and delicious. The CREAMY POLENTA was also fantastic - so rich and smooth. the RAW YELLOWTAIL was good, but nothing exceptional. I had the pasta special, which was a fettucini in a butter and olive oil sauce, with fresh table shide shaved truffles. It was aweome. The service was great and the waiters were super attentive and helpful. The space is great - the chairs are super comfortable and the place isnt too loud, though we did notice the music started quite subtle and ended up being quite aggressive by the time we left... when in rome.
(5)
Claudia W.
Have been dying to try this place since I am a huge "Chopped" fan and watch owner Scott Conant on the show all the time. His standards seem very high as he is constantly telling people they don't know how to cook pasta or risotto properly. We were seated right away, although the hostess and her comrades at the front were not very friendly. We didn't even get one smile. I personally like to start my meal off with smiles (LOL). The decor was nice however it was pretty dark in there. I guess kind of romantic, but I would prefer slightly more light so i can see what I am eating a little better. The meal started off with a bang as we tasted their insanely good bread. The warm bread that had salami in it was amazing and the other types of bread offered were no joke either. The mascarapone butter and caponata served with the bread were excellent (this is coming from someone who doesn't even like eggplant). My husband's martini arrived in a chilled glass and was the epitome of perfection. The appetizers were very good. I had the fritto misto which included very lightly fried (not greasy) seafood and zucchini plus bits of fried rosemary. I have never thought of eating rosemary whole in such large quantities but it was really very good. Nice touch. My husband had the steak tartare, one of his favorites at a slew of restaurants. He liked it and I tried it and found the flavors interesting. The only complaint would be that they overdid it on the truffle oil, so that flavor permeated the entire dish so that after a few bites all you tasted was truffle oil. For our main course we ordered three pastas to share. The traditional spaghetti pomodoro was very good. The fresh pasta was excellent and the sauce was tasty. It was a little plain as a dish however I happen to like plain sometimes. Am I dying to go back and eat this again? Not really. We also had the duck and foie gras ravioli. Again very well made and perfectly cooked and the flavors were nice. It was a little rich so after two bites I was done. Would be better as an appetizer in a small portion. The last pasta we got was the seafood one with lobster and crab. I found it to be very fishy and didn't care for it. My husband thought it was just OK but wasn't really a fan. The meal ended with a fantastic dessert: a small chocolate cake with salted caramel sauce and toasted almond gelato. The combo of all three was legendary. That salted caramel was incredible. Yes, I am dying to go back and eat this dish again. Only problem was they need to give more ice cream that way you have enough to pair some with each bite of cake. Overall the place was very good and I would go back. Perhaps we made the wrong decision only ordering pasta for our main course?
(4)
Peter I.
Just have the spagetti with tomato and basil and call it a day. Simple and perfect. Service at both I've been to is very good. Tell them to take their time and serve the food at your schedule not theirs. Good solid wine list and starter menu. Good spot
(5)
Jolette B.
We were staying at the Fontainebleau Resort, and being both Food Network fans and lazy, decided to try Scarpetta since it was in the hotel. Foie gras has been a very guilty pleasure of mine since moving to New York (it's banned in California), so I couldn't resist when I saw the duck and foie gras ravioli on the menu. All I can say is that I'm no longer able to eat ravioli any other way and I believe in miracles. The house cocktails were solid too, which I'm always on the search for. Definitely a must try if you are in Miami.
(5)
Vicky P.
This place is GORGEOUS!!! My best friends and I came here for a 25th birthday celebration...and it was just perfect. From the service to the food..I was happy to spend every penny in there. The ambiance is very different from other high end restaurants in Miami. It has a classic, upscale boathouse feel to it, with Ocean views. Scarpetta has the BEST spaghetti pomodoro EVER!!!! I DREAM about it. I know you're probably wondering to yourself....."why would I order spaghetti with tomato sauce at an upscale Italian restaurant??" Trust me, it's worth it. It's simplicity at its finest. The freshest ingredients, from the tomatoes, to homemade pasta......a very rustic dish....Might I add that, it's Jay-Z and Beyonce's favorite dish when they dine here:) I also had the creamy polenta with fricassee of mushrooms..(I'm drooling as I type) it was so delicious!!!!! The bread basket is very good, my favorite one is with the salami, shaped into a pinwheel....I cant help but to always ask for more ( insert bbm embarrassed face) lol I am looking forward to coming back!
(5)
Jordan N.
PROS: + Nice ambience - better indoors than outdoors; but during the day, outdoors will give you a nice beachview. + Complimentary bread was delicious, especially one stuffed with Italian ham and cheese. Came with lemon-infused olive oil, mascarpone butter, and sauteed eggplants. + Delicious polenta with fricasseed truffled mushrooms - A MUST + Burrata with heirloom tomatoes, baby basil, and arugula salad was tasty and refreshing + Duck foie gras ravioli dressed in balsamic glaze was good. + Slow-roasted berkshire pork w/ gigante bean ragu & pancetta spices was even better. + Pineapple panna cotta with guava "soup" was good, but a tad bit too sweet (they put so much of the "soup" into the bowl). Plus, I just don't think there's any better twist than on the Cuban classic of Cascos de Guayaba con Queso (cream cheese & guava shells). This reminded me of that so much. Still tasty and good - but I'd like to try that Amedei chocolate cake next time (a true Chocolatier would tell you that there's no chocolate better than Amedei, fabricated in Italy with the cream of the crop of Venezuelan cacao). Of what I ordered, the starters or primi piatti were the best part of the meal - so for sure, I wouldn't hesitate on coming back for some Italian tapas-styled meal with these starters. I still would like to come back to try the other bigger plates.
(4)
Eschel H.
Had a nice dinner with my wife and another couple here on Saturday night, and I can honestly say that I feel no compulsion to go back. Although the meal and the atmosphere at the restaurant were nice enough, and a number of the dishes we ordered were excellent (highlights included the prime aged sirloin on the bone, the polenta with mushrooms, and duck foie gras raviolis), there's enough wrong here to dissuade me from returning: 1. It may have been because of spring break, but the hotel property had literally dozens of teenagers EVERYWHERE. They were inescapable except specifically during our meal. 2. Parking is only possible through valet, which AFTER validation costs $12. 3. Our waiter tried to railroad us into a $100 bottle of wine, when I specifically was trying to ask about a couple bottles that were significantly cheaper. 4. Although it was a lovely night and we started our meal on the balcony overlooking the ocean and pool, we had to move back inside because there was a wedding on the property blasting music. The manager even claimed that they'd called asking to lower the volume and were ignored. With so many high priced restaurants to choose from on Miami Beach alone, I'll spend my hard-earned dollars elsewhere...
(3)
Alison R.
A lovely dining rooms in Miami Beach are a dime a dozen. So why does the decor of Scarpetta stand out? Yeah, the ocean view is stunning, but it's the damn good Italian that makes this room glow. Love this joint for mini reunions, girlfriend dates and romantic nights out.
(4)
Kristina C.
Got to spend Valentine's Day here with my amazing boyfriend! The service was excellent. You would think on such a holiday, the service would be terrible but on the contrary they were very accommodating! The food was good. I wouldn't say it was my favorite but again my taste buds do not venture too much. The steak was delicious and the waiters were good about cleaning up and clearing excess plates/utensils. Overall it's a very romantic, nice place to spend with your spouse/significant other. I would recommend it!
(4)
Dave M.
First of all its VERY noisy. Went for an intimate dinner with my wife and we couldn't hear each other across the table. Food is good but not fantastic and for the price they charge it should be. All in all overrated in my opinion.
(2)
Camille O.
Came in on a Friday night with another couple. We ordered the Chef's Tasting for the whole table. Crudos came as amuse bouche. Next was braised short ribs with risotto, wild mushroom creamy polenta, which were amazing. Next was the pasta course. My favorites were the spaggetti pomodoro and the foie gras ravioli. For main course we had a crispy skin snapper and beef tenderloin medallions in a demi glace sauce. Finally desserts and they were to die for. My favorite was the warm chocolate cake but the guava panna cotta was a favorite at the table. The waiter discouraged me to order a la carte when the rest of the table was ordering the tasting because I would be waiting for my meal while others would be eating appetizers and other courses of the tasting while my meal was coursed with the others guests entrees. I suggest not to eat the bread if doing tasting because it is a lot of good food and you want to eat it all. Great place for special occasions and also if you want to impress a client on a business dinner.
(5)
Margarite S.
I don't understand the hype for this restaurant. Anticipating what I thought was going to be an amazing dining experience from a recommendation, I was shocked at the quality of food here. Now, the service is fine and the decor is beautiful. Placed in the Fountainebleau Hotel, it is one of three restaurants the hotel offers. I was staying at the hotel with a friend of mine and we decided to dine here. We ordered the braised short ribs, an order of brussel sprouts, the duck and foie gras ravioli and some other pasta that was so unmemorable I can't think of the name of it - though it came with shrimp. Okay, so the braised short rib and brussel sprouts come out first. The braised short rib is not horrible but nothing to rave out from a supposed 5 star restaurant. It was also small, I'm sure my dog would not be full from the serving... but okay, on to the brussel sprouts - BURNT. How could you even manage that? The pastas come. Better size portions I suppose except I had two bites and stopped eating. The "famous" duck and foie gras left less to be desired with a bad aftertaste. The individual raviolis were the size of my thumb. The other pasta that came with shrimp tasted more like Chinese noodles than Italian pasta. After a few bites of each, I left. While it may have been a Sunday night at 10 pm for the reason the food was horrible, I really just don't know. I wouldn't take any chances returning. The prices weren't even an issue - just give me edible food.
(1)
Richard K.
One of the best Italian restaurants in Miami and thanks to Miami Spice, I could finally afford to come to Scarpetta. I would like to start by thanking executive chef Scott Conant in my best chairman voice for a "wonderfully cooked meal". Furthermore, the service was fantastic and the ambiance oozed of class and romance in the air. My three choices were Japanese Mackerel, Sirloin of Beef, and Coconut Panna Cotta. Also, I was fortunate enough to have April V to allow me to taste the much talked about Spaghetti and Amedei Chocolate Cake. APPETIZER (Primi Piatti): I had JAPANESE MACKEREL with cucumber, black olive oil and grape tomatoes. All the elements together made the dish very light. The fish was very fresh and was well cut. ENTREE (Priatti): I had SIRLOIN OF BEEF with fingerling potatoes, mushrooms,and parmigiano. Oh my Lord, what a Sirloin! WOW! It was incredibly tender and juicy. Simply, perfect. Also, I had SPAGHETTI with tomato and basil. The noodles were thicker than normal spaghetti. With thicker noodles, it added to the spaghetti in a positive way. This spaghetti was very "herbal' in nature. There was a good amount of basil infused as one with the spaghetti. The taste came in strongly and was another nice element. However, with that said, this classic spaghetti was on the dry side. I would appreciated more sauce. Overall, it did not blow my mind; simply, it was solid. DESSERT (Dolce): I had COCONUT PANNA COTTA with caramelized pineapple and guava "soup" I think this dessert was missing an ingredient in the description.....crack. I could not stop coming back for more of this dessert. The guava soup with the panna cotta left me holding my breath. Also, I had AMEDEI CHOCOLATE CAKE. It was great, but after one bite; it was just way too much chocolate for my taste. Overall, it is one of my favorite Italian dining experiences in Miami, but I will probably return only for Miami Spice or if Monica Belluci is my girlfriend. Probably, the latter will happen first.
(4)
Candy C.
Incredibly stylish restaurant in the beautiful Fountainbleu hotel. You can tell some places try too hard, but not Scarpetta. This restaurant exudes sexiness and romanticism . The table service is outstanding. I had the pleasure of dining at the Scarpetta during the Miami Spice Event. My three course dinner consisted of: 1. Creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms, 2. Mediterranean Branzino (sea bass), 3. Coconut Panna Cotta (pineapple and guava "soup"). The creamy polenta was out of this world. The polenta came in a little cast iron looking bowl with lid and the truffled mushrooms in a separate dish. This was very rich but I just could not stop until the very last drop was eaten. The server removes he lid and mixes the mushrooms with the polenta for you! You should see their hand movements as they spoon over the mushrooms and mix. It was like art! The Branzino was delicious as well but I love the sea bass at OLA better. Lastly the dessert was definitely mouth watering. Never thought a fruit soup would taste so delicious. This is definitely a first date, wedding proposal, birthday, bachelorette, anniversary kind of restaurant ! Scarpetta makes fine dining an art.
(4)
Manuela F.
I was there yesterday night with my husband and two friends. We tried miami spice menu....was really good . For sure I will be back. If you left your car at the wallet, inside the restaurant they give you a discount .
(4)
Ashley C.
Yelpers raved about Scarpetta so my bro and I were very excited to check it out. The restaurant is chic, modern and dark which gives it a "hip" yet classy vibe. Appetizers: creamy polenta and the ribs. The polenta was great (yelpers got this one right) but the ribs were alright; nothing special and definitely nothing to write home about Main course: dad ordered the spaghetti, which was another dish that yelpers went crazy over. Honestly, the taste reminded me of chef boyardee. My dad wasn't too impressed but he said that the more he ate, the better it tasted. How tricky. I ordered the bigoli which is a lobster and crab dish. This dish was 'just ok' for me as well and it wasn't something I fell in love with. My bother got the branzino (sea bass) dish which was great! Don't think anyone would be disappointed by it. We were able to try another ravioli dish, compliments of the chef. Can't remember the name but it starts with a C (it's the only ravioli dish that starts with a 'C' so it shouldn't be difficult to find it). That dish was amazing! All three of us loved it and I would definitely recommend it. All in all, it's worth trying it out with friends or family. Just be prepared to pay $$$$
(3)
Hilaru W.
Great service- waiter was knowledgeable and gave personal recommendations. He was especially attentive to food restrictions in our party, which was really appreciated! I had an amazing soup-roast cauliflower, and my friends had lamb ravioli and steak tartare- all wonderful. I had Branzina for the main, which was pan seared-crispy on the outside, juicy and soft inside. It was served with a delicious variety of roast vegetables. We ordered the carmelized brussels sprouts. They were salty, but I like that. Very glamorous crowd. Loved it! Only regret is that we had no room for dessert....
(5)
Andrea F.
I feel like the odd man out here. I've been so excited to try Scarpetta for over a year, and it has come recommended by so many people whose opinion I value. So to say I was disappointed with my recent visit would be an understatement. We made reservations for a friend's birthday on a Sunday night. We wanted to go to a Miami Spice location and she chose the spot. The space was very pretty and our table was lovely. The service was also great. The food all looked great. Some of it tasted great, I really enjoyed the Burrata app. But the entrees all fell short. The bottom line is that everything was so salty it couldn't be saved. The signature pasta with tomato sauce? Salt city. The Branzino was cooked perfectly, then drenched in salt. I was so disappointed with the food I couldn't believe it. The polenta cheesecake helped end the meal on a better note. They even wrote Happy Birthday to our special friend and sang to her. But I can tell you mostly everyone at the table was in agreement, perhaps it was an off night, or there was some crazy person attacking the food with salt, but I was not impressed at all with our meal, I was thankful we were there for Spice and not paying full price.
(2)
Elizabeth R.
This restaurant has really wonderful food. These are all the things we got: Polenta: awesome awesome awesome, this dish is dreamy (I don't eat mushrooms but they come separately so you don't have to eat them) Tuna susci: not that good, fresh fish but bogged down with other ingredients Spagetti with tomato sauce: really wonderful, best pasta with tomato sauce I've ever had, the pasta is so so fresh and cooked perfectly Duck and fois gras ravioli: my fiance loved this so much, everything about it he said was awesome Diver sea scallops: this was good but not great Oven roasted chicken: everyone loved this dish Swordfish but with the branzino preparation: OMG, this was the best swordfish I've ever eaten. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The lemon caper emulsion was soooo flavorful. The escarole was pretty good. The gigante beans tasted like they were canned...I love beans but these were not good. Chocolate zeppole: just okay, not chocolaty enough
(5)
James M.
Fantastic dinner at Scarpetta's. service was exceptional, food was also great. We had Black Cod which was done to perfection as well as the spaghetti. Hard to think you cold make spaghetti differentiated....but theirs is outstanding. All in, best dinner we had all week in Miami
(5)
Sandra F.
Spending a night at the Fontainebleau is always fun, and I've been wanting to try Scarpetta for a long time so Miami Spice was the perfect opportunity. First of all, the bread is really something. Prosciutto in my bread? Yes please! Appetizer: Creamy truffle polenta - definitely the highlight of the meal Entree: Spaghetti - it was good but kind of plain. I would have preferred a meat sauce. Dessert: Chocolate cake. Delicious but not so unique. Again, this is the way to try a Miami hot spot for $35. Of course you'll end up spending $75 with wine but whatever!
(4)
Vickey L.
My girlfriends and I went to Miami Beach for a mini vacation. In addition to looking up nearby attractions, one of my missions was to find us a fine dining restaurant. I stumbled upon Scarpetta upon my research. I was glad I did, because my friends and I loved our experience there! We located the Fontainbleau Hotel and drove up the driveway where the valet parker was nice enough to inform me that parking was $7 with validation from Scarpetta. We then entered through a double-door and walked down the corridor and Scarpetta was located on our left. My first impression of the restaurant was... ehhh. The hostess seemed a bit snobbish and didn't seem like she enjoyed her job. Maybe she's had a long day? We walked past the lounge/waiting area, past the bar, and into the main dining room. The decor was ahh-mazing! It seemed newly furnished and the ambiance was great as well. We sat next to the windows with the ocean view. I requested patio seating when I made the reservation weeks ago but changed my mind last minute because it was pretty humid at the time. The iced tea tasted like it was freshly brewed and had brown sugar ice cubes? I wasn't sure. But they sure weren't your typical ice cubes haha. The food was excellent! We started off with the short ribs as appetizer and, ohemgee, the beef melted in our mouths as soon as we took a bite! It was verrry flavorful. I wouldn't have minded if I died and went straight to heaven then. Oh wait, maybe after I tried my foie gras ravioli first... I ordered the duck and foie gras ravioli. I usually don't go for raviolis, but they had me at "foie gras". My friends ordered strozzapreti and scialatelli, which were pasta dishes. One with some sort of pasta I've never seen and lobster meat and another was creamy fettucini with clams and shrimps. The portions seemed a bit small for its price, but it did fill us up by the end of the meal. But us girls always have a hidden stomach for desserts. My friends and I ordered a chocolate cake that came in bit-size and was sprinkled with powder sugar and almond pieces. Our waiter, Lucas, later brought out a plate of cookies with a candle and "Happy Birthday" scribbled in chocolate syrup for our friend's birthday! Great food, good service, okay pricing, and nice ambience. It was a great way to end our vacation. I would definitely visit again in the future when I get the chance. What more could we possibly ask for?
(5)
Christy C.
Scarpetta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you! You gave me the most delicious meal that I had in Miami! We stayed at the FB and you guys were just down stairs to us!!! YAY! I have had the pleasure in trying out alot of your food during Miami Spice. That's because the 5 of us were picking each other's plates to try to try everything out. My appetitzer japanese mackerel sashimi was OFF THE CHAIN!!! It was so fresh, so delicious. We also tried the braised short ribs and burrata... it was heavenly. Then for the main course- I ordered the roasted chicken- just something simple. GOODNESS! It was so tender, juicy, it was so good! I was sad that I had to share (haha, jk) 2 of the girls ordered Spagetti- It was soo good and the texture of it is just amazing and another girl ordered the Sirlion Beef... It was so good and there were so hidden yummy mushrooms... so amazing Then to dessert- My Coconut Panna Cotta was just amazing. I was so impressed that I didn't know what to do with myself. I havent been able to think about the party in my mouth since we dine there.
(5)
Alexandra L.
Amazing service, food, decor and overall experience. Love going out to dinner here and is a long time favorite! Eddie is an amazing server! The Burrata, Bronzino, Steak Tartare and Hamachi are a must.
(5)
Joseluis A.
not so long ago, i invited myself for dinner with three ladies. the ladies did not oppose to this and allowed me to dine with them. cheers ladies, i salute you. we had a reservation at 9pm, we arrived on time but our table wasnt ready. we waited for about 15 minutes and we finally got seated. the restaurant is elegant of course but i wish it wasnt so cramped. the lights are low so this is a great place for a date, except that if was to drop two benjies for a romantic dinner, i wouldnt want a dude sitting 3 inches away from me and my lady(ies). just saying. we went during miami spice month and we all opted for this menu. i got the short ribs for appetizer or primi piatti as they call it which is not a proper translation but nice try. my main dish was the sirloin of beef and i got the chocolate cake for dessert. the food was excellent. no doubt. portions are decent and for the miami spice flat rate, this was a great deal. also, service was flawless. this was a great dinning experience. im very glad i got to sample this restaurant and i will for sure come back for dinner on a very special occasion, hopefully with 3 hot ladies again.
(4)
Rob C.
First the good - the service. And now the bad: the short ribs where dried out and the tagliolini with sucking pig had bone chips in the meat. Two rookie errors for a high-end restaurant. Something to keep in mind with many restaurants in the Miami Beach area, including this one, is they include gratuity. I think it's because of the high international tourism, but it's stupid and presumptuous.
(2)
Cliff F.
A really great experience all around. Located in the beautiful Fontainebleau on Miami Beach, the feel of Scarpetta is hopelessly chic, though not even remotely stuffy. Wearing a slight nautical theme, the decor is beautiful and the environment was electric. Service was close to perfection, but was missing the verve that would push it truly over the edge. The food, however, was brilliant. The Miami Spice menu presented a fantastic selection of options that gave a great feel for what the actual menu tries to convey. Meal included the burrata--with astonishingly delicious cheese, braised beef short ribs--which literally melted in your mouth, branzino with saffron & mixed seafood--perfectly prepared (better even than the branzino at Batali's B&B Ristorante), sirloin--also perfectly prepared, and chocolate cake, which was, for lack of a better word, EPIC. panna cotta was not a standout, unfortunately. Great restaurant.
(5)
McKenzie T.
Thank goodness for Miami Spice! Service was great and food was amazing! What we tried: EVERYTHING! Luckily I went with a group of 8 girls and we each got something different. I had the Mackerel Sashimi, Spaghetti, and the Molten Chocolate Cake w/ Almond Gelato and Salted Caramel. Fresh fish, the most amazing meatless spaghetti I've ever had in my life, and an extremely sweet dessert (too sweet for me). The Polenta had amazing flavor, but it's so rich I'm not sure I personally would be able to eat it all. Steak was flavorful and not over cooked. Portions are good. I wish I didn't hit up Liv (the club at the hotel) right after dinner...I wanted to take my leftover spaghetti soooooo bad. I kick myself everyday for not taking it. Scarpetta...we shall meet again.
(5)
Whitey M.
Delicious food with a great venue and view!! Love this place!!
(5)
Lourdes D.
I love Miami Spice, but often feel that I make bad food choices, resulting in less than stellar reviews. Scarpetta, unforsh, has met the fate of my bad decisions. I went for a friend's birthday, who had made a reservation at 10:30 p.m. for four people. We got there just in time, but it was for naught, as the super swanky hostesses informed us that we would have to wait a few more minutes for a table to open up. So we went over to the bar to pass the time. The place was PACKED. Not one table was empty, not one bar stool was up for grabs, NOTHING. It was just tanned Miami bodies EVERY DAMN WHERE. There was bumpin' music, the lights were dim. Once we finally got seated, our waiter came by pretty quickly, and the bread soon followed. There were like 5 different types of bread that came with mascarpone cheese, some type of fancy olive oil and some eggplant something or other. It was HEAVENLY. All of it. As for the Miami Spice menu, here were my choices, some filled with fail, and other not: Appetizer: Creamy polenta with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms Verdict: Delish. I had never had this before, so it was a nice change of pace for me. However, my friend ordered the braised short ribs of meat, and those were, as my 90s self would say, "off the chain." So, mistake #1. Entree: Sirloin of beef with fingerling potatoes, trumpet royale and parmigiano Verdict: Ehhhh. Some of the pieces of meat had huge pieces of hard fat, and the outer parts of it were practically charred. Two of my friends got the Mediterranean branzino, which looked amazing. I should've asked them for a taste. D'oh! Mistake #2. Dessert: Coconut panna cotta in a caramelized pineapple and guava "soup" Verdict: Winner! It was very interesting. The taste, the consistency. In fact, the panna cotta was more like a sherbert, and not flan-esque as I'm used to. I did really like it though, so no mistake here! The restaurant is in the lovely Fontainebleau, so ladies and gents should dress to impress, and wear comfortable shoes, because it takes a hot minute to get anywhere in this hotel. Parking - we all know the deal here. Valet or fight with other patrons that want to park in the free adjacent lot.
(3)
Arden C.
FountainBleau (the hotel it's in) is gorgeous, a very trendy dining experience. It's Miami Spice (present tasting menu's for 1 month) so I was excited to try a lot of different dishes. We started with Braised Short Ribs of Beef, very flavorful & tender. I also tried the Creamy Polenta (fricassee of truffled mushrooms) which is a must! It's just so amazing, I can't even describe it. For the meal we had the Mediterranean Branzino which was pretty good and the Sirloin of Beef (medium rare) but it was a tad over cooked and a bit dry. We also ordered a Spaghetti on top of the Miami Spice Menu because that's what they're known for. It was my favorite part of the meal so definitely order the spaghetti! The deserts were good but nothing spectacular. Overall, it's worth the experience and I'd definitely go back!
(4)
Denise P.
I have been to Scarpetta a few times and glad I returned for a visit recently. I had come to Scarpette the first time as a Miami Spice patron. I was not wow'd although the food was very good. I think I was a little overwhelmed by the loud music and not very warm solo dining experience (wasn't rude, just seemed very "Oh, you are alone" and I seemed to be seeking service more than having it delivered?--You solo diners know what I mean). I came back with my husband this past week and yes, was BLOWN AWAY by the food! We went for the full tasting menus - I had the Chef's tasting menu and my hubby went with the new Truffle tasting menu. No, not usual to have two separate tastings, yet we had an unusual night and it worked. The Chef's tasting menu was excellent. The tuna starter was small, but every bit of the Amuse Bush that I anticipated. Next I had a creamy polenta that was truly fantastic and melt-in-your-mouth. The branzino fish was expertly and perfectly done (crispy skin, very tender and flavorful), the aged beef crazy good! I had the chocolate dense cake with caramel sauce and a gelato that was equally amazing. One tremendous value at only $89 per person. My husband had the truffle which had several additional courses - the melt-in-your-mouth truffle delivered expertly by Cesar was fantastic and truly enhanced each dish. His favorite dishes included the smoked lobster tartare beginner, the aged steak, the pasta dishes (I think his words were "crazy amazing" or simliar) and his olive oil custard which does not sound as fantastic as it tasted. It was light, pleasantly savory, and truly a great finish to the meal. Yes, $225 per person is somewhat pricey, yet it was worth it for the experience and taste. The service was at least as fantastic as the dinner, which for me was unexpected. Marie, our main server and sommelier, was pleasant, funny, engaging, personable and made great pairings with our meal. Cesar was equally omni-present with the Truffle Entourage (fun!), Mercedes was very nice and exuberant, and finally, Chef Josh paid a visit to the table to round out the amazing experience. He was very interested in our thoughts on the dishes and warmly welcomed us back to try another tasting --he mentioned that Chef's enjoy making the tasting menus so they can have the freedom and range to demonstrate and engage diners. Well done, Scarpetta. Glad I made the return trip.
(5)
Steven C.
About 6 wks ago, 11 of us ran up a tab of $1800, but the waiter AND manager refused to accept individual credit cards. There was nothing on the menu stating a maximum number of cards (which the manager said was 6) and they refused to split the food and liquor bills and then use 6 and 5 cards for payment. They expected us to be walking around with at least $200 cash and were not nice about trying to settle the problem. Although the food and service were excellent, the waiter was a bit pushy, suggesting more food than was necessary - however, because of the manager's attitude and refusal to accept more than 6 credit cards for payment, none of us plan to ever come back (we are physicians and 3 of us live in Miami or Miami Beach). Furthermore we have told our colleagues about what happened, discouraging them from bringing any groups to the restaurant.
(1)
Daniel P.
Outstanding service. Delicious food.
(5)
Holden W.
Great food, service, design, and views plus hot crowd. The restaurant starts with a well appointed, stylish but not gaudy, bar area. Ask/bribe the waiter to sit you by the window and see if you can reserve such a table in advance. I would recommend polenta with truffled mushrooms for starters, branzino for entry and panna cotta for dessert but I am sure there are other delish options that would strike your fancy.
(5)
Erin W.
This place is fantastic and has great service. The bread they serve, with prosciutto wrapped inside is amazing!! So fresh and tasty. Salad was great. The creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms was to die for! So delicious!
(5)
Ben P.
Love this place! Excellent food, service, decor with ocean views. I highly recommend this place. Garrett took great care of us. The food is ridiciously good. Portions are not huge, but just the right size. If you are looking for a place to eat in Miami Beach, then go here!!
(5)
Julie J.
I went for Miami Spice and it was exactly what I was expecting. It was very chic, upscale, and beautiful. It fits in perfect with the Fountain Blue. I had a sirloin plate which the sauce gave it an amazing taste. I recommend it especially if you are in the hotel.
(4)
Joe M.
This is a tough one to review.Probably more like 3 1/2 stars. When we arrived at 6 30 the ambiance was really nice. Ocean view and reasonably quiet. By the time we left at 9 30 I was bordering on a headache. Loud obnoxious music which caused diners to shout at each other to carry on a conversation. I though I was at Club Liv instead of a first class restaurant. We each ordered the $70, 4 course tasting menu. Believe me thats all you got was a "taste." Most of the items were absolutely delishious such as the creamy polenta with a truffled mushroom sauce and and the duck ravioli. A few items, such as the spagetti with red sauce, were only average. Two out of three deserts were also magnificent. One thing is certain...the service was 6 stars! Impeccable! Water glasses, wine glasses, bread basket were all carefully watched and attended to.Any crumbs that fell to the table were quickly scooped up. The servers worked effortlessly in well orchestrated teams. One final note even with the restaurant stamping your valet ticket you will pay $12 to park!
(4)
Cricket L.
Five stars for the unbelievable spaghetti. It was chewy and perfect and life-changing. One star for the excruciatingly loud atmosphere. I left with a satisfied belly and a huge headache. All said and done, I would definitely go back -- that spaghetti was unreal. But I'd have to be prepared for it -- and I warn all my friends who go.
(4)
James U.
This one is goign to be short and sweet. It was before I started yelp-ing and man I wish I wrote down everything I had. I was down for the Winter Music Conference and we did a dinner with some exec's and was blown out of the water by the service and food. Dean the manager took care of us and wow did we eat. The most memorable was the polenta with mushrooms on the side (it was like crack!) and their signature Spaggetti, the Duck and Fois Ravioli and oh as I read these reviews on the side as I type it brings back memories. Everything was absolutely amazing. My last meal I would re-create this meal all over again it was that good. When I am back this year in Miami its either dinner here or Prime 112....gonna be a tough decision!
(5)
Kent C.
Service and decor are the first things you will notice when entering Scarpetta at Miami Beach. Even while waiting for our table to be ready- we were catered to with their special "chips." When we sat down- our waiter was very attentive and the rest of staff never let our water get too low, a napkin to be left unfolded, or a question unanswered. Food consisted of shallow (in terms of physical depth) portions- each uniquely created. Their special "breads" were a meal into themselves- very delicious. We left the restaurant thinking that we would be hungry- but that was not the case. It was just enough in retrospect and certainly unique in taste. We were told to try pasta dishes because they were all freshly made at the restaurant - and definitely tasted that way. Did I expect a little more? Maybe. Was I disappointed? No. Will I go back? Yes. Maybe in a different city as well.....
(4)
Elle R.
We had a great time ...good food & Ben Goldman is a fantastic General Manager. Our group was well taken care of & was given great service once Ben got involved. The blonde manager seemed lost in the headlights, she could not manage foreseeable problems. But Ben came in & saved the day! This was for a larger group. The food was wonderful & the atmosphere was very beautiful.
(4)
Laura S.
Wonderful experience! We had the scallop app. Spaghetti and aged steak for entrees and chocolate cake for dessert. All of it was soooo good. Amazing waiter. Very helpful. Just a great time all around. Will most def be back.
(5)
Dennis M.
world renown or whatever. spaghetti was tasty not what you pay for tasty. i suggest eating all their bread that they keep feeding you and drinking a bottle of wine, then you'll be gold.
(3)
Jenaia F.
If you're looking for a great restaurant to check out while Miami Spice is in effect, Scarpetta should definitely be on your list. Stopped in on Sunday and had an amazing dining experience - one that I would definitely pay full price for. The staff was extremely attentive and friendly. The food was exquisite. The ambiance was lovely. No complaints. I'm a sucker for mushrooms, so the polenta is a must try if you feel the same way. It was unreal... creamy, rich, perfect!!! The presentation wasn't too shabby either. It's something you should definitely check out.
(5)
Jason O.
This review is for their Miami Spice 2010, though I believe the comments are valid for the restaurant in general. The restaurant goes along with the Miami-swank of the rest of the fountainbleu, albeit a little less trend, a little more Disney Yacht Club meets Miami Beach. Nice space, although it does not really feel like an Italian restaurant, or an Italian restaurant on the beach. The server treated us like garbage from the get-go. Unfortunately, it was three of us, and each of us missed comments she made at one time or other. Had we all heard all her comments, we probably would have up and left and enjoyed ourselves elsewhere. The night started just fine. We walked up to the restaurant and the hostess gave us the usual it'll be a few minutes - please spend some nice money at the bar routine. No big deal. We actually had three great drinks at $15 or so each. $55 with tip and tax before we sit down, but seriously, kudos to the bartenders for knowing what the heck they're doing back there. Hostess comes, takes us to our seats. We're introduced to the waitress "Jennifer". Jennifer will be mentioned frequently in my letter to the Fountainbleu and Scarpetta. Anyhow, Jennifer asks if we would like still or sparkling bottled water. We say neither, we'd like regular Miami water just fine, thank you. She snaps "Yeah, ok." serious attitude that cannot be conveyed here. Anyhow, I had my back to her for most of this, simply because the table of three (table spacing was crowded) really allows for no maneuverability of the servers or diners. Somehow I missed it, but she follows up with "You must be here for Miami Spice." WOW. I guess the bread was that good (it IS good) Time to order comes I asked for a bottle of Salviano 2005 Turlo, $45. Fantastic bottle. She sneers but manages an "I will get that for you right away," I let the face go, she's trying to be amicable. Order time comes, and apparently I order the only appetizer of the 4 the other two in our group don't want to taste. Jennifer chimes in, "You could just get the burrata off the menu." I reply "I think that sounds like too much food" - "It's not" "No it probably is, just give me the burrata appetizer." Serving time comes they brought out the wrong app. The server apologizes and takes it away. Jennifer accompanies the server as he brings me the burrata and as he puts it down she says, "here's the burrata, and its ok" "Excuse me," I reply. "Yeah, it's ok. You ordered the fish but now you want the burrata. it's ok, just as long as you know I did not screw up your order, you did." Now, as reasonable adults, it was absolutely understandable from where the confusion came. It was a small, excusable confusion in a loud restaurant. I just looked at her and said, "Now that is a problem." The rest of the meal went more or less the same. We minimized our interaction with Jennifer, as the rest of the staff was polite and attentive. My wife's fish entree was close to inedible (poorly made, the fish seemed more or less fresh) and so she left it, no complaints. No questions were asked when they took back an untouched plate. Desserts were good but not fantastic. My sister had the spaghetti, which probably the best dish of the night, but I ABSOLUTELY cannot believe the amount of hype Scott Conant gets, nor the sort of superior attitude he often exudes when judging on various Food Network shows based on what we saw at Scarpetta. We could have had a very nice night out, and honestly, we spent about $260 by the time it was all done for 3 people. If you cannot find semi decent servers averaging that per cover, something is wrong. Would I try it again? Not on my dime, the food quality and execution were not as high as I expect. I might, however, stop in for another drink.
(1)
Alicia C.
I visited Scarpetta on a busy Saturday night to celebrate my birthday, as well as a family friend's. We were both looking forward to this dinner for quite a while, and we left happy. As per my usual reviews, I will list the positives and negatives about this five-star dining establishment The good: -The environment and atmosphere were delightful. The music was sultry, but not blaring; the lights were dimmed enough to enjoy the atmosphere (menu reading was a tad difficult, but they provided small hand-held lights if needed); and, the nautical theme was tasteful and not tacky in the least. I can't truly speak for the view, as we did visit on a Saturday night and sat away from the view, but it had the potential to be beautiful, as it does overlook the beach/ocean. -The food is delicious. Every dish is rich and specially crafted. I had spaghetti with tomato and basil and it was obvious that the pasta was handmade on site (thick, hearty noodles). I had the fingerling potatoes appetizer which was yummy!! Imagine a flavorful marriage between french fries and roasted potatoes, mixed with herbs. My dessert was so-so, but more on that later... -Wonderful selection of drinks. I enjoyed a fruity mango, passion fruit, raspberry mixed drink with Vodka. It was a wonderful drink that lasted throughout the meal, and I did get a buzz. -I never felt rushed, which was nice, as it was a special birthday dinner. I spent about 2+ hours eating and relaxing The not so good: -I am not a dessert orderer, but as it was my special *Golden* Birthday, I decided to splurge on the chocolate zeppole, mainly because it had a nutella center. Much to my dissapointment, I could only eat one of the five donuts because it was... well, not very tasty! For a five-star, EXPENSIVE dining establishment at The Fountain Bleu (I mean, c'mon, The Fountain freakin' bleu!), I would have expected much, much more. All of my guests agreed that the dessert just was not very sweet and we ended up taking home the rest of it. I don't think I've EVER taken home a dessert from a restaurant, let alone a fancy, shmancy one. -Our server was wonderful in terms of providing recommendations (he led me to a delicious drink), but unfortunately, he had... well, a bit of a spitting problem when he spoke. As unappetizing as this sounds, he spit in my friend's eye as she was ordering and tarnished her contacts. Not a wonderful way to begin a meal -Be prepared to SPEND A LOT OF MONEY. My spaghetti meal was $24, and that was a cheap dish. Our server told us that most guests order several pasta dishes to share and then an entree as a main dish (I don't have that kind of money...). My spaghetti dish was not overflowing off the small plate, let's just leave it at that. It was delicious, albeit small and pricey. Would I go again? I might. I'm not completely sold on this establishment, and because Miami Beach, South Beach, and downtown Miami have so many wonderful restaurants, I'd like to try others before ever visiting this again. Was I grateful for the experience and the delectable meal? For sure, but again, it wasn't the best restaurant I've ever visited.
(4)
Adam G.
Swordfish was the best I've ever had. Didn't expect anything so tender. Anyone who likes swordfish should try this. Also really impressed with steak tartare. Rivals any I've ever had. The one problem is the cost, and location. The staff was amazing, but you would expect that for the style of dining.
(5)
Vivi M.
If you're in the mood for Italian this is the place to go. The food and service was great. I was staying a the Eden Roc and decided to go there for my Birthday Dinner. The Fontainebleau is right next door to the Eden Roc. We ordered the Polenta as our appetizer and.....WOW IT WAS SO GOOD!!! For my main course I went with the Spaghetti because I heard so many wonderful things about it and I will say.....I wasn't disappointed at all. I was afraid all the hype would leave me expecting more.....honestly it was as good as it gets. I can't remember what my boyfriend ordered but it was some sort of meat. Oh....and I you happen to order what he had....you'll see what appears to be chopped up tomatoes. Well that's not tomato....it's bone marrow. Yes...bone marrow. We ate a few, thought they were the strangest tasting tomatoes ever and had to ask, "What kind of tomato is this?". Oops! Not sure why some say the service isn't good. I guess some people expect servers to tuck in their chair, drape their napkin over their lap and wipe their mouths....who knows. I think the service was exactly what it needed to be.
(5)
Andre C.
Went for Miami Spice, super duper fancy, really good food, but not extraordinary. the creamy polenta is amazing. But while more and more restaurants are going for the casual with good prices and great food. it feels that this one stands more on the looks over the food, feels not welcome unless u look super rich.
(3)
Leila S.
Dined here on a business trip in Miami. Both the food and the service was excellent. Our boss is allergic to shellfish and ordered a fish dish, that didn't mention little shrimps would be adorning his entree. The server quickly exchanged his entree to another dish without the shellfish garnish. I ordered a special fund-raising meal where they had three courses (appetizer, entree and dessert). Apparently a certain amount of the proceeds would be given to the Susan B. Komen foundation. While everything I ordered was extremely tasty (bass with shrimp; chocolate molten cake), the one thing that stands out in my mind is the every so creamy and delightful polenta with truffled mushrooms. The chef took something very basic - polenta - and augmented it into something extraordinary and unforgettable. The polenta is creamy and rich, while the truffled mushrooms are earthy and savory, complementing the polenta perfectly. To put it simply, this was the best polenta I've ever eaten. Scarpetta's polenta is comfort food at it's finest.
(5)
Nayla B.
Scarpetta has incredible service, a cool vibe, and pretty good food. Their bread is AMAZING (honestly the best thing there loll). It comes with separate dipping sauces such as eggplant with tomato and also mascarpone (delicious). In terms of their pasta, I must say 2 of the 3 we ordered were slightly salty, but overall, they were yummy! Definitely get the tomato/basil pasta... It was cooked perfectly and is the closest you can get to south Italy! :)
(4)
Salvatore P.
Awesome! Went to Miami location first then found it in the city. Been twice so far and both times excellent.
(5)
LISA M.
Wonderful food and a great location . I loved sitting outside watching the people go by food 5 stars ..service was just ok... so that 's why it's not a 5 ..He didn't offer dessert they weren't busy..I would go back when I am in the area
(5)
John Y. C.
The restaurant is located in the fabulous Fontainbleau Hotel. Note that the restaurant is located in the new tower, so if you enter through the main lobby, expect a 3 min (although lovely) walk. The hostess that greeted us was young, and you can tell by her demeanor. Nothing negative. I guess i'm just getting older. We were seated outdoors, not facing the main pool, but the back pool which directly overlooks the ocean. It was a windy night, but was not a distraction. Our server, Rick, was perfect in every manner. Present only when necessary, and made no interruptions. The wine glasses were always full. The braised short rib of beef was tender and had the great flavor of the beef. The risotto accompanied the beef well, not intruding into the flavor of the beef. The black cod was cooked to perfection. A nice large piece that flaked with the fork. The duck w/ foie gras ravioli was good. The individual raviolis were small, so there was not much filling. There weren't any accompaniments with the dish. Just a simple plate of little raviolis. Have a after-dinner apertif at the Bleau Bar and then party the night away at LIV. If you become a little tipsy, spend the night, and then lounge at the pool the next day.
(4)
Gordon G.
Good, Thats was far as it goes. Not great , not amazing, good. The setting and ambience amazing. VERY LOUD! Not a place for kids, not a place for a frugal wine drinker like me. 180 US on Borello we bought in Italy this summer for 18 Euros??? Come on! Maybe NYC version is better, but there are definitely better ways to waste your money.
(4)
Tracy M.
Loved having dinner here the other night! We called for reservations, 30 minutes before there last seating, got a reservation for 6 at 10:30 and were greeted and accomodated very nicely. Drinks were well prepared. All of us ordered different dishes from the Miami Spice menu. What a treat!!! Drinks, service, food, portions, ambiance...everything was perfect! I'll come back even without Miami Spice. I know this is not the cheapest restaurant in Miami, but they do seem to make it all worth it! Kudos!
(5)
Vivian L.
I'm home & I am deeply missing the food, experience, etc. My cousins & I celebrated a night out & chose to go here. It was great that we chose Scarpetta. The decor was very 'Z Gallery'. The servers were very nice, attentive & cute..(Hey Carlos, lol). Since I was out with the girls I sampled everything from short ribs & polenta to their spaghetti & prime filet. Everything was so delicious!!! I would pay the orig prices like another reviewer mentioned. The dessert was orgasmic. I scarfed the amedei chocolate cake down. Also had a bite of the coconut panna cotta (yummy) y mocha cheesecake. The cheesecake was good but a little too mocha for my tastebuds. I also want to add that we indulged a little bit more & bought a couple wine bottles. It was a great offer so I couldn't refuse (hehehe). All in all it was a great night with great food, great company, & great ambiance. This place is definitely worth it.
(5)
Vanessa S.
Want to make someone feel like a million without spending a million, bring them to Scarpetta! A surprise dinner from my girls included me getting dressed without knowing where we were off to and as we pulled up to the gorgeous Fountainbleu my jaw dropped! We took a nice half booth outside, no regrets here the outside patio was well lit, cozy and not unbearably hot. I munched on their bread served with 3 nice spreads as I looked over the wine menu. I'll be honest, I know nothing of Italian wines so I told the waiter what flavors I liked and he picked out the perfect glass of red wine for me. It went with everything we ordered! Onto the menu, simple, freshly prepared pastas, all types of meat and fish and that feeling you get when you want to order one of everything! Since we couldn't order everything we went with two appetizers to start, the polenta and mushroom fricassee appetizer along with the short rib over orzo appetizer. I knew polenta and truffle oil would be decadent, but I never imagined the marriage of flavors would be that good, I wanted to buy a gallon of it and take it home with me. The short ribs were perfection, not soggy, but fork tender and the cheese and orzo added a special taste to a familiar favorite. We followed our entree rule, when ordering entrees no one can order the same thing, this way it takes care of that wanting to order everything feeling. Four diners, four entrees. I had the agnolotti dal plin, a tortellini type pasta filled with a meat paste and cheese, quite tasty. My dining mates ordered, Spaghetti in tomato & basil simple yet well prepared. Scialatelli which I didn't try and Black Tagliolini which had fresh delicious pieces of squid in it, I almost ordered that and glad my friend did so I could taste it. We ate almost in silence from how good all the food was. We munched away, talked, drank our wine and just barely noticed our waiters, yes there were several of them, all night they zoomed by the table making sure we were doing well. They did this so seamlessly it deserves being mentioned. Despite not needing to we decided to order not one, but two desserts! The first was an almond chocolate cake served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. WOW!! The warm cake was dense like a flourless and had the right amount of decadent chocolate in it, not repugnant but really chocolaty. The second dessert was chocolate (yes, more chocolate) Zeppoles with a mascarpone dipping sauce. They were described by one of my friends as an Italian version of a Thai Donut. All I know is that I could eat about a dozen of those things, they were lightly dusted with toasted hazelnut and made me want a glass of milk real bad! They were the perfect end to an awesome meal! Let me just say It's not one thing that makes a restaurant five star worthy. For me, it's a combination of all aspects, leaving the place feeling I got precisely what I paid for and came for, being fed well and served well. This is what my Scarpetta experience accomplished, it covered all bases perfectly without making me beg. I say for a couple bucks more than Romano's, Scarpetta delivers something delicious and special, it's worthy of your time and dollars. As a local though, I suggest steering clear during high tourist time.
(5)
Jessica P.
I just went to Scarpetta for the second time and still LOVE this place. I went with three other close friends so we were all trying each others dishes. Below are the items we ordered: Apps: Braised Short Ribs of Beef - Very tender and delicious. Served with vegetable & Farro risotto. Polenta - Creamy amazing goodness served with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms Raw Yellowtail - So simple, yet so incredible. Very fresh and tasty. Crispy Frito Misto - Shoe string fried seafood and vegetables. Very good. Burrata w/ heirloom tomatoes and arugula/basil - Tasted like a caprese. Came with buttery toasted baguette, yum. Main plates: Strozzapreti - Lobster w/ tomatoes and capers. Buttery and delicious. Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli - melts in your mouth Duck - Had a great orange scented au jus. Very tender. Branzino - A white fish seared and crispy on one side, served over gnocchi and asparagus bean. The chef brought us an extra plate of Spaghetti - So surprised at how amazing this simple dish could be, I wish I ordered this. Dessert: Panna Cotta w/ Coconut Ice Cream in guava sauce - Awesome light dessert Mocha Cheesecake w/ Espresso Sorbet - Tasty Chocolate cake - WOW I could have had 4 more of these. All in all Scarpetta is definitely a 5 star restaurant and worth the 5 star price. Great service and atmosphere and incredible food.
(5)
Erica L.
We stayed at the Fontainebleu for 4 days and we ate here the first night. AMAZING food, great ambience and great customer service. We didn't experience any waiting time at the bar while we waited for our table like other reviewers experienced, we were brought right over to our table. We shared the fritto misto for the appetizer and I had the duck & foie gras ravioli and my boyfriend had the chicken...I forgot what it was called but that was excellent. I make a great roast chicken but I might try to copy that one!! For dessert we had the chocolate and nutella zeppoli, not really like a zeppoli think of it more as a warm brownie with a nutella center. I don't really care what it is it was delicious. We are definitely going to Scarpetta in NYC now that we're home!
(5)
Richard M.
Excellent. Having been to Miami many times I truly regret not having come here before. Service was par excellence and the atmosphere it's equal. Food was very good. Staying in the hotel I also ate at Gotham Steak and to put these two restaurants on the same footing is laughable. Really, they don't even come close. The wine menu was very thorough with glass starting at $8, apps were of large portions and very well done. All in all I would highly recommend.
(5)
Sol H.
Fontainbleau Miami Beach Cant beat that already. Not just because I worked there for 2 years, it is the best restaurant in all of Miami as far as Italian Cuisine, Service, and ambiance. Chef Scott Conant from the TV show Chopped and 24 restaurant battle is the owner. The Chef de Cuisine is Michael PIrolo my homie. If you ever go just make sure you get a tasting menu because for the money, you get so much food, and everything on the menu is so delicious its worth every penny.
(5)
Selma M.
Wow! Oh Scarpetta, why have I waited so long to try you?! From the bread you put in my mouth that melted away, to the amuse-bouche of sashimi that you teased me with, and to the four courses of never ending amazing you filled me with, I am forever going to want to come back for more!
(5)
Dana S.
This review isn't for the food - because we didn't get that far. Had a 9pm reservation showed up 5 minutes late and had to wait 25 minutes. Finally got showed to our table and it was awful - they have an awesome dinning area but my party was showed to a separate side dining room. I normally wouldn't complain but it was Saturday night and there was a crying baby at the table next to us. We talked to the hostess about going to the main dining room (there was a table open) but was informed someone that had a reservation was going to be sitting there... Even though we waited 25 minutes and we had a table they could have taken. Would not go back to try the food because the menu was just okay and the service was awful
(1)
BJ M.
Had dinner at Scarpetta Saturday. Our server was Steve (Australian dude) and he was awesome. Very knowledgable of the menu and super friendly. He recommended the chef tasting menu - and it was a great idea. Dinner was superb - yellow tail, short ribs, duck foie gras ravioli, spaghetti, colorado lamb chops just to name a few. I highly recommend a visit.
(4)
Renato S.
The feel of this restaurant hits you as soon as you walk into the door. Just a fresh looking dining area, with nice outdoor dining. I had the miami spice pre fixe which including a mushroom and potato appetizer? Really? It was good but a strange start for me. My gf had the shortrib, very good, but once again...an app? Anyway, we both had the spaghetti which I found quite tastey. No meat though so I should have gone with the chicken breast, looked really good. The waiter service was very impersonal, so they lose a star. Other than that, one of the ONLY reasons to come to this hotel. I stayed for 3 nights and thought it blew but the restaurant was very good. 4.5 Scarpetta.
(4)
Chris C.
Absolutely fantastic food! The duck and foe gras ravioli was amazing. The creamy polenta is a must have. The spaghetti, while simple, was fantastic.
(5)
Andrea P.
S Sophisticated C Classy A Amazing R Romantic P Pleasant E Excellent T Tasteful T Terrific A Attractive I LOVE THIS PLACE ;)
(5)
Anthony K.
Scarpetta Review (1st Anniversary Edition) Preface (A Love Note) : To Urban Solace (San Diego) - I've loved you from the beginning, but since I've moved to Florida...there's been someone else. And I just have to tell you, this one last important thing : Scarpetta is carrying my foodie love child - Amor, Antonio Prologue (A perfect Pair) : Me and the girlfriend are food network / foodie geeks. We love to watch Next Iron Chef, Best thing I ever ate / Made / Chopped. Having the ability to experience food network for a first "romantic" anniversary date in person : Priceless : Entre.......Scarpetta !! Chapter 1 : (A table for 2) - Reservations were made through Open Table - and within the hour the restaurant called to confirm our arrival and any special requests. I requested it to be known that we would be celebrating our Anniversary and the hostess was very gracious over the phone. Chapter 2 : (The Arrival) - Located in the swanky fontainebleu. Neon blue lighting illuminates the lobby. Me and the bonita, dressed to the nines, made our way down the hallway in giddy anticipation. Hostess greeted us with a welcome and wished us a Happy Anniversary. How Nice :) The Ambiance - Low Lit, candles at each table...very romantic. Chapter 3 : (Decisions, Decisions) - Our Waiter Introduced himself and was very gracious and attentive, throughout the entire meal. Oh what to eat - Everything sounds delicious (and we had seen a couple dishes prepared by Scott Conant on t.v. prior). We decided to do a la carte and try a few (I mean a lot), of selections. For those that don't know : There's a chef prepared 4 and 5 course menu (if you wish) - The chef chooses key dishes and for an extra fee, will pair them with wine selections. There is also a vegetarian menu (This made the bonita happy) Chapter 4 : (A race well run) : We began our foodie marathon with bread service. A variety of breads (I dont remember them all, just the one with this perfect sliver of salami which I profess is better than any bacon that I've had in my life) w/ a trio platter of toppings : Garlic infused olive oil / Mascarpone Butter / Caponata. Next was our cold course : I ordered a stone crab claw w/ garlic aoli and mostarda (Excellent presentation that came out on a bed of shaved ice). We also ordered the Arugula Plate (This was delicious, but a bit too big), and also the Burrata Plate (The tastiest tomatoes ever...delicately coated in olive oil..simple and perfect...this is my go to cold course from here on...forever). Pasta Course : I believe for both of us, this was the highlight of the evening. Note : Nothing you ever see on t.v. looks like what you order...until now. Watching Scott make this spaghetti was enough to bring me in. Just for this dish - and it did not disappoint. It came out covered w/ a white porcelain dome and the wait staff waited just a tad to do the "unveiling" - It was a real bit of food magic...and ta-da !! It looked just like it did on t.v. - This perfect wound up mound of deliciosity !! So simple, yet so deliciously complex. Perfectly cooked al dente pasta, the sauce is bath-able, better yet, a facial. I cannot describe any more, I just don't have the words, better yet I can describe the action : You know the part in Lady and the Tramp where they do the spaghetti kiss ? The pasta was magical enough for us to re-enact the scene. The bonita ordered the Butternut Squash Ravioli : Slightly sweet, yet creamy filling w/ another to die for sauce. The slight crunch of the almonds on top was on point and completed the dish. At this point - We hit the foodie marathon wall....A wall that we were not expecting, but then came our entree courses...In the running community it's called runner's high, at Scarpetta it's Foodie Nirvana - a state of culinary bliss that few ever achieve and even fewer come down from. We both felt like floating balloons, and even the wait staff offered us a cart to wheel us out to the valet stand...but we weren't done yet. We must...finish...the fooood !! Main Course : I ordered the Long Island Duck : Perfectly cooked and delicious. The bonita ordered the creamy polenta w/ mushrooms (Pillowy Soft - We both stated we could make a bed of it - That soft !!). The bonita loves panna cotta - Oh look, coconut panna cotta w/ a guava and pineapple reduction (Sweet and Creamy, Tropical, refreshing). And I ordered the chocolate cake (Seductively sweet and Heavenly). In the celebration of our anniversary both of our dessert plates had delicately chocolate written Happy Anniversary messages complete with heart shaped "i" dots and exclamation points. It's fine touches like these that show the professionalism and sincerity, the willingness to go the extra mile. Compliments to the chef and team at scarpetta. Epilogue (Best thing I ever....) : With our meal complete, we left with smiles, and affirmed that we would begin a new tradition of making a monthly visit. Best things I ever ate indeed !!
(5)
Will M.
Braised short ribs, yellowtail himachi, Duck and fois ravioli, white truffle steak All outstanding. So was service. I didn't spoil myself with white truffle tasting menu, but would've been a great choice. Ravioli was outstanding.
(5)
andrew s.
Classy and delicious. Stick with the classic italian pastas and starchy favorites and you will do no wrong. Having spent 4 months in Italy, I can say that most of these dishes are authentic and delicious. The spaghetti in tomato sauce is a must have. Service is great, and prices aren't too overwhelming.
(4)
Nina T.
amazing polenta and spaghetti. mediocre and overpriced lamb chops(per husband). not impressed w dessert. husband wants to give this place a 3 star but due to tasty pasta, giving it a 4.
(4)
Mindy A.
My husband and I recently stayed in Miami Beach for a few nights and wanted to treat ourselves to a fantastic meal while we were here. After being largely unimpressed with several of the spots along Ocean Drive, we turned to Yelp and searched the area for something special. We were looking for a Monday night dinner, so we had no problem grabbing reservations for Scarpetta. We were not dissappointed! This place is five-stars from the minute you walk in. While we were waiting for our table we grabbed some bubbly from the bar, which is nothing short of stylish. After a brief toast, we were seated and our server promptly arrived. After taking a look at our menu, we found it hard to choose apps and entrees....so we went all out and ordered the four course chef's tasting dinner. This was definitely a splurge, but hey, we were on vacation! For what its worth, if you're OK spending a bit of $$, the tasting menu was amazing. It included two apps (truffled mushroom polenta & short ribs), three half-orders of pasta (their famous duck foie gras ravioli & spaghetti and something else with pancetta & clams), two entrees (swordfish & perfectly cooked sirloin), and two desserts (dark chocolate cake/almond ice cream & mango panna cotta). Good thing we were hungry! Of those selections, the out-of-the-park homeruns included the polenta, ravioli, spaghetti, sirloin, and panna cotta. Everything else was fantastic as well. We enjoyed all of that, plus the complimentary "small bites" they brought to the table--amazing tuna sashimi--and their salami & smoked mozzarella bread basket (wow). Honestly, the bread basket alone, with its selection of three spreads, won us over immediately. On top of the amazing food, the service was fantastic. Our server explained each course and served the first bits to both my husband and I (everything was brought to the table to share). At one point, I actually saw him RUN, not walk, over to make sure he could serve us first, before I grabbed the spoon to serve us myself. Now that is putting in the extra effort. He was quick to refill our wine glasses and friendly throughout the meal. After our 2-1/2 hour "dining experience," we took a few minutes to walk around the famous Fountainebleu Hotel and check out the pool. The setting, especially the pool, really is something else. The hotel is built like a resort. All in all, Scarpetta is pricey, but lives up to its reputation. I'd recommend for a special occasion, and don't be afraid to order the tasting menu if you want an extra special experience!
(5)
Kari S.
Had an amazing time here while on vacation in South Beach. My friend and I did the 4-course chef tasting menu. For the $85 per person, it was beyond worth it. You get SO much food for the price and it is all absolutely delicious. I don't think I can say one bad thing about any of the dishes we had. My favorite was the spaghetti with tomato basil sauce. Sounds simple...but it was the best pasta I have had with such clean, simple flavors. The duck and fois gras ravioli was so rich and really did melt in your mouth. I can go on and on about how amazing everything was, but I suggest going for yourself and getting the tasting menu!
(5)
Selene S.
Music was not fitting for this italian restaurant and was way too loud. It was touch to hear my friend and I speak to each other. Room was way too dark, I get mood lighting but when every person is taking out a cell phone or trying to use the candle to read the menu, make it a tad brighter.
(3)
Lee T.
I wanted to have one fancy pants meal in Miami and since I haven't made it to Scarpetta in NYC yet, I figured I go here. The Fontainebleu is kind of my nightmare - I had to ask for directions three times to find the restaurant, but I got over the cruise ship atmosphere once I was comfortably seated on my banquette. First of all, stromboli bread - I could have made a meal of that alone. As we nibbled on the bread basket, our waiter was very helpful in selecting wine for the evening. He recommended a very fair priced white to start with before we cracked open the Barolo, It was the perfect acidic punch to wake up our palettes. To begin, we shared the burrata, the polenta and the fritto misto. All were excellent, but the polenta was the star. I don't even want to know what they do to that cornmeal to make it so rich and creamy. We followed the apps with a middle course of the spaghetti with tomato and basil. This was pretty much my dream; fresh pasta with the most beautiful simple pomodoro basilico. If you can make the simple things sing like that, then you are a true master of your craft. Our entrees were the beef and the veal chop. The veal chop was without a doubt the most outstanding veal I have tasted. Prepared sous vide, it was pink as a pork loin, tender as anything and the most clean, delicate veal flavor one could imagine. A revelation really. The one downside to the plate was that the accompaniment to the chop was slightly over-seasoned, which detracted from the dish's overall impact. For dessert, we shared the olive oil cake and the coconut panna cotta - both fantastic, but the panna cotta was the true winner. I could eat that everyday without guilt or shame. The purest coconut flavor contrasted with a bite of cleansing citrus. Scarpetta is one of the few places in this town where you are actually paying for the quality of the food rather than the scene or the view. I know I'll be stopping by in NYC if for nothing more than that pasta al pomodoro and a glass of wine.
(5)
Erin M.
Their Miami Spice menu looked the best out of the 3 Fontainebleu restaurants, and it was sooo good. MUST order the creamy polenta. The rib appetizer was good but small. Sirloin was good, but spaghetti would have been worth it. Some ordered the chicken dish but didn't rave about it. The chocolate cake with salted caramel...yum! We left very satisfied. Their Miami Spice menu is worth every penny, just watch it with the wine if your on a budget...
(4)
Joseph C.
I went to Scarpetta for their two year celebration and took advantage of the $55 four-course prix-fix dinner with complimentary wine pairing. I have to say that my overall experience here was incredible. This was the last restaurant of the big three at Fontainebleau that I had yet to try and it was just as amazing as the other two. Ambiance The restaurant itself is beautiful. The decor, layout, lighting, furniture, and overall set up are all perfect. I opted to sit outside because it was cool out and I wanted to take advantage of the weather. The seating outside consisted of regular tables as well as tables with couches for seats which were super comfortable. The outside seating area provides a nice view of the pool area for you to enjoy while you eat. Food When you sit they bring a basket of freshly baked breads to the table. They come with a garlic infused olive oil, an eggpant spread, and butter. My favorite was the stromboli bread. I'm pretty sure you'll be ordering extra of that particluar bread. I say this because the waiter laughed when I asked for more which lead me to believe that most people do. The four items that I chose from the menu were the braised short ribs, tomato basil pasta, prime aged sirloin, and the amedei chocolate cake.The short ribs were perfectly seasoned and incrdibly tender. They would literally break apart when I would touch them with my fork. The ribs sat atop a bed of risotto that was rich and creamy. The tomato basil pasta was as good as advertised. Its amazing how such a simple dish could be so amazing. The pasta is homemade and the sauce is delicious. Since it was perfectly cooked "al dente" you really have to try this pasta to truly appreciate its texture. I can't really put it into words but its something that you have to experience if you love pasta. I ordered my steak medium and it came perfectly cooked. It was also seasoned well and was very tender. The roasted potatoes and caramelized onions were a great side to this wonderful steak. You may be wondering why I opted for the steak at an Italian restaurant. The problem was that my reservation was for 10 PM so by the time I got there, they had run out of the Branzino with the Shrimp Fricasee. That is what i really wanted to have but I had to settle for the steak. It was great so I really didnt mind. The amedei choclate cake was to die for if you are a chocolate lover. It is a warm chocolate cake but made in the style of a suflee. The center was filled with what seemed to be a very rich dark chocolate. The warm cake paired with the cold almond ice cream was decadent. Luckily for me the meal with a complimentary wine pairing. It was basically one red and one white wine that were pre selected for any of the four courses that you chose. The best part was that it was a "free" pour which means that you can have as much of the wines as you want. Needless to say, I took full advantage of this opportunity. The wines weren't spectacular but the red one in particular was pretty good. Service I had made a reservation and I arrived on time. When we arrived at the restaurant we we greeted and promptly taken to our seats. As many people who frequent these types of restuarants knows, this isn't always the case. We were initially taken to a table inside the main dining room, but when I realized they had outdoor seating as well I asked the hostess if she could accomodate us. She gladly took us outside and gave us a nice table with a comfortable couch for a seat. Our waiter did a great job of explaining the items, wine pairings, and how the prix fix menu worked. He was always around to provide us with whatever we needed and most importantly, kept our wine glasses full. If you like Italian food and enjoy the whole "fine dining" restaurant experience, I would stronlgly suggest you give Scarpetta a try. Scarpetta is a AAA FOUR DIAMOND AWARD winner and you will surely see why.
(5)
Joseph P.
I can sit here and write a long review that might bore people but I don't want to do that. Sometimes a short, straight to the point review will suffice. All I can say about this place is that it is exceptional. I highly recommend it and you will not be disappointed. From the hostess, to the sommelier, Zach to our server Dereck. This wasn't dinner, it was an experience.
(5)
Marcus T.
Worst place I have ever dined. Raw Scallops and Fatty Veal. Huge waste of time and money. Really, skip this place. I am miffed by the other reviews.
(1)
Chad T.
My experience at Scarpetta was absolutely delightful. I have eaten at Gotham Steakhouse at the Fountainbleu and was impressed, and I have always heard that Scarpetta was even better. I wanted my experience to be for a special occasion, so I decided to propose to my girlfriend centered around a dinner at the hotel. After my experience, I must agree that this is now on my list of truly phenomenal restaurants in Miami. My experience began at the Bleau Bar near the lobby. My girlfriend (at the time) and I had a few cocktails in preparation for dinner. Mine were more to ease the nerves! We took a stroll around the grounds of the hotel, and at sunset, I proposed on Miami Beach. She said YES! I'm not sure what my review would have been like had she said no. From there, my new fiance and I went for dinner at Scarpetta. We had reservations for 9:30 and arrived a few minutes before. The only downside of the whole night was that our table was not ready, but we decided to sit near the bar and have another drink. The table was worth the wait. We were at the corner, facing out towards the ocean with a great view of the entire restaurant. I called the day before to explain that I was proposing, and I feel that they went above and beyond to make the night special. The waiter was great, and had a broad knowledge of the menu. My fiance ordered the scialatelli, which was a sorrento pasta with spot prawns - the flavor was great. I had the roasted lobster with sunchoke and sea urchin. The waiter talked me out of having it prepared the traditional way (with the sea urchin on top of the lobster), and instead to have the urchin on the side. He said he did not like the flavor, and had complaints in the past with the urchin. I have never tried urchin before, so opted to have it on the side. I was unique, but tasty. Either way, the entrees were phenomenal! For dessert we had the chocolate zepolles, which were filled with melted Nutella and had a vanilla cream on the side. The chef wrote "Congratulations" in chocolate on the plate, which was a nice touch. It was accompanied with a great champagne. I felt that the portions were just right, though some may say they are small. Personally, I feel that most restaurant's portions are too big. I will definitely be returning to Scarpetta's again, and I highly recommend it for any special occasion.
(5)
Melanie Z.
Holy delicious breads! I think it was some kind of bacon or salami bread that they bring to the table before your food, but it was SOOOO good. Just dined there with a group of 10 girls and LOVED IT! The Hamachi- absolutely delicious.... very cool spot at the hotel- would highly recommend!
(5)
Carlos P.
From the ocean side view to the beautiful decor, Scarpetta is exquisite in every sense of the word. We went for brunch this past Sunday and were treated like royalty. We treated ourselves to the all you can eat buffet which had everything from fresh cheeses, cucumber salad, salmon lox, eggs and sausage and their famous polenta with mushrooms. Everything was delicious. For my entree, i went with the skirt steak with poached eggs. The steak was just perfect, not too thick and cooked just right. The stars of the show were of course the unlimited Bellini's, bloody mary's and mimosas. If you had just about a sip left in your glass, before you knew it the waiter was bringing you a fresh glass. Like i said, the service here is top notch and the ambiance is divine. If I could afford it, I would be here at least once a week.
(5)
Diana N.
This was the 3rd restaurant we tried for Miami Spice and was my favorite! It's located inside the Fontainebleu Hotel which is huge and gorgeous and a great place to people watch.l Very reminiscent of Vegas hotels sans casino. We arrived spot on for our 8:00 pm reservation. We were taken to the lounge/bar while to wait for our table. My only complaint here was that it took 30 minutes for our table which meant we just HAD to order one of their yummy $14 cocktails. The restaurant was very chic with an airy wide open feel. We ended up seated in the patio. Since it was such a windy night, curtains were put up. I'm sure the view would've been nice otherwise. We ordered off the Miami Spice menu and were very pleased. I ordered the braised short ribs which were oh so tender and flavorful. what i LOVED was my friend's Creamy Polenta with truffled mushrooms. OMG that was the epitome of fancy comfort food! Perfect texture, total flavor party in your mouth. For the entree, I had the famed Spaghetti, which don't get me wrong was delicious, but would have to say did not live up to its hype. The pasta was homemade and al dente. The tomato basil sauce was light and fresh. The winner of the night was the Coconut Panna Cotta with guava "soup." It was so HEAVENLY.. delicate and silky. The coconut and guava complemented each other so well along with the pineapple crisp which added a light fun crunch. i was in love. The Amedei Chocolate cake with almond gelato was quite wonderful as well. Melts in your mouth. Service was very attentive. Not snooty. Really enjoyed my time here! Would love to go back to try the other things on the menu next time i'm in miami!
(5)
Matt M.
I don't know if it was how we were dressed or that they somehow knew we were staying at the hotel or simply good luck, but we did not have any of the service issues the others who reviewed this place had (not that I'm inferring that those incidents ever happen). I don't recall any of the names of those who served us, but everybody was friendly. We got the pollenta as an appetizer, it was delicious. My wife got the mahi mahi and I got very large pork chop ( i think, its been a few months since we ate there), what I do remember though was that both dishes and the sides were very tasty. That said, this place is not inexpensive (but its not super expensive either), I'd say for 2 to eat well (without alcohol or too many sodas..since they are about $4 each), bring at least $150 (incl tip).. + good food + friendly service (at least in our case) - pricey - odd decor for an italian place
(4)
Rich K.
Celebrated my sister's birthday here recently. The meal and service was fantastic. The majority of our party ordered off the Miami Spice menu, and expressed their pleasure with each dish served. After asking the server to name the best dish on the menu and hearing him mention the Veal Loin. I had no choice but to order this dish discreetly, since everyone had agreed to only order from the Miami Spice menu. The veal was the most tender and mouth watering meat I have had in a long long time. I wanted to go back the next night and have it again. Thankfully I didn't, because then I would have missed a 5 star meal at the Forge. Scarpetta's only gets 3 stars, specifically because they overcharged our group for an extra meal. Otherwise I would have given them 5 stars.
(3)
Rhiannon R.
This is one of the best restaurants in Miami. Everything on the menu is delicious. The best thing on the menu is just their plain spaghetti. Sounds boring, and well, plain. It is anything but that. Love it here!
(5)
Adam B.
One of the dividing lines separating a great restaurant from the rest is how they prepare the simplest of dishes. I know that when people decide to dine at a place like Scarpetta they are expecting to have their palates treated to new culinary experiences. Trust me, Scarpetta delivers this in spades. Never the less, I am a big believer that only the best restaurants can take a classic dish, stretch it to the limit, but still make it taste like it was made by your grandmother. This is the feeling I got when I tried the spaghetti with tomato & basil. I have eaten around (if you know what I mean...) and this was as close to pasta perfection as I have had in a long LONG time. Here are the rest of the items we ordered. - Raw Yellowtail with olio di zenzero, marinated onions & baby greens - Burrata with heirloom tomatoes, baby basil & arugula salad - Mediterranean Branzino with ricotta gnocchi, cauliflower & lobster fricassee (this was amazing!) Overall, Scarpetta was an excellent dining experience! While this is not the cheapest of restaurants, it is by no means outrageous. (Scarpetta's Chinese neighbour Hakkasan has that covered!) I would highly recommend you get out and give it a try.
(5)
Lauren D.
I was EXTREMELY disappointed in Scarpetta! Ambiance is lovely, made up like the inside of the Titanic ballroom. Beautiful! Sweet smelling and very rad-di-da! The food was actually quite good but the service was TERRIBLE!!! I'm talking absolutely absurd! Our waitress, Jenny, didn't even introduce herself or explain anything about the restaurant. I went for my boyfriends birthday as a recommendation from a coworker who used to work there. The coworker had called ahead so we were quite possibly a VIP which may have been why Jenny did not seem to give a RATS A$# about us! We racked up a $300 bill and she neglected to tell us that gratuity was included. I am a waitress myself and we are always advised to circle the gratuity out of courtesy to the guests. LUCKILY, the bussboy/food runner was amazing. I believe his name was George and he was so sweet, kind, knowledgeable and courteous. He went out of his way to explain everything to us and he was very personable. I wish HE had been our server. All in all the food was pretty good but Jenny pretty much ruined the experience. We try a different restaurant every week and it was sadly the biggest disappointment we have encountered in all of Miami. I even called the next day and was directed to the HR department where I was told to leave a message. I did so and was never called or contacted back.... All in all the food was not worth the service. If you're looking for a really tasty joint to spend a special occasion I suggest finding a hidden gem somewhere and not going for the obvious...because even MCdonald's treats you better!
(2)
a a.
Excellent Miami Spice menu! My husband and I are Miami locals and decided to head to the Fountainbleu to enjoy one of the MIami Spice menus being offered. We considered the menus at Hakkasan, Gotham Steak and Scarpetta, finally settling on the last. These are all restaurants we would otherwise like to try - but considering the $35 menu, we couldn't resist. Scarpetta by far exceeded our expectations. From the bread through the desserts, everything was great! The branzino was by far one of the best entrees I have had in a Miami restaurant all year. I would go back tomorrow to have it again. A superb meal for an absolute steal!
(5)
Anh P.
decided to do a nice dinner our last night in miami and we spent hours and hours trying to figure out where to go, finally decided on scarpetta. the trip alone to the fontaine bleau hotel was already worth it, it's gorgeous, hip and HUGE! and the restaurant was beautifully decorated with just the perfect lighting by candlelight. service was eh.. i wish we had a better server who actually cared about our table and explained the menu better instead of a very timid one who was just trying to up sell us on the wine, etc. boo! but i have to say, i had the most indulgent dinner anyone could ever possibly have. creamy polenta with mushroom and truffle oil. absolutely delicious, i don't see how anyone could possibly eat this entire thing by themselves thoug, way too.. flavorful. for dinner i had the duck and foie grois ravioli, oh my lordie lord, they litterally melted in your mouth and was so rich. i could really only eat a few of the raviolis. and i finished off with their new chocolate cake with salted caramel and candied almond ice cream and i was already full. and washed everything down with a good bottle of wine
(5)
Matthew H.
We stayed at the Fontaine Bleau for a conference and decided to visit this restaurant with a couple friends from the UK. 2 of us got the tasting menu and while we were finishing up the 1st course we were joined by 2 other friends from overseas. Without skipping a beat, the staff rearranged the table and accommodated our additional guests. They quickly presented their first course and kept everything at a smooth pace throughout the night. All in all, some of the best service we've received anywhere (which is a departure from the service throughout the rest of the FB resort...) The food was A+ as well. At first I thought $23 was an insane price to pay for basic spaghetti with red sauce (it came as part of the tasting menu) but it was the best I've ever tasted. Quite pricey but definitely worth it if you're looking for great food close to the FB.
(5)
Dannielle C.
Phenomenal Italian food in miami!!! Must try the regular spaghetti, as normal as it may be, it is delicious!
(4)
Brien W.
We had the chef's tasting menu with wine pairing (5) course and loved it. Nice selection of menu hi-lights and the pasta and fish were stand-outs. Everyone loved the (2) ravioli dishes. Restaurant is beautiful but the noise level is borderline ear damaging, especially the large party near us (2 tables of 10 that were toasting and screaming about every 10 minutes) They need to fix this, put in some fabric or noise absorbing panels....
(4)
Lauren F.
I went there for Miami Spice and it was a delicious and wonderful experience. I went with two other people and everything we had (6 dishes) we delicious. Although I am not a chicken person, I ordered the chicken with morels, peas, and polenta. It was the best chicken I have ever eaten, and was left speechless. The spaghetti with tomato and basil is also amazing, it has a slight lemon zest flavor in it, that is surprising and delicious. There is also a great selection on the Miami spice menu, and you are getting a lot for $35. I will definitely go back and order of the regular menu.
(5)
Brian L.
15 words or less: Liquor prices so high I am still upset. But the food is excellent. 15 words or more: Each August, Miami rolls out the spice menu. This is a great opportunity to have a three course meal at a restaurant for a fair price ($35). The spice menu offered here was tremendous. None of the usual fare that most places offer just to participate--that is, a mixed green salad to start, an entree that is a choice of chicken, salmon, or skirt steak, and then an afterthought of a dessert. This place went all in with the menu to make a good impression, and it did. But let us start with the bad. And I mean very bad. The bar. We walked in for an 8:30 p.m. reservation and were given the proverbial: "Oh, your table will be ready in a few minutes so please have a drink at the bar." I know this is a line to get you to buy a drink, but this was a total poke in the eye. Our walk to the bar revealed no less than ten available tables. And now I know why Scarpetta pushes you so hard to have a drink at the bar. The prices. What a total rip off. I have to say that again. What a total rip off. It was $22 for a glass of dolcetto. I can buy a bottle for that price. How could a glass of dolcetto cost more than my Hendrick's martini or the glass of champagne one of my dining companions had. Thank you kindly Scarpetta for giving me a bowl of potato chips to snack on at the bar gratis, but if that is causing you to charge so much, then please stop with the chips. I am sure Scarpetta will say it has to do with Miami Beach or various taxes, but I cannot think of any other place with such a sticker price. With that said, let us move to the good. Service. The service (and perhaps the somewhat generous pour of the Hendrick's) helped make up for the bar banging I received. The server could not have been better. He did not make a face or skip a beat because all four of us dining that evening had the spice menu. He was just as attentive to us and helpful as he was to the next table over that had the chef's tasting menu. Bread. Am I really writing about bread? Yup, because most places treat bread as an afterthought. Not here. After you order, you will receive a bread basket. Just eat the Stromboli, which is one of the three breads in the basket. It was awesome. Smoked mozzarella and pepperoni rolled into bread. Think of a cinnabon but savory and Italian. They were awesome. Our kind waiter even brought us a second round. Appetizers. For appetizers, two of us had the burrata and the other two had the short rib. The short rib was tender as could be and with the taste to match. It was not too rich, but still had enough decadence. The burrata was perfect. Cool, refreshing, and offering the combination of velvety cheese with a hint of saltiness. Entrees. For the entrees, three of us had the branzino and one had the steak. The skin on the branzino was perfectly crispy. Once you break through the skin, you reached the flaky fish underneath. And keep in mind, at some restaurants (hello Il Gabbiano), you will be charged $65 for this dish. Here we are, eating the same dish, expertly prepared, for $35 (including appetizer and dessert). Dessert. For desserts, we had the cheesecake and the chocolate cake. Both were great, although I leaned more toward the chocolate cake. It was like a rich, warm brownie, but with a somewhat crunchy, crusty exterior. It was a great combination for the senses. Think about what we had for $35--burrata or short rib, branzino or steak, and cheesecake or chocolate cake. These were just some of the options. What a deal and what a great way to get me to the restaurant. I certainly would go again, although I may have a drink elsewhere before I go into the restaurant.
(4)
Whitney H.
I love feeling fancy! My brother was in town and I felt it was my duty to show him a Miami hot spot, Fountianbleau. We had reservations and 9:30 and after waiting for only a minute at the bar we were escorted to our table with our drinks carried for us. The atmosphere was beautiful. A charming, sophisticated and unique take on a nautical theme. Picture it as what Harry Cipriani in NYC was going for. My whole party ordered off the spice menu so needless to say I tried everything. Before I get to the food I want to say what my favorite thing was. For four people we ordered one bottle and where it could have easily been drained in one round, the waiter made the whole bottle last the whole dinner. It was great! It honestly felt like the most considerate thing a restaurant has every done! Our glasses were filled promptly but never over poured. On the food. I had the Burratta, paperdelle with short rib ragu with fava beans and the olive oil cake. I also tried the truffeled poleta, short ribs ( both apps) scallops (entree) and the chocolate cake and cheese cake ( desserts) off of other peoples plates ;) burratta is a delicious fresh mozzarella creamy type cheese. My favorite was the polenta so light and creamy with a delicious essence of truffle which I might add they didn't skimp on. Shorts ribs are one of my favorite foods and these were delicious. The scallops were cooked to perfection and my parperdelle was the perfect amount of richness. Dessert was to die for. Olive cake is like the Italian version of pound cake, olive oil instead of butter. It had a wonderful soft, moist texture. The chocolate cake was to die for! It was like an amazing brownie served with salted Carmel ice cream. I will say I didn't like the cheesecake it had a weird tang. Try this place. Spice menu was great to accommodate the pickiest eater and prices in the standard menu aren't that. Serves is outstanding and the ampnosphere is delightful.
(4)
J O.
Went here on 5/29 with 2 other girls and had an amazing experience. We split the polenta, octopus, tomato basil pasta, branzino, truffle pasta, nutella zeppoles and chocolate lava cake. It has been one of my most memorable dining experiences yet. Our waiter was so nice and knowledgeable and treated us like we had been there a hundred times. The food was sooo good. We all fell in love with Scarpetta in Miami as we already love the one in the city. We thought we had good meals in other Miami spots but this blows everything out of the water.
(5)
West C.
It has been a while since I last wrote a review , but I thought this one was worth. Scarpetta is a five star High End Italian Restaurant located inside of a beautiful hotel. It's not a Family style Restaurant,and the portions are very small therefore dishes are not made to be shared so make sure to order appetizers, dinner , desert and Coffee. They have a large variety of wines and champagne in the menu so you ll find from the house wine to expensive wines to choose from if you prefer you can also have cocktails. The Decor is Modern and sophisticated and they also offer inside and outside sitting , which I don't recommend in the summer. I really enjoy dinning at this Restaurant and the atmosphere. Service is always great and food consistent. If you are a local or just visiting make sure to stop by for a great dinner and please try the creamy mushroom polenta for me : ) .
(5)
Sabrina Anna C.
4.5 Stars is the True Rating. Dear Scarpetta, You have truly shown Miami what a great restaurant can be. From the "waiting area" bar (that's what I will cal it - out front of the restaurant, but not part of the lobby of the hotel) where you graciously sip cocktails while awaiting your table, to the elegance in the atmosphere, you provide the foundation for all guests to have a wonderful dining experience. I have noticed that your Brunch reviews have not been the most spectacular, and I have to wonder why, since dinner was such a pleasure. I do hope you find a way to correct that tainted image because I plan on brunching there very soon! We were here with a group for a business meeting (along with Karina A.), so luckily, the bf and I did not have to worry about the tab (Phew!), but your menu is a bit pricey, however, worth every cent. We started with the Tuna Susci, the Burrata, the Creamy Polenta and the Crispy Fritto Misto. WOW. I will say that the Fritto Misto was my least favorite as some of the seafood tasted very fishy, and that's not my thing. The Tuna was PHENOMENAL. It melted in the mouth like butter. A new favorite with a twist on the classic. The creamy Polenta was just sumptuous, with the mushrooms and truffle oil. A new personal favorite. And the Burrata was simply divine. It was my first time trying it and now I will look for this cheesy wonder wherever I go. For our next course, we were then served several of the pastas for our sampling. The Duck and Foie Gras Ravioli with its Marsala reduction sauce was so good that there aren't enough adjectives to describe the flavor. I'll just say they were very well done and a must-try for all patrons. :) There was also the Spaghetti, which was good, but plain in my opinion. Then again, how exciting can one really make that classic dish? It's vegetarian friendly though, which was good for our group. The last pasta dish we were served was the Agnolotti Dal Plin, which was filled with mixed meat (we were told its a blend of chicken, pork and beef) and fonduta (the creamiest and tastiest cheese ever!), mushrooms and parmigiano! Mmmm Mmmm GOOD! This was my favorite of the pastas. Finally, our main courses came (do we even have room!?!?) and I thought for sure your staff would have to roll me out. I had ordered the Moist-Roasted Capretto (baby Goat), which came with roasted potatoes, Pancetta & English peas. WOW. That's all I can say. I ate almost every bite because it was just SO DAMN GOOD. The bf ordered the Seared Scallops, which were fresh, soft, and perfect. Also include that our group of 7 shared 2 bottles of wine, so afterwards, there was no room left for dessert. Overall, my dear Scarpetta, this was a great dinner and an excellent location for our Power Business Dinner. ;-) I even got to see Scott in action, as I accidentally turned towards the kitchen when trying to exit to the bathroom... Oops! LOL I am looking forward to coming back and seeing what brunch is like for myself. Thank you for a wonderful evening, Sabrina*
(5)
Jocelyn J.
This is a "do-not-miss" Italian restaurant. Location, food, wine and service are all top-notch. The hubby surprised me on our anniversary by taking me here. We tried their tasting menu which was WAY too much food but every bite was scrumptious!! I LOVE this restaurant and can't wait to go back!
(5)
Linda T.
All hail Miami Spice Restaurant Week and a bachelorette party filled with 8 sexy foodies who love to share entrees :) Needless to say, I sampled a bit of everything that night (in more ways than 1!). Let's do a Scarpetta roll call here: Appetizers--check! - Polenta: Presented in 2 dishes--1 for the polenta, 1 for the mushroom topping. The polenta was creamy, smooth without losing texture, and mushrooms drizzled on top made for a perfect bite each time. - Short ribs: Tender and densely flavorful. You know how meat gets that caramelized, almost sticky texture and is compacted into tiny, dark morsels of flavor? Yea. You're welcome. - Burrata: Can't go wrong with this delicately fatty cheese. It was like tomato, basil, mozzarella on steroids. Entrees--check! - Spaghetti: It really is a no frills, no fuss spaghetti. Just good pasta with fresh tomatoes tossed in parmaean and coated with basil infused extra virgin olive oil. While I'm a fan of avante-garde food and molecular gastronomy (apologies to those offended by this dated term), I appreciate it when food tastes like how it should. The hand-made spaghetti was plump andthe flavors resembled just a little like chicken stock. Immensely savory. - Branzino: Perfect crisped skin, non-greasy and airy, encases moist and flaky white meat. Most of the flavor is present in the crust as Branzino itself is pretty mild. It was set upon a bed of flavored foam. Put the foam in your mouth and all you get a whisp of intense flavor. Pretty cool. - Oven roasted chicken: Almond crumbles hug this juicy cut of poultry. Simple and delicious. - Sirloins of beef: I sense a theme here--entrees that enhance, rather than mask, the main ingredients best features. Once again, this dish has no frills and was perfectly cooked. Dessert--check and check! - Panna cotta: My heart be still... The presentation was a bit deceiving. I though the coconut ice cream on top was the panna cotta sitting on top of guava soup (their terminology, not mine). Alas! As I dug past the soup, I discovered a giant bowlful of delicious cooked cream! Paired with the coconut ice cream and guava sauce, it was a tropical treat. - Chocolate cake: Inside lies a warm, gooey, chocolaty center. While good, it was just too rich to continue eating past a few bites. - Cheesecake: The texture was smooth and highlighted the accents more than the cheesecake itself. Bienvenido a Mee-ah-mee!
(5)
Shawn P.
Scarpetta gets 4 stars just because of the view alone. I have lived in Miami area for 10 years and run along the beach past the hotel all the time but seeing the beach and ocean on a moon light night from an all marble table with candle light flickering is amazing. They could have brought out Chef Boyardee and and Dr, Pibb and I would have been set. Luckily they didn't and stepped it up. I had Spagehetto pomador which sound like a no brainer but was so good my South Philly Italian mom's need to tread lightly - this was better. Sorry Mrs. Battaglia Japanese mackerel ? Did not know such I thing existed but very very good. I am a nom nom good food guy more swayed by good service than great food but throw in the spectacular view, this place is a solid 5 stars for me.
(5)
Josh D.
Scarpetta is a very Chic Italian Restaurant in the popular Fontaine Blue hotel. For me the ambiance was more of a focus than the food itself, not to say it was bad I just felt the ambiance was a bit overbearing. At first the bread with the mascarpone butter and Ratatouille was delicious, I loved the idea of opening a meal with these wonderful flavors. We ordered the fresh fried mozzarella as an appetizer, and of course it was one of the best I've ever had. Clean tasting Mozzarella with a beautifully crisp crust. Our server was not entirely the nicest guy, but he got the job done. My dad and I like to ask questions, as a Chef I like to inquire about the food I'm going to eat when we're talking $30+ for a dish. I ordered the Braised Short-rib Tagliatelle which was a great dish. I really enjoyed it as the short-rib was perfectly braised and full of flavor. For some reason it just didn't pop with any real flavor that I was looking for. Since it was my birthday they brought me out a plate with Nutella-Hazelnut Zeppolis with a Creme Anglais dipping sauce. Now this was an amazing item. The pastry chef certainly knows how to do his/her job, and I could appreciate a perfectly cooked Zeppoli. Overall I would definitely take a date here, but for a family outing this seems a little too much for my taste.
(4)
pracheta t.
I felt like I was the star of a movie as the hostess escorted my hot husband and I to our table that was overlooking the pool and was accompanied by a slight, warm breeze. The entire night was like magic thanks to the romantic, trendy ambiance and seriously amazing drinks. One of the most perfect nights of food, drinks and love. Def go here. With friends, on a date - whatever!
(5)
Jen O.
If swanky Italian is your thing, this is your place. The burrata with heirloom tomatoes is pure bliss, and if you devour the bread basket (meat bread?!) I am hoping you wore your elastic waist pants because the entrees are superb. After the initial sticker shock of the $24 price tag on the signature spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce, it's well worth every dollar. This is a simple dish done just beautifully, with homemade pasta and an addictive sauce (I've heard that butter is the secret ingredient). I completely agree with the poster who mentioned wanting to lick his plate.
(4)
Christy D.
Only reason I went here was because my cousin comped us! It's a little dark and loud but the food takes you to a whole nother level! I had the tuna app with my boyfriend, tasted like it was right off the boat! I then had a chicken dish which was superb as well. We had a few drinks, which were tiny, but since I'm tiny they did the trick! They have the cutest little desserts, which I'm not sure if they are available on the regular menu or if she had treated us with something special. I highly recommend reservations and credit cards. This place is $$$$$$.
(5)
Bette Ann S.
Wow. This restaurant was delicious. I took my parents here a week ago while they were in town. My dad is an old time Brooklyn-er, so he knows his Italian food. We all LOVED it. I started off with the beet and la tur salad; my boyfriend and my mom had the polenta, and my dad had the yellow fin sashimi. Everything was delicious. I thought my salad could have used a bit more La Tur cheese (but I am a cheese freak). The polenta was OUT OF THIS WORLD. Party in my mouth. For main courses, I had the fois gras ravioli, my boyfriend had the spaghetti, my mom had the chicken, and my dad had some sort of fish. I didn't try the fish, but everything else was out of this world. I actually hate fois gras...I would never touch it with a 10 foot fork, but I had heard the fois gras raviolis were like nothing you have ever tasted, so I went for it. They were truly delicious. Amazing actually. The spaghetti was so simple, yet phenomenal, and the chicken was so tender. For dessert, I had the nutella filled donut type thingies...amazing. Scarpetta's currently had a price fixed menu for $47, and it had some of their best dishes (pollenta, chicken, spaghetti, etc). I think having this menu is great because Scarpetta's is pricey. My only complaint was that although the circular tables are great for talking to each other, it made eating a little tight. There were 6 people in my party, and I just felt there was not enough room for everything on the table. Maybe we just eat too much?
(4)
Ximena C.
By far one of the best restaurants in Miami. I am quick to judge pricey restaurants for their lack of quality to price ratio... but I must admit that this place is well worth the buck. I had one of the best meals I have ever come across. Their fungi creamy polenta simply melted in your mouth and their spaghetti, as simple a dish as it might sound, really was amazing. Their desserts... well, I couldn't possibly pick just one because all three of which I tried were delicious. Their one downfall is the noise level. I know, I always complain about noise, but I need peace in order to enjoy my meal and this place ranked under "I can't even hear myself think about the taste of the food" Kind of sad, because it takes away from the culinary experience. I hope to return to their savory arms soon.
(5)
Kathy G.
Eating at Scarpetta really rounded out my week. It is a beautiful restaurant. Although I found that the tables were much too close together if you sat at one of the tables along the wall. My sister and I constantly were trying to talk low since we were discussing family gossip. But at the same time had a hard time conversing because it was LOUD in there. The starters they brought out were fantastic. We attacked the different breads in the basket with a vengeance. The polenta with the mushrooms with truffle oil was amazing. Then came the burrata and tomatoes which was delicious. We were so full with the starters that we ended up sharing a main dish. The Mediterranean Brazino 'Acqua Pazza' was just perfect. It was seabass with couscous in this yummy lobster and tomato broth. Did not have dessert since we were full but I had an espresso since I needed energy to go to Liv that night. Quick note on the service - our waiter was really nice and funny when he was around. He kept going m.i.a. Very helpful tho when talking about the menu and perfect amount of small talk.
(4)
Frank B.
really nice food and atmosphere service was great and the staff was very receptive would go there again once back in miami
(4)
Danielle R.
Ironically I was on Phase 1 of the South Beach diet while in South Beach (no carbs, no sugars, etc). Surprisingly, it is challenging to maintain the plan while in South Beach. Did a decent job here with great bright flavors in a highly lively atmosphere. The burrata with heirloom tomatoes, baby basil, and arugula was a fresh, flavorful, colorful plate. For dinner I had the slow cooked pork with a bean ragu. The slow cooking provided a rich pork dish that is made even better with extra pork in the form of pancetta! I did have one strand of my friend's pasta, which was a perfectly al dente thick spaghetti with a flavorful basil rich tomato sauce. Service was uneven -- friendly and helpful when we had their attention, but seemingly awol otherwise. A bit too much of the south beach vibe here, but a reasonable place to escape the dj lobby of the hotel!
(3)
Amanda N.
Worth every penny.
(5)
Lindsay G.
I find this place overrated. I should tart with the caveat that I do not really like Italian food to begin with but even the shrimp appetizer left something to be desired. I tasted my friends pasta and yes, it was good and fresh but nothing to write home about. At 50 bucks a person I expect to be wowed. The atmosphere is beautiful and the service is good but the whole song and dance about truffle is a little overboard. Just my "food for thought."
(2)
Preston C.
I am reviewing Sunday Brunch here... I really liked this place. Yes it was expen$ive, but the food was top notch with service to match. First you get a huge buffet consisting of cheeses, fruits, salads, mushrooms, shrimp, etc... I tried 90% of the stuff out there and I liked it all, everything was prepared very good. then you get to choose from a menu your main course. I had the short ribs over risotto. They were very good and very rich, perhaps too rich for brunch but just as described... maybe my bad for ordering. And here comes the good part.. Dessert!! I am one of those people that never orders it! but here I went nuts! Panna Cotta with berries, Tiramisu, and chocolate mousse. overall very good, but a little pricey and the decor of the place was not my favorite, that's why not 5 instead of 4 stars.
(4)
Kenya C.
three words," foie gras ravioli " scruptralescent! squash blossoms, I cant remember anything else after that. Oh yes mojito!! very good too. Service was great and management is engaged with their guests. great job staff very warm welcoming.
(4)
Anthony D.
Scarpetta is excellent. I'm reluctant to give 5 stars, but they deserve it. Excellent service, atmosphere and service. Arrive a little early for a drink at the bar with Mike.
(5)
Jinny B.
I called on a Wednesday for dinner reservations for that Saturday evening at 8pm and had no problem. I know that there is so much hype for the newly renovated Fountainbleau but I have to say that I am not so impressed. It looks cheesy inside, like hotel on the Las Vegas strip. The hotel is so big that it feels more like a convention center than an elegant hotel. Once we found the restaurant I will say that I agree with the other reviews that the interior of the restaurant is beautiful-- elegant and has a good vibe. There is a rather large bar area where you can have drinks and order food off the bar menu. The food was very good. I think the menu was limited. I expected more choices, but perhaps that is the way they ensure that what they do serve is excellent? Because it was-- the food was excellent. I ordered the chestnut soup as an appetizer and had the steak for my entree. My husband had a salad and their one of their signature dishes is their spaghetti pomodoro. The food and the wine that the waiter suggested was perfection. There is an extensive bread presentation at the beginning of the meal with several types of bread and 3 different condiments. We didn't have any desert. Be sure to have your parking ticket validated if you used valet parking. It was $10 with the validated stamp. Okay, so I would go back. But I hope they have some specials as an addition to the menu. I can see getting tired of this menu after a visit or two.
(4)
Eric S.
Amazing meal, excellent service, we got the taster menu and the wine tasting too. It was the best, a little noisy because the place is small.
(5)
Amy S.
I took my husband here Wednesday night to celebrate his birthday. when i made the reservation i told them it was his birthday. We got there a little early but they were able to seat us right away, they said they gave us the most romantic table in the restaurant, i dont know about that, but it had a pretty few and we sat next to each other on the booth. I thought the decor was interesting and nicely done but not necessarily fitting to the menu or experience. The service was very good and everyone was extremely friendly. We had a great bottle of wine recommended by the sommelier, their menu was 95% italian and french wines which is understandable but i would have included a few more south americans just to be thorough. We had the burrata to start. It was seasoned perfectly but there wasnt enough cheese in proportion to tomatoes and arugula. My husband had the Branzino and i had a pasta filled with meat of some kind. Both were very flavorful. My pasta was not as al dente as i liked it though. For dessert we ordered sorbet and the panna cotta. When they brought it out, it had a candle and they had written Happy Birthday Boris in chocolate on the plate, i thought it was a very nice touch considering i had only mentioned it on the phone reservation. The panna cotta was perfect. It was so light and i loved that it was done with diced fruits. i dont like sweet desserts so this was the best thing i could have to end a meal! The bill was high but i was expecting it.
(4)
Henrique R.
Food ok, but REALLY small portions. I went there with my girlfriend and we were treated badly, apparently we didn't have enough money or age to be there. Our waiter barely looked at us. Definitely not coming back. There are other much better Italian restaurants in town.
(2)
Maria T.
This place gets 5 stars for ambiance and service but the food was really not so great...what a letdown, right? So after much anticipation, I decided to venture to the recently rennovated Fontainebleau with a bunch of gal pals for brunch there today. The property is breathtaking -- everything from the pool to the light fixtures are absolutely outrageous. Scarpetta is beautiful -- it's a marine-decorated dream. The service is impeccable but unfortunately, the food is disappointing. I'm an eggs-waffles-bacon-sausage-french-toast kinda gal and the brunch here is any thing but that. The menu is plain weird -- the choices at the buffet include shrimp cocktail, beet salad, chickpea salad, polenta, olives, eggplant salad, mushroom salad -- again, weird. Where's the bacon? Scrambled eggs? Pancakes? Crepes? No where. But I had a GREAT mid-morning with my gal pals and the mimosas where fab. So no, I won't be going back but I had an unforgettable time.
Although some of the reviews claim the service is subpar, and the food is pricey, this place is one of the best places I've eaten in my life. I'll start with dinner. The menu although not as full as some I've seen has it all. Be warned, if you are looking for Macoroni Grill Italian pasta and bread, go elsewhere. This is a HIGH END restaurant with HIGH END food, that come at a big price and smaller than your normal portions (or should I say ... correct size portions?) We started off with their bread basket, and quickly found the salami and cheese bread. It's amazing. To be honest, it's a very fancy Calzone, and so worth it. We could have eaten the bread and wine all night and left very happy. After bread, we got the Mozzarella In Carozza Stewed baby tomatoes It was delicious. For my main meal I got the Bistecca Di Manzo. (Steak) It was 1 of the best meals I've ever eaten. I am not kidding. It was cooked to perfection and I bragged about so much my family went in the next night for it. My dinner partner ordered the Mediterranean Branzino and although it wasn't what she expected, she liked it, and would have it again. Brunch, Two words. Bottemless Balinis... what more can you ask for on a Sunday at 11? We sat there until 4 and no one bothered us, and the drinks kept coming. We never had to ask for me. There is plenty of food to find something you will like. I ordered the English Muffin with Eggs and cheese for my "main" course, and had zuchini and beans for other food. All was amazing. It doesn't have pancakes and waffles, but you will be able to find a few breakfast bread items. This is NOT a buffet for kids. This is a mature line of food. Lots of vegetables, a fruit platter, fish, cheese, meats. It was all you could ask for. The bottomless drinks made the $50. pp price tag worth it. At the Fountainbleau 2 drinks after tax and gratuity would come to that. We had drank or $50.00 and then ate on top of it. The inside DOES look like a cruise ship, but to be 100% honest, that's the look they were going for. I was too busy looking at my food to care, savoring each bite. Wondering if I could make it last forever. For two people we got out of there for $194.00 including Tip. I state.. there is NO pasta and meatballs. It's FANCY Italian food, and for those that know... Italian food is actually more Fish than pasta. Well done. I can't wait to go back
(5)
Kris M.
