Here's the deal: you gotta eat at Randazzo's in Coral Gables, immediately.
Ok, not so immediately. The place is so packed on a daily basis that you have to call at least three days in advance and make reservations. So pick up the phone and call already! (305-448-7002)
Randazzo's is great. The service, the food, everything. Top notch. Marc, a former professional boxer, and his wife, Elena, are fabulous. Hospitable, genial, warm -- it's obvious that they care deeply about their place. The waiters are pros: service is quick, friendly and knowledgable (they sure know how to select good wine!). And the decor -- wow! They have truly captured the essence of Little Italy and placed it smack in the middle of the Gables. The atmosphere is personal, familiar, but don't doubt it for one second: these folks are true professionals.
But the best thing about Randazzo's: the food! I love that it's a relatively short menu, because it guarantees that each item is prepared with the attention and love it deserves. The gnocchi is, as I dubbed it the first time I ate there, "The Best Gnocchi In Miami." My best friend raves about the Spaghetti with Sunday Gravy. And the cannolis -- holy shit, I almost died!
In a town where Italian restaurants are a dime a dozen, Randazzo's truly stands out. They're at 150 Giralda. The funny thing is, I have, for years, referred to Giralda as "the street where restaurants go to die." But Marc and Elena, with Randazzo's, are proving me wrong. And I'm damn glad of it.
What, you're still reading this? What on earth for? Go call them NOW!