After Major Food Group landed in Magic City in early 2021, it wasted no time making a mark on the Miami culinary scene. Under the leadership of chef Mario Carbone and partners Jeff Zalaznik and Rich Torrisi, the company has opened hit after hit: classic red sauce celeb haunt Carbone, Mediterranean-inspired HaSalon, steakhouse Dirty French, private members club ZZ’s, and bagel and schmear spot Sadelle’s among others.  

Now comes Contessa, a two-story Northern Italian-style “grand trattoria,” a term Carbone points out “is an oxymoron and subcategory we somewhat invented.” So, what can guests really expect from this new edition to the super buzzy Design District? “Contessa is a great neighborhood restaurant – a place you want to hang out all day, experience multiple meal periods, people watch, and eat through the menu in different ways,” Carbone explains.