Read further as to why it's 2 stars. Anticipated this visit for a long time. Moved to S Florida over a year ago and Scarpetta was at the top of our restaurant list. A very important celebration found ous there tonight. We arrived a few minutes early and ordered 2 great cocktails from the bar. They mimic old style cocktails to go with the old Miami feel. Because our table became available right away the hostess picked these up and delivered these to our table as we were seated. Upon being greeted by the server, the first thing we said was that we were 'not' in a hurry and that we wanted to take our time. This was at 7:30pm. It was a celebration and wanted to enjoy our moment. We ordered sweetbreads for a shared appetizer, spaghetti and duck and foie gras ravioli. All the food was fabulous. The problem was that our entrees were on the table by 7:50. Not good!! -- especially when we asked our server that we weren't in a hurry. We pointed this out to the server and his response was he couldn't control the kitchen. Because they automatically add an 18% gratuity to every check, I guess he didn't really care. Liked the food but not worth the price. Bottom line don't 'rush' to go there.
(2)
Nancy H.
The best restaurant of the ones located within Fontainebleau. We ordered the short ribs and duck ravioli for appetizers. Short ribs were a little salty, my friends loved the duck ravioli, I wasn't a huge fan, but may have been the liver taste I didn't like. We ordered the branzino, halibut, and spaghetti. The server was very honest and cool. The halibut was better than the branzino, the spaghetti was ridiculously good. A friend in NY had raved and raved about the spaghetti. You really don't think that something as simple as spaghetti can be book, but this was really freaking amazing. I am going to go back in NY just for the spaghetti! For the desserts we had the chocolate donuts and the chocolate souffle. Both were nice but not amazing. The bread basket comes with a bread baked with mozzarella and ham or sausage? It's VERY good, could have probably just ate that for dinner.
(4)
Ana M.
I'm in love. I'm in love with this place. I think I need to get a better job, just so that I can afford to eat here every day. I had a really great time here last night. We went for Miami Spice and the menu was great. We had the creamy polenta, the ice smoked fish appetizer, the chicken and the branzino. The portions are small, but heavenly. The food is traditional, but different. Its Italian, so its all rich and flavorful. Every dish was very different. I heard the spaghetti was really good. I want to go back an try it. For desert we had the panna cotta and the cheesecake. Both really good. The place was empty when we got there at 6:30, but by the time we left it was packed, so make reservations. We had a really good waiter. He explained all the dishes, he was attentive, he was charismatic, he was very knowledgeable and he was just overall nice. Not intrusive- just right. Valet is 12 bucks with validation and I think we spent like 110 bucks on dinner. Not too back. Its a nice place. So- Believe the hype. This restaurant is great. I would go back.... right now.. lets go.
(5)
theFOOD E.
Recommended for a contemporary classy dinner next time you're in South Beach. I would describe this restaurant as having amazing neuvo contemporary northern italian cuisine. A good dim ambiance...quite enough for a conversation. The portions are not huge like you would expect from traditional Italian rest. They were more "polite" sized, so I had to order mutliple entrees. The pasta comes with a well balanced light tomato sauce (made with a touch of creme fresch) - no bolognese or meatball options which I crave b/c I'm more on the carnivorous side at dinner time. We also got the turbo fish and another fish- both perfectly cooked with thin crispy skin on one side. I heard the white truffles are amazing - didn't get to try them tho. Desserts were great too.
(4)
Jennifer B.
The restaurant is situated in a beautiful modern/contemporary hotel. We were seated right away and the server was welcoming and polite. We started off with their fresh bread, including mini stromboli rolls which were very good. There is a nice selection on the menu but be forewarned: generally the portions are small (one appetizer consisted of two medium size shrimp. Really.), which makes ordering multiple courses necessary if you have a good appetite. This is where the dining experience can get expensive. We were happy with each course, which included the aforementioned shrimp appetizer, pasta with tomato basil, roasted chicken, and sirloin. The dessert--zeppoles filled with nutella-- was very delish. The only downside is that we were waiting a long time between courses. I'm all for leisurely dining and enjoying the experience, but it was way too long.
(4)
Sabrina F.
I have not had many meals that changed my life, but this one did. We came here for their anniversary, which was some crazy prix-fixe deal, and it was truly tremendous. The service was outstanding and generous--the server kept pressing more wine on us--and the food was just as good. The menu was like a greatest hits: the spaghetti was excellent, the polenta incredible, the short rib, the fish... Anyway. I'm not typically one for lavish meals, but our dinner here would have been a bargain at twice the price. Which is probably what we would have paid if we had come another time.
(5)
Pinklious L.
I went to this place last year and I am still thinking about how good the food was! The mushroom polenta, duck ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs basil tomato sauce, bread basket. I tried at least 9 different entrees because everything was so delicious.
(5)
rhett t.
It just keeps getting better. The change in chefs has made little difference and the tweaks are for the better. The spaghetti remains the best bowl of spaghetti on the continent. I detected a slightly spicier sauce but, if anything, that only improves upon perfection. The sirloin (not my favorite cut) was beautifully marbled and seasoned. My only issue was that the bitter mustard greens do not pair well with the rest of the dish. I understand cutting sweet on sweet, but the smoked potato is more creamy than sweet and the flavors do not blend. But, oh let me tell you about the potatoes! Awesome, the herbs are mild and mesh with the other flavors rather than overpower them. The lamb Agnolotti is phenomenal.
(5)
Rick J.
Yes, yes, yes! You won't be disappointed :)
(5)
marcelo w.
Ok, I LOVE the scene and The Fontainebleau Hotel, but Scarpetta is a major blemish in this beautiful place to hang out and have a good time. I have a theory that a place in which the bread and the desert (tiramisu) are the best menu items you ate usually mean that the real food sucks! Which is the case here. I'm ok with a very limited menu, makes choosing easier and usually means that they can do a few things better, not the case. The Scialatelli pasta was below average and my wife's Pappardelle was not good either. I was there with a group of 10 and nobody had a single good thing to say about the place. I feel bad for having suggested it, but in life you gotta try new things...just don't try this place...walk to Blade or Gotham.
(1)
Kristin K.
opted for the Miami Spice menu with friends: polenta, short rib, spaghetti, fish, panna cota, chocolate cake & off the menu - the duck ravioli... which was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. AMAZING!!!! The Raviolis alone - is pure perfection. The service was first class, quick but not rushed.
(4)
j t.
Not what I expected from all the hype. The dishes were hit and miss. The creamy polenta is worth its weight in gold. This is definitely a must if you visit the restaurant. The polenta was very creamy, filling, and could stand on its own. I could have done without the accompanying mushrooms. Skip the braised short ribs. They were a bit salty and bland. The should just remove it from the menu. Their signature spaghetti was tasty, but not really worth the $20+. The spaghetti was al dente, but there needed to be more sauce with it. The sauce itself was tasty and properly thickened with various cheeses. The oven roased duck was crispy and tasty but nothing to right home about. There was something in the spaetzle that overwhelmed the savoriness of the chicken. Do stay away from the rice pudding dessert. The rice pudding was not flavorful and lacked imagination both in taste and presentation. Save your hard earned money for something else.
(3)
Joaquin R.
Food is okay compared to the price you pay. Decor is beautiful. Great place to have drinks.
(3)
May R.
This place is so perfect! It's a perfect fine dining experience. The interior decors of the place is so breathtaking and everything is just well organized. The waiter is so patient and helpful, he knows everything on the menu. The food was served to us with so much class. Everything really looks delicious. The food was so unique, that every bite will make you want to have more of their food. The money spent here is just worth it, and no money can ever replace the experience I had.
(5)
Susan J.
Tasteless and expensive hotel food with intrusive service.
(2)
Nancy C.
I was staying in Miami Beach for business and on my last night, decided to treat myself to Scarpetta. Since I was going to be dining by myself, I planned to eat at the bar. But when I got there, I decided to get seated in the main dining room and I'm glad I did. The vibe was cool & hip, but not overly and service was impeccable. Starting with the very sweet hostess who seated me to the professional and helpful waiter to the nice guy re-filling my water & taking away my plates, service left nothing more to be desired. Started off with a bread basket and a trio of olive oil, eggplant spread, & mascarpone butter. Other than the stromboli (very good!), the bread was mostly uninteresting...which was a good thing so that I didn't fill up on bread before my meal! Ordered the Creamy Polenta to start...OMG. It was amazingly delicious. Really. The creaminess of the polenta with the truffle mushrooms is pure genius. It's a MUST have. Then had the Duck and Foie Gras Ravioli for my main. Very very good. Portion size looked small, but after the polenta, it was perfect and I finished every bite. I loved that they were bite size pieces and not overly sauced...it was clean and flavorful, simple without anything to distract from the flavors of the dish. Having finished most of the polenta and then all of the ravioli, I was stuffed. But because everything was on the rich side, I wanted to have something refreshing and light for my dessert. At the waiter's recommendation, I got the Coconut Panna Cotta with Guava Soup. It was the perfect ending to a fabulous meal. So refreshing and the flavors really worked well together. I wasn't able to finish it, but there's always next time. There's a location in BH that I will have to check out! All in all, this was a great dining experience and I would definitely recommend trying it.
(4)
Theresa N.
The food here is amazing! Thank goodness for Miami Spice! For $35/person, we were able to sample more dishes than we would have otherwise. The variety of bread and spreads that they give you is yummy! There was one bread that was stuffed with salami and some cheeses. I had to stop myself so that I would still have an appetite for the rest of dinner! We got the braised short ribs and creamy mushroom polenta for appetizers. The ribs were average but man oh man the polenta was awesome! The little mushrooms were nice and juicy and the sauce was so rich and flavorful. For the entree, we ordered the spaghetti with tomato and basil and the oven roasted chicken. The spaghetti had a very strong basil flavor, which I love. But my fave was the chicken. It was tender and juicy with a nice almond crunchy skin. On to dessert! I had the raspberry cheesecake but the all-time best dish of the night was the coconut panna cotta. It was AMAZING!! Definitely the best restaurant we went to all weekend. You gotta try it!
(5)
Arthur W.
Was staying at the Fontainebleau for a business trip in December of '08 and decided to try the "in house" restaurant. Scarpetta was the only real restaurant open after the remodel. Service was prompt and very friendly and the food was very good. The server had recommended to me the spaghetti (tomato and basil) which, to this date, has been the best spaghetti I have had. I also ordered the Black Cod, which wasn't as amazing as the simple spaghetti but still of good quality. If a restaurant makes the most simple dishes amazing, the chef certainly knows what he's doing.
(5)
Desiree D.
I would give this place more stars if I could. It was that good! Everything from the service to the timing of food was perfect. Not to mention the shear deliciousness of each bite! None of the drinks ever went empty, the table was completely cleaned between courses and even trips to the restroom were encountered with well-trained staff at each step. We were a party of 20-something at 3-4 separates tables in the back overlooking the pool and ocean (stunningly gorgeous views!). Over several hours we enjoyed a five course meal, with each course including several options of family-style dishes. Among them was a delicious assortment of breads, eggplant tapanade, truffle butter, and citrus-infused olive oil. Then came fried mozzarella, heirloom tomato salad, salted yellowtail sashimi, and mushroom polenta. Followed by the course with homemade spaghetti and short rib cavatelli, both melted in your mouth. Next up was enormous diver scallops, incredibly juicy chicken in a delectable sauce with baked brussels sprouts, and tender filet of beef. Lastly was an array of desserts, the best of which was a coconut panacotta.
(5)
Miguel F.
What a great place! I went Sunday for brunch (yes I know another brunch review LOL) to celebrate my best friend's birthday with a group of friends. We sat outdoors because the weather was great -- you can't go wrong during the Winter in Miami. From the moment we sat down.. the service was spectacular. The servers treated us like gold. Brunch here is different from other places. There is only one choice -- the unlimited buffet for 49.95. It may sound pricey but it is definitely worth it. The buffet has everything you can think of: Sausage and eggs, shrimp cocktail, assorted cheeses, prosciutto, polenta (which i must say is delicious), asparagus, cold salads, etc. Here's the the different part -- you order one main entree. I ordered the skirt steak with poached eggs and it was very good. Other options include pasta, scallops, chicken, short ribs, etc. The price includes unlimited bloody marys, bellinis or Mimosas. When they say unlimited they mean it. Every single one of us was getting a new drink, right when we were finishing our other one. Perfection! The buffet also has desserts. Everything from tiramisu, carrot cake, chocolate cake, croissants, breads, muffins, scones, etc. The bite-size cakes are a must-try. Just a side-note on the service -- one of the many presents we gave my friend was a massive wine cup. The server immediately took it, washed it and then served him a bloody mary in it! The view was also great... you can see the beach, and the amazing pool at the Fontainebleau. Overall we had a great experience at Scarpetta and would definitely recommend it.
(5)
Mark R.
Unbelievably noisy. Overattentive service. Overpriced wine list. Good food.
(2)
Valerie M.
Went here specifically for spaghetti pomodoro, which we've seen touted in several newspapers and television shows as the most amazing pasta dish ever. It was really, really good, though maybe not exactly what I was expecting. Maybe it was just too built up. It's definitely worth a trip to the restaurant just for that dish (but be prepared to pay for it).
(4)
Andy L.
Located in the Sorrento wing of the hotel, south of the main building and lobby of the Fontainebleau, is Scarpetta. It's a smart, glitzy space comprised of two rooms: a bar/lounge and a dining room. This Italian restaurant was running on all eight cylinders last night, from the attentive service to the mixed bread basket which included foccacia and stromboli (bread stuffed with Italian salami and cheese). Appetizers we tried were a tender Octopus ($17), fresh Burrata served with heirloom tomatoes ($16), Tuna Susci ($16) which is raw fish wrapped around tender vegetables, a Creamy Polenta with mushrooms laced with truffle oil ($16) and melt-in-your-mouth boneless Beef Short Ribs ($15). Two homemade pastas appeared: Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli ($24) drizzled with an unctious, sweet Marsala reduction and Pappardelle ($23) in a beef short rib ragout. Both were bursting with flavor, although the pappardelle was a bit overcooked. Main courses were even better. Extremely fresh fish was prepared simply, with the distinct flavors of each fish showing through in the different dishes. The Branzino ($30) was sauteed and had a nice, crispy skin, while Black Cod ($28) and Alaskan Halibut ($29) were both roasted perfectly. The Veal Chop ($42) was fried and served with sweetbreads and spaetzle. The chop was cooked as ordered and was tender and juicy. The entire dish, however, was marred by overseasoning. The wine list is extensive, but is skewed toward higher priced selections. Bring lots of cash. A Sardinian Cannonau from Sella & Mosca may be the least expensive wine on the list at $35, but a bottle of 1990 Chateau Petrus will run you $10,000. The restaurant was packed on a Wednesday night, so make a reservation before you go.
(5)
Charlie B.
Thought i would never give any restaurant 5 stars but this one deserves six!. From the moment we walked in and were greeted to the delicious Martinis at the bar (prepared by Carlos). to a wonderful dining experience (thanks to Jen's keen attention to service), Scarpetta is exactly what the name means "An Italian expression that means "little shoe" - or the shape bread takes when used to soak up a dish - Scarpetta represents the pure pleasure of savoring a meal down to its very last taste." - scarpettanyc.com I did however did have some inside help and tips from some of my foodie friends on twitter "ergagit" and "4theloveoffood" were quite helpful in completing my Scarpetta experience - thx guys! Ok the food - going to eat with a group of your bffs has some benefits, you get to taste a little of everything. I had the Miami Spice Special which was actually highly encouraged by our server Jen (a first for me)...the braised short rib appetizer was fork tender, juicy and oh so tasty, however I have to admit, I was able to taste the creamy polenta with mushroom and truffle oil - which I have to admit was foodgasmic (multiple in fact), also got to taste the burratta with heirloom tomatoes which were quite good as well. For dinner I had the seared scallops - which were seared to perfection..a delicate golden crust followed by a delicious moist soft center. I was able to taste the duck and foie gras raviolis which I have to say were off the charts good, spaghetti with tomato basil was well balanced, hearty and reminded me of my Italian roots, For dessert we shared the olive oil cake (which was my fave), mango cheesecake, choc cake with toasted almond gelato, and coconut panna cotta with guava soup which also gave me multiple foodgasms I've come to learn about a new word, gastrosexual, and after experiencing Scarpetta I can see why I'm not only a gastrosexual, but a flaming one
(5)
Lauren S.
I never write reviews on Yelp, but this place was SO good that it deserves one. This ornate little restaurant is located in Miami Beach's Fontainebleau Hotel, and overlooks the ocean which adds to the experience. I ordered the sirloin which was absolutely delectable. The meat was substantially tender and flavorful, and the pearl onions and potatoes paired perfectly with the meat. Not only that but the portions were absolutely perfect, unlike most of these upscale restaurants which serve you the most miniscule dishes. For dessert I ordered the strawberry cheesecake which was incredibly delicious, although I regretted my decision as soon as I tried the chocolate cake my boyfriend ordered. It was so rich and warm, and had melted chocolate in the center of it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. Needless to say, it was to die for. This place is rather pricey, but if you're willing to pay good money for good food, then it's a definite must. I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Felicia B.
Let me begin by saying I walked out of their brunch along with my group of 7 in March due to a rude and unaccommodating server. However, when I returned for dinner in June it was a much more pleasant experience. On the negative they like to make you wait in the lounge area and spend money at the bar, but all other aspects of the experience (save for the closing of their bathroom for much needed maintenance) were very enjoyable. The bread and the accompaniments were first rate. The sea bass was perfectly prepared and delicious and the fois gras ravioli was truly excellent. The dining room was beautiful and the servers were personable, knowledgeable and attentive. First rate except for the aforementioned restroom issue.
(4)
Lin Z.
My Husband and I celebrated our 14 yr. Annyv. so we stayed at the hotel ,and decided to eat here. I loved it. Very romantic and exactly what i hoped it would be. Maritni's were delish (loved the bartender!) had the fois gras ravioli, truly excellent and Hub had the Sea Bass.. pleasure to savor!
(5)
Michele C.
hands down the BEST food and dining experience i've had in miami. the staff were extremely friendly and made the experience that much better.
(5)
Huyen V.
Fabulous staff, incredible food. Miami Spice Menu = awesome. We had one of everything on the special menu. OMG I'll fly back 2 do it again. Ryan our server was great, Saved 4 ladies from a majorly wasted guy discreetly & w/o causing a scene.
(5)
Carol C.
This place is awesome. It's definitely pricey but it's all well worth it and definitely perfect for a special night or when you need to impress. The hotel is an experience in and of itself but the decor in the restaurant is beautiful. My only gripe would be the noise and yet, it's intimate. From the white glove service, to the specially baked bread, to the classic and adventorous food options, it will not disappoint. The people watching ain't bad either. My favorite meal in a realllllllly long time.
(5)
Victoria L.
Sunday brunch was great! $50 will get you unlimited mimosas, bloody mary and bellinis in addition to lavish buffet. The buffet offers many more options than anywhere in 15 miles radius. The service was good. Many families with kids. Lively atmosphere. Happy times.
(4)
Foodie Z.
After my girlfriend and I suffered thru an awful experience at Blade, the Sushi place at the fontainbleau hotel, we were still starving, so we went to Scarpetta. As some of you may know, Scott Conants NYC Scarpetta outpost is an excellent restaurant in the meatpacking area that I frequent, so I was at least confident that this place should suffice. I was happily proved correct. Scott himself was there, and he was very gracious to give us a table despite the fact that the place was fairly busy (not full). The service was very attentive, the atmosphere was lively and fun and the crowd was very eclectic. George Hamilton was at a table near us (looking orange as usual) and there was a very entertaining Vegas-style couple next to us wearing some awesomely garish clothes. We ordered two different pastas - a veal ravioli and a mushroom ravioli. Both excellent. Home made, melt in your mouth fresh and a bit heavy for the Miami climate - but i liked them nonetheless. The Lemon Cheesecake dessert was outstanding and they were kind enough to offer us free chilled Limoncello's as an after dinner drink. Overall, Scott saved our dining experience that evening after a dismal visit to Blade down the hall. I recommend this place.
(3)
Sarah S.
Everything about Scarpetta was excellent! The bar area where we waited is elegant and we had great mixed drinks - we chose to eat outside because despite being July there was a lovely breeze. We were over looking one of the (many) pool areas and it was lovely. The service (both waiter and bus boys) were excellent - friendly, helpful efficient, knowledgeable etc. - and cute! The bread basket is top-notch - totally different (and yummy) breads/dips. We had the mushroom polenta (signature dish!) and a tuna appetizer - both were fantastic - the polenta truly deserve its reputation! We then had the halibut entree and black pasta - both were superb - perfect in every way. We were full - so skipped desert (possibly a mistake - they looked wonderful!) - we will absolutely go back - the prices are high but the food, service and decor make it worth it!
(5)
kb j.
This restaurant is located in the Fountainbleu. The resort in which it is located is enormous (you might consider leaving a bread crumb trail to find your way back to the main entrance). The restaurant is large. There is a nice bar area up front. The main dining room has a great feel to it. The food was well prepared, the service was top level and the wine list was well-chosen.
(5)
N S.
We stayed at the hotel and checked out Scarpetta for dinner one night. Beautiful restaurant, I liked it much better than the NYC location. Service is ok, but the food is fabulous. Highly recommend.
(5)
R Z.
I've never experienced such pushy waiters in my life. The food was good but the experience was ruined by our waiter who kept trying to jack up our bill by hassling us to order the most expensive items on the menu. He was beyond aggressive. Once I saw the bill and realized that that added a mandatory gratuity then I understood why. Avoid Scarpetta!
(2)
Rachel P.
It's that good. My friend and I took a late night reservation and were seated within about 10 min of the 10 p.m. ressie...not ideal, but fine. And a great table, even in the midst of the SoBe Wine & Food insanity. Started with the terrific bread basket with a trio of "dips"...buttery mascarpone cheese, amazing citrus infused olive oil, which was light and sweet. And the best eggplant caponata. It was terrific. Just terrific. Then the apps...I had the raw yellowtail, which was lightly seasoned with chili oil and marinated onions...sort of a salted shallot mignonette flavor. Simply delish. My friend had the braised short ribs on a farro risotto. Both were just exquisite. For dinner, she had the house specialty - spaghetti pomodoro. Unreal. Salty, non-acidic tomato sauce doused with lots of basil. Unbelievable. And I had quite possibly my favorite entree ever...the black cod with the "concentrated" (or dried) tomatoes and roasted fennel. I can't handle the fact that I can't have it every single night. Unreal. For dessert we shared the apple tort with a small scoop of ginger ice cream and a rum cream. So good. The service was the best we had at the Fontainebleau (which on the whole missed the service mark a bit). What the waiter at Scarpetta lacked in enthusiasm, he made up for in timeliness, diligence and knowledge. Just really great service. Really. I would recommend this to ANYONE, and I'm dying to get to the one in NYC soon. Really amazing.
(5)
Sean E.
one of the best restaurants in miami. great service & incredible food. we had the chef's tasting menu withthe wine paring and felt we got our money's worth. would recommend this place to anyone who doesn't mind paying for great food.
(5)
Sadia A.
I LOVE Fountainebleau but i was very disappointed by scarpetta :( The food was sooooo mediocre. Its beautiful from inside and all but the foods just not worth it at all. Very pricey tiny portions. Def. wont be going there again.
(2)
Sooj K.
I thought the food was excellent but the service wasn't that great. I think it was because we look young even though we are in our late 20's? We were looking around the service they gave to everyone else and it was pretty intresting. Oh Well!! The interior made it seem like you were inside a cruise ship which was pretty cute. For appetizer the octopus dish was amazing. It was perfectly cooked! For dinner the scallops melted in your mouth. Overall.. Food was good. service could be a lot better.
(2)
Igor S.
My sister came to visit me, and I want to invite her to a special place where we can have dinner that she couldn't forget, and I decide went to the Scarpetta restaurant @ Luxury Fontaineblue Miami Beach, and in the middle of our dinner a luxury cockroach join us and jump to my shirt, the short story it's no body care about that, the mattress said that's normal cause we dinning close to the pool and the beach, and the manager?? I don't but I think he is dumb because he doesn't say a word, at least at the end actually was a night to remember, no?
(1)
j g.
We were curious about what the hype was so... Friday night drive down to the famous Scarpetta restaurant! The outdoor seating was available but we decided on indoor seating. This hip but very loud restaurant is located in Fountainebleu.The theme was mariner all throughout the interior of the restaurant which was quite interesting. It was very busy and crowded many young people out on dates, hanging out at the bar,some older men looking for younger chicks...this IS the Miami scene! The club LIV was located inside the hotel too and it was quite packed with the anticipation of the guest rapper PITbull. Now unto the food... We ordered the burratta mozzerella and heirloom tomatoes-which was quite small?( I was warned it would be!)It looked a bit sloppy on the presentation side. The steak tartare was ordered by friends-there comment was it was okay,not the best. The entrees of the "famous" spaghetti was good not great- bf concluded after a taste that it was like "chef boyardee"with a little heat NOT worth $24...his entree was duck and foie gras which was tasty, again, not great... The other friend had the raviolini's and that was small portioned too and okay tasting as well. The dessert was chocolate zeppoli with creme anglaise and nutella filling which was sweet and delicious. The service was top notch for such a busy venue. All in all, it was good,not great. (Now maybe if you are inebriated you can say its 5 stars but it certainly wasn't going to garner that in my book!) I've been to far more awesome and delicious italian restaurants in south florida!!
(2)
Holly B.
Excellent Italian food, excellent food period. My friend & I started the evening at the bar with the Torrino, delicious drink. The 3 in my party all ordered from the Miami Spice menu and our waiter could hardly help to hide his dismay that not only we were ordering the $35 prix fix menu but we already had ordered and paid for our cocktails. I understand that his livelihood is affected by the price points of what we order, but PLEASE try not to be so obvious w/ your disappointment, it makes for a less then ideal dining experience. I subtract a star for our waiters behavior. Now onto the savory food. I had the burrata, my friend had the creamy polenta w/ 'shrooms and hub had the mackerel crudo. All were spectacular. I think the creamy polenta w/ mushrooms was the favorite, truly outstanding flavors exploding on your palate, i loved the creamy texture mixed with the pungent smokiness of the mushrooms. I got the notorious spaghetti and hub/friend both had the branzino w/ shrimp, clams and tomatoes. Again, all dishes were stellar. The fish fresh, cooked to perfection, crispy on outside soft and flaky inside with hints of garlic and sitting atop fresh chunks of seafood. The spaghetti was cooked to perfection with a creamy tomato sauce. Surprisingly, the portions were large, I could not finish the pasta dish. Onto dessert, I had the panna cotta with guava/passion fruit/pineapple sauce, husband had the polenta crusted cheesecake with lemon sorbet and strawberry sauce, and friend had the molten dark chocolate cake with espresso ice cream. Each dessert was perfection. All in all, come here for the spectacular food, and try to ignore the whole song & dance of being at the fountainblue: the parking, the scene and the remarkable attitude.
(4)
Tom A.
I was staying at the Fontainebleau for a company conference and decided to stay a few extra nights with my wife. We are big fans of the Food Network Channel show, Chopped, and we were very excited to see that one of the celebrity judges, Scott Conant, had a restaurant that we could try. So much for celebrities! The restaurant itself is very nicely decorated with a nice waiting area, but the inside is very cramped and the tables are WAY TOO close together. After being seated, we waited for a while before we were served some tap water. We waited even further for bread to be served and the wine list to be delivered. Most of the wines are very over priced and either Italian or French, so thank god for the sommelier who came to our rescue. Now on to the service and food. The waiter was very inattentive and it was extremely difficult to flag him down for any type of service whatsoever. When we ordered a bottle of wine, he poured us each a small taste and walked away with the bottle. He didn't bother to ask if we wanted it on the table or in a chiller near the table, just walked away with it. Strange. We probably waited another ten minutes before we could get him back to pour another glass. Sure they were busy, but that's no excuse for ridiculously poor service. Not my fault for the outragously priced meal. Now, on to the food and time to critique the judge! For appetizers, my wife ordered the Tuna Susci and I orded the Arugula salad. The salad was wonderful. Arugula has a very distinct and powerful taste and the dressing was a great compliment. However, my wifes appetizer was very boring, very strange taste and not much of a tuna flavor. Basically a bland mash. Now on to round two, as they say on chopped, the entree. My wife ordered the Mediterranean Branzino. What came out was completely unexpected. By the description, we were expecting a shrimp dish. Instead, she received a Mediterranean SeaBass with a crispy, in our opinion over-cooked, skin on a piece of fish. Scott, if you're going to put SeaBass on the menu, why not include it in the description? I ordered the Monkfish. Very nice piece of meat, cooked just right and a decent compliment of flavors. HOWEVER, the portion was a lunch, not dinner size. Sorry Scott, in college I worked in a fish restaurant and part of my job was cutting the fish into lunch and dinner portions. I think you are missing about 3-4 ounces there for that price. To complete the dinner, we ordered a dessert to share and both decided on the mocha cheesecake. We both LOVED it! Definitely a winner to end the meal. So, in summary I say pass. Scott needs to be a contestant on his own show. Way, way over priced meal for what you get and the service was horrible. Buyer beware, not worth the money and don't expect to be served well for the already included 20% tip. I guess when the waiter doesn't have to work for the tip, they have no incentive to work for it!
(2)
song c.
had the 5 course tasting ($85) and it was good. not great, but good. i love scott conant but i was expecting a bit more. the polenta was dynamite....as was the bread served at the beginning of the meal. a little disappointed with the main courses. on the plus side, arrived with kids at 6pm (when the restaurant opens) and they were very accommodating.
(3)
Alice F.
This restaurant made it to my top 5 list of Miami restaurants. The only reason why I don't give five stars is that we went there only once and therefore have not been able to check if they are consistent in the quality. Very nice setting. Good service. The food was absolutely delicious. The Miami spice menu is a real deal. I had the polenta (perfect really), followed by the pasta (huge portion, absolutely delicious) and the mango cheese cake (very impressed).
(4)
Anastasia P.
Wonderful food! Fabulous service!! Definitely get the 4 course option!
(5)
Heather C.
awesome! And the best spaghetti I've ever ever ever tasted.
(5)
Marilyn A.
This place is definitely unique for the usual Italian restaurant. First of all the decor is like no other in Miami. The restaurants designer David Collins really outdid himself. The location in the Fontainebleau hotel is incredible, it was a wrap around balcony for outdoor dining facing the ocean. Now I get to the food, they do Italian food with a twist, they have the best simple spaghetti in the world, the sauce is like no other. Steak and fish are always great. Every person that has been there always dies for their polenta with the truffle mushroom sauce, even people that never ate polenta in their lives swear by it. My favorite restaurant in Miami hands down. Its also nice that you have the incredible blue bar for drinks in the hotel lobby for after drinks.
(5)
Judy D.
We and another couple had dinner at Scarpetta last night, using the Miami Spice menu. I must admit that we went expecting to be treated as second class citizens on that account. Nothing could have been further from the reality we experienced. We had reservations and were seated at a nice table. The decor was a modern take on the nautical theme....very slick and classy. We each had something different for appetizers, entrees and desserts. Every bite of every single thing was absolutely delicious. The polenta with wild mushrooms was one step away from heaven, the fish was perfectly cooked, the prime filet cut like butter, the raw mackerel appitizer was so very fresh....I could go on and on but have now drooled all over my keyboard. The service was impeccable, the waiter was delightful and we were tended to as though we were the only patrons there. All of us will DEFINITELY return....and soon!
(5)
B. L.
my pasta was somewhat soggy. the only good thing about my meal was the appetizer, which was the tuna sushi sashimi style wrapped on baby greens...it's like a maki roll but instead of rice inside, it's baby greens. the tuna was very fresh/delicious and tipped in a perfect olive oil sauce. we wanted to order a gd bottle of wine but the wine specialist wasn't avail, so the waiter wasn't able to assist us, so we ordered a wine we're familar with. we were there on a fri ngt around 8pm and the restaurant was ~half full; so to our surprise it wasn't packed like we expected, esp b/c it's inside the famous fontaine bleu hotel. I gave it a 3 star b/c of the tuna sushi appetizer and the bread basket; otherwise, the pasta (my husband's as well) was overcooked/soggy. also, the perseca / orginal - not flavored (italian sparkling wine was delicious)
(3)
Hannah K.
Just went tonight. Maybe it was an off night, but someone in the kitchen had a heavy hand with the salt shaker. We had the Miami Spice menu + octupus appetizer + spaghetti. The mackerel tartar was decent- tasted like salmon tartar with a slight smokiness. I didn't love it or hate it. The polenta was very creamy but my god were the mushrooms salty. I might have liked this if the seasonings were perfect, but not tonight. The octopus were large tentacles... honestly, Pubbelly's version of octopus a la plancha is similar but more tasty since they char the legs more and serve it with a more interesting sauce. The spaghetti was ok. I was expecting it to rival Delfina's spaghetti al pomodoro in San Francisco, but it lacks the depth of flavor that Delfina has. Scarpetta's overall menu is similar to Delfina, but Delfina wins hands down in everything... but I guess Scarpetta is decent for Italian in Miami? The short rib agnolotti were fine- my husband compared it to being punched in the face with beef flavor. My branzino had nice crispy skin, but the left side of my fish was sooo salty. The sour pickled vegetables underneath didn't help. I couldn't enjoy it. The desserts were nothing special; we didn't finish them. The best part of the meal was the bread, especially the salami bread. That made me sad for about $160 all in (before valet). I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Diane T.
Best meal I had on my trip
(4)
Jenny L.
An absolutely GORGEOUS restaurant. The views are fantastic of the pool and the ocean. The wait staff is friendly, but not as attentive as should be expected for such an establishment. I had the prix fixe menu which included a short rib appetizer, spaghetti, and a dessert that I don't remember. The food was very good, but not mind-blowing. 3 for food and service, but last star for being such a pretty place.
(4)
LORNA H.
Amazing food. Beautiful restaurant. So so service. I ordered the octopus which was perfectly flavored, though a bit too much olive oil. Followed that with the scialatelli. That dish was a plate of pasta perfection. The pasta had the right amount of pepper; the clams and shrimp cooked just so - not one hint of chewiness; the sauce was light and seasoned with perfect amounts of salt, butter and garlic. The waiter and manager were at a loss when asked for a wine recommendation. They were also quick to take away two place settings when guests 3 and 4 were a bit late. However, highly recommended because the food is just so good.
(4)
Jake K.
The waiter took my order and I never saw him again until he brought the bill. My glass was empty throughout the entire meal. Terrible service and a poor wine selection. The food wasn't able to make up for it either.
(2)
Rob E.
My wife and I have been meaning to visit the NY outpost but haven't had a chance so while on vacation in Miami we wanted to give it a try. We chose the tasting menu, 5 course, which was too much food. I have to admit that I'm typically a big eater and pack an appetite but this was just too much. 4 course would have been just perfect. The sashimi appetizers were good but I almost felt like they should be served at a Japanese restaurant, not an Italian one. The creamy polenta was delicious and memorable. Pastas were good, I really liked the fois gras ravioli. The fish and meat for the main course were ok, nothing that was extraordinary. Overall, the food was salty, and I even told our waiter that, my comment was disregarded.
(3)
Cristina K.
Wow the food here is amazing! the service unbelievable and the ambience very cool. Never thought a simple spaghetti basil and tomato dish could taste this good. The burrata appetizer was a winner. The wine list ranges from $75-$11,000 and is sure to wow you as well. The only reason why I am not giving the wonderful restaurant 5 stars here is because the Fontaineblue valet (mind you the hotel does not have parking so everyone bringing a vehicle HAS to valet) is incredibly busy and it will take you at least 15 minutes to get your car to the valet runners and it took us 30-45 minutes to get our car back for when we left. So if you're staying at the hotel then you're in great shape because you will not have to worry about this!!! The valet really does need a newer more efficient system. Restaurant was great!
(4)
Steven G.
What a diaappointment, Scott C. is so authortize on TV, and ususally expensive places are great. This missed the mark on many levels from entry to finish. My four lovely friends arrived first and they would not seat them in an empty resaurant as I was not there yet. Sent to the sofa! There were three hostesses, good hostess, bad hostess and clueless hostess. I got clueless, she could not locate the party altough only a few tables were seated. Found the table myself. The charming waiter was attentive until food arrived then he ignored us until I called him over to tell him that my fish was cold. And the stone crab app had shells and cartilage. They did not remove the crab from the bill. No one came over to apologize for either mistake. Room grew very loud, no acoustical tiles. Mens room was filthy. Had to stand in a puddle of urine. Not acceptable. Major disappointment. Bad food and service and very expensive.
(2)
Mark S.
Miami Spice 2014: All the Fountainbleau options are expensive, and Scott Conant's SoBe destination is no exception, with mains easily topping the mid-$30s. For this reason, I try and go every August or September to get a 3-course dinner for just over the price of an entree on the regular menu. Usually in my Sunday 6:30 slot I'm one of the few people to do so, but last night was busy, so I guess word has spread, though service has suffered a little as a result (very similar to another popular Miami Spice destination this summer: Bourbon Steak). APPS: I've been here enough times to never stray in my choice of appetizer: the CREAMY POLENTA (served with fricassee of truffled mushrooms) is probably the signature dish of Scarpetta (where apps and desserts usually outshine the main courses). If you go with a group (even a group of 2), at least one of you must order this dish. I love a good STEAK TARTARE, but with a supplemental charge of $12, it would have destroyed the "value proposition" of Miami Spice: it's $22 on the regular menu (the other choices, including the Polenta, are $18), so a $3, or even $5 supplement would be sensible, not $12. MAINS: the $12 supplement for the famous SPAGHETTI on the MS website requires explanation: this is to get the dish WITH a main, not INSTEAD of a main. If you've never had it, it's fantastic, but if you also get the polenta app, you are going to leave the table feeling ill (so I'd recommend it as a "share", not a "solo supplement"). MAINS: The LOCAL SNAPPER (w/ fregola, shrimp & mushroom-fennel brodetto) was not the most beautiful appearance I've ever seen, but a good piece of fish with crispy skin. I skipped the OVEN ROASTED CHICKEN because it's hard to impress me with chicken. I also skipped another $12 supplement on the PRIME SIRLOIN OF BEEF (again: $12 supplement, on sirloin, is a little out of line). The CORN RAVIOLI (baby zucchini & chanterelle mushrooms) was more up to Scarpetta standards: great looks, very rich, and delicious. If I were Italian I would protest at the thought of a pasta as a main dish, but if you go, this is worth a try (or, like the polenta and the spaghetti, worth sharing - a whole plate of this rich pasta would be a little over-the-top for one person). DESSERT options have not changed in forever, and the way to go is still the COCONUT PANNA COTTA (with caramelized pineapple & guava "soup"). The COFFEE SEMIFREDO, was a distant second. If you go with the polenta and the panna cotta, you are going to have a great meal no matter what you have as the main. Also nice is a 3-flight pairing option for $25. Scarpetta was a reliable 5-star vote for me in the past, but this year it was more of a "4". The Polenta was still very good, but seemed to have lost a tiny bit of its magic. The mains also lacked the "wow" of the past, and the service was very irregular (from robotic descriptions to a VERY long wait for our check after dessert). Could some of this be due to the head chef's departure earlier this year? Perhaps. Or perhaps other alternatives have appeared on the Miami scene (Shikany being the best example) that have stolen some of Scarpetta's thunder. The $12 valet charge doesn't help either.
(4)
Rebecca G.
I had been looking forward to eating at Scarpetta since a few episodes into the Top Chef New Orleans season. Nina Compton's food was captivating, and I needed to try it. D wasn't as enthusiastic, so this was a meal that we had very split opinions about, but that's obviously bound to happen and does in fact happen often. His plate: Spaghetti, tomato basil Whole Orata, corn succotash, fingerling potatoes Her plate: Gemelli, lobster and uni, bread crumbs Local Snapper, baby vegetables and clam brodo So, a few notes about service. It's as impeccable as you'd expect with a restaurant of this caliber, and our waiter was friendly and a little overly helpful. But two things here stood out, that I'd never seen before, or at least never seen executed well. Firstly, after we were seated, the hostess took my (white) napkin away and said she'd be right back with a different one. Strange? Well, she returned with a black one, which we realized was because I was wearing a dark navy dress. And the white napkin would've stood out too much on it. I've never had that happen before, and while that could be seen as an over the top touch, I guess it is nicer if the napkin is camouflaged? Being less aware of the formalities of dining and just getting to focus on the food is nice. But, still, wow. Secondly, our waiter greeted us and asked if he could recommend cocktails. My brain leapt to assume that he'd be discussing their drink specials, or house specialties, but no - he actually stood in thought for a moment and then spot on, perfectly, amazingly, completely nailed personalized recommendations for each of us. Ten seconds after having greeted us, not knowing or asking any preferences. He suggested a cucumber vodka, melon, cherry tomato cocktail for me, and a tequila cocktail for D that was somewhere between a margarita and mojito. Both feeling a little shocked, and mind-read, we consented to try them. Both were fantastic. We ordered pastas and entrees, not hungry enough to add primis as well. We differed in our opinions of the pasta. While my gemelli was one of my favorite things I've ever eaten, D did not like his spaghetti at all - he found it too lightly sauced and didn't like the texture of the pasta - gummy and eggy. I liked the spaghetti - it is subtle, but deliciously fresh. The gemelli, however, was amazingly oceanic - salty with the rich uni, and dotted with perfectly cooked lobster knuckles and claws. The bread crumbs added a nice texture, and it was a well-rounded and perfectly balanced dish. I would eat this every day. We both really enjoyed our fish - the snapper was perfectly cooked and the broth had a nice amount of clam flavor and good body. The orata was delicious - mild and delicate, with lovely vegetable accompaniments. We didn't try dessert - absolutely stuffed - but I would love to go back again sometime.
(4)
Aylin M.
Scarpetta offered just about everything you want out of a romantic evening: good food, great service, beautiful interior design and all with a breathtaking ocean view. I had the Grilled Bone in Pork Chop and it exceeded my expectations. As an appetizer we had the Mediterranean Octopus and it was okay. And for dessert I had the Tiramisu, which was very good.
(5)
Buo Z.
The food here is identical to Scarpetta in NYC and is pretty good overall. Food: Buffala mozzarella - delicious and so soft and creamy Foie gras ravioli - delicious Spaghetti with tomato and basil - delicious Creamy polenta - must get this one
(4)
Eli A.
Impeccable service, lovely ambiance, great drinks and delicious food. Did I mention impeccable service?! I had a wonderful time and will keep going back.
(5)
Alex A.
Friday night dinner. Was pretty good. There were some 1-3 star reviews on here. No restaurant can be five stars all the time and there will always be people pissed for some reason. Just like those people that like to send food back all the time. We enjoyed our time here. My wife had the spaghetti. This dish is their signature. I think we make a pretty great bowl of this at home so for us this wasn't a grand slam but still good. Just when we spend 28 dollars on noodles we expect it to be something we can't do at home. I had the short rib anglotti which were awesome and I definetely can't make these myself. Had yellowtail tuna and burata appetizers which were both good. The burata was nothing revolutionary but still tasty. The chocolate cake dessert was great...great molten center and good caramel ice cream. We would come again. Was tasty. For two people...2 apps...2 entrees...2 drinks...18% service charge...20 dollar tip....195 bux. Kind of pricey, but not a waste.
(4)
Hernan B.
Per-fec-tion Impeccable service and incredibly well crafted menu. Pasta is perfect. A breath of fresh air in a Miami where Italian foods means extra garlic.
(5)
Jennifer T.
Being that this was my first time at Scarpetta, I think it's too early to throw out the 5th star. My friends and I were here for a nice dinner to celebrate a bachelorette party. The ambiance was perfect for a nice date or any other special occasion. Before going into the restaurant, I had asked a few employees of the Fountainbleu Hotel about their favorite dishes at Scarpetta. The spaghetti was consistently recommended, so I went with the pasta. Upon first sight, it looked pretty ordinary, but once my sense of smell was engaged my expectations heightened. Beautiful balance of basil and sauce! The pasta was perfect: texture, density, and portion. I usually prefer some protein when eating spaghetti, but this dish held its own. I could eat this every day! I know..it's just spaghetti, but this was well worth the trip. My friends ordered a foie gras dish and a lobster pasta. Both were rich and tasty, but all agreed that mine had the best flavor.
(4)
Sesilia S.
Wow what a great dinner experience! My husband and I went to Scarpetta for dinner and we were blown away with the food! The best dishes we ordered were the creamy polenta and the Coconut Panna Cota. The polenta was super delicious, creamy but not too overpowering. The chef definitely aced this dish! The panna cota was really tasty and its consistency was just perfect! Other dishes that we had were the Rosemary Braised Lentils (which was very rich and yummy), the Roasted Baby Vegetables and the Roasted Whole Orata. They were all good dishes but the polenta and the panna cota are definitely must-try dishes. On top of the nice food, the service was really good. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. This was the best dining experience we had in Miami! Tips: if you do valet parking with the hotel, make sure you ask for ticket validation, that way the parking fee becomes more reasonable.
(5)
Ramona C.
I must say that this restaurant never disappoints me, no matter what. The service, the food, the ambiance, impeccable. These people are the best in their professions. I had last night the lobster claw, the pasta with tomato sous and basil and some veal. Excellent!
(5)
Jade P.
Wow... sexy, delicious, and great service--everything I look for in a fine dining establishment. The ambience is pretty unparalleled. The lights are muted, there is lots of candlelight, and the decor is modern and sexy. I went for Miami Spice and everything I had was amazing. Here's what I had: -the Branzino (this fish is perfectly cooked, plus the portions are generous!) -the molten chocolate cake with almond gelato and salted caramel (YUM! so rich and creamy- just like a molten cake should be) -the creamy polenta (unlike anything you'll ever have- divine!) The only reason why this restaurant lost 1 star is because several of the people at my table had the steak and every dish was overcooked and underseasoned. A great place for a date or a night out with your friends! One of the best places I've been to in Miami- not just trendy, but has the food to back up the reputation (and price)!
(4)
Tom S.
Last year i tried Scarpetta Las Vegas and was not impressed. Being a fan of Scott Conant, the tv personality, I thought I would give him another chance during a weekend visit to Miami. All I can say after visiting two of his restaurants is that he needs to be a little less arrogant when judging others' food. Don't get me wrong, the food was above average, but not meaningful. I tried the famous spaghetti dish and was not wowed by it. A simple dish done perfectly should wow you. There are too many other good restaurants to give Scott another chance.
(2)
Nina V.
I was so blown away by Scarpetta. I'm a die hard top chef fan and so when I went to Miami for my birthday, I knew I had to eat there and try and meet the head chef Nina. There was a group of 11 of us and we got seated immediately in a private area. As soon as I walked in and met the waiter, I told him what a fan I was of Nina and asked if I could meet her. After sitting down for five minutes, she came out to our table and gave me a hug and introduced herself. Then she sent us out some delicious appetizers compliments of the chef. Oh, and the food was INSANE. The polenta is probably the best thing I've ever eaten, or no wait it was the spaghetti (which sounds ridiculous because why would you order spaghetti with tomato sauce at a five star restaurant?) UMMM because it melts in your mouth. After two drinks and a ton of amazing food, we were getting ready to go when our waiter came out with a business card from the head chef, chocolate lava cake with a candle and a complimentary glass of champagne for my birthday from the head chef. I can't even begin to tell you how impressed I was with the service and the food. I would absolutely come back here again (in fact I can't ever imagine coming to Miami again and not going there!) And I'm crossing my fingers and toes hoping Nina wins top chef NOLA!!! She rocks!
(5)
Meo M.
everything we tried was good. the duck is so tender. Hand-made pasta is to die for.
(5)
Erik Y.
I went the night before the ING Marathon when they had a $35 runners special (although I was not running the next day, the rest of my group was). I was apprehensive at first because I thought it was going to be a shared app, 1 pasta choice, and a cheap dessert. Was I ever wrong! The restraunt itself is beautiful inside. Dark colors and deep woods, dimly lit. Music created a laid back yet somewhat upbeat ambiance. All servers were dressed to perfection. Food: For my appertizer, I got the raw yellowfin tuna. Came out with 4 smallish peices. Had some greens on it and cracked sea salt. The flavor was out of this world!! Entree: Duck ravioli and foie gras. Amazing, albeit after several bites it got a little redundant. Dessert: I do not recall what the dish was called, but it had a coconut ice cream with chunks of pineapple in it, sitting atop a mango gelatin-type thing, all surrounded by a sea of tropical fruit liquid. I know that doesn't sound glamorous, but it was out of this world good!!! I am not a dessert fan by any means, but this rocked. Truly rocked. Table mates got their famous spaghetti (i tried some, awesome), the salad (uninspired but still good), and the chocolate cake (great and rich, but mine was better!) Overall, awesome romantic place with a great atmosphere and wonderful food. Wine list was outrageous (ie. the only cheap glasses were $12+ and most bottles were 150-1000 range). If you have some cash to burn and want a great night out (with 5 star service!!!) go here!
(4)
Valerie V.
One of the most delicious meals of my life!!! Went here with a group of ladies for a nice dinner during my Bachelorette weekend. I insisted on Scarpetta because I have a huge foodie crush on Chef Scott Conant. From the second we walked in, we were wowed by the decor, the ambiance, and the service. Our table was ready and waiting when we walked in and the server that greeted us was patient and relaxed but still totally on time. The food!!! We each had our own apps, then we shared pasta dishes, and then had our own entrees. All accompanied by wine of course. The food highlights---Appetizers: creamy polenta & mushroom fricasse, steak tartar with quail egg, and the squash blossoms. Pastas: the duck foie gras ravioli (AMAZINGGGGG!) and the classic spaghetti that will redefine your notion of what spaghetti is. Entrees: Black Cod, the Duck Breast. In short, we loved Scarpetta and I will 100% be back my next time in Miami. Next time I just hope Chef Conant is around for a picture and kiss on the cheek.
(5)
Marco S.
Very good place to have a serious meal. Nice experience for service and ambiance. Italian wine list is notable, so is the service. The creamy polenta is a must. Also is the tartare. The veal is awesome, and the duck along with the sirloin steak. Waiting to go back try the sea ulrich. The deserts are also good, the banana soufle is delightful.
(5)
Saskia M.
Ohhh Scarpetta...The ambiance, the service, the decor, the FOOD... all so well executed. Starting by the house made deliciously fresh bread rolls, so warm... The Stromboli one: wow, filled soppressata and mozzarella... you will definitely ask for seconds. Appetizers: Scott Conant's creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms is such a remarkable plate. The polenta's just right texture and its subtle flavor pairs of perfectly with the truffled mushrooms fricassee. Pouring that mushroom fricassee on top of that polenta is such a awesomely great idea!! We also ordered the short ribs with vegetable and farro rissotto. Very good flavor profiles, deep, heavy, and very well cooked. Nonetheless, the creamy polenta wins the appetizer round! First plate: Duck and foie gras ravioli, OH My! You need to order these ravioli. The pasta is so fresh and perfectly cooked, the filling is so amazing, you are able to identify both the duck and the foie gras flavors so well and the marsala wine reduction that tops them off provides the right touch of sweetness to each bite. Second plate: Black Cod with concentrated tomatoes and roasted fennel. Great crispy skin on the fish and well cooked. The tomato on this plate is as much as a star as the cod is; the flavors compete a little but still pair off well. Next to come: the 21Day Aged Sirloin of Beef, doesn't just the name make you want to order this already? Read a little more, it's served with bone marrow, romano beans and chanterelle mushrooms. Cooked to perfection, all the flavors complement each other so well. This is definitely the winner in the second round. Not only was the food ridiculously delicious, but the service was excellent and on point. They also provided the perfect wine pairing recommendations along the entire meal. Scarpetta has left so many thoughts in me, the experience is definitely one to remember and one to repeat!!
(5)
Karla D.
We traveled to Key West for a week and stopped in Miami for 2 nights before heading home. On the first night we had the tasting menu at Scarpetta. Simply DELICIOUS!! From beginning to the end, the food was amazing. If you're in Miami go have dinner there. You won't regret it.
(5)
Ha L.
Read in a magazine that the spaghetti here is Beyonce and Jay Z's favorite in NYC. Tried it and all I have to say is they were seriously tripping. Oh yes - and $24 for a dirty martini?? That's the same price as my bland spaghetti. No thank you.
(2)
Rob H.
Go for the 4-course Chef's Tasting. This is as good as it gets. If I could give it more stars, I would. The Duck Foie Gras Ravioli is simply amazing. Spaghetti...normal fucking spaghetti...was delicious. Scialatielli was, also, amazing. Roasted Skate Wing in citrus brown butter...WOW. 21 Day Aged Sirloin of Beef....so tender and so delicious. For the dessert course, the Coconut Panna Cotta, seriously, might be the best dessert I've ever had in my entire life. Honestly, pretty much everything that came in the Chef's Tasting was absolutely delicious. It's worth every penny. As for the service, it's what you expect. Impeccable. Gabriel, our server, was as nice, attentive, and knowledgeable as you can ask for. Very nice guy and made us feel welcomed and at home.
(5)
Jonah K.
Awesome miami spice menu. We got a pasta as well which was excellent. The portions are small, and the prices are high, but I would come back to do the tasting menu. Overall excellent view of the ocean, great service, and the food is spot on.
(5)
Alissa W.
This is one of the best places I have EVER eaten. The service in impeciable, and they do not rush you at all. The food is 6 stars, and being inside the famous Fountian Bleu Hotel it is so nice to walk around after. The food is out of this world too !For appetizers we started out with the burrata, and heriloom tomatoes, and the himachi. I definitely reccomend the burrata, it melts in your mouth. They even split the portion in the back for us. For my entree I ordered the cavaletti with chunks of fresh lobster, and capers. WOW the pasta is as fresh as can be. Not to many places in Miami can you get fresh pasta. For dessert, the main reason I go here. I ordered the coconut panna cota. This just melts in your mouth. This restaurant has great ambiance, and I love they do not rush you. Fine dining without a rush to turnover tables in Miami is not very common. Definitely make a reservation !!!!
(5)
Mai S.
My family and I dined during the Miami Spice week. It was a wonderful experience with my 3 kids (7-16 yrs old) as we had not been to the beautiful Fountainbleau hotel before. The restaurant decor was gorgeous & the ambience was very trendy and hip. The service & staff were great and attentive! The staff were seasoned and well trained to service fine dining. The food as other had written was fabulous!! The polenta was amazing as raved by the critics!! The brazino fish was a little dry for me - but beautifully presented. I am sorry we did not tried the spaghetti - as we thought that would be too simple for fine dining. It sounds like we missed out on a creative dish by the chef. I would definitely recommend this restaurant highly - even just for the experience of walking through the hotel. BEAUTIFULLY designed!!!
(5)
Fernando V.
Some people think Italian food is all the same. Truth is, this is a great place to experience REAL northern Italian (the best) Italian cuisine. My experience was during Miami spice, and still it was so good and memorable I am writing a review o. February 2012. Maybe the fact the wines are all Italian is a bit of a turn off for me but let me tell you this place will deliver. Service was great, respectful, prompt, informative, personable but not fastidious. The food was exquisite, well timed sequence of courses... It kinda sucks to valet with the hotel people but oh we'll...this is Miami. A little on the loud side. Overall, highly recommended.
(4)
Kate K.
Holy amazing. Welcome to heaven!! An impressive menu accompanied by a worldly wine list and a knowledgeable solmoneau to help you navigate. Let's start with the bread basket. MEOW! Te breads are delectable especially the prosciutto and mozzarella bread. The mascarpone butter literally melted in your mouth. Eggplant tapenade was Delish and the oil was exotically stimulating. The Sauvignon blanc by the glass was an utal dream and everything you want in a Sauvignon. Light, crisp and refreshing. The waiter was so helpful but said his job was easy to make recommendations for because you just can't go wrong; and we didn't. The mozzarella over stewed tomatoes was amazing and the tuna sashimi had the perfect accompanying crunch. Round #2 the duck ravioli. YOU MUST! They were little pockets of explosive magnificence. My girlfriend got the spaghetti but wasn't kind enough to share, lol but it looked spectacular. Unfortunately we were too stuffed for desert, but it was worth going back or and can't wait to try it in new York. If you're a guest of the hotel they offer a 20% off coupon for off times. Kudos Scarpetta!
(5)
Laura G.
Angels sang and a beam of light shined down on my plate revealing my own Anton Ego- Ratatouille moment. Flashbacks of my childhood rushed past me as the amazing dish that is the Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli melted in my mouth and was accompanied by the prosecco e dried fragole cocktail. I sent complements to the chef, the bartender, the owner, the manager, the waiter... My GF and I decided to try Scarpetta for a "Special Night." Scarpetta means "little shoe" in Italian and is also the action of cleaning your plate with a piece of bread attached to your fork like ...well, a little shoe. And that I did. I let my bread soak up all the remnants of my amazing dish, any passerby would have thought I had received an empty plate because of how clean it was. We were wowed from the moment we walked inside. The decor was superb and an ocean breeze graces the outside tables and diners. One thing I did not enjoy was the bread(s) selection and their toppings. I could have had three little dishes of marscapone butter (amazing) instead of that strange tapenade or lemon infused oil. Eh. The large piece of plain bread was delicious but that other salami and mozzarella bread, not so much. This is the kind of place I do not mind spending a little bit more money to enjoy. I loved Scarpetta and it exceeded my expectations.
(5)
Derek M.
Love this place! Food is always great and consistent!!! Service is okay sometimes they can be a little rude. Still give it 5 stars.
(5)
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Address :Fontainebleau Hotel & Resort,4441 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, FL, 33140
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Upscale Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Huyen V.
Fabulous staff, incredible food. Miami Spice Menu = awesome. We had one of everything on the special menu. OMG I'll fly back 2 do it again. Ryan our server was great, Saved 4 ladies from a majorly wasted guy discreetly & w/o causing a scene.
(5)Michele C.
hands down the BEST food and dining experience i've had in miami. the staff were extremely friendly and made the experience that much better.
(5)Carol C.
This place is awesome. It's definitely pricey but it's all well worth it and definitely perfect for a special night or when you need to impress. The hotel is an experience in and of itself but the decor in the restaurant is beautiful. My only gripe would be the noise and yet, it's intimate. From the white glove service, to the specially baked bread, to the classic and adventorous food options, it will not disappoint. The people watching ain't bad either. My favorite meal in a realllllllly long time.
(5)Victoria L.
Sunday brunch was great! $50 will get you unlimited mimosas, bloody mary and bellinis in addition to lavish buffet. The buffet offers many more options than anywhere in 15 miles radius. The service was good. Many families with kids. Lively atmosphere. Happy times.
(4)Anthony D.
Scarpetta is excellent. I'm reluctant to give 5 stars, but they deserve it. Excellent service, atmosphere and service. Arrive a little early for a drink at the bar with Mike.
(5)Foodie Z.
After my girlfriend and I suffered thru an awful experience at Blade, the Sushi place at the fontainbleau hotel, we were still starving, so we went to Scarpetta. As some of you may know, Scott Conants NYC Scarpetta outpost is an excellent restaurant in the meatpacking area that I frequent, so I was at least confident that this place should suffice. I was happily proved correct. Scott himself was there, and he was very gracious to give us a table despite the fact that the place was fairly busy (not full). The service was very attentive, the atmosphere was lively and fun and the crowd was very eclectic. George Hamilton was at a table near us (looking orange as usual) and there was a very entertaining Vegas-style couple next to us wearing some awesomely garish clothes. We ordered two different pastas - a veal ravioli and a mushroom ravioli. Both excellent. Home made, melt in your mouth fresh and a bit heavy for the Miami climate - but i liked them nonetheless. The Lemon Cheesecake dessert was outstanding and they were kind enough to offer us free chilled Limoncello's as an after dinner drink. Overall, Scott saved our dining experience that evening after a dismal visit to Blade down the hall. I recommend this place.
(3)Sarah S.
Everything about Scarpetta was excellent! The bar area where we waited is elegant and we had great mixed drinks - we chose to eat outside because despite being July there was a lovely breeze. We were over looking one of the (many) pool areas and it was lovely. The service (both waiter and bus boys) were excellent - friendly, helpful efficient, knowledgeable etc. - and cute! The bread basket is top-notch - totally different (and yummy) breads/dips. We had the mushroom polenta (signature dish!) and a tuna appetizer - both were fantastic - the polenta truly deserve its reputation! We then had the halibut entree and black pasta - both were superb - perfect in every way. We were full - so skipped desert (possibly a mistake - they looked wonderful!) - we will absolutely go back - the prices are high but the food, service and decor make it worth it!
(5)kb j.
This restaurant is located in the Fountainbleu. The resort in which it is located is enormous (you might consider leaving a bread crumb trail to find your way back to the main entrance). The restaurant is large. There is a nice bar area up front. The main dining room has a great feel to it. The food was well prepared, the service was top level and the wine list was well-chosen.
(5)N S.
We stayed at the hotel and checked out Scarpetta for dinner one night. Beautiful restaurant, I liked it much better than the NYC location. Service is ok, but the food is fabulous. Highly recommend.
(5)R Z.
I've never experienced such pushy waiters in my life. The food was good but the experience was ruined by our waiter who kept trying to jack up our bill by hassling us to order the most expensive items on the menu. He was beyond aggressive. Once I saw the bill and realized that that added a mandatory gratuity then I understood why. Avoid Scarpetta!
(2)a a.
Excellent Miami Spice menu! My husband and I are Miami locals and decided to head to the Fountainbleu to enjoy one of the MIami Spice menus being offered. We considered the menus at Hakkasan, Gotham Steak and Scarpetta, finally settling on the last. These are all restaurants we would otherwise like to try - but considering the $35 menu, we couldn't resist. Scarpetta by far exceeded our expectations. From the bread through the desserts, everything was great! The branzino was by far one of the best entrees I have had in a Miami restaurant all year. I would go back tomorrow to have it again. A superb meal for an absolute steal!
(5)Rachel P.
It's that good. My friend and I took a late night reservation and were seated within about 10 min of the 10 p.m. ressie...not ideal, but fine. And a great table, even in the midst of the SoBe Wine & Food insanity. Started with the terrific bread basket with a trio of "dips"...buttery mascarpone cheese, amazing citrus infused olive oil, which was light and sweet. And the best eggplant caponata. It was terrific. Just terrific. Then the apps...I had the raw yellowtail, which was lightly seasoned with chili oil and marinated onions...sort of a salted shallot mignonette flavor. Simply delish. My friend had the braised short ribs on a farro risotto. Both were just exquisite. For dinner, she had the house specialty - spaghetti pomodoro. Unreal. Salty, non-acidic tomato sauce doused with lots of basil. Unbelievable. And I had quite possibly my favorite entree ever...the black cod with the "concentrated" (or dried) tomatoes and roasted fennel. I can't handle the fact that I can't have it every single night. Unreal. For dessert we shared the apple tort with a small scoop of ginger ice cream and a rum cream. So good. The service was the best we had at the Fontainebleau (which on the whole missed the service mark a bit). What the waiter at Scarpetta lacked in enthusiasm, he made up for in timeliness, diligence and knowledge. Just really great service. Really. I would recommend this to ANYONE, and I'm dying to get to the one in NYC soon. Really amazing.
(5)Sean E.
one of the best restaurants in miami. great service & incredible food. we had the chef's tasting menu withthe wine paring and felt we got our money's worth. would recommend this place to anyone who doesn't mind paying for great food.
(5)Sadia A.
I LOVE Fountainebleau but i was very disappointed by scarpetta :( The food was sooooo mediocre. Its beautiful from inside and all but the foods just not worth it at all. Very pricey tiny portions. Def. wont be going there again.
(2)Sooj K.
I thought the food was excellent but the service wasn't that great. I think it was because we look young even though we are in our late 20's? We were looking around the service they gave to everyone else and it was pretty intresting. Oh Well!! The interior made it seem like you were inside a cruise ship which was pretty cute. For appetizer the octopus dish was amazing. It was perfectly cooked! For dinner the scallops melted in your mouth. Overall.. Food was good. service could be a lot better.
(2)j g.
We were curious about what the hype was so... Friday night drive down to the famous Scarpetta restaurant! The outdoor seating was available but we decided on indoor seating. This hip but very loud restaurant is located in Fountainebleu.The theme was mariner all throughout the interior of the restaurant which was quite interesting. It was very busy and crowded many young people out on dates, hanging out at the bar,some older men looking for younger chicks...this IS the Miami scene! The club LIV was located inside the hotel too and it was quite packed with the anticipation of the guest rapper PITbull. Now unto the food... We ordered the burratta mozzerella and heirloom tomatoes-which was quite small?( I was warned it would be!)It looked a bit sloppy on the presentation side. The steak tartare was ordered by friends-there comment was it was okay,not the best. The entrees of the "famous" spaghetti was good not great- bf concluded after a taste that it was like "chef boyardee"with a little heat NOT worth $24...his entree was duck and foie gras which was tasty, again, not great... The other friend had the raviolini's and that was small portioned too and okay tasting as well. The dessert was chocolate zeppoli with creme anglaise and nutella filling which was sweet and delicious. The service was top notch for such a busy venue. All in all, it was good,not great. (Now maybe if you are inebriated you can say its 5 stars but it certainly wasn't going to garner that in my book!) I've been to far more awesome and delicious italian restaurants in south florida!!
(2)Tom A.
I was staying at the Fontainebleau for a company conference and decided to stay a few extra nights with my wife. We are big fans of the Food Network Channel show, Chopped, and we were very excited to see that one of the celebrity judges, Scott Conant, had a restaurant that we could try. So much for celebrities! The restaurant itself is very nicely decorated with a nice waiting area, but the inside is very cramped and the tables are WAY TOO close together. After being seated, we waited for a while before we were served some tap water. We waited even further for bread to be served and the wine list to be delivered. Most of the wines are very over priced and either Italian or French, so thank god for the sommelier who came to our rescue. Now on to the service and food. The waiter was very inattentive and it was extremely difficult to flag him down for any type of service whatsoever. When we ordered a bottle of wine, he poured us each a small taste and walked away with the bottle. He didn't bother to ask if we wanted it on the table or in a chiller near the table, just walked away with it. Strange. We probably waited another ten minutes before we could get him back to pour another glass. Sure they were busy, but that's no excuse for ridiculously poor service. Not my fault for the outragously priced meal. Now, on to the food and time to critique the judge! For appetizers, my wife ordered the Tuna Susci and I orded the Arugula salad. The salad was wonderful. Arugula has a very distinct and powerful taste and the dressing was a great compliment. However, my wifes appetizer was very boring, very strange taste and not much of a tuna flavor. Basically a bland mash. Now on to round two, as they say on chopped, the entree. My wife ordered the Mediterranean Branzino. What came out was completely unexpected. By the description, we were expecting a shrimp dish. Instead, she received a Mediterranean SeaBass with a crispy, in our opinion over-cooked, skin on a piece of fish. Scott, if you're going to put SeaBass on the menu, why not include it in the description? I ordered the Monkfish. Very nice piece of meat, cooked just right and a decent compliment of flavors. HOWEVER, the portion was a lunch, not dinner size. Sorry Scott, in college I worked in a fish restaurant and part of my job was cutting the fish into lunch and dinner portions. I think you are missing about 3-4 ounces there for that price. To complete the dinner, we ordered a dessert to share and both decided on the mocha cheesecake. We both LOVED it! Definitely a winner to end the meal. So, in summary I say pass. Scott needs to be a contestant on his own show. Way, way over priced meal for what you get and the service was horrible. Buyer beware, not worth the money and don't expect to be served well for the already included 20% tip. I guess when the waiter doesn't have to work for the tip, they have no incentive to work for it!
(2)song c.
had the 5 course tasting ($85) and it was good. not great, but good. i love scott conant but i was expecting a bit more. the polenta was dynamite....as was the bread served at the beginning of the meal. a little disappointed with the main courses. on the plus side, arrived with kids at 6pm (when the restaurant opens) and they were very accommodating.
(3)Holly B.
Excellent Italian food, excellent food period. My friend & I started the evening at the bar with the Torrino, delicious drink. The 3 in my party all ordered from the Miami Spice menu and our waiter could hardly help to hide his dismay that not only we were ordering the $35 prix fix menu but we already had ordered and paid for our cocktails. I understand that his livelihood is affected by the price points of what we order, but PLEASE try not to be so obvious w/ your disappointment, it makes for a less then ideal dining experience. I subtract a star for our waiters behavior. Now onto the savory food. I had the burrata, my friend had the creamy polenta w/ 'shrooms and hub had the mackerel crudo. All were spectacular. I think the creamy polenta w/ mushrooms was the favorite, truly outstanding flavors exploding on your palate, i loved the creamy texture mixed with the pungent smokiness of the mushrooms. I got the notorious spaghetti and hub/friend both had the branzino w/ shrimp, clams and tomatoes. Again, all dishes were stellar. The fish fresh, cooked to perfection, crispy on outside soft and flaky inside with hints of garlic and sitting atop fresh chunks of seafood. The spaghetti was cooked to perfection with a creamy tomato sauce. Surprisingly, the portions were large, I could not finish the pasta dish. Onto dessert, I had the panna cotta with guava/passion fruit/pineapple sauce, husband had the polenta crusted cheesecake with lemon sorbet and strawberry sauce, and friend had the molten dark chocolate cake with espresso ice cream. Each dessert was perfection. All in all, come here for the spectacular food, and try to ignore the whole song & dance of being at the fountainblue: the parking, the scene and the remarkable attitude.
(4)Igor S.
My sister came to visit me, and I want to invite her to a special place where we can have dinner that she couldn't forget, and I decide went to the Scarpetta restaurant @ Luxury Fontaineblue Miami Beach, and in the middle of our dinner a luxury cockroach join us and jump to my shirt, the short story it's no body care about that, the mattress said that's normal cause we dinning close to the pool and the beach, and the manager?? I don't but I think he is dumb because he doesn't say a word, at least at the end actually was a night to remember, no?
(1)Alice F.
This restaurant made it to my top 5 list of Miami restaurants. The only reason why I don't give five stars is that we went there only once and therefore have not been able to check if they are consistent in the quality. Very nice setting. Good service. The food was absolutely delicious. The Miami spice menu is a real deal. I had the polenta (perfect really), followed by the pasta (huge portion, absolutely delicious) and the mango cheese cake (very impressed).
(4)Anastasia P.
Wonderful food! Fabulous service!! Definitely get the 4 course option!
(5)Heather C.
awesome! And the best spaghetti I've ever ever ever tasted.
(5)Marilyn A.
This place is definitely unique for the usual Italian restaurant. First of all the decor is like no other in Miami. The restaurants designer David Collins really outdid himself. The location in the Fontainebleau hotel is incredible, it was a wrap around balcony for outdoor dining facing the ocean. Now I get to the food, they do Italian food with a twist, they have the best simple spaghetti in the world, the sauce is like no other. Steak and fish are always great. Every person that has been there always dies for their polenta with the truffle mushroom sauce, even people that never ate polenta in their lives swear by it. My favorite restaurant in Miami hands down. Its also nice that you have the incredible blue bar for drinks in the hotel lobby for after drinks.
(5)Judy D.
We and another couple had dinner at Scarpetta last night, using the Miami Spice menu. I must admit that we went expecting to be treated as second class citizens on that account. Nothing could have been further from the reality we experienced. We had reservations and were seated at a nice table. The decor was a modern take on the nautical theme....very slick and classy. We each had something different for appetizers, entrees and desserts. Every bite of every single thing was absolutely delicious. The polenta with wild mushrooms was one step away from heaven, the fish was perfectly cooked, the prime filet cut like butter, the raw mackerel appitizer was so very fresh....I could go on and on but have now drooled all over my keyboard. The service was impeccable, the waiter was delightful and we were tended to as though we were the only patrons there. All of us will DEFINITELY return....and soon!
(5)B. L.
my pasta was somewhat soggy. the only good thing about my meal was the appetizer, which was the tuna sushi sashimi style wrapped on baby greens...it's like a maki roll but instead of rice inside, it's baby greens. the tuna was very fresh/delicious and tipped in a perfect olive oil sauce. we wanted to order a gd bottle of wine but the wine specialist wasn't avail, so the waiter wasn't able to assist us, so we ordered a wine we're familar with. we were there on a fri ngt around 8pm and the restaurant was ~half full; so to our surprise it wasn't packed like we expected, esp b/c it's inside the famous fontaine bleu hotel. I gave it a 3 star b/c of the tuna sushi appetizer and the bread basket; otherwise, the pasta (my husband's as well) was overcooked/soggy. also, the perseca / orginal - not flavored (italian sparkling wine was delicious)
(3)Tom S.
Last year i tried Scarpetta Las Vegas and was not impressed. Being a fan of Scott Conant, the tv personality, I thought I would give him another chance during a weekend visit to Miami. All I can say after visiting two of his restaurants is that he needs to be a little less arrogant when judging others' food. Don't get me wrong, the food was above average, but not meaningful. I tried the famous spaghetti dish and was not wowed by it. A simple dish done perfectly should wow you. There are too many other good restaurants to give Scott another chance.
(2)Ha L.
Read in a magazine that the spaghetti here is Beyonce and Jay Z's favorite in NYC. Tried it and all I have to say is they were seriously tripping. Oh yes - and $24 for a dirty martini?? That's the same price as my bland spaghetti. No thank you.
(2)Ben P.
Love this place! Excellent food, service, decor with ocean views. I highly recommend this place. Garrett took great care of us. The food is ridiciously good. Portions are not huge, but just the right size. If you are looking for a place to eat in Miami Beach, then go here!!
(5)Julie J.
I went for Miami Spice and it was exactly what I was expecting. It was very chic, upscale, and beautiful. It fits in perfect with the Fountain Blue. I had a sirloin plate which the sauce gave it an amazing taste. I recommend it especially if you are in the hotel.
(4)Vicki T.
Had a romantic dinner with my hubby there, outstanding as always! We ordered the Chef tasting, it's a small bit of the whole menu....excellent as always and had to bring some home it was so much
(5)Lorelai G.
Best Miami Spice. I had Seared tuna for appetizers, snapper with arugula for entrée and tiramisu for dessert. Everything was really good.. Service was great, elegant ambience, excellent dishes presentation. Must Try!!!
(5)Gretchen R.
Both the turbot $32 and halibut $39 were great. Brocollini $12 was pretty good. Complimentary bread basket was standard. Service was very good--waters refilled often. 18% automatic gratuity as is the custom in Miami. The waiter didn't offer us the Miami Spice menu. We actually didn't know about it but overheard two tables nearby ask for that menu. We had already ordered our food though so too late for us. Hmm, sounds like a missed opportunity to try new dishes. I wish the server had informed us. Located in the Fountain Blu hotel so plenty of Ferraris, Lambos, and Bentleys in valet to feast your eyes on as you walk in.
(4)Noa L.
Scarpetta's chef is a friend of mine but I will say the truth. Scarpetta used to be EXCELLENT: I would give it a 10 on a scale of 1 to 5! Food was like tasting heaving. Was my favorite place for food. But the quality has gone down to (still) very good, just inconsistent: If you're lucky that day, it would be like heavenly, if not, it'd still be very good. I can easily say I've been to Scarpetta at least 50 times in 2 years. And if you go there often, you're treated like royalty. If you've never been: GO. On a side note: The good thing is the floor manager that used to work there was a b*tch. Rude. She was hitting on every single man right in front of their wives, it was embarrassing, pretending it's the first time she meets "the girl" and treating her like an escort. She's the reason why my circle of friends and I stopped going. But she no longer works there. Either way, if you've never been, you should definitely pay it a visit. They have an EXCELLENT variety of wine (by the glass or bottle). If you want to see what it looks like, go grab a drink at the bar. Try the Cabernet by the glass (such a great one), or a Lychee Martini if you're more in a cocktail mood. If you're hungry, definitely order that famous SPAGHETTI, it is just perfect if you're lucky that day. What's so special? Just trust me and order, and let me know what you think later. The Duck au Foie Gras ravioli is really amazing too, if you like liver. If you're just in the mood for appetizers, the Polenta is fantastic, definitely top of the list. The Raw Yellowtail, Tuna Tartare, Steak Tartare and Burrata are good too, if you're more in the mood. On the dessert menu, their Chocolate Zeppole and Souffle are a great pick. Enjoy and good luck!
(4)Grace R.
I love Scarpetta - it's one of my favorite places in Miami. And it would have to be THAT good for me to put up with the hassle of getting here, finding a parking spot (because the valet is swamped and very expensive even with validation) and walking a few blocks in the summer heat to get to. The Polenta with fricasee of mushrooms was on Food Network's "best things I ever ate" show, and it's on that same list for me too. Word of warning though: it seems to continue expanding AFTER you eat it, so if you are a pig and eat an entire serving of this yourself, you are going to pay for it when you struggle with dessert. I always have a different main whenever I go, and they are all great. The pastas can be very rich, and are best shared with a date (like the polenta). If you are eating both polenta AND a pasta in the same meal, you'd better be running in a marathon the next day (and Scarpetta does in fact have a promotion the same weekend as the Miami Marathon for this exact reason). Speaking of promotions, Scarpetta is one of the best options every year during Miami Spice (our version of "restaurant week" that lasts 2 months in late summer), and I look forward to going in months when Spice returns and the tourists depart.
(5)Alli P.
Definitely my favorite restaurant in The Fontainebleau. On the opposite site of the lobby and Liv Nightclub entrance , the restaurant is much quieter and maintains a peaceful and classy vibe. Going with a group, I was able to try an assortment of things, each taster than the next. From breads and burrata salad, to pasta and some truffle and cream concoction, there wasn't a single unappetizing item on the menu... Definitely worth enjoying a meal there at least once whether living in, or visiting Miami.
(4)Charlie S.
Delicious. Sharing appetizers and entrees between a table of four meant I got to taste a significant chunk of the menu. Scarpetta isn't quite five stars for me, but the wonderful pasta brings it extremely close. My impressions of the food: - The short rib appetizer was good, but not great. There's better short rib to be had at many other places in Miami. I'd skip it. - Creamy polenta with mushrooms was a creamy delight. - Spaghetti was simple, flavorful, and superb. This is an important-for-everyone-at-the-table-to-try dish, and for that reason I recommend ordering a spaghetti as an appetizer for the table. This was my second favorite dish. - Tagliatelle with crab and uni was a tasty dish, but there was no discernible flavor of uni. Since it was the uni that had drawn me to this dish, it fell short of my expectations. - Duck and foie gras ravioli was the best dish by far. Full of wonderful and subtle flavors, each ravioli was meant to be savored and to dissolve in one's mouth. Really great. It is a small (but rich) portion. - In every pasta dish, the pasta was fresh and phenomenal. Service was excellent. Our server demonstrated substantial knowledge of the menu and its ingredients when we had questions.
(4)Danay A.
One of my favorite restaurant. The food always perfect. The spaguetti simply amazing the polenta really good and the dessert you should tried the coconut panacota is really really perfect one of my favorite dessert and I love dessert, oh I almost forgot the complimentary bread 4 different breads.
(5)Shawn R.
We had dinner here recently and we were very disappointed. started out great and then took almost an hour to get the entrée, we had the chef's tasting menu I even found a 3 inch long piece of string in my filet, my wife did not eat her filet and we had it packed to go, left overs, when we got back to our room The fillet was missing. We even tweeted to Scott Conant about it because we thought we should have been refunded and invited back for another meal. never heard anything I would suggest to steer clear here I think they have a management and shift issue. The top chef winner that used to be the chef here is no longer working here and it's funny how Conant is a judge on chopped when he should be down there fixing his restaurant that is ripping people off.
(2)John L.
Disappointed. Not disappointed that the food was not very good, it was. Just disappointed that it wasn't outstanding, especially given the price and the ambience. In fairness, we carried exceedingly high - but reasonable given the hype - expectations but left feeling slightly underwhelmed. Service was very good save for two dishes - the server oddly struggled to adequately describe the dishes. Not good. To the credit of the restaurant, it was obviously noticed and server did not return. Two dishes were overly salted. Simply too much sprinkled just prior to serving. And I generally like quite a bit of salt. Annoying. Excellent polenta. "Divine""would also fit here if you are a polenta fanatic. Mushrooms are a must-have. Short ribs were just OK - far too many things going on with the dish. I've had much better. Ravioli was outstanding - our favorite dish. Pasta was superb. As was the "gravy".
(3)Maya H.
My fiancé and I had been looking forward to dining at Scarpetta for weeks. We had been reviewing the menu and reading yelp reviews countless number of times and already knew what we needed to try. When we first walked into the Fontainebleu, it was incredible. After exploring the hotel for a bit, we found our way to Scarpetta. We were immediately seated, and found the atmosphere delightful, it was definitely the perfect romantic setting. I ordered the Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli and my fiancé ordered the Spaghetti. We were extremely excited for these two dishes, because of the incredible reviews we read about. The Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli was good, it was drizzled with a familiar sauce, that my fiancé loved. The only complaint my fiancé had was the small portion. I, unfortunately, wasn't too happy with this dish. I didn't enjoy the taste of the dish too much and ended up giving all of it to my fiancé. The Spaghetti dish was okay, but very simple. It was a small sized portion, and surprisingly dry. The dish didn't have much flavor and was over priced for what it was. Overall, Scarpetta definitely set the tone for a perfect evening. Our waiter and the server were delightful and very knowledgeable. Unfortunately, our expectations of the food were way too high, and ended up with a not so satisfying meal.
(3)Kent S.
Excellent night at Scarpetta. Scarpetta is located in the Foutainebleau, an iconic South Beach hotel. We had reservations at 8:30. We arrived, checked in with the hostess and then proceeded to the bar for a pre-dinner cocktail. The restaurant decor is hip and trendy. The bar staff was attentive, but wine by the glass and bottle beer menu is limit. They do not stock any domestic beer. After about 10 minutes at the bar, we were approached by the hostess who let us know our table was ready. The dinning room is loud and energetic. I found it a bit on the dark side and we saw several customers using their cell phone lights to read the menus. We were promptly greeted by our wait staff and the wine steward. The bottle wine menu was overwhelming with 30+ pages of vino from all corners of the world. We kept it simple with a nice bottle of Dutton Goldfield Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley $75. It was excellent. For starters we had the creamy polenta recommended by our waiter (and many on Yelp). The polenta was outstanding with a creamy texture and an earthy taste from the truffled mushrooms that are served separate but meant to be poured over the polenta. I used some of the fresh bread from the table to dip and soak up the the polenta. The serving size is more than enough for 2 to share. This is a must have starter. Both of our entrees came highly recommended by our waiter. First the home made spaghetti with tomato and fresh basil. The pasta is all made fresh in-house. While a very simple dish, for the pasta lover this is true perfection. The pasta was perfectly al dente' with a very fresh tomato basil sauce nicely seasoned with parmesan. It needed nothing else. Next we had the Atlantic Halibut. It was poached and served over morel mushrooms, corn and favs beans. The fish was plump and perfectly moist. The mushrooms added a woody taste and the locally selected corn gave the dish a fresh finish. By the time we completed our entrees, we had no room for dessert.
(5)Jennifer O.
Is a Beautifull restaurant with great views Excellent food and service Must try the short rib pasta !!!! Miami spice is worth it! Must go!
(5)Madison M.
Excellent restaurant!!! Loved everything about it including the service, the ambiance and the food. I went with a small group during Miami Spice Month where they offer your choice of appetizer, entree and dessert for a fixed price. First they bring you a bread basket with variety of different breads and delicious toppings which included sun dried tomatoes and a lemon oil. For appetizer, I had the mushroom polenta and for the entree, I shared the short rib pasta and the snapper. Both dishes were delicious. Yes, the menu prices were high but it was expected being a restaurant inside the Fountainbleau and with such high quality food. Our waiter also told us about a Sunday dinner experience that includes various appetizers and entrees for a fixed rate. May be back soon for that!
(5)Stedine L.
The food here is delicious!!! It's so good I want to come back and taste the rest of their menu. I had the polenta with wild mushroom, oven roasted chicken and chocolate cake for dessert. Every course was delectable
(5)Preeti M.
Perfection, every time. From the stunning atmosphere to the stellar service to the down right delicious food, Scarpetta never disappoints. I wish more restaurants took a page from this one's books and learned how to be classy in every way. The pastas are to die for and the portions are not as small as you think so be warned. They always present it as a Primi, Secondi but there is no need to go beyond Primi (trust me!). The Octopus appetizer is delicious and my staple dish here is the simple yet gorgeous tomato basil spaghetti. Voila! Love.
(4)Derek D.
Heard this place was known for its pasta, and the chef did not disappoint. The service and friendliness of the waitstaff is impeccable. Eduardo is a master of his craft, and it was a great move to order the Chef Special served family-style. During the second corse, I was able to taste pasta, served on pasta, with a side of pasta ravioli, and foie gras. Needless to say, this meal was a solid success, and I recommend it highly. Enjoy!
(5)Natalia E.
The food was amazing. I've been here before, but didn't have such a great experience. Yum, yum, yum. Try - The polenta, spaghetti with tomato sauce... Sound boring, but they are grrrrreat!
(5)Amanda G.
Excellent dinner at Scarpetta! We were celebrating a bachelorette party with 11 ladies and we ordered the tasting menu for the table at the waiters recommendation. Starters were the creamy polenta, tomato mozzarella salad and short rib. All were fantastic! Also must try the prosciutto bread in the bread basket. So good and I don't normally eat prosciutto. The main courses were sea bass, roast chicken, tomato and basil spaghetti, duck and foie gras ravioli. The simple spaghetti was to die for as well as the roast chicken. The table favorites were the creamy polenta and the duck and foie gras ravioli. Dessert was also delicious, cheesecake parfait yummmm! Passion fruit panna cotta and a decadent chocolate cake. This was by far the best option for our table to try a variety of their specialties. The waiters were very accommodating for our large group and the ambiance was very nice for the evening. I felt like we had the restaurant to ourselves! Wonderful evening!
(5)Rach K.
Yum! I'm a frequent visitor of Scott Conant's NYC location so when a group of friends and I were heading to Miami for the weekend, I promptly requested that we make a reservation here. We were seated in the prettiest, brightest part of the restaurant overlooking the ocean. The staff brought over menus and filled our water glasses promptly. We each tried to order a different dish so that we could try a bunch of different things. One of us got scallops, one of us got the scialatelli with lobster, one of us got the short rib agnolotti, one of us got the corn raviolini, and I got the infamous tomato & basil spaghetti. The friend who ordered the raviolini didn't like her dish and one of the staff overheard so he replaced it with a dish of her choosing (the tomato & basil spaghetti) which we thought was so thoughtful and generous. Everything was delicious. The tomato & basil spaghetti is such a simple dish but it's incredible. I definitely recommend it; even Alton Brown says he'd eat it as a last meal. For dessert we had the amadei chocolate cake. It was a little disappointing; I think the NY location does a better job making it. The almond gelato didn't have much almond flavor but it was still delicious. I mean, we ate the whole thing. If you're in the mood for some delicious fresh pasta, Scarpetta is an obvious choice.
(5)Jarret S.
This was our 4th visit to Scarpetta and it was the first time we left without saying 'wow'. We went for Miami Spice and this year they have changed things, adding a $12 UPCHARGE for choosing the Tomato & Basil Pasta (the most amazing pasta you'll ever eat) as your entree. To be charged an EXTRA $12 for choosing pasta over chicken, short ribs or fish is ludicrous. On the dinner menu, the pasta is priced at a lower price point than any of the other entree offerings, yet for the spice menu, they want to charge you more. This makes zero sense from a consumer perspective as well as a kitchen/restaurant cost perspective. The desserts served on the spice menu, honestly, were borderline embarrassing: the tiramisu, while nice in flavor was served in a water glass and took up only the bottom 1/4 of the glass. The almond panna cotta had a gelatinous (not smooth) consistency and lacked flavor. The service we received from our server was excellent however this was the first time we noticed the support staff (drinks, hostess, water, food runners, bread, etc.) showing less professionalism than in previous visits. As always, valet parking there is a nightmare. Be prepared to add an hour to your dinner to allow for drop-off and pick-up of your vehicle.
(4)Jessica M.
Waitstaff is so enthusiastic and knowledgable here! The waiter recommended the pasta stuffed with duck and the truffle pasta. This was definitely out of the comfort zone with the flavored but I'm so glad we got them. They were delicious! We paired them with a bottle of wine and finished off with dessert! Great restaurant inside Fontainebleau
(5)E M.
I live in South Beach, so I am not surprised when service is less-than-great. I can live with that. But this place... wow. We made a reservation for 8:30... arrived at 8:20, in advance of the reservation (we were in a hurry to get to the next place after dinner)... we were seated at 10pm... If you can't seat us for the reservation... why in the hell would you take the reservation? Don't inconvenience us, give us the opportunity to choose some other place that actually can serve us. Once seated, service was slow and inattentive. We actually had to stand up and hunt down the our waiter to bring us our food after another hour of waiting. We didn't get out of there until 11:30pm, and that's only because we hurried through the actual eating. The food was unspectacular. The waitstaff was incredibly inattentive (probably due to overbooking and poor training)... and again, this is being said by someone who is used to South Beach and pretty laid back. And making us wait 1.5 hours when we had a reservation... that's just stupid. I can go to countless places and pay $250-300 for dinner for 2 that are outstanding in all categories. This place stinks.
(1)Ash P.
Wasn't very impressed with the "Miami Spice" for 52$ just to add spaghetti I wasn't very happy! Especially considering I drove an hour away and went to the one in NYC got a way better menu to choose from and only paid 35$!
(1)Cathy M.
I went to this restaurant when I was in Miami for my birthday. It's a little bit hard to find because it's really far back in the Fountainbleau, but it's worth the walk. The food is sooo good. I had the truffle dinner and they were very generous with the truffles. The ambiance is nice and this place is always packed. Just don't forget your wallet--this restaurant is expensive, but so worth it for a special occasion. I can't wait to go back to Miami, because I'll definitely be going back here for dinner.
(4)Michelle G.
Scott hits another home Run! We are long time NY fans. We had all the classic dishes and everyone was amazing and delicious. We have eaten in NY , La , Las Vegas and Miami and the meal never disappoints. My husband has followed Scott for the past 20 years from little NYC places to scarpetta.
(5)Kimberly L.
Came here for a 30th birthday celebration with a large group of 15 ladies and had a wonderful meal! We contacted Gail ahead of time and had a delicious family style menu for $65 per person. We got to try 3 different appetizers, 4 entrees and 2 desserts. I've had the pleasure of eating at Scott's private space in NYC and Scarpetta in Manhattan and each experience is so amazing. We started with the burrata then the braised short ribs and the polenta. OMG the polenta was to die for. For the main course, we got the spaghetti, the duck foie gras ravioli, the orate and the chicken. My favorite was the ravioli. For dessert I was so stuffed but we had chocolate cake and a citrus parfait. Yum Yum Yum. Everything was so good. The ambiance was romantic and intimate. I will certainly be telling any friends in Miami to go here!
(5)Jeff G.
Unfortunately the Fountainbleu, the people that visit it and the prices they charge have ruined the history and excitement of staying there and enjoying it's restaurants. Scarpetta however did have excellent service and the food was good but a little too much fluff and presentation than it was hearty and enjoyable. Some dishes were interesting yet good like the polenta and mushroom fricassee, nice touch. Other items again, seemed to be so focused on the wow factor of the presentation that the food actually came out cold. Unless I'm having Carpaccio, I typically don't like my filet to be cold at the expense of dressing up the dish. All in all the experience was pleasurable, I did enjoy some dishes but I wouldn't be back on my own again. I was there for a rehearsal dinner and enjoyed the options they selected but can't say I'd want to go back with the fiancé... just didn't do it for me. There are better options for much less. Home made pasta with tomato and basil sauce was very good but very filling.
(3)Alicia C.
Been wanting to try Scott Conant's place for a while now...didn't disappoint! The foie gras and duck ravioli was superb and their signature spaghetti was great...I don't know about $25 for spaghetti great, but I can see why it's so popular. Service was exceptional.
(4)Brian C.
Great food, good service, and a great wine list and Sommelier make Scarpetta an all around hit. It isn't cheap, but this is Miami Beach so what do you expect? We may have overdone it here on our initial dinner, but really enjoyed everything - polenta with mushrooms, short rib, duck & foie ravioli, parmesan raviolini, and the local snapper entree. We even splurged on dessert with a pumpkin souffle which was great and the Sommelier selected an excellent bottle of white wine (Italian, of course) that complemented our entire meal well and [by South Beach standards] was not too crazy at $120. He also suggested a lower priced option, and did exactly what a good Sommelier should do by adding to the meal's enjoyment, and selecting good bottles of wine at all price points while not being condescenting or looking down on regular people who don't spend $1000 on a bottle of wine. It was a bit strange that we were asked to sit in the bar area prior to being seated in a wide open restaurant, but overall Scarpetta was exactly the 5 star experience you would expect. Very nicely done.
(5)Maria C.
Great restaurant. Have been there several times and have enjoyed everything. The spaghetti is to die for.
(5)Patrick D.
If you can find it -- it's somewhat buried within the Fountainbleau -- this place is certainly a "destination" restaurant. Very expensive, and the portions were relatively small, but the food was excellent. Warning: For whatever reason, it's extremely noisy in the dining area...it was hard to hear my dinner companions. Pace was veerrryyyyy slooooooowwwww (2 and a half hours), but maybe when you're paying this much, they figure you want to drag it out as much as possible.
(4)Julie L.
Will NEVER come back. EVER. To start I have been here many times, having used to live 4 blocks away. The food and service were always amazing in the past, so naturally when we had a big dinner party to celebrate a major occasion we reserved a large table with them. First we had a reservation but still waited 30 minutes to be seated. Imagine 14 people in the tiny bar area and you can see how us standing there for 30 min became annoying. Then we go to the table and without telling us they split us into two tables. The whole point of the dinner was to celebrate and have our families meet each other and we had been talking to the restaurant for over 3 weeks about this reservation, with no mention of putting us at two separate tables. They then acted like they were doing US a major service by giving us one table which is what we had been asking for all along. Then comes our incredibly rude waiter. First he goes around to the families being condescending, saying well I hope your not hungry because what you ordered is small, and making comments on literally everything that people ordered. He was visibly annoyed when two people asked to split an entree and an app for dinner and made multiple comments. This of course is because he has automatic gratuity and so he was pushing for us to ring up the bill. Then comes the fact that we ordered 2 bottles of wine and without even telling us he opens additional bottles and then of course charges us for them. I literally had to tell the man to stop opening bottles. Then, because literally 2 out of the 3 families that were with us were offended, I felt like I had to do something as I had made the reservation for the group. I am a doctor but spent 7 years as a waitress in a high end restaurant in NYC and knew this service was incredibly poor for a "nice restaurant." I go to speak with the manager and immediately he says to me "well it seems like you are just having a ton of problems tonight." Insinuating that I am being dramatic. Then he is demanding with me and goes "so what is this about, do you just want something off the check?" And I told him, No I just thought he would want to know AS THE MANAGER that the service was terrible and I have literally had to apologize to my guests for their wait staff's behavior. He basically was dismissive, partly due to the fact that I was a young woman in my late twenties, and we still paid our 800$ check with automatic gratuity. That being said NO ONE at that party will EVER be back again. One of the guests works for a Fortune 500 company and immediately sent an email to his corporate telling them to take Scarpettas off of the list as a recommended venue. The other guest works for Jackson health and said they were thinking about having a conference there but now seeing the way they behave they have also changed their mind. In summary if you are going to spend $800 on a nice dinner with family and friends- do it elsewhere. These people are rude and disgusting, with honestly deplorable management. I was mortified that I took a large group of my closest family and friends there. Now having this experience I will continue to make everyone I know aware of how scarpettas really treats their guests.
(1)Mark S.
Miami Spice 2014: All the Fountainbleau options are expensive, and Scott Conant's SoBe destination is no exception, with mains easily topping the mid-$30s. For this reason, I try and go every August or September to get a 3-course dinner for just over the price of an entree on the regular menu. Usually in my Sunday 6:30 slot I'm one of the few people to do so, but last night was busy, so I guess word has spread, though service has suffered a little as a result (very similar to another popular Miami Spice destination this summer: Bourbon Steak). APPS: I've been here enough times to never stray in my choice of appetizer: the CREAMY POLENTA (served with fricassee of truffled mushrooms) is probably the signature dish of Scarpetta (where apps and desserts usually outshine the main courses). If you go with a group (even a group of 2), at least one of you must order this dish. I love a good STEAK TARTARE, but with a supplemental charge of $12, it would have destroyed the "value proposition" of Miami Spice: it's $22 on the regular menu (the other choices, including the Polenta, are $18), so a $3, or even $5 supplement would be sensible, not $12. MAINS: the $12 supplement for the famous SPAGHETTI on the MS website requires explanation: this is to get the dish WITH a main, not INSTEAD of a main. If you've never had it, it's fantastic, but if you also get the polenta app, you are going to leave the table feeling ill (so I'd recommend it as a "share", not a "solo supplement"). MAINS: The LOCAL SNAPPER (w/ fregola, shrimp & mushroom-fennel brodetto) was not the most beautiful appearance I've ever seen, but a good piece of fish with crispy skin. I skipped the OVEN ROASTED CHICKEN because it's hard to impress me with chicken. I also skipped another $12 supplement on the PRIME SIRLOIN OF BEEF (again: $12 supplement, on sirloin, is a little out of line). The CORN RAVIOLI (baby zucchini & chanterelle mushrooms) was more up to Scarpetta standards: great looks, very rich, and delicious. If I were Italian I would protest at the thought of a pasta as a main dish, but if you go, this is worth a try (or, like the polenta and the spaghetti, worth sharing - a whole plate of this rich pasta would be a little over-the-top for one person). DESSERT options have not changed in forever, and the way to go is still the COCONUT PANNA COTTA (with caramelized pineapple & guava "soup"). The COFFEE SEMIFREDO, was a distant second. If you go with the polenta and the panna cotta, you are going to have a great meal no matter what you have as the main. Also nice is a 3-flight pairing option for $25. Scarpetta was a reliable 5-star vote for me in the past, but this year it was more of a "4". The Polenta was still very good, but seemed to have lost a tiny bit of its magic. The mains also lacked the "wow" of the past, and the service was very irregular (from robotic descriptions to a VERY long wait for our check after dessert). Could some of this be due to the head chef's departure earlier this year? Perhaps. Or perhaps other alternatives have appeared on the Miami scene (Shikany being the best example) that have stolen some of Scarpetta's thunder. The $12 valet charge doesn't help either.
(4)Cristina K.
Wow the food here is amazing! the service unbelievable and the ambience very cool. Never thought a simple spaghetti basil and tomato dish could taste this good. The burrata appetizer was a winner. The wine list ranges from $75-$11,000 and is sure to wow you as well. The only reason why I am not giving the wonderful restaurant 5 stars here is because the Fontaineblue valet (mind you the hotel does not have parking so everyone bringing a vehicle HAS to valet) is incredibly busy and it will take you at least 15 minutes to get your car to the valet runners and it took us 30-45 minutes to get our car back for when we left. So if you're staying at the hotel then you're in great shape because you will not have to worry about this!!! The valet really does need a newer more efficient system. Restaurant was great!
(4)Steven G.
What a diaappointment, Scott C. is so authortize on TV, and ususally expensive places are great. This missed the mark on many levels from entry to finish. My four lovely friends arrived first and they would not seat them in an empty resaurant as I was not there yet. Sent to the sofa! There were three hostesses, good hostess, bad hostess and clueless hostess. I got clueless, she could not locate the party altough only a few tables were seated. Found the table myself. The charming waiter was attentive until food arrived then he ignored us until I called him over to tell him that my fish was cold. And the stone crab app had shells and cartilage. They did not remove the crab from the bill. No one came over to apologize for either mistake. Room grew very loud, no acoustical tiles. Mens room was filthy. Had to stand in a puddle of urine. Not acceptable. Major disappointment. Bad food and service and very expensive.
(2)Alex A.
Friday night dinner. Was pretty good. There were some 1-3 star reviews on here. No restaurant can be five stars all the time and there will always be people pissed for some reason. Just like those people that like to send food back all the time. We enjoyed our time here. My wife had the spaghetti. This dish is their signature. I think we make a pretty great bowl of this at home so for us this wasn't a grand slam but still good. Just when we spend 28 dollars on noodles we expect it to be something we can't do at home. I had the short rib anglotti which were awesome and I definetely can't make these myself. Had yellowtail tuna and burata appetizers which were both good. The burata was nothing revolutionary but still tasty. The chocolate cake dessert was great...great molten center and good caramel ice cream. We would come again. Was tasty. For two people...2 apps...2 entrees...2 drinks...18% service charge...20 dollar tip....195 bux. Kind of pricey, but not a waste.
(4)Hernan B.
Per-fec-tion Impeccable service and incredibly well crafted menu. Pasta is perfect. A breath of fresh air in a Miami where Italian foods means extra garlic.
(5)Lily L.
My BF had surprised me to this Wonderful Restaurant, as he knows I love to watch Food Network, and Scott Conant. We had the Tasting course, and let me tell ya- It Is the most Amazing dishes I've had!! EVERYTHING was perfect and Amazing!! Great service as well!
(5)Rebecca G.
