This place is great!! The service is very "authentic" for an italian restaurant :) The pizza is absolutely phenomenal... that dough is baked to perfection! The wine list is not gonna let you down. The pasta is deliciously seasoned. And the cannoli is very yummy! I haven't posted a place/restaurant review for a while, but I had to get this one out. If you are in South Beach looking for delicious food... you know what to do now. ;)
(5)
Michele S.
Amazing buffalo cheese. Doesn't have lactase, easy to digest. Margheritana is wonderful. Eggplant cooked to perfection. You may have to wait for a table if the Italian team has a football game scheduled.
(5)
Dan R.
Authentic Pizza Napolitana and a great location with outdoor dining. Great food and friendly staff; attentive and efficient. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Jenn A.
Heard from a friend that this was a must try in South Beach. As a tourist the 1st meal or 2 I had in the area was horrible. It's such a touristy area that most establishments aren't concerned with quality or customer service. However, definitely not the case here. It was nice to be greeted and seated with friendliness. Our server was prompt and helped us pick a few things to try on the menu. The food was incredible, we devoured every bite of it. My only regret was not having room left for desert.
(5)
Michelle W.
Such good pizza! The boyfriend was raving about this place and all he wanted to do in Miami was come here. Clearly, nothing beats the pizza you find in NYC, but this place definitely was a good comparison to what one would find in the City. The crust wasn't thin, but wasn't thick. Just the right thickness and it wasn't extremely chewy. The toppings were great and you could tell they use quality ingredients. Besides the pizza and the great service, this place is also in a great location. If you're a tourist and looking to get great food and explore the area, this is a great place to start. I would definitely stop by this place again if and when I come back to Miami.
(4)
Bill B.
I grew up in an Italian family in the northeast where food matters and it better be good. I was hoping for the same from here but I was sadly disappointed. An eggplant appetizer was bland and nothing special. The Margharita pizza was small and bland as well. It's as though they have no idea how to make a great pizza. I will say the cheese was good but that's it. Everything about the place was bland. No flavor to the sauces. Where is the garlic? Herbs? They were nonexistent. There is really no reason to return to this place and I would not recommend it to anyone else.
(2)
Alexandra C.
Great service, even though the place was packed up to our eyeballs. I didn't make a reservation, so my fault. The pizza was AMAZEBALLS and the wine was flowing the whole time!
(4)
Julio H.
Fratelli La Bufala is another franchise that landed on Floridian soil, and as such, provides sufficient information on what to expect when you sit down to have lunch or dinner. It is a place that has a "tried and true" approach to cooking and that is fool proof yet doesn't necessarily cater to South Beach. Or does it? The challenge is to walk by this SoFi locale and not want to take a bite of the pizza after seeing the brick oven tender a pie with bubbling cheese, covered in hues of red and pale yellow and sprinkled with burnt spots . The brick oven pizza is the best advertisement Fratelli La Bufala uses. The taste, far from being an abrupt stop to your reverie, is a simple proceed with caution, or an attenzione! for a slippery road ahead. I mean, the pizza is not the best pizza in the beach, but it is good. The pasta dishes, on the other hand, are a bit generic and made to fit in a mold. They are still good, but something that would tire even the less demanding palates. The ambiance, on the other hand, is where Fratelli La Bufala wins you over. The space is modest, but well decorated with their flagship icons, the most notorious being the entirely Caucasian waiting staff composed of, but not limited to, former Abercombrie & Fitch models of both sexes. Add to that a different language and Fratelli La Bufala is giving us Napoli nella nostra bella citta di Miami. It is just chic, exciting and, eh .... profitable. For those reasons, I have no inclination to hate Fratelli La Bufala or to diss it. It is a cool place where nobody really cares if you are there an hour or two, even three, with a decent view and with OK food. Yes, the pizza could taste like Indian bread with cheese on top, yes the pasta could be generic, but hey! it is fast food a l'italiana, and for the privilege to enjoy it, an extra 20% has been added to the cost. It is not a great destination for food, but it is a fun one. Arriverderci, Andiamo, Buona Sera and Cin Cin, or chin chin, whatever.
(4)
Elizabeth G.
Appetizer was not delicious. Small and $16. Ridiculous. I had pasta with zucchini. The cream sauce was delicious but the pasta was hard. Both entree plates are small. We were seated right by the entrance so lots of people walked in and out and we were bumped into a lot. Our waitress was a hawk. He would stand beside us and watch us at everything we do... The water boy spilled water on my foot which isn't a big deal but he never came back to refill my water nor clean the spot??? They rushed us. Will never go back there again.
(1)
Ben C.
Excellent, authentic Italian food. Simple and amazing. Wonderful service. Reasonably priced. We will be back.
(5)
Max B.
Went on this past Sunday after years of simply driving by. We sat ourselves and started to order appetizers and our entrees. I had the bufala mozz and prosuitto. Prosuitto was great and the bufala was fine. I ordered the roasted sausage and potatoes but should have probally ordered something else. Tried my sons pizza which was good. A little to thin and the crust was soggy in the middle. My other son had the gnocci bolognese which was actually pretty good. Would probally eat there again if I was in the neighborhood but wouldnt go out of my way to eat there again. Check in and get a free prosecco.
(3)
McKayla M.
My babe made reservations here for Valentine's day after his coworker told him we had to go there. It was definitely busy as expected and very loud. It was not very intimate and talking to one another was difficult. Lots of Italians around here so it's got to be pretty authentic. We started off with one of their pizzas, it was tasty. I loved the crust and the cheeses. Then I had their lasagna which was very creamy and delicious. And the Nutella crepe for dessert was heaven, we almost ordered another one. Why this post didn't get more stars: Our waitress was not on her game. We had to find her for refills on our beverages, and ask her for things we shouldn't have had too. Like parmesan cheese and bread. Also their gratuity is included, which our waitress is lucky because she definitely didn't earn all of that tip. Overall, good authentic place for pizza. Pretty pricey for such small portions. Nothing to go crazy about. And we probably won't be dying to go back there now that we've crossed it off our list...
(3)
Archana B.
A great, simple, no fuss Italian restaurant. Love the freshness. Great pizzas! Thin crust and oh so good. Perfect go to meal for a nice afternoon. Airy, bright and cosy. And so nice for a cosy dinner too. Simple yet effective menu. I love that there aren't a gazillion options. Pizza oven in plain view. Nice touch. Definitely one of my favorite Italian spots. Service is always good to. Highly recommend this place.
(4)
Jim D.
Pizza was white and chewy, not brown and crispy. Sauce was nice and bufala mozzarella was very tasty. Crust just didn't do it for me. Wait staff was very friendly.
(3)
Sarah M.
By far the best Italian food I've ever had! Convenient, friendly & authentic. Stumbled upon it while looking for a great sushi restaurant so glad we stopped! Wish there was more locations in the US
(5)
Jonathan P.
Amazing pizza. Unlike any other pizza in Miami. Thin crust (crispy on the edges) with fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella. The pastas are also perfect. Try the scarparellio
(5)
Zack L.
Paleo pizza hack: Add extra buffalo mozzarella and olive oil. The fat will slow down the carb digestion so it doesn't spike your insulin level. Best pizza in Miami!
(5)
Honest G.
Had a plain Margherita pizza... I have eaten this Bufala pizza in Italy and purchased the cheese myself to make my own. There was no Bufala on my pizza. It is sad that this is what they are serving.
(1)
Marcos A.
This place is awesome. The food is great, prices are reasonable, location is good. Pros.. -great Italian food. Everything we've ordered was awesome. Suggest the octopus and shrimp pasta which was delicious. The calzones were featured on TV on the Travel Channel. The Bolognese pasta was also very good. -the appetizers were great. Suggest the cold cut and cheese sampler which comes in two sizes. Get the smaller one as its enough for up to 6 people easily. - service is great. We had a 30 minute wait so the host took our phone number, recommended a bar 12 yards down where we could have a drink, and told us we would get a text message informing us our table would be ready in 5 minutes. 20 minutes later we got the text message with a five minute warning so we headed back. Impressive. - the ambience was busy yet somehow managed to feel cozy. Cons... - parking. Its South Beach what can you do? - sometimes the lines are out of control. - small place, not much elbow room. Overall, solid.
(5)
Abby S.
What a fantastic meal. We ate next door a few nights earlier and had a good meal, but this experience totally blew it away. First of all, service was impeccable - all staff were welcoming and friendly. Though we didn't have a reservation they were very accommodating and sat us right away (recommend coming before 8pm if you want to be sat without a reservation). Secondly, the food was way above par in terms of freshness and quality. We started with the special, burrata mozzarella, which was fabulous - so creamy, paired with lovely tomatoes and spicy arugula. Divine. Then we went to the antipasto - the prosciutto was tender and tasty. It came with salamis and veggies that were super fresh. Entrees were also excellent - three of the four of us had lasagne which was medium; the fourth had gnocchi which was perfectly done. If/when I get the chance to go back, I will do a pizza! Such a respite and worth every penny!
(5)
April B.
We had the Diavola (pizza) and Esotica (salad), it was very good. One of the best authentic Italian pizzas we've had. The ingredients were fresh and service good. I'd say one of the best food places in SOBE.
(4)
Luis N.
Great service and great food. We recently went to Rome and had the food there ruin all other pizza and pasta for us because of how good it is there. BUT we did devour the pizza here because it does match the quality of authentic Italian pizza. We ordered the Diavola and some bufala cheese appetizer with salad. We probably wouldn't order the appetizer again but the pizza was devine. Not huge but quality. I also checked in with Yelp and that allowed us to get two free prosecco glasses--sweet surprise. Would I go back?? Yes although it is slightly pricier than other places.
(4)
Mike M.
Wife had pasta and her pasta was hard I had lasagna and it was horrible. Taste no pasta , meat and cheese. So soft. Their dinner plate is like starter size.
(1)
MICHELLE C.
My first time here was several years ago and all I remembered was that I did enjoy it. As we were walking around last week we decided to have dinner here. Whew wish we would have gone to tongue and cheek next door. Our server was very friendly and she did take good care of us. Having said we had good service and why two stars? OK, yes we are on the beach, prices are usually higher, no problem. If the food is good then it is not an issue. I ordered a bottle of Montepulciano and had to ask our server for an ice bucket. Mistake one ordering a bottle of wine when they keep the bottles stored in the back near the kitchen and right in the sun, yes to get HOT. This is a serious pet peeve of mine. If you are going to carry wine and charge double or triple retail prices, then what the hell serve the wine at proper temperatures. Food, so hubs ask the server if the foccacia was good and she stated it is made fresh daily. Ho hum, it comes out and hubby swore it was pita bread. She stated that is how they make it in Napoli. Hmm, OK. The three of us ordered various pasta dishes, my basic fettuccine bolognese was not good at all. Pasta overcooked, no flavor, meat even did not taste like anything. None of us were impressed at all with the food. Maybe they make a good pie? I can tell ya I will never find out, skip this place so not worth the prices, even go a few doors down to Laconda, much much better.
(2)
Charlie D.
Ate here twice when we were staying in SoBe. Great pizza the first night and had the lasagne the second night...delicious! Also good service, we will be back for sure!
(5)
Nadia H.
Pizza was solidly good. We got the one with prosciutto. Service was fine, outdoor seating was nice. Salad was ok, nothing special. No house-made dressing, just served with a nice balsamic vinegar and oil, which contributes to my 3 star (just "ok") review because I can (and do) sprinkle balsamic vinegar and oil on lettuce at home. Just fine for when you're craving a higher-quality pizza, as crust and mozzarella were true Italian restaurant quality, but nothing quite elevated the flavors. I can't imagine myself longing for anything on the menu here. Flavors were fresh but not special. I'd give it a solid 3 to 3.5 stars.
(3)
Stephanie B.
The best pizza I've eaten in my life. Hands down! I wanted to take a picture of our meal before we ate, but the antipasto was so fantastic we couldn't wait to get our hands on the pie! If you're on fence, do yourself a favor and try this place out!
(5)
Kate C.
I am vegan and had no issues finding delicious food to eat! Started the meal with bread & bruschetta which was super yum! I got a marinara pizza which has so cheese and added mushrooms and arugula without any troubles. I can easily say it was the best pizza I've ever had....the crust was AMAZING!
(5)
Anna S.
Great place for lunch! I really like different soups. And in this place i found gazpacho and minestrone. It was good! P.S.: A complimentary prosecco was cool :)
(5)
Benjamin O.
Awesome food! Brick oven pizza is the way to go. Solid service and a chill atmosphere. Just go here first.
(5)
Thien H.
Do you enjoy bad service? A soggy, six inch diameter circle of soggy, super wet crust in the middle of your pizza? Short black hairs all over the ladies' bathroom sink (an employee washed his head in there)? Automatic 17% gratuity for a table of two? Then Fratelli La Bufala is for you! We went here based on the great reviews from yelp and were extremely disappointed. We were treated as if the server knew she was going to get a 17% tip no matter what. She was distant, short with us, and overall unfriendly. When refilling our water, she managed to splash us and everything else on the table several times. Luckily, it was just water. Another server loved to block the way from the table to the bathroom with her elbows by putting her hands on her hips and looking bored. She had no idea people were having to squeeze by her. Don't get the Mugnanese pizza ($13.00). Fries and wurstel might sound good or fun on your pizza but in reality it's a bunch of soggy fries and slices of hot dog thrown on a crust. The crust would have been delicious if not for the soggy center. The majority of the crust was inedible (except the very outside ring which was actually good). Based on our experience, Fratelli La Bufala doesn't deserve the average 4 star rating. We won't be coming back for two soggy pizzas and poor service ($35+).
(2)
Jonathan P.
So big tip.......check in. Both FourSqaure and Yelp. You will get free stuff.........and that just really makes people happy... and more likely to get more stars. But this place is good. Good pizza! I like to have it cooked a bit extra. It's worth trying the buffalo meat too. It tastes like regular meat but it's healthier....so why not??? I went with one of the stuffed pizzas (calzone basically). It's was large and very good. *** Make sure you ask for the spicy olive oil. And add it to everythin!!
(4)
Samantha L.
Came here for lunch with a group of four friends and they were surprisingly slow for a Saturday lunch. Seated quickly and had our orders put in quickly, but servers seemed a little unattentive, especially considering that we were one of only a few tables. Almost our entire party ordered La Parma, and we all LOVED it. Prosciutto was generous, the sauce was delicious, and the cheese lived up to the hype. Only thing I would have liked was for the slices to be cut through all the way because it's tough to cut through prosciutto with a butter knife. After our food came out, business picked up a bit, and pretty soon it was a packed house and it was difficult to grab a server's attention to pay our bill. We had a bit of trouble splitting the bill, but it got fixed eventually. Overall, a great experience, and I thought it was a nice touch that almost all the staff spoke Italian. Definitely recommend coming by if you're in the area. (Weird thing I also noticed was that there was no music playing, and their huge TV wasn't even turned on)
(4)
Briana R.
THE BEST! I had the salami calzone and I can't stop thinking about it! I ate here right before I had to fly back to LA and I almost ordered an extra one to go so I can bring it with me. I wish I did! The salami was cut very thin and full of flavor with delicious water buffalo mozzarella. It was the perfect combination of sweet and salty. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Sergio F.
How good an Italian restaurant is is determined by how my carb-ivoreal cravings are satisfied. Other than one of the ingredients in their caprese, then, Fratelli La Bufala is a very good Italian restaurant! Lettuce is an evil thing. Regardless the restaurant, I dont eat it -even when I order at Mickey D I take the lettuce out of my sandwich. That being said, the lettuce in my caprese is the only knock on FLB. Going back to said caprese, I'm digging the tomato pieces baked into the mozarella ball and the fresh cherry tomato pieces nestled among the "evil green thing". The Yelp check-in free Prosecco was a good start for a late Sunday lunch. Pizza is in the name, and I was hungry so I went for their margherita pizza. Visible mozarella balls nestled in a delcious sea of marinara sauce balanced on a thin crust which had a slightly poofie back crust which I like and usually the only reason I subject myself to an occasional regular crust pizza. Then there's a Nutella crepe full of delicious chocolate...food coma kicking in :) Despite a 17% automatic tip, staff was cool and pleasant, and as enthusiastically into the soccer game on the TV as the audience. Certainly a fun pizza spot on the beach!
(4)
Amanda D.
So, here's the thing. I've never been to Italy. I can only compare the pizza I've had here in the U.S. However, if I had to guess what pizza is like in Italy, I would say this would be it. The pizza here was amazing! This is the real deal, real Italian pizza. So, where do I begin? Our waiter, Ciro, was a total sweetheart; he was really attentive and super nice. Once we were seated, he gave us the menus. A simple glimpse thought the menu and I knew right off the bat the food would be amazing. They served us focaccia, which was really good. We decided to order Carpaccio as an antipasto. Topped off with bufala mozzarella and arugula, it was one of the best Carpaccio I've ever had! It was large enough to share between 2 or even 3 people, depending on how hungry you are. I decided to order la margaritana and my boyfriend ordered the Primo Bambino. And again, the pizza was absolutely amazing. Why you may ask? First off, the pizza was baked perfectly: the crust was crispy, but light and airy. Completely different than any other type of crust I've had in the U.S. Second, you can taste the freshness of the ingredients. You could tell they use high quality ingredients. But most importantly, the food wasn't heavy. The tomato sauce was fresh and the bufala mozzarella made the pizza stand out. The pizza itself wasn't greasy, which is something I loved. I was actually able to eat about half of the pie (don't judge me) and didn't go into food coma for the first time ever! Also, the pie is definitely smaller than your average pie, more like a personal pie. As for the primo bambino, it was also amazing. The pasta was cooked perfectly. The simple ingredients gave the pasta the perfect flavor without overpowering it. And again, the pasta (surprisingly) was light and refreshing, and not heavy at all. Of course, since our main entrees were so amazing, we had to try the dessert! We ordered the nutella crepes and we were not disappointed. All I can say is it was delicious! Again, I didn't feel heavy after I ate it. To finish off, I had a nice espresso that only a real coffee drinker could enjoy. Overall, I'd definitely come back again when in Miami Beach. Arrivederci!
(5)
Tanna C.
Great service, great food, and decent prices! The pizza was amazing and they gave me a free proseco for checking in.
(5)
Heather S.
So excited to find an authentic Italian pizzeria in South Beach. The restaurant was packed even at 10:30pm, but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table. The service was very quick and efficient and the waiter was very friendly. We plan to go again for lunch this week and may even have our rehearsal dinner at FLB.
(5)
Steve R.
Overall great dining experience. Seated without reservation immediately in a Saturday evening. Margherita pizza as an appetizer for the table was excellent. Pasta dishes were all fresh and served hot. Veal was very good. Will dine here again next time in Miami Beach.
(4)
Julio G.
My wife and I had a Amazon coupon for two pizzas. This worked out fairly well. Although the pizza lacked excitement to deserve 45 stars so I'm not sure why they have earned so many. We got a salad which was very average the bread was average of the pizza dough itself was on the thin side but didn't seem to be much flavor in there pizza. Staff was nice and I can't really complain about the location that much. The one upside of the whole thing was I had Peroni on tap
(3)
Anil H.
I've never been to Italy, but those in my group who have claimed that this is the closest to the real thing. The portions were huge, and food came quick. Warning, if you don't like really al dente pasta, be sure to tell your waiter to overcook it. Lots of veggie options, including a vegetable-loaded minestrone The sorbet and tiramisu were very flavorful but not too filling. The atmosphere is loud and bustling, with lots of action and various waitstaff attending to your needs. We would definitely make a return visit.
(4)
Ro P.
As a first-generation southern Italian and pizza lover, I give this place a 10. The quality of the ingredients is superb and the pizza crust is perfectly crisp. Only downfall are the sly staff. The waiter asked us in Italian if we wanted water... I said 'yes'... he asked 'natural or seltzer'... I said 'natural'. Of course, being that we're not in Italy, I understood that he was going to bring us the complimentary water that most restaurants do. He brings us a bottle of 'imported fresh Italian water' (said so on the bottle) that cost $5.50 and tasted like regular tap water. We should have asked him to open it in front of us, but by then we were so drunk on pizza we couldn't think straight... Funny thing is, at the end of our meal when we asked for the check, he came around again and filled our glasses with the complimentary water AND ice.
(4)
Ed S.
Authentic Italian tasty, nice size portions. The bruscetta was fresh and flavorful. Attentive ,friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff.
(4)
Jane W.
Very much appreciate the manager's response to my review of 2 stars. (as follows.) Hoping that the night I went was an anomaly. Could not bring myself to take the menu out of our recommended restaurants in the apartment we rent out. After their prompt response I will come again. This is a restaurant on our must try list we give to all the people who stay in our apartment. We've been here many many times but are now taking it off our list. The pizza sauce is still flavorful, but the DOC and capriccioli was soggy and bolognese sauce was terrible. The minestrone continues to be excellent. Many of the servers are attentive and good but ours tonight preferred to have us tell across the table than come to each of us.
(3)
Jaime L.
Went there for lunch. Beautifully executed pizza at surprisingly inexpensive prices, particularly based on the location. The pizzaiolo was Italian, lots of Italian people hanging out as well.
(4)
Casey M.
I've been here dozens of times, and recommended it to friends who've stayed at my place nearby. Everybody has enjoyed it. Service is pleasant and attentive. The antipasti meats cheeses and salad ingredients are superb -high quality and fresh. All the pastas have been flavorful , perfectly cooked with well sized portions . Pizzas with thin crispy , not burned crusts are delicious Downside - can be a noisy inside and outside (with a lot if traffic noise ). But don't let that deter from a great Italian meal.
(4)
Austin K.
Wonderful pizza. Huge salad. Enjoy with your family or your wife. Given how high prices are in south beach this is a bargain. $14 for broccoli rabe and sausage pizza. Great
(5)
Daisy P.
If you're a breakfast for dinner type of person... order this "La Collinara - Bufala mozzarella, eggs, pancetta & basil" ... You're welcome! ;-)
(5)
Robert F.
5 star service from Davider tonight! Busy Friday night and he was excellent! Food was very good and the service even better! We got lucky they had Burrata (sp?) tonight. Fantastic appetizer if you're a cheese lover. All in all, my GF and I had a great experience.
(4)
Natasa S.
We came for some pizza after reading good reviews. We started with soup and salad it was ok. Pizza took forever to arrive and everyone around us was getting pizza who arrived after us. Waited 40 min for pizza and service was terrible. We had margarita and caprisiossa pizza. Soggy in the middle and not that great! There are much better pizza places in Miami. I wouldn't come back here!
(2)
Paolo C.
Solid and moderately priced Italian restaurant. Great and authentic Italian pizza, good pastas, mozzarella and bresaola.
(4)
A C.
Yum! Incredible margharita pizza for take out. Sauce was mild yet flavorful. Perfect and the price was just right compared to other places in SoBe.
(4)
Vanessa R.
Nice ambiance! Had the rapini, sausage, and mozzarella di buffalo and it was great. Good size and no matter how stuffed you are, you need to finish it! Would definitely go back
(5)
Liza M.
Every time I visit this restaurant, I feel like I'm dining in the middle of Piazza Navona! This place serves authentic Italian food and everything I have ordered from the menu is always delicious. This is actually the only Italian restaurant in Miami where I can eat gnocchi and lasagna and not be disappointed... the taste is simply amazing!!! The restaurant is small but really cozy; it reminds me of a trattoria. Also, it is very clean and the service has always been pleasant. Yes, the place is on a busy street and if you decide to dine outside, it's loud because of the constant honking of cars and people showing off.. after all, it's Miami Beach!!! Give them a try... you won't regret it!!!! :)
(5)
Andres R.
I've been there two times. Pizza is great, but both times the air conditioning inside has been too hot and the waiters have been rude. And one of those times we ordered a Burratta, the waitress suggested it, it-s like a big buffala cheese with tomato, like a Capressa salad, and when the bill arrived, they had charged us about $25 only for that plate, outrageous! But, their pizzas are really great. Well made, good ingredients, excellent flavor, 5-stars. As I said before, both times the inside of the restaurant has been too hot. Even if you're having the best pizza or food in the world, if the temperature is too hot, it can ruin everything. And it did. Also, I can't stand when waiters are rude.... And that has happened both of the times I've been there. They have to take care of that. You can have a great product, but you need to complement it with a great service. I recommend the Prosciutto Pizza with a little of Olive Oil. Excellent!! Maybe if you can get there when is not too crowded, and you can check the temperature inside, you can have a good time. Sadly, that wasn't my experience. I don't know if I'll go again.
(2)
Man S.
very authentic Italian restaurant. i mean it from the moment u walk in till you walk out all are italinas working in there. the food is out of this world. you should try the home made mozzarella with tomato. the pastas are good and pizza very unique.
(5)
Ole Henrik N.
Very good Italian food and a good selection of wines to compliment the food. Probably one of the best places to eat in this area
(4)
Vanessa C.
Pizza came out way to quick and was very soggy , not what I was expecting from All the great reviews !!!
(2)
Quiana B.
Excellent service, excellent food, authentic Italian food with mostly Italian people sitting in the restaurant. My server helped me so much and was so friendly....and gorgeous too!! Love this place and will surely be back!
(5)
Pierre B.
Authentic italian restaurant. Best Pizza I have ever had in the USA so far.
(5)
Olivia L.
The pizza is 5 star pizza, but charging $3 for adding arugula without mentioning the charge until the bill came knocks it down 2 stars....however the pizza was great!
(3)
Marco P.
real italian pizza!
(5)
Paty D.
After hearing that this place had the "best pizza ever" and the pizza was the "next best thing to what you find in Italy," I, for one, had to come and find out if this was all hype or, if in fact, it was true. I decided that since they are known for their fresh, imported buffalo mozzarella, I'd make sure to order plenty of it. To start off, we had la caprese impanata which consisted of a round, fried piece of mozzarella with a small, green salad and cherry tomatoes. When we first got it, we both thought the dish was rather small. There was one round ball of mozzarella only, which means contrary to my nature, I reluctantly had to share. We definitely liked what we tried. The breading was light, yet it imparted the perfect balance in texture to the creamy, melted mozzarella. You definitely taste the freshness & creaminess in the mozzarella, and it is by far much richer in flavor than any mozzarella you'll have on this side of the world! As to the entree, I went with pizza since this is what everyone raved about. I decided to go with the all white, nothing but cheese & more cheese pizza- la salentina. It was absolutely beautiful when it came out- loads of melted cheese evenly dispersed with subtle mounds of bufala ricotta throughout. The dough was much softer and chewier than other pizzas I've tried but it was still very good. The amount of cheese was absolute perfection but what I found it needed, as sacrilegious as it may sound, was salt. I think the cheese they use may not have a lot of salt so I did find myself sprinkling some on. All in all, I was happy downing it down. My husband on the other hand wasn't too fond of his dish & I have to agree with him. He ordered the lasagna and even though he was hoping it took him down memory lane to the one we had in Venice, it didn't even come close. It had a particular taste I couldn't quite put my finger on but he sure did- it reminded him not of not the amazing Venetian chef, but rather of Chef Boyardee! Because of this my review dropped from a 4 to a 3. All in all, I was content with my meal. I think the price is a bit high for what you get, but you're paying for South Beach in an area that is overflowing with tourists. I am willing to come by if I'm in the area, to try some more of their Italian pizza creations!
(3)
Reyana F.
free wine makes everything better.
(4)
Rodrigo O.
despite arriving almost 1:00 am, we were very well served by the restaurant, and had a wonderful dinner. Try the Bufala entree, a house specialty. The reale pizza was the best i've ever had in US so far, also.
(5)
Deborah G.
Delicious burrata appetizer. Lasagna was good but not the best I've had and pizza was nice but was served cold. That was a disappointment although flavors were all there. I'll go back. Decent service suprised me being it's on the beach. That's never a guarantee. Great atmosphere too.
(4)
Yulia K.
I was recommended to this place by an Italian friend and he told me that they have the best pizzas en whole Miami. And confirmed! It is a very nice and elegant place but you can dress casual. The service is Hi end. The pizzas are big. We got one and shared it (2ppl) they are big if you don't eat much. Highly recommend it and if you go at the sunset it becomes very romantic outside.
(5)
Aliya Z.
It has been a great experience. We were just walking by and saw this restaurant. We decided to have some dinner as the time was 6 pm already. We sat outside and ordered pizzas!!!! They were so delicious and fresh! Good mix of flavors and thin delicate crust! Would highly recommend to my friends. The good supersize was he we go a checked in on yelp and got a champaign. And the manager gave us like 3 glasses instead of one!
(5)
Maryluz G.
It was very good but not 5 star. Ive had better italian/pizza maybe not in miami. But I guess for being in miami it is very good. I do recommend trying it. Staff was very attentive. The bufala is very yummy. Had the eggplant for appetizer. Really enjoyed it.
(4)
Iryna S.
This is one place we always try to go to when we are in Miami! Ingredients are so fresh and food always comes out delicious! I love the art and the ambience there too!
(5)
Anna P.
Seriously so amazing!! The pizza, salads, apps, soups and Nutella crepes were incredible! Best meal I have had in awhile, don't waste your time going anywhere else! I was so full after I almost called a cab home.
(5)
April A.
This place was great! We sat outside on the patio and had a delicious prosciutto pizza with mushrooms as well as the exotic salad. They also gave us free prosecco! Nothing bad to say about this restaurant. The pizza was authentically Italian.
(5)
Cristina W.
First off, loved the ambience of this quaint pizza place in Miami Beach.. It's so cute, and you honestly feel that you are transported into Italy. Loved the quality of the pizza crust, and the richness of the fresh mozzarella is always a plus! I had read some mixed reviews about this place, but I loved every bit of it. Try the Parma pizza, it's the best!
(5)
Andrew T.
A no nonsense ambience with food that is not too complicated but simply delicious... The Italian way. Gazpacho is a must for me since I try that everywhere I go and this was good here. The pizza was done right, decent prices and even the pasta was extremely well done! If the pizza dough/prep staffs would wear hats, then this review might have been perfect.
(4)
Elizabeth Y.
Free valet. Great pizza - la parma (prosciutto) the best! And if you check in on yelp you get a free glass of prosecco. If you check in on Four Square you get a free bottle of house wine. Absolutely love this place. Have been there several times and still going!
(4)
Daniela N.
Food is delicious!!!!! Had the prosciutto with honey and it was amazing!!! Prices are great for the food. Would definitely recommend.
(4)
Jeanette B.
Come here all the time. When I lived in ltaly for a few months my husbands apartment was next to fratelli so this brings back so many memories.
(4)
Brenda G.
This place was amazing to say the least. We wanted some Italian food and this place definitely met expectations. We started off our meal with some bruschetta and mixed green salad. The waiter also brought some delicious bread. I really wish I remembered the name of what I ordered, but the pasta had ham, zucchini, and tomatoes in creamy sauce. Everything was delicious! Service was prompt and the environment was inviting. It wasn't too crowded at the time we went either (4:30 p.m.) which was perfect. I would definitely go to this restaurant again and recommend it to anyone visiting South Beach who is craving Italian food.
(5)
Lauren V.
I love the pizza here! Takes just like back in Italy. I'm sure everything else is great on the menu but I always end up taking the pizza. The Nutella crepes are also the best guilty pleasure for dessert :) Yum!
(5)
Ryan B.
It was our first night in Miami and we had just checked into the Harrison Hotel. It was around 9pm and after a few hours of airports and traveling, we were hungry and needed to satisfy the late night craving. We decided to go for a walk and we found this place right around the corner. They had the wood burning oven going on, so that excited me. After checking in on my yelp mobile app, I received a free glass of Prosecco! I love it when I get free things! The restaurant itself had a nice atmosphere. The lighting was dim. There was outside seating for some good people watching. The wait staff were very attentive and helpful. The noise level wasn't too loud and you could have a decent conversation without having to yell. For my meal I went with the Capricciosa pizza. Thin crust with red sauce, fresh mozzarella and proscuitto. The pie looked huge for one person, but because of it's thin crust and barely-there toppings it was totally manageable. At first I thought, okay, there's not much on this thing. But after eating it, I get it. Pizza tastes better when it's more simplistic and has well crafted ingredients. The sauce, the fresh mozz and the paper-thin proscuitto were delicious. I've grown tired of chain restaurant pizza. Eating at this place was quite refreshing. And there's something to be said for using fresh ingredients. I wish we had one back in DC. Well Fratelli, until next time. addio.
(4)
Nato S.
Best part was checking in on Foursquare and getting a free bottle of wine for the table! Don't forget to do that. The wine wasn't half bad either. Food was good. I had a calzone and while it tasted fresh, I wish it came with some sauce or something to pair up with because there were times where it seemed a bit dry. I hear the pizza is pretty good. Nothing too out of this world, but nothing to write home about. If you're in the area, it's worth stopping by, otherwise I wouldn't make the drive to South Beach again for it.
(3)
Candice C.
Came here a year ago and had the most uncomfortable experience of my life. I dont want nor do i like to accuse people of any type of racism or whatever my experience was engulfed in but we certainly did not get any kind of respect or good treatment and it seemed we may have told a joke that none of us knew about. Being the only minorities in the building that evening would never bother us but I was so disgusted by the workers here. There was 3 of us and the servers seemed to have some kind of joke going because they couldnt stop looking at us and laughing. We got mean stares and aside from the okay food there was little room to move around...so yea not going back there. Not supporting a place that doesn't truly understand what quality customer service means. The food wouldve allowed for 2 stars but my disappointment negated one of them. The food is not worth the prices.
(1)
Lily A.
Surprisingly the owner of Tap Tap uninhibitedly recommended this place when we were sad we wouldn't be in the city when his restaurant opened for the day. And when we read that this was on the "Best thing I've Ever Ate," we rushed over.. quickly. Very cozy little shop at the corner of an intersection. Everything was just excellent, from the quick service, warm bread and butter, their house wine, and especially their entrees and the portions. We had the Ripieno Calzone (not sure which one of the calzones was on the Food Network) and the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese. The Calzone had mozarella, ricotta, salami, and pepper. And incredibly as loaded as it was with cheese, it wasn't overwhelming but more-so the melt-in-your mouth type. The Tagliatelle was flat noodles with bolognese and tomato sauce and was much lighter than expected, perhaps because the portion wasn't gigantic like typical Italian eateries. Check into this place on Foursquare and you get a free bottle of house Merlot. And it's pretty damn good stuff too, at the table we even looked up where to buy them at they're only $5-$6 at Whole Foods (we stocked up once we got back home).
(5)
Bonnie L.
Please tell me whats so great about their pizza? I did not find the buffalo mozzarella amazing at all, I took a slice and pretty much asked for the check.. Above all this place is OVERPRICED! Some restaurants deserve 2nd chances but not this one =x
(1)
Laura T.
I couldn;t find somewhere to eat close to my hotel that was reasonable until I got on Yelp and saw this little spot. I've walked past this several times and assumed they'd be too expensive! But they were def reasonable and I got a free bottle of wine (Moscato) by checking in with 4square. I ordered the Marghareita pizza and although it was piping hot, after my 2nd slice it was cold! Not sure if it was bc I was sitting outside, but it got cold quick. I also couldn't take my wine with me so I had to sit there like a wineo and drink the whole bottle! All in all they are very reasonable and the hot pizza part was pretty good.
(3)
Julian P.
Great service and great food for the price and location near South Beach. Waiters were actually Italian and were very polite. Fine for large groups as well, they quickly accommodated our group of 11.
(4)
Sang C.
Great neighborhood gem. Went with the family after getting a living social coupon. Ordered 2 pizzas and 2 pasta dishes. All were great. Only negative was that it was very warm inside. Otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.
(4)
Scott B.
I went to this place for my first time today. The pizza is good and spongy if you look for the crunchy and thin pizza you will not find it ! The service was quick and efficient but it was really noisy since there were lot of families coming into on sunday time (babies crying, child playing around the tables...) I don't know if'll come back there but the experience has been interesting.
(3)
Roger Y.
This restaurant was recommended by my son-in-law who hails from Torino Italy - he is very particular about Italian food available in America so I was expecting the best and I was not disappointed. We arrived for a late lunch and the service was good and not rushed -I ordered the minnestrone soup and for my main meal I ordered an appetizer "La Parmigiana" which was actually an eggplant parmigiana. The soup was very tasty, very fresh. The Parmigiana was delightfull. The combination of the buffala mozzarella and a fantastic tomato sauce - just barely melted was wonderfull. The appetizer size was large enough for a main dish. My wife had one of the offerings of white pizza which was good - their pizza has a soft crust fwiw. Using bufala mozz. turns this pizza into a higher realm. If you check in on Yelp they have a free prosecco offered Only street parking is available and that can be a tough go.
(5)
Linda D.
Free glass of Prosecco with check-in is true, and they didn't bring one but two for me and my gorgeous date. ..which meant two for me - yeay! Pizza was great, Iove the oven roast flavor of the crust, fresh sauce and mozz. It could have used another minute, dough seemed a tad doughy for a Neopolitan pizza. Good environment. service was just ok. Had the pizza been better is give it a 4.
(3)
Ramesh A.
The most authentic and scrumptious pasta/pizza I have ever had! Simple, fresh, and authentic ingredients.....a taste of Italy in South Miami. Would definitely recommend!
(5)
Vanessa M.
Let's face the facts. Miami is known for many things, but pizza is not one of them. This is why I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and authenticity of this Miami Beach gem. From New York to Chicago to Italy--I've been lucky to eat some of the best pies around. Fratelli's is now on my personal list of the best pizza and I'm proud to say it's from my hometown! I went for the classic margherita-style pizza--topped with the freshest mozzarella flown in from Italy, basil, and vine tomatoes. Cue that gesture Italian chefs do when they kiss their fingertips and say "perfecto!"
(4)
Serena S.
If you REALLY love mozzarella, this place is for you. The mozzarella is really fresh and part of almost every dish on the menu. I tried the Bresaola appetizer, which is thinly sliced cured beef over a bed of arugula and parmesan cheese shavings. UHMAZING. The cured beef was great, but if it were carpaccio, we would've been in business. With every new Italian restaurant I try, I usually like to try with something simple to gauge how good their food is. So, I tried their bolognese. More bland than I'd like, but still delicious nonetheless. The pasta was cooked perfectly, which seems to be a challenge for restaurants sometimes. Service could definitely have been better. Our waitress was a bit terse and looked downright unhappy. Prices are fair, but could be just a tad better. Indoor and outdoor seating is available as well as free valet, which is nice. Just don't forget to validate your ticket before leaving! I would definitely come back again to try something else on the menu.
(4)
Sophye B.
BEST PIZZA EVER! My favorite place to eat pizza. I got pizza with fresh buffalo mozzarella!!! And then for dessert we had the best Tiramisu!!! And my husband had a Cappuccino!
(5)
Akhil B.
I have been here twice for lunch during my trips to Miami. The food is awesome and the location is great. I can take a walk up and down Ocean Drive after eating here. The service is also great. I wish I could be in South Beach right now.
(5)
Liz S.
Nice atmosphere. We ordered the lasagna and the first brick oven white pizza on the menu. Holy cow! Delicious! Best authentic Italian food I've had. It's a bit pricey but worth it. Service was amazing and our waiter was so handsome. :)
(5)
Ryan E.
The absolute most authentic Italian pizza in the United States. I have a good friend who is from Italy, and he's the one who brought me here. He speaks Italian with the staff which adds to the authenticity. My girlfriend said this was the best pizza she has ever had. For me it's on par with the best pizza - simply because it's a different type of pizza. It's different than your typical American pizza, even the best thin crust pizza is very different than this. The dough is incredibly light and has a great flavor. It's so unique you can't explain it, but it's extremely good. The service is a little slow but very professional and polite. The manager is always friendly and seems to take good care of regulars. Overall this is an absolute must restaurant to visit and well worth the drive even from Broward. It's true, pure Italian pizza made by a real Italian staff. The real deal.
(5)
Sonia A.
Fresh, delicious mozzarella!!! Pizza was really good and eggplant appt. was delish! The place is on a great location but finding parking near by is such a drag. We looked around for about 20 minutes until we found some street parking down Washington south of 5th. Other than that, I would love to go back and sample more stuff on their menu! Their service was good, they were very attentive and several people stopped by not only our "assigned" waitress.
(4)
Steph D.
Great place for pizza. The staff is very friendly and we really enjoyed our dinner. I might add just a tip: eat inside as the avenue is a bit crowded.
(5)
Edgardo G.
Someone recommended me this restaurant as a great experience in Miami Beach, arrived into the valet with a chauffeur with very bad attitude to take the car, entered the restaurant and got in a table with very tight space for 5 people just under their framed pictures made with oleo. We wanted to have something fast and a good reccomendation so we were very hungry he suggedted something in italian you can't understand and was not in the menu, and I said in my mind why not? how much could be that... Asked for a big something with vetebables and fresh cheese and a smal similar also with fresh cheese. We ordered 4 pizzas and I oredered their Lassahna took over 30 minutes to arrive the pizzas were very normal and just different but my lassagna was comleatelly burned from the upper side super hot, so I cut it in half and tried the center and bottom part and was frozen! (ice) so I called the waiter and told nim about it and they removed and I told him that I thought that they cook fresh food, and I thought to myself in 30 minutes I can cook any pasta!, they offered me a piza and I agreed, after 5 minutes, I decided to cancel so everybody already finished their food and in 1 minute arrived, the pasta at the botom was raw!, so I decided to eat the leftovers of other parties and asked for the bill.. 5 personal pizas and 2 appetizers 200 dls!!! they charged me 43 dollars for one apetizer and 23 dollars for the other one !!! not even drinks. So save the day and dont even try to vidit this place. HORRIBLE!
(1)
Chuck I.
Horrible dining experience -- we didn't order alcohol so the waiter became rude and didn't offer us bread, refill our drinks or ever come around for follow up service. He was probably racist as well. When the check came they had added gratuity and I told the waiter to remove it -- and he didn't argue because he knew he didn't deserve a penny. The manager strolled by just to see who we were but didn't stop to ask how our service was or if he could do anything.
(1)
Lissa G.
This place had potential but did not live up to it in any way. The place was fairly packed when we arrived, and the servers worked fairly hard to seat us. The server we had once we were seated, however, seemed less interested in actually being helpful. It took us forever to get wine. What was the most disappointing, though, was the Bufala tasting plate. The cheese was not fresh; and by not fresh, I really mean not fresh. Some of the pieces tasted foul. We took a tiny taste of everything, just to be sure it wasn't an isolated incident. After a quick taste, we pretty much left the whole plate there. Our server didn't bother to check on us, and when I did finally say that the cheese was "not good," no one seemed all that interested. The pizza was disappointing, too, as it was undercooked and lacked flavor. If only we could turn back time, we wouldn't eat here.
(1)
Joe S.
They make real Napoli pizza, cooked the right way, but lacking flavor in my opinion. Should have been much better. I don't know if it is the sauce, the dough, or the cheese - maybe a little bit of each. I recommend trying something other than the classic Margherita pizza - maybe a pie with more toppings or burrata would be better, or a pasta dish instead.
(3)
Diana E.
Amazing food, great service and reasonable prices! Loved this place. True taste of Italy
(5)
Julia K.
I enjoyed everything, we got salad and pizza and pasta. Everything was great. I highly recommend this place!
(4)
Alex B.
Amazing food! We sat outside enjoying really good quality food and even got a free glass of Prosecco for checking in. The service was pleasant. Good people watching. Sorry for the short review, but this place was great!
(5)
Danielle A.
Great Italian food. Helpful staff. Family atmosphere. Definitely a place that will make you love REAL Italian food, especially if your only idea of it is Olive Garden (whom whomp!) Must Have: Burrata!!!!
(5)
Stefano D.
Went there with my partner just for a good Italian style pizza. He got a Margherita and I got a La Parma, with prosciutto. Dough and ingredients VERY good, but I have to say that for being Italians' owned, it was too saucy instead of counterbalancing the fresh and very moist bufala mozzarella with just a little sauce, and this caused the pizza to be too saggy in the middle. Pity. I hope they correct this because it could be an excellent pizza.
(3)
Krystle L.
Great pizza, quick, fast and delicious! Pleasant server. Ate La Reale with an egg, delicious!
(4)
Angela M.
My cousin is from Italy and told me how this place is a chain in Europe. This is their only location in the United Stated but the workers told us how they are planning on opening another location in Florida as well in the up coming months. Overall very impressed!!! I am from New York and finding good Italian food outside of New York is pretty hard. Food - I ordered the pizza with just sauce, garlic and added eggplant (no cheese) it was only $8. The dough of the pizza so unbelievable! So much flavor and super thin, just the way I like it. The portion was very filling and I left super satisfied. My cousin got a white pizza and extra cheese and then a side of buffalo mozzarella to have with bread. He fully enjoyed his meal and to be born and raised in Italy he was able to say the pizza tastes just like it they made it at the locations in Italy. They also have bread and dipping oil if you ask. Service - Our waitress was super friendly and my cousin was speaking with her in Italian. Most of the staff was very friendly just not super attentive. I feel like we were only asked once the whole time we were there how everything was. I think most of the employees spoke Italian as their first language because I did have some trouble speaking to one or the waiters when I just wanted to redeem my yelp offer. When you check in on yelp you can get a free glass of prosecco and she was very nice to offer one to my cousin free as well even though he did not have the offer on yelp (I just did) Price - Affordable! The pizza was priced right and I left full. Our bill was $44 and the tip was included, 17%. I would totally recommend this place and during my trip to Miami we ate here twice (I got food once, my cousin twice). I feel like this isn't a place I would have picked on my own but I am so glad my cousin had us go. From the outside it doesn't really stand out and it seem a little out of the way compared to where tourist like ourselves were exploring in south beach. I must say everyone should go if they are looking for a great authentic Italian meal!
(5)
Michael S.
A quiet and friendly spot on south beach. Who would have thought it possible but it is. We had a great groupon and did well here. Twice now were would recommend and even with the menu prices as they are - the food is spot on good !
(5)
Sabrina S.
Absolutely delicious! I get the genuina (I think that's what it's called/ how it's spelled) and it is my truly my favorite pizza. The bread is thin and the crust is on the thicker side. Along with the tasty pizza, they also have excellent gnocchi. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Ryan H.
My wife called the gnocchi a "panty-dropper" and the lasagna was fantastic, too. I think every member of the staff came to our table to bring us something or refill drinks or check on us. The service was awesome. If you're in South Beach, come here.
(5)
Felipe S.
The lasagna is delicious. This place is no relaxing food is great and the staff is very nice. Not to mention their pizzas are great tasting.
(5)
Lis T.
Started with the bruschetta which was good. I had the homemade pasta with bolognese sauce and my husband had a calzone. Service was excellent as we were the only ones in there around 5 after walking around Ocean Drive and Collins Ave.
(4)
Anna L.
YUM! Exactly the kind of pizza I was hoping for in Miami. They even had one with no cheese already on the menu... So delicious I ate my whole plate.
(5)
Andrew K.
Great pizza. Even better antipasto. I could have stopped after the first course, but the margharita pie was already in its way. The only reason why I didn't give this place a fifth star is because the pizza was slightly soggy towards the middle. I like a crisp pie all the way through, next time I'll ask for it well done.
(4)
Geneva B.
This is my absolute favorite Italian spot. The food is delicious! My favorite food item on the menu is the capricciosa pizza with the ham, mushroom and artichoke. They are kind of pricey though, that small pizza cost about $20 bucks. I know other places that offer the same pizza for less and almost as good. The 2 major downsides that I don't like are the location and the size of the establishment. It's pretty small and is always packed and the parking in that area is a nightmare. You're better off ubering over but be prepared to have to wait a little bit for a table.
(5)
Adal D.
Pure greatness! If what you want is genuine Italian cuisine and the best pizza in South Beach, then you must check this place out. The best of everything, European like atmosphere, both outside and inside. The servers are Italian, courteous, friendly and very professional. The pasta dishes are great with very generous servings. Their wood oven baked pizzas are better than the ones in Naples, Italy, I kid you not! Great salads and appetizers in case you are in for a lighter fair. A little piece of Italy in Miami Beach!
(5)
Carla A.
My children LOVED this place; one had the deliciously thin crusted pizza, another had the lasagna, and the third was envied by all with her selection of the 8oz steak cooked to perfection and accompanied by fries and a side salad. Unfortunately, it's a bit hot indoors so on a nice evening I recommend dining al fresco. Reservations are recommended, though our family of 5 was seated within 15 mins.
(4)
Jennifer C.
Very good authentic brick oven pizza. Thin with a crispy crust. Light, tasty sauce. My only complaint was that the middle of the pizza was too soggy. Attentive and friendly staff. Accommodated my husband's "special request" pizza. Prosciutto, arugula topped with shaved parmigiano reggiano and olive oil.
(4)
Michael G.
I used to go to this restaurant once in a while when I lived in Napoli, and albeit it wasn't my favorite over there, it was still very good. So I really wanted to get that same taste/feeling when I was down in Miami recently. Ordered a Margherita DOC pizza with prosciutto (whatever they call that one) because I wanted to get real buffalo mozzarella. Yummm. Anyway, the pizza sauce was very good, very typical of the region, good flavor. However, their mozzarella wasn't very creamy, which was disappointing and the entire reason I went there. Also, the crust too had a good flavor, but the texture was a bit off. I'm used to a doughier, thicker crust, and theirs was unfortunately rather thin. Overall, the pizza was good, just not really great, and not at all up to expectations and past experence. The carbonara pasta was a bit underwhelming, and the pasta was cooked even less than al dente for some pieces. It was just ok. And the cannoli...a sad let down, certainly. There was perhaps an almond flavor to it? Couldn't quite pin it down. But it didn't taste particularly great, it wasn't sweet enough (and I don't like cannoli to be too sweet either). Other than sugar, it was missing something, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Service was nice, but certainly disorganized and not very attentive.
(3)
Jessica W.
Great choice for Italian in south beach! Located on the corner of 5th and Washington, they have both indoor and outdoor seating available. I ordered the Ciliegina salad with shrimp and it was good; the mozzarella was fresh and added a nice touch. Pizza is definitely the specialty of the house though. The Diavola had a nice thin crust, cooked to perfection with sauce, cheese, basil and a little red pepper for some added kick. It was wonderful! Service was quick and super friendly and I thought that the prices were reasonable for the quality.
(4)
Tenisha S.
This place has excellent customer service. Everyone is friendly, kind and helpful. The bread served on the table was delicious. The la parma pizza (prosciutto and mozarella) and mari e monti (seafood over linguini ) were both delicious! We had a coupon from fashionhaus hotel for $15 off and they honored it with no problems. Great place to go.
(5)
Ray V.
Amazing and Authentic Pizza. Great Pasta, Bread, & Salad. Quick from Order to Table. Kids loved the pasta noodles with butter and Coloring Sticker book. Nice Italian wine selection as well.
(5)
Johnny T.
3.5 For years, I'd looked at the pizza place on the corner of Fifth & Washington and wondered what it was like. Thing is, I was never much in the mood to sit down and eat a pizza. Usually, during my beach-living days, I just wanted to pick something up and keep it moving. Thing is, for that sort of pizza experience, I didn't want a 'fancy' pizza, I wanted a casual one. So, for years, I walked by and wondered. Then, once I moved to Miami (and off the Beach), I had occasion to stop by on a Monday night after a long day/night of work. Being a Monday and later at night, there wasn't much of a crowd and that suited me fine. I started with a Peroni and, finally, tried one of those fancy pizzas I'd thought about for so long. My Diavola was pretty close to what I'd imagined/had before with one small detail (well, two): the crust was burnt, not wood-fired, but burnt. So, with every bite, I tasted more charcoal than toppings. I, eventually, opted to eat the toppings without the crust. This leads me to the next slight ding: the toppings (cheese, red sauce with some heat, hot salami) came pooled with a bit more grease than I like. Actually, a lot more. I ate each bite with a gulp of beer so that the carbonation would settle my stomach before it turned with the grease. Sorry for the decidedly unappetizing language. Because I'm a fatty and can't turn dessert down, I ordered the chocolate-almond cake. It was flourless but deceptively light. The cake itself was very enjoyable. The ice cream that accompanied it was a bit rich for my tastes. I don't know if it's churned on premises or not, but I tasted near-butter notes, as opposed to cream. Some people like that, but I don't. It's not a knock on the quality; 'tis only a heads up for specific palates. Despite the time of night and it being a Monday AND it being the beach, our service was pleasant, timely and appreciated. There's more to like than to dislike at FLB but I don't know that there's enough for me to rush back. But, later night during the week, there are far worse choices to make while on the Beach.
(3)
Yara F.
A family friend recommended this restaurant to me and my best friend during our vacation, and we had an amazing time. The hostess was very friendly and welcoming, and the wait staff was attentive. Prices were extremely reasonable, I was almost surprised with the check when we got it. We shared bruschetta and a margarita pizza as our appetizers, and both were amazingly fresh and delicious. We each got our own pasta dishes that were also very delicious, my friend commented however that his lacked a bit of seasoning. It ended up raining and we had to move inside, and while we waited for the rain to stop we decided to share Nutella crepes and I got an espresso, and honestly Im glad it had started raining because the crepes were perfect.
(4)
Eric L.
After having a few mediocre meals in South Beach, this was a pleasant change. Gazpacho was outstanding (although a bit too salty). Very large bowl, too. Shared a margarita pizza, with fresh mozzarella. Sauce was very good and I liked the thin crust, even though it was a little undercooked. Bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar was also enjoyable. Bottom line: I'd go back. Next time I want to try the puttanesca pizza.
(4)
Jayna P.
Quaint little authentic pizza place. Close to 8th and ocean in the arts district-perfect sidewalk seating to people watch.
(5)
BiteChew T.
Start with the burrata antipasto (if available) and share the Ripienone calzone (ricotta, mozzarella, salami, tomato sauce) and La Parma pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto, basil). RATINGS: BONDNOM: [3]** Easy to share and difficult to dislike, pizza is the ultimate crowd pleaser, especially when done right. Unfortunately, the crowding and noise level of this location make it difficult to engage in meaningful conversation. FOOD: [4] Food did not disappoint thanks to top ingredients (Buffalo mozzarella flown in twice a week from Napoli!) and authentic Neapolitan-style pizza made to order in their large wood brick oven. ATMOSPHERE: [2] Loud and crowded due to little space between tables but comfortably casual and highly accommodating to parents with young kids. SERVICE: [3] Servers are charming, authentically Italian, and knowledgeable on the menu, but the hostess and busboys seemed frazzled and disorganized, despite us dining off peak hours. **For details on #BondNom score & full video reviews, visit bitechew.tv
(3)
Vanessa V.
If you want authentic Italian food, more specifically Neapolitan pizza made in a wood brick oven, then this is the place to go! So far, even all of the staff is Italian! They pride themselves in importing buffalo mozzarella and buffalo meats. Their cheese is made from buffalo milk instead of cow's milk, and it's some of the best mozzarella and ricotta cheese I have ever had! The Caprese Impanata is my favorite thing to have here! It's a ball of fried breaded buffalo mozzarella that has cherry tomato, basil​ & oregano all chopped up and placed inside the ball. Soooooo goooood!!! We usually ask for a side of ricotta cheese to use with the bread, olive oil, and balsamic that they offer. Try it! For my entree I get the Ripienone, a calzone stuffed with ricotta, smoked ​mozzarella, neapolitan salami & tomato sauce. It's made in the brick oven, and comes out steamy and delicious. My husband gets the Salentina​ white pizza. It has buffalo mozzarella, smoked mozzarella & buffalo ricotta cheese. Sometimes he adds pancetta for flavor. Either way, they are very tasty! I will definitely be coming back here again and again!
(5)
Dawn S.
Amazing, authentic italian pizza joint. One of my favorite casual eateries, and all natural and simple ingredients so (even though it's pizza) you can feel good that it's a fresh and healthy option. Great salads and tapas to choose from also, very friendly italian and Spanish speaking staff ... nice and authentic place and great spot for a casual late lunch or dinner with friends.
(5)
Emily B.
Service was great! They have a beautiful white tiled pizza oven which you notice right when you walk in. Be careful walking to the bathrooms, as I accidentally kicked one of the many high chairs stacked in the hallway - ouch!
(3)
Alex C.
Such great pizza. Really reminded me of how pizza tastes in italy. So fresh and good! We got the bruschetta and a margherita pizza with a bottle of wine. The servers were super friendly and so italian! It was like we we're back in Italy! Definitely recommend!!!
(5)
Brian P.
We are staying on ocean drive and have been sick of the "aggressive" persuasions to get you to eat along the strip. Not to mention, the jacked up prices, and sneaky "oops" mistakes on the bills. We were looking for a good italian place with a good meal and pizza... and we found it! Literally 2 blocks from where we were staying. The menu was great and our selections were damn tasty. My wife got the gnocchi, and I got the lasagne and we shared a Margherita Pizza and we were not disappointed. Price was fine, service attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly and the atmosphere nice. Recommended! Thanks for a nice evening and we much appreciated the glass of Proseco courtesy of Yelp!.
(4)
Jonathan Y.
Went for dinner. Sat outside, by the street which was a bit loud with traffic. Service was good, meal came incredibly fast (almost too fast). Had a pizza.. Crust was good but somehow the pizza was saugy. Also had a salad to share that was mezzo mezzo Not bad overall, but not somewhere I'd come back to
(3)
Kaitlyn L.
Excellent Italian food. This place is perfect if you want a classy, quiet atmosphere away from all the wild stuff going on around ocean drive. It was nice to get away from all of that for one night while we were in Miami for spring break, and really.. Who doesn't LOVE some GREAT Italian food. Not feeling very wordy so I'll keep it short and sweet. We had the eggplant pizza for an appetizer- delicious.. Could've eaten the whole thing by myself. My cousin and I split the gnocchi with a side salad. Both delicious- portions are perfect size unless you're a fat kid like me. Our waitress was exceptional- wish I got her name. She's the pretty blonde one with an accent. Idk if that helps. There's outdoor seating but just after sunset it was a little chilly so bring a jacket. Next time I'm in miami I'll be back!
(5)
Chloe D.
So I've been craving good Italian food from my hometown in montreal, trying to find something similar to restaurant la pizzeria napoletana, first pizzeria in montreal established in 1948. Have tried a couple places in miami which never really sparkled for me. Looked up online to find neapolitan style and found Frateli La Bufala... Finally!!!!! Thank You!! Im a craver for classics, so went for Margarita pizza and pomodoro spaghetti. My husband had Fettucini Alfredo, not on menu but server was really nice and offered to do so at our liking. Excellent caring service from Paola btw. Overall awsome food ( so good we reordered to go), awsome service and great vibe from the place and the management. Thank you, will definitely be back!!
(5)
AshleyMarie O.
Cute spot to meet up with friends. I would stick to sharing apps as the chef in the group ordered the lasagna and decided it was so bad he had to send it back. Then ordered a pizza and was still only moderately feeling it. I ordered the gnocchi and was not impressed. The wine selection was minimum as well. Service was friendly, attentive and professional. The charcuterie board was delish (as usual) and that did not disappoint.
(4)
Jova R.
Sorry but not impressed. Reservations were made in advance since we were a larger than normal group going for a family birthday dinner. Once we arrived they told us that someone took the table they had reserved for us and felt bad kicking them out. So whats the point of making a reservation then? So we had to wait for the next available table that could accommodate us all. That usually sours the night for me when reservations get cut. A few of us at the table were yelpers and we all checked in and received our free glass of prosseco. Not the best but was nice to start. Went on a night of the heat game and luckily they played the game while we dined (no audio though). We all shared the la bufalata appetizer. very good buffalo mozzerella with other cheeses, cured ham and veggies. Nice app to share with a large group. everything was very fresh and delicious. I had a hard time decided what to order but i knew i didn't want your typical spaghetti, pizza, or fettucini. So I decided to go with the carbonara. 3 others ordered the same dish and we all said the same thing when we noticed we all left half the plate. Too salty! the ham was just too salty. it was overpowering the dish. My mother in law had the lasagna and she wasn't impressed either. she said it lacked flavor. Overall i wasn't impressed with the food and service could have been better. The manager did comp our desserts for the inconvenience with the reservations. That was nice of her. I don't think i'll be back, too many better restaurants in the area.
(2)
Mariana R.
If you are looking for authentic Napolitan pizzas this is the place! Carpaccio is a good appetizer to share between 4-5. Pizza sizes are good for one person. We tried pizza Capriciosa, Diavola and La Parma. We were sorry for not having space for dessert, 'cause those look delicious. What I did not like was the waitress suggesting us to order the most expensive things in the menu, this really annoys me!
(4)
An T.
Nice staff. Didn't wait that long, I got a pizza and it was unique but not the best. My bf liked the lasagna though. I also wish it was a little spacious. People kept bumping into my chair =(
This is my 5th time here, the food is AMAZING. It's so so so fresh and it's so light on your stomach. I've come with my family every time and we've had every kind of item on the menu. We have never ever been let down. The service is always incredible, like really really incredible. The pizza is insanely good and so is the pasta. And the desserts, the deserts are some next level shit. I've had every one of them and I have to say the Tiramusi is the best Tiramusi I've had in my life. Have been coming here for a while and will continue to do so, absolutely LOVE this place!
(5)
Jeffery R.
Nice staff and cool atmosphere. Can get a little noisy but the food and staff make up for it!
(3)
Poriya M.
I LOVE this place, everything about this place is awesome! The location, the food, the staff. I've been coming to Fratelli every year for the last 5 years and love everything on their menu, you can not go wrong with hand tossed thing crust wood oven baked pizza of course but let me tell you about my top dishes, you will not be disappointed. For started definitely start with their assorted meat and vegetable platter and fresh mozzarella on a fresh body of arugula both served in 2 different sizes perfect for large or small group to share. For main course these will be my top 3 choices in this order: Paccheri, Garganelli, and Gnocchi. Miami is not known for having the best food in the world but this place is a shinning start in a dark sky.
(5)
Marley G.
Perfect casual atmosphere. Great food. Nice location off of Ocean Drive and away from big crowds. Just right if staying at The Savoy. Above average service. Incredible Tiramasu.
(5)
Honest A.
Come here every year in winter, it's full of Italian speaking waiters and patrons. The milk is served warm for the kids, the pizza traditional to Italy with fresh buffalo low fat cheese. If you want to be in Italy without traveling, come here. Pet friendly seating outside on street. They add automatic 17% gratuity although they are slow.
(5)
Jim R.
Ate here twice this trip to SoBe. Last night we started with a fresh burrata, tomatoes, Parma ham, and greens. It was wonderful, very flavorful. We then had a mix of pastas and pies. Again very tasty. Servers were attentive. Ate outside, but is very loud with traffic because of its location at the corner of 5th and Washington. Had a pasta for lunch the other day, garganelli, which comes in a bowl formed out of Parmesan cheese. Very cool. Waitress was accommodating since the sauce on the menu is white and I like red. She was able to make the meal with a pink sauce which is the way I would recommend eating this meal.
(4)
Elena A.
I loved this place!!! The food is delicious, the service was great and the ambiance is just wonderful. There are so many things to choose from if you love Italian food, the menu is never ending the pizza just melts in your mouth once you take a bite out of it. This restaurant is perfect for a date or a group party.
(5)
Miguel L.
I have been wanting to come to this place for a while, at last I made it. The place is cozy, the service was amazingly fast and the food was delicious. I had Pasta alla Carbonara and even though it wasn't like the one I had in Italy, I have to say it was very good. I give 4 stars because the table we were assigned had very uncomfortable chair and the place was packed so I figured changing tables wasn't going to be an easy task.
(4)
Sandy C.
Just a cut above all the rest it is the best of the best I love the Pizza the buffalo cheese and the pasta awesome try with Sausage and brocolli
(5)
Carlo V.
Recently visited , I had made a reservation with Open Table via Yelp for a birthday dinner for my niece who had never been there before plus five others , I had been there one other time and had pizza which it was very good. Unfortunately this time around there was no consistency from my first visit , when we first arrived the staff had not idea of my reservation , the one blonde waitress with the heavy accent charged towards me asking repeatedly with a bad attitude if we had a reservation, then two others asked me the same , at the end we sat and notice the place was kind of empty , this was on a Friday night. I know this place in popular with the beach crowd. We all ordered pasta , Gnocchi and everyone's dish was lame , no flavor , except my seafood pasta which was salty and strong in flavor. Very disappointed , I guess we should had stayed with pizza since is the one thing they make well, the appetizer was buffala large and the eggplant parmesana , the cheese on the Bufala with tomatoes was very cold like it had been frozen , the eggplant was taste less. The birth day girl asked the busboy , what about my cake and candle ?, he excused him self and told the owner , but he did nothing , we paid and left , I especially wrote on the reservation that this was a especial bday dinner and that we were first time patrons, ( I guess no one there reads the reservations they get on the system , or maybe they can't read in English ?, remember no one knew we had a reservation in the first place) The bread was cold and hard , if they had taken the time to stick it in the brick oven, I am sure it would have been nice. This is one place I wish it would get it all together and fix all the wrongs , they have a prime location, a good idea and the prices are right. Also the valet parking guy is very polite and not money hungry like all others in the beach plus very reasonable for juts $5 which is unheard of on SOBE.
(2)
Dennis E.
Good food and great service. We had lunch around 1pm on a Saturday. Pizza is authentically Italian. They're 10" for about $16. Lots of interesting choices. Also had chocolate cake (torta caprese) and espresso for dessert. Sadly, the cake was burnt on the edge, but otherwise all was fine
(4)
Jordan C.
Legitimate Italian - loved the vibe and loved the food. We were seated quickly ( luckily it was a slower night ). It's nice to remove yourself from the hustle and bussel of restaurants that are on ocean drive. (You can tell the locals eat here or some well informed tourists) The pizza dough is amazing, that in its self I could eat alone! But my wife's pasta was amazing too. We'll always return here for a nice romantic evening.
(5)
Robby F.
As others have said...as authentic Italian as you will find in Miami Beach. Pizza was really good but the gazpacho had little chunks of onion that were a bit distracting and overpowered the surpisingly fresh tomato Cholate Almond torta was not only tasty, but has a great texture
(4)
Naman P.
We loved the fried cheese balls stuffed with tomatoes and basil. Pizza was perfect....reminiscent of naples. Andrea was fantastic!
(5)
Camille W.
Wow I'm still dreaming about the food we had here last night. The most delicious mozzarella cheese I've ever tasted and the pizza we had was to die for. Free glass of Prosecco with yelp check-in is definitely a plus and good for business. Not only was the staff great but the owner was very welcoming and made sure everything was ok. Prices are worth it and 17% gratuity is included in the bill but that's not a problem being that service was phenomenal we happily gave more. Love love love this place! Will be back when in south beach.
(5)
Laure M.
I loved it! it was packed and loud inside but after the rush it was much better. The smell of wood-fire pizza hits you right when you enter. A real smell of Italy! They offer white pizza!!! I ordered the smoked bufala mozzarella, mushrooms and ham: delicious, i ate the entire thing, even the crust! I usually don't like the crust but theirs is so good, fluffy and light. We asked for spicy pepper oil to drip on the pizza. We ordered a nutella crepe each to finish and had a glass of chianti. Service is good and fast and it was a great dinner, real taste of Italy in Miami!
(4)
Hulk I.
The food was average and the wait staff seem to ignore us even though there many of them. Pizza was a bit under cooked, too soggy. The cheese was great and the prosciutto was decent. The bread was just too soggy, couldn't hold it's structure. We also had the bolognese, it was average and nothing special. Please turn ac higher, it was pretty warm.
(3)
Neda M.
Stumbled upon this place during a recent visit and loved almost everything about it: the gracious service, the fresh ingredients and delectable food, the cozy ambiance. Will happily return on subsequent visits to South Beach.
(4)
A P.
Place to go if you want very bland Italian food. They use no garlic and hardly any spices or herbs. Hospital food comes to mind! Otherwise service and prices are fine (always promoting with coupons). Good if you're under 10 or over 65!
(2)
Anna-monet H.
I've been hearing about this place and been wanting to try their food because of their rave reviews but was so disappointed. Really I wanted to it be good but the service was just horrible. I felt disrespected and talked down. I don't even remember the food because the experience was so negative. I never judge a restaurant off of just one time and one waiter so I believe in giving places a second shot but I don't even want to waste my time or money if the same thing will happen again.
(2)
Fiorella A.
Another favorite pizza spot. We go there a lot to practice our Italian ! Ha ha My favorite is the genuine pizza and some white wine on the side. I always have the pannacotta Dessert or the Nutella crepes. Ciao!
(5)
Krystal O.
Love love love to bring people here. I found Fratelli a few years ago on Groupon and since then I haven't stopped talking about this place. The pizza is thin, the sauce is light and the buffalo mozzarella is top notch. My favorite pizza is the Diavola. Also, you can't go to this place and not have the Canolli, it's a sin if you do. The canolli shell is fresh and crispy and the filling is cold and velvety... they drizzle some chocolate on that bad boy and send you home happy. On a seperate note, I enjoy the authenticity of this place, everyone is legit italian and very friendly and if your lucky to catch them sing happy birthday to someone you are in for quite a sparkler show. If you know me and you know how I feel about some sparklers then you can see why this place tops my list of favorites!
(5)
Ramzi Z.
PERFECT! I LOVE this place and love how the pizza tastes just like it does in Italy. It doesn't get any better than this folks! We get a free prosecco (most of time when the staff recognize us ;), and I normally order my favorite Pizza the Diavola!! (delicious). The staff / waiters are mostly friendly and great. Management is always around and they are on top of it. We love this place and it's on our top 5 places in South Beach...Oh and have to get the tiramisu!! it's Amazing!
(5)
Joe F.
Super fast service, great pizza and even better dessert! Well staffed and very welcoming.
(5)
Jeanette H.
I give 4.5 stars to their Margherita pizza and their Caprese Special pizza. Their 4pm shift pizza maker tends to be better than one working an earlier shift. Ingredients (including and esp the flour and tomatoes) come from Italy, and they use San Marzano tomatoes. Cooking staff are also from Italy. Their seafood pasta is yummy 80% of the time, esp when they come out perfectly al dente. One of my favorites. (The other 20% of the time, it comes out "American" style al-dente (ie near well-done :( I have tried some other dishes at times... but I keep coming back mainly for the 2 pizzas I mentioned. I had tried other kinds of pizza here. Prosciutto Arugula --not bad but I've had far better quality prosciuttos. There's also a NYC location, but I heard they're not as great..... oh I usually love their Tiramisu w/ a scoop of vanilla ice cream-- and I usually don't like Tiramisu. 9 out 9 times it was yummy. Well the very last time, it came out too soggy. I gently mentioned it to my server, so hopefully this little glitch is fixed :) Highly recommend those 2 pizzas, but remember, 4p shift pizzamaker, and don't let them skimp on the sauce... (which happened just once w/ me).
(3)
Caroline C.
Love this place. The food is great. The pizza is the best in Sofi and the wine is yum. I'm not giving it a 5 because the waitstaff was less than pleasant.
(4)
Ernie G.
When I walked in Fratelli La Bufala for a nice New Year's Eve dinner, I was at first a little disappointed. The place has the look and feel of a regular pizza shop. But never judge a book by its cover. But I was pleasantly surprised by both the service and the food. My date and I shared an appetizer of cheese (borata?) that was delicious, as well as the focaccia and pizza. The dough was delicious and flavorful and they actually knew how to put cooked veggies on a pizza. The waitress was attentive and very polite. If it wasn't for the too-casual feel of the place I would give it five stars. Excellent!
(4)
Scott L.
South Beaches dining scene is one where I plan on being disappointed. For one, it's a churn and burn industry and for two there is a certain level of ambivalence from the latin locals. I was drunk and hungry and this place had the best reviews for its price-point on yelp. It's atmospheric, but what isn't in south beach, even when tacky. This place is off the beaten path, dark, sexy with outside dining, approving locals ate next to me, and it's definitely better than it has to be. Definitely not your typical rip off south beach joint, but on the other hand while the pizza attempted to be special, it almost did seem to have a true Italian aspect, the excellent crust, slightly charred, was a bit sogged by the overly sweet thick and chunky sauce, which might not have been very italian. Che no. In an attempt to be healthy, I asked for no cheese with some regret. I would have assumed that the cooks would have altered the recipe to balance out the lack of cheese, but alas something truely seemed missing. Bufallo mozzerella is the style of cheese dominating on the pizza's here, but from looking at my neighbors, it just looked like overly glooped. That's not Italian either. Beinvenido a miami. When all else fails, drink some wine. Sultry European cafe ambiance and sidewalk sweetness - 5 stars Food - 3 on my experience
(3)
Natalya K.
Our party of four had a very late dinner at this restaurant just a couple days ago. The outdoor patio looked very nice, so we asked for a table outside. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are not small. We ordered a small white pizza with mozzarella , fresh tomatoes, basil and prosciutto as a starter. Delicious! As a main course I had homemade cannelloni - excellent. Definitely try tiramisu! The service was very good as well. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgable of the menu. Definitely will be back when we are in the area again !
(5)
Cal C.
Pretty good food, would come back here again. service is ok but slow, waiters are cordial enough to get the job done, because it's busy no personal touch.
(4)
Maria J.
Delicious! It was obviously fresh, quality produce. We were recommended to go there, and did not regret it. Food was great, service equally good, so nice and attentive. Would recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Manu G.
Very sweet people went there yesterday to have a small surprise for my husband's birthday and it was one of the places open after midnight. They were super sweet our server was awesome and the pizzas were delishhh!! They bring out our small cake and they were too cute I did not expect that. Thank you guys! :)
(5)
Robert A.
There isn't much to saw about this place except is was AMAZING!!! This has to be one of the best brick oven pizzas I have ever eaten. Went there twice and got a total of three different types of pizzas. (two red sauce and one white sauce). Wish there was something bad I could say but everything was great. The food, the ambiance, the service. The pizzas were perfectly cooked with the crust nice and crunchy on the outside and soft and tender on the insdie. There were plenty of toppings of cheese, meats and veggies (and egg like we got) without being to much to hinder cooking or making the crust soft even if you take it home to eat later. Everything, even the deserts are made using the Bufala cheese which was extremely flavorful. Nothing overpowered anything else on the pizza. All was well balanced. You can watch the guy make the pizza and you can tell he knows what he is doing. If you enjoy your meal as much as I did be respectful and thank him for a great meal. The service has to be especially noted. In Miami tip is automatically included at most places so normally the service not very good. That is not the case here....Ciro was our server and he was great. He made perfect suggestions for our pizzas and even gave us two glasses of wine with our Yelp unlock. Becuase the pizza was so good and even though I was stuffed, I had to try to the dessert. We opted for the "sample platter". 2 cannoli, tiramisu, 2 servings of ricottina. Everything on this tray was just expected. Delicious. My gf had a bad experience at an Italian restaurant and was not a fan of cannoli, but this was so good she enjoyed and learned what a well made cannoli should taste like. If you are staying on the north end of South Beach its a little walk to get here, but there is plenty to do and see on the way. We liked this place so much we went back for lunch before our flight out. This place is a MUST DO on your next trip to Miami.
(5)
Dre B.
I'm a born-and-raised American who grew up on the type of food we as a people have recently found to be not-so-healthy -- fried chicken, pizza hut, mcdonalds etc... i have cleaned up my lifestyle but that type of eating doesnt change in one year after 30 years of conditioning. That being said, I don't yet have the palette for this place. But the food is quality and every friend I've been here with -- 3 different people -- all love and swear by Fratelli. The pizza is non-greasy and the desserts -- though I abstain -- look delicious. The service is excellent too. I think I'll eventually come to love this place, maybe in 5 years of "good" eating. Haha
(4)
G B.
Rich taste of authentic Italy in middle of Miami. Great service.
(5)
Laura G.
Great pizza! Thin crust, fresh ingredients. Very authentic pizza, touristy area but authentic food. This place is a franchised restaurant - YES - with the majority of the restaurants in ITALY with buffalo mozzarella being the star. We started with the La Bufalata Piccola - selection of bufala cheeses, cured italian ​meats & traditional marinated vegetables. Great starter. We had the Margarita Pizza which was wood fired, fresh and really good. Then a pasta - ​Fresh homemade cannellone, I was taken aback at how it was cooked perfectly -Al Dente.
(4)
Monica L.
PROS: Good ingredients, good flavor CONS: Pricey, crusts are a bit soggy Fratelli La Bufala might make authentic pizze, given the vast number of Italian customers who eat here, but my Puttanesca pizza was tasty and a bit... soggy? The crust was not as crispy as I would like it. All the toppings, including the tomato sauce, pretty much dribble off when you pick up a slice. I'm not quite sold.
(3)
Mike M.
Phenomenal service! Come here just for that! Ok, come for the food too. We had the white pizza with cheese only. Good, but a little plain for me. I would go with a red pizza next time. We started with a glass of Prosecco and a basket of foccia. By the time the pizza came we were starting to feel full so one pizza between us both was just right. Maybe even done room for coffee and dessert!
(5)
Lalla D.
The pizza is very good, and every meal is made using "bufala" cheese, as the name recall. They have a great variety of pizza, pasta, and appetizer. The desserts are very good too. Cannoli are great. The place is nice and there is the possibility to eat outside. The only bad thing is that they, as many places in South Beach, add 18% tip on the check.
(4)
Tony T.
we ate the pizza. the dough was great and the pizza was as good as most in Napoli. Since I lived in southern Italy, I always yearn for good french fries to complement my pizza ... this was not the case here, so I'm a bit disappointed. the fries were coated and fried twice or something i don't desire. I'll eat there again and hope they read this review and improve the patatini situation.
(3)
Meg r.
Super fantastic pizza dough. A little chewy n crispy. Great attentive service and loads of italian being spoken all around. Close enough to Collins to make a walk away from hustle n bustle of shoppers. Excellent suggestion from the concierge at the Dream.
(5)
Yanessa E.
Free glass of prosseco for checking in was great (they could have filled the glass a little more though) My friend ordered the fresh buffalo mozzarella as an appetizer and it was amazing. I paired it with some balsamic vinegar and bread, together with the arugula and tomatoes it was exquisite. Mozzarella was super fresh. Then I ordered the reale pizza and a ripienone calzone. The calzone I wouldn't go back for but the pizza, oh yes! The pizza had tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, ricotta and was topped with prosciutto. The crust is not too thin but not thick and it has that lovely Italian oven crunch to it. I felt the calzone could have had more tomato sauce on top and inside as it was lacking in taste a little even with the Neapolitan salami. The restaurant is small so it can get pretty loud, and I think it's not a place for a romantic date night, it is a cool place to go with a group of friends for some delicious pizza (make a reservation!)
(4)
Rose S.
Always a stable of our visits to Miami Beach! Service is friendly and efficient and the pizza is always consistent and delicious! Pasta is good too.
(5)
Bo M.
Absolutely amazing! From their service, to appetizers, then to the main course, this place nailed it. Well done! I'm already looking forward to my next visit. Thanks again for a most enjoyable evening! Bo
(5)
Casey W.
I live in the South of Fifth neighborhood and have been coming to FLB since it opened in the mid 2000s. This is our favorite Italian restaurant in Miami Beach for the following reasons: fresh, delicious food, all made on premise, great service, many of the staff we have gotten to know over the years (low turnover is a good thing). Their managers also do a good job, evident by the quality of staff they hire & retain. Their location allows them to cater both to South of Fifth residents (like us) and tourists staying on Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th. Their pizzas are fabulous, very thin crust, fresh dough; lasagna is excellent, minestrone soup is a great healthy option. Very good wine options as well as draft beer, Peroni being my favorite. You really can't go wrong at FLB. Pablo from Argentina is one of our favorite waiters but they are all very good. They have a television which allows them to showcase soccer matches and other popular sporting events.
(5)
Bruno F.
My second time in Miami and I drove past this place. Located on a corner of an intersection. I walked in and immediately I saw the old fashion pizza oven. I instantly giggled like a little school girl. I knew I was in for some amazing food. I started with the carpaccio. Amazing flavor on top of a bed of arugula. Nice chunks of cheese on top. Pile this on top of bread, EVOO and a little bit of pepper. Amazing! The pizza was so delicious. Jam packed with so much flavor. If you close your eyes and take in the wonderful aroma, you'll feel like your in Italy enjoying your pizza. The staff made me feel like family, it felt like they knew me for years. I really appreciate that. It is a bit pricey, but I don't mind paying for really good food. Keep it up! Perfecto! Thank you,
(5)
Frank R.
First time here. Strangely, the restaurant uses Spanish symbols and icons yet it's an Italian restaurant. The waiter explained that it was a special buffalo that they use and it's from Italy so maybe that's the deal. Had a pizza and a pasta. Servers were nice, prices reasonable. Pizza was great but soggy crust. Pasta was good. Not too memorable really. Great place to practice your Italian as all servers appeared to speak it.
(3)
Lara B.
Used to love this place because the food is great Had an online deal voucher and went with a friend. The waitress messed up the wine order and when I said that it was wrong, she just shrugged, never fixed it. So we sat there with one glass of wine. When I ordered another glass I took three times to have it delivered to the tables AFTER our appetizer was gone and entrees were already at the table Then we were charged for the original wrong glass of wine I would normally tip on full price of the bill but the waitress was so rude and apathetic that she's lucky she got any tip at all in order to work at this place you must speak fluent italian, apparently that is also the case if you want to receive good service now as well very disappointing
(1)
Igor P.
The food was impeccable! We started out with the bruschetta, I had the Bucatini alla Carbonara and my friend ordered the Linguine ai Gamberi. I loved my dish, it was creamy and cooked so perfectly. The noodles were nice and thick. My friend enjoyed his dish too, though I thought it was a little too "seafoody", but that's how it's supposed to be I suppose- not my thing. The atmosphere was also lovely, nice and quite and cozy. We had a seat near the window looking at the LED tower behind us. Overall a very enjoyable experience, can't wait to come back.
(5)
Alfredo H.
Today our pizzas were over cooked which made them very dry, with almost no sauce on them. That was very disappointing.
(2)
Hameed J.
Excellent service and fantastic food. The linguine with shrimp was one of the best pasta dishes we've had at any italian restaurant globally!
(5)
Ingrid Y.
Loved this place so very Italian, linguine-ai-gamberi was delicious and the ripienone pizza was excellent!
(5)
Anita G.
Authentic italian food! Been coming here since they opened and they never disappoint. The pizza is amazing and the mozzarella is pretty much just like in Italy. Off course their tomato sauce is also amazing. That's how you know they are authentic; you have to taste the tomato sauce, always.
(5)
Natalia M.
Good, but not great. The pizza was a bit soggy, but didn't have a lot of sauce, so I'm not sure how that happened. The crust was good, reminded me of Indian naan bread. We also had their meat and cheese platter, which came with veggies as well. Can't go wrong with cured meat and cheese! Overall it was just an OK experience though. If I go back to Miami, I most likely wouldn't eat here again.
(3)
Antonio B.
This place is absolutely phenomenal. Came here with girlfriend and ordered the buffalo mozzarella which was on point. We then had a pizza which was made with buffalo mozzarella and it was better than any pizza I've had in New York. Next time I'm in Miami I will definitely be coming back.
(5)
G S.
Love love this restaurant! The most authentic Italian food outside Italy. All of their menu items are fresh, delicious and light. After eating both their pizza and pasta we didn't feel full or heavy. It is one of the best places in south beach and all of Miami!
(5)
Tamara J.
Amazing food & wine pairing! I was impressed for our one night stay in Miami to have found this gem. Our hotel guy gave us a coupon so that was even better! I ordered something not off the menu and they created a piece of pesto perfection. Will hunt and find this place again when I'm visiting.
(5)
Bradley R.
First the good, the hostess greeted us with a smile and sat us quickly. The sauce on the lasagna was savory and sumptious. Bright and fresh tasting. The pizza crust was flaky and charred and the sauce was not standard american heavy pizza sauce but light and flavorful. The waiter took our order promptly and though at a small cafe table, we could have had a good meal However.......... First, this is not a place to go when it is busy. The charming layout of the dining area is cramped when full. The pizza prep station take up a portion of restaurant and is a gathering place for servers and customers. The Hostess stand is also a gathering place for servers. Our lasagna was served cool either it was not reheated thoroughly or stayed on the counter too long. Either is possible considering that it took 20 minutes to get our appetizer. Again, it was very tasty I can only imagine how much more I would have enjoyed it at the proper temperature. After another 20 minutes the waiter noticed that we had not been served our pizza and said that it would be right out. After another 20 minutes and noticing that most of the tables had turned over, I said to the waiter that it was obvious that our pizza was missed. He assured me that that was not the case. Of course it really was the case and, after it was prepared, we had our pizza delivered in another 10 minutes. It was fresh and hot so we did not have the problem with the soggy crust that some people have written about.. It was tasty and I could see coming back but, If you see people in line outside waiting for a table , I suggest that you drive past this place until they get the service part down. They can't handle the crowd
(2)
Daniella B.
I absolutely love this place. It is truly Italian! None of this Italian-American cuisine and somehow makes sauces really heavy and gives you heart burn. I've been a big fan of this restaurant since the first time I was introduced to it by some Italian friends. The staff is Italian and you truly feel welcome. The food is spectacular, and when anybody asks me of a good Italian restaurant Fratelli La Bufala is always my answer.
(5)
Linda H.
This place came highly recommended, and once I looked at the menu I could see why! This kind of place is right up my alley...genuine Italian, yay! The decor is interesting, and they have some really cool artwork...not your typical Italian joint. We were seated and waited on promptly. I ordered a Peroni and perused the menu. We ordered an antipasto (or is it antipasti?) plate with cheeses, meats and veggies to start. Bread was delivered, along with olive oil and a nice balsamic vinegar. The waiter was rather monosyllabic, but the service was good, so it wasn't a problem....somehow we communicated our order to him. Our antipasto was delivered, and oh my, was it ever good. The fresh veggie components were really excellent and different than any other antipasto I have ever had. There were a couple things that were warm on the plate, including a delicious caponata. The meats and cheeses were also excellent, including the bufala mozzarella (one of my favorite things on the planet). At this point we ordered a margherita pizza. Ok, so beer #1 was delivered in a room temperature, heavy glass mug. I kind of assumed I would be getting a bottle, which was my preference. Not only did the mug weigh 100 pounds, but the temperature of the beer was immediately warmed when poured into it. So when I ordered a second beer, I asked for a bottle, stating that I didn't care for the heavy glass mug. This is where the language barrier became a problem. The waiter returned with my bottle, AND another heavy glass mug, which he began pouring the beer into. I stopped him mid-pour and said I would drink out of the bottle (maybe they don't do this in Miami Beach, but I'm a South Side Chicagoan and I'm gonna drink out of the bottle, dammit). This seemed to anger him, and he stormed off. I apologized as he was leaving and he wouldn't even acknowledge that I was talking! Anyhoo, I drank the (warmish) beer that was in the mug, and the remainder of what was in the bottle. In the meantime, the pizza was delivered and it was probably the best wood-burning oven pizza I've ever had (and I've had a LOT lately!). The waiter came by several times, and would take things off the table as we finished, and never uttered another word, and absolutely REFUSED to touch the empty mug, even though I pushed it to the side of the table, and I was obviously not going to use it. The food was really excellent, and I wish I could have eaten more or fit another visit into our trip. So 5 big stars for the food.....only deducting one because of the weird beer/waiter incident. Oh, and this was my first experience with the check having the tip added on, which I later found to be a common practice in Miami Beach (at first I thought it was because the waiter was irritated with me, haha). Oh well, guess they gotta do what they gotta do. If I'm ever in Miami Beach again, I will be back!
(4)
Pat M.
Where do you go in Homestead for real Mexican food? Wherever the Mexicans are going! Where do you go in SoBe for authentic Italian?? Wherever the Italians are going, of course!! Been here twice and both times came the closest you can get to experiencing dinner in a Roman trattoria without getting on an airplane or a transatlantic gondola. Get there early. By 8pm the place is packed, not with locals or Brits or survivors of Hip Hop weekend, but actual Italians who are gonna think they never left home. The service is unique in that everybody speaks Italian (keepin' it real), and they take good friendly service seriously, which in Miami is worth the price of admission. Not once did we want for a refill of soda, bread, or smiles. The food: The mozzarella they fly in from the boot every week is so fresh you can taste what the cow had for breakfast that morning. La Bufalata is a hefty platter of cured meats, cheeses, and marinated vegetables fit for a Gladiator. Il Pignatiello is prosciutto and mozzarella baked with honey and walnuts. The humble calzone? Unlike any calzone you've ever had, and the Meditarraneo salad is like a three day weekend on the Amalfi coast. Then there's the pizza; hand-crafted by a seriously-focused dude in whites, and baked in a wood oven right before your eyes. When you taste that crust you'll understand why he takes his job so seriously. Important tip! Whatever you order, be sure to ask for a little side of pesto, which they make fresh. Trust me, you're going to want to drizzle it on everything. That thing was so good I was mixing it in my water. Grazie! A TAVOLA NON SI INVECCHIA!
