Image Commercially Licensed from: Unsplash
By: Daniel Finch
In Miami, travelers and locals are looking for new trendy restaurants to hit on a Friday night. The Sofia Italian Restaurant in the Miami Design District is a stylish new option. The trendsetting neighborhood is an open-air mall filled with all the luxury brands you’ve heard of, like Bvlgari and Gucci, similar to the SoHo district of New York City, but in warm weather. Nestled in the corner of this open-air luxury district is Sofia Italian Restaurant, a beautiful dining destination. Filled with all sorts of artwork on the walls and a lively DJ booth, the tables are filled with a young, stylish crowd taking selfies and pictures of their food and drinks in a stylish atmosphere.
Some of the menu highlights include a classic Burrata at their Salad Invernale for appetizers. The burrata was traditionally served with roasted tomatoes and balsamic with basil. It was what you would expect from a Burrata: creamy and tasty. The Salad Invernale read on the menu as everything you would want in a winter salad, the perfect balance of sweet and tart with a Sangiovese vinaigrette.
The dinner menu for the main course items boasts several pasta, fish, and meat dishes. For a filling dinner for two, try the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, Eggplant Lasagna, Halibut over Arroncini, and a side of Roasted Brussels sprouts. The Spicy Rigatoni Vodka offers an ample portion but not too much spice and the kind of creaminess that you desire from a Vodka sauce.
The Eggplant Lasagna is a delightful dish offering layers of roasted eggplant with Pomodoro sauce and cheese. The serving size may look small, but it is filling and tasty. Meanwhile, the Halibut was served pan-seared over a long Arronicini biscuit accompanied by roasted vegetables and Beurre Blanc Sauce. The Arroncini biscuit was fun and inventive, a little like a crispy risotto, and was easily the star of the dish. The fish was wonderful, and the beurre blanc sauce was tasty, even if just a little tart, depending on your palate. It was served alongside veggies that included baby carrots, cauliflower florets, and greens.
Finally, for dessert, try a variety of selections that Sofia Italian Restaurant has to offer. The top highlight is their Tiramisu Ice Cream Sandwich. This delicious selection puts a traditional piece of Tiramisu on top of an espresso Gelato Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s a decadent selection. For something just as tasty, try the Cannoli, which is exceptionally light and still manages to pack a punch on the flavor profile.
If you are in the Miami Design District and you are looking for a place to have a drink and dinner, stop into Sofia for dinner, dessert, and a bit of dancing with the DJ. It’s set for the stylish fashion crowd, so be sure to dress snazzy.