I had been looking forward to eating at Scarpetta since a few episodes into the Top Chef New Orleans season. Nina Compton's food was captivating, and I needed to try it. D wasn't as enthusiastic, so this was a meal that we had very split opinions about, but that's obviously bound to happen and does in fact happen often. His plate: Spaghetti, tomato basil Whole Orata, corn succotash, fingerling potatoes Her plate: Gemelli, lobster and uni, bread crumbs Local Snapper, baby vegetables and clam brodo So, a few notes about service. It's as impeccable as you'd expect with a restaurant of this caliber, and our waiter was friendly and a little overly helpful. But two things here stood out, that I'd never seen before, or at least never seen executed well. Firstly, after we were seated, the hostess took my (white) napkin away and said she'd be right back with a different one. Strange? Well, she returned with a black one, which we realized was because I was wearing a dark navy dress. And the white napkin would've stood out too much on it. I've never had that happen before, and while that could be seen as an over the top touch, I guess it is nicer if the napkin is camouflaged? Being less aware of the formalities of dining and just getting to focus on the food is nice. But, still, wow. Secondly, our waiter greeted us and asked if he could recommend cocktails. My brain leapt to assume that he'd be discussing their drink specials, or house specialties, but no - he actually stood in thought for a moment and then spot on, perfectly, amazingly, completely nailed personalized recommendations for each of us. Ten seconds after having greeted us, not knowing or asking any preferences. He suggested a cucumber vodka, melon, cherry tomato cocktail for me, and a tequila cocktail for D that was somewhere between a margarita and mojito. Both feeling a little shocked, and mind-read, we consented to try them. Both were fantastic. We ordered pastas and entrees, not hungry enough to add primis as well. We differed in our opinions of the pasta. While my gemelli was one of my favorite things I've ever eaten, D did not like his spaghetti at all - he found it too lightly sauced and didn't like the texture of the pasta - gummy and eggy. I liked the spaghetti - it is subtle, but deliciously fresh. The gemelli, however, was amazingly oceanic - salty with the rich uni, and dotted with perfectly cooked lobster knuckles and claws. The bread crumbs added a nice texture, and it was a well-rounded and perfectly balanced dish. I would eat this every day. We both really enjoyed our fish - the snapper was perfectly cooked and the broth had a nice amount of clam flavor and good body. The orata was delicious - mild and delicate, with lovely vegetable accompaniments. We didn't try dessert - absolutely stuffed - but I would love to go back again sometime.
(4)Aylin M.
Scarpetta offered just about everything you want out of a romantic evening: good food, great service, beautiful interior design and all with a breathtaking ocean view. I had the Grilled Bone in Pork Chop and it exceeded my expectations. As an appetizer we had the Mediterranean Octopus and it was okay. And for dessert I had the Tiramisu, which was very good.
(5)Buo Z.
The food here is identical to Scarpetta in NYC and is pretty good overall. Food: Buffala mozzarella - delicious and so soft and creamy Foie gras ravioli - delicious Spaghetti with tomato and basil - delicious Creamy polenta - must get this one
(4)Eli A.
Impeccable service, lovely ambiance, great drinks and delicious food. Did I mention impeccable service?! I had a wonderful time and will keep going back.
(5)Scott L.
I was introduced to Scarpetta by force for someone's birthday and felt immediate regret when I checked in and got Yelp's High Roller badge. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Yelp gives you badges kind of like if you were a boy/girl scout. This one in particular is given for checking into three different places that are obscenely expensive. I've eaten at many fine dining establishments, and most of them leaving you feeling like you just threw away your money. I don't mind eating at places like this on an expense account, but not on my dime. I guess that's what it's like to wipe your 'ars' with Benjamins. The place is gorgeous, with several different rooms all with different styles. The front area is very dark and trendy. The back are is like an indoor garden terrace. I'd suggest asking for a table in the back. It has huge windows, and it's a great space as the night spawns. The food selection here is very unique, and this began to turn my opinion. For example, one of the specials was a dumpling wrapped in an eggplant flour. I didn't try it, but the menu is cluttered with great dishes. Little did I know, but we came here during Spice Week (like restaurant week in NYC). The menu had tons of choices to choose from that made it hard for me to make a decision it also helped my wallet. I ultimately choose tuna appetizer, the aged steak entree, house spaghetti, and a semi frozen berry icecream for dessert. The tuna was decent, but I would recommend the mushroom polenta that everyone at my table raved about it. The steak was a mind blowing experience, and took me by surprise with the flavor. It was a smokey aged taste that was very different than most aged steaks. It was smaller in portion though (6 ounces). The spaghetti was oversold, and was average in flavor. The berry icecream was pretty good, and was more like a pudding. It was very different, and I would recommend. All deserts looked amazing, and no one complained about their choice. What separated Scarpetta from the rest of my fine dining experience s was the waiter, George. It's rare that you find a waiter so knowledge about the food and who also makes you feel like there's a personal relationship. George was great at both, and made it feel like we were old friends. His ability to communicate is much higher than I would ever expect for a waiter, but I really appreciated his efforts to describe everything in detail. I would recommend Scarpetta, but only on a loose budget. The food selection is great, but not everything is amazing. The staff, service and ambiance make it worth it though.
(4)Daniel F.
We walked in for dessert as it was about a half hour before they were closing but after a look at the menu we stayed to have a second dinner. The decor and vibe is nautical and sophisticated. Gorgeous window set overlooking the ocean and some of the best people watching I saw in miami. The menu was limited and flowed well, always a good sign and it was very hard to decide. I ate everything even though I hadn't walked in hungry and the chocolate cake they had on the dessert menu was so good we ordered a second one immediately. Will be back next time I'm in town
(5)Brian M.
Chose here for an anniversary dinner with my girlfriend as it looked like one of the more solid spots in Miami Beach, and partly also because of Nina who unfortunately left just before we ate here. No matter. Losing a star for a couple reasons. First, parking. We were staying down in South Beach. I would NOT recommend driving here. Couldn't find self park (not sure if they exist), went to Valet. Valet area a zoo, no one came to the car, people running everywhere, honking because it was backed up, etc. Just a mess. Finally I get out of the car, find someone I can communicate with and they tell me it's full, go to the next VIP area (right in front of the hotel). Go there, they tell me they're full. WTF. Thent hey say, oh, do you have reservations at one of our restaurants? Yes I do. Come on in! Goofs. Restaurant experience is what you would expect from this type of place. Very good food (snapper crudo in particular), a bit higher priced because of the name and location, attentive service, beautifully decorated, etc. Also I was a bit surprised to see fellow diners in t-shirts and athletic shorts here but I guess they don't turn people away. Overall I doubt anyone would ever walk away from here unhappy, but still nothing blew me away so can't give it the full 5 stars.
(4)Jessica R.
It doesn't get much better! I have been here on both special occasions/truffle tasting meni or just a spaghetti craving and it's a heavenly experience. The staff has always been outstanding including my last visit where manager Jason came to check on us a few times when I told him I am gonna name my first born Scott in honor of the spaghetti he promised to let him know in his report. While everything is amazing the spaghetti gives me life!!! A must is also the bread with their eggplant dip..loads of flavor! The chocolate cake with ice cream is a signature of theirs and brings a tear to your eye reminding you what a dessert should be! Props to the whole staff front and back of house!
(5)Deryn H.
The food is exquisite! The chief is a food magician; I've never had food as good as food served at Scarpetta. The oven roasted chicken and spaghetti are to die for! As are the chocolate zeppoles. The portion sizes are perfect for those who don't want a platter plate full of food. As for the service, amazing! The waiters are extremely polite and make your dining experience very comfortable; they work together like a well oiled machine. If you're in the Miami Beach area, Scarpetta is must!
(5)Laaly N.
My husband and I were there recently with another couple and decided to try their tasting menu. We were able to try several main dishes, sides and desserts. From the seafood to the steak and pasta, it was all divine. The four of us are well travelled and pretty picky when it comes to food. I recommend the tasting menu at Scarpettas, it's pricy but worth it!
(5)Kellie P.
The polenta with mushrooms is as good as it gets, and the bread basket with assorted breads is worth the embarrassment of asking for a second basket! The one with cheese and prosciutto is my fave. Great food, Cozy atmosphere and good service definitely will bring me back. The only wrinkle is the valet parking at Fountainbleu on a weekend night. Be prepared to wait before and after.
(5)Lindsay B.
I went here for my first time last night. I've lived in Miami about four years and had yet to go; I must say that I ABSOLUTELY regret waiting this long. When I was seated the hostess promptly brought me a black linen(I was wearing a black dress). Although this is a small gesture many restaurants to don't take the initiative. The ambiance in the dining room was romantic, and chic. The cocktails were expertly crafted, I'm assuming they have high caliber mixologists because they were VERY on point. Our server Victor was very helpful and made lovely suggestions on the menu. He shared a personal story pertaining to our experience and truly made us feel at home. Finally, the most important part--the food. Both entrees we had were absolutely delicious. I had the duck foie gras ravioli and my boyfriend had the veal. Both were amazing. I think mine was a little better than my boyfriends though ;). My only complaint about my meal was that it was a teeny portion, but it was expected in a restaurant like this. For dessert I had the coconut panna cotta, which was to die for. The flavors in the dessert, mixed with the crunch of the topping were sweet perfection. I will absolutely be back and look forward to trying the chefs tasting menu.
(5)Marc B.
Oh Scott I remember when you cooked at 55th and 2nd- in Manhattan- and you haven't let us down- Every Scarpetta is consistently great like you are in the kitchen making that spaghetti and polenta. The Miami restaurant once again this week was great and always has been- Scarpetta classics are great- we came with 3 infants and the staff was so nice and accomodating- the room is beautiful- the sommelier picked out a great reasonable priced wine for us exactly what were looking for. Nothing bad to say- You want great food, service and friendly staff come here- its not a trendy place, just plain good. Food musts- polenta, spaghetti, scallops, the short ribs, we ate most of the menu...
(5)Jerry T.
Since visiting the NY location, I was craving it again. The food is some of the best I've ever eaten, and the service is even better. Note that the food is small portion, but full of flavor, and can be pricey to some. Understand this before you go or you may be in for a surprise. I had the veal special and would definitely order it again. The go-tos for entrees are the spaghetti and duck ravioli, which I had in NY. The fried cheese (can't remember the name) and the creamy polenta appetizers are so delicious, I highly recommend these. Side note, you have to valet park at the Fontainebleau hotel. I was able to get my parking validated at Scarpetta but it still costs $12 (+ tip if you're nice). I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant.
(5)Hicham D.
We seriously think we just had one of the best meals of our lives! And the best Thanksgiving dinner. Let me begin with service: PERFECT. Everyone from the hostess to the waiter to the sommelier were outstanding. And so was the chef whom we thanked personally at the end of our meal. The butternut squash soup was amazing. The rabbit pasta we got next was outstanding. The roasted turkey and stuffing had an explosion of different flavors. This dining experience was beyond our expectations! The deserts were succulent. The wine, a 2009 Margaux from Chateau Margaux was exquisite. Although that part we knew going in :) Love this place!!!
(5)Cessie C.
I went to Scarpetta for my friends birthday dinner. It was a group of girls and most of us had never been there before. The place is gorgeous, very beautifully decorated. My favorite is the bar, which has a very cool purplish backdrop. The best way to enjoy everything this amazing restaurant has to offer is by going all in and going for the Chef's Tasting Menu. Here is what we had: RAW YELLOWTAIL (delicious) Sashimi style hamachi brushed with chili oil, ginger oil and Hawaiian sea salt. Smoked tuna tartare avocado, lemon emulsion & osetra caviar CREAMY POLENTA (THIS WAS BY FAR MY FAVORITE) served with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms MOZZARELLA IN CARROZZA Panko breaded and pan-fried buffalo mozzarella served over stewed baby tomatoes. BRAISED SHORT RIBS OF BEEF served over vegetable farro risotto MEDITERRANEAN OCTOPUS served over a potato creama, olives, capers and confit tomatoes. PASTA COURSE DUCK & FOIE GRAS RAVIOLI (This was my favorite pasta dish- it was the perfect mix of sweet & salty) finished with a marsala reduction. SPAGHETTI (AMAZING spin on classic dish!) Handmade spaghetti tossed with tomato sauce, basil and parmigiano. PICI served with lobster, calabrese chilis and nduja sausage. BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLINI Roasted Butternut squash raviolini, baby vegetables and Ricotta Salata PROTEIN/ENTRÉE COURSE MEDITERRANEAN BRANZINO Mediterranean branzino served with confit baby vegetables and almond brown butter brodetto. FENNEL DUSTED BLACK COD (fresh, soft, sweet & delciious) Fennel spiced black cod served on top of baccala mantecato, concentrated tomatoes and black olive oil LONG ISLAND DUCK Long Island duck, roasted carrots, mustard greens & sour cherry jus 21 DAY AGED SIRLOIN OF BEEF Porcini Mushrooms, Salsa di Pane & Smoked Bone Marrow DESSERT Coconut Panna Cotta Coconut flavored eggless custard held together with gelatin. Served with guava soup, caramelized pineapples,coconut sorbet and a coconut tuille. Amadei Chocolate Cake Made from dark Italian chocolate (Amadei). Served warm with toasted almond gelato, a salted caramel sauce and a chocolate cigarette. Coffee Semifreddo Frozen coffee mousse set in a bowl, garnished with crystallized hazelnuts, anise infused chantilly cream, served with lemon sorbet Each course came with its appropriate wine pairings and by the time we were done, I was ready for my BED, but, we ended up at LIV instead. And managed to dance some of the calories off. Aside from the fact that everything about this meal was PERFECT, the service at Scarpetta is what really topped the evening. From the front staff, the waiters & even the GM, who personally came & checked on our meal- the service was beyond comparison to any other restaurant. I really want to go back for brunch soon!
(5)Elle R.
We had a great time ...good food & Ben Goldman is a fantastic General Manager. Our group was well taken care of & was given great service once Ben got involved. The blonde manager seemed lost in the headlights, she could not manage foreseeable problems. But Ben came in & saved the day! This was for a larger group. The food was wonderful & the atmosphere was very beautiful.
(4)Laura S.
Wonderful experience! We had the scallop app. Spaghetti and aged steak for entrees and chocolate cake for dessert. All of it was soooo good. Amazing waiter. Very helpful. Just a great time all around. Will most def be back.
(5)Lily Z.
One of the best meals I've had in awhile. We opted for the tasting menu which was the best decision ever! Our server Victor was fabulous. Friendly, knowledgable and took all of our requests to the chef to execute the perfect tasting menu for us. Amuse bouche: yellow tail and tuna tartar bites. We were a little ignorant and thought this was our appetizer. Ensue angry bitching....until Victor asked us how it was and told us that was just a little something from the kitchen and our real appetizer was coming. Whew! What a relief! Appetizer: tuna tartar and yellowtail hamachi. Delicious! Both were so unique and delicate tasting. So creative and perfectly portioned! Pasta course: THE pasta pomodoro, duck & foie gras ravioli and a seafood linguine. Of course the star of this course was the spaghetti. It was so good that I came back the next night and ordered a portion to go! I could've done without the seafood linguine, which was tasty but nothing spectacular compared to the other 2 pasta dishes. Entrees: fennel dusted snapper and the 28 dry aged beef. Both delicious and by this point I am so full that I can't really breathe. The fish had a very intense woodsy flavor and the beef was cooked perfectly. Dessert:.....a panna cotta with guava soup that was light and refreshing. The molten chocolate cake was pretty good also as it wasn't too sweet. The whole meal was worth the price. I highly recommend it. I can't wait to attempt to make the spaghetti in my own kitchen!
(5)Lindsey B.
Really loved this place. Went with a big group for a bachelorette party. They sat us right away and the service was great. It's an open place with big windows that look out at the Fontainebleau resort. The prices are a little expensive but the food is delicious. All their pastas are home made so they are very very good. Just the plain old spaghetti and tomato sauce was some of the best I've ever had. The carpaccio was also very good. I would recommend this place however wouldn't suggest for kids- More of an adult dining experience. Also would suggest making reservations in advance
(4)Joe R.
Best food in Miami period Michael the bartender is awesome and a real pro The pasta is like eating in Italy truly outstanding the filet and lamb chop entrees also outstanding Don't miss this beautiful hotspot
(5)Kimberley C.
Fantastic Italian restaurant. Awesome in Miami and the food is just as good in Beverly HIlls..... just has a different vibe altogether.
(5)Annette R.
We had a dinner for four on Tuesday night. The lights are noticeably dim, so you have to light a lighter to read the menu. Overall atmosphere is nice, and you can tell the waters are trying hard to make this place look more classy.
(4)Allison F.
This review is dedicated to my favorite chef, Nina Compton: My company holiday party took place at Scarpetta a few months ago. After watching and obsessing over Nina's food on Top Chef, we had incredibly high expectations...all which were met and exceeded with FLYING colors. The meal started with unbelievable service from Luis and Eddy -- two of the best servers I've ever had the privilege of dining with. These two gentlemen made us feel like family, a welcome and unexpected rarity for upscale Miami restaurants. Our first taste of heaven was when the bread came, accompanied by a sun-dried tomato spread, olive oil and butter (which I thought was cheese and smeared heavily on my focaccia....sorry, I'm not sorry). Next, came a delicate pile of burrata joined by the most tender braised short ribs and melt in your mouth truffled mushroom polenta. Full yet? No way. To follow, we sampled the freshest handmade spaghetti I've ever tasted, dressed in the perfect amount of tomato and basil, and duck and foie gras ravioli that I would literally pay all my money to eat on a daily basis. Throughout each of these courses, Luis and Eddy were like skilled spies, refilling our wine glasses to perfection after each and every tiny sip...5-star service. For the main course, we sampled juicy filet mignon, roasted chicken and some mystery fish dish that I loved. Even though there were 40 mouths to feed in our party, Luis and Eddy managed to make us feel like we were their first priority at all times. For dessert, we indulged in coconut panna cotta, chocolate lava cake, a heavenly sorbet and a creamy caramel concoction that I couldn't get enough of. The entire meal can be summed up in two words: more, please. I am incredibly grateful to Luis and Eddy for making me feel like an old friend, for ensuring that we got second dibs at all the dishes before our hungry coworkers and for going out of their way to allow us to meet and take photos with Nina and Scott, two of my culinary heroes. Amazing service, amazing food, amazing experience.
(5)Pam C.
Dining at it's best. Excellent courses from beginning to end. Meals were prepared and presented to perfection. Our family had pasta with black trumpet, veal and filet mignon. Every bite was delicious. Courses were nicely spread out, we never felt rushed. If you are in a hurry I would let your waitstaff know ahead of time. This is a full dining experience so expect it to be spaced out.
(5)Marco M.
Come hungry and try the tasting menu, and you will be happy you did. Antipasti: Assortment of polenta with mushrooms, short rib and farro and fresh burrata and tomatoes to start the meal 2 signature pastas: spaghetti and pomodoro and duck foie gras ravioli with balsamic reduction Choice of meat, chicken or fish - all excellent Dolci: similar to a passion fruit panna cotta and a chocolate cake The servers were all excellent. Ryan was on point with us and they were all very attentive. Ambiance is perfect and you can request to sit closer to the windows for a view of the pool and ocean outside of the center dining hall. Buon Appetito!
(5)Kate T.
After having been to the New York location I was SO looking forward to checking out the Miami one. I made reservations for Saturday night at 8:30. We arrived a little early to enjoy a drink at the bar. We were approached by the staff and told to enjoy our drink and to let them know when we were ready to be seated. We were seated at a great seat, overlooking the restaurant and water. We were greeted with a variety and breads and spreads, including a marscapone butter, a garlic olive oil and a roasted eggplant speard, all delish! We decided to enjoy the Chef Tasting menu, which included a variety if Scarpetta's most favorite dishes. 1st course, Yellowtail Hamachi with a Tuna Tartare. 2nd course, Sauteed mushroooms over polenta and a short rib (fall off the bone short rib!). 3rd course, the pasta! We tasted the tomato basil, duck ravioli and a cream tagliatelle. 4th course. Salmon with black grain rice and a RibEye, smoked to perfection. And, finally, the 5th course, dessert. A chocolate molten cake with a cocunut sorbet and papaya gelee. Not only did every bite of the tasting menu hit the spot, the wine pairings that they provided went SO well. The service did not disappoint and overall, like Scarpetta in New York, this is by far one of my favorite restaurants I have had the pleasure of dininig out. I do hope I can get back, if not, continue to taste Chef Scott Conant's menus around the country.
(5)Brittany P.
Everything about this is amazing! Service and food were on point and I cannot wait to go back! Must have the pasta marinara!!!!!
(5)Michael S.
If you are looking for a nice place to eat in Miami, I highly recommend Scarpetta. From the bread they give you when you sit down, to the chocolate cake we had for desert, I enjoyed my meal. The highlights had to be the Creamy Polenta, Duck And Foie Gras Ravioli, and Chocolate Cake. We also had the Short Rib appetizer (which was the one thing I thought was just ok) and the Chestnut Cavatelli (which was very good, but not quite as amazing as the ravioli). The service at the restaurant was also very good. Our waiter was very attentive and gave us good recommendations. The support staff were also always there at the times you needed them (They were quick to refill my water when it was almost out, and they cleared our plates when we finished). Note that they automatically include a 18% gratuity on your bill. I actually prefer this, but it may be a sticking point to some.
(5)Mariel P.
Came here just for dinner while staying in South Beach for my partner's birthday dinner and although the food was good and the restaurant was nice, I ended up very disappointed. I asked the hostess to make a note that it was my partners birthday and she even asked me for his name. I was waiting the entire night for a dessert surprise, but then they bring over a dessert menu which threw me off because they typically just bring something over. I go over to the hostess who was different then the one who checked us in and she did see the note I left and said the waiter knew, but we ordered a dessert and NOTHING!! I didn't even want dessert!! I just wanted a birthday surprise!!This would never happen in NYC.
(2)Carla Z.
Scott Conant does it again! I've wanted to try this place since I saw Chef Nina on top chef. We were lucky enough to be in Miami for Miami Spice. The concept is similar to NY Restaurant week where participating restaurants have prix fixe menus for a certain time period. We started with a flight of wines. The only weird part was all 3 of our wines came out at the same time? At a table with four girls, it felt clumsy to have that many full regular stemmed wine glasses at the table. The food though was amazing. We had mushrooms and polenta to start. I can eat this by the bucket load. Then as a main course, I had the over roasted chicken with spaetzle. And concluded with a panna cotta. I'd definitely come back for the food. I don't know if I came on an off night, but I was expecting a larger crowd.
(3)Roxy S.
From the gracious welcome of maitre'd and hostess, to the attentive service team, each team member was well-mannered, knowledgeable about the courses and unobtrusive. We were provided name recognition by so many of the front of house, it gave the impression we were truly valued guests. Our second time dining at Scarpetta was as memorable as the first. Preset menu for Thanksgiving started with a surprisingly, well layered soup of butternut squash frenched over foie gras, diced Granny Smith Apple, chopped shiitake mushrooms, braised celery and thin carrot discs. Followed by perfectly, al dente, housemade cavatelli pasta, braised rabbit, mirepoix in rabbit jus, topped with Parmesan. Choice entree of seared scallops with polenta or turkey breast and thigh roulade accompanied by smokey, greens, fresh cranberry sauce and the best dressing ever. Ginger-poached, sliced pear tart with cranberry-slivered almond crumble and a cannel of vanilla gelato. Quite an impressive Thanksgiving feast!
(5)Sarah W.
I had been wanting to try Scarpetta for a few years when my husband surprised me with a last minute trip to Miami for one night to eat at Scarpetta. We did the chef's tasting menu and were pleasantly surprised by not only the food, which was incredible, but by the amount of food, the service and the restaurant itself. I could review all 10 plates of food, but it would be repetitive because everything was fantastic. I don't think I can come up with a criticism, just prepare to leave stuffed with amazing food. Also, order the pannacotta- it is a much needed refreshing way to end your meal. We will be back.
(5)Diane A.
During visit to Scarpetta I was seated outside, which I loved. It was night time so we could hear the ocean if you listen close enough and the breeze was amazing. Our waiter was excellent and very patient with our group. The first thing that I loved was the variety of breads they bring out! I can't tell you which one was better the the rest because they were all great! I ordered the polenta and thought it was fantastic. I also had the spaghetti but wasn't as impressed. However, my boyfriend ordered the short ribs and they ware great. All in all, it was a successful night.
(5)Janice L.
What a flop of a restaurant for me to choose for my birthday. Be warned if you're ..let's just say it...high-maintenance, picky eater, true foodie, steak fiend, water picky, etc. You may be judged at and talked down upon by your waiters if you ask what type of water they have, etc. Because of the fact 18% gratuity is automatically added; I honestly felt like my waiters took advantage of my situations and questions about the food and drinks available. Then barely showing up after our appetizers. Don't get me wrong, I ALWAYS tip 20-30%. Just give me that option so I know I can gauge how much the waiters have earned in my eyes. It was amazing up until entrees. Then entrees killed my mood and taste buds. Desserts brought it back up a bit...but overall...really disappointed I chose this place to celebrate my birthday. I thought I'd have a great experience like I did at the one in NY... Appetizers: Raw yellowtail ($17)- so fresh, buttery, melt in your mouth sashimi slices with a memorable crunch texture of sea salt, and other things. So simple but delicious. 4 pieces. Steak tartare- this was amazing! I usually have stayed away from meat tartare in the past because it's been too gamey at other places. This one was PERFECT and recommended by our waiter. Not gamey at all but so tender, and delicious served on perfectly buttered, toasted French baguette or brioche slices. Wine: Not a big drinker but I love a glass of red wine here and there. The Barbera de Alba from Piedmont was lovely! And at $14 a glass, it was really a great pick. Tasted wonderful! Entrees: Special of the night- Sliced Bone-In Ribeye for 2/28oz. ($95) I don't even want to go into this whole fiasco and how it was handled but let's just say I've had some incredible steaks in a lot of places and I'm from Texas. We love our meat and steak! This one was incredibly DISAPPOINTING. For that price, I was expecting prime at least certified angus. It honestly tasted like choice. Or the way it was cooked made it taste like select. Yes, that horrible. So tough, bland, chewy, and served cold. Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli ($26): delicious. Filling melts in your mouth. Drizzled with a balsamic reduction sauce. Yum!! Desserts ($12) chocolate cake: yummy. If you want a richer, heavier, chocolate-y dessert go with this. Or go with what I did and eat two. Coconut Panna Cotta- WOW! This wasn't what I expected. So refreshing, delicious...confusing because it was that good...made me question why I've never had panna cotta before. Probably because I've always pictured it as a custard filled dome. Ended with cappuccino & espresso. Good. Note to management: You knew about our situation because you comped a dessert for us but neglected to come say anything to us. Thanks for comping a $12 dessert for my horrendous birthday entree worth $95. Sounds like we're even. *inserts sarcasm* Haha. Won't be back ever. Maybe just NY's location when I'm there. Poorly handled in all ways
(2)Ari K.
A Sultry Dining Experience There is something exceptional in the air at the Fontainebleau. In addition to the lavish perfumes of the gorgeous gold diggers and the pretentiousness of the millionaires, there is also this intoxicating energy that imbues one with feelings of regality and sexiness. Walking through the doors and into this haven of plush indulgence seems to elevate the resort's patrons. We finally got around to trying the fabled Scarpetta. We had been listening to our circle rave about it and finally took the tongue plunge. The ambiance was exalting, the service impeccable, the soundtrack melodic and the food was great. After promenading past the seductive bar and the beautiful people drinking at it we were seated in a luxurious dining area. Before we even ordered our fare a tasty basket with an assortment of fresh bread was delivered along with stellar eggplant dip, oil and butter. It came hot and moist straight from the oven. The favorite was a concoction of thin sliced salami layered into the bread with tomatoes. We started with the acclaimed creamy polenta and it was better than we ever imagined. The copper pot it was presented in was quite elegant. Polenta is cornmeal that is boiled into a porridge. Scarpetta serves it next to a bowl of fricassee (cut up sautéed and braised) truffled mushrooms. What makes this treat so freakishly deliciously special is that the polenta is cooked for 3 hours, which dissolves all of the grains. This process transforms it into this uber creamy and deliriously superb delicacy, with an amazing consistency that dazzles and soothes the mouth. Personally I preferred it without the mushrooms, so you might want to stop the server from mixing the two after it is brought to the table. For our second app we had the Diver Scallop Crudo, with fennel orange and pine nuts. This small plate was decent, refreshing and light with a hint of sweetness. We started the main course with the Duck and Foie Gras Ravioli with a marsala reduction. The diminutive pasta purses were loaded with ample duck and foie with a scrumptious sauce and a generous portion. While the foie was not on par with the French & Italian versions that transports your palate into Nirvana, it was still a solid dish. The only letdown of the night was the Black Taglioni with stewed baby octopus and basil bread crumbs. The dish looked resplendent but was uninspiring. It consisted of just one flavor note and was fairly bland. When our gracious waitress asked us how everything was, I responded in my usual brutally honest way that the taglioni was not good. She asked if we wanted to switch it out, but not wanting to make a fuss, we politely declined. A couple minutes later the manager arrived and profusely apologized and demanded that we substitute out the taglioni for their famous spaghetti. This is a true staple of a fantastic restaurant, where unadulterated customer satisfaction is paramount. They had no idea we were bloggers and still insisted on optimizing our experience, kudos Scarpetta. The stellar Spaghetti with tomato and basil is what vaulted Scarpetta to its world renowned fame. They use some of the finest pasta imported from Italy and one can taste the difference. It was cooked to utter perfection al dente (firm but not hard). It was thick substantial noodles, yet soft enough to twirl around your fork and tongue. These delicately firm noodles just feel so amazing to bite into. The sauce was nice, not overpowered by the tomato and contained some depth from the fresh basil (I needed more of it). It is not a rich dish and is fairly simple on the taste spectrum, but it is just done right as a perfect plain spaghetti dish was meant to be. The Coconut Panna Cotta with caramelized pineapple and guava "soup." This was just a fun dessert to gorge on. The soup has this deceptive super thick custard consistency so when you dipped your spoon in you were surprised at the resistance. It was definitely addictive as all the flavors harmoniously blended together into a ambrosial sugar rush. The tiny cookie (tuile) on top was simply divine. Since one dessert is rarely enough we also ordered the Coffee Semifredo with hazelnuts, anise cream and lemon sorbet that was a brilliant treat. The hazelnut was at the forefront with a subdued cafecito taste entwined into it. The highlight of the dish was a ridiculously potent lemon sorbet that will energize your face from its flavor strength. I am not sure what goes on in that kitchen but it felt like the sorbet had some adderall or cocaine in it. I scooped up some to put on my teeth to see if i could get a lemon numbie but to no avail. Scarpetta provided a truly luscious and gratifying experience. The place is so sexy, filled with attractive people. The food was great, the service and presentation splendorous and they really demonstrated that they will go above and beyond when it comes to making sure its customers are prolifically satiated and satisfied. We definitely were.
(4)Jolette B.
We were staying at the Fontainebleau Resort, and being both Food Network fans and lazy, decided to try Scarpetta since it was in the hotel. Foie gras has been a very guilty pleasure of mine since moving to New York (it's banned in California), so I couldn't resist when I saw the duck and foie gras ravioli on the menu. All I can say is that I'm no longer able to eat ravioli any other way and I believe in miracles. The house cocktails were solid too, which I'm always on the search for. Definitely a must try if you are in Miami.
(5)Todd S.
A beautiful place located inside the Fountainbleau Hotel. Ocean views. Beautiful decor for a classy design and feel. Service was very good, professional, helpful, and very attentative to all your needs. Staff made you feel welcome and saw to your every need. a great menu selection of fine Italian dining and the food was excellent. A large wine menu. We started with Palenta with fricase of wild mushrooms and truffle oil and the vegetable risotto. Pasta course we had black ink linguine with clams, duck and foie grois ravioli which were all amazing. Then we had the fish of the day and a sliced steak entree. Chocolate sufflet and cheescake. It was a menu prepared by the chef. Amazing meal. Will definitely be back soon.
(5)Jacob K.
The service is great and the food is scrumptious. I attended the restaurant for dinner with my family and this is what we had and what was delicious or okay: Liked: Creamy polenta Probably one of my favorites Mediterranean Octopus Delicious Honey spiced Long Island Duck Cooked to perfection but don't expect it to be crispy Spagghetti with mushroom Very nice if you like truffle Coconut ice cream with guava soup Duck and Foie Gras ravioli ( Everybody seemed to like it for me it was okay but I don't like Foie gras) Okay: Yellowtail Nothing special Chocolate Zappole Expected much more since I love nutella Overall it is a very nice place with delicious food
(4)Heath W.
I eat here all the time, at least once a month, if I could I would eat here more often. I have never ever received poor service and every meal is spot on. I read a few of the reviews and have never received the type of service ever. In fact the first time I came here it was an after party dinner after a major concert, there were around 50 people spread out throughout the dinning room, we had the place to our selves and the food and the service was amazing. My normal fare is the burrata, steak tartare, and the tuna tartare, duck & foie gras ravioli, their signature and always perfect spaghetti, Brussels sprouts and roaster mushrooms, but you can't go wrong on anything. If you need to pick one Restruant in Miami beach to visit, this is it.
(5)J F.
The service was impeccable, and the vibe at the place is nice. But holy cow is it overpriced, especially considering the 18% surcharge. It would be nice if there were some simpler items in the menu, but literally everything was uber complicated or drenched in truffle oil. The bread served at the table was delicious, but the waiters kept taking it for some reason. It was bizarre. Dessert was delicious, but it too was all overly complicated. It may be cool to have Rosemary gelato, but is it necessary? I won't go back, it just wasn't a good enough experience for the price.
(3)Bao N.
I've been here a few times and each time I've been it has been fantastic. There are some drawbacks because you do have to go into th lavish Fontainbleu hotel to get in, valet your car and pay for super expensive drinks. But it doesn't stop me from going to Scarpetta. It is rather spendy and the portions are small but I think it is perfect for a romantic dinner out. The bread is always good here as a starter and I always forget the name of the dish that I order but the people I always dine with love the food here. I'll be back here for another dinner one of these days and look forward to trying something yummy on their menu.
(4)Remington T.
Maybe it's because I'm an elitist New Yorker who knows what a good restaurant looks like or that a well priced meal should buy quality to match, but this place was a huge disappointment. Service was subpar, environment was mediocre, and the food (we had pasta and fish) was lackluster. Over-seasoned, overcooked, and didn't precisely match the description on the menu. You can walk into an any unrated, under-the-radar seafood restaurant in NYC and get far better quality. I apologize to the many Miamians who have written radiant reviews of this place that might find my review disparaging to them and their city. I have only been to Scarpetta once--granted, on a very busy night. Perhaps it deserves a second chance, but in dining, first impressions are critical.
(2)Zubayr M.
Try the spaghetti and grilled calamari. They are honestly the best two dishes on the menu. We always end up ordering them somehow. Typical Miami prices, good service, and even better atmosphere.
(4)Dov B.
The grilled octopus is amazing and the froi gras ravioli wasn't for me, but my wife enjoyed it. It was enjoyable enough for dinner and the service was stellar, but in all honesty I probably would not rush back anytime soon.
(4)Vanessa V.
Scarpetta's is our go to for special occasions. We love everything about this restaurant, from the location to the menu and the service is always amazing. We usually request Eddie as our host and also request the sommelier to select our wine pairings. The only tip I would add is to make your reservations well in advance, 2 to 3 months for holidays or notable days like Mother's Day or Valentines as they are usually booked.
(5)Amy S.
Great spot if you are staying at the Fountainebleau. Food is on point - everything we had was lovely. I ordered the spaghetti and it was amazing (maybe just a tad too salty though)...loved the perfectly al dente texture. Great views if you come for dinner right around sunset!
(4)Yuliana D.
Tuna tartare: A little heavy on oil, greasy! I had better. It's supposed to be "smoked" - well it's lightly smoked so hard to detect. I would say it's a wow tuna. It's ok, even disappointing! I don't suggest u spend $20 on it. Bread: For the place I expected much better. Below average bread. Simple bread you get at a casual restaurant. Eggplant that came w bread was delicious. But that was it. Disappointing. Duck raviolli: Yum! If you love duck and foie gras - this is for you! Yet a little too heavy on oil, so doesn't get 5 stars from me, more like 4. Portion is tiny! So trust me - it's like an appetizer portion, u will be hungry unless ur happy w appetizer portion. I wonder why they wouldn't make it an appetizer? It's small enough! Bar: Medium size closer to small. Not the best social scene. Its an odd mix of people. Service: Great! Not impeccable but superbly great. Would I go back? No, it's overpriced for what it has to offer. I am comparing it w similar restaurant in ny and Miami so if ur a foodie - u probably will be disappointed a lot or somewhat. I love fine dining and go to plenty of amazing restaurants. This one is more famous cause of the hotel rather than food I think. NY place is soooooo much better in terms of food!!!! Miami just doesn't have it.
(3)Monica M.
This place is like corked wine! I've been to Scarpetta many times and never have I been as disappointed as last night. First of all, despite the place being half empty on a Friday night, they gave us a hard time about changing our reservation for 30 minutes later. We had brought some bottles of wine which we were willing to pay a corkage fee ($45/bottle) and the hostesses offered to hold the wine for us while we waited for our table. We got seated 1hour & 30 minutes later. The late members of our party brought more wine to the birthday dinner. Fine ... our fault for being late. Once seated, we were told there was a two-bottle maximum per table. None of us had never heard of such an arbitrary limit before. We were clearly a big party (9 people) which could have easily been separated into four tables. Despite this, the sommelier refused to cork our other bottles. Looking on the Scarpetta website, there is absolutely no place where this "Policy" is stated so if you are a savvy researcher, don't expect to be put on notice about this well thought out and clearly stated policy. Then we asked the manager (Garrett) if he could please make an exception since it was my best friend's birthday. He said he would try and see what he could do. But then Garrett LEFT US HANGING with no answer for virtually THE ENTIRE DINNER!! I finally had to approach him on the way to the ladies room. He passed the buck and blamed it on the sommelier's failure to let us know that the cork policy could not be bent even by one bottle. Still, even after I spoke to Garrett and he said he would try to make it better, he still avoided showing his face at our table and telling us the truth. Instead he left us hanging, tainted our experience and acted like it never happened. Here's the thing Scarpetta-- leave your customers hanging and the food will not be as good and the experience will not be as memorable for the right reasons!!!! The only star this place deserves is half a star for the chef and the other half for our server. I won't be going back since I know that if I have an issue, management will act as if they CAN find a solution and if it's not what I was looking for-- they will PRETEND it never happened.
(1)Joseph C.
Had an 8:00 reservation sat us at 9:15 at the worst table in the restaurant. We actually made them move us. This is there way of getting everyone to get a drink at the bar Appetizers were miniature and tasteless Entrees were ok Sauce on the spaghetti was oily Was not impressed at all
(2)Renier C.
Dining in this tastefully nautical themed restaurant seemed almost crazy for a $39 Miami Spice 3 course meal. However, to miss the opportunity would have been much more mental. Now let's cut to the chase. Starter. *Creamy Polenta with fricasse truffled mushrooms. Make sure you're dining partner is having the short ribs. Share. Main Dish. Yellowtail Snapper, only way to go. The spaghetti is very nice but it can't come close to the flavor sensation of the yellowtail and it's crispy skin. Dessert. Chocolate Terrine. Simple dessert with Nutella, chocolate and coffee ice cream accompanied with raspberries. The Marscapone Custard was nice but the addition of mango sorbet had me lost in translation. Having been to Scarpetta several times prior, I know that it has what it takes to have made this a five star review. However adequate service, like in most restaurants in this city, (insert cliché here) is nearly impossible to find. Pity.
(4)Dana S.
This review isn't for the food - because we didn't get that far. Had a 9pm reservation showed up 5 minutes late and had to wait 25 minutes. Finally got showed to our table and it was awful - they have an awesome dinning area but my party was showed to a separate side dining room. I normally wouldn't complain but it was Saturday night and there was a crying baby at the table next to us. We talked to the hostess about going to the main dining room (there was a table open) but was informed someone that had a reservation was going to be sitting there... Even though we waited 25 minutes and we had a table they could have taken. Would not go back to try the food because the menu was just okay and the service was awful
(1)BJ M.
Had dinner at Scarpetta Saturday. Our server was Steve (Australian dude) and he was awesome. Very knowledgable of the menu and super friendly. He recommended the chef tasting menu - and it was a great idea. Dinner was superb - yellow tail, short ribs, duck foie gras ravioli, spaghetti, colorado lamb chops just to name a few. I highly recommend a visit.
(4)Renato S.
The feel of this restaurant hits you as soon as you walk into the door. Just a fresh looking dining area, with nice outdoor dining. I had the miami spice pre fixe which including a mushroom and potato appetizer? Really? It was good but a strange start for me. My gf had the shortrib, very good, but once again...an app? Anyway, we both had the spaghetti which I found quite tastey. No meat though so I should have gone with the chicken breast, looked really good. The waiter service was very impersonal, so they lose a star. Other than that, one of the ONLY reasons to come to this hotel. I stayed for 3 nights and thought it blew but the restaurant was very good. 4.5 Scarpetta.
(4)Chris C.
Absolutely fantastic food! The duck and foe gras ravioli was amazing. The creamy polenta is a must have. The spaghetti, while simple, was fantastic.
(5)Andrea P.
S Sophisticated C Classy A Amazing R Romantic P Pleasant E Excellent T Tasteful T Terrific A Attractive I LOVE THIS PLACE ;)
(5)Anthony K.
Scarpetta Review (1st Anniversary Edition) Preface (A Love Note) : To Urban Solace (San Diego) - I've loved you from the beginning, but since I've moved to Florida...there's been someone else. And I just have to tell you, this one last important thing : Scarpetta is carrying my foodie love child - Amor, Antonio Prologue (A perfect Pair) : Me and the girlfriend are food network / foodie geeks. We love to watch Next Iron Chef, Best thing I ever ate / Made / Chopped. Having the ability to experience food network for a first "romantic" anniversary date in person : Priceless : Entre.......Scarpetta !! Chapter 1 : (A table for 2) - Reservations were made through Open Table - and within the hour the restaurant called to confirm our arrival and any special requests. I requested it to be known that we would be celebrating our Anniversary and the hostess was very gracious over the phone. Chapter 2 : (The Arrival) - Located in the swanky fontainebleu. Neon blue lighting illuminates the lobby. Me and the bonita, dressed to the nines, made our way down the hallway in giddy anticipation. Hostess greeted us with a welcome and wished us a Happy Anniversary. How Nice :) The Ambiance - Low Lit, candles at each table...very romantic. Chapter 3 : (Decisions, Decisions) - Our Waiter Introduced himself and was very gracious and attentive, throughout the entire meal. Oh what to eat - Everything sounds delicious (and we had seen a couple dishes prepared by Scott Conant on t.v. prior). We decided to do a la carte and try a few (I mean a lot), of selections. For those that don't know : There's a chef prepared 4 and 5 course menu (if you wish) - The chef chooses key dishes and for an extra fee, will pair them with wine selections. There is also a vegetarian menu (This made the bonita happy) Chapter 4 : (A race well run) : We began our foodie marathon with bread service. A variety of breads (I dont remember them all, just the one with this perfect sliver of salami which I profess is better than any bacon that I've had in my life) w/ a trio platter of toppings : Garlic infused olive oil / Mascarpone Butter / Caponata. Next was our cold course : I ordered a stone crab claw w/ garlic aoli and mostarda (Excellent presentation that came out on a bed of shaved ice). We also ordered the Arugula Plate (This was delicious, but a bit too big), and also the Burrata Plate (The tastiest tomatoes ever...delicately coated in olive oil..simple and perfect...this is my go to cold course from here on...forever). Pasta Course : I believe for both of us, this was the highlight of the evening. Note : Nothing you ever see on t.v. looks like what you order...until now. Watching Scott make this spaghetti was enough to bring me in. Just for this dish - and it did not disappoint. It came out covered w/ a white porcelain dome and the wait staff waited just a tad to do the "unveiling" - It was a real bit of food magic...and ta-da !! It looked just like it did on t.v. - This perfect wound up mound of deliciosity !! So simple, yet so deliciously complex. Perfectly cooked al dente pasta, the sauce is bath-able, better yet, a facial. I cannot describe any more, I just don't have the words, better yet I can describe the action : You know the part in Lady and the Tramp where they do the spaghetti kiss ? The pasta was magical enough for us to re-enact the scene. The bonita ordered the Butternut Squash Ravioli : Slightly sweet, yet creamy filling w/ another to die for sauce. The slight crunch of the almonds on top was on point and completed the dish. At this point - We hit the foodie marathon wall....A wall that we were not expecting, but then came our entree courses...In the running community it's called runner's high, at Scarpetta it's Foodie Nirvana - a state of culinary bliss that few ever achieve and even fewer come down from. We both felt like floating balloons, and even the wait staff offered us a cart to wheel us out to the valet stand...but we weren't done yet. We must...finish...the fooood !! Main Course : I ordered the Long Island Duck : Perfectly cooked and delicious. The bonita ordered the creamy polenta w/ mushrooms (Pillowy Soft - We both stated we could make a bed of it - That soft !!). The bonita loves panna cotta - Oh look, coconut panna cotta w/ a guava and pineapple reduction (Sweet and Creamy, Tropical, refreshing). And I ordered the chocolate cake (Seductively sweet and Heavenly). In the celebration of our anniversary both of our dessert plates had delicately chocolate written Happy Anniversary messages complete with heart shaped "i" dots and exclamation points. It's fine touches like these that show the professionalism and sincerity, the willingness to go the extra mile. Compliments to the chef and team at scarpetta. Epilogue (Best thing I ever....) : With our meal complete, we left with smiles, and affirmed that we would begin a new tradition of making a monthly visit. Best things I ever ate indeed !!
(5)Will M.
Braised short ribs, yellowtail himachi, Duck and fois ravioli, white truffle steak All outstanding. So was service. I didn't spoil myself with white truffle tasting menu, but would've been a great choice. Ravioli was outstanding.
(5)Erin M.
Their Miami Spice menu looked the best out of the 3 Fontainebleu restaurants, and it was sooo good. MUST order the creamy polenta. The rib appetizer was good but small. Sirloin was good, but spaghetti would have been worth it. Some ordered the chicken dish but didn't rave about it. The chocolate cake with salted caramel...yum! We left very satisfied. Their Miami Spice menu is worth every penny, just watch it with the wine if your on a budget...
(4)Joseph C.
I went to Scarpetta for their two year celebration and took advantage of the $55 four-course prix-fix dinner with complimentary wine pairing. I have to say that my overall experience here was incredible. This was the last restaurant of the big three at Fontainebleau that I had yet to try and it was just as amazing as the other two. Ambiance The restaurant itself is beautiful. The decor, layout, lighting, furniture, and overall set up are all perfect. I opted to sit outside because it was cool out and I wanted to take advantage of the weather. The seating outside consisted of regular tables as well as tables with couches for seats which were super comfortable. The outside seating area provides a nice view of the pool area for you to enjoy while you eat. Food When you sit they bring a basket of freshly baked breads to the table. They come with a garlic infused olive oil, an eggpant spread, and butter. My favorite was the stromboli bread. I'm pretty sure you'll be ordering extra of that particluar bread. I say this because the waiter laughed when I asked for more which lead me to believe that most people do. The four items that I chose from the menu were the braised short ribs, tomato basil pasta, prime aged sirloin, and the amedei chocolate cake.The short ribs were perfectly seasoned and incrdibly tender. They would literally break apart when I would touch them with my fork. The ribs sat atop a bed of risotto that was rich and creamy. The tomato basil pasta was as good as advertised. Its amazing how such a simple dish could be so amazing. The pasta is homemade and the sauce is delicious. Since it was perfectly cooked "al dente" you really have to try this pasta to truly appreciate its texture. I can't really put it into words but its something that you have to experience if you love pasta. I ordered my steak medium and it came perfectly cooked. It was also seasoned well and was very tender. The roasted potatoes and caramelized onions were a great side to this wonderful steak. You may be wondering why I opted for the steak at an Italian restaurant. The problem was that my reservation was for 10 PM so by the time I got there, they had run out of the Branzino with the Shrimp Fricasee. That is what i really wanted to have but I had to settle for the steak. It was great so I really didnt mind. The amedei choclate cake was to die for if you are a chocolate lover. It is a warm chocolate cake but made in the style of a suflee. The center was filled with what seemed to be a very rich dark chocolate. The warm cake paired with the cold almond ice cream was decadent. Luckily for me the meal with a complimentary wine pairing. It was basically one red and one white wine that were pre selected for any of the four courses that you chose. The best part was that it was a "free" pour which means that you can have as much of the wines as you want. Needless to say, I took full advantage of this opportunity. The wines weren't spectacular but the red one in particular was pretty good. Service I had made a reservation and I arrived on time. When we arrived at the restaurant we we greeted and promptly taken to our seats. As many people who frequent these types of restuarants knows, this isn't always the case. We were initially taken to a table inside the main dining room, but when I realized they had outdoor seating as well I asked the hostess if she could accomodate us. She gladly took us outside and gave us a nice table with a comfortable couch for a seat. Our waiter did a great job of explaining the items, wine pairings, and how the prix fix menu worked. He was always around to provide us with whatever we needed and most importantly, kept our wine glasses full. If you like Italian food and enjoy the whole "fine dining" restaurant experience, I would stronlgly suggest you give Scarpetta a try. Scarpetta is a AAA FOUR DIAMOND AWARD winner and you will surely see why.
(5)Mindy A.
My husband and I recently stayed in Miami Beach for a few nights and wanted to treat ourselves to a fantastic meal while we were here. After being largely unimpressed with several of the spots along Ocean Drive, we turned to Yelp and searched the area for something special. We were looking for a Monday night dinner, so we had no problem grabbing reservations for Scarpetta. We were not dissappointed! This place is five-stars from the minute you walk in. While we were waiting for our table we grabbed some bubbly from the bar, which is nothing short of stylish. After a brief toast, we were seated and our server promptly arrived. After taking a look at our menu, we found it hard to choose apps and entrees....so we went all out and ordered the four course chef's tasting dinner. This was definitely a splurge, but hey, we were on vacation! For what its worth, if you're OK spending a bit of $$, the tasting menu was amazing. It included two apps (truffled mushroom polenta & short ribs), three half-orders of pasta (their famous duck foie gras ravioli & spaghetti and something else with pancetta & clams), two entrees (swordfish & perfectly cooked sirloin), and two desserts (dark chocolate cake/almond ice cream & mango panna cotta). Good thing we were hungry! Of those selections, the out-of-the-park homeruns included the polenta, ravioli, spaghetti, sirloin, and panna cotta. Everything else was fantastic as well. We enjoyed all of that, plus the complimentary "small bites" they brought to the table--amazing tuna sashimi--and their salami & smoked mozzarella bread basket (wow). Honestly, the bread basket alone, with its selection of three spreads, won us over immediately. On top of the amazing food, the service was fantastic. Our server explained each course and served the first bits to both my husband and I (everything was brought to the table to share). At one point, I actually saw him RUN, not walk, over to make sure he could serve us first, before I grabbed the spoon to serve us myself. Now that is putting in the extra effort. He was quick to refill our wine glasses and friendly throughout the meal. After our 2-1/2 hour "dining experience," we took a few minutes to walk around the famous Fountainebleu Hotel and check out the pool. The setting, especially the pool, really is something else. The hotel is built like a resort. All in all, Scarpetta is pricey, but lives up to its reputation. I'd recommend for a special occasion, and don't be afraid to order the tasting menu if you want an extra special experience!
(5)Valerie M.
Went here specifically for spaghetti pomodoro, which we've seen touted in several newspapers and television shows as the most amazing pasta dish ever. It was really, really good, though maybe not exactly what I was expecting. Maybe it was just too built up. It's definitely worth a trip to the restaurant just for that dish (but be prepared to pay for it).
(4)May R.
This place is so perfect! It's a perfect fine dining experience. The interior decors of the place is so breathtaking and everything is just well organized. The waiter is so patient and helpful, he knows everything on the menu. The food was served to us with so much class. Everything really looks delicious. The food was so unique, that every bite will make you want to have more of their food. The money spent here is just worth it, and no money can ever replace the experience I had.
(5)Susan J.
Tasteless and expensive hotel food with intrusive service.
(2)Andrew C.
Had family in town for a wedding so I decided I would take them to one of the best Italian restaurants in Miami. We had great service last time, so this time we requested the same waiters again, Eddy and Luis, and they did not disappoint. We had the polenta, colorado lamb saddle, and farmer's market salad. Everything was tasty, the plating was stunning, and the polenta was as good as last time. I highly recommended the polenta to my guests so I was hoping it wouldn't be a disappointment (I knew it wouldn't). They wanted a straw so they could suck up every last grain or whatever you call it. They said that they would die happy after eating the polenta so I guess it did not disappoint. For entrees we tried the short rib agnolotti, the oven roasted chicken, and sirloin. Again, everything was spectacular. The "made in house" pastas' have the perfect texture, the agnolotti was tender and exploded with flavor when bit into. Both sirloins were cooked as requested, the steak was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. I am always hesitant to order chicken when ordering out because I am afraid it will be overcooked, alas I should have never doubted Scarpetta. It was the juiciest chicken I have ever had. Full of flavor and they managed to get the skin to the perfect crispiness. For dessert we had the chocolate cake, passion fruit semifreddo, and coconut panacotta. The people across from us probably thought something was wrong because all that was coming from our table were "uuhhhh" "mmmhmmmmm" "oh my" Everything was wonderful! The chocolate cake was super rich and the inside was warm, gooey, and chocolate oozed out when cut into. The semifreddo had the perfect amount of tart to go well with the best banana gelato I have ever had. It tasted like if someone got a perfectly ripe banana, mixed it up with rich cream and threw it into an ice cream maker. The service was spectacular, Eddy and Luis sounded like they could recite the menu in their sleep. And they treated us extra special because I had guests from out of town. What it was they did I will not mention, but I praise them for making it such a memorable experience. I highly recommend these two waiters. If I ever feel like self-indulging or I have family/friends from out of town, Scarpetta is tops on my list to go to! *Best Dish - The polenta, or pretty much anything on their menu! lol*
(5)Karen G.
We had dinner here as we were already staying in the hotel and I'd long wanted to try the original Scarpetta in NYC. The tagliolini was the best dish of our entire trip. In fact, it's one of the best pasta dishes I've had, EVER. the flavor was delicate and subtle, and so good I kept stealing bites from my husband's plate. The foie gras and duck ravioli ended up being disappointing compared to the tagliolini. It might be an unfair comparison, but the flavor ended up being too earthy, too much.
(4)Brenda P.
I feel I need to update my review because my experience the 2nd time was just so different than my first. Arrived on time for a 7pm reservation and got seated right away. Our server came over right away and introduced himself. He listed the specials and spoke to us about the tasting menus. We opted for the 5 course tasting menu without the wine pairing. Instead we settled on a bottle of Col Solare which would go with everything. Let me tell you this, IT IS A LOT OF FOOD. I have done many tastings all over the country (including a 21 course at BAZAAR in L.A) and this was just a lot of food. What makes it over the top is that what some restaurants call a "course" is not the same here. I will explain. In most restaurants, a "course" within a tasting consists on ONE usually small portioned entree per person. At Scarpetta, each "course" has 2-3 different "courses within the course" and served family style. Still following? Good thing we opted out of the 9 course option. Phew! and as a disclaimer, I can eat. You would not think so but I really can. We were full halfway through and there was no turning back, only many request to pack this and that up! For the amuse bouche they brought out a sliced yellowtail with Himalayan salt (divine) and a swordfish. In addition was their version of a fritto misto with shredded veggies and assorted seafood. Should not have finished that! But I did. The courses officially began with the mushroom polenta. The taste is unlike any I have ever had. Consistency could have been thicker. They serve it separately than the mushroom mix so it could be that when combined it waters it down a bit? Still amazing. I was trying to restrain myself a bit but I should have gone for dipping the bread in whatever was left. I didn't. Sigh. Did I say bread? The bread basket hides this one specialty that has salami inside of it. Really? because hot bread is not tempting enough? Of course I had to have it. It comes with a trio of spreads- olive oil, butter and an eggplant tomato mix. Still on the first course, there was also a serving of their short ribs. Delicious. Not the best I have ever had but up there somewhere. 2nd course was when I transformed into a moaning fool. Yes, you read right. I went completely Meg Ryan at the table with every bite. No, my husband (unfortunately) had nothing to do with it. TMI? Oh well. This is where they hooked me to always and forever return to Scarpetta. The 2nd course consisted of not one, not two, but THREE pasta dishes. Up first was their foie gras ravioli, followed by their spaghetti followed by their orecchiette with pancetta and broccoli. It was just obscene. It really was. All homemade. All amazing. The orecchiette was in third place and that's actually an insulting place for it to be because it was also very good. And it had broccoli. I hate broccoli but did not hate this. This is how pasta is cooked. I could have that spaghetti every day of my life. It is so simple but my goodness, it is incredible. I will tell you that I love cheese and I did not want to spoil that plate of spaghetti by adding it because it was perfect as they served it. There was not a speck of pasta left on those three plates! 3rd course was their black cod as well as their scallops. Again, two course within the one course. These were perfectly cooked as well but we really just took a bite or so of each to try it because we were pretty much done. We had to struggle to fit more food in. 4th course was their sirloin and the duck. Also beautifully presented and cooked. Another thing to pack up after the obligatory bites to try it. 5th course was dessert. Why is it that no matter how full you are, you always manage to fit dessert? This night they had a coconut panna cotta in a guava soup with what seemed like a sugar coated pineapple slice? the second dessert was a chocolate cake with salted caramel ice cream and a chocolate thin cigar. We managed to have most of that despite the fullness. Delicious. If you are still reading, I am sure you feel full too. Admit it. Service was impeccable all night. It was still light out when we arrived and as it got darker, so did the restaurant. They don't turn many lights on. They solely depend on the table candles for light. The music also went louder as the night went on. Even on a Sunday which is when we went. The bathroom is outside the restaurant and a little bit of a walk but not too bad. Park on the south entrance of the hotel. You will be closer. We ended with some coffee and vowed to come back next time with our eyes on the price: PASTA! and you my fellow Yelper, should do the same! P.S. They handed us the bill and this little card promoting for us to leave a review on Trip Advisor. Huh? How 2005 of them. I made sure to tell them that needs to change ASAP to promote YELP instead. Real People, Real Reviews minus all the pop up screens. Easy decision if you ask
(5)Amos N.
Very good. We were a party of 4 and did the tasting menu. Duck pate ravioli was a highlight as was the polenta with mushrooms. Huge wine list. Service was 5 star. Didn't love the room, a little 80's feeling and cold. Food was pretty heavy and rich. Worth a visit for sure.
(4)Luke S.
Located at the Fountainbleau in Miami. Great ambience, fantastic service, quality of food was outstanding and full of flavor. Must make reservations and be prepared to spend some dough as it will get expensive.
(5)Jackie N.
My gf and I came here for our last dinner in Miami. We go to the restaurant and the hostess suggested we get a drink at the bar because our table was just finishing up dessert. Right when our wine was put in front of us, our table was ready. But the hostess was nice enough to carry both our glasses of wine on a tray to our table. We opted for the 4 course tasting menu which is served to the table for, I believe, $78 per person. Starter/Amuse bouch - a piece of the raw yellowtail appetizer with marinated onions and baby greens and a piece of hamachi. Both were delicious Appetizer - They gave us braised short ribs with veggies and risotto which were good, not amazing but good. They gave us a full portion of the creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms. OH...EM...GEE. These were delicious! You have the option to get freshly shaved truffles on top, but that's an extra $25 and the sauce already has a strong essence from the truffle oil they probably used. *The couple next to us didn't hear the extra $25 part and after the waiter informed her, she told her boyfriend she thought it was cheese...d'oh!* Pasta - We got cute little bowls of 3 different pastas. First, the scialatielli, which was supposed to have shrimp and calamari..but we didn't see either. It wasn't our favorite. The classic spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce which was very simple but very good with some parmesan cheese on top. The duck and fois gras ravioli was the best pasta we had and our small portion was perfect. It is a bit too much for a normal serving of pasta. Meat/Fish - The black cod with roasted fennel had an amazing sauce which made the dish. The sirloin was really yummy and came with shaved fois gras on top. Yum! Dessert - They ended with a dense chocolate cake with almond gelato and the coconut panna cotta. Both were yum! If I were to come back, i would get the creamy polenta, hamachi, and duck and fois gras ravioli to share. However, I don't know if I would come back. I thought the food was good, but average for the amount I spent. It was about 100/person including tip, which is more than all the other meals in Miami and I was the least satisfied with this meal. Also - the portions (on the regular menu, not even the tasting menu) are really small!
(3)Tenzo A.
All the talk about about the spaghetti being good, yeah no. I'm not sure if it was because it seemed like we were the last reservation so they rushed our order but it was under cooked. I had everyone on the table try it to confirm that I wasn't the only one who felt that way. The only reason I didn't complain to the waiter is because he was such a RUDE guy that I didn't even want to deal with him. So here's where I got the rude from .. So we get there and place our order. I ordered one of their signature cocktails and asked the waiter if he could ask the bartender to add jalapenos in the cocktail. NOW I know every restaurant doesn't have jalapenos in their bar, but I can say that 95% of the restaurants I've gone to have had them. It's one thing to nicely tell me you don't have jalapenos but this guy went out of his way to make me feel like I asked him the dumbest question heard to mankind. He looked at me like I was from another planet and told me they don't have jalapenos and NO BAR has jalapenos .. Like really he responded like I asked him to add toothpaste to my drink. So I said ok most places have it but thats okay thank you. A little later, he came back AND GUESS. WHAT. my freakin drink had jalapenos in it and ALL OF a sudden he was the nicest waiter. I don't know I'm just big on service and NO ONE should treat not just their customers but people in general like that. Now the only reason I gave this place 2 stars was because of their yellowtail. SO good. Make sure you order that.
(2)Steven W.
"Why would you want to go to Scarpetta in Miami when there is one in New York!?!!" I lifted this question out of Wendy L's review below from 4/6/2012 where her date asked: The answer is in the question...BECAUSE THERE IS ONE IN NEW YORK!...stay with me here... With so many great restaurant to try in NYC, there's no way get to them all, especially if you don't reside there. If I have the opportunity to try a place with a sterling reputation, that has a sister spot in another city, that from all I've heard/read mimics the original to a tee, then I'm going in...If for no other reason to check it off the list and open up a spot for a future NYC endeavor...that may only make sense to me, but I guess that's all that's important. Scarpetta was 5 Stars across the board...from the staff, who were all super friendly, helpful, and seemed generally excited to have us as customers...to the people in the kitchen, who are putting out the kind of food that solidifies Scott Conant's reputation in the industry. We had a few dishes that seem get a lot of press...Polenta w/mushrooms and Spaghetti with tomato sauce and basil. We also had a Mediterranean Sea Bass, Dessert, etc...The details don't really matter. Everything was perfectly executed from a preparation and flavor perspective. Even the bread basket, with the bread that had the salami and cheese baked into it, started the meal off simply surpassing my expectations. The whole "Event," I will call it, made me appreciate Scott's talent in this business, and I'm sure I'll see his comments on chopped in a slightly different light. Hats off to the people actually running the place as well! They are doing all of the heavy lifting. Scarpetta is a restaurant I would definitely return to, take others to etc...so much for my theory of trying something so I won't have to go there when I'm in New York.
(5)Elizabeth Y.
Miami Spice. Dress nice. Good excuse to dress up for a date with my boo. We decided to get diff things on the menu so that we could share. We decided to each get wine flights where you get a glass for each course of the meal. Their bread basket brings you an assortment of diff types of bread along with some type of eggplant dipping sauce. And if you're extra hungry you can ask for more bread if you finish the basket. Appetizer: winner - the polenta! Anything that has truffles will make my mouth water and drool. Main dish: My bf got the yellowtail and I got the oven roasted chicken, as we thought we should try something else besides their spaghetti. Well my bf's face dropped a little when he saw how small the yellowtail dish was, so we opted to switch as my chicken had more substance lol. Either both dishes were good, but nothing really wowed us. Dessert: Winner: Mascarpone custard and mango sorbet. I love mascarpone! It always reminds me of tiramisu. Very expensive meal but for miami spice it was worth the experience. Great service too. Can't say I will come back though.
(4)Alexa A.
I usually stay at the fontaine bleau in miami when i visit but when i wanted italian food i came to scarpettas it was a bit expensive but whocares the food made me feel like i was back at home it was amazing
(5)Nelson A.
Two stars because the quality of the food does not match what you pay. The waiter recommended the "spaghetti", saying that this was what people visited this restaurant for. The famous spaghetti ended up being a HUGE disappointment, overpriced and completely ordinary.
(2)Mario P.
Good place! The creamy polenta was really good. The entries, gemelli and foi gras ravioli were ok. Gemelli is a pasta with lobster and shellfish, I have definitely try better one for less price, not in Miami. The dessert was chocolate cake with ice cream, really good. So if I would go again, I'd order polenta and dessert, lol. The service is really good too, they are always around. One thing, I went for my gf birthday and they knew we there for that, and we were expecting a courtesy dessert or something. Usually restaurants (less fancy ones at least) give a especial dessert, but not here :(
(4)Elaine D.
Great pasta. Really beautiful decor. Ocean view available . Bring a sweater. It's freezing in the restaurant
(5)Cristina F.
From the beginning to the end, it was an amazing experience dining at Scarpetta. I went with one of my friends who was visiting from out of town, and we both loved every minute of it. The service and food are top notch. Since we arrived a bit earlier than our reservation, we sat at the bar and ordered dirty martinis. I don't know where or how they get their olives for the dirty martinis, but they were the most amazing olives that I've ever had. I'm not crazy, my friend agreed. I'm seriously talking about green olives right now. The drink was strong, and perfect. Best dirty martni, hands down. At the table, after a lovely conversation with the sommelier, we ordered a bottle of the Villa di Capezzano Carmignano 2006 and it was truly delicious. The bread basket and olive oils to accompany the basket were unique and we both enjoyed it very much. For starters, we tried the steak tartare and the creamy polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms. Both of these just melted in our mouths. The tartare was one of the best I've had and I really didn't want that polenta to end. For our main course, I ordered the duck and foie gras ravioli and my friend had the filet mignon. Again, the ravioli just melted in my mouth, really buttery. Simply divine combination of flavors, and nothing too overpowering. The filet mignon was also great, and cooked perfectly. We were so stuffed by the end of the night, that we couldn't move. It was well worth it, though. I can't wait to do it again.
(5)Carlos A.
This is one of my favorite restaurants as Conant's meals are phenomenal. Get the Miami Spice deal for $39 for a 3 course and get the wine tour. The octopus and the pork are exceptional.
(5)Justin T.
We tried this place for Miami Spice because we heard that it's supposed to have "the best spaghetti you've ever had in your life!" To be honest, it tasted like Chef Boyardee! The Miami Spice menu that was listed online was totally different than the Miami Spice menu that they actually offered once we were there. The service was great- our waiter was very nice and attentive. And the atmosphere was great- we had a view of the ocean while we ate our mediocre food. But we went for the food! And it was highly disappointing :-( We won't be going back and we wouldn't recommend Scarpetta to anyone.
(2)Hesham E.
We had a three course meal here for Valentine's Day and we were not at all disappointed. The food, service and ambiance make for a perfect romantic night out. If you're in the mood for pasta, this is the place to go. Everything is made fresh to order and you can certainly tell.
(5)Mike D.
This is the 3rd Scarpetta I have been to and let me disclaim that the other 2 got 5 stars from me as well, which tells you a few things: This place is amazing, the food is consistently mind blowing, and lastly I have a bad addiction to the culture SC has created! I have traveled to Miami quite often and this is the number 1 place in my book. The location is stunning, the menu is the typical greatness you would expect from Scott, the wine list, though overwhelming, is quite extensive and the service is impeccable. Here is my recommendation: Go in a get greeted by the gracious host. Walk through this beautiful restaurant and let the sweeping views of the Atlantic ocean envelop you. Sit done and take a deep breathe! Ask to talk to the sommelier and explain to him what you like in a wine. The reason I am saying wine over a cocktail is because a good wine will help develop and accentuate the flavors you are about to experience and trust me the sommelier on hand is one of the best in the area for sure. Next, stop and look around at the restaurant to get a great feel of what modern American meets classic Italian looks like. This will help prepare you for the food to come. I'm not going to itemize what you should get because quite simply, everything on the menus has such a focus on detail that you will not be disappointed buy anything they have to offer. What I do recommend is get an app, 2 pastas, and and entree, this will help you understand what they are doing here as far as cuisine goes. Also, save room for dessert, do not say your are going somewhere else, or that you are full because the desserts, especially the panna cotta are life altering. I hope one day when my wife and I are indulging in a great meal at any of the Scarpetta or DOCG restaurants, Scott walks in with the swagger and confidence he exuded in his food, walks by us, say 'sup' and 'are you the guy that LOVES all my restaurants?", I will proceed by pushing out a chair for him, ordering a wonderful bottle of Amarone or Brunello and just thank him for creating such a wonderful culture and for giving us the opportunity to indulge in one of the best restaurants in county.
(5)S M.
I am beginning to feel like the odd man out with some of my reviews. The plusses: Decor was great and all glass surroundings beautiful. Service was very good. Our waiter was friendly and "earned" the service charge. Wine list is incredible. The wine list is as big as the local newspaper. Polenta appetizer is superb. The minuses: Really weird hipster sort of music playing incredibly loud spoils the experience. Many of the dishes are way over the top too rich. When I say too rich, both me and my companion felt sick by the end of the night. Didn't quite see the "Miami" crowd I was hoping for. I had the oven roasted chicken. Dry, salty, just not that great. My companion had the swordfish. That was good, poached, but nonetheless too rich! The desserts were absolutely over the top. I had the chocolate cake. I was stupid enough to eat half of it and I literally had stomach aches from the richness afterward. Granted I had the equivalent of 2 glasses of wine with my meal, but it wasn't just me, my companion felt the same and she didn't drink anything. I am glad we went. The hotel is always nice to visit. But I will not go to Scarpetta again.
(3)Ryan P.
We had been to Scarpetta's in Las Vegas and had the time of our lives.... So, we were looking forward to a fantastic night in Miami! Hmmm.... Sometimes it is just hard to recreate a memory and this certainly was not the same! We had gone to one of the Foutainebleau restaurants the night before and had the 'Miami Spice' Special.... so all five of us chose that route along with the wine pairing! - I had read all the reviews and we decided to add the Crispy Fritto Misto and the Creamy Polenta with truffled mushrooms to our price fixed menu. I think all 5 of us would agree that those 2 items were the best of all the items we ate that night. / This is a perfect example of getting what you pay for.... while the overall special was certainly priced well...it wasn't right. Scott is a great chef and while we may not have liked this meal...we will be back!
(3)Melissa F.
The food is always amazing here. My waiter was okay, he could have been nicer or idk... a little different. He seemed to neglect us a tiny bit.. I know it wasn't just me either cause my husband said something to me about it. I usually don't want to complain cause sometimes that sets the tone for the night. All in all though I love the food there... So I would go back..
(4)Garrett K.
I love this place. Gourmet Italian! Scott Conant is a culinary genius!
(5)Saulo C.
very expensive, forced a truffle $ 50, I did not understand that the waiter offered me, kinda empurou to sell more ..
(3)David L.
Food: 4 Decor: 4 Service: 4 Came here for dinner around 9:30pm Tuesday. Didn't have a reservation and opted for bar seating. 1. BRAISED SHORT RIBS OF BEEF 16 vegetable & farro risotto ~Really good. Beef was tender and cooked perfectly, and the jus complemented the risotto very well. 2. SPAGHETTI 24 tomato & basil ~Really good. Best plate of spaghetti I've ever had, despite it being so simple and somewhat expensive. Service was good, although it would have been nice to get my bread before my starter. Bread was a bit stale, but the eggplant marinara dip was pretty good.
(4)Rina N.
I came here with a party of 9 for my birthday dinner. I made reservations a few days prior; I made changes to the number of people attending a few times and they were very accommodating to my needs. They have the best basket of bread - 3 types (I believe they were focaccia, Cuban style and butter rolls). We asked for maybe 3 refills! It was complimented by 3 different spreads (mascarpone butter, olive oil and a tomato eggplant mixture). Most of us ordered the Miami Spice menu (~$39/pp). I ordered the tuna carpaccio appetizer, local snapper (caught that day) and a coffee semifreddo for dessert. Hands down the best meal I've had in quite a long time. Price was extremely reasonable for the Miami Spice. I can't forget to mention that our server was tremendously knowledgable of their offerings - I'm pretty sure he went through the entire menu items in exact detail without a single breathe haha. Really appreciated his service, we gave him additional tip on top of the already 18% included gratuity. We left the restaurant comfortably stuffed and super content. Would definitely recommend this place for any special occasion or date. I even saw some families with their kids so it's family/kid friendly too!
(5)Claudia C.
what a joke!!!!! Like seriously , where is the hidden camera. personnel was rude, unprofessional and totally out of line Place was desserted but they refused to add a 5th chair because according to them they were booked for the night......yeah rigth! We were there for 2 hours and no one walked in those doors. We knew it was expensive, but the portions are offensive. Perhaps we caught them on a off night but I would never recommend or go back to this place. Seriously there is nothing spectacular about their food but the prices and the snobish attitude from the staff (they were confused perhaps as to who the customers were?) I found totally unforgivable. Never ever coming back I resent Yelp for falling into this brand name trap :(
(1)Alison R.
A lovely dining rooms in Miami Beach are a dime a dozen. So why does the decor of Scarpetta stand out? Yeah, the ocean view is stunning, but it's the damn good Italian that makes this room glow. Love this joint for mini reunions, girlfriend dates and romantic nights out.
(4)Kristina C.
Got to spend Valentine's Day here with my amazing boyfriend! The service was excellent. You would think on such a holiday, the service would be terrible but on the contrary they were very accommodating! The food was good. I wouldn't say it was my favorite but again my taste buds do not venture too much. The steak was delicious and the waiters were good about cleaning up and clearing excess plates/utensils. Overall it's a very romantic, nice place to spend with your spouse/significant other. I would recommend it!
(4)Dave M.
First of all its VERY noisy. Went for an intimate dinner with my wife and we couldn't hear each other across the table. Food is good but not fantastic and for the price they charge it should be. All in all overrated in my opinion.
(2)Camille O.
Came in on a Friday night with another couple. We ordered the Chef's Tasting for the whole table. Crudos came as amuse bouche. Next was braised short ribs with risotto, wild mushroom creamy polenta, which were amazing. Next was the pasta course. My favorites were the spaggetti pomodoro and the foie gras ravioli. For main course we had a crispy skin snapper and beef tenderloin medallions in a demi glace sauce. Finally desserts and they were to die for. My favorite was the warm chocolate cake but the guava panna cotta was a favorite at the table. The waiter discouraged me to order a la carte when the rest of the table was ordering the tasting because I would be waiting for my meal while others would be eating appetizers and other courses of the tasting while my meal was coursed with the others guests entrees. I suggest not to eat the bread if doing tasting because it is a lot of good food and you want to eat it all. Great place for special occasions and also if you want to impress a client on a business dinner.
(5)Rhonda H.
Magnificent room that any aging starlet would appreciate for it's lighting . Service extraordinaire with the manager coming over at the finale to do any damage control. (We had 20% taken off our check for late seating and bad first table), food, exceptional, really, spaghetti, that good? Dinner bill uh oh here's where the star is taken off. For the food portions served (I don't mind, I hate overeating ) the bill should have been half the price. I love the domes brought over the plates and then Voilla! Oh my! where's the food?
(4)Annie H.
Amazing northern Italian food and service! Their hospitality is unbeatable. The manager, Jason, and staff, made our experience at the FontainBleau an unforgettable one! We will certainly be back to visit!
(5)Rachel A.
Literally everything we put in our mouth was to die for!! This was a girls night of 3~ There was a wait so we started off with drinks at the bar - love the ambiance and the scene here - pretty people dressed for a night out~ Once we got to our table, service was prompt. The bread was brought out and our fav dip was the eggplant - so flavorful! We got the creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms...amazing consistency and flavor! I ordered the butter squash raviolini w broccoli rabe pesto - you know how normally veg options are a hit or miss? This was a definite hit!! I ate every bit off my plate! My friend ordered the spaghetti - delicious - the noodles alone are tasty! My other friend ordered the duck and foie gras ravioli - another hit. We finished off with the budino di mascarpone which was mascarpone custard, mango salad & mango sorbet - wonderful flavors and pretty presentation! What a fab foundation before a long night of drinks and dancing at LIV! Gotta work those calories off! Always impressed by the quality of food at the Fountainebleu - will be back!
(5)Nicole R.
I was a little hesitant going here because im not very adventurous with food, but my bf & I got the chef's tasting and everything was AMAZING. The service was impeccable and everything was so fresh. I loved the butternut squash raviolis and the smoked steak... Also the palenta with truffles. I HIGHLY recommend. Its a lot of food for 2 people.
(5)Al M.
(This is 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because I want the average to creep up to 4.5) Let me start bestowing my compliments on Scarpetta: - The menu is focused, very seasonal, and has real Mediterranean ingredients. For Florida, the land of stupid excess, this is a rare treat. - This is a very large restaurant but the service is very personal. - Octopus appetizer is the very best octopus I've eaten. Please try it. - Stracciatella (mozzarella w/ lobster and beets) was delicious and unexpected. - Yes, the spaghetti is really really good. It's the pasta itself, not just the sauce. Maybe not $25 good, but really darn good. Splitting it makes an excellent pasta course for 2. - Did I mention the octopus? - Branzino was OFF the HOOK. Expertly prepared, well seasoned, well sauced. - When one course was very very late, we got three separate apologies and a free pasta dish which they shaved white truffles on top of. So that's like a $95 free dish. - Service was top-notch. (See above) A few misses: - The thing that earned us the free pasta was pretty damn late. We waited one hour from being seated to receiving our first course. (Kitchen's fault, not the server's) - The wines by the glass are just too expensive, even for an expensive restaurant. Offering one or two $20 glasses of wine is one thing, but for most of them to be $20+ that's difficult. - A mushroom side dish was watery and lacked the flavors that were promised in the description. - The dining room is super-cool and there's hip uptempo dance music playing. If this were a Vegas steakhouse I'd be psyched but for a Northern Italian place of this quality, it doesn't match. Overall - a really delicious meal. The Fontainbleu is a really swank hotel (like a giant Vegas nightclub) and this food lives up to its reputation. For a fancy-pants place, it hits the mark.
(5)Lu T.
First night in Miami and we wanted to start it off right and have dinner at Scarpetta at the iconic Fontainebleau. Fine dining was out of the question for any other night as we were very likely to be smashed for the remainder of our trip and therefore could not savor things like this. Why Scarpetta? Well I'd be lying if I didn't say the $35 prix fixe Miami Spice menu didn't play a significant role in that decision but also because I really wanted to see what all the hoopla was about with the spaghetti. I got to sample plenty of things that night and it was a lot of gut-busting fun. First off was the braised short ribs of beef and polenta. Fantastic starters in my humble opinion. The braised short ribs were just tender beyond belief and was texturally complemented by the risotto. Probably one of the better if not best examples of short ribs I have had. The polenta is also well known here, very creamy and smooth but strong enough to stand up to the earthiness of the truffled-mushrooms that was added table-side. The main course included samples of the prime filet of beef, the branzino and of course the spaghetti. The beef was perfectly cooked but lacked anything special to really punctuate and make the dish memorable. I think Scott Conant played it safe with this one and just needed something for the Miami Spice menu. The branzino was criminally salty. The delicate white meat was tainted by the fry treatment the skin got, what a waste of a perfectly good fish that came so far just to be on my plate. The spaghetti was easily the best of the three. Even so, I don't think this was a re-invention of the wheel that deserves all the attention it has been receiving. It was a good pasta made with fresh, quality ingredients, simple yet effective. Spaghetti in a tomato-basil sauce shouldn't cost that much people, save your $23 and make it at home. The dessert. I can't eat. Too sweet. I think I'm diabetic now. By the way, skip the wine pairing if you're ordering from the Miami Spice menu. It sucks and it's overpriced. Scarpetta served as a swanky, sexy backdrop to our first evening in Miami that I thoroughly enjoyed. Although the night had a few very poignant moments food-wise, the quality of some of the main dishes ultimately fell short and that was what stood out in my memory. P.S. Just cause we're ordering from the Miami Spice menu doesn't mean we're cheap, it just means we're Asian so please be nicer to us. You got your 20% gratuity anyways.
(3)Stephanie L.
After hearing so many great things about Scarpetta, I couldn't wait to go during Miami Spice! Any restaurant that can be known simply for making a basic spaghetti amazing is a must try! Went in the middle of the week with a couple of friends. Although we had a reservation, we ended up waiting a few minutes and got to take the opportunity to relax in the lounge. Modern, dim and chic, pretty much exactly what I expected from a restaurant at the Fountainbleau. When we got seated in the main dining room was a little surprised by the decor. It was still classy, but it seemed reminiscent of an upscale yacht, complete with "port window" style mirrors, and lots of rope decor. Interesting. Immediately received a basket of the infamous bread, complete with the famous soft and salty, stromboli pick (pretty good!). They also served several additions for the bread including an eggplant tapenade, a citrus infused olive oil and a creamy butter. Definitely some of the freshest and well cooked bread I've had at a restaurant. We ordered from a waitress who did seem a little less than thrilled we mostly went with the Miami Spice. She however did bring out the "flight of wines" very quickly and was very nice in explaining what each glass was. All three of the picks turned out to be excellent! Without too much waiting they brought our our first course... Polenta was thick and creamy, and the truffled mushrooms were a wonderful addition. Both were served in their own little cups and they mixed the two tableside for a nice extra presentation. The burrata was so soft and moist that it melted like butter and was a nice light beginning. The short ribs were succulent and juicy with a hard farro that complemented it well. All were superb choices! Next was the entrees, and that's where it all came crashing to a halt. No matter how great the ambiance, or how excellent the starters, if the entrees are over-seasoned it's tough to leave happy. I had the branzino, which was beautifully prepared, with a simple presentation, crisp outside, tender and fresh. However, I'm not sure if it was the sauce, the capers or the fish, but something was WAY too salty. It was like eating the fish in the ocean. My friend who got the legendary pasta was equally disappointed with her choice. I tried it and immediately noted the cause of her distress. Al dente, yes. Fresh tomato, cheese and basil in the sauce to break up the flavor, yes. Abundance of white pepper drenching the dish and so potent you couldn't taste much else, unfortunately the answer was also yes. The beef entree too was not particularly great, with lots of dried fat running through. Also, a vegetarian friend who had ordered off the Spice menu and had gotten the zuchinni ravioli thought it had a salty, and not at all subtle, very strong fishy taste. After inquiring with the server she found out it was prepared with an not-mentioned anchovy butter. They were though, very nice and prompt to bring out a replacement sans the fish flavor. Such a completely disappointing round! After feeling a bit let down we got the dessert course. The chocolate lava cake with caramel and salted almond gelato definitely helped perk me up a bit. Hot, gooey melted chocolate center to what looked like an enlarged hockey puck, it was decadent and rich but also toned down nicely with the gelato. As for the coconut panna cotta, it was creamy and a creative tropical take on a classic Italian dessert, but the guava proved a bit too sweet to provide any nice balance. All in all, the apps, wine and desserts weren't bad, but the entrees were not good at all, leading to a pretty mediocre meal overall. I guess I should know better than to get my expectations too high, but I really had believed I would leave with an epic meal. As we all walked back towards the lobby though the sentiment was pretty much "yeah, glad I finally tried it, but especially glad I did it during Spice." I know everyone loves it, and I did really want to, but I just didn't find it to be more than adequate. As my Italian friends have taught me, just because Miami has a lot of Italian imports and restaurants, doesn't necessarily mean that Miami has a lot of great Italian cuisine.
(3)Elnaz D.
I am definitely a fan of this place. I made a reservation for two the morning of and had no problem getting a reservation for dinner on a Friday night. For appetizer we got one order of Spaghetti (tomato and basil) and they brought it out in two cute bowls for us. It was hands down the BEST spaghetti I have EVER had in my life. Their noodles are made fresh everyday! If you go to this place, which I recommend, you definitely want to get the Spaghetti or you will regret it!
(4)Michelle W.
I had the pleasure of dining at Scarpetta with some amazing people for Miami Spice. We had a rezzi and of course the table wasn't ready, which annoys me... but, this is a pretty common thing in MIA. Anyhow, other than that the service was great! Overall it was surprisingly loud in the restaurant, so it could be difficult to have a romantic evening here. I started out with the burrata, which was delicious. I absolutely adore heirloom tomatoes and this dish did not let me down. I had the spaghetti for my main course after hearing rave reviews for it. It was good, the texture was perfect. The noodles were pretty large & flat, more like linguine than spaghetti though. The sauce was good, but I felt like it was missing something, I couldn't quite put my finger on what though. Which is why it's not the best I ever had. It was good though & I ate ever last bit of it. I finished with the coconut panna cotta, which was interesting. But, nothing to write home about. Overall, an excellent dinning experience. I would love to go back again. If money is tight definitely give it a spin during special times like Miami Spice. You won't be disappointed, totally worth it.
(4)Angela S.
So, I guess the last chef Nina Compton left the restaurant. This seems to be the her general excuse of the recent lack f enthusiasm for this restaurant's food. I did not know about Nina before my dinner at Scarpetta's, so I was just expecting a good Italian meal for my birthday dinner, from a place and location that should deliver nothing less than excellence for the sake of reputation and prices. The bread was awesome. The mushroom polenta awesome. And that's where it stopped. Oh, and the cocktails were fine. It would have been a travesty if not. The steak tartar which you pay an extra 12 dollars for on the Miami spice menu, (at which point it becomes pointless to do) was tasteless, the fish my husband had was bland , and my raviolis, a sweet and salty attempt (ravioli is my favorite pasta, if not food & sweet and salty anything is my favorite) forgot the salty part. So... It's not that it was a bad meal. It is just that you expect a certain level of food quality at an establishment on the fountain bleu establishment, and with the reputation Scarpetta's has...you just expect more. But the service was excellent.
(3)Christopher Z.
Many thanks to the Fontainbleu for bringing in Scott Conant! Scarpetta is perhaps the best in-hotel restaruant in Miami today. His classic signature pasta dishes are always enhanced by some new creation, such as foie gras and duck ravioli or squid ink risotto. The chef does wonders with all sorts of fresh fish and this is the only restaurant where I will order chicken and get it better than my homemade beer can version! The location and decor, the view and the fellow patrons, and most especially the fantastic staff all add up to the best overall restaurant experience in Miami.
(5)Tim L.
The entire meal was excellent. Great wine choices, excellent service. The Tartare was perfect, the Short Ribs superb and the polenta was so good we ordered a second. Definitely worth it.
(5)Jerry B.
Okay, this is a 4-5 star restaurant. BUT, our server was a piece of poo. We can clearly afford to dine there, but the server was more interested in giving his attention to everyone older than us and the larger parties. I would personally NEVER recommend dining here, but the food is tasty.
(4)Nicole S.
Unfortunately never got to taste the food.... We had reservations for 9pm, so we were slightly annoyed (we were starving) when we arrived at 9 and were told our table was not ready yet. Upon walking to the bar we saw plenty of empty tables in the bar section as well as in the main dining room. We ordered a drink and just tried to fight the hunger. 15 minutes later we ask the flighty blonde hostess (who ignored us as she passed us several times) how much longer we would have to wait. with her back turned to us she said she would ask the maitre'd. after waiting another ten minutes we were finally escorted passed the posh, trendy dining room, into an enclosed patio. the tables and chairs looked suitable to host breakfast and lunch for people in wet bathing suits coming from the beach and pools, not people who were dressed up for dinner. it was a special dinner and my bf and myself wanted it to be romantic, so my bf politely went back to the hostess and asked if we could be seated at the empty table in the nice dining room. she said that table was being filled any moment for a party with a 930 reservation. (HE was confused bc we also had a reservation and could have easily been seated at the table 30 minutes prior). He attempted to persuade the girl to let us have the table , to which she reponded we would have to wait 20 MINUTES for another table to clear. He immediately walked back into the patio to let me know we were leaving. We were not going to spend our romantic dinner in the most un-romantic setting, even if the restaurant has good food or not. We went to Il Gabbiano for 5 star italian food, on Biscayne Blvd in Downtown Miami, its worth the 20 min cab ride.
(1)Jes R.
Hands down best spaghetti I have ever had. Amazing burrata salad and polenta too. Love the atmosphere and hotel. Wish there was one in Boston!
(5)Jennifer H.
Miami spice menu was ok but I took my own route. So the spaghetti is supposed to be off the hook here. Had the octopus lamb chops and rack of lamb
(5)Michelle B.
So the first time I ever entered this place was due to last years Miami Spice. You won't find me there any other time. Sorry officer, but a regular pasta dish for almost $30 makes me feel as though I'm trading in my 25 year old extensive sticker collection for a blank floppy disk. Anyways, there are three things I remember from my visit. Basically, the bread basket, the menu choices, and that all newborn babies look like Danny Devito. You can make your own sandwich with that bread basket, (yes, theres salami in it) and have enough to feed all the birds that migrate during the winter. The quality and quantity of the menu choices really made the price just right. Since Miami Spice is currently in full effect, it's the best time to go. You might just see me or Danny Devito...but don't be fooled, it's most probably a newborn.
(4)rhett t.
It just keeps getting better. The change in chefs has made little difference and the tweaks are for the better. The spaghetti remains the best bowl of spaghetti on the continent. I detected a slightly spicier sauce but, if anything, that only improves upon perfection. The sirloin (not my favorite cut) was beautifully marbled and seasoned. My only issue was that the bitter mustard greens do not pair well with the rest of the dish. I understand cutting sweet on sweet, but the smoked potato is more creamy than sweet and the flavors do not blend. But, oh let me tell you about the potatoes! Awesome, the herbs are mild and mesh with the other flavors rather than overpower them. The lamb Agnolotti is phenomenal.
(5)Rick J.
Yes, yes, yes! You won't be disappointed :)
(5)j t.
Not what I expected from all the hype. The dishes were hit and miss. The creamy polenta is worth its weight in gold. This is definitely a must if you visit the restaurant. The polenta was very creamy, filling, and could stand on its own. I could have done without the accompanying mushrooms. Skip the braised short ribs. They were a bit salty and bland. The should just remove it from the menu. Their signature spaghetti was tasty, but not really worth the $20+. The spaghetti was al dente, but there needed to be more sauce with it. The sauce itself was tasty and properly thickened with various cheeses. The oven roased duck was crispy and tasty but nothing to right home about. There was something in the spaetzle that overwhelmed the savoriness of the chicken. Do stay away from the rice pudding dessert. The rice pudding was not flavorful and lacked imagination both in taste and presentation. Save your hard earned money for something else.
(3)Joaquin R.
Food is okay compared to the price you pay. Decor is beautiful. Great place to have drinks.
(3)Nancy C.
I was staying in Miami Beach for business and on my last night, decided to treat myself to Scarpetta. Since I was going to be dining by myself, I planned to eat at the bar. But when I got there, I decided to get seated in the main dining room and I'm glad I did. The vibe was cool & hip, but not overly and service was impeccable. Starting with the very sweet hostess who seated me to the professional and helpful waiter to the nice guy re-filling my water & taking away my plates, service left nothing more to be desired. Started off with a bread basket and a trio of olive oil, eggplant spread, & mascarpone butter. Other than the stromboli (very good!), the bread was mostly uninteresting...which was a good thing so that I didn't fill up on bread before my meal! Ordered the Creamy Polenta to start...OMG. It was amazingly delicious. Really. The creaminess of the polenta with the truffle mushrooms is pure genius. It's a MUST have. Then had the Duck and Foie Gras Ravioli for my main. Very very good. Portion size looked small, but after the polenta, it was perfect and I finished every bite. I loved that they were bite size pieces and not overly sauced...it was clean and flavorful, simple without anything to distract from the flavors of the dish. Having finished most of the polenta and then all of the ravioli, I was stuffed. But because everything was on the rich side, I wanted to have something refreshing and light for my dessert. At the waiter's recommendation, I got the Coconut Panna Cotta with Guava Soup. It was the perfect ending to a fabulous meal. So refreshing and the flavors really worked well together. I wasn't able to finish it, but there's always next time. There's a location in BH that I will have to check out! All in all, this was a great dining experience and I would definitely recommend trying it.
(4)Jake K.
The waiter took my order and I never saw him again until he brought the bill. My glass was empty throughout the entire meal. Terrible service and a poor wine selection. The food wasn't able to make up for it either.
(2)Theresa N.
The food here is amazing! Thank goodness for Miami Spice! For $35/person, we were able to sample more dishes than we would have otherwise. The variety of bread and spreads that they give you is yummy! There was one bread that was stuffed with salami and some cheeses. I had to stop myself so that I would still have an appetite for the rest of dinner! We got the braised short ribs and creamy mushroom polenta for appetizers. The ribs were average but man oh man the polenta was awesome! The little mushrooms were nice and juicy and the sauce was so rich and flavorful. For the entree, we ordered the spaghetti with tomato and basil and the oven roasted chicken. The spaghetti had a very strong basil flavor, which I love. But my fave was the chicken. It was tender and juicy with a nice almond crunchy skin. On to dessert! I had the raspberry cheesecake but the all-time best dish of the night was the coconut panna cotta. It was AMAZING!! Definitely the best restaurant we went to all weekend. You gotta try it!
(5)Hannah K.
Just went tonight. Maybe it was an off night, but someone in the kitchen had a heavy hand with the salt shaker. We had the Miami Spice menu + octupus appetizer + spaghetti. The mackerel tartar was decent- tasted like salmon tartar with a slight smokiness. I didn't love it or hate it. The polenta was very creamy but my god were the mushrooms salty. I might have liked this if the seasonings were perfect, but not tonight. The octopus were large tentacles... honestly, Pubbelly's version of octopus a la plancha is similar but more tasty since they char the legs more and serve it with a more interesting sauce. The spaghetti was ok. I was expecting it to rival Delfina's spaghetti al pomodoro in San Francisco, but it lacks the depth of flavor that Delfina has. Scarpetta's overall menu is similar to Delfina, but Delfina wins hands down in everything... but I guess Scarpetta is decent for Italian in Miami? The short rib agnolotti were fine- my husband compared it to being punched in the face with beef flavor. My branzino had nice crispy skin, but the left side of my fish was sooo salty. The sour pickled vegetables underneath didn't help. I couldn't enjoy it. The desserts were nothing special; we didn't finish them. The best part of the meal was the bread, especially the salami bread. That made me sad for about $160 all in (before valet). I wouldn't go back.
(3)Diane T.
Best meal I had on my trip
(4)Jenny L.
An absolutely GORGEOUS restaurant. The views are fantastic of the pool and the ocean. The wait staff is friendly, but not as attentive as should be expected for such an establishment. I had the prix fixe menu which included a short rib appetizer, spaghetti, and a dessert that I don't remember. The food was very good, but not mind-blowing. 3 for food and service, but last star for being such a pretty place.
(4)LORNA H.
Amazing food. Beautiful restaurant. So so service. I ordered the octopus which was perfectly flavored, though a bit too much olive oil. Followed that with the scialatelli. That dish was a plate of pasta perfection. The pasta had the right amount of pepper; the clams and shrimp cooked just so - not one hint of chewiness; the sauce was light and seasoned with perfect amounts of salt, butter and garlic. The waiter and manager were at a loss when asked for a wine recommendation. They were also quick to take away two place settings when guests 3 and 4 were a bit late. However, highly recommended because the food is just so good.
(4)Rob E.
My wife and I have been meaning to visit the NY outpost but haven't had a chance so while on vacation in Miami we wanted to give it a try. We chose the tasting menu, 5 course, which was too much food. I have to admit that I'm typically a big eater and pack an appetite but this was just too much. 4 course would have been just perfect. The sashimi appetizers were good but I almost felt like they should be served at a Japanese restaurant, not an Italian one. The creamy polenta was delicious and memorable. Pastas were good, I really liked the fois gras ravioli. The fish and meat for the main course were ok, nothing that was extraordinary. Overall, the food was salty, and I even told our waiter that, my comment was disregarded.
(3)Desiree D.
I would give this place more stars if I could. It was that good! Everything from the service to the timing of food was perfect. Not to mention the shear deliciousness of each bite! None of the drinks ever went empty, the table was completely cleaned between courses and even trips to the restroom were encountered with well-trained staff at each step. We were a party of 20-something at 3-4 separates tables in the back overlooking the pool and ocean (stunningly gorgeous views!). Over several hours we enjoyed a five course meal, with each course including several options of family-style dishes. Among them was a delicious assortment of breads, eggplant tapanade, truffle butter, and citrus-infused olive oil. Then came fried mozzarella, heirloom tomato salad, salted yellowtail sashimi, and mushroom polenta. Followed by the course with homemade spaghetti and short rib cavatelli, both melted in your mouth. Next up was enormous diver scallops, incredibly juicy chicken in a delectable sauce with baked brussels sprouts, and tender filet of beef. Lastly was an array of desserts, the best of which was a coconut panacotta.
(5)Miguel F.
What a great place! I went Sunday for brunch (yes I know another brunch review LOL) to celebrate my best friend's birthday with a group of friends. We sat outdoors because the weather was great -- you can't go wrong during the Winter in Miami. From the moment we sat down.. the service was spectacular. The servers treated us like gold. Brunch here is different from other places. There is only one choice -- the unlimited buffet for 49.95. It may sound pricey but it is definitely worth it. The buffet has everything you can think of: Sausage and eggs, shrimp cocktail, assorted cheeses, prosciutto, polenta (which i must say is delicious), asparagus, cold salads, etc. Here's the the different part -- you order one main entree. I ordered the skirt steak with poached eggs and it was very good. Other options include pasta, scallops, chicken, short ribs, etc. The price includes unlimited bloody marys, bellinis or Mimosas. When they say unlimited they mean it. Every single one of us was getting a new drink, right when we were finishing our other one. Perfection! The buffet also has desserts. Everything from tiramisu, carrot cake, chocolate cake, croissants, breads, muffins, scones, etc. The bite-size cakes are a must-try. Just a side-note on the service -- one of the many presents we gave my friend was a massive wine cup. The server immediately took it, washed it and then served him a bloody mary in it! The view was also great... you can see the beach, and the amazing pool at the Fontainebleau. Overall we had a great experience at Scarpetta and would definitely recommend it.
(5)Mark R.
Unbelievably noisy. Overattentive service. Overpriced wine list. Good food.
(2)Andy L.
Located in the Sorrento wing of the hotel, south of the main building and lobby of the Fontainebleau, is Scarpetta. It's a smart, glitzy space comprised of two rooms: a bar/lounge and a dining room. This Italian restaurant was running on all eight cylinders last night, from the attentive service to the mixed bread basket which included foccacia and stromboli (bread stuffed with Italian salami and cheese). Appetizers we tried were a tender Octopus ($17), fresh Burrata served with heirloom tomatoes ($16), Tuna Susci ($16) which is raw fish wrapped around tender vegetables, a Creamy Polenta with mushrooms laced with truffle oil ($16) and melt-in-your-mouth boneless Beef Short Ribs ($15). Two homemade pastas appeared: Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli ($24) drizzled with an unctious, sweet Marsala reduction and Pappardelle ($23) in a beef short rib ragout. Both were bursting with flavor, although the pappardelle was a bit overcooked. Main courses were even better. Extremely fresh fish was prepared simply, with the distinct flavors of each fish showing through in the different dishes. The Branzino ($30) was sauteed and had a nice, crispy skin, while Black Cod ($28) and Alaskan Halibut ($29) were both roasted perfectly. The Veal Chop ($42) was fried and served with sweetbreads and spaetzle. The chop was cooked as ordered and was tender and juicy. The entire dish, however, was marred by overseasoning. The wine list is extensive, but is skewed toward higher priced selections. Bring lots of cash. A Sardinian Cannonau from Sella & Mosca may be the least expensive wine on the list at $35, but a bottle of 1990 Chateau Petrus will run you $10,000. The restaurant was packed on a Wednesday night, so make a reservation before you go.
(5)Charlie B.
Thought i would never give any restaurant 5 stars but this one deserves six!. From the moment we walked in and were greeted to the delicious Martinis at the bar (prepared by Carlos). to a wonderful dining experience (thanks to Jen's keen attention to service), Scarpetta is exactly what the name means "An Italian expression that means "little shoe" - or the shape bread takes when used to soak up a dish - Scarpetta represents the pure pleasure of savoring a meal down to its very last taste." - scarpettanyc.com I did however did have some inside help and tips from some of my foodie friends on twitter "ergagit" and "4theloveoffood" were quite helpful in completing my Scarpetta experience - thx guys! Ok the food - going to eat with a group of your bffs has some benefits, you get to taste a little of everything. I had the Miami Spice Special which was actually highly encouraged by our server Jen (a first for me)...the braised short rib appetizer was fork tender, juicy and oh so tasty, however I have to admit, I was able to taste the creamy polenta with mushroom and truffle oil - which I have to admit was foodgasmic (multiple in fact), also got to taste the burratta with heirloom tomatoes which were quite good as well. For dinner I had the seared scallops - which were seared to perfection..a delicate golden crust followed by a delicious moist soft center. I was able to taste the duck and foie gras raviolis which I have to say were off the charts good, spaghetti with tomato basil was well balanced, hearty and reminded me of my Italian roots, For dessert we shared the olive oil cake (which was my fave), mango cheesecake, choc cake with toasted almond gelato, and coconut panna cotta with guava soup which also gave me multiple foodgasms I've come to learn about a new word, gastrosexual, and after experiencing Scarpetta I can see why I'm not only a gastrosexual, but a flaming one
(5)Arthur W.
Was staying at the Fontainebleau for a business trip in December of '08 and decided to try the "in house" restaurant. Scarpetta was the only real restaurant open after the remodel. Service was prompt and very friendly and the food was very good. The server had recommended to me the spaghetti (tomato and basil) which, to this date, has been the best spaghetti I have had. I also ordered the Black Cod, which wasn't as amazing as the simple spaghetti but still of good quality. If a restaurant makes the most simple dishes amazing, the chef certainly knows what he's doing.
(5)Kari S.