(4)
Sherry S.
We came here at 8:30 on a Saturday night. Upon arrival, we asked the host to be seated. He told us that if we were only 2 people, we'd have to sit outside. It was pouring down rain outside. We said "ok" anyway, and he said he'd be back in a minute to seat us. 5 minutes go by. We are still standing in the rain. We check back with him, and he says "ok one minute"... After waiting for 30 minutes, and seeing people that came after us go ahead of us, we walked inside and asked to speak to the manager. The manager informed us we had been forgotten (we weren't even written down on their list). He sat us right away. The waitress comes to take our order. We order an appetizer and a bottle of wine. She informs us that they ran out of said wine. Ok, we order another bottle. 5 minutes later, she brings the wine and some COLD STALE bread. And here is where it gets good... we wait, and we wait, and we wait. We finish our bottle of wine. 25 minutes later, still no appetizer. Once again, I walk up to the manager. I tell him we've been waiting 25min for an app. He says "it hasn't been 45 minutes!" and starts arguing with me. I never said 45, I said 25, but whatever. They bring out the app 5 minutes later, and the waitress rudely tells us, "It only took 10 minutes" and throws the plate on our table. Wow... REALLY?! Now what was the app? Canned RAGU-like tomato sauce, watered down, UNRIPE GREEN tomatoes (raw) and a BLOB on mozzarella cheese melted in the middle. I got up and asked the waitress for the check, there was no way I was staying here to eat. She brings us the check, $55 PLUS 17% added gratuity. Haha, like there's a way in HELL I'm gonna tip these people after arguing with me - the customer - forgetting about us - and being rude about it. I paid my $55 and left. Will never come back. These people need to learn to be HOSPITABLE. Just because their main business is from tourists that are never gonna come back doesn't mean they should treat everyone like CRAP. And learn to make new food, because that soggy mess they brought us was NOT a $15 appetizer.
(1)
Andreea O.
When I found a $10 for $25 worth of food coupon on LivingSocial we decided to give this place a try. The server greeted us with "Are you ready to order?" and when we asked for waters he turned around angrily to dissapear for another 10 minutes. Meanwhile the bus boy brought us water. After Gianluca, our waiter, comes back we place the order and soon after the bus boy brings us bread and then the food. He also refilled our waters and brought us everything we asked for. The server didn't come back for the duration of our stay until he decided we should get our check. We told him we wanted dessert so we ordered and then 15-20 minutes later we got it. Gratuity was included on the check, so that explains his attitude, I just hope he gives most of that to his busser :)) I guess that's one of the problems with most restaurants in Miami Beach, them adding gratuity to all their checks makes the service very poor. Best thing we had there was this appetizer of bufala mozarella in a tomato sauce. Very tasty!! The calzone was just okay.
(3)
Yamie E.
What can I say....... the wait was long, the food was good not amazingly good but yes it was good definitely pricey. Would I go here again probably yes, Would I go often definitely not....
(3)
Att A.
My partner really really wanted to have pizza on our last day in Miami. I was determined not to step into any of the pizza chains or any of the tourist trappy places. On top of that I was rather fascinated by the concept of eating buffalo-based products. They offered everything from buffalo burger to fresh mozzarela made from fresh water buffalo to buffalo carpaccio. I mean here is the opportunity to be able to say I have eaten raw buffalo meat! That said, I ordered the bufala carpaccio much to my partner's chagrin. But much to both of our surprised, we both ended up cleaning the plate. The buffalo meat was cut really thinly and was served with a heapful of the mozzarella di bufala and fresh basil in the middle as well as a generous sprinkle of really really good olive oil. We also had the pizza special of the day - Margherita with fresh mozzarella di buffalo. The pizza was made right in front of us. The dough was superb! The pizza was not as thin as I hoped it to be but the dough was chewy in the inside and crunchy on the outside. I am normally not a fresh mozzarella fan but this mozzarella had amazing texture and taste. I even asked if they sold just the mozzarella for me to bring back (they did!).
(4)
Adriano M.
This is a gourmet pizza restaurants in south beach, overall I think they make a great brick oven pizza, my favortite is the white piazz's. I really enjoyed the mixed antipasto with eggplant,fresh mozzarella, prociutto and other deli meats and chesses. I also tried the pasta dish topped cherry tomates, the sauce was fresh and good tasting. My only concern here is the prices charge seem to be alittle steep, I'm the sure the location has alot to do with it but a 12" pizza should not cost $16 bucks and the antpasto was $25. Other then price the restaurant is very good, I would definelty come back (if someelse is buying)
(4)
Nakia O.
First of all, if you're planning on going on the weekend and past 9:00pm, I would strongly recommend to get a reservation. The place gets packed and the waiting can be over 30 minutes if you don't have a reservation. We made the reservation at 9:00pm through open table for 9:45pm. The restaurant has free valet parking with validation. As soon as we spoke to the hostess we were immediately seated, because we had reservations. The place is small but cozy. IT is one of the few south beach restaurants that are worth going. It has good quality food and good service. We had the beef carpaccio for appetizer and boy was it yummy. It differs from beef carpacicio's from other restaaurants because the beef is sliced a bit thicker. I was a bit doubtful at first, but once I tried it it was OHHHHHHHH MY delicious! Never going back to the thinner sliced, now that I've tasted this one. It is served with arrugula and fresh parmesan cheese. Put some olive oil, vinegar and some salt and it is to die for! You HAVE to order at least one of their pizza's, they are one or if not the best I've had in Miami. We had the Diabola pizza. It is a bit spiy but tasteful and delicious. We also had the carbonara pasta. IT was great as well. The pasta is homemade and very tasteful and the sauce was delish too. I would've put a bit more salca to the pasta but oh well it was still yummy. For dessert we ha the nutella crepe and it was delicious as well. Go check this place out and remember to make reservations if going on a Friday or Saturday night!
(5)
Michelle C.
Casual Italian food. I'm not a big pizza person so I had a pasta with buffalo cheese & sausage. It was quiet good. My brother got the lasagna and boy was the sauce good! I like the bold, fresh taste, and I'm usually not a huge red sauce fan. And this is a nice SOBE spot too, complete with cute atmosphere, people watching and close to Ocean Drive.
(4)
Anne W.
Delicious!
(5)
Stephanie G.
After years of wanting to visit Fratelli La Bufala I finally did tonight because it's Mother's Day and my mom loves pizza. I thought for certain we'd have a fabulous experience and that my siblings would pat me on the back for my great choice. Alas, it didn't turn out so well. The good thing is, this place is easy to find and parking is readily available since there's so much street parking in the area. We arrived about 15 minutes late for our reservation but were seated immediately. Also good is their wine less which is chockfull of good and affordable options. To start we shared La Mozzata which was very fresh but could have used some basil. My mother, my sister and I shared the La Reale pizza and a lasagna because we wanted to try it. The pizza was just ok and the lasagna was ice cold in the middle. My brother Il File which he says he enjoyed, but let's face it the kid will eat anything. For dessert we had the the tiramisu which was decent. Overall, I was disappointed with the experience but it may have had something to do with my expectations which were heightened by reading so many great Yelp reviews, coupled with the fond memories I have of the pizza in Naples. My favorite part of the meal was the bottle of Super Tuscan we shared but I could kick myself for not remembering what it was called!
(2)
Estefano C.
Excelent pizza for those who loves a real fresh ingredients. Brazilians will love this place
(5)
Jane A.
Excellent food and service. The prices were reasonable for what it was.
(5)
Michael D.
Ciao! I love the pizza here. Honestly haven't had anything else. I wish the outdoors was non smoking so bad though. Real Italian place :)
(5)
Alejandra R.
An authentic Italian place I have been client of this restaurant for five year and never disappointed me and my husband just love this restaurant .... Pizza is delicious and pasta too and the service is really good went you go ask for Larry one of the manager he knows how to make feel clients welcome .....
(5)
Kellie P.
The spicy prosciutto pizza is out of this world.
(5)
Laura R.
Really great italian pizza restaurant! Amazing pizza and the Burratta is a must!
(5)
Bianca H.
I had dinner at Fratelli la Bufala while vacationing in Miami and it was the best restaurant we visited during our entire stay. First of all, we appreciated the location slightly distanced from the epicenter of the hustle and bustle of South Beach. Secondly, the pizza was the best I have had in the United States to date. Having lived in Italy for several years, I can be picky about my pizza. Everything about the pizza at Fratelli La Bufala was perfect. The dough was baked to perfection and the ingredients were the freshest and most delectable I have ever tasted on a pizza here in the U.S. The tomato sauce is fresh and all the mozzarella and other cheeses are just mouth watering. The service was fabulous as well, very friendly and attentive. A surprisingly high quality eating experience in Miami for a really fair price!
(5)
Johanna G.
Didn't live up to the other reviews. Lasagna looked like it had been put in a blender, pizza was undercooked and just not great. Wasn't the worst I have ever had but it failed to impress.
(2)
Jose G.
Best Italian food south of Philli.
(5)
Jordan N.
An Italian chain that follows the mozzarella di bufala theme serving reasonably priced pizza. Pizza is good, not the best in the world. But still, pretty good & Italian-style. Had the margherita - wish they used more basil but it was still good pizza. And I was amused by how many ways they can come up with a dish using mozzarella di bufala. I'm interested in trying other plates.
(4)
Candace C.
Came here on a Groupon. Like many have said, the check-in on Yelp got me and my friend a free glass of Prosecco, so thank you Yelp! We got the Parmigiana for an appetizer and I got the lasagna for a meal. Both of which have the tomato sauce which was very bland. I was surprised, it was almost like someone forgot to put any salt in it. I'm not sure if that's the authentic Italian style? My friend got the pizza, the crust was pretty burnt on most of the bottom. It was packed the night we came for dinner. It was raining outside but they do have outdoor seating.
(3)
Stephanie L.
My favorite restaurant south of Fifth! I am biased since I live next door but I just love this place. Very nice location, great menu, good service...I always have a nice evening when I go eat there with friends. Not only the food is delicious but the atmosphere is quite nice. I feel like am back in Italy with all those waiters chatting in Italian. The decoration is colorful and artistic, I like it at the exception of the weird painting with the kids faces on the right wall. I never had a bad meal. The pizzas are exquisite with fresh ingredients, it feels like home! I would recommend: "La Filatina" as antipasto - Bufala mozzarella filata, with cherry tomatoes, basil, extra virgin olive oil, black pepper and oregano. For pasta I liked the "Scarpariello"- Paccheri mantecati with cherry tomatoes, parmesan cheese, red peppers and basil. My favorite pizza is "La reale" - Tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, ricotta and prosciutto, and for the grill "Il file": the steak di Bufala, is so yummy! Everything is so tasty, the mozzarella di Bufala is the best you can have. A great restaurant. Do not forget to order your Tiramisu for dessert!
(5)
Michelle C.
It really is as good as it gets. The pizza is so delicious and every bite brings me back to Italy. The tiramisu is delicious. The pastas are tasty too. Everyone is so friendly. Matteo is the best server and Roberto is great too! I love that you get prosecco when you check in on yelp. Everytime I come, I leave overly satisfied by the food and service. This is one of my regular stops and will always be as long as they are around! I will always bring out of town friends here, and they always are very happy I bring them here. miss the free valet parking though! $5 isint bad though. A++
(5)
Kenny P.
We went here for dinner with a group of 6 and a baby. Table arrangement was perfect and overall service quality was fair. We were able to obtain a free bottle of wine with a Foursquare check in which was a great gesture but I would personally stay away from this next time as the wine quality was very poor and extremely acidic. Not sure if this was due to our particular bottle or just the batch was overheated in transport. But my guess would be that since the bottles are stored next to the kitchen and the temperature of the restaurant is close to 85 degrees or more, this is actually ruining the wine. We had the bruschetta for appetizers, which was average - looks like they prepare the tomatoes and spices prior to the dinner service then store in the fridge for the rest of the night. We then ordered about 5 different pizzas of which our favorite was the one with fresh bufala mozzarella and fresh tomatoes. This is really the reason to come here, the quality of the pizza including the sauce, dough, cheese, sauce is probably one of the best on the beach. I would return here, only for the pizza, and avoid the free wine.
(3)
B S.
We had dinner here this evening for my birthday. My wife made the reservation through Open Table, and told them it was my birthday through that. They were so welcoming and attentive and the food was the closest I've had to "Italian, Italian" food in the USA. Delicious food, fab wine, warm and courteous staff. Our server, Cirgo, was the greatest!!! Thank you for a wonderful birthday celebration!!!
(5)
Geraldine T.
Delicious Italian restaurant, even though it is in a very touristic area. Kind of expensive, but what do you expect in Sobe! At least you are eating great food in a great place. Their pizzas are amazing and order La Mozzata with their incredible Mozzarella cheese. It is to die for.
Yes I try to go there once a month, I don't usually do restaurant in south beach, but I like it there...The best Bufala mozzarella I've had since in Los Angelels..amazing pizzas and amazing staff as well. If you are on a BUDGET you might have to consider other places, because it is a tourist area and no love for locals lol.. My friend and I usually ended up paying $200 bills for two pizzas, Mozzarella and a bottle of wine. Love from ALERTTRENDS.COM
(4)
Sarah H.
Best pizza ever tasted
(5)
Joe P.
Since my last visit, things seem a bit broader for me. We went in today, and the menu seemed slightly different, or maybe its different for lunch vs dinner. Anyways, I was a bit disappointed as this establishment does not bring you bread unless you ask for it. I find this kinda cheap, considering they charge a steep price for a small plate of pasta. Another thing I did not like is I saw the guy making the pizza, pulled out some pizza out the oven, and the waiter grabbed some topings out the toppings box with his bare hand and placed them on the pizza, and then brought them out to the customers. They should of cooked the pizza with the toppings, and the waiter shouldn't be putting his hands in your food, since they handle cash. Pizza we had very plain tasting (margarita), sauce had no taste. Also, I'm not a fat ass, but my portition of pasta served on my 17.00 plate was more or less equivalent to HALF a kids portition served at the olive garden. (yuck) They seem to be doing things half ass, and because they are an established place, they don't care anymore about quality.
(2)
Mike R.
Fantastic burrata and pizza. Make a reservation!
(5)
Pratik M.
If you want good Italian food do yourself a favor and stay away from Ocean drive. This place is for real. Had some awesome pasta, some misnistroni soup and my wife had some kind of salad. The food was simply awesome, the service was quick, the dining space is small so you might have to wait, but its worth the wait. Highly recommended.
(4)
Amanda F.
Highly recommend! We were in south beach for one night and stumbled into this amazing Italian eatery. Sat out on the patio, free glass of prosseco with yelp check in, service was a tad slow but food was divine!! I got the garganelli and it blew me away - served in some sort of Parmesan crisp bowl with a delicious Parmesan sauce - everyone at the table was sneaking bites! My friend got the eggplant Parmesan app but they upped the size to entree portion for her. We had a bottle of wine with dinner and the waiter kept our glasses full the entire meal! Definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Kim L.
Our family went here and the food and service were fantastic. We started off with a a huge portion of bufala mozzarella which was served in a bed of arugula and two kinds of tomatoes. It was amazing!! We ordered 3 pizzas which the kids devoured. We loved the crust, cheese and the toppings. We had one with prosuitto that was scrumptious. We finished off with 4 canollis that were crispy on the outside and deliciously smooth in the inside. Great place to eat for a families with young kids!!
(5)
Juan K.
Best pizza ever..thin crust! it just melts in your mouth! This is truly an AUTHENTIC Italian restaurant..If you want to try the best pizza ever..DO NOT HESITATE to come here!! Bring your date..she will love it!
(5)
Kim S.
While visiting Miami last month, a friend and I were walking down the street and we were STARVING! As we passed Fratelli La Bufala the smell coming out of this place beckoned us to stop. OMG it smelled sooooo good. Upon entering, we found the wait staff very rude. I felt like we were putting them out. EXCUSE me for wanting to be seated. Anyway... after we were sat, it took another 10 minutes for anyone to even come and take our drink order, and they only did it then because we flagged down a waiter. Who was not very happy about having to get us anything. We reviewed the menu and decided to split a buffalo burger. Both of us being small eaters thought it would be better to split something than to let 1/2 a meal go to waste. The waiter was NOT the least little bit happy about that. I could swear that he looked down his nose at us. That would be STRIKE TWO. We waited for what seemed like FOREVER for the food to get ready... I would have been more understanding if the restaurant was crowded, or if we had ordered our burger well done, but neither of those factors played in. When our meal arrived, they didn't bring an extra plate. I asked the person that brought our meal if they could bring us an extra plate and they acted like they didn't even hear me. Waited another 10 minutes for the waiter to walk by so that we could flag him down again and ask for another plate. We finally got our plate, split our meal... ate and got out of there as quickly as we could. I must admit that I'm a pretty good tipper, this night... I was NOT. I do not believe in rewarding TERRIBLE service. As far as the burger was concerned... it was a good burger, just not good enough to put up with that kind of service. Needless to say... I WILL not be going back.
(1)
Laura C.
So the owner of Fratelli contacted me about my previous review... But not to ask me to come back as to improve my impression, but, to edit my review because I suppose they felt it was too harsh. Obviously, if you want a better review, improve your issues and don't ask me to edit mine.
(1)
Georgiana B.
Fantastic spot! So much more appealing than Ocean Drive establishments. Do not waste your money there. I come to Miami 5 or 6 times a year and I go to Fratelli every single time.. sometimes twice in one visit. The food is very authentic and delicious and the ambiance is European. Don't miss this spot!
(5)
Chester B.
I come to Miami every December for work, and have eaten at this place for the past two years. Service is fine. I always find the food bland and underwhelming. I think they put far too much cheese on everything. The mixed green salad is served with a fist-size mound of buffalo mozzarella in the middle. Do I really need to eat a 1/4 pound of cheese with my salad? I ordered a pasta and it was loaded with melted cheese; so much that it stuck to my fork and I couldn't get it off. I complained and they brought me out another pasta that they said had a little bit of ricotta cheese. It wasn't a little. It was a lot. I feel like I just paid $50 for a stomach ache.
(2)
jonathan l.
Came here courtesy of a groupon. The place was pretty empty during lunch time, and ordered a simple mushroom and seafood linguine. The service was ho hum, and the pasta while good, didn't wow me. The place was full of Italians - if you want to see Italian tourists, this is the place to be. Speaking of which, the staff was all Italian as well. The one thing I didn't like was the comment made to me when I asked for the Parmesan. Whether intentional or not, the server was condescending. "We usually do not put parmesan on seafood but you can put it on if you like". Like dude, this is the US of A! Save your patronizing remarks for Berlusconi. I can ask whatever I want and the customer is always right! Also, the whole time the entire staff was watching an Italian soccer game on TV. (Very Italian...) The place also makes a great deal of being featured on "best thing I ever ate". Given the fact that the people on that show are all Italian-Americans, the bias is palpable and really, if the stuff here is "the best thing I've ever eaten" the hosts of that show really has no credibility and needs to go for a palate transplant. I've been to Italy. I've been to Italian restaurants all over the world and believe me, this place is very pedestrian and ordinary pizzeria. The worst thing about this place is the 18% automatic gratuity. Really didn't want to pay this since it was undeserving but decided to just pay it and never come back again. Go if you like ordinary Southern Italian fare that forces you to pay for bad service. Plenty of great restaurants (Italian included) in SoBe.
(1)
Jeffrey E.
Amazing pizza, .very authentic Italian cuisine Nice atmosphere with the outdoor seating as well.
(5)
Stephanie R.
Best pizza I've ever eaten. The menu and waiters all speak Italian so if you're looking to impress someone it would be a good way to do so, unless you don't speak Italian then you'll sound kinda weird when you order something. The dough is incredible, nothing like papa johns or pizza hut, and it is not extremely expensive and you still get to experience authentic Italian pizza. I would recommend it to everyone!
(5)
Erica H.
We saw this place on an episode of "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" and we knew we had to come and eat here ! The pasta is amazing the mozzarella is nothing short of some of the best I've had ! This is a must have !
(5)
Niketasuniel S.
For my 3 week work trip most of my expense receipts come from this place. We loved it!!! Pizza almost like Naples and Gazpacho soup mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm so fresh!
(5)
Tracy T.
Don't have to go running back for the pizza. It was good, but I expected the best ever.
(3)
Andy L.
Fratelli La Bufala is an Italian trattoria that focuses on everything buffalo: buffalo cheeses, buffalo meat, etc. and is generally good at what it does. The buffalo mozzarella is never that "flown in this morning from Italy" cheese that people line up for in Italian neighborhoods in NY, Chicago, Boston, etc., but it is generally fresh and tasty. Today we had some service issues that marred the dining experience and will make us cautious about going back. Our server was GianLuca or, as I call him, "Signore No". When we tried to order the buffalo meatballs, Signore No told us that they weren't good and were made of vegetables. The menu clearly states that they are made of buffalo meat and we have had them before and enjoyed them. Signore No would not hear of it and asked us to order something else. When we asked for a half order of gnocchi, Signore No said "no". We capitulated and asked for a full order of gnocchi with olive oil instead of the sauce on the menu, and Signore No firmly replied "no". The gnocchi was only available with the sauce on the menu. No substitutions. Now, I know better than to walk into an Alain Ducasse restaurant and ask for menu changes, but this place isn't Louis XV in Monaco. GianLuca got his 17% tip that the restaurant added to the bill, but he certainly didn't get anything extra from me. This guy needs to find another career. To be fair, the food was fine. Everything was tasty and, except for the antipasto plate (La Bufalata: one ball of mozzarella, two slices of prosciutto and some vegetables & lettuce...overpriced at $23), the dishes were priced fairly. We might go back and try again...but not if Signore No is waiting tables!
(1)
Carolyn T.
Well, last night's dinner was an impromptu visit with three guys who are sound and production engineers for a sound-artist. It was their recommendation so I tagged along to FLB - Fratelli la Bufala on Washington -- apparently they heavily promote the twice-weekly delivery of fresh Mozzarella. We started with two salads; an asparagus salad which was far from a salad as it was served with a hot cheese sauce and cold lettuce. Very, very weird. One of the guys really loved the cheese sauce and cleaned the plate with the accompanying bread, but I found the asparagus to be far from fresh, overcooked, and very stringy. The second salad had oranges, hearts of palm, walnuts and greens. Interesting but unexceptional. Between the four of us, we ordered two pizzas and two of the specials. One pizza was bedecked with fresh cherry tomatoes and rocket (which, honestly, I don't think *was* rocket) and the other was the "La Reale" which I remembering being the most interesting-sounding (with various meats and cheeses) but I did not get to taste. The other was mostly soft in the center and was a pizza that had to be eaten with utensils. However, when I got the crust, I was pleasantly surprised as the dough is obviously house-made. The two specials were a fettuccine with a creamy mushroom sauce which (although it was my order), was the least of my favorites of the evening. It was pasty and thick but the guy who liked the cheese sauce on the asparagus really liked my mushroom pasta. The other special of the evening was a large platter of mixed grill; steak, sausage, vegetables. I only got to taste the sausage which was perfectly fine but hardly ground-breaking.
(2)
Kristy C.
Just tasted like typical Italian pizza place.
(3)
renata W.
What a great find!!! Thank you Yelpers for recommending this. The place is nice and casual, fairly small and intimate. The wait staff was very nice, attentive and helpful...and yes, handsome... The food was fantastic! We ordered an appetizer of speck, cheeses baked with walnuts and honey (Il Pignatiello Speck (smoked prosciutto) wrapped around bufala cacio cheese and baked with honey & walnuts). While not a combination I would put together, the result was delicious! We also got a red pizza (La Reale tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, bufala smoked mozzarella, bufala ricotta & prosciutto crudo) and a white calzone (Cornetto di bufala calzone stuffed with emmenthal & caciotta cheeses and garnished with prosciutto, arugola, tomatoes & parmesan shavings), both of which were done to perfection. I feel, that it doesn't really matter what you order as the quality of the ingredients and the preparation is so wonderful that everything comes out delicious. We also had the tiramisu and a La ricottina (Light lemon flavored bufala ricotta cream, topped with strawberry sauce), both of which were great -- light, flavorful and with just sufficient amount of sweetness. Overall, a great experience. Can't wait to do it again
(5)
Deborah H.
We ordered a a salad, a pizza, and a burger to share among four during lunch at this casual restaurant. It was plenty of food. The pizza was very good: cooked to order in a huge stone stove in the corner. It was fun watching the (really cute) pizza guy fastidiously turn the pizzas around to ensure perfect crusts. The burger, made out of buffalo meat, was interesting. The meat was a little tough and slightly gamey. It was my first time having buffalo meat and I didn't especially enjoy it, so it won't affect the rating.
(3)
Maria T.
My daughter told me that this restaurant is really bad, but most of the reviews I read were so good that I wanted to try it, in spite of her advice. I asked a very simple dish: insalata caprese. Three pieces of very standard mozzarella (you can find much better ones at Wholefood) some tomato and a small bunch of basil leaves. Nothing more! There was some olive oil and salt in the table, so I had to "finish"it. My daughter's Pizza margherita was soggy, with lumps of mozzarella unevenly distributed and no seasoning at all. In some reviews people love the " authentic italian feeling " of the place. When I was there, the language spoken by everyone was spanish and I have nothing against that because it is my own language, but forget the romantic idea of "feeling in Naples". It is very much a South Beach tourist trap.
(1)
bernardita w.
... it is without a doubt the best restaurant on the beach... besides the amazing pizza, you can also eat great pasta and the best MOZZARELA everything taste so fresh I LOVED IT!!!! great for any occasion...it's so cozzy and has great service
(5)
Linda G.
I absolutely love this place. Its THE best Italian on the beach, and in Miami, for that matter. The lasagna here is delicious.. it is a must have along with their other pasta plates. Each time I go, I try something new. Each time I try, it ends up being a new FAV. The pizza here is awesome! Its like pizza made in Italy! The crust is thin and it has just the right amount of sauce, cheese and ingredients! The Diavola is yuuuummy! Be ready for a little spice you order it. If you want a real bowl of soup like your 'mama' used to make, this is the place to go. On a rainy day in Miami, this is where you will find me sitting. The ambiance is sweet and quaint and the staff is super friendly and very attentive. I love, love, love hearing Italians speak and Im always pleasantly serenaded while there. This chic restaurant is right on the corner of 5th street and Washington. You couldn't ask for a better spot to people watch or to just look into your significant other's dreamy eyes. Yes, it really can go from that extreme to the other. ;)
(5)
Laura B.
I went to Fratelli with my brother who was visiting. I ordered a pizza which was tastey but i feel like it could've been cooked a little more. The Fried Mozzarella Ball had no flavor. My brother got a calzone which was huge and came a little overdone. The Calzone was much better than my pizza, had more flavors. My pizza was watery. I am a huge pizza fan. The pizza was better the next day after I heated it and cooked it a little more. The staff was wonderful. Very good ambiance. I would give it another try.
(3)
Mady B.
Took the 25 cent bus trip to Fratelli LaBufala for our last dinner in Miami before heading home. Great Pizza and service. Finally a place in South Beach that has reasonable prices for quality food and wine. We would for sure go back for more the next time we are in Miami Beach.
(4)
Nadine F.
This place wasn't bad, but not particularly good either. I had some kind of flat pasta with meat sauce. The pasta itself was really good, but the sauce was bland and watery. I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Andrew M.
After trying for an eternity to find parking in Miami beach I decided to park a few blocks off of Ocean and walk the rest of the way. However, in doing so I became quite hungry. I followed my nose. I began to smell fresh pizza being cooked close by and simply let my nose do the walking. I ended up at Fratelli La Bufala. I was politely greeted and seated. I didn't really need to see the menu. I just stated, "whatever that is that smells so good, I'll have that". The food came out promptly and it was excellent. It hit the spot. The pizza was thin crust (sorry Chicago fans) and was very tasty and not too greasy (after all remember it is pizza). I look forward to the next time I am in Miami Beach. I will definitely be stopping by this place again.
(4)
Christina C.
I went here on Sunday for lunch and found it to be a great place! The pizzas are a very good size (we had 3 for about 5 of us) and we enjoyed a delicious Pinot Noir, for only $25 per person (including tip). The service was a bit slow, but overall very good and wait staff is friendly.
(4)
Franky A.
I love this place! Great food and atmosphere. The service can be slow at times but it's such a fun place with great food.
(4)
Jill H.
Amazing REAL italian pizza. There are locations in Italy, so you know it's authentica!!
(5)
Jennifer S.
my 2nd DAT experience right after this review, that is if you care to read what i had last night... *** miami #7 due to us being super lazy and to the horrible weather miami endured (it was windy, cold and rainy.. YESH! in miami, can you believe it!?) we decided to grab pizza before we headed out to the bar later that evening. it's a very nice place, not "nice" to the terms of being poshy but nice being it was very welcoming ... service was cool, very friendly and sweet and accomodating... we ordered a $10 margarita pizza with extra spinach and extra tomatos... peek foto ... you seriously can't get any more authentic than this. this is the real dilio from italy, or at least, in my opinion... not the deep dish chicago style. YUM. it was sort of a toss up between a16 (in sf) and fratelli. sorry senoires ... come and experience the essence of true authentic italian pizza right in sobe.
(4)
Andy L.
The food here is amazing. I have alway had a great meal here and the service during dinner time has always been spot on. I have been a few times during lunch ad do not feel that the experience is the same. The food is just as good but the service was always a little different. Oh, and don't bothertrying lut their french fries...they are nothing more than the fries you'd find in a college cafeteria.
(4)
Marie B.
Excellent pizza, quality, and service, a real find. In quieter part of town, worth going to. Owned by an Italian company and they really aim to please. Manager came over and chatted with us and made us feel very welcome.
(5)
Alice C.
average food, rude waiters and very limited menu.... that about says it all.
(3)
Rok C.
Seriously some of the best pizza that I've ever had (on par with Pizzeria Mozza in LA, which is fabulous). The crust and cheese are simply incredible! The salad we ordered was good and fresh with a nice light dressing. But the pizza is why I can't wait to go to Miami again!!
(5)
Rob C.
Not particularly memorable. Pizzas are the Italian oven style, ingredients with no sauce, crust mostly on the periphery.
(3)
V C.
I probably went to Fratelli La Bufala with very high expectations because it came very strongly recommended by an Italian friend of mine who in general has very good taste in food. Based on his comments Fratelli La Bufala is authentic and caters food from a very specific region in Italy that is famous for their cuisine. To that end I must admit I was slightly disappointed. I tried the minestrone soup which was excellent , it had a lot of vegetables and the seasonings were perfect. I then tried the margherita pizza which was a little chewy, on average good but would not say the best pizza I have eaten. My husband tried the grill platter and he said that meat was ok...nothing great. The place is nice and quaint and has a homely feel to it. Service of was not the greatest either.
(3)
Abbey P.
I have been here several times and each time the food was very good. Recently, we had the caprese pizza with eggplant (excellent) and the Paccheri pasta dish was amazing. I thought the flavors were wonderful!
(4)
Gina B.
This place is great! My husband and I actually went on one of our first dates to this place, so it holds a special place in my heart. The food is delish and the ambiance really adds to the experience. You really feel like you've stepped into a restaurant in Italy as the owners are often working the floor and speaking in Italian to the many Italian patrons! The owners are extremely friendly and the food is really good. Try any of the pastas or pizzas. A very sweet little romantic restaurant.
(4)
Juhani P.
Best pizza at the South Beach?
(5)
art m.
Very good neapolitan thick crust pizza here. Real italians run this place
(4)
Thomas S.
Possibly the best pizza I've ever had. It's everything one could look for an a traditional, Neapolitan-style pizza: very thin crust, delicious sauce, and the freshest mozzarella. We finished off with the Nutella crepes were were as good as the pizza! The sweetened whipped cream was amazing! We can't wait to go back.
(5)
Ed A.
Maybe it was the fact that I expected more from a 4-star yelp-rated restaurant. Or maybe it was the fact that I wasn't too hungry to begin with when I got there. Either way, I left thoroughly unimpressed with this restaurant. We took advantage of the sale on restaurant.com (you can go there and buy coupons that reduce your bill by $25, with a min. purchase of $35). My gf and I stopped by for dinner around 11 pm one night. We opted to sit outside, although it was a little muggy and we probably should have sat inside. I ordered la reale pizza (I think that was the spelling), for $18. She ordered a $16 pasta dish.. I believe it was some sort of pasta carbonara. The food came out moderately quickly (first bread was served). The pizza was very bland. It had smoked mozz, fresh mozz and prosciutto, but it really more closely resembled a frozen Ellios slice. I've had much better food at Italian restaurants back home for half the price. My girlfriend's dish wasn't much better. The pasta (which my gf claimed was homemade) was too thick and chewy, and the flavors of the sauce did little to complement it. Since we knew that the min order was $35, we also ordered a $5 plate of french fries. We waited and waited but never got the order. We then asked for the check, and of course they had issues with it since the coupon stated it was a $35 min order. I reminded the waiter that we had ordered fries and they never brought it. They apologized for the mixup, but insisted we order something else to make the limit "otherwise the computer won't let us put it in". They eventually agreed to let us order a beer, since we weren't really hungry anymore anyway. The decor is nice, but I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. There are probably better Italian restaurants in the area (although I didn't visit any others).
(2)
James C.
The pizza here is just great - just like at the locations in Italy. Its no wonder so many Italian tourists take refuge here from the tourist traps on Ocean Dr. The service is also quite good. Most of the staff is Italian and was very patient with our indecisive party of 9.
(5)
Eric D.
We ordered a Mediterranean salad, minestrone soup, and eggplant parmesan. Food was delicious, good sized portions, and great service. We ate a late lunch and the restaurant was busy.
(5)
Maria A.
I have what some might call a pizza problem. The problem being I love a good slice. My friends had been raving about FLB for a long time. One Sunday afternoon I finally had the chance to try the pizza and understood. My friends were right this is some of the best pizza in Miami. Whenever sampling a new pizza I usually order a simple cheese or margherita. If they can do simple well, then there is hope. FLB's pizza was well flavored with a strong balance of cheese, minimal sauce, and crust. The pies are brick oven and that really produces a remarkable flavor. With Pizza Volante gone, this might be my new oven lovin regular.
(4)
jen r.
i had bought a voice deal of the day. for $7 i got $20 worth of food. went in the other night and ordered 2 pizzas a traditional margherita and a white 4 cheese pizza. i liked the margherita better. anyways the final bill came out and it was only a $10 difference. the service was really nice and the pizza came out super quick. they didnt treat us any differently bc we were using a coupon deal. but the 18% tip was automatically included. i will definitely be back for some traditional italian goodness. btw it totally helped set the mood that the couple next to us were speaking italian the whole time, if i tuned out all the honking from washington ave and the tourists from wisconsin on our other side i coulda almost felt like i was in florence.
(4)
Marina V.
Restaurants.com once again drew us to this little corner eatery, and being a busy few weeks with spring break going on (this publishing is a tad late), it was a welcome respite from the crowds ! Quaint little place; weathered a bit from the south beach atmosphere but not detracting. The menu looked great, and after checking into yelp we received a surprise bonus; 2 complimentary prosecco! NOICE! round it out with the 'Affettati Misti' to start. The meats and cheeses were all fresh and tasty (some of which we hadn't tried before), and the other goodies (olives, veggies, peppers, tomatoes) added to the mix. We watched as the chef in the open kitchen prepared several dishes, wondering what looked the best and , with the intoxicating aroma wafting about, it was tough to decide! We settled; 'Lo scarpariello' and 'Ripienone' ....Hmmm, more simply put, pasta sauteed with cherry tomatoes, crushed red pepper and basil, and a nice Calzone with fresh ricotta and mozz, and sweet salami. Perfecto ! Again, everything was very fresh and complemented the second glass o' prosecco we had. Perfect late afternoon lunch. Parking is a bit tough on very busy days (when ISN'T it busy on this corner!) but don't let that detract you from trying this place. Buon Appetito!
(4)
Lisa C.
I wanted to try this place for a while and I am so happy I did. Food is amazing and the staff are Italian and speak it. It is the reaaaaal deal. I brought my dog, ate outdoors (hated the noisy motorcycles so next time I eat inside). We got a salad and a Calzone and shared. Portions are good for sharing. Next time I come I am trying pasta because the calzone had a very smokey brick overn burn type of tatse. It was good but I wouldn't order it again. But the PASTAS and the salads mmmmmm. The lady sitting next to me had a fettucini alla bolognese and it looked like pure heaven in a plate. The other couple sitting to my other side shared a pizza (there are good size for sharing) but I noticed when he picked his slice up same burned thing going on. For pizza and Calzones I'm sticking to SPRIS on Lincoln Rd. But I'm looking forward to coming back here for a nice pasta dish. mmmmm! Bottom Line: Order a salad, and the pastas, and the entrees but not impressed with the Calzone or pizzas.
(4)
Ron G.
Great pizza. Authentic Italian Style. My wife loves the coffee. Too bad there aren't any of these in the Philly area. :(
(5)
Usu I.
I love their pizza. I've read many different reviews and have to say, it's good; some reviews are quite harsh. A cute story behind their franchise and the food is quite good. The pizza is baked quickly and their special with fresh bufala mozzarella and cherry tomatoes is delicious. For two, it's nice to share a pizza and then each an entree. I find it that the entrees are kind of small. The price is a bit high for a specialty pizza ($20+) and an entree each; but I pay for what I want, and I do have this craving from time to time. I'd like to comment that the service could be much better, and the staff could definitely improve on their sanitation. All in all, I am a fan.
(4)
Stephanie W.
Came here after seeing it on Food Networks' "Best Thing I Ever Ate" and OMG the Ripienone Calzone is SO DELICIOUS! Service was great. Free bottle of house wine if you check in with FourSquare...
(5)
Franny A.
Amazing authentic food with pizza made by a Neopalitan pizza maker with buffalo mozzarella imported from Italy. Beautiful mixed vegatables(contorni) include super flavorful cauliflower, brocolli, carrots, grilled eggplant with balsamic vinegar and a macaroni pie to name a few. Great Italian bread too. The pizza is doughy, slightly charred with strategically placed bufala, with a very flavorful sauce, it is simply delish. It reminds me of a doughier version of the pizza at Gnocco in the East Village where the owners and pizza makers are also from south of the boot.
(5)
Andy T.
This place is interesting and I'm not sure how I feel about it..everything was OK but not spectacular..with the yelp ratings I was expecting something phenomenal. Mostly tourists rating, I suppose. Edit: I forgot to mention they charge a automatic 18% gratuity, as well as a 'bread' charge.
(2)
Robert R.
After eating pizzas anywhere from South Beach to North Beach and beyond for more than 15 years I must say Fratelli has, by far, the best pizza on the beach. It is simple, yet delicious. Not greasy, not heavy. Real italian pizza with many of the wait staff italian themselves. Check the deserts, specially their Tiramisu. Awesome. Great pizza, great service. Cooked in a fire brick oven for everyone to see. Bathrooms clean too. It's also my 6 y. old son favorite pizza too!
(5)
Vanessa P.
This place makes one of the 3 best pizzas I had in my lifetime. I am normally not a pizza aficionado therefore pizza has to be really good for me to want to waste calories on it. This place is totally worth visiting - brick oven pizza, really authentic, the way they do it in Napoli, the pie by itself is really delicious even before adding all the great topics. After we were already full we noticed that, the people at the next table were having some really great looking bruschetta. The tiramisu was pretty good too. Can't wait to go back! I can finally say that I might actually crave pizza while in Miami!
(5)
Alison M.
I wanted to eat here ever since I saw it on the Best Thing I ever Ate and Mr. "How dare you put red onions in this dish!!!" from Chopped raved about their calzone. I actually wanted that calzone myself, but when the bf and I sat down at the table (we were meeting his parents for dinner) it seemed like they were already set to order. With all the catch up talk and such, I was not able to navigate the huge selection of offerings on the menu in time to find it before the waiter came by to take our order. Further compounding the issue, was the fact that the bf's parents keep Kosher and the bf likes to pretend that he does when around them, so that meant as a good girlfriend I also had to play the part. Not very many meat free dishes caught my eye. A pizza with prosciutto, mozzarella and an egg sounded pretty good to me, but alas I ended up ordering a bland tasting white pizza, with mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and basil. I ended up having to dip it in the table's balsamic and olive oil for some much need flavor. I don't think I'd order that again, but everyone else seemed to like their entrees. Service was friendly, but servers were sparse and drinks were not refilled without a flagging down. I recommend sitting inside over outside because you can watch the pizza man hard at work. It's pretty cool to see an expert work with pizza dough and the huge stone pizza oven is right there. I also liked the art work on the walls, it was very earthy and kinda reminded me of cave paintings. I think I'd like to give this place another try because I believe I just ordered poorly. I still want to try the famous calzone, but I'm going to have to figure out what its called.
(3)
Leslie S.
Hands down, the best and most authentic place to grab the most appetizing bite of pizza! You walk in and you feel like you are in a restaurant in Italy. The music, the staff, the decor. It all screams out Italy. My hubby and I walked in here due to the great reviews we read on Yelp. It was between Fratelli La Bufala and the restuarant on their east side. I'm so glad we chose this one. We were seated right away and checked in through Yelp. They gave us two complimentary glasses of Proseco for checking in. Everything on the menu looked foreign to us, but went ahead with our gut instinct and ordered their buffala mozzarella which is imported daily (La Mozzata). It was so fresh and soft, the mozzarella melted in your mouth with every bite. We also ordered their white pizza, La Colinara. OMG! Can I tell you that this has been the most delicious pizza I have ever tried?? I think about it and my mouth waters. The ultra thin crust pizza is topped with buffalo mozzarella, a fried egg (which you break and spread the yolk over the entire pizza), pancetta, and basil. Every bite was like a piece of heaven. Finally for dessert, our server suggested we try their cheese tart dessert (I forgot the name of it). It was quite yummy but there was no way we could have finished it. Service was great from beginning to end. We came back a second time, but ordered the pizza carryout. We ordered La Colinara once again and it was just as good. So if you are looking for pizza Napoli-style come here! You wont regret it. And try La Colinara!
(5)
Cindy L.
Update: I forgot to mention the decor! Cozy, comfty and can accomodate relatively large parties to tables for just 2, typical Miami outdoor seating. I liked how you can watch them make the pizza from scratch :) Can't remember everything everyone ate but there definitely was gnocchi w/bufala ricotta, fresh tomatoes, basil and bufala mozzarella, Lasagna made with homemade egg pasta. bufala bolognese, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan cheese and I had the Tortiglioni alla Nerano w/speck, zucchini, cream, provola cheese and cherry tomatoes. The food was decent, nothing spectacular, it's nice that they use fresh mozzarella and make their own pastas and dough, the fresher the better. I don't know why I ordered the toftiglioni when I can't handle creamy stuff. I can't only eat maybe 5 bites and then I get nauseas :X It was a good dish just couldn't finish it, very rich! Everyone enjoyed their food. I wish I had a pizza! They looked really good...very light and authentic. For dessert we ordered the sampler, everything sounded better than it tasted: La Ricottina - Ricotta, lemon flavored with wild cherry coulis -- this was the only dessert we liked! I cannolini - Cannoli with bufala ricotta cream, limoncello and chocolate --a regular ol' cannoli but nice and eat-able La Torta Caprese - World famous chocolate almond cake from the island of Capri -- this didn't taste like almonds at all and was very, very dry not very chocolately either Il Bufala Tiramisu - tiramisu made with bufala ricotta and coffee Il Fondente- Chocolate flavored bufala ricotta cream, topped with dark chocolate sauce Something had a weird floral, perfumey taste to it, not good at all! I think it might've been orange blossom? It was too powerful :( Maybe if you absolutely cannot live without ricotta or mozzarella this is your place but I'm okay with never coming back again. Aww..I'm so mean!
(3)
Jennifer I.
Food good-however didn't honor reservation time -gave tables to friends and Italian speaking groups before honoring reservations. Once we got a table 40 minutes after actual res. -food and service good
(2)
Mike H.
This was beyond horrible. Called in my order (half cheese, half pineapple, well done) and was told it'd be ready in 5 minutes. The walk there was a little longer than expected, so I was there about 15 minutes later. I told the lady up front I was there to pick up my order. She rolled her eyes and walked away. She then hid in the back corner being very careful to not look towards me. Once other customers came in she had to come back to the front. She turned her back to me- I had to politely ask her twice 'Excuse me?' before she turned around. I asked her how long (since I'd been waiting about 5 minutes and the pizza should have been ready before hand). She said "1 minute". I saw the pizza's were small so I ordered a second (why not, we were waiting anyways). Another few minutes someone else brought us our pizza (after she helped the new customers she promptly hid again). We got back to our hotel to eat, and the pizza was disgusting. I'd asked for well done, but it was so undercooked it was literally raw dough. And the pineapple?...it was cold (refrigerated cold) and obviously just dumped on the pizza from a can (again, after the pizza was cooked). The worst part was that we were married the day before and my (now) wife had not had carbs in literally 3 months. She had been waiting until after the wedding to have pizza. What a horrible disappointment! I only wish I could give a negative rating.
(1)
Gabriel D.
Good food!!!
(4)
Beth H.
We just got back from Miami. This was our fourth trip in two years (we have relatives here). The reason I mention two years is because two years ago is when a friend introduced us to Fratelli's, and we now eat here at least three times per trip. We tell everyone we're going to Miami to visit relatives, but it's now become obvious to my husband and me that we're going to eat at Fratelli la Bufala, and using relatives as an excuse. What can I say? Great food is hard to beat, and exceptional pizza is nearly impossible to find. If you haven't tried this restaurant, do it now. Go meet Larry. You'll love him. And get a table with Carla as your server. You'll love her, too. Oh, and I just tried something new this trip, the Paccheri pasta. Big tubes of pasta with a rich tomato, peppers, eggplant sauce, with smoked mozzarella. Amazing! We also loved the salad with romaine, arugula, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and olives. Can't give you the name but it had an incredibly tasty dressing.
(5)
Kathryn S.
I went to Fratelli La Bufala because I had heard about it on the Food Network and my friend had a coupon for it. We got there and being that I have yelp, I showed the waitress that I had checked in and me and my 2 friends got free glasses of prosecco. The glasses were hardly filled to how much a glass normally is, but we didn't complain because it was free. We ordered the bruschetta as an appetizer which was just OK. For our meal the 3 of us shared two pizzas. We wanted to try both a red and white pizza so we got a Margherita and an Irpina. I liked the Margherita more, but the Irpina was also satisfying. Both pizza's were good but nothing out of this world. When we went to pay is when our party had some trouble. We showed the waitress the coupon and she told us we couldn't use two coupons for the same bill since we already had used our yelp check in for the prosecco. We told her we didn't know but she started to get an attitude with us. When I asked her if I could speak to her manager to try to solve the problem, she told us to "Forget it" in a nasty tone. Overall, the food was good, but the service wasn't that great. Not sure I want to visit this restaurant again any time soon.
(3)
Aline D.
They import fresh buffalo mozzarella from Naples, Italy twice a week. Do I need say more? It is a fantastic little place, the pizza and calzones are amazing. The tiramisu is also fantastic, homemade and decadent. Very nice to have a non-chain, authentic Italian bistro/pizza place in South Beach. It can get very crowded on weekend nights but is also open really late. Will keep coming back!
(5)
Chris M.
good pizza, right price, in a nice location with an easy going atmosphere in a great neighborhood for walking before or after your meal. i am a fan. best takeout pizza within walking distance of sofi area. the pizza with smoked buffalo mozz and pecorino romano is lovely. looking forward to trying the other menu items.
(4)
Christina F.
An authentic taste of Italy! Delicious pizza and wine with great prices. All wait staff were Italian and so friendly. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Robert N.
In Austin, my hometown, I cannot buy proper Mozzarella.....so when I am in South Beach I always go here a couple of times. Not really the basis of a South Beach diet: but life is short people.....There are lots of ways to burn calories in Miami: and you need some extra carbs to stay up to 5 a.m. anyway!! So what would I recommend? Well, obviously, a large ball of Buffalo mozzarella. (Just do it) Their pastas are great as well. Pasta alla norma would be high on my list. The pizza margherita is among the best I've had stateside. (My mom is from Naples: and we are a picky bunch when it comes to pizza) I wonder if they would ship some mozzarella to me? (note to self, call them after this post) This is the best lunch in Miami: tremendously better than the lousy tourist food closer to the beach: and just think: if you walk there you can justify the extra carbs and calories. Ciao baby.
(5)
Angela M.
We love this place! Every time we go to Miami we have to treat ourselves and stop at this wonderful restaurant. We are Italian and big pizza lovers so you can trust me if I say this is one of the best pizza we have ever tried. Really Italian style with the best ingredients and topping and only bufalo mozzarella. We even tried pasta (the Paccheri are to die for) and desserts (try the cannoli and pastiera). Everything is delicious. The staff is very nice, kind, and friendly and they make you feel at home. The people who make pizza (pizzaioli) are Italian and so are the waiters and the manger. We highly recommend it! You won't be disappointed if you like authentic Italian food.
(5)
Janay M.
As Michelle C said this is a great spot for casual Italian food. I used my Foursquare app to check in and got a free bottle of House wine. Not bad. The service was very quick and I didn't have to ask for refills. Everything from the decor to the staff made this place a great location Great spot for a romantic SOBE date.
(4)
Claire S.
I like this place. The caprese salad is why I am giving 5 stars as it is amazing. My baby and I ordered enough food for 4 people, I think that between 2 people you could split a pizza or a calzone with an appetizer and leave very full. We ordered the salad, a pizza, and a calzone. I threw out more than half of my calzone and watched, mildly horrified, as my guy packed in an entire pizza minus a slice I ate. That should tell you how good the pizza is. The crust is a little soggy but no other complaints. The calzone was really really good as well...I love the mozzarella they use here. So good. This place is on TV sometimes which I usually am leery of overhyped places, but this place was nice, not super crowded or anything, and the food above average (and the caprese is amazing). Also this was the nicest service we had the whole time we were in miami and key west I felt.
(5)
Stephen S.
First time here and we had a good meal. The pizza with bufalo was Outstanding. The Italian salad we had was bland with few vegetables and we will not order it again. Excellent service. Will go back.
(4)
Teresa K.
Husband and i split a buffalo mozzerella appetizer and a pizza. the food was excellent and despite it being a busy weekend evening the service was great and friendly. A nice exception to the South Beach rule. We had a very pleasant meal and although the restaurant was crowded we didn't feel cramped.
(4)
Andrea V.
Over-priced. SO not worth it. I make better pastas at home. I am not kidding. The service was bad. The place is not too chic... and listen to this... the day I went there (90F weather in Miami Beach!) the air conditioner wasn't working. Not going there EVER again.
(1)
Nandi E.
I got a living social deal for this location because of all the great reviews I saw on Yelp. It was a waste of my money. The food is overly priced and awful. I got a dish that comprised of buffalo meat swimming in sauce with arugula underneath. The meat had a funky taste (and I'm a big fan of buffalo meat). My friend got a white pizza that was just ok. Plus side, service was good. This was the first and last time I will ever dine at Fratelli La Bufala
(2)
Jason G.
Great Pizza and Pasta. The marinara is better than the white sauce for the pasta.
(4)
robert s.
Best pizza in Miami so far. There are so many real Italian restaurants in Miami it is hard to distinguish where to go. The food here is the closes thing I have had to real Italian food. The pizza and olive oil are good quality and fresh. My pizza came out too hot and the cheese and sauce fell off as I picked it up from platter but the taste was spot on. Next time I am in Miami I am get getting the pasta carbonara. Oh we also had the beef carpacio. That was good too. The wait staff is authentically bad too. They knew the pizza was too hot serve and when they saw the cheese just slide off; they did nothing to get another one for us. The appetizer and pizza were brought out that same time and the water did not come till i asked.
(4)
Stephanie L.
This place is really good! I had the pizza, as did my boyfriend, and it tasted just like the pizza we had in Florence. I thought it was really yummy and pretty standard prices for South Beach. The staff was fairly nice and it was a great atmosphere. They were very attentive and even the manager came over to see how we were doing. Although South Beach has a great pizza place on every block, this is a nice alternative to the bar stools and outdoor plastic tables at those other places.
(4)
Lauren C.
The pizza was great and tasted fresh. The service was excellent, and I say this because my husband always orders lemons with his water and they kept them coming as well as refilling glasses in a timely manner. Even though gratuity is automatically added to the bill, the staff still does a great job. Thumbs up :)
(5)
Johnathan S.
Great dinner, and great service. Glad we came here. The servers really pay attention to each customer. I felt the value was pretty good as well! I will be back.
(5)
Paul D.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Miami! I'm embarrassed to say with all the great places to try here I always keep a night for Fratelli La Bufala. I first tried Fratelli because my boss was visiting from Milan and knew the restaurant from there and wanted to see if it held up to his expectation. Not only was he impressed, but he too insists on visiting every time he is in Miami. This coming from an Italian that is very picky when it comes to pizza or any other Italian food for hat matter. I love the authentic taste and feel of the restaurant. The staff is always very friendly and knowledgable. The pizza of course is amazing(it's in the water) as are the appetizers. The mozzarella is delicious especially paired with prosciutto. Don't forget to finish with their cannoli. Ciao!
(5)
Lindsay G.
For a chain, this place kicks it. The only reason they don't get five stars is cause,duh, they are a chain. I love this place. They import the mozzarella fresh every day and frankly, their pizza is the only pizza I can eat in the Miami area (I'm a deep dish Chicago girl-y'all). Also, they have a nice selection of proseccos and an outdoor area that is generally pretty quiet during lunch. The staff is friendly and generally accommodating with pleasant service that doesn't make you feel rushed. Also, the burrata is to die for.
(4)
Kristin R.
This place was recommended to me by a local as authentic italian food, and I agree whole heartedly. This is where I take people when they are hungry for italian. I ahve been several times in the last few months!
(5)
Olivia C.
Really really good food and great prices. I went here for a friends bday dinner and the portions were spot-on. I ordered the linguini di gamberi and it was perfectly al dente. Definitely recommend this spot!
(4)
Germán R.
The best pasta I have had, so simple yet so fresh. I recommend the tortiglioni pasta. And obviously some fresh mozzarella for an appetizer. It is a little expensive, but worth it.
(5)
Hooman A.
lasagna was amazing! one of the best i've ever had. white pizza was delish as well! highly recommended :)
(5)
Rima D.
Expensive soggy pizza with bad service. Coming from the NYC area I have had ten times better pizza.
(1)
Michael K.
Great customer service. I never wrote a review before but after the service I had to. The owner could tell I didn't like the broccoli on my pizza so he was hesitant to let me continue eating it and offered to make me a different pizza. Great atmosphere and amazing service.
(5)
Shawn S.
Gotta love pizzerias that make you feel like you are in Italy. Genuine servers, great crust on the pizza. Prices are good considering the portion sizes - we split a salad and pizza between two and it was plenty for lunch. Good Italian wine list. The pizza is "wet style" as in Napoli. Free bread and high quality olive oil. Street seating in bistro chairs.
(4)
anthony M.
We had a good meal until they presented the bill and it had a $39 charge for the large buffalo Mozzarella salad. I would not have paid $39 for a good filet at this place, let alone a salad. It was a ripoff and the waiter knew it. So, I suggest you avoid this place until the management decides they are more interested in truth in advertising than in ripping people off.
(1)
Dayna D.
Food was okay, but overpriced. Horrible service. The restaurant was half empty restaurant and overstaffed, yet I still waited 15 min for a glass of wine. Check came with auto gratuity and 4 biz cards, a comment card, a postcard...insult and overkill.
(1)
Andrew K.
Fratelli La Bufala has to be my favorite pizza in Miami. Cooked in a 700 degree brick oven by a Neapolitan lad, this place makes the closest thing you will find to the real deal in Southern Italy. I discovered Fratelli three weeks after returning from Naples Italy, and one week after moving to Miami. Needless to say, I was suffering from Italian food depression after leaving Italy. But...... From the first bite at FLB, I was stunned. I could not believe I was eating a perfectly executed, authentic Neapolitan pizza pie. The soft buffalo cheese directly imported, fresh and light tomato sauce, and some of the tastiest pizza crust outside of Italy, all working together to complete this masterpiece. Also, the pastas are not to be missed. The Pappardelle Bolognese and the Garganelli with homemade sausage are amazing and again, authentic. Honestly, you probably wont find a better recipe for these dishes around Dade. (although I really like Il Mullino's papperdelle). The buffalo mozzarella appetizers are all really good as well. Another thing that always strikes me when I dine at FLB is that the majority of the workers, and the patrons, are Italians. Speaking Italian (and English if need be), eating Italian, and enjoying them selves as Italians do when in Italy. The overall vibe here is much more European than American. To me this says I have found it, I have found the place to eat Italian food. Thanks Fratelli for allowing me to get a taste of Italy whenever my stomach desires.
(5)
Elizabeth S.
This is a bit late, but I'm actually reviewing this...fine....establishment a few months after I visited. This was my second run-in with the utterly unfabulous service that a lot of places in SoBe have to offer. I had a friend in town and we decided to go out to eat, so our party of 3 decided on this little establishment, simply because we weren't in the mood for Chinese across the street. The outside area was empty (plenty of available tables) and we decided to sit there. The waiter who sat us went up to a couple who was eating who had a table made up of 2 smaller ones (it was clear they had not done this themselves since it was covered with a table cloth). He started pushing all of their dishes onto one table without a word and pulled it away from them. This small table for 2 became our table. The couple just stared at the waiter in disbelief as he did this, but didn't say a word. I suppose maybe they didn't think it was as horribly rude as I did. We were given menus and the usual dirty look that comes with ordering water instead of alcohol (we were going to order wine but had not had a chance to go over the list yet). When the waiter came back, we had questions about some of the menu items (being a vegetarian who has experienced many falsely advertised veg-dishes that actually contain meat, I like to ask about what I'm eating and how it's made). After three questions, he looked down at us arrogantly and said "Let me know when you're done messing around asking questions and wasting my time. When you're actually serious about ordering some food, I'll be back". He turned on his little heel and left. I was flabbergasted. "Does everything contain buffalo? Does that dish have any meat in it? Is that a hot or cold salad?" How are these not relevant questions to ask about a meal you're paying for?? As soon as he left, so did we. Please note that we did not eat anything here. I'm not about to support a restaurant with such horrible service!!!! I seriously feel like most places here lack service due to the already added 18% gratuity - which I get because I used to be a waitress who dealt with a lot of tourists that didn't realize they had to tip; however I never felt like that was an excuse to offer bad service.
(1)
Alissa W.
I dined here a few times I really like this place. When they offered on groupon $15 for $35 I bought 2 ! You can't beat that price for this quality of food. I went with a friend for lunch we ordered the cheese platter it was very good an assortment of buffala mozzarella, smoked mozarella, and some other cheeses. We also got a side salad that was big for $7. We ordered the marghrettia pizza the pizza's do not have a ton of cheese because it is not packageed mozerella this is fresh folks put right on top of their homemade pizza in a wood burning oven. They have one of the best pasta dished ever Paccheri saute bell peppers, eggplant, smoked bufala mozzarella and cherry tomato sauce. AMAZING !
(4)
Mike K.
Just awesome. Everything is so fresh, service is prompt and prices aren't bad at all. I LOVE the Garganelli pasta, it's my go-to. Desserts are also amazing, whatever you choose to get. If you're a DecoBike member, you even get a 10% discount for showing your card, so take advantage of it!
(5)
Ximena C.
The pizza and wine at this restaurant are delicious, the portions are perfect, and its quite overpriced. The biggest problem is the fact the its overcrowded with tables inside. You have to maneuver around everyone to get to the bathroom or your table. Once you've reached your table dont even think of having enough room to lean back in your chair. To add to that is the staff. They are quite rude and inefficient. Last time I ate there they got two of the six orders at my table incorrect. So, all in all, if all you care about is the pizza go ahead and eat at Fratelli, but if you want an overall experience head elsewhere.
(2)
Bill H.
Personally I'm a little underwhelmed by the food at Fratelli La Bufala. The restaurant is located on the corner of Washington and 5th in South Beach. The interior was nice. It's not fine dining, but certainly not Pizza Hut. Some friends saw a review on the Food Channel raving about the food so we decided to go. Judging by the name alone I figured this was an Italian restaurant; the menu includes many pizzas with a smattering of other Italian options. We started with the bruschetta, Carpaccio and the eggplant lasagna. I wanted calamari, however it's not something that was available on the menu. The appetizers were good and the portions were nicely sized. For our main course we had the lasagna and 3 different types of calzones. The lasagna was good, but there was something about it that reminded me of tomato sauce from a jar. The calzones were huge blocks of bread filled with cheese and had the toppings on the side. Typically when I've gotten calzones everything is baked inside so this came as a surprise. Food and service were good but we all left a bit underwhelmed after hearing the glowing review on the Food Network. Nothing left a lasting impression so I doubt I'd go back.
(2)
Melissa G.
Awesome - truly delicious Italian pizza made in the oven in front of you right there in the dining room. The best pizza in Miami by far - true Neopolitan style with amazing fresh buffalo mozzarella. A pizza and a glass of wine and it's a perfect meal :-)
(4)
Len D.
I'm not really a fan of red sauce pasta, mostly because a lot of places just don't make it well. But I like the red sauce here. It's the tomato richness and most likely fresh ingredients. Something so basic as tomato, basil, and olive oil sounds simple, but here its delicious and perfectly done. We started with the an appetizer for the whole table, La Bufalata. Which is basically a little bit of everything on their antipasti menu. At $36 seems a little steep, but it was surprisingly worth it. One of the best things on the plate to me was actually the carrots. I just can't figure out how they got it to that texture and flavor. One of the best things here is the pizza. I've had the Monachina and Margherita which were great. It's just very different than any pizza I've ever tried. The pizza is very thin and the kind of pizza you have to eat with a knife/fork. The crust, sauce, and definitely the cheese is different. Everything is just so different than other Italian restaurants. This place is somewhere at the top.
(5)
Sharon M.
Saw four stars on Yelp, and were in the neighborhood, so went on in. It was about 12:45 on a Friday afternoon (April 20, 2012), and there was only one table eating...that should have been our clue, but we sat down and ordered anyway. I wasn't real hungry so I thought maybe a small soup would be perfect. The menu boasted their ministrone was loaded with fresh vegetables. Well, kind of. It was literally a bunch of fresh veggies tossed into a boiling unflavorful veggie broth. Again, since the soup wasn't delivered until AFTER the pizzas, I should have picked up on something not quite right. The pizzas were a good size for a personal pie, and we were watching them being tossed, so my husband and 26 year old son both ordered individual pies. My husband ordered the prociuto with tomato sauce, and my son ordered the ricotta with a bay leaf litterally smeared on, almost as an after thought. The prociutto pie was wierd...like a piece of large thinly sliced ham with a spoonful of a bitter tomato sauce, on semi raw pizza dough. My sons pie was not as edible. I love ricotta with just about anything, but this was just glopped on, again, RAW piza dough. When I showed our server, he tried to tell me that was the way it was supposed to be. When I asked another server for an owner or manager she told me there were none available at this time. Meantime, our server was preparing our bill with a MANDATORY 17% tip!! Sorry guys, there are just TOO MANY really yummy options around there to have to put up with what you tried to sell us as a great lunch. Wish we had taken pictures, but we couldn't wait to leave.
(1)
Karl S.
Wallace & Grommit would love this place -- so much cheese. I have to agree with the reviewer who advised customers not to venture outside of the pizzas. In our party of three, two had pizzas and were satisfied. I had a pasta dish and wasn't. The pasta tasted borderline undercooked to me. The appetizers seem somewhat over-priced (especially in comparison to the main courses) but they are quite large. We got an assortment of cheeses for an appetizer and it nearly filled us up. The salads, outside of the basic greens, were also nearly a meal in themselves.
(3)
Sergio D.
If you want to eat the PIZZA as the neapolitans do, this is the right place to go. It's as authentic as it can get, made the same way is done in Naples, Italy (so don't expect to see your pizza overloaded with cheese, because they want you to appreciate the other ingredients as well), very thin and flavorful crust. Prices are good, and the service is as good as their food. Definitely recommended.
(5)
Mike B.
Delicious fresh Italian food.
(4)
Carolina C.
This is by far the BEST pizza in Miami! We go almost every week and we've never had a bad experience. The service and the food are excellent! Highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Ericstevenc T.
Great Cafe pizza
(5)
Ian A.
Some of the best Pizza I've ever had! Recommended by a friend who's from Northern Italy.
(5)
Adam C.
Having just moved to the area, I have decided to deem this my favorite local Italian spot. Our group of four thoroughly enjoyed every bite. I had a pizza with various cheeses. The dough was cooked to perfection in their wood burning oven. You know, not too crispy, and just chewy enough. The little lady had a rigatoni with pancetta and zucchini. She insisted I try it, since she could barely finish half of it. Kryoman ordered the straccetti; sauteed beef and mozzarella over greens. It looked good. Mrs. Kryoman got her standard go to dish, carpaccio, which was prepared to perfection. This place is truly deserving of five stars.
(5)
Jimmy M.
This place was really good. Great service and the food was excellent. We got the lasagna, pizza diavolo and a pasta dish (name escapes me) and split it all. Definitely recommend it if you're in South Beach.
(4)
Alan A.
The best mozzarella de buffalo we have had outside italy. The pizza was amazing as well.
(5)
Masie R.
This is one of my favorite places in Miami Beach, even though we walked by it all the time, it wasn't until we were watching Food Network that we realized what we had down the street. After trying the calzone, we were hooked!! The cheese is AMAZING and cooked perfectly. Even the burnt edges taste like toasted marshmallows. Don't be intimidated by the prices, my boyfriend and I usually split the calzone and its enough food to be satisfied and its only around 15$. Definitely recommend stopping in if you haven't already.
(5)
KK H.
This is the BEST, perhaps the only, real authentic Italian pizza I've ever tasted outside of Italy. If you're looking for American-style or fusion pizza like 99.999% of American pizza places, you won't find it here. This is not pizza you eat with your hands, but rather with a fork and knife. If you haven't had this experience in Italy, you may not appreciate it. If you've never been, this will be as close as you get to a real Italian pizzeria. Reviewers who are disappointed in this restaurant don't understand what a treat they're getting. My only disappointment is that the desserts are a little pricey, but that's only a tiny thing. The Capriccioso is my favorite--it's absolutely amazing. Hoping this amazing restaurant expands to the West Coast in Los Angeles.
(5)
Vanessa G.
Amazing! Real Italian pizza in Miami. We were in an out of the place in 30 minutes, service is excellent and unbelievable fast! Simply great!!!
(5)
Nina T.
good honest italian food. only gnocchi and lasagna and maybe cannelloni are fresh made pasta, rest of pasta is box fyi. gnocchi sauce was great. salads big--share w another person.
(4)
Gianna O.
The mozzarella is delicious. Nice, crispy crust. This is not your typical "city" pizza place, but it definitely stands out.
(4)
Joshua W.
There is no better Napoli style crust in Miami. Period. Service is always right on point. The owner, Larry, is so on top of guest service it just goes against everything you hear about South Beach poor service. My favorite is the Diablo...nice spicy sausage. My Gal loves the Monachina...3 cheeses and that's it. Regular Mozz, smoke Mozz, and like a parm..outstanding. The pastas are great too..the gargenelli (sp) in the cheese bowl....PLEASE! amazing. Get one of these up in Chicago and it may actually challenge my love for Chicago style pizza.
(5)
Neil R.
This is the BEST pizza that I have had outside of Naples, Italy. And I used to live in NYC. I recommend getting a simple cheese only, pizza margarita. Toppings will only detract from the heavenly experience.
(5)
Lizzie R.
Overall I was impressed by this place. I recently moved to the area and am enjoying trying out the restaurants and this is one I would go to again. The crust of the pizza is really good - crispy yet chewy with just a hint of saltiness. My bf had the buffalo burger which was also tasty but oddly did not come with a bun. One star down for the abrupt service, and the tiramisu was only OK.
(4)
Barbara R.
I was born in Italy and I carefully avoid Italian restaurant, because they are not even close to the original. Not to mention the fact that Italian cooking is very different from the North to the South and even from town to town. Fratelli La Bufala aims at being different . The pizza is the thin-crusted real thing and the antipasto brought back fond memories, but the pasta felt too gooey and the Caprese was embarrassing: $17 for four painfully thin slices of tomatoes topped by as thin slices of mozzarella is borderline insulting. Th service is pretty attentive and good. I enjoyed myself the other night, but I am not sure I will be back.
(3)
eglys h.
delicious. fresh. amazing. coupon on hand, we went to try them out. funny thing, one nite we were watching tv (food network) and caught a bit of Guy Ferri's show. it was about this place - next day a coupon $20 for $7 becomes available and we just had to get it. off we went. friday late nite - place was pretty full. found street parking a couple of blocks down. requested a table inside. immediately we sat down and waiter came over. took our drinks order and patiently waited for us to order food - 1st time there took a bit extra time to review menu. wanted to make sure to get it right!!! as we were reviewing, the table next to ours received their first course - CAPRESE salad. a nice size portion too.... approx 4-6 slices of fresh bufalo mozzarella and nicely sliced tomatoes. so we knew then we had to have same!!! so we ordered it. A MUST when you go!!! It is the most delicious bufalo mozzarella we have ever had!! melts in your mouth!!!! when you drizzle a little of the balsamic vinegar over it, enhancing its flavor to a new level, your taste buds jump for joy!!!! the off the the next course - due to their famous "best pizza ever" legend, we had to try it. and also cause of the show where it featured their Calzone we had to try that too..... We had a Blanca Pizza (white pizza - no sauce) ham/mushroom and a Calzone with the smoked mozzarella. both came out promptly. delicious!!! we really enjoyed them both and had a bit to take home. when in Italy and not try a canoli ? could not do it. had to have it. nice size portion 2 per serving good enough to share but really do i have too!!! delicious creamy mozzarella cream!!!! it was so yummy...... lots of chocolate drizzled over top and lots of powdered sugar!!!! also had a glass of the house wine - not bad at all.. Overall we really liked this place. the place is nice, food delicious, service super good (no issues with the coupon) We will make it a point to back soon...
(4)
A S.
This little Italian restaurant has the most amazing and delicious pizza outside of Napoli. The buffalo cheeses, buffalo meats, salads and every dessert are exquisite. They have a good wine list and decent service. I guess it depends who you get. I have always been lucky. If I don't give this place a 5 star is because they have to work on their espresso machine. I love the food here. I will keep coming back and recommending it to everyone. This place never lost quality since they opened.
(4)
Joaquin M.
I have eaten pizza here a couple of times in the past 4 years. The place is very cool. I always had good service. In an actual italian restaurant that is an achievement. But every time I finish my pizza, this thought comes to my head: This is way I didn't came back to this place: Its the cheese! They use buffalo cheese. Its suppose to be better, more expensive, you get the picture. But they use so little cheese, I feel like I'm eating Bread with sauce and some hints of cheese. That is not pizza! I want cheese on my pizza. I don't want to see the bread, except on the border of the pizza. And BTW I don't love cheese. I never ask for extra cheese . I actually only eat cheese on pizzas. But whats the point of eating a pizza and trying to find the cheese there. So after 4 times of getting annoyed by that. I decided i have given them enough chances. You guys keep making your pizzas with very little cheese and I'll give my money to someone that actually uses cheese on their pizza.
(3)
Alex G.
In a nutshell, good but not great. I actually didn't like the menu, as I felt it didn't have "modern" Italian dishes, and it was a bit stuck in the past. Without going into specifics regarding our whole meal, everything was made to order but lacked a certain "something." Meat sauce didn't have to usual Italian sweetness, and the pasta was a bit overcooked. Other dishes followed the same path. We did not try the pizza, which may have been a mistake. Still, I don't know if I would come back. Not bad, just not great...
(3)
Nico B.
!!
(4)
Eugenio F.
I love this place! Not only because they speak to me in Italian every time i go there.... This is the most authentic pizza you can find in Miami (and possibly in the U.S.) My order is simple: 1) small mozzarella di bufala; 2) pizza caprese.
(5)
Joshua M.
One of my Favorite Pizza / Pasta in miami beach The Good *Indoor - "good feel" Decor *Friendly staff and atmosphere *Good use of fresh ingredients & consistently delivering good tasting food *Staff always has been friendly * Clean place Pizza's are a good choice so was the steak .... the pasta was good but the portion size reminded a small appetizer rather than something that can qualify as a meal ... this is the only reason why this place does not get the 5th star
(4)
Anae' G.
This place was right around the corner from the hotel so we decided to give it a shot. It's a little small but it's not too cramped. The staff was everywhere though. It had me wondering why so many of them were working tonight if they were going to be running over each other like this lol. The food was great. We ordered pizza and fries. I'm a sucker for a brick oven pizza and it was pretty tasty. For all of my people who've never been to Miami before, listen up. MIAMI LIES ABOUT PORTIONS. SHARE EVERYTHING. lol I'm serious though. We asked the waitress how big the pizzas were and she said it was a nice personal size pizza. We asked her how big the bowl of fries were and she held up one hand and made a small "c" with it to show the bowl size and said it was that big. Because me and my friend weren't too hungry, we split the pizza and fries. Too bad for my other friends who ordered their own because you can literally only finish half. That waitress was a liar lol. From that point on, we shared everything we got down there. But very nice staff and the food was good so they're a-ok in my book.
(3)
Shaun U.
We were in the mood for some take out or delivery pizza after arriving in South Beach. This seemed to be the best option based on yelp reviews plus it was right around the corner from our place. We got a manachina and wurstel pies which were both quite average at best. It wasnt too expensive but also wasnt cheap. So by definition of a 2 star rating, Ive most definitely had better.
(2)
Trina R.
Excellent! I went here last night with my best friend because I had a livingsocial deal that was going to expire and wanted to try it out. I'm glad I did. First we got to the valet which seemed pretty crazy and had to wait about 5 to 10 min for the driver. To be fair it was a friday night and the drivers were very efficient, there were just a lot of cars. Valet was free but make sure the restaurant validates it. We had reservations but since we were late due to the valet lol we had to wait like 5 minutes, no biggie! The restaurant was packed and a little crazy but it fit the scene. My friend and i got a table all the way to the back near the hall to the kitchen, it was a little hectic but it really didn't bother too much, I had my back to it. Apparently the table before us spilled olive oil on the floor and they did their best to clean it but it was funny when one server slipped and almost fell on my lap but he didn't. Anyway, our server was fantastic! His name was Stefano, he was really hot....I mean efficient and very attentive! Lol. Now for the food. We each had a glass of wine. For appetizer we had the bruschetta which brought four sliced pieces of bread with the bruschetta on top. It was really good. For our entree, we split a pizza "La Parma" which had prosciutto on top, it was to die for. The pizza is pretty big, some people can probably eat the whole thing but both of us were full after splitting it. Of course there is always room for dessert, so we opted for the Tiramisu. It was fantastic for all you Tiramisu lovers. That's my friend's favorite dessert and she said it was her new number 1. So there you go. I also noticed a lot of people getting take-out, I can see why. I will definitely come back here, hopefully soon.
(4)
Fernando S.
Pizzas were tasty but I felt there wasn't enough time allowed for the sauces to settle. Everything basically slipped off when you grabbed a piece. The ingredients were on point. The ambience was very tight but surprisingly tolerable. The decor was interesting. I saw a tub of Nutella the likes I've never seen before; it was huge! The free prosecco with a yelp check-in was a nice added touch. Waiter was prompt and attentive.
(3)
Tal T.
I've visited Fratelli la Bufala twice. The first time I was underwhelmed by the lack of cheese (and flavor) on my pie. The second was seriously better, and another time I had carry-out pizza that was tasty as well. It breaks down like this. The service is competent, if a little slow. Don't expect American-style friendliness and smiles. The pizza is different from what most of us think of when we think "pizza." Crust is very thin, ingredients are high-quality, and the made-to-order pies are cooked in a coal-fired oven. La Collinara is my favorite: bufala mozzarella, pancetta & basil, topped with a nice runny egg. It is a bit pricey, with most of the small pizzas in the $14-$18 range. Bottom Line: Order well in this true Italian pizza & pasta joint and you can fall in love with its unique offerings.
(4)
Sarah G.
Disappointed, the service was good however the food was quite tasteless and the pizza was undercooked. We did enjoy the buratta but it was overpriced at $23. Had such higher expectations ;(
(2)
Alfredo K.
After a hard day working the Design Miami event, my co-workers and I were craving pizza, lasagna and chicken parm. We asked a local store owner, who moved here from the Bronx, of a good pizza place and he recommended Fratelli's. We usually eat at another place close to our hotel, but it was Friday night in Miami and there was over an hour wait. The restaurant is located on the corner and we could see that it was packed with patron, a good sign. i am on a constant quest for good pizza in Florida. We were seated right away and I was a little disappointing in the service. The seating was tight and the legs on the table made us want to straddle the table because you could not sit naturally unless you are 4 years old. it reminded me of the SOHO restaurants in New York where 3 people have to share one chair and you are privy to everyone's hipster conversation about skinny jeans and the newest iPhone. It took a little while to get to us and we had to ask for bread (cold and straight out of the fridge), and olive oil. Maybe they thought I should lay off the bread...and they are right. We searched the menu far and wide, we looked under the table, at the walls and could not find the chicken parm...come on now! An Italian restaurant in a tourist area and no chicken parm? Ok, I told myself it must be a mistake. After waiting for the waiter to come over (he was busy), he told us no chicken parm..ugh. They did have the lasagna so I decided to try it. We ordered a pepperoni pizza because you can always throw down a slice..right? The pizza was pretty good, the sauce was good and the pepperoni thin and spicy. The lasagna arrived and it was great. Lasagna at 10 pm at night is not advisable, but what the heck it was worth it. If you are near South Beach I would try this place out. It's decent pizza and excellent entrees.
(4)
David P.
This is an authentic Italian place, best Pizza and Pasta in Miami. Service is amazing as well. I go to this place at least once a week
(5)
Steven M.
I'm from NY so I'm a little biased. But I think this place is way over rated. We went there for dinner tonight. First. It was about 90 degrees in the restaurant which made for a very uncomfortable experience. Food was ok, nothing special. Service was slow and they never refilled my water which would have been appreciated since the heat was unbearable. I saw other reviews mention the same issue so you would think they would address their AC issue. Sorry, but I would pass on this place.
(2)
Eva L.
I decided to give this place 5 star even though I once swore to god that I'm not gonna have Italian food whenever there's an option. haha.. not i change my mind ;) This place tastes amazing, looks amazing, and feels amazing. I ordered the Exotic salad with mix greens, hearts of palm, walnuts, diced pineapple & cheese buffalo cheese. That was the only time that I actually finished my dish!!! Love love it. My friend ordered something like steak pizzaiola. Oooo that was nice! Service and price both rock. Totally recommend this place to y'all.
(5)
William O.
I first had buffalo mozarella a few years ago, so when I found a coupon online for this place, I felt a tickle in my belly button. I couldn't WAIT to go. The place is on the beach, which I dig, so big ups there. It's not overly trendy or anything. Just a nice little pizza restaurant. Nothing overly unassuming, which, once again, is greatly appreciated by my grungy-Chuck-Taylors-wearing-self. The food, well, I mean... that's a different story. Fratelli La Bufala proved to be another one of those places with a fantastic appetizer and a mediocre main dish. As a starter, my then lady friend (how often do I use that term?) and I ordered an eggplant lasagna-type deal that was very, very good. Molded into a sizeable mound, drenched in marinara, sprinkled with parmesan. It was fantastic. In fact, if ever I venture to this place again, I may just spend an afternoon eating eggplant lasgna and drinking red wine through a silly straw. For the main dish, we ordered an artichoke pizza with buffalo mozarella that left oodles to be desired. My biggest issue was the arrangement of the toppings. I know it sounds like i'm nitpicking, but it really sucks to take a slice that is just absolutely loaded with artichokes only to follow it with a slice that was essentially nothing more than a sauce and cheese sammie. No, scratch that. It's not nitpicking. It really isn't too much to ask to have the toppings on your pizza evenly distributed. If Pizza Hut can take the time to layer its Meat Lovers with something tantamount to a veil of pepperoni, then a place on South Beach can certainly find a better way to go about presenting its product. Still. I won't sit here and tell you that the pizza was awful. It really wasn't. In fact, nothing about this place was awful, but nothing was really exceptional either. Between a very satisfying appetizer and an awkwardly configured pie, this place averages out to a respectable -- albeit disappointing -- three stars.
My husband and I like this place a lot. It is a nice place to go with friends - think double date night. They will often give you a free glass of prosecco if they are busy and you have to wait more than 2 minutes. I like their salads and pasta, and my husband always orders a custom pizza. The food is solid and the atmosphere is nice. Valet parking is available right out front for a few dollars.
(4)
Paul M.
Having been to Naples on a Med cruise and not being able to try authentic Napoli pizza has always bugged me. So, I was happy to finally check out FLB. However, I think it may be easier to fly to Naples than to find parking around FLB. My selective amnesia was in full effect as I apparently have forgotten how bad it is to park around there. We went for lunch on a Sunday, and the only places to park were $25 flat rate garages/lots or the valet in front of Love/Hate. There was a free valet booth in front of FLB, but the guy must have been at church as I drove around for more than 20 minutes and there was no one there. I miraculously found parking 4 blocks away when someone pulled off the street. Ok now for the good news. After a healthy walk to the restaurant, we were surprised to see that we had free prosecco just for checking in on Yelp. You can always rely on Yelp for the hookup.... We started with a La Millefoglie which is very similar to an eggplant parmigiana. It was delicious, although a bit on the smaller side. I was hoping to taste more of the famous mozzarella, but since it was melted I didn't get too much of the flavor. We shared a pizza diavolo which was a red pizza with spicy pepperoni and cheese. It was definitely on the spicy side, but absolutely delicious. The crust was thin and tear away soft. They also have italian beers here - Peroni and Moretti. I had the Moretti La Rossa (dark) and it was great. Overall I would say that the food is great here. I don't think it is the best pizza in Miami, but definitely very good. The parking situation here though is HORRENDOUS and FLB would probably get 4 stars if it wasn't for that.
(3)
Jeanette T.
great meal and intimate atmosphere, very friendly staff . we had the esotica salad. . fresh ingredients and great flavor! we tried the casertina, white pizza with sausage and broccoli rabe... delicious! my husband who is Sicilian couldn't stop raving about it! love the wood burning pizza oven! We would definitely return!
(5)
Patrick B.
This was one of the best Italian Restaurants I have ever been to. Garganelli was simply amazing, especial with the Parmesan cheese shell dish.
(5)
Lauren D.
Awesome, amazing, fabulous! Best restaurant in town hands down! They're authentic Italian servers with a vast knowledge of their ingredients and what extras they have to offer! I went there 4 times in 4 days! Pizza margarita is just WOW! I would marry that place!
(5)
Robert C.
I don't know if we just came on an off day or what, but we didn't get the experience we thought we would. There were only a handful of people in the restaurant to start off. We were offered to sit wherever we wanted. After that, it was a very slow lunch... First off, we did use our free glass of prosecco thanks to YELP!! We were so hungry so we decided to try the bruschetta. I have to say it was so very hard, the bread was burnt and it was a very messy dish overall. Our pizza arrived, we chose the prosciutto and mozzarella with mushrooms added. I would say it was good, but not overly superb! It was very fresh, in fact so fresh that there was hair in the cheese!! YUMMY!! Oh and how nice of them to add gratuity for me...ho hum!
(2)
Erick S.
Me and my GF ordered a Margherita pizza and a plate of "Bucatini alla Carbonara". The Bucatini was delicious, the pizza no so much, it was not cooked to its entirety and came out a little under cooked, did not enjoy it all. Over all good service, good price, but the pizza did not cut the deal. Just being honest.
(3)
Adam S.
This place has some really fresh and really nice pizza and calzones. I feel like this place is a 4 1/2. The good: the caprese salad was probably the best I've ever had. The mozzarella was really amazing and the tomato was so fresh and flavorful. Amazing. The pizza tasted great. I had the one with spicy salami and it was plenty spicy without being overpowering. The service was polite and attentive (which is an accomplishment in itself on Miami beach). The bad: The pizza was so flimsy I couldn't eat it until it cooled and even at that point I had to kind of roll the pizza up to eat it. Also, this is a pricey pizza joint. $65 for a caprese, a calzone, and a pretty small pizza is a lot of cash (but it is really tasty stuff). There's a reason this place gets a lot of hype.
(4)
Sandra N.
I went here recently with my family and boyfriend. My brother had been here a couple of times already. I liked it! The food was delicious and I really appreciated the fact that the waiters were actually Italian and had accents. Awesome. We shared 4 plates. The Diavola, the Margherita, a canelon and a pasta a la bolognese. All. Delicious! Plus, if you check in here you get a free glass of prosecco!
(4)
Joseluis A.
yay, practice everything you learned and forgot when you took italian 101 because you thought the teacher was cute. buonasera! antipasto! panettone! fyi, i did not pass this class. i came here with a friend who was craving italian. ive heard good things about fratelli la bufala. ive also heard its a chain thats all over europe. one evening, this man approached me in italian, at the corner of washington and 10th, asking me for directions to FLB. naturally, i was inclined to think, hey, this guy is italian, this restaurant must be good. i cant say i was impressed. we got carpaccio and bruschetta. it was just ok. i cant quite remember the name of the pasta dish i had cause, it was all in italian, of course and i thought we already established i did not pass this class. all i remember was that it was a bit too heavy on the cream. the chain smokers sitting next to us ordered pizza which looked promising. perhaps ill be back and update this review if it merits. otherwise, 3 stars seem fair to me, if we account for location, service, prices and their menu.
(3)
Jorge C.
Best authentic pizza made from buffalo. One of the best pizza places in south beach! Tiramisu is amazing! Great service and great pasta dishes as well. I always see a lot of Italians eating there.
(5)
Christoph S.
This was awesome. Stopped here after a road trip. Starving. Complementary prosecco (for each of us 2) with the Yelp checkin. Slammed a Peroni before the red wine came (chilled in a bucket as requested, it was warm). The Prosciutto and Buffala Mozzarella appetizer was very good. I ordered the Prosciutto (see a trend, hmm??) Pizza with Ricotta and a side salad. The pizza was fantastic, the dough all blistered and stuff, you know, as you would expect out of a wood-burning oven (which, by the way, you should check out..). I didn't care for the ricotta making the pizza soggy in the center, but it was still very good. It was late September, we were given the last table on the patio, it was super nice out, we had a fantastic dinner. Wood-burning ovens are tough to find in Chicago, it was a joy to eat dinner here. I would return if I was back in the area.
(5)
Chantal G.
Yummy, but expensive. Cheese should not be that much money... However I appreciated the free glass of prosecco with a Yelp check-in! We ended up ordering a huge mound of cheese. That's exactly what it was... A HUGE mound of cheese. It was nevertheless delicious, but so expensive for just that.Additionally, I enjoyed the outside seating and the waiters were very attentive. The atmosphere was fun and clearly had a spot for people about to head out for the night.
(3)
Syuzanna S.
Food is amazing and I mean it! affordable price, friendly and quick stuff, the only minus is that place is very noisy. I understand it's an Italian restaurant but still...:)
(4)
Ute L.
