Italian-Driven Luna Park Replaces La Centrale at Brickell City Centre
After a two-year run, La Centrale has given way to a new food hall at Brickell City Centre. Luna Park is still all about Italian food, but the new team behind the renamed three-story complex has infused the space with different decor, flavors, and ingredients. "Like La Centrale, we cover many regions of Italy and offer fish, meat, and vegetarian di...
Italian restaurant set to open at Park Road Shopping Center
An Italian restaurant debuted at Park Road Shopping Center for dinner service on Wednesday. Osteria LuCa is tucked into a 3,100-square-foot spot at the shopping complex owned by Columbia, South Carolina-based Edens. The space was formerly home to Charlotte Cafe. Osteria aims to be a neighborhood restaurant with really good food, says owner Ken...
Terranova’s family recipes bring a taste of Italy to Alabama
For nearly 13 years, Dan Oliver had enjoyed success owning and operating a popular Italian restaurant in Huntsville. When property became available about 35 miles away in downtown Athens, he decided it was time to branch out and open a second location of Terranova’s. “Athens is a wonderful, growing, caring community,” he says, “and they did not hav...
First impressions are long lasting at Doral’s La Fontana Steakhouse
Sometimes a first impression says it all. Whether it’s the brick and dark wood décor, or the staff’s crisp white oxfords and hip chillout music, the moment you step into La Fontana Steakhouse, you get an immediate sense this is what sophisticated dining is all about. Fast becoming the place to go for a romantic night out or a special family gatheri...
Erba Italian restaurant opens pop-up Dadeland spot before opening of permanent location
You can’t wait to eat, and one restaurant couldn’t wait to get cooking! It’s perfect! Because now, you can get a taste of what they’ll be serving before they start serving! Something delicious has popped up in Miami. It’s Erba Italian restaurant. Niven Patel, Erba Italian: “It’s our take on ingredients that are sourced locally, but with Italian fl...
Marco’s Pizza opened newest location in Poinciana
Marco’s Pizza has opened a new location in Poinciana. Situated at 3749 Pleasant Hill Road, locals can expect a Primo Italian pizza experience that uses the freshest, highest-quality ingredients, according to a company press release. The Marco’s Pizza location is owned and operated by Roger and Julia Mellen. Roger, a former chef and restaurant owne...
Review: Rose’s Daughter is Italian comfort food in full bloom
Bathed in a warm, amber glow and bedecked with rose-filled vases, Rose’s Daughter in Delray Beach is one of those homey restaurants that makes you feel good the moment you step inside. “Good energy,” a dining mate said soon after we sat. An open kitchen and a buzzing bar bookend the front dining room, and a hallway lined with canned Italian tomatoe...
At 40, LaMotta's Italian Restaurant in Fort Myers still tastes like home
There’s something about the smell of garlic, onions and tomatoes cooking. It’s like a warm embrace. That’s exactly what you’ll find at LaMotta’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria. The family team of Maria and Sal LaMotta and their son, Carmelo, immigrated to the U.S. from Palermo, Sicily in 1976. Food has always been central to the LaMottas. Sal was bo...
Seminole Heights' vegan Italian restaurant Ground Foods Cafe leaves our carnivore critic impressed
As an omnivore facing a vegan menu, I always bring in a ringer. Unlike sports when that’s cheating, in the world of food criticism it’s more like having a translator in a foreign country. I’ve studied the “phrasebook,” I know the universal design symbols so I can find the toilet, but help is needed to get the jokes. Chef/owner Greg Koodish and his...
Fazoli’s Fuels Florida Growth with Key Franchise Deal in Tampa
Fazoli’s – the renowned, Lexington-based brand known for serving up premium Italian dishes at a great value – continues to expand its Florida footprint as the brand brings its craveable dishes to Tampa. Fazoli’s President and CEO Carl Howard announced today that the company has executed an area development agreement with Franchisee Carlos L. Saenz...
Naples restaurants: Grappino Regional Italian Cuisine grows Aielli empire
Fabrizio Aielli is chef and owner to three of Naples' most prominent restaurants: Sea Salt, Dorona and Barbatella. Last week, he welcomed a fourth into the fold, Grappino, with a menu focused on Italian comfort foods. “It’s a very classic, very homey Italian menu,” Ingrid Aielli said. Fabrizio's wife and business partner, Ingrid has helped launch...
Tampa’s new Rocca restaurant scores our food critic’s first ever ‘10′
At Rocca, there are at least three different types of olive oil. There’s a Ligurian version, a golden elixir that’s floral and soft. There’s a Sicilian oil that’s deeply aromatic with an almost spicy finish. And then there’s the Spanish Venta del Baron, an award-winning pale green oil that’s fruity and herbaceous and comes draped over a plate of ha...