Had an amazing time here while on vacation in South Beach. My friend and I did the 4-course chef tasting menu. For the $85 per person, it was beyond worth it. You get SO much food for the price and it is all absolutely delicious. I don't think I can say one bad thing about any of the dishes we had. My favorite was the spaghetti with tomato basil sauce. Sounds simple...but it was the best pasta I have had with such clean, simple flavors. The duck and fois gras ravioli was so rich and really did melt in your mouth. I can go on and on about how amazing everything was, but I suggest going for yourself and getting the tasting menu!
(5)Selene S.
Music was not fitting for this italian restaurant and was way too loud. It was touch to hear my friend and I speak to each other. Room was way too dark, I get mood lighting but when every person is taking out a cell phone or trying to use the candle to read the menu, make it a tad brighter.
(3)Lauren S.
I never write reviews on Yelp, but this place was SO good that it deserves one. This ornate little restaurant is located in Miami Beach's Fontainebleau Hotel, and overlooks the ocean which adds to the experience. I ordered the sirloin which was absolutely delectable. The meat was substantially tender and flavorful, and the pearl onions and potatoes paired perfectly with the meat. Not only that but the portions were absolutely perfect, unlike most of these upscale restaurants which serve you the most miniscule dishes. For dessert I ordered the strawberry cheesecake which was incredibly delicious, although I regretted my decision as soon as I tried the chocolate cake my boyfriend ordered. It was so rich and warm, and had melted chocolate in the center of it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. Needless to say, it was to die for. This place is rather pricey, but if you're willing to pay good money for good food, then it's a definite must. I can't wait to come back!
(5)Felicia B.
Let me begin by saying I walked out of their brunch along with my group of 7 in March due to a rude and unaccommodating server. However, when I returned for dinner in June it was a much more pleasant experience. On the negative they like to make you wait in the lounge area and spend money at the bar, but all other aspects of the experience (save for the closing of their bathroom for much needed maintenance) were very enjoyable. The bread and the accompaniments were first rate. The sea bass was perfectly prepared and delicious and the fois gras ravioli was truly excellent. The dining room was beautiful and the servers were personable, knowledgeable and attentive. First rate except for the aforementioned restroom issue.
(4)Lin Z.
My Husband and I celebrated our 14 yr. Annyv. so we stayed at the hotel ,and decided to eat here. I loved it. Very romantic and exactly what i hoped it would be. Maritni's were delish (loved the bartender!) had the fois gras ravioli, truly excellent and Hub had the Sea Bass.. pleasure to savor!
(5)Gail A.
This was supposed to be an elegant dinner highlight for my friend's bachelorette weekend, which all of us were quite excited about. The evening started off well with some good cocktails by the bar area, and we were off to be seated for our reservation. When we had our reservation, we were told that because of our large party number we would have to order "family style," which usually means we order whatever we want and it comes out as big plates to share. Here, they meant that we were limited to a selection 3 appetizers and 3 entrees and they would bring out 4-5 servings of each. I'm sorry, that is not the definition of family style. On top of that, our first manager did not fully explain what this meant at all and left us to wonder how to order, and the servers didn't take any time explaining the dishes that were brought out. The best dishes we ordered were the creamy polenta and the duck-foie gras ravioli. Everything else was mediocre at best. Even though they gave our celebrant free champagne, that didn't take away the bad taste we had from the beginning of the night.
(2)Natalia K.
Thoroughly enjoyed the Chef's Tasting menu. Especially felt that the polenta was to die for! The signature pasta dish also didn't disappoint. We ate right in the lounge area by choice and loved the atmosphere, the decor and our service was also great!
(5)Carol T.
POW! POW! POW!...those are my taste buds being bombarded throught an unbelievable meal! Based on a personal recommendation ( and other Yelp reviewers), my husband and I had dinner here on a recent visit to Miami Beach. From start to finish, we had a wonderful experience. Food alone, as we all know, does not make a meal. The young lady who initially took the reservation over the phone, remembered my husband and greeted him warmly. The wait staff was friendly, attentive and unobtrusive throughout the meal but the food was the main atttraction here. We selected the polenta with wild mushrooms as an appetizer. Not being a big fan of polenta, I didn't know what to excpect but wanted to give it a try anyway. Taste bud assault #1! Creamy polenta topped with sauteed mushrooms. The portion was more than enough for two to share. Along with this came a complimentary side of lightly fried, panko-encrusted mozzarella cheese (3). Already I was getting filled up with these two items plus the bread basket! Taste bud assaults #2, 3, 4 and 5: We each chose a different entree plus a side of fingerling poatoes and shared each dish. One dish was duck with a light cherry sauce and the other was branzino. I'm not a "duck person" but the way this was cooked and served was more like beef medallions. It was flavorful but not greasy. The fish has a lightly fried crust and was moist and flaky inside. Each had an accompaniment of vegetables. When the potatoes came out, along with it came an unexpected, complimentary side of house-made spaghetti! We were overwhelmed with food. Each dish tasting as good as the last one. The potatoes had a light crust on the outside but were tender on the inside. The spaghetti... Mamma Mia! Made in-house and having the density you can't find in store bought pasta. So, did the two little piggies have dessert? Sadly, no. We knew our limits. We finished our wine and were content.
(5)Robert M.
I would say out of the three signature restaurants at Fountainbleu, this is the best of the lot. Service was good, food was simple and flavorful. What I most appreciate about this place is that they make their pasta. It drives me nuts that the majority of Italian restaurants in the U.S. use dried pasta instead of making it on their own. This is not difficult, and any Italian resto worth a bean should be making fresh pasta every day. Not only does Scarpetta get this right, they also cook it right. Because the next thing that drives me nuts is overcooked pasta. The sauce was very good. Simple, nice flavor, nice stick to the pasta. The mozz was very good and the short rib was outstanding. Only complaints is the arugula salad and the brussel sprouts were both salty. The is the only restaurant at the Fountainbleu that may be worth a repeat visit in my opinion...although they are all overpriced for what you get.
(4)Jeremy J.
Scrumptious food. Delicious decor. Impressive wine list. However ... very uneven service (server forgot a dessert and ignored 2 requests for extra bread) and a bit loud with the house music thumpa-cherking in the background. I don't know that I'd go back, simply because the service was so scattered and lackadaisical.
(3)Mindy G.
Recently came for Miami spice dinner. Everything was great from the food to the service. The wait staff are very attentive. The fish was great, a smaller portion than I would have liked and the tuna bresaola was great too.
(5)Jennifer J.
i was disappointed by Scarpetta and would not go back. I did not feel the spaghetti was as great as previous reviewers felt. I have had the best italian homemade pastas in NYC and Boston and this did not compare. I also had the ravioli, which were initially delicious but the squash stuffing left a strange baby food like texture and taste in my mouth, which I did not appreciate. The mozzarella carozza was delicious though.
(2)Ed L.
Great time at this Italian restaurant. The food was amazing. It's must try for anyone visiting fontainebleau miami beach
(5)Amara S.
Miami Spice Menu is awesome. Miami is doing a promotion where they allow you to chose an appetizer, an entree, and a desert all for 35 dollars which is a steal at a fine dining restaurant. I ordered a arugula salad for my appetizer which tasted like arugula. Bitter and fresh, just the way I like it. For my entree, I ordered the Mediterranean Branzino which was Sea bass and it was delicious. So good! For my dessert I ordered the caramel bananas and I hated them. I've had better at the State Fair. Our server was extremely attentive. I loved every bit of it.
(4)Dawn B.
Scarpetta After A year of waiting to find an excuse to head all the way down to Miami for a dinner at Scott Conant's Scarpetta, I finally found my opportunity. To summarize my experience I will take you through my dining experience course by course. We arrived a little earlier than we anticipated, our table was ready but we opted to head to the bar for a cocktail before dinner. At the bar to accompany our cocktails we were given a nice basket of fresh deep fried potato chips topped with some flash fried rosemary, as delicious as they were, I indulged in just a couple, I wanted to save room for the main event. After a glass of wine we were off to our table. The view was spectacular, the seating quaint. Not the place for small children or crying babies. As soon as we were seated a bread basket arrived accompanied with a trio of spreads. Mascarpone butter, eggplant ratatouille and a dipping oil. The bread was great! Especially the focaccia stuffed with prosciutto, how could one possibly go wrong stuffing salty, butter, melt in your mouth aged prosciutto into a fresh baked soft bread? No complaints so far. The service was on point and very professional, although I do need to mention that I did not see a single female member on their wait staff other than the hostesses. It was time to make our dinner decisions, I chose from the MIAMI SPICE menu while my dinner partner opted for some other items from the main menu. Our appetizer round consisted of the Creamy Polenta served with a Fricassee of Truffled Mushrooms and the Steak Tartar. The polenta had barely any truffle flavor at all and very much reminded me of eating a bowl of porridge. Needless to say, I was not impressed. The steak tartar was served with a garlic grilled toast that I found to completely over power the delicacy of the tartar itself, and was not served as described in the menu. On to our main course. Agnolotti Dal Plin, a small tortellini stuffed with lamb and minted bread crumbs and the Duck and Fois Gras Ravioli with a Marsala reduction. If there was any lamb in my agnolotti, I could not taste it. It was over salted and lacked any flavors. The ravioli was over salted as well and was not served with a sufficient amount of the sweet Marsala reduction; it was very monotone in flavors, once again, other than salt. Feeling my blood pressure rise, I could not finish half of my plate. The waiter was very accommodating and asked if I would like to replace it with the Spaghetti, which on the MIAMI SPICE menu is an additional $12.00, but I opted out. This was the third strike. My choice for desert was the AMEDEI CHOCOLATE CAKE with toasted almond gelato & salted caramel. To our pleasant surprise our waiter arrived with a trio of deserts and two glasses of desert wine on the house. It was kind of hard to not smile out of delight and end our dining experience on a high note, how clever of them. However, for a $200+ dinner was it worth it for the dining experience? No! Was the experience worth earning extra credit? Yes! Will I ever return to Scarpetta? No! Taking one off the bucket list? Priceless! Scott Conant, you have been chopped!
(2)NatdeMontreal G.
At the Fontainbleu hotel- feels a little like New Jersey in short dresses. Very dressy. Excellent service- the polenta with mushrooms was excellent. We recommend the tasting menu,,, however, it is very expensive for fine Italian food.
(4)jon w.
The restaurant makes an effort to look like it's trying to give good service, but in the end way overpriced, marginal quality, Italian food.
(1)Mary M.
We went to Scarpetta for my husband's birthday and it was amazing!! One of the best meals we've had and it was such a treat. The decor of the restaurant is beautiful with a nautical nod being right beside the ocean, loved the modern bar area, stunning. We had the ahi tuna appetizer and squash blossoms, delicious. My husband had the lamb as his main and it was seasoned perfectly and I couldn't resist but to get the spaghetti and it was by far the most delicious past I've ever had, perfect. The service is outstanding, everyone was incredibly attentive and knowledgeable. Wine list is great as well. We are also huge top chef fans and we had the chance to see Nina, which basically made the experience that much more fabulous. She is so sweet and kind and we just loved meeting her! I cannot wait to come back to the Fontainbleu and more importantly this restaurant. We will definitely be back the next time we are in Miami!
(5)Lucia M.
That is my second visit to Scarpetta. The first experience was amazing and I thought it would be perfect to take the family to celebrate my husband birthday. But I did not get the same impression. We decided to skip the chef's menu this time and go for individual orders. I remembered the polenta from last visit and decided to repeat it, wonderful, still my favorite. For the second plate I was thinking in something lighter but I let the waiter persuaded me on the pasta with pork and it was too robust for my taste. I would rather have the mouthwatering ravioli again. In fact, the only drawback for this second visit was the waiter - too forceful on giving suggestion for food and drinks to everyone. For me, there is a very fine line between excellent service and intrusive service and this waiter crossed it.
(4)Ryan J.
The polenta was fantastic, highly recommended. Everything else was good but nothing too mind-blowing or interesting. The pasta pomodoro was a bit of a let down. It's a good restaurant, but overpriced for what it is (I mean, it's in Fontainebleau so it's not like you should expect something cheap).
(4)Maura C.
I love getting the opportunity to visit a celebrity chef's restaurant. Scarpetta is a beautiful high end restaurant in a beautiful setting. Miami Beach is a very posh place and so Scarpetta in the Fountainebleau fits right in. With stellar service, an amazing cocktail and wine list and fantastic food options, I was in heaven! I was able to sample a few dishes - steak tartare, braised short ribs with farro risotto, and the duck and foie gras ravioli. All were absolutely rich, decant, and melted in my mouth! Watching Scott Conant rip apart chef dishes on Chopped is a riot... so it is good to know that the dishes at his restaurant were worthy enough to stay off the chopping block!
(5)Peter I.
Just have the spagetti with tomato and basil and call it a day. Simple and perfect. Service at both I've been to is very good. Tell them to take their time and serve the food at your schedule not theirs. Good solid wine list and starter menu. Good spot
(5)Julie D.
Went with my husband and three children for Mother's Day brunch and was greatly disappointed. We didn't realize that Sunday brunch was buffet style, which we tend to not enjoy, but we decided that after schlepping from Hollywood with the kids we would keep an open mind. After all, Scarpetta is supposed to be amazing with THE BEST pasta. Boy, were we disappointed. Let me start by saying that the service is wonderful, however, I can't say the same about the food. Everything that we tasted was sub-par at best. The pasta that everyone raves about was absolutely nothing special. The only thing that I can honestly say that I even enjoyed was the polenta and the brussel sprouts. The desserts were bland and even the cannolis were terrible!! My kids wouldn't eat the chocolate chip cookies! Little did we know that the worst part of the day was to come with the bill - $85 per adult and $45 per child!! We had just spent $90 for 2 bowls of pasta with butter!! How can a restaurant have the gall to charge $45 for a 3 and 6 yr old to eat?! I'm surprised that we weren't charged a bottle fee for my infant son's bottle of Similac! Very, very disappointed. Will never go back.
(1)H. Y.
The food is out of this world (as is the service). Everything we got was amazing. I would recommend the short rib appetizer above all else. Ordering any of the pastas would be a great call. It is pretty expensive, but if you're looking to treat yourself or someone else, this is the place to go.
(5)Wendy L.
I can't give Scott Conant anything less than 5 stars. "Why would you want to go to Scarpetta in Miami when there is one in New York!?!!" cried my date. Well, you see, they have SPECIALS on their menu that are not on our menu here!!!!! Like for example, the $25 stone crab claw. Made of gold? Not the real kind no, but I'm sure in Taste-Bud Land, this is the stuff made of golden crack. Also amazing unavailable in New York (can we do something about this??) - the prawns! So gigundo and delicious. And the steak tartare! I was not allowed to order the spaghetti with tomato and basil (tear) so instead we got the bigoli with hunks of lobster and blue crab tangled in the homemade pasta, and the tagliolini with the super rich pork ragu. Both very good, but I was pretty stuffed by this time because I am unable to exercise any self control when the stromboli bread basket is placed in front of me. Banana souffle! Of course we got this. I, for one, can never resist a good souffle, and this one did not disappoint - so light and fluffy it was like eating sweet, expensive air.
(5)Stephanie E.
Cocktails and dinner were really good. We came to take advantage of the July specials that some of the restaurants in the Hotel were having this month. It was a special menu for $54/person. With drinks, the bill averaged $100/person. I know some in the group thought that some of the dishes were on the small side, but being that it was a 3 course meal and they constantly brought the bread basket to the table, we all left very full. Check out the dishes we all tried from the July Special menu here: fontainebleau.com/web/di…
(4)Bill S.
When I went to the Anthony Bourdain book signing, he mentioned Scarpetta in his book is in the Fontainebleau Resort. Then, on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate", Ted Allen says the best pasta he's ever eaten is at Scarpetta. Why would I not come to my favorite NYC restaurant while visiting Miami? If you're familiar with the NYC Scarpetta restaurant, the Miami restaurant has a different feel. The hotel and the restaurant are as one, it feels like a cruise ship! This place is huge and the outside patio has a nice view of the water. Very Miami, very hip. The first thing I order is the signature NYC Scarpetta drink, the San Remo. Spot on! Then I see the menu, there is Miami Spice going on, I'm assuming its like restaurant week in NYC. My wife and I order off this menu. I order the Branzino which is cooked to perfection and my wife orders the Ted Allen recommended spaghetti which is makes Scarpetta the place for homemade pasta. I dream of this pasta and trust me, no other restaurant holds a candle to this dish. The food tastes exactly the same as NYC. The to die for polenta and the short ribs. Everything taste the same! *Side note - The Scarpetta signature bread plate is exactly the same as NYC. Olive oil with a hint of lemon, mascarpone butter and rat-tat-tooie. Enjoy a taste of NYC! Miami, you have it just like NYC. Except you have bikini girls and we have naked cowboy dude on roller skates...
(5)Maria C.
From start to finish, this place is it. Chef de Cuisine Nina Compton and her team execute spectacular dishes and the best part is that they are consistent! To start, the creamy polenta and fricase of mushroom will make you want to lick the plate. I also recommend the steak tartare. Spaghetti is a must, and so is the duck and foie gras ravioli. Long Island Duck is out of this world and the branzino is crazy good!!! Don't miss this place!!!!
(5)Kathy G.
We stay at the Fontainebleau in Miami once or twice a year and this restaurant is amazing! The decor is an upscale, modern nautical theme and has very comfy booths that overlook the ocean. They also have patio seating, but it's always been too windy to sit outside when we have been there. Their bar area is just as nice too. The food is to die for. Probably the best fine dining Italian that I've ever had. Great service as well. Great bread, tomato salad, and OMG you have to try the Creamy polenta!!!! It is one of my favorite things I've ever eaten! My fiance hates mushrooms, and he gobbled this up! We scraped the dish clean. Duck and fois ravioli-delicious! And if you want something substantial to share, you simply must try the Milk fed veal chop It is fabulous! If you are in the mood for home made pasta, try the scialatelli-it is a seafood pasta dish that is super rich and just as delicious. I don't think we've ever had room for dessert here. I think I never get very much sleep after eating here either, my heart is fluttering the night away from all the butter, I think...small price to pay.....
(5)Inga W.
The food was amazing! I have to start off with that because that's what we walked away with, having an amazing meal on a nice weekend getaway. The service was great right off from when we came in and checked in with the hostess, everyone was professional and friendly yet not stuffy. Italian food is about great ingredients and enjoying the meal and that is what we did. We decided to share a bunch of things rather than commit to a few. So we started with the hamachi, which was fresh and delicate but the salt on top overpowered it, then we had the buratta, which was amazing. Followed by the duck and foi gras ravioli and veal. Both were so tender, refined in taste, every bit full of flavor and the most delicate textures. Every dish was split for us which was very nice, I couldn't get enough. Wine of course, love the Italian wines. Finally we had espressos to finish off. Everything from start to finish was amazing and the atmosphere at the restaurant was nice, comfortable but not too formal. It had the nice feel of a restaurant on the beach. This is a place to have a nice dinner for a special occasion or just for those that love food.
(4)Bibi S.
We arrived at Scarpetta on time for our reservation but our table was not ready. We enjoyed a drink at the bar while we waited an although it was not the best dirty martini I had ever had, I still enjoyed the ambiance and the company. The restaurant is very tastefully decorated in a chic maritime motif. The bar is not very big but we still had enough space to stand around the bar without anyone giving us a hard time. The floral arrangements were beautiful and added a nice touch. When we were seated, I was not thrilled with our table but it was okay. They sat us outside the main dining room and I felt like I was in a large hallway instead of the restaurant. The table wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. While we waited for the server to take our orders, we enjoyed the amazing bread basket that they brought to our table. The best one is hands down the stromboli bread with cheese and salami. It was bursting with flavor and I literally had to stop myself from eating it all. They also served a mini cibatta and a few other options with your choice of butter, lemon alioli and lastly eggplant caponata. They were all very very good. For dinner I ordered the creamy polenta with mushrooms from the Spice menu which was absolutely fantastic! It was creamy and rich without being over powering. Then I had what is probably the most simple dish on their menu but quite frankly the best. It is the fresh pasta with pomodoro sauce. The pasta was al dente and the fresh tomato and basil sauce was simple yet dressed the pasta perfectly. I tasted the duck foie gras ravioli (not on the spice menu) and I thought it was excellent but a good dish to share because the richness of the dish would be overpowering after a while. I also asked for a glass of wine and when the bill arrived I was shocked at the $25 price for just one glass. It was delicious, but a little steep. Lastly if I can add one last tiny criticism I would say that they should not allow people to enter the bar or dining room if they are improperly dressed. I saw a man at the bar in shorts, a t-shirt, flip flops and a backwards facing baseball cap. I realize that the restaurant is in a hotel, but its tacky folks. I'm not sayin' you need to wear a suit to dine here but proper shoes and no hats please!
(5)Stephanie M.
Great spot. First off, even though we had a reservation, they made us wait at the bar for almost 25 minutes - which was very frustrating because the hostess was being overly vague and unhelpful. The food was fantastic - the burrata appetizer was a hit - so flavorful and delicious. The CREAMY POLENTA was also fantastic - so rich and smooth. the RAW YELLOWTAIL was good, but nothing exceptional. I had the pasta special, which was a fettucini in a butter and olive oil sauce, with fresh table shide shaved truffles. It was aweome. The service was great and the waiters were super attentive and helpful. The space is great - the chairs are super comfortable and the place isnt too loud, though we did notice the music started quite subtle and ended up being quite aggressive by the time we left... when in rome.
(5)Claudia W.
Have been dying to try this place since I am a huge "Chopped" fan and watch owner Scott Conant on the show all the time. His standards seem very high as he is constantly telling people they don't know how to cook pasta or risotto properly. We were seated right away, although the hostess and her comrades at the front were not very friendly. We didn't even get one smile. I personally like to start my meal off with smiles (LOL). The decor was nice however it was pretty dark in there. I guess kind of romantic, but I would prefer slightly more light so i can see what I am eating a little better. The meal started off with a bang as we tasted their insanely good bread. The warm bread that had salami in it was amazing and the other types of bread offered were no joke either. The mascarapone butter and caponata served with the bread were excellent (this is coming from someone who doesn't even like eggplant). My husband's martini arrived in a chilled glass and was the epitome of perfection. The appetizers were very good. I had the fritto misto which included very lightly fried (not greasy) seafood and zucchini plus bits of fried rosemary. I have never thought of eating rosemary whole in such large quantities but it was really very good. Nice touch. My husband had the steak tartare, one of his favorites at a slew of restaurants. He liked it and I tried it and found the flavors interesting. The only complaint would be that they overdid it on the truffle oil, so that flavor permeated the entire dish so that after a few bites all you tasted was truffle oil. For our main course we ordered three pastas to share. The traditional spaghetti pomodoro was very good. The fresh pasta was excellent and the sauce was tasty. It was a little plain as a dish however I happen to like plain sometimes. Am I dying to go back and eat this again? Not really. We also had the duck and foie gras ravioli. Again very well made and perfectly cooked and the flavors were nice. It was a little rich so after two bites I was done. Would be better as an appetizer in a small portion. The last pasta we got was the seafood one with lobster and crab. I found it to be very fishy and didn't care for it. My husband thought it was just OK but wasn't really a fan. The meal ended with a fantastic dessert: a small chocolate cake with salted caramel sauce and toasted almond gelato. The combo of all three was legendary. That salted caramel was incredible. Yes, I am dying to go back and eat this dish again. Only problem was they need to give more ice cream that way you have enough to pair some with each bite of cake. Overall the place was very good and I would go back. Perhaps we made the wrong decision only ordering pasta for our main course?
(4)Vicky P.
This place is GORGEOUS!!! My best friends and I came here for a 25th birthday celebration...and it was just perfect. From the service to the food..I was happy to spend every penny in there. The ambiance is very different from other high end restaurants in Miami. It has a classic, upscale boathouse feel to it, with Ocean views. Scarpetta has the BEST spaghetti pomodoro EVER!!!! I DREAM about it. I know you're probably wondering to yourself....."why would I order spaghetti with tomato sauce at an upscale Italian restaurant??" Trust me, it's worth it. It's simplicity at its finest. The freshest ingredients, from the tomatoes, to homemade pasta......a very rustic dish....Might I add that, it's Jay-Z and Beyonce's favorite dish when they dine here:) I also had the creamy polenta with fricassee of mushrooms..(I'm drooling as I type) it was so delicious!!!!! The bread basket is very good, my favorite one is with the salami, shaped into a pinwheel....I cant help but to always ask for more ( insert bbm embarrassed face) lol I am looking forward to coming back!
(5)Jordan N.
PROS: + Nice ambience - better indoors than outdoors; but during the day, outdoors will give you a nice beachview. + Complimentary bread was delicious, especially one stuffed with Italian ham and cheese. Came with lemon-infused olive oil, mascarpone butter, and sauteed eggplants. + Delicious polenta with fricasseed truffled mushrooms - A MUST + Burrata with heirloom tomatoes, baby basil, and arugula salad was tasty and refreshing + Duck foie gras ravioli dressed in balsamic glaze was good. + Slow-roasted berkshire pork w/ gigante bean ragu & pancetta spices was even better. + Pineapple panna cotta with guava "soup" was good, but a tad bit too sweet (they put so much of the "soup" into the bowl). Plus, I just don't think there's any better twist than on the Cuban classic of Cascos de Guayaba con Queso (cream cheese & guava shells). This reminded me of that so much. Still tasty and good - but I'd like to try that Amedei chocolate cake next time (a true Chocolatier would tell you that there's no chocolate better than Amedei, fabricated in Italy with the cream of the crop of Venezuelan cacao). Of what I ordered, the starters or primi piatti were the best part of the meal - so for sure, I wouldn't hesitate on coming back for some Italian tapas-styled meal with these starters. I still would like to come back to try the other bigger plates.
(4)Eschel H.
Had a nice dinner with my wife and another couple here on Saturday night, and I can honestly say that I feel no compulsion to go back. Although the meal and the atmosphere at the restaurant were nice enough, and a number of the dishes we ordered were excellent (highlights included the prime aged sirloin on the bone, the polenta with mushrooms, and duck foie gras raviolis), there's enough wrong here to dissuade me from returning: 1. It may have been because of spring break, but the hotel property had literally dozens of teenagers EVERYWHERE. They were inescapable except specifically during our meal. 2. Parking is only possible through valet, which AFTER validation costs $12. 3. Our waiter tried to railroad us into a $100 bottle of wine, when I specifically was trying to ask about a couple bottles that were significantly cheaper. 4. Although it was a lovely night and we started our meal on the balcony overlooking the ocean and pool, we had to move back inside because there was a wedding on the property blasting music. The manager even claimed that they'd called asking to lower the volume and were ignored. With so many high priced restaurants to choose from on Miami Beach alone, I'll spend my hard-earned dollars elsewhere...
(3)Alicia C.
I visited Scarpetta on a busy Saturday night to celebrate my birthday, as well as a family friend's. We were both looking forward to this dinner for quite a while, and we left happy. As per my usual reviews, I will list the positives and negatives about this five-star dining establishment The good: -The environment and atmosphere were delightful. The music was sultry, but not blaring; the lights were dimmed enough to enjoy the atmosphere (menu reading was a tad difficult, but they provided small hand-held lights if needed); and, the nautical theme was tasteful and not tacky in the least. I can't truly speak for the view, as we did visit on a Saturday night and sat away from the view, but it had the potential to be beautiful, as it does overlook the beach/ocean. -The food is delicious. Every dish is rich and specially crafted. I had spaghetti with tomato and basil and it was obvious that the pasta was handmade on site (thick, hearty noodles). I had the fingerling potatoes appetizer which was yummy!! Imagine a flavorful marriage between french fries and roasted potatoes, mixed with herbs. My dessert was so-so, but more on that later... -Wonderful selection of drinks. I enjoyed a fruity mango, passion fruit, raspberry mixed drink with Vodka. It was a wonderful drink that lasted throughout the meal, and I did get a buzz. -I never felt rushed, which was nice, as it was a special birthday dinner. I spent about 2+ hours eating and relaxing The not so good: -I am not a dessert orderer, but as it was my special *Golden* Birthday, I decided to splurge on the chocolate zeppole, mainly because it had a nutella center. Much to my dissapointment, I could only eat one of the five donuts because it was... well, not very tasty! For a five-star, EXPENSIVE dining establishment at The Fountain Bleu (I mean, c'mon, The Fountain freakin' bleu!), I would have expected much, much more. All of my guests agreed that the dessert just was not very sweet and we ended up taking home the rest of it. I don't think I've EVER taken home a dessert from a restaurant, let alone a fancy, shmancy one. -Our server was wonderful in terms of providing recommendations (he led me to a delicious drink), but unfortunately, he had... well, a bit of a spitting problem when he spoke. As unappetizing as this sounds, he spit in my friend's eye as she was ordering and tarnished her contacts. Not a wonderful way to begin a meal -Be prepared to SPEND A LOT OF MONEY. My spaghetti meal was $24, and that was a cheap dish. Our server told us that most guests order several pasta dishes to share and then an entree as a main dish (I don't have that kind of money...). My spaghetti dish was not overflowing off the small plate, let's just leave it at that. It was delicious, albeit small and pricey. Would I go again? I might. I'm not completely sold on this establishment, and because Miami Beach, South Beach, and downtown Miami have so many wonderful restaurants, I'd like to try others before ever visiting this again. Was I grateful for the experience and the delectable meal? For sure, but again, it wasn't the best restaurant I've ever visited.
(4)Adam G.
Swordfish was the best I've ever had. Didn't expect anything so tender. Anyone who likes swordfish should try this. Also really impressed with steak tartare. Rivals any I've ever had. The one problem is the cost, and location. The staff was amazing, but you would expect that for the style of dining.
(5)Vivi M.
If you're in the mood for Italian this is the place to go. The food and service was great. I was staying a the Eden Roc and decided to go there for my Birthday Dinner. The Fontainebleau is right next door to the Eden Roc. We ordered the Polenta as our appetizer and.....WOW IT WAS SO GOOD!!! For my main course I went with the Spaghetti because I heard so many wonderful things about it and I will say.....I wasn't disappointed at all. I was afraid all the hype would leave me expecting more.....honestly it was as good as it gets. I can't remember what my boyfriend ordered but it was some sort of meat. Oh....and I you happen to order what he had....you'll see what appears to be chopped up tomatoes. Well that's not tomato....it's bone marrow. Yes...bone marrow. We ate a few, thought they were the strangest tasting tomatoes ever and had to ask, "What kind of tomato is this?". Oops! Not sure why some say the service isn't good. I guess some people expect servers to tuck in their chair, drape their napkin over their lap and wipe their mouths....who knows. I think the service was exactly what it needed to be.
(5)Andre C.
Went for Miami Spice, super duper fancy, really good food, but not extraordinary. the creamy polenta is amazing. But while more and more restaurants are going for the casual with good prices and great food. it feels that this one stands more on the looks over the food, feels not welcome unless u look super rich.
(3)Leila S.
Dined here on a business trip in Miami. Both the food and the service was excellent. Our boss is allergic to shellfish and ordered a fish dish, that didn't mention little shrimps would be adorning his entree. The server quickly exchanged his entree to another dish without the shellfish garnish. I ordered a special fund-raising meal where they had three courses (appetizer, entree and dessert). Apparently a certain amount of the proceeds would be given to the Susan B. Komen foundation. While everything I ordered was extremely tasty (bass with shrimp; chocolate molten cake), the one thing that stands out in my mind is the every so creamy and delightful polenta with truffled mushrooms. The chef took something very basic - polenta - and augmented it into something extraordinary and unforgettable. The polenta is creamy and rich, while the truffled mushrooms are earthy and savory, complementing the polenta perfectly. To put it simply, this was the best polenta I've ever eaten. Scarpetta's polenta is comfort food at it's finest.
(5)Nayla B.
Scarpetta has incredible service, a cool vibe, and pretty good food. Their bread is AMAZING (honestly the best thing there loll). It comes with separate dipping sauces such as eggplant with tomato and also mascarpone (delicious). In terms of their pasta, I must say 2 of the 3 we ordered were slightly salty, but overall, they were yummy! Definitely get the tomato/basil pasta... It was cooked perfectly and is the closest you can get to south Italy! :)
(4)Salvatore P.
Awesome! Went to Miami location first then found it in the city. Been twice so far and both times excellent.
(5)LISA M.
Wonderful food and a great location . I loved sitting outside watching the people go by food 5 stars ..service was just ok... so that 's why it's not a 5 ..He didn't offer dessert they weren't busy..I would go back when I am in the area
(5)Margarite S.
I don't understand the hype for this restaurant. Anticipating what I thought was going to be an amazing dining experience from a recommendation, I was shocked at the quality of food here. Now, the service is fine and the decor is beautiful. Placed in the Fountainebleau Hotel, it is one of three restaurants the hotel offers. I was staying at the hotel with a friend of mine and we decided to dine here. We ordered the braised short ribs, an order of brussel sprouts, the duck and foie gras ravioli and some other pasta that was so unmemorable I can't think of the name of it - though it came with shrimp. Okay, so the braised short rib and brussel sprouts come out first. The braised short rib is not horrible but nothing to rave out from a supposed 5 star restaurant. It was also small, I'm sure my dog would not be full from the serving... but okay, on to the brussel sprouts - BURNT. How could you even manage that? The pastas come. Better size portions I suppose except I had two bites and stopped eating. The "famous" duck and foie gras left less to be desired with a bad aftertaste. The individual raviolis were the size of my thumb. The other pasta that came with shrimp tasted more like Chinese noodles than Italian pasta. After a few bites of each, I left. While it may have been a Sunday night at 10 pm for the reason the food was horrible, I really just don't know. I wouldn't take any chances returning. The prices weren't even an issue - just give me edible food.
(1)Richard K.
One of the best Italian restaurants in Miami and thanks to Miami Spice, I could finally afford to come to Scarpetta. I would like to start by thanking executive chef Scott Conant in my best chairman voice for a "wonderfully cooked meal". Furthermore, the service was fantastic and the ambiance oozed of class and romance in the air. My three choices were Japanese Mackerel, Sirloin of Beef, and Coconut Panna Cotta. Also, I was fortunate enough to have April V to allow me to taste the much talked about Spaghetti and Amedei Chocolate Cake. APPETIZER (Primi Piatti): I had JAPANESE MACKEREL with cucumber, black olive oil and grape tomatoes. All the elements together made the dish very light. The fish was very fresh and was well cut. ENTREE (Priatti): I had SIRLOIN OF BEEF with fingerling potatoes, mushrooms,and parmigiano. Oh my Lord, what a Sirloin! WOW! It was incredibly tender and juicy. Simply, perfect. Also, I had SPAGHETTI with tomato and basil. The noodles were thicker than normal spaghetti. With thicker noodles, it added to the spaghetti in a positive way. This spaghetti was very "herbal' in nature. There was a good amount of basil infused as one with the spaghetti. The taste came in strongly and was another nice element. However, with that said, this classic spaghetti was on the dry side. I would appreciated more sauce. Overall, it did not blow my mind; simply, it was solid. DESSERT (Dolce): I had COCONUT PANNA COTTA with caramelized pineapple and guava "soup" I think this dessert was missing an ingredient in the description.....crack. I could not stop coming back for more of this dessert. The guava soup with the panna cotta left me holding my breath. Also, I had AMEDEI CHOCOLATE CAKE. It was great, but after one bite; it was just way too much chocolate for my taste. Overall, it is one of my favorite Italian dining experiences in Miami, but I will probably return only for Miami Spice or if Monica Belluci is my girlfriend. Probably, the latter will happen first.
(4)Candy C.
Incredibly stylish restaurant in the beautiful Fountainbleu hotel. You can tell some places try too hard, but not Scarpetta. This restaurant exudes sexiness and romanticism . The table service is outstanding. I had the pleasure of dining at the Scarpetta during the Miami Spice Event. My three course dinner consisted of: 1. Creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms, 2. Mediterranean Branzino (sea bass), 3. Coconut Panna Cotta (pineapple and guava "soup"). The creamy polenta was out of this world. The polenta came in a little cast iron looking bowl with lid and the truffled mushrooms in a separate dish. This was very rich but I just could not stop until the very last drop was eaten. The server removes he lid and mixes the mushrooms with the polenta for you! You should see their hand movements as they spoon over the mushrooms and mix. It was like art! The Branzino was delicious as well but I love the sea bass at OLA better. Lastly the dessert was definitely mouth watering. Never thought a fruit soup would taste so delicious. This is definitely a first date, wedding proposal, birthday, bachelorette, anniversary kind of restaurant ! Scarpetta makes fine dining an art.
(4)Manuela F.
I was there yesterday night with my husband and two friends. We tried miami spice menu....was really good . For sure I will be back. If you left your car at the wallet, inside the restaurant they give you a discount .
(4)Ashley C.
Yelpers raved about Scarpetta so my bro and I were very excited to check it out. The restaurant is chic, modern and dark which gives it a "hip" yet classy vibe. Appetizers: creamy polenta and the ribs. The polenta was great (yelpers got this one right) but the ribs were alright; nothing special and definitely nothing to write home about Main course: dad ordered the spaghetti, which was another dish that yelpers went crazy over. Honestly, the taste reminded me of chef boyardee. My dad wasn't too impressed but he said that the more he ate, the better it tasted. How tricky. I ordered the bigoli which is a lobster and crab dish. This dish was 'just ok' for me as well and it wasn't something I fell in love with. My bother got the branzino (sea bass) dish which was great! Don't think anyone would be disappointed by it. We were able to try another ravioli dish, compliments of the chef. Can't remember the name but it starts with a C (it's the only ravioli dish that starts with a 'C' so it shouldn't be difficult to find it). That dish was amazing! All three of us loved it and I would definitely recommend it. All in all, it's worth trying it out with friends or family. Just be prepared to pay $$$$
(3)Hilaru W.
Great service- waiter was knowledgeable and gave personal recommendations. He was especially attentive to food restrictions in our party, which was really appreciated! I had an amazing soup-roast cauliflower, and my friends had lamb ravioli and steak tartare- all wonderful. I had Branzina for the main, which was pan seared-crispy on the outside, juicy and soft inside. It was served with a delicious variety of roast vegetables. We ordered the carmelized brussels sprouts. They were salty, but I like that. Very glamorous crowd. Loved it! Only regret is that we had no room for dessert....
(5)Andrea F.
I feel like the odd man out here. I've been so excited to try Scarpetta for over a year, and it has come recommended by so many people whose opinion I value. So to say I was disappointed with my recent visit would be an understatement. We made reservations for a friend's birthday on a Sunday night. We wanted to go to a Miami Spice location and she chose the spot. The space was very pretty and our table was lovely. The service was also great. The food all looked great. Some of it tasted great, I really enjoyed the Burrata app. But the entrees all fell short. The bottom line is that everything was so salty it couldn't be saved. The signature pasta with tomato sauce? Salt city. The Branzino was cooked perfectly, then drenched in salt. I was so disappointed with the food I couldn't believe it. The polenta cheesecake helped end the meal on a better note. They even wrote Happy Birthday to our special friend and sang to her. But I can tell you mostly everyone at the table was in agreement, perhaps it was an off night, or there was some crazy person attacking the food with salt, but I was not impressed at all with our meal, I was thankful we were there for Spice and not paying full price.
(2)Elizabeth R.
This restaurant has really wonderful food. These are all the things we got: Polenta: awesome awesome awesome, this dish is dreamy (I don't eat mushrooms but they come separately so you don't have to eat them) Tuna susci: not that good, fresh fish but bogged down with other ingredients Spagetti with tomato sauce: really wonderful, best pasta with tomato sauce I've ever had, the pasta is so so fresh and cooked perfectly Duck and fois gras ravioli: my fiance loved this so much, everything about it he said was awesome Diver sea scallops: this was good but not great Oven roasted chicken: everyone loved this dish Swordfish but with the branzino preparation: OMG, this was the best swordfish I've ever eaten. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The lemon caper emulsion was soooo flavorful. The escarole was pretty good. The gigante beans tasted like they were canned...I love beans but these were not good. Chocolate zeppole: just okay, not chocolaty enough
(5)James M.
Fantastic dinner at Scarpetta's. service was exceptional, food was also great. We had Black Cod which was done to perfection as well as the spaghetti. Hard to think you cold make spaghetti differentiated....but theirs is outstanding. All in, best dinner we had all week in Miami
(5)Sandra F.
Spending a night at the Fontainebleau is always fun, and I've been wanting to try Scarpetta for a long time so Miami Spice was the perfect opportunity. First of all, the bread is really something. Prosciutto in my bread? Yes please! Appetizer: Creamy truffle polenta - definitely the highlight of the meal Entree: Spaghetti - it was good but kind of plain. I would have preferred a meat sauce. Dessert: Chocolate cake. Delicious but not so unique. Again, this is the way to try a Miami hot spot for $35. Of course you'll end up spending $75 with wine but whatever!
(4)Vickey L.
My girlfriends and I went to Miami Beach for a mini vacation. In addition to looking up nearby attractions, one of my missions was to find us a fine dining restaurant. I stumbled upon Scarpetta upon my research. I was glad I did, because my friends and I loved our experience there! We located the Fontainbleau Hotel and drove up the driveway where the valet parker was nice enough to inform me that parking was $7 with validation from Scarpetta. We then entered through a double-door and walked down the corridor and Scarpetta was located on our left. My first impression of the restaurant was... ehhh. The hostess seemed a bit snobbish and didn't seem like she enjoyed her job. Maybe she's had a long day? We walked past the lounge/waiting area, past the bar, and into the main dining room. The decor was ahh-mazing! It seemed newly furnished and the ambiance was great as well. We sat next to the windows with the ocean view. I requested patio seating when I made the reservation weeks ago but changed my mind last minute because it was pretty humid at the time. The iced tea tasted like it was freshly brewed and had brown sugar ice cubes? I wasn't sure. But they sure weren't your typical ice cubes haha. The food was excellent! We started off with the short ribs as appetizer and, ohemgee, the beef melted in our mouths as soon as we took a bite! It was verrry flavorful. I wouldn't have minded if I died and went straight to heaven then. Oh wait, maybe after I tried my foie gras ravioli first... I ordered the duck and foie gras ravioli. I usually don't go for raviolis, but they had me at "foie gras". My friends ordered strozzapreti and scialatelli, which were pasta dishes. One with some sort of pasta I've never seen and lobster meat and another was creamy fettucini with clams and shrimps. The portions seemed a bit small for its price, but it did fill us up by the end of the meal. But us girls always have a hidden stomach for desserts. My friends and I ordered a chocolate cake that came in bit-size and was sprinkled with powder sugar and almond pieces. Our waiter, Lucas, later brought out a plate of cookies with a candle and "Happy Birthday" scribbled in chocolate syrup for our friend's birthday! Great food, good service, okay pricing, and nice ambience. It was a great way to end our vacation. I would definitely visit again in the future when I get the chance. What more could we possibly ask for?
(5)Christy C.
Scarpetta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you! You gave me the most delicious meal that I had in Miami! We stayed at the FB and you guys were just down stairs to us!!! YAY! I have had the pleasure in trying out alot of your food during Miami Spice. That's because the 5 of us were picking each other's plates to try to try everything out. My appetitzer japanese mackerel sashimi was OFF THE CHAIN!!! It was so fresh, so delicious. We also tried the braised short ribs and burrata... it was heavenly. Then for the main course- I ordered the roasted chicken- just something simple. GOODNESS! It was so tender, juicy, it was so good! I was sad that I had to share (haha, jk) 2 of the girls ordered Spagetti- It was soo good and the texture of it is just amazing and another girl ordered the Sirlion Beef... It was so good and there were so hidden yummy mushrooms... so amazing Then to dessert- My Coconut Panna Cotta was just amazing. I was so impressed that I didn't know what to do with myself. I havent been able to think about the party in my mouth since we dine there.
(5)Alexandra L.
Amazing service, food, decor and overall experience. Love going out to dinner here and is a long time favorite! Eddie is an amazing server! The Burrata, Bronzino, Steak Tartare and Hamachi are a must.
(5)Joseluis A.
not so long ago, i invited myself for dinner with three ladies. the ladies did not oppose to this and allowed me to dine with them. cheers ladies, i salute you. we had a reservation at 9pm, we arrived on time but our table wasnt ready. we waited for about 15 minutes and we finally got seated. the restaurant is elegant of course but i wish it wasnt so cramped. the lights are low so this is a great place for a date, except that if was to drop two benjies for a romantic dinner, i wouldnt want a dude sitting 3 inches away from me and my lady(ies). just saying. we went during miami spice month and we all opted for this menu. i got the short ribs for appetizer or primi piatti as they call it which is not a proper translation but nice try. my main dish was the sirloin of beef and i got the chocolate cake for dessert. the food was excellent. no doubt. portions are decent and for the miami spice flat rate, this was a great deal. also, service was flawless. this was a great dinning experience. im very glad i got to sample this restaurant and i will for sure come back for dinner on a very special occasion, hopefully with 3 hot ladies again.
(4)Rob C.
First the good - the service. And now the bad: the short ribs where dried out and the tagliolini with sucking pig had bone chips in the meat. Two rookie errors for a high-end restaurant. Something to keep in mind with many restaurants in the Miami Beach area, including this one, is they include gratuity. I think it's because of the high international tourism, but it's stupid and presumptuous.
(2)Cliff F.
A really great experience all around. Located in the beautiful Fontainebleau on Miami Beach, the feel of Scarpetta is hopelessly chic, though not even remotely stuffy. Wearing a slight nautical theme, the decor is beautiful and the environment was electric. Service was close to perfection, but was missing the verve that would push it truly over the edge. The food, however, was brilliant. The Miami Spice menu presented a fantastic selection of options that gave a great feel for what the actual menu tries to convey. Meal included the burrata--with astonishingly delicious cheese, braised beef short ribs--which literally melted in your mouth, branzino with saffron & mixed seafood--perfectly prepared (better even than the branzino at Batali's B&B Ristorante), sirloin--also perfectly prepared, and chocolate cake, which was, for lack of a better word, EPIC. panna cotta was not a standout, unfortunately. Great restaurant.
(5)McKenzie T.
Thank goodness for Miami Spice! Service was great and food was amazing! What we tried: EVERYTHING! Luckily I went with a group of 8 girls and we each got something different. I had the Mackerel Sashimi, Spaghetti, and the Molten Chocolate Cake w/ Almond Gelato and Salted Caramel. Fresh fish, the most amazing meatless spaghetti I've ever had in my life, and an extremely sweet dessert (too sweet for me). The Polenta had amazing flavor, but it's so rich I'm not sure I personally would be able to eat it all. Steak was flavorful and not over cooked. Portions are good. I wish I didn't hit up Liv (the club at the hotel) right after dinner...I wanted to take my leftover spaghetti soooooo bad. I kick myself everyday for not taking it. Scarpetta...we shall meet again.
(5)Whitey M.
Delicious food with a great venue and view!! Love this place!!
(5)Lourdes D.
I love Miami Spice, but often feel that I make bad food choices, resulting in less than stellar reviews. Scarpetta, unforsh, has met the fate of my bad decisions. I went for a friend's birthday, who had made a reservation at 10:30 p.m. for four people. We got there just in time, but it was for naught, as the super swanky hostesses informed us that we would have to wait a few more minutes for a table to open up. So we went over to the bar to pass the time. The place was PACKED. Not one table was empty, not one bar stool was up for grabs, NOTHING. It was just tanned Miami bodies EVERY DAMN WHERE. There was bumpin' music, the lights were dim. Once we finally got seated, our waiter came by pretty quickly, and the bread soon followed. There were like 5 different types of bread that came with mascarpone cheese, some type of fancy olive oil and some eggplant something or other. It was HEAVENLY. All of it. As for the Miami Spice menu, here were my choices, some filled with fail, and other not: Appetizer: Creamy polenta with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms Verdict: Delish. I had never had this before, so it was a nice change of pace for me. However, my friend ordered the braised short ribs of meat, and those were, as my 90s self would say, "off the chain." So, mistake #1. Entree: Sirloin of beef with fingerling potatoes, trumpet royale and parmigiano Verdict: Ehhhh. Some of the pieces of meat had huge pieces of hard fat, and the outer parts of it were practically charred. Two of my friends got the Mediterranean branzino, which looked amazing. I should've asked them for a taste. D'oh! Mistake #2. Dessert: Coconut panna cotta in a caramelized pineapple and guava "soup" Verdict: Winner! It was very interesting. The taste, the consistency. In fact, the panna cotta was more like a sherbert, and not flan-esque as I'm used to. I did really like it though, so no mistake here! The restaurant is in the lovely Fontainebleau, so ladies and gents should dress to impress, and wear comfortable shoes, because it takes a hot minute to get anywhere in this hotel. Parking - we all know the deal here. Valet or fight with other patrons that want to park in the free adjacent lot.
(3)Arden C.
FountainBleau (the hotel it's in) is gorgeous, a very trendy dining experience. It's Miami Spice (present tasting menu's for 1 month) so I was excited to try a lot of different dishes. We started with Braised Short Ribs of Beef, very flavorful & tender. I also tried the Creamy Polenta (fricassee of truffled mushrooms) which is a must! It's just so amazing, I can't even describe it. For the meal we had the Mediterranean Branzino which was pretty good and the Sirloin of Beef (medium rare) but it was a tad over cooked and a bit dry. We also ordered a Spaghetti on top of the Miami Spice Menu because that's what they're known for. It was my favorite part of the meal so definitely order the spaghetti! The deserts were good but nothing spectacular. Overall, it's worth the experience and I'd definitely go back!
(4)Jennifer T.
Being that this was my first time at Scarpetta, I think it's too early to throw out the 5th star. My friends and I were here for a nice dinner to celebrate a bachelorette party. The ambiance was perfect for a nice date or any other special occasion. Before going into the restaurant, I had asked a few employees of the Fountainbleu Hotel about their favorite dishes at Scarpetta. The spaghetti was consistently recommended, so I went with the pasta. Upon first sight, it looked pretty ordinary, but once my sense of smell was engaged my expectations heightened. Beautiful balance of basil and sauce! The pasta was perfect: texture, density, and portion. I usually prefer some protein when eating spaghetti, but this dish held its own. I could eat this every day! I know..it's just spaghetti, but this was well worth the trip. My friends ordered a foie gras dish and a lobster pasta. Both were rich and tasty, but all agreed that mine had the best flavor.
(4)Sesilia S.
Wow what a great dinner experience! My husband and I went to Scarpetta for dinner and we were blown away with the food! The best dishes we ordered were the creamy polenta and the Coconut Panna Cota. The polenta was super delicious, creamy but not too overpowering. The chef definitely aced this dish! The panna cota was really tasty and its consistency was just perfect! Other dishes that we had were the Rosemary Braised Lentils (which was very rich and yummy), the Roasted Baby Vegetables and the Roasted Whole Orata. They were all good dishes but the polenta and the panna cota are definitely must-try dishes. On top of the nice food, the service was really good. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. This was the best dining experience we had in Miami! Tips: if you do valet parking with the hotel, make sure you ask for ticket validation, that way the parking fee becomes more reasonable.
(5)Ramona C.
I must say that this restaurant never disappoints me, no matter what. The service, the food, the ambiance, impeccable. These people are the best in their professions. I had last night the lobster claw, the pasta with tomato sous and basil and some veal. Excellent!
(5)Jade P.
Wow... sexy, delicious, and great service--everything I look for in a fine dining establishment. The ambience is pretty unparalleled. The lights are muted, there is lots of candlelight, and the decor is modern and sexy. I went for Miami Spice and everything I had was amazing. Here's what I had: -the Branzino (this fish is perfectly cooked, plus the portions are generous!) -the molten chocolate cake with almond gelato and salted caramel (YUM! so rich and creamy- just like a molten cake should be) -the creamy polenta (unlike anything you'll ever have- divine!) The only reason why this restaurant lost 1 star is because several of the people at my table had the steak and every dish was overcooked and underseasoned. A great place for a date or a night out with your friends! One of the best places I've been to in Miami- not just trendy, but has the food to back up the reputation (and price)!
(4)Nina V.
I was so blown away by Scarpetta. I'm a die hard top chef fan and so when I went to Miami for my birthday, I knew I had to eat there and try and meet the head chef Nina. There was a group of 11 of us and we got seated immediately in a private area. As soon as I walked in and met the waiter, I told him what a fan I was of Nina and asked if I could meet her. After sitting down for five minutes, she came out to our table and gave me a hug and introduced herself. Then she sent us out some delicious appetizers compliments of the chef. Oh, and the food was INSANE. The polenta is probably the best thing I've ever eaten, or no wait it was the spaghetti (which sounds ridiculous because why would you order spaghetti with tomato sauce at a five star restaurant?) UMMM because it melts in your mouth. After two drinks and a ton of amazing food, we were getting ready to go when our waiter came out with a business card from the head chef, chocolate lava cake with a candle and a complimentary glass of champagne for my birthday from the head chef. I can't even begin to tell you how impressed I was with the service and the food. I would absolutely come back here again (in fact I can't ever imagine coming to Miami again and not going there!) And I'm crossing my fingers and toes hoping Nina wins top chef NOLA!!! She rocks!
(5)Meo M.
everything we tried was good. the duck is so tender. Hand-made pasta is to die for.
(5)Erik Y.
I went the night before the ING Marathon when they had a $35 runners special (although I was not running the next day, the rest of my group was). I was apprehensive at first because I thought it was going to be a shared app, 1 pasta choice, and a cheap dessert. Was I ever wrong! The restraunt itself is beautiful inside. Dark colors and deep woods, dimly lit. Music created a laid back yet somewhat upbeat ambiance. All servers were dressed to perfection. Food: For my appertizer, I got the raw yellowfin tuna. Came out with 4 smallish peices. Had some greens on it and cracked sea salt. The flavor was out of this world!! Entree: Duck ravioli and foie gras. Amazing, albeit after several bites it got a little redundant. Dessert: I do not recall what the dish was called, but it had a coconut ice cream with chunks of pineapple in it, sitting atop a mango gelatin-type thing, all surrounded by a sea of tropical fruit liquid. I know that doesn't sound glamorous, but it was out of this world good!!! I am not a dessert fan by any means, but this rocked. Truly rocked. Table mates got their famous spaghetti (i tried some, awesome), the salad (uninspired but still good), and the chocolate cake (great and rich, but mine was better!) Overall, awesome romantic place with a great atmosphere and wonderful food. Wine list was outrageous (ie. the only cheap glasses were $12+ and most bottles were 150-1000 range). If you have some cash to burn and want a great night out (with 5 star service!!!) go here!
(4)Valerie V.
One of the most delicious meals of my life!!! Went here with a group of ladies for a nice dinner during my Bachelorette weekend. I insisted on Scarpetta because I have a huge foodie crush on Chef Scott Conant. From the second we walked in, we were wowed by the decor, the ambiance, and the service. Our table was ready and waiting when we walked in and the server that greeted us was patient and relaxed but still totally on time. The food!!! We each had our own apps, then we shared pasta dishes, and then had our own entrees. All accompanied by wine of course. The food highlights---Appetizers: creamy polenta & mushroom fricasse, steak tartar with quail egg, and the squash blossoms. Pastas: the duck foie gras ravioli (AMAZINGGGGG!) and the classic spaghetti that will redefine your notion of what spaghetti is. Entrees: Black Cod, the Duck Breast. In short, we loved Scarpetta and I will 100% be back my next time in Miami. Next time I just hope Chef Conant is around for a picture and kiss on the cheek.
(5)Marco S.
Very good place to have a serious meal. Nice experience for service and ambiance. Italian wine list is notable, so is the service. The creamy polenta is a must. Also is the tartare. The veal is awesome, and the duck along with the sirloin steak. Waiting to go back try the sea ulrich. The deserts are also good, the banana soufle is delightful.
(5)Saskia M.
Ohhh Scarpetta...The ambiance, the service, the decor, the FOOD... all so well executed. Starting by the house made deliciously fresh bread rolls, so warm... The Stromboli one: wow, filled soppressata and mozzarella... you will definitely ask for seconds. Appetizers: Scott Conant's creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms is such a remarkable plate. The polenta's just right texture and its subtle flavor pairs of perfectly with the truffled mushrooms fricassee. Pouring that mushroom fricassee on top of that polenta is such a awesomely great idea!! We also ordered the short ribs with vegetable and farro rissotto. Very good flavor profiles, deep, heavy, and very well cooked. Nonetheless, the creamy polenta wins the appetizer round! First plate: Duck and foie gras ravioli, OH My! You need to order these ravioli. The pasta is so fresh and perfectly cooked, the filling is so amazing, you are able to identify both the duck and the foie gras flavors so well and the marsala wine reduction that tops them off provides the right touch of sweetness to each bite. Second plate: Black Cod with concentrated tomatoes and roasted fennel. Great crispy skin on the fish and well cooked. The tomato on this plate is as much as a star as the cod is; the flavors compete a little but still pair off well. Next to come: the 21Day Aged Sirloin of Beef, doesn't just the name make you want to order this already? Read a little more, it's served with bone marrow, romano beans and chanterelle mushrooms. Cooked to perfection, all the flavors complement each other so well. This is definitely the winner in the second round. Not only was the food ridiculously delicious, but the service was excellent and on point. They also provided the perfect wine pairing recommendations along the entire meal. Scarpetta has left so many thoughts in me, the experience is definitely one to remember and one to repeat!!
(5)Karla D.
We traveled to Key West for a week and stopped in Miami for 2 nights before heading home. On the first night we had the tasting menu at Scarpetta. Simply DELICIOUS!! From beginning to the end, the food was amazing. If you're in Miami go have dinner there. You won't regret it.
(5)Rob H.
Go for the 4-course Chef's Tasting. This is as good as it gets. If I could give it more stars, I would. The Duck Foie Gras Ravioli is simply amazing. Spaghetti...normal fucking spaghetti...was delicious. Scialatielli was, also, amazing. Roasted Skate Wing in citrus brown butter...WOW. 21 Day Aged Sirloin of Beef....so tender and so delicious. For the dessert course, the Coconut Panna Cotta, seriously, might be the best dessert I've ever had in my entire life. Honestly, pretty much everything that came in the Chef's Tasting was absolutely delicious. It's worth every penny. As for the service, it's what you expect. Impeccable. Gabriel, our server, was as nice, attentive, and knowledgeable as you can ask for. Very nice guy and made us feel welcomed and at home.
(5)Jonah K.
Awesome miami spice menu. We got a pasta as well which was excellent. The portions are small, and the prices are high, but I would come back to do the tasting menu. Overall excellent view of the ocean, great service, and the food is spot on.
(5)Alissa W.
This is one of the best places I have EVER eaten. The service in impeciable, and they do not rush you at all. The food is 6 stars, and being inside the famous Fountian Bleu Hotel it is so nice to walk around after. The food is out of this world too !For appetizers we started out with the burrata, and heriloom tomatoes, and the himachi. I definitely reccomend the burrata, it melts in your mouth. They even split the portion in the back for us. For my entree I ordered the cavaletti with chunks of fresh lobster, and capers. WOW the pasta is as fresh as can be. Not to many places in Miami can you get fresh pasta. For dessert, the main reason I go here. I ordered the coconut panna cota. This just melts in your mouth. This restaurant has great ambiance, and I love they do not rush you. Fine dining without a rush to turnover tables in Miami is not very common. Definitely make a reservation !!!!
(5)Mai S.
My family and I dined during the Miami Spice week. It was a wonderful experience with my 3 kids (7-16 yrs old) as we had not been to the beautiful Fountainbleau hotel before. The restaurant decor was gorgeous & the ambience was very trendy and hip. The service & staff were great and attentive! The staff were seasoned and well trained to service fine dining. The food as other had written was fabulous!! The polenta was amazing as raved by the critics!! The brazino fish was a little dry for me - but beautifully presented. I am sorry we did not tried the spaghetti - as we thought that would be too simple for fine dining. It sounds like we missed out on a creative dish by the chef. I would definitely recommend this restaurant highly - even just for the experience of walking through the hotel. BEAUTIFULLY designed!!!
(5)Fernando V.
Some people think Italian food is all the same. Truth is, this is a great place to experience REAL northern Italian (the best) Italian cuisine. My experience was during Miami spice, and still it was so good and memorable I am writing a review o. February 2012. Maybe the fact the wines are all Italian is a bit of a turn off for me but let me tell you this place will deliver. Service was great, respectful, prompt, informative, personable but not fastidious. The food was exquisite, well timed sequence of courses... It kinda sucks to valet with the hotel people but oh we'll...this is Miami. A little on the loud side. Overall, highly recommended.
(4)Kate K.
Holy amazing. Welcome to heaven!! An impressive menu accompanied by a worldly wine list and a knowledgeable solmoneau to help you navigate. Let's start with the bread basket. MEOW! Te breads are delectable especially the prosciutto and mozzarella bread. The mascarpone butter literally melted in your mouth. Eggplant tapenade was Delish and the oil was exotically stimulating. The Sauvignon blanc by the glass was an utal dream and everything you want in a Sauvignon. Light, crisp and refreshing. The waiter was so helpful but said his job was easy to make recommendations for because you just can't go wrong; and we didn't. The mozzarella over stewed tomatoes was amazing and the tuna sashimi had the perfect accompanying crunch. Round #2 the duck ravioli. YOU MUST! They were little pockets of explosive magnificence. My girlfriend got the spaghetti but wasn't kind enough to share, lol but it looked spectacular. Unfortunately we were too stuffed for desert, but it was worth going back or and can't wait to try it in new York. If you're a guest of the hotel they offer a 20% off coupon for off times. Kudos Scarpetta!
(5)Laura G.
Angels sang and a beam of light shined down on my plate revealing my own Anton Ego- Ratatouille moment. Flashbacks of my childhood rushed past me as the amazing dish that is the Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli melted in my mouth and was accompanied by the prosecco e dried fragole cocktail. I sent complements to the chef, the bartender, the owner, the manager, the waiter... My GF and I decided to try Scarpetta for a "Special Night." Scarpetta means "little shoe" in Italian and is also the action of cleaning your plate with a piece of bread attached to your fork like ...well, a little shoe. And that I did. I let my bread soak up all the remnants of my amazing dish, any passerby would have thought I had received an empty plate because of how clean it was. We were wowed from the moment we walked inside. The decor was superb and an ocean breeze graces the outside tables and diners. One thing I did not enjoy was the bread(s) selection and their toppings. I could have had three little dishes of marscapone butter (amazing) instead of that strange tapenade or lemon infused oil. Eh. The large piece of plain bread was delicious but that other salami and mozzarella bread, not so much. This is the kind of place I do not mind spending a little bit more money to enjoy. I loved Scarpetta and it exceeded my expectations.
(5)Derek M.
Love this place! Food is always great and consistent!!! Service is okay sometimes they can be a little rude. Still give it 5 stars.
(5)Holden W.
Great food, service, design, and views plus hot crowd. The restaurant starts with a well appointed, stylish but not gaudy, bar area. Ask/bribe the waiter to sit you by the window and see if you can reserve such a table in advance. I would recommend polenta with truffled mushrooms for starters, branzino for entry and panna cotta for dessert but I am sure there are other delish options that would strike your fancy.
(5)Erin W.
This place is fantastic and has great service. The bread they serve, with prosciutto wrapped inside is amazing!! So fresh and tasty. Salad was great. The creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms was to die for! So delicious!
(5)Joe M.
This is a tough one to review.Probably more like 3 1/2 stars. When we arrived at 6 30 the ambiance was really nice. Ocean view and reasonably quiet. By the time we left at 9 30 I was bordering on a headache. Loud obnoxious music which caused diners to shout at each other to carry on a conversation. I though I was at Club Liv instead of a first class restaurant. We each ordered the $70, 4 course tasting menu. Believe me thats all you got was a "taste." Most of the items were absolutely delishious such as the creamy polenta with a truffled mushroom sauce and and the duck ravioli. A few items, such as the spagetti with red sauce, were only average. Two out of three deserts were also magnificent. One thing is certain...the service was 6 stars! Impeccable! Water glasses, wine glasses, bread basket were all carefully watched and attended to.Any crumbs that fell to the table were quickly scooped up. The servers worked effortlessly in well orchestrated teams. One final note even with the restaurant stamping your valet ticket you will pay $12 to park!
(4)Cricket L.
Five stars for the unbelievable spaghetti. It was chewy and perfect and life-changing. One star for the excruciatingly loud atmosphere. I left with a satisfied belly and a huge headache. All said and done, I would definitely go back -- that spaghetti was unreal. But I'd have to be prepared for it -- and I warn all my friends who go.
(4)James U.
This one is goign to be short and sweet. It was before I started yelp-ing and man I wish I wrote down everything I had. I was down for the Winter Music Conference and we did a dinner with some exec's and was blown out of the water by the service and food. Dean the manager took care of us and wow did we eat. The most memorable was the polenta with mushrooms on the side (it was like crack!) and their signature Spaggetti, the Duck and Fois Ravioli and oh as I read these reviews on the side as I type it brings back memories. Everything was absolutely amazing. My last meal I would re-create this meal all over again it was that good. When I am back this year in Miami its either dinner here or Prime 112....gonna be a tough decision!
(5)andrew s.
Classy and delicious. Stick with the classic italian pastas and starchy favorites and you will do no wrong. Having spent 4 months in Italy, I can say that most of these dishes are authentic and delicious. The spaghetti in tomato sauce is a must have. Service is great, and prices aren't too overwhelming.
(4)Nina T.
amazing polenta and spaghetti. mediocre and overpriced lamb chops(per husband). not impressed w dessert. husband wants to give this place a 3 star but due to tasty pasta, giving it a 4.
(4)Jocelyn J.
This is a "do-not-miss" Italian restaurant. Location, food, wine and service are all top-notch. The hubby surprised me on our anniversary by taking me here. We tried their tasting menu which was WAY too much food but every bite was scrumptious!! I LOVE this restaurant and can't wait to go back!
(5)Jason O.
This review is for their Miami Spice 2010, though I believe the comments are valid for the restaurant in general. The restaurant goes along with the Miami-swank of the rest of the fountainbleu, albeit a little less trend, a little more Disney Yacht Club meets Miami Beach. Nice space, although it does not really feel like an Italian restaurant, or an Italian restaurant on the beach. The server treated us like garbage from the get-go. Unfortunately, it was three of us, and each of us missed comments she made at one time or other. Had we all heard all her comments, we probably would have up and left and enjoyed ourselves elsewhere. The night started just fine. We walked up to the restaurant and the hostess gave us the usual it'll be a few minutes - please spend some nice money at the bar routine. No big deal. We actually had three great drinks at $15 or so each. $55 with tip and tax before we sit down, but seriously, kudos to the bartenders for knowing what the heck they're doing back there. Hostess comes, takes us to our seats. We're introduced to the waitress "Jennifer". Jennifer will be mentioned frequently in my letter to the Fountainbleu and Scarpetta. Anyhow, Jennifer asks if we would like still or sparkling bottled water. We say neither, we'd like regular Miami water just fine, thank you. She snaps "Yeah, ok." serious attitude that cannot be conveyed here. Anyhow, I had my back to her for most of this, simply because the table of three (table spacing was crowded) really allows for no maneuverability of the servers or diners. Somehow I missed it, but she follows up with "You must be here for Miami Spice." WOW. I guess the bread was that good (it IS good) Time to order comes I asked for a bottle of Salviano 2005 Turlo, $45. Fantastic bottle. She sneers but manages an "I will get that for you right away," I let the face go, she's trying to be amicable. Order time comes, and apparently I order the only appetizer of the 4 the other two in our group don't want to taste. Jennifer chimes in, "You could just get the burrata off the menu." I reply "I think that sounds like too much food" - "It's not" "No it probably is, just give me the burrata appetizer." Serving time comes they brought out the wrong app. The server apologizes and takes it away. Jennifer accompanies the server as he brings me the burrata and as he puts it down she says, "here's the burrata, and its ok" "Excuse me," I reply. "Yeah, it's ok. You ordered the fish but now you want the burrata. it's ok, just as long as you know I did not screw up your order, you did." Now, as reasonable adults, it was absolutely understandable from where the confusion came. It was a small, excusable confusion in a loud restaurant. I just looked at her and said, "Now that is a problem." The rest of the meal went more or less the same. We minimized our interaction with Jennifer, as the rest of the staff was polite and attentive. My wife's fish entree was close to inedible (poorly made, the fish seemed more or less fresh) and so she left it, no complaints. No questions were asked when they took back an untouched plate. Desserts were good but not fantastic. My sister had the spaghetti, which probably the best dish of the night, but I ABSOLUTELY cannot believe the amount of hype Scott Conant gets, nor the sort of superior attitude he often exudes when judging on various Food Network shows based on what we saw at Scarpetta. We could have had a very nice night out, and honestly, we spent about $260 by the time it was all done for 3 people. If you cannot find semi decent servers averaging that per cover, something is wrong. Would I try it again? Not on my dime, the food quality and execution were not as high as I expect. I might, however, stop in for another drink.
(1)Kent C.
Service and decor are the first things you will notice when entering Scarpetta at Miami Beach. Even while waiting for our table to be ready- we were catered to with their special "chips." When we sat down- our waiter was very attentive and the rest of staff never let our water get too low, a napkin to be left unfolded, or a question unanswered. Food consisted of shallow (in terms of physical depth) portions- each uniquely created. Their special "breads" were a meal into themselves- very delicious. We left the restaurant thinking that we would be hungry- but that was not the case. It was just enough in retrospect and certainly unique in taste. We were told to try pasta dishes because they were all freshly made at the restaurant - and definitely tasted that way. Did I expect a little more? Maybe. Was I disappointed? No. Will I go back? Yes. Maybe in a different city as well.....
(4)Linda T.
All hail Miami Spice Restaurant Week and a bachelorette party filled with 8 sexy foodies who love to share entrees :) Needless to say, I sampled a bit of everything that night (in more ways than 1!). Let's do a Scarpetta roll call here: Appetizers--check! - Polenta: Presented in 2 dishes--1 for the polenta, 1 for the mushroom topping. The polenta was creamy, smooth without losing texture, and mushrooms drizzled on top made for a perfect bite each time. - Short ribs: Tender and densely flavorful. You know how meat gets that caramelized, almost sticky texture and is compacted into tiny, dark morsels of flavor? Yea. You're welcome. - Burrata: Can't go wrong with this delicately fatty cheese. It was like tomato, basil, mozzarella on steroids. Entrees--check! - Spaghetti: It really is a no frills, no fuss spaghetti. Just good pasta with fresh tomatoes tossed in parmaean and coated with basil infused extra virgin olive oil. While I'm a fan of avante-garde food and molecular gastronomy (apologies to those offended by this dated term), I appreciate it when food tastes like how it should. The hand-made spaghetti was plump andthe flavors resembled just a little like chicken stock. Immensely savory. - Branzino: Perfect crisped skin, non-greasy and airy, encases moist and flaky white meat. Most of the flavor is present in the crust as Branzino itself is pretty mild. It was set upon a bed of flavored foam. Put the foam in your mouth and all you get a whisp of intense flavor. Pretty cool. - Oven roasted chicken: Almond crumbles hug this juicy cut of poultry. Simple and delicious. - Sirloins of beef: I sense a theme here--entrees that enhance, rather than mask, the main ingredients best features. Once again, this dish has no frills and was perfectly cooked. Dessert--check and check! - Panna cotta: My heart be still... The presentation was a bit deceiving. I though the coconut ice cream on top was the panna cotta sitting on top of guava soup (their terminology, not mine). Alas! As I dug past the soup, I discovered a giant bowlful of delicious cooked cream! Paired with the coconut ice cream and guava sauce, it was a tropical treat. - Chocolate cake: Inside lies a warm, gooey, chocolaty center. While good, it was just too rich to continue eating past a few bites. - Cheesecake: The texture was smooth and highlighted the accents more than the cheesecake itself. Bienvenido a Mee-ah-mee!
(5)Shawn P.
Scarpetta gets 4 stars just because of the view alone. I have lived in Miami area for 10 years and run along the beach past the hotel all the time but seeing the beach and ocean on a moon light night from an all marble table with candle light flickering is amazing. They could have brought out Chef Boyardee and and Dr, Pibb and I would have been set. Luckily they didn't and stepped it up. I had Spagehetto pomador which sound like a no brainer but was so good my South Philly Italian mom's need to tread lightly - this was better. Sorry Mrs. Battaglia Japanese mackerel ? Did not know such I thing existed but very very good. I am a nom nom good food guy more swayed by good service than great food but throw in the spectacular view, this place is a solid 5 stars for me.
(5)Josh D.
Scarpetta is a very Chic Italian Restaurant in the popular Fontaine Blue hotel. For me the ambiance was more of a focus than the food itself, not to say it was bad I just felt the ambiance was a bit overbearing. At first the bread with the mascarpone butter and Ratatouille was delicious, I loved the idea of opening a meal with these wonderful flavors. We ordered the fresh fried mozzarella as an appetizer, and of course it was one of the best I've ever had. Clean tasting Mozzarella with a beautifully crisp crust. Our server was not entirely the nicest guy, but he got the job done. My dad and I like to ask questions, as a Chef I like to inquire about the food I'm going to eat when we're talking $30+ for a dish. I ordered the Braised Short-rib Tagliatelle which was a great dish. I really enjoyed it as the short-rib was perfectly braised and full of flavor. For some reason it just didn't pop with any real flavor that I was looking for. Since it was my birthday they brought me out a plate with Nutella-Hazelnut Zeppolis with a Creme Anglais dipping sauce. Now this was an amazing item. The pastry chef certainly knows how to do his/her job, and I could appreciate a perfectly cooked Zeppoli. Overall I would definitely take a date here, but for a family outing this seems a little too much for my taste.
(4)pracheta t.
I felt like I was the star of a movie as the hostess escorted my hot husband and I to our table that was overlooking the pool and was accompanied by a slight, warm breeze. The entire night was like magic thanks to the romantic, trendy ambiance and seriously amazing drinks. One of the most perfect nights of food, drinks and love. Def go here. With friends, on a date - whatever!
(5)Dennis M.
world renown or whatever. spaghetti was tasty not what you pay for tasty. i suggest eating all their bread that they keep feeding you and drinking a bottle of wine, then you'll be gold.
(3)Jenaia F.
If you're looking for a great restaurant to check out while Miami Spice is in effect, Scarpetta should definitely be on your list. Stopped in on Sunday and had an amazing dining experience - one that I would definitely pay full price for. The staff was extremely attentive and friendly. The food was exquisite. The ambiance was lovely. No complaints. I'm a sucker for mushrooms, so the polenta is a must try if you feel the same way. It was unreal... creamy, rich, perfect!!! The presentation wasn't too shabby either. It's something you should definitely check out.
(5)John Y. C.
The restaurant is located in the fabulous Fontainbleau Hotel. Note that the restaurant is located in the new tower, so if you enter through the main lobby, expect a 3 min (although lovely) walk. The hostess that greeted us was young, and you can tell by her demeanor. Nothing negative. I guess i'm just getting older. We were seated outdoors, not facing the main pool, but the back pool which directly overlooks the ocean. It was a windy night, but was not a distraction. Our server, Rick, was perfect in every manner. Present only when necessary, and made no interruptions. The wine glasses were always full. The braised short rib of beef was tender and had the great flavor of the beef. The risotto accompanied the beef well, not intruding into the flavor of the beef. The black cod was cooked to perfection. A nice large piece that flaked with the fork. The duck w/ foie gras ravioli was good. The individual raviolis were small, so there was not much filling. There weren't any accompaniments with the dish. Just a simple plate of little raviolis. Have a after-dinner apertif at the Bleau Bar and then party the night away at LIV. If you become a little tipsy, spend the night, and then lounge at the pool the next day.
(4)Gordon G.
Good, Thats was far as it goes. Not great , not amazing, good. The setting and ambience amazing. VERY LOUD! Not a place for kids, not a place for a frugal wine drinker like me. 180 US on Borello we bought in Italy this summer for 18 Euros??? Come on! Maybe NYC version is better, but there are definitely better ways to waste your money.
(4)Tracy M.
Loved having dinner here the other night! We called for reservations, 30 minutes before there last seating, got a reservation for 6 at 10:30 and were greeted and accomodated very nicely. Drinks were well prepared. All of us ordered different dishes from the Miami Spice menu. What a treat!!! Drinks, service, food, portions, ambiance...everything was perfect! I'll come back even without Miami Spice. I know this is not the cheapest restaurant in Miami, but they do seem to make it all worth it! Kudos!
(5)Vivian L.
I'm home & I am deeply missing the food, experience, etc. My cousins & I celebrated a night out & chose to go here. It was great that we chose Scarpetta. The decor was very 'Z Gallery'. The servers were very nice, attentive & cute..(Hey Carlos, lol). Since I was out with the girls I sampled everything from short ribs & polenta to their spaghetti & prime filet. Everything was so delicious!!! I would pay the orig prices like another reviewer mentioned. The dessert was orgasmic. I scarfed the amedei chocolate cake down. Also had a bite of the coconut panna cotta (yummy) y mocha cheesecake. The cheesecake was good but a little too mocha for my tastebuds. I also want to add that we indulged a little bit more & bought a couple wine bottles. It was a great offer so I couldn't refuse (hehehe). All in all it was a great night with great food, great company, & great ambiance. This place is definitely worth it.
(5)Vanessa S.
Want to make someone feel like a million without spending a million, bring them to Scarpetta! A surprise dinner from my girls included me getting dressed without knowing where we were off to and as we pulled up to the gorgeous Fountainbleu my jaw dropped! We took a nice half booth outside, no regrets here the outside patio was well lit, cozy and not unbearably hot. I munched on their bread served with 3 nice spreads as I looked over the wine menu. I'll be honest, I know nothing of Italian wines so I told the waiter what flavors I liked and he picked out the perfect glass of red wine for me. It went with everything we ordered! Onto the menu, simple, freshly prepared pastas, all types of meat and fish and that feeling you get when you want to order one of everything! Since we couldn't order everything we went with two appetizers to start, the polenta and mushroom fricassee appetizer along with the short rib over orzo appetizer. I knew polenta and truffle oil would be decadent, but I never imagined the marriage of flavors would be that good, I wanted to buy a gallon of it and take it home with me. The short ribs were perfection, not soggy, but fork tender and the cheese and orzo added a special taste to a familiar favorite. We followed our entree rule, when ordering entrees no one can order the same thing, this way it takes care of that wanting to order everything feeling. Four diners, four entrees. I had the agnolotti dal plin, a tortellini type pasta filled with a meat paste and cheese, quite tasty. My dining mates ordered, Spaghetti in tomato & basil simple yet well prepared. Scialatelli which I didn't try and Black Tagliolini which had fresh delicious pieces of squid in it, I almost ordered that and glad my friend did so I could taste it. We ate almost in silence from how good all the food was. We munched away, talked, drank our wine and just barely noticed our waiters, yes there were several of them, all night they zoomed by the table making sure we were doing well. They did this so seamlessly it deserves being mentioned. Despite not needing to we decided to order not one, but two desserts! The first was an almond chocolate cake served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. WOW!! The warm cake was dense like a flourless and had the right amount of decadent chocolate in it, not repugnant but really chocolaty. The second dessert was chocolate (yes, more chocolate) Zeppoles with a mascarpone dipping sauce. They were described by one of my friends as an Italian version of a Thai Donut. All I know is that I could eat about a dozen of those things, they were lightly dusted with toasted hazelnut and made me want a glass of milk real bad! They were the perfect end to an awesome meal! Let me just say It's not one thing that makes a restaurant five star worthy. For me, it's a combination of all aspects, leaving the place feeling I got precisely what I paid for and came for, being fed well and served well. This is what my Scarpetta experience accomplished, it covered all bases perfectly without making me beg. I say for a couple bucks more than Romano's, Scarpetta delivers something delicious and special, it's worthy of your time and dollars. As a local though, I suggest steering clear during high tourist time.
(5)Jessica P.
I just went to Scarpetta for the second time and still LOVE this place. I went with three other close friends so we were all trying each others dishes. Below are the items we ordered: Apps: Braised Short Ribs of Beef - Very tender and delicious. Served with vegetable & Farro risotto. Polenta - Creamy amazing goodness served with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms Raw Yellowtail - So simple, yet so incredible. Very fresh and tasty. Crispy Frito Misto - Shoe string fried seafood and vegetables. Very good. Burrata w/ heirloom tomatoes and arugula/basil - Tasted like a caprese. Came with buttery toasted baguette, yum. Main plates: Strozzapreti - Lobster w/ tomatoes and capers. Buttery and delicious. Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli - melts in your mouth Duck - Had a great orange scented au jus. Very tender. Branzino - A white fish seared and crispy on one side, served over gnocchi and asparagus bean. The chef brought us an extra plate of Spaghetti - So surprised at how amazing this simple dish could be, I wish I ordered this. Dessert: Panna Cotta w/ Coconut Ice Cream in guava sauce - Awesome light dessert Mocha Cheesecake w/ Espresso Sorbet - Tasty Chocolate cake - WOW I could have had 4 more of these. All in all Scarpetta is definitely a 5 star restaurant and worth the 5 star price. Great service and atmosphere and incredible food.
(5)Erica L.
We stayed at the Fontainebleu for 4 days and we ate here the first night. AMAZING food, great ambience and great customer service. We didn't experience any waiting time at the bar while we waited for our table like other reviewers experienced, we were brought right over to our table. We shared the fritto misto for the appetizer and I had the duck & foie gras ravioli and my boyfriend had the chicken...I forgot what it was called but that was excellent. I make a great roast chicken but I might try to copy that one!! For dessert we had the chocolate and nutella zeppoli, not really like a zeppoli think of it more as a warm brownie with a nutella center. I don't really care what it is it was delicious. We are definitely going to Scarpetta in NYC now that we're home!
(5)Richard M.
Excellent. Having been to Miami many times I truly regret not having come here before. Service was par excellence and the atmosphere it's equal. Food was very good. Staying in the hotel I also ate at Gotham Steak and to put these two restaurants on the same footing is laughable. Really, they don't even come close. The wine menu was very thorough with glass starting at $8, apps were of large portions and very well done. All in all I would highly recommend.
(5)Sol H.
Fontainbleau Miami Beach Cant beat that already. Not just because I worked there for 2 years, it is the best restaurant in all of Miami as far as Italian Cuisine, Service, and ambiance. Chef Scott Conant from the TV show Chopped and 24 restaurant battle is the owner. The Chef de Cuisine is Michael PIrolo my homie. If you ever go just make sure you get a tasting menu because for the money, you get so much food, and everything on the menu is so delicious its worth every penny.
(5)Selma M.
Wow! Oh Scarpetta, why have I waited so long to try you?! From the bread you put in my mouth that melted away, to the amuse-bouche of sashimi that you teased me with, and to the four courses of never ending amazing you filled me with, I am forever going to want to come back for more!
(5)Mark W.
Scarpetta = Excellence. Started off with the Smoked Tuna Tartare. It was a finely chopped dish. Chilled Tuna covered with chopped chive & a smoked salt. Followed by Braised Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli, small perfect packages of decadence & creaminess. The Black Cod seared crisp on the skin, the fish was excellent. Accompanied with beautiful sautéed veggies. The Pinnacle, simple spaghetti basil & tomato sauce, as it was meant to be served. Not a taste missed. Service was excellent. Expensive but worth the experience. Pictures on line.
(5)Michael T.
I had high expectations with all the great reviews... My wife and I got the chefs tasting menu... It was ok.. Nothing memorable.. Even their signature dish house-made spaghetti was good not great. The pasta was fresh but sauce lacked flavor. Service was good... Little all over the place... Have to tighten it up. Really wanted it to be good.
(2)Kortni L.
Over a year later and I would still hop a plane to Miami just to be at Scarpetta. Chef Scott Conant does not disappoint!
(5)Lucy K.
Amazing restaurant. I went here for my boyfriends birthday. I had called and set everything up beforehand. We're both big fans of Nina from Top Chef and we couldn't wait to try her food. We got drinks at the bar beforehand, which were excellent and creative. For food, we ordered: Apps: Polenta with mushroom: 5 stars, incredible. One of the best polenta dishes I have ever had Octopus: 4 stars. Super moist and flavorful Dinner: Duck and foie gras ravioli (as reported by my boyfriend): 4 stars, very good Black cod: 5 stars. I couldn't even tell you all the components I ate but they were all amazing. Everything worked so well together and the fish was cooked perfectly Duck: 4 stars: super moist with a great sauce At the end of the night, they wished him happy birthday and gave him a card signed by the manager. Very professional service. The ambience was romantic and not to loud. Expensive but worth it. We asked if we could meet Nina, but unfortunately she wasn't there that night. Still so happy to have tried her restaurant and the excellent cuisine.
(5)Rima R.
For dinner we had a beef tar tar - love it!!! :) Duck was - so so.. And chocolate dessert - good one! :)
(4)Rue F.
The first thing you notice when you walk in is that it is FREEZING in there. Take a sweater for sure. The ambiance is so so but the food is terrific. My husband had their tasting menu, I had the Long Island Duck. His started out with appetizers of tuna tartar and a seared scallops. Both great. Then he had the pasta portion which had two dishes, a spaghetti to die for and a duck foie gras ravioli that was out of this world. Raves on those two dishes. The main dish was a steak that was good. For dessert he got a mango flan soup that was amazing and a chocolate cake that was okay. He highly recommends doing the tasting menu. My duck was also wonderful. Tender and prepared to temperature not overdone. Only complaint here was the coffee was ordered with cream, milk was delivered. Seems to be a theme at all restaurants at the Fontainebleau Our waiter Eric was wonderful. Ask for him. Would I go back again? Absolutely!!
(5)Rick S.
The food is good, and service unpredictible. We got there around 7pm as a walk in, asked about reservations, they said 8:15pm, so when waited in the bar area, when 8:15 rolled around, we inquired, and were given a pretty bland uncompassionate response that fell between a shrug and rolling of the eyes, so we continued to wait, inquired now and then the same attitude, and finally got seated at 9:30pm. If you subscribe to the adage of "what's the point of making a reservation if it's not going to be honored?" - - then I'd probably avoid this place, as most places in South Beach, Miami - - or once the time hits and you've not been seated, cut your losses and find alternative dining plans so you don't invest too much or more than you can afford to. The service inside was good, the food was served fast and with polite demeanor. The spaghetti was supposed to be awesome, others at the table proclaim. The duck was very good, and if you get it "medium rare" that's perfect and it's moist and tender (be sure to eat the skin too, it's tasty and not too fatty). The portion, as with duck at most non-Chinese restaurants is a small breast fillet, so cut elegantly, but a small portion. Eat a lot of the bread to fill you up first. The bread is excellent by the way. I'd say the one thing South Beach and this restaurant should abolish is the 18% service fee, since mandatory tipping provides no incentive nor motivation for your employees to actually perform, excel or get an indication of the quality of their work. I think a tip should be earned, it's not an entitlement. That's probably why they call it a Service Fee / Service Charge (and it applies to all purchases, whether it's a $100 bottle of wine or $1,900 single serving of 55 year old scotch (by the way, I'm now storing 2013 scotch so that I can make a killing in 2078 in 55 years!), as well as for a party of 1 or 10 people)... I guess if you can afford a $1,900 cup of alcohol, you can afford the $342 they'll charge you to pour it and bring it to you (referring to the 18% service charge)
(3)Lawrence P.
What can you say about Chef Nina and her tomato & basil spaghetti? Perfection that's what!!! I should end my review here because that's all you need to know about Scarpetta. But, let's move on. Corkage fee is $30 so bring your bottle of wine and enjoy a great meal. If pasta is your thing, order the spaghetti (above) and the duck and foie fras ravioli. Simply AMAZING!!! If pasta is not your thing, don't worry. Order the black cod or scallops. We have been here more times than I can count and will continue to go despite how far it is from the house and what a pain traffic around the Fontainebleau Bleu can be if there is anything going on at the beach. Chef Nina is amazing and so long as she is there, this place is a top the dining chart for South Florida for us!!! PS: The restaurant is also beautiful. Very original décor.
(5)D M.
The food here was not that great . Not quite sure why it got 4 stars. The ambiance is nice the service is great but besides that not really sure what the rave is all about. We ordered the local squash blossom which has some kind of risotto rice and the mozerella in Carozza which is essentially fried cheese sticks . The bread platter has meat in it so if your vegetarian make sure to ask for a plate of just bread . Our waiter was really amazing food is sub par. Ice tea is great as a side note . Continue to follow me for more Miami posts !
(2)Mrs. D M.
This is my favorite spot for Italian in Miami. Yes, going to the Fontainebleu can be a mission (or a real treat, depending on your mood and the night crowd), but it's worth a go! Beautiful, Mediterranean decor, with ocean front views. Even if you sit inside the restaurant, still a nice atmosphere! Love the mixed bread basket in the beginning. Must trys: Polenta (with an wonderful mushroom ragu), Spaghetti (just get it, it's so fresh!) and the branzino or seabass they are offering. To me, they get the perfect crispness and saltiness on the outside, and the moistness you expect on seabass on the inside. Love it! Have also tasted the duck ravioli, which was really good, although the portion a bit small. Don't go here expecting a carb-free experience; that'd be a waste! Definitely a good spot to take out of towners for a fun experience.
(5)Lundy P.
Dined here last weekend for my 49th birthday along with my wife and her daughter and her daughter's family. The best part about the meal was the atmosphere. As to be expected in Sobe, the mood was festive. The food was good but did not really meet my expectations especially considering the cost. Service kept up with our needs but again it left something to be desired. I may dine here again but it would not be my first choice.
(4)Erica L.
Where to begin...we did the 4 course tasting menu, and I can't remember all the food we got but everything was exceptional. Pasta perfectly al dente, the highlight being the foie gras pasta (I think it was a ravioli?). Desserts were amazing as well - I think we got a coconut panna cotta and a caramel pudding with a side of passionfruit sorbet - yum!
(4)Eriko M.
I would only go for special occasions. It was my birthday. The creamy polenta and the flourless chocolate cake were to DIE for. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. And although I had no idea what anything was on the cocktail menu, whatever I had, it was delicious!! The main dishes were meh...I had the duck/foie gras ravioli and my date had some seafood pasta. Service was great. I would go back on another special occasion for the cocktail, polenta, chocolate cake and an excuse to dress up.
(4)A P.
Service was the best part of the meal! However food was disappointing. Only complimentary prosciutto bread was good (eggplant dip was too salty). In general food was oversalted. Mushroom polenta was ok but runny. Not as flavorful as before. Short rib stuffed pasta was disappointing, both in appearance and in taste. Sirloin (Miami spice extra) was also lacking flavor and texture. Guava panacotta was actually good. Hope they can do something to restore things in the kitchen (like check on the supervising chef) Atmosphere could be better where it not for large groups and kids (too much mass market hotel clientele).
(2)Aimee C.
Service was in the restaurant was phenomenal! Went for the Miami Spice menu and my friends and I were served every dish on the menu family style! The favored dishes were the creamy polenta, short rib stuffed ravioli, sirloin, tomato basil spaghetti and guava panacotta paired with a lovely French Sancerre wine! Will definitely be back with my foodie boyfriend. Only gave it 3 stars due to the avoidable mishap at valet. They charged me double the valet fee, argued with me as to how much I should get back, then told me I had to wait 8 days to get my refund. Customer service was not at it's highest here!
(3)Sepi B.
Had Thanksgiving dinner here with our families (party of 14 or so). Service was excellent. They accomodated us with an infant. We sat outside and it was nice - a bit chilly - no heaters. The inside was bustling with lovely decor. Most of us did the Thanksgiving menu ($75, pic attached). Everything was delicious. The signature pasta was amazing as always (had it at the Beverly Hills location). The burrata salad was good. The carrots and pumpkin were such a perfect addition. It may have been a bit bland though. The prime sirloin was juicy and tender. For sides I got the pureed potatoes (wonderful) and the haricot vert (ok). The dessert I had was the bread pudding and it was amazinggggg. All in all a fabulous dinner with fam!
(4)Catalina P.
I went last Friday to Scarpetta to try the spice menu with a group of 6 people. The server was hostile as hell!!...since the moment that we sat down and asked for the spice menu he got super rude and treated us like we were begging for some "free" food. Im sure that these waiters give a good service based on your pocket...what a shame for a restaurant has this kind of people or employees! Good food but experience overall was opaque by the service!...don't recommend it and I will not come back again. I would rather suggest to try the new Miami located in Wynwood or Midtown which is less pretentious and more foodie than in Miami Beach. I would not recommend this to a friend!
(2)Daniele G.
the perfect place to dine at before clubbing at LIV. 11:30pm and still pretty busy, probably 80% capacity. Hostess went out of her way to accommodate us at a quiter table in the veranda. Every dish was good to very good, a few were a bit "stretched" for being Italian, the risott was positively great. service was smooth and unintrusive.
(4)Tiffany C.
Came here last night for dinner. Although we had reservations we had to wait 15 minutes for our table. Mind you it wasn't even that packed. Strike 1. When we finally sat down it looked like smooth sailing for a while. The steak tartar and the creamy polenta were awesome, but that was probably the only 2 good things we had that night. After our appetizers the service slowed down tremendously. We probably waited another 30 mins for our food or for anyone to come by to check on us. Don't order the duck ravioli especially if you have high blood pressure. It's saltier than the Dead Sea. I guess the only redeeming factor was when I told them the food was too salty and they gave us free dessert. That was after another 30 minutes though of no one coming by.
(2)Mya J.
Fabulous authentic Northern Italian cuisine. Started with the Yellowtail and Arugula salad. Main courses were the homemade pasta marinara and black truffle ravioli with a broccolini side dish and finished with the out of this world chocolate cake. Another perfect and romantic dinner.
(5)judy n.
we had just gotten into miami beach, checked into our hotel & needed to find somewhere to eat after 8pm. scarpetta was within walking distance but seemed a bit on the high end side for our needs (& our attire) but we decided to give it a go anyway. despite our lackluster appearance, they seated us anyway, which was generous on their part. gotta say, it was the best meal we ate on our entire week-long trip. the service was stellar: multiple servers that were friendly & very attentive plus piping hot food served quickly. we had: lobster & peach salad w/burrata which sounds weird but was delicious. misto frito which sounds boring but was exceptional. so lightly fried & delightfully salty. duck & foie gras ravioli which was very rich but surprisingly not heavy. lamb ragu pasta which was meaty & satisfying. while the loud house music was odd, i would still go back if i'm ever in miami beach again.
(5)Constantine H.
The best chicken you will ever have IN YOUR LIFE. -Fin
(5)Tara W.
I loooove the Scarpetta in NY in spite of myself, because I don't usually go for celeb-chef multi-city restos, but somehow we ended up here with a large group. Rather than have everyone do an individual order, we went with the tasting menu which provided a variety of dishes in stuffing portions at bargain prices. We ended up getting the Scarpetta all-stars like the short ribs, polenta, burrata, and spaghetti as well as a few ringers we wouldn't necessarily have chosen. I'm admittedly a food snob and usually tone it down when around others who aren't of the same persuasion, and I feel like Scarpetta was a happy medium for that. My only complaints are about the restroom, timing of dishes, and credit card limits. The ladies room is in the hotel, not the restaurant, and it's quite a hike on wine wobbly high heels. I feel like 4 of our courses arrived at once which was overwhelming. And they would only split the bill between 6 cards, so be prepared. But these were only mild obstacles in an otherwise great meal.
(4)Steve T.
Impeccable service with numerous people taking care of each table. Their dinner bread was delicious especially the Stromobi. I had the short rib and bone marrow ravioli that was the highlight of my meal. The duck and foie ravioli was a bit strong/bitter for my taste but still had good flavor. My wife had the riccota truffle ravioli that was also quite tasty. The portions are small so get ready to order a few items per person. I forgot about their creamy polenta, but we'll be back.
(4)Alex S.
Scarpetta was probably one of the best meals I've I had in my life. Every dish from beginning to end was great. The polenta with mushrooms lives up to all the hype and the oven roasted chicken and scallops were great too! This is a place where I feel like you can't go wrong trying anything on the menu.
(5)Chantel M.
The service was great, ambiance was really romantic and the food was up to par, but as a food critic i must be honest. Not everything rocked my world. Presentation of the food was exquisite. We started with complimentary bread and spreads: butter, eggplant and cheddar infused something spread lmao (my personal fave), and olive oil Appetizers: 1.Steak tartare w/ quail egg (yes all raw) 2. The best/creamiest Polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms EVER! (This was sooo mouth watery) the fricassee made it very light and kept us wanting more! I would come back for this and i dont like gritty texture food but this was almost like drinking a bowl of soup. Perfecto! Pasta/main course and side dish: 1. Tomato/basil housemade spaghetti Definitely the best spaghetti I've ever had! I hate saucy spaghetti, so this was perfect. The noodles wear perfectly chewy with the sauce delicately mixed into the noodles. 2. Duck/foei gras ravioli There's lots of different taste buds pleased with this dish, and the fact that it just melts in ur mouth after biting into it is very salivating. BUT, it is a relatively heavy dish, if i was eating a 4 course meal again, i would not get this unless im sharing. 3. Long island duck garnished with baby carrots, mustard greens & sour cherry jus I say garnished bc there wasn't much much of the other stuff, if that was the #miamispice portion it was a pretty good portion bc the picture i have here was only half the dish since i was sharing. It was good but did not rock my world. Maybe bc im Chinese and ive had my fair share of well cooked duck. 4. Brussel sprouts caramelized with shallots & pancetta. The brussel sprouts came out perfect; however it could done well without pacetta. With the pacetta, it made the dish a little salty. Maybe good to another person, but for me, if it's a side dish that is suppose to complement the duck it sure did overpower it. I wanna blend it with the duck so it feels the dishes go together....not let it steal the thunder of the main course. Dessert: 1.Coconut Panna Cotta w/ caramelized pineapple & guava "soup" Not really a soup, but very refreshing the texture was like flan but much smoother....more like really soft tofu desserts with guava syrup on top and pinapple/coconut gelato on top. Really good my faves! Id come back for this. 2.Budino Di Mascarpone mascarpone custard, mango salad & mango sorbet Over all everything was really good, the mascarpone was like a creamier version of a cheesecake, the mango salad was not really a salad.it was more like mango bits on the bottom. But by the time we got to this dish. We were too full to enjoy it bc it is heavy for a dessert.
(4)Nate B.
Over priced is one thing. Of course you pay for a top resort environment. Crappy service is another thing. Don't waste your money
(1)Maria T.
I was in Miami for a bachelorette party and we made dinner reservations here. The wait time was quiet annoying considering we had reservations however the food and cocktails where so good! I'm a food snob especially with Italian. Only because my family is from Italy. I was very happy with everything I ordered which was the Mazzerella in carrozza and spaghetti with tomato and basil.
(4)Sarina W.
My boyfriend and I are big Top Chef fans and we were definitely rooting for Chef Nina to win from the beginning. When we took a trip to Miami - South Beach for his Triathlon he knew he wanted a celebration dinner at Scarpetta. The hotel the restaurant is located in is chic, posh, and oh so lovely and modern. The restaurant is also chic and modern in its decor. I really liked the ambiance the moment you walked in. I had a Torino cocktail and it was so yummy and refreshing. Our table had about 6 adults and we ordered an array of foods. But the #1 plate on the table was definitely the Duck And Foie Gras Ravioli. It melts in your mouth and just tastes devine! Simply devine! I would come back just for this dish. I kmow everyone raves about the spaghetti, nut that one was a bit disappointing actually. The pasta itself was cooked to perfection but the sauce is mediocre. Nothing tomrabe about. Seriously, order the Duck And Foie Gras Ravioli. You will not he disappointed! It was simply perfection! So juicy, so flavorful, and melts like butter in your mouth. I do have some complaints though and the major one is service! There were a few folks who were sweet, helpful, and overall nice to talk to such as the bartender. But the overall table service was mostly a miss than a hit. At one point the waiter took our bread back without asking if we were done yet. We were still enjoying that bread! C'mon! They didnt even tell us their specials until we asked. And their overall vibe was that they didn't care that much. They just didn't go beyond was was expected of them that's all. Lots of room for improvement in this area I must say.
(4)Alejandra O.
Great risotto and short ribs, however my moscow mule was not the best. Total cost $58, which included tax.
(4)C N.
Obnoxious service! Went with a group of friends and we were appalled by the utter arrogance of our server. Maybe because we were not purchasing $700 bottles of wine so he couldn't be bothered but he was downright snooty and condescending. Maybe if the food at the restaurant was phenomenal, I could cut some slack but we have eaten at amazing restaurants all over the world and this was just "good" not "great." Too many other "great" restaurants to ever go back to this one. If you are in the mood to be belittled by a waiter, then go this restaurant, otherwise look elsewhere.
(2)Bari A.
The service and food were excellent. I ordered the Scallops. They were delicious but there were only 3 scallops. I was still hungry after an appetizer and an entree. The ambiance, decor and view were wonderful. I would recommend but pricey for small portion.
(4)Jose A.
Very good ... The pasta is amazing a must have . Service is very good . Wine list is top of the line . Make sure you reserve a table otherwise long waits . Service is very good .
(4)Tanja Z.
Service was ok. The food is not all that great. I'm starting to wonder if anybody on yelp rating this place has ever had authentic Italian food. The spaghetti sauce literally tasted like canned spaghetti'os. The braised beef ravioli tasted like pot roasted and the risotto was awful. They use a barley rice that looks and has the texture of oatmeal.
(3)Elizabeth R.
ONE OF THE BEST MEALS I'VE EVER HAD IN MIAMI. Truly. No exaggeration. Atmosphere, food, wine, service--everything exceeded expectations. We purchased a Gilt City deal for 4-courses with wine pairings, and everything--every sip, every bite--was amazing from the bread basket and amuse-bouche to the stroll by the beach after dinner. Positively stellar. We were seated at a romantic corner table by the window, and our charming young waiter took his time to talk to us about the menu, explain the wine pairings, and listen to our food preferences. Highlights of the meal included the oft-aforementioned spaghetti pomodoro and polenta with mushroom, but the real superstar was the Long Island duck. It was the best duck dish I've ever had. Typically, I avoid meat and gluten, but on this particular night, I set all food restrictions aside. If you ever feel like splurging, Scarpetta is the place. Two words to describe Scarpetta: WORTH IT.