If you plan on coming here on a Saturday night for dinner, make a reservation. The place is always packed with people waiting for tables. The food is good but in my opinion overpriced so I am not really sure why it's always so crowded. It seems to be a popular family place, so between the kids misbehaving and the parents yelling at them the noise level can be high. Also not a good choice if you're claustrophobic, the tables are a little to close for comfort. The parmigiana appetizer was delicious, eggplant layered with mozzarella cheese and baked into a creamy, gooey treat. It is large enough to share. I ordered the cornettone, a home made pasta shell stuffed with ricotta and topped with mozzarella and marinara sauce, good but bland. BF ordered the pasta with olives and artichokes. Neither of us liked it as it was drowned in olive oil, way too greasy. The pizzas here are good, the best part is the crust. It is a thin crust and they give it a wonderful smoky char on the grill. Pizzas are big but they skimp on the toppings considering what they charge. The sausage on the pizza also was not fully cooked. We like it browned, not pink. The tiramisu was one of the best I've had, not too soggy and not too creamy, perfect. Large enough to share. The "cheese pie" dessert was A-OK. Sort of a dry ricotta cheesecake, the flavor reminiscent of cannoli filling but I didn't care for the grainy texture. The portions are just right but you definitely won't need a doggy bag. If you're really hungry better order an appetizer. The prices aren't that great, you can expect to pay $80 for two people with a shared appetizer and dessert.
(3)
Melissa K.
An Italian themed restaurant with Spanish overtones?! They claim to have Naples-inspired pizza but everything inside is Spanish themed from the pizza taste to the waiters' outfits. The pizza is just okay. Thin crust with decent ingredients but nothing special. The service is typical South Beach - apethetic and poor. It's in a busy location and seems to do lots of business. There's a ton of families so make sure you enjoy eating next to children before you head here.
(2)
Suzana U.
Really good Italian place, lots of Italian working there and crowd... Pizza was amazing.. gnocchi was good too. But the pizza,.. YUMMMMM!!
(4)
Rachael H.
I went there last night. HOLY COW WAS IT DELICIOUS! My sister and I saw this place on a food channel show and made reservations that night. When we arrived it seemed pretty empty and as if we didn't need them, but hey, you get points on open table, so whatever. We got a free bottle of wine from a four square promotion and we started off with the beef carpaccio. It's served with Parmesan cheese shavings and arugula. The beef is thin enough to like and thick enough to not fall apart and the cheese was amazing! I had a pasta with artichoke hearts and panchetta. I can't remember the name but it was really tasty. I wanted more to magically appear on my plate when I was done. My boyfriend had the marinara pizza, which for having none of the infamous buffalo cheese, was pretty darn good. My sister had the gnocchi which was fantastic and is served with actual buffalo cheese cubes. Her boyfriend had the calzone which we saw being made and finished in a matter of seconds. He said it tasted like it did when he visited Italy. Yes, It's THAT good. We finished off with the tiramisu, which wasn't out of this world, but still good.
(5)
Michelle E.
We went to FLB three times in one week...That's how good this place is. From the bufala carpaccio to the Reale pizza, we were wowed with every bite. We often go to Fratelli la Bufala when we are visiting Miami and we dream about those meals for weeks after we get back to NY. I hear there is a NYC branch, but the reviews are not so good for some reason. If you're in town I suggest you give this place a try. Making reservations on OpenTable is a good way to secure a table inside, as crowded nights only leave the hot tables outside open for patrons to use. Unfortunately none of their desserts were notable enough to recommend, so skip the desserts and go to Gelato-Go around the corner on Ocean Drive instead. FYI, this place is packed with authentic Italians who know good food, which should be even more confirmation that this place is the real deal.
(5)
Elizabeth H.
Amazing pizza!! Small restaurant but we loved the food and the service!
(5)
Pete M.
Excellent true Neopolitan pizza - the certified high end stuff just like they do in Naples. The crust chewy, a little underdone intentionally and superb. Nice local fresh ingredients. Great salads and reasonable wine list. Great for family. Very nice pasta too. Should be more places like this.
(4)
Toy L.
Checked out Fratelli La Bufala while in South Beach on the recommendation of Yelp. Buffalo cheese appeared to be a main item in most of their dishes. Therefore I ordered the buffalo cheese ball as a starter. It was ginormous. It had a crispy outer layer and a gooey inner layer. Delicious. Next I split a margarita pizza with a friend. All of their pizzas are prepared in a brick oven, and you can taste it. It was very good. Best pizza I've had in Florida.
(4)
Gisela C.
It's been a while since I have been here and I am compelled to review the dish I had tonight. I will begin by saying that i love cheese. I probably love cheese more than i love some people I am related to... with that in mind, the Cornottone is officially my favorite dish here. If you like cheese, try it. It will not disappoint. The service is still strong here (a rarity for an affordable place on Miami Beach)... Check in on Four Square and get a free bottle of wine... its actually pretty good. Enjoy!
(4)
Alex O.
Coming from NY, we always have low expectations of Italian/ Pizza Restaurants elsewhere. Everything was amazing, service, food, cost were all on point. Calzone was NY brick oven-esque. Proscuitto with the bufala was one of the best I've had. Excellent Job!!! Highly recommended. Came back in May and it's consistently good. I'll be back again soon hopefully!!
(5)
Lauren P.
Best Pizza in Miami by far!!
(5)
Eric B.
Diavolo pizza is delicious. Bit cramped inside.
(4)
Aris F.
Just another place serving sad little attempts at pizzas. I was hoping for one of the best pizzas in the Miami area, but what I got instead was "bland and underwhelming," as Chester B put it. I had heard so much about their "mouth-watering cheese." Where was this extraordinary mozzarella? It sure wasn't on my pizza. Then there was the tomato sauce, which had enough salt to kill a small horse (I only lived to write this review by being unable to consume the whole pizza). And only a single, token basil leaf on a margherita? WTF? Not to say their other food isn't good -- the place was packed, so they must be doing something right, I guess. If you do decide to go, be prepared to pay for parking. It's Sobe, after all.
(2)
Jenny L.
Wonderfully cozy restaurant with excellent pizza. Went during a weekend for lunch and we were seated quickly.The valet parking is free if the restaurant validates if for you. The server was friendly and willing to offer tips about the trademark dishes. Ended up getting the pizza with the prosciutto on top and it came out w/ a warm thin crust topped w/ tomato sauce and excellent blend of prosciutto and herbs. Excellent food.
(5)
J B.
I felt transported to Italy when we dined here last wk. Everyone here speaks Italian and all the waiters are HOT. We ordered the Cheeze + Tomato appetizer...meh, just OK. But their Margherita Pizza was yummy! The soft cheese and light tomato sauce on the thin crust was cooked perfectly on their stone oven. It's big enough to share between 2 people. My friend ordered fried mozzarella and it was one big fried ball. Pretty funny.
(4)
Kris M.
Amazing! Yes, I mean amazing! One of the few places in Miami that offers a taste of Italy! Pizza is great. My favorite is the diavola with spicy salami and fresh mozzarella. Their pasta is always good, and if you're not into pasta try their buffalo fillet! Very nice! The servers are A's friendly and knowledgeable A's the servers in Italy and they speak Italian. Even the managers are friendly! Overall a great place! I highly recommend it!!!
(5)
Brent M.
One of the best places to get a pizza in Miami. The mozzarella alone is worth braving the horrors of a trip to Miami Beach (sorry Miami Beach residents). Bruschetta is so ubiquitous that it's hard to find a place that offers in a way that really stands out, but FLB is one of those places. My favorite pizza is the Diavola - tomato sauce, spicy salami, bufala mozzarella, basil & crushed red pepper. Awesome.
(4)
Victoria L.
If you are in a mood for a good pizza, I mean VERY good pizza, no frills, no thousands of toppings, but simple sauce, cheese and some basil prepared to perfection, this is the place. I have tried other items on the menu, but their Traditional Italian Margarita pizza is the one I come back to all the time. Also, their bufala and strawberries dessert is amazing.
(4)
Rubes L.
Being a huge fan of Italian food, I actually don't really get the hype over FLB. Boyfriend and I ordered a pizza and a calzone, and both were decent but not especially impressive. The service was pretty quick but not especially good, same for the price. They do have a pretty extensive pizza menu though, so we could have been unlucky with our choice as well.
(3)
Andrea S.
If you're going crazy looking at the same menu restaurant after restaurant on Ocean Drive and have a hankering for good Italian food, hustle on over to FLB. My mom and I were seated immediately, my choice of table landing us right in front of the TV during a Milan-Munich game (score!) and a basket of warm bread and free prosecco (thank you, foursquare!) were promptly brought out. I would say that the game was great, which it was, but the staff of native Italian men made it fun to look beyond the TV, too. We ordered the mediterraneo salad and my god that mozzarella! Bring me out a plate of the mozzarella with a drizzle of balsamic and I would've been totally content. For my entree I ordered lo scarpariello. As someone that cannot tolerate really heavy food when it's hot out, this "light" pasta fit the bill. Don't let the simplicity fool you, the very few ingredients are put together perfectly and highlight the freshness. I googled this place as soon as I got home only to find that FLB in DC closed right before I came back to town. Maybe instead of going back to Miami, I'll hit it up next time in Italy.
(5)
Michelle D.
Do yourself a favor and visit their website - even if you don't need to look at the menu ahead of time. Charming story on how the place all began and music to accompany. Friendly staff, ready to bring you extra olive oil or vinaigrette, if need be. Fresh ingredients (buffalo mozzarella imported weekly) and pleasant view of 5th Street. And, fun fact, the logo is a water buffalo. Seriously wish I could get the name of the song they use on their homepage. Ah, for another day!
(4)
Ray m.
I wouldn't say it's the best but definitely the freshest! all the ingredients are fresh and the pizza is made almost in front of you. it's a small place with the pizza in the dining area. I ordered a simple preusuto with cheese and it was just enough for 2 to share. owners are italian and the prices are average. we only came here b/c checking in with yelp gave free glass of wine. it's worth stopping by again
(4)
Christina B.
My husband had the pizza and I had the pasta. Pretty good and a nice portion. My only complaint was that it was as hot inside as it was outside and the chairs are not very comfortable.
(3)
Daniele F.
I went here for dinner tonight...Cool place, slick service and great pizzas...nothing like the rest of the trash they serve in Miami (apart from Blue La pizzeria del Sole, which is 30 miles away...) Real Italians (like me) work and dine there, just because it feels like home and the pizza is the best around! Try some of the specials...even if not all of them are so great!
(5)
Joseph P.
Better than I thought it would be..it is on a super crowded corner of 5th and Washington. I figured it would be full of tourists and overpriced, but went with a coupon ($15 for $35!) . Sat outside in a surpisingly serene little "garden" on 5th st. Very pleasant evening and decent food.
(3)
Alex G.
I have to say this is one of those places where you can either get so excited and love it, or you can simply say "never coming again" - I think it all depends on the day, the time, and the mood of the waiters - So, to the point, most of the menu is good, the pizzas are very good, the pastas not always the best. The services depends on who you get - The location is fantastic, the parking a pain - Give it a try, and let us know what you think - Ciao !
(3)
Osama B.
Best bufala ever. I think I can eat here everyday and never get sick of it, ever. You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack. But when I came hereI knew this would be a place of my own. And my wolf pack... it grew by one. So there... . I was alone first in the pack, and then Doug joined in later. And six months ago, when I first went here I thought, "Wait a second, could it be?" And now I know for sure, I just added one more to my wolf pack.
(5)
J C.
Food is Amazing! My taste buds had an orgasm for every dish I ordered from apps to main course & dessert. Atmosphere is great w/ indoor & outdoor seating. The prices are a little pricier plus they automatically add a 17% tip on your bill.
(4)
Cathy M.
great pizza, decent prices. i would go back with family, kids are welcome... i got a free bottle of house wine for the table with my foursquare check in!
(4)
adrian s.
all I have to say is, this is the one place in Miami where you want to eat Napoli style pizza. EXCELLENT!
(5)
Andrew K.
Great restaurant....the food is dang good and the service is friendly. There's this one pasta dish that has a light cream sauce and sausage, and is served in a Parmesan bowl. (yes, a bowl made out of Parmesan cheese!) I had the gazpacho soup, which was tasty. It was pureed, which I'm not used to, but the taste was really nice. It ends up being pricey if you order salad and dessert.
(4)
Richard H.
The lasagna is to die for! However, service wasn't great. No one greeted us as we came in, and after bringing our food, no one checked on us until we were ready for the cheque.
(4)
Mimi M.
very fresh mozzarella! a little pricey but overall good food.
(3)
Kiki W.
food and service are so so.
(2)
Yuli L.
FLB is a small yet cozy italian restaurant on SoFi. All the servers are originally from Italy, which adds to the authenticity of the establishment. Most of the people dining seem to be Italian locals; that should tell you something. The food is great -- my favorites include the carpaccio and the scarpariello. Lastly, if you check in w/ foursquare(not sure about the yelp app) you get a free bottle of house wine w/ your meal.
(4)
Y P.
I usually don't venture into the SoBe area for eats but when I was around the area, I remembered hearing about this place and decided to stop by. Now, the food is absolutely amazing. But the service is not there. I mean, the food came quickly and my water was refilled in a timely manner and all, but the staff was extremely apathetic. And the fact that the 17% tip was included in the bill may be the reason why. I've read that this is usually the case in SoBe but this is the first time I've actually had to witness it. But besides this, the food definitely merits a five. I came to order the neapolitan pizza and calzone. I was thoroughly impressed by the sheer size of the calzone. But I quickly forgot about the size once I tasted it. The first bite was one of just dough. Now, I would imagine this to be quite boring and a nuisance in other calzones but I wouldn't mind just ordering this dough and munching on it as a meal. Its literally that good. But once again, this great impression was shattered after I went deeper into the calzone. The cheesiness was great but for me, the best part was the ricotta. I don't know how to explain it, but this was probably the best ricotta I've ever tasted. Probably because of the freshness. The pizza was just as great here. I ordered the simple margherita and it blew my mind. The person I was with has had pizza at naples and claims that although this pizza wasn't quite as good, it was definitely up there. Extremely authentic. The cheese was great as well and the crust did not change. Sheer bliss. The price tag did not come as a bother either, because I found $7 to be extremely reasonable. I will definitely be back here, and maybe since I know what to expect from the service, I will finally be able to award this place its 5th star. But until then, the disillusionment of bad service keeps me from giving it to them.
(4)
Maris D.
We paid $75 for dinner for two adults and two small children, no liquor. The pizza had hardly any cheese or toppings. It took forever to get the food. I had to ask for every refill on drinks. The waiter gave us "incorrect" change, tried to keep $6 and when we called him out on it, he did not apologize. Just put on a pissed off grin. NEVER AGAIN
(1)
C R.
Really excellent spicy salami pizza, I never would have thought it would taste so good, they have the right ovens if you are into pizza.
(5)
Andrew J.
Pizza is excellent, made with buffalo mozzarella as the name implies. Very urbane, on a busy corner in South Beach. Lots of outdoor seating for people watching. Mostly Italian staff.
(4)
Liliana E.
Good food...pizza, salads, desserts, wine, coffee. It's a relatively small place and it's usually packed. If the weather is nice you can sit outside, otherwise expect the waiters to be running by you every minute.
(4)
Arlynes H.
Delicious Italian food, our waiter had the mean face of the waiters that you find in Italy but our food came fast and with perfect taste! Caprese impanata( I think that this is the correct spelling) tastes so good that you don't want to share.!
(4)
Darin C.
I ordered a pizza and a calzone. Both came out soggy except for the edge, which was good. Limp pizza doesn't do it for me.
(2)
Nicholas P.
I like everything about this place. I will start with the service, the first time I went not only was the service great on an especially busy night, my beer bottle was broken and even though I did not cut my lip, the owner comped our meal. You usually don't find customer service like that in Miami restaurants, instantly made me a fan and regular customer. Their pizza is fantastic, plenty to choose from and very authentic, IMO one of the most authentic Italian experiences in Miami. They do have a few other locations, but this is the only one outside of Italy, or at least Europe for that matter. The Italian options are equally as good as the pizza, I have not had a bad dish there. I have been on dates there, with groups and to their anniversary party, alwas great ambiance and a good vibe. Finally we get to the price, these guys understand the restaurant business.
(5)
Joe W.
My girlfriend and i went here, i ordered the restorinto calzone which had alot of dough to it and very little meat but a perfect amount of cheese. I was expecting it to be better then it was but it was still good, i ate this all bu myself so it was a good portion. My girlfriend had the diavalo pizza which was very good, the sauce was sweet and spicey but was alittle different then our home town pizza that is thick and hard. This was alittle soggy so expect to eat it with a fork.
(4)
V F.
Very good food and very good service as well. We had a pizza (Diavola), pasta (Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese), and Bufala Tiramisú and Sorbetto for dessert. They were all tasty and delicious. My kids loved all of the food. The location is close to South Beach. To top it off, they had free valet parking too!
(5)
J R.
Awesome authentic pizza. Mozzerella is imported weekly and unlike anything you can get locally. Try the bufala appetizer with foccacia! Friendly staff and they all speak italian
(4)
David C.
I love this place. I have been to this location on a couple of occasions and each time I have had a pizza. The staff could polish up on service skills, but the quality of the food is excellent. The pizza crust is thin and tasty. The size of the pizza, while we were told was meant to serve one, can serve two if one person is not too hungry. If ordering a pizza, do not order a salad... you will not be able to finish both. One of my friends ordered some pasta and was pleased with his dish. Outdoor seating is available... and was packed over the NYE weekend. The interior is nothing special, so do not head here when you are looking to impress. However, head here for some good pizza. I have had better, but not too many better than this spot. If you are looking for a quality pizza with fantastic flavor this is your spot.
(4)
Mauricio B.
We were very happy with the salad (Mediterraneo) we ordered; however, pizzas were disappointing, not much taste and crust was too soft. On the positive side, hostess was friendly and was able to seat us fairly quickly even though the restaurant was very busy. Service was also prompt: however, waiter ignored the request to provide the offer announced on Yelp for a free glass of Prosecco. The positive part is that when I told this to the manager, he gave me the wine I had as a compliment. Very good response, which makes me feel like coming back to try other dishes in this restaurant.
(3)
sean k.
A near-perfect pizza. Sweet sauce, thin-crispy dough, and the FRESHEST mozzarella cheese a pizza can have. The basil doesn't hurt either. I also love how the pizza only takes a couple minutes to make, because it is SO thin, 1 person could easily polish their own pie.
(4)
Valerie D.
The pizza, bread and homemade cheeses were phenomenal! I cant say enough about them! Two thumbs up. The service, however, leaves much to be desired. Our host/server was not too friendly. He seemed to be annoyed when we walked in at 1pm for lunch. He came to take our drink orders but only listened to what kind of water we wanted and walked away. We asked for other drinks on his next visit to our table. It was hot out so we went through our water pretty quickly but no one was available to provide a refill for a long time. He was only nice when we were signing the check, which seems odd to me since the restaurant tacks on an automatic ~17-18% gratuity. Maybe thats why he did not feel compelled to go out of his way. That being said, go for the food, not for the service. It IS just a pizza joint after all.
(3)
Kiki W.
food and service are so so.
(2)
Leslie S.
Hands down, the best and most authentic place to grab the most appetizing bite of pizza! You walk in and you feel like you are in a restaurant in Italy. The music, the staff, the decor. It all screams out Italy. My hubby and I walked in here due to the great reviews we read on Yelp. It was between Fratelli La Bufala and the restuarant on their east side. I'm so glad we chose this one. We were seated right away and checked in through Yelp. They gave us two complimentary glasses of Proseco for checking in. Everything on the menu looked foreign to us, but went ahead with our gut instinct and ordered their buffala mozzarella which is imported daily (La Mozzata). It was so fresh and soft, the mozzarella melted in your mouth with every bite. We also ordered their white pizza, La Colinara. OMG! Can I tell you that this has been the most delicious pizza I have ever tried?? I think about it and my mouth waters. The ultra thin crust pizza is topped with buffalo mozzarella, a fried egg (which you break and spread the yolk over the entire pizza), pancetta, and basil. Every bite was like a piece of heaven. Finally for dessert, our server suggested we try their cheese tart dessert (I forgot the name of it). It was quite yummy but there was no way we could have finished it. Service was great from beginning to end. We came back a second time, but ordered the pizza carryout. We ordered La Colinara once again and it was just as good. So if you are looking for pizza Napoli-style come here! You wont regret it. And try La Colinara!
(5)
Cindy L.
Update: I forgot to mention the decor! Cozy, comfty and can accomodate relatively large parties to tables for just 2, typical Miami outdoor seating. I liked how you can watch them make the pizza from scratch :) Can't remember everything everyone ate but there definitely was gnocchi w/bufala ricotta, fresh tomatoes, basil and bufala mozzarella, Lasagna made with homemade egg pasta. bufala bolognese, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan cheese and I had the Tortiglioni alla Nerano w/speck, zucchini, cream, provola cheese and cherry tomatoes. The food was decent, nothing spectacular, it's nice that they use fresh mozzarella and make their own pastas and dough, the fresher the better. I don't know why I ordered the toftiglioni when I can't handle creamy stuff. I can't only eat maybe 5 bites and then I get nauseas :X It was a good dish just couldn't finish it, very rich! Everyone enjoyed their food. I wish I had a pizza! They looked really good...very light and authentic. For dessert we ordered the sampler, everything sounded better than it tasted: La Ricottina - Ricotta, lemon flavored with wild cherry coulis -- this was the only dessert we liked! I cannolini - Cannoli with bufala ricotta cream, limoncello and chocolate --a regular ol' cannoli but nice and eat-able La Torta Caprese - World famous chocolate almond cake from the island of Capri -- this didn't taste like almonds at all and was very, very dry not very chocolately either Il Bufala Tiramisu - tiramisu made with bufala ricotta and coffee Il Fondente- Chocolate flavored bufala ricotta cream, topped with dark chocolate sauce Something had a weird floral, perfumey taste to it, not good at all! I think it might've been orange blossom? It was too powerful :( Maybe if you absolutely cannot live without ricotta or mozzarella this is your place but I'm okay with never coming back again. Aww..I'm so mean!
(3)
Jennifer I.
Food good-however didn't honor reservation time -gave tables to friends and Italian speaking groups before honoring reservations. Once we got a table 40 minutes after actual res. -food and service good
(2)
Mike H.
This was beyond horrible. Called in my order (half cheese, half pineapple, well done) and was told it'd be ready in 5 minutes. The walk there was a little longer than expected, so I was there about 15 minutes later. I told the lady up front I was there to pick up my order. She rolled her eyes and walked away. She then hid in the back corner being very careful to not look towards me. Once other customers came in she had to come back to the front. She turned her back to me- I had to politely ask her twice 'Excuse me?' before she turned around. I asked her how long (since I'd been waiting about 5 minutes and the pizza should have been ready before hand). She said "1 minute". I saw the pizza's were small so I ordered a second (why not, we were waiting anyways). Another few minutes someone else brought us our pizza (after she helped the new customers she promptly hid again). We got back to our hotel to eat, and the pizza was disgusting. I'd asked for well done, but it was so undercooked it was literally raw dough. And the pineapple?...it was cold (refrigerated cold) and obviously just dumped on the pizza from a can (again, after the pizza was cooked). The worst part was that we were married the day before and my (now) wife had not had carbs in literally 3 months. She had been waiting until after the wedding to have pizza. What a horrible disappointment! I only wish I could give a negative rating.
(1)
Gabriel D.
Good food!!!
(4)
Robert R.
After eating pizzas anywhere from South Beach to North Beach and beyond for more than 15 years I must say Fratelli has, by far, the best pizza on the beach. It is simple, yet delicious. Not greasy, not heavy. Real italian pizza with many of the wait staff italian themselves. Check the deserts, specially their Tiramisu. Awesome. Great pizza, great service. Cooked in a fire brick oven for everyone to see. Bathrooms clean too. It's also my 6 y. old son favorite pizza too!
(5)
Vanessa P.
This place makes one of the 3 best pizzas I had in my lifetime. I am normally not a pizza aficionado therefore pizza has to be really good for me to want to waste calories on it. This place is totally worth visiting - brick oven pizza, really authentic, the way they do it in Napoli, the pie by itself is really delicious even before adding all the great topics. After we were already full we noticed that, the people at the next table were having some really great looking bruschetta. The tiramisu was pretty good too. Can't wait to go back! I can finally say that I might actually crave pizza while in Miami!
(5)
Beth H.
We just got back from Miami. This was our fourth trip in two years (we have relatives here). The reason I mention two years is because two years ago is when a friend introduced us to Fratelli's, and we now eat here at least three times per trip. We tell everyone we're going to Miami to visit relatives, but it's now become obvious to my husband and me that we're going to eat at Fratelli la Bufala, and using relatives as an excuse. What can I say? Great food is hard to beat, and exceptional pizza is nearly impossible to find. If you haven't tried this restaurant, do it now. Go meet Larry. You'll love him. And get a table with Carla as your server. You'll love her, too. Oh, and I just tried something new this trip, the Paccheri pasta. Big tubes of pasta with a rich tomato, peppers, eggplant sauce, with smoked mozzarella. Amazing! We also loved the salad with romaine, arugula, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and olives. Can't give you the name but it had an incredibly tasty dressing.
(5)
Kathryn S.
I went to Fratelli La Bufala because I had heard about it on the Food Network and my friend had a coupon for it. We got there and being that I have yelp, I showed the waitress that I had checked in and me and my 2 friends got free glasses of prosecco. The glasses were hardly filled to how much a glass normally is, but we didn't complain because it was free. We ordered the bruschetta as an appetizer which was just OK. For our meal the 3 of us shared two pizzas. We wanted to try both a red and white pizza so we got a Margherita and an Irpina. I liked the Margherita more, but the Irpina was also satisfying. Both pizza's were good but nothing out of this world. When we went to pay is when our party had some trouble. We showed the waitress the coupon and she told us we couldn't use two coupons for the same bill since we already had used our yelp check in for the prosecco. We told her we didn't know but she started to get an attitude with us. When I asked her if I could speak to her manager to try to solve the problem, she told us to "Forget it" in a nasty tone. Overall, the food was good, but the service wasn't that great. Not sure I want to visit this restaurant again any time soon.
(3)
Aline D.
They import fresh buffalo mozzarella from Naples, Italy twice a week. Do I need say more? It is a fantastic little place, the pizza and calzones are amazing. The tiramisu is also fantastic, homemade and decadent. Very nice to have a non-chain, authentic Italian bistro/pizza place in South Beach. It can get very crowded on weekend nights but is also open really late. Will keep coming back!
(5)
Chris M.
good pizza, right price, in a nice location with an easy going atmosphere in a great neighborhood for walking before or after your meal. i am a fan. best takeout pizza within walking distance of sofi area. the pizza with smoked buffalo mozz and pecorino romano is lovely. looking forward to trying the other menu items.
(4)
Christina F.
An authentic taste of Italy! Delicious pizza and wine with great prices. All wait staff were Italian and so friendly. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Robert N.
In Austin, my hometown, I cannot buy proper Mozzarella.....so when I am in South Beach I always go here a couple of times. Not really the basis of a South Beach diet: but life is short people.....There are lots of ways to burn calories in Miami: and you need some extra carbs to stay up to 5 a.m. anyway!! So what would I recommend? Well, obviously, a large ball of Buffalo mozzarella. (Just do it) Their pastas are great as well. Pasta alla norma would be high on my list. The pizza margherita is among the best I've had stateside. (My mom is from Naples: and we are a picky bunch when it comes to pizza) I wonder if they would ship some mozzarella to me? (note to self, call them after this post) This is the best lunch in Miami: tremendously better than the lousy tourist food closer to the beach: and just think: if you walk there you can justify the extra carbs and calories. Ciao baby.
(5)
Angela M.
We love this place! Every time we go to Miami we have to treat ourselves and stop at this wonderful restaurant. We are Italian and big pizza lovers so you can trust me if I say this is one of the best pizza we have ever tried. Really Italian style with the best ingredients and topping and only bufalo mozzarella. We even tried pasta (the Paccheri are to die for) and desserts (try the cannoli and pastiera). Everything is delicious. The staff is very nice, kind, and friendly and they make you feel at home. The people who make pizza (pizzaioli) are Italian and so are the waiters and the manger. We highly recommend it! You won't be disappointed if you like authentic Italian food.
(5)
Janay M.
As Michelle C said this is a great spot for casual Italian food. I used my Foursquare app to check in and got a free bottle of House wine. Not bad. The service was very quick and I didn't have to ask for refills. Everything from the decor to the staff made this place a great location Great spot for a romantic SOBE date.
(4)
Claire S.
I like this place. The caprese salad is why I am giving 5 stars as it is amazing. My baby and I ordered enough food for 4 people, I think that between 2 people you could split a pizza or a calzone with an appetizer and leave very full. We ordered the salad, a pizza, and a calzone. I threw out more than half of my calzone and watched, mildly horrified, as my guy packed in an entire pizza minus a slice I ate. That should tell you how good the pizza is. The crust is a little soggy but no other complaints. The calzone was really really good as well...I love the mozzarella they use here. So good. This place is on TV sometimes which I usually am leery of overhyped places, but this place was nice, not super crowded or anything, and the food above average (and the caprese is amazing). Also this was the nicest service we had the whole time we were in miami and key west I felt.
(5)
Stephen S.
First time here and we had a good meal. The pizza with bufalo was Outstanding. The Italian salad we had was bland with few vegetables and we will not order it again. Excellent service. Will go back.
(4)
Teresa K.
Husband and i split a buffalo mozzerella appetizer and a pizza. the food was excellent and despite it being a busy weekend evening the service was great and friendly. A nice exception to the South Beach rule. We had a very pleasant meal and although the restaurant was crowded we didn't feel cramped.
(4)
Andrea V.
Over-priced. SO not worth it. I make better pastas at home. I am not kidding. The service was bad. The place is not too chic... and listen to this... the day I went there (90F weather in Miami Beach!) the air conditioner wasn't working. Not going there EVER again.
(1)
Nandi E.
I got a living social deal for this location because of all the great reviews I saw on Yelp. It was a waste of my money. The food is overly priced and awful. I got a dish that comprised of buffalo meat swimming in sauce with arugula underneath. The meat had a funky taste (and I'm a big fan of buffalo meat). My friend got a white pizza that was just ok. Plus side, service was good. This was the first and last time I will ever dine at Fratelli La Bufala
(2)
Jason G.
Great Pizza and Pasta. The marinara is better than the white sauce for the pasta.
(4)
robert s.
Best pizza in Miami so far. There are so many real Italian restaurants in Miami it is hard to distinguish where to go. The food here is the closes thing I have had to real Italian food. The pizza and olive oil are good quality and fresh. My pizza came out too hot and the cheese and sauce fell off as I picked it up from platter but the taste was spot on. Next time I am in Miami I am get getting the pasta carbonara. Oh we also had the beef carpacio. That was good too. The wait staff is authentically bad too. They knew the pizza was too hot serve and when they saw the cheese just slide off; they did nothing to get another one for us. The appetizer and pizza were brought out that same time and the water did not come till i asked.
(4)
Stephanie L.
This place is really good! I had the pizza, as did my boyfriend, and it tasted just like the pizza we had in Florence. I thought it was really yummy and pretty standard prices for South Beach. The staff was fairly nice and it was a great atmosphere. They were very attentive and even the manager came over to see how we were doing. Although South Beach has a great pizza place on every block, this is a nice alternative to the bar stools and outdoor plastic tables at those other places.
(4)
Lauren C.
The pizza was great and tasted fresh. The service was excellent, and I say this because my husband always orders lemons with his water and they kept them coming as well as refilling glasses in a timely manner. Even though gratuity is automatically added to the bill, the staff still does a great job. Thumbs up :)
(5)
Johnathan S.
Great dinner, and great service. Glad we came here. The servers really pay attention to each customer. I felt the value was pretty good as well! I will be back.
(5)
Paul D.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Miami! I'm embarrassed to say with all the great places to try here I always keep a night for Fratelli La Bufala. I first tried Fratelli because my boss was visiting from Milan and knew the restaurant from there and wanted to see if it held up to his expectation. Not only was he impressed, but he too insists on visiting every time he is in Miami. This coming from an Italian that is very picky when it comes to pizza or any other Italian food for hat matter. I love the authentic taste and feel of the restaurant. The staff is always very friendly and knowledgable. The pizza of course is amazing(it's in the water) as are the appetizers. The mozzarella is delicious especially paired with prosciutto. Don't forget to finish with their cannoli. Ciao!
(5)
Hooman A.
lasagna was amazing! one of the best i've ever had. white pizza was delish as well! highly recommended :)
(5)
Germán R.
The best pasta I have had, so simple yet so fresh. I recommend the tortiglioni pasta. And obviously some fresh mozzarella for an appetizer. It is a little expensive, but worth it.
(5)
Rima D.
Expensive soggy pizza with bad service. Coming from the NYC area I have had ten times better pizza.
(1)
Michael K.
Great customer service. I never wrote a review before but after the service I had to. The owner could tell I didn't like the broccoli on my pizza so he was hesitant to let me continue eating it and offered to make me a different pizza. Great atmosphere and amazing service.
(5)
Shawn S.
Gotta love pizzerias that make you feel like you are in Italy. Genuine servers, great crust on the pizza. Prices are good considering the portion sizes - we split a salad and pizza between two and it was plenty for lunch. Good Italian wine list. The pizza is "wet style" as in Napoli. Free bread and high quality olive oil. Street seating in bistro chairs.
(4)
anthony M.
We had a good meal until they presented the bill and it had a $39 charge for the large buffalo Mozzarella salad. I would not have paid $39 for a good filet at this place, let alone a salad. It was a ripoff and the waiter knew it. So, I suggest you avoid this place until the management decides they are more interested in truth in advertising than in ripping people off.
(1)
Dayna D.
Food was okay, but overpriced. Horrible service. The restaurant was half empty restaurant and overstaffed, yet I still waited 15 min for a glass of wine. Check came with auto gratuity and 4 biz cards, a comment card, a postcard...insult and overkill.
(1)
Kristin R.
This place was recommended to me by a local as authentic italian food, and I agree whole heartedly. This is where I take people when they are hungry for italian. I ahve been several times in the last few months!
(5)
Olivia C.
Really really good food and great prices. I went here for a friends bday dinner and the portions were spot-on. I ordered the linguini di gamberi and it was perfectly al dente. Definitely recommend this spot!
(4)
Marcos A.
This place is awesome. The food is great, prices are reasonable, location is good. Pros.. -great Italian food. Everything we've ordered was awesome. Suggest the octopus and shrimp pasta which was delicious. The calzones were featured on TV on the Travel Channel. The Bolognese pasta was also very good. -the appetizers were great. Suggest the cold cut and cheese sampler which comes in two sizes. Get the smaller one as its enough for up to 6 people easily. - service is great. We had a 30 minute wait so the host took our phone number, recommended a bar 12 yards down where we could have a drink, and told us we would get a text message informing us our table would be ready in 5 minutes. 20 minutes later we got the text message with a five minute warning so we headed back. Impressive. - the ambience was busy yet somehow managed to feel cozy. Cons... - parking. Its South Beach what can you do? - sometimes the lines are out of control. - small place, not much elbow room. Overall, solid.
(5)
Abby S.
What a fantastic meal. We ate next door a few nights earlier and had a good meal, but this experience totally blew it away. First of all, service was impeccable - all staff were welcoming and friendly. Though we didn't have a reservation they were very accommodating and sat us right away (recommend coming before 8pm if you want to be sat without a reservation). Secondly, the food was way above par in terms of freshness and quality. We started with the special, burrata mozzarella, which was fabulous - so creamy, paired with lovely tomatoes and spicy arugula. Divine. Then we went to the antipasto - the prosciutto was tender and tasty. It came with salamis and veggies that were super fresh. Entrees were also excellent - three of the four of us had lasagne which was medium; the fourth had gnocchi which was perfectly done. If/when I get the chance to go back, I will do a pizza! Such a respite and worth every penny!
(5)
April B.
We had the Diavola (pizza) and Esotica (salad), it was very good. One of the best authentic Italian pizzas we've had. The ingredients were fresh and service good. I'd say one of the best food places in SOBE.
(4)
Natasa S.
We came for some pizza after reading good reviews. We started with soup and salad it was ok. Pizza took forever to arrive and everyone around us was getting pizza who arrived after us. Waited 40 min for pizza and service was terrible. We had margarita and caprisiossa pizza. Soggy in the middle and not that great! There are much better pizza places in Miami. I wouldn't come back here!
(2)
Paolo C.
Solid and moderately priced Italian restaurant. Great and authentic Italian pizza, good pastas, mozzarella and bresaola.
(4)
A C.
Yum! Incredible margharita pizza for take out. Sauce was mild yet flavorful. Perfect and the price was just right compared to other places in SoBe.
(4)
Vanessa R.
Nice ambiance! Had the rapini, sausage, and mozzarella di buffalo and it was great. Good size and no matter how stuffed you are, you need to finish it! Would definitely go back
(5)
MICHELLE C.
My first time here was several years ago and all I remembered was that I did enjoy it. As we were walking around last week we decided to have dinner here. Whew wish we would have gone to tongue and cheek next door. Our server was very friendly and she did take good care of us. Having said we had good service and why two stars? OK, yes we are on the beach, prices are usually higher, no problem. If the food is good then it is not an issue. I ordered a bottle of Montepulciano and had to ask our server for an ice bucket. Mistake one ordering a bottle of wine when they keep the bottles stored in the back near the kitchen and right in the sun, yes to get HOT. This is a serious pet peeve of mine. If you are going to carry wine and charge double or triple retail prices, then what the hell serve the wine at proper temperatures. Food, so hubs ask the server if the foccacia was good and she stated it is made fresh daily. Ho hum, it comes out and hubby swore it was pita bread. She stated that is how they make it in Napoli. Hmm, OK. The three of us ordered various pasta dishes, my basic fettuccine bolognese was not good at all. Pasta overcooked, no flavor, meat even did not taste like anything. None of us were impressed at all with the food. Maybe they make a good pie? I can tell ya I will never find out, skip this place so not worth the prices, even go a few doors down to Laconda, much much better.
(2)
Charlie D.
Ate here twice when we were staying in SoBe. Great pizza the first night and had the lasagne the second night...delicious! Also good service, we will be back for sure!
(5)
Nadia H.
Pizza was solidly good. We got the one with prosciutto. Service was fine, outdoor seating was nice. Salad was ok, nothing special. No house-made dressing, just served with a nice balsamic vinegar and oil, which contributes to my 3 star (just "ok") review because I can (and do) sprinkle balsamic vinegar and oil on lettuce at home. Just fine for when you're craving a higher-quality pizza, as crust and mozzarella were true Italian restaurant quality, but nothing quite elevated the flavors. I can't imagine myself longing for anything on the menu here. Flavors were fresh but not special. I'd give it a solid 3 to 3.5 stars.
(3)
Stephanie B.
The best pizza I've eaten in my life. Hands down! I wanted to take a picture of our meal before we ate, but the antipasto was so fantastic we couldn't wait to get our hands on the pie! If you're on fence, do yourself a favor and try this place out!
(5)
Kate C.
I am vegan and had no issues finding delicious food to eat! Started the meal with bread & bruschetta which was super yum! I got a marinara pizza which has so cheese and added mushrooms and arugula without any troubles. I can easily say it was the best pizza I've ever had....the crust was AMAZING!
(5)
Anna S.
Great place for lunch! I really like different soups. And in this place i found gazpacho and minestrone. It was good! P.S.: A complimentary prosecco was cool :)
(5)
Benjamin O.
Awesome food! Brick oven pizza is the way to go. Solid service and a chill atmosphere. Just go here first.
(5)
Thien H.
Do you enjoy bad service? A soggy, six inch diameter circle of soggy, super wet crust in the middle of your pizza? Short black hairs all over the ladies' bathroom sink (an employee washed his head in there)? Automatic 17% gratuity for a table of two? Then Fratelli La Bufala is for you! We went here based on the great reviews from yelp and were extremely disappointed. We were treated as if the server knew she was going to get a 17% tip no matter what. She was distant, short with us, and overall unfriendly. When refilling our water, she managed to splash us and everything else on the table several times. Luckily, it was just water. Another server loved to block the way from the table to the bathroom with her elbows by putting her hands on her hips and looking bored. She had no idea people were having to squeeze by her. Don't get the Mugnanese pizza ($13.00). Fries and wurstel might sound good or fun on your pizza but in reality it's a bunch of soggy fries and slices of hot dog thrown on a crust. The crust would have been delicious if not for the soggy center. The majority of the crust was inedible (except the very outside ring which was actually good). Based on our experience, Fratelli La Bufala doesn't deserve the average 4 star rating. We won't be coming back for two soggy pizzas and poor service ($35+).
(2)
Laura G.
Great pizza! Thin crust, fresh ingredients. Very authentic pizza, touristy area but authentic food. This place is a franchised restaurant - YES - with the majority of the restaurants in ITALY with buffalo mozzarella being the star. We started with the La Bufalata Piccola - selection of bufala cheeses, cured italian ​meats & traditional marinated vegetables. Great starter. We had the Margarita Pizza which was wood fired, fresh and really good. Then a pasta - ​Fresh homemade cannellone, I was taken aback at how it was cooked perfectly -Al Dente.
(4)
Julio G.
My wife and I had a Amazon coupon for two pizzas. This worked out fairly well. Although the pizza lacked excitement to deserve 45 stars so I'm not sure why they have earned so many. We got a salad which was very average the bread was average of the pizza dough itself was on the thin side but didn't seem to be much flavor in there pizza. Staff was nice and I can't really complain about the location that much. The one upside of the whole thing was I had Peroni on tap
(3)
Anil H.
I've never been to Italy, but those in my group who have claimed that this is the closest to the real thing. The portions were huge, and food came quick. Warning, if you don't like really al dente pasta, be sure to tell your waiter to overcook it. Lots of veggie options, including a vegetable-loaded minestrone The sorbet and tiramisu were very flavorful but not too filling. The atmosphere is loud and bustling, with lots of action and various waitstaff attending to your needs. We would definitely make a return visit.
(4)
Ro P.
As a first-generation southern Italian and pizza lover, I give this place a 10. The quality of the ingredients is superb and the pizza crust is perfectly crisp. Only downfall are the sly staff. The waiter asked us in Italian if we wanted water... I said 'yes'... he asked 'natural or seltzer'... I said 'natural'. Of course, being that we're not in Italy, I understood that he was going to bring us the complimentary water that most restaurants do. He brings us a bottle of 'imported fresh Italian water' (said so on the bottle) that cost $5.50 and tasted like regular tap water. We should have asked him to open it in front of us, but by then we were so drunk on pizza we couldn't think straight... Funny thing is, at the end of our meal when we asked for the check, he came around again and filled our glasses with the complimentary water AND ice.
(4)
Ed S.
Authentic Italian tasty, nice size portions. The bruscetta was fresh and flavorful. Attentive ,friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff.
(4)
Jane W.
Very much appreciate the manager's response to my review of 2 stars. (as follows.) Hoping that the night I went was an anomaly. Could not bring myself to take the menu out of our recommended restaurants in the apartment we rent out. After their prompt response I will come again. This is a restaurant on our must try list we give to all the people who stay in our apartment. We've been here many many times but are now taking it off our list. The pizza sauce is still flavorful, but the DOC and capriccioli was soggy and bolognese sauce was terrible. The minestrone continues to be excellent. Many of the servers are attentive and good but ours tonight preferred to have us tell across the table than come to each of us.
(3)
Jaime L.
Went there for lunch. Beautifully executed pizza at surprisingly inexpensive prices, particularly based on the location. The pizzaiolo was Italian, lots of Italian people hanging out as well.
(4)
Casey M.
I've been here dozens of times, and recommended it to friends who've stayed at my place nearby. Everybody has enjoyed it. Service is pleasant and attentive. The antipasti meats cheeses and salad ingredients are superb -high quality and fresh. All the pastas have been flavorful , perfectly cooked with well sized portions . Pizzas with thin crispy , not burned crusts are delicious Downside - can be a noisy inside and outside (with a lot if traffic noise ). But don't let that deter from a great Italian meal.
(4)
Austin K.
Wonderful pizza. Huge salad. Enjoy with your family or your wife. Given how high prices are in south beach this is a bargain. $14 for broccoli rabe and sausage pizza. Great
(5)
Daisy P.
If you're a breakfast for dinner type of person... order this "La Collinara - Bufala mozzarella, eggs, pancetta & basil" ... You're welcome! ;-)
(5)
Robert F.
5 star service from Davider tonight! Busy Friday night and he was excellent! Food was very good and the service even better! We got lucky they had Burrata (sp?) tonight. Fantastic appetizer if you're a cheese lover. All in all, my GF and I had a great experience.
(4)
Liza M.
Every time I visit this restaurant, I feel like I'm dining in the middle of Piazza Navona! This place serves authentic Italian food and everything I have ordered from the menu is always delicious. This is actually the only Italian restaurant in Miami where I can eat gnocchi and lasagna and not be disappointed... the taste is simply amazing!!! The restaurant is small but really cozy; it reminds me of a trattoria. Also, it is very clean and the service has always been pleasant. Yes, the place is on a busy street and if you decide to dine outside, it's loud because of the constant honking of cars and people showing off.. after all, it's Miami Beach!!! Give them a try... you won't regret it!!!! :)
(5)
Andres R.
I've been there two times. Pizza is great, but both times the air conditioning inside has been too hot and the waiters have been rude. And one of those times we ordered a Burratta, the waitress suggested it, it-s like a big buffala cheese with tomato, like a Capressa salad, and when the bill arrived, they had charged us about $25 only for that plate, outrageous! But, their pizzas are really great. Well made, good ingredients, excellent flavor, 5-stars. As I said before, both times the inside of the restaurant has been too hot. Even if you're having the best pizza or food in the world, if the temperature is too hot, it can ruin everything. And it did. Also, I can't stand when waiters are rude.... And that has happened both of the times I've been there. They have to take care of that. You can have a great product, but you need to complement it with a great service. I recommend the Prosciutto Pizza with a little of Olive Oil. Excellent!! Maybe if you can get there when is not too crowded, and you can check the temperature inside, you can have a good time. Sadly, that wasn't my experience. I don't know if I'll go again.
(2)
Man S.
very authentic Italian restaurant. i mean it from the moment u walk in till you walk out all are italinas working in there. the food is out of this world. you should try the home made mozzarella with tomato. the pastas are good and pizza very unique.
(5)
Ole Henrik N.
Very good Italian food and a good selection of wines to compliment the food. Probably one of the best places to eat in this area
(4)
Vanessa C.
Pizza came out way to quick and was very soggy , not what I was expecting from All the great reviews !!!
(2)
Quiana B.
Excellent service, excellent food, authentic Italian food with mostly Italian people sitting in the restaurant. My server helped me so much and was so friendly....and gorgeous too!! Love this place and will surely be back!
(5)
Pierre B.
Authentic italian restaurant. Best Pizza I have ever had in the USA so far.
(5)
Olivia L.
The pizza is 5 star pizza, but charging $3 for adding arugula without mentioning the charge until the bill came knocks it down 2 stars....however the pizza was great!
(3)
Marco P.
real italian pizza!
(5)
Paty D.
After hearing that this place had the "best pizza ever" and the pizza was the "next best thing to what you find in Italy," I, for one, had to come and find out if this was all hype or, if in fact, it was true. I decided that since they are known for their fresh, imported buffalo mozzarella, I'd make sure to order plenty of it. To start off, we had la caprese impanata which consisted of a round, fried piece of mozzarella with a small, green salad and cherry tomatoes. When we first got it, we both thought the dish was rather small. There was one round ball of mozzarella only, which means contrary to my nature, I reluctantly had to share. We definitely liked what we tried. The breading was light, yet it imparted the perfect balance in texture to the creamy, melted mozzarella. You definitely taste the freshness & creaminess in the mozzarella, and it is by far much richer in flavor than any mozzarella you'll have on this side of the world! As to the entree, I went with pizza since this is what everyone raved about. I decided to go with the all white, nothing but cheese & more cheese pizza- la salentina. It was absolutely beautiful when it came out- loads of melted cheese evenly dispersed with subtle mounds of bufala ricotta throughout. The dough was much softer and chewier than other pizzas I've tried but it was still very good. The amount of cheese was absolute perfection but what I found it needed, as sacrilegious as it may sound, was salt. I think the cheese they use may not have a lot of salt so I did find myself sprinkling some on. All in all, I was happy downing it down. My husband on the other hand wasn't too fond of his dish & I have to agree with him. He ordered the lasagna and even though he was hoping it took him down memory lane to the one we had in Venice, it didn't even come close. It had a particular taste I couldn't quite put my finger on but he sure did- it reminded him not of not the amazing Venetian chef, but rather of Chef Boyardee! Because of this my review dropped from a 4 to a 3. All in all, I was content with my meal. I think the price is a bit high for what you get, but you're paying for South Beach in an area that is overflowing with tourists. I am willing to come by if I'm in the area, to try some more of their Italian pizza creations!
(3)
Reyana F.
free wine makes everything better.
(4)
Rodrigo O.
despite arriving almost 1:00 am, we were very well served by the restaurant, and had a wonderful dinner. Try the Bufala entree, a house specialty. The reale pizza was the best i've ever had in US so far, also.
(5)
Deborah G.
Delicious burrata appetizer. Lasagna was good but not the best I've had and pizza was nice but was served cold. That was a disappointment although flavors were all there. I'll go back. Decent service suprised me being it's on the beach. That's never a guarantee. Great atmosphere too.
(4)
Yulia K.
I was recommended to this place by an Italian friend and he told me that they have the best pizzas en whole Miami. And confirmed! It is a very nice and elegant place but you can dress casual. The service is Hi end. The pizzas are big. We got one and shared it (2ppl) they are big if you don't eat much. Highly recommend it and if you go at the sunset it becomes very romantic outside.
(5)
Aliya Z.
It has been a great experience. We were just walking by and saw this restaurant. We decided to have some dinner as the time was 6 pm already. We sat outside and ordered pizzas!!!! They were so delicious and fresh! Good mix of flavors and thin delicate crust! Would highly recommend to my friends. The good supersize was he we go a checked in on yelp and got a champaign. And the manager gave us like 3 glasses instead of one!
(5)
Maryluz G.
It was very good but not 5 star. Ive had better italian/pizza maybe not in miami. But I guess for being in miami it is very good. I do recommend trying it. Staff was very attentive. The bufala is very yummy. Had the eggplant for appetizer. Really enjoyed it.
(4)
Iryna S.
This is one place we always try to go to when we are in Miami! Ingredients are so fresh and food always comes out delicious! I love the art and the ambience there too!
(5)
Anna P.
Seriously so amazing!! The pizza, salads, apps, soups and Nutella crepes were incredible! Best meal I have had in awhile, don't waste your time going anywhere else! I was so full after I almost called a cab home.
(5)
April A.
This place was great! We sat outside on the patio and had a delicious prosciutto pizza with mushrooms as well as the exotic salad. They also gave us free prosecco! Nothing bad to say about this restaurant. The pizza was authentically Italian.
(5)
Cristina W.
First off, loved the ambience of this quaint pizza place in Miami Beach.. It's so cute, and you honestly feel that you are transported into Italy. Loved the quality of the pizza crust, and the richness of the fresh mozzarella is always a plus! I had read some mixed reviews about this place, but I loved every bit of it. Try the Parma pizza, it's the best!
(5)
Andrew T.
A no nonsense ambience with food that is not too complicated but simply delicious... The Italian way. Gazpacho is a must for me since I try that everywhere I go and this was good here. The pizza was done right, decent prices and even the pasta was extremely well done! If the pizza dough/prep staffs would wear hats, then this review might have been perfect.
(4)
Elizabeth Y.
Free valet. Great pizza - la parma (prosciutto) the best! And if you check in on yelp you get a free glass of prosecco. If you check in on Four Square you get a free bottle of house wine. Absolutely love this place. Have been there several times and still going!
(4)
Daniela N.
Food is delicious!!!!! Had the prosciutto with honey and it was amazing!!! Prices are great for the food. Would definitely recommend.
(4)
Jeanette B.
Come here all the time. When I lived in ltaly for a few months my husbands apartment was next to fratelli so this brings back so many memories.
(4)
Brenda G.
This place was amazing to say the least. We wanted some Italian food and this place definitely met expectations. We started off our meal with some bruschetta and mixed green salad. The waiter also brought some delicious bread. I really wish I remembered the name of what I ordered, but the pasta had ham, zucchini, and tomatoes in creamy sauce. Everything was delicious! Service was prompt and the environment was inviting. It wasn't too crowded at the time we went either (4:30 p.m.) which was perfect. I would definitely go to this restaurant again and recommend it to anyone visiting South Beach who is craving Italian food.
(5)
Lauren V.
I love the pizza here! Takes just like back in Italy. I'm sure everything else is great on the menu but I always end up taking the pizza. The Nutella crepes are also the best guilty pleasure for dessert :) Yum!
(5)
Ryan B.
It was our first night in Miami and we had just checked into the Harrison Hotel. It was around 9pm and after a few hours of airports and traveling, we were hungry and needed to satisfy the late night craving. We decided to go for a walk and we found this place right around the corner. They had the wood burning oven going on, so that excited me. After checking in on my yelp mobile app, I received a free glass of Prosecco! I love it when I get free things! The restaurant itself had a nice atmosphere. The lighting was dim. There was outside seating for some good people watching. The wait staff were very attentive and helpful. The noise level wasn't too loud and you could have a decent conversation without having to yell. For my meal I went with the Capricciosa pizza. Thin crust with red sauce, fresh mozzarella and proscuitto. The pie looked huge for one person, but because of it's thin crust and barely-there toppings it was totally manageable. At first I thought, okay, there's not much on this thing. But after eating it, I get it. Pizza tastes better when it's more simplistic and has well crafted ingredients. The sauce, the fresh mozz and the paper-thin proscuitto were delicious. I've grown tired of chain restaurant pizza. Eating at this place was quite refreshing. And there's something to be said for using fresh ingredients. I wish we had one back in DC. Well Fratelli, until next time. addio.
(4)
Candice C.
Came here a year ago and had the most uncomfortable experience of my life. I dont want nor do i like to accuse people of any type of racism or whatever my experience was engulfed in but we certainly did not get any kind of respect or good treatment and it seemed we may have told a joke that none of us knew about. Being the only minorities in the building that evening would never bother us but I was so disgusted by the workers here. There was 3 of us and the servers seemed to have some kind of joke going because they couldnt stop looking at us and laughing. We got mean stares and aside from the okay food there was little room to move around...so yea not going back there. Not supporting a place that doesn't truly understand what quality customer service means. The food wouldve allowed for 2 stars but my disappointment negated one of them. The food is not worth the prices.
(1)
Lily A.
Surprisingly the owner of Tap Tap uninhibitedly recommended this place when we were sad we wouldn't be in the city when his restaurant opened for the day. And when we read that this was on the "Best thing I've Ever Ate," we rushed over.. quickly. Very cozy little shop at the corner of an intersection. Everything was just excellent, from the quick service, warm bread and butter, their house wine, and especially their entrees and the portions. We had the Ripieno Calzone (not sure which one of the calzones was on the Food Network) and the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese. The Calzone had mozarella, ricotta, salami, and pepper. And incredibly as loaded as it was with cheese, it wasn't overwhelming but more-so the melt-in-your mouth type. The Tagliatelle was flat noodles with bolognese and tomato sauce and was much lighter than expected, perhaps because the portion wasn't gigantic like typical Italian eateries. Check into this place on Foursquare and you get a free bottle of house Merlot. And it's pretty damn good stuff too, at the table we even looked up where to buy them at they're only $5-$6 at Whole Foods (we stocked up once we got back home).
(5)
Bonnie L.
Please tell me whats so great about their pizza? I did not find the buffalo mozzarella amazing at all, I took a slice and pretty much asked for the check.. Above all this place is OVERPRICED! Some restaurants deserve 2nd chances but not this one =x
(1)
Laura T.
I couldn;t find somewhere to eat close to my hotel that was reasonable until I got on Yelp and saw this little spot. I've walked past this several times and assumed they'd be too expensive! But they were def reasonable and I got a free bottle of wine (Moscato) by checking in with 4square. I ordered the Marghareita pizza and although it was piping hot, after my 2nd slice it was cold! Not sure if it was bc I was sitting outside, but it got cold quick. I also couldn't take my wine with me so I had to sit there like a wineo and drink the whole bottle! All in all they are very reasonable and the hot pizza part was pretty good.
(3)
Julian P.
Great service and great food for the price and location near South Beach. Waiters were actually Italian and were very polite. Fine for large groups as well, they quickly accommodated our group of 11.
(4)
Nato S.
Best part was checking in on Foursquare and getting a free bottle of wine for the table! Don't forget to do that. The wine wasn't half bad either. Food was good. I had a calzone and while it tasted fresh, I wish it came with some sauce or something to pair up with because there were times where it seemed a bit dry. I hear the pizza is pretty good. Nothing too out of this world, but nothing to write home about. If you're in the area, it's worth stopping by, otherwise I wouldn't make the drive to South Beach again for it.
(3)
Sang C.
Great neighborhood gem. Went with the family after getting a living social coupon. Ordered 2 pizzas and 2 pasta dishes. All were great. Only negative was that it was very warm inside. Otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.
(4)
Scott B.
I went to this place for my first time today. The pizza is good and spongy if you look for the crunchy and thin pizza you will not find it ! The service was quick and efficient but it was really noisy since there were lot of families coming into on sunday time (babies crying, child playing around the tables...) I don't know if'll come back there but the experience has been interesting.
(3)
Roger Y.
This restaurant was recommended by my son-in-law who hails from Torino Italy - he is very particular about Italian food available in America so I was expecting the best and I was not disappointed. We arrived for a late lunch and the service was good and not rushed -I ordered the minnestrone soup and for my main meal I ordered an appetizer "La Parmigiana" which was actually an eggplant parmigiana. The soup was very tasty, very fresh. The Parmigiana was delightfull. The combination of the buffala mozzarella and a fantastic tomato sauce - just barely melted was wonderfull. The appetizer size was large enough for a main dish. My wife had one of the offerings of white pizza which was good - their pizza has a soft crust fwiw. Using bufala mozz. turns this pizza into a higher realm. If you check in on Yelp they have a free prosecco offered Only street parking is available and that can be a tough go.
(5)
Linda D.
Free glass of Prosecco with check-in is true, and they didn't bring one but two for me and my gorgeous date. ..which meant two for me - yeay! Pizza was great, Iove the oven roast flavor of the crust, fresh sauce and mozz. It could have used another minute, dough seemed a tad doughy for a Neopolitan pizza. Good environment. service was just ok. Had the pizza been better is give it a 4.
(3)
Ramesh A.
The most authentic and scrumptious pasta/pizza I have ever had! Simple, fresh, and authentic ingredients.....a taste of Italy in South Miami. Would definitely recommend!
(5)
Vanessa M.
Let's face the facts. Miami is known for many things, but pizza is not one of them. This is why I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and authenticity of this Miami Beach gem. From New York to Chicago to Italy--I've been lucky to eat some of the best pies around. Fratelli's is now on my personal list of the best pizza and I'm proud to say it's from my hometown! I went for the classic margherita-style pizza--topped with the freshest mozzarella flown in from Italy, basil, and vine tomatoes. Cue that gesture Italian chefs do when they kiss their fingertips and say "perfecto!"
(4)
Serena S.
If you REALLY love mozzarella, this place is for you. The mozzarella is really fresh and part of almost every dish on the menu. I tried the Bresaola appetizer, which is thinly sliced cured beef over a bed of arugula and parmesan cheese shavings. UHMAZING. The cured beef was great, but if it were carpaccio, we would've been in business. With every new Italian restaurant I try, I usually like to try with something simple to gauge how good their food is. So, I tried their bolognese. More bland than I'd like, but still delicious nonetheless. The pasta was cooked perfectly, which seems to be a challenge for restaurants sometimes. Service could definitely have been better. Our waitress was a bit terse and looked downright unhappy. Prices are fair, but could be just a tad better. Indoor and outdoor seating is available as well as free valet, which is nice. Just don't forget to validate your ticket before leaving! I would definitely come back again to try something else on the menu.
(4)
Sophye B.
BEST PIZZA EVER! My favorite place to eat pizza. I got pizza with fresh buffalo mozzarella!!! And then for dessert we had the best Tiramisu!!! And my husband had a Cappuccino!
(5)
Akhil B.
I have been here twice for lunch during my trips to Miami. The food is awesome and the location is great. I can take a walk up and down Ocean Drive after eating here. The service is also great. I wish I could be in South Beach right now.
(5)
Liz S.
Nice atmosphere. We ordered the lasagna and the first brick oven white pizza on the menu. Holy cow! Delicious! Best authentic Italian food I've had. It's a bit pricey but worth it. Service was amazing and our waiter was so handsome. :)
(5)
Ryan E.
The absolute most authentic Italian pizza in the United States. I have a good friend who is from Italy, and he's the one who brought me here. He speaks Italian with the staff which adds to the authenticity. My girlfriend said this was the best pizza she has ever had. For me it's on par with the best pizza - simply because it's a different type of pizza. It's different than your typical American pizza, even the best thin crust pizza is very different than this. The dough is incredibly light and has a great flavor. It's so unique you can't explain it, but it's extremely good. The service is a little slow but very professional and polite. The manager is always friendly and seems to take good care of regulars. Overall this is an absolute must restaurant to visit and well worth the drive even from Broward. It's true, pure Italian pizza made by a real Italian staff. The real deal.
(5)
Sonia A.
Fresh, delicious mozzarella!!! Pizza was really good and eggplant appt. was delish! The place is on a great location but finding parking near by is such a drag. We looked around for about 20 minutes until we found some street parking down Washington south of 5th. Other than that, I would love to go back and sample more stuff on their menu! Their service was good, they were very attentive and several people stopped by not only our "assigned" waitress.
(4)
Franny A.
Amazing authentic food with pizza made by a Neopalitan pizza maker with buffalo mozzarella imported from Italy. Beautiful mixed vegatables(contorni) include super flavorful cauliflower, brocolli, carrots, grilled eggplant with balsamic vinegar and a macaroni pie to name a few. Great Italian bread too. The pizza is doughy, slightly charred with strategically placed bufala, with a very flavorful sauce, it is simply delish. It reminds me of a doughier version of the pizza at Gnocco in the East Village where the owners and pizza makers are also from south of the boot.
(5)
Andy T.
This place is interesting and I'm not sure how I feel about it..everything was OK but not spectacular..with the yelp ratings I was expecting something phenomenal. Mostly tourists rating, I suppose. Edit: I forgot to mention they charge a automatic 18% gratuity, as well as a 'bread' charge.
(2)
Alison M.
I wanted to eat here ever since I saw it on the Best Thing I ever Ate and Mr. "How dare you put red onions in this dish!!!" from Chopped raved about their calzone. I actually wanted that calzone myself, but when the bf and I sat down at the table (we were meeting his parents for dinner) it seemed like they were already set to order. With all the catch up talk and such, I was not able to navigate the huge selection of offerings on the menu in time to find it before the waiter came by to take our order. Further compounding the issue, was the fact that the bf's parents keep Kosher and the bf likes to pretend that he does when around them, so that meant as a good girlfriend I also had to play the part. Not very many meat free dishes caught my eye. A pizza with prosciutto, mozzarella and an egg sounded pretty good to me, but alas I ended up ordering a bland tasting white pizza, with mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and basil. I ended up having to dip it in the table's balsamic and olive oil for some much need flavor. I don't think I'd order that again, but everyone else seemed to like their entrees. Service was friendly, but servers were sparse and drinks were not refilled without a flagging down. I recommend sitting inside over outside because you can watch the pizza man hard at work. It's pretty cool to see an expert work with pizza dough and the huge stone pizza oven is right there. I also liked the art work on the walls, it was very earthy and kinda reminded me of cave paintings. I think I'd like to give this place another try because I believe I just ordered poorly. I still want to try the famous calzone, but I'm going to have to figure out what its called.
(3)
Andrew K.
Fratelli La Bufala has to be my favorite pizza in Miami. Cooked in a 700 degree brick oven by a Neapolitan lad, this place makes the closest thing you will find to the real deal in Southern Italy. I discovered Fratelli three weeks after returning from Naples Italy, and one week after moving to Miami. Needless to say, I was suffering from Italian food depression after leaving Italy. But...... From the first bite at FLB, I was stunned. I could not believe I was eating a perfectly executed, authentic Neapolitan pizza pie. The soft buffalo cheese directly imported, fresh and light tomato sauce, and some of the tastiest pizza crust outside of Italy, all working together to complete this masterpiece. Also, the pastas are not to be missed. The Pappardelle Bolognese and the Garganelli with homemade sausage are amazing and again, authentic. Honestly, you probably wont find a better recipe for these dishes around Dade. (although I really like Il Mullino's papperdelle). The buffalo mozzarella appetizers are all really good as well. Another thing that always strikes me when I dine at FLB is that the majority of the workers, and the patrons, are Italians. Speaking Italian (and English if need be), eating Italian, and enjoying them selves as Italians do when in Italy. The overall vibe here is much more European than American. To me this says I have found it, I have found the place to eat Italian food. Thanks Fratelli for allowing me to get a taste of Italy whenever my stomach desires.
(5)
Elizabeth S.
This is a bit late, but I'm actually reviewing this...fine....establishment a few months after I visited. This was my second run-in with the utterly unfabulous service that a lot of places in SoBe have to offer. I had a friend in town and we decided to go out to eat, so our party of 3 decided on this little establishment, simply because we weren't in the mood for Chinese across the street. The outside area was empty (plenty of available tables) and we decided to sit there. The waiter who sat us went up to a couple who was eating who had a table made up of 2 smaller ones (it was clear they had not done this themselves since it was covered with a table cloth). He started pushing all of their dishes onto one table without a word and pulled it away from them. This small table for 2 became our table. The couple just stared at the waiter in disbelief as he did this, but didn't say a word. I suppose maybe they didn't think it was as horribly rude as I did. We were given menus and the usual dirty look that comes with ordering water instead of alcohol (we were going to order wine but had not had a chance to go over the list yet). When the waiter came back, we had questions about some of the menu items (being a vegetarian who has experienced many falsely advertised veg-dishes that actually contain meat, I like to ask about what I'm eating and how it's made). After three questions, he looked down at us arrogantly and said "Let me know when you're done messing around asking questions and wasting my time. When you're actually serious about ordering some food, I'll be back". He turned on his little heel and left. I was flabbergasted. "Does everything contain buffalo? Does that dish have any meat in it? Is that a hot or cold salad?" How are these not relevant questions to ask about a meal you're paying for?? As soon as he left, so did we. Please note that we did not eat anything here. I'm not about to support a restaurant with such horrible service!!!! I seriously feel like most places here lack service due to the already added 18% gratuity - which I get because I used to be a waitress who dealt with a lot of tourists that didn't realize they had to tip; however I never felt like that was an excuse to offer bad service.
(1)
Alissa W.
I dined here a few times I really like this place. When they offered on groupon $15 for $35 I bought 2 ! You can't beat that price for this quality of food. I went with a friend for lunch we ordered the cheese platter it was very good an assortment of buffala mozzarella, smoked mozarella, and some other cheeses. We also got a side salad that was big for $7. We ordered the marghrettia pizza the pizza's do not have a ton of cheese because it is not packageed mozerella this is fresh folks put right on top of their homemade pizza in a wood burning oven. They have one of the best pasta dished ever Paccheri saute bell peppers, eggplant, smoked bufala mozzarella and cherry tomato sauce. AMAZING !
(4)
Mike K.
Just awesome. Everything is so fresh, service is prompt and prices aren't bad at all. I LOVE the Garganelli pasta, it's my go-to. Desserts are also amazing, whatever you choose to get. If you're a DecoBike member, you even get a 10% discount for showing your card, so take advantage of it!
(5)
Ximena C.
The pizza and wine at this restaurant are delicious, the portions are perfect, and its quite overpriced. The biggest problem is the fact the its overcrowded with tables inside. You have to maneuver around everyone to get to the bathroom or your table. Once you've reached your table dont even think of having enough room to lean back in your chair. To add to that is the staff. They are quite rude and inefficient. Last time I ate there they got two of the six orders at my table incorrect. So, all in all, if all you care about is the pizza go ahead and eat at Fratelli, but if you want an overall experience head elsewhere.
(2)
Bill H.
Personally I'm a little underwhelmed by the food at Fratelli La Bufala. The restaurant is located on the corner of Washington and 5th in South Beach. The interior was nice. It's not fine dining, but certainly not Pizza Hut. Some friends saw a review on the Food Channel raving about the food so we decided to go. Judging by the name alone I figured this was an Italian restaurant; the menu includes many pizzas with a smattering of other Italian options. We started with the bruschetta, Carpaccio and the eggplant lasagna. I wanted calamari, however it's not something that was available on the menu. The appetizers were good and the portions were nicely sized. For our main course we had the lasagna and 3 different types of calzones. The lasagna was good, but there was something about it that reminded me of tomato sauce from a jar. The calzones were huge blocks of bread filled with cheese and had the toppings on the side. Typically when I've gotten calzones everything is baked inside so this came as a surprise. Food and service were good but we all left a bit underwhelmed after hearing the glowing review on the Food Network. Nothing left a lasting impression so I doubt I'd go back.
(2)
Melissa G.
Awesome - truly delicious Italian pizza made in the oven in front of you right there in the dining room. The best pizza in Miami by far - true Neopolitan style with amazing fresh buffalo mozzarella. A pizza and a glass of wine and it's a perfect meal :-)
(4)
Len D.
I'm not really a fan of red sauce pasta, mostly because a lot of places just don't make it well. But I like the red sauce here. It's the tomato richness and most likely fresh ingredients. Something so basic as tomato, basil, and olive oil sounds simple, but here its delicious and perfectly done. We started with the an appetizer for the whole table, La Bufalata. Which is basically a little bit of everything on their antipasti menu. At $36 seems a little steep, but it was surprisingly worth it. One of the best things on the plate to me was actually the carrots. I just can't figure out how they got it to that texture and flavor. One of the best things here is the pizza. I've had the Monachina and Margherita which were great. It's just very different than any pizza I've ever tried. The pizza is very thin and the kind of pizza you have to eat with a knife/fork. The crust, sauce, and definitely the cheese is different. Everything is just so different than other Italian restaurants. This place is somewhere at the top.
(5)
Sharon M.
Saw four stars on Yelp, and were in the neighborhood, so went on in. It was about 12:45 on a Friday afternoon (April 20, 2012), and there was only one table eating...that should have been our clue, but we sat down and ordered anyway. I wasn't real hungry so I thought maybe a small soup would be perfect. The menu boasted their ministrone was loaded with fresh vegetables. Well, kind of. It was literally a bunch of fresh veggies tossed into a boiling unflavorful veggie broth. Again, since the soup wasn't delivered until AFTER the pizzas, I should have picked up on something not quite right. The pizzas were a good size for a personal pie, and we were watching them being tossed, so my husband and 26 year old son both ordered individual pies. My husband ordered the prociuto with tomato sauce, and my son ordered the ricotta with a bay leaf litterally smeared on, almost as an after thought. The prociutto pie was wierd...like a piece of large thinly sliced ham with a spoonful of a bitter tomato sauce, on semi raw pizza dough. My sons pie was not as edible. I love ricotta with just about anything, but this was just glopped on, again, RAW piza dough. When I showed our server, he tried to tell me that was the way it was supposed to be. When I asked another server for an owner or manager she told me there were none available at this time. Meantime, our server was preparing our bill with a MANDATORY 17% tip!! Sorry guys, there are just TOO MANY really yummy options around there to have to put up with what you tried to sell us as a great lunch. Wish we had taken pictures, but we couldn't wait to leave.
(1)
Karl S.
Wallace & Grommit would love this place -- so much cheese. I have to agree with the reviewer who advised customers not to venture outside of the pizzas. In our party of three, two had pizzas and were satisfied. I had a pasta dish and wasn't. The pasta tasted borderline undercooked to me. The appetizers seem somewhat over-priced (especially in comparison to the main courses) but they are quite large. We got an assortment of cheeses for an appetizer and it nearly filled us up. The salads, outside of the basic greens, were also nearly a meal in themselves.
(3)
Lindsay G.
For a chain, this place kicks it. The only reason they don't get five stars is cause,duh, they are a chain. I love this place. They import the mozzarella fresh every day and frankly, their pizza is the only pizza I can eat in the Miami area (I'm a deep dish Chicago girl-y'all). Also, they have a nice selection of proseccos and an outdoor area that is generally pretty quiet during lunch. The staff is friendly and generally accommodating with pleasant service that doesn't make you feel rushed. Also, the burrata is to die for.
(4)
Sergio D.
If you want to eat the PIZZA as the neapolitans do, this is the right place to go. It's as authentic as it can get, made the same way is done in Naples, Italy (so don't expect to see your pizza overloaded with cheese, because they want you to appreciate the other ingredients as well), very thin and flavorful crust. Prices are good, and the service is as good as their food. Definitely recommended.
(5)
Ed A.
Maybe it was the fact that I expected more from a 4-star yelp-rated restaurant. Or maybe it was the fact that I wasn't too hungry to begin with when I got there. Either way, I left thoroughly unimpressed with this restaurant. We took advantage of the sale on restaurant.com (you can go there and buy coupons that reduce your bill by $25, with a min. purchase of $35). My gf and I stopped by for dinner around 11 pm one night. We opted to sit outside, although it was a little muggy and we probably should have sat inside. I ordered la reale pizza (I think that was the spelling), for $18. She ordered a $16 pasta dish.. I believe it was some sort of pasta carbonara. The food came out moderately quickly (first bread was served). The pizza was very bland. It had smoked mozz, fresh mozz and prosciutto, but it really more closely resembled a frozen Ellios slice. I've had much better food at Italian restaurants back home for half the price. My girlfriend's dish wasn't much better. The pasta (which my gf claimed was homemade) was too thick and chewy, and the flavors of the sauce did little to complement it. Since we knew that the min order was $35, we also ordered a $5 plate of french fries. We waited and waited but never got the order. We then asked for the check, and of course they had issues with it since the coupon stated it was a $35 min order. I reminded the waiter that we had ordered fries and they never brought it. They apologized for the mixup, but insisted we order something else to make the limit "otherwise the computer won't let us put it in". They eventually agreed to let us order a beer, since we weren't really hungry anymore anyway. The decor is nice, but I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. There are probably better Italian restaurants in the area (although I didn't visit any others).
(2)
James C.
The pizza here is just great - just like at the locations in Italy. Its no wonder so many Italian tourists take refuge here from the tourist traps on Ocean Dr. The service is also quite good. Most of the staff is Italian and was very patient with our indecisive party of 9.
(5)
Eric D.
We ordered a Mediterranean salad, minestrone soup, and eggplant parmesan. Food was delicious, good sized portions, and great service. We ate a late lunch and the restaurant was busy.
(5)
Maria A.
I have what some might call a pizza problem. The problem being I love a good slice. My friends had been raving about FLB for a long time. One Sunday afternoon I finally had the chance to try the pizza and understood. My friends were right this is some of the best pizza in Miami. Whenever sampling a new pizza I usually order a simple cheese or margherita. If they can do simple well, then there is hope. FLB's pizza was well flavored with a strong balance of cheese, minimal sauce, and crust. The pies are brick oven and that really produces a remarkable flavor. With Pizza Volante gone, this might be my new oven lovin regular.
(4)
jen r.
i had bought a voice deal of the day. for $7 i got $20 worth of food. went in the other night and ordered 2 pizzas a traditional margherita and a white 4 cheese pizza. i liked the margherita better. anyways the final bill came out and it was only a $10 difference. the service was really nice and the pizza came out super quick. they didnt treat us any differently bc we were using a coupon deal. but the 18% tip was automatically included. i will definitely be back for some traditional italian goodness. btw it totally helped set the mood that the couple next to us were speaking italian the whole time, if i tuned out all the honking from washington ave and the tourists from wisconsin on our other side i coulda almost felt like i was in florence.
(4)
Marina V.
Restaurants.com once again drew us to this little corner eatery, and being a busy few weeks with spring break going on (this publishing is a tad late), it was a welcome respite from the crowds ! Quaint little place; weathered a bit from the south beach atmosphere but not detracting. The menu looked great, and after checking into yelp we received a surprise bonus; 2 complimentary prosecco! NOICE! round it out with the 'Affettati Misti' to start. The meats and cheeses were all fresh and tasty (some of which we hadn't tried before), and the other goodies (olives, veggies, peppers, tomatoes) added to the mix. We watched as the chef in the open kitchen prepared several dishes, wondering what looked the best and , with the intoxicating aroma wafting about, it was tough to decide! We settled; 'Lo scarpariello' and 'Ripienone' ....Hmmm, more simply put, pasta sauteed with cherry tomatoes, crushed red pepper and basil, and a nice Calzone with fresh ricotta and mozz, and sweet salami. Perfecto ! Again, everything was very fresh and complemented the second glass o' prosecco we had. Perfect late afternoon lunch. Parking is a bit tough on very busy days (when ISN'T it busy on this corner!) but don't let that detract you from trying this place. Buon Appetito!
(4)
Neil R.
This is the BEST pizza that I have had outside of Naples, Italy. And I used to live in NYC. I recommend getting a simple cheese only, pizza margarita. Toppings will only detract from the heavenly experience.
(5)
Lizzie R.
Overall I was impressed by this place. I recently moved to the area and am enjoying trying out the restaurants and this is one I would go to again. The crust of the pizza is really good - crispy yet chewy with just a hint of saltiness. My bf had the buffalo burger which was also tasty but oddly did not come with a bun. One star down for the abrupt service, and the tiramisu was only OK.
(4)
Lisa C.
I wanted to try this place for a while and I am so happy I did. Food is amazing and the staff are Italian and speak it. It is the reaaaaal deal. I brought my dog, ate outdoors (hated the noisy motorcycles so next time I eat inside). We got a salad and a Calzone and shared. Portions are good for sharing. Next time I come I am trying pasta because the calzone had a very smokey brick overn burn type of tatse. It was good but I wouldn't order it again. But the PASTAS and the salads mmmmmm. The lady sitting next to me had a fettucini alla bolognese and it looked like pure heaven in a plate. The other couple sitting to my other side shared a pizza (there are good size for sharing) but I noticed when he picked his slice up same burned thing going on. For pizza and Calzones I'm sticking to SPRIS on Lincoln Rd. But I'm looking forward to coming back here for a nice pasta dish. mmmmm! Bottom Line: Order a salad, and the pastas, and the entrees but not impressed with the Calzone or pizzas.
(4)
Ron G.
Great pizza. Authentic Italian Style. My wife loves the coffee. Too bad there aren't any of these in the Philly area. :(
(5)
Usu I.
I love their pizza. I've read many different reviews and have to say, it's good; some reviews are quite harsh. A cute story behind their franchise and the food is quite good. The pizza is baked quickly and their special with fresh bufala mozzarella and cherry tomatoes is delicious. For two, it's nice to share a pizza and then each an entree. I find it that the entrees are kind of small. The price is a bit high for a specialty pizza ($20+) and an entree each; but I pay for what I want, and I do have this craving from time to time. I'd like to comment that the service could be much better, and the staff could definitely improve on their sanitation. All in all, I am a fan.
(4)
Stephanie W.
Came here after seeing it on Food Networks' "Best Thing I Ever Ate" and OMG the Ripienone Calzone is SO DELICIOUS! Service was great. Free bottle of house wine if you check in with FourSquare...
(5)
Nina T.
good honest italian food. only gnocchi and lasagna and maybe cannelloni are fresh made pasta, rest of pasta is box fyi. gnocchi sauce was great. salads big--share w another person.
(4)
Gianna O.
The mozzarella is delicious. Nice, crispy crust. This is not your typical "city" pizza place, but it definitely stands out.
(4)
Joshua W.
There is no better Napoli style crust in Miami. Period. Service is always right on point. The owner, Larry, is so on top of guest service it just goes against everything you hear about South Beach poor service. My favorite is the Diablo...nice spicy sausage. My Gal loves the Monachina...3 cheeses and that's it. Regular Mozz, smoke Mozz, and like a parm..outstanding. The pastas are great too..the gargenelli (sp) in the cheese bowl....PLEASE! amazing. Get one of these up in Chicago and it may actually challenge my love for Chicago style pizza.
(5)
Barbara R.
I was born in Italy and I carefully avoid Italian restaurant, because they are not even close to the original. Not to mention the fact that Italian cooking is very different from the North to the South and even from town to town. Fratelli La Bufala aims at being different . The pizza is the thin-crusted real thing and the antipasto brought back fond memories, but the pasta felt too gooey and the Caprese was embarrassing: $17 for four painfully thin slices of tomatoes topped by as thin slices of mozzarella is borderline insulting. Th service is pretty attentive and good. I enjoyed myself the other night, but I am not sure I will be back.
(3)
eglys h.
delicious. fresh. amazing. coupon on hand, we went to try them out. funny thing, one nite we were watching tv (food network) and caught a bit of Guy Ferri's show. it was about this place - next day a coupon $20 for $7 becomes available and we just had to get it. off we went. friday late nite - place was pretty full. found street parking a couple of blocks down. requested a table inside. immediately we sat down and waiter came over. took our drinks order and patiently waited for us to order food - 1st time there took a bit extra time to review menu. wanted to make sure to get it right!!! as we were reviewing, the table next to ours received their first course - CAPRESE salad. a nice size portion too.... approx 4-6 slices of fresh bufalo mozzarella and nicely sliced tomatoes. so we knew then we had to have same!!! so we ordered it. A MUST when you go!!! It is the most delicious bufalo mozzarella we have ever had!! melts in your mouth!!!! when you drizzle a little of the balsamic vinegar over it, enhancing its flavor to a new level, your taste buds jump for joy!!!! the off the the next course - due to their famous "best pizza ever" legend, we had to try it. and also cause of the show where it featured their Calzone we had to try that too..... We had a Blanca Pizza (white pizza - no sauce) ham/mushroom and a Calzone with the smoked mozzarella. both came out promptly. delicious!!! we really enjoyed them both and had a bit to take home. when in Italy and not try a canoli ? could not do it. had to have it. nice size portion 2 per serving good enough to share but really do i have too!!! delicious creamy mozzarella cream!!!! it was so yummy...... lots of chocolate drizzled over top and lots of powdered sugar!!!! also had a glass of the house wine - not bad at all.. Overall we really liked this place. the place is nice, food delicious, service super good (no issues with the coupon) We will make it a point to back soon...
(4)
A S.
This little Italian restaurant has the most amazing and delicious pizza outside of Napoli. The buffalo cheeses, buffalo meats, salads and every dessert are exquisite. They have a good wine list and decent service. I guess it depends who you get. I have always been lucky. If I don't give this place a 5 star is because they have to work on their espresso machine. I love the food here. I will keep coming back and recommending it to everyone. This place never lost quality since they opened.
(4)
Joaquin M.
I have eaten pizza here a couple of times in the past 4 years. The place is very cool. I always had good service. In an actual italian restaurant that is an achievement. But every time I finish my pizza, this thought comes to my head: This is way I didn't came back to this place: Its the cheese! They use buffalo cheese. Its suppose to be better, more expensive, you get the picture. But they use so little cheese, I feel like I'm eating Bread with sauce and some hints of cheese. That is not pizza! I want cheese on my pizza. I don't want to see the bread, except on the border of the pizza. And BTW I don't love cheese. I never ask for extra cheese . I actually only eat cheese on pizzas. But whats the point of eating a pizza and trying to find the cheese there. So after 4 times of getting annoyed by that. I decided i have given them enough chances. You guys keep making your pizzas with very little cheese and I'll give my money to someone that actually uses cheese on their pizza.
(3)
Mimi M.
very fresh mozzarella! a little pricey but overall good food.
(3)
Aris F.
Just another place serving sad little attempts at pizzas. I was hoping for one of the best pizzas in the Miami area, but what I got instead was "bland and underwhelming," as Chester B put it. I had heard so much about their "mouth-watering cheese." Where was this extraordinary mozzarella? It sure wasn't on my pizza. Then there was the tomato sauce, which had enough salt to kill a small horse (I only lived to write this review by being unable to consume the whole pizza). And only a single, token basil leaf on a margherita? WTF? Not to say their other food isn't good -- the place was packed, so they must be doing something right, I guess. If you do decide to go, be prepared to pay for parking. It's Sobe, after all.
(2)
Jenny L.
Wonderfully cozy restaurant with excellent pizza. Went during a weekend for lunch and we were seated quickly.The valet parking is free if the restaurant validates if for you. The server was friendly and willing to offer tips about the trademark dishes. Ended up getting the pizza with the prosciutto on top and it came out w/ a warm thin crust topped w/ tomato sauce and excellent blend of prosciutto and herbs. Excellent food.
(5)
J B.
I felt transported to Italy when we dined here last wk. Everyone here speaks Italian and all the waiters are HOT. We ordered the Cheeze + Tomato appetizer...meh, just OK. But their Margherita Pizza was yummy! The soft cheese and light tomato sauce on the thin crust was cooked perfectly on their stone oven. It's big enough to share between 2 people. My friend ordered fried mozzarella and it was one big fried ball. Pretty funny.
(4)
Kris M.
Amazing! Yes, I mean amazing! One of the few places in Miami that offers a taste of Italy! Pizza is great. My favorite is the diavola with spicy salami and fresh mozzarella. Their pasta is always good, and if you're not into pasta try their buffalo fillet! Very nice! The servers are A's friendly and knowledgeable A's the servers in Italy and they speak Italian. Even the managers are friendly! Overall a great place! I highly recommend it!!!
(5)
Brent M.
One of the best places to get a pizza in Miami. The mozzarella alone is worth braving the horrors of a trip to Miami Beach (sorry Miami Beach residents). Bruschetta is so ubiquitous that it's hard to find a place that offers in a way that really stands out, but FLB is one of those places. My favorite pizza is the Diavola - tomato sauce, spicy salami, bufala mozzarella, basil & crushed red pepper. Awesome.
(4)
Victoria L.
If you are in a mood for a good pizza, I mean VERY good pizza, no frills, no thousands of toppings, but simple sauce, cheese and some basil prepared to perfection, this is the place. I have tried other items on the menu, but their Traditional Italian Margarita pizza is the one I come back to all the time. Also, their bufala and strawberries dessert is amazing.
(4)
Rubes L.
Being a huge fan of Italian food, I actually don't really get the hype over FLB. Boyfriend and I ordered a pizza and a calzone, and both were decent but not especially impressive. The service was pretty quick but not especially good, same for the price. They do have a pretty extensive pizza menu though, so we could have been unlucky with our choice as well.
(3)
Andrea S.
If you're going crazy looking at the same menu restaurant after restaurant on Ocean Drive and have a hankering for good Italian food, hustle on over to FLB. My mom and I were seated immediately, my choice of table landing us right in front of the TV during a Milan-Munich game (score!) and a basket of warm bread and free prosecco (thank you, foursquare!) were promptly brought out. I would say that the game was great, which it was, but the staff of native Italian men made it fun to look beyond the TV, too. We ordered the mediterraneo salad and my god that mozzarella! Bring me out a plate of the mozzarella with a drizzle of balsamic and I would've been totally content. For my entree I ordered lo scarpariello. As someone that cannot tolerate really heavy food when it's hot out, this "light" pasta fit the bill. Don't let the simplicity fool you, the very few ingredients are put together perfectly and highlight the freshness. I googled this place as soon as I got home only to find that FLB in DC closed right before I came back to town. Maybe instead of going back to Miami, I'll hit it up next time in Italy.
(5)
Michelle D.
Do yourself a favor and visit their website - even if you don't need to look at the menu ahead of time. Charming story on how the place all began and music to accompany. Friendly staff, ready to bring you extra olive oil or vinaigrette, if need be. Fresh ingredients (buffalo mozzarella imported weekly) and pleasant view of 5th Street. And, fun fact, the logo is a water buffalo. Seriously wish I could get the name of the song they use on their homepage. Ah, for another day!
(4)
Ray m.
I wouldn't say it's the best but definitely the freshest! all the ingredients are fresh and the pizza is made almost in front of you. it's a small place with the pizza in the dining area. I ordered a simple preusuto with cheese and it was just enough for 2 to share. owners are italian and the prices are average. we only came here b/c checking in with yelp gave free glass of wine. it's worth stopping by again
(4)
Lauren P.
Best Pizza in Miami by far!!
(5)
Eric B.
Diavolo pizza is delicious. Bit cramped inside.
(4)
Christina B.
My husband had the pizza and I had the pasta. Pretty good and a nice portion. My only complaint was that it was as hot inside as it was outside and the chairs are not very comfortable.
(3)
Daniele F.
