Carbone

Carbone is the Miami home of Major Food Group’s wildly successful Italian-American restaurant, a concept born in New York’s Greenwich Village that arrived on Collins Avenue as an instant South Beach institution. It takes the red-sauce trattoria of mid-century America and turns it into pure theatre, equal parts nostalgia, glamour and showmanship, and it has quickly become one of the most coveted reservations in the city.

The room, designed by Ken Fulk, is clubby and cinematic: warm light, vintage art on the walls, a soundtrack of Sinatra and Sixties pop, and service captains in burgundy tuxedos who perform as much as they serve. The crowd dresses for the occasion and the energy builds through the night, so a meal here feels less like dinner and more like a party you were lucky to be invited to.

The menu is a greatest-hits of Italian-American classics elevated to luxury. The spicy rigatoni vodka is the signature, creamy and just hot enough, and the dish everyone photographs; the Caesar is tossed tableside with ceremony, the veal parmesan is enormous and superb, and the lobster fra diavolo, meatballs and tableside desserts keep the indulgence flowing. The wine list is deep, the cocktails are classics, and the bill matches the occasion, this is a top-end, special-night-out restaurant.

Carbone is best for couples, groups and anyone who wants a glamorous, full-tilt Miami night; it is not the place for a quiet, low-key dinner. Tables open well in advance and disappear quickly, so plan ahead or let your dedicated contact secure one for you. It sits in the South of Fifth corner of South Beach, a short drive from the residence and close enough to walk home when the night is done.