(5)Rachel O.
Stayed at the Fontaine Bleu and decided to try Scarpetta out. Very good experience overall! Beautiful setting... we had the best seat in the restaurant. Closest seat to the ocean in the far left corner. Service was amazing. Our waiter was very attentive and made sure he answered every question we had about the menu and gave suggestions. I wish the portions were a little bit bigger. I will say I had the best dish I have ever tasted. The gnocchi in mushrooms and corn. Absolutely amazing.. Melt in your mouth. Also had the best bread experience! The four different house made breads... Mmmm! My boyfriend ordered the spaghetti and the house made pasta was on point as well. Great experience and would definitely recommend!
(4)Mrs. G.
Best Italian in Miami beach. It's difficult to find good places to eat here in Miami, but this one is solid. You cannot go wrong with any dish here and the service is very good. Short rib, spaghetti, the special with truffles are all delicious! Love it!
(5)Neena B.
One of the best Italian meals I've had. We got the tasting with the wine pairing. If you have never gone to Scarpetta it's certainly the way to go. Our waiter Serkan was absolutely amazing. He explained the tasting to us and each wine with every course. I had told him I had heard great things about the spaghetti and the duck and foie gras ravioli and he made sure that they would be on the tasting. The tasting included so many dishes but the perfect amount where you didn't feel stuffed. They gave two starters, three types of pasta, two main courses, and two desserts. Highlights: -Amuse bouche of spicy tuna tartar and yellowtail sashimi. -Bread assortment featuring a panini with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto. -Creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms: I will never look at polenta the same way again. An absolute must try!! -Spaghetti. I was so skeptical since it is spaghetti and sauce. No meat. No special ingredients. But it is as perfect as everyone says. -Duck and foie gras ravioli: So creamy and decadent. There are caramelized onions in the ravioli that gives it this amazing balance. -Red snapper: Incredibly fresh with perfectly crisp skin. It's hard to say highlights because there was honestly no bad dishes. But if I came again, the polenta, spaghetti, and ravioli are absolute musts!! Great food, great service, great ambiance. I'll certainly be coming back!
(5)Tatiana R.
Polenta and the homemade spaghetti are a must And not having for dessert guava pannacotta would be a big mistake Small menu but all dishes are amazing
(5)Thomas W.
The Meatpacking District NYC definitely exists at the Miami Fountainbleau. I love Scott Conant's Scarpetta restaurants. New York, Las Vegas, Miami, Beverly HIlls, Toronto--He has it covered. The simple spaghetti dish here is unmatched in today's world. It is perhaps my favorite spaghetti dish today! The scallps, tuna tartare, and duck foie gras ravioli are truly special. Make sure you have a reservation, arrive for a drink with the beautiful people of South Beach, and are dressed for a nice nightclub, because this place is truly the spot to be seen. It is a special place in the Miami Fountainbleau!
(5)Karli M.
Along with the rest of the staff, Tim, our server, was unbelievable. He was so kind, knowledgable and accommodating when I told him I was vegan. I let him choose my entire 4 course meal and every bit of it was DELICIOUS. I have nothing but amazing memories of this place, from their staff to their food, and I eagerly look forward to my next visit.
(5)Talisha M.
Overrated and didn't meet the hype. The restaurant is gorgeous and sheik. The service was good and we got to meet the chef who happened to be on Top Chef which was great. We had the prefixed menu that samples most everything. It was all decently good but not mind blowing. The traditional spaghetti was very good. Think there are far better Italian in soflo.
(3)Alexandra N.
Very disappointed. The ambiance was great, but the service was horrible. Our server was rude and unwilling to substitute any of the meals to accommodate my nut and fish allergies. He claimed the food and pasta was already made and the ingredients could not be changed. Wasn't in the mood to waste efforts on arguing, so I ordered the most expensive and most plain salad I've ever had, since everything seemed to have nuts or fish in it. For the price of the meals, the food should be freshly made and substitutions to avoid allergic reactions should be accommodated. I'm honestly not sure how this restaurant is acclaimed to be one of the best.
(2)Coco K.
What a disappointment. I am very familiar with the kind of food Scarpetta restaurants can produce - I have dined at both the LA & Las Vegas locations and had amazing experiences. This one however was shocking sub-par. The waiter's table side manner was both fake and insincere, and included long periods of inattentiveness especially once we finished our meal and declined to order desert. The famous Scarpetta pastas were cold when they arrived at our table, which changed the consistency of the tomato sauce specifically to be sticky and unappetizing. That dish tasted as though they made a huge batch of the pasta and had it sitting under a heat lamp for hours. We we're supposed to be impressed by the news that Nina from Top Chef was cooking in the kicthen that night but that bit of info just added to the massive let down that was our meal. Mass produced and little attention to detail are 2 things that come to mind when I think of this location. Save your money.
(2)Greg N Belle W.
Just recently had my first experience! OMG!!! AMAZING! This restaurant is not only beautiful but the staff and food is perfection! I had the best meal I have ever had. My husband and I went for my bday. We decided to experiment with the menu so we had a couple of different things. Of course, one of those plates were the spaghetti; which was amazing! Our waiter was BEYOND helpful and not too annoying. This is a MUST go!
(5)John O.
i have been to the scarpetta in NYC and beverly hills and finally got around to the scarpetta in miami while at this conference at the fontainebleau. spaghetti was amazing as always, and because of the conference, scarpetta was open for lunch with a buffet. the downside was that it was probably about $50 (i don't remember, because it was on an expense account). but the upside was that you had some great selections--prime rib, short rib ravioli, and of course the spaghetti. you also had a cured meats selection, some decent desserts, and some other antipasti. they don't offer the lunch buffet except on private events but even cooked in mass quantities, the spaghetti rocked.
(5)Eva Z.
This place is worth the money!! I came here with 3 of my friends for my birthday dinner. I was nervous when I saw the prices but my fears were quickly put to rest, as the service was great, and the food was to die for. The basket of bread includes homemade stromboli, which we were all fighting over. The eggplant, olive oil, and marscapone that come with the breads were also delicious, and we were quickly offered another basket of bread after we scarfed down the first (more stromboli!!!). The waiter was very patient with helping us make wine and entree choices, as we were all very indecisive. I ended up having the short rib agnolotti, which was incredible. My friends also loved all of their dishes (sweet corn ravioli and duck and fois gras ravioli). Our waiter was awkwardly hanging around the table when we were finished, even though we had said we were much too full for dessert. Of course he insisted we look at the dessert menu, and when I said that I really was much too full for dessert and didnt want anything, out came my birthday chocolate lava cake complete with candle and Happy Birthday written in chocolate!! The waiter did a great job with the surprise and I managed to stuff a couple of bites of cake in, which was just as delicious as the rest of our food. Such a great experience and meal, can't wait to try the NYC location.
(4)Robert J.
I can see why this place got a 4diamond rating. IT's one of the ultra-snooty, high class, high class, holier-than-thou places that probably spends way too much on a chef. The food was over-the-top tasty/interesting, but small portions that left no one satisfied. The waiter kind of scoffed at us when we said we were coming by for Happy Hour. Look dude, it means we're here for early evening beverages during our business meeting... not that we're here to get drunk on $3 PBRs. They have some sort of dedicated wine host who seemed to know every wine and tried to get us to change our mind when we had picked a bottle. The made us wait in the lobby for 2 minutes because we were there before they were "opened" (rather than allowing us to wait at a table). They also don't open until 6pm.... WHY? It's delicious food and high class, but definitely not my style. Maybe if I had flashed my Bentley keys or a $100k watch they might have treated us a little better.
(3)Christopher S.
Arrive at this place last night and ate at the bar. Michael was awesome and exceeded my expectations, and provided helpful information regarding nightlife options! I had the octopus and roasted chicken which were awesome!
(5)Anita O.
This place has such great reviews, so I was very confused by my experience. I am a New Yorker and have lived in Italy, so I know good Italian food. I LOVE Italian food, so my husband and I visited Scarpetta on Christmas night. We ordered raw scallops and braised short ribs for our appetizers. They were okay, but certainly not impressive. For our meal, I ordered the black linguine. I normally love black linguine-- nothing beats its texture and flavor. So I was so excited when it arrived, and so incredibly disappointed when I took my first bite. The pasta was wayyy overcooked. It was probably pre-cooked and sat in a pot for a couple of hours, the way it tasted. I understand a big restaurant sometimes has to precook pasta, but black linguine goes limp incredibly fast and needs to be cooked al dente when ordered, otherwise you get a black mush, which is what I had to deal with. On top of that, the sauce was very mediocre. Just the wrong blend of spices and too much garlic, I think. It was so bad that I couldn't eat it. And I rarely leave that much food on my plate, even if I don't like the dish. My husband liked his pasta ok...it was a gimelli pasta with lobster. The pasta was cooked well but the sauce was lacking. Our bottle of wine was very good. And the grilled ricotta pound cake was VERY good, the best part of the meal in fact. An extra star just for the dessert. To be fair, Scarpetta had amazing service. Management asked us how we enjoyed our food and listened to our criticisms instead of waving us off. They also did take the black linguine off our bill, which was very nice of them. Sorry, but won't be returning to Scarpetta, not even in NY after this experience. We've just had so much better Italian...
(2)Alexander R.
Overpriced and some of the worst service I've ever gotten. Also the patio areas has terrible acoustics, feels like a noisy cafeteria, you can't hear anyone more than a few chairs away. I was there in a group of 12, most of which were trying out the Miami Spice menu. I'm not sure if this is why our server Carlos was so rude and dismissive, but I expected better from such a nice restaurant. The food was great, though nothing special for the price. I suppose it would've still been a 3-to-4-star experience except when it came time to split the bill, Carlos said it would take too long to split so we'd have to do it ourselves. After 30 minutes of not being able to come up with the correct total, it turns out we had been over-charged ~$125 in extra drinks and and extra Spice dinner. We had to call the manager to finally have our checks split. I would've demanded my gratuity be taken off my check if not for the fear that it would've taken another 30 minutes. Cool place if you want to impress a date, just make sure you don't get Carlos as a waiter.
(2)Charles M.
So delicious I wonder what's in the sauce, in a good way. Just, so so good. The wifey got gluten free pasta that had me stealing bites left and right. I usually hate her gluten-free food. My lobster homemade pasta dish was divine. Desert was heaven, and our waiter just took great care of us. I just got done ripping on 74 in the same hotel. Maybe someone here could teach 74 a lesson or two, but I'd bet Scarpetta wouldn't risk it.
(5)Johnny E.
Really had an enjoyable experience. 'Korean' Tim was our server and without a doubt perhaps the best service I have ever had. He brought us a sample of so much food without us even asking for it. He understood quickly what our taste palate was and made excellent recommendations. The food was not heavy, perfectly balanced. We had the tuna, spaghetti, mozzarella, creamy polenta, and the snapper. And Tim surprised us with three different dessert entrees. We will definitely be back!
(5)Rachel P.
F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!! From the moment you walk in, you are surrounded by a super posh interior. What a beautiful spot to dine while overlooking the ocean. I feel this spot is one of the closest in proximity to the ocean in most, if not all of Miami. The service was perfect (thanks to our australian waiter and crew), the ambiance was perfect, the food and drinks were perfect, I don't think I could have asked for anything more! To start with they have a very interesting cocktail menu, I opted for their apple vodka creation with all sorts of berries. It was red in color and it was probably one of the best cocktails I have ever tasted. The name escapes me, but something with a T.....about 4th down on their drink menu. As for entrees, I couldn't pass up their spagetti dish. Loved it. 3 of us at the table all had to order it. My husband ordered the Garganelli pasta dish; which was tasty too! For a side, I enjoyed their crispy brussel sprouts and I must say they were cooked exactly the way I like them-crispy and not soggy! My husband ordered the braised short ribs and they were excellent! I also tried the creamy polenta and I think next time I would order this as well. As for dessert, we tried both the CHOCOLATE ZEPPOLE which was nutella center, vanilla anglaise & candied hazelnuts (pretty much Nutella donuts)-they were outstanding! We also had AMEDEI CHOCOLATE CAKE with toasted almond gelato & salted caramel sauce (their version of a chocolate lava cake)-also very tasty. We can't wait to find another reason to return back to Scarpetta!
(5)Anita G.
Been coming here since they opened. Service atmosphere and food all perfect. Will be there again soon and always recommending to my friends who are never disappointed.
(5)Geoff And Jenni G.
Cocktails were excellent, wine was fabulous, tasting menu was superb... Nothing but good things to say... really enjoyed the food/evening and would definitely return...
(5)Nathaly L.
Spaghetti amazing! i cant help order the same entree time and time again. i am obsessed with their simple yet amazing spaghetti pomodoro. i love it, nothing fancy its spaghetti guys!!! but its so simply delicious. i also recommend their farmers salad yummy! and they have a creamy polenta with a mushroom ragu sauce that i loove (if u like polenta). Nice vibe, intimate, trendy, fun date night place... one con: the last table i sat on was right under the a/c vent making it extremely cold for me, a bit uncomfortable.
(5)Annah T.
Most amazing Italian food. Rather pricey but all in all completely worth it. The best part was the service and the round of tequila the manager brought out for us at the end. Thank you so much for contributing to our great time in Miami!
(5)Jason S.
What we ate: Creamy Polenta - Amazing! A must! Stone Crab Appetizer - A Miami staple, but small portions. Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli - Creamy & Delicious! Spaghetti - Supposedly a signature dish but just Meh. Chocolate Cake - Good but not memorable. & Complimentary Petit Fours What we experienced: Great customer service! We mentioned to the waitress that we were not only Top Chef fans, but fans of Chef Nina. Halfway through our dinner, the waitress surprised us with Chef Nina, herself! She sat down with us, took a picture and chatted briefly as it was a busy Saturday night! Not only that, but Chef Nina sent a complimentary Petit Fours our way as we were celebrating my birthday. This is a beautifully decorated restaurant in the equally amazing Fontainebleu! What else? Make reservations as it seems pretty busy with tourists and corporate diners alike.
(4)Cristina C.
From what I hear, the menu is fantastic but I only order three things off the menu: creamy polenta appetizer, tomato basil spaghetti (filled with buttery, cheesy goodness in addition to the freshest tomato sauce ever) and any chocolate dessert they're offering. I don't bother trying anything else. They're just that good.
(5)Dan R.
I always tell myself that if I had to live somewhere other than New York City, it would be Miami. Domestically speaking, of course. And I've only ever been in the Magic City for a handful of days at a time, but each time, I always enjoy it a little too much, and then start day-dreaming about some alternate timeline I've got going for myself where I wear an obnoxious amount of white morning, noon, and night. But, in the unlikely event I actually leave New York, I'd most likely miss the food above all else. Thankfully, there are Gotham transplants like Scarpetta to get me through the pain. Pici is one of my favorite types of pasta (picture thick spaghetti), and Scarpetta's offering has got to be one of the best I've ever had. Tossed with lobster, Calabrese spices, and a spreadable sausage called 'nduja (Italian slang for andouille, although the meats are not the same), this exceptional dish was bursting with flavor, a soul-warming land-and-sea medley in each forkful. The Burrata (served over heriloom tomatoes, baby basil, and arugula salad) was equally delicious in its own right - milky, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. And how often do you get to talk about bread baskets? Well, Scarpetta's is worth the shout-out - I'm lookin' at you, salami-filled stromboli! Despite the impressively extensive wine list, I opted for a cocktail, specifically their signature San Remo (Carpano Antica, Campari, elderflower liqueur, a splash of Maker's Mark, and, although not listed as an ingredient on the menu, and because, after all, this is Florida, I swear there's some secret citrus in there). Both masculine and refreshing, this one lived up to its much-promoted, go-to status. Thanks to its coveted Fontainebleau location and vintage-navy, gold-trimmed, ocean liner decor, Scarpetta doubles as both a date night destination and birthday group dinner celebration spot before hitting the club. Or a place for seniors with money who know what's up, because we saw a few of those, too. Again, this is Florida. Even with a Scarpetta in my very own city, God help me if I wait until retirement age to come down here again. The Old Country, New York, New Jersey, Miami, it doesn't matter - this is some of the best Italian your hard-earned money can buy. Anywhere.
(5)Gnome H.
We had a party of four (we are usually just two) and were glad because we all did the tasting menu and were treated to 4 different choices with each round - so basically we were each getting 4 different small tastes each time. They even let us suggest things we don't like and things we do, so we could avoid the "in" meals like duck and get something better. (we have ducks in our pond, why would I ever want to eat one) A little more than we wanted to spend the night before a cruise, but well worth it. We do a lot of tasting menus and this stands out for value. The courses themselves weren't NYC caliber dining... but were still upscale. Check out their spaghetti - it was good, but not really top chef material. Service was excellent. Not just our waiter but others were stopping by making sure we had what we needed. The wine pairing was average. We would actually go back and try different things. The true test of a place is if you would go back, isn't it? Yes, I would recommend Scarpetta. Thanks Miami.
(4)Cecily K.
The duck foie gras ravioli is absolutely delicious, perhaps one of the best things I ever ate. It's a smaller portion, so you might want to also order an appetizer or additional side.
(5)Tony L.
Great Italian spot in south beach. One of the few places where you will get consistent great Italian food! Arugula salad is a great start. Spaghetti is delicious and fish is always fresh. I had the snapper this time which was cooked to perfection. I really enjoy eating here at the fountain blu. You will not be disappointed.
(4)Michelle R.
Hands down the best meal of 2014. From start to finish, the service was outstanding and the food was possibly the best Italian I've ever had. I'm so glad we chose Scarpetta during our stay in Miami. I'm 100% certain that everything on the menu is delicious, so I won't get into everything we ordered, but I will say: order the spaghetti. You'll never have spaghetti with red sauce again without thinking of this perfect dish. Totally worth it.
(5)Jonelle P.
The creamy polenta, the Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli were amazing!!! Those are a must try! The service was really great too.
(5)S S.
I have been here twice. I don't have one bad thing to say about it. The service was awesome and the food was spectacular. I know it is pricey, but it completely worth it. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Michael D.
Very classy and intimate vibe here, I really liked it, great for a date. The food was insane too. Started off with arugula salad and their bread. Moved on to entrees - wife got short rib risotto and I got the Long Island duck. Both were crazy good. Desert was nutella filled cake bites, perfect way to finish. Lost a couple bills from this dinner but it was worth it on a weekend trip to Miami. I'd have to save it for a special occasion if I was local. But if I was a local living on South Beach, I guess I would have the 'resources' to go here whenever.
(5)Patrick L.
I'd heard of the famous spaghetti and creamy polenta featured at this famous NYC-Miami Italian eatery. Of course, as a hardcore Miami local, I would typically not think of dining at the Fontainebleau, tending to avoid places frequented by tourists. But during Miami Spice? Three course meal at Scarpetta for $39? I'm in. The Scarpetta experience begins with a most excellent bread basket, notable for its salami bread first and foremost. The lemon olive oil, eggplant tapenade, and mascarpone butter they serve with it...these aren't bad either. I ordered the mackerel tartare for the appetizer, which ended up being my favorite course. It was a great dish - light, fresh and flavorful. I also got a chance to try some of Scott Conant's famed creamy polenta with wild mushroom fricasee. While this is no doubt a decadent tasty treat, it's on the side of "too decadent." So tasty, but so creamy, so heavy.....it's too much. I'd like to see more of a deft hand with the richness and more pure corn flavor. Sirloin was next for me, and while this wasn't the most creative plate out there - sirloin with a red wine sauce and au gratin potatoes on the side - the meat was perfectly cooked to my medium rare specification.....and paired quite well with the inky red wine included in the "Riserva" flight for which I opted ($30 for 3 3-4oz pours). Speaking of which, I just thought of this - the wines in the flight were very good, but I wish the wait staff had provided more information about them. I don't even know what I was drinking, and at the time, I didn't think to ask. It would have been nice to gain a little more knowledge about the wines. This was the only dull spot on what was otherwise resplendent service. For dessert, chocolate tart with vanilla bean gelato. The chocolate tart was very rich and a little salty. Again, decadent and enjoyable, but dense and heavy. The gelato, however, was mind-blowing. For me, chocolate can skew toward the too-dense side, but there's no way anyone can provide enough concentrated vanilla flavor for me. This was close. It was one of the most overwhelmingly-vanilla treats I've ever had the pleasure of pushing past my lips. Even if I hadn't enjoyed the rest of my meal, this would probably have sealed the deal for me. In fact, I would have taken 2-3 scoops of the vanilla gelato and forsaken the chocolate altogether. Overall, this is a beautiful restaurant with seriously tasty Italian-inflected plates. I'd just like to see some of the heaviness dialed down a level or two. Maybe one star too over-the-top for my tastes - therefore, a solid 4.
(4)Rebecca H.
Not a consistent reviewer but had to share about our experience here. My husband and I dine out, at least, half of each month so when a restaurant blows us away it certainly is more meaningful. Start to finish, service to food, wine to ambiance everything at Scarpetta was perfect. The food was perfectly executed, the sommelier offered perfect pairings.
(5)Bri B.
We had dinner at scarpetta tonight (me and my husband) and things couldn't get worse; food and wines are expensive so you expect service is impeccable, unfortunately we are very disappointed. Food was really good but the restaurant felt overcrowded, too much screaming people, inhospitable. We sat next to a very loud party of 10. Lots of people left the restaurant early because of this "Fraternity house out of control" and after our complaints the waiter just mentioned that "at least there's a crowd". Really???????
(1)Allan S.
Indeed, as good as it gets. As I write I am trying to find something negative to say. Except for the valet sending us in the wrong direction when we first arrived I can't think of a single area for improvement. This ranks as one of the finest dining experiences my wife and I have ever had and we have had more than a few. We tried the four course sampling menu for both our meal and the wine service. Amazing. I can't recommend it enough. Each dish is meant to be shared. We began with a ceviche and sashimi appetizer accompanied by a lovely prosecco. The fish melted in our mouths. The next course was creamy polenta topped with fricassee of truffled mushrooms and braised short ribs accompanied by a nice fruity dry white wine. Each bite was a treat. The third course were three signature pasta dishes: spaghetti bolognese with tomato, basil and parmesean cheese, duck and foie gras ravioli, and Scaliatierlli. It is hard to choose a favorite here because all three dishes were outstanding. This was paired by a delicious red from central Italy. The fourth course was duck and branzino. Now I'm usually not a fan of duck and never before tried branzino, but loved both dishes. The crowning jewel though was the accompanying red which provided an explosion of flavor with every sip. As we were celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary the sommelier, Zarko Stankovik who was absolutely brilliant, brought us one of a rare red whose name escapes me along with a dessert wine from Northern CA and desserts of molten chocolate cake and passion fruit gelato. Ahhhhhhhh. Finally, a visit to the Fontainebleau is an adventure in and of itself. Beautiful people, beautiful venue, women dressed to the nines. The ambiance is as enjoyable as the cuisine. I'm running out of adjectives and so will cut to the chase. From our interactions with the hostess, the server to the sommelier Zarko and from our first to our last bite, we loved it. In terms of cost, your wallet will take a pounding, but it's worth every cent. We will definitely be back.
(5)Joseph H.
Food was good. There was a $45 table fee. Didn't get that. Had a few too many to realize until the next day. Service was slow but they had some hot chicks that made it easy to hang.
(4)Kristine M.
Sat in bar waiting for table 33in asked for drink menu. Then ignored, next talked to hostess - nothing more time passes - left - unreal - don't go
(1)Christina M.
Just celebrated my sister's birthday there & loved the food & ambiance! Highly recommend the spaghetti & coconut dessert!
(5)Bettina S.
We went to Scarpetta for our last dinner in Miami this past Wednesday. Both myself and the friend I went with to the restaurant found that the hostess wasn't very friendly, so that was a bit of a turn off, and the room we were seated in was extremely loud because of two large groups that were having dinner there. However the food was very good, and the service, particularly our waiter Victor, was great. They were able to accommodate my gluten free needs and were knowledgeable about the menu and what I could and couldn't have.
(4)Eve C.
I'd been wanting to try Scarpetta for quite a while, and recently had the opportunity to check it out for Miami Spice. While the regular menu prices are pretty high, it's about average for a restaurant of this quality and location. But for the $35 prix fixe Miami Spice menu, how can you go wrong? I started my meal with the creamy polenta with the wild mushroom fricasse. These are served on the same plate in neighboring containers, and you're to mix the mushrooms into the polenta to your own taste. It was phenomenal. No creamy and delicious...mmm! Two of my dining companions opted for the burrata with heirloom tomatoes, which was out of this world. The hold-out got the short ribs, and said they were delicious. For my main course, I knew i had to try that famous Scarpetta spaghetti. I've read and heard many praises for it, and couldn't pass up the opportunity to try it myself. It was quite delicious, with the clearly homemade noodles cooked to a perfect al dente. The sauce was light and had a slight tang to it. Without a doubt, delicious. Not sure if it's the best pasta dish I've ever had (that may be reserved for an amazing bowl (or 3) of gnocchi Sorrentino I had in Naples, Italy), but it's up there. Two in our group ordered the steak, which I was fortunate enough to taste, and it was quite tasty as well. For the finale, I opted for the polenta crusted cheesecake with strawberry and rhubarb, cause I'm a sucker for anything that involves strawberries and rhubarb. It came with come tart lemon sorbet that was light and refreshing. The whole thing was very tasty. Two at our table got the chocolate cake, which was rich and decadent, and the other got the coconut panna cotta. Everything was yummy. The service, once we were seated, was spot-on. Our water and wine glasses were never empty, and the bread that kicked off our meal was brought out hot and tempting from the oven. Of course, despite being on time for our 9pm reservation, we were told our table wasn't yet ready, and to enjoy a drink at the bar. We all know this ploy, and instead saved our money from the over-inflated drink prices and relaxed at the entrance for our table to be ready. Valet is really the only parking option, but be sure to get your ticket validated at the restaurant, or you might be paying more than expected to retrieve your vehicle. I'd definitely return to Scarpetta, but probably only during Miami Spice, or if someone else is footing the bill.
(4)Ryan D.
The food was very nice. The place is over the top and can come across a little pretentious. The price is up there but the food is worth a taste. Wine list is rather extensive and be prepared to part with your hard earned cash when ordering a bottle. Overall worth checking out.
(4)Sasha H.
The food here is a DREAM. Everything, from start to finish, was absolutely scrumptious and perfect. We could not have had a better meal, and our server, Ramon (I believe) was a native NY-er to boot! He was so kind and took the best care of us! Here's to hoping that Scarpetta NY lives up to the high bar set by Miami! Tiny criticism - we were seated ALLLLLL the way in the back dining room at 7:30 pm, when about 2/3 of the restaurant was empty. It was freezing and sort of isolated back there. We are 3 cute/classy girls in our mid-twenties... why, I ask? Didn't enjoy that. Can someone in FOH please PM me and explain that to me, really. Were y'all afraid we would WOO too loudly and scare the main room diners? Yo no comprendo. Besides that, the entire restaurant is beautiful, and service is outstanding and professional.
(4)Stefanie C.
I don't know where to even begin. I wasn't sure what to think of this place upon walking in. It seemed so tiny. Little did I know once you walk passed the bar area, it open up to a huge, beautiful dining area. We had a table of about 20 people. A waiter immediately greeted us and took each of our drink orders. I would say it took a total of 5 minutes and everyone at the table had a drink. We had a pre set menu that was picked for us a head of time. We started with an arugula salad, polenta with truffles, braised short ribs and steak tartare. All were absolutely wonderful! Honestly the arugula salad and the braised short ribs had to be my favorite but the other to came in pretty close. For our second course it was two types of pasta which I cannot comment on because I cant eat pasta. But everyone at the table was ranting and raving about how wonderful it was. With this followed the black cod and sirloin beef. The two of these were absolutely amazing. So many wonderful flavors and cooked perfectly! For desert we were give a chocolate cake, cheesecake and mascarpone custard. I was only able to eat the custard but I have absolutely no complaints. It was wonderful. Overall the ambiance was great. It had a romantic feel. It was busy without being loud. The service was wonderful. They were so quick and friendly. As for the food, it was unbelievable. This place is a MUST when in Miami. I'll be sure to stop by again on my next trip!
(5)Christine C.
Amazing food and more amazing pasta! Certainly one of the best pasta I've had in miami beach. And the service was just fantastic, too!
(5)Stephanie M.
Normally I think "fancy Italian food, all kinda the same" until I ate at Scarpetta. I was fortunate enough to be in Miami during Restaurant Week, and they had a great 3 course special so I got to try some of their most popular dishes without being overwhelmed by a ton of food. I was iffy about the polenta, being that every one I have had has been gritty and lacking flavor, but their polenta was so rich, creamy and delicious it made me sad I had not been looking forward to it! I didn't think it could get any better after the polenta until they brought out the spaghetti. Who gets that excited about spaghetti, right? OMG this was to DIE for. The pasta was hand made that day, and cooked to absolute perfection. They added the sauce (if you can even call it a sauce) in just the right way that it gently coated the spaghetti and soaked into it a bit - if everyplace made spaghetti this way, I would actually order it. I'm not usually a big fan of duck, but the duck and foie gras ravioli was really good in its own right. All in all, AMAZING.
(5)Shibei R.
I loved eating at Scarpetta. What an experience! We had the chefs tasting and plus the cheese course. The food was so delicious, and the coconut Pena cotta dessert was the best dessert I have ever had in my life. I will definitely go back again. Great fine dining experience.
(5)Kathryn S.
On the first stop of my tour de Miami Spice I decided to make my way over to Scarpetta. My first impression of the restaurant was that the decor and location is beautiful. The restaurant overlooks the Fontainebleau pool area and you can also see the ocean from the outside seating area. Before my friend and I got to order our meal, we were offered a bread basket. I am never one to shy away from a bread basket so I tried every single one of the breads offered. They were all exceptional, but my friend was particularly in love with the bread that comes with ham and cheese. As an appetizer I got the creamy polenta. The polenta was very good and very filling. The special truffled mushrooms that you put on top of the polenta was exceptional. My friend got the braised beef short ribs and said they were great. We both decided on trying the renowned spaghetti for our meals. The spaghetti was served al dente and was pretty good. I don't think it is as amazing as some people make it out to be, but it was still really good spaghetti. For dessert we both got the chocolate terrine and thought it was the best part of the menu. It was just absolutely delicious and really made the dinner wonderful. I had a very nice and delicious meal at Scarpetta, but I don't think the food is worth the regular prices. I am happy I went during Miami Spice so I could try the food at a more economical price.
(4)Megan F.
You have never tasted pasta like this! It is God sent. Absolutely heaven! The tomato basil spaghetti and the creamy polenta are MUSTS! I would focus more on the amazing savory dishes and skip dessert. Their cocktails are great and go down way too easy, totally lethal but delicious! It's pricey but worth every penny
(5)Katherine A.
my dream restaurant loved it
(5)Arlynes H.
II was totally disappointed at the way they treated us the day that I went with a party of ten to celebrate my birthday. The food tasted really good but the service was awful, a waiter simply let us hanging and the manager did not give us any satisfaction for this unfortunate event and that was not the only issue. Something totally unacceptable: We asked the waiter to charge certain amount on one of the credit cards, and without asking the owner of the card, they charge a higher amount of what it was requested, he said that he did it to balanced the total amount of the bill. the waiter made the decision without asking. I don't appreciate the overall experience that I had at this place on my especial day. This is not our first visit to this type of fine dinning restaurant, we have had great service and quality delicious food at many other restaurants in Miami, New York, California therefore I still can't find a reason of the whole waiter situation and the lack of attentiveness from the management to make my Birthday night an especial one as I was expecting.
(2)Michelle C.
One of my favorite "fancy" restaurants in Miami. This is definitely a special occasion meal, especially because every time we go, we order the chefs tasting. The appetizers are a delight. If you're going to get just one, go with the polenta with mushrooms. The polenta is so creamy, I don't want to think about what they have to add to get it that way. The mushrooms come on the side in a very rich sauce that is mixed in table side. If you are dining with a non-mushroom water (like my husband) then lucky you, more mushrooms! The octopus is perfectly cooked. It comes with a very light sauce that brings out the flavor of the octopus without overpowering it. Unsurprisingly, the pastas are really where this place shines. With the chefs tasting menu, we usually end up with the duck and foie ravioli, the spaghetti, and a fish pasta. The duck and foie is just amazing. It's very rich and melts in your mouth. There really is no other way to describe it. As for the spaghetti, this is a surprise! When we first sat down at our table during our initial trip to Scarpetta, a woman about 3 tables over was eating the spaghetti. I remarked to my dining companions that it was ridiculous to come to a place like this to get spaghetti with tomato sauce I could make at home. Then I tasted it. And now I understand why. It's hands down the best spaghetti I've ever had. The sauce is very light, so if you're looking for a thick tomato sauce you're ordering the wrong thing. The spaghetti is lightly coated with sauce. Perfectly cooked. The only thing I don't tend to enjoy is the fish pasta, but that's a personal preference. It tastes like they use a little too much squid ink, and it's just too overpowering for me. But we always finish with the two best desserts in the house. They have an amazing warm chocolate cake. However, the grand finale is the panna cotta. It is light, airy, and the perfect end to a delightful meal. We have always had exceptional service, but maybe we've just gotten lucky! I'm looking forward to returning for my birthday in October!
(5)Lama B.
Scarpetta, Scarpetta. You give me hope. Really, we started with a bottle of Champagne at the bar, and great conversation with the Sommelier and the bartender. Oh how charming. We then headed over to our table and began the adventure. First, they gave us a plate of the famous pasta with basil and tomato sauce on the house. BEST PASTA EVER. I didn't order it as we wanted to try other dishes, but this one blew our socks off. The fois gras pasta was a plate of pockets of goodness, and the lamb ragu was to die for. The polenta with mushrooms, I mean really? I don't like polenta, but this time I was more than happy to inhale a vat of butter. OH yum. This meal, from champagne and rosemary chips at the bar, to Salami bread and classic excellent pasta was a dream. Thank you Scarpetta for making our night AWESOME!
(5)Cristina L.
The atmosphere is very nice. As a small eater, I got the rib as appetizer. It was delicious. It was soft and tender. I got the spaghetti as my entree, it was delicious. My friend got the ravioli as her entree, it was too salty. The cocktails were also good. I got something with raspberry and would definitely recommend it to anyone that likes fruity drinks. Overall it was a nice experience.
(5)Lee T.
I wanted to have one fancy pants meal in Miami and since I haven't made it to Scarpetta in NYC yet, I figured I go here. The Fontainebleu is kind of my nightmare - I had to ask for directions three times to find the restaurant, but I got over the cruise ship atmosphere once I was comfortably seated on my banquette. First of all, stromboli bread - I could have made a meal of that alone. As we nibbled on the bread basket, our waiter was very helpful in selecting wine for the evening. He recommended a very fair priced white to start with before we cracked open the Barolo, It was the perfect acidic punch to wake up our palettes. To begin, we shared the burrata, the polenta and the fritto misto. All were excellent, but the polenta was the star. I don't even want to know what they do to that cornmeal to make it so rich and creamy. We followed the apps with a middle course of the spaghetti with tomato and basil. This was pretty much my dream; fresh pasta with the most beautiful simple pomodoro basilico. If you can make the simple things sing like that, then you are a true master of your craft. Our entrees were the beef and the veal chop. The veal chop was without a doubt the most outstanding veal I have tasted. Prepared sous vide, it was pink as a pork loin, tender as anything and the most clean, delicate veal flavor one could imagine. A revelation really. The one downside to the plate was that the accompaniment to the chop was slightly over-seasoned, which detracted from the dish's overall impact. For dessert, we shared the olive oil cake and the coconut panna cotta - both fantastic, but the panna cotta was the true winner. I could eat that everyday without guilt or shame. The purest coconut flavor contrasted with a bite of cleansing citrus. Scarpetta is one of the few places in this town where you are actually paying for the quality of the food rather than the scene or the view. I know I'll be stopping by in NYC if for nothing more than that pasta al pomodoro and a glass of wine.
(5)Joseph P.
I can sit here and write a long review that might bore people but I don't want to do that. Sometimes a short, straight to the point review will suffice. All I can say about this place is that it is exceptional. I highly recommend it and you will not be disappointed. From the hostess, to the sommelier, Zach to our server Dereck. This wasn't dinner, it was an experience.
(5)Marcus T.
Worst place I have ever dined. Raw Scallops and Fatty Veal. Huge waste of time and money. Really, skip this place. I am miffed by the other reviews.
(1)marcelo w.
Ok, I LOVE the scene and The Fontainebleau Hotel, but Scarpetta is a major blemish in this beautiful place to hang out and have a good time. I have a theory that a place in which the bread and the desert (tiramisu) are the best menu items you ate usually mean that the real food sucks! Which is the case here. I'm ok with a very limited menu, makes choosing easier and usually means that they can do a few things better, not the case. The Scialatelli pasta was below average and my wife's Pappardelle was not good either. I was there with a group of 10 and nobody had a single good thing to say about the place. I feel bad for having suggested it, but in life you gotta try new things...just don't try this place...walk to Blade or Gotham.
(1)Chad T.
My experience at Scarpetta was absolutely delightful. I have eaten at Gotham Steakhouse at the Fountainbleu and was impressed, and I have always heard that Scarpetta was even better. I wanted my experience to be for a special occasion, so I decided to propose to my girlfriend centered around a dinner at the hotel. After my experience, I must agree that this is now on my list of truly phenomenal restaurants in Miami. My experience began at the Bleau Bar near the lobby. My girlfriend (at the time) and I had a few cocktails in preparation for dinner. Mine were more to ease the nerves! We took a stroll around the grounds of the hotel, and at sunset, I proposed on Miami Beach. She said YES! I'm not sure what my review would have been like had she said no. From there, my new fiance and I went for dinner at Scarpetta. We had reservations for 9:30 and arrived a few minutes before. The only downside of the whole night was that our table was not ready, but we decided to sit near the bar and have another drink. The table was worth the wait. We were at the corner, facing out towards the ocean with a great view of the entire restaurant. I called the day before to explain that I was proposing, and I feel that they went above and beyond to make the night special. The waiter was great, and had a broad knowledge of the menu. My fiance ordered the scialatelli, which was a sorrento pasta with spot prawns - the flavor was great. I had the roasted lobster with sunchoke and sea urchin. The waiter talked me out of having it prepared the traditional way (with the sea urchin on top of the lobster), and instead to have the urchin on the side. He said he did not like the flavor, and had complaints in the past with the urchin. I have never tried urchin before, so opted to have it on the side. I was unique, but tasty. Either way, the entrees were phenomenal! For dessert we had the chocolate zepolles, which were filled with melted Nutella and had a vanilla cream on the side. The chef wrote "Congratulations" in chocolate on the plate, which was a nice touch. It was accompanied with a great champagne. I felt that the portions were just right, though some may say they are small. Personally, I feel that most restaurant's portions are too big. I will definitely be returning to Scarpetta's again, and I highly recommend it for any special occasion.
(5)Melanie Z.
Holy delicious breads! I think it was some kind of bacon or salami bread that they bring to the table before your food, but it was SOOOO good. Just dined there with a group of 10 girls and LOVED IT! The Hamachi- absolutely delicious.... very cool spot at the hotel- would highly recommend!
(5)Carlos P.
From the ocean side view to the beautiful decor, Scarpetta is exquisite in every sense of the word. We went for brunch this past Sunday and were treated like royalty. We treated ourselves to the all you can eat buffet which had everything from fresh cheeses, cucumber salad, salmon lox, eggs and sausage and their famous polenta with mushrooms. Everything was delicious. For my entree, i went with the skirt steak with poached eggs. The steak was just perfect, not too thick and cooked just right. The stars of the show were of course the unlimited Bellini's, bloody mary's and mimosas. If you had just about a sip left in your glass, before you knew it the waiter was bringing you a fresh glass. Like i said, the service here is top notch and the ambiance is divine. If I could afford it, I would be here at least once a week.
(5)Diana N.
This was the 3rd restaurant we tried for Miami Spice and was my favorite! It's located inside the Fontainebleu Hotel which is huge and gorgeous and a great place to people watch.l Very reminiscent of Vegas hotels sans casino. We arrived spot on for our 8:00 pm reservation. We were taken to the lounge/bar while to wait for our table. My only complaint here was that it took 30 minutes for our table which meant we just HAD to order one of their yummy $14 cocktails. The restaurant was very chic with an airy wide open feel. We ended up seated in the patio. Since it was such a windy night, curtains were put up. I'm sure the view would've been nice otherwise. We ordered off the Miami Spice menu and were very pleased. I ordered the braised short ribs which were oh so tender and flavorful. what i LOVED was my friend's Creamy Polenta with truffled mushrooms. OMG that was the epitome of fancy comfort food! Perfect texture, total flavor party in your mouth. For the entree, I had the famed Spaghetti, which don't get me wrong was delicious, but would have to say did not live up to its hype. The pasta was homemade and al dente. The tomato basil sauce was light and fresh. The winner of the night was the Coconut Panna Cotta with guava "soup." It was so HEAVENLY.. delicate and silky. The coconut and guava complemented each other so well along with the pineapple crisp which added a light fun crunch. i was in love. The Amedei Chocolate cake with almond gelato was quite wonderful as well. Melts in your mouth. Service was very attentive. Not snooty. Really enjoyed my time here! Would love to go back to try the other things on the menu next time i'm in miami!
(5)Matt M.
I don't know if it was how we were dressed or that they somehow knew we were staying at the hotel or simply good luck, but we did not have any of the service issues the others who reviewed this place had (not that I'm inferring that those incidents ever happen). I don't recall any of the names of those who served us, but everybody was friendly. We got the pollenta as an appetizer, it was delicious. My wife got the mahi mahi and I got very large pork chop ( i think, its been a few months since we ate there), what I do remember though was that both dishes and the sides were very tasty. That said, this place is not inexpensive (but its not super expensive either), I'd say for 2 to eat well (without alcohol or too many sodas..since they are about $4 each), bring at least $150 (incl tip).. + good food + friendly service (at least in our case) - pricey - odd decor for an italian place
(4)Rich K.
Celebrated my sister's birthday here recently. The meal and service was fantastic. The majority of our party ordered off the Miami Spice menu, and expressed their pleasure with each dish served. After asking the server to name the best dish on the menu and hearing him mention the Veal Loin. I had no choice but to order this dish discreetly, since everyone had agreed to only order from the Miami Spice menu. The veal was the most tender and mouth watering meat I have had in a long long time. I wanted to go back the next night and have it again. Thankfully I didn't, because then I would have missed a 5 star meal at the Forge. Scarpetta's only gets 3 stars, specifically because they overcharged our group for an extra meal. Otherwise I would have given them 5 stars.
(3)Rhiannon R.
This is one of the best restaurants in Miami. Everything on the menu is delicious. The best thing on the menu is just their plain spaghetti. Sounds boring, and well, plain. It is anything but that. Love it here!
(5)Adam B.
One of the dividing lines separating a great restaurant from the rest is how they prepare the simplest of dishes. I know that when people decide to dine at a place like Scarpetta they are expecting to have their palates treated to new culinary experiences. Trust me, Scarpetta delivers this in spades. Never the less, I am a big believer that only the best restaurants can take a classic dish, stretch it to the limit, but still make it taste like it was made by your grandmother. This is the feeling I got when I tried the spaghetti with tomato & basil. I have eaten around (if you know what I mean...) and this was as close to pasta perfection as I have had in a long LONG time. Here are the rest of the items we ordered. - Raw Yellowtail with olio di zenzero, marinated onions & baby greens - Burrata with heirloom tomatoes, baby basil & arugula salad - Mediterranean Branzino with ricotta gnocchi, cauliflower & lobster fricassee (this was amazing!) Overall, Scarpetta was an excellent dining experience! While this is not the cheapest of restaurants, it is by no means outrageous. (Scarpetta's Chinese neighbour Hakkasan has that covered!) I would highly recommend you get out and give it a try.
(5)Lauren D.
I was EXTREMELY disappointed in Scarpetta! Ambiance is lovely, made up like the inside of the Titanic ballroom. Beautiful! Sweet smelling and very rad-di-da! The food was actually quite good but the service was TERRIBLE!!! I'm talking absolutely absurd! Our waitress, Jenny, didn't even introduce herself or explain anything about the restaurant. I went for my boyfriends birthday as a recommendation from a coworker who used to work there. The coworker had called ahead so we were quite possibly a VIP which may have been why Jenny did not seem to give a RATS A$# about us! We racked up a $300 bill and she neglected to tell us that gratuity was included. I am a waitress myself and we are always advised to circle the gratuity out of courtesy to the guests. LUCKILY, the bussboy/food runner was amazing. I believe his name was George and he was so sweet, kind, knowledgeable and courteous. He went out of his way to explain everything to us and he was very personable. I wish HE had been our server. All in all the food was pretty good but Jenny pretty much ruined the experience. We try a different restaurant every week and it was sadly the biggest disappointment we have encountered in all of Miami. I even called the next day and was directed to the HR department where I was told to leave a message. I did so and was never called or contacted back.... All in all the food was not worth the service. If you're looking for a really tasty joint to spend a special occasion I suggest finding a hidden gem somewhere and not going for the obvious...because even MCdonald's treats you better!
(2)Christy D.
Only reason I went here was because my cousin comped us! It's a little dark and loud but the food takes you to a whole nother level! I had the tuna app with my boyfriend, tasted like it was right off the boat! I then had a chicken dish which was superb as well. We had a few drinks, which were tiny, but since I'm tiny they did the trick! They have the cutest little desserts, which I'm not sure if they are available on the regular menu or if she had treated us with something special. I highly recommend reservations and credit cards. This place is $$$$$$.
(5)Anh P.
decided to do a nice dinner our last night in miami and we spent hours and hours trying to figure out where to go, finally decided on scarpetta. the trip alone to the fontaine bleau hotel was already worth it, it's gorgeous, hip and HUGE! and the restaurant was beautifully decorated with just the perfect lighting by candlelight. service was eh.. i wish we had a better server who actually cared about our table and explained the menu better instead of a very timid one who was just trying to up sell us on the wine, etc. boo! but i have to say, i had the most indulgent dinner anyone could ever possibly have. creamy polenta with mushroom and truffle oil. absolutely delicious, i don't see how anyone could possibly eat this entire thing by themselves thoug, way too.. flavorful. for dinner i had the duck and foie grois ravioli, oh my lordie lord, they litterally melted in your mouth and was so rich. i could really only eat a few of the raviolis. and i finished off with their new chocolate cake with salted caramel and candied almond ice cream and i was already full. and washed everything down with a good bottle of wine
(5)Matthew H.
We stayed at the Fontaine Bleau for a conference and decided to visit this restaurant with a couple friends from the UK. 2 of us got the tasting menu and while we were finishing up the 1st course we were joined by 2 other friends from overseas. Without skipping a beat, the staff rearranged the table and accommodated our additional guests. They quickly presented their first course and kept everything at a smooth pace throughout the night. All in all, some of the best service we've received anywhere (which is a departure from the service throughout the rest of the FB resort...) The food was A+ as well. At first I thought $23 was an insane price to pay for basic spaghetti with red sauce (it came as part of the tasting menu) but it was the best I've ever tasted. Quite pricey but definitely worth it if you're looking for great food close to the FB.
(5)Dannielle C.
Phenomenal Italian food in miami!!! Must try the regular spaghetti, as normal as it may be, it is delicious!
(4)Brien W.
We had the chef's tasting menu with wine pairing (5) course and loved it. Nice selection of menu hi-lights and the pasta and fish were stand-outs. Everyone loved the (2) ravioli dishes. Restaurant is beautiful but the noise level is borderline ear damaging, especially the large party near us (2 tables of 10 that were toasting and screaming about every 10 minutes) They need to fix this, put in some fabric or noise absorbing panels....
(4)Lauren F.
I went there for Miami Spice and it was a delicious and wonderful experience. I went with two other people and everything we had (6 dishes) we delicious. Although I am not a chicken person, I ordered the chicken with morels, peas, and polenta. It was the best chicken I have ever eaten, and was left speechless. The spaghetti with tomato and basil is also amazing, it has a slight lemon zest flavor in it, that is surprising and delicious. There is also a great selection on the Miami spice menu, and you are getting a lot for $35. I will definitely go back and order of the regular menu.
(5)Brian L.
15 words or less: Liquor prices so high I am still upset. But the food is excellent. 15 words or more: Each August, Miami rolls out the spice menu. This is a great opportunity to have a three course meal at a restaurant for a fair price ($35). The spice menu offered here was tremendous. None of the usual fare that most places offer just to participate--that is, a mixed green salad to start, an entree that is a choice of chicken, salmon, or skirt steak, and then an afterthought of a dessert. This place went all in with the menu to make a good impression, and it did. But let us start with the bad. And I mean very bad. The bar. We walked in for an 8:30 p.m. reservation and were given the proverbial: "Oh, your table will be ready in a few minutes so please have a drink at the bar." I know this is a line to get you to buy a drink, but this was a total poke in the eye. Our walk to the bar revealed no less than ten available tables. And now I know why Scarpetta pushes you so hard to have a drink at the bar. The prices. What a total rip off. I have to say that again. What a total rip off. It was $22 for a glass of dolcetto. I can buy a bottle for that price. How could a glass of dolcetto cost more than my Hendrick's martini or the glass of champagne one of my dining companions had. Thank you kindly Scarpetta for giving me a bowl of potato chips to snack on at the bar gratis, but if that is causing you to charge so much, then please stop with the chips. I am sure Scarpetta will say it has to do with Miami Beach or various taxes, but I cannot think of any other place with such a sticker price. With that said, let us move to the good. Service. The service (and perhaps the somewhat generous pour of the Hendrick's) helped make up for the bar banging I received. The server could not have been better. He did not make a face or skip a beat because all four of us dining that evening had the spice menu. He was just as attentive to us and helpful as he was to the next table over that had the chef's tasting menu. Bread. Am I really writing about bread? Yup, because most places treat bread as an afterthought. Not here. After you order, you will receive a bread basket. Just eat the Stromboli, which is one of the three breads in the basket. It was awesome. Smoked mozzarella and pepperoni rolled into bread. Think of a cinnabon but savory and Italian. They were awesome. Our kind waiter even brought us a second round. Appetizers. For appetizers, two of us had the burrata and the other two had the short rib. The short rib was tender as could be and with the taste to match. It was not too rich, but still had enough decadence. The burrata was perfect. Cool, refreshing, and offering the combination of velvety cheese with a hint of saltiness. Entrees. For the entrees, three of us had the branzino and one had the steak. The skin on the branzino was perfectly crispy. Once you break through the skin, you reached the flaky fish underneath. And keep in mind, at some restaurants (hello Il Gabbiano), you will be charged $65 for this dish. Here we are, eating the same dish, expertly prepared, for $35 (including appetizer and dessert). Dessert. For desserts, we had the cheesecake and the chocolate cake. Both were great, although I leaned more toward the chocolate cake. It was like a rich, warm brownie, but with a somewhat crunchy, crusty exterior. It was a great combination for the senses. Think about what we had for $35--burrata or short rib, branzino or steak, and cheesecake or chocolate cake. These were just some of the options. What a deal and what a great way to get me to the restaurant. I certainly would go again, although I may have a drink elsewhere before I go into the restaurant.
(4)Whitney H.
I love feeling fancy! My brother was in town and I felt it was my duty to show him a Miami hot spot, Fountianbleau. We had reservations and 9:30 and after waiting for only a minute at the bar we were escorted to our table with our drinks carried for us. The atmosphere was beautiful. A charming, sophisticated and unique take on a nautical theme. Picture it as what Harry Cipriani in NYC was going for. My whole party ordered off the spice menu so needless to say I tried everything. Before I get to the food I want to say what my favorite thing was. For four people we ordered one bottle and where it could have easily been drained in one round, the waiter made the whole bottle last the whole dinner. It was great! It honestly felt like the most considerate thing a restaurant has every done! Our glasses were filled promptly but never over poured. On the food. I had the Burratta, paperdelle with short rib ragu with fava beans and the olive oil cake. I also tried the truffeled poleta, short ribs ( both apps) scallops (entree) and the chocolate cake and cheese cake ( desserts) off of other peoples plates ;) burratta is a delicious fresh mozzarella creamy type cheese. My favorite was the polenta so light and creamy with a delicious essence of truffle which I might add they didn't skimp on. Shorts ribs are one of my favorite foods and these were delicious. The scallops were cooked to perfection and my parperdelle was the perfect amount of richness. Dessert was to die for. Olive cake is like the Italian version of pound cake, olive oil instead of butter. It had a wonderful soft, moist texture. The chocolate cake was to die for! It was like an amazing brownie served with salted Carmel ice cream. I will say I didn't like the cheesecake it had a weird tang. Try this place. Spice menu was great to accommodate the pickiest eater and prices in the standard menu aren't that. Serves is outstanding and the ampnosphere is delightful.
(4)J O.
Went here on 5/29 with 2 other girls and had an amazing experience. We split the polenta, octopus, tomato basil pasta, branzino, truffle pasta, nutella zeppoles and chocolate lava cake. It has been one of my most memorable dining experiences yet. Our waiter was so nice and knowledgeable and treated us like we had been there a hundred times. The food was sooo good. We all fell in love with Scarpetta in Miami as we already love the one in the city. We thought we had good meals in other Miami spots but this blows everything out of the water.
(5)West C.
It has been a while since I last wrote a review , but I thought this one was worth. Scarpetta is a five star High End Italian Restaurant located inside of a beautiful hotel. It's not a Family style Restaurant,and the portions are very small therefore dishes are not made to be shared so make sure to order appetizers, dinner , desert and Coffee. They have a large variety of wines and champagne in the menu so you ll find from the house wine to expensive wines to choose from if you prefer you can also have cocktails. The Decor is Modern and sophisticated and they also offer inside and outside sitting , which I don't recommend in the summer. I really enjoy dinning at this Restaurant and the atmosphere. Service is always great and food consistent. If you are a local or just visiting make sure to stop by for a great dinner and please try the creamy mushroom polenta for me : ) .
(5)Sabrina Anna C.
4.5 Stars is the True Rating. Dear Scarpetta, You have truly shown Miami what a great restaurant can be. From the "waiting area" bar (that's what I will cal it - out front of the restaurant, but not part of the lobby of the hotel) where you graciously sip cocktails while awaiting your table, to the elegance in the atmosphere, you provide the foundation for all guests to have a wonderful dining experience. I have noticed that your Brunch reviews have not been the most spectacular, and I have to wonder why, since dinner was such a pleasure. I do hope you find a way to correct that tainted image because I plan on brunching there very soon! We were here with a group for a business meeting (along with Karina A.), so luckily, the bf and I did not have to worry about the tab (Phew!), but your menu is a bit pricey, however, worth every cent. We started with the Tuna Susci, the Burrata, the Creamy Polenta and the Crispy Fritto Misto. WOW. I will say that the Fritto Misto was my least favorite as some of the seafood tasted very fishy, and that's not my thing. The Tuna was PHENOMENAL. It melted in the mouth like butter. A new favorite with a twist on the classic. The creamy Polenta was just sumptuous, with the mushrooms and truffle oil. A new personal favorite. And the Burrata was simply divine. It was my first time trying it and now I will look for this cheesy wonder wherever I go. For our next course, we were then served several of the pastas for our sampling. The Duck and Foie Gras Ravioli with its Marsala reduction sauce was so good that there aren't enough adjectives to describe the flavor. I'll just say they were very well done and a must-try for all patrons. :) There was also the Spaghetti, which was good, but plain in my opinion. Then again, how exciting can one really make that classic dish? It's vegetarian friendly though, which was good for our group. The last pasta dish we were served was the Agnolotti Dal Plin, which was filled with mixed meat (we were told its a blend of chicken, pork and beef) and fonduta (the creamiest and tastiest cheese ever!), mushrooms and parmigiano! Mmmm Mmmm GOOD! This was my favorite of the pastas. Finally, our main courses came (do we even have room!?!?) and I thought for sure your staff would have to roll me out. I had ordered the Moist-Roasted Capretto (baby Goat), which came with roasted potatoes, Pancetta & English peas. WOW. That's all I can say. I ate almost every bite because it was just SO DAMN GOOD. The bf ordered the Seared Scallops, which were fresh, soft, and perfect. Also include that our group of 7 shared 2 bottles of wine, so afterwards, there was no room left for dessert. Overall, my dear Scarpetta, this was a great dinner and an excellent location for our Power Business Dinner. ;-) I even got to see Scott in action, as I accidentally turned towards the kitchen when trying to exit to the bathroom... Oops! LOL I am looking forward to coming back and seeing what brunch is like for myself. Thank you for a wonderful evening, Sabrina*
(5)Jen O.
If swanky Italian is your thing, this is your place. The burrata with heirloom tomatoes is pure bliss, and if you devour the bread basket (meat bread?!) I am hoping you wore your elastic waist pants because the entrees are superb. After the initial sticker shock of the $24 price tag on the signature spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce, it's well worth every dollar. This is a simple dish done just beautifully, with homemade pasta and an addictive sauce (I've heard that butter is the secret ingredient). I completely agree with the poster who mentioned wanting to lick his plate.
(4)Bette Ann S.
Wow. This restaurant was delicious. I took my parents here a week ago while they were in town. My dad is an old time Brooklyn-er, so he knows his Italian food. We all LOVED it. I started off with the beet and la tur salad; my boyfriend and my mom had the polenta, and my dad had the yellow fin sashimi. Everything was delicious. I thought my salad could have used a bit more La Tur cheese (but I am a cheese freak). The polenta was OUT OF THIS WORLD. Party in my mouth. For main courses, I had the fois gras ravioli, my boyfriend had the spaghetti, my mom had the chicken, and my dad had some sort of fish. I didn't try the fish, but everything else was out of this world. I actually hate fois gras...I would never touch it with a 10 foot fork, but I had heard the fois gras raviolis were like nothing you have ever tasted, so I went for it. They were truly delicious. Amazing actually. The spaghetti was so simple, yet phenomenal, and the chicken was so tender. For dessert, I had the nutella filled donut type thingies...amazing. Scarpetta's currently had a price fixed menu for $47, and it had some of their best dishes (pollenta, chicken, spaghetti, etc). I think having this menu is great because Scarpetta's is pricey. My only complaint was that although the circular tables are great for talking to each other, it made eating a little tight. There were 6 people in my party, and I just felt there was not enough room for everything on the table. Maybe we just eat too much?
(4)Ximena C.
By far one of the best restaurants in Miami. I am quick to judge pricey restaurants for their lack of quality to price ratio... but I must admit that this place is well worth the buck. I had one of the best meals I have ever come across. Their fungi creamy polenta simply melted in your mouth and their spaghetti, as simple a dish as it might sound, really was amazing. Their desserts... well, I couldn't possibly pick just one because all three of which I tried were delicious. Their one downfall is the noise level. I know, I always complain about noise, but I need peace in order to enjoy my meal and this place ranked under "I can't even hear myself think about the taste of the food" Kind of sad, because it takes away from the culinary experience. I hope to return to their savory arms soon.
(5)Kathy G.
Eating at Scarpetta really rounded out my week. It is a beautiful restaurant. Although I found that the tables were much too close together if you sat at one of the tables along the wall. My sister and I constantly were trying to talk low since we were discussing family gossip. But at the same time had a hard time conversing because it was LOUD in there. The starters they brought out were fantastic. We attacked the different breads in the basket with a vengeance. The polenta with the mushrooms with truffle oil was amazing. Then came the burrata and tomatoes which was delicious. We were so full with the starters that we ended up sharing a main dish. The Mediterranean Brazino 'Acqua Pazza' was just perfect. It was seabass with couscous in this yummy lobster and tomato broth. Did not have dessert since we were full but I had an espresso since I needed energy to go to Liv that night. Quick note on the service - our waiter was really nice and funny when he was around. He kept going m.i.a. Very helpful tho when talking about the menu and perfect amount of small talk.
(4)Frank B.
really nice food and atmosphere service was great and the staff was very receptive would go there again once back in miami
(4)Danielle R.
Ironically I was on Phase 1 of the South Beach diet while in South Beach (no carbs, no sugars, etc). Surprisingly, it is challenging to maintain the plan while in South Beach. Did a decent job here with great bright flavors in a highly lively atmosphere. The burrata with heirloom tomatoes, baby basil, and arugula was a fresh, flavorful, colorful plate. For dinner I had the slow cooked pork with a bean ragu. The slow cooking provided a rich pork dish that is made even better with extra pork in the form of pancetta! I did have one strand of my friend's pasta, which was a perfectly al dente thick spaghetti with a flavorful basil rich tomato sauce. Service was uneven -- friendly and helpful when we had their attention, but seemingly awol otherwise. A bit too much of the south beach vibe here, but a reasonable place to escape the dj lobby of the hotel!
(3)Amanda N.
Worth every penny.
(5)Lindsay G.
I find this place overrated. I should tart with the caveat that I do not really like Italian food to begin with but even the shrimp appetizer left something to be desired. I tasted my friends pasta and yes, it was good and fresh but nothing to write home about. At 50 bucks a person I expect to be wowed. The atmosphere is beautiful and the service is good but the whole song and dance about truffle is a little overboard. Just my "food for thought."
(2)Preston C.
I am reviewing Sunday Brunch here... I really liked this place. Yes it was expen$ive, but the food was top notch with service to match. First you get a huge buffet consisting of cheeses, fruits, salads, mushrooms, shrimp, etc... I tried 90% of the stuff out there and I liked it all, everything was prepared very good. then you get to choose from a menu your main course. I had the short ribs over risotto. They were very good and very rich, perhaps too rich for brunch but just as described... maybe my bad for ordering. And here comes the good part.. Dessert!! I am one of those people that never orders it! but here I went nuts! Panna Cotta with berries, Tiramisu, and chocolate mousse. overall very good, but a little pricey and the decor of the place was not my favorite, that's why not 5 instead of 4 stars.
(4)Kenya C.
three words," foie gras ravioli " scruptralescent! squash blossoms, I cant remember anything else after that. Oh yes mojito!! very good too. Service was great and management is engaged with their guests. great job staff very warm welcoming.
(4)Kristin K.
opted for the Miami Spice menu with friends: polenta, short rib, spaghetti, fish, panna cota, chocolate cake & off the menu - the duck ravioli... which was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. AMAZING!!!! The Raviolis alone - is pure perfection. The service was first class, quick but not rushed.
(4)Jinny B.
I called on a Wednesday for dinner reservations for that Saturday evening at 8pm and had no problem. I know that there is so much hype for the newly renovated Fountainbleau but I have to say that I am not so impressed. It looks cheesy inside, like hotel on the Las Vegas strip. The hotel is so big that it feels more like a convention center than an elegant hotel. Once we found the restaurant I will say that I agree with the other reviews that the interior of the restaurant is beautiful-- elegant and has a good vibe. There is a rather large bar area where you can have drinks and order food off the bar menu. The food was very good. I think the menu was limited. I expected more choices, but perhaps that is the way they ensure that what they do serve is excellent? Because it was-- the food was excellent. I ordered the chestnut soup as an appetizer and had the steak for my entree. My husband had a salad and their one of their signature dishes is their spaghetti pomodoro. The food and the wine that the waiter suggested was perfection. There is an extensive bread presentation at the beginning of the meal with several types of bread and 3 different condiments. We didn't have any desert. Be sure to have your parking ticket validated if you used valet parking. It was $10 with the validated stamp. Okay, so I would go back. But I hope they have some specials as an addition to the menu. I can see getting tired of this menu after a visit or two.
(4)Eric S.
Amazing meal, excellent service, we got the taster menu and the wine tasting too. It was the best, a little noisy because the place is small.
(5)Amy S.
I took my husband here Wednesday night to celebrate his birthday. when i made the reservation i told them it was his birthday. We got there a little early but they were able to seat us right away, they said they gave us the most romantic table in the restaurant, i dont know about that, but it had a pretty few and we sat next to each other on the booth. I thought the decor was interesting and nicely done but not necessarily fitting to the menu or experience. The service was very good and everyone was extremely friendly. We had a great bottle of wine recommended by the sommelier, their menu was 95% italian and french wines which is understandable but i would have included a few more south americans just to be thorough. We had the burrata to start. It was seasoned perfectly but there wasnt enough cheese in proportion to tomatoes and arugula. My husband had the Branzino and i had a pasta filled with meat of some kind. Both were very flavorful. My pasta was not as al dente as i liked it though. For dessert we ordered sorbet and the panna cotta. When they brought it out, it had a candle and they had written Happy Birthday Boris in chocolate on the plate, i thought it was a very nice touch considering i had only mentioned it on the phone reservation. The panna cotta was perfect. It was so light and i loved that it was done with diced fruits. i dont like sweet desserts so this was the best thing i could have to end a meal! The bill was high but i was expecting it.
(4)Henrique R.
Food ok, but REALLY small portions. I went there with my girlfriend and we were treated badly, apparently we didn't have enough money or age to be there. Our waiter barely looked at us. Definitely not coming back. There are other much better Italian restaurants in town.
(2)Denise P.
I have been to Scarpetta a few times and glad I returned for a visit recently. I had come to Scarpette the first time as a Miami Spice patron. I was not wow'd although the food was very good. I think I was a little overwhelmed by the loud music and not very warm solo dining experience (wasn't rude, just seemed very "Oh, you are alone" and I seemed to be seeking service more than having it delivered?--You solo diners know what I mean). I came back with my husband this past week and yes, was BLOWN AWAY by the food! We went for the full tasting menus - I had the Chef's tasting menu and my hubby went with the new Truffle tasting menu. No, not usual to have two separate tastings, yet we had an unusual night and it worked. The Chef's tasting menu was excellent. The tuna starter was small, but every bit of the Amuse Bush that I anticipated. Next I had a creamy polenta that was truly fantastic and melt-in-your-mouth. The branzino fish was expertly and perfectly done (crispy skin, very tender and flavorful), the aged beef crazy good! I had the chocolate dense cake with caramel sauce and a gelato that was equally amazing. One tremendous value at only $89 per person. My husband had the truffle which had several additional courses - the melt-in-your-mouth truffle delivered expertly by Cesar was fantastic and truly enhanced each dish. His favorite dishes included the smoked lobster tartare beginner, the aged steak, the pasta dishes (I think his words were "crazy amazing" or simliar) and his olive oil custard which does not sound as fantastic as it tasted. It was light, pleasantly savory, and truly a great finish to the meal. Yes, $225 per person is somewhat pricey, yet it was worth it for the experience and taste. The service was at least as fantastic as the dinner, which for me was unexpected. Marie, our main server and sommelier, was pleasant, funny, engaging, personable and made great pairings with our meal. Cesar was equally omni-present with the Truffle Entourage (fun!), Mercedes was very nice and exuberant, and finally, Chef Josh paid a visit to the table to round out the amazing experience. He was very interested in our thoughts on the dishes and warmly welcomed us back to try another tasting --he mentioned that Chef's enjoy making the tasting menus so they can have the freedom and range to demonstrate and engage diners. Well done, Scarpetta. Glad I made the return trip.
(5)Steven C.
About 6 wks ago, 11 of us ran up a tab of $1800, but the waiter AND manager refused to accept individual credit cards. There was nothing on the menu stating a maximum number of cards (which the manager said was 6) and they refused to split the food and liquor bills and then use 6 and 5 cards for payment. They expected us to be walking around with at least $200 cash and were not nice about trying to settle the problem. Although the food and service were excellent, the waiter was a bit pushy, suggesting more food than was necessary - however, because of the manager's attitude and refusal to accept more than 6 credit cards for payment, none of us plan to ever come back (we are physicians and 3 of us live in Miami or Miami Beach). Furthermore we have told our colleagues about what happened, discouraging them from bringing any groups to the restaurant.
(1)Daniel P.
Outstanding service. Delicious food.
(5)Maria T.
This place gets 5 stars for ambiance and service but the food was really not so great...what a letdown, right? So after much anticipation, I decided to venture to the recently rennovated Fontainebleau with a bunch of gal pals for brunch there today. The property is breathtaking -- everything from the pool to the light fixtures are absolutely outrageous. Scarpetta is beautiful -- it's a marine-decorated dream. The service is impeccable but unfortunately, the food is disappointing. I'm an eggs-waffles-bacon-sausage-french-toast kinda gal and the brunch here is any thing but that. The menu is plain weird -- the choices at the buffet include shrimp cocktail, beet salad, chickpea salad, polenta, olives, eggplant salad, mushroom salad -- again, weird. Where's the bacon? Scrambled eggs? Pancakes? Crepes? No where. But I had a GREAT mid-morning with my gal pals and the mimosas where fab. So no, I won't be going back but I had an unforgettable time.
(2)Kendall B.
Certain restaurants in Miami offer young beautiful girls (who know the right people, of course) the opportunity to eat at their restaurant for free so that other people see these beautiful girls going and want to go too. It's pretty brilliant marketing in my opinion, because half of the girls who show up are models that don't eat a thing--they just sit there and look pretty, enjoying the free drinks, which costs the restaurant next to nothing (it doesn't take much to get a girl weighing 100 pounds tipsy!). Anyways, I was invited to go one of these promotional dinners at Scarpetta by my girlfriend the other night, and unable to resist the temptation of free food, I did! I actually thought it was a pretty cool concept, but it would have been better if everyone at the table was in our group of friends. You see, they seat all of the girls at one long 20 person table, so you get to sit next to your friends but chances are pretty good that you'll also be sitting next to someone you don't know to your right or your left. Of course, this happened to me! I ended up sitting next to a beautiful girl from Australia that was most definitely a model, and she was joined by one of her other model friends (they were the organic and earthy looking type of models with their slicked back high buns and make-up free dewy faces...beautiful). I lit up like a Christmas tree as I took my seat next to them though because I assumed they wouldn't be eating very much of the food, which is served family style to share with your neighbor. I was right...JACKPOT! The breadbasket was brought out first and no one flinched. I couldn't believe it! No one reacted to an assorted basket of warm freshly baked bread. All I could think was I am not a model, and I brought my appetite....this place may reconsider promotional dinners once they see the damage I'm about to do! I tried every type of bread that was in that basket, and the one with filled with salami and cheese (looks like a slice of stromboli) was my favorite. There was also a really tasty eggplant spread served alongside the butter that I enjoyed on the rosemary-scented focaccia. Next to be served were the appetizers. I started with a serving of the Burrata, which I thought would be pretty standard with Heirloom tomatoes, baby basil, and olive oil, but the burrata was the best I have ever tasted--it was so creamy and fresh that it was almost hard to keep on the fork. I was really amazed by how flavorful and delicious this simple dish tasted. Next I tried the Japanese Mackarel Tartar with balsamic vinager, avocado, and basil. I am not the biggest fan of tartar, but I thought it was tasty...I didn't go for seconds though. The Raw Yellowtail with olio di zenzero, marinated onions, and baby greens was kind of the same thing for me, not into the raw fish but enjoy the single bite I had. My favorite appetizer by far though, was the last to be brought out and it was the Creamy Polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms. WHOA! If someone told me that I had to eat one thing for the rest of my life, I would strongly consider this polenta as an option. Thankfully, the models wouldn't even think about eating something as rich and fattening as polenta and so I practically got to enjoy the entire appetizer alone. Next to be served were the pasta dishes, which included Duck and Foie Gras Ravolii and Spaghetti. I do not like the idea of eating duck or duck liver, but I could not possibly deny myself these triangle purses of pasta served in a marsala wine reduction. Each little ravioli was a bite of heaven, and tasted more delicious then I ever thought duck could. The Spaghetti, like the burrata, was delicious in its simplicity. The pasta was homemade and cooked perfectly Al Dente, topped with just the right amount of sauce. Finally, the dinner entrees were served which included sliced filet of steak with roasted fingerling potatoes and scallops served with edamame. Neither of these entrée's appear on the menu, leading me to believe that they were just specials for the evening, but they scallops were incredible. My absolute favorite part of the meal though (other than the polenta!), had to be the desserts, which of course were left untouched by the models who instead decided to sip on herbal tea and watch me stuff my face!! I couldn't tell if they were looking at me with jealousy as I poked my fork into every dessert, or with judgment but I couldn't contain myself any longer and of course said to the model next to me, "You must have been saving yourself for these desserts all night, since you barely ate any dinner....want some?" She looked at me like I was crazy and told me that she was fine with her cup of chamomile. I genuinely felt bad for her. My favorite dessert was the homemade Chocolate Donuts filled with Nutella. They were warm and rich and just sinfully sweet. They came with a side of warm frosting to drizzle over top...I was actually moaning over them.
(5)Ali W.
Although some of the reviews claim the service is subpar, and the food is pricey, this place is one of the best places I've eaten in my life. I'll start with dinner. The menu although not as full as some I've seen has it all. Be warned, if you are looking for Macoroni Grill Italian pasta and bread, go elsewhere. This is a HIGH END restaurant with HIGH END food, that come at a big price and smaller than your normal portions (or should I say ... correct size portions?) We started off with their bread basket, and quickly found the salami and cheese bread. It's amazing. To be honest, it's a very fancy Calzone, and so worth it. We could have eaten the bread and wine all night and left very happy. After bread, we got the Mozzarella In Carozza Stewed baby tomatoes It was delicious. For my main meal I got the Bistecca Di Manzo. (Steak) It was 1 of the best meals I've ever eaten. I am not kidding. It was cooked to perfection and I bragged about so much my family went in the next night for it. My dinner partner ordered the Mediterranean Branzino and although it wasn't what she expected, she liked it, and would have it again. Brunch, Two words. Bottemless Balinis... what more can you ask for on a Sunday at 11? We sat there until 4 and no one bothered us, and the drinks kept coming. We never had to ask for me. There is plenty of food to find something you will like. I ordered the English Muffin with Eggs and cheese for my "main" course, and had zuchini and beans for other food. All was amazing. It doesn't have pancakes and waffles, but you will be able to find a few breakfast bread items. This is NOT a buffet for kids. This is a mature line of food. Lots of vegetables, a fruit platter, fish, cheese, meats. It was all you could ask for. The bottomless drinks made the $50. pp price tag worth it. At the Fountainbleau 2 drinks after tax and gratuity would come to that. We had drank or $50.00 and then ate on top of it. The inside DOES look like a cruise ship, but to be 100% honest, that's the look they were going for. I was too busy looking at my food to care, savoring each bite. Wondering if I could make it last forever. For two people we got out of there for $194.00 including Tip. I state.. there is NO pasta and meatballs. It's FANCY Italian food, and for those that know... Italian food is actually more Fish than pasta. Well done. I can't wait to go back
(5)Kris M.
Read further as to why it's 2 stars. Anticipated this visit for a long time. Moved to S Florida over a year ago and Scarpetta was at the top of our restaurant list. A very important celebration found ous there tonight. We arrived a few minutes early and ordered 2 great cocktails from the bar. They mimic old style cocktails to go with the old Miami feel. Because our table became available right away the hostess picked these up and delivered these to our table as we were seated. Upon being greeted by the server, the first thing we said was that we were 'not' in a hurry and that we wanted to take our time. This was at 7:30pm. It was a celebration and wanted to enjoy our moment. We ordered sweetbreads for a shared appetizer, spaghetti and duck and foie gras ravioli. All the food was fabulous. The problem was that our entrees were on the table by 7:50. Not good!! -- especially when we asked our server that we weren't in a hurry. We pointed this out to the server and his response was he couldn't control the kitchen. Because they automatically add an 18% gratuity to every check, I guess he didn't really care. Liked the food but not worth the price. Bottom line don't 'rush' to go there.
(2)Nancy H.
The best restaurant of the ones located within Fontainebleau. We ordered the short ribs and duck ravioli for appetizers. Short ribs were a little salty, my friends loved the duck ravioli, I wasn't a huge fan, but may have been the liver taste I didn't like. We ordered the branzino, halibut, and spaghetti. The server was very honest and cool. The halibut was better than the branzino, the spaghetti was ridiculously good. A friend in NY had raved and raved about the spaghetti. You really don't think that something as simple as spaghetti can be book, but this was really freaking amazing. I am going to go back in NY just for the spaghetti! For the desserts we had the chocolate donuts and the chocolate souffle. Both were nice but not amazing. The bread basket comes with a bread baked with mozzarella and ham or sausage? It's VERY good, could have probably just ate that for dinner.
(4)Ana M.
I'm in love. I'm in love with this place. I think I need to get a better job, just so that I can afford to eat here every day. I had a really great time here last night. We went for Miami Spice and the menu was great. We had the creamy polenta, the ice smoked fish appetizer, the chicken and the branzino. The portions are small, but heavenly. The food is traditional, but different. Its Italian, so its all rich and flavorful. Every dish was very different. I heard the spaghetti was really good. I want to go back an try it. For desert we had the panna cotta and the cheesecake. Both really good. The place was empty when we got there at 6:30, but by the time we left it was packed, so make reservations. We had a really good waiter. He explained all the dishes, he was attentive, he was charismatic, he was very knowledgeable and he was just overall nice. Not intrusive- just right. Valet is 12 bucks with validation and I think we spent like 110 bucks on dinner. Not too back. Its a nice place. So- Believe the hype. This restaurant is great. I would go back.... right now.. lets go.
(5)theFOOD E.
Recommended for a contemporary classy dinner next time you're in South Beach. I would describe this restaurant as having amazing neuvo contemporary northern italian cuisine. A good dim ambiance...quite enough for a conversation. The portions are not huge like you would expect from traditional Italian rest. They were more "polite" sized, so I had to order mutliple entrees. The pasta comes with a well balanced light tomato sauce (made with a touch of creme fresch) - no bolognese or meatball options which I crave b/c I'm more on the carnivorous side at dinner time. We also got the turbo fish and another fish- both perfectly cooked with thin crispy skin on one side. I heard the white truffles are amazing - didn't get to try them tho. Desserts were great too.
(4)Jennifer B.
The restaurant is situated in a beautiful modern/contemporary hotel. We were seated right away and the server was welcoming and polite. We started off with their fresh bread, including mini stromboli rolls which were very good. There is a nice selection on the menu but be forewarned: generally the portions are small (one appetizer consisted of two medium size shrimp. Really.), which makes ordering multiple courses necessary if you have a good appetite. This is where the dining experience can get expensive. We were happy with each course, which included the aforementioned shrimp appetizer, pasta with tomato basil, roasted chicken, and sirloin. The dessert--zeppoles filled with nutella-- was very delish. The only downside is that we were waiting a long time between courses. I'm all for leisurely dining and enjoying the experience, but it was way too long.
(4)Sabrina F.
I have not had many meals that changed my life, but this one did. We came here for their anniversary, which was some crazy prix-fixe deal, and it was truly tremendous. The service was outstanding and generous--the server kept pressing more wine on us--and the food was just as good. The menu was like a greatest hits: the spaghetti was excellent, the polenta incredible, the short rib, the fish... Anyway. I'm not typically one for lavish meals, but our dinner here would have been a bargain at twice the price. Which is probably what we would have paid if we had come another time.
(5)Pinklious L.
I went to this place last year and I am still thinking about how good the food was! The mushroom polenta, duck ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs basil tomato sauce, bread basket. I tried at least 9 different entrees because everything was so delicious.
(5)Lorelai G.
Best Miami Spice. I had Seared tuna for appetizers, snapper with arugula for entrée and tiramisu for dessert. Everything was really good.. Service was great, elegant ambience, excellent dishes presentation. Must Try!!!
(5)Gretchen R.
Both the turbot $32 and halibut $39 were great. Brocollini $12 was pretty good. Complimentary bread basket was standard. Service was very good--waters refilled often. 18% automatic gratuity as is the custom in Miami. The waiter didn't offer us the Miami Spice menu. We actually didn't know about it but overheard two tables nearby ask for that menu. We had already ordered our food though so too late for us. Hmm, sounds like a missed opportunity to try new dishes. I wish the server had informed us. Located in the Fountain Blu hotel so plenty of Ferraris, Lambos, and Bentleys in valet to feast your eyes on as you walk in.
(4)Vicki T.
Had a romantic dinner with my hubby there, outstanding as always! We ordered the Chef tasting, it's a small bit of the whole menu....excellent as always and had to bring some home it was so much
(5)Noa L.
Scarpetta's chef is a friend of mine but I will say the truth. Scarpetta used to be EXCELLENT: I would give it a 10 on a scale of 1 to 5! Food was like tasting heaving. Was my favorite place for food. But the quality has gone down to (still) very good, just inconsistent: If you're lucky that day, it would be like heavenly, if not, it'd still be very good. I can easily say I've been to Scarpetta at least 50 times in 2 years. And if you go there often, you're treated like royalty. If you've never been: GO. On a side note: The good thing is the floor manager that used to work there was a b*tch. Rude. She was hitting on every single man right in front of their wives, it was embarrassing, pretending it's the first time she meets "the girl" and treating her like an escort. She's the reason why my circle of friends and I stopped going. But she no longer works there. Either way, if you've never been, you should definitely pay it a visit. They have an EXCELLENT variety of wine (by the glass or bottle). If you want to see what it looks like, go grab a drink at the bar. Try the Cabernet by the glass (such a great one), or a Lychee Martini if you're more in a cocktail mood. If you're hungry, definitely order that famous SPAGHETTI, it is just perfect if you're lucky that day. What's so special? Just trust me and order, and let me know what you think later. The Duck au Foie Gras ravioli is really amazing too, if you like liver. If you're just in the mood for appetizers, the Polenta is fantastic, definitely top of the list. The Raw Yellowtail, Tuna Tartare, Steak Tartare and Burrata are good too, if you're more in the mood. On the dessert menu, their Chocolate Zeppole and Souffle are a great pick. Enjoy and good luck!
(4)Grace R.
I love Scarpetta - it's one of my favorite places in Miami. And it would have to be THAT good for me to put up with the hassle of getting here, finding a parking spot (because the valet is swamped and very expensive even with validation) and walking a few blocks in the summer heat to get to. The Polenta with fricasee of mushrooms was on Food Network's "best things I ever ate" show, and it's on that same list for me too. Word of warning though: it seems to continue expanding AFTER you eat it, so if you are a pig and eat an entire serving of this yourself, you are going to pay for it when you struggle with dessert. I always have a different main whenever I go, and they are all great. The pastas can be very rich, and are best shared with a date (like the polenta). If you are eating both polenta AND a pasta in the same meal, you'd better be running in a marathon the next day (and Scarpetta does in fact have a promotion the same weekend as the Miami Marathon for this exact reason). Speaking of promotions, Scarpetta is one of the best options every year during Miami Spice (our version of "restaurant week" that lasts 2 months in late summer), and I look forward to going in months when Spice returns and the tourists depart.
(5)Alli P.
Definitely my favorite restaurant in The Fontainebleau. On the opposite site of the lobby and Liv Nightclub entrance , the restaurant is much quieter and maintains a peaceful and classy vibe. Going with a group, I was able to try an assortment of things, each taster than the next. From breads and burrata salad, to pasta and some truffle and cream concoction, there wasn't a single unappetizing item on the menu... Definitely worth enjoying a meal there at least once whether living in, or visiting Miami.
(4)Charlie S.
Delicious. Sharing appetizers and entrees between a table of four meant I got to taste a significant chunk of the menu. Scarpetta isn't quite five stars for me, but the wonderful pasta brings it extremely close. My impressions of the food: - The short rib appetizer was good, but not great. There's better short rib to be had at many other places in Miami. I'd skip it. - Creamy polenta with mushrooms was a creamy delight. - Spaghetti was simple, flavorful, and superb. This is an important-for-everyone-at-the-table-to-try dish, and for that reason I recommend ordering a spaghetti as an appetizer for the table. This was my second favorite dish. - Tagliatelle with crab and uni was a tasty dish, but there was no discernible flavor of uni. Since it was the uni that had drawn me to this dish, it fell short of my expectations. - Duck and foie gras ravioli was the best dish by far. Full of wonderful and subtle flavors, each ravioli was meant to be savored and to dissolve in one's mouth. Really great. It is a small (but rich) portion. - In every pasta dish, the pasta was fresh and phenomenal. Service was excellent. Our server demonstrated substantial knowledge of the menu and its ingredients when we had questions.
(4)Danay A.
One of my favorite restaurant. The food always perfect. The spaguetti simply amazing the polenta really good and the dessert you should tried the coconut panacota is really really perfect one of my favorite dessert and I love dessert, oh I almost forgot the complimentary bread 4 different breads.
(5)Shawn R.
We had dinner here recently and we were very disappointed. started out great and then took almost an hour to get the entrée, we had the chef's tasting menu I even found a 3 inch long piece of string in my filet, my wife did not eat her filet and we had it packed to go, left overs, when we got back to our room The fillet was missing. We even tweeted to Scott Conant about it because we thought we should have been refunded and invited back for another meal. never heard anything I would suggest to steer clear here I think they have a management and shift issue. The top chef winner that used to be the chef here is no longer working here and it's funny how Conant is a judge on chopped when he should be down there fixing his restaurant that is ripping people off.
(2)John L.
Disappointed. Not disappointed that the food was not very good, it was. Just disappointed that it wasn't outstanding, especially given the price and the ambience. In fairness, we carried exceedingly high - but reasonable given the hype - expectations but left feeling slightly underwhelmed. Service was very good save for two dishes - the server oddly struggled to adequately describe the dishes. Not good. To the credit of the restaurant, it was obviously noticed and server did not return. Two dishes were overly salted. Simply too much sprinkled just prior to serving. And I generally like quite a bit of salt. Annoying. Excellent polenta. "Divine""would also fit here if you are a polenta fanatic. Mushrooms are a must-have. Short ribs were just OK - far too many things going on with the dish. I've had much better. Ravioli was outstanding - our favorite dish. Pasta was superb. As was the "gravy".
(3)Maya H.
My fiancé and I had been looking forward to dining at Scarpetta for weeks. We had been reviewing the menu and reading yelp reviews countless number of times and already knew what we needed to try. When we first walked into the Fontainebleu, it was incredible. After exploring the hotel for a bit, we found our way to Scarpetta. We were immediately seated, and found the atmosphere delightful, it was definitely the perfect romantic setting. I ordered the Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli and my fiancé ordered the Spaghetti. We were extremely excited for these two dishes, because of the incredible reviews we read about. The Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli was good, it was drizzled with a familiar sauce, that my fiancé loved. The only complaint my fiancé had was the small portion. I, unfortunately, wasn't too happy with this dish. I didn't enjoy the taste of the dish too much and ended up giving all of it to my fiancé. The Spaghetti dish was okay, but very simple. It was a small sized portion, and surprisingly dry. The dish didn't have much flavor and was over priced for what it was. Overall, Scarpetta definitely set the tone for a perfect evening. Our waiter and the server were delightful and very knowledgeable. Unfortunately, our expectations of the food were way too high, and ended up with a not so satisfying meal.
(3)Kent S.
Excellent night at Scarpetta. Scarpetta is located in the Foutainebleau, an iconic South Beach hotel. We had reservations at 8:30. We arrived, checked in with the hostess and then proceeded to the bar for a pre-dinner cocktail. The restaurant decor is hip and trendy. The bar staff was attentive, but wine by the glass and bottle beer menu is limit. They do not stock any domestic beer. After about 10 minutes at the bar, we were approached by the hostess who let us know our table was ready. The dinning room is loud and energetic. I found it a bit on the dark side and we saw several customers using their cell phone lights to read the menus. We were promptly greeted by our wait staff and the wine steward. The bottle wine menu was overwhelming with 30+ pages of vino from all corners of the world. We kept it simple with a nice bottle of Dutton Goldfield Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley $75. It was excellent. For starters we had the creamy polenta recommended by our waiter (and many on Yelp). The polenta was outstanding with a creamy texture and an earthy taste from the truffled mushrooms that are served separate but meant to be poured over the polenta. I used some of the fresh bread from the table to dip and soak up the the polenta. The serving size is more than enough for 2 to share. This is a must have starter. Both of our entrees came highly recommended by our waiter. First the home made spaghetti with tomato and fresh basil. The pasta is all made fresh in-house. While a very simple dish, for the pasta lover this is true perfection. The pasta was perfectly al dente' with a very fresh tomato basil sauce nicely seasoned with parmesan. It needed nothing else. Next we had the Atlantic Halibut. It was poached and served over morel mushrooms, corn and favs beans. The fish was plump and perfectly moist. The mushrooms added a woody taste and the locally selected corn gave the dish a fresh finish. By the time we completed our entrees, we had no room for dessert.
(5)Jennifer O.
Is a Beautifull restaurant with great views Excellent food and service Must try the short rib pasta !!!! Miami spice is worth it! Must go!
(5)Madison M.
Excellent restaurant!!! Loved everything about it including the service, the ambiance and the food. I went with a small group during Miami Spice Month where they offer your choice of appetizer, entree and dessert for a fixed price. First they bring you a bread basket with variety of different breads and delicious toppings which included sun dried tomatoes and a lemon oil. For appetizer, I had the mushroom polenta and for the entree, I shared the short rib pasta and the snapper. Both dishes were delicious. Yes, the menu prices were high but it was expected being a restaurant inside the Fountainbleau and with such high quality food. Our waiter also told us about a Sunday dinner experience that includes various appetizers and entrees for a fixed rate. May be back soon for that!
(5)Stedine L.
The food here is delicious!!! It's so good I want to come back and taste the rest of their menu. I had the polenta with wild mushroom, oven roasted chicken and chocolate cake for dessert. Every course was delectable
(5)Preeti M.
Perfection, every time. From the stunning atmosphere to the stellar service to the down right delicious food, Scarpetta never disappoints. I wish more restaurants took a page from this one's books and learned how to be classy in every way. The pastas are to die for and the portions are not as small as you think so be warned. They always present it as a Primi, Secondi but there is no need to go beyond Primi (trust me!). The Octopus appetizer is delicious and my staple dish here is the simple yet gorgeous tomato basil spaghetti. Voila! Love.
(4)Derek D.
Heard this place was known for its pasta, and the chef did not disappoint. The service and friendliness of the waitstaff is impeccable. Eduardo is a master of his craft, and it was a great move to order the Chef Special served family-style. During the second corse, I was able to taste pasta, served on pasta, with a side of pasta ravioli, and foie gras. Needless to say, this meal was a solid success, and I recommend it highly. Enjoy!
(5)Natalia E.
The food was amazing. I've been here before, but didn't have such a great experience. Yum, yum, yum. Try - The polenta, spaghetti with tomato sauce... Sound boring, but they are grrrrreat!
(5)Amanda G.
Excellent dinner at Scarpetta! We were celebrating a bachelorette party with 11 ladies and we ordered the tasting menu for the table at the waiters recommendation. Starters were the creamy polenta, tomato mozzarella salad and short rib. All were fantastic! Also must try the prosciutto bread in the bread basket. So good and I don't normally eat prosciutto. The main courses were sea bass, roast chicken, tomato and basil spaghetti, duck and foie gras ravioli. The simple spaghetti was to die for as well as the roast chicken. The table favorites were the creamy polenta and the duck and foie gras ravioli. Dessert was also delicious, cheesecake parfait yummmm! Passion fruit panna cotta and a decadent chocolate cake. This was by far the best option for our table to try a variety of their specialties. The waiters were very accommodating for our large group and the ambiance was very nice for the evening. I felt like we had the restaurant to ourselves! Wonderful evening!
(5)Rach K.
Yum! I'm a frequent visitor of Scott Conant's NYC location so when a group of friends and I were heading to Miami for the weekend, I promptly requested that we make a reservation here. We were seated in the prettiest, brightest part of the restaurant overlooking the ocean. The staff brought over menus and filled our water glasses promptly. We each tried to order a different dish so that we could try a bunch of different things. One of us got scallops, one of us got the scialatelli with lobster, one of us got the short rib agnolotti, one of us got the corn raviolini, and I got the infamous tomato & basil spaghetti. The friend who ordered the raviolini didn't like her dish and one of the staff overheard so he replaced it with a dish of her choosing (the tomato & basil spaghetti) which we thought was so thoughtful and generous. Everything was delicious. The tomato & basil spaghetti is such a simple dish but it's incredible. I definitely recommend it; even Alton Brown says he'd eat it as a last meal. For dessert we had the amadei chocolate cake. It was a little disappointing; I think the NY location does a better job making it. The almond gelato didn't have much almond flavor but it was still delicious. I mean, we ate the whole thing. If you're in the mood for some delicious fresh pasta, Scarpetta is an obvious choice.
(5)Jarret S.
This was our 4th visit to Scarpetta and it was the first time we left without saying 'wow'. We went for Miami Spice and this year they have changed things, adding a $12 UPCHARGE for choosing the Tomato & Basil Pasta (the most amazing pasta you'll ever eat) as your entree. To be charged an EXTRA $12 for choosing pasta over chicken, short ribs or fish is ludicrous. On the dinner menu, the pasta is priced at a lower price point than any of the other entree offerings, yet for the spice menu, they want to charge you more. This makes zero sense from a consumer perspective as well as a kitchen/restaurant cost perspective. The desserts served on the spice menu, honestly, were borderline embarrassing: the tiramisu, while nice in flavor was served in a water glass and took up only the bottom 1/4 of the glass. The almond panna cotta had a gelatinous (not smooth) consistency and lacked flavor. The service we received from our server was excellent however this was the first time we noticed the support staff (drinks, hostess, water, food runners, bread, etc.) showing less professionalism than in previous visits. As always, valet parking there is a nightmare. Be prepared to add an hour to your dinner to allow for drop-off and pick-up of your vehicle.
(4)Jessica M.
Waitstaff is so enthusiastic and knowledgable here! The waiter recommended the pasta stuffed with duck and the truffle pasta. This was definitely out of the comfort zone with the flavored but I'm so glad we got them. They were delicious! We paired them with a bottle of wine and finished off with dessert! Great restaurant inside Fontainebleau
(5)E M.
I live in South Beach, so I am not surprised when service is less-than-great. I can live with that. But this place... wow. We made a reservation for 8:30... arrived at 8:20, in advance of the reservation (we were in a hurry to get to the next place after dinner)... we were seated at 10pm... If you can't seat us for the reservation... why in the hell would you take the reservation? Don't inconvenience us, give us the opportunity to choose some other place that actually can serve us. Once seated, service was slow and inattentive. We actually had to stand up and hunt down the our waiter to bring us our food after another hour of waiting. We didn't get out of there until 11:30pm, and that's only because we hurried through the actual eating. The food was unspectacular. The waitstaff was incredibly inattentive (probably due to overbooking and poor training)... and again, this is being said by someone who is used to South Beach and pretty laid back. And making us wait 1.5 hours when we had a reservation... that's just stupid. I can go to countless places and pay $250-300 for dinner for 2 that are outstanding in all categories. This place stinks.
(1)Ash P.
Wasn't very impressed with the "Miami Spice" for 52$ just to add spaghetti I wasn't very happy! Especially considering I drove an hour away and went to the one in NYC got a way better menu to choose from and only paid 35$!
(1)Cathy M.
I went to this restaurant when I was in Miami for my birthday. It's a little bit hard to find because it's really far back in the Fountainbleau, but it's worth the walk. The food is sooo good. I had the truffle dinner and they were very generous with the truffles. The ambiance is nice and this place is always packed. Just don't forget your wallet--this restaurant is expensive, but so worth it for a special occasion. I can't wait to go back to Miami, because I'll definitely be going back here for dinner.
(4)Michelle G.
Scott hits another home Run! We are long time NY fans. We had all the classic dishes and everyone was amazing and delicious. We have eaten in NY , La , Las Vegas and Miami and the meal never disappoints. My husband has followed Scott for the past 20 years from little NYC places to scarpetta.
(5)Kimberly L.
Came here for a 30th birthday celebration with a large group of 15 ladies and had a wonderful meal! We contacted Gail ahead of time and had a delicious family style menu for $65 per person. We got to try 3 different appetizers, 4 entrees and 2 desserts. I've had the pleasure of eating at Scott's private space in NYC and Scarpetta in Manhattan and each experience is so amazing. We started with the burrata then the braised short ribs and the polenta. OMG the polenta was to die for. For the main course, we got the spaghetti, the duck foie gras ravioli, the orate and the chicken. My favorite was the ravioli. For dessert I was so stuffed but we had chocolate cake and a citrus parfait. Yum Yum Yum. Everything was so good. The ambiance was romantic and intimate. I will certainly be telling any friends in Miami to go here!
(5)Jeff G.
Unfortunately the Fountainbleu, the people that visit it and the prices they charge have ruined the history and excitement of staying there and enjoying it's restaurants. Scarpetta however did have excellent service and the food was good but a little too much fluff and presentation than it was hearty and enjoyable. Some dishes were interesting yet good like the polenta and mushroom fricassee, nice touch. Other items again, seemed to be so focused on the wow factor of the presentation that the food actually came out cold. Unless I'm having Carpaccio, I typically don't like my filet to be cold at the expense of dressing up the dish. All in all the experience was pleasurable, I did enjoy some dishes but I wouldn't be back on my own again. I was there for a rehearsal dinner and enjoyed the options they selected but can't say I'd want to go back with the fiancé... just didn't do it for me. There are better options for much less. Home made pasta with tomato and basil sauce was very good but very filling.
(3)Alicia C.
Been wanting to try Scott Conant's place for a while now...didn't disappoint! The foie gras and duck ravioli was superb and their signature spaghetti was great...I don't know about $25 for spaghetti great, but I can see why it's so popular. Service was exceptional.
(4)Brian C.
Great food, good service, and a great wine list and Sommelier make Scarpetta an all around hit. It isn't cheap, but this is Miami Beach so what do you expect? We may have overdone it here on our initial dinner, but really enjoyed everything - polenta with mushrooms, short rib, duck & foie ravioli, parmesan raviolini, and the local snapper entree. We even splurged on dessert with a pumpkin souffle which was great and the Sommelier selected an excellent bottle of white wine (Italian, of course) that complemented our entire meal well and [by South Beach standards] was not too crazy at $120. He also suggested a lower priced option, and did exactly what a good Sommelier should do by adding to the meal's enjoyment, and selecting good bottles of wine at all price points while not being condescenting or looking down on regular people who don't spend $1000 on a bottle of wine. It was a bit strange that we were asked to sit in the bar area prior to being seated in a wide open restaurant, but overall Scarpetta was exactly the 5 star experience you would expect. Very nicely done.
(5)Maria C.
Great restaurant. Have been there several times and have enjoyed everything. The spaghetti is to die for.
(5)Lily L.
My BF had surprised me to this Wonderful Restaurant, as he knows I love to watch Food Network, and Scott Conant. We had the Tasting course, and let me tell ya- It Is the most Amazing dishes I've had!! EVERYTHING was perfect and Amazing!! Great service as well!
(5)Patrick D.
If you can find it -- it's somewhat buried within the Fountainbleau -- this place is certainly a "destination" restaurant. Very expensive, and the portions were relatively small, but the food was excellent. Warning: For whatever reason, it's extremely noisy in the dining area...it was hard to hear my dinner companions. Pace was veerrryyyyy slooooooowwwww (2 and a half hours), but maybe when you're paying this much, they figure you want to drag it out as much as possible.
(4)Julie L.
Will NEVER come back. EVER. To start I have been here many times, having used to live 4 blocks away. The food and service were always amazing in the past, so naturally when we had a big dinner party to celebrate a major occasion we reserved a large table with them. First we had a reservation but still waited 30 minutes to be seated. Imagine 14 people in the tiny bar area and you can see how us standing there for 30 min became annoying. Then we go to the table and without telling us they split us into two tables. The whole point of the dinner was to celebrate and have our families meet each other and we had been talking to the restaurant for over 3 weeks about this reservation, with no mention of putting us at two separate tables. They then acted like they were doing US a major service by giving us one table which is what we had been asking for all along. Then comes our incredibly rude waiter. First he goes around to the families being condescending, saying well I hope your not hungry because what you ordered is small, and making comments on literally everything that people ordered. He was visibly annoyed when two people asked to split an entree and an app for dinner and made multiple comments. This of course is because he has automatic gratuity and so he was pushing for us to ring up the bill. Then comes the fact that we ordered 2 bottles of wine and without even telling us he opens additional bottles and then of course charges us for them. I literally had to tell the man to stop opening bottles. Then, because literally 2 out of the 3 families that were with us were offended, I felt like I had to do something as I had made the reservation for the group. I am a doctor but spent 7 years as a waitress in a high end restaurant in NYC and knew this service was incredibly poor for a "nice restaurant." I go to speak with the manager and immediately he says to me "well it seems like you are just having a ton of problems tonight." Insinuating that I am being dramatic. Then he is demanding with me and goes "so what is this about, do you just want something off the check?" And I told him, No I just thought he would want to know AS THE MANAGER that the service was terrible and I have literally had to apologize to my guests for their wait staff's behavior. He basically was dismissive, partly due to the fact that I was a young woman in my late twenties, and we still paid our 800$ check with automatic gratuity. That being said NO ONE at that party will EVER be back again. One of the guests works for a Fortune 500 company and immediately sent an email to his corporate telling them to take Scarpettas off of the list as a recommended venue. The other guest works for Jackson health and said they were thinking about having a conference there but now seeing the way they behave they have also changed their mind. In summary if you are going to spend $800 on a nice dinner with family and friends- do it elsewhere. These people are rude and disgusting, with honestly deplorable management. I was mortified that I took a large group of my closest family and friends there. Now having this experience I will continue to make everyone I know aware of how scarpettas really treats their guests.
(1)Scott L.