I went here for dinner tonight...Cool place, slick service and great pizzas...nothing like the rest of the trash they serve in Miami (apart from Blue La pizzeria del Sole, which is 30 miles away...) Real Italians (like me) work and dine there, just because it feels like home and the pizza is the best around! Try some of the specials...even if not all of them are so great!
(5)
Joseph P.
Better than I thought it would be..it is on a super crowded corner of 5th and Washington. I figured it would be full of tourists and overpriced, but went with a coupon ($15 for $35!) . Sat outside in a surpisingly serene little "garden" on 5th st. Very pleasant evening and decent food.
(3)
Alex G.
I have to say this is one of those places where you can either get so excited and love it, or you can simply say "never coming again" - I think it all depends on the day, the time, and the mood of the waiters - So, to the point, most of the menu is good, the pizzas are very good, the pastas not always the best. The services depends on who you get - The location is fantastic, the parking a pain - Give it a try, and let us know what you think - Ciao !
(3)
Osama B.
Best bufala ever. I think I can eat here everyday and never get sick of it, ever. You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack. But when I came hereI knew this would be a place of my own. And my wolf pack... it grew by one. So there... . I was alone first in the pack, and then Doug joined in later. And six months ago, when I first went here I thought, "Wait a second, could it be?" And now I know for sure, I just added one more to my wolf pack.
(5)
J C.
Food is Amazing! My taste buds had an orgasm for every dish I ordered from apps to main course & dessert. Atmosphere is great w/ indoor & outdoor seating. The prices are a little pricier plus they automatically add a 17% tip on your bill.
(4)
Cathy M.
great pizza, decent prices. i would go back with family, kids are welcome... i got a free bottle of house wine for the table with my foursquare check in!
(4)
adrian s.
all I have to say is, this is the one place in Miami where you want to eat Napoli style pizza. EXCELLENT!
(5)
Andrew K.
Great restaurant....the food is dang good and the service is friendly. There's this one pasta dish that has a light cream sauce and sausage, and is served in a Parmesan bowl. (yes, a bowl made out of Parmesan cheese!) I had the gazpacho soup, which was tasty. It was pureed, which I'm not used to, but the taste was really nice. It ends up being pricey if you order salad and dessert.
(4)
Richard H.
The lasagna is to die for! However, service wasn't great. No one greeted us as we came in, and after bringing our food, no one checked on us until we were ready for the cheque.
(4)
Yuli L.
FLB is a small yet cozy italian restaurant on SoFi. All the servers are originally from Italy, which adds to the authenticity of the establishment. Most of the people dining seem to be Italian locals; that should tell you something. The food is great -- my favorites include the carpaccio and the scarpariello. Lastly, if you check in w/ foursquare(not sure about the yelp app) you get a free bottle of house wine w/ your meal.
(4)
Y P.
I usually don't venture into the SoBe area for eats but when I was around the area, I remembered hearing about this place and decided to stop by. Now, the food is absolutely amazing. But the service is not there. I mean, the food came quickly and my water was refilled in a timely manner and all, but the staff was extremely apathetic. And the fact that the 17% tip was included in the bill may be the reason why. I've read that this is usually the case in SoBe but this is the first time I've actually had to witness it. But besides this, the food definitely merits a five. I came to order the neapolitan pizza and calzone. I was thoroughly impressed by the sheer size of the calzone. But I quickly forgot about the size once I tasted it. The first bite was one of just dough. Now, I would imagine this to be quite boring and a nuisance in other calzones but I wouldn't mind just ordering this dough and munching on it as a meal. Its literally that good. But once again, this great impression was shattered after I went deeper into the calzone. The cheesiness was great but for me, the best part was the ricotta. I don't know how to explain it, but this was probably the best ricotta I've ever tasted. Probably because of the freshness. The pizza was just as great here. I ordered the simple margherita and it blew my mind. The person I was with has had pizza at naples and claims that although this pizza wasn't quite as good, it was definitely up there. Extremely authentic. The cheese was great as well and the crust did not change. Sheer bliss. The price tag did not come as a bother either, because I found $7 to be extremely reasonable. I will definitely be back here, and maybe since I know what to expect from the service, I will finally be able to award this place its 5th star. But until then, the disillusionment of bad service keeps me from giving it to them.
(4)
Maris D.
We paid $75 for dinner for two adults and two small children, no liquor. The pizza had hardly any cheese or toppings. It took forever to get the food. I had to ask for every refill on drinks. The waiter gave us "incorrect" change, tried to keep $6 and when we called him out on it, he did not apologize. Just put on a pissed off grin. NEVER AGAIN
(1)
C R.
Really excellent spicy salami pizza, I never would have thought it would taste so good, they have the right ovens if you are into pizza.
(5)
Andrew J.
Pizza is excellent, made with buffalo mozzarella as the name implies. Very urbane, on a busy corner in South Beach. Lots of outdoor seating for people watching. Mostly Italian staff.
(4)
Liliana E.
Good food...pizza, salads, desserts, wine, coffee. It's a relatively small place and it's usually packed. If the weather is nice you can sit outside, otherwise expect the waiters to be running by you every minute.
(4)
Arlynes H.
Delicious Italian food, our waiter had the mean face of the waiters that you find in Italy but our food came fast and with perfect taste! Caprese impanata( I think that this is the correct spelling) tastes so good that you don't want to share.!
(4)
Darin C.
I ordered a pizza and a calzone. Both came out soggy except for the edge, which was good. Limp pizza doesn't do it for me.
(2)
Nicholas P.
I like everything about this place. I will start with the service, the first time I went not only was the service great on an especially busy night, my beer bottle was broken and even though I did not cut my lip, the owner comped our meal. You usually don't find customer service like that in Miami restaurants, instantly made me a fan and regular customer. Their pizza is fantastic, plenty to choose from and very authentic, IMO one of the most authentic Italian experiences in Miami. They do have a few other locations, but this is the only one outside of Italy, or at least Europe for that matter. The Italian options are equally as good as the pizza, I have not had a bad dish there. I have been on dates there, with groups and to their anniversary party, alwas great ambiance and a good vibe. Finally we get to the price, these guys understand the restaurant business.
(5)
Joe W.
My girlfriend and i went here, i ordered the restorinto calzone which had alot of dough to it and very little meat but a perfect amount of cheese. I was expecting it to be better then it was but it was still good, i ate this all bu myself so it was a good portion. My girlfriend had the diavalo pizza which was very good, the sauce was sweet and spicey but was alittle different then our home town pizza that is thick and hard. This was alittle soggy so expect to eat it with a fork.
(4)
V F.
Very good food and very good service as well. We had a pizza (Diavola), pasta (Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese), and Bufala Tiramisú and Sorbetto for dessert. They were all tasty and delicious. My kids loved all of the food. The location is close to South Beach. To top it off, they had free valet parking too!
(5)
J R.
Awesome authentic pizza. Mozzerella is imported weekly and unlike anything you can get locally. Try the bufala appetizer with foccacia! Friendly staff and they all speak italian
(4)
David C.
I love this place. I have been to this location on a couple of occasions and each time I have had a pizza. The staff could polish up on service skills, but the quality of the food is excellent. The pizza crust is thin and tasty. The size of the pizza, while we were told was meant to serve one, can serve two if one person is not too hungry. If ordering a pizza, do not order a salad... you will not be able to finish both. One of my friends ordered some pasta and was pleased with his dish. Outdoor seating is available... and was packed over the NYE weekend. The interior is nothing special, so do not head here when you are looking to impress. However, head here for some good pizza. I have had better, but not too many better than this spot. If you are looking for a quality pizza with fantastic flavor this is your spot.
(4)
Mauricio B.
We were very happy with the salad (Mediterraneo) we ordered; however, pizzas were disappointing, not much taste and crust was too soft. On the positive side, hostess was friendly and was able to seat us fairly quickly even though the restaurant was very busy. Service was also prompt: however, waiter ignored the request to provide the offer announced on Yelp for a free glass of Prosecco. The positive part is that when I told this to the manager, he gave me the wine I had as a compliment. Very good response, which makes me feel like coming back to try other dishes in this restaurant.
(3)
sean k.
A near-perfect pizza. Sweet sauce, thin-crispy dough, and the FRESHEST mozzarella cheese a pizza can have. The basil doesn't hurt either. I also love how the pizza only takes a couple minutes to make, because it is SO thin, 1 person could easily polish their own pie.
(4)
Valerie D.
The pizza, bread and homemade cheeses were phenomenal! I cant say enough about them! Two thumbs up. The service, however, leaves much to be desired. Our host/server was not too friendly. He seemed to be annoyed when we walked in at 1pm for lunch. He came to take our drink orders but only listened to what kind of water we wanted and walked away. We asked for other drinks on his next visit to our table. It was hot out so we went through our water pretty quickly but no one was available to provide a refill for a long time. He was only nice when we were signing the check, which seems odd to me since the restaurant tacks on an automatic ~17-18% gratuity. Maybe thats why he did not feel compelled to go out of his way. That being said, go for the food, not for the service. It IS just a pizza joint after all.
(3)
Mike B.
Delicious fresh Italian food.
(4)
Carolina C.
This is by far the BEST pizza in Miami! We go almost every week and we've never had a bad experience. The service and the food are excellent! Highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Ericstevenc T.
Great Cafe pizza
(5)
Ian A.
Some of the best Pizza I've ever had! Recommended by a friend who's from Northern Italy.
(5)
Adam C.
Having just moved to the area, I have decided to deem this my favorite local Italian spot. Our group of four thoroughly enjoyed every bite. I had a pizza with various cheeses. The dough was cooked to perfection in their wood burning oven. You know, not too crispy, and just chewy enough. The little lady had a rigatoni with pancetta and zucchini. She insisted I try it, since she could barely finish half of it. Kryoman ordered the straccetti; sauteed beef and mozzarella over greens. It looked good. Mrs. Kryoman got her standard go to dish, carpaccio, which was prepared to perfection. This place is truly deserving of five stars.
(5)
Jimmy M.
This place was really good. Great service and the food was excellent. We got the lasagna, pizza diavolo and a pasta dish (name escapes me) and split it all. Definitely recommend it if you're in South Beach.
(4)
Alan A.
The best mozzarella de buffalo we have had outside italy. The pizza was amazing as well.
(5)
Masie R.
This is one of my favorite places in Miami Beach, even though we walked by it all the time, it wasn't until we were watching Food Network that we realized what we had down the street. After trying the calzone, we were hooked!! The cheese is AMAZING and cooked perfectly. Even the burnt edges taste like toasted marshmallows. Don't be intimidated by the prices, my boyfriend and I usually split the calzone and its enough food to be satisfied and its only around 15$. Definitely recommend stopping in if you haven't already.
(5)
KK H.
This is the BEST, perhaps the only, real authentic Italian pizza I've ever tasted outside of Italy. If you're looking for American-style or fusion pizza like 99.999% of American pizza places, you won't find it here. This is not pizza you eat with your hands, but rather with a fork and knife. If you haven't had this experience in Italy, you may not appreciate it. If you've never been, this will be as close as you get to a real Italian pizzeria. Reviewers who are disappointed in this restaurant don't understand what a treat they're getting. My only disappointment is that the desserts are a little pricey, but that's only a tiny thing. The Capriccioso is my favorite--it's absolutely amazing. Hoping this amazing restaurant expands to the West Coast in Los Angeles.
(5)
Vanessa G.
Amazing! Real Italian pizza in Miami. We were in an out of the place in 30 minutes, service is excellent and unbelievable fast! Simply great!!!
(5)
Georgiana B.
Fantastic spot! So much more appealing than Ocean Drive establishments. Do not waste your money there. I come to Miami 5 or 6 times a year and I go to Fratelli every single time.. sometimes twice in one visit. The food is very authentic and delicious and the ambiance is European. Don't miss this spot!
(5)
Franky A.
I love this place! Great food and atmosphere. The service can be slow at times but it's such a fun place with great food.
(4)
Jill H.
Amazing REAL italian pizza. There are locations in Italy, so you know it's authentica!!
(5)
Niketasuniel S.
For my 3 week work trip most of my expense receipts come from this place. We loved it!!! Pizza almost like Naples and Gazpacho soup mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm so fresh!
(5)
Tracy T.
Don't have to go running back for the pizza. It was good, but I expected the best ever.
(3)
jonathan l.
Came here courtesy of a groupon. The place was pretty empty during lunch time, and ordered a simple mushroom and seafood linguine. The service was ho hum, and the pasta while good, didn't wow me. The place was full of Italians - if you want to see Italian tourists, this is the place to be. Speaking of which, the staff was all Italian as well. The one thing I didn't like was the comment made to me when I asked for the Parmesan. Whether intentional or not, the server was condescending. "We usually do not put parmesan on seafood but you can put it on if you like". Like dude, this is the US of A! Save your patronizing remarks for Berlusconi. I can ask whatever I want and the customer is always right! Also, the whole time the entire staff was watching an Italian soccer game on TV. (Very Italian...) The place also makes a great deal of being featured on "best thing I ever ate". Given the fact that the people on that show are all Italian-Americans, the bias is palpable and really, if the stuff here is "the best thing I've ever eaten" the hosts of that show really has no credibility and needs to go for a palate transplant. I've been to Italy. I've been to Italian restaurants all over the world and believe me, this place is very pedestrian and ordinary pizzeria. The worst thing about this place is the 18% automatic gratuity. Really didn't want to pay this since it was undeserving but decided to just pay it and never come back again. Go if you like ordinary Southern Italian fare that forces you to pay for bad service. Plenty of great restaurants (Italian included) in SoBe.
(1)
Jeffrey E.
Amazing pizza, .very authentic Italian cuisine Nice atmosphere with the outdoor seating as well.
(5)
Stephanie R.
Best pizza I've ever eaten. The menu and waiters all speak Italian so if you're looking to impress someone it would be a good way to do so, unless you don't speak Italian then you'll sound kinda weird when you order something. The dough is incredible, nothing like papa johns or pizza hut, and it is not extremely expensive and you still get to experience authentic Italian pizza. I would recommend it to everyone!
(5)
Erica H.
We saw this place on an episode of "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" and we knew we had to come and eat here ! The pasta is amazing the mozzarella is nothing short of some of the best I've had ! This is a must have !
(5)
bernardita w.
... it is without a doubt the best restaurant on the beach... besides the amazing pizza, you can also eat great pasta and the best MOZZARELA everything taste so fresh I LOVED IT!!!! great for any occasion...it's so cozzy and has great service
(5)
Chester B.
I come to Miami every December for work, and have eaten at this place for the past two years. Service is fine. I always find the food bland and underwhelming. I think they put far too much cheese on everything. The mixed green salad is served with a fist-size mound of buffalo mozzarella in the middle. Do I really need to eat a 1/4 pound of cheese with my salad? I ordered a pasta and it was loaded with melted cheese; so much that it stuck to my fork and I couldn't get it off. I complained and they brought me out another pasta that they said had a little bit of ricotta cheese. It wasn't a little. It was a lot. I feel like I just paid $50 for a stomach ache.
(2)
Andy L.
Fratelli La Bufala is an Italian trattoria that focuses on everything buffalo: buffalo cheeses, buffalo meat, etc. and is generally good at what it does. The buffalo mozzarella is never that "flown in this morning from Italy" cheese that people line up for in Italian neighborhoods in NY, Chicago, Boston, etc., but it is generally fresh and tasty. Today we had some service issues that marred the dining experience and will make us cautious about going back. Our server was GianLuca or, as I call him, "Signore No". When we tried to order the buffalo meatballs, Signore No told us that they weren't good and were made of vegetables. The menu clearly states that they are made of buffalo meat and we have had them before and enjoyed them. Signore No would not hear of it and asked us to order something else. When we asked for a half order of gnocchi, Signore No said "no". We capitulated and asked for a full order of gnocchi with olive oil instead of the sauce on the menu, and Signore No firmly replied "no". The gnocchi was only available with the sauce on the menu. No substitutions. Now, I know better than to walk into an Alain Ducasse restaurant and ask for menu changes, but this place isn't Louis XV in Monaco. GianLuca got his 17% tip that the restaurant added to the bill, but he certainly didn't get anything extra from me. This guy needs to find another career. To be fair, the food was fine. Everything was tasty and, except for the antipasto plate (La Bufalata: one ball of mozzarella, two slices of prosciutto and some vegetables & lettuce...overpriced at $23), the dishes were priced fairly. We might go back and try again...but not if Signore No is waiting tables!
(1)
Carolyn T.
Well, last night's dinner was an impromptu visit with three guys who are sound and production engineers for a sound-artist. It was their recommendation so I tagged along to FLB - Fratelli la Bufala on Washington -- apparently they heavily promote the twice-weekly delivery of fresh Mozzarella. We started with two salads; an asparagus salad which was far from a salad as it was served with a hot cheese sauce and cold lettuce. Very, very weird. One of the guys really loved the cheese sauce and cleaned the plate with the accompanying bread, but I found the asparagus to be far from fresh, overcooked, and very stringy. The second salad had oranges, hearts of palm, walnuts and greens. Interesting but unexceptional. Between the four of us, we ordered two pizzas and two of the specials. One pizza was bedecked with fresh cherry tomatoes and rocket (which, honestly, I don't think *was* rocket) and the other was the "La Reale" which I remembering being the most interesting-sounding (with various meats and cheeses) but I did not get to taste. The other was mostly soft in the center and was a pizza that had to be eaten with utensils. However, when I got the crust, I was pleasantly surprised as the dough is obviously house-made. The two specials were a fettuccine with a creamy mushroom sauce which (although it was my order), was the least of my favorites of the evening. It was pasty and thick but the guy who liked the cheese sauce on the asparagus really liked my mushroom pasta. The other special of the evening was a large platter of mixed grill; steak, sausage, vegetables. I only got to taste the sausage which was perfectly fine but hardly ground-breaking.
(2)
Kristy C.
Just tasted like typical Italian pizza place.
(3)
renata W.
What a great find!!! Thank you Yelpers for recommending this. The place is nice and casual, fairly small and intimate. The wait staff was very nice, attentive and helpful...and yes, handsome... The food was fantastic! We ordered an appetizer of speck, cheeses baked with walnuts and honey (Il Pignatiello Speck (smoked prosciutto) wrapped around bufala cacio cheese and baked with honey & walnuts). While not a combination I would put together, the result was delicious! We also got a red pizza (La Reale tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, bufala smoked mozzarella, bufala ricotta & prosciutto crudo) and a white calzone (Cornetto di bufala calzone stuffed with emmenthal & caciotta cheeses and garnished with prosciutto, arugola, tomatoes & parmesan shavings), both of which were done to perfection. I feel, that it doesn't really matter what you order as the quality of the ingredients and the preparation is so wonderful that everything comes out delicious. We also had the tiramisu and a La ricottina (Light lemon flavored bufala ricotta cream, topped with strawberry sauce), both of which were great -- light, flavorful and with just sufficient amount of sweetness. Overall, a great experience. Can't wait to do it again
(5)
Deborah H.
We ordered a a salad, a pizza, and a burger to share among four during lunch at this casual restaurant. It was plenty of food. The pizza was very good: cooked to order in a huge stone stove in the corner. It was fun watching the (really cute) pizza guy fastidiously turn the pizzas around to ensure perfect crusts. The burger, made out of buffalo meat, was interesting. The meat was a little tough and slightly gamey. It was my first time having buffalo meat and I didn't especially enjoy it, so it won't affect the rating.
(3)
Maria T.
My daughter told me that this restaurant is really bad, but most of the reviews I read were so good that I wanted to try it, in spite of her advice. I asked a very simple dish: insalata caprese. Three pieces of very standard mozzarella (you can find much better ones at Wholefood) some tomato and a small bunch of basil leaves. Nothing more! There was some olive oil and salt in the table, so I had to "finish"it. My daughter's Pizza margherita was soggy, with lumps of mozzarella unevenly distributed and no seasoning at all. In some reviews people love the " authentic italian feeling " of the place. When I was there, the language spoken by everyone was spanish and I have nothing against that because it is my own language, but forget the romantic idea of "feeling in Naples". It is very much a South Beach tourist trap.
(1)
Gina B.
This place is great! My husband and I actually went on one of our first dates to this place, so it holds a special place in my heart. The food is delish and the ambiance really adds to the experience. You really feel like you've stepped into a restaurant in Italy as the owners are often working the floor and speaking in Italian to the many Italian patrons! The owners are extremely friendly and the food is really good. Try any of the pastas or pizzas. A very sweet little romantic restaurant.
(4)
Juhani P.
Best pizza at the South Beach?
(5)
art m.
Very good neapolitan thick crust pizza here. Real italians run this place
(4)
Linda G.
I absolutely love this place. Its THE best Italian on the beach, and in Miami, for that matter. The lasagna here is delicious.. it is a must have along with their other pasta plates. Each time I go, I try something new. Each time I try, it ends up being a new FAV. The pizza here is awesome! Its like pizza made in Italy! The crust is thin and it has just the right amount of sauce, cheese and ingredients! The Diavola is yuuuummy! Be ready for a little spice you order it. If you want a real bowl of soup like your 'mama' used to make, this is the place to go. On a rainy day in Miami, this is where you will find me sitting. The ambiance is sweet and quaint and the staff is super friendly and very attentive. I love, love, love hearing Italians speak and Im always pleasantly serenaded while there. This chic restaurant is right on the corner of 5th street and Washington. You couldn't ask for a better spot to people watch or to just look into your significant other's dreamy eyes. Yes, it really can go from that extreme to the other. ;)
(5)
Laura B.
I went to Fratelli with my brother who was visiting. I ordered a pizza which was tastey but i feel like it could've been cooked a little more. The Fried Mozzarella Ball had no flavor. My brother got a calzone which was huge and came a little overdone. The Calzone was much better than my pizza, had more flavors. My pizza was watery. I am a huge pizza fan. The pizza was better the next day after I heated it and cooked it a little more. The staff was wonderful. Very good ambiance. I would give it another try.
(3)
Mady B.
Took the 25 cent bus trip to Fratelli LaBufala for our last dinner in Miami before heading home. Great Pizza and service. Finally a place in South Beach that has reasonable prices for quality food and wine. We would for sure go back for more the next time we are in Miami Beach.
(4)
Nadine F.
This place wasn't bad, but not particularly good either. I had some kind of flat pasta with meat sauce. The pasta itself was really good, but the sauce was bland and watery. I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Andrew M.
After trying for an eternity to find parking in Miami beach I decided to park a few blocks off of Ocean and walk the rest of the way. However, in doing so I became quite hungry. I followed my nose. I began to smell fresh pizza being cooked close by and simply let my nose do the walking. I ended up at Fratelli La Bufala. I was politely greeted and seated. I didn't really need to see the menu. I just stated, "whatever that is that smells so good, I'll have that". The food came out promptly and it was excellent. It hit the spot. The pizza was thin crust (sorry Chicago fans) and was very tasty and not too greasy (after all remember it is pizza). I look forward to the next time I am in Miami Beach. I will definitely be stopping by this place again.
(4)
Christina C.
I went here on Sunday for lunch and found it to be a great place! The pizzas are a very good size (we had 3 for about 5 of us) and we enjoyed a delicious Pinot Noir, for only $25 per person (including tip). The service was a bit slow, but overall very good and wait staff is friendly.
(4)
Jennifer S.
my 2nd DAT experience right after this review, that is if you care to read what i had last night... *** miami #7 due to us being super lazy and to the horrible weather miami endured (it was windy, cold and rainy.. YESH! in miami, can you believe it!?) we decided to grab pizza before we headed out to the bar later that evening. it's a very nice place, not "nice" to the terms of being poshy but nice being it was very welcoming ... service was cool, very friendly and sweet and accomodating... we ordered a $10 margarita pizza with extra spinach and extra tomatos... peek foto ... you seriously can't get any more authentic than this. this is the real dilio from italy, or at least, in my opinion... not the deep dish chicago style. YUM. it was sort of a toss up between a16 (in sf) and fratelli. sorry senoires ... come and experience the essence of true authentic italian pizza right in sobe.
(4)
Andy L.
The food here is amazing. I have alway had a great meal here and the service during dinner time has always been spot on. I have been a few times during lunch ad do not feel that the experience is the same. The food is just as good but the service was always a little different. Oh, and don't bothertrying lut their french fries...they are nothing more than the fries you'd find in a college cafeteria.
(4)
Marie B.
Excellent pizza, quality, and service, a real find. In quieter part of town, worth going to. Owned by an Italian company and they really aim to please. Manager came over and chatted with us and made us feel very welcome.
(5)
Alice C.
average food, rude waiters and very limited menu.... that about says it all.
(3)
Rok C.
Seriously some of the best pizza that I've ever had (on par with Pizzeria Mozza in LA, which is fabulous). The crust and cheese are simply incredible! The salad we ordered was good and fresh with a nice light dressing. But the pizza is why I can't wait to go to Miami again!!
(5)
Rob C.
Not particularly memorable. Pizzas are the Italian oven style, ingredients with no sauce, crust mostly on the periphery.
(3)
V C.
I probably went to Fratelli La Bufala with very high expectations because it came very strongly recommended by an Italian friend of mine who in general has very good taste in food. Based on his comments Fratelli La Bufala is authentic and caters food from a very specific region in Italy that is famous for their cuisine. To that end I must admit I was slightly disappointed. I tried the minestrone soup which was excellent , it had a lot of vegetables and the seasonings were perfect. I then tried the margherita pizza which was a little chewy, on average good but would not say the best pizza I have eaten. My husband tried the grill platter and he said that meat was ok...nothing great. The place is nice and quaint and has a homely feel to it. Service of was not the greatest either.
(3)
Abbey P.
I have been here several times and each time the food was very good. Recently, we had the caprese pizza with eggplant (excellent) and the Paccheri pasta dish was amazing. I thought the flavors were wonderful!
(4)
Julia K.
I enjoyed everything, we got salad and pizza and pasta. Everything was great. I highly recommend this place!
(4)
Alex B.
Amazing food! We sat outside enjoying really good quality food and even got a free glass of Prosecco for checking in. The service was pleasant. Good people watching. Sorry for the short review, but this place was great!
(5)
Danielle A.
Great Italian food. Helpful staff. Family atmosphere. Definitely a place that will make you love REAL Italian food, especially if your only idea of it is Olive Garden (whom whomp!) Must Have: Burrata!!!!
(5)
Steph D.
Great place for pizza. The staff is very friendly and we really enjoyed our dinner. I might add just a tip: eat inside as the avenue is a bit crowded.
(5)
Edgardo G.
Someone recommended me this restaurant as a great experience in Miami Beach, arrived into the valet with a chauffeur with very bad attitude to take the car, entered the restaurant and got in a table with very tight space for 5 people just under their framed pictures made with oleo. We wanted to have something fast and a good reccomendation so we were very hungry he suggedted something in italian you can't understand and was not in the menu, and I said in my mind why not? how much could be that... Asked for a big something with vetebables and fresh cheese and a smal similar also with fresh cheese. We ordered 4 pizzas and I oredered their Lassahna took over 30 minutes to arrive the pizzas were very normal and just different but my lassagna was comleatelly burned from the upper side super hot, so I cut it in half and tried the center and bottom part and was frozen! (ice) so I called the waiter and told nim about it and they removed and I told him that I thought that they cook fresh food, and I thought to myself in 30 minutes I can cook any pasta!, they offered me a piza and I agreed, after 5 minutes, I decided to cancel so everybody already finished their food and in 1 minute arrived, the pasta at the botom was raw!, so I decided to eat the leftovers of other parties and asked for the bill.. 5 personal pizas and 2 appetizers 200 dls!!! they charged me 43 dollars for one apetizer and 23 dollars for the other one !!! not even drinks. So save the day and dont even try to vidit this place. HORRIBLE!
(1)
Chuck I.
Horrible dining experience -- we didn't order alcohol so the waiter became rude and didn't offer us bread, refill our drinks or ever come around for follow up service. He was probably racist as well. When the check came they had added gratuity and I told the waiter to remove it -- and he didn't argue because he knew he didn't deserve a penny. The manager strolled by just to see who we were but didn't stop to ask how our service was or if he could do anything.
(1)
Lissa G.
This place had potential but did not live up to it in any way. The place was fairly packed when we arrived, and the servers worked fairly hard to seat us. The server we had once we were seated, however, seemed less interested in actually being helpful. It took us forever to get wine. What was the most disappointing, though, was the Bufala tasting plate. The cheese was not fresh; and by not fresh, I really mean not fresh. Some of the pieces tasted foul. We took a tiny taste of everything, just to be sure it wasn't an isolated incident. After a quick taste, we pretty much left the whole plate there. Our server didn't bother to check on us, and when I did finally say that the cheese was "not good," no one seemed all that interested. The pizza was disappointing, too, as it was undercooked and lacked flavor. If only we could turn back time, we wouldn't eat here.
(1)
Joe S.
They make real Napoli pizza, cooked the right way, but lacking flavor in my opinion. Should have been much better. I don't know if it is the sauce, the dough, or the cheese - maybe a little bit of each. I recommend trying something other than the classic Margherita pizza - maybe a pie with more toppings or burrata would be better, or a pasta dish instead.
(3)
Diana E.
Amazing food, great service and reasonable prices! Loved this place. True taste of Italy
(5)
Stefano D.
Went there with my partner just for a good Italian style pizza. He got a Margherita and I got a La Parma, with prosciutto. Dough and ingredients VERY good, but I have to say that for being Italians' owned, it was too saucy instead of counterbalancing the fresh and very moist bufala mozzarella with just a little sauce, and this caused the pizza to be too saggy in the middle. Pity. I hope they correct this because it could be an excellent pizza.
(3)
Krystle L.
Great pizza, quick, fast and delicious! Pleasant server. Ate La Reale with an egg, delicious!
(4)
Angela M.
My cousin is from Italy and told me how this place is a chain in Europe. This is their only location in the United Stated but the workers told us how they are planning on opening another location in Florida as well in the up coming months. Overall very impressed!!! I am from New York and finding good Italian food outside of New York is pretty hard. Food - I ordered the pizza with just sauce, garlic and added eggplant (no cheese) it was only $8. The dough of the pizza so unbelievable! So much flavor and super thin, just the way I like it. The portion was very filling and I left super satisfied. My cousin got a white pizza and extra cheese and then a side of buffalo mozzarella to have with bread. He fully enjoyed his meal and to be born and raised in Italy he was able to say the pizza tastes just like it they made it at the locations in Italy. They also have bread and dipping oil if you ask. Service - Our waitress was super friendly and my cousin was speaking with her in Italian. Most of the staff was very friendly just not super attentive. I feel like we were only asked once the whole time we were there how everything was. I think most of the employees spoke Italian as their first language because I did have some trouble speaking to one or the waiters when I just wanted to redeem my yelp offer. When you check in on yelp you can get a free glass of prosecco and she was very nice to offer one to my cousin free as well even though he did not have the offer on yelp (I just did) Price - Affordable! The pizza was priced right and I left full. Our bill was $44 and the tip was included, 17%. I would totally recommend this place and during my trip to Miami we ate here twice (I got food once, my cousin twice). I feel like this isn't a place I would have picked on my own but I am so glad my cousin had us go. From the outside it doesn't really stand out and it seem a little out of the way compared to where tourist like ourselves were exploring in south beach. I must say everyone should go if they are looking for a great authentic Italian meal!
(5)
Michael S.
A quiet and friendly spot on south beach. Who would have thought it possible but it is. We had a great groupon and did well here. Twice now were would recommend and even with the menu prices as they are - the food is spot on good !
(5)
Sabrina S.
Absolutely delicious! I get the genuina (I think that's what it's called/ how it's spelled) and it is my truly my favorite pizza. The bread is thin and the crust is on the thicker side. Along with the tasty pizza, they also have excellent gnocchi. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Ryan H.
My wife called the gnocchi a "panty-dropper" and the lasagna was fantastic, too. I think every member of the staff came to our table to bring us something or refill drinks or check on us. The service was awesome. If you're in South Beach, come here.
(5)
Felipe S.
The lasagna is delicious. This place is no relaxing food is great and the staff is very nice. Not to mention their pizzas are great tasting.
(5)
Lis T.
Started with the bruschetta which was good. I had the homemade pasta with bolognese sauce and my husband had a calzone. Service was excellent as we were the only ones in there around 5 after walking around Ocean Drive and Collins Ave.
(4)
Anna L.
YUM! Exactly the kind of pizza I was hoping for in Miami. They even had one with no cheese already on the menu... So delicious I ate my whole plate.
(5)
Andrew K.
Great pizza. Even better antipasto. I could have stopped after the first course, but the margharita pie was already in its way. The only reason why I didn't give this place a fifth star is because the pizza was slightly soggy towards the middle. I like a crisp pie all the way through, next time I'll ask for it well done.
(4)
Geneva B.
This is my absolute favorite Italian spot. The food is delicious! My favorite food item on the menu is the capricciosa pizza with the ham, mushroom and artichoke. They are kind of pricey though, that small pizza cost about $20 bucks. I know other places that offer the same pizza for less and almost as good. The 2 major downsides that I don't like are the location and the size of the establishment. It's pretty small and is always packed and the parking in that area is a nightmare. You're better off ubering over but be prepared to have to wait a little bit for a table.
(5)
Adal D.
Pure greatness! If what you want is genuine Italian cuisine and the best pizza in South Beach, then you must check this place out. The best of everything, European like atmosphere, both outside and inside. The servers are Italian, courteous, friendly and very professional. The pasta dishes are great with very generous servings. Their wood oven baked pizzas are better than the ones in Naples, Italy, I kid you not! Great salads and appetizers in case you are in for a lighter fair. A little piece of Italy in Miami Beach!
(5)
Carla A.
My children LOVED this place; one had the deliciously thin crusted pizza, another had the lasagna, and the third was envied by all with her selection of the 8oz steak cooked to perfection and accompanied by fries and a side salad. Unfortunately, it's a bit hot indoors so on a nice evening I recommend dining al fresco. Reservations are recommended, though our family of 5 was seated within 15 mins.
(4)
Jennifer C.
Very good authentic brick oven pizza. Thin with a crispy crust. Light, tasty sauce. My only complaint was that the middle of the pizza was too soggy. Attentive and friendly staff. Accommodated my husband's "special request" pizza. Prosciutto, arugula topped with shaved parmigiano reggiano and olive oil.
(4)
Michael G.
I used to go to this restaurant once in a while when I lived in Napoli, and albeit it wasn't my favorite over there, it was still very good. So I really wanted to get that same taste/feeling when I was down in Miami recently. Ordered a Margherita DOC pizza with prosciutto (whatever they call that one) because I wanted to get real buffalo mozzarella. Yummm. Anyway, the pizza sauce was very good, very typical of the region, good flavor. However, their mozzarella wasn't very creamy, which was disappointing and the entire reason I went there. Also, the crust too had a good flavor, but the texture was a bit off. I'm used to a doughier, thicker crust, and theirs was unfortunately rather thin. Overall, the pizza was good, just not really great, and not at all up to expectations and past experence. The carbonara pasta was a bit underwhelming, and the pasta was cooked even less than al dente for some pieces. It was just ok. And the cannoli...a sad let down, certainly. There was perhaps an almond flavor to it? Couldn't quite pin it down. But it didn't taste particularly great, it wasn't sweet enough (and I don't like cannoli to be too sweet either). Other than sugar, it was missing something, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Service was nice, but certainly disorganized and not very attentive.
(3)
Jessica W.
Great choice for Italian in south beach! Located on the corner of 5th and Washington, they have both indoor and outdoor seating available. I ordered the Ciliegina salad with shrimp and it was good; the mozzarella was fresh and added a nice touch. Pizza is definitely the specialty of the house though. The Diavola had a nice thin crust, cooked to perfection with sauce, cheese, basil and a little red pepper for some added kick. It was wonderful! Service was quick and super friendly and I thought that the prices were reasonable for the quality.
(4)
Eric L.
After having a few mediocre meals in South Beach, this was a pleasant change. Gazpacho was outstanding (although a bit too salty). Very large bowl, too. Shared a margarita pizza, with fresh mozzarella. Sauce was very good and I liked the thin crust, even though it was a little undercooked. Bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar was also enjoyable. Bottom line: I'd go back. Next time I want to try the puttanesca pizza.
(4)
Jayna P.
Quaint little authentic pizza place. Close to 8th and ocean in the arts district-perfect sidewalk seating to people watch.
(5)
Johnny T.
3.5 For years, I'd looked at the pizza place on the corner of Fifth & Washington and wondered what it was like. Thing is, I was never much in the mood to sit down and eat a pizza. Usually, during my beach-living days, I just wanted to pick something up and keep it moving. Thing is, for that sort of pizza experience, I didn't want a 'fancy' pizza, I wanted a casual one. So, for years, I walked by and wondered. Then, once I moved to Miami (and off the Beach), I had occasion to stop by on a Monday night after a long day/night of work. Being a Monday and later at night, there wasn't much of a crowd and that suited me fine. I started with a Peroni and, finally, tried one of those fancy pizzas I'd thought about for so long. My Diavola was pretty close to what I'd imagined/had before with one small detail (well, two): the crust was burnt, not wood-fired, but burnt. So, with every bite, I tasted more charcoal than toppings. I, eventually, opted to eat the toppings without the crust. This leads me to the next slight ding: the toppings (cheese, red sauce with some heat, hot salami) came pooled with a bit more grease than I like. Actually, a lot more. I ate each bite with a gulp of beer so that the carbonation would settle my stomach before it turned with the grease. Sorry for the decidedly unappetizing language. Because I'm a fatty and can't turn dessert down, I ordered the chocolate-almond cake. It was flourless but deceptively light. The cake itself was very enjoyable. The ice cream that accompanied it was a bit rich for my tastes. I don't know if it's churned on premises or not, but I tasted near-butter notes, as opposed to cream. Some people like that, but I don't. It's not a knock on the quality; 'tis only a heads up for specific palates. Despite the time of night and it being a Monday AND it being the beach, our service was pleasant, timely and appreciated. There's more to like than to dislike at FLB but I don't know that there's enough for me to rush back. But, later night during the week, there are far worse choices to make while on the Beach.
(3)
Yara F.
A family friend recommended this restaurant to me and my best friend during our vacation, and we had an amazing time. The hostess was very friendly and welcoming, and the wait staff was attentive. Prices were extremely reasonable, I was almost surprised with the check when we got it. We shared bruschetta and a margarita pizza as our appetizers, and both were amazingly fresh and delicious. We each got our own pasta dishes that were also very delicious, my friend commented however that his lacked a bit of seasoning. It ended up raining and we had to move inside, and while we waited for the rain to stop we decided to share Nutella crepes and I got an espresso, and honestly Im glad it had started raining because the crepes were perfect.
(4)
Tenisha S.
This place has excellent customer service. Everyone is friendly, kind and helpful. The bread served on the table was delicious. The la parma pizza (prosciutto and mozarella) and mari e monti (seafood over linguini ) were both delicious! We had a coupon from fashionhaus hotel for $15 off and they honored it with no problems. Great place to go.
(5)
Ray V.
Amazing and Authentic Pizza. Great Pasta, Bread, & Salad. Quick from Order to Table. Kids loved the pasta noodles with butter and Coloring Sticker book. Nice Italian wine selection as well.
(5)
BiteChew T.
Start with the burrata antipasto (if available) and share the Ripienone calzone (ricotta, mozzarella, salami, tomato sauce) and La Parma pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto, basil). RATINGS: BONDNOM: [3]** Easy to share and difficult to dislike, pizza is the ultimate crowd pleaser, especially when done right. Unfortunately, the crowding and noise level of this location make it difficult to engage in meaningful conversation. FOOD: [4] Food did not disappoint thanks to top ingredients (Buffalo mozzarella flown in twice a week from Napoli!) and authentic Neapolitan-style pizza made to order in their large wood brick oven. ATMOSPHERE: [2] Loud and crowded due to little space between tables but comfortably casual and highly accommodating to parents with young kids. SERVICE: [3] Servers are charming, authentically Italian, and knowledgeable on the menu, but the hostess and busboys seemed frazzled and disorganized, despite us dining off peak hours. **For details on #BondNom score & full video reviews, visit bitechew.tv
(3)
Vanessa V.
If you want authentic Italian food, more specifically Neapolitan pizza made in a wood brick oven, then this is the place to go! So far, even all of the staff is Italian! They pride themselves in importing buffalo mozzarella and buffalo meats. Their cheese is made from buffalo milk instead of cow's milk, and it's some of the best mozzarella and ricotta cheese I have ever had! The Caprese Impanata is my favorite thing to have here! It's a ball of fried breaded buffalo mozzarella that has cherry tomato, basil​ & oregano all chopped up and placed inside the ball. Soooooo goooood!!! We usually ask for a side of ricotta cheese to use with the bread, olive oil, and balsamic that they offer. Try it! For my entree I get the Ripienone, a calzone stuffed with ricotta, smoked ​mozzarella, neapolitan salami & tomato sauce. It's made in the brick oven, and comes out steamy and delicious. My husband gets the Salentina​ white pizza. It has buffalo mozzarella, smoked mozzarella & buffalo ricotta cheese. Sometimes he adds pancetta for flavor. Either way, they are very tasty! I will definitely be coming back here again and again!
(5)
Dawn S.
Amazing, authentic italian pizza joint. One of my favorite casual eateries, and all natural and simple ingredients so (even though it's pizza) you can feel good that it's a fresh and healthy option. Great salads and tapas to choose from also, very friendly italian and Spanish speaking staff ... nice and authentic place and great spot for a casual late lunch or dinner with friends.
(5)
Emily B.
Service was great! They have a beautiful white tiled pizza oven which you notice right when you walk in. Be careful walking to the bathrooms, as I accidentally kicked one of the many high chairs stacked in the hallway - ouch!
(3)
Alex C.
Such great pizza. Really reminded me of how pizza tastes in italy. So fresh and good! We got the bruschetta and a margherita pizza with a bottle of wine. The servers were super friendly and so italian! It was like we we're back in Italy! Definitely recommend!!!
(5)
Brian P.
We are staying on ocean drive and have been sick of the "aggressive" persuasions to get you to eat along the strip. Not to mention, the jacked up prices, and sneaky "oops" mistakes on the bills. We were looking for a good italian place with a good meal and pizza... and we found it! Literally 2 blocks from where we were staying. The menu was great and our selections were damn tasty. My wife got the gnocchi, and I got the lasagne and we shared a Margherita Pizza and we were not disappointed. Price was fine, service attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly and the atmosphere nice. Recommended! Thanks for a nice evening and we much appreciated the glass of Proseco courtesy of Yelp!.
(4)
Jonathan Y.
Went for dinner. Sat outside, by the street which was a bit loud with traffic. Service was good, meal came incredibly fast (almost too fast). Had a pizza.. Crust was good but somehow the pizza was saugy. Also had a salad to share that was mezzo mezzo Not bad overall, but not somewhere I'd come back to
(3)
Kaitlyn L.
Excellent Italian food. This place is perfect if you want a classy, quiet atmosphere away from all the wild stuff going on around ocean drive. It was nice to get away from all of that for one night while we were in Miami for spring break, and really.. Who doesn't LOVE some GREAT Italian food. Not feeling very wordy so I'll keep it short and sweet. We had the eggplant pizza for an appetizer- delicious.. Could've eaten the whole thing by myself. My cousin and I split the gnocchi with a side salad. Both delicious- portions are perfect size unless you're a fat kid like me. Our waitress was exceptional- wish I got her name. She's the pretty blonde one with an accent. Idk if that helps. There's outdoor seating but just after sunset it was a little chilly so bring a jacket. Next time I'm in miami I'll be back!
(5)
Chloe D.
So I've been craving good Italian food from my hometown in montreal, trying to find something similar to restaurant la pizzeria napoletana, first pizzeria in montreal established in 1948. Have tried a couple places in miami which never really sparkled for me. Looked up online to find neapolitan style and found Frateli La Bufala... Finally!!!!! Thank You!! Im a craver for classics, so went for Margarita pizza and pomodoro spaghetti. My husband had Fettucini Alfredo, not on menu but server was really nice and offered to do so at our liking. Excellent caring service from Paola btw. Overall awsome food ( so good we reordered to go), awsome service and great vibe from the place and the management. Thank you, will definitely be back!!
(5)
AshleyMarie O.
Cute spot to meet up with friends. I would stick to sharing apps as the chef in the group ordered the lasagna and decided it was so bad he had to send it back. Then ordered a pizza and was still only moderately feeling it. I ordered the gnocchi and was not impressed. The wine selection was minimum as well. Service was friendly, attentive and professional. The charcuterie board was delish (as usual) and that did not disappoint.
(4)
Jova R.
Sorry but not impressed. Reservations were made in advance since we were a larger than normal group going for a family birthday dinner. Once we arrived they told us that someone took the table they had reserved for us and felt bad kicking them out. So whats the point of making a reservation then? So we had to wait for the next available table that could accommodate us all. That usually sours the night for me when reservations get cut. A few of us at the table were yelpers and we all checked in and received our free glass of prosseco. Not the best but was nice to start. Went on a night of the heat game and luckily they played the game while we dined (no audio though). We all shared the la bufalata appetizer. very good buffalo mozzerella with other cheeses, cured ham and veggies. Nice app to share with a large group. everything was very fresh and delicious. I had a hard time decided what to order but i knew i didn't want your typical spaghetti, pizza, or fettucini. So I decided to go with the carbonara. 3 others ordered the same dish and we all said the same thing when we noticed we all left half the plate. Too salty! the ham was just too salty. it was overpowering the dish. My mother in law had the lasagna and she wasn't impressed either. she said it lacked flavor. Overall i wasn't impressed with the food and service could have been better. The manager did comp our desserts for the inconvenience with the reservations. That was nice of her. I don't think i'll be back, too many better restaurants in the area.
(2)
Mariana R.
If you are looking for authentic Napolitan pizzas this is the place! Carpaccio is a good appetizer to share between 4-5. Pizza sizes are good for one person. We tried pizza Capriciosa, Diavola and La Parma. We were sorry for not having space for dessert, 'cause those look delicious. What I did not like was the waitress suggesting us to order the most expensive things in the menu, this really annoys me!
(4)
An T.
Nice staff. Didn't wait that long, I got a pizza and it was unique but not the best. My bf liked the lasagna though. I also wish it was a little spacious. People kept bumping into my chair =(
This is my 5th time here, the food is AMAZING. It's so so so fresh and it's so light on your stomach. I've come with my family every time and we've had every kind of item on the menu. We have never ever been let down. The service is always incredible, like really really incredible. The pizza is insanely good and so is the pasta. And the desserts, the deserts are some next level shit. I've had every one of them and I have to say the Tiramusi is the best Tiramusi I've had in my life. Have been coming here for a while and will continue to do so, absolutely LOVE this place!
(5)
Jeffery R.
Nice staff and cool atmosphere. Can get a little noisy but the food and staff make up for it!
(3)
Poriya M.
I LOVE this place, everything about this place is awesome! The location, the food, the staff. I've been coming to Fratelli every year for the last 5 years and love everything on their menu, you can not go wrong with hand tossed thing crust wood oven baked pizza of course but let me tell you about my top dishes, you will not be disappointed. For started definitely start with their assorted meat and vegetable platter and fresh mozzarella on a fresh body of arugula both served in 2 different sizes perfect for large or small group to share. For main course these will be my top 3 choices in this order: Paccheri, Garganelli, and Gnocchi. Miami is not known for having the best food in the world but this place is a shinning start in a dark sky.
(5)
Marley G.
Perfect casual atmosphere. Great food. Nice location off of Ocean Drive and away from big crowds. Just right if staying at The Savoy. Above average service. Incredible Tiramasu.
(5)
Honest A.
Come here every year in winter, it's full of Italian speaking waiters and patrons. The milk is served warm for the kids, the pizza traditional to Italy with fresh buffalo low fat cheese. If you want to be in Italy without traveling, come here. Pet friendly seating outside on street. They add automatic 17% gratuity although they are slow.
(5)
Jim R.
Ate here twice this trip to SoBe. Last night we started with a fresh burrata, tomatoes, Parma ham, and greens. It was wonderful, very flavorful. We then had a mix of pastas and pies. Again very tasty. Servers were attentive. Ate outside, but is very loud with traffic because of its location at the corner of 5th and Washington. Had a pasta for lunch the other day, garganelli, which comes in a bowl formed out of Parmesan cheese. Very cool. Waitress was accommodating since the sauce on the menu is white and I like red. She was able to make the meal with a pink sauce which is the way I would recommend eating this meal.
(4)
Elena A.
I loved this place!!! The food is delicious, the service was great and the ambiance is just wonderful. There are so many things to choose from if you love Italian food, the menu is never ending the pizza just melts in your mouth once you take a bite out of it. This restaurant is perfect for a date or a group party.
(5)
Miguel L.
I have been wanting to come to this place for a while, at last I made it. The place is cozy, the service was amazingly fast and the food was delicious. I had Pasta alla Carbonara and even though it wasn't like the one I had in Italy, I have to say it was very good. I give 4 stars because the table we were assigned had very uncomfortable chair and the place was packed so I figured changing tables wasn't going to be an easy task.
(4)
Sandy C.
Just a cut above all the rest it is the best of the best I love the Pizza the buffalo cheese and the pasta awesome try with Sausage and brocolli
(5)
Carlo V.
Recently visited , I had made a reservation with Open Table via Yelp for a birthday dinner for my niece who had never been there before plus five others , I had been there one other time and had pizza which it was very good. Unfortunately this time around there was no consistency from my first visit , when we first arrived the staff had not idea of my reservation , the one blonde waitress with the heavy accent charged towards me asking repeatedly with a bad attitude if we had a reservation, then two others asked me the same , at the end we sat and notice the place was kind of empty , this was on a Friday night. I know this place in popular with the beach crowd. We all ordered pasta , Gnocchi and everyone's dish was lame , no flavor , except my seafood pasta which was salty and strong in flavor. Very disappointed , I guess we should had stayed with pizza since is the one thing they make well, the appetizer was buffala large and the eggplant parmesana , the cheese on the Bufala with tomatoes was very cold like it had been frozen , the eggplant was taste less. The birth day girl asked the busboy , what about my cake and candle ?, he excused him self and told the owner , but he did nothing , we paid and left , I especially wrote on the reservation that this was a especial bday dinner and that we were first time patrons, ( I guess no one there reads the reservations they get on the system , or maybe they can't read in English ?, remember no one knew we had a reservation in the first place) The bread was cold and hard , if they had taken the time to stick it in the brick oven, I am sure it would have been nice. This is one place I wish it would get it all together and fix all the wrongs , they have a prime location, a good idea and the prices are right. Also the valet parking guy is very polite and not money hungry like all others in the beach plus very reasonable for juts $5 which is unheard of on SOBE.
(2)
Dennis E.
Good food and great service. We had lunch around 1pm on a Saturday. Pizza is authentically Italian. They're 10" for about $16. Lots of interesting choices. Also had chocolate cake (torta caprese) and espresso for dessert. Sadly, the cake was burnt on the edge, but otherwise all was fine
(4)
Jordan C.
Legitimate Italian - loved the vibe and loved the food. We were seated quickly ( luckily it was a slower night ). It's nice to remove yourself from the hustle and bussel of restaurants that are on ocean drive. (You can tell the locals eat here or some well informed tourists) The pizza dough is amazing, that in its self I could eat alone! But my wife's pasta was amazing too. We'll always return here for a nice romantic evening.
(5)
Robby F.
As others have said...as authentic Italian as you will find in Miami Beach. Pizza was really good but the gazpacho had little chunks of onion that were a bit distracting and overpowered the surpisingly fresh tomato Cholate Almond torta was not only tasty, but has a great texture
(4)
Naman P.
We loved the fried cheese balls stuffed with tomatoes and basil. Pizza was perfect....reminiscent of naples. Andrea was fantastic!
(5)
Camille W.
Wow I'm still dreaming about the food we had here last night. The most delicious mozzarella cheese I've ever tasted and the pizza we had was to die for. Free glass of Prosecco with yelp check-in is definitely a plus and good for business. Not only was the staff great but the owner was very welcoming and made sure everything was ok. Prices are worth it and 17% gratuity is included in the bill but that's not a problem being that service was phenomenal we happily gave more. Love love love this place! Will be back when in south beach.
(5)
Laure M.
I loved it! it was packed and loud inside but after the rush it was much better. The smell of wood-fire pizza hits you right when you enter. A real smell of Italy! They offer white pizza!!! I ordered the smoked bufala mozzarella, mushrooms and ham: delicious, i ate the entire thing, even the crust! I usually don't like the crust but theirs is so good, fluffy and light. We asked for spicy pepper oil to drip on the pizza. We ordered a nutella crepe each to finish and had a glass of chianti. Service is good and fast and it was a great dinner, real taste of Italy in Miami!
(4)
Hulk I.
The food was average and the wait staff seem to ignore us even though there many of them. Pizza was a bit under cooked, too soggy. The cheese was great and the prosciutto was decent. The bread was just too soggy, couldn't hold it's structure. We also had the bolognese, it was average and nothing special. Please turn ac higher, it was pretty warm.
(3)
Neda M.
Stumbled upon this place during a recent visit and loved almost everything about it: the gracious service, the fresh ingredients and delectable food, the cozy ambiance. Will happily return on subsequent visits to South Beach.
(4)
A P.
Place to go if you want very bland Italian food. They use no garlic and hardly any spices or herbs. Hospital food comes to mind! Otherwise service and prices are fine (always promoting with coupons). Good if you're under 10 or over 65!
(2)
Anna-monet H.
I've been hearing about this place and been wanting to try their food because of their rave reviews but was so disappointed. Really I wanted to it be good but the service was just horrible. I felt disrespected and talked down. I don't even remember the food because the experience was so negative. I never judge a restaurant off of just one time and one waiter so I believe in giving places a second shot but I don't even want to waste my time or money if the same thing will happen again.
(2)
Fiorella A.
Another favorite pizza spot. We go there a lot to practice our Italian ! Ha ha My favorite is the genuine pizza and some white wine on the side. I always have the pannacotta Dessert or the Nutella crepes. Ciao!
(5)
Krystal O.
Love love love to bring people here. I found Fratelli a few years ago on Groupon and since then I haven't stopped talking about this place. The pizza is thin, the sauce is light and the buffalo mozzarella is top notch. My favorite pizza is the Diavola. Also, you can't go to this place and not have the Canolli, it's a sin if you do. The canolli shell is fresh and crispy and the filling is cold and velvety... they drizzle some chocolate on that bad boy and send you home happy. On a seperate note, I enjoy the authenticity of this place, everyone is legit italian and very friendly and if your lucky to catch them sing happy birthday to someone you are in for quite a sparkler show. If you know me and you know how I feel about some sparklers then you can see why this place tops my list of favorites!
(5)
Ramzi Z.
PERFECT! I LOVE this place and love how the pizza tastes just like it does in Italy. It doesn't get any better than this folks! We get a free prosecco (most of time when the staff recognize us ;), and I normally order my favorite Pizza the Diavola!! (delicious). The staff / waiters are mostly friendly and great. Management is always around and they are on top of it. We love this place and it's on our top 5 places in South Beach...Oh and have to get the tiramisu!! it's Amazing!
(5)
Joe F.
Super fast service, great pizza and even better dessert! Well staffed and very welcoming.
(5)
Jeanette H.
I give 4.5 stars to their Margherita pizza and their Caprese Special pizza. Their 4pm shift pizza maker tends to be better than one working an earlier shift. Ingredients (including and esp the flour and tomatoes) come from Italy, and they use San Marzano tomatoes. Cooking staff are also from Italy. Their seafood pasta is yummy 80% of the time, esp when they come out perfectly al dente. One of my favorites. (The other 20% of the time, it comes out "American" style al-dente (ie near well-done :( I have tried some other dishes at times... but I keep coming back mainly for the 2 pizzas I mentioned. I had tried other kinds of pizza here. Prosciutto Arugula --not bad but I've had far better quality prosciuttos. There's also a NYC location, but I heard they're not as great..... oh I usually love their Tiramisu w/ a scoop of vanilla ice cream-- and I usually don't like Tiramisu. 9 out 9 times it was yummy. Well the very last time, it came out too soggy. I gently mentioned it to my server, so hopefully this little glitch is fixed :) Highly recommend those 2 pizzas, but remember, 4p shift pizzamaker, and don't let them skimp on the sauce... (which happened just once w/ me).
(3)
Caroline C.
Love this place. The food is great. The pizza is the best in Sofi and the wine is yum. I'm not giving it a 5 because the waitstaff was less than pleasant.
(4)
Ernie G.
When I walked in Fratelli La Bufala for a nice New Year's Eve dinner, I was at first a little disappointed. The place has the look and feel of a regular pizza shop. But never judge a book by its cover. But I was pleasantly surprised by both the service and the food. My date and I shared an appetizer of cheese (borata?) that was delicious, as well as the focaccia and pizza. The dough was delicious and flavorful and they actually knew how to put cooked veggies on a pizza. The waitress was attentive and very polite. If it wasn't for the too-casual feel of the place I would give it five stars. Excellent!
(4)
Scott L.
South Beaches dining scene is one where I plan on being disappointed. For one, it's a churn and burn industry and for two there is a certain level of ambivalence from the latin locals. I was drunk and hungry and this place had the best reviews for its price-point on yelp. It's atmospheric, but what isn't in south beach, even when tacky. This place is off the beaten path, dark, sexy with outside dining, approving locals ate next to me, and it's definitely better than it has to be. Definitely not your typical rip off south beach joint, but on the other hand while the pizza attempted to be special, it almost did seem to have a true Italian aspect, the excellent crust, slightly charred, was a bit sogged by the overly sweet thick and chunky sauce, which might not have been very italian. Che no. In an attempt to be healthy, I asked for no cheese with some regret. I would have assumed that the cooks would have altered the recipe to balance out the lack of cheese, but alas something truely seemed missing. Bufallo mozzerella is the style of cheese dominating on the pizza's here, but from looking at my neighbors, it just looked like overly glooped. That's not Italian either. Beinvenido a miami. When all else fails, drink some wine. Sultry European cafe ambiance and sidewalk sweetness - 5 stars Food - 3 on my experience
(3)
Natalya K.
Our party of four had a very late dinner at this restaurant just a couple days ago. The outdoor patio looked very nice, so we asked for a table outside. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are not small. We ordered a small white pizza with mozzarella , fresh tomatoes, basil and prosciutto as a starter. Delicious! As a main course I had homemade cannelloni - excellent. Definitely try tiramisu! The service was very good as well. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgable of the menu. Definitely will be back when we are in the area again !
(5)
Cal C.
Pretty good food, would come back here again. service is ok but slow, waiters are cordial enough to get the job done, because it's busy no personal touch.
(4)
Maria J.
Delicious! It was obviously fresh, quality produce. We were recommended to go there, and did not regret it. Food was great, service equally good, so nice and attentive. Would recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Manu G.
Very sweet people went there yesterday to have a small surprise for my husband's birthday and it was one of the places open after midnight. They were super sweet our server was awesome and the pizzas were delishhh!! They bring out our small cake and they were too cute I did not expect that. Thank you guys! :)
(5)
Robert A.
There isn't much to saw about this place except is was AMAZING!!! This has to be one of the best brick oven pizzas I have ever eaten. Went there twice and got a total of three different types of pizzas. (two red sauce and one white sauce). Wish there was something bad I could say but everything was great. The food, the ambiance, the service. The pizzas were perfectly cooked with the crust nice and crunchy on the outside and soft and tender on the insdie. There were plenty of toppings of cheese, meats and veggies (and egg like we got) without being to much to hinder cooking or making the crust soft even if you take it home to eat later. Everything, even the deserts are made using the Bufala cheese which was extremely flavorful. Nothing overpowered anything else on the pizza. All was well balanced. You can watch the guy make the pizza and you can tell he knows what he is doing. If you enjoy your meal as much as I did be respectful and thank him for a great meal. The service has to be especially noted. In Miami tip is automatically included at most places so normally the service not very good. That is not the case here....Ciro was our server and he was great. He made perfect suggestions for our pizzas and even gave us two glasses of wine with our Yelp unlock. Becuase the pizza was so good and even though I was stuffed, I had to try to the dessert. We opted for the "sample platter". 2 cannoli, tiramisu, 2 servings of ricottina. Everything on this tray was just expected. Delicious. My gf had a bad experience at an Italian restaurant and was not a fan of cannoli, but this was so good she enjoyed and learned what a well made cannoli should taste like. If you are staying on the north end of South Beach its a little walk to get here, but there is plenty to do and see on the way. We liked this place so much we went back for lunch before our flight out. This place is a MUST DO on your next trip to Miami.
(5)
Dre B.
I'm a born-and-raised American who grew up on the type of food we as a people have recently found to be not-so-healthy -- fried chicken, pizza hut, mcdonalds etc... i have cleaned up my lifestyle but that type of eating doesnt change in one year after 30 years of conditioning. That being said, I don't yet have the palette for this place. But the food is quality and every friend I've been here with -- 3 different people -- all love and swear by Fratelli. The pizza is non-greasy and the desserts -- though I abstain -- look delicious. The service is excellent too. I think I'll eventually come to love this place, maybe in 5 years of "good" eating. Haha
(4)
G B.
Rich taste of authentic Italy in middle of Miami. Great service.
(5)
Monica L.
PROS: Good ingredients, good flavor CONS: Pricey, crusts are a bit soggy Fratelli La Bufala might make authentic pizze, given the vast number of Italian customers who eat here, but my Puttanesca pizza was tasty and a bit... soggy? The crust was not as crispy as I would like it. All the toppings, including the tomato sauce, pretty much dribble off when you pick up a slice. I'm not quite sold.
(3)
Mike M.
Phenomenal service! Come here just for that! Ok, come for the food too. We had the white pizza with cheese only. Good, but a little plain for me. I would go with a red pizza next time. We started with a glass of Prosecco and a basket of foccia. By the time the pizza came we were starting to feel full so one pizza between us both was just right. Maybe even done room for coffee and dessert!
(5)
Lalla D.
The pizza is very good, and every meal is made using "bufala" cheese, as the name recall. They have a great variety of pizza, pasta, and appetizer. The desserts are very good too. Cannoli are great. The place is nice and there is the possibility to eat outside. The only bad thing is that they, as many places in South Beach, add 18% tip on the check.
(4)
Tony T.
we ate the pizza. the dough was great and the pizza was as good as most in Napoli. Since I lived in southern Italy, I always yearn for good french fries to complement my pizza ... this was not the case here, so I'm a bit disappointed. the fries were coated and fried twice or something i don't desire. I'll eat there again and hope they read this review and improve the patatini situation.
(3)
Meg r.
Super fantastic pizza dough. A little chewy n crispy. Great attentive service and loads of italian being spoken all around. Close enough to Collins to make a walk away from hustle n bustle of shoppers. Excellent suggestion from the concierge at the Dream.
(5)
Yanessa E.
Free glass of prosseco for checking in was great (they could have filled the glass a little more though) My friend ordered the fresh buffalo mozzarella as an appetizer and it was amazing. I paired it with some balsamic vinegar and bread, together with the arugula and tomatoes it was exquisite. Mozzarella was super fresh. Then I ordered the reale pizza and a ripienone calzone. The calzone I wouldn't go back for but the pizza, oh yes! The pizza had tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, ricotta and was topped with prosciutto. The crust is not too thin but not thick and it has that lovely Italian oven crunch to it. I felt the calzone could have had more tomato sauce on top and inside as it was lacking in taste a little even with the Neapolitan salami. The restaurant is small so it can get pretty loud, and I think it's not a place for a romantic date night, it is a cool place to go with a group of friends for some delicious pizza (make a reservation!)
(4)
Rose S.
Always a stable of our visits to Miami Beach! Service is friendly and efficient and the pizza is always consistent and delicious! Pasta is good too.
(5)
Bo M.
Absolutely amazing! From their service, to appetizers, then to the main course, this place nailed it. Well done! I'm already looking forward to my next visit. Thanks again for a most enjoyable evening! Bo
(5)
Casey W.
I live in the South of Fifth neighborhood and have been coming to FLB since it opened in the mid 2000s. This is our favorite Italian restaurant in Miami Beach for the following reasons: fresh, delicious food, all made on premise, great service, many of the staff we have gotten to know over the years (low turnover is a good thing). Their managers also do a good job, evident by the quality of staff they hire & retain. Their location allows them to cater both to South of Fifth residents (like us) and tourists staying on Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th. Their pizzas are fabulous, very thin crust, fresh dough; lasagna is excellent, minestrone soup is a great healthy option. Very good wine options as well as draft beer, Peroni being my favorite. You really can't go wrong at FLB. Pablo from Argentina is one of our favorite waiters but they are all very good. They have a television which allows them to showcase soccer matches and other popular sporting events.
(5)
Bruno F.
My second time in Miami and I drove past this place. Located on a corner of an intersection. I walked in and immediately I saw the old fashion pizza oven. I instantly giggled like a little school girl. I knew I was in for some amazing food. I started with the carpaccio. Amazing flavor on top of a bed of arugula. Nice chunks of cheese on top. Pile this on top of bread, EVOO and a little bit of pepper. Amazing! The pizza was so delicious. Jam packed with so much flavor. If you close your eyes and take in the wonderful aroma, you'll feel like your in Italy enjoying your pizza. The staff made me feel like family, it felt like they knew me for years. I really appreciate that. It is a bit pricey, but I don't mind paying for really good food. Keep it up! Perfecto! Thank you,
(5)
Frank R.
First time here. Strangely, the restaurant uses Spanish symbols and icons yet it's an Italian restaurant. The waiter explained that it was a special buffalo that they use and it's from Italy so maybe that's the deal. Had a pizza and a pasta. Servers were nice, prices reasonable. Pizza was great but soggy crust. Pasta was good. Not too memorable really. Great place to practice your Italian as all servers appeared to speak it.
(3)
Lara B.
Used to love this place because the food is great Had an online deal voucher and went with a friend. The waitress messed up the wine order and when I said that it was wrong, she just shrugged, never fixed it. So we sat there with one glass of wine. When I ordered another glass I took three times to have it delivered to the tables AFTER our appetizer was gone and entrees were already at the table Then we were charged for the original wrong glass of wine I would normally tip on full price of the bill but the waitress was so rude and apathetic that she's lucky she got any tip at all in order to work at this place you must speak fluent italian, apparently that is also the case if you want to receive good service now as well very disappointing
(1)
Igor P.
The food was impeccable! We started out with the bruschetta, I had the Bucatini alla Carbonara and my friend ordered the Linguine ai Gamberi. I loved my dish, it was creamy and cooked so perfectly. The noodles were nice and thick. My friend enjoyed his dish too, though I thought it was a little too "seafoody", but that's how it's supposed to be I suppose- not my thing. The atmosphere was also lovely, nice and quite and cozy. We had a seat near the window looking at the LED tower behind us. Overall a very enjoyable experience, can't wait to come back.
(5)
Alfredo H.
Today our pizzas were over cooked which made them very dry, with almost no sauce on them. That was very disappointing.
(2)
Hameed J.
Excellent service and fantastic food. The linguine with shrimp was one of the best pasta dishes we've had at any italian restaurant globally!
(5)
Ingrid Y.
Loved this place so very Italian, linguine-ai-gamberi was delicious and the ripienone pizza was excellent!
(5)
Anita G.
Authentic italian food! Been coming here since they opened and they never disappoint. The pizza is amazing and the mozzarella is pretty much just like in Italy. Off course their tomato sauce is also amazing. That's how you know they are authentic; you have to taste the tomato sauce, always.
(5)
Natalia M.
Good, but not great. The pizza was a bit soggy, but didn't have a lot of sauce, so I'm not sure how that happened. The crust was good, reminded me of Indian naan bread. We also had their meat and cheese platter, which came with veggies as well. Can't go wrong with cured meat and cheese! Overall it was just an OK experience though. If I go back to Miami, I most likely wouldn't eat here again.
(3)
Antonio B.
This place is absolutely phenomenal. Came here with girlfriend and ordered the buffalo mozzarella which was on point. We then had a pizza which was made with buffalo mozzarella and it was better than any pizza I've had in New York. Next time I'm in Miami I will definitely be coming back.
(5)
G S.
Love love this restaurant! The most authentic Italian food outside Italy. All of their menu items are fresh, delicious and light. After eating both their pizza and pasta we didn't feel full or heavy. It is one of the best places in south beach and all of Miami!
(5)
Tamara J.
Amazing food & wine pairing! I was impressed for our one night stay in Miami to have found this gem. Our hotel guy gave us a coupon so that was even better! I ordered something not off the menu and they created a piece of pesto perfection. Will hunt and find this place again when I'm visiting.
(5)
Isabel B.
This place is great!! The service is very "authentic" for an italian restaurant :) The pizza is absolutely phenomenal... that dough is baked to perfection! The wine list is not gonna let you down. The pasta is deliciously seasoned. And the cannoli is very yummy! I haven't posted a place/restaurant review for a while, but I had to get this one out. If you are in South Beach looking for delicious food... you know what to do now. ;)
(5)
Michele S.
Amazing buffalo cheese. Doesn't have lactase, easy to digest. Margheritana is wonderful. Eggplant cooked to perfection. You may have to wait for a table if the Italian team has a football game scheduled.
(5)
Dan R.
Authentic Pizza Napolitana and a great location with outdoor dining. Great food and friendly staff; attentive and efficient. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Jenn A.
Heard from a friend that this was a must try in South Beach. As a tourist the 1st meal or 2 I had in the area was horrible. It's such a touristy area that most establishments aren't concerned with quality or customer service. However, definitely not the case here. It was nice to be greeted and seated with friendliness. Our server was prompt and helped us pick a few things to try on the menu. The food was incredible, we devoured every bite of it. My only regret was not having room left for desert.
(5)
Michelle W.
Such good pizza! The boyfriend was raving about this place and all he wanted to do in Miami was come here. Clearly, nothing beats the pizza you find in NYC, but this place definitely was a good comparison to what one would find in the City. The crust wasn't thin, but wasn't thick. Just the right thickness and it wasn't extremely chewy. The toppings were great and you could tell they use quality ingredients. Besides the pizza and the great service, this place is also in a great location. If you're a tourist and looking to get great food and explore the area, this is a great place to start. I would definitely stop by this place again if and when I come back to Miami.
(4)
Bill B.
I grew up in an Italian family in the northeast where food matters and it better be good. I was hoping for the same from here but I was sadly disappointed. An eggplant appetizer was bland and nothing special. The Margharita pizza was small and bland as well. It's as though they have no idea how to make a great pizza. I will say the cheese was good but that's it. Everything about the place was bland. No flavor to the sauces. Where is the garlic? Herbs? They were nonexistent. There is really no reason to return to this place and I would not recommend it to anyone else.
(2)
Alexandra C.
Great service, even though the place was packed up to our eyeballs. I didn't make a reservation, so my fault. The pizza was AMAZEBALLS and the wine was flowing the whole time!
(4)
Julio H.
Fratelli La Bufala is another franchise that landed on Floridian soil, and as such, provides sufficient information on what to expect when you sit down to have lunch or dinner. It is a place that has a "tried and true" approach to cooking and that is fool proof yet doesn't necessarily cater to South Beach. Or does it? The challenge is to walk by this SoFi locale and not want to take a bite of the pizza after seeing the brick oven tender a pie with bubbling cheese, covered in hues of red and pale yellow and sprinkled with burnt spots . The brick oven pizza is the best advertisement Fratelli La Bufala uses. The taste, far from being an abrupt stop to your reverie, is a simple proceed with caution, or an attenzione! for a slippery road ahead. I mean, the pizza is not the best pizza in the beach, but it is good. The pasta dishes, on the other hand, are a bit generic and made to fit in a mold. They are still good, but something that would tire even the less demanding palates. The ambiance, on the other hand, is where Fratelli La Bufala wins you over. The space is modest, but well decorated with their flagship icons, the most notorious being the entirely Caucasian waiting staff composed of, but not limited to, former Abercombrie & Fitch models of both sexes. Add to that a different language and Fratelli La Bufala is giving us Napoli nella nostra bella citta di Miami. It is just chic, exciting and, eh .... profitable. For those reasons, I have no inclination to hate Fratelli La Bufala or to diss it. It is a cool place where nobody really cares if you are there an hour or two, even three, with a decent view and with OK food. Yes, the pizza could taste like Indian bread with cheese on top, yes the pasta could be generic, but hey! it is fast food a l'italiana, and for the privilege to enjoy it, an extra 20% has been added to the cost. It is not a great destination for food, but it is a fun one. Arriverderci, Andiamo, Buona Sera and Cin Cin, or chin chin, whatever.
(4)
Elizabeth G.
Appetizer was not delicious. Small and $16. Ridiculous. I had pasta with zucchini. The cream sauce was delicious but the pasta was hard. Both entree plates are small. We were seated right by the entrance so lots of people walked in and out and we were bumped into a lot. Our waitress was a hawk. He would stand beside us and watch us at everything we do... The water boy spilled water on my foot which isn't a big deal but he never came back to refill my water nor clean the spot??? They rushed us. Will never go back there again.
(1)
Ben C.
Excellent, authentic Italian food. Simple and amazing. Wonderful service. Reasonably priced. We will be back.
(5)
Max B.
Went on this past Sunday after years of simply driving by. We sat ourselves and started to order appetizers and our entrees. I had the bufala mozz and prosuitto. Prosuitto was great and the bufala was fine. I ordered the roasted sausage and potatoes but should have probally ordered something else. Tried my sons pizza which was good. A little to thin and the crust was soggy in the middle. My other son had the gnocci bolognese which was actually pretty good. Would probally eat there again if I was in the neighborhood but wouldnt go out of my way to eat there again. Check in and get a free prosecco.
(3)
McKayla M.
My babe made reservations here for Valentine's day after his coworker told him we had to go there. It was definitely busy as expected and very loud. It was not very intimate and talking to one another was difficult. Lots of Italians around here so it's got to be pretty authentic. We started off with one of their pizzas, it was tasty. I loved the crust and the cheeses. Then I had their lasagna which was very creamy and delicious. And the Nutella crepe for dessert was heaven, we almost ordered another one. Why this post didn't get more stars: Our waitress was not on her game. We had to find her for refills on our beverages, and ask her for things we shouldn't have had too. Like parmesan cheese and bread. Also their gratuity is included, which our waitress is lucky because she definitely didn't earn all of that tip. Overall, good authentic place for pizza. Pretty pricey for such small portions. Nothing to go crazy about. And we probably won't be dying to go back there now that we've crossed it off our list...
(3)
Archana B.
A great, simple, no fuss Italian restaurant. Love the freshness. Great pizzas! Thin crust and oh so good. Perfect go to meal for a nice afternoon. Airy, bright and cosy. And so nice for a cosy dinner too. Simple yet effective menu. I love that there aren't a gazillion options. Pizza oven in plain view. Nice touch. Definitely one of my favorite Italian spots. Service is always good to. Highly recommend this place.
(4)
Jim D.
Pizza was white and chewy, not brown and crispy. Sauce was nice and bufala mozzarella was very tasty. Crust just didn't do it for me. Wait staff was very friendly.
(3)
Sarah M.
By far the best Italian food I've ever had! Convenient, friendly & authentic. Stumbled upon it while looking for a great sushi restaurant so glad we stopped! Wish there was more locations in the US
(5)
Jonathan P.
Amazing pizza. Unlike any other pizza in Miami. Thin crust (crispy on the edges) with fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella. The pastas are also perfect. Try the scarparellio
(5)
Zack L.
Paleo pizza hack: Add extra buffalo mozzarella and olive oil. The fat will slow down the carb digestion so it doesn't spike your insulin level. Best pizza in Miami!
(5)
Honest G.
Had a plain Margherita pizza... I have eaten this Bufala pizza in Italy and purchased the cheese myself to make my own. There was no Bufala on my pizza. It is sad that this is what they are serving.
(1)
Jonathan P.
So big tip.......check in. Both FourSqaure and Yelp. You will get free stuff.........and that just really makes people happy... and more likely to get more stars. But this place is good. Good pizza! I like to have it cooked a bit extra. It's worth trying the buffalo meat too. It tastes like regular meat but it's healthier....so why not??? I went with one of the stuffed pizzas (calzone basically). It's was large and very good. *** Make sure you ask for the spicy olive oil. And add it to everythin!!
(4)
Samantha L.
Came here for lunch with a group of four friends and they were surprisingly slow for a Saturday lunch. Seated quickly and had our orders put in quickly, but servers seemed a little unattentive, especially considering that we were one of only a few tables. Almost our entire party ordered La Parma, and we all LOVED it. Prosciutto was generous, the sauce was delicious, and the cheese lived up to the hype. Only thing I would have liked was for the slices to be cut through all the way because it's tough to cut through prosciutto with a butter knife. After our food came out, business picked up a bit, and pretty soon it was a packed house and it was difficult to grab a server's attention to pay our bill. We had a bit of trouble splitting the bill, but it got fixed eventually. Overall, a great experience, and I thought it was a nice touch that almost all the staff spoke Italian. Definitely recommend coming by if you're in the area. (Weird thing I also noticed was that there was no music playing, and their huge TV wasn't even turned on)
(4)
Briana R.
THE BEST! I had the salami calzone and I can't stop thinking about it! I ate here right before I had to fly back to LA and I almost ordered an extra one to go so I can bring it with me. I wish I did! The salami was cut very thin and full of flavor with delicious water buffalo mozzarella. It was the perfect combination of sweet and salty. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Luis N.
Great service and great food. We recently went to Rome and had the food there ruin all other pizza and pasta for us because of how good it is there. BUT we did devour the pizza here because it does match the quality of authentic Italian pizza. We ordered the Diavola and some bufala cheese appetizer with salad. We probably wouldn't order the appetizer again but the pizza was devine. Not huge but quality. I also checked in with Yelp and that allowed us to get two free prosecco glasses--sweet surprise. Would I go back?? Yes although it is slightly pricier than other places.
(4)
Mike M.
Wife had pasta and her pasta was hard I had lasagna and it was horrible. Taste no pasta , meat and cheese. So soft. Their dinner plate is like starter size.
(1)
Sergio F.
How good an Italian restaurant is is determined by how my carb-ivoreal cravings are satisfied. Other than one of the ingredients in their caprese, then, Fratelli La Bufala is a very good Italian restaurant! Lettuce is an evil thing. Regardless the restaurant, I dont eat it -even when I order at Mickey D I take the lettuce out of my sandwich. That being said, the lettuce in my caprese is the only knock on FLB. Going back to said caprese, I'm digging the tomato pieces baked into the mozarella ball and the fresh cherry tomato pieces nestled among the "evil green thing". The Yelp check-in free Prosecco was a good start for a late Sunday lunch. Pizza is in the name, and I was hungry so I went for their margherita pizza. Visible mozarella balls nestled in a delcious sea of marinara sauce balanced on a thin crust which had a slightly poofie back crust which I like and usually the only reason I subject myself to an occasional regular crust pizza. Then there's a Nutella crepe full of delicious chocolate...food coma kicking in :) Despite a 17% automatic tip, staff was cool and pleasant, and as enthusiastically into the soccer game on the TV as the audience. Certainly a fun pizza spot on the beach!
(4)
Amanda D.
So, here's the thing. I've never been to Italy. I can only compare the pizza I've had here in the U.S. However, if I had to guess what pizza is like in Italy, I would say this would be it. The pizza here was amazing! This is the real deal, real Italian pizza. So, where do I begin? Our waiter, Ciro, was a total sweetheart; he was really attentive and super nice. Once we were seated, he gave us the menus. A simple glimpse thought the menu and I knew right off the bat the food would be amazing. They served us focaccia, which was really good. We decided to order Carpaccio as an antipasto. Topped off with bufala mozzarella and arugula, it was one of the best Carpaccio I've ever had! It was large enough to share between 2 or even 3 people, depending on how hungry you are. I decided to order la margaritana and my boyfriend ordered the Primo Bambino. And again, the pizza was absolutely amazing. Why you may ask? First off, the pizza was baked perfectly: the crust was crispy, but light and airy. Completely different than any other type of crust I've had in the U.S. Second, you can taste the freshness of the ingredients. You could tell they use high quality ingredients. But most importantly, the food wasn't heavy. The tomato sauce was fresh and the bufala mozzarella made the pizza stand out. The pizza itself wasn't greasy, which is something I loved. I was actually able to eat about half of the pie (don't judge me) and didn't go into food coma for the first time ever! Also, the pie is definitely smaller than your average pie, more like a personal pie. As for the primo bambino, it was also amazing. The pasta was cooked perfectly. The simple ingredients gave the pasta the perfect flavor without overpowering it. And again, the pasta (surprisingly) was light and refreshing, and not heavy at all. Of course, since our main entrees were so amazing, we had to try the dessert! We ordered the nutella crepes and we were not disappointed. All I can say is it was delicious! Again, I didn't feel heavy after I ate it. To finish off, I had a nice espresso that only a real coffee drinker could enjoy. Overall, I'd definitely come back again when in Miami Beach. Arrivederci!
(5)
Tanna C.
Great service, great food, and decent prices! The pizza was amazing and they gave me a free proseco for checking in.
(5)
Heather S.
So excited to find an authentic Italian pizzeria in South Beach. The restaurant was packed even at 10:30pm, but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table. The service was very quick and efficient and the waiter was very friendly. We plan to go again for lunch this week and may even have our rehearsal dinner at FLB.
(5)
Steve R.
Overall great dining experience. Seated without reservation immediately in a Saturday evening. Margherita pizza as an appetizer for the table was excellent. Pasta dishes were all fresh and served hot. Veal was very good. Will dine here again next time in Miami Beach.
(4)
Laura R.
Really great italian pizza restaurant! Amazing pizza and the Burratta is a must!
(5)
Bianca H.
I had dinner at Fratelli la Bufala while vacationing in Miami and it was the best restaurant we visited during our entire stay. First of all, we appreciated the location slightly distanced from the epicenter of the hustle and bustle of South Beach. Secondly, the pizza was the best I have had in the United States to date. Having lived in Italy for several years, I can be picky about my pizza. Everything about the pizza at Fratelli La Bufala was perfect. The dough was baked to perfection and the ingredients were the freshest and most delectable I have ever tasted on a pizza here in the U.S. The tomato sauce is fresh and all the mozzarella and other cheeses are just mouth watering. The service was fabulous as well, very friendly and attentive. A surprisingly high quality eating experience in Miami for a really fair price!
(5)
Johanna G.
Didn't live up to the other reviews. Lasagna looked like it had been put in a blender, pizza was undercooked and just not great. Wasn't the worst I have ever had but it failed to impress.
(2)
Jose G.
Best Italian food south of Philli.
(5)
Jordan N.
An Italian chain that follows the mozzarella di bufala theme serving reasonably priced pizza. Pizza is good, not the best in the world. But still, pretty good & Italian-style. Had the margherita - wish they used more basil but it was still good pizza. And I was amused by how many ways they can come up with a dish using mozzarella di bufala. I'm interested in trying other plates.
(4)
Candace C.
Came here on a Groupon. Like many have said, the check-in on Yelp got me and my friend a free glass of Prosecco, so thank you Yelp! We got the Parmigiana for an appetizer and I got the lasagna for a meal. Both of which have the tomato sauce which was very bland. I was surprised, it was almost like someone forgot to put any salt in it. I'm not sure if that's the authentic Italian style? My friend got the pizza, the crust was pretty burnt on most of the bottom. It was packed the night we came for dinner. It was raining outside but they do have outdoor seating.
(3)
Stephanie L.
My favorite restaurant south of Fifth! I am biased since I live next door but I just love this place. Very nice location, great menu, good service...I always have a nice evening when I go eat there with friends. Not only the food is delicious but the atmosphere is quite nice. I feel like am back in Italy with all those waiters chatting in Italian. The decoration is colorful and artistic, I like it at the exception of the weird painting with the kids faces on the right wall. I never had a bad meal. The pizzas are exquisite with fresh ingredients, it feels like home! I would recommend: "La Filatina" as antipasto - Bufala mozzarella filata, with cherry tomatoes, basil, extra virgin olive oil, black pepper and oregano. For pasta I liked the "Scarpariello"- Paccheri mantecati with cherry tomatoes, parmesan cheese, red peppers and basil. My favorite pizza is "La reale" - Tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, ricotta and prosciutto, and for the grill "Il file": the steak di Bufala, is so yummy! Everything is so tasty, the mozzarella di Bufala is the best you can have. A great restaurant. Do not forget to order your Tiramisu for dessert!
(5)
Michelle C.
It really is as good as it gets. The pizza is so delicious and every bite brings me back to Italy. The tiramisu is delicious. The pastas are tasty too. Everyone is so friendly. Matteo is the best server and Roberto is great too! I love that you get prosecco when you check in on yelp. Everytime I come, I leave overly satisfied by the food and service. This is one of my regular stops and will always be as long as they are around! I will always bring out of town friends here, and they always are very happy I bring them here. miss the free valet parking though! $5 isint bad though. A++
(5)
Kenny P.
We went here for dinner with a group of 6 and a baby. Table arrangement was perfect and overall service quality was fair. We were able to obtain a free bottle of wine with a Foursquare check in which was a great gesture but I would personally stay away from this next time as the wine quality was very poor and extremely acidic. Not sure if this was due to our particular bottle or just the batch was overheated in transport. But my guess would be that since the bottles are stored next to the kitchen and the temperature of the restaurant is close to 85 degrees or more, this is actually ruining the wine. We had the bruschetta for appetizers, which was average - looks like they prepare the tomatoes and spices prior to the dinner service then store in the fridge for the rest of the night. We then ordered about 5 different pizzas of which our favorite was the one with fresh bufala mozzarella and fresh tomatoes. This is really the reason to come here, the quality of the pizza including the sauce, dough, cheese, sauce is probably one of the best on the beach. I would return here, only for the pizza, and avoid the free wine.
(3)
B S.
We had dinner here this evening for my birthday. My wife made the reservation through Open Table, and told them it was my birthday through that. They were so welcoming and attentive and the food was the closest I've had to "Italian, Italian" food in the USA. Delicious food, fab wine, warm and courteous staff. Our server, Cirgo, was the greatest!!! Thank you for a wonderful birthday celebration!!!
(5)
Geraldine T.
Delicious Italian restaurant, even though it is in a very touristic area. Kind of expensive, but what do you expect in Sobe! At least you are eating great food in a great place. Their pizzas are amazing and order La Mozzata with their incredible Mozzarella cheese. It is to die for.
Yes I try to go there once a month, I don't usually do restaurant in south beach, but I like it there...The best Bufala mozzarella I've had since in Los Angelels..amazing pizzas and amazing staff as well. If you are on a BUDGET you might have to consider other places, because it is a tourist area and no love for locals lol.. My friend and I usually ended up paying $200 bills for two pizzas, Mozzarella and a bottle of wine. Love from ALERTTRENDS.COM
(4)
Sarah H.
Best pizza ever tasted
(5)
Joe P.
Since my last visit, things seem a bit broader for me. We went in today, and the menu seemed slightly different, or maybe its different for lunch vs dinner. Anyways, I was a bit disappointed as this establishment does not bring you bread unless you ask for it. I find this kinda cheap, considering they charge a steep price for a small plate of pasta. Another thing I did not like is I saw the guy making the pizza, pulled out some pizza out the oven, and the waiter grabbed some topings out the toppings box with his bare hand and placed them on the pizza, and then brought them out to the customers. They should of cooked the pizza with the toppings, and the waiter shouldn't be putting his hands in your food, since they handle cash. Pizza we had very plain tasting (margarita), sauce had no taste. Also, I'm not a fat ass, but my portition of pasta served on my 17.00 plate was more or less equivalent to HALF a kids portition served at the olive garden. (yuck) They seem to be doing things half ass, and because they are an established place, they don't care anymore about quality.
(2)
Mike R.
Fantastic burrata and pizza. Make a reservation!
(5)
Pratik M.
If you want good Italian food do yourself a favor and stay away from Ocean drive. This place is for real. Had some awesome pasta, some misnistroni soup and my wife had some kind of salad. The food was simply awesome, the service was quick, the dining space is small so you might have to wait, but its worth the wait. Highly recommended.
(4)
Amanda F.
Highly recommend! We were in south beach for one night and stumbled into this amazing Italian eatery. Sat out on the patio, free glass of prosseco with yelp check in, service was a tad slow but food was divine!! I got the garganelli and it blew me away - served in some sort of Parmesan crisp bowl with a delicious Parmesan sauce - everyone at the table was sneaking bites! My friend got the eggplant Parmesan app but they upped the size to entree portion for her. We had a bottle of wine with dinner and the waiter kept our glasses full the entire meal! Definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Kim L.
Our family went here and the food and service were fantastic. We started off with a a huge portion of bufala mozzarella which was served in a bed of arugula and two kinds of tomatoes. It was amazing!! We ordered 3 pizzas which the kids devoured. We loved the crust, cheese and the toppings. We had one with prosuitto that was scrumptious. We finished off with 4 canollis that were crispy on the outside and deliciously smooth in the inside. Great place to eat for a families with young kids!!
(5)
Juan K.
Best pizza ever..thin crust! it just melts in your mouth! This is truly an AUTHENTIC Italian restaurant..If you want to try the best pizza ever..DO NOT HESITATE to come here!! Bring your date..she will love it!
(5)
Kim S.
While visiting Miami last month, a friend and I were walking down the street and we were STARVING! As we passed Fratelli La Bufala the smell coming out of this place beckoned us to stop. OMG it smelled sooooo good. Upon entering, we found the wait staff very rude. I felt like we were putting them out. EXCUSE me for wanting to be seated. Anyway... after we were sat, it took another 10 minutes for anyone to even come and take our drink order, and they only did it then because we flagged down a waiter. Who was not very happy about having to get us anything. We reviewed the menu and decided to split a buffalo burger. Both of us being small eaters thought it would be better to split something than to let 1/2 a meal go to waste. The waiter was NOT the least little bit happy about that. I could swear that he looked down his nose at us. That would be STRIKE TWO. We waited for what seemed like FOREVER for the food to get ready... I would have been more understanding if the restaurant was crowded, or if we had ordered our burger well done, but neither of those factors played in. When our meal arrived, they didn't bring an extra plate. I asked the person that brought our meal if they could bring us an extra plate and they acted like they didn't even hear me. Waited another 10 minutes for the waiter to walk by so that we could flag him down again and ask for another plate. We finally got our plate, split our meal... ate and got out of there as quickly as we could. I must admit that I'm a pretty good tipper, this night... I was NOT. I do not believe in rewarding TERRIBLE service. As far as the burger was concerned... it was a good burger, just not good enough to put up with that kind of service. Needless to say... I WILL not be going back.
(1)
Laura C.
So the owner of Fratelli contacted me about my previous review... But not to ask me to come back as to improve my impression, but, to edit my review because I suppose they felt it was too harsh. Obviously, if you want a better review, improve your issues and don't ask me to edit mine.
(1)
Bradley R.
First the good, the hostess greeted us with a smile and sat us quickly. The sauce on the lasagna was savory and sumptious. Bright and fresh tasting. The pizza crust was flaky and charred and the sauce was not standard american heavy pizza sauce but light and flavorful. The waiter took our order promptly and though at a small cafe table, we could have had a good meal However.......... First, this is not a place to go when it is busy. The charming layout of the dining area is cramped when full. The pizza prep station take up a portion of restaurant and is a gathering place for servers and customers. The Hostess stand is also a gathering place for servers. Our lasagna was served cool either it was not reheated thoroughly or stayed on the counter too long. Either is possible considering that it took 20 minutes to get our appetizer. Again, it was very tasty I can only imagine how much more I would have enjoyed it at the proper temperature. After another 20 minutes the waiter noticed that we had not been served our pizza and said that it would be right out. After another 20 minutes and noticing that most of the tables had turned over, I said to the waiter that it was obvious that our pizza was missed. He assured me that that was not the case. Of course it really was the case and, after it was prepared, we had our pizza delivered in another 10 minutes. It was fresh and hot so we did not have the problem with the soggy crust that some people have written about.. It was tasty and I could see coming back but, If you see people in line outside waiting for a table , I suggest that you drive past this place until they get the service part down. They can't handle the crowd
(2)
Daniella B.
I absolutely love this place. It is truly Italian! None of this Italian-American cuisine and somehow makes sauces really heavy and gives you heart burn. I've been a big fan of this restaurant since the first time I was introduced to it by some Italian friends. The staff is Italian and you truly feel welcome. The food is spectacular, and when anybody asks me of a good Italian restaurant Fratelli La Bufala is always my answer.
(5)
Linda H.
This place came highly recommended, and once I looked at the menu I could see why! This kind of place is right up my alley...genuine Italian, yay! The decor is interesting, and they have some really cool artwork...not your typical Italian joint. We were seated and waited on promptly. I ordered a Peroni and perused the menu. We ordered an antipasto (or is it antipasti?) plate with cheeses, meats and veggies to start. Bread was delivered, along with olive oil and a nice balsamic vinegar. The waiter was rather monosyllabic, but the service was good, so it wasn't a problem....somehow we communicated our order to him. Our antipasto was delivered, and oh my, was it ever good. The fresh veggie components were really excellent and different than any other antipasto I have ever had. There were a couple things that were warm on the plate, including a delicious caponata. The meats and cheeses were also excellent, including the bufala mozzarella (one of my favorite things on the planet). At this point we ordered a margherita pizza. Ok, so beer #1 was delivered in a room temperature, heavy glass mug. I kind of assumed I would be getting a bottle, which was my preference. Not only did the mug weigh 100 pounds, but the temperature of the beer was immediately warmed when poured into it. So when I ordered a second beer, I asked for a bottle, stating that I didn't care for the heavy glass mug. This is where the language barrier became a problem. The waiter returned with my bottle, AND another heavy glass mug, which he began pouring the beer into. I stopped him mid-pour and said I would drink out of the bottle (maybe they don't do this in Miami Beach, but I'm a South Side Chicagoan and I'm gonna drink out of the bottle, dammit). This seemed to anger him, and he stormed off. I apologized as he was leaving and he wouldn't even acknowledge that I was talking! Anyhoo, I drank the (warmish) beer that was in the mug, and the remainder of what was in the bottle. In the meantime, the pizza was delivered and it was probably the best wood-burning oven pizza I've ever had (and I've had a LOT lately!). The waiter came by several times, and would take things off the table as we finished, and never uttered another word, and absolutely REFUSED to touch the empty mug, even though I pushed it to the side of the table, and I was obviously not going to use it. The food was really excellent, and I wish I could have eaten more or fit another visit into our trip. So 5 big stars for the food.....only deducting one because of the weird beer/waiter incident. Oh, and this was my first experience with the check having the tip added on, which I later found to be a common practice in Miami Beach (at first I thought it was because the waiter was irritated with me, haha). Oh well, guess they gotta do what they gotta do. If I'm ever in Miami Beach again, I will be back!
(4)
Pat M.
Where do you go in Homestead for real Mexican food? Wherever the Mexicans are going! Where do you go in SoBe for authentic Italian?? Wherever the Italians are going, of course!! Been here twice and both times came the closest you can get to experiencing dinner in a Roman trattoria without getting on an airplane or a transatlantic gondola. Get there early. By 8pm the place is packed, not with locals or Brits or survivors of Hip Hop weekend, but actual Italians who are gonna think they never left home. The service is unique in that everybody speaks Italian (keepin' it real), and they take good friendly service seriously, which in Miami is worth the price of admission. Not once did we want for a refill of soda, bread, or smiles. The food: The mozzarella they fly in from the boot every week is so fresh you can taste what the cow had for breakfast that morning. La Bufalata is a hefty platter of cured meats, cheeses, and marinated vegetables fit for a Gladiator. Il Pignatiello is prosciutto and mozzarella baked with honey and walnuts. The humble calzone? Unlike any calzone you've ever had, and the Meditarraneo salad is like a three day weekend on the Amalfi coast. Then there's the pizza; hand-crafted by a seriously-focused dude in whites, and baked in a wood oven right before your eyes. When you taste that crust you'll understand why he takes his job so seriously. Important tip! Whatever you order, be sure to ask for a little side of pesto, which they make fresh. Trust me, you're going to want to drizzle it on everything. That thing was so good I was mixing it in my water. Grazie! A TAVOLA NON SI INVECCHIA!
(4)
Sherry S.
We came here at 8:30 on a Saturday night. Upon arrival, we asked the host to be seated. He told us that if we were only 2 people, we'd have to sit outside. It was pouring down rain outside. We said "ok" anyway, and he said he'd be back in a minute to seat us. 5 minutes go by. We are still standing in the rain. We check back with him, and he says "ok one minute"... After waiting for 30 minutes, and seeing people that came after us go ahead of us, we walked inside and asked to speak to the manager. The manager informed us we had been forgotten (we weren't even written down on their list). He sat us right away. The waitress comes to take our order. We order an appetizer and a bottle of wine. She informs us that they ran out of said wine. Ok, we order another bottle. 5 minutes later, she brings the wine and some COLD STALE bread. And here is where it gets good... we wait, and we wait, and we wait. We finish our bottle of wine. 25 minutes later, still no appetizer. Once again, I walk up to the manager. I tell him we've been waiting 25min for an app. He says "it hasn't been 45 minutes!" and starts arguing with me. I never said 45, I said 25, but whatever. They bring out the app 5 minutes later, and the waitress rudely tells us, "It only took 10 minutes" and throws the plate on our table. Wow... REALLY?! Now what was the app? Canned RAGU-like tomato sauce, watered down, UNRIPE GREEN tomatoes (raw) and a BLOB on mozzarella cheese melted in the middle. I got up and asked the waitress for the check, there was no way I was staying here to eat. She brings us the check, $55 PLUS 17% added gratuity. Haha, like there's a way in HELL I'm gonna tip these people after arguing with me - the customer - forgetting about us - and being rude about it. I paid my $55 and left. Will never come back. These people need to learn to be HOSPITABLE. Just because their main business is from tourists that are never gonna come back doesn't mean they should treat everyone like CRAP. And learn to make new food, because that soggy mess they brought us was NOT a $15 appetizer.
(1)
Andreea O.
When I found a $10 for $25 worth of food coupon on LivingSocial we decided to give this place a try. The server greeted us with "Are you ready to order?" and when we asked for waters he turned around angrily to dissapear for another 10 minutes. Meanwhile the bus boy brought us water. After Gianluca, our waiter, comes back we place the order and soon after the bus boy brings us bread and then the food. He also refilled our waters and brought us everything we asked for. The server didn't come back for the duration of our stay until he decided we should get our check. We told him we wanted dessert so we ordered and then 15-20 minutes later we got it. Gratuity was included on the check, so that explains his attitude, I just hope he gives most of that to his busser :)) I guess that's one of the problems with most restaurants in Miami Beach, them adding gratuity to all their checks makes the service very poor. Best thing we had there was this appetizer of bufala mozarella in a tomato sauce. Very tasty!! The calzone was just okay.
(3)
Yamie E.
What can I say....... the wait was long, the food was good not amazingly good but yes it was good definitely pricey. Would I go here again probably yes, Would I go often definitely not....
(3)
Att A.
My partner really really wanted to have pizza on our last day in Miami. I was determined not to step into any of the pizza chains or any of the tourist trappy places. On top of that I was rather fascinated by the concept of eating buffalo-based products. They offered everything from buffalo burger to fresh mozzarela made from fresh water buffalo to buffalo carpaccio. I mean here is the opportunity to be able to say I have eaten raw buffalo meat! That said, I ordered the bufala carpaccio much to my partner's chagrin. But much to both of our surprised, we both ended up cleaning the plate. The buffalo meat was cut really thinly and was served with a heapful of the mozzarella di bufala and fresh basil in the middle as well as a generous sprinkle of really really good olive oil. We also had the pizza special of the day - Margherita with fresh mozzarella di buffalo. The pizza was made right in front of us. The dough was superb! The pizza was not as thin as I hoped it to be but the dough was chewy in the inside and crunchy on the outside. I am normally not a fresh mozzarella fan but this mozzarella had amazing texture and taste. I even asked if they sold just the mozzarella for me to bring back (they did!).
(4)
Adriano M.
This is a gourmet pizza restaurants in south beach, overall I think they make a great brick oven pizza, my favortite is the white piazz's. I really enjoyed the mixed antipasto with eggplant,fresh mozzarella, prociutto and other deli meats and chesses. I also tried the pasta dish topped cherry tomates, the sauce was fresh and good tasting. My only concern here is the prices charge seem to be alittle steep, I'm the sure the location has alot to do with it but a 12" pizza should not cost $16 bucks and the antpasto was $25. Other then price the restaurant is very good, I would definelty come back (if someelse is buying)
(4)
Alex G.
In a nutshell, good but not great. I actually didn't like the menu, as I felt it didn't have "modern" Italian dishes, and it was a bit stuck in the past. Without going into specifics regarding our whole meal, everything was made to order but lacked a certain "something." Meat sauce didn't have to usual Italian sweetness, and the pasta was a bit overcooked. Other dishes followed the same path. We did not try the pizza, which may have been a mistake. Still, I don't know if I would come back. Not bad, just not great...
(3)
Steven M.
I'm from NY so I'm a little biased. But I think this place is way over rated. We went there for dinner tonight. First. It was about 90 degrees in the restaurant which made for a very uncomfortable experience. Food was ok, nothing special. Service was slow and they never refilled my water which would have been appreciated since the heat was unbearable. I saw other reviews mention the same issue so you would think they would address their AC issue. Sorry, but I would pass on this place.
(2)
Nico B.
!!
(4)
Eugenio F.
I love this place! Not only because they speak to me in Italian every time i go there.... This is the most authentic pizza you can find in Miami (and possibly in the U.S.) My order is simple: 1) small mozzarella di bufala; 2) pizza caprese.
(5)
Joshua M.
One of my Favorite Pizza / Pasta in miami beach The Good *Indoor - "good feel" Decor *Friendly staff and atmosphere *Good use of fresh ingredients & consistently delivering good tasting food *Staff always has been friendly * Clean place Pizza's are a good choice so was the steak .... the pasta was good but the portion size reminded a small appetizer rather than something that can qualify as a meal ... this is the only reason why this place does not get the 5th star
(4)
Anae' G.
This place was right around the corner from the hotel so we decided to give it a shot. It's a little small but it's not too cramped. The staff was everywhere though. It had me wondering why so many of them were working tonight if they were going to be running over each other like this lol. The food was great. We ordered pizza and fries. I'm a sucker for a brick oven pizza and it was pretty tasty. For all of my people who've never been to Miami before, listen up. MIAMI LIES ABOUT PORTIONS. SHARE EVERYTHING. lol I'm serious though. We asked the waitress how big the pizzas were and she said it was a nice personal size pizza. We asked her how big the bowl of fries were and she held up one hand and made a small "c" with it to show the bowl size and said it was that big. Because me and my friend weren't too hungry, we split the pizza and fries. Too bad for my other friends who ordered their own because you can literally only finish half. That waitress was a liar lol. From that point on, we shared everything we got down there. But very nice staff and the food was good so they're a-ok in my book.
(3)
Trina R.
Excellent! I went here last night with my best friend because I had a livingsocial deal that was going to expire and wanted to try it out. I'm glad I did. First we got to the valet which seemed pretty crazy and had to wait about 5 to 10 min for the driver. To be fair it was a friday night and the drivers were very efficient, there were just a lot of cars. Valet was free but make sure the restaurant validates it. We had reservations but since we were late due to the valet lol we had to wait like 5 minutes, no biggie! The restaurant was packed and a little crazy but it fit the scene. My friend and i got a table all the way to the back near the hall to the kitchen, it was a little hectic but it really didn't bother too much, I had my back to it. Apparently the table before us spilled olive oil on the floor and they did their best to clean it but it was funny when one server slipped and almost fell on my lap but he didn't. Anyway, our server was fantastic! His name was Stefano, he was really hot....I mean efficient and very attentive! Lol. Now for the food. We each had a glass of wine. For appetizer we had the bruschetta which brought four sliced pieces of bread with the bruschetta on top. It was really good. For our entree, we split a pizza "La Parma" which had prosciutto on top, it was to die for. The pizza is pretty big, some people can probably eat the whole thing but both of us were full after splitting it. Of course there is always room for dessert, so we opted for the Tiramisu. It was fantastic for all you Tiramisu lovers. That's my friend's favorite dessert and she said it was her new number 1. So there you go. I also noticed a lot of people getting take-out, I can see why. I will definitely come back here, hopefully soon.
(4)
Fernando S.
Pizzas were tasty but I felt there wasn't enough time allowed for the sauces to settle. Everything basically slipped off when you grabbed a piece. The ingredients were on point. The ambience was very tight but surprisingly tolerable. The decor was interesting. I saw a tub of Nutella the likes I've never seen before; it was huge! The free prosecco with a yelp check-in was a nice added touch. Waiter was prompt and attentive.
(3)
Tal T.
I've visited Fratelli la Bufala twice. The first time I was underwhelmed by the lack of cheese (and flavor) on my pie. The second was seriously better, and another time I had carry-out pizza that was tasty as well. It breaks down like this. The service is competent, if a little slow. Don't expect American-style friendliness and smiles. The pizza is different from what most of us think of when we think "pizza." Crust is very thin, ingredients are high-quality, and the made-to-order pies are cooked in a coal-fired oven. La Collinara is my favorite: bufala mozzarella, pancetta & basil, topped with a nice runny egg. It is a bit pricey, with most of the small pizzas in the $14-$18 range. Bottom Line: Order well in this true Italian pizza & pasta joint and you can fall in love with its unique offerings.
(4)
Sarah G.
Disappointed, the service was good however the food was quite tasteless and the pizza was undercooked. We did enjoy the buratta but it was overpriced at $23. Had such higher expectations ;(
(2)
Alfredo K.
After a hard day working the Design Miami event, my co-workers and I were craving pizza, lasagna and chicken parm. We asked a local store owner, who moved here from the Bronx, of a good pizza place and he recommended Fratelli's. We usually eat at another place close to our hotel, but it was Friday night in Miami and there was over an hour wait. The restaurant is located on the corner and we could see that it was packed with patron, a good sign. i am on a constant quest for good pizza in Florida. We were seated right away and I was a little disappointing in the service. The seating was tight and the legs on the table made us want to straddle the table because you could not sit naturally unless you are 4 years old. it reminded me of the SOHO restaurants in New York where 3 people have to share one chair and you are privy to everyone's hipster conversation about skinny jeans and the newest iPhone. It took a little while to get to us and we had to ask for bread (cold and straight out of the fridge), and olive oil. Maybe they thought I should lay off the bread...and they are right. We searched the menu far and wide, we looked under the table, at the walls and could not find the chicken parm...come on now! An Italian restaurant in a tourist area and no chicken parm? Ok, I told myself it must be a mistake. After waiting for the waiter to come over (he was busy), he told us no chicken parm..ugh. They did have the lasagna so I decided to try it. We ordered a pepperoni pizza because you can always throw down a slice..right? The pizza was pretty good, the sauce was good and the pepperoni thin and spicy. The lasagna arrived and it was great. Lasagna at 10 pm at night is not advisable, but what the heck it was worth it. If you are near South Beach I would try this place out. It's decent pizza and excellent entrees.
(4)
David P.
This is an authentic Italian place, best Pizza and Pasta in Miami. Service is amazing as well. I go to this place at least once a week
(5)
Eva L.
I decided to give this place 5 star even though I once swore to god that I'm not gonna have Italian food whenever there's an option. haha.. not i change my mind ;) This place tastes amazing, looks amazing, and feels amazing. I ordered the Exotic salad with mix greens, hearts of palm, walnuts, diced pineapple & cheese buffalo cheese. That was the only time that I actually finished my dish!!! Love love it. My friend ordered something like steak pizzaiola. Oooo that was nice! Service and price both rock. Totally recommend this place to y'all.
(5)
Shaun U.
We were in the mood for some take out or delivery pizza after arriving in South Beach. This seemed to be the best option based on yelp reviews plus it was right around the corner from our place. We got a manachina and wurstel pies which were both quite average at best. It wasnt too expensive but also wasnt cheap. So by definition of a 2 star rating, Ive most definitely had better.
(2)
William O.
I first had buffalo mozarella a few years ago, so when I found a coupon online for this place, I felt a tickle in my belly button. I couldn't WAIT to go. The place is on the beach, which I dig, so big ups there. It's not overly trendy or anything. Just a nice little pizza restaurant. Nothing overly unassuming, which, once again, is greatly appreciated by my grungy-Chuck-Taylors-wearing-self. The food, well, I mean... that's a different story. Fratelli La Bufala proved to be another one of those places with a fantastic appetizer and a mediocre main dish. As a starter, my then lady friend (how often do I use that term?) and I ordered an eggplant lasagna-type deal that was very, very good. Molded into a sizeable mound, drenched in marinara, sprinkled with parmesan. It was fantastic. In fact, if ever I venture to this place again, I may just spend an afternoon eating eggplant lasgna and drinking red wine through a silly straw. For the main dish, we ordered an artichoke pizza with buffalo mozarella that left oodles to be desired. My biggest issue was the arrangement of the toppings. I know it sounds like i'm nitpicking, but it really sucks to take a slice that is just absolutely loaded with artichokes only to follow it with a slice that was essentially nothing more than a sauce and cheese sammie. No, scratch that. It's not nitpicking. It really isn't too much to ask to have the toppings on your pizza evenly distributed. If Pizza Hut can take the time to layer its Meat Lovers with something tantamount to a veil of pepperoni, then a place on South Beach can certainly find a better way to go about presenting its product. Still. I won't sit here and tell you that the pizza was awful. It really wasn't. In fact, nothing about this place was awful, but nothing was really exceptional either. Between a very satisfying appetizer and an awkwardly configured pie, this place averages out to a respectable -- albeit disappointing -- three stars.
My husband and I like this place a lot. It is a nice place to go with friends - think double date night. They will often give you a free glass of prosecco if they are busy and you have to wait more than 2 minutes. I like their salads and pasta, and my husband always orders a custom pizza. The food is solid and the atmosphere is nice. Valet parking is available right out front for a few dollars.
(4)
Paul M.
Having been to Naples on a Med cruise and not being able to try authentic Napoli pizza has always bugged me. So, I was happy to finally check out FLB. However, I think it may be easier to fly to Naples than to find parking around FLB. My selective amnesia was in full effect as I apparently have forgotten how bad it is to park around there. We went for lunch on a Sunday, and the only places to park were $25 flat rate garages/lots or the valet in front of Love/Hate. There was a free valet booth in front of FLB, but the guy must have been at church as I drove around for more than 20 minutes and there was no one there. I miraculously found parking 4 blocks away when someone pulled off the street. Ok now for the good news. After a healthy walk to the restaurant, we were surprised to see that we had free prosecco just for checking in on Yelp. You can always rely on Yelp for the hookup.... We started with a La Millefoglie which is very similar to an eggplant parmigiana. It was delicious, although a bit on the smaller side. I was hoping to taste more of the famous mozzarella, but since it was melted I didn't get too much of the flavor. We shared a pizza diavolo which was a red pizza with spicy pepperoni and cheese. It was definitely on the spicy side, but absolutely delicious. The crust was thin and tear away soft. They also have italian beers here - Peroni and Moretti. I had the Moretti La Rossa (dark) and it was great. Overall I would say that the food is great here. I don't think it is the best pizza in Miami, but definitely very good. The parking situation here though is HORRENDOUS and FLB would probably get 4 stars if it wasn't for that.
(3)
Jeanette T.
great meal and intimate atmosphere, very friendly staff . we had the esotica salad. . fresh ingredients and great flavor! we tried the casertina, white pizza with sausage and broccoli rabe... delicious! my husband who is Sicilian couldn't stop raving about it! love the wood burning pizza oven! We would definitely return!
(5)
Patrick B.
This was one of the best Italian Restaurants I have ever been to. Garganelli was simply amazing, especial with the Parmesan cheese shell dish.
(5)
Lauren D.
Awesome, amazing, fabulous! Best restaurant in town hands down! They're authentic Italian servers with a vast knowledge of their ingredients and what extras they have to offer! I went there 4 times in 4 days! Pizza margarita is just WOW! I would marry that place!
(5)
Robert C.
I don't know if we just came on an off day or what, but we didn't get the experience we thought we would. There were only a handful of people in the restaurant to start off. We were offered to sit wherever we wanted. After that, it was a very slow lunch... First off, we did use our free glass of prosecco thanks to YELP!! We were so hungry so we decided to try the bruschetta. I have to say it was so very hard, the bread was burnt and it was a very messy dish overall. Our pizza arrived, we chose the prosciutto and mozzarella with mushrooms added. I would say it was good, but not overly superb! It was very fresh, in fact so fresh that there was hair in the cheese!! YUMMY!! Oh and how nice of them to add gratuity for me...ho hum!
(2)
Erick S.
Me and my GF ordered a Margherita pizza and a plate of "Bucatini alla Carbonara". The Bucatini was delicious, the pizza no so much, it was not cooked to its entirety and came out a little under cooked, did not enjoy it all. Over all good service, good price, but the pizza did not cut the deal. Just being honest.
(3)
Adam S.
This place has some really fresh and really nice pizza and calzones. I feel like this place is a 4 1/2. The good: the caprese salad was probably the best I've ever had. The mozzarella was really amazing and the tomato was so fresh and flavorful. Amazing. The pizza tasted great. I had the one with spicy salami and it was plenty spicy without being overpowering. The service was polite and attentive (which is an accomplishment in itself on Miami beach). The bad: The pizza was so flimsy I couldn't eat it until it cooled and even at that point I had to kind of roll the pizza up to eat it. Also, this is a pricey pizza joint. $65 for a caprese, a calzone, and a pretty small pizza is a lot of cash (but it is really tasty stuff). There's a reason this place gets a lot of hype.
(4)
Sandra N.
I went here recently with my family and boyfriend. My brother had been here a couple of times already. I liked it! The food was delicious and I really appreciated the fact that the waiters were actually Italian and had accents. Awesome. We shared 4 plates. The Diavola, the Margherita, a canelon and a pasta a la bolognese. All. Delicious! Plus, if you check in here you get a free glass of prosecco!
(4)
Joseluis A.
yay, practice everything you learned and forgot when you took italian 101 because you thought the teacher was cute. buonasera! antipasto! panettone! fyi, i did not pass this class. i came here with a friend who was craving italian. ive heard good things about fratelli la bufala. ive also heard its a chain thats all over europe. one evening, this man approached me in italian, at the corner of washington and 10th, asking me for directions to FLB. naturally, i was inclined to think, hey, this guy is italian, this restaurant must be good. i cant say i was impressed. we got carpaccio and bruschetta. it was just ok. i cant quite remember the name of the pasta dish i had cause, it was all in italian, of course and i thought we already established i did not pass this class. all i remember was that it was a bit too heavy on the cream. the chain smokers sitting next to us ordered pizza which looked promising. perhaps ill be back and update this review if it merits. otherwise, 3 stars seem fair to me, if we account for location, service, prices and their menu.
(3)
Jorge C.
Best authentic pizza made from buffalo. One of the best pizza places in south beach! Tiramisu is amazing! Great service and great pasta dishes as well. I always see a lot of Italians eating there.
(5)
Christoph S.
This was awesome. Stopped here after a road trip. Starving. Complementary prosecco (for each of us 2) with the Yelp checkin. Slammed a Peroni before the red wine came (chilled in a bucket as requested, it was warm). The Prosciutto and Buffala Mozzarella appetizer was very good. I ordered the Prosciutto (see a trend, hmm??) Pizza with Ricotta and a side salad. The pizza was fantastic, the dough all blistered and stuff, you know, as you would expect out of a wood-burning oven (which, by the way, you should check out..). I didn't care for the ricotta making the pizza soggy in the center, but it was still very good. It was late September, we were given the last table on the patio, it was super nice out, we had a fantastic dinner. Wood-burning ovens are tough to find in Chicago, it was a joy to eat dinner here. I would return if I was back in the area.
(5)
Chantal G.
Yummy, but expensive. Cheese should not be that much money... However I appreciated the free glass of prosecco with a Yelp check-in! We ended up ordering a huge mound of cheese. That's exactly what it was... A HUGE mound of cheese. It was nevertheless delicious, but so expensive for just that.Additionally, I enjoyed the outside seating and the waiters were very attentive. The atmosphere was fun and clearly had a spot for people about to head out for the night.
(3)
Syuzanna S.
Food is amazing and I mean it! affordable price, friendly and quick stuff, the only minus is that place is very noisy. I understand it's an Italian restaurant but still...:)
(4)
Ute L.
If you plan on coming here on a Saturday night for dinner, make a reservation. The place is always packed with people waiting for tables. The food is good but in my opinion overpriced so I am not really sure why it's always so crowded. It seems to be a popular family place, so between the kids misbehaving and the parents yelling at them the noise level can be high. Also not a good choice if you're claustrophobic, the tables are a little to close for comfort. The parmigiana appetizer was delicious, eggplant layered with mozzarella cheese and baked into a creamy, gooey treat. It is large enough to share. I ordered the cornettone, a home made pasta shell stuffed with ricotta and topped with mozzarella and marinara sauce, good but bland. BF ordered the pasta with olives and artichokes. Neither of us liked it as it was drowned in olive oil, way too greasy. The pizzas here are good, the best part is the crust. It is a thin crust and they give it a wonderful smoky char on the grill. Pizzas are big but they skimp on the toppings considering what they charge. The sausage on the pizza also was not fully cooked. We like it browned, not pink. The tiramisu was one of the best I've had, not too soggy and not too creamy, perfect. Large enough to share. The "cheese pie" dessert was A-OK. Sort of a dry ricotta cheesecake, the flavor reminiscent of cannoli filling but I didn't care for the grainy texture. The portions are just right but you definitely won't need a doggy bag. If you're really hungry better order an appetizer. The prices aren't that great, you can expect to pay $80 for two people with a shared appetizer and dessert.
(3)
Melissa K.
An Italian themed restaurant with Spanish overtones?! They claim to have Naples-inspired pizza but everything inside is Spanish themed from the pizza taste to the waiters' outfits. The pizza is just okay. Thin crust with decent ingredients but nothing special. The service is typical South Beach - apethetic and poor. It's in a busy location and seems to do lots of business. There's a ton of families so make sure you enjoy eating next to children before you head here.
(2)
Suzana U.
Really good Italian place, lots of Italian working there and crowd... Pizza was amazing.. gnocchi was good too. But the pizza,.. YUMMMMM!!
(4)
Rachael H.
I went there last night. HOLY COW WAS IT DELICIOUS! My sister and I saw this place on a food channel show and made reservations that night. When we arrived it seemed pretty empty and as if we didn't need them, but hey, you get points on open table, so whatever. We got a free bottle of wine from a four square promotion and we started off with the beef carpaccio. It's served with Parmesan cheese shavings and arugula. The beef is thin enough to like and thick enough to not fall apart and the cheese was amazing! I had a pasta with artichoke hearts and panchetta. I can't remember the name but it was really tasty. I wanted more to magically appear on my plate when I was done. My boyfriend had the marinara pizza, which for having none of the infamous buffalo cheese, was pretty darn good. My sister had the gnocchi which was fantastic and is served with actual buffalo cheese cubes. Her boyfriend had the calzone which we saw being made and finished in a matter of seconds. He said it tasted like it did when he visited Italy. Yes, It's THAT good. We finished off with the tiramisu, which wasn't out of this world, but still good.
(5)
Michelle E.
We went to FLB three times in one week...That's how good this place is. From the bufala carpaccio to the Reale pizza, we were wowed with every bite. We often go to Fratelli la Bufala when we are visiting Miami and we dream about those meals for weeks after we get back to NY. I hear there is a NYC branch, but the reviews are not so good for some reason. If you're in town I suggest you give this place a try. Making reservations on OpenTable is a good way to secure a table inside, as crowded nights only leave the hot tables outside open for patrons to use. Unfortunately none of their desserts were notable enough to recommend, so skip the desserts and go to Gelato-Go around the corner on Ocean Drive instead. FYI, this place is packed with authentic Italians who know good food, which should be even more confirmation that this place is the real deal.
(5)
Elizabeth H.
Amazing pizza!! Small restaurant but we loved the food and the service!
(5)
Pete M.
Excellent true Neopolitan pizza - the certified high end stuff just like they do in Naples. The crust chewy, a little underdone intentionally and superb. Nice local fresh ingredients. Great salads and reasonable wine list. Great for family. Very nice pasta too. Should be more places like this.
(4)
Toy L.
Checked out Fratelli La Bufala while in South Beach on the recommendation of Yelp. Buffalo cheese appeared to be a main item in most of their dishes. Therefore I ordered the buffalo cheese ball as a starter. It was ginormous. It had a crispy outer layer and a gooey inner layer. Delicious. Next I split a margarita pizza with a friend. All of their pizzas are prepared in a brick oven, and you can taste it. It was very good. Best pizza I've had in Florida.
(4)
Gisela C.
It's been a while since I have been here and I am compelled to review the dish I had tonight. I will begin by saying that i love cheese. I probably love cheese more than i love some people I am related to... with that in mind, the Cornottone is officially my favorite dish here. If you like cheese, try it. It will not disappoint. The service is still strong here (a rarity for an affordable place on Miami Beach)... Check in on Four Square and get a free bottle of wine... its actually pretty good. Enjoy!
(4)
Alex O.
Coming from NY, we always have low expectations of Italian/ Pizza Restaurants elsewhere. Everything was amazing, service, food, cost were all on point. Calzone was NY brick oven-esque. Proscuitto with the bufala was one of the best I've had. Excellent Job!!! Highly recommended. Came back in May and it's consistently good. I'll be back again soon hopefully!!
(5)
Michelle C.
Casual Italian food. I'm not a big pizza person so I had a pasta with buffalo cheese & sausage. It was quiet good. My brother got the lasagna and boy was the sauce good! I like the bold, fresh taste, and I'm usually not a huge red sauce fan. And this is a nice SOBE spot too, complete with cute atmosphere, people watching and close to Ocean Drive.
(4)
Anne W.
Delicious!
(5)
Stephanie G.
After years of wanting to visit Fratelli La Bufala I finally did tonight because it's Mother's Day and my mom loves pizza. I thought for certain we'd have a fabulous experience and that my siblings would pat me on the back for my great choice. Alas, it didn't turn out so well. The good thing is, this place is easy to find and parking is readily available since there's so much street parking in the area. We arrived about 15 minutes late for our reservation but were seated immediately. Also good is their wine less which is chockfull of good and affordable options. To start we shared La Mozzata which was very fresh but could have used some basil. My mother, my sister and I shared the La Reale pizza and a lasagna because we wanted to try it. The pizza was just ok and the lasagna was ice cold in the middle. My brother Il File which he says he enjoyed, but let's face it the kid will eat anything. For dessert we had the the tiramisu which was decent. Overall, I was disappointed with the experience but it may have had something to do with my expectations which were heightened by reading so many great Yelp reviews, coupled with the fond memories I have of the pizza in Naples. My favorite part of the meal was the bottle of Super Tuscan we shared but I could kick myself for not remembering what it was called!
(2)
Estefano C.
Excelent pizza for those who loves a real fresh ingredients. Brazilians will love this place
(5)
Jane A.
Excellent food and service. The prices were reasonable for what it was.
(5)
Michael D.
Ciao! I love the pizza here. Honestly haven't had anything else. I wish the outdoors was non smoking so bad though. Real Italian place :)
(5)
Alejandra R.
An authentic Italian place I have been client of this restaurant for five year and never disappointed me and my husband just love this restaurant .... Pizza is delicious and pasta too and the service is really good went you go ask for Larry one of the manager he knows how to make feel clients welcome .....
(5)
Kellie P.
The spicy prosciutto pizza is out of this world.
(5)
Nakia O.
First of all, if you're planning on going on the weekend and past 9:00pm, I would strongly recommend to get a reservation. The place gets packed and the waiting can be over 30 minutes if you don't have a reservation. We made the reservation at 9:00pm through open table for 9:45pm. The restaurant has free valet parking with validation. As soon as we spoke to the hostess we were immediately seated, because we had reservations. The place is small but cozy. IT is one of the few south beach restaurants that are worth going. It has good quality food and good service. We had the beef carpaccio for appetizer and boy was it yummy. It differs from beef carpacicio's from other restaaurants because the beef is sliced a bit thicker. I was a bit doubtful at first, but once I tried it it was OHHHHHHHH MY delicious! Never going back to the thinner sliced, now that I've tasted this one. It is served with arrugula and fresh parmesan cheese. Put some olive oil, vinegar and some salt and it is to die for! You HAVE to order at least one of their pizza's, they are one or if not the best I've had in Miami. We had the Diabola pizza. It is a bit spiy but tasteful and delicious. We also had the carbonara pasta. IT was great as well. The pasta is homemade and very tasteful and the sauce was delish too. I would've put a bit more salca to the pasta but oh well it was still yummy. For dessert we ha the nutella crepe and it was delicious as well. Go check this place out and remember to make reservations if going on a Friday or Saturday night!
(5)
Thomas S.
Possibly the best pizza I've ever had. It's everything one could look for an a traditional, Neapolitan-style pizza: very thin crust, delicious sauce, and the freshest mozzarella. We finished off with the Nutella crepes were were as good as the pizza! The sweetened whipped cream was amazing! We can't wait to go back.
(5)
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Address :437 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, FL, 33139
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Isabel B.
This place is great!! The service is very "authentic" for an italian restaurant :) The pizza is absolutely phenomenal... that dough is baked to perfection! The wine list is not gonna let you down. The pasta is deliciously seasoned. And the cannoli is very yummy! I haven't posted a place/restaurant review for a while, but I had to get this one out. If you are in South Beach looking for delicious food... you know what to do now. ;)
(5)Michele S.
Amazing buffalo cheese. Doesn't have lactase, easy to digest. Margheritana is wonderful. Eggplant cooked to perfection. You may have to wait for a table if the Italian team has a football game scheduled.
(5)Dan R.
Authentic Pizza Napolitana and a great location with outdoor dining. Great food and friendly staff; attentive and efficient. We will definitely be back!
(5)Jenn A.
Heard from a friend that this was a must try in South Beach. As a tourist the 1st meal or 2 I had in the area was horrible. It's such a touristy area that most establishments aren't concerned with quality or customer service. However, definitely not the case here. It was nice to be greeted and seated with friendliness. Our server was prompt and helped us pick a few things to try on the menu. The food was incredible, we devoured every bite of it. My only regret was not having room left for desert.
(5)Michelle W.
Such good pizza! The boyfriend was raving about this place and all he wanted to do in Miami was come here. Clearly, nothing beats the pizza you find in NYC, but this place definitely was a good comparison to what one would find in the City. The crust wasn't thin, but wasn't thick. Just the right thickness and it wasn't extremely chewy. The toppings were great and you could tell they use quality ingredients. Besides the pizza and the great service, this place is also in a great location. If you're a tourist and looking to get great food and explore the area, this is a great place to start. I would definitely stop by this place again if and when I come back to Miami.
(4)Bill B.
I grew up in an Italian family in the northeast where food matters and it better be good. I was hoping for the same from here but I was sadly disappointed. An eggplant appetizer was bland and nothing special. The Margharita pizza was small and bland as well. It's as though they have no idea how to make a great pizza. I will say the cheese was good but that's it. Everything about the place was bland. No flavor to the sauces. Where is the garlic? Herbs? They were nonexistent. There is really no reason to return to this place and I would not recommend it to anyone else.
(2)Alexandra C.
Great service, even though the place was packed up to our eyeballs. I didn't make a reservation, so my fault. The pizza was AMAZEBALLS and the wine was flowing the whole time!
(4)Julio H.
Fratelli La Bufala is another franchise that landed on Floridian soil, and as such, provides sufficient information on what to expect when you sit down to have lunch or dinner. It is a place that has a "tried and true" approach to cooking and that is fool proof yet doesn't necessarily cater to South Beach. Or does it? The challenge is to walk by this SoFi locale and not want to take a bite of the pizza after seeing the brick oven tender a pie with bubbling cheese, covered in hues of red and pale yellow and sprinkled with burnt spots . The brick oven pizza is the best advertisement Fratelli La Bufala uses. The taste, far from being an abrupt stop to your reverie, is a simple proceed with caution, or an attenzione! for a slippery road ahead. I mean, the pizza is not the best pizza in the beach, but it is good. The pasta dishes, on the other hand, are a bit generic and made to fit in a mold. They are still good, but something that would tire even the less demanding palates. The ambiance, on the other hand, is where Fratelli La Bufala wins you over. The space is modest, but well decorated with their flagship icons, the most notorious being the entirely Caucasian waiting staff composed of, but not limited to, former Abercombrie & Fitch models of both sexes. Add to that a different language and Fratelli La Bufala is giving us Napoli nella nostra bella citta di Miami. It is just chic, exciting and, eh .... profitable. For those reasons, I have no inclination to hate Fratelli La Bufala or to diss it. It is a cool place where nobody really cares if you are there an hour or two, even three, with a decent view and with OK food. Yes, the pizza could taste like Indian bread with cheese on top, yes the pasta could be generic, but hey! it is fast food a l'italiana, and for the privilege to enjoy it, an extra 20% has been added to the cost. It is not a great destination for food, but it is a fun one. Arriverderci, Andiamo, Buona Sera and Cin Cin, or chin chin, whatever.
(4)Elizabeth G.
Appetizer was not delicious. Small and $16. Ridiculous. I had pasta with zucchini. The cream sauce was delicious but the pasta was hard. Both entree plates are small. We were seated right by the entrance so lots of people walked in and out and we were bumped into a lot. Our waitress was a hawk. He would stand beside us and watch us at everything we do... The water boy spilled water on my foot which isn't a big deal but he never came back to refill my water nor clean the spot??? They rushed us. Will never go back there again.
(1)Ben C.
Excellent, authentic Italian food. Simple and amazing. Wonderful service. Reasonably priced. We will be back.
(5)Max B.
Went on this past Sunday after years of simply driving by. We sat ourselves and started to order appetizers and our entrees. I had the bufala mozz and prosuitto. Prosuitto was great and the bufala was fine. I ordered the roasted sausage and potatoes but should have probally ordered something else. Tried my sons pizza which was good. A little to thin and the crust was soggy in the middle. My other son had the gnocci bolognese which was actually pretty good. Would probally eat there again if I was in the neighborhood but wouldnt go out of my way to eat there again. Check in and get a free prosecco.
(3)McKayla M.
My babe made reservations here for Valentine's day after his coworker told him we had to go there. It was definitely busy as expected and very loud. It was not very intimate and talking to one another was difficult. Lots of Italians around here so it's got to be pretty authentic. We started off with one of their pizzas, it was tasty. I loved the crust and the cheeses. Then I had their lasagna which was very creamy and delicious. And the Nutella crepe for dessert was heaven, we almost ordered another one. Why this post didn't get more stars: Our waitress was not on her game. We had to find her for refills on our beverages, and ask her for things we shouldn't have had too. Like parmesan cheese and bread. Also their gratuity is included, which our waitress is lucky because she definitely didn't earn all of that tip. Overall, good authentic place for pizza. Pretty pricey for such small portions. Nothing to go crazy about. And we probably won't be dying to go back there now that we've crossed it off our list...
(3)Archana B.
A great, simple, no fuss Italian restaurant. Love the freshness. Great pizzas! Thin crust and oh so good. Perfect go to meal for a nice afternoon. Airy, bright and cosy. And so nice for a cosy dinner too. Simple yet effective menu. I love that there aren't a gazillion options. Pizza oven in plain view. Nice touch. Definitely one of my favorite Italian spots. Service is always good to. Highly recommend this place.
(4)Jim D.
Pizza was white and chewy, not brown and crispy. Sauce was nice and bufala mozzarella was very tasty. Crust just didn't do it for me. Wait staff was very friendly.
(3)Sarah M.
By far the best Italian food I've ever had! Convenient, friendly & authentic. Stumbled upon it while looking for a great sushi restaurant so glad we stopped! Wish there was more locations in the US
(5)Jonathan P.
Amazing pizza. Unlike any other pizza in Miami. Thin crust (crispy on the edges) with fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella. The pastas are also perfect. Try the scarparellio
(5)Zack L.
Paleo pizza hack: Add extra buffalo mozzarella and olive oil. The fat will slow down the carb digestion so it doesn't spike your insulin level. Best pizza in Miami!
(5)Honest G.
Had a plain Margherita pizza... I have eaten this Bufala pizza in Italy and purchased the cheese myself to make my own. There was no Bufala on my pizza. It is sad that this is what they are serving.
(1)Marcos A.
This place is awesome. The food is great, prices are reasonable, location is good. Pros.. -great Italian food. Everything we've ordered was awesome. Suggest the octopus and shrimp pasta which was delicious. The calzones were featured on TV on the Travel Channel. The Bolognese pasta was also very good. -the appetizers were great. Suggest the cold cut and cheese sampler which comes in two sizes. Get the smaller one as its enough for up to 6 people easily. - service is great. We had a 30 minute wait so the host took our phone number, recommended a bar 12 yards down where we could have a drink, and told us we would get a text message informing us our table would be ready in 5 minutes. 20 minutes later we got the text message with a five minute warning so we headed back. Impressive. - the ambience was busy yet somehow managed to feel cozy. Cons... - parking. Its South Beach what can you do? - sometimes the lines are out of control. - small place, not much elbow room. Overall, solid.
(5)Abby S.
What a fantastic meal. We ate next door a few nights earlier and had a good meal, but this experience totally blew it away. First of all, service was impeccable - all staff were welcoming and friendly. Though we didn't have a reservation they were very accommodating and sat us right away (recommend coming before 8pm if you want to be sat without a reservation). Secondly, the food was way above par in terms of freshness and quality. We started with the special, burrata mozzarella, which was fabulous - so creamy, paired with lovely tomatoes and spicy arugula. Divine. Then we went to the antipasto - the prosciutto was tender and tasty. It came with salamis and veggies that were super fresh. Entrees were also excellent - three of the four of us had lasagne which was medium; the fourth had gnocchi which was perfectly done. If/when I get the chance to go back, I will do a pizza! Such a respite and worth every penny!
(5)April B.
We had the Diavola (pizza) and Esotica (salad), it was very good. One of the best authentic Italian pizzas we've had. The ingredients were fresh and service good. I'd say one of the best food places in SOBE.
(4)Luis N.
Great service and great food. We recently went to Rome and had the food there ruin all other pizza and pasta for us because of how good it is there. BUT we did devour the pizza here because it does match the quality of authentic Italian pizza. We ordered the Diavola and some bufala cheese appetizer with salad. We probably wouldn't order the appetizer again but the pizza was devine. Not huge but quality. I also checked in with Yelp and that allowed us to get two free prosecco glasses--sweet surprise. Would I go back?? Yes although it is slightly pricier than other places.
(4)Mike M.
Wife had pasta and her pasta was hard I had lasagna and it was horrible. Taste no pasta , meat and cheese. So soft. Their dinner plate is like starter size.
(1)MICHELLE C.
My first time here was several years ago and all I remembered was that I did enjoy it. As we were walking around last week we decided to have dinner here. Whew wish we would have gone to tongue and cheek next door. Our server was very friendly and she did take good care of us. Having said we had good service and why two stars? OK, yes we are on the beach, prices are usually higher, no problem. If the food is good then it is not an issue. I ordered a bottle of Montepulciano and had to ask our server for an ice bucket. Mistake one ordering a bottle of wine when they keep the bottles stored in the back near the kitchen and right in the sun, yes to get HOT. This is a serious pet peeve of mine. If you are going to carry wine and charge double or triple retail prices, then what the hell serve the wine at proper temperatures. Food, so hubs ask the server if the foccacia was good and she stated it is made fresh daily. Ho hum, it comes out and hubby swore it was pita bread. She stated that is how they make it in Napoli. Hmm, OK. The three of us ordered various pasta dishes, my basic fettuccine bolognese was not good at all. Pasta overcooked, no flavor, meat even did not taste like anything. None of us were impressed at all with the food. Maybe they make a good pie? I can tell ya I will never find out, skip this place so not worth the prices, even go a few doors down to Laconda, much much better.
(2)Charlie D.
Ate here twice when we were staying in SoBe. Great pizza the first night and had the lasagne the second night...delicious! Also good service, we will be back for sure!
(5)Nadia H.
Pizza was solidly good. We got the one with prosciutto. Service was fine, outdoor seating was nice. Salad was ok, nothing special. No house-made dressing, just served with a nice balsamic vinegar and oil, which contributes to my 3 star (just "ok") review because I can (and do) sprinkle balsamic vinegar and oil on lettuce at home. Just fine for when you're craving a higher-quality pizza, as crust and mozzarella were true Italian restaurant quality, but nothing quite elevated the flavors. I can't imagine myself longing for anything on the menu here. Flavors were fresh but not special. I'd give it a solid 3 to 3.5 stars.
(3)Stephanie B.
The best pizza I've eaten in my life. Hands down! I wanted to take a picture of our meal before we ate, but the antipasto was so fantastic we couldn't wait to get our hands on the pie! If you're on fence, do yourself a favor and try this place out!
(5)Kate C.
I am vegan and had no issues finding delicious food to eat! Started the meal with bread & bruschetta which was super yum! I got a marinara pizza which has so cheese and added mushrooms and arugula without any troubles. I can easily say it was the best pizza I've ever had....the crust was AMAZING!
(5)Anna S.
Great place for lunch! I really like different soups. And in this place i found gazpacho and minestrone. It was good! P.S.: A complimentary prosecco was cool :)
(5)Benjamin O.
Awesome food! Brick oven pizza is the way to go. Solid service and a chill atmosphere. Just go here first.
(5)Thien H.
Do you enjoy bad service? A soggy, six inch diameter circle of soggy, super wet crust in the middle of your pizza? Short black hairs all over the ladies' bathroom sink (an employee washed his head in there)? Automatic 17% gratuity for a table of two? Then Fratelli La Bufala is for you! We went here based on the great reviews from yelp and were extremely disappointed. We were treated as if the server knew she was going to get a 17% tip no matter what. She was distant, short with us, and overall unfriendly. When refilling our water, she managed to splash us and everything else on the table several times. Luckily, it was just water. Another server loved to block the way from the table to the bathroom with her elbows by putting her hands on her hips and looking bored. She had no idea people were having to squeeze by her. Don't get the Mugnanese pizza ($13.00). Fries and wurstel might sound good or fun on your pizza but in reality it's a bunch of soggy fries and slices of hot dog thrown on a crust. The crust would have been delicious if not for the soggy center. The majority of the crust was inedible (except the very outside ring which was actually good). Based on our experience, Fratelli La Bufala doesn't deserve the average 4 star rating. We won't be coming back for two soggy pizzas and poor service ($35+).
(2)Jonathan P.
So big tip.......check in. Both FourSqaure and Yelp. You will get free stuff.........and that just really makes people happy... and more likely to get more stars. But this place is good. Good pizza! I like to have it cooked a bit extra. It's worth trying the buffalo meat too. It tastes like regular meat but it's healthier....so why not??? I went with one of the stuffed pizzas (calzone basically). It's was large and very good. *** Make sure you ask for the spicy olive oil. And add it to everythin!!
(4)Samantha L.
Came here for lunch with a group of four friends and they were surprisingly slow for a Saturday lunch. Seated quickly and had our orders put in quickly, but servers seemed a little unattentive, especially considering that we were one of only a few tables. Almost our entire party ordered La Parma, and we all LOVED it. Prosciutto was generous, the sauce was delicious, and the cheese lived up to the hype. Only thing I would have liked was for the slices to be cut through all the way because it's tough to cut through prosciutto with a butter knife. After our food came out, business picked up a bit, and pretty soon it was a packed house and it was difficult to grab a server's attention to pay our bill. We had a bit of trouble splitting the bill, but it got fixed eventually. Overall, a great experience, and I thought it was a nice touch that almost all the staff spoke Italian. Definitely recommend coming by if you're in the area. (Weird thing I also noticed was that there was no music playing, and their huge TV wasn't even turned on)
(4)Briana R.
THE BEST! I had the salami calzone and I can't stop thinking about it! I ate here right before I had to fly back to LA and I almost ordered an extra one to go so I can bring it with me. I wish I did! The salami was cut very thin and full of flavor with delicious water buffalo mozzarella. It was the perfect combination of sweet and salty. I highly recommend it!
(5)Sergio F.
How good an Italian restaurant is is determined by how my carb-ivoreal cravings are satisfied. Other than one of the ingredients in their caprese, then, Fratelli La Bufala is a very good Italian restaurant! Lettuce is an evil thing. Regardless the restaurant, I dont eat it -even when I order at Mickey D I take the lettuce out of my sandwich. That being said, the lettuce in my caprese is the only knock on FLB. Going back to said caprese, I'm digging the tomato pieces baked into the mozarella ball and the fresh cherry tomato pieces nestled among the "evil green thing". The Yelp check-in free Prosecco was a good start for a late Sunday lunch. Pizza is in the name, and I was hungry so I went for their margherita pizza. Visible mozarella balls nestled in a delcious sea of marinara sauce balanced on a thin crust which had a slightly poofie back crust which I like and usually the only reason I subject myself to an occasional regular crust pizza. Then there's a Nutella crepe full of delicious chocolate...food coma kicking in :) Despite a 17% automatic tip, staff was cool and pleasant, and as enthusiastically into the soccer game on the TV as the audience. Certainly a fun pizza spot on the beach!
(4)Amanda D.
So, here's the thing. I've never been to Italy. I can only compare the pizza I've had here in the U.S. However, if I had to guess what pizza is like in Italy, I would say this would be it. The pizza here was amazing! This is the real deal, real Italian pizza. So, where do I begin? Our waiter, Ciro, was a total sweetheart; he was really attentive and super nice. Once we were seated, he gave us the menus. A simple glimpse thought the menu and I knew right off the bat the food would be amazing. They served us focaccia, which was really good. We decided to order Carpaccio as an antipasto. Topped off with bufala mozzarella and arugula, it was one of the best Carpaccio I've ever had! It was large enough to share between 2 or even 3 people, depending on how hungry you are. I decided to order la margaritana and my boyfriend ordered the Primo Bambino. And again, the pizza was absolutely amazing. Why you may ask? First off, the pizza was baked perfectly: the crust was crispy, but light and airy. Completely different than any other type of crust I've had in the U.S. Second, you can taste the freshness of the ingredients. You could tell they use high quality ingredients. But most importantly, the food wasn't heavy. The tomato sauce was fresh and the bufala mozzarella made the pizza stand out. The pizza itself wasn't greasy, which is something I loved. I was actually able to eat about half of the pie (don't judge me) and didn't go into food coma for the first time ever! Also, the pie is definitely smaller than your average pie, more like a personal pie. As for the primo bambino, it was also amazing. The pasta was cooked perfectly. The simple ingredients gave the pasta the perfect flavor without overpowering it. And again, the pasta (surprisingly) was light and refreshing, and not heavy at all. Of course, since our main entrees were so amazing, we had to try the dessert! We ordered the nutella crepes and we were not disappointed. All I can say is it was delicious! Again, I didn't feel heavy after I ate it. To finish off, I had a nice espresso that only a real coffee drinker could enjoy. Overall, I'd definitely come back again when in Miami Beach. Arrivederci!
(5)Tanna C.
Great service, great food, and decent prices! The pizza was amazing and they gave me a free proseco for checking in.
(5)Heather S.
So excited to find an authentic Italian pizzeria in South Beach. The restaurant was packed even at 10:30pm, but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table. The service was very quick and efficient and the waiter was very friendly. We plan to go again for lunch this week and may even have our rehearsal dinner at FLB.
(5)Steve R.
Overall great dining experience. Seated without reservation immediately in a Saturday evening. Margherita pizza as an appetizer for the table was excellent. Pasta dishes were all fresh and served hot. Veal was very good. Will dine here again next time in Miami Beach.
(4)Julio G.
My wife and I had a Amazon coupon for two pizzas. This worked out fairly well. Although the pizza lacked excitement to deserve 45 stars so I'm not sure why they have earned so many. We got a salad which was very average the bread was average of the pizza dough itself was on the thin side but didn't seem to be much flavor in there pizza. Staff was nice and I can't really complain about the location that much. The one upside of the whole thing was I had Peroni on tap
(3)Anil H.
I've never been to Italy, but those in my group who have claimed that this is the closest to the real thing. The portions were huge, and food came quick. Warning, if you don't like really al dente pasta, be sure to tell your waiter to overcook it. Lots of veggie options, including a vegetable-loaded minestrone The sorbet and tiramisu were very flavorful but not too filling. The atmosphere is loud and bustling, with lots of action and various waitstaff attending to your needs. We would definitely make a return visit.
(4)Ro P.
As a first-generation southern Italian and pizza lover, I give this place a 10. The quality of the ingredients is superb and the pizza crust is perfectly crisp. Only downfall are the sly staff. The waiter asked us in Italian if we wanted water... I said 'yes'... he asked 'natural or seltzer'... I said 'natural'. Of course, being that we're not in Italy, I understood that he was going to bring us the complimentary water that most restaurants do. He brings us a bottle of 'imported fresh Italian water' (said so on the bottle) that cost $5.50 and tasted like regular tap water. We should have asked him to open it in front of us, but by then we were so drunk on pizza we couldn't think straight... Funny thing is, at the end of our meal when we asked for the check, he came around again and filled our glasses with the complimentary water AND ice.
(4)Ed S.
Authentic Italian tasty, nice size portions. The bruscetta was fresh and flavorful. Attentive ,friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff.
(4)Jane W.
Very much appreciate the manager's response to my review of 2 stars. (as follows.) Hoping that the night I went was an anomaly. Could not bring myself to take the menu out of our recommended restaurants in the apartment we rent out. After their prompt response I will come again. This is a restaurant on our must try list we give to all the people who stay in our apartment. We've been here many many times but are now taking it off our list. The pizza sauce is still flavorful, but the DOC and capriccioli was soggy and bolognese sauce was terrible. The minestrone continues to be excellent. Many of the servers are attentive and good but ours tonight preferred to have us tell across the table than come to each of us.
(3)Jaime L.
Went there for lunch. Beautifully executed pizza at surprisingly inexpensive prices, particularly based on the location. The pizzaiolo was Italian, lots of Italian people hanging out as well.
(4)Casey M.
I've been here dozens of times, and recommended it to friends who've stayed at my place nearby. Everybody has enjoyed it. Service is pleasant and attentive. The antipasti meats cheeses and salad ingredients are superb -high quality and fresh. All the pastas have been flavorful , perfectly cooked with well sized portions . Pizzas with thin crispy , not burned crusts are delicious Downside - can be a noisy inside and outside (with a lot if traffic noise ). But don't let that deter from a great Italian meal.
(4)Austin K.
Wonderful pizza. Huge salad. Enjoy with your family or your wife. Given how high prices are in south beach this is a bargain. $14 for broccoli rabe and sausage pizza. Great
(5)Daisy P.
If you're a breakfast for dinner type of person... order this "La Collinara - Bufala mozzarella, eggs, pancetta & basil" ... You're welcome! ;-)
(5)Robert F.
5 star service from Davider tonight! Busy Friday night and he was excellent! Food was very good and the service even better! We got lucky they had Burrata (sp?) tonight. Fantastic appetizer if you're a cheese lover. All in all, my GF and I had a great experience.
(4)Natasa S.
We came for some pizza after reading good reviews. We started with soup and salad it was ok. Pizza took forever to arrive and everyone around us was getting pizza who arrived after us. Waited 40 min for pizza and service was terrible. We had margarita and caprisiossa pizza. Soggy in the middle and not that great! There are much better pizza places in Miami. I wouldn't come back here!
(2)Paolo C.
Solid and moderately priced Italian restaurant. Great and authentic Italian pizza, good pastas, mozzarella and bresaola.
(4)A C.
Yum! Incredible margharita pizza for take out. Sauce was mild yet flavorful. Perfect and the price was just right compared to other places in SoBe.
(4)Vanessa R.
Nice ambiance! Had the rapini, sausage, and mozzarella di buffalo and it was great. Good size and no matter how stuffed you are, you need to finish it! Would definitely go back
(5)Liza M.
Every time I visit this restaurant, I feel like I'm dining in the middle of Piazza Navona! This place serves authentic Italian food and everything I have ordered from the menu is always delicious. This is actually the only Italian restaurant in Miami where I can eat gnocchi and lasagna and not be disappointed... the taste is simply amazing!!! The restaurant is small but really cozy; it reminds me of a trattoria. Also, it is very clean and the service has always been pleasant. Yes, the place is on a busy street and if you decide to dine outside, it's loud because of the constant honking of cars and people showing off.. after all, it's Miami Beach!!! Give them a try... you won't regret it!!!! :)
(5)Andres R.
I've been there two times. Pizza is great, but both times the air conditioning inside has been too hot and the waiters have been rude. And one of those times we ordered a Burratta, the waitress suggested it, it-s like a big buffala cheese with tomato, like a Capressa salad, and when the bill arrived, they had charged us about $25 only for that plate, outrageous! But, their pizzas are really great. Well made, good ingredients, excellent flavor, 5-stars. As I said before, both times the inside of the restaurant has been too hot. Even if you're having the best pizza or food in the world, if the temperature is too hot, it can ruin everything. And it did. Also, I can't stand when waiters are rude.... And that has happened both of the times I've been there. They have to take care of that. You can have a great product, but you need to complement it with a great service. I recommend the Prosciutto Pizza with a little of Olive Oil. Excellent!! Maybe if you can get there when is not too crowded, and you can check the temperature inside, you can have a good time. Sadly, that wasn't my experience. I don't know if I'll go again.
(2)Man S.
very authentic Italian restaurant. i mean it from the moment u walk in till you walk out all are italinas working in there. the food is out of this world. you should try the home made mozzarella with tomato. the pastas are good and pizza very unique.
(5)Ole Henrik N.
Very good Italian food and a good selection of wines to compliment the food. Probably one of the best places to eat in this area
(4)Vanessa C.
Pizza came out way to quick and was very soggy , not what I was expecting from All the great reviews !!!
(2)Quiana B.
Excellent service, excellent food, authentic Italian food with mostly Italian people sitting in the restaurant. My server helped me so much and was so friendly....and gorgeous too!! Love this place and will surely be back!
(5)Pierre B.
Authentic italian restaurant. Best Pizza I have ever had in the USA so far.
(5)Olivia L.
The pizza is 5 star pizza, but charging $3 for adding arugula without mentioning the charge until the bill came knocks it down 2 stars....however the pizza was great!
(3)Marco P.
real italian pizza!
(5)Paty D.
After hearing that this place had the "best pizza ever" and the pizza was the "next best thing to what you find in Italy," I, for one, had to come and find out if this was all hype or, if in fact, it was true. I decided that since they are known for their fresh, imported buffalo mozzarella, I'd make sure to order plenty of it. To start off, we had la caprese impanata which consisted of a round, fried piece of mozzarella with a small, green salad and cherry tomatoes. When we first got it, we both thought the dish was rather small. There was one round ball of mozzarella only, which means contrary to my nature, I reluctantly had to share. We definitely liked what we tried. The breading was light, yet it imparted the perfect balance in texture to the creamy, melted mozzarella. You definitely taste the freshness & creaminess in the mozzarella, and it is by far much richer in flavor than any mozzarella you'll have on this side of the world! As to the entree, I went with pizza since this is what everyone raved about. I decided to go with the all white, nothing but cheese & more cheese pizza- la salentina. It was absolutely beautiful when it came out- loads of melted cheese evenly dispersed with subtle mounds of bufala ricotta throughout. The dough was much softer and chewier than other pizzas I've tried but it was still very good. The amount of cheese was absolute perfection but what I found it needed, as sacrilegious as it may sound, was salt. I think the cheese they use may not have a lot of salt so I did find myself sprinkling some on. All in all, I was happy downing it down. My husband on the other hand wasn't too fond of his dish & I have to agree with him. He ordered the lasagna and even though he was hoping it took him down memory lane to the one we had in Venice, it didn't even come close. It had a particular taste I couldn't quite put my finger on but he sure did- it reminded him not of not the amazing Venetian chef, but rather of Chef Boyardee! Because of this my review dropped from a 4 to a 3. All in all, I was content with my meal. I think the price is a bit high for what you get, but you're paying for South Beach in an area that is overflowing with tourists. I am willing to come by if I'm in the area, to try some more of their Italian pizza creations!
(3)Reyana F.
free wine makes everything better.
(4)Rodrigo O.
despite arriving almost 1:00 am, we were very well served by the restaurant, and had a wonderful dinner. Try the Bufala entree, a house specialty. The reale pizza was the best i've ever had in US so far, also.
(5)Deborah G.
Delicious burrata appetizer. Lasagna was good but not the best I've had and pizza was nice but was served cold. That was a disappointment although flavors were all there. I'll go back. Decent service suprised me being it's on the beach. That's never a guarantee. Great atmosphere too.
(4)Yulia K.
I was recommended to this place by an Italian friend and he told me that they have the best pizzas en whole Miami. And confirmed! It is a very nice and elegant place but you can dress casual. The service is Hi end. The pizzas are big. We got one and shared it (2ppl) they are big if you don't eat much. Highly recommend it and if you go at the sunset it becomes very romantic outside.
(5)Aliya Z.
It has been a great experience. We were just walking by and saw this restaurant. We decided to have some dinner as the time was 6 pm already. We sat outside and ordered pizzas!!!! They were so delicious and fresh! Good mix of flavors and thin delicate crust! Would highly recommend to my friends. The good supersize was he we go a checked in on yelp and got a champaign. And the manager gave us like 3 glasses instead of one!
(5)Maryluz G.
It was very good but not 5 star. Ive had better italian/pizza maybe not in miami. But I guess for being in miami it is very good. I do recommend trying it. Staff was very attentive. The bufala is very yummy. Had the eggplant for appetizer. Really enjoyed it.
(4)Iryna S.
This is one place we always try to go to when we are in Miami! Ingredients are so fresh and food always comes out delicious! I love the art and the ambience there too!
(5)Anna P.
Seriously so amazing!! The pizza, salads, apps, soups and Nutella crepes were incredible! Best meal I have had in awhile, don't waste your time going anywhere else! I was so full after I almost called a cab home.
(5)April A.
This place was great! We sat outside on the patio and had a delicious prosciutto pizza with mushrooms as well as the exotic salad. They also gave us free prosecco! Nothing bad to say about this restaurant. The pizza was authentically Italian.
(5)Cristina W.
First off, loved the ambience of this quaint pizza place in Miami Beach.. It's so cute, and you honestly feel that you are transported into Italy. Loved the quality of the pizza crust, and the richness of the fresh mozzarella is always a plus! I had read some mixed reviews about this place, but I loved every bit of it. Try the Parma pizza, it's the best!
(5)Andrew T.
A no nonsense ambience with food that is not too complicated but simply delicious... The Italian way. Gazpacho is a must for me since I try that everywhere I go and this was good here. The pizza was done right, decent prices and even the pasta was extremely well done! If the pizza dough/prep staffs would wear hats, then this review might have been perfect.
(4)Elizabeth Y.
Free valet. Great pizza - la parma (prosciutto) the best! And if you check in on yelp you get a free glass of prosecco. If you check in on Four Square you get a free bottle of house wine. Absolutely love this place. Have been there several times and still going!
(4)Daniela N.
Food is delicious!!!!! Had the prosciutto with honey and it was amazing!!! Prices are great for the food. Would definitely recommend.
(4)Jeanette B.
Come here all the time. When I lived in ltaly for a few months my husbands apartment was next to fratelli so this brings back so many memories.
(4)Brenda G.
This place was amazing to say the least. We wanted some Italian food and this place definitely met expectations. We started off our meal with some bruschetta and mixed green salad. The waiter also brought some delicious bread. I really wish I remembered the name of what I ordered, but the pasta had ham, zucchini, and tomatoes in creamy sauce. Everything was delicious! Service was prompt and the environment was inviting. It wasn't too crowded at the time we went either (4:30 p.m.) which was perfect. I would definitely go to this restaurant again and recommend it to anyone visiting South Beach who is craving Italian food.
(5)Lauren V.
I love the pizza here! Takes just like back in Italy. I'm sure everything else is great on the menu but I always end up taking the pizza. The Nutella crepes are also the best guilty pleasure for dessert :) Yum!
(5)Ryan B.
It was our first night in Miami and we had just checked into the Harrison Hotel. It was around 9pm and after a few hours of airports and traveling, we were hungry and needed to satisfy the late night craving. We decided to go for a walk and we found this place right around the corner. They had the wood burning oven going on, so that excited me. After checking in on my yelp mobile app, I received a free glass of Prosecco! I love it when I get free things! The restaurant itself had a nice atmosphere. The lighting was dim. There was outside seating for some good people watching. The wait staff were very attentive and helpful. The noise level wasn't too loud and you could have a decent conversation without having to yell. For my meal I went with the Capricciosa pizza. Thin crust with red sauce, fresh mozzarella and proscuitto. The pie looked huge for one person, but because of it's thin crust and barely-there toppings it was totally manageable. At first I thought, okay, there's not much on this thing. But after eating it, I get it. Pizza tastes better when it's more simplistic and has well crafted ingredients. The sauce, the fresh mozz and the paper-thin proscuitto were delicious. I've grown tired of chain restaurant pizza. Eating at this place was quite refreshing. And there's something to be said for using fresh ingredients. I wish we had one back in DC. Well Fratelli, until next time. addio.
(4)Nato S.
Best part was checking in on Foursquare and getting a free bottle of wine for the table! Don't forget to do that. The wine wasn't half bad either. Food was good. I had a calzone and while it tasted fresh, I wish it came with some sauce or something to pair up with because there were times where it seemed a bit dry. I hear the pizza is pretty good. Nothing too out of this world, but nothing to write home about. If you're in the area, it's worth stopping by, otherwise I wouldn't make the drive to South Beach again for it.
(3)Candice C.
Came here a year ago and had the most uncomfortable experience of my life. I dont want nor do i like to accuse people of any type of racism or whatever my experience was engulfed in but we certainly did not get any kind of respect or good treatment and it seemed we may have told a joke that none of us knew about. Being the only minorities in the building that evening would never bother us but I was so disgusted by the workers here. There was 3 of us and the servers seemed to have some kind of joke going because they couldnt stop looking at us and laughing. We got mean stares and aside from the okay food there was little room to move around...so yea not going back there. Not supporting a place that doesn't truly understand what quality customer service means. The food wouldve allowed for 2 stars but my disappointment negated one of them. The food is not worth the prices.
(1)Lily A.
Surprisingly the owner of Tap Tap uninhibitedly recommended this place when we were sad we wouldn't be in the city when his restaurant opened for the day. And when we read that this was on the "Best thing I've Ever Ate," we rushed over.. quickly. Very cozy little shop at the corner of an intersection. Everything was just excellent, from the quick service, warm bread and butter, their house wine, and especially their entrees and the portions. We had the Ripieno Calzone (not sure which one of the calzones was on the Food Network) and the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese. The Calzone had mozarella, ricotta, salami, and pepper. And incredibly as loaded as it was with cheese, it wasn't overwhelming but more-so the melt-in-your mouth type. The Tagliatelle was flat noodles with bolognese and tomato sauce and was much lighter than expected, perhaps because the portion wasn't gigantic like typical Italian eateries. Check into this place on Foursquare and you get a free bottle of house Merlot. And it's pretty damn good stuff too, at the table we even looked up where to buy them at they're only $5-$6 at Whole Foods (we stocked up once we got back home).
(5)Bonnie L.
Please tell me whats so great about their pizza? I did not find the buffalo mozzarella amazing at all, I took a slice and pretty much asked for the check.. Above all this place is OVERPRICED! Some restaurants deserve 2nd chances but not this one =x
(1)Laura T.
I couldn;t find somewhere to eat close to my hotel that was reasonable until I got on Yelp and saw this little spot. I've walked past this several times and assumed they'd be too expensive! But they were def reasonable and I got a free bottle of wine (Moscato) by checking in with 4square. I ordered the Marghareita pizza and although it was piping hot, after my 2nd slice it was cold! Not sure if it was bc I was sitting outside, but it got cold quick. I also couldn't take my wine with me so I had to sit there like a wineo and drink the whole bottle! All in all they are very reasonable and the hot pizza part was pretty good.
(3)Julian P.
Great service and great food for the price and location near South Beach. Waiters were actually Italian and were very polite. Fine for large groups as well, they quickly accommodated our group of 11.
(4)Sang C.
Great neighborhood gem. Went with the family after getting a living social coupon. Ordered 2 pizzas and 2 pasta dishes. All were great. Only negative was that it was very warm inside. Otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.
(4)Scott B.
I went to this place for my first time today. The pizza is good and spongy if you look for the crunchy and thin pizza you will not find it ! The service was quick and efficient but it was really noisy since there were lot of families coming into on sunday time (babies crying, child playing around the tables...) I don't know if'll come back there but the experience has been interesting.
(3)Roger Y.
This restaurant was recommended by my son-in-law who hails from Torino Italy - he is very particular about Italian food available in America so I was expecting the best and I was not disappointed. We arrived for a late lunch and the service was good and not rushed -I ordered the minnestrone soup and for my main meal I ordered an appetizer "La Parmigiana" which was actually an eggplant parmigiana. The soup was very tasty, very fresh. The Parmigiana was delightfull. The combination of the buffala mozzarella and a fantastic tomato sauce - just barely melted was wonderfull. The appetizer size was large enough for a main dish. My wife had one of the offerings of white pizza which was good - their pizza has a soft crust fwiw. Using bufala mozz. turns this pizza into a higher realm. If you check in on Yelp they have a free prosecco offered Only street parking is available and that can be a tough go.
(5)Linda D.
Free glass of Prosecco with check-in is true, and they didn't bring one but two for me and my gorgeous date. ..which meant two for me - yeay! Pizza was great, Iove the oven roast flavor of the crust, fresh sauce and mozz. It could have used another minute, dough seemed a tad doughy for a Neopolitan pizza. Good environment. service was just ok. Had the pizza been better is give it a 4.
(3)Ramesh A.
The most authentic and scrumptious pasta/pizza I have ever had! Simple, fresh, and authentic ingredients.....a taste of Italy in South Miami. Would definitely recommend!
(5)Vanessa M.
Let's face the facts. Miami is known for many things, but pizza is not one of them. This is why I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and authenticity of this Miami Beach gem. From New York to Chicago to Italy--I've been lucky to eat some of the best pies around. Fratelli's is now on my personal list of the best pizza and I'm proud to say it's from my hometown! I went for the classic margherita-style pizza--topped with the freshest mozzarella flown in from Italy, basil, and vine tomatoes. Cue that gesture Italian chefs do when they kiss their fingertips and say "perfecto!"
(4)Serena S.
If you REALLY love mozzarella, this place is for you. The mozzarella is really fresh and part of almost every dish on the menu. I tried the Bresaola appetizer, which is thinly sliced cured beef over a bed of arugula and parmesan cheese shavings. UHMAZING. The cured beef was great, but if it were carpaccio, we would've been in business. With every new Italian restaurant I try, I usually like to try with something simple to gauge how good their food is. So, I tried their bolognese. More bland than I'd like, but still delicious nonetheless. The pasta was cooked perfectly, which seems to be a challenge for restaurants sometimes. Service could definitely have been better. Our waitress was a bit terse and looked downright unhappy. Prices are fair, but could be just a tad better. Indoor and outdoor seating is available as well as free valet, which is nice. Just don't forget to validate your ticket before leaving! I would definitely come back again to try something else on the menu.
(4)Sophye B.
BEST PIZZA EVER! My favorite place to eat pizza. I got pizza with fresh buffalo mozzarella!!! And then for dessert we had the best Tiramisu!!! And my husband had a Cappuccino!
(5)Akhil B.
I have been here twice for lunch during my trips to Miami. The food is awesome and the location is great. I can take a walk up and down Ocean Drive after eating here. The service is also great. I wish I could be in South Beach right now.
(5)Liz S.
Nice atmosphere. We ordered the lasagna and the first brick oven white pizza on the menu. Holy cow! Delicious! Best authentic Italian food I've had. It's a bit pricey but worth it. Service was amazing and our waiter was so handsome. :)
(5)Ryan E.
The absolute most authentic Italian pizza in the United States. I have a good friend who is from Italy, and he's the one who brought me here. He speaks Italian with the staff which adds to the authenticity. My girlfriend said this was the best pizza she has ever had. For me it's on par with the best pizza - simply because it's a different type of pizza. It's different than your typical American pizza, even the best thin crust pizza is very different than this. The dough is incredibly light and has a great flavor. It's so unique you can't explain it, but it's extremely good. The service is a little slow but very professional and polite. The manager is always friendly and seems to take good care of regulars. Overall this is an absolute must restaurant to visit and well worth the drive even from Broward. It's true, pure Italian pizza made by a real Italian staff. The real deal.
(5)Sonia A.
Fresh, delicious mozzarella!!! Pizza was really good and eggplant appt. was delish! The place is on a great location but finding parking near by is such a drag. We looked around for about 20 minutes until we found some street parking down Washington south of 5th. Other than that, I would love to go back and sample more stuff on their menu! Their service was good, they were very attentive and several people stopped by not only our "assigned" waitress.
(4)Steph D.
Great place for pizza. The staff is very friendly and we really enjoyed our dinner. I might add just a tip: eat inside as the avenue is a bit crowded.
(5)Edgardo G.
Someone recommended me this restaurant as a great experience in Miami Beach, arrived into the valet with a chauffeur with very bad attitude to take the car, entered the restaurant and got in a table with very tight space for 5 people just under their framed pictures made with oleo. We wanted to have something fast and a good reccomendation so we were very hungry he suggedted something in italian you can't understand and was not in the menu, and I said in my mind why not? how much could be that... Asked for a big something with vetebables and fresh cheese and a smal similar also with fresh cheese. We ordered 4 pizzas and I oredered their Lassahna took over 30 minutes to arrive the pizzas were very normal and just different but my lassagna was comleatelly burned from the upper side super hot, so I cut it in half and tried the center and bottom part and was frozen! (ice) so I called the waiter and told nim about it and they removed and I told him that I thought that they cook fresh food, and I thought to myself in 30 minutes I can cook any pasta!, they offered me a piza and I agreed, after 5 minutes, I decided to cancel so everybody already finished their food and in 1 minute arrived, the pasta at the botom was raw!, so I decided to eat the leftovers of other parties and asked for the bill.. 5 personal pizas and 2 appetizers 200 dls!!! they charged me 43 dollars for one apetizer and 23 dollars for the other one !!! not even drinks. So save the day and dont even try to vidit this place. HORRIBLE!
(1)Chuck I.
Horrible dining experience -- we didn't order alcohol so the waiter became rude and didn't offer us bread, refill our drinks or ever come around for follow up service. He was probably racist as well. When the check came they had added gratuity and I told the waiter to remove it -- and he didn't argue because he knew he didn't deserve a penny. The manager strolled by just to see who we were but didn't stop to ask how our service was or if he could do anything.
(1)Lissa G.
This place had potential but did not live up to it in any way. The place was fairly packed when we arrived, and the servers worked fairly hard to seat us. The server we had once we were seated, however, seemed less interested in actually being helpful. It took us forever to get wine. What was the most disappointing, though, was the Bufala tasting plate. The cheese was not fresh; and by not fresh, I really mean not fresh. Some of the pieces tasted foul. We took a tiny taste of everything, just to be sure it wasn't an isolated incident. After a quick taste, we pretty much left the whole plate there. Our server didn't bother to check on us, and when I did finally say that the cheese was "not good," no one seemed all that interested. The pizza was disappointing, too, as it was undercooked and lacked flavor. If only we could turn back time, we wouldn't eat here.
(1)Joe S.
They make real Napoli pizza, cooked the right way, but lacking flavor in my opinion. Should have been much better. I don't know if it is the sauce, the dough, or the cheese - maybe a little bit of each. I recommend trying something other than the classic Margherita pizza - maybe a pie with more toppings or burrata would be better, or a pasta dish instead.
(3)Diana E.
Amazing food, great service and reasonable prices! Loved this place. True taste of Italy
(5)Julia K.
I enjoyed everything, we got salad and pizza and pasta. Everything was great. I highly recommend this place!
(4)Alex B.
Amazing food! We sat outside enjoying really good quality food and even got a free glass of Prosecco for checking in. The service was pleasant. Good people watching. Sorry for the short review, but this place was great!
(5)Danielle A.
Great Italian food. Helpful staff. Family atmosphere. Definitely a place that will make you love REAL Italian food, especially if your only idea of it is Olive Garden (whom whomp!) Must Have: Burrata!!!!
(5)Stefano D.
Went there with my partner just for a good Italian style pizza. He got a Margherita and I got a La Parma, with prosciutto. Dough and ingredients VERY good, but I have to say that for being Italians' owned, it was too saucy instead of counterbalancing the fresh and very moist bufala mozzarella with just a little sauce, and this caused the pizza to be too saggy in the middle. Pity. I hope they correct this because it could be an excellent pizza.
(3)Krystle L.
Great pizza, quick, fast and delicious! Pleasant server. Ate La Reale with an egg, delicious!
(4)Angela M.
My cousin is from Italy and told me how this place is a chain in Europe. This is their only location in the United Stated but the workers told us how they are planning on opening another location in Florida as well in the up coming months. Overall very impressed!!! I am from New York and finding good Italian food outside of New York is pretty hard. Food - I ordered the pizza with just sauce, garlic and added eggplant (no cheese) it was only $8. The dough of the pizza so unbelievable! So much flavor and super thin, just the way I like it. The portion was very filling and I left super satisfied. My cousin got a white pizza and extra cheese and then a side of buffalo mozzarella to have with bread. He fully enjoyed his meal and to be born and raised in Italy he was able to say the pizza tastes just like it they made it at the locations in Italy. They also have bread and dipping oil if you ask. Service - Our waitress was super friendly and my cousin was speaking with her in Italian. Most of the staff was very friendly just not super attentive. I feel like we were only asked once the whole time we were there how everything was. I think most of the employees spoke Italian as their first language because I did have some trouble speaking to one or the waiters when I just wanted to redeem my yelp offer. When you check in on yelp you can get a free glass of prosecco and she was very nice to offer one to my cousin free as well even though he did not have the offer on yelp (I just did) Price - Affordable! The pizza was priced right and I left full. Our bill was $44 and the tip was included, 17%. I would totally recommend this place and during my trip to Miami we ate here twice (I got food once, my cousin twice). I feel like this isn't a place I would have picked on my own but I am so glad my cousin had us go. From the outside it doesn't really stand out and it seem a little out of the way compared to where tourist like ourselves were exploring in south beach. I must say everyone should go if they are looking for a great authentic Italian meal!
(5)Michael S.
A quiet and friendly spot on south beach. Who would have thought it possible but it is. We had a great groupon and did well here. Twice now were would recommend and even with the menu prices as they are - the food is spot on good !
(5)Sabrina S.
Absolutely delicious! I get the genuina (I think that's what it's called/ how it's spelled) and it is my truly my favorite pizza. The bread is thin and the crust is on the thicker side. Along with the tasty pizza, they also have excellent gnocchi. Definitely recommend!
(5)Ryan H.
My wife called the gnocchi a "panty-dropper" and the lasagna was fantastic, too. I think every member of the staff came to our table to bring us something or refill drinks or check on us. The service was awesome. If you're in South Beach, come here.
(5)Felipe S.
The lasagna is delicious. This place is no relaxing food is great and the staff is very nice. Not to mention their pizzas are great tasting.
(5)Lis T.
Started with the bruschetta which was good. I had the homemade pasta with bolognese sauce and my husband had a calzone. Service was excellent as we were the only ones in there around 5 after walking around Ocean Drive and Collins Ave.
(4)Anna L.
YUM! Exactly the kind of pizza I was hoping for in Miami. They even had one with no cheese already on the menu... So delicious I ate my whole plate.
(5)Andrew K.
Great pizza. Even better antipasto. I could have stopped after the first course, but the margharita pie was already in its way. The only reason why I didn't give this place a fifth star is because the pizza was slightly soggy towards the middle. I like a crisp pie all the way through, next time I'll ask for it well done.
(4)Geneva B.
This is my absolute favorite Italian spot. The food is delicious! My favorite food item on the menu is the capricciosa pizza with the ham, mushroom and artichoke. They are kind of pricey though, that small pizza cost about $20 bucks. I know other places that offer the same pizza for less and almost as good. The 2 major downsides that I don't like are the location and the size of the establishment. It's pretty small and is always packed and the parking in that area is a nightmare. You're better off ubering over but be prepared to have to wait a little bit for a table.
(5)Adal D.
Pure greatness! If what you want is genuine Italian cuisine and the best pizza in South Beach, then you must check this place out. The best of everything, European like atmosphere, both outside and inside. The servers are Italian, courteous, friendly and very professional. The pasta dishes are great with very generous servings. Their wood oven baked pizzas are better than the ones in Naples, Italy, I kid you not! Great salads and appetizers in case you are in for a lighter fair. A little piece of Italy in Miami Beach!
(5)Carla A.
My children LOVED this place; one had the deliciously thin crusted pizza, another had the lasagna, and the third was envied by all with her selection of the 8oz steak cooked to perfection and accompanied by fries and a side salad. Unfortunately, it's a bit hot indoors so on a nice evening I recommend dining al fresco. Reservations are recommended, though our family of 5 was seated within 15 mins.
(4)Jennifer C.
Very good authentic brick oven pizza. Thin with a crispy crust. Light, tasty sauce. My only complaint was that the middle of the pizza was too soggy. Attentive and friendly staff. Accommodated my husband's "special request" pizza. Prosciutto, arugula topped with shaved parmigiano reggiano and olive oil.
(4)Michael G.
I used to go to this restaurant once in a while when I lived in Napoli, and albeit it wasn't my favorite over there, it was still very good. So I really wanted to get that same taste/feeling when I was down in Miami recently. Ordered a Margherita DOC pizza with prosciutto (whatever they call that one) because I wanted to get real buffalo mozzarella. Yummm. Anyway, the pizza sauce was very good, very typical of the region, good flavor. However, their mozzarella wasn't very creamy, which was disappointing and the entire reason I went there. Also, the crust too had a good flavor, but the texture was a bit off. I'm used to a doughier, thicker crust, and theirs was unfortunately rather thin. Overall, the pizza was good, just not really great, and not at all up to expectations and past experence. The carbonara pasta was a bit underwhelming, and the pasta was cooked even less than al dente for some pieces. It was just ok. And the cannoli...a sad let down, certainly. There was perhaps an almond flavor to it? Couldn't quite pin it down. But it didn't taste particularly great, it wasn't sweet enough (and I don't like cannoli to be too sweet either). Other than sugar, it was missing something, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Service was nice, but certainly disorganized and not very attentive.
(3)Jessica W.
Great choice for Italian in south beach! Located on the corner of 5th and Washington, they have both indoor and outdoor seating available. I ordered the Ciliegina salad with shrimp and it was good; the mozzarella was fresh and added a nice touch. Pizza is definitely the specialty of the house though. The Diavola had a nice thin crust, cooked to perfection with sauce, cheese, basil and a little red pepper for some added kick. It was wonderful! Service was quick and super friendly and I thought that the prices were reasonable for the quality.
(4)Tenisha S.
This place has excellent customer service. Everyone is friendly, kind and helpful. The bread served on the table was delicious. The la parma pizza (prosciutto and mozarella) and mari e monti (seafood over linguini ) were both delicious! We had a coupon from fashionhaus hotel for $15 off and they honored it with no problems. Great place to go.
(5)Ray V.
Amazing and Authentic Pizza. Great Pasta, Bread, & Salad. Quick from Order to Table. Kids loved the pasta noodles with butter and Coloring Sticker book. Nice Italian wine selection as well.
(5)Johnny T.