I was introduced to Scarpetta by force for someone's birthday and felt immediate regret when I checked in and got Yelp's High Roller badge. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Yelp gives you badges kind of like if you were a boy/girl scout. This one in particular is given for checking into three different places that are obscenely expensive. I've eaten at many fine dining establishments, and most of them leaving you feeling like you just threw away your money. I don't mind eating at places like this on an expense account, but not on my dime. I guess that's what it's like to wipe your 'ars' with Benjamins. The place is gorgeous, with several different rooms all with different styles. The front area is very dark and trendy. The back are is like an indoor garden terrace. I'd suggest asking for a table in the back. It has huge windows, and it's a great space as the night spawns. The food selection here is very unique, and this began to turn my opinion. For example, one of the specials was a dumpling wrapped in an eggplant flour. I didn't try it, but the menu is cluttered with great dishes. Little did I know, but we came here during Spice Week (like restaurant week in NYC). The menu had tons of choices to choose from that made it hard for me to make a decision it also helped my wallet. I ultimately choose tuna appetizer, the aged steak entree, house spaghetti, and a semi frozen berry icecream for dessert. The tuna was decent, but I would recommend the mushroom polenta that everyone at my table raved about it. The steak was a mind blowing experience, and took me by surprise with the flavor. It was a smokey aged taste that was very different than most aged steaks. It was smaller in portion though (6 ounces). The spaghetti was oversold, and was average in flavor. The berry icecream was pretty good, and was more like a pudding. It was very different, and I would recommend. All deserts looked amazing, and no one complained about their choice. What separated Scarpetta from the rest of my fine dining experience s was the waiter, George. It's rare that you find a waiter so knowledge about the food and who also makes you feel like there's a personal relationship. George was great at both, and made it feel like we were old friends. His ability to communicate is much higher than I would ever expect for a waiter, but I really appreciated his efforts to describe everything in detail. I would recommend Scarpetta, but only on a loose budget. The food selection is great, but not everything is amazing. The staff, service and ambiance make it worth it though.
(4)Daniel F.
We walked in for dessert as it was about a half hour before they were closing but after a look at the menu we stayed to have a second dinner. The decor and vibe is nautical and sophisticated. Gorgeous window set overlooking the ocean and some of the best people watching I saw in miami. The menu was limited and flowed well, always a good sign and it was very hard to decide. I ate everything even though I hadn't walked in hungry and the chocolate cake they had on the dessert menu was so good we ordered a second one immediately. Will be back next time I'm in town
(5)Brian M.
Chose here for an anniversary dinner with my girlfriend as it looked like one of the more solid spots in Miami Beach, and partly also because of Nina who unfortunately left just before we ate here. No matter. Losing a star for a couple reasons. First, parking. We were staying down in South Beach. I would NOT recommend driving here. Couldn't find self park (not sure if they exist), went to Valet. Valet area a zoo, no one came to the car, people running everywhere, honking because it was backed up, etc. Just a mess. Finally I get out of the car, find someone I can communicate with and they tell me it's full, go to the next VIP area (right in front of the hotel). Go there, they tell me they're full. WTF. Thent hey say, oh, do you have reservations at one of our restaurants? Yes I do. Come on in! Goofs. Restaurant experience is what you would expect from this type of place. Very good food (snapper crudo in particular), a bit higher priced because of the name and location, attentive service, beautifully decorated, etc. Also I was a bit surprised to see fellow diners in t-shirts and athletic shorts here but I guess they don't turn people away. Overall I doubt anyone would ever walk away from here unhappy, but still nothing blew me away so can't give it the full 5 stars.
(4)Jessica R.
It doesn't get much better! I have been here on both special occasions/truffle tasting meni or just a spaghetti craving and it's a heavenly experience. The staff has always been outstanding including my last visit where manager Jason came to check on us a few times when I told him I am gonna name my first born Scott in honor of the spaghetti he promised to let him know in his report. While everything is amazing the spaghetti gives me life!!! A must is also the bread with their eggplant dip..loads of flavor! The chocolate cake with ice cream is a signature of theirs and brings a tear to your eye reminding you what a dessert should be! Props to the whole staff front and back of house!
(5)Deryn H.
The food is exquisite! The chief is a food magician; I've never had food as good as food served at Scarpetta. The oven roasted chicken and spaghetti are to die for! As are the chocolate zeppoles. The portion sizes are perfect for those who don't want a platter plate full of food. As for the service, amazing! The waiters are extremely polite and make your dining experience very comfortable; they work together like a well oiled machine. If you're in the Miami Beach area, Scarpetta is must!
(5)Laaly N.
My husband and I were there recently with another couple and decided to try their tasting menu. We were able to try several main dishes, sides and desserts. From the seafood to the steak and pasta, it was all divine. The four of us are well travelled and pretty picky when it comes to food. I recommend the tasting menu at Scarpettas, it's pricy but worth it!
(5)Kellie P.
The polenta with mushrooms is as good as it gets, and the bread basket with assorted breads is worth the embarrassment of asking for a second basket! The one with cheese and prosciutto is my fave. Great food, Cozy atmosphere and good service definitely will bring me back. The only wrinkle is the valet parking at Fountainbleu on a weekend night. Be prepared to wait before and after.
(5)Lindsay B.
I went here for my first time last night. I've lived in Miami about four years and had yet to go; I must say that I ABSOLUTELY regret waiting this long. When I was seated the hostess promptly brought me a black linen(I was wearing a black dress). Although this is a small gesture many restaurants to don't take the initiative. The ambiance in the dining room was romantic, and chic. The cocktails were expertly crafted, I'm assuming they have high caliber mixologists because they were VERY on point. Our server Victor was very helpful and made lovely suggestions on the menu. He shared a personal story pertaining to our experience and truly made us feel at home. Finally, the most important part--the food. Both entrees we had were absolutely delicious. I had the duck foie gras ravioli and my boyfriend had the veal. Both were amazing. I think mine was a little better than my boyfriends though ;). My only complaint about my meal was that it was a teeny portion, but it was expected in a restaurant like this. For dessert I had the coconut panna cotta, which was to die for. The flavors in the dessert, mixed with the crunch of the topping were sweet perfection. I will absolutely be back and look forward to trying the chefs tasting menu.
(5)Marc B.
Oh Scott I remember when you cooked at 55th and 2nd- in Manhattan- and you haven't let us down- Every Scarpetta is consistently great like you are in the kitchen making that spaghetti and polenta. The Miami restaurant once again this week was great and always has been- Scarpetta classics are great- we came with 3 infants and the staff was so nice and accomodating- the room is beautiful- the sommelier picked out a great reasonable priced wine for us exactly what were looking for. Nothing bad to say- You want great food, service and friendly staff come here- its not a trendy place, just plain good. Food musts- polenta, spaghetti, scallops, the short ribs, we ate most of the menu...
(5)Jerry T.
Since visiting the NY location, I was craving it again. The food is some of the best I've ever eaten, and the service is even better. Note that the food is small portion, but full of flavor, and can be pricey to some. Understand this before you go or you may be in for a surprise. I had the veal special and would definitely order it again. The go-tos for entrees are the spaghetti and duck ravioli, which I had in NY. The fried cheese (can't remember the name) and the creamy polenta appetizers are so delicious, I highly recommend these. Side note, you have to valet park at the Fontainebleau hotel. I was able to get my parking validated at Scarpetta but it still costs $12 (+ tip if you're nice). I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant.
(5)Hicham D.
We seriously think we just had one of the best meals of our lives! And the best Thanksgiving dinner. Let me begin with service: PERFECT. Everyone from the hostess to the waiter to the sommelier were outstanding. And so was the chef whom we thanked personally at the end of our meal. The butternut squash soup was amazing. The rabbit pasta we got next was outstanding. The roasted turkey and stuffing had an explosion of different flavors. This dining experience was beyond our expectations! The deserts were succulent. The wine, a 2009 Margaux from Chateau Margaux was exquisite. Although that part we knew going in :) Love this place!!!
(5)Cessie C.
I went to Scarpetta for my friends birthday dinner. It was a group of girls and most of us had never been there before. The place is gorgeous, very beautifully decorated. My favorite is the bar, which has a very cool purplish backdrop. The best way to enjoy everything this amazing restaurant has to offer is by going all in and going for the Chef's Tasting Menu. Here is what we had: RAW YELLOWTAIL (delicious) Sashimi style hamachi brushed with chili oil, ginger oil and Hawaiian sea salt. Smoked tuna tartare avocado, lemon emulsion & osetra caviar CREAMY POLENTA (THIS WAS BY FAR MY FAVORITE) served with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms MOZZARELLA IN CARROZZA Panko breaded and pan-fried buffalo mozzarella served over stewed baby tomatoes. BRAISED SHORT RIBS OF BEEF served over vegetable farro risotto MEDITERRANEAN OCTOPUS served over a potato creama, olives, capers and confit tomatoes. PASTA COURSE DUCK & FOIE GRAS RAVIOLI (This was my favorite pasta dish- it was the perfect mix of sweet & salty) finished with a marsala reduction. SPAGHETTI (AMAZING spin on classic dish!) Handmade spaghetti tossed with tomato sauce, basil and parmigiano. PICI served with lobster, calabrese chilis and nduja sausage. BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLINI Roasted Butternut squash raviolini, baby vegetables and Ricotta Salata PROTEIN/ENTRÉE COURSE MEDITERRANEAN BRANZINO Mediterranean branzino served with confit baby vegetables and almond brown butter brodetto. FENNEL DUSTED BLACK COD (fresh, soft, sweet & delciious) Fennel spiced black cod served on top of baccala mantecato, concentrated tomatoes and black olive oil LONG ISLAND DUCK Long Island duck, roasted carrots, mustard greens & sour cherry jus 21 DAY AGED SIRLOIN OF BEEF Porcini Mushrooms, Salsa di Pane & Smoked Bone Marrow DESSERT Coconut Panna Cotta Coconut flavored eggless custard held together with gelatin. Served with guava soup, caramelized pineapples,coconut sorbet and a coconut tuille. Amadei Chocolate Cake Made from dark Italian chocolate (Amadei). Served warm with toasted almond gelato, a salted caramel sauce and a chocolate cigarette. Coffee Semifreddo Frozen coffee mousse set in a bowl, garnished with crystallized hazelnuts, anise infused chantilly cream, served with lemon sorbet Each course came with its appropriate wine pairings and by the time we were done, I was ready for my BED, but, we ended up at LIV instead. And managed to dance some of the calories off. Aside from the fact that everything about this meal was PERFECT, the service at Scarpetta is what really topped the evening. From the front staff, the waiters & even the GM, who personally came & checked on our meal- the service was beyond comparison to any other restaurant. I really want to go back for brunch soon!
(5)Talisha M.
Overrated and didn't meet the hype. The restaurant is gorgeous and sheik. The service was good and we got to meet the chef who happened to be on Top Chef which was great. We had the prefixed menu that samples most everything. It was all decently good but not mind blowing. The traditional spaghetti was very good. Think there are far better Italian in soflo.
(3)Lily Z.
One of the best meals I've had in awhile. We opted for the tasting menu which was the best decision ever! Our server Victor was fabulous. Friendly, knowledgable and took all of our requests to the chef to execute the perfect tasting menu for us. Amuse bouche: yellow tail and tuna tartar bites. We were a little ignorant and thought this was our appetizer. Ensue angry bitching....until Victor asked us how it was and told us that was just a little something from the kitchen and our real appetizer was coming. Whew! What a relief! Appetizer: tuna tartar and yellowtail hamachi. Delicious! Both were so unique and delicate tasting. So creative and perfectly portioned! Pasta course: THE pasta pomodoro, duck & foie gras ravioli and a seafood linguine. Of course the star of this course was the spaghetti. It was so good that I came back the next night and ordered a portion to go! I could've done without the seafood linguine, which was tasty but nothing spectacular compared to the other 2 pasta dishes. Entrees: fennel dusted snapper and the 28 dry aged beef. Both delicious and by this point I am so full that I can't really breathe. The fish had a very intense woodsy flavor and the beef was cooked perfectly. Dessert:.....a panna cotta with guava soup that was light and refreshing. The molten chocolate cake was pretty good also as it wasn't too sweet. The whole meal was worth the price. I highly recommend it. I can't wait to attempt to make the spaghetti in my own kitchen!
(5)Lindsey B.
Really loved this place. Went with a big group for a bachelorette party. They sat us right away and the service was great. It's an open place with big windows that look out at the Fontainebleau resort. The prices are a little expensive but the food is delicious. All their pastas are home made so they are very very good. Just the plain old spaghetti and tomato sauce was some of the best I've ever had. The carpaccio was also very good. I would recommend this place however wouldn't suggest for kids- More of an adult dining experience. Also would suggest making reservations in advance
(4)Joe R.
Best food in Miami period Michael the bartender is awesome and a real pro The pasta is like eating in Italy truly outstanding the filet and lamb chop entrees also outstanding Don't miss this beautiful hotspot
(5)D M.
The food here was not that great . Not quite sure why it got 4 stars. The ambiance is nice the service is great but besides that not really sure what the rave is all about. We ordered the local squash blossom which has some kind of risotto rice and the mozerella in Carozza which is essentially fried cheese sticks . The bread platter has meat in it so if your vegetarian make sure to ask for a plate of just bread . Our waiter was really amazing food is sub par. Ice tea is great as a side note . Continue to follow me for more Miami posts !
(2)Nate B.
Over priced is one thing. Of course you pay for a top resort environment. Crappy service is another thing. Don't waste your money
(1)Allison F.
This review is dedicated to my favorite chef, Nina Compton: My company holiday party took place at Scarpetta a few months ago. After watching and obsessing over Nina's food on Top Chef, we had incredibly high expectations...all which were met and exceeded with FLYING colors. The meal started with unbelievable service from Luis and Eddy -- two of the best servers I've ever had the privilege of dining with. These two gentlemen made us feel like family, a welcome and unexpected rarity for upscale Miami restaurants. Our first taste of heaven was when the bread came, accompanied by a sun-dried tomato spread, olive oil and butter (which I thought was cheese and smeared heavily on my focaccia....sorry, I'm not sorry). Next, came a delicate pile of burrata joined by the most tender braised short ribs and melt in your mouth truffled mushroom polenta. Full yet? No way. To follow, we sampled the freshest handmade spaghetti I've ever tasted, dressed in the perfect amount of tomato and basil, and duck and foie gras ravioli that I would literally pay all my money to eat on a daily basis. Throughout each of these courses, Luis and Eddy were like skilled spies, refilling our wine glasses to perfection after each and every tiny sip...5-star service. For the main course, we sampled juicy filet mignon, roasted chicken and some mystery fish dish that I loved. Even though there were 40 mouths to feed in our party, Luis and Eddy managed to make us feel like we were their first priority at all times. For dessert, we indulged in coconut panna cotta, chocolate lava cake, a heavenly sorbet and a creamy caramel concoction that I couldn't get enough of. The entire meal can be summed up in two words: more, please. I am incredibly grateful to Luis and Eddy for making me feel like an old friend, for ensuring that we got second dibs at all the dishes before our hungry coworkers and for going out of their way to allow us to meet and take photos with Nina and Scott, two of my culinary heroes. Amazing service, amazing food, amazing experience.
(5)Pam C.
Dining at it's best. Excellent courses from beginning to end. Meals were prepared and presented to perfection. Our family had pasta with black trumpet, veal and filet mignon. Every bite was delicious. Courses were nicely spread out, we never felt rushed. If you are in a hurry I would let your waitstaff know ahead of time. This is a full dining experience so expect it to be spaced out.
(5)Marco M.
Come hungry and try the tasting menu, and you will be happy you did. Antipasti: Assortment of polenta with mushrooms, short rib and farro and fresh burrata and tomatoes to start the meal 2 signature pastas: spaghetti and pomodoro and duck foie gras ravioli with balsamic reduction Choice of meat, chicken or fish - all excellent Dolci: similar to a passion fruit panna cotta and a chocolate cake The servers were all excellent. Ryan was on point with us and they were all very attentive. Ambiance is perfect and you can request to sit closer to the windows for a view of the pool and ocean outside of the center dining hall. Buon Appetito!
(5)Kate T.
After having been to the New York location I was SO looking forward to checking out the Miami one. I made reservations for Saturday night at 8:30. We arrived a little early to enjoy a drink at the bar. We were approached by the staff and told to enjoy our drink and to let them know when we were ready to be seated. We were seated at a great seat, overlooking the restaurant and water. We were greeted with a variety and breads and spreads, including a marscapone butter, a garlic olive oil and a roasted eggplant speard, all delish! We decided to enjoy the Chef Tasting menu, which included a variety if Scarpetta's most favorite dishes. 1st course, Yellowtail Hamachi with a Tuna Tartare. 2nd course, Sauteed mushroooms over polenta and a short rib (fall off the bone short rib!). 3rd course, the pasta! We tasted the tomato basil, duck ravioli and a cream tagliatelle. 4th course. Salmon with black grain rice and a RibEye, smoked to perfection. And, finally, the 5th course, dessert. A chocolate molten cake with a cocunut sorbet and papaya gelee. Not only did every bite of the tasting menu hit the spot, the wine pairings that they provided went SO well. The service did not disappoint and overall, like Scarpetta in New York, this is by far one of my favorite restaurants I have had the pleasure of dininig out. I do hope I can get back, if not, continue to taste Chef Scott Conant's menus around the country.
(5)Brittany P.
Everything about this is amazing! Service and food were on point and I cannot wait to go back! Must have the pasta marinara!!!!!
(5)Michael S.
If you are looking for a nice place to eat in Miami, I highly recommend Scarpetta. From the bread they give you when you sit down, to the chocolate cake we had for desert, I enjoyed my meal. The highlights had to be the Creamy Polenta, Duck And Foie Gras Ravioli, and Chocolate Cake. We also had the Short Rib appetizer (which was the one thing I thought was just ok) and the Chestnut Cavatelli (which was very good, but not quite as amazing as the ravioli). The service at the restaurant was also very good. Our waiter was very attentive and gave us good recommendations. The support staff were also always there at the times you needed them (They were quick to refill my water when it was almost out, and they cleared our plates when we finished). Note that they automatically include a 18% gratuity on your bill. I actually prefer this, but it may be a sticking point to some.
(5)Mariel P.
Came here just for dinner while staying in South Beach for my partner's birthday dinner and although the food was good and the restaurant was nice, I ended up very disappointed. I asked the hostess to make a note that it was my partners birthday and she even asked me for his name. I was waiting the entire night for a dessert surprise, but then they bring over a dessert menu which threw me off because they typically just bring something over. I go over to the hostess who was different then the one who checked us in and she did see the note I left and said the waiter knew, but we ordered a dessert and NOTHING!! I didn't even want dessert!! I just wanted a birthday surprise!!This would never happen in NYC.
(2)Carla Z.
Scott Conant does it again! I've wanted to try this place since I saw Chef Nina on top chef. We were lucky enough to be in Miami for Miami Spice. The concept is similar to NY Restaurant week where participating restaurants have prix fixe menus for a certain time period. We started with a flight of wines. The only weird part was all 3 of our wines came out at the same time? At a table with four girls, it felt clumsy to have that many full regular stemmed wine glasses at the table. The food though was amazing. We had mushrooms and polenta to start. I can eat this by the bucket load. Then as a main course, I had the over roasted chicken with spaetzle. And concluded with a panna cotta. I'd definitely come back for the food. I don't know if I came on an off night, but I was expecting a larger crowd.
(3)Roxy S.
From the gracious welcome of maitre'd and hostess, to the attentive service team, each team member was well-mannered, knowledgeable about the courses and unobtrusive. We were provided name recognition by so many of the front of house, it gave the impression we were truly valued guests. Our second time dining at Scarpetta was as memorable as the first. Preset menu for Thanksgiving started with a surprisingly, well layered soup of butternut squash frenched over foie gras, diced Granny Smith Apple, chopped shiitake mushrooms, braised celery and thin carrot discs. Followed by perfectly, al dente, housemade cavatelli pasta, braised rabbit, mirepoix in rabbit jus, topped with Parmesan. Choice entree of seared scallops with polenta or turkey breast and thigh roulade accompanied by smokey, greens, fresh cranberry sauce and the best dressing ever. Ginger-poached, sliced pear tart with cranberry-slivered almond crumble and a cannel of vanilla gelato. Quite an impressive Thanksgiving feast!
(5)Sarah W.
I had been wanting to try Scarpetta for a few years when my husband surprised me with a last minute trip to Miami for one night to eat at Scarpetta. We did the chef's tasting menu and were pleasantly surprised by not only the food, which was incredible, but by the amount of food, the service and the restaurant itself. I could review all 10 plates of food, but it would be repetitive because everything was fantastic. I don't think I can come up with a criticism, just prepare to leave stuffed with amazing food. Also, order the pannacotta- it is a much needed refreshing way to end your meal. We will be back.
(5)Rima R.
For dinner we had a beef tar tar - love it!!! :) Duck was - so so.. And chocolate dessert - good one! :)
(4)Rue F.
The first thing you notice when you walk in is that it is FREEZING in there. Take a sweater for sure. The ambiance is so so but the food is terrific. My husband had their tasting menu, I had the Long Island Duck. His started out with appetizers of tuna tartar and a seared scallops. Both great. Then he had the pasta portion which had two dishes, a spaghetti to die for and a duck foie gras ravioli that was out of this world. Raves on those two dishes. The main dish was a steak that was good. For dessert he got a mango flan soup that was amazing and a chocolate cake that was okay. He highly recommends doing the tasting menu. My duck was also wonderful. Tender and prepared to temperature not overdone. Only complaint here was the coffee was ordered with cream, milk was delivered. Seems to be a theme at all restaurants at the Fontainebleau Our waiter Eric was wonderful. Ask for him. Would I go back again? Absolutely!!
(5)Janice L.
What a flop of a restaurant for me to choose for my birthday. Be warned if you're ..let's just say it...high-maintenance, picky eater, true foodie, steak fiend, water picky, etc. You may be judged at and talked down upon by your waiters if you ask what type of water they have, etc. Because of the fact 18% gratuity is automatically added; I honestly felt like my waiters took advantage of my situations and questions about the food and drinks available. Then barely showing up after our appetizers. Don't get me wrong, I ALWAYS tip 20-30%. Just give me that option so I know I can gauge how much the waiters have earned in my eyes. It was amazing up until entrees. Then entrees killed my mood and taste buds. Desserts brought it back up a bit...but overall...really disappointed I chose this place to celebrate my birthday. I thought I'd have a great experience like I did at the one in NY... Appetizers: Raw yellowtail ($17)- so fresh, buttery, melt in your mouth sashimi slices with a memorable crunch texture of sea salt, and other things. So simple but delicious. 4 pieces. Steak tartare- this was amazing! I usually have stayed away from meat tartare in the past because it's been too gamey at other places. This one was PERFECT and recommended by our waiter. Not gamey at all but so tender, and delicious served on perfectly buttered, toasted French baguette or brioche slices. Wine: Not a big drinker but I love a glass of red wine here and there. The Barbera de Alba from Piedmont was lovely! And at $14 a glass, it was really a great pick. Tasted wonderful! Entrees: Special of the night- Sliced Bone-In Ribeye for 2/28oz. ($95) I don't even want to go into this whole fiasco and how it was handled but let's just say I've had some incredible steaks in a lot of places and I'm from Texas. We love our meat and steak! This one was incredibly DISAPPOINTING. For that price, I was expecting prime at least certified angus. It honestly tasted like choice. Or the way it was cooked made it taste like select. Yes, that horrible. So tough, bland, chewy, and served cold. Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli ($26): delicious. Filling melts in your mouth. Drizzled with a balsamic reduction sauce. Yum!! Desserts ($12) chocolate cake: yummy. If you want a richer, heavier, chocolate-y dessert go with this. Or go with what I did and eat two. Coconut Panna Cotta- WOW! This wasn't what I expected. So refreshing, delicious...confusing because it was that good...made me question why I've never had panna cotta before. Probably because I've always pictured it as a custard filled dome. Ended with cappuccino & espresso. Good. Note to management: You knew about our situation because you comped a dessert for us but neglected to come say anything to us. Thanks for comping a $12 dessert for my horrendous birthday entree worth $95. Sounds like we're even. *inserts sarcasm* Haha. Won't be back ever. Maybe just NY's location when I'm there. Poorly handled in all ways
(2)Ari K.
A Sultry Dining Experience There is something exceptional in the air at the Fontainebleau. In addition to the lavish perfumes of the gorgeous gold diggers and the pretentiousness of the millionaires, there is also this intoxicating energy that imbues one with feelings of regality and sexiness. Walking through the doors and into this haven of plush indulgence seems to elevate the resort's patrons. We finally got around to trying the fabled Scarpetta. We had been listening to our circle rave about it and finally took the tongue plunge. The ambiance was exalting, the service impeccable, the soundtrack melodic and the food was great. After promenading past the seductive bar and the beautiful people drinking at it we were seated in a luxurious dining area. Before we even ordered our fare a tasty basket with an assortment of fresh bread was delivered along with stellar eggplant dip, oil and butter. It came hot and moist straight from the oven. The favorite was a concoction of thin sliced salami layered into the bread with tomatoes. We started with the acclaimed creamy polenta and it was better than we ever imagined. The copper pot it was presented in was quite elegant. Polenta is cornmeal that is boiled into a porridge. Scarpetta serves it next to a bowl of fricassee (cut up sautéed and braised) truffled mushrooms. What makes this treat so freakishly deliciously special is that the polenta is cooked for 3 hours, which dissolves all of the grains. This process transforms it into this uber creamy and deliriously superb delicacy, with an amazing consistency that dazzles and soothes the mouth. Personally I preferred it without the mushrooms, so you might want to stop the server from mixing the two after it is brought to the table. For our second app we had the Diver Scallop Crudo, with fennel orange and pine nuts. This small plate was decent, refreshing and light with a hint of sweetness. We started the main course with the Duck and Foie Gras Ravioli with a marsala reduction. The diminutive pasta purses were loaded with ample duck and foie with a scrumptious sauce and a generous portion. While the foie was not on par with the French & Italian versions that transports your palate into Nirvana, it was still a solid dish. The only letdown of the night was the Black Taglioni with stewed baby octopus and basil bread crumbs. The dish looked resplendent but was uninspiring. It consisted of just one flavor note and was fairly bland. When our gracious waitress asked us how everything was, I responded in my usual brutally honest way that the taglioni was not good. She asked if we wanted to switch it out, but not wanting to make a fuss, we politely declined. A couple minutes later the manager arrived and profusely apologized and demanded that we substitute out the taglioni for their famous spaghetti. This is a true staple of a fantastic restaurant, where unadulterated customer satisfaction is paramount. They had no idea we were bloggers and still insisted on optimizing our experience, kudos Scarpetta. The stellar Spaghetti with tomato and basil is what vaulted Scarpetta to its world renowned fame. They use some of the finest pasta imported from Italy and one can taste the difference. It was cooked to utter perfection al dente (firm but not hard). It was thick substantial noodles, yet soft enough to twirl around your fork and tongue. These delicately firm noodles just feel so amazing to bite into. The sauce was nice, not overpowered by the tomato and contained some depth from the fresh basil (I needed more of it). It is not a rich dish and is fairly simple on the taste spectrum, but it is just done right as a perfect plain spaghetti dish was meant to be. The Coconut Panna Cotta with caramelized pineapple and guava "soup." This was just a fun dessert to gorge on. The soup has this deceptive super thick custard consistency so when you dipped your spoon in you were surprised at the resistance. It was definitely addictive as all the flavors harmoniously blended together into a ambrosial sugar rush. The tiny cookie (tuile) on top was simply divine. Since one dessert is rarely enough we also ordered the Coffee Semifredo with hazelnuts, anise cream and lemon sorbet that was a brilliant treat. The hazelnut was at the forefront with a subdued cafecito taste entwined into it. The highlight of the dish was a ridiculously potent lemon sorbet that will energize your face from its flavor strength. I am not sure what goes on in that kitchen but it felt like the sorbet had some adderall or cocaine in it. I scooped up some to put on my teeth to see if i could get a lemon numbie but to no avail. Scarpetta provided a truly luscious and gratifying experience. The place is so sexy, filled with attractive people. The food was great, the service and presentation splendorous and they really demonstrated that they will go above and beyond when it comes to making sure its customers are prolifically satiated and satisfied. We definitely were.
(4)Alexandra N.
Very disappointed. The ambiance was great, but the service was horrible. Our server was rude and unwilling to substitute any of the meals to accommodate my nut and fish allergies. He claimed the food and pasta was already made and the ingredients could not be changed. Wasn't in the mood to waste efforts on arguing, so I ordered the most expensive and most plain salad I've ever had, since everything seemed to have nuts or fish in it. For the price of the meals, the food should be freshly made and substitutions to avoid allergic reactions should be accommodated. I'm honestly not sure how this restaurant is acclaimed to be one of the best.
(2)Todd S.
A beautiful place located inside the Fountainbleau Hotel. Ocean views. Beautiful decor for a classy design and feel. Service was very good, professional, helpful, and very attentative to all your needs. Staff made you feel welcome and saw to your every need. a great menu selection of fine Italian dining and the food was excellent. A large wine menu. We started with Palenta with fricase of wild mushrooms and truffle oil and the vegetable risotto. Pasta course we had black ink linguine with clams, duck and foie grois ravioli which were all amazing. Then we had the fish of the day and a sliced steak entree. Chocolate sufflet and cheescake. It was a menu prepared by the chef. Amazing meal. Will definitely be back soon.
(5)Jacob K.
The service is great and the food is scrumptious. I attended the restaurant for dinner with my family and this is what we had and what was delicious or okay: Liked: Creamy polenta Probably one of my favorites Mediterranean Octopus Delicious Honey spiced Long Island Duck Cooked to perfection but don't expect it to be crispy Spagghetti with mushroom Very nice if you like truffle Coconut ice cream with guava soup Duck and Foie Gras ravioli ( Everybody seemed to like it for me it was okay but I don't like Foie gras) Okay: Yellowtail Nothing special Chocolate Zappole Expected much more since I love nutella Overall it is a very nice place with delicious food
(4)Heath W.
I eat here all the time, at least once a month, if I could I would eat here more often. I have never ever received poor service and every meal is spot on. I read a few of the reviews and have never received the type of service ever. In fact the first time I came here it was an after party dinner after a major concert, there were around 50 people spread out throughout the dinning room, we had the place to our selves and the food and the service was amazing. My normal fare is the burrata, steak tartare, and the tuna tartare, duck & foie gras ravioli, their signature and always perfect spaghetti, Brussels sprouts and roaster mushrooms, but you can't go wrong on anything. If you need to pick one Restruant in Miami beach to visit, this is it.
(5)J F.
The service was impeccable, and the vibe at the place is nice. But holy cow is it overpriced, especially considering the 18% surcharge. It would be nice if there were some simpler items in the menu, but literally everything was uber complicated or drenched in truffle oil. The bread served at the table was delicious, but the waiters kept taking it for some reason. It was bizarre. Dessert was delicious, but it too was all overly complicated. It may be cool to have Rosemary gelato, but is it necessary? I won't go back, it just wasn't a good enough experience for the price.
(3)Karli M.
Along with the rest of the staff, Tim, our server, was unbelievable. He was so kind, knowledgable and accommodating when I told him I was vegan. I let him choose my entire 4 course meal and every bit of it was DELICIOUS. I have nothing but amazing memories of this place, from their staff to their food, and I eagerly look forward to my next visit.
(5)Remington T.
Maybe it's because I'm an elitist New Yorker who knows what a good restaurant looks like or that a well priced meal should buy quality to match, but this place was a huge disappointment. Service was subpar, environment was mediocre, and the food (we had pasta and fish) was lackluster. Over-seasoned, overcooked, and didn't precisely match the description on the menu. You can walk into an any unrated, under-the-radar seafood restaurant in NYC and get far better quality. I apologize to the many Miamians who have written radiant reviews of this place that might find my review disparaging to them and their city. I have only been to Scarpetta once--granted, on a very busy night. Perhaps it deserves a second chance, but in dining, first impressions are critical.
(2)Zubayr M.
Try the spaghetti and grilled calamari. They are honestly the best two dishes on the menu. We always end up ordering them somehow. Typical Miami prices, good service, and even better atmosphere.
(4)Dov B.
The grilled octopus is amazing and the froi gras ravioli wasn't for me, but my wife enjoyed it. It was enjoyable enough for dinner and the service was stellar, but in all honesty I probably would not rush back anytime soon.
(4)Vanessa V.
Scarpetta's is our go to for special occasions. We love everything about this restaurant, from the location to the menu and the service is always amazing. We usually request Eddie as our host and also request the sommelier to select our wine pairings. The only tip I would add is to make your reservations well in advance, 2 to 3 months for holidays or notable days like Mother's Day or Valentines as they are usually booked.
(5)Amy S.
Great spot if you are staying at the Fountainebleau. Food is on point - everything we had was lovely. I ordered the spaghetti and it was amazing (maybe just a tad too salty though)...loved the perfectly al dente texture. Great views if you come for dinner right around sunset!
(4)Yuliana D.
Tuna tartare: A little heavy on oil, greasy! I had better. It's supposed to be "smoked" - well it's lightly smoked so hard to detect. I would say it's a wow tuna. It's ok, even disappointing! I don't suggest u spend $20 on it. Bread: For the place I expected much better. Below average bread. Simple bread you get at a casual restaurant. Eggplant that came w bread was delicious. But that was it. Disappointing. Duck raviolli: Yum! If you love duck and foie gras - this is for you! Yet a little too heavy on oil, so doesn't get 5 stars from me, more like 4. Portion is tiny! So trust me - it's like an appetizer portion, u will be hungry unless ur happy w appetizer portion. I wonder why they wouldn't make it an appetizer? It's small enough! Bar: Medium size closer to small. Not the best social scene. Its an odd mix of people. Service: Great! Not impeccable but superbly great. Would I go back? No, it's overpriced for what it has to offer. I am comparing it w similar restaurant in ny and Miami so if ur a foodie - u probably will be disappointed a lot or somewhat. I love fine dining and go to plenty of amazing restaurants. This one is more famous cause of the hotel rather than food I think. NY place is soooooo much better in terms of food!!!! Miami just doesn't have it.
(3)Mrs. D M.
This is my favorite spot for Italian in Miami. Yes, going to the Fontainebleu can be a mission (or a real treat, depending on your mood and the night crowd), but it's worth a go! Beautiful, Mediterranean decor, with ocean front views. Even if you sit inside the restaurant, still a nice atmosphere! Love the mixed bread basket in the beginning. Must trys: Polenta (with an wonderful mushroom ragu), Spaghetti (just get it, it's so fresh!) and the branzino or seabass they are offering. To me, they get the perfect crispness and saltiness on the outside, and the moistness you expect on seabass on the inside. Love it! Have also tasted the duck ravioli, which was really good, although the portion a bit small. Don't go here expecting a carb-free experience; that'd be a waste! Definitely a good spot to take out of towners for a fun experience.
(5)Lundy P.
Dined here last weekend for my 49th birthday along with my wife and her daughter and her daughter's family. The best part about the meal was the atmosphere. As to be expected in Sobe, the mood was festive. The food was good but did not really meet my expectations especially considering the cost. Service kept up with our needs but again it left something to be desired. I may dine here again but it would not be my first choice.
(4)Erica L.
Where to begin...we did the 4 course tasting menu, and I can't remember all the food we got but everything was exceptional. Pasta perfectly al dente, the highlight being the foie gras pasta (I think it was a ravioli?). Desserts were amazing as well - I think we got a coconut panna cotta and a caramel pudding with a side of passionfruit sorbet - yum!
(4)Eriko M.
I would only go for special occasions. It was my birthday. The creamy polenta and the flourless chocolate cake were to DIE for. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. And although I had no idea what anything was on the cocktail menu, whatever I had, it was delicious!! The main dishes were meh...I had the duck/foie gras ravioli and my date had some seafood pasta. Service was great. I would go back on another special occasion for the cocktail, polenta, chocolate cake and an excuse to dress up.
(4)A P.
Service was the best part of the meal! However food was disappointing. Only complimentary prosciutto bread was good (eggplant dip was too salty). In general food was oversalted. Mushroom polenta was ok but runny. Not as flavorful as before. Short rib stuffed pasta was disappointing, both in appearance and in taste. Sirloin (Miami spice extra) was also lacking flavor and texture. Guava panacotta was actually good. Hope they can do something to restore things in the kitchen (like check on the supervising chef) Atmosphere could be better where it not for large groups and kids (too much mass market hotel clientele).
(2)Aimee C.
Service was in the restaurant was phenomenal! Went for the Miami Spice menu and my friends and I were served every dish on the menu family style! The favored dishes were the creamy polenta, short rib stuffed ravioli, sirloin, tomato basil spaghetti and guava panacotta paired with a lovely French Sancerre wine! Will definitely be back with my foodie boyfriend. Only gave it 3 stars due to the avoidable mishap at valet. They charged me double the valet fee, argued with me as to how much I should get back, then told me I had to wait 8 days to get my refund. Customer service was not at it's highest here!
(3)Sepi B.
Had Thanksgiving dinner here with our families (party of 14 or so). Service was excellent. They accomodated us with an infant. We sat outside and it was nice - a bit chilly - no heaters. The inside was bustling with lovely decor. Most of us did the Thanksgiving menu ($75, pic attached). Everything was delicious. The signature pasta was amazing as always (had it at the Beverly Hills location). The burrata salad was good. The carrots and pumpkin were such a perfect addition. It may have been a bit bland though. The prime sirloin was juicy and tender. For sides I got the pureed potatoes (wonderful) and the haricot vert (ok). The dessert I had was the bread pudding and it was amazinggggg. All in all a fabulous dinner with fam!
(4)Catalina P.
I went last Friday to Scarpetta to try the spice menu with a group of 6 people. The server was hostile as hell!!...since the moment that we sat down and asked for the spice menu he got super rude and treated us like we were begging for some "free" food. Im sure that these waiters give a good service based on your pocket...what a shame for a restaurant has this kind of people or employees! Good food but experience overall was opaque by the service!...don't recommend it and I will not come back again. I would rather suggest to try the new Miami located in Wynwood or Midtown which is less pretentious and more foodie than in Miami Beach. I would not recommend this to a friend!
(2)Daniele G.
the perfect place to dine at before clubbing at LIV. 11:30pm and still pretty busy, probably 80% capacity. Hostess went out of her way to accommodate us at a quiter table in the veranda. Every dish was good to very good, a few were a bit "stretched" for being Italian, the risott was positively great. service was smooth and unintrusive.
(4)Tiffany C.
Came here last night for dinner. Although we had reservations we had to wait 15 minutes for our table. Mind you it wasn't even that packed. Strike 1. When we finally sat down it looked like smooth sailing for a while. The steak tartar and the creamy polenta were awesome, but that was probably the only 2 good things we had that night. After our appetizers the service slowed down tremendously. We probably waited another 30 mins for our food or for anyone to come by to check on us. Don't order the duck ravioli especially if you have high blood pressure. It's saltier than the Dead Sea. I guess the only redeeming factor was when I told them the food was too salty and they gave us free dessert. That was after another 30 minutes though of no one coming by.
(2)Mya J.
Fabulous authentic Northern Italian cuisine. Started with the Yellowtail and Arugula salad. Main courses were the homemade pasta marinara and black truffle ravioli with a broccolini side dish and finished with the out of this world chocolate cake. Another perfect and romantic dinner.
(5)judy n.
we had just gotten into miami beach, checked into our hotel & needed to find somewhere to eat after 8pm. scarpetta was within walking distance but seemed a bit on the high end side for our needs (& our attire) but we decided to give it a go anyway. despite our lackluster appearance, they seated us anyway, which was generous on their part. gotta say, it was the best meal we ate on our entire week-long trip. the service was stellar: multiple servers that were friendly & very attentive plus piping hot food served quickly. we had: lobster & peach salad w/burrata which sounds weird but was delicious. misto frito which sounds boring but was exceptional. so lightly fried & delightfully salty. duck & foie gras ravioli which was very rich but surprisingly not heavy. lamb ragu pasta which was meaty & satisfying. while the loud house music was odd, i would still go back if i'm ever in miami beach again.
(5)Constantine H.
The best chicken you will ever have IN YOUR LIFE. -Fin
(5)Tara W.
I loooove the Scarpetta in NY in spite of myself, because I don't usually go for celeb-chef multi-city restos, but somehow we ended up here with a large group. Rather than have everyone do an individual order, we went with the tasting menu which provided a variety of dishes in stuffing portions at bargain prices. We ended up getting the Scarpetta all-stars like the short ribs, polenta, burrata, and spaghetti as well as a few ringers we wouldn't necessarily have chosen. I'm admittedly a food snob and usually tone it down when around others who aren't of the same persuasion, and I feel like Scarpetta was a happy medium for that. My only complaints are about the restroom, timing of dishes, and credit card limits. The ladies room is in the hotel, not the restaurant, and it's quite a hike on wine wobbly high heels. I feel like 4 of our courses arrived at once which was overwhelming. And they would only split the bill between 6 cards, so be prepared. But these were only mild obstacles in an otherwise great meal.
(4)Steve T.
Impeccable service with numerous people taking care of each table. Their dinner bread was delicious especially the Stromobi. I had the short rib and bone marrow ravioli that was the highlight of my meal. The duck and foie ravioli was a bit strong/bitter for my taste but still had good flavor. My wife had the riccota truffle ravioli that was also quite tasty. The portions are small so get ready to order a few items per person. I forgot about their creamy polenta, but we'll be back.
(4)Alex S.
Scarpetta was probably one of the best meals I've I had in my life. Every dish from beginning to end was great. The polenta with mushrooms lives up to all the hype and the oven roasted chicken and scallops were great too! This is a place where I feel like you can't go wrong trying anything on the menu.
(5)Chantel M.
The service was great, ambiance was really romantic and the food was up to par, but as a food critic i must be honest. Not everything rocked my world. Presentation of the food was exquisite. We started with complimentary bread and spreads: butter, eggplant and cheddar infused something spread lmao (my personal fave), and olive oil Appetizers: 1.Steak tartare w/ quail egg (yes all raw) 2. The best/creamiest Polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms EVER! (This was sooo mouth watery) the fricassee made it very light and kept us wanting more! I would come back for this and i dont like gritty texture food but this was almost like drinking a bowl of soup. Perfecto! Pasta/main course and side dish: 1. Tomato/basil housemade spaghetti Definitely the best spaghetti I've ever had! I hate saucy spaghetti, so this was perfect. The noodles wear perfectly chewy with the sauce delicately mixed into the noodles. 2. Duck/foei gras ravioli There's lots of different taste buds pleased with this dish, and the fact that it just melts in ur mouth after biting into it is very salivating. BUT, it is a relatively heavy dish, if i was eating a 4 course meal again, i would not get this unless im sharing. 3. Long island duck garnished with baby carrots, mustard greens & sour cherry jus I say garnished bc there wasn't much much of the other stuff, if that was the #miamispice portion it was a pretty good portion bc the picture i have here was only half the dish since i was sharing. It was good but did not rock my world. Maybe bc im Chinese and ive had my fair share of well cooked duck. 4. Brussel sprouts caramelized with shallots & pancetta. The brussel sprouts came out perfect; however it could done well without pacetta. With the pacetta, it made the dish a little salty. Maybe good to another person, but for me, if it's a side dish that is suppose to complement the duck it sure did overpower it. I wanna blend it with the duck so it feels the dishes go together....not let it steal the thunder of the main course. Dessert: 1.Coconut Panna Cotta w/ caramelized pineapple & guava "soup" Not really a soup, but very refreshing the texture was like flan but much smoother....more like really soft tofu desserts with guava syrup on top and pinapple/coconut gelato on top. Really good my faves! Id come back for this. 2.Budino Di Mascarpone mascarpone custard, mango salad & mango sorbet Over all everything was really good, the mascarpone was like a creamier version of a cheesecake, the mango salad was not really a salad.it was more like mango bits on the bottom. But by the time we got to this dish. We were too full to enjoy it bc it is heavy for a dessert.
(4)Maria T.
I was in Miami for a bachelorette party and we made dinner reservations here. The wait time was quiet annoying considering we had reservations however the food and cocktails where so good! I'm a food snob especially with Italian. Only because my family is from Italy. I was very happy with everything I ordered which was the Mazzerella in carrozza and spaghetti with tomato and basil.
(4)Thomas W.
The Meatpacking District NYC definitely exists at the Miami Fountainbleau. I love Scott Conant's Scarpetta restaurants. New York, Las Vegas, Miami, Beverly HIlls, Toronto--He has it covered. The simple spaghetti dish here is unmatched in today's world. It is perhaps my favorite spaghetti dish today! The scallps, tuna tartare, and duck foie gras ravioli are truly special. Make sure you have a reservation, arrive for a drink with the beautiful people of South Beach, and are dressed for a nice nightclub, because this place is truly the spot to be seen. It is a special place in the Miami Fountainbleau!
(5)Sarina W.
My boyfriend and I are big Top Chef fans and we were definitely rooting for Chef Nina to win from the beginning. When we took a trip to Miami - South Beach for his Triathlon he knew he wanted a celebration dinner at Scarpetta. The hotel the restaurant is located in is chic, posh, and oh so lovely and modern. The restaurant is also chic and modern in its decor. I really liked the ambiance the moment you walked in. I had a Torino cocktail and it was so yummy and refreshing. Our table had about 6 adults and we ordered an array of foods. But the #1 plate on the table was definitely the Duck And Foie Gras Ravioli. It melts in your mouth and just tastes devine! Simply devine! I would come back just for this dish. I kmow everyone raves about the spaghetti, nut that one was a bit disappointing actually. The pasta itself was cooked to perfection but the sauce is mediocre. Nothing tomrabe about. Seriously, order the Duck And Foie Gras Ravioli. You will not he disappointed! It was simply perfection! So juicy, so flavorful, and melts like butter in your mouth. I do have some complaints though and the major one is service! There were a few folks who were sweet, helpful, and overall nice to talk to such as the bartender. But the overall table service was mostly a miss than a hit. At one point the waiter took our bread back without asking if we were done yet. We were still enjoying that bread! C'mon! They didnt even tell us their specials until we asked. And their overall vibe was that they didn't care that much. They just didn't go beyond was was expected of them that's all. Lots of room for improvement in this area I must say.
(4)Alejandra O.
Great risotto and short ribs, however my moscow mule was not the best. Total cost $58, which included tax.
(4)C N.
Obnoxious service! Went with a group of friends and we were appalled by the utter arrogance of our server. Maybe because we were not purchasing $700 bottles of wine so he couldn't be bothered but he was downright snooty and condescending. Maybe if the food at the restaurant was phenomenal, I could cut some slack but we have eaten at amazing restaurants all over the world and this was just "good" not "great." Too many other "great" restaurants to ever go back to this one. If you are in the mood to be belittled by a waiter, then go this restaurant, otherwise look elsewhere.
(2)Bari A.
The service and food were excellent. I ordered the Scallops. They were delicious but there were only 3 scallops. I was still hungry after an appetizer and an entree. The ambiance, decor and view were wonderful. I would recommend but pricey for small portion.
(4)Jose A.
Very good ... The pasta is amazing a must have . Service is very good . Wine list is top of the line . Make sure you reserve a table otherwise long waits . Service is very good .
(4)Tanja Z.
Service was ok. The food is not all that great. I'm starting to wonder if anybody on yelp rating this place has ever had authentic Italian food. The spaghetti sauce literally tasted like canned spaghetti'os. The braised beef ravioli tasted like pot roasted and the risotto was awful. They use a barley rice that looks and has the texture of oatmeal.
(3)Elizabeth R.
ONE OF THE BEST MEALS I'VE EVER HAD IN MIAMI. Truly. No exaggeration. Atmosphere, food, wine, service--everything exceeded expectations. We purchased a Gilt City deal for 4-courses with wine pairings, and everything--every sip, every bite--was amazing from the bread basket and amuse-bouche to the stroll by the beach after dinner. Positively stellar. We were seated at a romantic corner table by the window, and our charming young waiter took his time to talk to us about the menu, explain the wine pairings, and listen to our food preferences. Highlights of the meal included the oft-aforementioned spaghetti pomodoro and polenta with mushroom, but the real superstar was the Long Island duck. It was the best duck dish I've ever had. Typically, I avoid meat and gluten, but on this particular night, I set all food restrictions aside. If you ever feel like splurging, Scarpetta is the place. Two words to describe Scarpetta: WORTH IT.
(5)Rachel O.
Stayed at the Fontaine Bleu and decided to try Scarpetta out. Very good experience overall! Beautiful setting... we had the best seat in the restaurant. Closest seat to the ocean in the far left corner. Service was amazing. Our waiter was very attentive and made sure he answered every question we had about the menu and gave suggestions. I wish the portions were a little bit bigger. I will say I had the best dish I have ever tasted. The gnocchi in mushrooms and corn. Absolutely amazing.. Melt in your mouth. Also had the best bread experience! The four different house made breads... Mmmm! My boyfriend ordered the spaghetti and the house made pasta was on point as well. Great experience and would definitely recommend!
(4)Mrs. G.
Best Italian in Miami beach. It's difficult to find good places to eat here in Miami, but this one is solid. You cannot go wrong with any dish here and the service is very good. Short rib, spaghetti, the special with truffles are all delicious! Love it!
(5)Neena B.
One of the best Italian meals I've had. We got the tasting with the wine pairing. If you have never gone to Scarpetta it's certainly the way to go. Our waiter Serkan was absolutely amazing. He explained the tasting to us and each wine with every course. I had told him I had heard great things about the spaghetti and the duck and foie gras ravioli and he made sure that they would be on the tasting. The tasting included so many dishes but the perfect amount where you didn't feel stuffed. They gave two starters, three types of pasta, two main courses, and two desserts. Highlights: -Amuse bouche of spicy tuna tartar and yellowtail sashimi. -Bread assortment featuring a panini with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto. -Creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms: I will never look at polenta the same way again. An absolute must try!! -Spaghetti. I was so skeptical since it is spaghetti and sauce. No meat. No special ingredients. But it is as perfect as everyone says. -Duck and foie gras ravioli: So creamy and decadent. There are caramelized onions in the ravioli that gives it this amazing balance. -Red snapper: Incredibly fresh with perfectly crisp skin. It's hard to say highlights because there was honestly no bad dishes. But if I came again, the polenta, spaghetti, and ravioli are absolute musts!! Great food, great service, great ambiance. I'll certainly be coming back!
(5)Tatiana R.
Polenta and the homemade spaghetti are a must And not having for dessert guava pannacotta would be a big mistake Small menu but all dishes are amazing
(5)Coco K.
What a disappointment. I am very familiar with the kind of food Scarpetta restaurants can produce - I have dined at both the LA & Las Vegas locations and had amazing experiences. This one however was shocking sub-par. The waiter's table side manner was both fake and insincere, and included long periods of inattentiveness especially once we finished our meal and declined to order desert. The famous Scarpetta pastas were cold when they arrived at our table, which changed the consistency of the tomato sauce specifically to be sticky and unappetizing. That dish tasted as though they made a huge batch of the pasta and had it sitting under a heat lamp for hours. We we're supposed to be impressed by the news that Nina from Top Chef was cooking in the kicthen that night but that bit of info just added to the massive let down that was our meal. Mass produced and little attention to detail are 2 things that come to mind when I think of this location. Save your money.
(2)Greg N Belle W.
Just recently had my first experience! OMG!!! AMAZING! This restaurant is not only beautiful but the staff and food is perfection! I had the best meal I have ever had. My husband and I went for my bday. We decided to experiment with the menu so we had a couple of different things. Of course, one of those plates were the spaghetti; which was amazing! Our waiter was BEYOND helpful and not too annoying. This is a MUST go!
(5)John O.
i have been to the scarpetta in NYC and beverly hills and finally got around to the scarpetta in miami while at this conference at the fontainebleau. spaghetti was amazing as always, and because of the conference, scarpetta was open for lunch with a buffet. the downside was that it was probably about $50 (i don't remember, because it was on an expense account). but the upside was that you had some great selections--prime rib, short rib ravioli, and of course the spaghetti. you also had a cured meats selection, some decent desserts, and some other antipasti. they don't offer the lunch buffet except on private events but even cooked in mass quantities, the spaghetti rocked.
(5)Eva Z.
This place is worth the money!! I came here with 3 of my friends for my birthday dinner. I was nervous when I saw the prices but my fears were quickly put to rest, as the service was great, and the food was to die for. The basket of bread includes homemade stromboli, which we were all fighting over. The eggplant, olive oil, and marscapone that come with the breads were also delicious, and we were quickly offered another basket of bread after we scarfed down the first (more stromboli!!!). The waiter was very patient with helping us make wine and entree choices, as we were all very indecisive. I ended up having the short rib agnolotti, which was incredible. My friends also loved all of their dishes (sweet corn ravioli and duck and fois gras ravioli). Our waiter was awkwardly hanging around the table when we were finished, even though we had said we were much too full for dessert. Of course he insisted we look at the dessert menu, and when I said that I really was much too full for dessert and didnt want anything, out came my birthday chocolate lava cake complete with candle and Happy Birthday written in chocolate!! The waiter did a great job with the surprise and I managed to stuff a couple of bites of cake in, which was just as delicious as the rest of our food. Such a great experience and meal, can't wait to try the NYC location.
(4)Robert J.
I can see why this place got a 4diamond rating. IT's one of the ultra-snooty, high class, high class, holier-than-thou places that probably spends way too much on a chef. The food was over-the-top tasty/interesting, but small portions that left no one satisfied. The waiter kind of scoffed at us when we said we were coming by for Happy Hour. Look dude, it means we're here for early evening beverages during our business meeting... not that we're here to get drunk on $3 PBRs. They have some sort of dedicated wine host who seemed to know every wine and tried to get us to change our mind when we had picked a bottle. The made us wait in the lobby for 2 minutes because we were there before they were "opened" (rather than allowing us to wait at a table). They also don't open until 6pm.... WHY? It's delicious food and high class, but definitely not my style. Maybe if I had flashed my Bentley keys or a $100k watch they might have treated us a little better.
(3)Christopher S.
Arrive at this place last night and ate at the bar. Michael was awesome and exceeded my expectations, and provided helpful information regarding nightlife options! I had the octopus and roasted chicken which were awesome!
(5)Anita O.
This place has such great reviews, so I was very confused by my experience. I am a New Yorker and have lived in Italy, so I know good Italian food. I LOVE Italian food, so my husband and I visited Scarpetta on Christmas night. We ordered raw scallops and braised short ribs for our appetizers. They were okay, but certainly not impressive. For our meal, I ordered the black linguine. I normally love black linguine-- nothing beats its texture and flavor. So I was so excited when it arrived, and so incredibly disappointed when I took my first bite. The pasta was wayyy overcooked. It was probably pre-cooked and sat in a pot for a couple of hours, the way it tasted. I understand a big restaurant sometimes has to precook pasta, but black linguine goes limp incredibly fast and needs to be cooked al dente when ordered, otherwise you get a black mush, which is what I had to deal with. On top of that, the sauce was very mediocre. Just the wrong blend of spices and too much garlic, I think. It was so bad that I couldn't eat it. And I rarely leave that much food on my plate, even if I don't like the dish. My husband liked his pasta ok...it was a gimelli pasta with lobster. The pasta was cooked well but the sauce was lacking. Our bottle of wine was very good. And the grilled ricotta pound cake was VERY good, the best part of the meal in fact. An extra star just for the dessert. To be fair, Scarpetta had amazing service. Management asked us how we enjoyed our food and listened to our criticisms instead of waving us off. They also did take the black linguine off our bill, which was very nice of them. Sorry, but won't be returning to Scarpetta, not even in NY after this experience. We've just had so much better Italian...
(2)Alexander R.
Overpriced and some of the worst service I've ever gotten. Also the patio areas has terrible acoustics, feels like a noisy cafeteria, you can't hear anyone more than a few chairs away. I was there in a group of 12, most of which were trying out the Miami Spice menu. I'm not sure if this is why our server Carlos was so rude and dismissive, but I expected better from such a nice restaurant. The food was great, though nothing special for the price. I suppose it would've still been a 3-to-4-star experience except when it came time to split the bill, Carlos said it would take too long to split so we'd have to do it ourselves. After 30 minutes of not being able to come up with the correct total, it turns out we had been over-charged ~$125 in extra drinks and and extra Spice dinner. We had to call the manager to finally have our checks split. I would've demanded my gratuity be taken off my check if not for the fear that it would've taken another 30 minutes. Cool place if you want to impress a date, just make sure you don't get Carlos as a waiter.
(2)Charles M.
So delicious I wonder what's in the sauce, in a good way. Just, so so good. The wifey got gluten free pasta that had me stealing bites left and right. I usually hate her gluten-free food. My lobster homemade pasta dish was divine. Desert was heaven, and our waiter just took great care of us. I just got done ripping on 74 in the same hotel. Maybe someone here could teach 74 a lesson or two, but I'd bet Scarpetta wouldn't risk it.
(5)Johnny E.
Really had an enjoyable experience. 'Korean' Tim was our server and without a doubt perhaps the best service I have ever had. He brought us a sample of so much food without us even asking for it. He understood quickly what our taste palate was and made excellent recommendations. The food was not heavy, perfectly balanced. We had the tuna, spaghetti, mozzarella, creamy polenta, and the snapper. And Tim surprised us with three different dessert entrees. We will definitely be back!
(5)Rachel P.
F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!! From the moment you walk in, you are surrounded by a super posh interior. What a beautiful spot to dine while overlooking the ocean. I feel this spot is one of the closest in proximity to the ocean in most, if not all of Miami. The service was perfect (thanks to our australian waiter and crew), the ambiance was perfect, the food and drinks were perfect, I don't think I could have asked for anything more! To start with they have a very interesting cocktail menu, I opted for their apple vodka creation with all sorts of berries. It was red in color and it was probably one of the best cocktails I have ever tasted. The name escapes me, but something with a T.....about 4th down on their drink menu. As for entrees, I couldn't pass up their spagetti dish. Loved it. 3 of us at the table all had to order it. My husband ordered the Garganelli pasta dish; which was tasty too! For a side, I enjoyed their crispy brussel sprouts and I must say they were cooked exactly the way I like them-crispy and not soggy! My husband ordered the braised short ribs and they were excellent! I also tried the creamy polenta and I think next time I would order this as well. As for dessert, we tried both the CHOCOLATE ZEPPOLE which was nutella center, vanilla anglaise & candied hazelnuts (pretty much Nutella donuts)-they were outstanding! We also had AMEDEI CHOCOLATE CAKE with toasted almond gelato & salted caramel sauce (their version of a chocolate lava cake)-also very tasty. We can't wait to find another reason to return back to Scarpetta!
(5)Anita G.
Been coming here since they opened. Service atmosphere and food all perfect. Will be there again soon and always recommending to my friends who are never disappointed.
(5)Geoff And Jenni G.
Cocktails were excellent, wine was fabulous, tasting menu was superb... Nothing but good things to say... really enjoyed the food/evening and would definitely return...
(5)Mark W.
Scarpetta = Excellence. Started off with the Smoked Tuna Tartare. It was a finely chopped dish. Chilled Tuna covered with chopped chive & a smoked salt. Followed by Braised Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli, small perfect packages of decadence & creaminess. The Black Cod seared crisp on the skin, the fish was excellent. Accompanied with beautiful sautéed veggies. The Pinnacle, simple spaghetti basil & tomato sauce, as it was meant to be served. Not a taste missed. Service was excellent. Expensive but worth the experience. Pictures on line.
(5)Michael T.
I had high expectations with all the great reviews... My wife and I got the chefs tasting menu... It was ok.. Nothing memorable.. Even their signature dish house-made spaghetti was good not great. The pasta was fresh but sauce lacked flavor. Service was good... Little all over the place... Have to tighten it up. Really wanted it to be good.
(2)Kortni L.
Over a year later and I would still hop a plane to Miami just to be at Scarpetta. Chef Scott Conant does not disappoint!
(5)Lucy K.
Amazing restaurant. I went here for my boyfriends birthday. I had called and set everything up beforehand. We're both big fans of Nina from Top Chef and we couldn't wait to try her food. We got drinks at the bar beforehand, which were excellent and creative. For food, we ordered: Apps: Polenta with mushroom: 5 stars, incredible. One of the best polenta dishes I have ever had Octopus: 4 stars. Super moist and flavorful Dinner: Duck and foie gras ravioli (as reported by my boyfriend): 4 stars, very good Black cod: 5 stars. I couldn't even tell you all the components I ate but they were all amazing. Everything worked so well together and the fish was cooked perfectly Duck: 4 stars: super moist with a great sauce At the end of the night, they wished him happy birthday and gave him a card signed by the manager. Very professional service. The ambience was romantic and not to loud. Expensive but worth it. We asked if we could meet Nina, but unfortunately she wasn't there that night. Still so happy to have tried her restaurant and the excellent cuisine.
(5)Christina M.
Just celebrated my sister's birthday there & loved the food & ambiance! Highly recommend the spaghetti & coconut dessert!
(5)Rick S.
The food is good, and service unpredictible. We got there around 7pm as a walk in, asked about reservations, they said 8:15pm, so when waited in the bar area, when 8:15 rolled around, we inquired, and were given a pretty bland uncompassionate response that fell between a shrug and rolling of the eyes, so we continued to wait, inquired now and then the same attitude, and finally got seated at 9:30pm. If you subscribe to the adage of "what's the point of making a reservation if it's not going to be honored?" - - then I'd probably avoid this place, as most places in South Beach, Miami - - or once the time hits and you've not been seated, cut your losses and find alternative dining plans so you don't invest too much or more than you can afford to. The service inside was good, the food was served fast and with polite demeanor. The spaghetti was supposed to be awesome, others at the table proclaim. The duck was very good, and if you get it "medium rare" that's perfect and it's moist and tender (be sure to eat the skin too, it's tasty and not too fatty). The portion, as with duck at most non-Chinese restaurants is a small breast fillet, so cut elegantly, but a small portion. Eat a lot of the bread to fill you up first. The bread is excellent by the way. I'd say the one thing South Beach and this restaurant should abolish is the 18% service fee, since mandatory tipping provides no incentive nor motivation for your employees to actually perform, excel or get an indication of the quality of their work. I think a tip should be earned, it's not an entitlement. That's probably why they call it a Service Fee / Service Charge (and it applies to all purchases, whether it's a $100 bottle of wine or $1,900 single serving of 55 year old scotch (by the way, I'm now storing 2013 scotch so that I can make a killing in 2078 in 55 years!), as well as for a party of 1 or 10 people)... I guess if you can afford a $1,900 cup of alcohol, you can afford the $342 they'll charge you to pour it and bring it to you (referring to the 18% service charge)
(3)Lawrence P.
What can you say about Chef Nina and her tomato & basil spaghetti? Perfection that's what!!! I should end my review here because that's all you need to know about Scarpetta. But, let's move on. Corkage fee is $30 so bring your bottle of wine and enjoy a great meal. If pasta is your thing, order the spaghetti (above) and the duck and foie fras ravioli. Simply AMAZING!!! If pasta is not your thing, don't worry. Order the black cod or scallops. We have been here more times than I can count and will continue to go despite how far it is from the house and what a pain traffic around the Fontainebleau Bleu can be if there is anything going on at the beach. Chef Nina is amazing and so long as she is there, this place is a top the dining chart for South Florida for us!!! PS: The restaurant is also beautiful. Very original décor.
(5)S S.
I have been here twice. I don't have one bad thing to say about it. The service was awesome and the food was spectacular. I know it is pricey, but it completely worth it. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Patrick L.
I'd heard of the famous spaghetti and creamy polenta featured at this famous NYC-Miami Italian eatery. Of course, as a hardcore Miami local, I would typically not think of dining at the Fontainebleau, tending to avoid places frequented by tourists. But during Miami Spice? Three course meal at Scarpetta for $39? I'm in. The Scarpetta experience begins with a most excellent bread basket, notable for its salami bread first and foremost. The lemon olive oil, eggplant tapenade, and mascarpone butter they serve with it...these aren't bad either. I ordered the mackerel tartare for the appetizer, which ended up being my favorite course. It was a great dish - light, fresh and flavorful. I also got a chance to try some of Scott Conant's famed creamy polenta with wild mushroom fricasee. While this is no doubt a decadent tasty treat, it's on the side of "too decadent." So tasty, but so creamy, so heavy.....it's too much. I'd like to see more of a deft hand with the richness and more pure corn flavor. Sirloin was next for me, and while this wasn't the most creative plate out there - sirloin with a red wine sauce and au gratin potatoes on the side - the meat was perfectly cooked to my medium rare specification.....and paired quite well with the inky red wine included in the "Riserva" flight for which I opted ($30 for 3 3-4oz pours). Speaking of which, I just thought of this - the wines in the flight were very good, but I wish the wait staff had provided more information about them. I don't even know what I was drinking, and at the time, I didn't think to ask. It would have been nice to gain a little more knowledge about the wines. This was the only dull spot on what was otherwise resplendent service. For dessert, chocolate tart with vanilla bean gelato. The chocolate tart was very rich and a little salty. Again, decadent and enjoyable, but dense and heavy. The gelato, however, was mind-blowing. For me, chocolate can skew toward the too-dense side, but there's no way anyone can provide enough concentrated vanilla flavor for me. This was close. It was one of the most overwhelmingly-vanilla treats I've ever had the pleasure of pushing past my lips. Even if I hadn't enjoyed the rest of my meal, this would probably have sealed the deal for me. In fact, I would have taken 2-3 scoops of the vanilla gelato and forsaken the chocolate altogether. Overall, this is a beautiful restaurant with seriously tasty Italian-inflected plates. I'd just like to see some of the heaviness dialed down a level or two. Maybe one star too over-the-top for my tastes - therefore, a solid 4.
(4)Rebecca H.
Not a consistent reviewer but had to share about our experience here. My husband and I dine out, at least, half of each month so when a restaurant blows us away it certainly is more meaningful. Start to finish, service to food, wine to ambiance everything at Scarpetta was perfect. The food was perfectly executed, the sommelier offered perfect pairings.
(5)Michael D.
Very classy and intimate vibe here, I really liked it, great for a date. The food was insane too. Started off with arugula salad and their bread. Moved on to entrees - wife got short rib risotto and I got the Long Island duck. Both were crazy good. Desert was nutella filled cake bites, perfect way to finish. Lost a couple bills from this dinner but it was worth it on a weekend trip to Miami. I'd have to save it for a special occasion if I was local. But if I was a local living on South Beach, I guess I would have the 'resources' to go here whenever.
(5)Allan S.
Indeed, as good as it gets. As I write I am trying to find something negative to say. Except for the valet sending us in the wrong direction when we first arrived I can't think of a single area for improvement. This ranks as one of the finest dining experiences my wife and I have ever had and we have had more than a few. We tried the four course sampling menu for both our meal and the wine service. Amazing. I can't recommend it enough. Each dish is meant to be shared. We began with a ceviche and sashimi appetizer accompanied by a lovely prosecco. The fish melted in our mouths. The next course was creamy polenta topped with fricassee of truffled mushrooms and braised short ribs accompanied by a nice fruity dry white wine. Each bite was a treat. The third course were three signature pasta dishes: spaghetti bolognese with tomato, basil and parmesean cheese, duck and foie gras ravioli, and Scaliatierlli. It is hard to choose a favorite here because all three dishes were outstanding. This was paired by a delicious red from central Italy. The fourth course was duck and branzino. Now I'm usually not a fan of duck and never before tried branzino, but loved both dishes. The crowning jewel though was the accompanying red which provided an explosion of flavor with every sip. As we were celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary the sommelier, Zarko Stankovik who was absolutely brilliant, brought us one of a rare red whose name escapes me along with a dessert wine from Northern CA and desserts of molten chocolate cake and passion fruit gelato. Ahhhhhhhh. Finally, a visit to the Fontainebleau is an adventure in and of itself. Beautiful people, beautiful venue, women dressed to the nines. The ambiance is as enjoyable as the cuisine. I'm running out of adjectives and so will cut to the chase. From our interactions with the hostess, the server to the sommelier Zarko and from our first to our last bite, we loved it. In terms of cost, your wallet will take a pounding, but it's worth every cent. We will definitely be back.
(5)Joseph H.
Food was good. There was a $45 table fee. Didn't get that. Had a few too many to realize until the next day. Service was slow but they had some hot chicks that made it easy to hang.
(4)Kristine M.
Sat in bar waiting for table 33in asked for drink menu. Then ignored, next talked to hostess - nothing more time passes - left - unreal - don't go
(1)Bettina S.
We went to Scarpetta for our last dinner in Miami this past Wednesday. Both myself and the friend I went with to the restaurant found that the hostess wasn't very friendly, so that was a bit of a turn off, and the room we were seated in was extremely loud because of two large groups that were having dinner there. However the food was very good, and the service, particularly our waiter Victor, was great. They were able to accommodate my gluten free needs and were knowledgeable about the menu and what I could and couldn't have.
(4)Eve C.
I'd been wanting to try Scarpetta for quite a while, and recently had the opportunity to check it out for Miami Spice. While the regular menu prices are pretty high, it's about average for a restaurant of this quality and location. But for the $35 prix fixe Miami Spice menu, how can you go wrong? I started my meal with the creamy polenta with the wild mushroom fricasse. These are served on the same plate in neighboring containers, and you're to mix the mushrooms into the polenta to your own taste. It was phenomenal. No creamy and delicious...mmm! Two of my dining companions opted for the burrata with heirloom tomatoes, which was out of this world. The hold-out got the short ribs, and said they were delicious. For my main course, I knew i had to try that famous Scarpetta spaghetti. I've read and heard many praises for it, and couldn't pass up the opportunity to try it myself. It was quite delicious, with the clearly homemade noodles cooked to a perfect al dente. The sauce was light and had a slight tang to it. Without a doubt, delicious. Not sure if it's the best pasta dish I've ever had (that may be reserved for an amazing bowl (or 3) of gnocchi Sorrentino I had in Naples, Italy), but it's up there. Two in our group ordered the steak, which I was fortunate enough to taste, and it was quite tasty as well. For the finale, I opted for the polenta crusted cheesecake with strawberry and rhubarb, cause I'm a sucker for anything that involves strawberries and rhubarb. It came with come tart lemon sorbet that was light and refreshing. The whole thing was very tasty. Two at our table got the chocolate cake, which was rich and decadent, and the other got the coconut panna cotta. Everything was yummy. The service, once we were seated, was spot-on. Our water and wine glasses were never empty, and the bread that kicked off our meal was brought out hot and tempting from the oven. Of course, despite being on time for our 9pm reservation, we were told our table wasn't yet ready, and to enjoy a drink at the bar. We all know this ploy, and instead saved our money from the over-inflated drink prices and relaxed at the entrance for our table to be ready. Valet is really the only parking option, but be sure to get your ticket validated at the restaurant, or you might be paying more than expected to retrieve your vehicle. I'd definitely return to Scarpetta, but probably only during Miami Spice, or if someone else is footing the bill.
(4)Ryan D.
The food was very nice. The place is over the top and can come across a little pretentious. The price is up there but the food is worth a taste. Wine list is rather extensive and be prepared to part with your hard earned cash when ordering a bottle. Overall worth checking out.
(4)Sasha H.
The food here is a DREAM. Everything, from start to finish, was absolutely scrumptious and perfect. We could not have had a better meal, and our server, Ramon (I believe) was a native NY-er to boot! He was so kind and took the best care of us! Here's to hoping that Scarpetta NY lives up to the high bar set by Miami! Tiny criticism - we were seated ALLLLLL the way in the back dining room at 7:30 pm, when about 2/3 of the restaurant was empty. It was freezing and sort of isolated back there. We are 3 cute/classy girls in our mid-twenties... why, I ask? Didn't enjoy that. Can someone in FOH please PM me and explain that to me, really. Were y'all afraid we would WOO too loudly and scare the main room diners? Yo no comprendo. Besides that, the entire restaurant is beautiful, and service is outstanding and professional.
(4)Stefanie C.
I don't know where to even begin. I wasn't sure what to think of this place upon walking in. It seemed so tiny. Little did I know once you walk passed the bar area, it open up to a huge, beautiful dining area. We had a table of about 20 people. A waiter immediately greeted us and took each of our drink orders. I would say it took a total of 5 minutes and everyone at the table had a drink. We had a pre set menu that was picked for us a head of time. We started with an arugula salad, polenta with truffles, braised short ribs and steak tartare. All were absolutely wonderful! Honestly the arugula salad and the braised short ribs had to be my favorite but the other to came in pretty close. For our second course it was two types of pasta which I cannot comment on because I cant eat pasta. But everyone at the table was ranting and raving about how wonderful it was. With this followed the black cod and sirloin beef. The two of these were absolutely amazing. So many wonderful flavors and cooked perfectly! For desert we were give a chocolate cake, cheesecake and mascarpone custard. I was only able to eat the custard but I have absolutely no complaints. It was wonderful. Overall the ambiance was great. It had a romantic feel. It was busy without being loud. The service was wonderful. They were so quick and friendly. As for the food, it was unbelievable. This place is a MUST when in Miami. I'll be sure to stop by again on my next trip!
(5)Christine C.
Amazing food and more amazing pasta! Certainly one of the best pasta I've had in miami beach. And the service was just fantastic, too!
(5)Stephanie M.
Normally I think "fancy Italian food, all kinda the same" until I ate at Scarpetta. I was fortunate enough to be in Miami during Restaurant Week, and they had a great 3 course special so I got to try some of their most popular dishes without being overwhelmed by a ton of food. I was iffy about the polenta, being that every one I have had has been gritty and lacking flavor, but their polenta was so rich, creamy and delicious it made me sad I had not been looking forward to it! I didn't think it could get any better after the polenta until they brought out the spaghetti. Who gets that excited about spaghetti, right? OMG this was to DIE for. The pasta was hand made that day, and cooked to absolute perfection. They added the sauce (if you can even call it a sauce) in just the right way that it gently coated the spaghetti and soaked into it a bit - if everyplace made spaghetti this way, I would actually order it. I'm not usually a big fan of duck, but the duck and foie gras ravioli was really good in its own right. All in all, AMAZING.
(5)Bri B.
We had dinner at scarpetta tonight (me and my husband) and things couldn't get worse; food and wines are expensive so you expect service is impeccable, unfortunately we are very disappointed. Food was really good but the restaurant felt overcrowded, too much screaming people, inhospitable. We sat next to a very loud party of 10. Lots of people left the restaurant early because of this "Fraternity house out of control" and after our complaints the waiter just mentioned that "at least there's a crowd". Really???????
(1)Kathryn S.
On the first stop of my tour de Miami Spice I decided to make my way over to Scarpetta. My first impression of the restaurant was that the decor and location is beautiful. The restaurant overlooks the Fontainebleau pool area and you can also see the ocean from the outside seating area. Before my friend and I got to order our meal, we were offered a bread basket. I am never one to shy away from a bread basket so I tried every single one of the breads offered. They were all exceptional, but my friend was particularly in love with the bread that comes with ham and cheese. As an appetizer I got the creamy polenta. The polenta was very good and very filling. The special truffled mushrooms that you put on top of the polenta was exceptional. My friend got the braised beef short ribs and said they were great. We both decided on trying the renowned spaghetti for our meals. The spaghetti was served al dente and was pretty good. I don't think it is as amazing as some people make it out to be, but it was still really good spaghetti. For dessert we both got the chocolate terrine and thought it was the best part of the menu. It was just absolutely delicious and really made the dinner wonderful. I had a very nice and delicious meal at Scarpetta, but I don't think the food is worth the regular prices. I am happy I went during Miami Spice so I could try the food at a more economical price.
(4)Megan F.
You have never tasted pasta like this! It is God sent. Absolutely heaven! The tomato basil spaghetti and the creamy polenta are MUSTS! I would focus more on the amazing savory dishes and skip dessert. Their cocktails are great and go down way too easy, totally lethal but delicious! It's pricey but worth every penny
(5)Katherine A.
my dream restaurant loved it
(5)Arlynes H.
II was totally disappointed at the way they treated us the day that I went with a party of ten to celebrate my birthday. The food tasted really good but the service was awful, a waiter simply let us hanging and the manager did not give us any satisfaction for this unfortunate event and that was not the only issue. Something totally unacceptable: We asked the waiter to charge certain amount on one of the credit cards, and without asking the owner of the card, they charge a higher amount of what it was requested, he said that he did it to balanced the total amount of the bill. the waiter made the decision without asking. I don't appreciate the overall experience that I had at this place on my especial day. This is not our first visit to this type of fine dinning restaurant, we have had great service and quality delicious food at many other restaurants in Miami, New York, California therefore I still can't find a reason of the whole waiter situation and the lack of attentiveness from the management to make my Birthday night an especial one as I was expecting.
(2)Michelle C.
One of my favorite "fancy" restaurants in Miami. This is definitely a special occasion meal, especially because every time we go, we order the chefs tasting. The appetizers are a delight. If you're going to get just one, go with the polenta with mushrooms. The polenta is so creamy, I don't want to think about what they have to add to get it that way. The mushrooms come on the side in a very rich sauce that is mixed in table side. If you are dining with a non-mushroom water (like my husband) then lucky you, more mushrooms! The octopus is perfectly cooked. It comes with a very light sauce that brings out the flavor of the octopus without overpowering it. Unsurprisingly, the pastas are really where this place shines. With the chefs tasting menu, we usually end up with the duck and foie ravioli, the spaghetti, and a fish pasta. The duck and foie is just amazing. It's very rich and melts in your mouth. There really is no other way to describe it. As for the spaghetti, this is a surprise! When we first sat down at our table during our initial trip to Scarpetta, a woman about 3 tables over was eating the spaghetti. I remarked to my dining companions that it was ridiculous to come to a place like this to get spaghetti with tomato sauce I could make at home. Then I tasted it. And now I understand why. It's hands down the best spaghetti I've ever had. The sauce is very light, so if you're looking for a thick tomato sauce you're ordering the wrong thing. The spaghetti is lightly coated with sauce. Perfectly cooked. The only thing I don't tend to enjoy is the fish pasta, but that's a personal preference. It tastes like they use a little too much squid ink, and it's just too overpowering for me. But we always finish with the two best desserts in the house. They have an amazing warm chocolate cake. However, the grand finale is the panna cotta. It is light, airy, and the perfect end to a delightful meal. We have always had exceptional service, but maybe we've just gotten lucky! I'm looking forward to returning for my birthday in October!
(5)Lama B.
Scarpetta, Scarpetta. You give me hope. Really, we started with a bottle of Champagne at the bar, and great conversation with the Sommelier and the bartender. Oh how charming. We then headed over to our table and began the adventure. First, they gave us a plate of the famous pasta with basil and tomato sauce on the house. BEST PASTA EVER. I didn't order it as we wanted to try other dishes, but this one blew our socks off. The fois gras pasta was a plate of pockets of goodness, and the lamb ragu was to die for. The polenta with mushrooms, I mean really? I don't like polenta, but this time I was more than happy to inhale a vat of butter. OH yum. This meal, from champagne and rosemary chips at the bar, to Salami bread and classic excellent pasta was a dream. Thank you Scarpetta for making our night AWESOME!
(5)Cristina L.
The atmosphere is very nice. As a small eater, I got the rib as appetizer. It was delicious. It was soft and tender. I got the spaghetti as my entree, it was delicious. My friend got the ravioli as her entree, it was too salty. The cocktails were also good. I got something with raspberry and would definitely recommend it to anyone that likes fruity drinks. Overall it was a nice experience.
(5)Andrew C.
Had family in town for a wedding so I decided I would take them to one of the best Italian restaurants in Miami. We had great service last time, so this time we requested the same waiters again, Eddy and Luis, and they did not disappoint. We had the polenta, colorado lamb saddle, and farmer's market salad. Everything was tasty, the plating was stunning, and the polenta was as good as last time. I highly recommended the polenta to my guests so I was hoping it wouldn't be a disappointment (I knew it wouldn't). They wanted a straw so they could suck up every last grain or whatever you call it. They said that they would die happy after eating the polenta so I guess it did not disappoint. For entrees we tried the short rib agnolotti, the oven roasted chicken, and sirloin. Again, everything was spectacular. The "made in house" pastas' have the perfect texture, the agnolotti was tender and exploded with flavor when bit into. Both sirloins were cooked as requested, the steak was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. I am always hesitant to order chicken when ordering out because I am afraid it will be overcooked, alas I should have never doubted Scarpetta. It was the juiciest chicken I have ever had. Full of flavor and they managed to get the skin to the perfect crispiness. For dessert we had the chocolate cake, passion fruit semifreddo, and coconut panacotta. The people across from us probably thought something was wrong because all that was coming from our table were "uuhhhh" "mmmhmmmmm" "oh my" Everything was wonderful! The chocolate cake was super rich and the inside was warm, gooey, and chocolate oozed out when cut into. The semifreddo had the perfect amount of tart to go well with the best banana gelato I have ever had. It tasted like if someone got a perfectly ripe banana, mixed it up with rich cream and threw it into an ice cream maker. The service was spectacular, Eddy and Luis sounded like they could recite the menu in their sleep. And they treated us extra special because I had guests from out of town. What it was they did I will not mention, but I praise them for making it such a memorable experience. I highly recommend these two waiters. If I ever feel like self-indulging or I have family/friends from out of town, Scarpetta is tops on my list to go to! *Best Dish - The polenta, or pretty much anything on their menu! lol*
(5)Karen G.
We had dinner here as we were already staying in the hotel and I'd long wanted to try the original Scarpetta in NYC. The tagliolini was the best dish of our entire trip. In fact, it's one of the best pasta dishes I've had, EVER. the flavor was delicate and subtle, and so good I kept stealing bites from my husband's plate. The foie gras and duck ravioli ended up being disappointing compared to the tagliolini. It might be an unfair comparison, but the flavor ended up being too earthy, too much.
(4)Brenda P.
I feel I need to update my review because my experience the 2nd time was just so different than my first. Arrived on time for a 7pm reservation and got seated right away. Our server came over right away and introduced himself. He listed the specials and spoke to us about the tasting menus. We opted for the 5 course tasting menu without the wine pairing. Instead we settled on a bottle of Col Solare which would go with everything. Let me tell you this, IT IS A LOT OF FOOD. I have done many tastings all over the country (including a 21 course at BAZAAR in L.A) and this was just a lot of food. What makes it over the top is that what some restaurants call a "course" is not the same here. I will explain. In most restaurants, a "course" within a tasting consists on ONE usually small portioned entree per person. At Scarpetta, each "course" has 2-3 different "courses within the course" and served family style. Still following? Good thing we opted out of the 9 course option. Phew! and as a disclaimer, I can eat. You would not think so but I really can. We were full halfway through and there was no turning back, only many request to pack this and that up! For the amuse bouche they brought out a sliced yellowtail with Himalayan salt (divine) and a swordfish. In addition was their version of a fritto misto with shredded veggies and assorted seafood. Should not have finished that! But I did. The courses officially began with the mushroom polenta. The taste is unlike any I have ever had. Consistency could have been thicker. They serve it separately than the mushroom mix so it could be that when combined it waters it down a bit? Still amazing. I was trying to restrain myself a bit but I should have gone for dipping the bread in whatever was left. I didn't. Sigh. Did I say bread? The bread basket hides this one specialty that has salami inside of it. Really? because hot bread is not tempting enough? Of course I had to have it. It comes with a trio of spreads- olive oil, butter and an eggplant tomato mix. Still on the first course, there was also a serving of their short ribs. Delicious. Not the best I have ever had but up there somewhere. 2nd course was when I transformed into a moaning fool. Yes, you read right. I went completely Meg Ryan at the table with every bite. No, my husband (unfortunately) had nothing to do with it. TMI? Oh well. This is where they hooked me to always and forever return to Scarpetta. The 2nd course consisted of not one, not two, but THREE pasta dishes. Up first was their foie gras ravioli, followed by their spaghetti followed by their orecchiette with pancetta and broccoli. It was just obscene. It really was. All homemade. All amazing. The orecchiette was in third place and that's actually an insulting place for it to be because it was also very good. And it had broccoli. I hate broccoli but did not hate this. This is how pasta is cooked. I could have that spaghetti every day of my life. It is so simple but my goodness, it is incredible. I will tell you that I love cheese and I did not want to spoil that plate of spaghetti by adding it because it was perfect as they served it. There was not a speck of pasta left on those three plates! 3rd course was their black cod as well as their scallops. Again, two course within the one course. These were perfectly cooked as well but we really just took a bite or so of each to try it because we were pretty much done. We had to struggle to fit more food in. 4th course was their sirloin and the duck. Also beautifully presented and cooked. Another thing to pack up after the obligatory bites to try it. 5th course was dessert. Why is it that no matter how full you are, you always manage to fit dessert? This night they had a coconut panna cotta in a guava soup with what seemed like a sugar coated pineapple slice? the second dessert was a chocolate cake with salted caramel ice cream and a chocolate thin cigar. We managed to have most of that despite the fullness. Delicious. If you are still reading, I am sure you feel full too. Admit it. Service was impeccable all night. It was still light out when we arrived and as it got darker, so did the restaurant. They don't turn many lights on. They solely depend on the table candles for light. The music also went louder as the night went on. Even on a Sunday which is when we went. The bathroom is outside the restaurant and a little bit of a walk but not too bad. Park on the south entrance of the hotel. You will be closer. We ended with some coffee and vowed to come back next time with our eyes on the price: PASTA! and you my fellow Yelper, should do the same! P.S. They handed us the bill and this little card promoting for us to leave a review on Trip Advisor. Huh? How 2005 of them. I made sure to tell them that needs to change ASAP to promote YELP instead. Real People, Real Reviews minus all the pop up screens. Easy decision if you ask
(5)Amos N.
Very good. We were a party of 4 and did the tasting menu. Duck pate ravioli was a highlight as was the polenta with mushrooms. Huge wine list. Service was 5 star. Didn't love the room, a little 80's feeling and cold. Food was pretty heavy and rich. Worth a visit for sure.
(4)Luke S.
Located at the Fountainbleau in Miami. Great ambience, fantastic service, quality of food was outstanding and full of flavor. Must make reservations and be prepared to spend some dough as it will get expensive.
(5)Jackie N.
My gf and I came here for our last dinner in Miami. We go to the restaurant and the hostess suggested we get a drink at the bar because our table was just finishing up dessert. Right when our wine was put in front of us, our table was ready. But the hostess was nice enough to carry both our glasses of wine on a tray to our table. We opted for the 4 course tasting menu which is served to the table for, I believe, $78 per person. Starter/Amuse bouch - a piece of the raw yellowtail appetizer with marinated onions and baby greens and a piece of hamachi. Both were delicious Appetizer - They gave us braised short ribs with veggies and risotto which were good, not amazing but good. They gave us a full portion of the creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms. OH...EM...GEE. These were delicious! You have the option to get freshly shaved truffles on top, but that's an extra $25 and the sauce already has a strong essence from the truffle oil they probably used. *The couple next to us didn't hear the extra $25 part and after the waiter informed her, she told her boyfriend she thought it was cheese...d'oh!* Pasta - We got cute little bowls of 3 different pastas. First, the scialatielli, which was supposed to have shrimp and calamari..but we didn't see either. It wasn't our favorite. The classic spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce which was very simple but very good with some parmesan cheese on top. The duck and fois gras ravioli was the best pasta we had and our small portion was perfect. It is a bit too much for a normal serving of pasta. Meat/Fish - The black cod with roasted fennel had an amazing sauce which made the dish. The sirloin was really yummy and came with shaved fois gras on top. Yum! Dessert - They ended with a dense chocolate cake with almond gelato and the coconut panna cotta. Both were yum! If I were to come back, i would get the creamy polenta, hamachi, and duck and fois gras ravioli to share. However, I don't know if I would come back. I thought the food was good, but average for the amount I spent. It was about 100/person including tip, which is more than all the other meals in Miami and I was the least satisfied with this meal. Also - the portions (on the regular menu, not even the tasting menu) are really small!
(3)Tenzo A.
All the talk about about the spaghetti being good, yeah no. I'm not sure if it was because it seemed like we were the last reservation so they rushed our order but it was under cooked. I had everyone on the table try it to confirm that I wasn't the only one who felt that way. The only reason I didn't complain to the waiter is because he was such a RUDE guy that I didn't even want to deal with him. So here's where I got the rude from .. So we get there and place our order. I ordered one of their signature cocktails and asked the waiter if he could ask the bartender to add jalapenos in the cocktail. NOW I know every restaurant doesn't have jalapenos in their bar, but I can say that 95% of the restaurants I've gone to have had them. It's one thing to nicely tell me you don't have jalapenos but this guy went out of his way to make me feel like I asked him the dumbest question heard to mankind. He looked at me like I was from another planet and told me they don't have jalapenos and NO BAR has jalapenos .. Like really he responded like I asked him to add toothpaste to my drink. So I said ok most places have it but thats okay thank you. A little later, he came back AND GUESS. WHAT. my freakin drink had jalapenos in it and ALL OF a sudden he was the nicest waiter. I don't know I'm just big on service and NO ONE should treat not just their customers but people in general like that. Now the only reason I gave this place 2 stars was because of their yellowtail. SO good. Make sure you order that.
(2)Steven W.
"Why would you want to go to Scarpetta in Miami when there is one in New York!?!!" I lifted this question out of Wendy L's review below from 4/6/2012 where her date asked: The answer is in the question...BECAUSE THERE IS ONE IN NEW YORK!...stay with me here... With so many great restaurant to try in NYC, there's no way get to them all, especially if you don't reside there. If I have the opportunity to try a place with a sterling reputation, that has a sister spot in another city, that from all I've heard/read mimics the original to a tee, then I'm going in...If for no other reason to check it off the list and open up a spot for a future NYC endeavor...that may only make sense to me, but I guess that's all that's important. Scarpetta was 5 Stars across the board...from the staff, who were all super friendly, helpful, and seemed generally excited to have us as customers...to the people in the kitchen, who are putting out the kind of food that solidifies Scott Conant's reputation in the industry. We had a few dishes that seem get a lot of press...Polenta w/mushrooms and Spaghetti with tomato sauce and basil. We also had a Mediterranean Sea Bass, Dessert, etc...The details don't really matter. Everything was perfectly executed from a preparation and flavor perspective. Even the bread basket, with the bread that had the salami and cheese baked into it, started the meal off simply surpassing my expectations. The whole "Event," I will call it, made me appreciate Scott's talent in this business, and I'm sure I'll see his comments on chopped in a slightly different light. Hats off to the people actually running the place as well! They are doing all of the heavy lifting. Scarpetta is a restaurant I would definitely return to, take others to etc...so much for my theory of trying something so I won't have to go there when I'm in New York.
(5)Elizabeth Y.
Miami Spice. Dress nice. Good excuse to dress up for a date with my boo. We decided to get diff things on the menu so that we could share. We decided to each get wine flights where you get a glass for each course of the meal. Their bread basket brings you an assortment of diff types of bread along with some type of eggplant dipping sauce. And if you're extra hungry you can ask for more bread if you finish the basket. Appetizer: winner - the polenta! Anything that has truffles will make my mouth water and drool. Main dish: My bf got the yellowtail and I got the oven roasted chicken, as we thought we should try something else besides their spaghetti. Well my bf's face dropped a little when he saw how small the yellowtail dish was, so we opted to switch as my chicken had more substance lol. Either both dishes were good, but nothing really wowed us. Dessert: Winner: Mascarpone custard and mango sorbet. I love mascarpone! It always reminds me of tiramisu. Very expensive meal but for miami spice it was worth the experience. Great service too. Can't say I will come back though.
(4)Alexa A.
I usually stay at the fontaine bleau in miami when i visit but when i wanted italian food i came to scarpettas it was a bit expensive but whocares the food made me feel like i was back at home it was amazing
(5)Nelson A.
Two stars because the quality of the food does not match what you pay. The waiter recommended the "spaghetti", saying that this was what people visited this restaurant for. The famous spaghetti ended up being a HUGE disappointment, overpriced and completely ordinary.
(2)Shibei R.
I loved eating at Scarpetta. What an experience! We had the chefs tasting and plus the cheese course. The food was so delicious, and the coconut Pena cotta dessert was the best dessert I have ever had in my life. I will definitely go back again. Great fine dining experience.
(5)Mario P.
Good place! The creamy polenta was really good. The entries, gemelli and foi gras ravioli were ok. Gemelli is a pasta with lobster and shellfish, I have definitely try better one for less price, not in Miami. The dessert was chocolate cake with ice cream, really good. So if I would go again, I'd order polenta and dessert, lol. The service is really good too, they are always around. One thing, I went for my gf birthday and they knew we there for that, and we were expecting a courtesy dessert or something. Usually restaurants (less fancy ones at least) give a especial dessert, but not here :(
(4)Elaine D.
Great pasta. Really beautiful decor. Ocean view available . Bring a sweater. It's freezing in the restaurant
(5)Cristina F.
From the beginning to the end, it was an amazing experience dining at Scarpetta. I went with one of my friends who was visiting from out of town, and we both loved every minute of it. The service and food are top notch. Since we arrived a bit earlier than our reservation, we sat at the bar and ordered dirty martinis. I don't know where or how they get their olives for the dirty martinis, but they were the most amazing olives that I've ever had. I'm not crazy, my friend agreed. I'm seriously talking about green olives right now. The drink was strong, and perfect. Best dirty martni, hands down. At the table, after a lovely conversation with the sommelier, we ordered a bottle of the Villa di Capezzano Carmignano 2006 and it was truly delicious. The bread basket and olive oils to accompany the basket were unique and we both enjoyed it very much. For starters, we tried the steak tartare and the creamy polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms. Both of these just melted in our mouths. The tartare was one of the best I've had and I really didn't want that polenta to end. For our main course, I ordered the duck and foie gras ravioli and my friend had the filet mignon. Again, the ravioli just melted in my mouth, really buttery. Simply divine combination of flavors, and nothing too overpowering. The filet mignon was also great, and cooked perfectly. We were so stuffed by the end of the night, that we couldn't move. It was well worth it, though. I can't wait to do it again.
(5)Carlos A.
This is one of my favorite restaurants as Conant's meals are phenomenal. Get the Miami Spice deal for $39 for a 3 course and get the wine tour. The octopus and the pork are exceptional.
(5)Justin T.
We tried this place for Miami Spice because we heard that it's supposed to have "the best spaghetti you've ever had in your life!" To be honest, it tasted like Chef Boyardee! The Miami Spice menu that was listed online was totally different than the Miami Spice menu that they actually offered once we were there. The service was great- our waiter was very nice and attentive. And the atmosphere was great- we had a view of the ocean while we ate our mediocre food. But we went for the food! And it was highly disappointing :-( We won't be going back and we wouldn't recommend Scarpetta to anyone.
(2)Mike D.
This is the 3rd Scarpetta I have been to and let me disclaim that the other 2 got 5 stars from me as well, which tells you a few things: This place is amazing, the food is consistently mind blowing, and lastly I have a bad addiction to the culture SC has created! I have traveled to Miami quite often and this is the number 1 place in my book. The location is stunning, the menu is the typical greatness you would expect from Scott, the wine list, though overwhelming, is quite extensive and the service is impeccable. Here is my recommendation: Go in a get greeted by the gracious host. Walk through this beautiful restaurant and let the sweeping views of the Atlantic ocean envelop you. Sit done and take a deep breathe! Ask to talk to the sommelier and explain to him what you like in a wine. The reason I am saying wine over a cocktail is because a good wine will help develop and accentuate the flavors you are about to experience and trust me the sommelier on hand is one of the best in the area for sure. Next, stop and look around at the restaurant to get a great feel of what modern American meets classic Italian looks like. This will help prepare you for the food to come. I'm not going to itemize what you should get because quite simply, everything on the menus has such a focus on detail that you will not be disappointed buy anything they have to offer. What I do recommend is get an app, 2 pastas, and and entree, this will help you understand what they are doing here as far as cuisine goes. Also, save room for dessert, do not say your are going somewhere else, or that you are full because the desserts, especially the panna cotta are life altering. I hope one day when my wife and I are indulging in a great meal at any of the Scarpetta or DOCG restaurants, Scott walks in with the swagger and confidence he exuded in his food, walks by us, say 'sup' and 'are you the guy that LOVES all my restaurants?", I will proceed by pushing out a chair for him, ordering a wonderful bottle of Amarone or Brunello and just thank him for creating such a wonderful culture and for giving us the opportunity to indulge in one of the best restaurants in county.
(5)S M.
I am beginning to feel like the odd man out with some of my reviews. The plusses: Decor was great and all glass surroundings beautiful. Service was very good. Our waiter was friendly and "earned" the service charge. Wine list is incredible. The wine list is as big as the local newspaper. Polenta appetizer is superb. The minuses: Really weird hipster sort of music playing incredibly loud spoils the experience. Many of the dishes are way over the top too rich. When I say too rich, both me and my companion felt sick by the end of the night. Didn't quite see the "Miami" crowd I was hoping for. I had the oven roasted chicken. Dry, salty, just not that great. My companion had the swordfish. That was good, poached, but nonetheless too rich! The desserts were absolutely over the top. I had the chocolate cake. I was stupid enough to eat half of it and I literally had stomach aches from the richness afterward. Granted I had the equivalent of 2 glasses of wine with my meal, but it wasn't just me, my companion felt the same and she didn't drink anything. I am glad we went. The hotel is always nice to visit. But I will not go to Scarpetta again.
(3)Ryan P.
We had been to Scarpetta's in Las Vegas and had the time of our lives.... So, we were looking forward to a fantastic night in Miami! Hmmm.... Sometimes it is just hard to recreate a memory and this certainly was not the same! We had gone to one of the Foutainebleau restaurants the night before and had the 'Miami Spice' Special.... so all five of us chose that route along with the wine pairing! - I had read all the reviews and we decided to add the Crispy Fritto Misto and the Creamy Polenta with truffled mushrooms to our price fixed menu. I think all 5 of us would agree that those 2 items were the best of all the items we ate that night. / This is a perfect example of getting what you pay for.... while the overall special was certainly priced well...it wasn't right. Scott is a great chef and while we may not have liked this meal...we will be back!
(3)Melissa F.
The food is always amazing here. My waiter was okay, he could have been nicer or idk... a little different. He seemed to neglect us a tiny bit.. I know it wasn't just me either cause my husband said something to me about it. I usually don't want to complain cause sometimes that sets the tone for the night. All in all though I love the food there... So I would go back..
(4)Garrett K.
I love this place. Gourmet Italian! Scott Conant is a culinary genius!
(5)Saulo C.
very expensive, forced a truffle $ 50, I did not understand that the waiter offered me, kinda empurou to sell more ..
(3)David L.
Food: 4 Decor: 4 Service: 4 Came here for dinner around 9:30pm Tuesday. Didn't have a reservation and opted for bar seating. 1. BRAISED SHORT RIBS OF BEEF 16 vegetable & farro risotto ~Really good. Beef was tender and cooked perfectly, and the jus complemented the risotto very well. 2. SPAGHETTI 24 tomato & basil ~Really good. Best plate of spaghetti I've ever had, despite it being so simple and somewhat expensive. Service was good, although it would have been nice to get my bread before my starter. Bread was a bit stale, but the eggplant marinara dip was pretty good.
(4)Rina N.
I came here with a party of 9 for my birthday dinner. I made reservations a few days prior; I made changes to the number of people attending a few times and they were very accommodating to my needs. They have the best basket of bread - 3 types (I believe they were focaccia, Cuban style and butter rolls). We asked for maybe 3 refills! It was complimented by 3 different spreads (mascarpone butter, olive oil and a tomato eggplant mixture). Most of us ordered the Miami Spice menu (~$39/pp). I ordered the tuna carpaccio appetizer, local snapper (caught that day) and a coffee semifreddo for dessert. Hands down the best meal I've had in quite a long time. Price was extremely reasonable for the Miami Spice. I can't forget to mention that our server was tremendously knowledgable of their offerings - I'm pretty sure he went through the entire menu items in exact detail without a single breathe haha. Really appreciated his service, we gave him additional tip on top of the already 18% included gratuity. We left the restaurant comfortably stuffed and super content. Would definitely recommend this place for any special occasion or date. I even saw some families with their kids so it's family/kid friendly too!
(5)Hesham E.
We had a three course meal here for Valentine's Day and we were not at all disappointed. The food, service and ambiance make for a perfect romantic night out. If you're in the mood for pasta, this is the place to go. Everything is made fresh to order and you can certainly tell.
(5)Claudia C.
what a joke!!!!! Like seriously , where is the hidden camera. personnel was rude, unprofessional and totally out of line Place was desserted but they refused to add a 5th chair because according to them they were booked for the night......yeah rigth! We were there for 2 hours and no one walked in those doors. We knew it was expensive, but the portions are offensive. Perhaps we caught them on a off night but I would never recommend or go back to this place. Seriously there is nothing spectacular about their food but the prices and the snobish attitude from the staff (they were confused perhaps as to who the customers were?) I found totally unforgivable. Never ever coming back I resent Yelp for falling into this brand name trap :(
(1)Nathaly L.
Spaghetti amazing! i cant help order the same entree time and time again. i am obsessed with their simple yet amazing spaghetti pomodoro. i love it, nothing fancy its spaghetti guys!!! but its so simply delicious. i also recommend their farmers salad yummy! and they have a creamy polenta with a mushroom ragu sauce that i loove (if u like polenta). Nice vibe, intimate, trendy, fun date night place... one con: the last table i sat on was right under the a/c vent making it extremely cold for me, a bit uncomfortable.
(5)Annah T.
Most amazing Italian food. Rather pricey but all in all completely worth it. The best part was the service and the round of tequila the manager brought out for us at the end. Thank you so much for contributing to our great time in Miami!
(5)Jason S.