3.5 For years, I'd looked at the pizza place on the corner of Fifth & Washington and wondered what it was like. Thing is, I was never much in the mood to sit down and eat a pizza. Usually, during my beach-living days, I just wanted to pick something up and keep it moving. Thing is, for that sort of pizza experience, I didn't want a 'fancy' pizza, I wanted a casual one. So, for years, I walked by and wondered. Then, once I moved to Miami (and off the Beach), I had occasion to stop by on a Monday night after a long day/night of work. Being a Monday and later at night, there wasn't much of a crowd and that suited me fine. I started with a Peroni and, finally, tried one of those fancy pizzas I'd thought about for so long. My Diavola was pretty close to what I'd imagined/had before with one small detail (well, two): the crust was burnt, not wood-fired, but burnt. So, with every bite, I tasted more charcoal than toppings. I, eventually, opted to eat the toppings without the crust. This leads me to the next slight ding: the toppings (cheese, red sauce with some heat, hot salami) came pooled with a bit more grease than I like. Actually, a lot more. I ate each bite with a gulp of beer so that the carbonation would settle my stomach before it turned with the grease. Sorry for the decidedly unappetizing language. Because I'm a fatty and can't turn dessert down, I ordered the chocolate-almond cake. It was flourless but deceptively light. The cake itself was very enjoyable. The ice cream that accompanied it was a bit rich for my tastes. I don't know if it's churned on premises or not, but I tasted near-butter notes, as opposed to cream. Some people like that, but I don't. It's not a knock on the quality; 'tis only a heads up for specific palates. Despite the time of night and it being a Monday AND it being the beach, our service was pleasant, timely and appreciated. There's more to like than to dislike at FLB but I don't know that there's enough for me to rush back. But, later night during the week, there are far worse choices to make while on the Beach.
(3)Yara F.
A family friend recommended this restaurant to me and my best friend during our vacation, and we had an amazing time. The hostess was very friendly and welcoming, and the wait staff was attentive. Prices were extremely reasonable, I was almost surprised with the check when we got it. We shared bruschetta and a margarita pizza as our appetizers, and both were amazingly fresh and delicious. We each got our own pasta dishes that were also very delicious, my friend commented however that his lacked a bit of seasoning. It ended up raining and we had to move inside, and while we waited for the rain to stop we decided to share Nutella crepes and I got an espresso, and honestly Im glad it had started raining because the crepes were perfect.
(4)Eric L.
After having a few mediocre meals in South Beach, this was a pleasant change. Gazpacho was outstanding (although a bit too salty). Very large bowl, too. Shared a margarita pizza, with fresh mozzarella. Sauce was very good and I liked the thin crust, even though it was a little undercooked. Bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar was also enjoyable. Bottom line: I'd go back. Next time I want to try the puttanesca pizza.
(4)Jayna P.
Quaint little authentic pizza place. Close to 8th and ocean in the arts district-perfect sidewalk seating to people watch.
(5)BiteChew T.
Start with the burrata antipasto (if available) and share the Ripienone calzone (ricotta, mozzarella, salami, tomato sauce) and La Parma pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto, basil). RATINGS: BONDNOM: [3]** Easy to share and difficult to dislike, pizza is the ultimate crowd pleaser, especially when done right. Unfortunately, the crowding and noise level of this location make it difficult to engage in meaningful conversation. FOOD: [4] Food did not disappoint thanks to top ingredients (Buffalo mozzarella flown in twice a week from Napoli!) and authentic Neapolitan-style pizza made to order in their large wood brick oven. ATMOSPHERE: [2] Loud and crowded due to little space between tables but comfortably casual and highly accommodating to parents with young kids. SERVICE: [3] Servers are charming, authentically Italian, and knowledgeable on the menu, but the hostess and busboys seemed frazzled and disorganized, despite us dining off peak hours. **For details on #BondNom score & full video reviews, visit bitechew.tv
(3)Vanessa V.
If you want authentic Italian food, more specifically Neapolitan pizza made in a wood brick oven, then this is the place to go! So far, even all of the staff is Italian! They pride themselves in importing buffalo mozzarella and buffalo meats. Their cheese is made from buffalo milk instead of cow's milk, and it's some of the best mozzarella and ricotta cheese I have ever had! The Caprese Impanata is my favorite thing to have here! It's a ball of fried breaded buffalo mozzarella that has cherry tomato, basil​ & oregano all chopped up and placed inside the ball. Soooooo goooood!!! We usually ask for a side of ricotta cheese to use with the bread, olive oil, and balsamic that they offer. Try it! For my entree I get the Ripienone, a calzone stuffed with ricotta, smoked ​mozzarella, neapolitan salami & tomato sauce. It's made in the brick oven, and comes out steamy and delicious. My husband gets the Salentina​ white pizza. It has buffalo mozzarella, smoked mozzarella & buffalo ricotta cheese. Sometimes he adds pancetta for flavor. Either way, they are very tasty! I will definitely be coming back here again and again!
(5)Dawn S.
Amazing, authentic italian pizza joint. One of my favorite casual eateries, and all natural and simple ingredients so (even though it's pizza) you can feel good that it's a fresh and healthy option. Great salads and tapas to choose from also, very friendly italian and Spanish speaking staff ... nice and authentic place and great spot for a casual late lunch or dinner with friends.
(5)Emily B.
Service was great! They have a beautiful white tiled pizza oven which you notice right when you walk in. Be careful walking to the bathrooms, as I accidentally kicked one of the many high chairs stacked in the hallway - ouch!
(3)Alex C.
Such great pizza. Really reminded me of how pizza tastes in italy. So fresh and good! We got the bruschetta and a margherita pizza with a bottle of wine. The servers were super friendly and so italian! It was like we we're back in Italy! Definitely recommend!!!
(5)Brian P.
We are staying on ocean drive and have been sick of the "aggressive" persuasions to get you to eat along the strip. Not to mention, the jacked up prices, and sneaky "oops" mistakes on the bills. We were looking for a good italian place with a good meal and pizza... and we found it! Literally 2 blocks from where we were staying. The menu was great and our selections were damn tasty. My wife got the gnocchi, and I got the lasagne and we shared a Margherita Pizza and we were not disappointed. Price was fine, service attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly and the atmosphere nice. Recommended! Thanks for a nice evening and we much appreciated the glass of Proseco courtesy of Yelp!.
(4)Jonathan Y.
Went for dinner. Sat outside, by the street which was a bit loud with traffic. Service was good, meal came incredibly fast (almost too fast). Had a pizza.. Crust was good but somehow the pizza was saugy. Also had a salad to share that was mezzo mezzo Not bad overall, but not somewhere I'd come back to
(3)Kaitlyn L.
Excellent Italian food. This place is perfect if you want a classy, quiet atmosphere away from all the wild stuff going on around ocean drive. It was nice to get away from all of that for one night while we were in Miami for spring break, and really.. Who doesn't LOVE some GREAT Italian food. Not feeling very wordy so I'll keep it short and sweet. We had the eggplant pizza for an appetizer- delicious.. Could've eaten the whole thing by myself. My cousin and I split the gnocchi with a side salad. Both delicious- portions are perfect size unless you're a fat kid like me. Our waitress was exceptional- wish I got her name. She's the pretty blonde one with an accent. Idk if that helps. There's outdoor seating but just after sunset it was a little chilly so bring a jacket. Next time I'm in miami I'll be back!
(5)Chloe D.
So I've been craving good Italian food from my hometown in montreal, trying to find something similar to restaurant la pizzeria napoletana, first pizzeria in montreal established in 1948. Have tried a couple places in miami which never really sparkled for me. Looked up online to find neapolitan style and found Frateli La Bufala... Finally!!!!! Thank You!! Im a craver for classics, so went for Margarita pizza and pomodoro spaghetti. My husband had Fettucini Alfredo, not on menu but server was really nice and offered to do so at our liking. Excellent caring service from Paola btw. Overall awsome food ( so good we reordered to go), awsome service and great vibe from the place and the management. Thank you, will definitely be back!!
(5)AshleyMarie O.
Cute spot to meet up with friends. I would stick to sharing apps as the chef in the group ordered the lasagna and decided it was so bad he had to send it back. Then ordered a pizza and was still only moderately feeling it. I ordered the gnocchi and was not impressed. The wine selection was minimum as well. Service was friendly, attentive and professional. The charcuterie board was delish (as usual) and that did not disappoint.
(4)Jova R.
Sorry but not impressed. Reservations were made in advance since we were a larger than normal group going for a family birthday dinner. Once we arrived they told us that someone took the table they had reserved for us and felt bad kicking them out. So whats the point of making a reservation then? So we had to wait for the next available table that could accommodate us all. That usually sours the night for me when reservations get cut. A few of us at the table were yelpers and we all checked in and received our free glass of prosseco. Not the best but was nice to start. Went on a night of the heat game and luckily they played the game while we dined (no audio though). We all shared the la bufalata appetizer. very good buffalo mozzerella with other cheeses, cured ham and veggies. Nice app to share with a large group. everything was very fresh and delicious. I had a hard time decided what to order but i knew i didn't want your typical spaghetti, pizza, or fettucini. So I decided to go with the carbonara. 3 others ordered the same dish and we all said the same thing when we noticed we all left half the plate. Too salty! the ham was just too salty. it was overpowering the dish. My mother in law had the lasagna and she wasn't impressed either. she said it lacked flavor. Overall i wasn't impressed with the food and service could have been better. The manager did comp our desserts for the inconvenience with the reservations. That was nice of her. I don't think i'll be back, too many better restaurants in the area.
(2)Mariana R.
If you are looking for authentic Napolitan pizzas this is the place! Carpaccio is a good appetizer to share between 4-5. Pizza sizes are good for one person. We tried pizza Capriciosa, Diavola and La Parma. We were sorry for not having space for dessert, 'cause those look delicious. What I did not like was the waitress suggesting us to order the most expensive things in the menu, this really annoys me!
(4)An T.
Nice staff. Didn't wait that long, I got a pizza and it was unique but not the best. My bf liked the lasagna though. I also wish it was a little spacious. People kept bumping into my chair =(
(3)Bob B.
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(3)Anuar A.
This is my 5th time here, the food is AMAZING. It's so so so fresh and it's so light on your stomach. I've come with my family every time and we've had every kind of item on the menu. We have never ever been let down. The service is always incredible, like really really incredible. The pizza is insanely good and so is the pasta. And the desserts, the deserts are some next level shit. I've had every one of them and I have to say the Tiramusi is the best Tiramusi I've had in my life. Have been coming here for a while and will continue to do so, absolutely LOVE this place!
(5)Jeffery R.
Nice staff and cool atmosphere. Can get a little noisy but the food and staff make up for it!
(3)Poriya M.
I LOVE this place, everything about this place is awesome! The location, the food, the staff. I've been coming to Fratelli every year for the last 5 years and love everything on their menu, you can not go wrong with hand tossed thing crust wood oven baked pizza of course but let me tell you about my top dishes, you will not be disappointed. For started definitely start with their assorted meat and vegetable platter and fresh mozzarella on a fresh body of arugula both served in 2 different sizes perfect for large or small group to share. For main course these will be my top 3 choices in this order: Paccheri, Garganelli, and Gnocchi. Miami is not known for having the best food in the world but this place is a shinning start in a dark sky.
(5)Marley G.
Perfect casual atmosphere. Great food. Nice location off of Ocean Drive and away from big crowds. Just right if staying at The Savoy. Above average service. Incredible Tiramasu.
(5)Honest A.
Come here every year in winter, it's full of Italian speaking waiters and patrons. The milk is served warm for the kids, the pizza traditional to Italy with fresh buffalo low fat cheese. If you want to be in Italy without traveling, come here. Pet friendly seating outside on street. They add automatic 17% gratuity although they are slow.
(5)Jim R.
Ate here twice this trip to SoBe. Last night we started with a fresh burrata, tomatoes, Parma ham, and greens. It was wonderful, very flavorful. We then had a mix of pastas and pies. Again very tasty. Servers were attentive. Ate outside, but is very loud with traffic because of its location at the corner of 5th and Washington. Had a pasta for lunch the other day, garganelli, which comes in a bowl formed out of Parmesan cheese. Very cool. Waitress was accommodating since the sauce on the menu is white and I like red. She was able to make the meal with a pink sauce which is the way I would recommend eating this meal.
(4)Elena A.
I loved this place!!! The food is delicious, the service was great and the ambiance is just wonderful. There are so many things to choose from if you love Italian food, the menu is never ending the pizza just melts in your mouth once you take a bite out of it. This restaurant is perfect for a date or a group party.
(5)Miguel L.
I have been wanting to come to this place for a while, at last I made it. The place is cozy, the service was amazingly fast and the food was delicious. I had Pasta alla Carbonara and even though it wasn't like the one I had in Italy, I have to say it was very good. I give 4 stars because the table we were assigned had very uncomfortable chair and the place was packed so I figured changing tables wasn't going to be an easy task.
(4)Sandy C.
Just a cut above all the rest it is the best of the best I love the Pizza the buffalo cheese and the pasta awesome try with Sausage and brocolli
(5)Carlo V.
Recently visited , I had made a reservation with Open Table via Yelp for a birthday dinner for my niece who had never been there before plus five others , I had been there one other time and had pizza which it was very good. Unfortunately this time around there was no consistency from my first visit , when we first arrived the staff had not idea of my reservation , the one blonde waitress with the heavy accent charged towards me asking repeatedly with a bad attitude if we had a reservation, then two others asked me the same , at the end we sat and notice the place was kind of empty , this was on a Friday night. I know this place in popular with the beach crowd. We all ordered pasta , Gnocchi and everyone's dish was lame , no flavor , except my seafood pasta which was salty and strong in flavor. Very disappointed , I guess we should had stayed with pizza since is the one thing they make well, the appetizer was buffala large and the eggplant parmesana , the cheese on the Bufala with tomatoes was very cold like it had been frozen , the eggplant was taste less. The birth day girl asked the busboy , what about my cake and candle ?, he excused him self and told the owner , but he did nothing , we paid and left , I especially wrote on the reservation that this was a especial bday dinner and that we were first time patrons, ( I guess no one there reads the reservations they get on the system , or maybe they can't read in English ?, remember no one knew we had a reservation in the first place) The bread was cold and hard , if they had taken the time to stick it in the brick oven, I am sure it would have been nice. This is one place I wish it would get it all together and fix all the wrongs , they have a prime location, a good idea and the prices are right. Also the valet parking guy is very polite and not money hungry like all others in the beach plus very reasonable for juts $5 which is unheard of on SOBE.
(2)Dennis E.
Good food and great service. We had lunch around 1pm on a Saturday. Pizza is authentically Italian. They're 10" for about $16. Lots of interesting choices. Also had chocolate cake (torta caprese) and espresso for dessert. Sadly, the cake was burnt on the edge, but otherwise all was fine
(4)Jordan C.
Legitimate Italian - loved the vibe and loved the food. We were seated quickly ( luckily it was a slower night ). It's nice to remove yourself from the hustle and bussel of restaurants that are on ocean drive. (You can tell the locals eat here or some well informed tourists) The pizza dough is amazing, that in its self I could eat alone! But my wife's pasta was amazing too. We'll always return here for a nice romantic evening.
(5)Robby F.
As others have said...as authentic Italian as you will find in Miami Beach. Pizza was really good but the gazpacho had little chunks of onion that were a bit distracting and overpowered the surpisingly fresh tomato Cholate Almond torta was not only tasty, but has a great texture
(4)Naman P.
We loved the fried cheese balls stuffed with tomatoes and basil. Pizza was perfect....reminiscent of naples. Andrea was fantastic!
(5)Camille W.
Wow I'm still dreaming about the food we had here last night. The most delicious mozzarella cheese I've ever tasted and the pizza we had was to die for. Free glass of Prosecco with yelp check-in is definitely a plus and good for business. Not only was the staff great but the owner was very welcoming and made sure everything was ok. Prices are worth it and 17% gratuity is included in the bill but that's not a problem being that service was phenomenal we happily gave more. Love love love this place! Will be back when in south beach.
(5)Laure M.
I loved it! it was packed and loud inside but after the rush it was much better. The smell of wood-fire pizza hits you right when you enter. A real smell of Italy! They offer white pizza!!! I ordered the smoked bufala mozzarella, mushrooms and ham: delicious, i ate the entire thing, even the crust! I usually don't like the crust but theirs is so good, fluffy and light. We asked for spicy pepper oil to drip on the pizza. We ordered a nutella crepe each to finish and had a glass of chianti. Service is good and fast and it was a great dinner, real taste of Italy in Miami!
(4)Hulk I.
The food was average and the wait staff seem to ignore us even though there many of them. Pizza was a bit under cooked, too soggy. The cheese was great and the prosciutto was decent. The bread was just too soggy, couldn't hold it's structure. We also had the bolognese, it was average and nothing special. Please turn ac higher, it was pretty warm.
(3)Neda M.
Stumbled upon this place during a recent visit and loved almost everything about it: the gracious service, the fresh ingredients and delectable food, the cozy ambiance. Will happily return on subsequent visits to South Beach.
(4)A P.
Place to go if you want very bland Italian food. They use no garlic and hardly any spices or herbs. Hospital food comes to mind! Otherwise service and prices are fine (always promoting with coupons). Good if you're under 10 or over 65!
(2)Anna-monet H.
I've been hearing about this place and been wanting to try their food because of their rave reviews but was so disappointed. Really I wanted to it be good but the service was just horrible. I felt disrespected and talked down. I don't even remember the food because the experience was so negative. I never judge a restaurant off of just one time and one waiter so I believe in giving places a second shot but I don't even want to waste my time or money if the same thing will happen again.
(2)Fiorella A.
Another favorite pizza spot. We go there a lot to practice our Italian ! Ha ha My favorite is the genuine pizza and some white wine on the side. I always have the pannacotta Dessert or the Nutella crepes. Ciao!
(5)Krystal O.
Love love love to bring people here. I found Fratelli a few years ago on Groupon and since then I haven't stopped talking about this place. The pizza is thin, the sauce is light and the buffalo mozzarella is top notch. My favorite pizza is the Diavola. Also, you can't go to this place and not have the Canolli, it's a sin if you do. The canolli shell is fresh and crispy and the filling is cold and velvety... they drizzle some chocolate on that bad boy and send you home happy. On a seperate note, I enjoy the authenticity of this place, everyone is legit italian and very friendly and if your lucky to catch them sing happy birthday to someone you are in for quite a sparkler show. If you know me and you know how I feel about some sparklers then you can see why this place tops my list of favorites!
(5)Ramzi Z.
PERFECT! I LOVE this place and love how the pizza tastes just like it does in Italy. It doesn't get any better than this folks! We get a free prosecco (most of time when the staff recognize us ;), and I normally order my favorite Pizza the Diavola!! (delicious). The staff / waiters are mostly friendly and great. Management is always around and they are on top of it. We love this place and it's on our top 5 places in South Beach...Oh and have to get the tiramisu!! it's Amazing!
(5)Joe F.
Super fast service, great pizza and even better dessert! Well staffed and very welcoming.
(5)Jeanette H.
I give 4.5 stars to their Margherita pizza and their Caprese Special pizza. Their 4pm shift pizza maker tends to be better than one working an earlier shift. Ingredients (including and esp the flour and tomatoes) come from Italy, and they use San Marzano tomatoes. Cooking staff are also from Italy. Their seafood pasta is yummy 80% of the time, esp when they come out perfectly al dente. One of my favorites. (The other 20% of the time, it comes out "American" style al-dente (ie near well-done :( I have tried some other dishes at times... but I keep coming back mainly for the 2 pizzas I mentioned. I had tried other kinds of pizza here. Prosciutto Arugula --not bad but I've had far better quality prosciuttos. There's also a NYC location, but I heard they're not as great..... oh I usually love their Tiramisu w/ a scoop of vanilla ice cream-- and I usually don't like Tiramisu. 9 out 9 times it was yummy. Well the very last time, it came out too soggy. I gently mentioned it to my server, so hopefully this little glitch is fixed :) Highly recommend those 2 pizzas, but remember, 4p shift pizzamaker, and don't let them skimp on the sauce... (which happened just once w/ me).
(3)Caroline C.
Love this place. The food is great. The pizza is the best in Sofi and the wine is yum. I'm not giving it a 5 because the waitstaff was less than pleasant.
(4)Ernie G.
When I walked in Fratelli La Bufala for a nice New Year's Eve dinner, I was at first a little disappointed. The place has the look and feel of a regular pizza shop. But never judge a book by its cover. But I was pleasantly surprised by both the service and the food. My date and I shared an appetizer of cheese (borata?) that was delicious, as well as the focaccia and pizza. The dough was delicious and flavorful and they actually knew how to put cooked veggies on a pizza. The waitress was attentive and very polite. If it wasn't for the too-casual feel of the place I would give it five stars. Excellent!
(4)Scott L.
South Beaches dining scene is one where I plan on being disappointed. For one, it's a churn and burn industry and for two there is a certain level of ambivalence from the latin locals. I was drunk and hungry and this place had the best reviews for its price-point on yelp. It's atmospheric, but what isn't in south beach, even when tacky. This place is off the beaten path, dark, sexy with outside dining, approving locals ate next to me, and it's definitely better than it has to be. Definitely not your typical rip off south beach joint, but on the other hand while the pizza attempted to be special, it almost did seem to have a true Italian aspect, the excellent crust, slightly charred, was a bit sogged by the overly sweet thick and chunky sauce, which might not have been very italian. Che no. In an attempt to be healthy, I asked for no cheese with some regret. I would have assumed that the cooks would have altered the recipe to balance out the lack of cheese, but alas something truely seemed missing. Bufallo mozzerella is the style of cheese dominating on the pizza's here, but from looking at my neighbors, it just looked like overly glooped. That's not Italian either. Beinvenido a miami. When all else fails, drink some wine. Sultry European cafe ambiance and sidewalk sweetness - 5 stars Food - 3 on my experience
(3)Natalya K.
Our party of four had a very late dinner at this restaurant just a couple days ago. The outdoor patio looked very nice, so we asked for a table outside. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are not small. We ordered a small white pizza with mozzarella , fresh tomatoes, basil and prosciutto as a starter. Delicious! As a main course I had homemade cannelloni - excellent. Definitely try tiramisu! The service was very good as well. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgable of the menu. Definitely will be back when we are in the area again !
(5)Cal C.
Pretty good food, would come back here again. service is ok but slow, waiters are cordial enough to get the job done, because it's busy no personal touch.
(4)Maria J.
Delicious! It was obviously fresh, quality produce. We were recommended to go there, and did not regret it. Food was great, service equally good, so nice and attentive. Would recommend it to anyone.
(5)Manu G.
Very sweet people went there yesterday to have a small surprise for my husband's birthday and it was one of the places open after midnight. They were super sweet our server was awesome and the pizzas were delishhh!! They bring out our small cake and they were too cute I did not expect that. Thank you guys! :)
(5)Robert A.
There isn't much to saw about this place except is was AMAZING!!! This has to be one of the best brick oven pizzas I have ever eaten. Went there twice and got a total of three different types of pizzas. (two red sauce and one white sauce). Wish there was something bad I could say but everything was great. The food, the ambiance, the service. The pizzas were perfectly cooked with the crust nice and crunchy on the outside and soft and tender on the insdie. There were plenty of toppings of cheese, meats and veggies (and egg like we got) without being to much to hinder cooking or making the crust soft even if you take it home to eat later. Everything, even the deserts are made using the Bufala cheese which was extremely flavorful. Nothing overpowered anything else on the pizza. All was well balanced. You can watch the guy make the pizza and you can tell he knows what he is doing. If you enjoy your meal as much as I did be respectful and thank him for a great meal. The service has to be especially noted. In Miami tip is automatically included at most places so normally the service not very good. That is not the case here....Ciro was our server and he was great. He made perfect suggestions for our pizzas and even gave us two glasses of wine with our Yelp unlock. Becuase the pizza was so good and even though I was stuffed, I had to try to the dessert. We opted for the "sample platter". 2 cannoli, tiramisu, 2 servings of ricottina. Everything on this tray was just expected. Delicious. My gf had a bad experience at an Italian restaurant and was not a fan of cannoli, but this was so good she enjoyed and learned what a well made cannoli should taste like. If you are staying on the north end of South Beach its a little walk to get here, but there is plenty to do and see on the way. We liked this place so much we went back for lunch before our flight out. This place is a MUST DO on your next trip to Miami.
(5)Dre B.
I'm a born-and-raised American who grew up on the type of food we as a people have recently found to be not-so-healthy -- fried chicken, pizza hut, mcdonalds etc... i have cleaned up my lifestyle but that type of eating doesnt change in one year after 30 years of conditioning. That being said, I don't yet have the palette for this place. But the food is quality and every friend I've been here with -- 3 different people -- all love and swear by Fratelli. The pizza is non-greasy and the desserts -- though I abstain -- look delicious. The service is excellent too. I think I'll eventually come to love this place, maybe in 5 years of "good" eating. Haha
(4)G B.
Rich taste of authentic Italy in middle of Miami. Great service.
(5)Laura G.
Great pizza! Thin crust, fresh ingredients. Very authentic pizza, touristy area but authentic food. This place is a franchised restaurant - YES - with the majority of the restaurants in ITALY with buffalo mozzarella being the star. We started with the La Bufalata Piccola - selection of bufala cheeses, cured italian ​meats & traditional marinated vegetables. Great starter. We had the Margarita Pizza which was wood fired, fresh and really good. Then a pasta - ​Fresh homemade cannellone, I was taken aback at how it was cooked perfectly -Al Dente.
(4)Monica L.
PROS: Good ingredients, good flavor CONS: Pricey, crusts are a bit soggy Fratelli La Bufala might make authentic pizze, given the vast number of Italian customers who eat here, but my Puttanesca pizza was tasty and a bit... soggy? The crust was not as crispy as I would like it. All the toppings, including the tomato sauce, pretty much dribble off when you pick up a slice. I'm not quite sold.
(3)Mike M.
Phenomenal service! Come here just for that! Ok, come for the food too. We had the white pizza with cheese only. Good, but a little plain for me. I would go with a red pizza next time. We started with a glass of Prosecco and a basket of foccia. By the time the pizza came we were starting to feel full so one pizza between us both was just right. Maybe even done room for coffee and dessert!
(5)Lalla D.
The pizza is very good, and every meal is made using "bufala" cheese, as the name recall. They have a great variety of pizza, pasta, and appetizer. The desserts are very good too. Cannoli are great. The place is nice and there is the possibility to eat outside. The only bad thing is that they, as many places in South Beach, add 18% tip on the check.
(4)Tony T.
we ate the pizza. the dough was great and the pizza was as good as most in Napoli. Since I lived in southern Italy, I always yearn for good french fries to complement my pizza ... this was not the case here, so I'm a bit disappointed. the fries were coated and fried twice or something i don't desire. I'll eat there again and hope they read this review and improve the patatini situation.
(3)Meg r.
Super fantastic pizza dough. A little chewy n crispy. Great attentive service and loads of italian being spoken all around. Close enough to Collins to make a walk away from hustle n bustle of shoppers. Excellent suggestion from the concierge at the Dream.
(5)Yanessa E.
Free glass of prosseco for checking in was great (they could have filled the glass a little more though) My friend ordered the fresh buffalo mozzarella as an appetizer and it was amazing. I paired it with some balsamic vinegar and bread, together with the arugula and tomatoes it was exquisite. Mozzarella was super fresh. Then I ordered the reale pizza and a ripienone calzone. The calzone I wouldn't go back for but the pizza, oh yes! The pizza had tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, ricotta and was topped with prosciutto. The crust is not too thin but not thick and it has that lovely Italian oven crunch to it. I felt the calzone could have had more tomato sauce on top and inside as it was lacking in taste a little even with the Neapolitan salami. The restaurant is small so it can get pretty loud, and I think it's not a place for a romantic date night, it is a cool place to go with a group of friends for some delicious pizza (make a reservation!)
(4)Rose S.
Always a stable of our visits to Miami Beach! Service is friendly and efficient and the pizza is always consistent and delicious! Pasta is good too.
(5)Bo M.
Absolutely amazing! From their service, to appetizers, then to the main course, this place nailed it. Well done! I'm already looking forward to my next visit. Thanks again for a most enjoyable evening! Bo
(5)Casey W.
I live in the South of Fifth neighborhood and have been coming to FLB since it opened in the mid 2000s. This is our favorite Italian restaurant in Miami Beach for the following reasons: fresh, delicious food, all made on premise, great service, many of the staff we have gotten to know over the years (low turnover is a good thing). Their managers also do a good job, evident by the quality of staff they hire & retain. Their location allows them to cater both to South of Fifth residents (like us) and tourists staying on Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th. Their pizzas are fabulous, very thin crust, fresh dough; lasagna is excellent, minestrone soup is a great healthy option. Very good wine options as well as draft beer, Peroni being my favorite. You really can't go wrong at FLB. Pablo from Argentina is one of our favorite waiters but they are all very good. They have a television which allows them to showcase soccer matches and other popular sporting events.
(5)Bruno F.
My second time in Miami and I drove past this place. Located on a corner of an intersection. I walked in and immediately I saw the old fashion pizza oven. I instantly giggled like a little school girl. I knew I was in for some amazing food. I started with the carpaccio. Amazing flavor on top of a bed of arugula. Nice chunks of cheese on top. Pile this on top of bread, EVOO and a little bit of pepper. Amazing! The pizza was so delicious. Jam packed with so much flavor. If you close your eyes and take in the wonderful aroma, you'll feel like your in Italy enjoying your pizza. The staff made me feel like family, it felt like they knew me for years. I really appreciate that. It is a bit pricey, but I don't mind paying for really good food. Keep it up! Perfecto! Thank you,
(5)Frank R.
First time here. Strangely, the restaurant uses Spanish symbols and icons yet it's an Italian restaurant. The waiter explained that it was a special buffalo that they use and it's from Italy so maybe that's the deal. Had a pizza and a pasta. Servers were nice, prices reasonable. Pizza was great but soggy crust. Pasta was good. Not too memorable really. Great place to practice your Italian as all servers appeared to speak it.
(3)Lara B.
Used to love this place because the food is great Had an online deal voucher and went with a friend. The waitress messed up the wine order and when I said that it was wrong, she just shrugged, never fixed it. So we sat there with one glass of wine. When I ordered another glass I took three times to have it delivered to the tables AFTER our appetizer was gone and entrees were already at the table Then we were charged for the original wrong glass of wine I would normally tip on full price of the bill but the waitress was so rude and apathetic that she's lucky she got any tip at all in order to work at this place you must speak fluent italian, apparently that is also the case if you want to receive good service now as well very disappointing
(1)Igor P.
The food was impeccable! We started out with the bruschetta, I had the Bucatini alla Carbonara and my friend ordered the Linguine ai Gamberi. I loved my dish, it was creamy and cooked so perfectly. The noodles were nice and thick. My friend enjoyed his dish too, though I thought it was a little too "seafoody", but that's how it's supposed to be I suppose- not my thing. The atmosphere was also lovely, nice and quite and cozy. We had a seat near the window looking at the LED tower behind us. Overall a very enjoyable experience, can't wait to come back.
(5)Alfredo H.
Today our pizzas were over cooked which made them very dry, with almost no sauce on them. That was very disappointing.
(2)Hameed J.
Excellent service and fantastic food. The linguine with shrimp was one of the best pasta dishes we've had at any italian restaurant globally!
(5)Ingrid Y.
Loved this place so very Italian, linguine-ai-gamberi was delicious and the ripienone pizza was excellent!
(5)Anita G.
Authentic italian food! Been coming here since they opened and they never disappoint. The pizza is amazing and the mozzarella is pretty much just like in Italy. Off course their tomato sauce is also amazing. That's how you know they are authentic; you have to taste the tomato sauce, always.
(5)Natalia M.
Good, but not great. The pizza was a bit soggy, but didn't have a lot of sauce, so I'm not sure how that happened. The crust was good, reminded me of Indian naan bread. We also had their meat and cheese platter, which came with veggies as well. Can't go wrong with cured meat and cheese! Overall it was just an OK experience though. If I go back to Miami, I most likely wouldn't eat here again.
(3)Antonio B.
This place is absolutely phenomenal. Came here with girlfriend and ordered the buffalo mozzarella which was on point. We then had a pizza which was made with buffalo mozzarella and it was better than any pizza I've had in New York. Next time I'm in Miami I will definitely be coming back.
(5)G S.
Love love this restaurant! The most authentic Italian food outside Italy. All of their menu items are fresh, delicious and light. After eating both their pizza and pasta we didn't feel full or heavy. It is one of the best places in south beach and all of Miami!
(5)Tamara J.
Amazing food & wine pairing! I was impressed for our one night stay in Miami to have found this gem. Our hotel guy gave us a coupon so that was even better! I ordered something not off the menu and they created a piece of pesto perfection. Will hunt and find this place again when I'm visiting.
(5)Bradley R.
First the good, the hostess greeted us with a smile and sat us quickly. The sauce on the lasagna was savory and sumptious. Bright and fresh tasting. The pizza crust was flaky and charred and the sauce was not standard american heavy pizza sauce but light and flavorful. The waiter took our order promptly and though at a small cafe table, we could have had a good meal However.......... First, this is not a place to go when it is busy. The charming layout of the dining area is cramped when full. The pizza prep station take up a portion of restaurant and is a gathering place for servers and customers. The Hostess stand is also a gathering place for servers. Our lasagna was served cool either it was not reheated thoroughly or stayed on the counter too long. Either is possible considering that it took 20 minutes to get our appetizer. Again, it was very tasty I can only imagine how much more I would have enjoyed it at the proper temperature. After another 20 minutes the waiter noticed that we had not been served our pizza and said that it would be right out. After another 20 minutes and noticing that most of the tables had turned over, I said to the waiter that it was obvious that our pizza was missed. He assured me that that was not the case. Of course it really was the case and, after it was prepared, we had our pizza delivered in another 10 minutes. It was fresh and hot so we did not have the problem with the soggy crust that some people have written about.. It was tasty and I could see coming back but, If you see people in line outside waiting for a table , I suggest that you drive past this place until they get the service part down. They can't handle the crowd
(2)Daniella B.
I absolutely love this place. It is truly Italian! None of this Italian-American cuisine and somehow makes sauces really heavy and gives you heart burn. I've been a big fan of this restaurant since the first time I was introduced to it by some Italian friends. The staff is Italian and you truly feel welcome. The food is spectacular, and when anybody asks me of a good Italian restaurant Fratelli La Bufala is always my answer.
(5)Linda H.
This place came highly recommended, and once I looked at the menu I could see why! This kind of place is right up my alley...genuine Italian, yay! The decor is interesting, and they have some really cool artwork...not your typical Italian joint. We were seated and waited on promptly. I ordered a Peroni and perused the menu. We ordered an antipasto (or is it antipasti?) plate with cheeses, meats and veggies to start. Bread was delivered, along with olive oil and a nice balsamic vinegar. The waiter was rather monosyllabic, but the service was good, so it wasn't a problem....somehow we communicated our order to him. Our antipasto was delivered, and oh my, was it ever good. The fresh veggie components were really excellent and different than any other antipasto I have ever had. There were a couple things that were warm on the plate, including a delicious caponata. The meats and cheeses were also excellent, including the bufala mozzarella (one of my favorite things on the planet). At this point we ordered a margherita pizza. Ok, so beer #1 was delivered in a room temperature, heavy glass mug. I kind of assumed I would be getting a bottle, which was my preference. Not only did the mug weigh 100 pounds, but the temperature of the beer was immediately warmed when poured into it. So when I ordered a second beer, I asked for a bottle, stating that I didn't care for the heavy glass mug. This is where the language barrier became a problem. The waiter returned with my bottle, AND another heavy glass mug, which he began pouring the beer into. I stopped him mid-pour and said I would drink out of the bottle (maybe they don't do this in Miami Beach, but I'm a South Side Chicagoan and I'm gonna drink out of the bottle, dammit). This seemed to anger him, and he stormed off. I apologized as he was leaving and he wouldn't even acknowledge that I was talking! Anyhoo, I drank the (warmish) beer that was in the mug, and the remainder of what was in the bottle. In the meantime, the pizza was delivered and it was probably the best wood-burning oven pizza I've ever had (and I've had a LOT lately!). The waiter came by several times, and would take things off the table as we finished, and never uttered another word, and absolutely REFUSED to touch the empty mug, even though I pushed it to the side of the table, and I was obviously not going to use it. The food was really excellent, and I wish I could have eaten more or fit another visit into our trip. So 5 big stars for the food.....only deducting one because of the weird beer/waiter incident. Oh, and this was my first experience with the check having the tip added on, which I later found to be a common practice in Miami Beach (at first I thought it was because the waiter was irritated with me, haha). Oh well, guess they gotta do what they gotta do. If I'm ever in Miami Beach again, I will be back!
(4)Pat M.
Where do you go in Homestead for real Mexican food? Wherever the Mexicans are going! Where do you go in SoBe for authentic Italian?? Wherever the Italians are going, of course!! Been here twice and both times came the closest you can get to experiencing dinner in a Roman trattoria without getting on an airplane or a transatlantic gondola. Get there early. By 8pm the place is packed, not with locals or Brits or survivors of Hip Hop weekend, but actual Italians who are gonna think they never left home. The service is unique in that everybody speaks Italian (keepin' it real), and they take good friendly service seriously, which in Miami is worth the price of admission. Not once did we want for a refill of soda, bread, or smiles. The food: The mozzarella they fly in from the boot every week is so fresh you can taste what the cow had for breakfast that morning. La Bufalata is a hefty platter of cured meats, cheeses, and marinated vegetables fit for a Gladiator. Il Pignatiello is prosciutto and mozzarella baked with honey and walnuts. The humble calzone? Unlike any calzone you've ever had, and the Meditarraneo salad is like a three day weekend on the Amalfi coast. Then there's the pizza; hand-crafted by a seriously-focused dude in whites, and baked in a wood oven right before your eyes. When you taste that crust you'll understand why he takes his job so seriously. Important tip! Whatever you order, be sure to ask for a little side of pesto, which they make fresh. Trust me, you're going to want to drizzle it on everything. That thing was so good I was mixing it in my water. Grazie! A TAVOLA NON SI INVECCHIA!
(4)Sherry S.
We came here at 8:30 on a Saturday night. Upon arrival, we asked the host to be seated. He told us that if we were only 2 people, we'd have to sit outside. It was pouring down rain outside. We said "ok" anyway, and he said he'd be back in a minute to seat us. 5 minutes go by. We are still standing in the rain. We check back with him, and he says "ok one minute"... After waiting for 30 minutes, and seeing people that came after us go ahead of us, we walked inside and asked to speak to the manager. The manager informed us we had been forgotten (we weren't even written down on their list). He sat us right away. The waitress comes to take our order. We order an appetizer and a bottle of wine. She informs us that they ran out of said wine. Ok, we order another bottle. 5 minutes later, she brings the wine and some COLD STALE bread. And here is where it gets good... we wait, and we wait, and we wait. We finish our bottle of wine. 25 minutes later, still no appetizer. Once again, I walk up to the manager. I tell him we've been waiting 25min for an app. He says "it hasn't been 45 minutes!" and starts arguing with me. I never said 45, I said 25, but whatever. They bring out the app 5 minutes later, and the waitress rudely tells us, "It only took 10 minutes" and throws the plate on our table. Wow... REALLY?! Now what was the app? Canned RAGU-like tomato sauce, watered down, UNRIPE GREEN tomatoes (raw) and a BLOB on mozzarella cheese melted in the middle. I got up and asked the waitress for the check, there was no way I was staying here to eat. She brings us the check, $55 PLUS 17% added gratuity. Haha, like there's a way in HELL I'm gonna tip these people after arguing with me - the customer - forgetting about us - and being rude about it. I paid my $55 and left. Will never come back. These people need to learn to be HOSPITABLE. Just because their main business is from tourists that are never gonna come back doesn't mean they should treat everyone like CRAP. And learn to make new food, because that soggy mess they brought us was NOT a $15 appetizer.
(1)Andreea O.
When I found a $10 for $25 worth of food coupon on LivingSocial we decided to give this place a try. The server greeted us with "Are you ready to order?" and when we asked for waters he turned around angrily to dissapear for another 10 minutes. Meanwhile the bus boy brought us water. After Gianluca, our waiter, comes back we place the order and soon after the bus boy brings us bread and then the food. He also refilled our waters and brought us everything we asked for. The server didn't come back for the duration of our stay until he decided we should get our check. We told him we wanted dessert so we ordered and then 15-20 minutes later we got it. Gratuity was included on the check, so that explains his attitude, I just hope he gives most of that to his busser :)) I guess that's one of the problems with most restaurants in Miami Beach, them adding gratuity to all their checks makes the service very poor. Best thing we had there was this appetizer of bufala mozarella in a tomato sauce. Very tasty!! The calzone was just okay.
(3)Yamie E.
What can I say....... the wait was long, the food was good not amazingly good but yes it was good definitely pricey. Would I go here again probably yes, Would I go often definitely not....
(3)Att A.
My partner really really wanted to have pizza on our last day in Miami. I was determined not to step into any of the pizza chains or any of the tourist trappy places. On top of that I was rather fascinated by the concept of eating buffalo-based products. They offered everything from buffalo burger to fresh mozzarela made from fresh water buffalo to buffalo carpaccio. I mean here is the opportunity to be able to say I have eaten raw buffalo meat! That said, I ordered the bufala carpaccio much to my partner's chagrin. But much to both of our surprised, we both ended up cleaning the plate. The buffalo meat was cut really thinly and was served with a heapful of the mozzarella di bufala and fresh basil in the middle as well as a generous sprinkle of really really good olive oil. We also had the pizza special of the day - Margherita with fresh mozzarella di buffalo. The pizza was made right in front of us. The dough was superb! The pizza was not as thin as I hoped it to be but the dough was chewy in the inside and crunchy on the outside. I am normally not a fresh mozzarella fan but this mozzarella had amazing texture and taste. I even asked if they sold just the mozzarella for me to bring back (they did!).
(4)Adriano M.
This is a gourmet pizza restaurants in south beach, overall I think they make a great brick oven pizza, my favortite is the white piazz's. I really enjoyed the mixed antipasto with eggplant,fresh mozzarella, prociutto and other deli meats and chesses. I also tried the pasta dish topped cherry tomates, the sauce was fresh and good tasting. My only concern here is the prices charge seem to be alittle steep, I'm the sure the location has alot to do with it but a 12" pizza should not cost $16 bucks and the antpasto was $25. Other then price the restaurant is very good, I would definelty come back (if someelse is buying)
(4)Nakia O.
First of all, if you're planning on going on the weekend and past 9:00pm, I would strongly recommend to get a reservation. The place gets packed and the waiting can be over 30 minutes if you don't have a reservation. We made the reservation at 9:00pm through open table for 9:45pm. The restaurant has free valet parking with validation. As soon as we spoke to the hostess we were immediately seated, because we had reservations. The place is small but cozy. IT is one of the few south beach restaurants that are worth going. It has good quality food and good service. We had the beef carpaccio for appetizer and boy was it yummy. It differs from beef carpacicio's from other restaaurants because the beef is sliced a bit thicker. I was a bit doubtful at first, but once I tried it it was OHHHHHHHH MY delicious! Never going back to the thinner sliced, now that I've tasted this one. It is served with arrugula and fresh parmesan cheese. Put some olive oil, vinegar and some salt and it is to die for! You HAVE to order at least one of their pizza's, they are one or if not the best I've had in Miami. We had the Diabola pizza. It is a bit spiy but tasteful and delicious. We also had the carbonara pasta. IT was great as well. The pasta is homemade and very tasteful and the sauce was delish too. I would've put a bit more salca to the pasta but oh well it was still yummy. For dessert we ha the nutella crepe and it was delicious as well. Go check this place out and remember to make reservations if going on a Friday or Saturday night!
(5)Michelle C.
Casual Italian food. I'm not a big pizza person so I had a pasta with buffalo cheese & sausage. It was quiet good. My brother got the lasagna and boy was the sauce good! I like the bold, fresh taste, and I'm usually not a huge red sauce fan. And this is a nice SOBE spot too, complete with cute atmosphere, people watching and close to Ocean Drive.
(4)Anne W.
Delicious!
(5)Stephanie G.
After years of wanting to visit Fratelli La Bufala I finally did tonight because it's Mother's Day and my mom loves pizza. I thought for certain we'd have a fabulous experience and that my siblings would pat me on the back for my great choice. Alas, it didn't turn out so well. The good thing is, this place is easy to find and parking is readily available since there's so much street parking in the area. We arrived about 15 minutes late for our reservation but were seated immediately. Also good is their wine less which is chockfull of good and affordable options. To start we shared La Mozzata which was very fresh but could have used some basil. My mother, my sister and I shared the La Reale pizza and a lasagna because we wanted to try it. The pizza was just ok and the lasagna was ice cold in the middle. My brother Il File which he says he enjoyed, but let's face it the kid will eat anything. For dessert we had the the tiramisu which was decent. Overall, I was disappointed with the experience but it may have had something to do with my expectations which were heightened by reading so many great Yelp reviews, coupled with the fond memories I have of the pizza in Naples. My favorite part of the meal was the bottle of Super Tuscan we shared but I could kick myself for not remembering what it was called!
(2)Estefano C.
Excelent pizza for those who loves a real fresh ingredients. Brazilians will love this place
(5)Jane A.
Excellent food and service. The prices were reasonable for what it was.
(5)Michael D.
Ciao! I love the pizza here. Honestly haven't had anything else. I wish the outdoors was non smoking so bad though. Real Italian place :)
(5)Alejandra R.
An authentic Italian place I have been client of this restaurant for five year and never disappointed me and my husband just love this restaurant .... Pizza is delicious and pasta too and the service is really good went you go ask for Larry one of the manager he knows how to make feel clients welcome .....
(5)Kellie P.
The spicy prosciutto pizza is out of this world.
(5)Laura R.
Really great italian pizza restaurant! Amazing pizza and the Burratta is a must!
(5)Bianca H.
I had dinner at Fratelli la Bufala while vacationing in Miami and it was the best restaurant we visited during our entire stay. First of all, we appreciated the location slightly distanced from the epicenter of the hustle and bustle of South Beach. Secondly, the pizza was the best I have had in the United States to date. Having lived in Italy for several years, I can be picky about my pizza. Everything about the pizza at Fratelli La Bufala was perfect. The dough was baked to perfection and the ingredients were the freshest and most delectable I have ever tasted on a pizza here in the U.S. The tomato sauce is fresh and all the mozzarella and other cheeses are just mouth watering. The service was fabulous as well, very friendly and attentive. A surprisingly high quality eating experience in Miami for a really fair price!
(5)Johanna G.
Didn't live up to the other reviews. Lasagna looked like it had been put in a blender, pizza was undercooked and just not great. Wasn't the worst I have ever had but it failed to impress.
(2)Jose G.
Best Italian food south of Philli.
(5)Jordan N.
An Italian chain that follows the mozzarella di bufala theme serving reasonably priced pizza. Pizza is good, not the best in the world. But still, pretty good & Italian-style. Had the margherita - wish they used more basil but it was still good pizza. And I was amused by how many ways they can come up with a dish using mozzarella di bufala. I'm interested in trying other plates.
(4)Candace C.
Came here on a Groupon. Like many have said, the check-in on Yelp got me and my friend a free glass of Prosecco, so thank you Yelp! We got the Parmigiana for an appetizer and I got the lasagna for a meal. Both of which have the tomato sauce which was very bland. I was surprised, it was almost like someone forgot to put any salt in it. I'm not sure if that's the authentic Italian style? My friend got the pizza, the crust was pretty burnt on most of the bottom. It was packed the night we came for dinner. It was raining outside but they do have outdoor seating.
(3)Stephanie L.
My favorite restaurant south of Fifth! I am biased since I live next door but I just love this place. Very nice location, great menu, good service...I always have a nice evening when I go eat there with friends. Not only the food is delicious but the atmosphere is quite nice. I feel like am back in Italy with all those waiters chatting in Italian. The decoration is colorful and artistic, I like it at the exception of the weird painting with the kids faces on the right wall. I never had a bad meal. The pizzas are exquisite with fresh ingredients, it feels like home! I would recommend: "La Filatina" as antipasto - Bufala mozzarella filata, with cherry tomatoes, basil, extra virgin olive oil, black pepper and oregano. For pasta I liked the "Scarpariello"- Paccheri mantecati with cherry tomatoes, parmesan cheese, red peppers and basil. My favorite pizza is "La reale" - Tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, ricotta and prosciutto, and for the grill "Il file": the steak di Bufala, is so yummy! Everything is so tasty, the mozzarella di Bufala is the best you can have. A great restaurant. Do not forget to order your Tiramisu for dessert!
(5)Michelle C.
It really is as good as it gets. The pizza is so delicious and every bite brings me back to Italy. The tiramisu is delicious. The pastas are tasty too. Everyone is so friendly. Matteo is the best server and Roberto is great too! I love that you get prosecco when you check in on yelp. Everytime I come, I leave overly satisfied by the food and service. This is one of my regular stops and will always be as long as they are around! I will always bring out of town friends here, and they always are very happy I bring them here. miss the free valet parking though! $5 isint bad though. A++
(5)Kenny P.
We went here for dinner with a group of 6 and a baby. Table arrangement was perfect and overall service quality was fair. We were able to obtain a free bottle of wine with a Foursquare check in which was a great gesture but I would personally stay away from this next time as the wine quality was very poor and extremely acidic. Not sure if this was due to our particular bottle or just the batch was overheated in transport. But my guess would be that since the bottles are stored next to the kitchen and the temperature of the restaurant is close to 85 degrees or more, this is actually ruining the wine. We had the bruschetta for appetizers, which was average - looks like they prepare the tomatoes and spices prior to the dinner service then store in the fridge for the rest of the night. We then ordered about 5 different pizzas of which our favorite was the one with fresh bufala mozzarella and fresh tomatoes. This is really the reason to come here, the quality of the pizza including the sauce, dough, cheese, sauce is probably one of the best on the beach. I would return here, only for the pizza, and avoid the free wine.
(3)B S.
We had dinner here this evening for my birthday. My wife made the reservation through Open Table, and told them it was my birthday through that. They were so welcoming and attentive and the food was the closest I've had to "Italian, Italian" food in the USA. Delicious food, fab wine, warm and courteous staff. Our server, Cirgo, was the greatest!!! Thank you for a wonderful birthday celebration!!!
(5)Geraldine T.
Delicious Italian restaurant, even though it is in a very touristic area. Kind of expensive, but what do you expect in Sobe! At least you are eating great food in a great place. Their pizzas are amazing and order La Mozzata with their incredible Mozzarella cheese. It is to die for.
(5)Kathy C.
I LOVE this place ! I've been coming for a while now and the pizza tastes just like it does in Italy (my fiancée is from Napoli and he agrees with me). After a long day of drinking at the Brickell Octoberfest this place really hit the spot. Pizza and Peroni, it doesn't get any better than this folks! We got the free prosecco for checking in, and ordered the diavola pizza (delicious). I am not sure if this is new but valet used to be free if you were eating there now it's $5. Our waiter was from Rimini, I didn't catch his name but he was a total sweetheart. Oh and btw the tiramisu is amazing!
(5)Logene P.
Yes I try to go there once a month, I don't usually do restaurant in south beach, but I like it there...The best Bufala mozzarella I've had since in Los Angelels..amazing pizzas and amazing staff as well. If you are on a BUDGET you might have to consider other places, because it is a tourist area and no love for locals lol.. My friend and I usually ended up paying $200 bills for two pizzas, Mozzarella and a bottle of wine. Love from ALERTTRENDS.COM
(4)Sarah H.
Best pizza ever tasted
(5)Joe P.
Since my last visit, things seem a bit broader for me. We went in today, and the menu seemed slightly different, or maybe its different for lunch vs dinner. Anyways, I was a bit disappointed as this establishment does not bring you bread unless you ask for it. I find this kinda cheap, considering they charge a steep price for a small plate of pasta. Another thing I did not like is I saw the guy making the pizza, pulled out some pizza out the oven, and the waiter grabbed some topings out the toppings box with his bare hand and placed them on the pizza, and then brought them out to the customers. They should of cooked the pizza with the toppings, and the waiter shouldn't be putting his hands in your food, since they handle cash. Pizza we had very plain tasting (margarita), sauce had no taste. Also, I'm not a fat ass, but my portition of pasta served on my 17.00 plate was more or less equivalent to HALF a kids portition served at the olive garden. (yuck) They seem to be doing things half ass, and because they are an established place, they don't care anymore about quality.
(2)Mike R.
Fantastic burrata and pizza. Make a reservation!
(5)Pratik M.
If you want good Italian food do yourself a favor and stay away from Ocean drive. This place is for real. Had some awesome pasta, some misnistroni soup and my wife had some kind of salad. The food was simply awesome, the service was quick, the dining space is small so you might have to wait, but its worth the wait. Highly recommended.
(4)Amanda F.
Highly recommend! We were in south beach for one night and stumbled into this amazing Italian eatery. Sat out on the patio, free glass of prosseco with yelp check in, service was a tad slow but food was divine!! I got the garganelli and it blew me away - served in some sort of Parmesan crisp bowl with a delicious Parmesan sauce - everyone at the table was sneaking bites! My friend got the eggplant Parmesan app but they upped the size to entree portion for her. We had a bottle of wine with dinner and the waiter kept our glasses full the entire meal! Definitely recommend this place!
(5)Kim L.
Our family went here and the food and service were fantastic. We started off with a a huge portion of bufala mozzarella which was served in a bed of arugula and two kinds of tomatoes. It was amazing!! We ordered 3 pizzas which the kids devoured. We loved the crust, cheese and the toppings. We had one with prosuitto that was scrumptious. We finished off with 4 canollis that were crispy on the outside and deliciously smooth in the inside. Great place to eat for a families with young kids!!
(5)Juan K.
Best pizza ever..thin crust! it just melts in your mouth! This is truly an AUTHENTIC Italian restaurant..If you want to try the best pizza ever..DO NOT HESITATE to come here!! Bring your date..she will love it!
(5)Kim S.
While visiting Miami last month, a friend and I were walking down the street and we were STARVING! As we passed Fratelli La Bufala the smell coming out of this place beckoned us to stop. OMG it smelled sooooo good. Upon entering, we found the wait staff very rude. I felt like we were putting them out. EXCUSE me for wanting to be seated. Anyway... after we were sat, it took another 10 minutes for anyone to even come and take our drink order, and they only did it then because we flagged down a waiter. Who was not very happy about having to get us anything. We reviewed the menu and decided to split a buffalo burger. Both of us being small eaters thought it would be better to split something than to let 1/2 a meal go to waste. The waiter was NOT the least little bit happy about that. I could swear that he looked down his nose at us. That would be STRIKE TWO. We waited for what seemed like FOREVER for the food to get ready... I would have been more understanding if the restaurant was crowded, or if we had ordered our burger well done, but neither of those factors played in. When our meal arrived, they didn't bring an extra plate. I asked the person that brought our meal if they could bring us an extra plate and they acted like they didn't even hear me. Waited another 10 minutes for the waiter to walk by so that we could flag him down again and ask for another plate. We finally got our plate, split our meal... ate and got out of there as quickly as we could. I must admit that I'm a pretty good tipper, this night... I was NOT. I do not believe in rewarding TERRIBLE service. As far as the burger was concerned... it was a good burger, just not good enough to put up with that kind of service. Needless to say... I WILL not be going back.
(1)Laura C.
So the owner of Fratelli contacted me about my previous review... But not to ask me to come back as to improve my impression, but, to edit my review because I suppose they felt it was too harsh. Obviously, if you want a better review, improve your issues and don't ask me to edit mine.
(1)Georgiana B.
Fantastic spot! So much more appealing than Ocean Drive establishments. Do not waste your money there. I come to Miami 5 or 6 times a year and I go to Fratelli every single time.. sometimes twice in one visit. The food is very authentic and delicious and the ambiance is European. Don't miss this spot!
(5)Chester B.
I come to Miami every December for work, and have eaten at this place for the past two years. Service is fine. I always find the food bland and underwhelming. I think they put far too much cheese on everything. The mixed green salad is served with a fist-size mound of buffalo mozzarella in the middle. Do I really need to eat a 1/4 pound of cheese with my salad? I ordered a pasta and it was loaded with melted cheese; so much that it stuck to my fork and I couldn't get it off. I complained and they brought me out another pasta that they said had a little bit of ricotta cheese. It wasn't a little. It was a lot. I feel like I just paid $50 for a stomach ache.
(2)jonathan l.
Came here courtesy of a groupon. The place was pretty empty during lunch time, and ordered a simple mushroom and seafood linguine. The service was ho hum, and the pasta while good, didn't wow me. The place was full of Italians - if you want to see Italian tourists, this is the place to be. Speaking of which, the staff was all Italian as well. The one thing I didn't like was the comment made to me when I asked for the Parmesan. Whether intentional or not, the server was condescending. "We usually do not put parmesan on seafood but you can put it on if you like". Like dude, this is the US of A! Save your patronizing remarks for Berlusconi. I can ask whatever I want and the customer is always right! Also, the whole time the entire staff was watching an Italian soccer game on TV. (Very Italian...) The place also makes a great deal of being featured on "best thing I ever ate". Given the fact that the people on that show are all Italian-Americans, the bias is palpable and really, if the stuff here is "the best thing I've ever eaten" the hosts of that show really has no credibility and needs to go for a palate transplant. I've been to Italy. I've been to Italian restaurants all over the world and believe me, this place is very pedestrian and ordinary pizzeria. The worst thing about this place is the 18% automatic gratuity. Really didn't want to pay this since it was undeserving but decided to just pay it and never come back again. Go if you like ordinary Southern Italian fare that forces you to pay for bad service. Plenty of great restaurants (Italian included) in SoBe.
(1)Jeffrey E.
Amazing pizza, .very authentic Italian cuisine Nice atmosphere with the outdoor seating as well.
(5)Stephanie R.
Best pizza I've ever eaten. The menu and waiters all speak Italian so if you're looking to impress someone it would be a good way to do so, unless you don't speak Italian then you'll sound kinda weird when you order something. The dough is incredible, nothing like papa johns or pizza hut, and it is not extremely expensive and you still get to experience authentic Italian pizza. I would recommend it to everyone!
(5)Erica H.
We saw this place on an episode of "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" and we knew we had to come and eat here ! The pasta is amazing the mozzarella is nothing short of some of the best I've had ! This is a must have !
(5)Niketasuniel S.
For my 3 week work trip most of my expense receipts come from this place. We loved it!!! Pizza almost like Naples and Gazpacho soup mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm so fresh!
(5)Tracy T.
Don't have to go running back for the pizza. It was good, but I expected the best ever.
(3)Andy L.
Fratelli La Bufala is an Italian trattoria that focuses on everything buffalo: buffalo cheeses, buffalo meat, etc. and is generally good at what it does. The buffalo mozzarella is never that "flown in this morning from Italy" cheese that people line up for in Italian neighborhoods in NY, Chicago, Boston, etc., but it is generally fresh and tasty. Today we had some service issues that marred the dining experience and will make us cautious about going back. Our server was GianLuca or, as I call him, "Signore No". When we tried to order the buffalo meatballs, Signore No told us that they weren't good and were made of vegetables. The menu clearly states that they are made of buffalo meat and we have had them before and enjoyed them. Signore No would not hear of it and asked us to order something else. When we asked for a half order of gnocchi, Signore No said "no". We capitulated and asked for a full order of gnocchi with olive oil instead of the sauce on the menu, and Signore No firmly replied "no". The gnocchi was only available with the sauce on the menu. No substitutions. Now, I know better than to walk into an Alain Ducasse restaurant and ask for menu changes, but this place isn't Louis XV in Monaco. GianLuca got his 17% tip that the restaurant added to the bill, but he certainly didn't get anything extra from me. This guy needs to find another career. To be fair, the food was fine. Everything was tasty and, except for the antipasto plate (La Bufalata: one ball of mozzarella, two slices of prosciutto and some vegetables & lettuce...overpriced at $23), the dishes were priced fairly. We might go back and try again...but not if Signore No is waiting tables!
(1)Carolyn T.
Well, last night's dinner was an impromptu visit with three guys who are sound and production engineers for a sound-artist. It was their recommendation so I tagged along to FLB - Fratelli la Bufala on Washington -- apparently they heavily promote the twice-weekly delivery of fresh Mozzarella. We started with two salads; an asparagus salad which was far from a salad as it was served with a hot cheese sauce and cold lettuce. Very, very weird. One of the guys really loved the cheese sauce and cleaned the plate with the accompanying bread, but I found the asparagus to be far from fresh, overcooked, and very stringy. The second salad had oranges, hearts of palm, walnuts and greens. Interesting but unexceptional. Between the four of us, we ordered two pizzas and two of the specials. One pizza was bedecked with fresh cherry tomatoes and rocket (which, honestly, I don't think *was* rocket) and the other was the "La Reale" which I remembering being the most interesting-sounding (with various meats and cheeses) but I did not get to taste. The other was mostly soft in the center and was a pizza that had to be eaten with utensils. However, when I got the crust, I was pleasantly surprised as the dough is obviously house-made. The two specials were a fettuccine with a creamy mushroom sauce which (although it was my order), was the least of my favorites of the evening. It was pasty and thick but the guy who liked the cheese sauce on the asparagus really liked my mushroom pasta. The other special of the evening was a large platter of mixed grill; steak, sausage, vegetables. I only got to taste the sausage which was perfectly fine but hardly ground-breaking.
(2)Kristy C.
Just tasted like typical Italian pizza place.
(3)renata W.
What a great find!!! Thank you Yelpers for recommending this. The place is nice and casual, fairly small and intimate. The wait staff was very nice, attentive and helpful...and yes, handsome... The food was fantastic! We ordered an appetizer of speck, cheeses baked with walnuts and honey (Il Pignatiello Speck (smoked prosciutto) wrapped around bufala cacio cheese and baked with honey & walnuts). While not a combination I would put together, the result was delicious! We also got a red pizza (La Reale tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, bufala smoked mozzarella, bufala ricotta & prosciutto crudo) and a white calzone (Cornetto di bufala calzone stuffed with emmenthal & caciotta cheeses and garnished with prosciutto, arugola, tomatoes & parmesan shavings), both of which were done to perfection. I feel, that it doesn't really matter what you order as the quality of the ingredients and the preparation is so wonderful that everything comes out delicious. We also had the tiramisu and a La ricottina (Light lemon flavored bufala ricotta cream, topped with strawberry sauce), both of which were great -- light, flavorful and with just sufficient amount of sweetness. Overall, a great experience. Can't wait to do it again
(5)Deborah H.
We ordered a a salad, a pizza, and a burger to share among four during lunch at this casual restaurant. It was plenty of food. The pizza was very good: cooked to order in a huge stone stove in the corner. It was fun watching the (really cute) pizza guy fastidiously turn the pizzas around to ensure perfect crusts. The burger, made out of buffalo meat, was interesting. The meat was a little tough and slightly gamey. It was my first time having buffalo meat and I didn't especially enjoy it, so it won't affect the rating.
(3)Maria T.
My daughter told me that this restaurant is really bad, but most of the reviews I read were so good that I wanted to try it, in spite of her advice. I asked a very simple dish: insalata caprese. Three pieces of very standard mozzarella (you can find much better ones at Wholefood) some tomato and a small bunch of basil leaves. Nothing more! There was some olive oil and salt in the table, so I had to "finish"it. My daughter's Pizza margherita was soggy, with lumps of mozzarella unevenly distributed and no seasoning at all. In some reviews people love the " authentic italian feeling " of the place. When I was there, the language spoken by everyone was spanish and I have nothing against that because it is my own language, but forget the romantic idea of "feeling in Naples". It is very much a South Beach tourist trap.
(1)bernardita w.
... it is without a doubt the best restaurant on the beach... besides the amazing pizza, you can also eat great pasta and the best MOZZARELA everything taste so fresh I LOVED IT!!!! great for any occasion...it's so cozzy and has great service
(5)Linda G.
I absolutely love this place. Its THE best Italian on the beach, and in Miami, for that matter. The lasagna here is delicious.. it is a must have along with their other pasta plates. Each time I go, I try something new. Each time I try, it ends up being a new FAV. The pizza here is awesome! Its like pizza made in Italy! The crust is thin and it has just the right amount of sauce, cheese and ingredients! The Diavola is yuuuummy! Be ready for a little spice you order it. If you want a real bowl of soup like your 'mama' used to make, this is the place to go. On a rainy day in Miami, this is where you will find me sitting. The ambiance is sweet and quaint and the staff is super friendly and very attentive. I love, love, love hearing Italians speak and Im always pleasantly serenaded while there. This chic restaurant is right on the corner of 5th street and Washington. You couldn't ask for a better spot to people watch or to just look into your significant other's dreamy eyes. Yes, it really can go from that extreme to the other. ;)
(5)Laura B.
I went to Fratelli with my brother who was visiting. I ordered a pizza which was tastey but i feel like it could've been cooked a little more. The Fried Mozzarella Ball had no flavor. My brother got a calzone which was huge and came a little overdone. The Calzone was much better than my pizza, had more flavors. My pizza was watery. I am a huge pizza fan. The pizza was better the next day after I heated it and cooked it a little more. The staff was wonderful. Very good ambiance. I would give it another try.
(3)Mady B.
Took the 25 cent bus trip to Fratelli LaBufala for our last dinner in Miami before heading home. Great Pizza and service. Finally a place in South Beach that has reasonable prices for quality food and wine. We would for sure go back for more the next time we are in Miami Beach.
(4)Nadine F.
This place wasn't bad, but not particularly good either. I had some kind of flat pasta with meat sauce. The pasta itself was really good, but the sauce was bland and watery. I wouldn't go back.
(3)Andrew M.
After trying for an eternity to find parking in Miami beach I decided to park a few blocks off of Ocean and walk the rest of the way. However, in doing so I became quite hungry. I followed my nose. I began to smell fresh pizza being cooked close by and simply let my nose do the walking. I ended up at Fratelli La Bufala. I was politely greeted and seated. I didn't really need to see the menu. I just stated, "whatever that is that smells so good, I'll have that". The food came out promptly and it was excellent. It hit the spot. The pizza was thin crust (sorry Chicago fans) and was very tasty and not too greasy (after all remember it is pizza). I look forward to the next time I am in Miami Beach. I will definitely be stopping by this place again.
(4)Christina C.
I went here on Sunday for lunch and found it to be a great place! The pizzas are a very good size (we had 3 for about 5 of us) and we enjoyed a delicious Pinot Noir, for only $25 per person (including tip). The service was a bit slow, but overall very good and wait staff is friendly.
(4)Franky A.
I love this place! Great food and atmosphere. The service can be slow at times but it's such a fun place with great food.
(4)Jill H.
Amazing REAL italian pizza. There are locations in Italy, so you know it's authentica!!
(5)Jennifer S.
my 2nd DAT experience right after this review, that is if you care to read what i had last night... *** miami #7 due to us being super lazy and to the horrible weather miami endured (it was windy, cold and rainy.. YESH! in miami, can you believe it!?) we decided to grab pizza before we headed out to the bar later that evening. it's a very nice place, not "nice" to the terms of being poshy but nice being it was very welcoming ... service was cool, very friendly and sweet and accomodating... we ordered a $10 margarita pizza with extra spinach and extra tomatos... peek foto ... you seriously can't get any more authentic than this. this is the real dilio from italy, or at least, in my opinion... not the deep dish chicago style. YUM. it was sort of a toss up between a16 (in sf) and fratelli. sorry senoires ... come and experience the essence of true authentic italian pizza right in sobe.
(4)Andy L.
The food here is amazing. I have alway had a great meal here and the service during dinner time has always been spot on. I have been a few times during lunch ad do not feel that the experience is the same. The food is just as good but the service was always a little different. Oh, and don't bothertrying lut their french fries...they are nothing more than the fries you'd find in a college cafeteria.
(4)Marie B.
Excellent pizza, quality, and service, a real find. In quieter part of town, worth going to. Owned by an Italian company and they really aim to please. Manager came over and chatted with us and made us feel very welcome.
(5)Alice C.
average food, rude waiters and very limited menu.... that about says it all.
(3)Rok C.
Seriously some of the best pizza that I've ever had (on par with Pizzeria Mozza in LA, which is fabulous). The crust and cheese are simply incredible! The salad we ordered was good and fresh with a nice light dressing. But the pizza is why I can't wait to go to Miami again!!
(5)Rob C.
Not particularly memorable. Pizzas are the Italian oven style, ingredients with no sauce, crust mostly on the periphery.
(3)V C.
I probably went to Fratelli La Bufala with very high expectations because it came very strongly recommended by an Italian friend of mine who in general has very good taste in food. Based on his comments Fratelli La Bufala is authentic and caters food from a very specific region in Italy that is famous for their cuisine. To that end I must admit I was slightly disappointed. I tried the minestrone soup which was excellent , it had a lot of vegetables and the seasonings were perfect. I then tried the margherita pizza which was a little chewy, on average good but would not say the best pizza I have eaten. My husband tried the grill platter and he said that meat was ok...nothing great. The place is nice and quaint and has a homely feel to it. Service of was not the greatest either.
(3)Abbey P.
I have been here several times and each time the food was very good. Recently, we had the caprese pizza with eggplant (excellent) and the Paccheri pasta dish was amazing. I thought the flavors were wonderful!
(4)Gina B.
This place is great! My husband and I actually went on one of our first dates to this place, so it holds a special place in my heart. The food is delish and the ambiance really adds to the experience. You really feel like you've stepped into a restaurant in Italy as the owners are often working the floor and speaking in Italian to the many Italian patrons! The owners are extremely friendly and the food is really good. Try any of the pastas or pizzas. A very sweet little romantic restaurant.
(4)Juhani P.
Best pizza at the South Beach?
(5)art m.
Very good neapolitan thick crust pizza here. Real italians run this place
(4)Thomas S.
Possibly the best pizza I've ever had. It's everything one could look for an a traditional, Neapolitan-style pizza: very thin crust, delicious sauce, and the freshest mozzarella. We finished off with the Nutella crepes were were as good as the pizza! The sweetened whipped cream was amazing! We can't wait to go back.
(5)Ed A.
Maybe it was the fact that I expected more from a 4-star yelp-rated restaurant. Or maybe it was the fact that I wasn't too hungry to begin with when I got there. Either way, I left thoroughly unimpressed with this restaurant. We took advantage of the sale on restaurant.com (you can go there and buy coupons that reduce your bill by $25, with a min. purchase of $35). My gf and I stopped by for dinner around 11 pm one night. We opted to sit outside, although it was a little muggy and we probably should have sat inside. I ordered la reale pizza (I think that was the spelling), for $18. She ordered a $16 pasta dish.. I believe it was some sort of pasta carbonara. The food came out moderately quickly (first bread was served). The pizza was very bland. It had smoked mozz, fresh mozz and prosciutto, but it really more closely resembled a frozen Ellios slice. I've had much better food at Italian restaurants back home for half the price. My girlfriend's dish wasn't much better. The pasta (which my gf claimed was homemade) was too thick and chewy, and the flavors of the sauce did little to complement it. Since we knew that the min order was $35, we also ordered a $5 plate of french fries. We waited and waited but never got the order. We then asked for the check, and of course they had issues with it since the coupon stated it was a $35 min order. I reminded the waiter that we had ordered fries and they never brought it. They apologized for the mixup, but insisted we order something else to make the limit "otherwise the computer won't let us put it in". They eventually agreed to let us order a beer, since we weren't really hungry anymore anyway. The decor is nice, but I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. There are probably better Italian restaurants in the area (although I didn't visit any others).
(2)James C.
The pizza here is just great - just like at the locations in Italy. Its no wonder so many Italian tourists take refuge here from the tourist traps on Ocean Dr. The service is also quite good. Most of the staff is Italian and was very patient with our indecisive party of 9.
(5)Eric D.
We ordered a Mediterranean salad, minestrone soup, and eggplant parmesan. Food was delicious, good sized portions, and great service. We ate a late lunch and the restaurant was busy.
(5)Maria A.
I have what some might call a pizza problem. The problem being I love a good slice. My friends had been raving about FLB for a long time. One Sunday afternoon I finally had the chance to try the pizza and understood. My friends were right this is some of the best pizza in Miami. Whenever sampling a new pizza I usually order a simple cheese or margherita. If they can do simple well, then there is hope. FLB's pizza was well flavored with a strong balance of cheese, minimal sauce, and crust. The pies are brick oven and that really produces a remarkable flavor. With Pizza Volante gone, this might be my new oven lovin regular.
(4)jen r.
i had bought a voice deal of the day. for $7 i got $20 worth of food. went in the other night and ordered 2 pizzas a traditional margherita and a white 4 cheese pizza. i liked the margherita better. anyways the final bill came out and it was only a $10 difference. the service was really nice and the pizza came out super quick. they didnt treat us any differently bc we were using a coupon deal. but the 18% tip was automatically included. i will definitely be back for some traditional italian goodness. btw it totally helped set the mood that the couple next to us were speaking italian the whole time, if i tuned out all the honking from washington ave and the tourists from wisconsin on our other side i coulda almost felt like i was in florence.
(4)Marina V.
Restaurants.com once again drew us to this little corner eatery, and being a busy few weeks with spring break going on (this publishing is a tad late), it was a welcome respite from the crowds ! Quaint little place; weathered a bit from the south beach atmosphere but not detracting. The menu looked great, and after checking into yelp we received a surprise bonus; 2 complimentary prosecco! NOICE! round it out with the 'Affettati Misti' to start. The meats and cheeses were all fresh and tasty (some of which we hadn't tried before), and the other goodies (olives, veggies, peppers, tomatoes) added to the mix. We watched as the chef in the open kitchen prepared several dishes, wondering what looked the best and , with the intoxicating aroma wafting about, it was tough to decide! We settled; 'Lo scarpariello' and 'Ripienone' ....Hmmm, more simply put, pasta sauteed with cherry tomatoes, crushed red pepper and basil, and a nice Calzone with fresh ricotta and mozz, and sweet salami. Perfecto ! Again, everything was very fresh and complemented the second glass o' prosecco we had. Perfect late afternoon lunch. Parking is a bit tough on very busy days (when ISN'T it busy on this corner!) but don't let that detract you from trying this place. Buon Appetito!
(4)Lisa C.
I wanted to try this place for a while and I am so happy I did. Food is amazing and the staff are Italian and speak it. It is the reaaaaal deal. I brought my dog, ate outdoors (hated the noisy motorcycles so next time I eat inside). We got a salad and a Calzone and shared. Portions are good for sharing. Next time I come I am trying pasta because the calzone had a very smokey brick overn burn type of tatse. It was good but I wouldn't order it again. But the PASTAS and the salads mmmmmm. The lady sitting next to me had a fettucini alla bolognese and it looked like pure heaven in a plate. The other couple sitting to my other side shared a pizza (there are good size for sharing) but I noticed when he picked his slice up same burned thing going on. For pizza and Calzones I'm sticking to SPRIS on Lincoln Rd. But I'm looking forward to coming back here for a nice pasta dish. mmmmm! Bottom Line: Order a salad, and the pastas, and the entrees but not impressed with the Calzone or pizzas.
(4)Ron G.
Great pizza. Authentic Italian Style. My wife loves the coffee. Too bad there aren't any of these in the Philly area. :(
(5)Usu I.
I love their pizza. I've read many different reviews and have to say, it's good; some reviews are quite harsh. A cute story behind their franchise and the food is quite good. The pizza is baked quickly and their special with fresh bufala mozzarella and cherry tomatoes is delicious. For two, it's nice to share a pizza and then each an entree. I find it that the entrees are kind of small. The price is a bit high for a specialty pizza ($20+) and an entree each; but I pay for what I want, and I do have this craving from time to time. I'd like to comment that the service could be much better, and the staff could definitely improve on their sanitation. All in all, I am a fan.
(4)Stephanie W.
Came here after seeing it on Food Networks' "Best Thing I Ever Ate" and OMG the Ripienone Calzone is SO DELICIOUS! Service was great. Free bottle of house wine if you check in with FourSquare...
(5)Franny A.
Amazing authentic food with pizza made by a Neopalitan pizza maker with buffalo mozzarella imported from Italy. Beautiful mixed vegatables(contorni) include super flavorful cauliflower, brocolli, carrots, grilled eggplant with balsamic vinegar and a macaroni pie to name a few. Great Italian bread too. The pizza is doughy, slightly charred with strategically placed bufala, with a very flavorful sauce, it is simply delish. It reminds me of a doughier version of the pizza at Gnocco in the East Village where the owners and pizza makers are also from south of the boot.
(5)Andy T.
This place is interesting and I'm not sure how I feel about it..everything was OK but not spectacular..with the yelp ratings I was expecting something phenomenal. Mostly tourists rating, I suppose. Edit: I forgot to mention they charge a automatic 18% gratuity, as well as a 'bread' charge.
(2)Robert R.
After eating pizzas anywhere from South Beach to North Beach and beyond for more than 15 years I must say Fratelli has, by far, the best pizza on the beach. It is simple, yet delicious. Not greasy, not heavy. Real italian pizza with many of the wait staff italian themselves. Check the deserts, specially their Tiramisu. Awesome. Great pizza, great service. Cooked in a fire brick oven for everyone to see. Bathrooms clean too. It's also my 6 y. old son favorite pizza too!
(5)Vanessa P.
This place makes one of the 3 best pizzas I had in my lifetime. I am normally not a pizza aficionado therefore pizza has to be really good for me to want to waste calories on it. This place is totally worth visiting - brick oven pizza, really authentic, the way they do it in Napoli, the pie by itself is really delicious even before adding all the great topics. After we were already full we noticed that, the people at the next table were having some really great looking bruschetta. The tiramisu was pretty good too. Can't wait to go back! I can finally say that I might actually crave pizza while in Miami!
(5)Alison M.
I wanted to eat here ever since I saw it on the Best Thing I ever Ate and Mr. "How dare you put red onions in this dish!!!" from Chopped raved about their calzone. I actually wanted that calzone myself, but when the bf and I sat down at the table (we were meeting his parents for dinner) it seemed like they were already set to order. With all the catch up talk and such, I was not able to navigate the huge selection of offerings on the menu in time to find it before the waiter came by to take our order. Further compounding the issue, was the fact that the bf's parents keep Kosher and the bf likes to pretend that he does when around them, so that meant as a good girlfriend I also had to play the part. Not very many meat free dishes caught my eye. A pizza with prosciutto, mozzarella and an egg sounded pretty good to me, but alas I ended up ordering a bland tasting white pizza, with mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and basil. I ended up having to dip it in the table's balsamic and olive oil for some much need flavor. I don't think I'd order that again, but everyone else seemed to like their entrees. Service was friendly, but servers were sparse and drinks were not refilled without a flagging down. I recommend sitting inside over outside because you can watch the pizza man hard at work. It's pretty cool to see an expert work with pizza dough and the huge stone pizza oven is right there. I also liked the art work on the walls, it was very earthy and kinda reminded me of cave paintings. I think I'd like to give this place another try because I believe I just ordered poorly. I still want to try the famous calzone, but I'm going to have to figure out what its called.
(3)Leslie S.
Hands down, the best and most authentic place to grab the most appetizing bite of pizza! You walk in and you feel like you are in a restaurant in Italy. The music, the staff, the decor. It all screams out Italy. My hubby and I walked in here due to the great reviews we read on Yelp. It was between Fratelli La Bufala and the restuarant on their east side. I'm so glad we chose this one. We were seated right away and checked in through Yelp. They gave us two complimentary glasses of Proseco for checking in. Everything on the menu looked foreign to us, but went ahead with our gut instinct and ordered their buffala mozzarella which is imported daily (La Mozzata). It was so fresh and soft, the mozzarella melted in your mouth with every bite. We also ordered their white pizza, La Colinara. OMG! Can I tell you that this has been the most delicious pizza I have ever tried?? I think about it and my mouth waters. The ultra thin crust pizza is topped with buffalo mozzarella, a fried egg (which you break and spread the yolk over the entire pizza), pancetta, and basil. Every bite was like a piece of heaven. Finally for dessert, our server suggested we try their cheese tart dessert (I forgot the name of it). It was quite yummy but there was no way we could have finished it. Service was great from beginning to end. We came back a second time, but ordered the pizza carryout. We ordered La Colinara once again and it was just as good. So if you are looking for pizza Napoli-style come here! You wont regret it. And try La Colinara!
(5)Cindy L.
Update: I forgot to mention the decor! Cozy, comfty and can accomodate relatively large parties to tables for just 2, typical Miami outdoor seating. I liked how you can watch them make the pizza from scratch :) Can't remember everything everyone ate but there definitely was gnocchi w/bufala ricotta, fresh tomatoes, basil and bufala mozzarella, Lasagna made with homemade egg pasta. bufala bolognese, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan cheese and I had the Tortiglioni alla Nerano w/speck, zucchini, cream, provola cheese and cherry tomatoes. The food was decent, nothing spectacular, it's nice that they use fresh mozzarella and make their own pastas and dough, the fresher the better. I don't know why I ordered the toftiglioni when I can't handle creamy stuff. I can't only eat maybe 5 bites and then I get nauseas :X It was a good dish just couldn't finish it, very rich! Everyone enjoyed their food. I wish I had a pizza! They looked really good...very light and authentic. For dessert we ordered the sampler, everything sounded better than it tasted: La Ricottina - Ricotta, lemon flavored with wild cherry coulis -- this was the only dessert we liked! I cannolini - Cannoli with bufala ricotta cream, limoncello and chocolate --a regular ol' cannoli but nice and eat-able La Torta Caprese - World famous chocolate almond cake from the island of Capri -- this didn't taste like almonds at all and was very, very dry not very chocolately either Il Bufala Tiramisu - tiramisu made with bufala ricotta and coffee Il Fondente- Chocolate flavored bufala ricotta cream, topped with dark chocolate sauce Something had a weird floral, perfumey taste to it, not good at all! I think it might've been orange blossom? It was too powerful :( Maybe if you absolutely cannot live without ricotta or mozzarella this is your place but I'm okay with never coming back again. Aww..I'm so mean!
(3)Jennifer I.
Food good-however didn't honor reservation time -gave tables to friends and Italian speaking groups before honoring reservations. Once we got a table 40 minutes after actual res. -food and service good
(2)Mike H.
This was beyond horrible. Called in my order (half cheese, half pineapple, well done) and was told it'd be ready in 5 minutes. The walk there was a little longer than expected, so I was there about 15 minutes later. I told the lady up front I was there to pick up my order. She rolled her eyes and walked away. She then hid in the back corner being very careful to not look towards me. Once other customers came in she had to come back to the front. She turned her back to me- I had to politely ask her twice 'Excuse me?' before she turned around. I asked her how long (since I'd been waiting about 5 minutes and the pizza should have been ready before hand). She said "1 minute". I saw the pizza's were small so I ordered a second (why not, we were waiting anyways). Another few minutes someone else brought us our pizza (after she helped the new customers she promptly hid again). We got back to our hotel to eat, and the pizza was disgusting. I'd asked for well done, but it was so undercooked it was literally raw dough. And the pineapple?...it was cold (refrigerated cold) and obviously just dumped on the pizza from a can (again, after the pizza was cooked). The worst part was that we were married the day before and my (now) wife had not had carbs in literally 3 months. She had been waiting until after the wedding to have pizza. What a horrible disappointment! I only wish I could give a negative rating.
(1)Gabriel D.
Good food!!!
(4)Beth H.
We just got back from Miami. This was our fourth trip in two years (we have relatives here). The reason I mention two years is because two years ago is when a friend introduced us to Fratelli's, and we now eat here at least three times per trip. We tell everyone we're going to Miami to visit relatives, but it's now become obvious to my husband and me that we're going to eat at Fratelli la Bufala, and using relatives as an excuse. What can I say? Great food is hard to beat, and exceptional pizza is nearly impossible to find. If you haven't tried this restaurant, do it now. Go meet Larry. You'll love him. And get a table with Carla as your server. You'll love her, too. Oh, and I just tried something new this trip, the Paccheri pasta. Big tubes of pasta with a rich tomato, peppers, eggplant sauce, with smoked mozzarella. Amazing! We also loved the salad with romaine, arugula, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and olives. Can't give you the name but it had an incredibly tasty dressing.
(5)Kathryn S.
I went to Fratelli La Bufala because I had heard about it on the Food Network and my friend had a coupon for it. We got there and being that I have yelp, I showed the waitress that I had checked in and me and my 2 friends got free glasses of prosecco. The glasses were hardly filled to how much a glass normally is, but we didn't complain because it was free. We ordered the bruschetta as an appetizer which was just OK. For our meal the 3 of us shared two pizzas. We wanted to try both a red and white pizza so we got a Margherita and an Irpina. I liked the Margherita more, but the Irpina was also satisfying. Both pizza's were good but nothing out of this world. When we went to pay is when our party had some trouble. We showed the waitress the coupon and she told us we couldn't use two coupons for the same bill since we already had used our yelp check in for the prosecco. We told her we didn't know but she started to get an attitude with us. When I asked her if I could speak to her manager to try to solve the problem, she told us to "Forget it" in a nasty tone. Overall, the food was good, but the service wasn't that great. Not sure I want to visit this restaurant again any time soon.
(3)Aline D.
They import fresh buffalo mozzarella from Naples, Italy twice a week. Do I need say more? It is a fantastic little place, the pizza and calzones are amazing. The tiramisu is also fantastic, homemade and decadent. Very nice to have a non-chain, authentic Italian bistro/pizza place in South Beach. It can get very crowded on weekend nights but is also open really late. Will keep coming back!
(5)Chris M.
good pizza, right price, in a nice location with an easy going atmosphere in a great neighborhood for walking before or after your meal. i am a fan. best takeout pizza within walking distance of sofi area. the pizza with smoked buffalo mozz and pecorino romano is lovely. looking forward to trying the other menu items.
(4)Christina F.
An authentic taste of Italy! Delicious pizza and wine with great prices. All wait staff were Italian and so friendly. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Robert N.
In Austin, my hometown, I cannot buy proper Mozzarella.....so when I am in South Beach I always go here a couple of times. Not really the basis of a South Beach diet: but life is short people.....There are lots of ways to burn calories in Miami: and you need some extra carbs to stay up to 5 a.m. anyway!! So what would I recommend? Well, obviously, a large ball of Buffalo mozzarella. (Just do it) Their pastas are great as well. Pasta alla norma would be high on my list. The pizza margherita is among the best I've had stateside. (My mom is from Naples: and we are a picky bunch when it comes to pizza) I wonder if they would ship some mozzarella to me? (note to self, call them after this post) This is the best lunch in Miami: tremendously better than the lousy tourist food closer to the beach: and just think: if you walk there you can justify the extra carbs and calories. Ciao baby.
(5)Angela M.
We love this place! Every time we go to Miami we have to treat ourselves and stop at this wonderful restaurant. We are Italian and big pizza lovers so you can trust me if I say this is one of the best pizza we have ever tried. Really Italian style with the best ingredients and topping and only bufalo mozzarella. We even tried pasta (the Paccheri are to die for) and desserts (try the cannoli and pastiera). Everything is delicious. The staff is very nice, kind, and friendly and they make you feel at home. The people who make pizza (pizzaioli) are Italian and so are the waiters and the manger. We highly recommend it! You won't be disappointed if you like authentic Italian food.
(5)Janay M.
As Michelle C said this is a great spot for casual Italian food. I used my Foursquare app to check in and got a free bottle of House wine. Not bad. The service was very quick and I didn't have to ask for refills. Everything from the decor to the staff made this place a great location Great spot for a romantic SOBE date.
(4)Claire S.
I like this place. The caprese salad is why I am giving 5 stars as it is amazing. My baby and I ordered enough food for 4 people, I think that between 2 people you could split a pizza or a calzone with an appetizer and leave very full. We ordered the salad, a pizza, and a calzone. I threw out more than half of my calzone and watched, mildly horrified, as my guy packed in an entire pizza minus a slice I ate. That should tell you how good the pizza is. The crust is a little soggy but no other complaints. The calzone was really really good as well...I love the mozzarella they use here. So good. This place is on TV sometimes which I usually am leery of overhyped places, but this place was nice, not super crowded or anything, and the food above average (and the caprese is amazing). Also this was the nicest service we had the whole time we were in miami and key west I felt.
(5)Stephen S.
First time here and we had a good meal. The pizza with bufalo was Outstanding. The Italian salad we had was bland with few vegetables and we will not order it again. Excellent service. Will go back.
(4)Teresa K.
Husband and i split a buffalo mozzerella appetizer and a pizza. the food was excellent and despite it being a busy weekend evening the service was great and friendly. A nice exception to the South Beach rule. We had a very pleasant meal and although the restaurant was crowded we didn't feel cramped.
(4)Andrea V.
Over-priced. SO not worth it. I make better pastas at home. I am not kidding. The service was bad. The place is not too chic... and listen to this... the day I went there (90F weather in Miami Beach!) the air conditioner wasn't working. Not going there EVER again.
(1)Nandi E.
I got a living social deal for this location because of all the great reviews I saw on Yelp. It was a waste of my money. The food is overly priced and awful. I got a dish that comprised of buffalo meat swimming in sauce with arugula underneath. The meat had a funky taste (and I'm a big fan of buffalo meat). My friend got a white pizza that was just ok. Plus side, service was good. This was the first and last time I will ever dine at Fratelli La Bufala
(2)Jason G.
Great Pizza and Pasta. The marinara is better than the white sauce for the pasta.
(4)robert s.
Best pizza in Miami so far. There are so many real Italian restaurants in Miami it is hard to distinguish where to go. The food here is the closes thing I have had to real Italian food. The pizza and olive oil are good quality and fresh. My pizza came out too hot and the cheese and sauce fell off as I picked it up from platter but the taste was spot on. Next time I am in Miami I am get getting the pasta carbonara. Oh we also had the beef carpacio. That was good too. The wait staff is authentically bad too. They knew the pizza was too hot serve and when they saw the cheese just slide off; they did nothing to get another one for us. The appetizer and pizza were brought out that same time and the water did not come till i asked.
(4)Stephanie L.
This place is really good! I had the pizza, as did my boyfriend, and it tasted just like the pizza we had in Florence. I thought it was really yummy and pretty standard prices for South Beach. The staff was fairly nice and it was a great atmosphere. They were very attentive and even the manager came over to see how we were doing. Although South Beach has a great pizza place on every block, this is a nice alternative to the bar stools and outdoor plastic tables at those other places.
(4)Lauren C.
The pizza was great and tasted fresh. The service was excellent, and I say this because my husband always orders lemons with his water and they kept them coming as well as refilling glasses in a timely manner. Even though gratuity is automatically added to the bill, the staff still does a great job. Thumbs up :)
(5)Johnathan S.
Great dinner, and great service. Glad we came here. The servers really pay attention to each customer. I felt the value was pretty good as well! I will be back.
(5)Paul D.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Miami! I'm embarrassed to say with all the great places to try here I always keep a night for Fratelli La Bufala. I first tried Fratelli because my boss was visiting from Milan and knew the restaurant from there and wanted to see if it held up to his expectation. Not only was he impressed, but he too insists on visiting every time he is in Miami. This coming from an Italian that is very picky when it comes to pizza or any other Italian food for hat matter. I love the authentic taste and feel of the restaurant. The staff is always very friendly and knowledgable. The pizza of course is amazing(it's in the water) as are the appetizers. The mozzarella is delicious especially paired with prosciutto. Don't forget to finish with their cannoli. Ciao!
(5)Lindsay G.
For a chain, this place kicks it. The only reason they don't get five stars is cause,duh, they are a chain. I love this place. They import the mozzarella fresh every day and frankly, their pizza is the only pizza I can eat in the Miami area (I'm a deep dish Chicago girl-y'all). Also, they have a nice selection of proseccos and an outdoor area that is generally pretty quiet during lunch. The staff is friendly and generally accommodating with pleasant service that doesn't make you feel rushed. Also, the burrata is to die for.
(4)Kristin R.
This place was recommended to me by a local as authentic italian food, and I agree whole heartedly. This is where I take people when they are hungry for italian. I ahve been several times in the last few months!
(5)Olivia C.
Really really good food and great prices. I went here for a friends bday dinner and the portions were spot-on. I ordered the linguini di gamberi and it was perfectly al dente. Definitely recommend this spot!
(4)Germán R.
The best pasta I have had, so simple yet so fresh. I recommend the tortiglioni pasta. And obviously some fresh mozzarella for an appetizer. It is a little expensive, but worth it.
(5)Hooman A.
lasagna was amazing! one of the best i've ever had. white pizza was delish as well! highly recommended :)
(5)Rima D.
Expensive soggy pizza with bad service. Coming from the NYC area I have had ten times better pizza.
(1)Michael K.
Great customer service. I never wrote a review before but after the service I had to. The owner could tell I didn't like the broccoli on my pizza so he was hesitant to let me continue eating it and offered to make me a different pizza. Great atmosphere and amazing service.
(5)Shawn S.
Gotta love pizzerias that make you feel like you are in Italy. Genuine servers, great crust on the pizza. Prices are good considering the portion sizes - we split a salad and pizza between two and it was plenty for lunch. Good Italian wine list. The pizza is "wet style" as in Napoli. Free bread and high quality olive oil. Street seating in bistro chairs.
(4)anthony M.
We had a good meal until they presented the bill and it had a $39 charge for the large buffalo Mozzarella salad. I would not have paid $39 for a good filet at this place, let alone a salad. It was a ripoff and the waiter knew it. So, I suggest you avoid this place until the management decides they are more interested in truth in advertising than in ripping people off.
(1)Dayna D.
Food was okay, but overpriced. Horrible service. The restaurant was half empty restaurant and overstaffed, yet I still waited 15 min for a glass of wine. Check came with auto gratuity and 4 biz cards, a comment card, a postcard...insult and overkill.
(1)Andrew K.
Fratelli La Bufala has to be my favorite pizza in Miami. Cooked in a 700 degree brick oven by a Neapolitan lad, this place makes the closest thing you will find to the real deal in Southern Italy. I discovered Fratelli three weeks after returning from Naples Italy, and one week after moving to Miami. Needless to say, I was suffering from Italian food depression after leaving Italy. But...... From the first bite at FLB, I was stunned. I could not believe I was eating a perfectly executed, authentic Neapolitan pizza pie. The soft buffalo cheese directly imported, fresh and light tomato sauce, and some of the tastiest pizza crust outside of Italy, all working together to complete this masterpiece. Also, the pastas are not to be missed. The Pappardelle Bolognese and the Garganelli with homemade sausage are amazing and again, authentic. Honestly, you probably wont find a better recipe for these dishes around Dade. (although I really like Il Mullino's papperdelle). The buffalo mozzarella appetizers are all really good as well. Another thing that always strikes me when I dine at FLB is that the majority of the workers, and the patrons, are Italians. Speaking Italian (and English if need be), eating Italian, and enjoying them selves as Italians do when in Italy. The overall vibe here is much more European than American. To me this says I have found it, I have found the place to eat Italian food. Thanks Fratelli for allowing me to get a taste of Italy whenever my stomach desires.
(5)Elizabeth S.
This is a bit late, but I'm actually reviewing this...fine....establishment a few months after I visited. This was my second run-in with the utterly unfabulous service that a lot of places in SoBe have to offer. I had a friend in town and we decided to go out to eat, so our party of 3 decided on this little establishment, simply because we weren't in the mood for Chinese across the street. The outside area was empty (plenty of available tables) and we decided to sit there. The waiter who sat us went up to a couple who was eating who had a table made up of 2 smaller ones (it was clear they had not done this themselves since it was covered with a table cloth). He started pushing all of their dishes onto one table without a word and pulled it away from them. This small table for 2 became our table. The couple just stared at the waiter in disbelief as he did this, but didn't say a word. I suppose maybe they didn't think it was as horribly rude as I did. We were given menus and the usual dirty look that comes with ordering water instead of alcohol (we were going to order wine but had not had a chance to go over the list yet). When the waiter came back, we had questions about some of the menu items (being a vegetarian who has experienced many falsely advertised veg-dishes that actually contain meat, I like to ask about what I'm eating and how it's made). After three questions, he looked down at us arrogantly and said "Let me know when you're done messing around asking questions and wasting my time. When you're actually serious about ordering some food, I'll be back". He turned on his little heel and left. I was flabbergasted. "Does everything contain buffalo? Does that dish have any meat in it? Is that a hot or cold salad?" How are these not relevant questions to ask about a meal you're paying for?? As soon as he left, so did we. Please note that we did not eat anything here. I'm not about to support a restaurant with such horrible service!!!! I seriously feel like most places here lack service due to the already added 18% gratuity - which I get because I used to be a waitress who dealt with a lot of tourists that didn't realize they had to tip; however I never felt like that was an excuse to offer bad service.
(1)Alissa W.
I dined here a few times I really like this place. When they offered on groupon $15 for $35 I bought 2 ! You can't beat that price for this quality of food. I went with a friend for lunch we ordered the cheese platter it was very good an assortment of buffala mozzarella, smoked mozarella, and some other cheeses. We also got a side salad that was big for $7. We ordered the marghrettia pizza the pizza's do not have a ton of cheese because it is not packageed mozerella this is fresh folks put right on top of their homemade pizza in a wood burning oven. They have one of the best pasta dished ever Paccheri saute bell peppers, eggplant, smoked bufala mozzarella and cherry tomato sauce. AMAZING !
(4)Mike K.
Just awesome. Everything is so fresh, service is prompt and prices aren't bad at all. I LOVE the Garganelli pasta, it's my go-to. Desserts are also amazing, whatever you choose to get. If you're a DecoBike member, you even get a 10% discount for showing your card, so take advantage of it!
(5)Ximena C.
The pizza and wine at this restaurant are delicious, the portions are perfect, and its quite overpriced. The biggest problem is the fact the its overcrowded with tables inside. You have to maneuver around everyone to get to the bathroom or your table. Once you've reached your table dont even think of having enough room to lean back in your chair. To add to that is the staff. They are quite rude and inefficient. Last time I ate there they got two of the six orders at my table incorrect. So, all in all, if all you care about is the pizza go ahead and eat at Fratelli, but if you want an overall experience head elsewhere.
(2)Bill H.
Personally I'm a little underwhelmed by the food at Fratelli La Bufala. The restaurant is located on the corner of Washington and 5th in South Beach. The interior was nice. It's not fine dining, but certainly not Pizza Hut. Some friends saw a review on the Food Channel raving about the food so we decided to go. Judging by the name alone I figured this was an Italian restaurant; the menu includes many pizzas with a smattering of other Italian options. We started with the bruschetta, Carpaccio and the eggplant lasagna. I wanted calamari, however it's not something that was available on the menu. The appetizers were good and the portions were nicely sized. For our main course we had the lasagna and 3 different types of calzones. The lasagna was good, but there was something about it that reminded me of tomato sauce from a jar. The calzones were huge blocks of bread filled with cheese and had the toppings on the side. Typically when I've gotten calzones everything is baked inside so this came as a surprise. Food and service were good but we all left a bit underwhelmed after hearing the glowing review on the Food Network. Nothing left a lasting impression so I doubt I'd go back.
(2)Melissa G.
Awesome - truly delicious Italian pizza made in the oven in front of you right there in the dining room. The best pizza in Miami by far - true Neopolitan style with amazing fresh buffalo mozzarella. A pizza and a glass of wine and it's a perfect meal :-)
(4)Len D.
I'm not really a fan of red sauce pasta, mostly because a lot of places just don't make it well. But I like the red sauce here. It's the tomato richness and most likely fresh ingredients. Something so basic as tomato, basil, and olive oil sounds simple, but here its delicious and perfectly done. We started with the an appetizer for the whole table, La Bufalata. Which is basically a little bit of everything on their antipasti menu. At $36 seems a little steep, but it was surprisingly worth it. One of the best things on the plate to me was actually the carrots. I just can't figure out how they got it to that texture and flavor. One of the best things here is the pizza. I've had the Monachina and Margherita which were great. It's just very different than any pizza I've ever tried. The pizza is very thin and the kind of pizza you have to eat with a knife/fork. The crust, sauce, and definitely the cheese is different. Everything is just so different than other Italian restaurants. This place is somewhere at the top.
(5)Sharon M.
Saw four stars on Yelp, and were in the neighborhood, so went on in. It was about 12:45 on a Friday afternoon (April 20, 2012), and there was only one table eating...that should have been our clue, but we sat down and ordered anyway. I wasn't real hungry so I thought maybe a small soup would be perfect. The menu boasted their ministrone was loaded with fresh vegetables. Well, kind of. It was literally a bunch of fresh veggies tossed into a boiling unflavorful veggie broth. Again, since the soup wasn't delivered until AFTER the pizzas, I should have picked up on something not quite right. The pizzas were a good size for a personal pie, and we were watching them being tossed, so my husband and 26 year old son both ordered individual pies. My husband ordered the prociuto with tomato sauce, and my son ordered the ricotta with a bay leaf litterally smeared on, almost as an after thought. The prociutto pie was wierd...like a piece of large thinly sliced ham with a spoonful of a bitter tomato sauce, on semi raw pizza dough. My sons pie was not as edible. I love ricotta with just about anything, but this was just glopped on, again, RAW piza dough. When I showed our server, he tried to tell me that was the way it was supposed to be. When I asked another server for an owner or manager she told me there were none available at this time. Meantime, our server was preparing our bill with a MANDATORY 17% tip!! Sorry guys, there are just TOO MANY really yummy options around there to have to put up with what you tried to sell us as a great lunch. Wish we had taken pictures, but we couldn't wait to leave.
(1)Karl S.
Wallace & Grommit would love this place -- so much cheese. I have to agree with the reviewer who advised customers not to venture outside of the pizzas. In our party of three, two had pizzas and were satisfied. I had a pasta dish and wasn't. The pasta tasted borderline undercooked to me. The appetizers seem somewhat over-priced (especially in comparison to the main courses) but they are quite large. We got an assortment of cheeses for an appetizer and it nearly filled us up. The salads, outside of the basic greens, were also nearly a meal in themselves.
(3)Sergio D.
If you want to eat the PIZZA as the neapolitans do, this is the right place to go. It's as authentic as it can get, made the same way is done in Naples, Italy (so don't expect to see your pizza overloaded with cheese, because they want you to appreciate the other ingredients as well), very thin and flavorful crust. Prices are good, and the service is as good as their food. Definitely recommended.
(5)Mike B.
Delicious fresh Italian food.
(4)Carolina C.
This is by far the BEST pizza in Miami! We go almost every week and we've never had a bad experience. The service and the food are excellent! Highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Ericstevenc T.
Great Cafe pizza
(5)Ian A.
Some of the best Pizza I've ever had! Recommended by a friend who's from Northern Italy.
(5)Adam C.
Having just moved to the area, I have decided to deem this my favorite local Italian spot. Our group of four thoroughly enjoyed every bite. I had a pizza with various cheeses. The dough was cooked to perfection in their wood burning oven. You know, not too crispy, and just chewy enough. The little lady had a rigatoni with pancetta and zucchini. She insisted I try it, since she could barely finish half of it. Kryoman ordered the straccetti; sauteed beef and mozzarella over greens. It looked good. Mrs. Kryoman got her standard go to dish, carpaccio, which was prepared to perfection. This place is truly deserving of five stars.
(5)Jimmy M.
This place was really good. Great service and the food was excellent. We got the lasagna, pizza diavolo and a pasta dish (name escapes me) and split it all. Definitely recommend it if you're in South Beach.
(4)Alan A.
The best mozzarella de buffalo we have had outside italy. The pizza was amazing as well.
(5)Masie R.
This is one of my favorite places in Miami Beach, even though we walked by it all the time, it wasn't until we were watching Food Network that we realized what we had down the street. After trying the calzone, we were hooked!! The cheese is AMAZING and cooked perfectly. Even the burnt edges taste like toasted marshmallows. Don't be intimidated by the prices, my boyfriend and I usually split the calzone and its enough food to be satisfied and its only around 15$. Definitely recommend stopping in if you haven't already.
(5)KK H.
This is the BEST, perhaps the only, real authentic Italian pizza I've ever tasted outside of Italy. If you're looking for American-style or fusion pizza like 99.999% of American pizza places, you won't find it here. This is not pizza you eat with your hands, but rather with a fork and knife. If you haven't had this experience in Italy, you may not appreciate it. If you've never been, this will be as close as you get to a real Italian pizzeria. Reviewers who are disappointed in this restaurant don't understand what a treat they're getting. My only disappointment is that the desserts are a little pricey, but that's only a tiny thing. The Capriccioso is my favorite--it's absolutely amazing. Hoping this amazing restaurant expands to the West Coast in Los Angeles.
(5)Vanessa G.
Amazing! Real Italian pizza in Miami. We were in an out of the place in 30 minutes, service is excellent and unbelievable fast! Simply great!!!
(5)Nina T.
good honest italian food. only gnocchi and lasagna and maybe cannelloni are fresh made pasta, rest of pasta is box fyi. gnocchi sauce was great. salads big--share w another person.
(4)Gianna O.
The mozzarella is delicious. Nice, crispy crust. This is not your typical "city" pizza place, but it definitely stands out.
(4)Joshua W.
There is no better Napoli style crust in Miami. Period. Service is always right on point. The owner, Larry, is so on top of guest service it just goes against everything you hear about South Beach poor service. My favorite is the Diablo...nice spicy sausage. My Gal loves the Monachina...3 cheeses and that's it. Regular Mozz, smoke Mozz, and like a parm..outstanding. The pastas are great too..the gargenelli (sp) in the cheese bowl....PLEASE! amazing. Get one of these up in Chicago and it may actually challenge my love for Chicago style pizza.
(5)Neil R.
This is the BEST pizza that I have had outside of Naples, Italy. And I used to live in NYC. I recommend getting a simple cheese only, pizza margarita. Toppings will only detract from the heavenly experience.
(5)Lizzie R.
Overall I was impressed by this place. I recently moved to the area and am enjoying trying out the restaurants and this is one I would go to again. The crust of the pizza is really good - crispy yet chewy with just a hint of saltiness. My bf had the buffalo burger which was also tasty but oddly did not come with a bun. One star down for the abrupt service, and the tiramisu was only OK.
(4)Barbara R.
I was born in Italy and I carefully avoid Italian restaurant, because they are not even close to the original. Not to mention the fact that Italian cooking is very different from the North to the South and even from town to town. Fratelli La Bufala aims at being different . The pizza is the thin-crusted real thing and the antipasto brought back fond memories, but the pasta felt too gooey and the Caprese was embarrassing: $17 for four painfully thin slices of tomatoes topped by as thin slices of mozzarella is borderline insulting. Th service is pretty attentive and good. I enjoyed myself the other night, but I am not sure I will be back.
(3)eglys h.
delicious. fresh. amazing. coupon on hand, we went to try them out. funny thing, one nite we were watching tv (food network) and caught a bit of Guy Ferri's show. it was about this place - next day a coupon $20 for $7 becomes available and we just had to get it. off we went. friday late nite - place was pretty full. found street parking a couple of blocks down. requested a table inside. immediately we sat down and waiter came over. took our drinks order and patiently waited for us to order food - 1st time there took a bit extra time to review menu. wanted to make sure to get it right!!! as we were reviewing, the table next to ours received their first course - CAPRESE salad. a nice size portion too.... approx 4-6 slices of fresh bufalo mozzarella and nicely sliced tomatoes. so we knew then we had to have same!!! so we ordered it. A MUST when you go!!! It is the most delicious bufalo mozzarella we have ever had!! melts in your mouth!!!! when you drizzle a little of the balsamic vinegar over it, enhancing its flavor to a new level, your taste buds jump for joy!!!! the off the the next course - due to their famous "best pizza ever" legend, we had to try it. and also cause of the show where it featured their Calzone we had to try that too..... We had a Blanca Pizza (white pizza - no sauce) ham/mushroom and a Calzone with the smoked mozzarella. both came out promptly. delicious!!! we really enjoyed them both and had a bit to take home. when in Italy and not try a canoli ? could not do it. had to have it. nice size portion 2 per serving good enough to share but really do i have too!!! delicious creamy mozzarella cream!!!! it was so yummy...... lots of chocolate drizzled over top and lots of powdered sugar!!!! also had a glass of the house wine - not bad at all.. Overall we really liked this place. the place is nice, food delicious, service super good (no issues with the coupon) We will make it a point to back soon...
(4)A S.
This little Italian restaurant has the most amazing and delicious pizza outside of Napoli. The buffalo cheeses, buffalo meats, salads and every dessert are exquisite. They have a good wine list and decent service. I guess it depends who you get. I have always been lucky. If I don't give this place a 5 star is because they have to work on their espresso machine. I love the food here. I will keep coming back and recommending it to everyone. This place never lost quality since they opened.
(4)Joaquin M.
I have eaten pizza here a couple of times in the past 4 years. The place is very cool. I always had good service. In an actual italian restaurant that is an achievement. But every time I finish my pizza, this thought comes to my head: This is way I didn't came back to this place: Its the cheese! They use buffalo cheese. Its suppose to be better, more expensive, you get the picture. But they use so little cheese, I feel like I'm eating Bread with sauce and some hints of cheese. That is not pizza! I want cheese on my pizza. I don't want to see the bread, except on the border of the pizza. And BTW I don't love cheese. I never ask for extra cheese . I actually only eat cheese on pizzas. But whats the point of eating a pizza and trying to find the cheese there. So after 4 times of getting annoyed by that. I decided i have given them enough chances. You guys keep making your pizzas with very little cheese and I'll give my money to someone that actually uses cheese on their pizza.
(3)Alex G.
In a nutshell, good but not great. I actually didn't like the menu, as I felt it didn't have "modern" Italian dishes, and it was a bit stuck in the past. Without going into specifics regarding our whole meal, everything was made to order but lacked a certain "something." Meat sauce didn't have to usual Italian sweetness, and the pasta was a bit overcooked. Other dishes followed the same path. We did not try the pizza, which may have been a mistake. Still, I don't know if I would come back. Not bad, just not great...
(3)Nico B.
!!
(4)Eugenio F.
I love this place! Not only because they speak to me in Italian every time i go there.... This is the most authentic pizza you can find in Miami (and possibly in the U.S.) My order is simple: 1) small mozzarella di bufala; 2) pizza caprese.
(5)Joshua M.
One of my Favorite Pizza / Pasta in miami beach The Good *Indoor - "good feel" Decor *Friendly staff and atmosphere *Good use of fresh ingredients & consistently delivering good tasting food *Staff always has been friendly * Clean place Pizza's are a good choice so was the steak .... the pasta was good but the portion size reminded a small appetizer rather than something that can qualify as a meal ... this is the only reason why this place does not get the 5th star
(4)Anae' G.
This place was right around the corner from the hotel so we decided to give it a shot. It's a little small but it's not too cramped. The staff was everywhere though. It had me wondering why so many of them were working tonight if they were going to be running over each other like this lol. The food was great. We ordered pizza and fries. I'm a sucker for a brick oven pizza and it was pretty tasty. For all of my people who've never been to Miami before, listen up. MIAMI LIES ABOUT PORTIONS. SHARE EVERYTHING. lol I'm serious though. We asked the waitress how big the pizzas were and she said it was a nice personal size pizza. We asked her how big the bowl of fries were and she held up one hand and made a small "c" with it to show the bowl size and said it was that big. Because me and my friend weren't too hungry, we split the pizza and fries. Too bad for my other friends who ordered their own because you can literally only finish half. That waitress was a liar lol. From that point on, we shared everything we got down there. But very nice staff and the food was good so they're a-ok in my book.
(3)Shaun U.
We were in the mood for some take out or delivery pizza after arriving in South Beach. This seemed to be the best option based on yelp reviews plus it was right around the corner from our place. We got a manachina and wurstel pies which were both quite average at best. It wasnt too expensive but also wasnt cheap. So by definition of a 2 star rating, Ive most definitely had better.
(2)Trina R.
Excellent! I went here last night with my best friend because I had a livingsocial deal that was going to expire and wanted to try it out. I'm glad I did. First we got to the valet which seemed pretty crazy and had to wait about 5 to 10 min for the driver. To be fair it was a friday night and the drivers were very efficient, there were just a lot of cars. Valet was free but make sure the restaurant validates it. We had reservations but since we were late due to the valet lol we had to wait like 5 minutes, no biggie! The restaurant was packed and a little crazy but it fit the scene. My friend and i got a table all the way to the back near the hall to the kitchen, it was a little hectic but it really didn't bother too much, I had my back to it. Apparently the table before us spilled olive oil on the floor and they did their best to clean it but it was funny when one server slipped and almost fell on my lap but he didn't. Anyway, our server was fantastic! His name was Stefano, he was really hot....I mean efficient and very attentive! Lol. Now for the food. We each had a glass of wine. For appetizer we had the bruschetta which brought four sliced pieces of bread with the bruschetta on top. It was really good. For our entree, we split a pizza "La Parma" which had prosciutto on top, it was to die for. The pizza is pretty big, some people can probably eat the whole thing but both of us were full after splitting it. Of course there is always room for dessert, so we opted for the Tiramisu. It was fantastic for all you Tiramisu lovers. That's my friend's favorite dessert and she said it was her new number 1. So there you go. I also noticed a lot of people getting take-out, I can see why. I will definitely come back here, hopefully soon.
(4)Fernando S.
Pizzas were tasty but I felt there wasn't enough time allowed for the sauces to settle. Everything basically slipped off when you grabbed a piece. The ingredients were on point. The ambience was very tight but surprisingly tolerable. The decor was interesting. I saw a tub of Nutella the likes I've never seen before; it was huge! The free prosecco with a yelp check-in was a nice added touch. Waiter was prompt and attentive.
(3)Tal T.
I've visited Fratelli la Bufala twice. The first time I was underwhelmed by the lack of cheese (and flavor) on my pie. The second was seriously better, and another time I had carry-out pizza that was tasty as well. It breaks down like this. The service is competent, if a little slow. Don't expect American-style friendliness and smiles. The pizza is different from what most of us think of when we think "pizza." Crust is very thin, ingredients are high-quality, and the made-to-order pies are cooked in a coal-fired oven. La Collinara is my favorite: bufala mozzarella, pancetta & basil, topped with a nice runny egg. It is a bit pricey, with most of the small pizzas in the $14-$18 range. Bottom Line: Order well in this true Italian pizza & pasta joint and you can fall in love with its unique offerings.
(4)Sarah G.
Disappointed, the service was good however the food was quite tasteless and the pizza was undercooked. We did enjoy the buratta but it was overpriced at $23. Had such higher expectations ;(
(2)Alfredo K.
After a hard day working the Design Miami event, my co-workers and I were craving pizza, lasagna and chicken parm. We asked a local store owner, who moved here from the Bronx, of a good pizza place and he recommended Fratelli's. We usually eat at another place close to our hotel, but it was Friday night in Miami and there was over an hour wait. The restaurant is located on the corner and we could see that it was packed with patron, a good sign. i am on a constant quest for good pizza in Florida. We were seated right away and I was a little disappointing in the service. The seating was tight and the legs on the table made us want to straddle the table because you could not sit naturally unless you are 4 years old. it reminded me of the SOHO restaurants in New York where 3 people have to share one chair and you are privy to everyone's hipster conversation about skinny jeans and the newest iPhone. It took a little while to get to us and we had to ask for bread (cold and straight out of the fridge), and olive oil. Maybe they thought I should lay off the bread...and they are right. We searched the menu far and wide, we looked under the table, at the walls and could not find the chicken parm...come on now! An Italian restaurant in a tourist area and no chicken parm? Ok, I told myself it must be a mistake. After waiting for the waiter to come over (he was busy), he told us no chicken parm..ugh. They did have the lasagna so I decided to try it. We ordered a pepperoni pizza because you can always throw down a slice..right? The pizza was pretty good, the sauce was good and the pepperoni thin and spicy. The lasagna arrived and it was great. Lasagna at 10 pm at night is not advisable, but what the heck it was worth it. If you are near South Beach I would try this place out. It's decent pizza and excellent entrees.
(4)David P.
This is an authentic Italian place, best Pizza and Pasta in Miami. Service is amazing as well. I go to this place at least once a week
(5)Steven M.
I'm from NY so I'm a little biased. But I think this place is way over rated. We went there for dinner tonight. First. It was about 90 degrees in the restaurant which made for a very uncomfortable experience. Food was ok, nothing special. Service was slow and they never refilled my water which would have been appreciated since the heat was unbearable. I saw other reviews mention the same issue so you would think they would address their AC issue. Sorry, but I would pass on this place.
(2)Eva L.
I decided to give this place 5 star even though I once swore to god that I'm not gonna have Italian food whenever there's an option. haha.. not i change my mind ;) This place tastes amazing, looks amazing, and feels amazing. I ordered the Exotic salad with mix greens, hearts of palm, walnuts, diced pineapple & cheese buffalo cheese. That was the only time that I actually finished my dish!!! Love love it. My friend ordered something like steak pizzaiola. Oooo that was nice! Service and price both rock. Totally recommend this place to y'all.
(5)William O.
I first had buffalo mozarella a few years ago, so when I found a coupon online for this place, I felt a tickle in my belly button. I couldn't WAIT to go. The place is on the beach, which I dig, so big ups there. It's not overly trendy or anything. Just a nice little pizza restaurant. Nothing overly unassuming, which, once again, is greatly appreciated by my grungy-Chuck-Taylors-wearing-self. The food, well, I mean... that's a different story. Fratelli La Bufala proved to be another one of those places with a fantastic appetizer and a mediocre main dish. As a starter, my then lady friend (how often do I use that term?) and I ordered an eggplant lasagna-type deal that was very, very good. Molded into a sizeable mound, drenched in marinara, sprinkled with parmesan. It was fantastic. In fact, if ever I venture to this place again, I may just spend an afternoon eating eggplant lasgna and drinking red wine through a silly straw. For the main dish, we ordered an artichoke pizza with buffalo mozarella that left oodles to be desired. My biggest issue was the arrangement of the toppings. I know it sounds like i'm nitpicking, but it really sucks to take a slice that is just absolutely loaded with artichokes only to follow it with a slice that was essentially nothing more than a sauce and cheese sammie. No, scratch that. It's not nitpicking. It really isn't too much to ask to have the toppings on your pizza evenly distributed. If Pizza Hut can take the time to layer its Meat Lovers with something tantamount to a veil of pepperoni, then a place on South Beach can certainly find a better way to go about presenting its product. Still. I won't sit here and tell you that the pizza was awful. It really wasn't. In fact, nothing about this place was awful, but nothing was really exceptional either. Between a very satisfying appetizer and an awkwardly configured pie, this place averages out to a respectable -- albeit disappointing -- three stars.
(3)Kathleen J.
Took my parents and fiancée here for the first time. We shared 2 pizzas and a carbonara. In the carbonara's defense, it was good, but we had a run in with our server which completely tainted our experience. Our margarita pizza came out with cold cheese. It seemed like it had been siting out for awhile, so we notified our waitress who immediately became defensive and went into a very long rant about how pizza in Italy has an undercooked crust, it's supposed to be soggy etc. We couldn't get a word in and she entirely missed our concern. A misunderstanding is fine but she went about everything loudly which made my company and myself embarrassed. First off you should never cause a scene when a customer politely asks you a question and secondly, she didn't listen to us before going off on us. We weren't concerned about the crust- my fiancée is from Italy and have eaten pizza in Naples- we are very aware of how the pizza is different than American pizza and enjoy it. We tried explaining this to no avail. Crust = not an issue. Our pizza cheese was just cold. Won't be back as we felt uncomfortable. Not a feeling I want myself or my guests to have when looking for a nice dinner out.
(2)Katie G.
My husband and I like this place a lot. It is a nice place to go with friends - think double date night. They will often give you a free glass of prosecco if they are busy and you have to wait more than 2 minutes. I like their salads and pasta, and my husband always orders a custom pizza. The food is solid and the atmosphere is nice. Valet parking is available right out front for a few dollars.
(4)Paul M.
Having been to Naples on a Med cruise and not being able to try authentic Napoli pizza has always bugged me. So, I was happy to finally check out FLB. However, I think it may be easier to fly to Naples than to find parking around FLB. My selective amnesia was in full effect as I apparently have forgotten how bad it is to park around there. We went for lunch on a Sunday, and the only places to park were $25 flat rate garages/lots or the valet in front of Love/Hate. There was a free valet booth in front of FLB, but the guy must have been at church as I drove around for more than 20 minutes and there was no one there. I miraculously found parking 4 blocks away when someone pulled off the street. Ok now for the good news. After a healthy walk to the restaurant, we were surprised to see that we had free prosecco just for checking in on Yelp. You can always rely on Yelp for the hookup.... We started with a La Millefoglie which is very similar to an eggplant parmigiana. It was delicious, although a bit on the smaller side. I was hoping to taste more of the famous mozzarella, but since it was melted I didn't get too much of the flavor. We shared a pizza diavolo which was a red pizza with spicy pepperoni and cheese. It was definitely on the spicy side, but absolutely delicious. The crust was thin and tear away soft. They also have italian beers here - Peroni and Moretti. I had the Moretti La Rossa (dark) and it was great. Overall I would say that the food is great here. I don't think it is the best pizza in Miami, but definitely very good. The parking situation here though is HORRENDOUS and FLB would probably get 4 stars if it wasn't for that.
(3)Jeanette T.
great meal and intimate atmosphere, very friendly staff . we had the esotica salad. . fresh ingredients and great flavor! we tried the casertina, white pizza with sausage and broccoli rabe... delicious! my husband who is Sicilian couldn't stop raving about it! love the wood burning pizza oven! We would definitely return!
(5)Patrick B.
This was one of the best Italian Restaurants I have ever been to. Garganelli was simply amazing, especial with the Parmesan cheese shell dish.
(5)Lauren D.
Awesome, amazing, fabulous! Best restaurant in town hands down! They're authentic Italian servers with a vast knowledge of their ingredients and what extras they have to offer! I went there 4 times in 4 days! Pizza margarita is just WOW! I would marry that place!
(5)Robert C.
I don't know if we just came on an off day or what, but we didn't get the experience we thought we would. There were only a handful of people in the restaurant to start off. We were offered to sit wherever we wanted. After that, it was a very slow lunch... First off, we did use our free glass of prosecco thanks to YELP!! We were so hungry so we decided to try the bruschetta. I have to say it was so very hard, the bread was burnt and it was a very messy dish overall. Our pizza arrived, we chose the prosciutto and mozzarella with mushrooms added. I would say it was good, but not overly superb! It was very fresh, in fact so fresh that there was hair in the cheese!! YUMMY!! Oh and how nice of them to add gratuity for me...ho hum!
(2)Erick S.
Me and my GF ordered a Margherita pizza and a plate of "Bucatini alla Carbonara". The Bucatini was delicious, the pizza no so much, it was not cooked to its entirety and came out a little under cooked, did not enjoy it all. Over all good service, good price, but the pizza did not cut the deal. Just being honest.
(3)Adam S.
This place has some really fresh and really nice pizza and calzones. I feel like this place is a 4 1/2. The good: the caprese salad was probably the best I've ever had. The mozzarella was really amazing and the tomato was so fresh and flavorful. Amazing. The pizza tasted great. I had the one with spicy salami and it was plenty spicy without being overpowering. The service was polite and attentive (which is an accomplishment in itself on Miami beach). The bad: The pizza was so flimsy I couldn't eat it until it cooled and even at that point I had to kind of roll the pizza up to eat it. Also, this is a pricey pizza joint. $65 for a caprese, a calzone, and a pretty small pizza is a lot of cash (but it is really tasty stuff). There's a reason this place gets a lot of hype.
(4)Sandra N.
I went here recently with my family and boyfriend. My brother had been here a couple of times already. I liked it! The food was delicious and I really appreciated the fact that the waiters were actually Italian and had accents. Awesome. We shared 4 plates. The Diavola, the Margherita, a canelon and a pasta a la bolognese. All. Delicious! Plus, if you check in here you get a free glass of prosecco!
(4)Joseluis A.
yay, practice everything you learned and forgot when you took italian 101 because you thought the teacher was cute. buonasera! antipasto! panettone! fyi, i did not pass this class. i came here with a friend who was craving italian. ive heard good things about fratelli la bufala. ive also heard its a chain thats all over europe. one evening, this man approached me in italian, at the corner of washington and 10th, asking me for directions to FLB. naturally, i was inclined to think, hey, this guy is italian, this restaurant must be good. i cant say i was impressed. we got carpaccio and bruschetta. it was just ok. i cant quite remember the name of the pasta dish i had cause, it was all in italian, of course and i thought we already established i did not pass this class. all i remember was that it was a bit too heavy on the cream. the chain smokers sitting next to us ordered pizza which looked promising. perhaps ill be back and update this review if it merits. otherwise, 3 stars seem fair to me, if we account for location, service, prices and their menu.
(3)Jorge C.
Best authentic pizza made from buffalo. One of the best pizza places in south beach! Tiramisu is amazing! Great service and great pasta dishes as well. I always see a lot of Italians eating there.
(5)Christoph S.
This was awesome. Stopped here after a road trip. Starving. Complementary prosecco (for each of us 2) with the Yelp checkin. Slammed a Peroni before the red wine came (chilled in a bucket as requested, it was warm). The Prosciutto and Buffala Mozzarella appetizer was very good. I ordered the Prosciutto (see a trend, hmm??) Pizza with Ricotta and a side salad. The pizza was fantastic, the dough all blistered and stuff, you know, as you would expect out of a wood-burning oven (which, by the way, you should check out..). I didn't care for the ricotta making the pizza soggy in the center, but it was still very good. It was late September, we were given the last table on the patio, it was super nice out, we had a fantastic dinner. Wood-burning ovens are tough to find in Chicago, it was a joy to eat dinner here. I would return if I was back in the area.
(5)Chantal G.
Yummy, but expensive. Cheese should not be that much money... However I appreciated the free glass of prosecco with a Yelp check-in! We ended up ordering a huge mound of cheese. That's exactly what it was... A HUGE mound of cheese. It was nevertheless delicious, but so expensive for just that.Additionally, I enjoyed the outside seating and the waiters were very attentive. The atmosphere was fun and clearly had a spot for people about to head out for the night.
(3)Syuzanna S.
Food is amazing and I mean it! affordable price, friendly and quick stuff, the only minus is that place is very noisy. I understand it's an Italian restaurant but still...:)
(4)Ute L.
If you plan on coming here on a Saturday night for dinner, make a reservation. The place is always packed with people waiting for tables. The food is good but in my opinion overpriced so I am not really sure why it's always so crowded. It seems to be a popular family place, so between the kids misbehaving and the parents yelling at them the noise level can be high. Also not a good choice if you're claustrophobic, the tables are a little to close for comfort. The parmigiana appetizer was delicious, eggplant layered with mozzarella cheese and baked into a creamy, gooey treat. It is large enough to share. I ordered the cornettone, a home made pasta shell stuffed with ricotta and topped with mozzarella and marinara sauce, good but bland. BF ordered the pasta with olives and artichokes. Neither of us liked it as it was drowned in olive oil, way too greasy. The pizzas here are good, the best part is the crust. It is a thin crust and they give it a wonderful smoky char on the grill. Pizzas are big but they skimp on the toppings considering what they charge. The sausage on the pizza also was not fully cooked. We like it browned, not pink. The tiramisu was one of the best I've had, not too soggy and not too creamy, perfect. Large enough to share. The "cheese pie" dessert was A-OK. Sort of a dry ricotta cheesecake, the flavor reminiscent of cannoli filling but I didn't care for the grainy texture. The portions are just right but you definitely won't need a doggy bag. If you're really hungry better order an appetizer. The prices aren't that great, you can expect to pay $80 for two people with a shared appetizer and dessert.
(3)Melissa K.
An Italian themed restaurant with Spanish overtones?! They claim to have Naples-inspired pizza but everything inside is Spanish themed from the pizza taste to the waiters' outfits. The pizza is just okay. Thin crust with decent ingredients but nothing special. The service is typical South Beach - apethetic and poor. It's in a busy location and seems to do lots of business. There's a ton of families so make sure you enjoy eating next to children before you head here.
(2)Suzana U.
Really good Italian place, lots of Italian working there and crowd... Pizza was amazing.. gnocchi was good too. But the pizza,.. YUMMMMM!!
(4)Rachael H.
I went there last night. HOLY COW WAS IT DELICIOUS! My sister and I saw this place on a food channel show and made reservations that night. When we arrived it seemed pretty empty and as if we didn't need them, but hey, you get points on open table, so whatever. We got a free bottle of wine from a four square promotion and we started off with the beef carpaccio. It's served with Parmesan cheese shavings and arugula. The beef is thin enough to like and thick enough to not fall apart and the cheese was amazing! I had a pasta with artichoke hearts and panchetta. I can't remember the name but it was really tasty. I wanted more to magically appear on my plate when I was done. My boyfriend had the marinara pizza, which for having none of the infamous buffalo cheese, was pretty darn good. My sister had the gnocchi which was fantastic and is served with actual buffalo cheese cubes. Her boyfriend had the calzone which we saw being made and finished in a matter of seconds. He said it tasted like it did when he visited Italy. Yes, It's THAT good. We finished off with the tiramisu, which wasn't out of this world, but still good.
(5)Michelle E.
We went to FLB three times in one week...That's how good this place is. From the bufala carpaccio to the Reale pizza, we were wowed with every bite. We often go to Fratelli la Bufala when we are visiting Miami and we dream about those meals for weeks after we get back to NY. I hear there is a NYC branch, but the reviews are not so good for some reason. If you're in town I suggest you give this place a try. Making reservations on OpenTable is a good way to secure a table inside, as crowded nights only leave the hot tables outside open for patrons to use. Unfortunately none of their desserts were notable enough to recommend, so skip the desserts and go to Gelato-Go around the corner on Ocean Drive instead. FYI, this place is packed with authentic Italians who know good food, which should be even more confirmation that this place is the real deal.
(5)Elizabeth H.
Amazing pizza!! Small restaurant but we loved the food and the service!
(5)Pete M.
Excellent true Neopolitan pizza - the certified high end stuff just like they do in Naples. The crust chewy, a little underdone intentionally and superb. Nice local fresh ingredients. Great salads and reasonable wine list. Great for family. Very nice pasta too. Should be more places like this.
(4)Toy L.
Checked out Fratelli La Bufala while in South Beach on the recommendation of Yelp. Buffalo cheese appeared to be a main item in most of their dishes. Therefore I ordered the buffalo cheese ball as a starter. It was ginormous. It had a crispy outer layer and a gooey inner layer. Delicious. Next I split a margarita pizza with a friend. All of their pizzas are prepared in a brick oven, and you can taste it. It was very good. Best pizza I've had in Florida.
(4)Gisela C.
It's been a while since I have been here and I am compelled to review the dish I had tonight. I will begin by saying that i love cheese. I probably love cheese more than i love some people I am related to... with that in mind, the Cornottone is officially my favorite dish here. If you like cheese, try it. It will not disappoint. The service is still strong here (a rarity for an affordable place on Miami Beach)... Check in on Four Square and get a free bottle of wine... its actually pretty good. Enjoy!
(4)Alex O.
Coming from NY, we always have low expectations of Italian/ Pizza Restaurants elsewhere. Everything was amazing, service, food, cost were all on point. Calzone was NY brick oven-esque. Proscuitto with the bufala was one of the best I've had. Excellent Job!!! Highly recommended. Came back in May and it's consistently good. I'll be back again soon hopefully!!
(5)Lauren P.
Best Pizza in Miami by far!!
(5)Eric B.
Diavolo pizza is delicious. Bit cramped inside.
(4)Aris F.
Just another place serving sad little attempts at pizzas. I was hoping for one of the best pizzas in the Miami area, but what I got instead was "bland and underwhelming," as Chester B put it. I had heard so much about their "mouth-watering cheese." Where was this extraordinary mozzarella? It sure wasn't on my pizza. Then there was the tomato sauce, which had enough salt to kill a small horse (I only lived to write this review by being unable to consume the whole pizza). And only a single, token basil leaf on a margherita? WTF? Not to say their other food isn't good -- the place was packed, so they must be doing something right, I guess. If you do decide to go, be prepared to pay for parking. It's Sobe, after all.
(2)Jenny L.
Wonderfully cozy restaurant with excellent pizza. Went during a weekend for lunch and we were seated quickly.The valet parking is free if the restaurant validates if for you. The server was friendly and willing to offer tips about the trademark dishes. Ended up getting the pizza with the prosciutto on top and it came out w/ a warm thin crust topped w/ tomato sauce and excellent blend of prosciutto and herbs. Excellent food.
(5)J B.
I felt transported to Italy when we dined here last wk. Everyone here speaks Italian and all the waiters are HOT. We ordered the Cheeze + Tomato appetizer...meh, just OK. But their Margherita Pizza was yummy! The soft cheese and light tomato sauce on the thin crust was cooked perfectly on their stone oven. It's big enough to share between 2 people. My friend ordered fried mozzarella and it was one big fried ball. Pretty funny.
(4)Kris M.
Amazing! Yes, I mean amazing! One of the few places in Miami that offers a taste of Italy! Pizza is great. My favorite is the diavola with spicy salami and fresh mozzarella. Their pasta is always good, and if you're not into pasta try their buffalo fillet! Very nice! The servers are A's friendly and knowledgeable A's the servers in Italy and they speak Italian. Even the managers are friendly! Overall a great place! I highly recommend it!!!
(5)Brent M.
One of the best places to get a pizza in Miami. The mozzarella alone is worth braving the horrors of a trip to Miami Beach (sorry Miami Beach residents). Bruschetta is so ubiquitous that it's hard to find a place that offers in a way that really stands out, but FLB is one of those places. My favorite pizza is the Diavola - tomato sauce, spicy salami, bufala mozzarella, basil & crushed red pepper. Awesome.
(4)Victoria L.
If you are in a mood for a good pizza, I mean VERY good pizza, no frills, no thousands of toppings, but simple sauce, cheese and some basil prepared to perfection, this is the place. I have tried other items on the menu, but their Traditional Italian Margarita pizza is the one I come back to all the time. Also, their bufala and strawberries dessert is amazing.
(4)Rubes L.
Being a huge fan of Italian food, I actually don't really get the hype over FLB. Boyfriend and I ordered a pizza and a calzone, and both were decent but not especially impressive. The service was pretty quick but not especially good, same for the price. They do have a pretty extensive pizza menu though, so we could have been unlucky with our choice as well.
(3)Andrea S.
If you're going crazy looking at the same menu restaurant after restaurant on Ocean Drive and have a hankering for good Italian food, hustle on over to FLB. My mom and I were seated immediately, my choice of table landing us right in front of the TV during a Milan-Munich game (score!) and a basket of warm bread and free prosecco (thank you, foursquare!) were promptly brought out. I would say that the game was great, which it was, but the staff of native Italian men made it fun to look beyond the TV, too. We ordered the mediterraneo salad and my god that mozzarella! Bring me out a plate of the mozzarella with a drizzle of balsamic and I would've been totally content. For my entree I ordered lo scarpariello. As someone that cannot tolerate really heavy food when it's hot out, this "light" pasta fit the bill. Don't let the simplicity fool you, the very few ingredients are put together perfectly and highlight the freshness. I googled this place as soon as I got home only to find that FLB in DC closed right before I came back to town. Maybe instead of going back to Miami, I'll hit it up next time in Italy.
(5)Michelle D.
Do yourself a favor and visit their website - even if you don't need to look at the menu ahead of time. Charming story on how the place all began and music to accompany. Friendly staff, ready to bring you extra olive oil or vinaigrette, if need be. Fresh ingredients (buffalo mozzarella imported weekly) and pleasant view of 5th Street. And, fun fact, the logo is a water buffalo. Seriously wish I could get the name of the song they use on their homepage. Ah, for another day!
(4)Ray m.
I wouldn't say it's the best but definitely the freshest! all the ingredients are fresh and the pizza is made almost in front of you. it's a small place with the pizza in the dining area. I ordered a simple preusuto with cheese and it was just enough for 2 to share. owners are italian and the prices are average. we only came here b/c checking in with yelp gave free glass of wine. it's worth stopping by again
(4)Christina B.
My husband had the pizza and I had the pasta. Pretty good and a nice portion. My only complaint was that it was as hot inside as it was outside and the chairs are not very comfortable.
(3)Daniele F.
I went here for dinner tonight...Cool place, slick service and great pizzas...nothing like the rest of the trash they serve in Miami (apart from Blue La pizzeria del Sole, which is 30 miles away...) Real Italians (like me) work and dine there, just because it feels like home and the pizza is the best around! Try some of the specials...even if not all of them are so great!
(5)Joseph P.
Better than I thought it would be..it is on a super crowded corner of 5th and Washington. I figured it would be full of tourists and overpriced, but went with a coupon ($15 for $35!) . Sat outside in a surpisingly serene little "garden" on 5th st. Very pleasant evening and decent food.
(3)Alex G.
I have to say this is one of those places where you can either get so excited and love it, or you can simply say "never coming again" - I think it all depends on the day, the time, and the mood of the waiters - So, to the point, most of the menu is good, the pizzas are very good, the pastas not always the best. The services depends on who you get - The location is fantastic, the parking a pain - Give it a try, and let us know what you think - Ciao !
(3)Osama B.
Best bufala ever. I think I can eat here everyday and never get sick of it, ever. You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack. But when I came hereI knew this would be a place of my own. And my wolf pack... it grew by one. So there... . I was alone first in the pack, and then Doug joined in later. And six months ago, when I first went here I thought, "Wait a second, could it be?" And now I know for sure, I just added one more to my wolf pack.
(5)J C.
Food is Amazing! My taste buds had an orgasm for every dish I ordered from apps to main course & dessert. Atmosphere is great w/ indoor & outdoor seating. The prices are a little pricier plus they automatically add a 17% tip on your bill.
(4)Cathy M.
great pizza, decent prices. i would go back with family, kids are welcome... i got a free bottle of house wine for the table with my foursquare check in!
(4)adrian s.
all I have to say is, this is the one place in Miami where you want to eat Napoli style pizza. EXCELLENT!
(5)Andrew K.
Great restaurant....the food is dang good and the service is friendly. There's this one pasta dish that has a light cream sauce and sausage, and is served in a Parmesan bowl. (yes, a bowl made out of Parmesan cheese!) I had the gazpacho soup, which was tasty. It was pureed, which I'm not used to, but the taste was really nice. It ends up being pricey if you order salad and dessert.
(4)Richard H.
The lasagna is to die for! However, service wasn't great. No one greeted us as we came in, and after bringing our food, no one checked on us until we were ready for the cheque.
(4)Mimi M.
very fresh mozzarella! a little pricey but overall good food.
(3)Kiki W.
food and service are so so.
(2)Yuli L.
FLB is a small yet cozy italian restaurant on SoFi. All the servers are originally from Italy, which adds to the authenticity of the establishment. Most of the people dining seem to be Italian locals; that should tell you something. The food is great -- my favorites include the carpaccio and the scarpariello. Lastly, if you check in w/ foursquare(not sure about the yelp app) you get a free bottle of house wine w/ your meal.
(4)Y P.
I usually don't venture into the SoBe area for eats but when I was around the area, I remembered hearing about this place and decided to stop by. Now, the food is absolutely amazing. But the service is not there. I mean, the food came quickly and my water was refilled in a timely manner and all, but the staff was extremely apathetic. And the fact that the 17% tip was included in the bill may be the reason why. I've read that this is usually the case in SoBe but this is the first time I've actually had to witness it. But besides this, the food definitely merits a five. I came to order the neapolitan pizza and calzone. I was thoroughly impressed by the sheer size of the calzone. But I quickly forgot about the size once I tasted it. The first bite was one of just dough. Now, I would imagine this to be quite boring and a nuisance in other calzones but I wouldn't mind just ordering this dough and munching on it as a meal. Its literally that good. But once again, this great impression was shattered after I went deeper into the calzone. The cheesiness was great but for me, the best part was the ricotta. I don't know how to explain it, but this was probably the best ricotta I've ever tasted. Probably because of the freshness. The pizza was just as great here. I ordered the simple margherita and it blew my mind. The person I was with has had pizza at naples and claims that although this pizza wasn't quite as good, it was definitely up there. Extremely authentic. The cheese was great as well and the crust did not change. Sheer bliss. The price tag did not come as a bother either, because I found $7 to be extremely reasonable. I will definitely be back here, and maybe since I know what to expect from the service, I will finally be able to award this place its 5th star. But until then, the disillusionment of bad service keeps me from giving it to them.
(4)Maris D.
We paid $75 for dinner for two adults and two small children, no liquor. The pizza had hardly any cheese or toppings. It took forever to get the food. I had to ask for every refill on drinks. The waiter gave us "incorrect" change, tried to keep $6 and when we called him out on it, he did not apologize. Just put on a pissed off grin. NEVER AGAIN
(1)C R.
Really excellent spicy salami pizza, I never would have thought it would taste so good, they have the right ovens if you are into pizza.
(5)Andrew J.
Pizza is excellent, made with buffalo mozzarella as the name implies. Very urbane, on a busy corner in South Beach. Lots of outdoor seating for people watching. Mostly Italian staff.
(4)Liliana E.
Good food...pizza, salads, desserts, wine, coffee. It's a relatively small place and it's usually packed. If the weather is nice you can sit outside, otherwise expect the waiters to be running by you every minute.
(4)Arlynes H.
Delicious Italian food, our waiter had the mean face of the waiters that you find in Italy but our food came fast and with perfect taste! Caprese impanata( I think that this is the correct spelling) tastes so good that you don't want to share.!
(4)Darin C.
I ordered a pizza and a calzone. Both came out soggy except for the edge, which was good. Limp pizza doesn't do it for me.
(2)Nicholas P.
I like everything about this place. I will start with the service, the first time I went not only was the service great on an especially busy night, my beer bottle was broken and even though I did not cut my lip, the owner comped our meal. You usually don't find customer service like that in Miami restaurants, instantly made me a fan and regular customer. Their pizza is fantastic, plenty to choose from and very authentic, IMO one of the most authentic Italian experiences in Miami. They do have a few other locations, but this is the only one outside of Italy, or at least Europe for that matter. The Italian options are equally as good as the pizza, I have not had a bad dish there. I have been on dates there, with groups and to their anniversary party, alwas great ambiance and a good vibe. Finally we get to the price, these guys understand the restaurant business.
(5)Joe W.
My girlfriend and i went here, i ordered the restorinto calzone which had alot of dough to it and very little meat but a perfect amount of cheese. I was expecting it to be better then it was but it was still good, i ate this all bu myself so it was a good portion. My girlfriend had the diavalo pizza which was very good, the sauce was sweet and spicey but was alittle different then our home town pizza that is thick and hard. This was alittle soggy so expect to eat it with a fork.
(4)V F.
Very good food and very good service as well. We had a pizza (Diavola), pasta (Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese), and Bufala Tiramisú and Sorbetto for dessert. They were all tasty and delicious. My kids loved all of the food. The location is close to South Beach. To top it off, they had free valet parking too!
(5)J R.
Awesome authentic pizza. Mozzerella is imported weekly and unlike anything you can get locally. Try the bufala appetizer with foccacia! Friendly staff and they all speak italian
(4)David C.
I love this place. I have been to this location on a couple of occasions and each time I have had a pizza. The staff could polish up on service skills, but the quality of the food is excellent. The pizza crust is thin and tasty. The size of the pizza, while we were told was meant to serve one, can serve two if one person is not too hungry. If ordering a pizza, do not order a salad... you will not be able to finish both. One of my friends ordered some pasta and was pleased with his dish. Outdoor seating is available... and was packed over the NYE weekend. The interior is nothing special, so do not head here when you are looking to impress. However, head here for some good pizza. I have had better, but not too many better than this spot. If you are looking for a quality pizza with fantastic flavor this is your spot.
(4)Mauricio B.
We were very happy with the salad (Mediterraneo) we ordered; however, pizzas were disappointing, not much taste and crust was too soft. On the positive side, hostess was friendly and was able to seat us fairly quickly even though the restaurant was very busy. Service was also prompt: however, waiter ignored the request to provide the offer announced on Yelp for a free glass of Prosecco. The positive part is that when I told this to the manager, he gave me the wine I had as a compliment. Very good response, which makes me feel like coming back to try other dishes in this restaurant.
(3)sean k.
A near-perfect pizza. Sweet sauce, thin-crispy dough, and the FRESHEST mozzarella cheese a pizza can have. The basil doesn't hurt either. I also love how the pizza only takes a couple minutes to make, because it is SO thin, 1 person could easily polish their own pie.
(4)Valerie D.
The pizza, bread and homemade cheeses were phenomenal! I cant say enough about them! Two thumbs up. The service, however, leaves much to be desired. Our host/server was not too friendly. He seemed to be annoyed when we walked in at 1pm for lunch. He came to take our drink orders but only listened to what kind of water we wanted and walked away. We asked for other drinks on his next visit to our table. It was hot out so we went through our water pretty quickly but no one was available to provide a refill for a long time. He was only nice when we were signing the check, which seems odd to me since the restaurant tacks on an automatic ~17-18% gratuity. Maybe thats why he did not feel compelled to go out of his way. That being said, go for the food, not for the service. It IS just a pizza joint after all.
(3)Kiki W.
food and service are so so.
(2)Leslie S.
Hands down, the best and most authentic place to grab the most appetizing bite of pizza! You walk in and you feel like you are in a restaurant in Italy. The music, the staff, the decor. It all screams out Italy. My hubby and I walked in here due to the great reviews we read on Yelp. It was between Fratelli La Bufala and the restuarant on their east side. I'm so glad we chose this one. We were seated right away and checked in through Yelp. They gave us two complimentary glasses of Proseco for checking in. Everything on the menu looked foreign to us, but went ahead with our gut instinct and ordered their buffala mozzarella which is imported daily (La Mozzata). It was so fresh and soft, the mozzarella melted in your mouth with every bite. We also ordered their white pizza, La Colinara. OMG! Can I tell you that this has been the most delicious pizza I have ever tried?? I think about it and my mouth waters. The ultra thin crust pizza is topped with buffalo mozzarella, a fried egg (which you break and spread the yolk over the entire pizza), pancetta, and basil. Every bite was like a piece of heaven. Finally for dessert, our server suggested we try their cheese tart dessert (I forgot the name of it). It was quite yummy but there was no way we could have finished it. Service was great from beginning to end. We came back a second time, but ordered the pizza carryout. We ordered La Colinara once again and it was just as good. So if you are looking for pizza Napoli-style come here! You wont regret it. And try La Colinara!
(5)Cindy L.
Update: I forgot to mention the decor! Cozy, comfty and can accomodate relatively large parties to tables for just 2, typical Miami outdoor seating. I liked how you can watch them make the pizza from scratch :) Can't remember everything everyone ate but there definitely was gnocchi w/bufala ricotta, fresh tomatoes, basil and bufala mozzarella, Lasagna made with homemade egg pasta. bufala bolognese, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan cheese and I had the Tortiglioni alla Nerano w/speck, zucchini, cream, provola cheese and cherry tomatoes. The food was decent, nothing spectacular, it's nice that they use fresh mozzarella and make their own pastas and dough, the fresher the better. I don't know why I ordered the toftiglioni when I can't handle creamy stuff. I can't only eat maybe 5 bites and then I get nauseas :X It was a good dish just couldn't finish it, very rich! Everyone enjoyed their food. I wish I had a pizza! They looked really good...very light and authentic. For dessert we ordered the sampler, everything sounded better than it tasted: La Ricottina - Ricotta, lemon flavored with wild cherry coulis -- this was the only dessert we liked! I cannolini - Cannoli with bufala ricotta cream, limoncello and chocolate --a regular ol' cannoli but nice and eat-able La Torta Caprese - World famous chocolate almond cake from the island of Capri -- this didn't taste like almonds at all and was very, very dry not very chocolately either Il Bufala Tiramisu - tiramisu made with bufala ricotta and coffee Il Fondente- Chocolate flavored bufala ricotta cream, topped with dark chocolate sauce Something had a weird floral, perfumey taste to it, not good at all! I think it might've been orange blossom? It was too powerful :( Maybe if you absolutely cannot live without ricotta or mozzarella this is your place but I'm okay with never coming back again. Aww..I'm so mean!
(3)Jennifer I.
Food good-however didn't honor reservation time -gave tables to friends and Italian speaking groups before honoring reservations. Once we got a table 40 minutes after actual res. -food and service good
(2)Mike H.
This was beyond horrible. Called in my order (half cheese, half pineapple, well done) and was told it'd be ready in 5 minutes. The walk there was a little longer than expected, so I was there about 15 minutes later. I told the lady up front I was there to pick up my order. She rolled her eyes and walked away. She then hid in the back corner being very careful to not look towards me. Once other customers came in she had to come back to the front. She turned her back to me- I had to politely ask her twice 'Excuse me?' before she turned around. I asked her how long (since I'd been waiting about 5 minutes and the pizza should have been ready before hand). She said "1 minute". I saw the pizza's were small so I ordered a second (why not, we were waiting anyways). Another few minutes someone else brought us our pizza (after she helped the new customers she promptly hid again). We got back to our hotel to eat, and the pizza was disgusting. I'd asked for well done, but it was so undercooked it was literally raw dough. And the pineapple?...it was cold (refrigerated cold) and obviously just dumped on the pizza from a can (again, after the pizza was cooked). The worst part was that we were married the day before and my (now) wife had not had carbs in literally 3 months. She had been waiting until after the wedding to have pizza. What a horrible disappointment! I only wish I could give a negative rating.
(1)Gabriel D.
Good food!!!
(4)Robert R.
After eating pizzas anywhere from South Beach to North Beach and beyond for more than 15 years I must say Fratelli has, by far, the best pizza on the beach. It is simple, yet delicious. Not greasy, not heavy. Real italian pizza with many of the wait staff italian themselves. Check the deserts, specially their Tiramisu. Awesome. Great pizza, great service. Cooked in a fire brick oven for everyone to see. Bathrooms clean too. It's also my 6 y. old son favorite pizza too!
(5)Vanessa P.
This place makes one of the 3 best pizzas I had in my lifetime. I am normally not a pizza aficionado therefore pizza has to be really good for me to want to waste calories on it. This place is totally worth visiting - brick oven pizza, really authentic, the way they do it in Napoli, the pie by itself is really delicious even before adding all the great topics. After we were already full we noticed that, the people at the next table were having some really great looking bruschetta. The tiramisu was pretty good too. Can't wait to go back! I can finally say that I might actually crave pizza while in Miami!
(5)Beth H.
We just got back from Miami. This was our fourth trip in two years (we have relatives here). The reason I mention two years is because two years ago is when a friend introduced us to Fratelli's, and we now eat here at least three times per trip. We tell everyone we're going to Miami to visit relatives, but it's now become obvious to my husband and me that we're going to eat at Fratelli la Bufala, and using relatives as an excuse. What can I say? Great food is hard to beat, and exceptional pizza is nearly impossible to find. If you haven't tried this restaurant, do it now. Go meet Larry. You'll love him. And get a table with Carla as your server. You'll love her, too. Oh, and I just tried something new this trip, the Paccheri pasta. Big tubes of pasta with a rich tomato, peppers, eggplant sauce, with smoked mozzarella. Amazing! We also loved the salad with romaine, arugula, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and olives. Can't give you the name but it had an incredibly tasty dressing.
(5)Kathryn S.
I went to Fratelli La Bufala because I had heard about it on the Food Network and my friend had a coupon for it. We got there and being that I have yelp, I showed the waitress that I had checked in and me and my 2 friends got free glasses of prosecco. The glasses were hardly filled to how much a glass normally is, but we didn't complain because it was free. We ordered the bruschetta as an appetizer which was just OK. For our meal the 3 of us shared two pizzas. We wanted to try both a red and white pizza so we got a Margherita and an Irpina. I liked the Margherita more, but the Irpina was also satisfying. Both pizza's were good but nothing out of this world. When we went to pay is when our party had some trouble. We showed the waitress the coupon and she told us we couldn't use two coupons for the same bill since we already had used our yelp check in for the prosecco. We told her we didn't know but she started to get an attitude with us. When I asked her if I could speak to her manager to try to solve the problem, she told us to "Forget it" in a nasty tone. Overall, the food was good, but the service wasn't that great. Not sure I want to visit this restaurant again any time soon.
(3)Aline D.
They import fresh buffalo mozzarella from Naples, Italy twice a week. Do I need say more? It is a fantastic little place, the pizza and calzones are amazing. The tiramisu is also fantastic, homemade and decadent. Very nice to have a non-chain, authentic Italian bistro/pizza place in South Beach. It can get very crowded on weekend nights but is also open really late. Will keep coming back!
(5)Chris M.
good pizza, right price, in a nice location with an easy going atmosphere in a great neighborhood for walking before or after your meal. i am a fan. best takeout pizza within walking distance of sofi area. the pizza with smoked buffalo mozz and pecorino romano is lovely. looking forward to trying the other menu items.
(4)Christina F.
An authentic taste of Italy! Delicious pizza and wine with great prices. All wait staff were Italian and so friendly. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Robert N.
In Austin, my hometown, I cannot buy proper Mozzarella.....so when I am in South Beach I always go here a couple of times. Not really the basis of a South Beach diet: but life is short people.....There are lots of ways to burn calories in Miami: and you need some extra carbs to stay up to 5 a.m. anyway!! So what would I recommend? Well, obviously, a large ball of Buffalo mozzarella. (Just do it) Their pastas are great as well. Pasta alla norma would be high on my list. The pizza margherita is among the best I've had stateside. (My mom is from Naples: and we are a picky bunch when it comes to pizza) I wonder if they would ship some mozzarella to me? (note to self, call them after this post) This is the best lunch in Miami: tremendously better than the lousy tourist food closer to the beach: and just think: if you walk there you can justify the extra carbs and calories. Ciao baby.
(5)Angela M.
We love this place! Every time we go to Miami we have to treat ourselves and stop at this wonderful restaurant. We are Italian and big pizza lovers so you can trust me if I say this is one of the best pizza we have ever tried. Really Italian style with the best ingredients and topping and only bufalo mozzarella. We even tried pasta (the Paccheri are to die for) and desserts (try the cannoli and pastiera). Everything is delicious. The staff is very nice, kind, and friendly and they make you feel at home. The people who make pizza (pizzaioli) are Italian and so are the waiters and the manger. We highly recommend it! You won't be disappointed if you like authentic Italian food.
(5)Janay M.
As Michelle C said this is a great spot for casual Italian food. I used my Foursquare app to check in and got a free bottle of House wine. Not bad. The service was very quick and I didn't have to ask for refills. Everything from the decor to the staff made this place a great location Great spot for a romantic SOBE date.
(4)Claire S.
I like this place. The caprese salad is why I am giving 5 stars as it is amazing. My baby and I ordered enough food for 4 people, I think that between 2 people you could split a pizza or a calzone with an appetizer and leave very full. We ordered the salad, a pizza, and a calzone. I threw out more than half of my calzone and watched, mildly horrified, as my guy packed in an entire pizza minus a slice I ate. That should tell you how good the pizza is. The crust is a little soggy but no other complaints. The calzone was really really good as well...I love the mozzarella they use here. So good. This place is on TV sometimes which I usually am leery of overhyped places, but this place was nice, not super crowded or anything, and the food above average (and the caprese is amazing). Also this was the nicest service we had the whole time we were in miami and key west I felt.
(5)Stephen S.
First time here and we had a good meal. The pizza with bufalo was Outstanding. The Italian salad we had was bland with few vegetables and we will not order it again. Excellent service. Will go back.
(4)Teresa K.
Husband and i split a buffalo mozzerella appetizer and a pizza. the food was excellent and despite it being a busy weekend evening the service was great and friendly. A nice exception to the South Beach rule. We had a very pleasant meal and although the restaurant was crowded we didn't feel cramped.
(4)Andrea V.
Over-priced. SO not worth it. I make better pastas at home. I am not kidding. The service was bad. The place is not too chic... and listen to this... the day I went there (90F weather in Miami Beach!) the air conditioner wasn't working. Not going there EVER again.
(1)Nandi E.
I got a living social deal for this location because of all the great reviews I saw on Yelp. It was a waste of my money. The food is overly priced and awful. I got a dish that comprised of buffalo meat swimming in sauce with arugula underneath. The meat had a funky taste (and I'm a big fan of buffalo meat). My friend got a white pizza that was just ok. Plus side, service was good. This was the first and last time I will ever dine at Fratelli La Bufala
(2)Jason G.
Great Pizza and Pasta. The marinara is better than the white sauce for the pasta.
(4)robert s.
Best pizza in Miami so far. There are so many real Italian restaurants in Miami it is hard to distinguish where to go. The food here is the closes thing I have had to real Italian food. The pizza and olive oil are good quality and fresh. My pizza came out too hot and the cheese and sauce fell off as I picked it up from platter but the taste was spot on. Next time I am in Miami I am get getting the pasta carbonara. Oh we also had the beef carpacio. That was good too. The wait staff is authentically bad too. They knew the pizza was too hot serve and when they saw the cheese just slide off; they did nothing to get another one for us. The appetizer and pizza were brought out that same time and the water did not come till i asked.
(4)Stephanie L.
This place is really good! I had the pizza, as did my boyfriend, and it tasted just like the pizza we had in Florence. I thought it was really yummy and pretty standard prices for South Beach. The staff was fairly nice and it was a great atmosphere. They were very attentive and even the manager came over to see how we were doing. Although South Beach has a great pizza place on every block, this is a nice alternative to the bar stools and outdoor plastic tables at those other places.
(4)Lauren C.
The pizza was great and tasted fresh. The service was excellent, and I say this because my husband always orders lemons with his water and they kept them coming as well as refilling glasses in a timely manner. Even though gratuity is automatically added to the bill, the staff still does a great job. Thumbs up :)
(5)Johnathan S.
Great dinner, and great service. Glad we came here. The servers really pay attention to each customer. I felt the value was pretty good as well! I will be back.
(5)Paul D.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Miami! I'm embarrassed to say with all the great places to try here I always keep a night for Fratelli La Bufala. I first tried Fratelli because my boss was visiting from Milan and knew the restaurant from there and wanted to see if it held up to his expectation. Not only was he impressed, but he too insists on visiting every time he is in Miami. This coming from an Italian that is very picky when it comes to pizza or any other Italian food for hat matter. I love the authentic taste and feel of the restaurant. The staff is always very friendly and knowledgable. The pizza of course is amazing(it's in the water) as are the appetizers. The mozzarella is delicious especially paired with prosciutto. Don't forget to finish with their cannoli. Ciao!
(5)Hooman A.
lasagna was amazing! one of the best i've ever had. white pizza was delish as well! highly recommended :)
(5)Germán R.
The best pasta I have had, so simple yet so fresh. I recommend the tortiglioni pasta. And obviously some fresh mozzarella for an appetizer. It is a little expensive, but worth it.
(5)Rima D.
Expensive soggy pizza with bad service. Coming from the NYC area I have had ten times better pizza.
(1)Michael K.
Great customer service. I never wrote a review before but after the service I had to. The owner could tell I didn't like the broccoli on my pizza so he was hesitant to let me continue eating it and offered to make me a different pizza. Great atmosphere and amazing service.
(5)Shawn S.
Gotta love pizzerias that make you feel like you are in Italy. Genuine servers, great crust on the pizza. Prices are good considering the portion sizes - we split a salad and pizza between two and it was plenty for lunch. Good Italian wine list. The pizza is "wet style" as in Napoli. Free bread and high quality olive oil. Street seating in bistro chairs.
(4)anthony M.
We had a good meal until they presented the bill and it had a $39 charge for the large buffalo Mozzarella salad. I would not have paid $39 for a good filet at this place, let alone a salad. It was a ripoff and the waiter knew it. So, I suggest you avoid this place until the management decides they are more interested in truth in advertising than in ripping people off.
(1)Dayna D.
Food was okay, but overpriced. Horrible service. The restaurant was half empty restaurant and overstaffed, yet I still waited 15 min for a glass of wine. Check came with auto gratuity and 4 biz cards, a comment card, a postcard...insult and overkill.
(1)Kristin R.
This place was recommended to me by a local as authentic italian food, and I agree whole heartedly. This is where I take people when they are hungry for italian. I ahve been several times in the last few months!
(5)Olivia C.
Really really good food and great prices. I went here for a friends bday dinner and the portions were spot-on. I ordered the linguini di gamberi and it was perfectly al dente. Definitely recommend this spot!
(4)Marcos A.
This place is awesome. The food is great, prices are reasonable, location is good. Pros.. -great Italian food. Everything we've ordered was awesome. Suggest the octopus and shrimp pasta which was delicious. The calzones were featured on TV on the Travel Channel. The Bolognese pasta was also very good. -the appetizers were great. Suggest the cold cut and cheese sampler which comes in two sizes. Get the smaller one as its enough for up to 6 people easily. - service is great. We had a 30 minute wait so the host took our phone number, recommended a bar 12 yards down where we could have a drink, and told us we would get a text message informing us our table would be ready in 5 minutes. 20 minutes later we got the text message with a five minute warning so we headed back. Impressive. - the ambience was busy yet somehow managed to feel cozy. Cons... - parking. Its South Beach what can you do? - sometimes the lines are out of control. - small place, not much elbow room. Overall, solid.
(5)Abby S.
What a fantastic meal. We ate next door a few nights earlier and had a good meal, but this experience totally blew it away. First of all, service was impeccable - all staff were welcoming and friendly. Though we didn't have a reservation they were very accommodating and sat us right away (recommend coming before 8pm if you want to be sat without a reservation). Secondly, the food was way above par in terms of freshness and quality. We started with the special, burrata mozzarella, which was fabulous - so creamy, paired with lovely tomatoes and spicy arugula. Divine. Then we went to the antipasto - the prosciutto was tender and tasty. It came with salamis and veggies that were super fresh. Entrees were also excellent - three of the four of us had lasagne which was medium; the fourth had gnocchi which was perfectly done. If/when I get the chance to go back, I will do a pizza! Such a respite and worth every penny!
(5)April B.
We had the Diavola (pizza) and Esotica (salad), it was very good. One of the best authentic Italian pizzas we've had. The ingredients were fresh and service good. I'd say one of the best food places in SOBE.
(4)Natasa S.
We came for some pizza after reading good reviews. We started with soup and salad it was ok. Pizza took forever to arrive and everyone around us was getting pizza who arrived after us. Waited 40 min for pizza and service was terrible. We had margarita and caprisiossa pizza. Soggy in the middle and not that great! There are much better pizza places in Miami. I wouldn't come back here!
(2)Paolo C.
Solid and moderately priced Italian restaurant. Great and authentic Italian pizza, good pastas, mozzarella and bresaola.
(4)A C.
Yum! Incredible margharita pizza for take out. Sauce was mild yet flavorful. Perfect and the price was just right compared to other places in SoBe.
(4)Vanessa R.
Nice ambiance! Had the rapini, sausage, and mozzarella di buffalo and it was great. Good size and no matter how stuffed you are, you need to finish it! Would definitely go back
(5)MICHELLE C.
My first time here was several years ago and all I remembered was that I did enjoy it. As we were walking around last week we decided to have dinner here. Whew wish we would have gone to tongue and cheek next door. Our server was very friendly and she did take good care of us. Having said we had good service and why two stars? OK, yes we are on the beach, prices are usually higher, no problem. If the food is good then it is not an issue. I ordered a bottle of Montepulciano and had to ask our server for an ice bucket. Mistake one ordering a bottle of wine when they keep the bottles stored in the back near the kitchen and right in the sun, yes to get HOT. This is a serious pet peeve of mine. If you are going to carry wine and charge double or triple retail prices, then what the hell serve the wine at proper temperatures. Food, so hubs ask the server if the foccacia was good and she stated it is made fresh daily. Ho hum, it comes out and hubby swore it was pita bread. She stated that is how they make it in Napoli. Hmm, OK. The three of us ordered various pasta dishes, my basic fettuccine bolognese was not good at all. Pasta overcooked, no flavor, meat even did not taste like anything. None of us were impressed at all with the food. Maybe they make a good pie? I can tell ya I will never find out, skip this place so not worth the prices, even go a few doors down to Laconda, much much better.
(2)Charlie D.
Ate here twice when we were staying in SoBe. Great pizza the first night and had the lasagne the second night...delicious! Also good service, we will be back for sure!
(5)Nadia H.
Pizza was solidly good. We got the one with prosciutto. Service was fine, outdoor seating was nice. Salad was ok, nothing special. No house-made dressing, just served with a nice balsamic vinegar and oil, which contributes to my 3 star (just "ok") review because I can (and do) sprinkle balsamic vinegar and oil on lettuce at home. Just fine for when you're craving a higher-quality pizza, as crust and mozzarella were true Italian restaurant quality, but nothing quite elevated the flavors. I can't imagine myself longing for anything on the menu here. Flavors were fresh but not special. I'd give it a solid 3 to 3.5 stars.
(3)Stephanie B.
The best pizza I've eaten in my life. Hands down! I wanted to take a picture of our meal before we ate, but the antipasto was so fantastic we couldn't wait to get our hands on the pie! If you're on fence, do yourself a favor and try this place out!
(5)Kate C.
I am vegan and had no issues finding delicious food to eat! Started the meal with bread & bruschetta which was super yum! I got a marinara pizza which has so cheese and added mushrooms and arugula without any troubles. I can easily say it was the best pizza I've ever had....the crust was AMAZING!
(5)Anna S.
Great place for lunch! I really like different soups. And in this place i found gazpacho and minestrone. It was good! P.S.: A complimentary prosecco was cool :)
(5)Benjamin O.
Awesome food! Brick oven pizza is the way to go. Solid service and a chill atmosphere. Just go here first.
(5)Thien H.
Do you enjoy bad service? A soggy, six inch diameter circle of soggy, super wet crust in the middle of your pizza? Short black hairs all over the ladies' bathroom sink (an employee washed his head in there)? Automatic 17% gratuity for a table of two? Then Fratelli La Bufala is for you! We went here based on the great reviews from yelp and were extremely disappointed. We were treated as if the server knew she was going to get a 17% tip no matter what. She was distant, short with us, and overall unfriendly. When refilling our water, she managed to splash us and everything else on the table several times. Luckily, it was just water. Another server loved to block the way from the table to the bathroom with her elbows by putting her hands on her hips and looking bored. She had no idea people were having to squeeze by her. Don't get the Mugnanese pizza ($13.00). Fries and wurstel might sound good or fun on your pizza but in reality it's a bunch of soggy fries and slices of hot dog thrown on a crust. The crust would have been delicious if not for the soggy center. The majority of the crust was inedible (except the very outside ring which was actually good). Based on our experience, Fratelli La Bufala doesn't deserve the average 4 star rating. We won't be coming back for two soggy pizzas and poor service ($35+).
(2)Laura G.
Great pizza! Thin crust, fresh ingredients. Very authentic pizza, touristy area but authentic food. This place is a franchised restaurant - YES - with the majority of the restaurants in ITALY with buffalo mozzarella being the star. We started with the La Bufalata Piccola - selection of bufala cheeses, cured italian ​meats & traditional marinated vegetables. Great starter. We had the Margarita Pizza which was wood fired, fresh and really good. Then a pasta - ​Fresh homemade cannellone, I was taken aback at how it was cooked perfectly -Al Dente.
(4)Julio G.
My wife and I had a Amazon coupon for two pizzas. This worked out fairly well. Although the pizza lacked excitement to deserve 45 stars so I'm not sure why they have earned so many. We got a salad which was very average the bread was average of the pizza dough itself was on the thin side but didn't seem to be much flavor in there pizza. Staff was nice and I can't really complain about the location that much. The one upside of the whole thing was I had Peroni on tap
(3)Anil H.
I've never been to Italy, but those in my group who have claimed that this is the closest to the real thing. The portions were huge, and food came quick. Warning, if you don't like really al dente pasta, be sure to tell your waiter to overcook it. Lots of veggie options, including a vegetable-loaded minestrone The sorbet and tiramisu were very flavorful but not too filling. The atmosphere is loud and bustling, with lots of action and various waitstaff attending to your needs. We would definitely make a return visit.
(4)Ro P.
As a first-generation southern Italian and pizza lover, I give this place a 10. The quality of the ingredients is superb and the pizza crust is perfectly crisp. Only downfall are the sly staff. The waiter asked us in Italian if we wanted water... I said 'yes'... he asked 'natural or seltzer'... I said 'natural'. Of course, being that we're not in Italy, I understood that he was going to bring us the complimentary water that most restaurants do. He brings us a bottle of 'imported fresh Italian water' (said so on the bottle) that cost $5.50 and tasted like regular tap water. We should have asked him to open it in front of us, but by then we were so drunk on pizza we couldn't think straight... Funny thing is, at the end of our meal when we asked for the check, he came around again and filled our glasses with the complimentary water AND ice.
(4)Ed S.
Authentic Italian tasty, nice size portions. The bruscetta was fresh and flavorful. Attentive ,friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff.
(4)Jane W.
Very much appreciate the manager's response to my review of 2 stars. (as follows.) Hoping that the night I went was an anomaly. Could not bring myself to take the menu out of our recommended restaurants in the apartment we rent out. After their prompt response I will come again. This is a restaurant on our must try list we give to all the people who stay in our apartment. We've been here many many times but are now taking it off our list. The pizza sauce is still flavorful, but the DOC and capriccioli was soggy and bolognese sauce was terrible. The minestrone continues to be excellent. Many of the servers are attentive and good but ours tonight preferred to have us tell across the table than come to each of us.
(3)Jaime L.
Went there for lunch. Beautifully executed pizza at surprisingly inexpensive prices, particularly based on the location. The pizzaiolo was Italian, lots of Italian people hanging out as well.
(4)Casey M.
I've been here dozens of times, and recommended it to friends who've stayed at my place nearby. Everybody has enjoyed it. Service is pleasant and attentive. The antipasti meats cheeses and salad ingredients are superb -high quality and fresh. All the pastas have been flavorful , perfectly cooked with well sized portions . Pizzas with thin crispy , not burned crusts are delicious Downside - can be a noisy inside and outside (with a lot if traffic noise ). But don't let that deter from a great Italian meal.
(4)Austin K.
Wonderful pizza. Huge salad. Enjoy with your family or your wife. Given how high prices are in south beach this is a bargain. $14 for broccoli rabe and sausage pizza. Great
(5)Daisy P.
If you're a breakfast for dinner type of person... order this "La Collinara - Bufala mozzarella, eggs, pancetta & basil" ... You're welcome! ;-)
(5)Robert F.
5 star service from Davider tonight! Busy Friday night and he was excellent! Food was very good and the service even better! We got lucky they had Burrata (sp?) tonight. Fantastic appetizer if you're a cheese lover. All in all, my GF and I had a great experience.
(4)Liza M.
Every time I visit this restaurant, I feel like I'm dining in the middle of Piazza Navona! This place serves authentic Italian food and everything I have ordered from the menu is always delicious. This is actually the only Italian restaurant in Miami where I can eat gnocchi and lasagna and not be disappointed... the taste is simply amazing!!! The restaurant is small but really cozy; it reminds me of a trattoria. Also, it is very clean and the service has always been pleasant. Yes, the place is on a busy street and if you decide to dine outside, it's loud because of the constant honking of cars and people showing off.. after all, it's Miami Beach!!! Give them a try... you won't regret it!!!! :)
(5)Andres R.
I've been there two times. Pizza is great, but both times the air conditioning inside has been too hot and the waiters have been rude. And one of those times we ordered a Burratta, the waitress suggested it, it-s like a big buffala cheese with tomato, like a Capressa salad, and when the bill arrived, they had charged us about $25 only for that plate, outrageous! But, their pizzas are really great. Well made, good ingredients, excellent flavor, 5-stars. As I said before, both times the inside of the restaurant has been too hot. Even if you're having the best pizza or food in the world, if the temperature is too hot, it can ruin everything. And it did. Also, I can't stand when waiters are rude.... And that has happened both of the times I've been there. They have to take care of that. You can have a great product, but you need to complement it with a great service. I recommend the Prosciutto Pizza with a little of Olive Oil. Excellent!! Maybe if you can get there when is not too crowded, and you can check the temperature inside, you can have a good time. Sadly, that wasn't my experience. I don't know if I'll go again.
(2)Man S.
very authentic Italian restaurant. i mean it from the moment u walk in till you walk out all are italinas working in there. the food is out of this world. you should try the home made mozzarella with tomato. the pastas are good and pizza very unique.
(5)Ole Henrik N.
Very good Italian food and a good selection of wines to compliment the food. Probably one of the best places to eat in this area
(4)Vanessa C.
Pizza came out way to quick and was very soggy , not what I was expecting from All the great reviews !!!
(2)Quiana B.
Excellent service, excellent food, authentic Italian food with mostly Italian people sitting in the restaurant. My server helped me so much and was so friendly....and gorgeous too!! Love this place and will surely be back!
(5)Pierre B.
Authentic italian restaurant. Best Pizza I have ever had in the USA so far.
(5)Olivia L.
The pizza is 5 star pizza, but charging $3 for adding arugula without mentioning the charge until the bill came knocks it down 2 stars....however the pizza was great!
(3)Marco P.
real italian pizza!
(5)Paty D.
After hearing that this place had the "best pizza ever" and the pizza was the "next best thing to what you find in Italy," I, for one, had to come and find out if this was all hype or, if in fact, it was true. I decided that since they are known for their fresh, imported buffalo mozzarella, I'd make sure to order plenty of it. To start off, we had la caprese impanata which consisted of a round, fried piece of mozzarella with a small, green salad and cherry tomatoes. When we first got it, we both thought the dish was rather small. There was one round ball of mozzarella only, which means contrary to my nature, I reluctantly had to share. We definitely liked what we tried. The breading was light, yet it imparted the perfect balance in texture to the creamy, melted mozzarella. You definitely taste the freshness & creaminess in the mozzarella, and it is by far much richer in flavor than any mozzarella you'll have on this side of the world! As to the entree, I went with pizza since this is what everyone raved about. I decided to go with the all white, nothing but cheese & more cheese pizza- la salentina. It was absolutely beautiful when it came out- loads of melted cheese evenly dispersed with subtle mounds of bufala ricotta throughout. The dough was much softer and chewier than other pizzas I've tried but it was still very good. The amount of cheese was absolute perfection but what I found it needed, as sacrilegious as it may sound, was salt. I think the cheese they use may not have a lot of salt so I did find myself sprinkling some on. All in all, I was happy downing it down. My husband on the other hand wasn't too fond of his dish & I have to agree with him. He ordered the lasagna and even though he was hoping it took him down memory lane to the one we had in Venice, it didn't even come close. It had a particular taste I couldn't quite put my finger on but he sure did- it reminded him not of not the amazing Venetian chef, but rather of Chef Boyardee! Because of this my review dropped from a 4 to a 3. All in all, I was content with my meal. I think the price is a bit high for what you get, but you're paying for South Beach in an area that is overflowing with tourists. I am willing to come by if I'm in the area, to try some more of their Italian pizza creations!
(3)Reyana F.
free wine makes everything better.
(4)Rodrigo O.
despite arriving almost 1:00 am, we were very well served by the restaurant, and had a wonderful dinner. Try the Bufala entree, a house specialty. The reale pizza was the best i've ever had in US so far, also.
(5)Deborah G.
Delicious burrata appetizer. Lasagna was good but not the best I've had and pizza was nice but was served cold. That was a disappointment although flavors were all there. I'll go back. Decent service suprised me being it's on the beach. That's never a guarantee. Great atmosphere too.
(4)Yulia K.
I was recommended to this place by an Italian friend and he told me that they have the best pizzas en whole Miami. And confirmed! It is a very nice and elegant place but you can dress casual. The service is Hi end. The pizzas are big. We got one and shared it (2ppl) they are big if you don't eat much. Highly recommend it and if you go at the sunset it becomes very romantic outside.
(5)Aliya Z.
It has been a great experience. We were just walking by and saw this restaurant. We decided to have some dinner as the time was 6 pm already. We sat outside and ordered pizzas!!!! They were so delicious and fresh! Good mix of flavors and thin delicate crust! Would highly recommend to my friends. The good supersize was he we go a checked in on yelp and got a champaign. And the manager gave us like 3 glasses instead of one!
(5)Maryluz G.
It was very good but not 5 star. Ive had better italian/pizza maybe not in miami. But I guess for being in miami it is very good. I do recommend trying it. Staff was very attentive. The bufala is very yummy. Had the eggplant for appetizer. Really enjoyed it.
(4)Iryna S.
This is one place we always try to go to when we are in Miami! Ingredients are so fresh and food always comes out delicious! I love the art and the ambience there too!
(5)Anna P.
Seriously so amazing!! The pizza, salads, apps, soups and Nutella crepes were incredible! Best meal I have had in awhile, don't waste your time going anywhere else! I was so full after I almost called a cab home.
(5)April A.
This place was great! We sat outside on the patio and had a delicious prosciutto pizza with mushrooms as well as the exotic salad. They also gave us free prosecco! Nothing bad to say about this restaurant. The pizza was authentically Italian.
(5)Cristina W.
First off, loved the ambience of this quaint pizza place in Miami Beach.. It's so cute, and you honestly feel that you are transported into Italy. Loved the quality of the pizza crust, and the richness of the fresh mozzarella is always a plus! I had read some mixed reviews about this place, but I loved every bit of it. Try the Parma pizza, it's the best!