What we ate: Creamy Polenta - Amazing! A must! Stone Crab Appetizer - A Miami staple, but small portions. Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli - Creamy & Delicious! Spaghetti - Supposedly a signature dish but just Meh. Chocolate Cake - Good but not memorable. & Complimentary Petit Fours What we experienced: Great customer service! We mentioned to the waitress that we were not only Top Chef fans, but fans of Chef Nina. Halfway through our dinner, the waitress surprised us with Chef Nina, herself! She sat down with us, took a picture and chatted briefly as it was a busy Saturday night! Not only that, but Chef Nina sent a complimentary Petit Fours our way as we were celebrating my birthday. This is a beautifully decorated restaurant in the equally amazing Fontainebleu! What else? Make reservations as it seems pretty busy with tourists and corporate diners alike.
(4)Cristina C.
From what I hear, the menu is fantastic but I only order three things off the menu: creamy polenta appetizer, tomato basil spaghetti (filled with buttery, cheesy goodness in addition to the freshest tomato sauce ever) and any chocolate dessert they're offering. I don't bother trying anything else. They're just that good.
(5)Dan R.
I always tell myself that if I had to live somewhere other than New York City, it would be Miami. Domestically speaking, of course. And I've only ever been in the Magic City for a handful of days at a time, but each time, I always enjoy it a little too much, and then start day-dreaming about some alternate timeline I've got going for myself where I wear an obnoxious amount of white morning, noon, and night. But, in the unlikely event I actually leave New York, I'd most likely miss the food above all else. Thankfully, there are Gotham transplants like Scarpetta to get me through the pain. Pici is one of my favorite types of pasta (picture thick spaghetti), and Scarpetta's offering has got to be one of the best I've ever had. Tossed with lobster, Calabrese spices, and a spreadable sausage called 'nduja (Italian slang for andouille, although the meats are not the same), this exceptional dish was bursting with flavor, a soul-warming land-and-sea medley in each forkful. The Burrata (served over heriloom tomatoes, baby basil, and arugula salad) was equally delicious in its own right - milky, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. And how often do you get to talk about bread baskets? Well, Scarpetta's is worth the shout-out - I'm lookin' at you, salami-filled stromboli! Despite the impressively extensive wine list, I opted for a cocktail, specifically their signature San Remo (Carpano Antica, Campari, elderflower liqueur, a splash of Maker's Mark, and, although not listed as an ingredient on the menu, and because, after all, this is Florida, I swear there's some secret citrus in there). Both masculine and refreshing, this one lived up to its much-promoted, go-to status. Thanks to its coveted Fontainebleau location and vintage-navy, gold-trimmed, ocean liner decor, Scarpetta doubles as both a date night destination and birthday group dinner celebration spot before hitting the club. Or a place for seniors with money who know what's up, because we saw a few of those, too. Again, this is Florida. Even with a Scarpetta in my very own city, God help me if I wait until retirement age to come down here again. The Old Country, New York, New Jersey, Miami, it doesn't matter - this is some of the best Italian your hard-earned money can buy. Anywhere.
(5)Gnome H.
We had a party of four (we are usually just two) and were glad because we all did the tasting menu and were treated to 4 different choices with each round - so basically we were each getting 4 different small tastes each time. They even let us suggest things we don't like and things we do, so we could avoid the "in" meals like duck and get something better. (we have ducks in our pond, why would I ever want to eat one) A little more than we wanted to spend the night before a cruise, but well worth it. We do a lot of tasting menus and this stands out for value. The courses themselves weren't NYC caliber dining... but were still upscale. Check out their spaghetti - it was good, but not really top chef material. Service was excellent. Not just our waiter but others were stopping by making sure we had what we needed. The wine pairing was average. We would actually go back and try different things. The true test of a place is if you would go back, isn't it? Yes, I would recommend Scarpetta. Thanks Miami.
(4)Cecily K.
The duck foie gras ravioli is absolutely delicious, perhaps one of the best things I ever ate. It's a smaller portion, so you might want to also order an appetizer or additional side.
(5)Tony L.
Great Italian spot in south beach. One of the few places where you will get consistent great Italian food! Arugula salad is a great start. Spaghetti is delicious and fish is always fresh. I had the snapper this time which was cooked to perfection. I really enjoy eating here at the fountain blu. You will not be disappointed.
(4)Michelle R.
Hands down the best meal of 2014. From start to finish, the service was outstanding and the food was possibly the best Italian I've ever had. I'm so glad we chose Scarpetta during our stay in Miami. I'm 100% certain that everything on the menu is delicious, so I won't get into everything we ordered, but I will say: order the spaghetti. You'll never have spaghetti with red sauce again without thinking of this perfect dish. Totally worth it.
(5)Jonelle P.
The creamy polenta, the Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli were amazing!!! Those are a must try! The service was really great too.
(5)Rhonda H.
Magnificent room that any aging starlet would appreciate for it's lighting . Service extraordinaire with the manager coming over at the finale to do any damage control. (We had 20% taken off our check for late seating and bad first table), food, exceptional, really, spaghetti, that good? Dinner bill uh oh here's where the star is taken off. For the food portions served (I don't mind, I hate overeating ) the bill should have been half the price. I love the domes brought over the plates and then Voilla! Oh my! where's the food?
(4)Annie H.
Amazing northern Italian food and service! Their hospitality is unbeatable. The manager, Jason, and staff, made our experience at the FontainBleau an unforgettable one! We will certainly be back to visit!
(5)Rachel A.
Literally everything we put in our mouth was to die for!! This was a girls night of 3~ There was a wait so we started off with drinks at the bar - love the ambiance and the scene here - pretty people dressed for a night out~ Once we got to our table, service was prompt. The bread was brought out and our fav dip was the eggplant - so flavorful! We got the creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms...amazing consistency and flavor! I ordered the butter squash raviolini w broccoli rabe pesto - you know how normally veg options are a hit or miss? This was a definite hit!! I ate every bit off my plate! My friend ordered the spaghetti - delicious - the noodles alone are tasty! My other friend ordered the duck and foie gras ravioli - another hit. We finished off with the budino di mascarpone which was mascarpone custard, mango salad & mango sorbet - wonderful flavors and pretty presentation! What a fab foundation before a long night of drinks and dancing at LIV! Gotta work those calories off! Always impressed by the quality of food at the Fountainebleu - will be back!
(5)Nicole R.
I was a little hesitant going here because im not very adventurous with food, but my bf & I got the chef's tasting and everything was AMAZING. The service was impeccable and everything was so fresh. I loved the butternut squash raviolis and the smoked steak... Also the palenta with truffles. I HIGHLY recommend. Its a lot of food for 2 people.
(5)Lu T.
First night in Miami and we wanted to start it off right and have dinner at Scarpetta at the iconic Fontainebleau. Fine dining was out of the question for any other night as we were very likely to be smashed for the remainder of our trip and therefore could not savor things like this. Why Scarpetta? Well I'd be lying if I didn't say the $35 prix fixe Miami Spice menu didn't play a significant role in that decision but also because I really wanted to see what all the hoopla was about with the spaghetti. I got to sample plenty of things that night and it was a lot of gut-busting fun. First off was the braised short ribs of beef and polenta. Fantastic starters in my humble opinion. The braised short ribs were just tender beyond belief and was texturally complemented by the risotto. Probably one of the better if not best examples of short ribs I have had. The polenta is also well known here, very creamy and smooth but strong enough to stand up to the earthiness of the truffled-mushrooms that was added table-side. The main course included samples of the prime filet of beef, the branzino and of course the spaghetti. The beef was perfectly cooked but lacked anything special to really punctuate and make the dish memorable. I think Scott Conant played it safe with this one and just needed something for the Miami Spice menu. The branzino was criminally salty. The delicate white meat was tainted by the fry treatment the skin got, what a waste of a perfectly good fish that came so far just to be on my plate. The spaghetti was easily the best of the three. Even so, I don't think this was a re-invention of the wheel that deserves all the attention it has been receiving. It was a good pasta made with fresh, quality ingredients, simple yet effective. Spaghetti in a tomato-basil sauce shouldn't cost that much people, save your $23 and make it at home. The dessert. I can't eat. Too sweet. I think I'm diabetic now. By the way, skip the wine pairing if you're ordering from the Miami Spice menu. It sucks and it's overpriced. Scarpetta served as a swanky, sexy backdrop to our first evening in Miami that I thoroughly enjoyed. Although the night had a few very poignant moments food-wise, the quality of some of the main dishes ultimately fell short and that was what stood out in my memory. P.S. Just cause we're ordering from the Miami Spice menu doesn't mean we're cheap, it just means we're Asian so please be nicer to us. You got your 20% gratuity anyways.
(3)Stephanie L.
After hearing so many great things about Scarpetta, I couldn't wait to go during Miami Spice! Any restaurant that can be known simply for making a basic spaghetti amazing is a must try! Went in the middle of the week with a couple of friends. Although we had a reservation, we ended up waiting a few minutes and got to take the opportunity to relax in the lounge. Modern, dim and chic, pretty much exactly what I expected from a restaurant at the Fountainbleau. When we got seated in the main dining room was a little surprised by the decor. It was still classy, but it seemed reminiscent of an upscale yacht, complete with "port window" style mirrors, and lots of rope decor. Interesting. Immediately received a basket of the infamous bread, complete with the famous soft and salty, stromboli pick (pretty good!). They also served several additions for the bread including an eggplant tapenade, a citrus infused olive oil and a creamy butter. Definitely some of the freshest and well cooked bread I've had at a restaurant. We ordered from a waitress who did seem a little less than thrilled we mostly went with the Miami Spice. She however did bring out the "flight of wines" very quickly and was very nice in explaining what each glass was. All three of the picks turned out to be excellent! Without too much waiting they brought our our first course... Polenta was thick and creamy, and the truffled mushrooms were a wonderful addition. Both were served in their own little cups and they mixed the two tableside for a nice extra presentation. The burrata was so soft and moist that it melted like butter and was a nice light beginning. The short ribs were succulent and juicy with a hard farro that complemented it well. All were superb choices! Next was the entrees, and that's where it all came crashing to a halt. No matter how great the ambiance, or how excellent the starters, if the entrees are over-seasoned it's tough to leave happy. I had the branzino, which was beautifully prepared, with a simple presentation, crisp outside, tender and fresh. However, I'm not sure if it was the sauce, the capers or the fish, but something was WAY too salty. It was like eating the fish in the ocean. My friend who got the legendary pasta was equally disappointed with her choice. I tried it and immediately noted the cause of her distress. Al dente, yes. Fresh tomato, cheese and basil in the sauce to break up the flavor, yes. Abundance of white pepper drenching the dish and so potent you couldn't taste much else, unfortunately the answer was also yes. The beef entree too was not particularly great, with lots of dried fat running through. Also, a vegetarian friend who had ordered off the Spice menu and had gotten the zuchinni ravioli thought it had a salty, and not at all subtle, very strong fishy taste. After inquiring with the server she found out it was prepared with an not-mentioned anchovy butter. They were though, very nice and prompt to bring out a replacement sans the fish flavor. Such a completely disappointing round! After feeling a bit let down we got the dessert course. The chocolate lava cake with caramel and salted almond gelato definitely helped perk me up a bit. Hot, gooey melted chocolate center to what looked like an enlarged hockey puck, it was decadent and rich but also toned down nicely with the gelato. As for the coconut panna cotta, it was creamy and a creative tropical take on a classic Italian dessert, but the guava proved a bit too sweet to provide any nice balance. All in all, the apps, wine and desserts weren't bad, but the entrees were not good at all, leading to a pretty mediocre meal overall. I guess I should know better than to get my expectations too high, but I really had believed I would leave with an epic meal. As we all walked back towards the lobby though the sentiment was pretty much "yeah, glad I finally tried it, but especially glad I did it during Spice." I know everyone loves it, and I did really want to, but I just didn't find it to be more than adequate. As my Italian friends have taught me, just because Miami has a lot of Italian imports and restaurants, doesn't necessarily mean that Miami has a lot of great Italian cuisine.
(3)Elnaz D.
I am definitely a fan of this place. I made a reservation for two the morning of and had no problem getting a reservation for dinner on a Friday night. For appetizer we got one order of Spaghetti (tomato and basil) and they brought it out in two cute bowls for us. It was hands down the BEST spaghetti I have EVER had in my life. Their noodles are made fresh everyday! If you go to this place, which I recommend, you definitely want to get the Spaghetti or you will regret it!
(4)Al M.
(This is 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because I want the average to creep up to 4.5) Let me start bestowing my compliments on Scarpetta: - The menu is focused, very seasonal, and has real Mediterranean ingredients. For Florida, the land of stupid excess, this is a rare treat. - This is a very large restaurant but the service is very personal. - Octopus appetizer is the very best octopus I've eaten. Please try it. - Stracciatella (mozzarella w/ lobster and beets) was delicious and unexpected. - Yes, the spaghetti is really really good. It's the pasta itself, not just the sauce. Maybe not $25 good, but really darn good. Splitting it makes an excellent pasta course for 2. - Did I mention the octopus? - Branzino was OFF the HOOK. Expertly prepared, well seasoned, well sauced. - When one course was very very late, we got three separate apologies and a free pasta dish which they shaved white truffles on top of. So that's like a $95 free dish. - Service was top-notch. (See above) A few misses: - The thing that earned us the free pasta was pretty damn late. We waited one hour from being seated to receiving our first course. (Kitchen's fault, not the server's) - The wines by the glass are just too expensive, even for an expensive restaurant. Offering one or two $20 glasses of wine is one thing, but for most of them to be $20+ that's difficult. - A mushroom side dish was watery and lacked the flavors that were promised in the description. - The dining room is super-cool and there's hip uptempo dance music playing. If this were a Vegas steakhouse I'd be psyched but for a Northern Italian place of this quality, it doesn't match. Overall - a really delicious meal. The Fontainbleu is a really swank hotel (like a giant Vegas nightclub) and this food lives up to its reputation. For a fancy-pants place, it hits the mark.
(5)Michelle W.
I had the pleasure of dining at Scarpetta with some amazing people for Miami Spice. We had a rezzi and of course the table wasn't ready, which annoys me... but, this is a pretty common thing in MIA. Anyhow, other than that the service was great! Overall it was surprisingly loud in the restaurant, so it could be difficult to have a romantic evening here. I started out with the burrata, which was delicious. I absolutely adore heirloom tomatoes and this dish did not let me down. I had the spaghetti for my main course after hearing rave reviews for it. It was good, the texture was perfect. The noodles were pretty large & flat, more like linguine than spaghetti though. The sauce was good, but I felt like it was missing something, I couldn't quite put my finger on what though. Which is why it's not the best I ever had. It was good though & I ate ever last bit of it. I finished with the coconut panna cotta, which was interesting. But, nothing to write home about. Overall, an excellent dinning experience. I would love to go back again. If money is tight definitely give it a spin during special times like Miami Spice. You won't be disappointed, totally worth it.
(4)Angela S.
So, I guess the last chef Nina Compton left the restaurant. This seems to be the her general excuse of the recent lack f enthusiasm for this restaurant's food. I did not know about Nina before my dinner at Scarpetta's, so I was just expecting a good Italian meal for my birthday dinner, from a place and location that should deliver nothing less than excellence for the sake of reputation and prices. The bread was awesome. The mushroom polenta awesome. And that's where it stopped. Oh, and the cocktails were fine. It would have been a travesty if not. The steak tartar which you pay an extra 12 dollars for on the Miami spice menu, (at which point it becomes pointless to do) was tasteless, the fish my husband had was bland , and my raviolis, a sweet and salty attempt (ravioli is my favorite pasta, if not food & sweet and salty anything is my favorite) forgot the salty part. So... It's not that it was a bad meal. It is just that you expect a certain level of food quality at an establishment on the fountain bleu establishment, and with the reputation Scarpetta's has...you just expect more. But the service was excellent.
(3)Christopher Z.
Many thanks to the Fontainbleu for bringing in Scott Conant! Scarpetta is perhaps the best in-hotel restaruant in Miami today. His classic signature pasta dishes are always enhanced by some new creation, such as foie gras and duck ravioli or squid ink risotto. The chef does wonders with all sorts of fresh fish and this is the only restaurant where I will order chicken and get it better than my homemade beer can version! The location and decor, the view and the fellow patrons, and most especially the fantastic staff all add up to the best overall restaurant experience in Miami.
(5)Tim L.
The entire meal was excellent. Great wine choices, excellent service. The Tartare was perfect, the Short Ribs superb and the polenta was so good we ordered a second. Definitely worth it.
(5)Jerry B.
Okay, this is a 4-5 star restaurant. BUT, our server was a piece of poo. We can clearly afford to dine there, but the server was more interested in giving his attention to everyone older than us and the larger parties. I would personally NEVER recommend dining here, but the food is tasty.
(4)Kimberley C.
Fantastic Italian restaurant. Awesome in Miami and the food is just as good in Beverly HIlls..... just has a different vibe altogether.
(5)Annette R.
We had a dinner for four on Tuesday night. The lights are noticeably dim, so you have to light a lighter to read the menu. Overall atmosphere is nice, and you can tell the waters are trying hard to make this place look more classy.
(4)Nicole S.
Unfortunately never got to taste the food.... We had reservations for 9pm, so we were slightly annoyed (we were starving) when we arrived at 9 and were told our table was not ready yet. Upon walking to the bar we saw plenty of empty tables in the bar section as well as in the main dining room. We ordered a drink and just tried to fight the hunger. 15 minutes later we ask the flighty blonde hostess (who ignored us as she passed us several times) how much longer we would have to wait. with her back turned to us she said she would ask the maitre'd. after waiting another ten minutes we were finally escorted passed the posh, trendy dining room, into an enclosed patio. the tables and chairs looked suitable to host breakfast and lunch for people in wet bathing suits coming from the beach and pools, not people who were dressed up for dinner. it was a special dinner and my bf and myself wanted it to be romantic, so my bf politely went back to the hostess and asked if we could be seated at the empty table in the nice dining room. she said that table was being filled any moment for a party with a 930 reservation. (HE was confused bc we also had a reservation and could have easily been seated at the table 30 minutes prior). He attempted to persuade the girl to let us have the table , to which she reponded we would have to wait 20 MINUTES for another table to clear. He immediately walked back into the patio to let me know we were leaving. We were not going to spend our romantic dinner in the most un-romantic setting, even if the restaurant has good food or not. We went to Il Gabbiano for 5 star italian food, on Biscayne Blvd in Downtown Miami, its worth the 20 min cab ride.
(1)Jes R.
Hands down best spaghetti I have ever had. Amazing burrata salad and polenta too. Love the atmosphere and hotel. Wish there was one in Boston!
(5)Jennifer H.
Miami spice menu was ok but I took my own route. So the spaghetti is supposed to be off the hook here. Had the octopus lamb chops and rack of lamb
(5)Michelle B.
So the first time I ever entered this place was due to last years Miami Spice. You won't find me there any other time. Sorry officer, but a regular pasta dish for almost $30 makes me feel as though I'm trading in my 25 year old extensive sticker collection for a blank floppy disk. Anyways, there are three things I remember from my visit. Basically, the bread basket, the menu choices, and that all newborn babies look like Danny Devito. You can make your own sandwich with that bread basket, (yes, theres salami in it) and have enough to feed all the birds that migrate during the winter. The quality and quantity of the menu choices really made the price just right. Since Miami Spice is currently in full effect, it's the best time to go. You might just see me or Danny Devito...but don't be fooled, it's most probably a newborn.
(4)Monica M.
This place is like corked wine! I've been to Scarpetta many times and never have I been as disappointed as last night. First of all, despite the place being half empty on a Friday night, they gave us a hard time about changing our reservation for 30 minutes later. We had brought some bottles of wine which we were willing to pay a corkage fee ($45/bottle) and the hostesses offered to hold the wine for us while we waited for our table. We got seated 1hour & 30 minutes later. The late members of our party brought more wine to the birthday dinner. Fine ... our fault for being late. Once seated, we were told there was a two-bottle maximum per table. None of us had never heard of such an arbitrary limit before. We were clearly a big party (9 people) which could have easily been separated into four tables. Despite this, the sommelier refused to cork our other bottles. Looking on the Scarpetta website, there is absolutely no place where this "Policy" is stated so if you are a savvy researcher, don't expect to be put on notice about this well thought out and clearly stated policy. Then we asked the manager (Garrett) if he could please make an exception since it was my best friend's birthday. He said he would try and see what he could do. But then Garrett LEFT US HANGING with no answer for virtually THE ENTIRE DINNER!! I finally had to approach him on the way to the ladies room. He passed the buck and blamed it on the sommelier's failure to let us know that the cork policy could not be bent even by one bottle. Still, even after I spoke to Garrett and he said he would try to make it better, he still avoided showing his face at our table and telling us the truth. Instead he left us hanging, tainted our experience and acted like it never happened. Here's the thing Scarpetta-- leave your customers hanging and the food will not be as good and the experience will not be as memorable for the right reasons!!!! The only star this place deserves is half a star for the chef and the other half for our server. I won't be going back since I know that if I have an issue, management will act as if they CAN find a solution and if it's not what I was looking for-- they will PRETEND it never happened.
(1)Joseph C.
Had an 8:00 reservation sat us at 9:15 at the worst table in the restaurant. We actually made them move us. This is there way of getting everyone to get a drink at the bar Appetizers were miniature and tasteless Entrees were ok Sauce on the spaghetti was oily Was not impressed at all
(2)Renier C.
Dining in this tastefully nautical themed restaurant seemed almost crazy for a $39 Miami Spice 3 course meal. However, to miss the opportunity would have been much more mental. Now let's cut to the chase. Starter. *Creamy Polenta with fricasse truffled mushrooms. Make sure you're dining partner is having the short ribs. Share. Main Dish. Yellowtail Snapper, only way to go. The spaghetti is very nice but it can't come close to the flavor sensation of the yellowtail and it's crispy skin. Dessert. Chocolate Terrine. Simple dessert with Nutella, chocolate and coffee ice cream accompanied with raspberries. The Marscapone Custard was nice but the addition of mango sorbet had me lost in translation. Having been to Scarpetta several times prior, I know that it has what it takes to have made this a five star review. However adequate service, like in most restaurants in this city, (insert cliché here) is nearly impossible to find. Pity.
(4)Gail A.
This was supposed to be an elegant dinner highlight for my friend's bachelorette weekend, which all of us were quite excited about. The evening started off well with some good cocktails by the bar area, and we were off to be seated for our reservation. When we had our reservation, we were told that because of our large party number we would have to order "family style," which usually means we order whatever we want and it comes out as big plates to share. Here, they meant that we were limited to a selection 3 appetizers and 3 entrees and they would bring out 4-5 servings of each. I'm sorry, that is not the definition of family style. On top of that, our first manager did not fully explain what this meant at all and left us to wonder how to order, and the servers didn't take any time explaining the dishes that were brought out. The best dishes we ordered were the creamy polenta and the duck-foie gras ravioli. Everything else was mediocre at best. Even though they gave our celebrant free champagne, that didn't take away the bad taste we had from the beginning of the night.
(2)Natalia K.
Thoroughly enjoyed the Chef's Tasting menu. Especially felt that the polenta was to die for! The signature pasta dish also didn't disappoint. We ate right in the lounge area by choice and loved the atmosphere, the decor and our service was also great!
(5)Carol T.
POW! POW! POW!...those are my taste buds being bombarded throught an unbelievable meal! Based on a personal recommendation ( and other Yelp reviewers), my husband and I had dinner here on a recent visit to Miami Beach. From start to finish, we had a wonderful experience. Food alone, as we all know, does not make a meal. The young lady who initially took the reservation over the phone, remembered my husband and greeted him warmly. The wait staff was friendly, attentive and unobtrusive throughout the meal but the food was the main atttraction here. We selected the polenta with wild mushrooms as an appetizer. Not being a big fan of polenta, I didn't know what to excpect but wanted to give it a try anyway. Taste bud assault #1! Creamy polenta topped with sauteed mushrooms. The portion was more than enough for two to share. Along with this came a complimentary side of lightly fried, panko-encrusted mozzarella cheese (3). Already I was getting filled up with these two items plus the bread basket! Taste bud assaults #2, 3, 4 and 5: We each chose a different entree plus a side of fingerling poatoes and shared each dish. One dish was duck with a light cherry sauce and the other was branzino. I'm not a "duck person" but the way this was cooked and served was more like beef medallions. It was flavorful but not greasy. The fish has a lightly fried crust and was moist and flaky inside. Each had an accompaniment of vegetables. When the potatoes came out, along with it came an unexpected, complimentary side of house-made spaghetti! We were overwhelmed with food. Each dish tasting as good as the last one. The potatoes had a light crust on the outside but were tender on the inside. The spaghetti... Mamma Mia! Made in-house and having the density you can't find in store bought pasta. So, did the two little piggies have dessert? Sadly, no. We knew our limits. We finished our wine and were content.
(5)Robert M.
I would say out of the three signature restaurants at Fountainbleu, this is the best of the lot. Service was good, food was simple and flavorful. What I most appreciate about this place is that they make their pasta. It drives me nuts that the majority of Italian restaurants in the U.S. use dried pasta instead of making it on their own. This is not difficult, and any Italian resto worth a bean should be making fresh pasta every day. Not only does Scarpetta get this right, they also cook it right. Because the next thing that drives me nuts is overcooked pasta. The sauce was very good. Simple, nice flavor, nice stick to the pasta. The mozz was very good and the short rib was outstanding. Only complaints is the arugula salad and the brussel sprouts were both salty. The is the only restaurant at the Fountainbleu that may be worth a repeat visit in my opinion...although they are all overpriced for what you get.
(4)Jeremy J.
Scrumptious food. Delicious decor. Impressive wine list. However ... very uneven service (server forgot a dessert and ignored 2 requests for extra bread) and a bit loud with the house music thumpa-cherking in the background. I don't know that I'd go back, simply because the service was so scattered and lackadaisical.
(3)Mindy G.
Recently came for Miami spice dinner. Everything was great from the food to the service. The wait staff are very attentive. The fish was great, a smaller portion than I would have liked and the tuna bresaola was great too.
(5)Jennifer J.
i was disappointed by Scarpetta and would not go back. I did not feel the spaghetti was as great as previous reviewers felt. I have had the best italian homemade pastas in NYC and Boston and this did not compare. I also had the ravioli, which were initially delicious but the squash stuffing left a strange baby food like texture and taste in my mouth, which I did not appreciate. The mozzarella carozza was delicious though.
(2)Ed L.
Great time at this Italian restaurant. The food was amazing. It's must try for anyone visiting fontainebleau miami beach
(5)Diane A.
During visit to Scarpetta I was seated outside, which I loved. It was night time so we could hear the ocean if you listen close enough and the breeze was amazing. Our waiter was excellent and very patient with our group. The first thing that I loved was the variety of breads they bring out! I can't tell you which one was better the the rest because they were all great! I ordered the polenta and thought it was fantastic. I also had the spaghetti but wasn't as impressed. However, my boyfriend ordered the short ribs and they ware great. All in all, it was a successful night.
(5)Bao N.
I've been here a few times and each time I've been it has been fantastic. There are some drawbacks because you do have to go into th lavish Fontainbleu hotel to get in, valet your car and pay for super expensive drinks. But it doesn't stop me from going to Scarpetta. It is rather spendy and the portions are small but I think it is perfect for a romantic dinner out. The bread is always good here as a starter and I always forget the name of the dish that I order but the people I always dine with love the food here. I'll be back here for another dinner one of these days and look forward to trying something yummy on their menu.
(4)Dawn B.
Scarpetta After A year of waiting to find an excuse to head all the way down to Miami for a dinner at Scott Conant's Scarpetta, I finally found my opportunity. To summarize my experience I will take you through my dining experience course by course. We arrived a little earlier than we anticipated, our table was ready but we opted to head to the bar for a cocktail before dinner. At the bar to accompany our cocktails we were given a nice basket of fresh deep fried potato chips topped with some flash fried rosemary, as delicious as they were, I indulged in just a couple, I wanted to save room for the main event. After a glass of wine we were off to our table. The view was spectacular, the seating quaint. Not the place for small children or crying babies. As soon as we were seated a bread basket arrived accompanied with a trio of spreads. Mascarpone butter, eggplant ratatouille and a dipping oil. The bread was great! Especially the focaccia stuffed with prosciutto, how could one possibly go wrong stuffing salty, butter, melt in your mouth aged prosciutto into a fresh baked soft bread? No complaints so far. The service was on point and very professional, although I do need to mention that I did not see a single female member on their wait staff other than the hostesses. It was time to make our dinner decisions, I chose from the MIAMI SPICE menu while my dinner partner opted for some other items from the main menu. Our appetizer round consisted of the Creamy Polenta served with a Fricassee of Truffled Mushrooms and the Steak Tartar. The polenta had barely any truffle flavor at all and very much reminded me of eating a bowl of porridge. Needless to say, I was not impressed. The steak tartar was served with a garlic grilled toast that I found to completely over power the delicacy of the tartar itself, and was not served as described in the menu. On to our main course. Agnolotti Dal Plin, a small tortellini stuffed with lamb and minted bread crumbs and the Duck and Fois Gras Ravioli with a Marsala reduction. If there was any lamb in my agnolotti, I could not taste it. It was over salted and lacked any flavors. The ravioli was over salted as well and was not served with a sufficient amount of the sweet Marsala reduction; it was very monotone in flavors, once again, other than salt. Feeling my blood pressure rise, I could not finish half of my plate. The waiter was very accommodating and asked if I would like to replace it with the Spaghetti, which on the MIAMI SPICE menu is an additional $12.00, but I opted out. This was the third strike. My choice for desert was the AMEDEI CHOCOLATE CAKE with toasted almond gelato & salted caramel. To our pleasant surprise our waiter arrived with a trio of deserts and two glasses of desert wine on the house. It was kind of hard to not smile out of delight and end our dining experience on a high note, how clever of them. However, for a $200+ dinner was it worth it for the dining experience? No! Was the experience worth earning extra credit? Yes! Will I ever return to Scarpetta? No! Taking one off the bucket list? Priceless! Scott Conant, you have been chopped!
(2)NatdeMontreal G.
At the Fontainbleu hotel- feels a little like New Jersey in short dresses. Very dressy. Excellent service- the polenta with mushrooms was excellent. We recommend the tasting menu,,, however, it is very expensive for fine Italian food.
(4)jon w.
The restaurant makes an effort to look like it's trying to give good service, but in the end way overpriced, marginal quality, Italian food.
(1)Amara S.
Miami Spice Menu is awesome. Miami is doing a promotion where they allow you to chose an appetizer, an entree, and a desert all for 35 dollars which is a steal at a fine dining restaurant. I ordered a arugula salad for my appetizer which tasted like arugula. Bitter and fresh, just the way I like it. For my entree, I ordered the Mediterranean Branzino which was Sea bass and it was delicious. So good! For my dessert I ordered the caramel bananas and I hated them. I've had better at the State Fair. Our server was extremely attentive. I loved every bit of it.
(4)Mary M.
We went to Scarpetta for my husband's birthday and it was amazing!! One of the best meals we've had and it was such a treat. The decor of the restaurant is beautiful with a nautical nod being right beside the ocean, loved the modern bar area, stunning. We had the ahi tuna appetizer and squash blossoms, delicious. My husband had the lamb as his main and it was seasoned perfectly and I couldn't resist but to get the spaghetti and it was by far the most delicious past I've ever had, perfect. The service is outstanding, everyone was incredibly attentive and knowledgeable. Wine list is great as well. We are also huge top chef fans and we had the chance to see Nina, which basically made the experience that much more fabulous. She is so sweet and kind and we just loved meeting her! I cannot wait to come back to the Fontainbleu and more importantly this restaurant. We will definitely be back the next time we are in Miami!
(5)Lucia M.
That is my second visit to Scarpetta. The first experience was amazing and I thought it would be perfect to take the family to celebrate my husband birthday. But I did not get the same impression. We decided to skip the chef's menu this time and go for individual orders. I remembered the polenta from last visit and decided to repeat it, wonderful, still my favorite. For the second plate I was thinking in something lighter but I let the waiter persuaded me on the pasta with pork and it was too robust for my taste. I would rather have the mouthwatering ravioli again. In fact, the only drawback for this second visit was the waiter - too forceful on giving suggestion for food and drinks to everyone. For me, there is a very fine line between excellent service and intrusive service and this waiter crossed it.
(4)Ryan J.
The polenta was fantastic, highly recommended. Everything else was good but nothing too mind-blowing or interesting. The pasta pomodoro was a bit of a let down. It's a good restaurant, but overpriced for what it is (I mean, it's in Fontainebleau so it's not like you should expect something cheap).
(4)Maura C.
I love getting the opportunity to visit a celebrity chef's restaurant. Scarpetta is a beautiful high end restaurant in a beautiful setting. Miami Beach is a very posh place and so Scarpetta in the Fountainebleau fits right in. With stellar service, an amazing cocktail and wine list and fantastic food options, I was in heaven! I was able to sample a few dishes - steak tartare, braised short ribs with farro risotto, and the duck and foie gras ravioli. All were absolutely rich, decant, and melted in my mouth! Watching Scott Conant rip apart chef dishes on Chopped is a riot... so it is good to know that the dishes at his restaurant were worthy enough to stay off the chopping block!
(5)Julie D.
Went with my husband and three children for Mother's Day brunch and was greatly disappointed. We didn't realize that Sunday brunch was buffet style, which we tend to not enjoy, but we decided that after schlepping from Hollywood with the kids we would keep an open mind. After all, Scarpetta is supposed to be amazing with THE BEST pasta. Boy, were we disappointed. Let me start by saying that the service is wonderful, however, I can't say the same about the food. Everything that we tasted was sub-par at best. The pasta that everyone raves about was absolutely nothing special. The only thing that I can honestly say that I even enjoyed was the polenta and the brussel sprouts. The desserts were bland and even the cannolis were terrible!! My kids wouldn't eat the chocolate chip cookies! Little did we know that the worst part of the day was to come with the bill - $85 per adult and $45 per child!! We had just spent $90 for 2 bowls of pasta with butter!! How can a restaurant have the gall to charge $45 for a 3 and 6 yr old to eat?! I'm surprised that we weren't charged a bottle fee for my infant son's bottle of Similac! Very, very disappointed. Will never go back.
(1)H. Y.
The food is out of this world (as is the service). Everything we got was amazing. I would recommend the short rib appetizer above all else. Ordering any of the pastas would be a great call. It is pretty expensive, but if you're looking to treat yourself or someone else, this is the place to go.
(5)Wendy L.
I can't give Scott Conant anything less than 5 stars. "Why would you want to go to Scarpetta in Miami when there is one in New York!?!!" cried my date. Well, you see, they have SPECIALS on their menu that are not on our menu here!!!!! Like for example, the $25 stone crab claw. Made of gold? Not the real kind no, but I'm sure in Taste-Bud Land, this is the stuff made of golden crack. Also amazing unavailable in New York (can we do something about this??) - the prawns! So gigundo and delicious. And the steak tartare! I was not allowed to order the spaghetti with tomato and basil (tear) so instead we got the bigoli with hunks of lobster and blue crab tangled in the homemade pasta, and the tagliolini with the super rich pork ragu. Both very good, but I was pretty stuffed by this time because I am unable to exercise any self control when the stromboli bread basket is placed in front of me. Banana souffle! Of course we got this. I, for one, can never resist a good souffle, and this one did not disappoint - so light and fluffy it was like eating sweet, expensive air.
(5)Stephanie E.
Cocktails and dinner were really good. We came to take advantage of the July specials that some of the restaurants in the Hotel were having this month. It was a special menu for $54/person. With drinks, the bill averaged $100/person. I know some in the group thought that some of the dishes were on the small side, but being that it was a 3 course meal and they constantly brought the bread basket to the table, we all left very full. Check out the dishes we all tried from the July Special menu here: fontainebleau.com/web/di…
(4)Bill S.
When I went to the Anthony Bourdain book signing, he mentioned Scarpetta in his book is in the Fontainebleau Resort. Then, on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate", Ted Allen says the best pasta he's ever eaten is at Scarpetta. Why would I not come to my favorite NYC restaurant while visiting Miami? If you're familiar with the NYC Scarpetta restaurant, the Miami restaurant has a different feel. The hotel and the restaurant are as one, it feels like a cruise ship! This place is huge and the outside patio has a nice view of the water. Very Miami, very hip. The first thing I order is the signature NYC Scarpetta drink, the San Remo. Spot on! Then I see the menu, there is Miami Spice going on, I'm assuming its like restaurant week in NYC. My wife and I order off this menu. I order the Branzino which is cooked to perfection and my wife orders the Ted Allen recommended spaghetti which is makes Scarpetta the place for homemade pasta. I dream of this pasta and trust me, no other restaurant holds a candle to this dish. The food tastes exactly the same as NYC. The to die for polenta and the short ribs. Everything taste the same! *Side note - The Scarpetta signature bread plate is exactly the same as NYC. Olive oil with a hint of lemon, mascarpone butter and rat-tat-tooie. Enjoy a taste of NYC! Miami, you have it just like NYC. Except you have bikini girls and we have naked cowboy dude on roller skates...
(5)Maria C.
From start to finish, this place is it. Chef de Cuisine Nina Compton and her team execute spectacular dishes and the best part is that they are consistent! To start, the creamy polenta and fricase of mushroom will make you want to lick the plate. I also recommend the steak tartare. Spaghetti is a must, and so is the duck and foie gras ravioli. Long Island Duck is out of this world and the branzino is crazy good!!! Don't miss this place!!!!
(5)Kathy G.
We stay at the Fontainebleau in Miami once or twice a year and this restaurant is amazing! The decor is an upscale, modern nautical theme and has very comfy booths that overlook the ocean. They also have patio seating, but it's always been too windy to sit outside when we have been there. Their bar area is just as nice too. The food is to die for. Probably the best fine dining Italian that I've ever had. Great service as well. Great bread, tomato salad, and OMG you have to try the Creamy polenta!!!! It is one of my favorite things I've ever eaten! My fiance hates mushrooms, and he gobbled this up! We scraped the dish clean. Duck and fois ravioli-delicious! And if you want something substantial to share, you simply must try the Milk fed veal chop It is fabulous! If you are in the mood for home made pasta, try the scialatelli-it is a seafood pasta dish that is super rich and just as delicious. I don't think we've ever had room for dessert here. I think I never get very much sleep after eating here either, my heart is fluttering the night away from all the butter, I think...small price to pay.....
(5)Inga W.
The food was amazing! I have to start off with that because that's what we walked away with, having an amazing meal on a nice weekend getaway. The service was great right off from when we came in and checked in with the hostess, everyone was professional and friendly yet not stuffy. Italian food is about great ingredients and enjoying the meal and that is what we did. We decided to share a bunch of things rather than commit to a few. So we started with the hamachi, which was fresh and delicate but the salt on top overpowered it, then we had the buratta, which was amazing. Followed by the duck and foi gras ravioli and veal. Both were so tender, refined in taste, every bit full of flavor and the most delicate textures. Every dish was split for us which was very nice, I couldn't get enough. Wine of course, love the Italian wines. Finally we had espressos to finish off. Everything from start to finish was amazing and the atmosphere at the restaurant was nice, comfortable but not too formal. It had the nice feel of a restaurant on the beach. This is a place to have a nice dinner for a special occasion or just for those that love food.
(4)Bibi S.
We arrived at Scarpetta on time for our reservation but our table was not ready. We enjoyed a drink at the bar while we waited an although it was not the best dirty martini I had ever had, I still enjoyed the ambiance and the company. The restaurant is very tastefully decorated in a chic maritime motif. The bar is not very big but we still had enough space to stand around the bar without anyone giving us a hard time. The floral arrangements were beautiful and added a nice touch. When we were seated, I was not thrilled with our table but it was okay. They sat us outside the main dining room and I felt like I was in a large hallway instead of the restaurant. The table wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. While we waited for the server to take our orders, we enjoyed the amazing bread basket that they brought to our table. The best one is hands down the stromboli bread with cheese and salami. It was bursting with flavor and I literally had to stop myself from eating it all. They also served a mini cibatta and a few other options with your choice of butter, lemon alioli and lastly eggplant caponata. They were all very very good. For dinner I ordered the creamy polenta with mushrooms from the Spice menu which was absolutely fantastic! It was creamy and rich without being over powering. Then I had what is probably the most simple dish on their menu but quite frankly the best. It is the fresh pasta with pomodoro sauce. The pasta was al dente and the fresh tomato and basil sauce was simple yet dressed the pasta perfectly. I tasted the duck foie gras ravioli (not on the spice menu) and I thought it was excellent but a good dish to share because the richness of the dish would be overpowering after a while. I also asked for a glass of wine and when the bill arrived I was shocked at the $25 price for just one glass. It was delicious, but a little steep. Lastly if I can add one last tiny criticism I would say that they should not allow people to enter the bar or dining room if they are improperly dressed. I saw a man at the bar in shorts, a t-shirt, flip flops and a backwards facing baseball cap. I realize that the restaurant is in a hotel, but its tacky folks. I'm not sayin' you need to wear a suit to dine here but proper shoes and no hats please!
(5)Stephanie M.
Great spot. First off, even though we had a reservation, they made us wait at the bar for almost 25 minutes - which was very frustrating because the hostess was being overly vague and unhelpful. The food was fantastic - the burrata appetizer was a hit - so flavorful and delicious. The CREAMY POLENTA was also fantastic - so rich and smooth. the RAW YELLOWTAIL was good, but nothing exceptional. I had the pasta special, which was a fettucini in a butter and olive oil sauce, with fresh table shide shaved truffles. It was aweome. The service was great and the waiters were super attentive and helpful. The space is great - the chairs are super comfortable and the place isnt too loud, though we did notice the music started quite subtle and ended up being quite aggressive by the time we left... when in rome.
(5)Claudia W.
Have been dying to try this place since I am a huge "Chopped" fan and watch owner Scott Conant on the show all the time. His standards seem very high as he is constantly telling people they don't know how to cook pasta or risotto properly. We were seated right away, although the hostess and her comrades at the front were not very friendly. We didn't even get one smile. I personally like to start my meal off with smiles (LOL). The decor was nice however it was pretty dark in there. I guess kind of romantic, but I would prefer slightly more light so i can see what I am eating a little better. The meal started off with a bang as we tasted their insanely good bread. The warm bread that had salami in it was amazing and the other types of bread offered were no joke either. The mascarapone butter and caponata served with the bread were excellent (this is coming from someone who doesn't even like eggplant). My husband's martini arrived in a chilled glass and was the epitome of perfection. The appetizers were very good. I had the fritto misto which included very lightly fried (not greasy) seafood and zucchini plus bits of fried rosemary. I have never thought of eating rosemary whole in such large quantities but it was really very good. Nice touch. My husband had the steak tartare, one of his favorites at a slew of restaurants. He liked it and I tried it and found the flavors interesting. The only complaint would be that they overdid it on the truffle oil, so that flavor permeated the entire dish so that after a few bites all you tasted was truffle oil. For our main course we ordered three pastas to share. The traditional spaghetti pomodoro was very good. The fresh pasta was excellent and the sauce was tasty. It was a little plain as a dish however I happen to like plain sometimes. Am I dying to go back and eat this again? Not really. We also had the duck and foie gras ravioli. Again very well made and perfectly cooked and the flavors were nice. It was a little rich so after two bites I was done. Would be better as an appetizer in a small portion. The last pasta we got was the seafood one with lobster and crab. I found it to be very fishy and didn't care for it. My husband thought it was just OK but wasn't really a fan. The meal ended with a fantastic dessert: a small chocolate cake with salted caramel sauce and toasted almond gelato. The combo of all three was legendary. That salted caramel was incredible. Yes, I am dying to go back and eat this dish again. Only problem was they need to give more ice cream that way you have enough to pair some with each bite of cake. Overall the place was very good and I would go back. Perhaps we made the wrong decision only ordering pasta for our main course?
(4)Peter I.
Just have the spagetti with tomato and basil and call it a day. Simple and perfect. Service at both I've been to is very good. Tell them to take their time and serve the food at your schedule not theirs. Good solid wine list and starter menu. Good spot
(5)Jolette B.
We were staying at the Fontainebleau Resort, and being both Food Network fans and lazy, decided to try Scarpetta since it was in the hotel. Foie gras has been a very guilty pleasure of mine since moving to New York (it's banned in California), so I couldn't resist when I saw the duck and foie gras ravioli on the menu. All I can say is that I'm no longer able to eat ravioli any other way and I believe in miracles. The house cocktails were solid too, which I'm always on the search for. Definitely a must try if you are in Miami.
(5)Vicky P.
This place is GORGEOUS!!! My best friends and I came here for a 25th birthday celebration...and it was just perfect. From the service to the food..I was happy to spend every penny in there. The ambiance is very different from other high end restaurants in Miami. It has a classic, upscale boathouse feel to it, with Ocean views. Scarpetta has the BEST spaghetti pomodoro EVER!!!! I DREAM about it. I know you're probably wondering to yourself....."why would I order spaghetti with tomato sauce at an upscale Italian restaurant??" Trust me, it's worth it. It's simplicity at its finest. The freshest ingredients, from the tomatoes, to homemade pasta......a very rustic dish....Might I add that, it's Jay-Z and Beyonce's favorite dish when they dine here:) I also had the creamy polenta with fricassee of mushrooms..(I'm drooling as I type) it was so delicious!!!!! The bread basket is very good, my favorite one is with the salami, shaped into a pinwheel....I cant help but to always ask for more ( insert bbm embarrassed face) lol I am looking forward to coming back!
(5)Jordan N.
PROS: + Nice ambience - better indoors than outdoors; but during the day, outdoors will give you a nice beachview. + Complimentary bread was delicious, especially one stuffed with Italian ham and cheese. Came with lemon-infused olive oil, mascarpone butter, and sauteed eggplants. + Delicious polenta with fricasseed truffled mushrooms - A MUST + Burrata with heirloom tomatoes, baby basil, and arugula salad was tasty and refreshing + Duck foie gras ravioli dressed in balsamic glaze was good. + Slow-roasted berkshire pork w/ gigante bean ragu & pancetta spices was even better. + Pineapple panna cotta with guava "soup" was good, but a tad bit too sweet (they put so much of the "soup" into the bowl). Plus, I just don't think there's any better twist than on the Cuban classic of Cascos de Guayaba con Queso (cream cheese & guava shells). This reminded me of that so much. Still tasty and good - but I'd like to try that Amedei chocolate cake next time (a true Chocolatier would tell you that there's no chocolate better than Amedei, fabricated in Italy with the cream of the crop of Venezuelan cacao). Of what I ordered, the starters or primi piatti were the best part of the meal - so for sure, I wouldn't hesitate on coming back for some Italian tapas-styled meal with these starters. I still would like to come back to try the other bigger plates.
(4)Eschel H.
Had a nice dinner with my wife and another couple here on Saturday night, and I can honestly say that I feel no compulsion to go back. Although the meal and the atmosphere at the restaurant were nice enough, and a number of the dishes we ordered were excellent (highlights included the prime aged sirloin on the bone, the polenta with mushrooms, and duck foie gras raviolis), there's enough wrong here to dissuade me from returning: 1. It may have been because of spring break, but the hotel property had literally dozens of teenagers EVERYWHERE. They were inescapable except specifically during our meal. 2. Parking is only possible through valet, which AFTER validation costs $12. 3. Our waiter tried to railroad us into a $100 bottle of wine, when I specifically was trying to ask about a couple bottles that were significantly cheaper. 4. Although it was a lovely night and we started our meal on the balcony overlooking the ocean and pool, we had to move back inside because there was a wedding on the property blasting music. The manager even claimed that they'd called asking to lower the volume and were ignored. With so many high priced restaurants to choose from on Miami Beach alone, I'll spend my hard-earned dollars elsewhere...
(3)Alison R.
A lovely dining rooms in Miami Beach are a dime a dozen. So why does the decor of Scarpetta stand out? Yeah, the ocean view is stunning, but it's the damn good Italian that makes this room glow. Love this joint for mini reunions, girlfriend dates and romantic nights out.
(4)Kristina C.
Got to spend Valentine's Day here with my amazing boyfriend! The service was excellent. You would think on such a holiday, the service would be terrible but on the contrary they were very accommodating! The food was good. I wouldn't say it was my favorite but again my taste buds do not venture too much. The steak was delicious and the waiters were good about cleaning up and clearing excess plates/utensils. Overall it's a very romantic, nice place to spend with your spouse/significant other. I would recommend it!
(4)Dave M.
First of all its VERY noisy. Went for an intimate dinner with my wife and we couldn't hear each other across the table. Food is good but not fantastic and for the price they charge it should be. All in all overrated in my opinion.
(2)Camille O.
Came in on a Friday night with another couple. We ordered the Chef's Tasting for the whole table. Crudos came as amuse bouche. Next was braised short ribs with risotto, wild mushroom creamy polenta, which were amazing. Next was the pasta course. My favorites were the spaggetti pomodoro and the foie gras ravioli. For main course we had a crispy skin snapper and beef tenderloin medallions in a demi glace sauce. Finally desserts and they were to die for. My favorite was the warm chocolate cake but the guava panna cotta was a favorite at the table. The waiter discouraged me to order a la carte when the rest of the table was ordering the tasting because I would be waiting for my meal while others would be eating appetizers and other courses of the tasting while my meal was coursed with the others guests entrees. I suggest not to eat the bread if doing tasting because it is a lot of good food and you want to eat it all. Great place for special occasions and also if you want to impress a client on a business dinner.
(5)Margarite S.
I don't understand the hype for this restaurant. Anticipating what I thought was going to be an amazing dining experience from a recommendation, I was shocked at the quality of food here. Now, the service is fine and the decor is beautiful. Placed in the Fountainebleau Hotel, it is one of three restaurants the hotel offers. I was staying at the hotel with a friend of mine and we decided to dine here. We ordered the braised short ribs, an order of brussel sprouts, the duck and foie gras ravioli and some other pasta that was so unmemorable I can't think of the name of it - though it came with shrimp. Okay, so the braised short rib and brussel sprouts come out first. The braised short rib is not horrible but nothing to rave out from a supposed 5 star restaurant. It was also small, I'm sure my dog would not be full from the serving... but okay, on to the brussel sprouts - BURNT. How could you even manage that? The pastas come. Better size portions I suppose except I had two bites and stopped eating. The "famous" duck and foie gras left less to be desired with a bad aftertaste. The individual raviolis were the size of my thumb. The other pasta that came with shrimp tasted more like Chinese noodles than Italian pasta. After a few bites of each, I left. While it may have been a Sunday night at 10 pm for the reason the food was horrible, I really just don't know. I wouldn't take any chances returning. The prices weren't even an issue - just give me edible food.
(1)Richard K.
One of the best Italian restaurants in Miami and thanks to Miami Spice, I could finally afford to come to Scarpetta. I would like to start by thanking executive chef Scott Conant in my best chairman voice for a "wonderfully cooked meal". Furthermore, the service was fantastic and the ambiance oozed of class and romance in the air. My three choices were Japanese Mackerel, Sirloin of Beef, and Coconut Panna Cotta. Also, I was fortunate enough to have April V to allow me to taste the much talked about Spaghetti and Amedei Chocolate Cake. APPETIZER (Primi Piatti): I had JAPANESE MACKEREL with cucumber, black olive oil and grape tomatoes. All the elements together made the dish very light. The fish was very fresh and was well cut. ENTREE (Priatti): I had SIRLOIN OF BEEF with fingerling potatoes, mushrooms,and parmigiano. Oh my Lord, what a Sirloin! WOW! It was incredibly tender and juicy. Simply, perfect. Also, I had SPAGHETTI with tomato and basil. The noodles were thicker than normal spaghetti. With thicker noodles, it added to the spaghetti in a positive way. This spaghetti was very "herbal' in nature. There was a good amount of basil infused as one with the spaghetti. The taste came in strongly and was another nice element. However, with that said, this classic spaghetti was on the dry side. I would appreciated more sauce. Overall, it did not blow my mind; simply, it was solid. DESSERT (Dolce): I had COCONUT PANNA COTTA with caramelized pineapple and guava "soup" I think this dessert was missing an ingredient in the description.....crack. I could not stop coming back for more of this dessert. The guava soup with the panna cotta left me holding my breath. Also, I had AMEDEI CHOCOLATE CAKE. It was great, but after one bite; it was just way too much chocolate for my taste. Overall, it is one of my favorite Italian dining experiences in Miami, but I will probably return only for Miami Spice or if Monica Belluci is my girlfriend. Probably, the latter will happen first.
(4)Candy C.
Incredibly stylish restaurant in the beautiful Fountainbleu hotel. You can tell some places try too hard, but not Scarpetta. This restaurant exudes sexiness and romanticism . The table service is outstanding. I had the pleasure of dining at the Scarpetta during the Miami Spice Event. My three course dinner consisted of: 1. Creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms, 2. Mediterranean Branzino (sea bass), 3. Coconut Panna Cotta (pineapple and guava "soup"). The creamy polenta was out of this world. The polenta came in a little cast iron looking bowl with lid and the truffled mushrooms in a separate dish. This was very rich but I just could not stop until the very last drop was eaten. The server removes he lid and mixes the mushrooms with the polenta for you! You should see their hand movements as they spoon over the mushrooms and mix. It was like art! The Branzino was delicious as well but I love the sea bass at OLA better. Lastly the dessert was definitely mouth watering. Never thought a fruit soup would taste so delicious. This is definitely a first date, wedding proposal, birthday, bachelorette, anniversary kind of restaurant ! Scarpetta makes fine dining an art.
(4)Manuela F.
I was there yesterday night with my husband and two friends. We tried miami spice menu....was really good . For sure I will be back. If you left your car at the wallet, inside the restaurant they give you a discount .
(4)Ashley C.
Yelpers raved about Scarpetta so my bro and I were very excited to check it out. The restaurant is chic, modern and dark which gives it a "hip" yet classy vibe. Appetizers: creamy polenta and the ribs. The polenta was great (yelpers got this one right) but the ribs were alright; nothing special and definitely nothing to write home about Main course: dad ordered the spaghetti, which was another dish that yelpers went crazy over. Honestly, the taste reminded me of chef boyardee. My dad wasn't too impressed but he said that the more he ate, the better it tasted. How tricky. I ordered the bigoli which is a lobster and crab dish. This dish was 'just ok' for me as well and it wasn't something I fell in love with. My bother got the branzino (sea bass) dish which was great! Don't think anyone would be disappointed by it. We were able to try another ravioli dish, compliments of the chef. Can't remember the name but it starts with a C (it's the only ravioli dish that starts with a 'C' so it shouldn't be difficult to find it). That dish was amazing! All three of us loved it and I would definitely recommend it. All in all, it's worth trying it out with friends or family. Just be prepared to pay $$$$
(3)Hilaru W.
Great service- waiter was knowledgeable and gave personal recommendations. He was especially attentive to food restrictions in our party, which was really appreciated! I had an amazing soup-roast cauliflower, and my friends had lamb ravioli and steak tartare- all wonderful. I had Branzina for the main, which was pan seared-crispy on the outside, juicy and soft inside. It was served with a delicious variety of roast vegetables. We ordered the carmelized brussels sprouts. They were salty, but I like that. Very glamorous crowd. Loved it! Only regret is that we had no room for dessert....
(5)Andrea F.
I feel like the odd man out here. I've been so excited to try Scarpetta for over a year, and it has come recommended by so many people whose opinion I value. So to say I was disappointed with my recent visit would be an understatement. We made reservations for a friend's birthday on a Sunday night. We wanted to go to a Miami Spice location and she chose the spot. The space was very pretty and our table was lovely. The service was also great. The food all looked great. Some of it tasted great, I really enjoyed the Burrata app. But the entrees all fell short. The bottom line is that everything was so salty it couldn't be saved. The signature pasta with tomato sauce? Salt city. The Branzino was cooked perfectly, then drenched in salt. I was so disappointed with the food I couldn't believe it. The polenta cheesecake helped end the meal on a better note. They even wrote Happy Birthday to our special friend and sang to her. But I can tell you mostly everyone at the table was in agreement, perhaps it was an off night, or there was some crazy person attacking the food with salt, but I was not impressed at all with our meal, I was thankful we were there for Spice and not paying full price.
(2)Elizabeth R.
This restaurant has really wonderful food. These are all the things we got: Polenta: awesome awesome awesome, this dish is dreamy (I don't eat mushrooms but they come separately so you don't have to eat them) Tuna susci: not that good, fresh fish but bogged down with other ingredients Spagetti with tomato sauce: really wonderful, best pasta with tomato sauce I've ever had, the pasta is so so fresh and cooked perfectly Duck and fois gras ravioli: my fiance loved this so much, everything about it he said was awesome Diver sea scallops: this was good but not great Oven roasted chicken: everyone loved this dish Swordfish but with the branzino preparation: OMG, this was the best swordfish I've ever eaten. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The lemon caper emulsion was soooo flavorful. The escarole was pretty good. The gigante beans tasted like they were canned...I love beans but these were not good. Chocolate zeppole: just okay, not chocolaty enough
(5)James M.
Fantastic dinner at Scarpetta's. service was exceptional, food was also great. We had Black Cod which was done to perfection as well as the spaghetti. Hard to think you cold make spaghetti differentiated....but theirs is outstanding. All in, best dinner we had all week in Miami
(5)Sandra F.
Spending a night at the Fontainebleau is always fun, and I've been wanting to try Scarpetta for a long time so Miami Spice was the perfect opportunity. First of all, the bread is really something. Prosciutto in my bread? Yes please! Appetizer: Creamy truffle polenta - definitely the highlight of the meal Entree: Spaghetti - it was good but kind of plain. I would have preferred a meat sauce. Dessert: Chocolate cake. Delicious but not so unique. Again, this is the way to try a Miami hot spot for $35. Of course you'll end up spending $75 with wine but whatever!
(4)Vickey L.
My girlfriends and I went to Miami Beach for a mini vacation. In addition to looking up nearby attractions, one of my missions was to find us a fine dining restaurant. I stumbled upon Scarpetta upon my research. I was glad I did, because my friends and I loved our experience there! We located the Fontainbleau Hotel and drove up the driveway where the valet parker was nice enough to inform me that parking was $7 with validation from Scarpetta. We then entered through a double-door and walked down the corridor and Scarpetta was located on our left. My first impression of the restaurant was... ehhh. The hostess seemed a bit snobbish and didn't seem like she enjoyed her job. Maybe she's had a long day? We walked past the lounge/waiting area, past the bar, and into the main dining room. The decor was ahh-mazing! It seemed newly furnished and the ambiance was great as well. We sat next to the windows with the ocean view. I requested patio seating when I made the reservation weeks ago but changed my mind last minute because it was pretty humid at the time. The iced tea tasted like it was freshly brewed and had brown sugar ice cubes? I wasn't sure. But they sure weren't your typical ice cubes haha. The food was excellent! We started off with the short ribs as appetizer and, ohemgee, the beef melted in our mouths as soon as we took a bite! It was verrry flavorful. I wouldn't have minded if I died and went straight to heaven then. Oh wait, maybe after I tried my foie gras ravioli first... I ordered the duck and foie gras ravioli. I usually don't go for raviolis, but they had me at "foie gras". My friends ordered strozzapreti and scialatelli, which were pasta dishes. One with some sort of pasta I've never seen and lobster meat and another was creamy fettucini with clams and shrimps. The portions seemed a bit small for its price, but it did fill us up by the end of the meal. But us girls always have a hidden stomach for desserts. My friends and I ordered a chocolate cake that came in bit-size and was sprinkled with powder sugar and almond pieces. Our waiter, Lucas, later brought out a plate of cookies with a candle and "Happy Birthday" scribbled in chocolate syrup for our friend's birthday! Great food, good service, okay pricing, and nice ambience. It was a great way to end our vacation. I would definitely visit again in the future when I get the chance. What more could we possibly ask for?
(5)Christy C.
Scarpetta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you! You gave me the most delicious meal that I had in Miami! We stayed at the FB and you guys were just down stairs to us!!! YAY! I have had the pleasure in trying out alot of your food during Miami Spice. That's because the 5 of us were picking each other's plates to try to try everything out. My appetitzer japanese mackerel sashimi was OFF THE CHAIN!!! It was so fresh, so delicious. We also tried the braised short ribs and burrata... it was heavenly. Then for the main course- I ordered the roasted chicken- just something simple. GOODNESS! It was so tender, juicy, it was so good! I was sad that I had to share (haha, jk) 2 of the girls ordered Spagetti- It was soo good and the texture of it is just amazing and another girl ordered the Sirlion Beef... It was so good and there were so hidden yummy mushrooms... so amazing Then to dessert- My Coconut Panna Cotta was just amazing. I was so impressed that I didn't know what to do with myself. I havent been able to think about the party in my mouth since we dine there.
(5)Alexandra L.
Amazing service, food, decor and overall experience. Love going out to dinner here and is a long time favorite! Eddie is an amazing server! The Burrata, Bronzino, Steak Tartare and Hamachi are a must.
(5)Joseluis A.
not so long ago, i invited myself for dinner with three ladies. the ladies did not oppose to this and allowed me to dine with them. cheers ladies, i salute you. we had a reservation at 9pm, we arrived on time but our table wasnt ready. we waited for about 15 minutes and we finally got seated. the restaurant is elegant of course but i wish it wasnt so cramped. the lights are low so this is a great place for a date, except that if was to drop two benjies for a romantic dinner, i wouldnt want a dude sitting 3 inches away from me and my lady(ies). just saying. we went during miami spice month and we all opted for this menu. i got the short ribs for appetizer or primi piatti as they call it which is not a proper translation but nice try. my main dish was the sirloin of beef and i got the chocolate cake for dessert. the food was excellent. no doubt. portions are decent and for the miami spice flat rate, this was a great deal. also, service was flawless. this was a great dinning experience. im very glad i got to sample this restaurant and i will for sure come back for dinner on a very special occasion, hopefully with 3 hot ladies again.
(4)Rob C.
First the good - the service. And now the bad: the short ribs where dried out and the tagliolini with sucking pig had bone chips in the meat. Two rookie errors for a high-end restaurant. Something to keep in mind with many restaurants in the Miami Beach area, including this one, is they include gratuity. I think it's because of the high international tourism, but it's stupid and presumptuous.
(2)Cliff F.
A really great experience all around. Located in the beautiful Fontainebleau on Miami Beach, the feel of Scarpetta is hopelessly chic, though not even remotely stuffy. Wearing a slight nautical theme, the decor is beautiful and the environment was electric. Service was close to perfection, but was missing the verve that would push it truly over the edge. The food, however, was brilliant. The Miami Spice menu presented a fantastic selection of options that gave a great feel for what the actual menu tries to convey. Meal included the burrata--with astonishingly delicious cheese, braised beef short ribs--which literally melted in your mouth, branzino with saffron & mixed seafood--perfectly prepared (better even than the branzino at Batali's B&B Ristorante), sirloin--also perfectly prepared, and chocolate cake, which was, for lack of a better word, EPIC. panna cotta was not a standout, unfortunately. Great restaurant.
(5)McKenzie T.
Thank goodness for Miami Spice! Service was great and food was amazing! What we tried: EVERYTHING! Luckily I went with a group of 8 girls and we each got something different. I had the Mackerel Sashimi, Spaghetti, and the Molten Chocolate Cake w/ Almond Gelato and Salted Caramel. Fresh fish, the most amazing meatless spaghetti I've ever had in my life, and an extremely sweet dessert (too sweet for me). The Polenta had amazing flavor, but it's so rich I'm not sure I personally would be able to eat it all. Steak was flavorful and not over cooked. Portions are good. I wish I didn't hit up Liv (the club at the hotel) right after dinner...I wanted to take my leftover spaghetti soooooo bad. I kick myself everyday for not taking it. Scarpetta...we shall meet again.
(5)Whitey M.
Delicious food with a great venue and view!! Love this place!!
(5)Lourdes D.
I love Miami Spice, but often feel that I make bad food choices, resulting in less than stellar reviews. Scarpetta, unforsh, has met the fate of my bad decisions. I went for a friend's birthday, who had made a reservation at 10:30 p.m. for four people. We got there just in time, but it was for naught, as the super swanky hostesses informed us that we would have to wait a few more minutes for a table to open up. So we went over to the bar to pass the time. The place was PACKED. Not one table was empty, not one bar stool was up for grabs, NOTHING. It was just tanned Miami bodies EVERY DAMN WHERE. There was bumpin' music, the lights were dim. Once we finally got seated, our waiter came by pretty quickly, and the bread soon followed. There were like 5 different types of bread that came with mascarpone cheese, some type of fancy olive oil and some eggplant something or other. It was HEAVENLY. All of it. As for the Miami Spice menu, here were my choices, some filled with fail, and other not: Appetizer: Creamy polenta with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms Verdict: Delish. I had never had this before, so it was a nice change of pace for me. However, my friend ordered the braised short ribs of meat, and those were, as my 90s self would say, "off the chain." So, mistake #1. Entree: Sirloin of beef with fingerling potatoes, trumpet royale and parmigiano Verdict: Ehhhh. Some of the pieces of meat had huge pieces of hard fat, and the outer parts of it were practically charred. Two of my friends got the Mediterranean branzino, which looked amazing. I should've asked them for a taste. D'oh! Mistake #2. Dessert: Coconut panna cotta in a caramelized pineapple and guava "soup" Verdict: Winner! It was very interesting. The taste, the consistency. In fact, the panna cotta was more like a sherbert, and not flan-esque as I'm used to. I did really like it though, so no mistake here! The restaurant is in the lovely Fontainebleau, so ladies and gents should dress to impress, and wear comfortable shoes, because it takes a hot minute to get anywhere in this hotel. Parking - we all know the deal here. Valet or fight with other patrons that want to park in the free adjacent lot.
(3)Arden C.
FountainBleau (the hotel it's in) is gorgeous, a very trendy dining experience. It's Miami Spice (present tasting menu's for 1 month) so I was excited to try a lot of different dishes. We started with Braised Short Ribs of Beef, very flavorful & tender. I also tried the Creamy Polenta (fricassee of truffled mushrooms) which is a must! It's just so amazing, I can't even describe it. For the meal we had the Mediterranean Branzino which was pretty good and the Sirloin of Beef (medium rare) but it was a tad over cooked and a bit dry. We also ordered a Spaghetti on top of the Miami Spice Menu because that's what they're known for. It was my favorite part of the meal so definitely order the spaghetti! The deserts were good but nothing spectacular. Overall, it's worth the experience and I'd definitely go back!
(4)Denise P.
I have been to Scarpetta a few times and glad I returned for a visit recently. I had come to Scarpette the first time as a Miami Spice patron. I was not wow'd although the food was very good. I think I was a little overwhelmed by the loud music and not very warm solo dining experience (wasn't rude, just seemed very "Oh, you are alone" and I seemed to be seeking service more than having it delivered?--You solo diners know what I mean). I came back with my husband this past week and yes, was BLOWN AWAY by the food! We went for the full tasting menus - I had the Chef's tasting menu and my hubby went with the new Truffle tasting menu. No, not usual to have two separate tastings, yet we had an unusual night and it worked. The Chef's tasting menu was excellent. The tuna starter was small, but every bit of the Amuse Bush that I anticipated. Next I had a creamy polenta that was truly fantastic and melt-in-your-mouth. The branzino fish was expertly and perfectly done (crispy skin, very tender and flavorful), the aged beef crazy good! I had the chocolate dense cake with caramel sauce and a gelato that was equally amazing. One tremendous value at only $89 per person. My husband had the truffle which had several additional courses - the melt-in-your-mouth truffle delivered expertly by Cesar was fantastic and truly enhanced each dish. His favorite dishes included the smoked lobster tartare beginner, the aged steak, the pasta dishes (I think his words were "crazy amazing" or simliar) and his olive oil custard which does not sound as fantastic as it tasted. It was light, pleasantly savory, and truly a great finish to the meal. Yes, $225 per person is somewhat pricey, yet it was worth it for the experience and taste. The service was at least as fantastic as the dinner, which for me was unexpected. Marie, our main server and sommelier, was pleasant, funny, engaging, personable and made great pairings with our meal. Cesar was equally omni-present with the Truffle Entourage (fun!), Mercedes was very nice and exuberant, and finally, Chef Josh paid a visit to the table to round out the amazing experience. He was very interested in our thoughts on the dishes and warmly welcomed us back to try another tasting --he mentioned that Chef's enjoy making the tasting menus so they can have the freedom and range to demonstrate and engage diners. Well done, Scarpetta. Glad I made the return trip.
(5)Steven C.
About 6 wks ago, 11 of us ran up a tab of $1800, but the waiter AND manager refused to accept individual credit cards. There was nothing on the menu stating a maximum number of cards (which the manager said was 6) and they refused to split the food and liquor bills and then use 6 and 5 cards for payment. They expected us to be walking around with at least $200 cash and were not nice about trying to settle the problem. Although the food and service were excellent, the waiter was a bit pushy, suggesting more food than was necessary - however, because of the manager's attitude and refusal to accept more than 6 credit cards for payment, none of us plan to ever come back (we are physicians and 3 of us live in Miami or Miami Beach). Furthermore we have told our colleagues about what happened, discouraging them from bringing any groups to the restaurant.
(1)Daniel P.
Outstanding service. Delicious food.
(5)Holden W.
Great food, service, design, and views plus hot crowd. The restaurant starts with a well appointed, stylish but not gaudy, bar area. Ask/bribe the waiter to sit you by the window and see if you can reserve such a table in advance. I would recommend polenta with truffled mushrooms for starters, branzino for entry and panna cotta for dessert but I am sure there are other delish options that would strike your fancy.
(5)Erin W.
This place is fantastic and has great service. The bread they serve, with prosciutto wrapped inside is amazing!! So fresh and tasty. Salad was great. The creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms was to die for! So delicious!
(5)Ben P.
Love this place! Excellent food, service, decor with ocean views. I highly recommend this place. Garrett took great care of us. The food is ridiciously good. Portions are not huge, but just the right size. If you are looking for a place to eat in Miami Beach, then go here!!
(5)Julie J.
I went for Miami Spice and it was exactly what I was expecting. It was very chic, upscale, and beautiful. It fits in perfect with the Fountain Blue. I had a sirloin plate which the sauce gave it an amazing taste. I recommend it especially if you are in the hotel.
(4)Joe M.
This is a tough one to review.Probably more like 3 1/2 stars. When we arrived at 6 30 the ambiance was really nice. Ocean view and reasonably quiet. By the time we left at 9 30 I was bordering on a headache. Loud obnoxious music which caused diners to shout at each other to carry on a conversation. I though I was at Club Liv instead of a first class restaurant. We each ordered the $70, 4 course tasting menu. Believe me thats all you got was a "taste." Most of the items were absolutely delishious such as the creamy polenta with a truffled mushroom sauce and and the duck ravioli. A few items, such as the spagetti with red sauce, were only average. Two out of three deserts were also magnificent. One thing is certain...the service was 6 stars! Impeccable! Water glasses, wine glasses, bread basket were all carefully watched and attended to.Any crumbs that fell to the table were quickly scooped up. The servers worked effortlessly in well orchestrated teams. One final note even with the restaurant stamping your valet ticket you will pay $12 to park!
(4)Cricket L.
Five stars for the unbelievable spaghetti. It was chewy and perfect and life-changing. One star for the excruciatingly loud atmosphere. I left with a satisfied belly and a huge headache. All said and done, I would definitely go back -- that spaghetti was unreal. But I'd have to be prepared for it -- and I warn all my friends who go.
(4)James U.
This one is goign to be short and sweet. It was before I started yelp-ing and man I wish I wrote down everything I had. I was down for the Winter Music Conference and we did a dinner with some exec's and was blown out of the water by the service and food. Dean the manager took care of us and wow did we eat. The most memorable was the polenta with mushrooms on the side (it was like crack!) and their signature Spaggetti, the Duck and Fois Ravioli and oh as I read these reviews on the side as I type it brings back memories. Everything was absolutely amazing. My last meal I would re-create this meal all over again it was that good. When I am back this year in Miami its either dinner here or Prime 112....gonna be a tough decision!
(5)Kent C.
Service and decor are the first things you will notice when entering Scarpetta at Miami Beach. Even while waiting for our table to be ready- we were catered to with their special "chips." When we sat down- our waiter was very attentive and the rest of staff never let our water get too low, a napkin to be left unfolded, or a question unanswered. Food consisted of shallow (in terms of physical depth) portions- each uniquely created. Their special "breads" were a meal into themselves- very delicious. We left the restaurant thinking that we would be hungry- but that was not the case. It was just enough in retrospect and certainly unique in taste. We were told to try pasta dishes because they were all freshly made at the restaurant - and definitely tasted that way. Did I expect a little more? Maybe. Was I disappointed? No. Will I go back? Yes. Maybe in a different city as well.....
(4)Elle R.
We had a great time ...good food & Ben Goldman is a fantastic General Manager. Our group was well taken care of & was given great service once Ben got involved. The blonde manager seemed lost in the headlights, she could not manage foreseeable problems. But Ben came in & saved the day! This was for a larger group. The food was wonderful & the atmosphere was very beautiful.
(4)Laura S.
Wonderful experience! We had the scallop app. Spaghetti and aged steak for entrees and chocolate cake for dessert. All of it was soooo good. Amazing waiter. Very helpful. Just a great time all around. Will most def be back.
(5)Dennis M.
world renown or whatever. spaghetti was tasty not what you pay for tasty. i suggest eating all their bread that they keep feeding you and drinking a bottle of wine, then you'll be gold.
(3)Jenaia F.
If you're looking for a great restaurant to check out while Miami Spice is in effect, Scarpetta should definitely be on your list. Stopped in on Sunday and had an amazing dining experience - one that I would definitely pay full price for. The staff was extremely attentive and friendly. The food was exquisite. The ambiance was lovely. No complaints. I'm a sucker for mushrooms, so the polenta is a must try if you feel the same way. It was unreal... creamy, rich, perfect!!! The presentation wasn't too shabby either. It's something you should definitely check out.
(5)Jason O.
This review is for their Miami Spice 2010, though I believe the comments are valid for the restaurant in general. The restaurant goes along with the Miami-swank of the rest of the fountainbleu, albeit a little less trend, a little more Disney Yacht Club meets Miami Beach. Nice space, although it does not really feel like an Italian restaurant, or an Italian restaurant on the beach. The server treated us like garbage from the get-go. Unfortunately, it was three of us, and each of us missed comments she made at one time or other. Had we all heard all her comments, we probably would have up and left and enjoyed ourselves elsewhere. The night started just fine. We walked up to the restaurant and the hostess gave us the usual it'll be a few minutes - please spend some nice money at the bar routine. No big deal. We actually had three great drinks at $15 or so each. $55 with tip and tax before we sit down, but seriously, kudos to the bartenders for knowing what the heck they're doing back there. Hostess comes, takes us to our seats. We're introduced to the waitress "Jennifer". Jennifer will be mentioned frequently in my letter to the Fountainbleu and Scarpetta. Anyhow, Jennifer asks if we would like still or sparkling bottled water. We say neither, we'd like regular Miami water just fine, thank you. She snaps "Yeah, ok." serious attitude that cannot be conveyed here. Anyhow, I had my back to her for most of this, simply because the table of three (table spacing was crowded) really allows for no maneuverability of the servers or diners. Somehow I missed it, but she follows up with "You must be here for Miami Spice." WOW. I guess the bread was that good (it IS good) Time to order comes I asked for a bottle of Salviano 2005 Turlo, $45. Fantastic bottle. She sneers but manages an "I will get that for you right away," I let the face go, she's trying to be amicable. Order time comes, and apparently I order the only appetizer of the 4 the other two in our group don't want to taste. Jennifer chimes in, "You could just get the burrata off the menu." I reply "I think that sounds like too much food" - "It's not" "No it probably is, just give me the burrata appetizer." Serving time comes they brought out the wrong app. The server apologizes and takes it away. Jennifer accompanies the server as he brings me the burrata and as he puts it down she says, "here's the burrata, and its ok" "Excuse me," I reply. "Yeah, it's ok. You ordered the fish but now you want the burrata. it's ok, just as long as you know I did not screw up your order, you did." Now, as reasonable adults, it was absolutely understandable from where the confusion came. It was a small, excusable confusion in a loud restaurant. I just looked at her and said, "Now that is a problem." The rest of the meal went more or less the same. We minimized our interaction with Jennifer, as the rest of the staff was polite and attentive. My wife's fish entree was close to inedible (poorly made, the fish seemed more or less fresh) and so she left it, no complaints. No questions were asked when they took back an untouched plate. Desserts were good but not fantastic. My sister had the spaghetti, which probably the best dish of the night, but I ABSOLUTELY cannot believe the amount of hype Scott Conant gets, nor the sort of superior attitude he often exudes when judging on various Food Network shows based on what we saw at Scarpetta. We could have had a very nice night out, and honestly, we spent about $260 by the time it was all done for 3 people. If you cannot find semi decent servers averaging that per cover, something is wrong. Would I try it again? Not on my dime, the food quality and execution were not as high as I expect. I might, however, stop in for another drink.
(1)Alicia C.
I visited Scarpetta on a busy Saturday night to celebrate my birthday, as well as a family friend's. We were both looking forward to this dinner for quite a while, and we left happy. As per my usual reviews, I will list the positives and negatives about this five-star dining establishment The good: -The environment and atmosphere were delightful. The music was sultry, but not blaring; the lights were dimmed enough to enjoy the atmosphere (menu reading was a tad difficult, but they provided small hand-held lights if needed); and, the nautical theme was tasteful and not tacky in the least. I can't truly speak for the view, as we did visit on a Saturday night and sat away from the view, but it had the potential to be beautiful, as it does overlook the beach/ocean. -The food is delicious. Every dish is rich and specially crafted. I had spaghetti with tomato and basil and it was obvious that the pasta was handmade on site (thick, hearty noodles). I had the fingerling potatoes appetizer which was yummy!! Imagine a flavorful marriage between french fries and roasted potatoes, mixed with herbs. My dessert was so-so, but more on that later... -Wonderful selection of drinks. I enjoyed a fruity mango, passion fruit, raspberry mixed drink with Vodka. It was a wonderful drink that lasted throughout the meal, and I did get a buzz. -I never felt rushed, which was nice, as it was a special birthday dinner. I spent about 2+ hours eating and relaxing The not so good: -I am not a dessert orderer, but as it was my special *Golden* Birthday, I decided to splurge on the chocolate zeppole, mainly because it had a nutella center. Much to my dissapointment, I could only eat one of the five donuts because it was... well, not very tasty! For a five-star, EXPENSIVE dining establishment at The Fountain Bleu (I mean, c'mon, The Fountain freakin' bleu!), I would have expected much, much more. All of my guests agreed that the dessert just was not very sweet and we ended up taking home the rest of it. I don't think I've EVER taken home a dessert from a restaurant, let alone a fancy, shmancy one. -Our server was wonderful in terms of providing recommendations (he led me to a delicious drink), but unfortunately, he had... well, a bit of a spitting problem when he spoke. As unappetizing as this sounds, he spit in my friend's eye as she was ordering and tarnished her contacts. Not a wonderful way to begin a meal -Be prepared to SPEND A LOT OF MONEY. My spaghetti meal was $24, and that was a cheap dish. Our server told us that most guests order several pasta dishes to share and then an entree as a main dish (I don't have that kind of money...). My spaghetti dish was not overflowing off the small plate, let's just leave it at that. It was delicious, albeit small and pricey. Would I go again? I might. I'm not completely sold on this establishment, and because Miami Beach, South Beach, and downtown Miami have so many wonderful restaurants, I'd like to try others before ever visiting this again. Was I grateful for the experience and the delectable meal? For sure, but again, it wasn't the best restaurant I've ever visited.
(4)Adam G.
Swordfish was the best I've ever had. Didn't expect anything so tender. Anyone who likes swordfish should try this. Also really impressed with steak tartare. Rivals any I've ever had. The one problem is the cost, and location. The staff was amazing, but you would expect that for the style of dining.
(5)Vivi M.
If you're in the mood for Italian this is the place to go. The food and service was great. I was staying a the Eden Roc and decided to go there for my Birthday Dinner. The Fontainebleau is right next door to the Eden Roc. We ordered the Polenta as our appetizer and.....WOW IT WAS SO GOOD!!! For my main course I went with the Spaghetti because I heard so many wonderful things about it and I will say.....I wasn't disappointed at all. I was afraid all the hype would leave me expecting more.....honestly it was as good as it gets. I can't remember what my boyfriend ordered but it was some sort of meat. Oh....and I you happen to order what he had....you'll see what appears to be chopped up tomatoes. Well that's not tomato....it's bone marrow. Yes...bone marrow. We ate a few, thought they were the strangest tasting tomatoes ever and had to ask, "What kind of tomato is this?". Oops! Not sure why some say the service isn't good. I guess some people expect servers to tuck in their chair, drape their napkin over their lap and wipe their mouths....who knows. I think the service was exactly what it needed to be.
(5)Andre C.
Went for Miami Spice, super duper fancy, really good food, but not extraordinary. the creamy polenta is amazing. But while more and more restaurants are going for the casual with good prices and great food. it feels that this one stands more on the looks over the food, feels not welcome unless u look super rich.
(3)Leila S.
Dined here on a business trip in Miami. Both the food and the service was excellent. Our boss is allergic to shellfish and ordered a fish dish, that didn't mention little shrimps would be adorning his entree. The server quickly exchanged his entree to another dish without the shellfish garnish. I ordered a special fund-raising meal where they had three courses (appetizer, entree and dessert). Apparently a certain amount of the proceeds would be given to the Susan B. Komen foundation. While everything I ordered was extremely tasty (bass with shrimp; chocolate molten cake), the one thing that stands out in my mind is the every so creamy and delightful polenta with truffled mushrooms. The chef took something very basic - polenta - and augmented it into something extraordinary and unforgettable. The polenta is creamy and rich, while the truffled mushrooms are earthy and savory, complementing the polenta perfectly. To put it simply, this was the best polenta I've ever eaten. Scarpetta's polenta is comfort food at it's finest.
(5)Nayla B.
Scarpetta has incredible service, a cool vibe, and pretty good food. Their bread is AMAZING (honestly the best thing there loll). It comes with separate dipping sauces such as eggplant with tomato and also mascarpone (delicious). In terms of their pasta, I must say 2 of the 3 we ordered were slightly salty, but overall, they were yummy! Definitely get the tomato/basil pasta... It was cooked perfectly and is the closest you can get to south Italy! :)
(4)Salvatore P.
Awesome! Went to Miami location first then found it in the city. Been twice so far and both times excellent.
(5)LISA M.
Wonderful food and a great location . I loved sitting outside watching the people go by food 5 stars ..service was just ok... so that 's why it's not a 5 ..He didn't offer dessert they weren't busy..I would go back when I am in the area
(5)John Y. C.
The restaurant is located in the fabulous Fontainbleau Hotel. Note that the restaurant is located in the new tower, so if you enter through the main lobby, expect a 3 min (although lovely) walk. The hostess that greeted us was young, and you can tell by her demeanor. Nothing negative. I guess i'm just getting older. We were seated outdoors, not facing the main pool, but the back pool which directly overlooks the ocean. It was a windy night, but was not a distraction. Our server, Rick, was perfect in every manner. Present only when necessary, and made no interruptions. The wine glasses were always full. The braised short rib of beef was tender and had the great flavor of the beef. The risotto accompanied the beef well, not intruding into the flavor of the beef. The black cod was cooked to perfection. A nice large piece that flaked with the fork. The duck w/ foie gras ravioli was good. The individual raviolis were small, so there was not much filling. There weren't any accompaniments with the dish. Just a simple plate of little raviolis. Have a after-dinner apertif at the Bleau Bar and then party the night away at LIV. If you become a little tipsy, spend the night, and then lounge at the pool the next day.
(4)Gordon G.
Good, Thats was far as it goes. Not great , not amazing, good. The setting and ambience amazing. VERY LOUD! Not a place for kids, not a place for a frugal wine drinker like me. 180 US on Borello we bought in Italy this summer for 18 Euros??? Come on! Maybe NYC version is better, but there are definitely better ways to waste your money.
(4)Tracy M.
Loved having dinner here the other night! We called for reservations, 30 minutes before there last seating, got a reservation for 6 at 10:30 and were greeted and accomodated very nicely. Drinks were well prepared. All of us ordered different dishes from the Miami Spice menu. What a treat!!! Drinks, service, food, portions, ambiance...everything was perfect! I'll come back even without Miami Spice. I know this is not the cheapest restaurant in Miami, but they do seem to make it all worth it! Kudos!
(5)Vivian L.
I'm home & I am deeply missing the food, experience, etc. My cousins & I celebrated a night out & chose to go here. It was great that we chose Scarpetta. The decor was very 'Z Gallery'. The servers were very nice, attentive & cute..(Hey Carlos, lol). Since I was out with the girls I sampled everything from short ribs & polenta to their spaghetti & prime filet. Everything was so delicious!!! I would pay the orig prices like another reviewer mentioned. The dessert was orgasmic. I scarfed the amedei chocolate cake down. Also had a bite of the coconut panna cotta (yummy) y mocha cheesecake. The cheesecake was good but a little too mocha for my tastebuds. I also want to add that we indulged a little bit more & bought a couple wine bottles. It was a great offer so I couldn't refuse (hehehe). All in all it was a great night with great food, great company, & great ambiance. This place is definitely worth it.
(5)Vanessa S.
Want to make someone feel like a million without spending a million, bring them to Scarpetta! A surprise dinner from my girls included me getting dressed without knowing where we were off to and as we pulled up to the gorgeous Fountainbleu my jaw dropped! We took a nice half booth outside, no regrets here the outside patio was well lit, cozy and not unbearably hot. I munched on their bread served with 3 nice spreads as I looked over the wine menu. I'll be honest, I know nothing of Italian wines so I told the waiter what flavors I liked and he picked out the perfect glass of red wine for me. It went with everything we ordered! Onto the menu, simple, freshly prepared pastas, all types of meat and fish and that feeling you get when you want to order one of everything! Since we couldn't order everything we went with two appetizers to start, the polenta and mushroom fricassee appetizer along with the short rib over orzo appetizer. I knew polenta and truffle oil would be decadent, but I never imagined the marriage of flavors would be that good, I wanted to buy a gallon of it and take it home with me. The short ribs were perfection, not soggy, but fork tender and the cheese and orzo added a special taste to a familiar favorite. We followed our entree rule, when ordering entrees no one can order the same thing, this way it takes care of that wanting to order everything feeling. Four diners, four entrees. I had the agnolotti dal plin, a tortellini type pasta filled with a meat paste and cheese, quite tasty. My dining mates ordered, Spaghetti in tomato & basil simple yet well prepared. Scialatelli which I didn't try and Black Tagliolini which had fresh delicious pieces of squid in it, I almost ordered that and glad my friend did so I could taste it. We ate almost in silence from how good all the food was. We munched away, talked, drank our wine and just barely noticed our waiters, yes there were several of them, all night they zoomed by the table making sure we were doing well. They did this so seamlessly it deserves being mentioned. Despite not needing to we decided to order not one, but two desserts! The first was an almond chocolate cake served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. WOW!! The warm cake was dense like a flourless and had the right amount of decadent chocolate in it, not repugnant but really chocolaty. The second dessert was chocolate (yes, more chocolate) Zeppoles with a mascarpone dipping sauce. They were described by one of my friends as an Italian version of a Thai Donut. All I know is that I could eat about a dozen of those things, they were lightly dusted with toasted hazelnut and made me want a glass of milk real bad! They were the perfect end to an awesome meal! Let me just say It's not one thing that makes a restaurant five star worthy. For me, it's a combination of all aspects, leaving the place feeling I got precisely what I paid for and came for, being fed well and served well. This is what my Scarpetta experience accomplished, it covered all bases perfectly without making me beg. I say for a couple bucks more than Romano's, Scarpetta delivers something delicious and special, it's worthy of your time and dollars. As a local though, I suggest steering clear during high tourist time.
(5)Jessica P.
I just went to Scarpetta for the second time and still LOVE this place. I went with three other close friends so we were all trying each others dishes. Below are the items we ordered: Apps: Braised Short Ribs of Beef - Very tender and delicious. Served with vegetable & Farro risotto. Polenta - Creamy amazing goodness served with a fricassee of truffled mushrooms Raw Yellowtail - So simple, yet so incredible. Very fresh and tasty. Crispy Frito Misto - Shoe string fried seafood and vegetables. Very good. Burrata w/ heirloom tomatoes and arugula/basil - Tasted like a caprese. Came with buttery toasted baguette, yum. Main plates: Strozzapreti - Lobster w/ tomatoes and capers. Buttery and delicious. Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli - melts in your mouth Duck - Had a great orange scented au jus. Very tender. Branzino - A white fish seared and crispy on one side, served over gnocchi and asparagus bean. The chef brought us an extra plate of Spaghetti - So surprised at how amazing this simple dish could be, I wish I ordered this. Dessert: Panna Cotta w/ Coconut Ice Cream in guava sauce - Awesome light dessert Mocha Cheesecake w/ Espresso Sorbet - Tasty Chocolate cake - WOW I could have had 4 more of these. All in all Scarpetta is definitely a 5 star restaurant and worth the 5 star price. Great service and atmosphere and incredible food.
(5)Erica L.
We stayed at the Fontainebleu for 4 days and we ate here the first night. AMAZING food, great ambience and great customer service. We didn't experience any waiting time at the bar while we waited for our table like other reviewers experienced, we were brought right over to our table. We shared the fritto misto for the appetizer and I had the duck & foie gras ravioli and my boyfriend had the chicken...I forgot what it was called but that was excellent. I make a great roast chicken but I might try to copy that one!! For dessert we had the chocolate and nutella zeppoli, not really like a zeppoli think of it more as a warm brownie with a nutella center. I don't really care what it is it was delicious. We are definitely going to Scarpetta in NYC now that we're home!
(5)Richard M.
Excellent. Having been to Miami many times I truly regret not having come here before. Service was par excellence and the atmosphere it's equal. Food was very good. Staying in the hotel I also ate at Gotham Steak and to put these two restaurants on the same footing is laughable. Really, they don't even come close. The wine menu was very thorough with glass starting at $8, apps were of large portions and very well done. All in all I would highly recommend.
(5)Sol H.
Fontainbleau Miami Beach Cant beat that already. Not just because I worked there for 2 years, it is the best restaurant in all of Miami as far as Italian Cuisine, Service, and ambiance. Chef Scott Conant from the TV show Chopped and 24 restaurant battle is the owner. The Chef de Cuisine is Michael PIrolo my homie. If you ever go just make sure you get a tasting menu because for the money, you get so much food, and everything on the menu is so delicious its worth every penny.
(5)Selma M.
Wow! Oh Scarpetta, why have I waited so long to try you?! From the bread you put in my mouth that melted away, to the amuse-bouche of sashimi that you teased me with, and to the four courses of never ending amazing you filled me with, I am forever going to want to come back for more!
(5)Dana S.
This review isn't for the food - because we didn't get that far. Had a 9pm reservation showed up 5 minutes late and had to wait 25 minutes. Finally got showed to our table and it was awful - they have an awesome dinning area but my party was showed to a separate side dining room. I normally wouldn't complain but it was Saturday night and there was a crying baby at the table next to us. We talked to the hostess about going to the main dining room (there was a table open) but was informed someone that had a reservation was going to be sitting there... Even though we waited 25 minutes and we had a table they could have taken. Would not go back to try the food because the menu was just okay and the service was awful
(1)BJ M.
Had dinner at Scarpetta Saturday. Our server was Steve (Australian dude) and he was awesome. Very knowledgable of the menu and super friendly. He recommended the chef tasting menu - and it was a great idea. Dinner was superb - yellow tail, short ribs, duck foie gras ravioli, spaghetti, colorado lamb chops just to name a few. I highly recommend a visit.
(4)Renato S.
The feel of this restaurant hits you as soon as you walk into the door. Just a fresh looking dining area, with nice outdoor dining. I had the miami spice pre fixe which including a mushroom and potato appetizer? Really? It was good but a strange start for me. My gf had the shortrib, very good, but once again...an app? Anyway, we both had the spaghetti which I found quite tastey. No meat though so I should have gone with the chicken breast, looked really good. The waiter service was very impersonal, so they lose a star. Other than that, one of the ONLY reasons to come to this hotel. I stayed for 3 nights and thought it blew but the restaurant was very good. 4.5 Scarpetta.
(4)Chris C.
Absolutely fantastic food! The duck and foe gras ravioli was amazing. The creamy polenta is a must have. The spaghetti, while simple, was fantastic.
(5)Andrea P.
S Sophisticated C Classy A Amazing R Romantic P Pleasant E Excellent T Tasteful T Terrific A Attractive I LOVE THIS PLACE ;)
(5)Anthony K.
Scarpetta Review (1st Anniversary Edition) Preface (A Love Note) : To Urban Solace (San Diego) - I've loved you from the beginning, but since I've moved to Florida...there's been someone else. And I just have to tell you, this one last important thing : Scarpetta is carrying my foodie love child - Amor, Antonio Prologue (A perfect Pair) : Me and the girlfriend are food network / foodie geeks. We love to watch Next Iron Chef, Best thing I ever ate / Made / Chopped. Having the ability to experience food network for a first "romantic" anniversary date in person : Priceless : Entre.......Scarpetta !! Chapter 1 : (A table for 2) - Reservations were made through Open Table - and within the hour the restaurant called to confirm our arrival and any special requests. I requested it to be known that we would be celebrating our Anniversary and the hostess was very gracious over the phone. Chapter 2 : (The Arrival) - Located in the swanky fontainebleu. Neon blue lighting illuminates the lobby. Me and the bonita, dressed to the nines, made our way down the hallway in giddy anticipation. Hostess greeted us with a welcome and wished us a Happy Anniversary. How Nice :) The Ambiance - Low Lit, candles at each table...very romantic. Chapter 3 : (Decisions, Decisions) - Our Waiter Introduced himself and was very gracious and attentive, throughout the entire meal. Oh what to eat - Everything sounds delicious (and we had seen a couple dishes prepared by Scott Conant on t.v. prior). We decided to do a la carte and try a few (I mean a lot), of selections. For those that don't know : There's a chef prepared 4 and 5 course menu (if you wish) - The chef chooses key dishes and for an extra fee, will pair them with wine selections. There is also a vegetarian menu (This made the bonita happy) Chapter 4 : (A race well run) : We began our foodie marathon with bread service. A variety of breads (I dont remember them all, just the one with this perfect sliver of salami which I profess is better than any bacon that I've had in my life) w/ a trio platter of toppings : Garlic infused olive oil / Mascarpone Butter / Caponata. Next was our cold course : I ordered a stone crab claw w/ garlic aoli and mostarda (Excellent presentation that came out on a bed of shaved ice). We also ordered the Arugula Plate (This was delicious, but a bit too big), and also the Burrata Plate (The tastiest tomatoes ever...delicately coated in olive oil..simple and perfect...this is my go to cold course from here on...forever). Pasta Course : I believe for both of us, this was the highlight of the evening. Note : Nothing you ever see on t.v. looks like what you order...until now. Watching Scott make this spaghetti was enough to bring me in. Just for this dish - and it did not disappoint. It came out covered w/ a white porcelain dome and the wait staff waited just a tad to do the "unveiling" - It was a real bit of food magic...and ta-da !! It looked just like it did on t.v. - This perfect wound up mound of deliciosity !! So simple, yet so deliciously complex. Perfectly cooked al dente pasta, the sauce is bath-able, better yet, a facial. I cannot describe any more, I just don't have the words, better yet I can describe the action : You know the part in Lady and the Tramp where they do the spaghetti kiss ? The pasta was magical enough for us to re-enact the scene. The bonita ordered the Butternut Squash Ravioli : Slightly sweet, yet creamy filling w/ another to die for sauce. The slight crunch of the almonds on top was on point and completed the dish. At this point - We hit the foodie marathon wall....A wall that we were not expecting, but then came our entree courses...In the running community it's called runner's high, at Scarpetta it's Foodie Nirvana - a state of culinary bliss that few ever achieve and even fewer come down from. We both felt like floating balloons, and even the wait staff offered us a cart to wheel us out to the valet stand...but we weren't done yet. We must...finish...the fooood !! Main Course : I ordered the Long Island Duck : Perfectly cooked and delicious. The bonita ordered the creamy polenta w/ mushrooms (Pillowy Soft - We both stated we could make a bed of it - That soft !!). The bonita loves panna cotta - Oh look, coconut panna cotta w/ a guava and pineapple reduction (Sweet and Creamy, Tropical, refreshing). And I ordered the chocolate cake (Seductively sweet and Heavenly). In the celebration of our anniversary both of our dessert plates had delicately chocolate written Happy Anniversary messages complete with heart shaped "i" dots and exclamation points. It's fine touches like these that show the professionalism and sincerity, the willingness to go the extra mile. Compliments to the chef and team at scarpetta. Epilogue (Best thing I ever....) : With our meal complete, we left with smiles, and affirmed that we would begin a new tradition of making a monthly visit. Best things I ever ate indeed !!
(5)Will M.
Braised short ribs, yellowtail himachi, Duck and fois ravioli, white truffle steak All outstanding. So was service. I didn't spoil myself with white truffle tasting menu, but would've been a great choice. Ravioli was outstanding.
(5)andrew s.
Classy and delicious. Stick with the classic italian pastas and starchy favorites and you will do no wrong. Having spent 4 months in Italy, I can say that most of these dishes are authentic and delicious. The spaghetti in tomato sauce is a must have. Service is great, and prices aren't too overwhelming.
(4)Nina T.
amazing polenta and spaghetti. mediocre and overpriced lamb chops(per husband). not impressed w dessert. husband wants to give this place a 3 star but due to tasty pasta, giving it a 4.
(4)Mindy A.
My husband and I recently stayed in Miami Beach for a few nights and wanted to treat ourselves to a fantastic meal while we were here. After being largely unimpressed with several of the spots along Ocean Drive, we turned to Yelp and searched the area for something special. We were looking for a Monday night dinner, so we had no problem grabbing reservations for Scarpetta. We were not dissappointed! This place is five-stars from the minute you walk in. While we were waiting for our table we grabbed some bubbly from the bar, which is nothing short of stylish. After a brief toast, we were seated and our server promptly arrived. After taking a look at our menu, we found it hard to choose apps and entrees....so we went all out and ordered the four course chef's tasting dinner. This was definitely a splurge, but hey, we were on vacation! For what its worth, if you're OK spending a bit of $$, the tasting menu was amazing. It included two apps (truffled mushroom polenta & short ribs), three half-orders of pasta (their famous duck foie gras ravioli & spaghetti and something else with pancetta & clams), two entrees (swordfish & perfectly cooked sirloin), and two desserts (dark chocolate cake/almond ice cream & mango panna cotta). Good thing we were hungry! Of those selections, the out-of-the-park homeruns included the polenta, ravioli, spaghetti, sirloin, and panna cotta. Everything else was fantastic as well. We enjoyed all of that, plus the complimentary "small bites" they brought to the table--amazing tuna sashimi--and their salami & smoked mozzarella bread basket (wow). Honestly, the bread basket alone, with its selection of three spreads, won us over immediately. On top of the amazing food, the service was fantastic. Our server explained each course and served the first bits to both my husband and I (everything was brought to the table to share). At one point, I actually saw him RUN, not walk, over to make sure he could serve us first, before I grabbed the spoon to serve us myself. Now that is putting in the extra effort. He was quick to refill our wine glasses and friendly throughout the meal. After our 2-1/2 hour "dining experience," we took a few minutes to walk around the famous Fountainebleu Hotel and check out the pool. The setting, especially the pool, really is something else. The hotel is built like a resort. All in all, Scarpetta is pricey, but lives up to its reputation. I'd recommend for a special occasion, and don't be afraid to order the tasting menu if you want an extra special experience!
(5)Kari S.
Had an amazing time here while on vacation in South Beach. My friend and I did the 4-course chef tasting menu. For the $85 per person, it was beyond worth it. You get SO much food for the price and it is all absolutely delicious. I don't think I can say one bad thing about any of the dishes we had. My favorite was the spaghetti with tomato basil sauce. Sounds simple...but it was the best pasta I have had with such clean, simple flavors. The duck and fois gras ravioli was so rich and really did melt in your mouth. I can go on and on about how amazing everything was, but I suggest going for yourself and getting the tasting menu!
(5)Selene S.
Music was not fitting for this italian restaurant and was way too loud. It was touch to hear my friend and I speak to each other. Room was way too dark, I get mood lighting but when every person is taking out a cell phone or trying to use the candle to read the menu, make it a tad brighter.
(3)Lee T.
I wanted to have one fancy pants meal in Miami and since I haven't made it to Scarpetta in NYC yet, I figured I go here. The Fontainebleu is kind of my nightmare - I had to ask for directions three times to find the restaurant, but I got over the cruise ship atmosphere once I was comfortably seated on my banquette. First of all, stromboli bread - I could have made a meal of that alone. As we nibbled on the bread basket, our waiter was very helpful in selecting wine for the evening. He recommended a very fair priced white to start with before we cracked open the Barolo, It was the perfect acidic punch to wake up our palettes. To begin, we shared the burrata, the polenta and the fritto misto. All were excellent, but the polenta was the star. I don't even want to know what they do to that cornmeal to make it so rich and creamy. We followed the apps with a middle course of the spaghetti with tomato and basil. This was pretty much my dream; fresh pasta with the most beautiful simple pomodoro basilico. If you can make the simple things sing like that, then you are a true master of your craft. Our entrees were the beef and the veal chop. The veal chop was without a doubt the most outstanding veal I have tasted. Prepared sous vide, it was pink as a pork loin, tender as anything and the most clean, delicate veal flavor one could imagine. A revelation really. The one downside to the plate was that the accompaniment to the chop was slightly over-seasoned, which detracted from the dish's overall impact. For dessert, we shared the olive oil cake and the coconut panna cotta - both fantastic, but the panna cotta was the true winner. I could eat that everyday without guilt or shame. The purest coconut flavor contrasted with a bite of cleansing citrus. Scarpetta is one of the few places in this town where you are actually paying for the quality of the food rather than the scene or the view. I know I'll be stopping by in NYC if for nothing more than that pasta al pomodoro and a glass of wine.
(5)Erin M.
Their Miami Spice menu looked the best out of the 3 Fontainebleu restaurants, and it was sooo good. MUST order the creamy polenta. The rib appetizer was good but small. Sirloin was good, but spaghetti would have been worth it. Some ordered the chicken dish but didn't rave about it. The chocolate cake with salted caramel...yum! We left very satisfied. Their Miami Spice menu is worth every penny, just watch it with the wine if your on a budget...
(4)Joseph C.
I went to Scarpetta for their two year celebration and took advantage of the $55 four-course prix-fix dinner with complimentary wine pairing. I have to say that my overall experience here was incredible. This was the last restaurant of the big three at Fontainebleau that I had yet to try and it was just as amazing as the other two. Ambiance The restaurant itself is beautiful. The decor, layout, lighting, furniture, and overall set up are all perfect. I opted to sit outside because it was cool out and I wanted to take advantage of the weather. The seating outside consisted of regular tables as well as tables with couches for seats which were super comfortable. The outside seating area provides a nice view of the pool area for you to enjoy while you eat. Food When you sit they bring a basket of freshly baked breads to the table. They come with a garlic infused olive oil, an eggpant spread, and butter. My favorite was the stromboli bread. I'm pretty sure you'll be ordering extra of that particluar bread. I say this because the waiter laughed when I asked for more which lead me to believe that most people do. The four items that I chose from the menu were the braised short ribs, tomato basil pasta, prime aged sirloin, and the amedei chocolate cake.The short ribs were perfectly seasoned and incrdibly tender. They would literally break apart when I would touch them with my fork. The ribs sat atop a bed of risotto that was rich and creamy. The tomato basil pasta was as good as advertised. Its amazing how such a simple dish could be so amazing. The pasta is homemade and the sauce is delicious. Since it was perfectly cooked "al dente" you really have to try this pasta to truly appreciate its texture. I can't really put it into words but its something that you have to experience if you love pasta. I ordered my steak medium and it came perfectly cooked. It was also seasoned well and was very tender. The roasted potatoes and caramelized onions were a great side to this wonderful steak. You may be wondering why I opted for the steak at an Italian restaurant. The problem was that my reservation was for 10 PM so by the time I got there, they had run out of the Branzino with the Shrimp Fricasee. That is what i really wanted to have but I had to settle for the steak. It was great so I really didnt mind. The amedei choclate cake was to die for if you are a chocolate lover. It is a warm chocolate cake but made in the style of a suflee. The center was filled with what seemed to be a very rich dark chocolate. The warm cake paired with the cold almond ice cream was decadent. Luckily for me the meal with a complimentary wine pairing. It was basically one red and one white wine that were pre selected for any of the four courses that you chose. The best part was that it was a "free" pour which means that you can have as much of the wines as you want. Needless to say, I took full advantage of this opportunity. The wines weren't spectacular but the red one in particular was pretty good. Service I had made a reservation and I arrived on time. When we arrived at the restaurant we we greeted and promptly taken to our seats. As many people who frequent these types of restuarants knows, this isn't always the case. We were initially taken to a table inside the main dining room, but when I realized they had outdoor seating as well I asked the hostess if she could accomodate us. She gladly took us outside and gave us a nice table with a comfortable couch for a seat. Our waiter did a great job of explaining the items, wine pairings, and how the prix fix menu worked. He was always around to provide us with whatever we needed and most importantly, kept our wine glasses full. If you like Italian food and enjoy the whole "fine dining" restaurant experience, I would stronlgly suggest you give Scarpetta a try. Scarpetta is a AAA FOUR DIAMOND AWARD winner and you will surely see why.
(5)Joseph P.
I can sit here and write a long review that might bore people but I don't want to do that. Sometimes a short, straight to the point review will suffice. All I can say about this place is that it is exceptional. I highly recommend it and you will not be disappointed. From the hostess, to the sommelier, Zach to our server Dereck. This wasn't dinner, it was an experience.
(5)Marcus T.
Worst place I have ever dined. Raw Scallops and Fatty Veal. Huge waste of time and money. Really, skip this place. I am miffed by the other reviews.
(1)Chad T.
My experience at Scarpetta was absolutely delightful. I have eaten at Gotham Steakhouse at the Fountainbleu and was impressed, and I have always heard that Scarpetta was even better. I wanted my experience to be for a special occasion, so I decided to propose to my girlfriend centered around a dinner at the hotel. After my experience, I must agree that this is now on my list of truly phenomenal restaurants in Miami. My experience began at the Bleau Bar near the lobby. My girlfriend (at the time) and I had a few cocktails in preparation for dinner. Mine were more to ease the nerves! We took a stroll around the grounds of the hotel, and at sunset, I proposed on Miami Beach. She said YES! I'm not sure what my review would have been like had she said no. From there, my new fiance and I went for dinner at Scarpetta. We had reservations for 9:30 and arrived a few minutes before. The only downside of the whole night was that our table was not ready, but we decided to sit near the bar and have another drink. The table was worth the wait. We were at the corner, facing out towards the ocean with a great view of the entire restaurant. I called the day before to explain that I was proposing, and I feel that they went above and beyond to make the night special. The waiter was great, and had a broad knowledge of the menu. My fiance ordered the scialatelli, which was a sorrento pasta with spot prawns - the flavor was great. I had the roasted lobster with sunchoke and sea urchin. The waiter talked me out of having it prepared the traditional way (with the sea urchin on top of the lobster), and instead to have the urchin on the side. He said he did not like the flavor, and had complaints in the past with the urchin. I have never tried urchin before, so opted to have it on the side. I was unique, but tasty. Either way, the entrees were phenomenal! For dessert we had the chocolate zepolles, which were filled with melted Nutella and had a vanilla cream on the side. The chef wrote "Congratulations" in chocolate on the plate, which was a nice touch. It was accompanied with a great champagne. I felt that the portions were just right, though some may say they are small. Personally, I feel that most restaurant's portions are too big. I will definitely be returning to Scarpetta's again, and I highly recommend it for any special occasion.
(5)Melanie Z.
Holy delicious breads! I think it was some kind of bacon or salami bread that they bring to the table before your food, but it was SOOOO good. Just dined there with a group of 10 girls and LOVED IT! The Hamachi- absolutely delicious.... very cool spot at the hotel- would highly recommend!
(5)Carlos P.
From the ocean side view to the beautiful decor, Scarpetta is exquisite in every sense of the word. We went for brunch this past Sunday and were treated like royalty. We treated ourselves to the all you can eat buffet which had everything from fresh cheeses, cucumber salad, salmon lox, eggs and sausage and their famous polenta with mushrooms. Everything was delicious. For my entree, i went with the skirt steak with poached eggs. The steak was just perfect, not too thick and cooked just right. The stars of the show were of course the unlimited Bellini's, bloody mary's and mimosas. If you had just about a sip left in your glass, before you knew it the waiter was bringing you a fresh glass. Like i said, the service here is top notch and the ambiance is divine. If I could afford it, I would be here at least once a week.
(5)Diana N.
This was the 3rd restaurant we tried for Miami Spice and was my favorite! It's located inside the Fontainebleu Hotel which is huge and gorgeous and a great place to people watch.l Very reminiscent of Vegas hotels sans casino. We arrived spot on for our 8:00 pm reservation. We were taken to the lounge/bar while to wait for our table. My only complaint here was that it took 30 minutes for our table which meant we just HAD to order one of their yummy $14 cocktails. The restaurant was very chic with an airy wide open feel. We ended up seated in the patio. Since it was such a windy night, curtains were put up. I'm sure the view would've been nice otherwise. We ordered off the Miami Spice menu and were very pleased. I ordered the braised short ribs which were oh so tender and flavorful. what i LOVED was my friend's Creamy Polenta with truffled mushrooms. OMG that was the epitome of fancy comfort food! Perfect texture, total flavor party in your mouth. For the entree, I had the famed Spaghetti, which don't get me wrong was delicious, but would have to say did not live up to its hype. The pasta was homemade and al dente. The tomato basil sauce was light and fresh. The winner of the night was the Coconut Panna Cotta with guava "soup." It was so HEAVENLY.. delicate and silky. The coconut and guava complemented each other so well along with the pineapple crisp which added a light fun crunch. i was in love. The Amedei Chocolate cake with almond gelato was quite wonderful as well. Melts in your mouth. Service was very attentive. Not snooty. Really enjoyed my time here! Would love to go back to try the other things on the menu next time i'm in miami!
(5)Matt M.
I don't know if it was how we were dressed or that they somehow knew we were staying at the hotel or simply good luck, but we did not have any of the service issues the others who reviewed this place had (not that I'm inferring that those incidents ever happen). I don't recall any of the names of those who served us, but everybody was friendly. We got the pollenta as an appetizer, it was delicious. My wife got the mahi mahi and I got very large pork chop ( i think, its been a few months since we ate there), what I do remember though was that both dishes and the sides were very tasty. That said, this place is not inexpensive (but its not super expensive either), I'd say for 2 to eat well (without alcohol or too many sodas..since they are about $4 each), bring at least $150 (incl tip).. + good food + friendly service (at least in our case) - pricey - odd decor for an italian place
(4)Rich K.
Celebrated my sister's birthday here recently. The meal and service was fantastic. The majority of our party ordered off the Miami Spice menu, and expressed their pleasure with each dish served. After asking the server to name the best dish on the menu and hearing him mention the Veal Loin. I had no choice but to order this dish discreetly, since everyone had agreed to only order from the Miami Spice menu. The veal was the most tender and mouth watering meat I have had in a long long time. I wanted to go back the next night and have it again. Thankfully I didn't, because then I would have missed a 5 star meal at the Forge. Scarpetta's only gets 3 stars, specifically because they overcharged our group for an extra meal. Otherwise I would have given them 5 stars.
(3)Rhiannon R.
This is one of the best restaurants in Miami. Everything on the menu is delicious. The best thing on the menu is just their plain spaghetti. Sounds boring, and well, plain. It is anything but that. Love it here!
(5)Adam B.
One of the dividing lines separating a great restaurant from the rest is how they prepare the simplest of dishes. I know that when people decide to dine at a place like Scarpetta they are expecting to have their palates treated to new culinary experiences. Trust me, Scarpetta delivers this in spades. Never the less, I am a big believer that only the best restaurants can take a classic dish, stretch it to the limit, but still make it taste like it was made by your grandmother. This is the feeling I got when I tried the spaghetti with tomato & basil. I have eaten around (if you know what I mean...) and this was as close to pasta perfection as I have had in a long LONG time. Here are the rest of the items we ordered. - Raw Yellowtail with olio di zenzero, marinated onions & baby greens - Burrata with heirloom tomatoes, baby basil & arugula salad - Mediterranean Branzino with ricotta gnocchi, cauliflower & lobster fricassee (this was amazing!) Overall, Scarpetta was an excellent dining experience! While this is not the cheapest of restaurants, it is by no means outrageous. (Scarpetta's Chinese neighbour Hakkasan has that covered!) I would highly recommend you get out and give it a try.
(5)Lauren D.
I was EXTREMELY disappointed in Scarpetta! Ambiance is lovely, made up like the inside of the Titanic ballroom. Beautiful! Sweet smelling and very rad-di-da! The food was actually quite good but the service was TERRIBLE!!! I'm talking absolutely absurd! Our waitress, Jenny, didn't even introduce herself or explain anything about the restaurant. I went for my boyfriends birthday as a recommendation from a coworker who used to work there. The coworker had called ahead so we were quite possibly a VIP which may have been why Jenny did not seem to give a RATS A$# about us! We racked up a $300 bill and she neglected to tell us that gratuity was included. I am a waitress myself and we are always advised to circle the gratuity out of courtesy to the guests. LUCKILY, the bussboy/food runner was amazing. I believe his name was George and he was so sweet, kind, knowledgeable and courteous. He went out of his way to explain everything to us and he was very personable. I wish HE had been our server. All in all the food was pretty good but Jenny pretty much ruined the experience. We try a different restaurant every week and it was sadly the biggest disappointment we have encountered in all of Miami. I even called the next day and was directed to the HR department where I was told to leave a message. I did so and was never called or contacted back.... All in all the food was not worth the service. If you're looking for a really tasty joint to spend a special occasion I suggest finding a hidden gem somewhere and not going for the obvious...because even MCdonald's treats you better!
(2)a a.
Excellent Miami Spice menu! My husband and I are Miami locals and decided to head to the Fountainbleu to enjoy one of the MIami Spice menus being offered. We considered the menus at Hakkasan, Gotham Steak and Scarpetta, finally settling on the last. These are all restaurants we would otherwise like to try - but considering the $35 menu, we couldn't resist. Scarpetta by far exceeded our expectations. From the bread through the desserts, everything was great! The branzino was by far one of the best entrees I have had in a Miami restaurant all year. I would go back tomorrow to have it again. A superb meal for an absolute steal!
(5)Anh P.
decided to do a nice dinner our last night in miami and we spent hours and hours trying to figure out where to go, finally decided on scarpetta. the trip alone to the fontaine bleau hotel was already worth it, it's gorgeous, hip and HUGE! and the restaurant was beautifully decorated with just the perfect lighting by candlelight. service was eh.. i wish we had a better server who actually cared about our table and explained the menu better instead of a very timid one who was just trying to up sell us on the wine, etc. boo! but i have to say, i had the most indulgent dinner anyone could ever possibly have. creamy polenta with mushroom and truffle oil. absolutely delicious, i don't see how anyone could possibly eat this entire thing by themselves thoug, way too.. flavorful. for dinner i had the duck and foie grois ravioli, oh my lordie lord, they litterally melted in your mouth and was so rich. i could really only eat a few of the raviolis. and i finished off with their new chocolate cake with salted caramel and candied almond ice cream and i was already full. and washed everything down with a good bottle of wine
(5)Matthew H.
We stayed at the Fontaine Bleau for a conference and decided to visit this restaurant with a couple friends from the UK. 2 of us got the tasting menu and while we were finishing up the 1st course we were joined by 2 other friends from overseas. Without skipping a beat, the staff rearranged the table and accommodated our additional guests. They quickly presented their first course and kept everything at a smooth pace throughout the night. All in all, some of the best service we've received anywhere (which is a departure from the service throughout the rest of the FB resort...) The food was A+ as well. At first I thought $23 was an insane price to pay for basic spaghetti with red sauce (it came as part of the tasting menu) but it was the best I've ever tasted. Quite pricey but definitely worth it if you're looking for great food close to the FB.
(5)Dannielle C.
Phenomenal Italian food in miami!!! Must try the regular spaghetti, as normal as it may be, it is delicious!
(4)Brien W.
We had the chef's tasting menu with wine pairing (5) course and loved it. Nice selection of menu hi-lights and the pasta and fish were stand-outs. Everyone loved the (2) ravioli dishes. Restaurant is beautiful but the noise level is borderline ear damaging, especially the large party near us (2 tables of 10 that were toasting and screaming about every 10 minutes) They need to fix this, put in some fabric or noise absorbing panels....
(4)Lauren F.
I went there for Miami Spice and it was a delicious and wonderful experience. I went with two other people and everything we had (6 dishes) we delicious. Although I am not a chicken person, I ordered the chicken with morels, peas, and polenta. It was the best chicken I have ever eaten, and was left speechless. The spaghetti with tomato and basil is also amazing, it has a slight lemon zest flavor in it, that is surprising and delicious. There is also a great selection on the Miami spice menu, and you are getting a lot for $35. I will definitely go back and order of the regular menu.
(5)Brian L.
15 words or less: Liquor prices so high I am still upset. But the food is excellent. 15 words or more: Each August, Miami rolls out the spice menu. This is a great opportunity to have a three course meal at a restaurant for a fair price ($35). The spice menu offered here was tremendous. None of the usual fare that most places offer just to participate--that is, a mixed green salad to start, an entree that is a choice of chicken, salmon, or skirt steak, and then an afterthought of a dessert. This place went all in with the menu to make a good impression, and it did. But let us start with the bad. And I mean very bad. The bar. We walked in for an 8:30 p.m. reservation and were given the proverbial: "Oh, your table will be ready in a few minutes so please have a drink at the bar." I know this is a line to get you to buy a drink, but this was a total poke in the eye. Our walk to the bar revealed no less than ten available tables. And now I know why Scarpetta pushes you so hard to have a drink at the bar. The prices. What a total rip off. I have to say that again. What a total rip off. It was $22 for a glass of dolcetto. I can buy a bottle for that price. How could a glass of dolcetto cost more than my Hendrick's martini or the glass of champagne one of my dining companions had. Thank you kindly Scarpetta for giving me a bowl of potato chips to snack on at the bar gratis, but if that is causing you to charge so much, then please stop with the chips. I am sure Scarpetta will say it has to do with Miami Beach or various taxes, but I cannot think of any other place with such a sticker price. With that said, let us move to the good. Service. The service (and perhaps the somewhat generous pour of the Hendrick's) helped make up for the bar banging I received. The server could not have been better. He did not make a face or skip a beat because all four of us dining that evening had the spice menu. He was just as attentive to us and helpful as he was to the next table over that had the chef's tasting menu. Bread. Am I really writing about bread? Yup, because most places treat bread as an afterthought. Not here. After you order, you will receive a bread basket. Just eat the Stromboli, which is one of the three breads in the basket. It was awesome. Smoked mozzarella and pepperoni rolled into bread. Think of a cinnabon but savory and Italian. They were awesome. Our kind waiter even brought us a second round. Appetizers. For appetizers, two of us had the burrata and the other two had the short rib. The short rib was tender as could be and with the taste to match. It was not too rich, but still had enough decadence. The burrata was perfect. Cool, refreshing, and offering the combination of velvety cheese with a hint of saltiness. Entrees. For the entrees, three of us had the branzino and one had the steak. The skin on the branzino was perfectly crispy. Once you break through the skin, you reached the flaky fish underneath. And keep in mind, at some restaurants (hello Il Gabbiano), you will be charged $65 for this dish. Here we are, eating the same dish, expertly prepared, for $35 (including appetizer and dessert). Dessert. For desserts, we had the cheesecake and the chocolate cake. Both were great, although I leaned more toward the chocolate cake. It was like a rich, warm brownie, but with a somewhat crunchy, crusty exterior. It was a great combination for the senses. Think about what we had for $35--burrata or short rib, branzino or steak, and cheesecake or chocolate cake. These were just some of the options. What a deal and what a great way to get me to the restaurant. I certainly would go again, although I may have a drink elsewhere before I go into the restaurant.
(4)Whitney H.
I love feeling fancy! My brother was in town and I felt it was my duty to show him a Miami hot spot, Fountianbleau. We had reservations and 9:30 and after waiting for only a minute at the bar we were escorted to our table with our drinks carried for us. The atmosphere was beautiful. A charming, sophisticated and unique take on a nautical theme. Picture it as what Harry Cipriani in NYC was going for. My whole party ordered off the spice menu so needless to say I tried everything. Before I get to the food I want to say what my favorite thing was. For four people we ordered one bottle and where it could have easily been drained in one round, the waiter made the whole bottle last the whole dinner. It was great! It honestly felt like the most considerate thing a restaurant has every done! Our glasses were filled promptly but never over poured. On the food. I had the Burratta, paperdelle with short rib ragu with fava beans and the olive oil cake. I also tried the truffeled poleta, short ribs ( both apps) scallops (entree) and the chocolate cake and cheese cake ( desserts) off of other peoples plates ;) burratta is a delicious fresh mozzarella creamy type cheese. My favorite was the polenta so light and creamy with a delicious essence of truffle which I might add they didn't skimp on. Shorts ribs are one of my favorite foods and these were delicious. The scallops were cooked to perfection and my parperdelle was the perfect amount of richness. Dessert was to die for. Olive cake is like the Italian version of pound cake, olive oil instead of butter. It had a wonderful soft, moist texture. The chocolate cake was to die for! It was like an amazing brownie served with salted Carmel ice cream. I will say I didn't like the cheesecake it had a weird tang. Try this place. Spice menu was great to accommodate the pickiest eater and prices in the standard menu aren't that. Serves is outstanding and the ampnosphere is delightful.
(4)J O.
Went here on 5/29 with 2 other girls and had an amazing experience. We split the polenta, octopus, tomato basil pasta, branzino, truffle pasta, nutella zeppoles and chocolate lava cake. It has been one of my most memorable dining experiences yet. Our waiter was so nice and knowledgeable and treated us like we had been there a hundred times. The food was sooo good. We all fell in love with Scarpetta in Miami as we already love the one in the city. We thought we had good meals in other Miami spots but this blows everything out of the water.
(5)West C.
It has been a while since I last wrote a review , but I thought this one was worth. Scarpetta is a five star High End Italian Restaurant located inside of a beautiful hotel. It's not a Family style Restaurant,and the portions are very small therefore dishes are not made to be shared so make sure to order appetizers, dinner , desert and Coffee. They have a large variety of wines and champagne in the menu so you ll find from the house wine to expensive wines to choose from if you prefer you can also have cocktails. The Decor is Modern and sophisticated and they also offer inside and outside sitting , which I don't recommend in the summer. I really enjoy dinning at this Restaurant and the atmosphere. Service is always great and food consistent. If you are a local or just visiting make sure to stop by for a great dinner and please try the creamy mushroom polenta for me : ) .
(5)Sabrina Anna C.
4.5 Stars is the True Rating. Dear Scarpetta, You have truly shown Miami what a great restaurant can be. From the "waiting area" bar (that's what I will cal it - out front of the restaurant, but not part of the lobby of the hotel) where you graciously sip cocktails while awaiting your table, to the elegance in the atmosphere, you provide the foundation for all guests to have a wonderful dining experience. I have noticed that your Brunch reviews have not been the most spectacular, and I have to wonder why, since dinner was such a pleasure. I do hope you find a way to correct that tainted image because I plan on brunching there very soon! We were here with a group for a business meeting (along with Karina A.), so luckily, the bf and I did not have to worry about the tab (Phew!), but your menu is a bit pricey, however, worth every cent. We started with the Tuna Susci, the Burrata, the Creamy Polenta and the Crispy Fritto Misto. WOW. I will say that the Fritto Misto was my least favorite as some of the seafood tasted very fishy, and that's not my thing. The Tuna was PHENOMENAL. It melted in the mouth like butter. A new favorite with a twist on the classic. The creamy Polenta was just sumptuous, with the mushrooms and truffle oil. A new personal favorite. And the Burrata was simply divine. It was my first time trying it and now I will look for this cheesy wonder wherever I go. For our next course, we were then served several of the pastas for our sampling. The Duck and Foie Gras Ravioli with its Marsala reduction sauce was so good that there aren't enough adjectives to describe the flavor. I'll just say they were very well done and a must-try for all patrons. :) There was also the Spaghetti, which was good, but plain in my opinion. Then again, how exciting can one really make that classic dish? It's vegetarian friendly though, which was good for our group. The last pasta dish we were served was the Agnolotti Dal Plin, which was filled with mixed meat (we were told its a blend of chicken, pork and beef) and fonduta (the creamiest and tastiest cheese ever!), mushrooms and parmigiano! Mmmm Mmmm GOOD! This was my favorite of the pastas. Finally, our main courses came (do we even have room!?!?) and I thought for sure your staff would have to roll me out. I had ordered the Moist-Roasted Capretto (baby Goat), which came with roasted potatoes, Pancetta & English peas. WOW. That's all I can say. I ate almost every bite because it was just SO DAMN GOOD. The bf ordered the Seared Scallops, which were fresh, soft, and perfect. Also include that our group of 7 shared 2 bottles of wine, so afterwards, there was no room left for dessert. Overall, my dear Scarpetta, this was a great dinner and an excellent location for our Power Business Dinner. ;-) I even got to see Scott in action, as I accidentally turned towards the kitchen when trying to exit to the bathroom... Oops! LOL I am looking forward to coming back and seeing what brunch is like for myself. Thank you for a wonderful evening, Sabrina*
(5)Jocelyn J.
This is a "do-not-miss" Italian restaurant. Location, food, wine and service are all top-notch. The hubby surprised me on our anniversary by taking me here. We tried their tasting menu which was WAY too much food but every bite was scrumptious!! I LOVE this restaurant and can't wait to go back!
(5)Linda T.
All hail Miami Spice Restaurant Week and a bachelorette party filled with 8 sexy foodies who love to share entrees :) Needless to say, I sampled a bit of everything that night (in more ways than 1!). Let's do a Scarpetta roll call here: Appetizers--check! - Polenta: Presented in 2 dishes--1 for the polenta, 1 for the mushroom topping. The polenta was creamy, smooth without losing texture, and mushrooms drizzled on top made for a perfect bite each time. - Short ribs: Tender and densely flavorful. You know how meat gets that caramelized, almost sticky texture and is compacted into tiny, dark morsels of flavor? Yea. You're welcome. - Burrata: Can't go wrong with this delicately fatty cheese. It was like tomato, basil, mozzarella on steroids. Entrees--check! - Spaghetti: It really is a no frills, no fuss spaghetti. Just good pasta with fresh tomatoes tossed in parmaean and coated with basil infused extra virgin olive oil. While I'm a fan of avante-garde food and molecular gastronomy (apologies to those offended by this dated term), I appreciate it when food tastes like how it should. The hand-made spaghetti was plump andthe flavors resembled just a little like chicken stock. Immensely savory. - Branzino: Perfect crisped skin, non-greasy and airy, encases moist and flaky white meat. Most of the flavor is present in the crust as Branzino itself is pretty mild. It was set upon a bed of flavored foam. Put the foam in your mouth and all you get a whisp of intense flavor. Pretty cool. - Oven roasted chicken: Almond crumbles hug this juicy cut of poultry. Simple and delicious. - Sirloins of beef: I sense a theme here--entrees that enhance, rather than mask, the main ingredients best features. Once again, this dish has no frills and was perfectly cooked. Dessert--check and check! - Panna cotta: My heart be still... The presentation was a bit deceiving. I though the coconut ice cream on top was the panna cotta sitting on top of guava soup (their terminology, not mine). Alas! As I dug past the soup, I discovered a giant bowlful of delicious cooked cream! Paired with the coconut ice cream and guava sauce, it was a tropical treat. - Chocolate cake: Inside lies a warm, gooey, chocolaty center. While good, it was just too rich to continue eating past a few bites. - Cheesecake: The texture was smooth and highlighted the accents more than the cheesecake itself. Bienvenido a Mee-ah-mee!
(5)Shawn P.
Scarpetta gets 4 stars just because of the view alone. I have lived in Miami area for 10 years and run along the beach past the hotel all the time but seeing the beach and ocean on a moon light night from an all marble table with candle light flickering is amazing. They could have brought out Chef Boyardee and and Dr, Pibb and I would have been set. Luckily they didn't and stepped it up. I had Spagehetto pomador which sound like a no brainer but was so good my South Philly Italian mom's need to tread lightly - this was better. Sorry Mrs. Battaglia Japanese mackerel ? Did not know such I thing existed but very very good. I am a nom nom good food guy more swayed by good service than great food but throw in the spectacular view, this place is a solid 5 stars for me.
(5)Josh D.
Scarpetta is a very Chic Italian Restaurant in the popular Fontaine Blue hotel. For me the ambiance was more of a focus than the food itself, not to say it was bad I just felt the ambiance was a bit overbearing. At first the bread with the mascarpone butter and Ratatouille was delicious, I loved the idea of opening a meal with these wonderful flavors. We ordered the fresh fried mozzarella as an appetizer, and of course it was one of the best I've ever had. Clean tasting Mozzarella with a beautifully crisp crust. Our server was not entirely the nicest guy, but he got the job done. My dad and I like to ask questions, as a Chef I like to inquire about the food I'm going to eat when we're talking $30+ for a dish. I ordered the Braised Short-rib Tagliatelle which was a great dish. I really enjoyed it as the short-rib was perfectly braised and full of flavor. For some reason it just didn't pop with any real flavor that I was looking for. Since it was my birthday they brought me out a plate with Nutella-Hazelnut Zeppolis with a Creme Anglais dipping sauce. Now this was an amazing item. The pastry chef certainly knows how to do his/her job, and I could appreciate a perfectly cooked Zeppoli. Overall I would definitely take a date here, but for a family outing this seems a little too much for my taste.
(4)pracheta t.
I felt like I was the star of a movie as the hostess escorted my hot husband and I to our table that was overlooking the pool and was accompanied by a slight, warm breeze. The entire night was like magic thanks to the romantic, trendy ambiance and seriously amazing drinks. One of the most perfect nights of food, drinks and love. Def go here. With friends, on a date - whatever!
(5)Jen O.
If swanky Italian is your thing, this is your place. The burrata with heirloom tomatoes is pure bliss, and if you devour the bread basket (meat bread?!) I am hoping you wore your elastic waist pants because the entrees are superb. After the initial sticker shock of the $24 price tag on the signature spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce, it's well worth every dollar. This is a simple dish done just beautifully, with homemade pasta and an addictive sauce (I've heard that butter is the secret ingredient). I completely agree with the poster who mentioned wanting to lick his plate.
(4)Christy D.
Only reason I went here was because my cousin comped us! It's a little dark and loud but the food takes you to a whole nother level! I had the tuna app with my boyfriend, tasted like it was right off the boat! I then had a chicken dish which was superb as well. We had a few drinks, which were tiny, but since I'm tiny they did the trick! They have the cutest little desserts, which I'm not sure if they are available on the regular menu or if she had treated us with something special. I highly recommend reservations and credit cards. This place is $$$$$$.
(5)Bette Ann S.
Wow. This restaurant was delicious. I took my parents here a week ago while they were in town. My dad is an old time Brooklyn-er, so he knows his Italian food. We all LOVED it. I started off with the beet and la tur salad; my boyfriend and my mom had the polenta, and my dad had the yellow fin sashimi. Everything was delicious. I thought my salad could have used a bit more La Tur cheese (but I am a cheese freak). The polenta was OUT OF THIS WORLD. Party in my mouth. For main courses, I had the fois gras ravioli, my boyfriend had the spaghetti, my mom had the chicken, and my dad had some sort of fish. I didn't try the fish, but everything else was out of this world. I actually hate fois gras...I would never touch it with a 10 foot fork, but I had heard the fois gras raviolis were like nothing you have ever tasted, so I went for it. They were truly delicious. Amazing actually. The spaghetti was so simple, yet phenomenal, and the chicken was so tender. For dessert, I had the nutella filled donut type thingies...amazing. Scarpetta's currently had a price fixed menu for $47, and it had some of their best dishes (pollenta, chicken, spaghetti, etc). I think having this menu is great because Scarpetta's is pricey. My only complaint was that although the circular tables are great for talking to each other, it made eating a little tight. There were 6 people in my party, and I just felt there was not enough room for everything on the table. Maybe we just eat too much?
(4)Ximena C.
By far one of the best restaurants in Miami. I am quick to judge pricey restaurants for their lack of quality to price ratio... but I must admit that this place is well worth the buck. I had one of the best meals I have ever come across. Their fungi creamy polenta simply melted in your mouth and their spaghetti, as simple a dish as it might sound, really was amazing. Their desserts... well, I couldn't possibly pick just one because all three of which I tried were delicious. Their one downfall is the noise level. I know, I always complain about noise, but I need peace in order to enjoy my meal and this place ranked under "I can't even hear myself think about the taste of the food" Kind of sad, because it takes away from the culinary experience. I hope to return to their savory arms soon.
(5)Kathy G.
Eating at Scarpetta really rounded out my week. It is a beautiful restaurant. Although I found that the tables were much too close together if you sat at one of the tables along the wall. My sister and I constantly were trying to talk low since we were discussing family gossip. But at the same time had a hard time conversing because it was LOUD in there. The starters they brought out were fantastic. We attacked the different breads in the basket with a vengeance. The polenta with the mushrooms with truffle oil was amazing. Then came the burrata and tomatoes which was delicious. We were so full with the starters that we ended up sharing a main dish. The Mediterranean Brazino 'Acqua Pazza' was just perfect. It was seabass with couscous in this yummy lobster and tomato broth. Did not have dessert since we were full but I had an espresso since I needed energy to go to Liv that night. Quick note on the service - our waiter was really nice and funny when he was around. He kept going m.i.a. Very helpful tho when talking about the menu and perfect amount of small talk.
(4)Frank B.
really nice food and atmosphere service was great and the staff was very receptive would go there again once back in miami
(4)Danielle R.
Ironically I was on Phase 1 of the South Beach diet while in South Beach (no carbs, no sugars, etc). Surprisingly, it is challenging to maintain the plan while in South Beach. Did a decent job here with great bright flavors in a highly lively atmosphere. The burrata with heirloom tomatoes, baby basil, and arugula was a fresh, flavorful, colorful plate. For dinner I had the slow cooked pork with a bean ragu. The slow cooking provided a rich pork dish that is made even better with extra pork in the form of pancetta! I did have one strand of my friend's pasta, which was a perfectly al dente thick spaghetti with a flavorful basil rich tomato sauce. Service was uneven -- friendly and helpful when we had their attention, but seemingly awol otherwise. A bit too much of the south beach vibe here, but a reasonable place to escape the dj lobby of the hotel!
(3)Amanda N.
Worth every penny.
(5)Lindsay G.
I find this place overrated. I should tart with the caveat that I do not really like Italian food to begin with but even the shrimp appetizer left something to be desired. I tasted my friends pasta and yes, it was good and fresh but nothing to write home about. At 50 bucks a person I expect to be wowed. The atmosphere is beautiful and the service is good but the whole song and dance about truffle is a little overboard. Just my "food for thought."
(2)Preston C.
I am reviewing Sunday Brunch here... I really liked this place. Yes it was expen$ive, but the food was top notch with service to match. First you get a huge buffet consisting of cheeses, fruits, salads, mushrooms, shrimp, etc... I tried 90% of the stuff out there and I liked it all, everything was prepared very good. then you get to choose from a menu your main course. I had the short ribs over risotto. They were very good and very rich, perhaps too rich for brunch but just as described... maybe my bad for ordering. And here comes the good part.. Dessert!! I am one of those people that never orders it! but here I went nuts! Panna Cotta with berries, Tiramisu, and chocolate mousse. overall very good, but a little pricey and the decor of the place was not my favorite, that's why not 5 instead of 4 stars.
(4)Kenya C.
three words," foie gras ravioli " scruptralescent! squash blossoms, I cant remember anything else after that. Oh yes mojito!! very good too. Service was great and management is engaged with their guests. great job staff very warm welcoming.
(4)Anthony D.
Scarpetta is excellent. I'm reluctant to give 5 stars, but they deserve it. Excellent service, atmosphere and service. Arrive a little early for a drink at the bar with Mike.
(5)Jinny B.
I called on a Wednesday for dinner reservations for that Saturday evening at 8pm and had no problem. I know that there is so much hype for the newly renovated Fountainbleau but I have to say that I am not so impressed. It looks cheesy inside, like hotel on the Las Vegas strip. The hotel is so big that it feels more like a convention center than an elegant hotel. Once we found the restaurant I will say that I agree with the other reviews that the interior of the restaurant is beautiful-- elegant and has a good vibe. There is a rather large bar area where you can have drinks and order food off the bar menu. The food was very good. I think the menu was limited. I expected more choices, but perhaps that is the way they ensure that what they do serve is excellent? Because it was-- the food was excellent. I ordered the chestnut soup as an appetizer and had the steak for my entree. My husband had a salad and their one of their signature dishes is their spaghetti pomodoro. The food and the wine that the waiter suggested was perfection. There is an extensive bread presentation at the beginning of the meal with several types of bread and 3 different condiments. We didn't have any desert. Be sure to have your parking ticket validated if you used valet parking. It was $10 with the validated stamp. Okay, so I would go back. But I hope they have some specials as an addition to the menu. I can see getting tired of this menu after a visit or two.
(4)Eric S.
Amazing meal, excellent service, we got the taster menu and the wine tasting too. It was the best, a little noisy because the place is small.
(5)Amy S.
I took my husband here Wednesday night to celebrate his birthday. when i made the reservation i told them it was his birthday. We got there a little early but they were able to seat us right away, they said they gave us the most romantic table in the restaurant, i dont know about that, but it had a pretty few and we sat next to each other on the booth. I thought the decor was interesting and nicely done but not necessarily fitting to the menu or experience. The service was very good and everyone was extremely friendly. We had a great bottle of wine recommended by the sommelier, their menu was 95% italian and french wines which is understandable but i would have included a few more south americans just to be thorough. We had the burrata to start. It was seasoned perfectly but there wasnt enough cheese in proportion to tomatoes and arugula. My husband had the Branzino and i had a pasta filled with meat of some kind. Both were very flavorful. My pasta was not as al dente as i liked it though. For dessert we ordered sorbet and the panna cotta. When they brought it out, it had a candle and they had written Happy Birthday Boris in chocolate on the plate, i thought it was a very nice touch considering i had only mentioned it on the phone reservation. The panna cotta was perfect. It was so light and i loved that it was done with diced fruits. i dont like sweet desserts so this was the best thing i could have to end a meal! The bill was high but i was expecting it.
(4)Henrique R.
Food ok, but REALLY small portions. I went there with my girlfriend and we were treated badly, apparently we didn't have enough money or age to be there. Our waiter barely looked at us. Definitely not coming back. There are other much better Italian restaurants in town.
(2)Maria T.
This place gets 5 stars for ambiance and service but the food was really not so great...what a letdown, right? So after much anticipation, I decided to venture to the recently rennovated Fontainebleau with a bunch of gal pals for brunch there today. The property is breathtaking -- everything from the pool to the light fixtures are absolutely outrageous. Scarpetta is beautiful -- it's a marine-decorated dream. The service is impeccable but unfortunately, the food is disappointing. I'm an eggs-waffles-bacon-sausage-french-toast kinda gal and the brunch here is any thing but that. The menu is plain weird -- the choices at the buffet include shrimp cocktail, beet salad, chickpea salad, polenta, olives, eggplant salad, mushroom salad -- again, weird. Where's the bacon? Scrambled eggs? Pancakes? Crepes? No where. But I had a GREAT mid-morning with my gal pals and the mimosas where fab. So no, I won't be going back but I had an unforgettable time.
(2)Kendall B.
Certain restaurants in Miami offer young beautiful girls (who know the right people, of course) the opportunity to eat at their restaurant for free so that other people see these beautiful girls going and want to go too. It's pretty brilliant marketing in my opinion, because half of the girls who show up are models that don't eat a thing--they just sit there and look pretty, enjoying the free drinks, which costs the restaurant next to nothing (it doesn't take much to get a girl weighing 100 pounds tipsy!). Anyways, I was invited to go one of these promotional dinners at Scarpetta by my girlfriend the other night, and unable to resist the temptation of free food, I did! I actually thought it was a pretty cool concept, but it would have been better if everyone at the table was in our group of friends. You see, they seat all of the girls at one long 20 person table, so you get to sit next to your friends but chances are pretty good that you'll also be sitting next to someone you don't know to your right or your left. Of course, this happened to me! I ended up sitting next to a beautiful girl from Australia that was most definitely a model, and she was joined by one of her other model friends (they were the organic and earthy looking type of models with their slicked back high buns and make-up free dewy faces...beautiful). I lit up like a Christmas tree as I took my seat next to them though because I assumed they wouldn't be eating very much of the food, which is served family style to share with your neighbor. I was right...JACKPOT! The breadbasket was brought out first and no one flinched. I couldn't believe it! No one reacted to an assorted basket of warm freshly baked bread. All I could think was I am not a model, and I brought my appetite....this place may reconsider promotional dinners once they see the damage I'm about to do! I tried every type of bread that was in that basket, and the one with filled with salami and cheese (looks like a slice of stromboli) was my favorite. There was also a really tasty eggplant spread served alongside the butter that I enjoyed on the rosemary-scented focaccia. Next to be served were the appetizers. I started with a serving of the Burrata, which I thought would be pretty standard with Heirloom tomatoes, baby basil, and olive oil, but the burrata was the best I have ever tasted--it was so creamy and fresh that it was almost hard to keep on the fork. I was really amazed by how flavorful and delicious this simple dish tasted. Next I tried the Japanese Mackarel Tartar with balsamic vinager, avocado, and basil. I am not the biggest fan of tartar, but I thought it was tasty...I didn't go for seconds though. The Raw Yellowtail with olio di zenzero, marinated onions, and baby greens was kind of the same thing for me, not into the raw fish but enjoy the single bite I had. My favorite appetizer by far though, was the last to be brought out and it was the Creamy Polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms. WHOA! If someone told me that I had to eat one thing for the rest of my life, I would strongly consider this polenta as an option. Thankfully, the models wouldn't even think about eating something as rich and fattening as polenta and so I practically got to enjoy the entire appetizer alone. Next to be served were the pasta dishes, which included Duck and Foie Gras Ravolii and Spaghetti. I do not like the idea of eating duck or duck liver, but I could not possibly deny myself these triangle purses of pasta served in a marsala wine reduction. Each little ravioli was a bite of heaven, and tasted more delicious then I ever thought duck could. The Spaghetti, like the burrata, was delicious in its simplicity. The pasta was homemade and cooked perfectly Al Dente, topped with just the right amount of sauce. Finally, the dinner entrees were served which included sliced filet of steak with roasted fingerling potatoes and scallops served with edamame. Neither of these entrée's appear on the menu, leading me to believe that they were just specials for the evening, but they scallops were incredible. My absolute favorite part of the meal though (other than the polenta!), had to be the desserts, which of course were left untouched by the models who instead decided to sip on herbal tea and watch me stuff my face!! I couldn't tell if they were looking at me with jealousy as I poked my fork into every dessert, or with judgment but I couldn't contain myself any longer and of course said to the model next to me, "You must have been saving yourself for these desserts all night, since you barely ate any dinner....want some?" She looked at me like I was crazy and told me that she was fine with her cup of chamomile. I genuinely felt bad for her. My favorite dessert was the homemade Chocolate Donuts filled with Nutella. They were warm and rich and just sinfully sweet. They came with a side of warm frosting to drizzle over top...I was actually moaning over them.
(5)Ali W.
Although some of the reviews claim the service is subpar, and the food is pricey, this place is one of the best places I've eaten in my life. I'll start with dinner. The menu although not as full as some I've seen has it all. Be warned, if you are looking for Macoroni Grill Italian pasta and bread, go elsewhere. This is a HIGH END restaurant with HIGH END food, that come at a big price and smaller than your normal portions (or should I say ... correct size portions?) We started off with their bread basket, and quickly found the salami and cheese bread. It's amazing. To be honest, it's a very fancy Calzone, and so worth it. We could have eaten the bread and wine all night and left very happy. After bread, we got the Mozzarella In Carozza Stewed baby tomatoes It was delicious. For my main meal I got the Bistecca Di Manzo. (Steak) It was 1 of the best meals I've ever eaten. I am not kidding. It was cooked to perfection and I bragged about so much my family went in the next night for it. My dinner partner ordered the Mediterranean Branzino and although it wasn't what she expected, she liked it, and would have it again. Brunch, Two words. Bottemless Balinis... what more can you ask for on a Sunday at 11? We sat there until 4 and no one bothered us, and the drinks kept coming. We never had to ask for me. There is plenty of food to find something you will like. I ordered the English Muffin with Eggs and cheese for my "main" course, and had zuchini and beans for other food. All was amazing. It doesn't have pancakes and waffles, but you will be able to find a few breakfast bread items. This is NOT a buffet for kids. This is a mature line of food. Lots of vegetables, a fruit platter, fish, cheese, meats. It was all you could ask for. The bottomless drinks made the $50. pp price tag worth it. At the Fountainbleau 2 drinks after tax and gratuity would come to that. We had drank or $50.00 and then ate on top of it. The inside DOES look like a cruise ship, but to be 100% honest, that's the look they were going for. I was too busy looking at my food to care, savoring each bite. Wondering if I could make it last forever. For two people we got out of there for $194.00 including Tip. I state.. there is NO pasta and meatballs. It's FANCY Italian food, and for those that know... Italian food is actually more Fish than pasta. Well done. I can't wait to go back
(5)Kris M.
Read further as to why it's 2 stars. Anticipated this visit for a long time. Moved to S Florida over a year ago and Scarpetta was at the top of our restaurant list. A very important celebration found ous there tonight. We arrived a few minutes early and ordered 2 great cocktails from the bar. They mimic old style cocktails to go with the old Miami feel. Because our table became available right away the hostess picked these up and delivered these to our table as we were seated. Upon being greeted by the server, the first thing we said was that we were 'not' in a hurry and that we wanted to take our time. This was at 7:30pm. It was a celebration and wanted to enjoy our moment. We ordered sweetbreads for a shared appetizer, spaghetti and duck and foie gras ravioli. All the food was fabulous. The problem was that our entrees were on the table by 7:50. Not good!! -- especially when we asked our server that we weren't in a hurry. We pointed this out to the server and his response was he couldn't control the kitchen. Because they automatically add an 18% gratuity to every check, I guess he didn't really care. Liked the food but not worth the price. Bottom line don't 'rush' to go there.
(2)Nancy H.
The best restaurant of the ones located within Fontainebleau. We ordered the short ribs and duck ravioli for appetizers. Short ribs were a little salty, my friends loved the duck ravioli, I wasn't a huge fan, but may have been the liver taste I didn't like. We ordered the branzino, halibut, and spaghetti. The server was very honest and cool. The halibut was better than the branzino, the spaghetti was ridiculously good. A friend in NY had raved and raved about the spaghetti. You really don't think that something as simple as spaghetti can be book, but this was really freaking amazing. I am going to go back in NY just for the spaghetti! For the desserts we had the chocolate donuts and the chocolate souffle. Both were nice but not amazing. The bread basket comes with a bread baked with mozzarella and ham or sausage? It's VERY good, could have probably just ate that for dinner.
(4)Ana M.
I'm in love. I'm in love with this place. I think I need to get a better job, just so that I can afford to eat here every day. I had a really great time here last night. We went for Miami Spice and the menu was great. We had the creamy polenta, the ice smoked fish appetizer, the chicken and the branzino. The portions are small, but heavenly. The food is traditional, but different. Its Italian, so its all rich and flavorful. Every dish was very different. I heard the spaghetti was really good. I want to go back an try it. For desert we had the panna cotta and the cheesecake. Both really good. The place was empty when we got there at 6:30, but by the time we left it was packed, so make reservations. We had a really good waiter. He explained all the dishes, he was attentive, he was charismatic, he was very knowledgeable and he was just overall nice. Not intrusive- just right. Valet is 12 bucks with validation and I think we spent like 110 bucks on dinner. Not too back. Its a nice place. So- Believe the hype. This restaurant is great. I would go back.... right now.. lets go.
(5)theFOOD E.
Recommended for a contemporary classy dinner next time you're in South Beach. I would describe this restaurant as having amazing neuvo contemporary northern italian cuisine. A good dim ambiance...quite enough for a conversation. The portions are not huge like you would expect from traditional Italian rest. They were more "polite" sized, so I had to order mutliple entrees. The pasta comes with a well balanced light tomato sauce (made with a touch of creme fresch) - no bolognese or meatball options which I crave b/c I'm more on the carnivorous side at dinner time. We also got the turbo fish and another fish- both perfectly cooked with thin crispy skin on one side. I heard the white truffles are amazing - didn't get to try them tho. Desserts were great too.
(4)Jennifer B.
The restaurant is situated in a beautiful modern/contemporary hotel. We were seated right away and the server was welcoming and polite. We started off with their fresh bread, including mini stromboli rolls which were very good. There is a nice selection on the menu but be forewarned: generally the portions are small (one appetizer consisted of two medium size shrimp. Really.), which makes ordering multiple courses necessary if you have a good appetite. This is where the dining experience can get expensive. We were happy with each course, which included the aforementioned shrimp appetizer, pasta with tomato basil, roasted chicken, and sirloin. The dessert--zeppoles filled with nutella-- was very delish. The only downside is that we were waiting a long time between courses. I'm all for leisurely dining and enjoying the experience, but it was way too long.
(4)Sabrina F.
I have not had many meals that changed my life, but this one did. We came here for their anniversary, which was some crazy prix-fixe deal, and it was truly tremendous. The service was outstanding and generous--the server kept pressing more wine on us--and the food was just as good. The menu was like a greatest hits: the spaghetti was excellent, the polenta incredible, the short rib, the fish... Anyway. I'm not typically one for lavish meals, but our dinner here would have been a bargain at twice the price. Which is probably what we would have paid if we had come another time.
(5)Pinklious L.
I went to this place last year and I am still thinking about how good the food was! The mushroom polenta, duck ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs basil tomato sauce, bread basket. I tried at least 9 different entrees because everything was so delicious.
(5)rhett t.
It just keeps getting better. The change in chefs has made little difference and the tweaks are for the better. The spaghetti remains the best bowl of spaghetti on the continent. I detected a slightly spicier sauce but, if anything, that only improves upon perfection. The sirloin (not my favorite cut) was beautifully marbled and seasoned. My only issue was that the bitter mustard greens do not pair well with the rest of the dish. I understand cutting sweet on sweet, but the smoked potato is more creamy than sweet and the flavors do not blend. But, oh let me tell you about the potatoes! Awesome, the herbs are mild and mesh with the other flavors rather than overpower them. The lamb Agnolotti is phenomenal.
(5)Rick J.
Yes, yes, yes! You won't be disappointed :)
(5)marcelo w.
Ok, I LOVE the scene and The Fontainebleau Hotel, but Scarpetta is a major blemish in this beautiful place to hang out and have a good time. I have a theory that a place in which the bread and the desert (tiramisu) are the best menu items you ate usually mean that the real food sucks! Which is the case here. I'm ok with a very limited menu, makes choosing easier and usually means that they can do a few things better, not the case. The Scialatelli pasta was below average and my wife's Pappardelle was not good either. I was there with a group of 10 and nobody had a single good thing to say about the place. I feel bad for having suggested it, but in life you gotta try new things...just don't try this place...walk to Blade or Gotham.
(1)Kristin K.
opted for the Miami Spice menu with friends: polenta, short rib, spaghetti, fish, panna cota, chocolate cake & off the menu - the duck ravioli... which was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. AMAZING!!!! The Raviolis alone - is pure perfection. The service was first class, quick but not rushed.
(4)j t.
Not what I expected from all the hype. The dishes were hit and miss. The creamy polenta is worth its weight in gold. This is definitely a must if you visit the restaurant. The polenta was very creamy, filling, and could stand on its own. I could have done without the accompanying mushrooms. Skip the braised short ribs. They were a bit salty and bland. The should just remove it from the menu. Their signature spaghetti was tasty, but not really worth the $20+. The spaghetti was al dente, but there needed to be more sauce with it. The sauce itself was tasty and properly thickened with various cheeses. The oven roased duck was crispy and tasty but nothing to right home about. There was something in the spaetzle that overwhelmed the savoriness of the chicken. Do stay away from the rice pudding dessert. The rice pudding was not flavorful and lacked imagination both in taste and presentation. Save your hard earned money for something else.
(3)Joaquin R.
Food is okay compared to the price you pay. Decor is beautiful. Great place to have drinks.
(3)May R.
This place is so perfect! It's a perfect fine dining experience. The interior decors of the place is so breathtaking and everything is just well organized. The waiter is so patient and helpful, he knows everything on the menu. The food was served to us with so much class. Everything really looks delicious. The food was so unique, that every bite will make you want to have more of their food. The money spent here is just worth it, and no money can ever replace the experience I had.
(5)Susan J.
Tasteless and expensive hotel food with intrusive service.
(2)Nancy C.
I was staying in Miami Beach for business and on my last night, decided to treat myself to Scarpetta. Since I was going to be dining by myself, I planned to eat at the bar. But when I got there, I decided to get seated in the main dining room and I'm glad I did. The vibe was cool & hip, but not overly and service was impeccable. Starting with the very sweet hostess who seated me to the professional and helpful waiter to the nice guy re-filling my water & taking away my plates, service left nothing more to be desired. Started off with a bread basket and a trio of olive oil, eggplant spread, & mascarpone butter. Other than the stromboli (very good!), the bread was mostly uninteresting...which was a good thing so that I didn't fill up on bread before my meal! Ordered the Creamy Polenta to start...OMG. It was amazingly delicious. Really. The creaminess of the polenta with the truffle mushrooms is pure genius. It's a MUST have. Then had the Duck and Foie Gras Ravioli for my main. Very very good. Portion size looked small, but after the polenta, it was perfect and I finished every bite. I loved that they were bite size pieces and not overly sauced...it was clean and flavorful, simple without anything to distract from the flavors of the dish. Having finished most of the polenta and then all of the ravioli, I was stuffed. But because everything was on the rich side, I wanted to have something refreshing and light for my dessert. At the waiter's recommendation, I got the Coconut Panna Cotta with Guava Soup. It was the perfect ending to a fabulous meal. So refreshing and the flavors really worked well together. I wasn't able to finish it, but there's always next time. There's a location in BH that I will have to check out! All in all, this was a great dining experience and I would definitely recommend trying it.
(4)Theresa N.
The food here is amazing! Thank goodness for Miami Spice! For $35/person, we were able to sample more dishes than we would have otherwise. The variety of bread and spreads that they give you is yummy! There was one bread that was stuffed with salami and some cheeses. I had to stop myself so that I would still have an appetite for the rest of dinner! We got the braised short ribs and creamy mushroom polenta for appetizers. The ribs were average but man oh man the polenta was awesome! The little mushrooms were nice and juicy and the sauce was so rich and flavorful. For the entree, we ordered the spaghetti with tomato and basil and the oven roasted chicken. The spaghetti had a very strong basil flavor, which I love. But my fave was the chicken. It was tender and juicy with a nice almond crunchy skin. On to dessert! I had the raspberry cheesecake but the all-time best dish of the night was the coconut panna cotta. It was AMAZING!! Definitely the best restaurant we went to all weekend. You gotta try it!
(5)Arthur W.
Was staying at the Fontainebleau for a business trip in December of '08 and decided to try the "in house" restaurant. Scarpetta was the only real restaurant open after the remodel. Service was prompt and very friendly and the food was very good. The server had recommended to me the spaghetti (tomato and basil) which, to this date, has been the best spaghetti I have had. I also ordered the Black Cod, which wasn't as amazing as the simple spaghetti but still of good quality. If a restaurant makes the most simple dishes amazing, the chef certainly knows what he's doing.
(5)Desiree D.
I would give this place more stars if I could. It was that good! Everything from the service to the timing of food was perfect. Not to mention the shear deliciousness of each bite! None of the drinks ever went empty, the table was completely cleaned between courses and even trips to the restroom were encountered with well-trained staff at each step. We were a party of 20-something at 3-4 separates tables in the back overlooking the pool and ocean (stunningly gorgeous views!). Over several hours we enjoyed a five course meal, with each course including several options of family-style dishes. Among them was a delicious assortment of breads, eggplant tapanade, truffle butter, and citrus-infused olive oil. Then came fried mozzarella, heirloom tomato salad, salted yellowtail sashimi, and mushroom polenta. Followed by the course with homemade spaghetti and short rib cavatelli, both melted in your mouth. Next up was enormous diver scallops, incredibly juicy chicken in a delectable sauce with baked brussels sprouts, and tender filet of beef. Lastly was an array of desserts, the best of which was a coconut panacotta.
(5)Miguel F.
What a great place! I went Sunday for brunch (yes I know another brunch review LOL) to celebrate my best friend's birthday with a group of friends. We sat outdoors because the weather was great -- you can't go wrong during the Winter in Miami. From the moment we sat down.. the service was spectacular. The servers treated us like gold. Brunch here is different from other places. There is only one choice -- the unlimited buffet for 49.95. It may sound pricey but it is definitely worth it. The buffet has everything you can think of: Sausage and eggs, shrimp cocktail, assorted cheeses, prosciutto, polenta (which i must say is delicious), asparagus, cold salads, etc. Here's the the different part -- you order one main entree. I ordered the skirt steak with poached eggs and it was very good. Other options include pasta, scallops, chicken, short ribs, etc. The price includes unlimited bloody marys, bellinis or Mimosas. When they say unlimited they mean it. Every single one of us was getting a new drink, right when we were finishing our other one. Perfection! The buffet also has desserts. Everything from tiramisu, carrot cake, chocolate cake, croissants, breads, muffins, scones, etc. The bite-size cakes are a must-try. Just a side-note on the service -- one of the many presents we gave my friend was a massive wine cup. The server immediately took it, washed it and then served him a bloody mary in it! The view was also great... you can see the beach, and the amazing pool at the Fontainebleau. Overall we had a great experience at Scarpetta and would definitely recommend it.
(5)Mark R.
Unbelievably noisy. Overattentive service. Overpriced wine list. Good food.
(2)Valerie M.
Went here specifically for spaghetti pomodoro, which we've seen touted in several newspapers and television shows as the most amazing pasta dish ever. It was really, really good, though maybe not exactly what I was expecting. Maybe it was just too built up. It's definitely worth a trip to the restaurant just for that dish (but be prepared to pay for it).
(4)Andy L.
Located in the Sorrento wing of the hotel, south of the main building and lobby of the Fontainebleau, is Scarpetta. It's a smart, glitzy space comprised of two rooms: a bar/lounge and a dining room. This Italian restaurant was running on all eight cylinders last night, from the attentive service to the mixed bread basket which included foccacia and stromboli (bread stuffed with Italian salami and cheese). Appetizers we tried were a tender Octopus ($17), fresh Burrata served with heirloom tomatoes ($16), Tuna Susci ($16) which is raw fish wrapped around tender vegetables, a Creamy Polenta with mushrooms laced with truffle oil ($16) and melt-in-your-mouth boneless Beef Short Ribs ($15). Two homemade pastas appeared: Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli ($24) drizzled with an unctious, sweet Marsala reduction and Pappardelle ($23) in a beef short rib ragout. Both were bursting with flavor, although the pappardelle was a bit overcooked. Main courses were even better. Extremely fresh fish was prepared simply, with the distinct flavors of each fish showing through in the different dishes. The Branzino ($30) was sauteed and had a nice, crispy skin, while Black Cod ($28) and Alaskan Halibut ($29) were both roasted perfectly. The Veal Chop ($42) was fried and served with sweetbreads and spaetzle. The chop was cooked as ordered and was tender and juicy. The entire dish, however, was marred by overseasoning. The wine list is extensive, but is skewed toward higher priced selections. Bring lots of cash. A Sardinian Cannonau from Sella & Mosca may be the least expensive wine on the list at $35, but a bottle of 1990 Chateau Petrus will run you $10,000. The restaurant was packed on a Wednesday night, so make a reservation before you go.
(5)Charlie B.
Thought i would never give any restaurant 5 stars but this one deserves six!. From the moment we walked in and were greeted to the delicious Martinis at the bar (prepared by Carlos). to a wonderful dining experience (thanks to Jen's keen attention to service), Scarpetta is exactly what the name means "An Italian expression that means "little shoe" - or the shape bread takes when used to soak up a dish - Scarpetta represents the pure pleasure of savoring a meal down to its very last taste." - scarpettanyc.com I did however did have some inside help and tips from some of my foodie friends on twitter "ergagit" and "4theloveoffood" were quite helpful in completing my Scarpetta experience - thx guys! Ok the food - going to eat with a group of your bffs has some benefits, you get to taste a little of everything. I had the Miami Spice Special which was actually highly encouraged by our server Jen (a first for me)...the braised short rib appetizer was fork tender, juicy and oh so tasty, however I have to admit, I was able to taste the creamy polenta with mushroom and truffle oil - which I have to admit was foodgasmic (multiple in fact), also got to taste the burratta with heirloom tomatoes which were quite good as well. For dinner I had the seared scallops - which were seared to perfection..a delicate golden crust followed by a delicious moist soft center. I was able to taste the duck and foie gras raviolis which I have to say were off the charts good, spaghetti with tomato basil was well balanced, hearty and reminded me of my Italian roots, For dessert we shared the olive oil cake (which was my fave), mango cheesecake, choc cake with toasted almond gelato, and coconut panna cotta with guava soup which also gave me multiple foodgasms I've come to learn about a new word, gastrosexual, and after experiencing Scarpetta I can see why I'm not only a gastrosexual, but a flaming one
(5)Lauren S.
I never write reviews on Yelp, but this place was SO good that it deserves one. This ornate little restaurant is located in Miami Beach's Fontainebleau Hotel, and overlooks the ocean which adds to the experience. I ordered the sirloin which was absolutely delectable. The meat was substantially tender and flavorful, and the pearl onions and potatoes paired perfectly with the meat. Not only that but the portions were absolutely perfect, unlike most of these upscale restaurants which serve you the most miniscule dishes. For dessert I ordered the strawberry cheesecake which was incredibly delicious, although I regretted my decision as soon as I tried the chocolate cake my boyfriend ordered. It was so rich and warm, and had melted chocolate in the center of it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. Needless to say, it was to die for. This place is rather pricey, but if you're willing to pay good money for good food, then it's a definite must. I can't wait to come back!
(5)Felicia B.
Let me begin by saying I walked out of their brunch along with my group of 7 in March due to a rude and unaccommodating server. However, when I returned for dinner in June it was a much more pleasant experience. On the negative they like to make you wait in the lounge area and spend money at the bar, but all other aspects of the experience (save for the closing of their bathroom for much needed maintenance) were very enjoyable. The bread and the accompaniments were first rate. The sea bass was perfectly prepared and delicious and the fois gras ravioli was truly excellent. The dining room was beautiful and the servers were personable, knowledgeable and attentive. First rate except for the aforementioned restroom issue.
(4)Lin Z.
My Husband and I celebrated our 14 yr. Annyv. so we stayed at the hotel ,and decided to eat here. I loved it. Very romantic and exactly what i hoped it would be. Maritni's were delish (loved the bartender!) had the fois gras ravioli, truly excellent and Hub had the Sea Bass.. pleasure to savor!
(5)Michele C.
hands down the BEST food and dining experience i've had in miami. the staff were extremely friendly and made the experience that much better.
(5)Huyen V.
Fabulous staff, incredible food. Miami Spice Menu = awesome. We had one of everything on the special menu. OMG I'll fly back 2 do it again. Ryan our server was great, Saved 4 ladies from a majorly wasted guy discreetly & w/o causing a scene.
(5)Carol C.
This place is awesome. It's definitely pricey but it's all well worth it and definitely perfect for a special night or when you need to impress. The hotel is an experience in and of itself but the decor in the restaurant is beautiful. My only gripe would be the noise and yet, it's intimate. From the white glove service, to the specially baked bread, to the classic and adventorous food options, it will not disappoint. The people watching ain't bad either. My favorite meal in a realllllllly long time.
(5)Victoria L.
Sunday brunch was great! $50 will get you unlimited mimosas, bloody mary and bellinis in addition to lavish buffet. The buffet offers many more options than anywhere in 15 miles radius. The service was good. Many families with kids. Lively atmosphere. Happy times.
(4)Foodie Z.
After my girlfriend and I suffered thru an awful experience at Blade, the Sushi place at the fontainbleau hotel, we were still starving, so we went to Scarpetta. As some of you may know, Scott Conants NYC Scarpetta outpost is an excellent restaurant in the meatpacking area that I frequent, so I was at least confident that this place should suffice. I was happily proved correct. Scott himself was there, and he was very gracious to give us a table despite the fact that the place was fairly busy (not full). The service was very attentive, the atmosphere was lively and fun and the crowd was very eclectic. George Hamilton was at a table near us (looking orange as usual) and there was a very entertaining Vegas-style couple next to us wearing some awesomely garish clothes. We ordered two different pastas - a veal ravioli and a mushroom ravioli. Both excellent. Home made, melt in your mouth fresh and a bit heavy for the Miami climate - but i liked them nonetheless. The Lemon Cheesecake dessert was outstanding and they were kind enough to offer us free chilled Limoncello's as an after dinner drink. Overall, Scott saved our dining experience that evening after a dismal visit to Blade down the hall. I recommend this place.
(3)Sarah S.
Everything about Scarpetta was excellent! The bar area where we waited is elegant and we had great mixed drinks - we chose to eat outside because despite being July there was a lovely breeze. We were over looking one of the (many) pool areas and it was lovely. The service (both waiter and bus boys) were excellent - friendly, helpful efficient, knowledgeable etc. - and cute! The bread basket is top-notch - totally different (and yummy) breads/dips. We had the mushroom polenta (signature dish!) and a tuna appetizer - both were fantastic - the polenta truly deserve its reputation! We then had the halibut entree and black pasta - both were superb - perfect in every way. We were full - so skipped desert (possibly a mistake - they looked wonderful!) - we will absolutely go back - the prices are high but the food, service and decor make it worth it!
(5)kb j.
This restaurant is located in the Fountainbleu. The resort in which it is located is enormous (you might consider leaving a bread crumb trail to find your way back to the main entrance). The restaurant is large. There is a nice bar area up front. The main dining room has a great feel to it. The food was well prepared, the service was top level and the wine list was well-chosen.
(5)N S.
We stayed at the hotel and checked out Scarpetta for dinner one night. Beautiful restaurant, I liked it much better than the NYC location. Service is ok, but the food is fabulous. Highly recommend.
(5)R Z.
I've never experienced such pushy waiters in my life. The food was good but the experience was ruined by our waiter who kept trying to jack up our bill by hassling us to order the most expensive items on the menu. He was beyond aggressive. Once I saw the bill and realized that that added a mandatory gratuity then I understood why. Avoid Scarpetta!
(2)Rachel P.
It's that good. My friend and I took a late night reservation and were seated within about 10 min of the 10 p.m. ressie...not ideal, but fine. And a great table, even in the midst of the SoBe Wine & Food insanity. Started with the terrific bread basket with a trio of "dips"...buttery mascarpone cheese, amazing citrus infused olive oil, which was light and sweet. And the best eggplant caponata. It was terrific. Just terrific. Then the apps...I had the raw yellowtail, which was lightly seasoned with chili oil and marinated onions...sort of a salted shallot mignonette flavor. Simply delish. My friend had the braised short ribs on a farro risotto. Both were just exquisite. For dinner, she had the house specialty - spaghetti pomodoro. Unreal. Salty, non-acidic tomato sauce doused with lots of basil. Unbelievable. And I had quite possibly my favorite entree ever...the black cod with the "concentrated" (or dried) tomatoes and roasted fennel. I can't handle the fact that I can't have it every single night. Unreal. For dessert we shared the apple tort with a small scoop of ginger ice cream and a rum cream. So good. The service was the best we had at the Fontainebleau (which on the whole missed the service mark a bit). What the waiter at Scarpetta lacked in enthusiasm, he made up for in timeliness, diligence and knowledge. Just really great service. Really. I would recommend this to ANYONE, and I'm dying to get to the one in NYC soon. Really amazing.
(5)Sean E.
one of the best restaurants in miami. great service & incredible food. we had the chef's tasting menu withthe wine paring and felt we got our money's worth. would recommend this place to anyone who doesn't mind paying for great food.
(5)Sadia A.
I LOVE Fountainebleau but i was very disappointed by scarpetta :( The food was sooooo mediocre. Its beautiful from inside and all but the foods just not worth it at all. Very pricey tiny portions. Def. wont be going there again.
(2)Sooj K.
I thought the food was excellent but the service wasn't that great. I think it was because we look young even though we are in our late 20's? We were looking around the service they gave to everyone else and it was pretty intresting. Oh Well!! The interior made it seem like you were inside a cruise ship which was pretty cute. For appetizer the octopus dish was amazing. It was perfectly cooked! For dinner the scallops melted in your mouth. Overall.. Food was good. service could be a lot better.
(2)Igor S.
My sister came to visit me, and I want to invite her to a special place where we can have dinner that she couldn't forget, and I decide went to the Scarpetta restaurant @ Luxury Fontaineblue Miami Beach, and in the middle of our dinner a luxury cockroach join us and jump to my shirt, the short story it's no body care about that, the mattress said that's normal cause we dinning close to the pool and the beach, and the manager?? I don't but I think he is dumb because he doesn't say a word, at least at the end actually was a night to remember, no?
(1)j g.
We were curious about what the hype was so... Friday night drive down to the famous Scarpetta restaurant! The outdoor seating was available but we decided on indoor seating. This hip but very loud restaurant is located in Fountainebleu.The theme was mariner all throughout the interior of the restaurant which was quite interesting. It was very busy and crowded many young people out on dates, hanging out at the bar,some older men looking for younger chicks...this IS the Miami scene! The club LIV was located inside the hotel too and it was quite packed with the anticipation of the guest rapper PITbull. Now unto the food... We ordered the burratta mozzerella and heirloom tomatoes-which was quite small?( I was warned it would be!)It looked a bit sloppy on the presentation side. The steak tartare was ordered by friends-there comment was it was okay,not the best. The entrees of the "famous" spaghetti was good not great- bf concluded after a taste that it was like "chef boyardee"with a little heat NOT worth $24...his entree was duck and foie gras which was tasty, again, not great... The other friend had the raviolini's and that was small portioned too and okay tasting as well. The dessert was chocolate zeppoli with creme anglaise and nutella filling which was sweet and delicious. The service was top notch for such a busy venue. All in all, it was good,not great. (Now maybe if you are inebriated you can say its 5 stars but it certainly wasn't going to garner that in my book!) I've been to far more awesome and delicious italian restaurants in south florida!!
(2)Holly B.
Excellent Italian food, excellent food period. My friend & I started the evening at the bar with the Torrino, delicious drink. The 3 in my party all ordered from the Miami Spice menu and our waiter could hardly help to hide his dismay that not only we were ordering the $35 prix fix menu but we already had ordered and paid for our cocktails. I understand that his livelihood is affected by the price points of what we order, but PLEASE try not to be so obvious w/ your disappointment, it makes for a less then ideal dining experience. I subtract a star for our waiters behavior. Now onto the savory food. I had the burrata, my friend had the creamy polenta w/ 'shrooms and hub had the mackerel crudo. All were spectacular. I think the creamy polenta w/ mushrooms was the favorite, truly outstanding flavors exploding on your palate, i loved the creamy texture mixed with the pungent smokiness of the mushrooms. I got the notorious spaghetti and hub/friend both had the branzino w/ shrimp, clams and tomatoes. Again, all dishes were stellar. The fish fresh, cooked to perfection, crispy on outside soft and flaky inside with hints of garlic and sitting atop fresh chunks of seafood. The spaghetti was cooked to perfection with a creamy tomato sauce. Surprisingly, the portions were large, I could not finish the pasta dish. Onto dessert, I had the panna cotta with guava/passion fruit/pineapple sauce, husband had the polenta crusted cheesecake with lemon sorbet and strawberry sauce, and friend had the molten dark chocolate cake with espresso ice cream. Each dessert was perfection. All in all, come here for the spectacular food, and try to ignore the whole song & dance of being at the fountainblue: the parking, the scene and the remarkable attitude.
(4)Tom A.
I was staying at the Fontainebleau for a company conference and decided to stay a few extra nights with my wife. We are big fans of the Food Network Channel show, Chopped, and we were very excited to see that one of the celebrity judges, Scott Conant, had a restaurant that we could try. So much for celebrities! The restaurant itself is very nicely decorated with a nice waiting area, but the inside is very cramped and the tables are WAY TOO close together. After being seated, we waited for a while before we were served some tap water. We waited even further for bread to be served and the wine list to be delivered. Most of the wines are very over priced and either Italian or French, so thank god for the sommelier who came to our rescue. Now on to the service and food. The waiter was very inattentive and it was extremely difficult to flag him down for any type of service whatsoever. When we ordered a bottle of wine, he poured us each a small taste and walked away with the bottle. He didn't bother to ask if we wanted it on the table or in a chiller near the table, just walked away with it. Strange. We probably waited another ten minutes before we could get him back to pour another glass. Sure they were busy, but that's no excuse for ridiculously poor service. Not my fault for the outragously priced meal. Now, on to the food and time to critique the judge! For appetizers, my wife ordered the Tuna Susci and I orded the Arugula salad. The salad was wonderful. Arugula has a very distinct and powerful taste and the dressing was a great compliment. However, my wifes appetizer was very boring, very strange taste and not much of a tuna flavor. Basically a bland mash. Now on to round two, as they say on chopped, the entree. My wife ordered the Mediterranean Branzino. What came out was completely unexpected. By the description, we were expecting a shrimp dish. Instead, she received a Mediterranean SeaBass with a crispy, in our opinion over-cooked, skin on a piece of fish. Scott, if you're going to put SeaBass on the menu, why not include it in the description? I ordered the Monkfish. Very nice piece of meat, cooked just right and a decent compliment of flavors. HOWEVER, the portion was a lunch, not dinner size. Sorry Scott, in college I worked in a fish restaurant and part of my job was cutting the fish into lunch and dinner portions. I think you are missing about 3-4 ounces there for that price. To complete the dinner, we ordered a dessert to share and both decided on the mocha cheesecake. We both LOVED it! Definitely a winner to end the meal. So, in summary I say pass. Scott needs to be a contestant on his own show. Way, way over priced meal for what you get and the service was horrible. Buyer beware, not worth the money and don't expect to be served well for the already included 20% tip. I guess when the waiter doesn't have to work for the tip, they have no incentive to work for it!
(2)song c.
had the 5 course tasting ($85) and it was good. not great, but good. i love scott conant but i was expecting a bit more. the polenta was dynamite....as was the bread served at the beginning of the meal. a little disappointed with the main courses. on the plus side, arrived with kids at 6pm (when the restaurant opens) and they were very accommodating.
(3)Alice F.
This restaurant made it to my top 5 list of Miami restaurants. The only reason why I don't give five stars is that we went there only once and therefore have not been able to check if they are consistent in the quality. Very nice setting. Good service. The food was absolutely delicious. The Miami spice menu is a real deal. I had the polenta (perfect really), followed by the pasta (huge portion, absolutely delicious) and the mango cheese cake (very impressed).
(4)Anastasia P.
Wonderful food! Fabulous service!! Definitely get the 4 course option!
(5)Heather C.
awesome! And the best spaghetti I've ever ever ever tasted.
(5)Marilyn A.
This place is definitely unique for the usual Italian restaurant. First of all the decor is like no other in Miami. The restaurants designer David Collins really outdid himself. The location in the Fontainebleau hotel is incredible, it was a wrap around balcony for outdoor dining facing the ocean. Now I get to the food, they do Italian food with a twist, they have the best simple spaghetti in the world, the sauce is like no other. Steak and fish are always great. Every person that has been there always dies for their polenta with the truffle mushroom sauce, even people that never ate polenta in their lives swear by it. My favorite restaurant in Miami hands down. Its also nice that you have the incredible blue bar for drinks in the hotel lobby for after drinks.
(5)Judy D.
We and another couple had dinner at Scarpetta last night, using the Miami Spice menu. I must admit that we went expecting to be treated as second class citizens on that account. Nothing could have been further from the reality we experienced. We had reservations and were seated at a nice table. The decor was a modern take on the nautical theme....very slick and classy. We each had something different for appetizers, entrees and desserts. Every bite of every single thing was absolutely delicious. The polenta with wild mushrooms was one step away from heaven, the fish was perfectly cooked, the prime filet cut like butter, the raw mackerel appitizer was so very fresh....I could go on and on but have now drooled all over my keyboard. The service was impeccable, the waiter was delightful and we were tended to as though we were the only patrons there. All of us will DEFINITELY return....and soon!
(5)B. L.
my pasta was somewhat soggy. the only good thing about my meal was the appetizer, which was the tuna sushi sashimi style wrapped on baby greens...it's like a maki roll but instead of rice inside, it's baby greens. the tuna was very fresh/delicious and tipped in a perfect olive oil sauce. we wanted to order a gd bottle of wine but the wine specialist wasn't avail, so the waiter wasn't able to assist us, so we ordered a wine we're familar with. we were there on a fri ngt around 8pm and the restaurant was ~half full; so to our surprise it wasn't packed like we expected, esp b/c it's inside the famous fontaine bleu hotel. I gave it a 3 star b/c of the tuna sushi appetizer and the bread basket; otherwise, the pasta (my husband's as well) was overcooked/soggy. also, the perseca / orginal - not flavored (italian sparkling wine was delicious)
(3)Hannah K.
Just went tonight. Maybe it was an off night, but someone in the kitchen had a heavy hand with the salt shaker. We had the Miami Spice menu + octupus appetizer + spaghetti. The mackerel tartar was decent- tasted like salmon tartar with a slight smokiness. I didn't love it or hate it. The polenta was very creamy but my god were the mushrooms salty. I might have liked this if the seasonings were perfect, but not tonight. The octopus were large tentacles... honestly, Pubbelly's version of octopus a la plancha is similar but more tasty since they char the legs more and serve it with a more interesting sauce. The spaghetti was ok. I was expecting it to rival Delfina's spaghetti al pomodoro in San Francisco, but it lacks the depth of flavor that Delfina has. Scarpetta's overall menu is similar to Delfina, but Delfina wins hands down in everything... but I guess Scarpetta is decent for Italian in Miami? The short rib agnolotti were fine- my husband compared it to being punched in the face with beef flavor. My branzino had nice crispy skin, but the left side of my fish was sooo salty. The sour pickled vegetables underneath didn't help. I couldn't enjoy it. The desserts were nothing special; we didn't finish them. The best part of the meal was the bread, especially the salami bread. That made me sad for about $160 all in (before valet). I wouldn't go back.
(3)Diane T.
Best meal I had on my trip
(4)Jenny L.
An absolutely GORGEOUS restaurant. The views are fantastic of the pool and the ocean. The wait staff is friendly, but not as attentive as should be expected for such an establishment. I had the prix fixe menu which included a short rib appetizer, spaghetti, and a dessert that I don't remember. The food was very good, but not mind-blowing. 3 for food and service, but last star for being such a pretty place.
(4)LORNA H.
Amazing food. Beautiful restaurant. So so service. I ordered the octopus which was perfectly flavored, though a bit too much olive oil. Followed that with the scialatelli. That dish was a plate of pasta perfection. The pasta had the right amount of pepper; the clams and shrimp cooked just so - not one hint of chewiness; the sauce was light and seasoned with perfect amounts of salt, butter and garlic. The waiter and manager were at a loss when asked for a wine recommendation. They were also quick to take away two place settings when guests 3 and 4 were a bit late. However, highly recommended because the food is just so good.
(4)Jake K.
The waiter took my order and I never saw him again until he brought the bill. My glass was empty throughout the entire meal. Terrible service and a poor wine selection. The food wasn't able to make up for it either.
(2)Rob E.
My wife and I have been meaning to visit the NY outpost but haven't had a chance so while on vacation in Miami we wanted to give it a try. We chose the tasting menu, 5 course, which was too much food. I have to admit that I'm typically a big eater and pack an appetite but this was just too much. 4 course would have been just perfect. The sashimi appetizers were good but I almost felt like they should be served at a Japanese restaurant, not an Italian one. The creamy polenta was delicious and memorable. Pastas were good, I really liked the fois gras ravioli. The fish and meat for the main course were ok, nothing that was extraordinary. Overall, the food was salty, and I even told our waiter that, my comment was disregarded.
(3)Cristina K.
Wow the food here is amazing! the service unbelievable and the ambience very cool. Never thought a simple spaghetti basil and tomato dish could taste this good. The burrata appetizer was a winner. The wine list ranges from $75-$11,000 and is sure to wow you as well. The only reason why I am not giving the wonderful restaurant 5 stars here is because the Fontaineblue valet (mind you the hotel does not have parking so everyone bringing a vehicle HAS to valet) is incredibly busy and it will take you at least 15 minutes to get your car to the valet runners and it took us 30-45 minutes to get our car back for when we left. So if you're staying at the hotel then you're in great shape because you will not have to worry about this!!! The valet really does need a newer more efficient system. Restaurant was great!
(4)Steven G.
What a diaappointment, Scott C. is so authortize on TV, and ususally expensive places are great. This missed the mark on many levels from entry to finish. My four lovely friends arrived first and they would not seat them in an empty resaurant as I was not there yet. Sent to the sofa! There were three hostesses, good hostess, bad hostess and clueless hostess. I got clueless, she could not locate the party altough only a few tables were seated. Found the table myself. The charming waiter was attentive until food arrived then he ignored us until I called him over to tell him that my fish was cold. And the stone crab app had shells and cartilage. They did not remove the crab from the bill. No one came over to apologize for either mistake. Room grew very loud, no acoustical tiles. Mens room was filthy. Had to stand in a puddle of urine. Not acceptable. Major disappointment. Bad food and service and very expensive.
(2)Mark S.
Miami Spice 2014: All the Fountainbleau options are expensive, and Scott Conant's SoBe destination is no exception, with mains easily topping the mid-$30s. For this reason, I try and go every August or September to get a 3-course dinner for just over the price of an entree on the regular menu. Usually in my Sunday 6:30 slot I'm one of the few people to do so, but last night was busy, so I guess word has spread, though service has suffered a little as a result (very similar to another popular Miami Spice destination this summer: Bourbon Steak). APPS: I've been here enough times to never stray in my choice of appetizer: the CREAMY POLENTA (served with fricassee of truffled mushrooms) is probably the signature dish of Scarpetta (where apps and desserts usually outshine the main courses). If you go with a group (even a group of 2), at least one of you must order this dish. I love a good STEAK TARTARE, but with a supplemental charge of $12, it would have destroyed the "value proposition" of Miami Spice: it's $22 on the regular menu (the other choices, including the Polenta, are $18), so a $3, or even $5 supplement would be sensible, not $12. MAINS: the $12 supplement for the famous SPAGHETTI on the MS website requires explanation: this is to get the dish WITH a main, not INSTEAD of a main. If you've never had it, it's fantastic, but if you also get the polenta app, you are going to leave the table feeling ill (so I'd recommend it as a "share", not a "solo supplement"). MAINS: The LOCAL SNAPPER (w/ fregola, shrimp & mushroom-fennel brodetto) was not the most beautiful appearance I've ever seen, but a good piece of fish with crispy skin. I skipped the OVEN ROASTED CHICKEN because it's hard to impress me with chicken. I also skipped another $12 supplement on the PRIME SIRLOIN OF BEEF (again: $12 supplement, on sirloin, is a little out of line). The CORN RAVIOLI (baby zucchini & chanterelle mushrooms) was more up to Scarpetta standards: great looks, very rich, and delicious. If I were Italian I would protest at the thought of a pasta as a main dish, but if you go, this is worth a try (or, like the polenta and the spaghetti, worth sharing - a whole plate of this rich pasta would be a little over-the-top for one person). DESSERT options have not changed in forever, and the way to go is still the COCONUT PANNA COTTA (with caramelized pineapple & guava "soup"). The COFFEE SEMIFREDO, was a distant second. If you go with the polenta and the panna cotta, you are going to have a great meal no matter what you have as the main. Also nice is a 3-flight pairing option for $25. Scarpetta was a reliable 5-star vote for me in the past, but this year it was more of a "4". The Polenta was still very good, but seemed to have lost a tiny bit of its magic. The mains also lacked the "wow" of the past, and the service was very irregular (from robotic descriptions to a VERY long wait for our check after dessert). Could some of this be due to the head chef's departure earlier this year? Perhaps. Or perhaps other alternatives have appeared on the Miami scene (Shikany being the best example) that have stolen some of Scarpetta's thunder. The $12 valet charge doesn't help either.
(4)Rebecca G.
I had been looking forward to eating at Scarpetta since a few episodes into the Top Chef New Orleans season. Nina Compton's food was captivating, and I needed to try it. D wasn't as enthusiastic, so this was a meal that we had very split opinions about, but that's obviously bound to happen and does in fact happen often. His plate: Spaghetti, tomato basil Whole Orata, corn succotash, fingerling potatoes Her plate: Gemelli, lobster and uni, bread crumbs Local Snapper, baby vegetables and clam brodo So, a few notes about service. It's as impeccable as you'd expect with a restaurant of this caliber, and our waiter was friendly and a little overly helpful. But two things here stood out, that I'd never seen before, or at least never seen executed well. Firstly, after we were seated, the hostess took my (white) napkin away and said she'd be right back with a different one. Strange? Well, she returned with a black one, which we realized was because I was wearing a dark navy dress. And the white napkin would've stood out too much on it. I've never had that happen before, and while that could be seen as an over the top touch, I guess it is nicer if the napkin is camouflaged? Being less aware of the formalities of dining and just getting to focus on the food is nice. But, still, wow. Secondly, our waiter greeted us and asked if he could recommend cocktails. My brain leapt to assume that he'd be discussing their drink specials, or house specialties, but no - he actually stood in thought for a moment and then spot on, perfectly, amazingly, completely nailed personalized recommendations for each of us. Ten seconds after having greeted us, not knowing or asking any preferences. He suggested a cucumber vodka, melon, cherry tomato cocktail for me, and a tequila cocktail for D that was somewhere between a margarita and mojito. Both feeling a little shocked, and mind-read, we consented to try them. Both were fantastic. We ordered pastas and entrees, not hungry enough to add primis as well. We differed in our opinions of the pasta. While my gemelli was one of my favorite things I've ever eaten, D did not like his spaghetti at all - he found it too lightly sauced and didn't like the texture of the pasta - gummy and eggy. I liked the spaghetti - it is subtle, but deliciously fresh. The gemelli, however, was amazingly oceanic - salty with the rich uni, and dotted with perfectly cooked lobster knuckles and claws. The bread crumbs added a nice texture, and it was a well-rounded and perfectly balanced dish. I would eat this every day. We both really enjoyed our fish - the snapper was perfectly cooked and the broth had a nice amount of clam flavor and good body. The orata was delicious - mild and delicate, with lovely vegetable accompaniments. We didn't try dessert - absolutely stuffed - but I would love to go back again sometime.
(4)Aylin M.
Scarpetta offered just about everything you want out of a romantic evening: good food, great service, beautiful interior design and all with a breathtaking ocean view. I had the Grilled Bone in Pork Chop and it exceeded my expectations. As an appetizer we had the Mediterranean Octopus and it was okay. And for dessert I had the Tiramisu, which was very good.
(5)Buo Z.
The food here is identical to Scarpetta in NYC and is pretty good overall. Food: Buffala mozzarella - delicious and so soft and creamy Foie gras ravioli - delicious Spaghetti with tomato and basil - delicious Creamy polenta - must get this one
(4)Eli A.
Impeccable service, lovely ambiance, great drinks and delicious food. Did I mention impeccable service?! I had a wonderful time and will keep going back.
(5)Alex A.
Friday night dinner. Was pretty good. There were some 1-3 star reviews on here. No restaurant can be five stars all the time and there will always be people pissed for some reason. Just like those people that like to send food back all the time. We enjoyed our time here. My wife had the spaghetti. This dish is their signature. I think we make a pretty great bowl of this at home so for us this wasn't a grand slam but still good. Just when we spend 28 dollars on noodles we expect it to be something we can't do at home. I had the short rib anglotti which were awesome and I definetely can't make these myself. Had yellowtail tuna and burata appetizers which were both good. The burata was nothing revolutionary but still tasty. The chocolate cake dessert was great...great molten center and good caramel ice cream. We would come again. Was tasty. For two people...2 apps...2 entrees...2 drinks...18% service charge...20 dollar tip....195 bux. Kind of pricey, but not a waste.
(4)Hernan B.
Per-fec-tion Impeccable service and incredibly well crafted menu. Pasta is perfect. A breath of fresh air in a Miami where Italian foods means extra garlic.
(5)Jennifer T.
Being that this was my first time at Scarpetta, I think it's too early to throw out the 5th star. My friends and I were here for a nice dinner to celebrate a bachelorette party. The ambiance was perfect for a nice date or any other special occasion. Before going into the restaurant, I had asked a few employees of the Fountainbleu Hotel about their favorite dishes at Scarpetta. The spaghetti was consistently recommended, so I went with the pasta. Upon first sight, it looked pretty ordinary, but once my sense of smell was engaged my expectations heightened. Beautiful balance of basil and sauce! The pasta was perfect: texture, density, and portion. I usually prefer some protein when eating spaghetti, but this dish held its own. I could eat this every day! I know..it's just spaghetti, but this was well worth the trip. My friends ordered a foie gras dish and a lobster pasta. Both were rich and tasty, but all agreed that mine had the best flavor.
(4)Sesilia S.
Wow what a great dinner experience! My husband and I went to Scarpetta for dinner and we were blown away with the food! The best dishes we ordered were the creamy polenta and the Coconut Panna Cota. The polenta was super delicious, creamy but not too overpowering. The chef definitely aced this dish! The panna cota was really tasty and its consistency was just perfect! Other dishes that we had were the Rosemary Braised Lentils (which was very rich and yummy), the Roasted Baby Vegetables and the Roasted Whole Orata. They were all good dishes but the polenta and the panna cota are definitely must-try dishes. On top of the nice food, the service was really good. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. This was the best dining experience we had in Miami! Tips: if you do valet parking with the hotel, make sure you ask for ticket validation, that way the parking fee becomes more reasonable.
(5)Ramona C.
I must say that this restaurant never disappoints me, no matter what. The service, the food, the ambiance, impeccable. These people are the best in their professions. I had last night the lobster claw, the pasta with tomato sous and basil and some veal. Excellent!
(5)Jade P.
Wow... sexy, delicious, and great service--everything I look for in a fine dining establishment. The ambience is pretty unparalleled. The lights are muted, there is lots of candlelight, and the decor is modern and sexy. I went for Miami Spice and everything I had was amazing. Here's what I had: -the Branzino (this fish is perfectly cooked, plus the portions are generous!) -the molten chocolate cake with almond gelato and salted caramel (YUM! so rich and creamy- just like a molten cake should be) -the creamy polenta (unlike anything you'll ever have- divine!) The only reason why this restaurant lost 1 star is because several of the people at my table had the steak and every dish was overcooked and underseasoned. A great place for a date or a night out with your friends! One of the best places I've been to in Miami- not just trendy, but has the food to back up the reputation (and price)!
(4)Tom S.
Last year i tried Scarpetta Las Vegas and was not impressed. Being a fan of Scott Conant, the tv personality, I thought I would give him another chance during a weekend visit to Miami. All I can say after visiting two of his restaurants is that he needs to be a little less arrogant when judging others' food. Don't get me wrong, the food was above average, but not meaningful. I tried the famous spaghetti dish and was not wowed by it. A simple dish done perfectly should wow you. There are too many other good restaurants to give Scott another chance.
(2)Nina V.
I was so blown away by Scarpetta. I'm a die hard top chef fan and so when I went to Miami for my birthday, I knew I had to eat there and try and meet the head chef Nina. There was a group of 11 of us and we got seated immediately in a private area. As soon as I walked in and met the waiter, I told him what a fan I was of Nina and asked if I could meet her. After sitting down for five minutes, she came out to our table and gave me a hug and introduced herself. Then she sent us out some delicious appetizers compliments of the chef. Oh, and the food was INSANE. The polenta is probably the best thing I've ever eaten, or no wait it was the spaghetti (which sounds ridiculous because why would you order spaghetti with tomato sauce at a five star restaurant?) UMMM because it melts in your mouth. After two drinks and a ton of amazing food, we were getting ready to go when our waiter came out with a business card from the head chef, chocolate lava cake with a candle and a complimentary glass of champagne for my birthday from the head chef. I can't even begin to tell you how impressed I was with the service and the food. I would absolutely come back here again (in fact I can't ever imagine coming to Miami again and not going there!) And I'm crossing my fingers and toes hoping Nina wins top chef NOLA!!! She rocks!
(5)Meo M.
everything we tried was good. the duck is so tender. Hand-made pasta is to die for.
(5)Erik Y.
I went the night before the ING Marathon when they had a $35 runners special (although I was not running the next day, the rest of my group was). I was apprehensive at first because I thought it was going to be a shared app, 1 pasta choice, and a cheap dessert. Was I ever wrong! The restraunt itself is beautiful inside. Dark colors and deep woods, dimly lit. Music created a laid back yet somewhat upbeat ambiance. All servers were dressed to perfection. Food: For my appertizer, I got the raw yellowfin tuna. Came out with 4 smallish peices. Had some greens on it and cracked sea salt. The flavor was out of this world!! Entree: Duck ravioli and foie gras. Amazing, albeit after several bites it got a little redundant. Dessert: I do not recall what the dish was called, but it had a coconut ice cream with chunks of pineapple in it, sitting atop a mango gelatin-type thing, all surrounded by a sea of tropical fruit liquid. I know that doesn't sound glamorous, but it was out of this world good!!! I am not a dessert fan by any means, but this rocked. Truly rocked. Table mates got their famous spaghetti (i tried some, awesome), the salad (uninspired but still good), and the chocolate cake (great and rich, but mine was better!) Overall, awesome romantic place with a great atmosphere and wonderful food. Wine list was outrageous (ie. the only cheap glasses were $12+ and most bottles were 150-1000 range). If you have some cash to burn and want a great night out (with 5 star service!!!) go here!
(4)Valerie V.
One of the most delicious meals of my life!!! Went here with a group of ladies for a nice dinner during my Bachelorette weekend. I insisted on Scarpetta because I have a huge foodie crush on Chef Scott Conant. From the second we walked in, we were wowed by the decor, the ambiance, and the service. Our table was ready and waiting when we walked in and the server that greeted us was patient and relaxed but still totally on time. The food!!! We each had our own apps, then we shared pasta dishes, and then had our own entrees. All accompanied by wine of course. The food highlights---Appetizers: creamy polenta & mushroom fricasse, steak tartar with quail egg, and the squash blossoms. Pastas: the duck foie gras ravioli (AMAZINGGGGG!) and the classic spaghetti that will redefine your notion of what spaghetti is. Entrees: Black Cod, the Duck Breast. In short, we loved Scarpetta and I will 100% be back my next time in Miami. Next time I just hope Chef Conant is around for a picture and kiss on the cheek.
(5)Marco S.
Very good place to have a serious meal. Nice experience for service and ambiance. Italian wine list is notable, so is the service. The creamy polenta is a must. Also is the tartare. The veal is awesome, and the duck along with the sirloin steak. Waiting to go back try the sea ulrich. The deserts are also good, the banana soufle is delightful.
(5)Saskia M.
Ohhh Scarpetta...The ambiance, the service, the decor, the FOOD... all so well executed. Starting by the house made deliciously fresh bread rolls, so warm... The Stromboli one: wow, filled soppressata and mozzarella... you will definitely ask for seconds. Appetizers: Scott Conant's creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms is such a remarkable plate. The polenta's just right texture and its subtle flavor pairs of perfectly with the truffled mushrooms fricassee. Pouring that mushroom fricassee on top of that polenta is such a awesomely great idea!! We also ordered the short ribs with vegetable and farro rissotto. Very good flavor profiles, deep, heavy, and very well cooked. Nonetheless, the creamy polenta wins the appetizer round! First plate: Duck and foie gras ravioli, OH My! You need to order these ravioli. The pasta is so fresh and perfectly cooked, the filling is so amazing, you are able to identify both the duck and the foie gras flavors so well and the marsala wine reduction that tops them off provides the right touch of sweetness to each bite. Second plate: Black Cod with concentrated tomatoes and roasted fennel. Great crispy skin on the fish and well cooked. The tomato on this plate is as much as a star as the cod is; the flavors compete a little but still pair off well. Next to come: the 21Day Aged Sirloin of Beef, doesn't just the name make you want to order this already? Read a little more, it's served with bone marrow, romano beans and chanterelle mushrooms. Cooked to perfection, all the flavors complement each other so well. This is definitely the winner in the second round. Not only was the food ridiculously delicious, but the service was excellent and on point. They also provided the perfect wine pairing recommendations along the entire meal. Scarpetta has left so many thoughts in me, the experience is definitely one to remember and one to repeat!!
(5)Karla D.
We traveled to Key West for a week and stopped in Miami for 2 nights before heading home. On the first night we had the tasting menu at Scarpetta. Simply DELICIOUS!! From beginning to the end, the food was amazing. If you're in Miami go have dinner there. You won't regret it.
(5)Ha L.
Read in a magazine that the spaghetti here is Beyonce and Jay Z's favorite in NYC. Tried it and all I have to say is they were seriously tripping. Oh yes - and $24 for a dirty martini?? That's the same price as my bland spaghetti. No thank you.
(2)Rob H.
Go for the 4-course Chef's Tasting. This is as good as it gets. If I could give it more stars, I would. The Duck Foie Gras Ravioli is simply amazing. Spaghetti...normal fucking spaghetti...was delicious. Scialatielli was, also, amazing. Roasted Skate Wing in citrus brown butter...WOW. 21 Day Aged Sirloin of Beef....so tender and so delicious. For the dessert course, the Coconut Panna Cotta, seriously, might be the best dessert I've ever had in my entire life. Honestly, pretty much everything that came in the Chef's Tasting was absolutely delicious. It's worth every penny. As for the service, it's what you expect. Impeccable. Gabriel, our server, was as nice, attentive, and knowledgeable as you can ask for. Very nice guy and made us feel welcomed and at home.
(5)Jonah K.
Awesome miami spice menu. We got a pasta as well which was excellent. The portions are small, and the prices are high, but I would come back to do the tasting menu. Overall excellent view of the ocean, great service, and the food is spot on.
(5)Alissa W.
This is one of the best places I have EVER eaten. The service in impeciable, and they do not rush you at all. The food is 6 stars, and being inside the famous Fountian Bleu Hotel it is so nice to walk around after. The food is out of this world too !For appetizers we started out with the burrata, and heriloom tomatoes, and the himachi. I definitely reccomend the burrata, it melts in your mouth. They even split the portion in the back for us. For my entree I ordered the cavaletti with chunks of fresh lobster, and capers. WOW the pasta is as fresh as can be. Not to many places in Miami can you get fresh pasta. For dessert, the main reason I go here. I ordered the coconut panna cota. This just melts in your mouth. This restaurant has great ambiance, and I love they do not rush you. Fine dining without a rush to turnover tables in Miami is not very common. Definitely make a reservation !!!!
(5)Mai S.
My family and I dined during the Miami Spice week. It was a wonderful experience with my 3 kids (7-16 yrs old) as we had not been to the beautiful Fountainbleau hotel before. The restaurant decor was gorgeous & the ambience was very trendy and hip. The service & staff were great and attentive! The staff were seasoned and well trained to service fine dining. The food as other had written was fabulous!! The polenta was amazing as raved by the critics!! The brazino fish was a little dry for me - but beautifully presented. I am sorry we did not tried the spaghetti - as we thought that would be too simple for fine dining. It sounds like we missed out on a creative dish by the chef. I would definitely recommend this restaurant highly - even just for the experience of walking through the hotel. BEAUTIFULLY designed!!!
(5)Fernando V.
Some people think Italian food is all the same. Truth is, this is a great place to experience REAL northern Italian (the best) Italian cuisine. My experience was during Miami spice, and still it was so good and memorable I am writing a review o. February 2012. Maybe the fact the wines are all Italian is a bit of a turn off for me but let me tell you this place will deliver. Service was great, respectful, prompt, informative, personable but not fastidious. The food was exquisite, well timed sequence of courses... It kinda sucks to valet with the hotel people but oh we'll...this is Miami. A little on the loud side. Overall, highly recommended.
(4)Kate K.
Holy amazing. Welcome to heaven!! An impressive menu accompanied by a worldly wine list and a knowledgeable solmoneau to help you navigate. Let's start with the bread basket. MEOW! Te breads are delectable especially the prosciutto and mozzarella bread. The mascarpone butter literally melted in your mouth. Eggplant tapenade was Delish and the oil was exotically stimulating. The Sauvignon blanc by the glass was an utal dream and everything you want in a Sauvignon. Light, crisp and refreshing. The waiter was so helpful but said his job was easy to make recommendations for because you just can't go wrong; and we didn't. The mozzarella over stewed tomatoes was amazing and the tuna sashimi had the perfect accompanying crunch. Round #2 the duck ravioli. YOU MUST! They were little pockets of explosive magnificence. My girlfriend got the spaghetti but wasn't kind enough to share, lol but it looked spectacular. Unfortunately we were too stuffed for desert, but it was worth going back or and can't wait to try it in new York. If you're a guest of the hotel they offer a 20% off coupon for off times. Kudos Scarpetta!
(5)Laura G.
Angels sang and a beam of light shined down on my plate revealing my own Anton Ego- Ratatouille moment. Flashbacks of my childhood rushed past me as the amazing dish that is the Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli melted in my mouth and was accompanied by the prosecco e dried fragole cocktail. I sent complements to the chef, the bartender, the owner, the manager, the waiter... My GF and I decided to try Scarpetta for a "Special Night." Scarpetta means "little shoe" in Italian and is also the action of cleaning your plate with a piece of bread attached to your fork like ...well, a little shoe. And that I did. I let my bread soak up all the remnants of my amazing dish, any passerby would have thought I had received an empty plate because of how clean it was. We were wowed from the moment we walked inside. The decor was superb and an ocean breeze graces the outside tables and diners. One thing I did not enjoy was the bread(s) selection and their toppings. I could have had three little dishes of marscapone butter (amazing) instead of that strange tapenade or lemon infused oil. Eh. The large piece of plain bread was delicious but that other salami and mozzarella bread, not so much. This is the kind of place I do not mind spending a little bit more money to enjoy. I loved Scarpetta and it exceeded my expectations.
(5)Derek M.
Love this place! Food is always great and consistent!!! Service is okay sometimes they can be a little rude. Still give it 5 stars.
(5)