(5)Andrew T.
A no nonsense ambience with food that is not too complicated but simply delicious... The Italian way. Gazpacho is a must for me since I try that everywhere I go and this was good here. The pizza was done right, decent prices and even the pasta was extremely well done! If the pizza dough/prep staffs would wear hats, then this review might have been perfect.
(4)Elizabeth Y.
Free valet. Great pizza - la parma (prosciutto) the best! And if you check in on yelp you get a free glass of prosecco. If you check in on Four Square you get a free bottle of house wine. Absolutely love this place. Have been there several times and still going!
(4)Daniela N.
Food is delicious!!!!! Had the prosciutto with honey and it was amazing!!! Prices are great for the food. Would definitely recommend.
(4)Jeanette B.
Come here all the time. When I lived in ltaly for a few months my husbands apartment was next to fratelli so this brings back so many memories.
(4)Brenda G.
This place was amazing to say the least. We wanted some Italian food and this place definitely met expectations. We started off our meal with some bruschetta and mixed green salad. The waiter also brought some delicious bread. I really wish I remembered the name of what I ordered, but the pasta had ham, zucchini, and tomatoes in creamy sauce. Everything was delicious! Service was prompt and the environment was inviting. It wasn't too crowded at the time we went either (4:30 p.m.) which was perfect. I would definitely go to this restaurant again and recommend it to anyone visiting South Beach who is craving Italian food.
(5)Lauren V.
I love the pizza here! Takes just like back in Italy. I'm sure everything else is great on the menu but I always end up taking the pizza. The Nutella crepes are also the best guilty pleasure for dessert :) Yum!
(5)Ryan B.
It was our first night in Miami and we had just checked into the Harrison Hotel. It was around 9pm and after a few hours of airports and traveling, we were hungry and needed to satisfy the late night craving. We decided to go for a walk and we found this place right around the corner. They had the wood burning oven going on, so that excited me. After checking in on my yelp mobile app, I received a free glass of Prosecco! I love it when I get free things! The restaurant itself had a nice atmosphere. The lighting was dim. There was outside seating for some good people watching. The wait staff were very attentive and helpful. The noise level wasn't too loud and you could have a decent conversation without having to yell. For my meal I went with the Capricciosa pizza. Thin crust with red sauce, fresh mozzarella and proscuitto. The pie looked huge for one person, but because of it's thin crust and barely-there toppings it was totally manageable. At first I thought, okay, there's not much on this thing. But after eating it, I get it. Pizza tastes better when it's more simplistic and has well crafted ingredients. The sauce, the fresh mozz and the paper-thin proscuitto were delicious. I've grown tired of chain restaurant pizza. Eating at this place was quite refreshing. And there's something to be said for using fresh ingredients. I wish we had one back in DC. Well Fratelli, until next time. addio.
(4)Candice C.
Came here a year ago and had the most uncomfortable experience of my life. I dont want nor do i like to accuse people of any type of racism or whatever my experience was engulfed in but we certainly did not get any kind of respect or good treatment and it seemed we may have told a joke that none of us knew about. Being the only minorities in the building that evening would never bother us but I was so disgusted by the workers here. There was 3 of us and the servers seemed to have some kind of joke going because they couldnt stop looking at us and laughing. We got mean stares and aside from the okay food there was little room to move around...so yea not going back there. Not supporting a place that doesn't truly understand what quality customer service means. The food wouldve allowed for 2 stars but my disappointment negated one of them. The food is not worth the prices.
(1)Lily A.
Surprisingly the owner of Tap Tap uninhibitedly recommended this place when we were sad we wouldn't be in the city when his restaurant opened for the day. And when we read that this was on the "Best thing I've Ever Ate," we rushed over.. quickly. Very cozy little shop at the corner of an intersection. Everything was just excellent, from the quick service, warm bread and butter, their house wine, and especially their entrees and the portions. We had the Ripieno Calzone (not sure which one of the calzones was on the Food Network) and the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese. The Calzone had mozarella, ricotta, salami, and pepper. And incredibly as loaded as it was with cheese, it wasn't overwhelming but more-so the melt-in-your mouth type. The Tagliatelle was flat noodles with bolognese and tomato sauce and was much lighter than expected, perhaps because the portion wasn't gigantic like typical Italian eateries. Check into this place on Foursquare and you get a free bottle of house Merlot. And it's pretty damn good stuff too, at the table we even looked up where to buy them at they're only $5-$6 at Whole Foods (we stocked up once we got back home).
(5)Bonnie L.
Please tell me whats so great about their pizza? I did not find the buffalo mozzarella amazing at all, I took a slice and pretty much asked for the check.. Above all this place is OVERPRICED! Some restaurants deserve 2nd chances but not this one =x
(1)Laura T.
I couldn;t find somewhere to eat close to my hotel that was reasonable until I got on Yelp and saw this little spot. I've walked past this several times and assumed they'd be too expensive! But they were def reasonable and I got a free bottle of wine (Moscato) by checking in with 4square. I ordered the Marghareita pizza and although it was piping hot, after my 2nd slice it was cold! Not sure if it was bc I was sitting outside, but it got cold quick. I also couldn't take my wine with me so I had to sit there like a wineo and drink the whole bottle! All in all they are very reasonable and the hot pizza part was pretty good.
(3)Julian P.
Great service and great food for the price and location near South Beach. Waiters were actually Italian and were very polite. Fine for large groups as well, they quickly accommodated our group of 11.
(4)Nato S.
Best part was checking in on Foursquare and getting a free bottle of wine for the table! Don't forget to do that. The wine wasn't half bad either. Food was good. I had a calzone and while it tasted fresh, I wish it came with some sauce or something to pair up with because there were times where it seemed a bit dry. I hear the pizza is pretty good. Nothing too out of this world, but nothing to write home about. If you're in the area, it's worth stopping by, otherwise I wouldn't make the drive to South Beach again for it.
(3)Sang C.
Great neighborhood gem. Went with the family after getting a living social coupon. Ordered 2 pizzas and 2 pasta dishes. All were great. Only negative was that it was very warm inside. Otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.
(4)Scott B.
I went to this place for my first time today. The pizza is good and spongy if you look for the crunchy and thin pizza you will not find it ! The service was quick and efficient but it was really noisy since there were lot of families coming into on sunday time (babies crying, child playing around the tables...) I don't know if'll come back there but the experience has been interesting.
(3)Roger Y.
This restaurant was recommended by my son-in-law who hails from Torino Italy - he is very particular about Italian food available in America so I was expecting the best and I was not disappointed. We arrived for a late lunch and the service was good and not rushed -I ordered the minnestrone soup and for my main meal I ordered an appetizer "La Parmigiana" which was actually an eggplant parmigiana. The soup was very tasty, very fresh. The Parmigiana was delightfull. The combination of the buffala mozzarella and a fantastic tomato sauce - just barely melted was wonderfull. The appetizer size was large enough for a main dish. My wife had one of the offerings of white pizza which was good - their pizza has a soft crust fwiw. Using bufala mozz. turns this pizza into a higher realm. If you check in on Yelp they have a free prosecco offered Only street parking is available and that can be a tough go.
(5)Linda D.
Free glass of Prosecco with check-in is true, and they didn't bring one but two for me and my gorgeous date. ..which meant two for me - yeay! Pizza was great, Iove the oven roast flavor of the crust, fresh sauce and mozz. It could have used another minute, dough seemed a tad doughy for a Neopolitan pizza. Good environment. service was just ok. Had the pizza been better is give it a 4.
(3)Ramesh A.
The most authentic and scrumptious pasta/pizza I have ever had! Simple, fresh, and authentic ingredients.....a taste of Italy in South Miami. Would definitely recommend!
(5)Vanessa M.
Let's face the facts. Miami is known for many things, but pizza is not one of them. This is why I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and authenticity of this Miami Beach gem. From New York to Chicago to Italy--I've been lucky to eat some of the best pies around. Fratelli's is now on my personal list of the best pizza and I'm proud to say it's from my hometown! I went for the classic margherita-style pizza--topped with the freshest mozzarella flown in from Italy, basil, and vine tomatoes. Cue that gesture Italian chefs do when they kiss their fingertips and say "perfecto!"
(4)Serena S.
If you REALLY love mozzarella, this place is for you. The mozzarella is really fresh and part of almost every dish on the menu. I tried the Bresaola appetizer, which is thinly sliced cured beef over a bed of arugula and parmesan cheese shavings. UHMAZING. The cured beef was great, but if it were carpaccio, we would've been in business. With every new Italian restaurant I try, I usually like to try with something simple to gauge how good their food is. So, I tried their bolognese. More bland than I'd like, but still delicious nonetheless. The pasta was cooked perfectly, which seems to be a challenge for restaurants sometimes. Service could definitely have been better. Our waitress was a bit terse and looked downright unhappy. Prices are fair, but could be just a tad better. Indoor and outdoor seating is available as well as free valet, which is nice. Just don't forget to validate your ticket before leaving! I would definitely come back again to try something else on the menu.
(4)Sophye B.
BEST PIZZA EVER! My favorite place to eat pizza. I got pizza with fresh buffalo mozzarella!!! And then for dessert we had the best Tiramisu!!! And my husband had a Cappuccino!
(5)Akhil B.
I have been here twice for lunch during my trips to Miami. The food is awesome and the location is great. I can take a walk up and down Ocean Drive after eating here. The service is also great. I wish I could be in South Beach right now.
(5)Liz S.
Nice atmosphere. We ordered the lasagna and the first brick oven white pizza on the menu. Holy cow! Delicious! Best authentic Italian food I've had. It's a bit pricey but worth it. Service was amazing and our waiter was so handsome. :)
(5)Ryan E.
The absolute most authentic Italian pizza in the United States. I have a good friend who is from Italy, and he's the one who brought me here. He speaks Italian with the staff which adds to the authenticity. My girlfriend said this was the best pizza she has ever had. For me it's on par with the best pizza - simply because it's a different type of pizza. It's different than your typical American pizza, even the best thin crust pizza is very different than this. The dough is incredibly light and has a great flavor. It's so unique you can't explain it, but it's extremely good. The service is a little slow but very professional and polite. The manager is always friendly and seems to take good care of regulars. Overall this is an absolute must restaurant to visit and well worth the drive even from Broward. It's true, pure Italian pizza made by a real Italian staff. The real deal.
(5)Sonia A.
Fresh, delicious mozzarella!!! Pizza was really good and eggplant appt. was delish! The place is on a great location but finding parking near by is such a drag. We looked around for about 20 minutes until we found some street parking down Washington south of 5th. Other than that, I would love to go back and sample more stuff on their menu! Their service was good, they were very attentive and several people stopped by not only our "assigned" waitress.
(4)Franny A.
Amazing authentic food with pizza made by a Neopalitan pizza maker with buffalo mozzarella imported from Italy. Beautiful mixed vegatables(contorni) include super flavorful cauliflower, brocolli, carrots, grilled eggplant with balsamic vinegar and a macaroni pie to name a few. Great Italian bread too. The pizza is doughy, slightly charred with strategically placed bufala, with a very flavorful sauce, it is simply delish. It reminds me of a doughier version of the pizza at Gnocco in the East Village where the owners and pizza makers are also from south of the boot.
(5)Andy T.
This place is interesting and I'm not sure how I feel about it..everything was OK but not spectacular..with the yelp ratings I was expecting something phenomenal. Mostly tourists rating, I suppose. Edit: I forgot to mention they charge a automatic 18% gratuity, as well as a 'bread' charge.
(2)Alison M.
I wanted to eat here ever since I saw it on the Best Thing I ever Ate and Mr. "How dare you put red onions in this dish!!!" from Chopped raved about their calzone. I actually wanted that calzone myself, but when the bf and I sat down at the table (we were meeting his parents for dinner) it seemed like they were already set to order. With all the catch up talk and such, I was not able to navigate the huge selection of offerings on the menu in time to find it before the waiter came by to take our order. Further compounding the issue, was the fact that the bf's parents keep Kosher and the bf likes to pretend that he does when around them, so that meant as a good girlfriend I also had to play the part. Not very many meat free dishes caught my eye. A pizza with prosciutto, mozzarella and an egg sounded pretty good to me, but alas I ended up ordering a bland tasting white pizza, with mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and basil. I ended up having to dip it in the table's balsamic and olive oil for some much need flavor. I don't think I'd order that again, but everyone else seemed to like their entrees. Service was friendly, but servers were sparse and drinks were not refilled without a flagging down. I recommend sitting inside over outside because you can watch the pizza man hard at work. It's pretty cool to see an expert work with pizza dough and the huge stone pizza oven is right there. I also liked the art work on the walls, it was very earthy and kinda reminded me of cave paintings. I think I'd like to give this place another try because I believe I just ordered poorly. I still want to try the famous calzone, but I'm going to have to figure out what its called.
(3)Andrew K.
Fratelli La Bufala has to be my favorite pizza in Miami. Cooked in a 700 degree brick oven by a Neapolitan lad, this place makes the closest thing you will find to the real deal in Southern Italy. I discovered Fratelli three weeks after returning from Naples Italy, and one week after moving to Miami. Needless to say, I was suffering from Italian food depression after leaving Italy. But...... From the first bite at FLB, I was stunned. I could not believe I was eating a perfectly executed, authentic Neapolitan pizza pie. The soft buffalo cheese directly imported, fresh and light tomato sauce, and some of the tastiest pizza crust outside of Italy, all working together to complete this masterpiece. Also, the pastas are not to be missed. The Pappardelle Bolognese and the Garganelli with homemade sausage are amazing and again, authentic. Honestly, you probably wont find a better recipe for these dishes around Dade. (although I really like Il Mullino's papperdelle). The buffalo mozzarella appetizers are all really good as well. Another thing that always strikes me when I dine at FLB is that the majority of the workers, and the patrons, are Italians. Speaking Italian (and English if need be), eating Italian, and enjoying them selves as Italians do when in Italy. The overall vibe here is much more European than American. To me this says I have found it, I have found the place to eat Italian food. Thanks Fratelli for allowing me to get a taste of Italy whenever my stomach desires.
(5)Elizabeth S.
This is a bit late, but I'm actually reviewing this...fine....establishment a few months after I visited. This was my second run-in with the utterly unfabulous service that a lot of places in SoBe have to offer. I had a friend in town and we decided to go out to eat, so our party of 3 decided on this little establishment, simply because we weren't in the mood for Chinese across the street. The outside area was empty (plenty of available tables) and we decided to sit there. The waiter who sat us went up to a couple who was eating who had a table made up of 2 smaller ones (it was clear they had not done this themselves since it was covered with a table cloth). He started pushing all of their dishes onto one table without a word and pulled it away from them. This small table for 2 became our table. The couple just stared at the waiter in disbelief as he did this, but didn't say a word. I suppose maybe they didn't think it was as horribly rude as I did. We were given menus and the usual dirty look that comes with ordering water instead of alcohol (we were going to order wine but had not had a chance to go over the list yet). When the waiter came back, we had questions about some of the menu items (being a vegetarian who has experienced many falsely advertised veg-dishes that actually contain meat, I like to ask about what I'm eating and how it's made). After three questions, he looked down at us arrogantly and said "Let me know when you're done messing around asking questions and wasting my time. When you're actually serious about ordering some food, I'll be back". He turned on his little heel and left. I was flabbergasted. "Does everything contain buffalo? Does that dish have any meat in it? Is that a hot or cold salad?" How are these not relevant questions to ask about a meal you're paying for?? As soon as he left, so did we. Please note that we did not eat anything here. I'm not about to support a restaurant with such horrible service!!!! I seriously feel like most places here lack service due to the already added 18% gratuity - which I get because I used to be a waitress who dealt with a lot of tourists that didn't realize they had to tip; however I never felt like that was an excuse to offer bad service.
(1)Alissa W.
I dined here a few times I really like this place. When they offered on groupon $15 for $35 I bought 2 ! You can't beat that price for this quality of food. I went with a friend for lunch we ordered the cheese platter it was very good an assortment of buffala mozzarella, smoked mozarella, and some other cheeses. We also got a side salad that was big for $7. We ordered the marghrettia pizza the pizza's do not have a ton of cheese because it is not packageed mozerella this is fresh folks put right on top of their homemade pizza in a wood burning oven. They have one of the best pasta dished ever Paccheri saute bell peppers, eggplant, smoked bufala mozzarella and cherry tomato sauce. AMAZING !
(4)Mike K.
Just awesome. Everything is so fresh, service is prompt and prices aren't bad at all. I LOVE the Garganelli pasta, it's my go-to. Desserts are also amazing, whatever you choose to get. If you're a DecoBike member, you even get a 10% discount for showing your card, so take advantage of it!
(5)Ximena C.
The pizza and wine at this restaurant are delicious, the portions are perfect, and its quite overpriced. The biggest problem is the fact the its overcrowded with tables inside. You have to maneuver around everyone to get to the bathroom or your table. Once you've reached your table dont even think of having enough room to lean back in your chair. To add to that is the staff. They are quite rude and inefficient. Last time I ate there they got two of the six orders at my table incorrect. So, all in all, if all you care about is the pizza go ahead and eat at Fratelli, but if you want an overall experience head elsewhere.
(2)Bill H.
Personally I'm a little underwhelmed by the food at Fratelli La Bufala. The restaurant is located on the corner of Washington and 5th in South Beach. The interior was nice. It's not fine dining, but certainly not Pizza Hut. Some friends saw a review on the Food Channel raving about the food so we decided to go. Judging by the name alone I figured this was an Italian restaurant; the menu includes many pizzas with a smattering of other Italian options. We started with the bruschetta, Carpaccio and the eggplant lasagna. I wanted calamari, however it's not something that was available on the menu. The appetizers were good and the portions were nicely sized. For our main course we had the lasagna and 3 different types of calzones. The lasagna was good, but there was something about it that reminded me of tomato sauce from a jar. The calzones were huge blocks of bread filled with cheese and had the toppings on the side. Typically when I've gotten calzones everything is baked inside so this came as a surprise. Food and service were good but we all left a bit underwhelmed after hearing the glowing review on the Food Network. Nothing left a lasting impression so I doubt I'd go back.
(2)Melissa G.
Awesome - truly delicious Italian pizza made in the oven in front of you right there in the dining room. The best pizza in Miami by far - true Neopolitan style with amazing fresh buffalo mozzarella. A pizza and a glass of wine and it's a perfect meal :-)
(4)Len D.
I'm not really a fan of red sauce pasta, mostly because a lot of places just don't make it well. But I like the red sauce here. It's the tomato richness and most likely fresh ingredients. Something so basic as tomato, basil, and olive oil sounds simple, but here its delicious and perfectly done. We started with the an appetizer for the whole table, La Bufalata. Which is basically a little bit of everything on their antipasti menu. At $36 seems a little steep, but it was surprisingly worth it. One of the best things on the plate to me was actually the carrots. I just can't figure out how they got it to that texture and flavor. One of the best things here is the pizza. I've had the Monachina and Margherita which were great. It's just very different than any pizza I've ever tried. The pizza is very thin and the kind of pizza you have to eat with a knife/fork. The crust, sauce, and definitely the cheese is different. Everything is just so different than other Italian restaurants. This place is somewhere at the top.
(5)Sharon M.
Saw four stars on Yelp, and were in the neighborhood, so went on in. It was about 12:45 on a Friday afternoon (April 20, 2012), and there was only one table eating...that should have been our clue, but we sat down and ordered anyway. I wasn't real hungry so I thought maybe a small soup would be perfect. The menu boasted their ministrone was loaded with fresh vegetables. Well, kind of. It was literally a bunch of fresh veggies tossed into a boiling unflavorful veggie broth. Again, since the soup wasn't delivered until AFTER the pizzas, I should have picked up on something not quite right. The pizzas were a good size for a personal pie, and we were watching them being tossed, so my husband and 26 year old son both ordered individual pies. My husband ordered the prociuto with tomato sauce, and my son ordered the ricotta with a bay leaf litterally smeared on, almost as an after thought. The prociutto pie was wierd...like a piece of large thinly sliced ham with a spoonful of a bitter tomato sauce, on semi raw pizza dough. My sons pie was not as edible. I love ricotta with just about anything, but this was just glopped on, again, RAW piza dough. When I showed our server, he tried to tell me that was the way it was supposed to be. When I asked another server for an owner or manager she told me there were none available at this time. Meantime, our server was preparing our bill with a MANDATORY 17% tip!! Sorry guys, there are just TOO MANY really yummy options around there to have to put up with what you tried to sell us as a great lunch. Wish we had taken pictures, but we couldn't wait to leave.
(1)Karl S.
Wallace & Grommit would love this place -- so much cheese. I have to agree with the reviewer who advised customers not to venture outside of the pizzas. In our party of three, two had pizzas and were satisfied. I had a pasta dish and wasn't. The pasta tasted borderline undercooked to me. The appetizers seem somewhat over-priced (especially in comparison to the main courses) but they are quite large. We got an assortment of cheeses for an appetizer and it nearly filled us up. The salads, outside of the basic greens, were also nearly a meal in themselves.
(3)Lindsay G.
For a chain, this place kicks it. The only reason they don't get five stars is cause,duh, they are a chain. I love this place. They import the mozzarella fresh every day and frankly, their pizza is the only pizza I can eat in the Miami area (I'm a deep dish Chicago girl-y'all). Also, they have a nice selection of proseccos and an outdoor area that is generally pretty quiet during lunch. The staff is friendly and generally accommodating with pleasant service that doesn't make you feel rushed. Also, the burrata is to die for.
(4)Sergio D.
If you want to eat the PIZZA as the neapolitans do, this is the right place to go. It's as authentic as it can get, made the same way is done in Naples, Italy (so don't expect to see your pizza overloaded with cheese, because they want you to appreciate the other ingredients as well), very thin and flavorful crust. Prices are good, and the service is as good as their food. Definitely recommended.
(5)Ed A.
Maybe it was the fact that I expected more from a 4-star yelp-rated restaurant. Or maybe it was the fact that I wasn't too hungry to begin with when I got there. Either way, I left thoroughly unimpressed with this restaurant. We took advantage of the sale on restaurant.com (you can go there and buy coupons that reduce your bill by $25, with a min. purchase of $35). My gf and I stopped by for dinner around 11 pm one night. We opted to sit outside, although it was a little muggy and we probably should have sat inside. I ordered la reale pizza (I think that was the spelling), for $18. She ordered a $16 pasta dish.. I believe it was some sort of pasta carbonara. The food came out moderately quickly (first bread was served). The pizza was very bland. It had smoked mozz, fresh mozz and prosciutto, but it really more closely resembled a frozen Ellios slice. I've had much better food at Italian restaurants back home for half the price. My girlfriend's dish wasn't much better. The pasta (which my gf claimed was homemade) was too thick and chewy, and the flavors of the sauce did little to complement it. Since we knew that the min order was $35, we also ordered a $5 plate of french fries. We waited and waited but never got the order. We then asked for the check, and of course they had issues with it since the coupon stated it was a $35 min order. I reminded the waiter that we had ordered fries and they never brought it. They apologized for the mixup, but insisted we order something else to make the limit "otherwise the computer won't let us put it in". They eventually agreed to let us order a beer, since we weren't really hungry anymore anyway. The decor is nice, but I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. There are probably better Italian restaurants in the area (although I didn't visit any others).
(2)James C.
The pizza here is just great - just like at the locations in Italy. Its no wonder so many Italian tourists take refuge here from the tourist traps on Ocean Dr. The service is also quite good. Most of the staff is Italian and was very patient with our indecisive party of 9.
(5)Eric D.
We ordered a Mediterranean salad, minestrone soup, and eggplant parmesan. Food was delicious, good sized portions, and great service. We ate a late lunch and the restaurant was busy.
(5)Maria A.
I have what some might call a pizza problem. The problem being I love a good slice. My friends had been raving about FLB for a long time. One Sunday afternoon I finally had the chance to try the pizza and understood. My friends were right this is some of the best pizza in Miami. Whenever sampling a new pizza I usually order a simple cheese or margherita. If they can do simple well, then there is hope. FLB's pizza was well flavored with a strong balance of cheese, minimal sauce, and crust. The pies are brick oven and that really produces a remarkable flavor. With Pizza Volante gone, this might be my new oven lovin regular.
(4)jen r.
i had bought a voice deal of the day. for $7 i got $20 worth of food. went in the other night and ordered 2 pizzas a traditional margherita and a white 4 cheese pizza. i liked the margherita better. anyways the final bill came out and it was only a $10 difference. the service was really nice and the pizza came out super quick. they didnt treat us any differently bc we were using a coupon deal. but the 18% tip was automatically included. i will definitely be back for some traditional italian goodness. btw it totally helped set the mood that the couple next to us were speaking italian the whole time, if i tuned out all the honking from washington ave and the tourists from wisconsin on our other side i coulda almost felt like i was in florence.
(4)Marina V.
Restaurants.com once again drew us to this little corner eatery, and being a busy few weeks with spring break going on (this publishing is a tad late), it was a welcome respite from the crowds ! Quaint little place; weathered a bit from the south beach atmosphere but not detracting. The menu looked great, and after checking into yelp we received a surprise bonus; 2 complimentary prosecco! NOICE! round it out with the 'Affettati Misti' to start. The meats and cheeses were all fresh and tasty (some of which we hadn't tried before), and the other goodies (olives, veggies, peppers, tomatoes) added to the mix. We watched as the chef in the open kitchen prepared several dishes, wondering what looked the best and , with the intoxicating aroma wafting about, it was tough to decide! We settled; 'Lo scarpariello' and 'Ripienone' ....Hmmm, more simply put, pasta sauteed with cherry tomatoes, crushed red pepper and basil, and a nice Calzone with fresh ricotta and mozz, and sweet salami. Perfecto ! Again, everything was very fresh and complemented the second glass o' prosecco we had. Perfect late afternoon lunch. Parking is a bit tough on very busy days (when ISN'T it busy on this corner!) but don't let that detract you from trying this place. Buon Appetito!
(4)Neil R.
This is the BEST pizza that I have had outside of Naples, Italy. And I used to live in NYC. I recommend getting a simple cheese only, pizza margarita. Toppings will only detract from the heavenly experience.
(5)Lizzie R.
Overall I was impressed by this place. I recently moved to the area and am enjoying trying out the restaurants and this is one I would go to again. The crust of the pizza is really good - crispy yet chewy with just a hint of saltiness. My bf had the buffalo burger which was also tasty but oddly did not come with a bun. One star down for the abrupt service, and the tiramisu was only OK.
(4)Lisa C.
I wanted to try this place for a while and I am so happy I did. Food is amazing and the staff are Italian and speak it. It is the reaaaaal deal. I brought my dog, ate outdoors (hated the noisy motorcycles so next time I eat inside). We got a salad and a Calzone and shared. Portions are good for sharing. Next time I come I am trying pasta because the calzone had a very smokey brick overn burn type of tatse. It was good but I wouldn't order it again. But the PASTAS and the salads mmmmmm. The lady sitting next to me had a fettucini alla bolognese and it looked like pure heaven in a plate. The other couple sitting to my other side shared a pizza (there are good size for sharing) but I noticed when he picked his slice up same burned thing going on. For pizza and Calzones I'm sticking to SPRIS on Lincoln Rd. But I'm looking forward to coming back here for a nice pasta dish. mmmmm! Bottom Line: Order a salad, and the pastas, and the entrees but not impressed with the Calzone or pizzas.
(4)Ron G.
Great pizza. Authentic Italian Style. My wife loves the coffee. Too bad there aren't any of these in the Philly area. :(
(5)Usu I.
I love their pizza. I've read many different reviews and have to say, it's good; some reviews are quite harsh. A cute story behind their franchise and the food is quite good. The pizza is baked quickly and their special with fresh bufala mozzarella and cherry tomatoes is delicious. For two, it's nice to share a pizza and then each an entree. I find it that the entrees are kind of small. The price is a bit high for a specialty pizza ($20+) and an entree each; but I pay for what I want, and I do have this craving from time to time. I'd like to comment that the service could be much better, and the staff could definitely improve on their sanitation. All in all, I am a fan.
(4)Stephanie W.
Came here after seeing it on Food Networks' "Best Thing I Ever Ate" and OMG the Ripienone Calzone is SO DELICIOUS! Service was great. Free bottle of house wine if you check in with FourSquare...
(5)Nina T.
good honest italian food. only gnocchi and lasagna and maybe cannelloni are fresh made pasta, rest of pasta is box fyi. gnocchi sauce was great. salads big--share w another person.
(4)Gianna O.
The mozzarella is delicious. Nice, crispy crust. This is not your typical "city" pizza place, but it definitely stands out.
(4)Joshua W.
There is no better Napoli style crust in Miami. Period. Service is always right on point. The owner, Larry, is so on top of guest service it just goes against everything you hear about South Beach poor service. My favorite is the Diablo...nice spicy sausage. My Gal loves the Monachina...3 cheeses and that's it. Regular Mozz, smoke Mozz, and like a parm..outstanding. The pastas are great too..the gargenelli (sp) in the cheese bowl....PLEASE! amazing. Get one of these up in Chicago and it may actually challenge my love for Chicago style pizza.
(5)Barbara R.
I was born in Italy and I carefully avoid Italian restaurant, because they are not even close to the original. Not to mention the fact that Italian cooking is very different from the North to the South and even from town to town. Fratelli La Bufala aims at being different . The pizza is the thin-crusted real thing and the antipasto brought back fond memories, but the pasta felt too gooey and the Caprese was embarrassing: $17 for four painfully thin slices of tomatoes topped by as thin slices of mozzarella is borderline insulting. Th service is pretty attentive and good. I enjoyed myself the other night, but I am not sure I will be back.
(3)eglys h.
delicious. fresh. amazing. coupon on hand, we went to try them out. funny thing, one nite we were watching tv (food network) and caught a bit of Guy Ferri's show. it was about this place - next day a coupon $20 for $7 becomes available and we just had to get it. off we went. friday late nite - place was pretty full. found street parking a couple of blocks down. requested a table inside. immediately we sat down and waiter came over. took our drinks order and patiently waited for us to order food - 1st time there took a bit extra time to review menu. wanted to make sure to get it right!!! as we were reviewing, the table next to ours received their first course - CAPRESE salad. a nice size portion too.... approx 4-6 slices of fresh bufalo mozzarella and nicely sliced tomatoes. so we knew then we had to have same!!! so we ordered it. A MUST when you go!!! It is the most delicious bufalo mozzarella we have ever had!! melts in your mouth!!!! when you drizzle a little of the balsamic vinegar over it, enhancing its flavor to a new level, your taste buds jump for joy!!!! the off the the next course - due to their famous "best pizza ever" legend, we had to try it. and also cause of the show where it featured their Calzone we had to try that too..... We had a Blanca Pizza (white pizza - no sauce) ham/mushroom and a Calzone with the smoked mozzarella. both came out promptly. delicious!!! we really enjoyed them both and had a bit to take home. when in Italy and not try a canoli ? could not do it. had to have it. nice size portion 2 per serving good enough to share but really do i have too!!! delicious creamy mozzarella cream!!!! it was so yummy...... lots of chocolate drizzled over top and lots of powdered sugar!!!! also had a glass of the house wine - not bad at all.. Overall we really liked this place. the place is nice, food delicious, service super good (no issues with the coupon) We will make it a point to back soon...
(4)A S.
This little Italian restaurant has the most amazing and delicious pizza outside of Napoli. The buffalo cheeses, buffalo meats, salads and every dessert are exquisite. They have a good wine list and decent service. I guess it depends who you get. I have always been lucky. If I don't give this place a 5 star is because they have to work on their espresso machine. I love the food here. I will keep coming back and recommending it to everyone. This place never lost quality since they opened.
(4)Joaquin M.
I have eaten pizza here a couple of times in the past 4 years. The place is very cool. I always had good service. In an actual italian restaurant that is an achievement. But every time I finish my pizza, this thought comes to my head: This is way I didn't came back to this place: Its the cheese! They use buffalo cheese. Its suppose to be better, more expensive, you get the picture. But they use so little cheese, I feel like I'm eating Bread with sauce and some hints of cheese. That is not pizza! I want cheese on my pizza. I don't want to see the bread, except on the border of the pizza. And BTW I don't love cheese. I never ask for extra cheese . I actually only eat cheese on pizzas. But whats the point of eating a pizza and trying to find the cheese there. So after 4 times of getting annoyed by that. I decided i have given them enough chances. You guys keep making your pizzas with very little cheese and I'll give my money to someone that actually uses cheese on their pizza.
(3)Mimi M.
very fresh mozzarella! a little pricey but overall good food.
(3)Aris F.
Just another place serving sad little attempts at pizzas. I was hoping for one of the best pizzas in the Miami area, but what I got instead was "bland and underwhelming," as Chester B put it. I had heard so much about their "mouth-watering cheese." Where was this extraordinary mozzarella? It sure wasn't on my pizza. Then there was the tomato sauce, which had enough salt to kill a small horse (I only lived to write this review by being unable to consume the whole pizza). And only a single, token basil leaf on a margherita? WTF? Not to say their other food isn't good -- the place was packed, so they must be doing something right, I guess. If you do decide to go, be prepared to pay for parking. It's Sobe, after all.
(2)Jenny L.
Wonderfully cozy restaurant with excellent pizza. Went during a weekend for lunch and we were seated quickly.The valet parking is free if the restaurant validates if for you. The server was friendly and willing to offer tips about the trademark dishes. Ended up getting the pizza with the prosciutto on top and it came out w/ a warm thin crust topped w/ tomato sauce and excellent blend of prosciutto and herbs. Excellent food.
(5)J B.
I felt transported to Italy when we dined here last wk. Everyone here speaks Italian and all the waiters are HOT. We ordered the Cheeze + Tomato appetizer...meh, just OK. But their Margherita Pizza was yummy! The soft cheese and light tomato sauce on the thin crust was cooked perfectly on their stone oven. It's big enough to share between 2 people. My friend ordered fried mozzarella and it was one big fried ball. Pretty funny.
(4)Kris M.
Amazing! Yes, I mean amazing! One of the few places in Miami that offers a taste of Italy! Pizza is great. My favorite is the diavola with spicy salami and fresh mozzarella. Their pasta is always good, and if you're not into pasta try their buffalo fillet! Very nice! The servers are A's friendly and knowledgeable A's the servers in Italy and they speak Italian. Even the managers are friendly! Overall a great place! I highly recommend it!!!
(5)Brent M.
One of the best places to get a pizza in Miami. The mozzarella alone is worth braving the horrors of a trip to Miami Beach (sorry Miami Beach residents). Bruschetta is so ubiquitous that it's hard to find a place that offers in a way that really stands out, but FLB is one of those places. My favorite pizza is the Diavola - tomato sauce, spicy salami, bufala mozzarella, basil & crushed red pepper. Awesome.
(4)Victoria L.
If you are in a mood for a good pizza, I mean VERY good pizza, no frills, no thousands of toppings, but simple sauce, cheese and some basil prepared to perfection, this is the place. I have tried other items on the menu, but their Traditional Italian Margarita pizza is the one I come back to all the time. Also, their bufala and strawberries dessert is amazing.
(4)Rubes L.
Being a huge fan of Italian food, I actually don't really get the hype over FLB. Boyfriend and I ordered a pizza and a calzone, and both were decent but not especially impressive. The service was pretty quick but not especially good, same for the price. They do have a pretty extensive pizza menu though, so we could have been unlucky with our choice as well.
(3)Andrea S.
If you're going crazy looking at the same menu restaurant after restaurant on Ocean Drive and have a hankering for good Italian food, hustle on over to FLB. My mom and I were seated immediately, my choice of table landing us right in front of the TV during a Milan-Munich game (score!) and a basket of warm bread and free prosecco (thank you, foursquare!) were promptly brought out. I would say that the game was great, which it was, but the staff of native Italian men made it fun to look beyond the TV, too. We ordered the mediterraneo salad and my god that mozzarella! Bring me out a plate of the mozzarella with a drizzle of balsamic and I would've been totally content. For my entree I ordered lo scarpariello. As someone that cannot tolerate really heavy food when it's hot out, this "light" pasta fit the bill. Don't let the simplicity fool you, the very few ingredients are put together perfectly and highlight the freshness. I googled this place as soon as I got home only to find that FLB in DC closed right before I came back to town. Maybe instead of going back to Miami, I'll hit it up next time in Italy.
(5)Michelle D.
Do yourself a favor and visit their website - even if you don't need to look at the menu ahead of time. Charming story on how the place all began and music to accompany. Friendly staff, ready to bring you extra olive oil or vinaigrette, if need be. Fresh ingredients (buffalo mozzarella imported weekly) and pleasant view of 5th Street. And, fun fact, the logo is a water buffalo. Seriously wish I could get the name of the song they use on their homepage. Ah, for another day!
(4)Ray m.
I wouldn't say it's the best but definitely the freshest! all the ingredients are fresh and the pizza is made almost in front of you. it's a small place with the pizza in the dining area. I ordered a simple preusuto with cheese and it was just enough for 2 to share. owners are italian and the prices are average. we only came here b/c checking in with yelp gave free glass of wine. it's worth stopping by again
(4)Lauren P.
Best Pizza in Miami by far!!
(5)Eric B.
Diavolo pizza is delicious. Bit cramped inside.
(4)Christina B.
My husband had the pizza and I had the pasta. Pretty good and a nice portion. My only complaint was that it was as hot inside as it was outside and the chairs are not very comfortable.
(3)Daniele F.
I went here for dinner tonight...Cool place, slick service and great pizzas...nothing like the rest of the trash they serve in Miami (apart from Blue La pizzeria del Sole, which is 30 miles away...) Real Italians (like me) work and dine there, just because it feels like home and the pizza is the best around! Try some of the specials...even if not all of them are so great!
(5)Joseph P.
Better than I thought it would be..it is on a super crowded corner of 5th and Washington. I figured it would be full of tourists and overpriced, but went with a coupon ($15 for $35!) . Sat outside in a surpisingly serene little "garden" on 5th st. Very pleasant evening and decent food.
(3)Alex G.
I have to say this is one of those places where you can either get so excited and love it, or you can simply say "never coming again" - I think it all depends on the day, the time, and the mood of the waiters - So, to the point, most of the menu is good, the pizzas are very good, the pastas not always the best. The services depends on who you get - The location is fantastic, the parking a pain - Give it a try, and let us know what you think - Ciao !
(3)Osama B.
Best bufala ever. I think I can eat here everyday and never get sick of it, ever. You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack. But when I came hereI knew this would be a place of my own. And my wolf pack... it grew by one. So there... . I was alone first in the pack, and then Doug joined in later. And six months ago, when I first went here I thought, "Wait a second, could it be?" And now I know for sure, I just added one more to my wolf pack.
(5)J C.
Food is Amazing! My taste buds had an orgasm for every dish I ordered from apps to main course & dessert. Atmosphere is great w/ indoor & outdoor seating. The prices are a little pricier plus they automatically add a 17% tip on your bill.
(4)Cathy M.
great pizza, decent prices. i would go back with family, kids are welcome... i got a free bottle of house wine for the table with my foursquare check in!
(4)adrian s.
all I have to say is, this is the one place in Miami where you want to eat Napoli style pizza. EXCELLENT!
(5)Andrew K.
Great restaurant....the food is dang good and the service is friendly. There's this one pasta dish that has a light cream sauce and sausage, and is served in a Parmesan bowl. (yes, a bowl made out of Parmesan cheese!) I had the gazpacho soup, which was tasty. It was pureed, which I'm not used to, but the taste was really nice. It ends up being pricey if you order salad and dessert.
(4)Richard H.
The lasagna is to die for! However, service wasn't great. No one greeted us as we came in, and after bringing our food, no one checked on us until we were ready for the cheque.
(4)Yuli L.
FLB is a small yet cozy italian restaurant on SoFi. All the servers are originally from Italy, which adds to the authenticity of the establishment. Most of the people dining seem to be Italian locals; that should tell you something. The food is great -- my favorites include the carpaccio and the scarpariello. Lastly, if you check in w/ foursquare(not sure about the yelp app) you get a free bottle of house wine w/ your meal.
(4)Y P.
I usually don't venture into the SoBe area for eats but when I was around the area, I remembered hearing about this place and decided to stop by. Now, the food is absolutely amazing. But the service is not there. I mean, the food came quickly and my water was refilled in a timely manner and all, but the staff was extremely apathetic. And the fact that the 17% tip was included in the bill may be the reason why. I've read that this is usually the case in SoBe but this is the first time I've actually had to witness it. But besides this, the food definitely merits a five. I came to order the neapolitan pizza and calzone. I was thoroughly impressed by the sheer size of the calzone. But I quickly forgot about the size once I tasted it. The first bite was one of just dough. Now, I would imagine this to be quite boring and a nuisance in other calzones but I wouldn't mind just ordering this dough and munching on it as a meal. Its literally that good. But once again, this great impression was shattered after I went deeper into the calzone. The cheesiness was great but for me, the best part was the ricotta. I don't know how to explain it, but this was probably the best ricotta I've ever tasted. Probably because of the freshness. The pizza was just as great here. I ordered the simple margherita and it blew my mind. The person I was with has had pizza at naples and claims that although this pizza wasn't quite as good, it was definitely up there. Extremely authentic. The cheese was great as well and the crust did not change. Sheer bliss. The price tag did not come as a bother either, because I found $7 to be extremely reasonable. I will definitely be back here, and maybe since I know what to expect from the service, I will finally be able to award this place its 5th star. But until then, the disillusionment of bad service keeps me from giving it to them.
(4)Maris D.
We paid $75 for dinner for two adults and two small children, no liquor. The pizza had hardly any cheese or toppings. It took forever to get the food. I had to ask for every refill on drinks. The waiter gave us "incorrect" change, tried to keep $6 and when we called him out on it, he did not apologize. Just put on a pissed off grin. NEVER AGAIN
(1)C R.
Really excellent spicy salami pizza, I never would have thought it would taste so good, they have the right ovens if you are into pizza.
(5)Andrew J.
Pizza is excellent, made with buffalo mozzarella as the name implies. Very urbane, on a busy corner in South Beach. Lots of outdoor seating for people watching. Mostly Italian staff.
(4)Liliana E.
Good food...pizza, salads, desserts, wine, coffee. It's a relatively small place and it's usually packed. If the weather is nice you can sit outside, otherwise expect the waiters to be running by you every minute.
(4)Arlynes H.
Delicious Italian food, our waiter had the mean face of the waiters that you find in Italy but our food came fast and with perfect taste! Caprese impanata( I think that this is the correct spelling) tastes so good that you don't want to share.!
(4)Darin C.
I ordered a pizza and a calzone. Both came out soggy except for the edge, which was good. Limp pizza doesn't do it for me.
(2)Nicholas P.
I like everything about this place. I will start with the service, the first time I went not only was the service great on an especially busy night, my beer bottle was broken and even though I did not cut my lip, the owner comped our meal. You usually don't find customer service like that in Miami restaurants, instantly made me a fan and regular customer. Their pizza is fantastic, plenty to choose from and very authentic, IMO one of the most authentic Italian experiences in Miami. They do have a few other locations, but this is the only one outside of Italy, or at least Europe for that matter. The Italian options are equally as good as the pizza, I have not had a bad dish there. I have been on dates there, with groups and to their anniversary party, alwas great ambiance and a good vibe. Finally we get to the price, these guys understand the restaurant business.
(5)Joe W.
My girlfriend and i went here, i ordered the restorinto calzone which had alot of dough to it and very little meat but a perfect amount of cheese. I was expecting it to be better then it was but it was still good, i ate this all bu myself so it was a good portion. My girlfriend had the diavalo pizza which was very good, the sauce was sweet and spicey but was alittle different then our home town pizza that is thick and hard. This was alittle soggy so expect to eat it with a fork.
(4)V F.
Very good food and very good service as well. We had a pizza (Diavola), pasta (Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese), and Bufala Tiramisú and Sorbetto for dessert. They were all tasty and delicious. My kids loved all of the food. The location is close to South Beach. To top it off, they had free valet parking too!
(5)J R.
Awesome authentic pizza. Mozzerella is imported weekly and unlike anything you can get locally. Try the bufala appetizer with foccacia! Friendly staff and they all speak italian
(4)David C.
I love this place. I have been to this location on a couple of occasions and each time I have had a pizza. The staff could polish up on service skills, but the quality of the food is excellent. The pizza crust is thin and tasty. The size of the pizza, while we were told was meant to serve one, can serve two if one person is not too hungry. If ordering a pizza, do not order a salad... you will not be able to finish both. One of my friends ordered some pasta and was pleased with his dish. Outdoor seating is available... and was packed over the NYE weekend. The interior is nothing special, so do not head here when you are looking to impress. However, head here for some good pizza. I have had better, but not too many better than this spot. If you are looking for a quality pizza with fantastic flavor this is your spot.
(4)Mauricio B.
We were very happy with the salad (Mediterraneo) we ordered; however, pizzas were disappointing, not much taste and crust was too soft. On the positive side, hostess was friendly and was able to seat us fairly quickly even though the restaurant was very busy. Service was also prompt: however, waiter ignored the request to provide the offer announced on Yelp for a free glass of Prosecco. The positive part is that when I told this to the manager, he gave me the wine I had as a compliment. Very good response, which makes me feel like coming back to try other dishes in this restaurant.
(3)sean k.
A near-perfect pizza. Sweet sauce, thin-crispy dough, and the FRESHEST mozzarella cheese a pizza can have. The basil doesn't hurt either. I also love how the pizza only takes a couple minutes to make, because it is SO thin, 1 person could easily polish their own pie.
(4)Valerie D.
The pizza, bread and homemade cheeses were phenomenal! I cant say enough about them! Two thumbs up. The service, however, leaves much to be desired. Our host/server was not too friendly. He seemed to be annoyed when we walked in at 1pm for lunch. He came to take our drink orders but only listened to what kind of water we wanted and walked away. We asked for other drinks on his next visit to our table. It was hot out so we went through our water pretty quickly but no one was available to provide a refill for a long time. He was only nice when we were signing the check, which seems odd to me since the restaurant tacks on an automatic ~17-18% gratuity. Maybe thats why he did not feel compelled to go out of his way. That being said, go for the food, not for the service. It IS just a pizza joint after all.
(3)Mike B.
Delicious fresh Italian food.
(4)Carolina C.
This is by far the BEST pizza in Miami! We go almost every week and we've never had a bad experience. The service and the food are excellent! Highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Ericstevenc T.
Great Cafe pizza
(5)Ian A.
Some of the best Pizza I've ever had! Recommended by a friend who's from Northern Italy.
(5)Adam C.
Having just moved to the area, I have decided to deem this my favorite local Italian spot. Our group of four thoroughly enjoyed every bite. I had a pizza with various cheeses. The dough was cooked to perfection in their wood burning oven. You know, not too crispy, and just chewy enough. The little lady had a rigatoni with pancetta and zucchini. She insisted I try it, since she could barely finish half of it. Kryoman ordered the straccetti; sauteed beef and mozzarella over greens. It looked good. Mrs. Kryoman got her standard go to dish, carpaccio, which was prepared to perfection. This place is truly deserving of five stars.
(5)Jimmy M.
This place was really good. Great service and the food was excellent. We got the lasagna, pizza diavolo and a pasta dish (name escapes me) and split it all. Definitely recommend it if you're in South Beach.
(4)Alan A.
The best mozzarella de buffalo we have had outside italy. The pizza was amazing as well.
(5)Masie R.
This is one of my favorite places in Miami Beach, even though we walked by it all the time, it wasn't until we were watching Food Network that we realized what we had down the street. After trying the calzone, we were hooked!! The cheese is AMAZING and cooked perfectly. Even the burnt edges taste like toasted marshmallows. Don't be intimidated by the prices, my boyfriend and I usually split the calzone and its enough food to be satisfied and its only around 15$. Definitely recommend stopping in if you haven't already.
(5)KK H.
This is the BEST, perhaps the only, real authentic Italian pizza I've ever tasted outside of Italy. If you're looking for American-style or fusion pizza like 99.999% of American pizza places, you won't find it here. This is not pizza you eat with your hands, but rather with a fork and knife. If you haven't had this experience in Italy, you may not appreciate it. If you've never been, this will be as close as you get to a real Italian pizzeria. Reviewers who are disappointed in this restaurant don't understand what a treat they're getting. My only disappointment is that the desserts are a little pricey, but that's only a tiny thing. The Capriccioso is my favorite--it's absolutely amazing. Hoping this amazing restaurant expands to the West Coast in Los Angeles.
(5)Vanessa G.
Amazing! Real Italian pizza in Miami. We were in an out of the place in 30 minutes, service is excellent and unbelievable fast! Simply great!!!
(5)Georgiana B.
Fantastic spot! So much more appealing than Ocean Drive establishments. Do not waste your money there. I come to Miami 5 or 6 times a year and I go to Fratelli every single time.. sometimes twice in one visit. The food is very authentic and delicious and the ambiance is European. Don't miss this spot!
(5)Franky A.
I love this place! Great food and atmosphere. The service can be slow at times but it's such a fun place with great food.
(4)Jill H.
Amazing REAL italian pizza. There are locations in Italy, so you know it's authentica!!
(5)Niketasuniel S.
For my 3 week work trip most of my expense receipts come from this place. We loved it!!! Pizza almost like Naples and Gazpacho soup mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm so fresh!
(5)Tracy T.
Don't have to go running back for the pizza. It was good, but I expected the best ever.
(3)jonathan l.
Came here courtesy of a groupon. The place was pretty empty during lunch time, and ordered a simple mushroom and seafood linguine. The service was ho hum, and the pasta while good, didn't wow me. The place was full of Italians - if you want to see Italian tourists, this is the place to be. Speaking of which, the staff was all Italian as well. The one thing I didn't like was the comment made to me when I asked for the Parmesan. Whether intentional or not, the server was condescending. "We usually do not put parmesan on seafood but you can put it on if you like". Like dude, this is the US of A! Save your patronizing remarks for Berlusconi. I can ask whatever I want and the customer is always right! Also, the whole time the entire staff was watching an Italian soccer game on TV. (Very Italian...) The place also makes a great deal of being featured on "best thing I ever ate". Given the fact that the people on that show are all Italian-Americans, the bias is palpable and really, if the stuff here is "the best thing I've ever eaten" the hosts of that show really has no credibility and needs to go for a palate transplant. I've been to Italy. I've been to Italian restaurants all over the world and believe me, this place is very pedestrian and ordinary pizzeria. The worst thing about this place is the 18% automatic gratuity. Really didn't want to pay this since it was undeserving but decided to just pay it and never come back again. Go if you like ordinary Southern Italian fare that forces you to pay for bad service. Plenty of great restaurants (Italian included) in SoBe.
(1)Jeffrey E.
Amazing pizza, .very authentic Italian cuisine Nice atmosphere with the outdoor seating as well.
(5)Stephanie R.
Best pizza I've ever eaten. The menu and waiters all speak Italian so if you're looking to impress someone it would be a good way to do so, unless you don't speak Italian then you'll sound kinda weird when you order something. The dough is incredible, nothing like papa johns or pizza hut, and it is not extremely expensive and you still get to experience authentic Italian pizza. I would recommend it to everyone!
(5)Erica H.
We saw this place on an episode of "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" and we knew we had to come and eat here ! The pasta is amazing the mozzarella is nothing short of some of the best I've had ! This is a must have !
(5)bernardita w.
... it is without a doubt the best restaurant on the beach... besides the amazing pizza, you can also eat great pasta and the best MOZZARELA everything taste so fresh I LOVED IT!!!! great for any occasion...it's so cozzy and has great service
(5)Chester B.
I come to Miami every December for work, and have eaten at this place for the past two years. Service is fine. I always find the food bland and underwhelming. I think they put far too much cheese on everything. The mixed green salad is served with a fist-size mound of buffalo mozzarella in the middle. Do I really need to eat a 1/4 pound of cheese with my salad? I ordered a pasta and it was loaded with melted cheese; so much that it stuck to my fork and I couldn't get it off. I complained and they brought me out another pasta that they said had a little bit of ricotta cheese. It wasn't a little. It was a lot. I feel like I just paid $50 for a stomach ache.
(2)Andy L.
Fratelli La Bufala is an Italian trattoria that focuses on everything buffalo: buffalo cheeses, buffalo meat, etc. and is generally good at what it does. The buffalo mozzarella is never that "flown in this morning from Italy" cheese that people line up for in Italian neighborhoods in NY, Chicago, Boston, etc., but it is generally fresh and tasty. Today we had some service issues that marred the dining experience and will make us cautious about going back. Our server was GianLuca or, as I call him, "Signore No". When we tried to order the buffalo meatballs, Signore No told us that they weren't good and were made of vegetables. The menu clearly states that they are made of buffalo meat and we have had them before and enjoyed them. Signore No would not hear of it and asked us to order something else. When we asked for a half order of gnocchi, Signore No said "no". We capitulated and asked for a full order of gnocchi with olive oil instead of the sauce on the menu, and Signore No firmly replied "no". The gnocchi was only available with the sauce on the menu. No substitutions. Now, I know better than to walk into an Alain Ducasse restaurant and ask for menu changes, but this place isn't Louis XV in Monaco. GianLuca got his 17% tip that the restaurant added to the bill, but he certainly didn't get anything extra from me. This guy needs to find another career. To be fair, the food was fine. Everything was tasty and, except for the antipasto plate (La Bufalata: one ball of mozzarella, two slices of prosciutto and some vegetables & lettuce...overpriced at $23), the dishes were priced fairly. We might go back and try again...but not if Signore No is waiting tables!
(1)Carolyn T.
Well, last night's dinner was an impromptu visit with three guys who are sound and production engineers for a sound-artist. It was their recommendation so I tagged along to FLB - Fratelli la Bufala on Washington -- apparently they heavily promote the twice-weekly delivery of fresh Mozzarella. We started with two salads; an asparagus salad which was far from a salad as it was served with a hot cheese sauce and cold lettuce. Very, very weird. One of the guys really loved the cheese sauce and cleaned the plate with the accompanying bread, but I found the asparagus to be far from fresh, overcooked, and very stringy. The second salad had oranges, hearts of palm, walnuts and greens. Interesting but unexceptional. Between the four of us, we ordered two pizzas and two of the specials. One pizza was bedecked with fresh cherry tomatoes and rocket (which, honestly, I don't think *was* rocket) and the other was the "La Reale" which I remembering being the most interesting-sounding (with various meats and cheeses) but I did not get to taste. The other was mostly soft in the center and was a pizza that had to be eaten with utensils. However, when I got the crust, I was pleasantly surprised as the dough is obviously house-made. The two specials were a fettuccine with a creamy mushroom sauce which (although it was my order), was the least of my favorites of the evening. It was pasty and thick but the guy who liked the cheese sauce on the asparagus really liked my mushroom pasta. The other special of the evening was a large platter of mixed grill; steak, sausage, vegetables. I only got to taste the sausage which was perfectly fine but hardly ground-breaking.
(2)Kristy C.
Just tasted like typical Italian pizza place.
(3)renata W.
What a great find!!! Thank you Yelpers for recommending this. The place is nice and casual, fairly small and intimate. The wait staff was very nice, attentive and helpful...and yes, handsome... The food was fantastic! We ordered an appetizer of speck, cheeses baked with walnuts and honey (Il Pignatiello Speck (smoked prosciutto) wrapped around bufala cacio cheese and baked with honey & walnuts). While not a combination I would put together, the result was delicious! We also got a red pizza (La Reale tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, bufala smoked mozzarella, bufala ricotta & prosciutto crudo) and a white calzone (Cornetto di bufala calzone stuffed with emmenthal & caciotta cheeses and garnished with prosciutto, arugola, tomatoes & parmesan shavings), both of which were done to perfection. I feel, that it doesn't really matter what you order as the quality of the ingredients and the preparation is so wonderful that everything comes out delicious. We also had the tiramisu and a La ricottina (Light lemon flavored bufala ricotta cream, topped with strawberry sauce), both of which were great -- light, flavorful and with just sufficient amount of sweetness. Overall, a great experience. Can't wait to do it again
(5)Deborah H.
We ordered a a salad, a pizza, and a burger to share among four during lunch at this casual restaurant. It was plenty of food. The pizza was very good: cooked to order in a huge stone stove in the corner. It was fun watching the (really cute) pizza guy fastidiously turn the pizzas around to ensure perfect crusts. The burger, made out of buffalo meat, was interesting. The meat was a little tough and slightly gamey. It was my first time having buffalo meat and I didn't especially enjoy it, so it won't affect the rating.
(3)Maria T.
My daughter told me that this restaurant is really bad, but most of the reviews I read were so good that I wanted to try it, in spite of her advice. I asked a very simple dish: insalata caprese. Three pieces of very standard mozzarella (you can find much better ones at Wholefood) some tomato and a small bunch of basil leaves. Nothing more! There was some olive oil and salt in the table, so I had to "finish"it. My daughter's Pizza margherita was soggy, with lumps of mozzarella unevenly distributed and no seasoning at all. In some reviews people love the " authentic italian feeling " of the place. When I was there, the language spoken by everyone was spanish and I have nothing against that because it is my own language, but forget the romantic idea of "feeling in Naples". It is very much a South Beach tourist trap.
(1)Gina B.
This place is great! My husband and I actually went on one of our first dates to this place, so it holds a special place in my heart. The food is delish and the ambiance really adds to the experience. You really feel like you've stepped into a restaurant in Italy as the owners are often working the floor and speaking in Italian to the many Italian patrons! The owners are extremely friendly and the food is really good. Try any of the pastas or pizzas. A very sweet little romantic restaurant.
(4)Juhani P.
Best pizza at the South Beach?
(5)art m.
Very good neapolitan thick crust pizza here. Real italians run this place
(4)Linda G.
I absolutely love this place. Its THE best Italian on the beach, and in Miami, for that matter. The lasagna here is delicious.. it is a must have along with their other pasta plates. Each time I go, I try something new. Each time I try, it ends up being a new FAV. The pizza here is awesome! Its like pizza made in Italy! The crust is thin and it has just the right amount of sauce, cheese and ingredients! The Diavola is yuuuummy! Be ready for a little spice you order it. If you want a real bowl of soup like your 'mama' used to make, this is the place to go. On a rainy day in Miami, this is where you will find me sitting. The ambiance is sweet and quaint and the staff is super friendly and very attentive. I love, love, love hearing Italians speak and Im always pleasantly serenaded while there. This chic restaurant is right on the corner of 5th street and Washington. You couldn't ask for a better spot to people watch or to just look into your significant other's dreamy eyes. Yes, it really can go from that extreme to the other. ;)
(5)Laura B.
I went to Fratelli with my brother who was visiting. I ordered a pizza which was tastey but i feel like it could've been cooked a little more. The Fried Mozzarella Ball had no flavor. My brother got a calzone which was huge and came a little overdone. The Calzone was much better than my pizza, had more flavors. My pizza was watery. I am a huge pizza fan. The pizza was better the next day after I heated it and cooked it a little more. The staff was wonderful. Very good ambiance. I would give it another try.
(3)Mady B.
Took the 25 cent bus trip to Fratelli LaBufala for our last dinner in Miami before heading home. Great Pizza and service. Finally a place in South Beach that has reasonable prices for quality food and wine. We would for sure go back for more the next time we are in Miami Beach.
(4)Nadine F.
This place wasn't bad, but not particularly good either. I had some kind of flat pasta with meat sauce. The pasta itself was really good, but the sauce was bland and watery. I wouldn't go back.
(3)Andrew M.
After trying for an eternity to find parking in Miami beach I decided to park a few blocks off of Ocean and walk the rest of the way. However, in doing so I became quite hungry. I followed my nose. I began to smell fresh pizza being cooked close by and simply let my nose do the walking. I ended up at Fratelli La Bufala. I was politely greeted and seated. I didn't really need to see the menu. I just stated, "whatever that is that smells so good, I'll have that". The food came out promptly and it was excellent. It hit the spot. The pizza was thin crust (sorry Chicago fans) and was very tasty and not too greasy (after all remember it is pizza). I look forward to the next time I am in Miami Beach. I will definitely be stopping by this place again.
(4)Christina C.
I went here on Sunday for lunch and found it to be a great place! The pizzas are a very good size (we had 3 for about 5 of us) and we enjoyed a delicious Pinot Noir, for only $25 per person (including tip). The service was a bit slow, but overall very good and wait staff is friendly.
(4)Jennifer S.
my 2nd DAT experience right after this review, that is if you care to read what i had last night... *** miami #7 due to us being super lazy and to the horrible weather miami endured (it was windy, cold and rainy.. YESH! in miami, can you believe it!?) we decided to grab pizza before we headed out to the bar later that evening. it's a very nice place, not "nice" to the terms of being poshy but nice being it was very welcoming ... service was cool, very friendly and sweet and accomodating... we ordered a $10 margarita pizza with extra spinach and extra tomatos... peek foto ... you seriously can't get any more authentic than this. this is the real dilio from italy, or at least, in my opinion... not the deep dish chicago style. YUM. it was sort of a toss up between a16 (in sf) and fratelli. sorry senoires ... come and experience the essence of true authentic italian pizza right in sobe.
(4)Andy L.
The food here is amazing. I have alway had a great meal here and the service during dinner time has always been spot on. I have been a few times during lunch ad do not feel that the experience is the same. The food is just as good but the service was always a little different. Oh, and don't bothertrying lut their french fries...they are nothing more than the fries you'd find in a college cafeteria.
(4)Marie B.
Excellent pizza, quality, and service, a real find. In quieter part of town, worth going to. Owned by an Italian company and they really aim to please. Manager came over and chatted with us and made us feel very welcome.
(5)Alice C.
average food, rude waiters and very limited menu.... that about says it all.
(3)Rok C.
Seriously some of the best pizza that I've ever had (on par with Pizzeria Mozza in LA, which is fabulous). The crust and cheese are simply incredible! The salad we ordered was good and fresh with a nice light dressing. But the pizza is why I can't wait to go to Miami again!!
(5)Rob C.
Not particularly memorable. Pizzas are the Italian oven style, ingredients with no sauce, crust mostly on the periphery.
(3)V C.
I probably went to Fratelli La Bufala with very high expectations because it came very strongly recommended by an Italian friend of mine who in general has very good taste in food. Based on his comments Fratelli La Bufala is authentic and caters food from a very specific region in Italy that is famous for their cuisine. To that end I must admit I was slightly disappointed. I tried the minestrone soup which was excellent , it had a lot of vegetables and the seasonings were perfect. I then tried the margherita pizza which was a little chewy, on average good but would not say the best pizza I have eaten. My husband tried the grill platter and he said that meat was ok...nothing great. The place is nice and quaint and has a homely feel to it. Service of was not the greatest either.
(3)Abbey P.
I have been here several times and each time the food was very good. Recently, we had the caprese pizza with eggplant (excellent) and the Paccheri pasta dish was amazing. I thought the flavors were wonderful!
(4)Julia K.
I enjoyed everything, we got salad and pizza and pasta. Everything was great. I highly recommend this place!
(4)Alex B.
Amazing food! We sat outside enjoying really good quality food and even got a free glass of Prosecco for checking in. The service was pleasant. Good people watching. Sorry for the short review, but this place was great!
(5)Danielle A.
Great Italian food. Helpful staff. Family atmosphere. Definitely a place that will make you love REAL Italian food, especially if your only idea of it is Olive Garden (whom whomp!) Must Have: Burrata!!!!
(5)Steph D.
Great place for pizza. The staff is very friendly and we really enjoyed our dinner. I might add just a tip: eat inside as the avenue is a bit crowded.
(5)Edgardo G.
Someone recommended me this restaurant as a great experience in Miami Beach, arrived into the valet with a chauffeur with very bad attitude to take the car, entered the restaurant and got in a table with very tight space for 5 people just under their framed pictures made with oleo. We wanted to have something fast and a good reccomendation so we were very hungry he suggedted something in italian you can't understand and was not in the menu, and I said in my mind why not? how much could be that... Asked for a big something with vetebables and fresh cheese and a smal similar also with fresh cheese. We ordered 4 pizzas and I oredered their Lassahna took over 30 minutes to arrive the pizzas were very normal and just different but my lassagna was comleatelly burned from the upper side super hot, so I cut it in half and tried the center and bottom part and was frozen! (ice) so I called the waiter and told nim about it and they removed and I told him that I thought that they cook fresh food, and I thought to myself in 30 minutes I can cook any pasta!, they offered me a piza and I agreed, after 5 minutes, I decided to cancel so everybody already finished their food and in 1 minute arrived, the pasta at the botom was raw!, so I decided to eat the leftovers of other parties and asked for the bill.. 5 personal pizas and 2 appetizers 200 dls!!! they charged me 43 dollars for one apetizer and 23 dollars for the other one !!! not even drinks. So save the day and dont even try to vidit this place. HORRIBLE!
(1)Chuck I.
Horrible dining experience -- we didn't order alcohol so the waiter became rude and didn't offer us bread, refill our drinks or ever come around for follow up service. He was probably racist as well. When the check came they had added gratuity and I told the waiter to remove it -- and he didn't argue because he knew he didn't deserve a penny. The manager strolled by just to see who we were but didn't stop to ask how our service was or if he could do anything.
(1)Lissa G.
This place had potential but did not live up to it in any way. The place was fairly packed when we arrived, and the servers worked fairly hard to seat us. The server we had once we were seated, however, seemed less interested in actually being helpful. It took us forever to get wine. What was the most disappointing, though, was the Bufala tasting plate. The cheese was not fresh; and by not fresh, I really mean not fresh. Some of the pieces tasted foul. We took a tiny taste of everything, just to be sure it wasn't an isolated incident. After a quick taste, we pretty much left the whole plate there. Our server didn't bother to check on us, and when I did finally say that the cheese was "not good," no one seemed all that interested. The pizza was disappointing, too, as it was undercooked and lacked flavor. If only we could turn back time, we wouldn't eat here.
(1)Joe S.
They make real Napoli pizza, cooked the right way, but lacking flavor in my opinion. Should have been much better. I don't know if it is the sauce, the dough, or the cheese - maybe a little bit of each. I recommend trying something other than the classic Margherita pizza - maybe a pie with more toppings or burrata would be better, or a pasta dish instead.
(3)Diana E.
Amazing food, great service and reasonable prices! Loved this place. True taste of Italy
(5)Stefano D.
Went there with my partner just for a good Italian style pizza. He got a Margherita and I got a La Parma, with prosciutto. Dough and ingredients VERY good, but I have to say that for being Italians' owned, it was too saucy instead of counterbalancing the fresh and very moist bufala mozzarella with just a little sauce, and this caused the pizza to be too saggy in the middle. Pity. I hope they correct this because it could be an excellent pizza.
(3)Krystle L.
Great pizza, quick, fast and delicious! Pleasant server. Ate La Reale with an egg, delicious!
(4)Angela M.
My cousin is from Italy and told me how this place is a chain in Europe. This is their only location in the United Stated but the workers told us how they are planning on opening another location in Florida as well in the up coming months. Overall very impressed!!! I am from New York and finding good Italian food outside of New York is pretty hard. Food - I ordered the pizza with just sauce, garlic and added eggplant (no cheese) it was only $8. The dough of the pizza so unbelievable! So much flavor and super thin, just the way I like it. The portion was very filling and I left super satisfied. My cousin got a white pizza and extra cheese and then a side of buffalo mozzarella to have with bread. He fully enjoyed his meal and to be born and raised in Italy he was able to say the pizza tastes just like it they made it at the locations in Italy. They also have bread and dipping oil if you ask. Service - Our waitress was super friendly and my cousin was speaking with her in Italian. Most of the staff was very friendly just not super attentive. I feel like we were only asked once the whole time we were there how everything was. I think most of the employees spoke Italian as their first language because I did have some trouble speaking to one or the waiters when I just wanted to redeem my yelp offer. When you check in on yelp you can get a free glass of prosecco and she was very nice to offer one to my cousin free as well even though he did not have the offer on yelp (I just did) Price - Affordable! The pizza was priced right and I left full. Our bill was $44 and the tip was included, 17%. I would totally recommend this place and during my trip to Miami we ate here twice (I got food once, my cousin twice). I feel like this isn't a place I would have picked on my own but I am so glad my cousin had us go. From the outside it doesn't really stand out and it seem a little out of the way compared to where tourist like ourselves were exploring in south beach. I must say everyone should go if they are looking for a great authentic Italian meal!
(5)Michael S.
A quiet and friendly spot on south beach. Who would have thought it possible but it is. We had a great groupon and did well here. Twice now were would recommend and even with the menu prices as they are - the food is spot on good !
(5)Sabrina S.
Absolutely delicious! I get the genuina (I think that's what it's called/ how it's spelled) and it is my truly my favorite pizza. The bread is thin and the crust is on the thicker side. Along with the tasty pizza, they also have excellent gnocchi. Definitely recommend!
(5)Ryan H.
My wife called the gnocchi a "panty-dropper" and the lasagna was fantastic, too. I think every member of the staff came to our table to bring us something or refill drinks or check on us. The service was awesome. If you're in South Beach, come here.
(5)Felipe S.
The lasagna is delicious. This place is no relaxing food is great and the staff is very nice. Not to mention their pizzas are great tasting.
(5)Lis T.
Started with the bruschetta which was good. I had the homemade pasta with bolognese sauce and my husband had a calzone. Service was excellent as we were the only ones in there around 5 after walking around Ocean Drive and Collins Ave.
(4)Anna L.
YUM! Exactly the kind of pizza I was hoping for in Miami. They even had one with no cheese already on the menu... So delicious I ate my whole plate.
(5)Andrew K.
Great pizza. Even better antipasto. I could have stopped after the first course, but the margharita pie was already in its way. The only reason why I didn't give this place a fifth star is because the pizza was slightly soggy towards the middle. I like a crisp pie all the way through, next time I'll ask for it well done.
(4)Geneva B.
This is my absolute favorite Italian spot. The food is delicious! My favorite food item on the menu is the capricciosa pizza with the ham, mushroom and artichoke. They are kind of pricey though, that small pizza cost about $20 bucks. I know other places that offer the same pizza for less and almost as good. The 2 major downsides that I don't like are the location and the size of the establishment. It's pretty small and is always packed and the parking in that area is a nightmare. You're better off ubering over but be prepared to have to wait a little bit for a table.
(5)Adal D.
Pure greatness! If what you want is genuine Italian cuisine and the best pizza in South Beach, then you must check this place out. The best of everything, European like atmosphere, both outside and inside. The servers are Italian, courteous, friendly and very professional. The pasta dishes are great with very generous servings. Their wood oven baked pizzas are better than the ones in Naples, Italy, I kid you not! Great salads and appetizers in case you are in for a lighter fair. A little piece of Italy in Miami Beach!
(5)Carla A.
My children LOVED this place; one had the deliciously thin crusted pizza, another had the lasagna, and the third was envied by all with her selection of the 8oz steak cooked to perfection and accompanied by fries and a side salad. Unfortunately, it's a bit hot indoors so on a nice evening I recommend dining al fresco. Reservations are recommended, though our family of 5 was seated within 15 mins.
(4)Jennifer C.
Very good authentic brick oven pizza. Thin with a crispy crust. Light, tasty sauce. My only complaint was that the middle of the pizza was too soggy. Attentive and friendly staff. Accommodated my husband's "special request" pizza. Prosciutto, arugula topped with shaved parmigiano reggiano and olive oil.
(4)Michael G.
I used to go to this restaurant once in a while when I lived in Napoli, and albeit it wasn't my favorite over there, it was still very good. So I really wanted to get that same taste/feeling when I was down in Miami recently. Ordered a Margherita DOC pizza with prosciutto (whatever they call that one) because I wanted to get real buffalo mozzarella. Yummm. Anyway, the pizza sauce was very good, very typical of the region, good flavor. However, their mozzarella wasn't very creamy, which was disappointing and the entire reason I went there. Also, the crust too had a good flavor, but the texture was a bit off. I'm used to a doughier, thicker crust, and theirs was unfortunately rather thin. Overall, the pizza was good, just not really great, and not at all up to expectations and past experence. The carbonara pasta was a bit underwhelming, and the pasta was cooked even less than al dente for some pieces. It was just ok. And the cannoli...a sad let down, certainly. There was perhaps an almond flavor to it? Couldn't quite pin it down. But it didn't taste particularly great, it wasn't sweet enough (and I don't like cannoli to be too sweet either). Other than sugar, it was missing something, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Service was nice, but certainly disorganized and not very attentive.
(3)Jessica W.
Great choice for Italian in south beach! Located on the corner of 5th and Washington, they have both indoor and outdoor seating available. I ordered the Ciliegina salad with shrimp and it was good; the mozzarella was fresh and added a nice touch. Pizza is definitely the specialty of the house though. The Diavola had a nice thin crust, cooked to perfection with sauce, cheese, basil and a little red pepper for some added kick. It was wonderful! Service was quick and super friendly and I thought that the prices were reasonable for the quality.
(4)Eric L.
After having a few mediocre meals in South Beach, this was a pleasant change. Gazpacho was outstanding (although a bit too salty). Very large bowl, too. Shared a margarita pizza, with fresh mozzarella. Sauce was very good and I liked the thin crust, even though it was a little undercooked. Bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar was also enjoyable. Bottom line: I'd go back. Next time I want to try the puttanesca pizza.
(4)Jayna P.
Quaint little authentic pizza place. Close to 8th and ocean in the arts district-perfect sidewalk seating to people watch.
(5)Johnny T.
3.5 For years, I'd looked at the pizza place on the corner of Fifth & Washington and wondered what it was like. Thing is, I was never much in the mood to sit down and eat a pizza. Usually, during my beach-living days, I just wanted to pick something up and keep it moving. Thing is, for that sort of pizza experience, I didn't want a 'fancy' pizza, I wanted a casual one. So, for years, I walked by and wondered. Then, once I moved to Miami (and off the Beach), I had occasion to stop by on a Monday night after a long day/night of work. Being a Monday and later at night, there wasn't much of a crowd and that suited me fine. I started with a Peroni and, finally, tried one of those fancy pizzas I'd thought about for so long. My Diavola was pretty close to what I'd imagined/had before with one small detail (well, two): the crust was burnt, not wood-fired, but burnt. So, with every bite, I tasted more charcoal than toppings. I, eventually, opted to eat the toppings without the crust. This leads me to the next slight ding: the toppings (cheese, red sauce with some heat, hot salami) came pooled with a bit more grease than I like. Actually, a lot more. I ate each bite with a gulp of beer so that the carbonation would settle my stomach before it turned with the grease. Sorry for the decidedly unappetizing language. Because I'm a fatty and can't turn dessert down, I ordered the chocolate-almond cake. It was flourless but deceptively light. The cake itself was very enjoyable. The ice cream that accompanied it was a bit rich for my tastes. I don't know if it's churned on premises or not, but I tasted near-butter notes, as opposed to cream. Some people like that, but I don't. It's not a knock on the quality; 'tis only a heads up for specific palates. Despite the time of night and it being a Monday AND it being the beach, our service was pleasant, timely and appreciated. There's more to like than to dislike at FLB but I don't know that there's enough for me to rush back. But, later night during the week, there are far worse choices to make while on the Beach.
(3)Yara F.
A family friend recommended this restaurant to me and my best friend during our vacation, and we had an amazing time. The hostess was very friendly and welcoming, and the wait staff was attentive. Prices were extremely reasonable, I was almost surprised with the check when we got it. We shared bruschetta and a margarita pizza as our appetizers, and both were amazingly fresh and delicious. We each got our own pasta dishes that were also very delicious, my friend commented however that his lacked a bit of seasoning. It ended up raining and we had to move inside, and while we waited for the rain to stop we decided to share Nutella crepes and I got an espresso, and honestly Im glad it had started raining because the crepes were perfect.
(4)Tenisha S.
This place has excellent customer service. Everyone is friendly, kind and helpful. The bread served on the table was delicious. The la parma pizza (prosciutto and mozarella) and mari e monti (seafood over linguini ) were both delicious! We had a coupon from fashionhaus hotel for $15 off and they honored it with no problems. Great place to go.
(5)Ray V.
Amazing and Authentic Pizza. Great Pasta, Bread, & Salad. Quick from Order to Table. Kids loved the pasta noodles with butter and Coloring Sticker book. Nice Italian wine selection as well.
(5)BiteChew T.
Start with the burrata antipasto (if available) and share the Ripienone calzone (ricotta, mozzarella, salami, tomato sauce) and La Parma pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto, basil). RATINGS: BONDNOM: [3]** Easy to share and difficult to dislike, pizza is the ultimate crowd pleaser, especially when done right. Unfortunately, the crowding and noise level of this location make it difficult to engage in meaningful conversation. FOOD: [4] Food did not disappoint thanks to top ingredients (Buffalo mozzarella flown in twice a week from Napoli!) and authentic Neapolitan-style pizza made to order in their large wood brick oven. ATMOSPHERE: [2] Loud and crowded due to little space between tables but comfortably casual and highly accommodating to parents with young kids. SERVICE: [3] Servers are charming, authentically Italian, and knowledgeable on the menu, but the hostess and busboys seemed frazzled and disorganized, despite us dining off peak hours. **For details on #BondNom score & full video reviews, visit bitechew.tv
(3)Vanessa V.
If you want authentic Italian food, more specifically Neapolitan pizza made in a wood brick oven, then this is the place to go! So far, even all of the staff is Italian! They pride themselves in importing buffalo mozzarella and buffalo meats. Their cheese is made from buffalo milk instead of cow's milk, and it's some of the best mozzarella and ricotta cheese I have ever had! The Caprese Impanata is my favorite thing to have here! It's a ball of fried breaded buffalo mozzarella that has cherry tomato, basil​ & oregano all chopped up and placed inside the ball. Soooooo goooood!!! We usually ask for a side of ricotta cheese to use with the bread, olive oil, and balsamic that they offer. Try it! For my entree I get the Ripienone, a calzone stuffed with ricotta, smoked ​mozzarella, neapolitan salami & tomato sauce. It's made in the brick oven, and comes out steamy and delicious. My husband gets the Salentina​ white pizza. It has buffalo mozzarella, smoked mozzarella & buffalo ricotta cheese. Sometimes he adds pancetta for flavor. Either way, they are very tasty! I will definitely be coming back here again and again!
(5)Dawn S.
Amazing, authentic italian pizza joint. One of my favorite casual eateries, and all natural and simple ingredients so (even though it's pizza) you can feel good that it's a fresh and healthy option. Great salads and tapas to choose from also, very friendly italian and Spanish speaking staff ... nice and authentic place and great spot for a casual late lunch or dinner with friends.
(5)Emily B.
Service was great! They have a beautiful white tiled pizza oven which you notice right when you walk in. Be careful walking to the bathrooms, as I accidentally kicked one of the many high chairs stacked in the hallway - ouch!
(3)Alex C.
Such great pizza. Really reminded me of how pizza tastes in italy. So fresh and good! We got the bruschetta and a margherita pizza with a bottle of wine. The servers were super friendly and so italian! It was like we we're back in Italy! Definitely recommend!!!
(5)Brian P.
We are staying on ocean drive and have been sick of the "aggressive" persuasions to get you to eat along the strip. Not to mention, the jacked up prices, and sneaky "oops" mistakes on the bills. We were looking for a good italian place with a good meal and pizza... and we found it! Literally 2 blocks from where we were staying. The menu was great and our selections were damn tasty. My wife got the gnocchi, and I got the lasagne and we shared a Margherita Pizza and we were not disappointed. Price was fine, service attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly and the atmosphere nice. Recommended! Thanks for a nice evening and we much appreciated the glass of Proseco courtesy of Yelp!.
(4)Jonathan Y.
Went for dinner. Sat outside, by the street which was a bit loud with traffic. Service was good, meal came incredibly fast (almost too fast). Had a pizza.. Crust was good but somehow the pizza was saugy. Also had a salad to share that was mezzo mezzo Not bad overall, but not somewhere I'd come back to
(3)Kaitlyn L.
Excellent Italian food. This place is perfect if you want a classy, quiet atmosphere away from all the wild stuff going on around ocean drive. It was nice to get away from all of that for one night while we were in Miami for spring break, and really.. Who doesn't LOVE some GREAT Italian food. Not feeling very wordy so I'll keep it short and sweet. We had the eggplant pizza for an appetizer- delicious.. Could've eaten the whole thing by myself. My cousin and I split the gnocchi with a side salad. Both delicious- portions are perfect size unless you're a fat kid like me. Our waitress was exceptional- wish I got her name. She's the pretty blonde one with an accent. Idk if that helps. There's outdoor seating but just after sunset it was a little chilly so bring a jacket. Next time I'm in miami I'll be back!
(5)Chloe D.
So I've been craving good Italian food from my hometown in montreal, trying to find something similar to restaurant la pizzeria napoletana, first pizzeria in montreal established in 1948. Have tried a couple places in miami which never really sparkled for me. Looked up online to find neapolitan style and found Frateli La Bufala... Finally!!!!! Thank You!! Im a craver for classics, so went for Margarita pizza and pomodoro spaghetti. My husband had Fettucini Alfredo, not on menu but server was really nice and offered to do so at our liking. Excellent caring service from Paola btw. Overall awsome food ( so good we reordered to go), awsome service and great vibe from the place and the management. Thank you, will definitely be back!!
(5)AshleyMarie O.
Cute spot to meet up with friends. I would stick to sharing apps as the chef in the group ordered the lasagna and decided it was so bad he had to send it back. Then ordered a pizza and was still only moderately feeling it. I ordered the gnocchi and was not impressed. The wine selection was minimum as well. Service was friendly, attentive and professional. The charcuterie board was delish (as usual) and that did not disappoint.
(4)Jova R.
Sorry but not impressed. Reservations were made in advance since we were a larger than normal group going for a family birthday dinner. Once we arrived they told us that someone took the table they had reserved for us and felt bad kicking them out. So whats the point of making a reservation then? So we had to wait for the next available table that could accommodate us all. That usually sours the night for me when reservations get cut. A few of us at the table were yelpers and we all checked in and received our free glass of prosseco. Not the best but was nice to start. Went on a night of the heat game and luckily they played the game while we dined (no audio though). We all shared the la bufalata appetizer. very good buffalo mozzerella with other cheeses, cured ham and veggies. Nice app to share with a large group. everything was very fresh and delicious. I had a hard time decided what to order but i knew i didn't want your typical spaghetti, pizza, or fettucini. So I decided to go with the carbonara. 3 others ordered the same dish and we all said the same thing when we noticed we all left half the plate. Too salty! the ham was just too salty. it was overpowering the dish. My mother in law had the lasagna and she wasn't impressed either. she said it lacked flavor. Overall i wasn't impressed with the food and service could have been better. The manager did comp our desserts for the inconvenience with the reservations. That was nice of her. I don't think i'll be back, too many better restaurants in the area.
(2)Mariana R.
If you are looking for authentic Napolitan pizzas this is the place! Carpaccio is a good appetizer to share between 4-5. Pizza sizes are good for one person. We tried pizza Capriciosa, Diavola and La Parma. We were sorry for not having space for dessert, 'cause those look delicious. What I did not like was the waitress suggesting us to order the most expensive things in the menu, this really annoys me!
(4)An T.
Nice staff. Didn't wait that long, I got a pizza and it was unique but not the best. My bf liked the lasagna though. I also wish it was a little spacious. People kept bumping into my chair =(
(3)Bob B.
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(3)Anuar A.
This is my 5th time here, the food is AMAZING. It's so so so fresh and it's so light on your stomach. I've come with my family every time and we've had every kind of item on the menu. We have never ever been let down. The service is always incredible, like really really incredible. The pizza is insanely good and so is the pasta. And the desserts, the deserts are some next level shit. I've had every one of them and I have to say the Tiramusi is the best Tiramusi I've had in my life. Have been coming here for a while and will continue to do so, absolutely LOVE this place!
(5)Jeffery R.
Nice staff and cool atmosphere. Can get a little noisy but the food and staff make up for it!
(3)Poriya M.
I LOVE this place, everything about this place is awesome! The location, the food, the staff. I've been coming to Fratelli every year for the last 5 years and love everything on their menu, you can not go wrong with hand tossed thing crust wood oven baked pizza of course but let me tell you about my top dishes, you will not be disappointed. For started definitely start with their assorted meat and vegetable platter and fresh mozzarella on a fresh body of arugula both served in 2 different sizes perfect for large or small group to share. For main course these will be my top 3 choices in this order: Paccheri, Garganelli, and Gnocchi. Miami is not known for having the best food in the world but this place is a shinning start in a dark sky.
(5)Marley G.
Perfect casual atmosphere. Great food. Nice location off of Ocean Drive and away from big crowds. Just right if staying at The Savoy. Above average service. Incredible Tiramasu.
(5)Honest A.
Come here every year in winter, it's full of Italian speaking waiters and patrons. The milk is served warm for the kids, the pizza traditional to Italy with fresh buffalo low fat cheese. If you want to be in Italy without traveling, come here. Pet friendly seating outside on street. They add automatic 17% gratuity although they are slow.
(5)Jim R.
Ate here twice this trip to SoBe. Last night we started with a fresh burrata, tomatoes, Parma ham, and greens. It was wonderful, very flavorful. We then had a mix of pastas and pies. Again very tasty. Servers were attentive. Ate outside, but is very loud with traffic because of its location at the corner of 5th and Washington. Had a pasta for lunch the other day, garganelli, which comes in a bowl formed out of Parmesan cheese. Very cool. Waitress was accommodating since the sauce on the menu is white and I like red. She was able to make the meal with a pink sauce which is the way I would recommend eating this meal.
(4)Elena A.
I loved this place!!! The food is delicious, the service was great and the ambiance is just wonderful. There are so many things to choose from if you love Italian food, the menu is never ending the pizza just melts in your mouth once you take a bite out of it. This restaurant is perfect for a date or a group party.
(5)Miguel L.
I have been wanting to come to this place for a while, at last I made it. The place is cozy, the service was amazingly fast and the food was delicious. I had Pasta alla Carbonara and even though it wasn't like the one I had in Italy, I have to say it was very good. I give 4 stars because the table we were assigned had very uncomfortable chair and the place was packed so I figured changing tables wasn't going to be an easy task.
(4)Sandy C.
Just a cut above all the rest it is the best of the best I love the Pizza the buffalo cheese and the pasta awesome try with Sausage and brocolli
(5)Carlo V.
Recently visited , I had made a reservation with Open Table via Yelp for a birthday dinner for my niece who had never been there before plus five others , I had been there one other time and had pizza which it was very good. Unfortunately this time around there was no consistency from my first visit , when we first arrived the staff had not idea of my reservation , the one blonde waitress with the heavy accent charged towards me asking repeatedly with a bad attitude if we had a reservation, then two others asked me the same , at the end we sat and notice the place was kind of empty , this was on a Friday night. I know this place in popular with the beach crowd. We all ordered pasta , Gnocchi and everyone's dish was lame , no flavor , except my seafood pasta which was salty and strong in flavor. Very disappointed , I guess we should had stayed with pizza since is the one thing they make well, the appetizer was buffala large and the eggplant parmesana , the cheese on the Bufala with tomatoes was very cold like it had been frozen , the eggplant was taste less. The birth day girl asked the busboy , what about my cake and candle ?, he excused him self and told the owner , but he did nothing , we paid and left , I especially wrote on the reservation that this was a especial bday dinner and that we were first time patrons, ( I guess no one there reads the reservations they get on the system , or maybe they can't read in English ?, remember no one knew we had a reservation in the first place) The bread was cold and hard , if they had taken the time to stick it in the brick oven, I am sure it would have been nice. This is one place I wish it would get it all together and fix all the wrongs , they have a prime location, a good idea and the prices are right. Also the valet parking guy is very polite and not money hungry like all others in the beach plus very reasonable for juts $5 which is unheard of on SOBE.
(2)Dennis E.
Good food and great service. We had lunch around 1pm on a Saturday. Pizza is authentically Italian. They're 10" for about $16. Lots of interesting choices. Also had chocolate cake (torta caprese) and espresso for dessert. Sadly, the cake was burnt on the edge, but otherwise all was fine
(4)Jordan C.
Legitimate Italian - loved the vibe and loved the food. We were seated quickly ( luckily it was a slower night ). It's nice to remove yourself from the hustle and bussel of restaurants that are on ocean drive. (You can tell the locals eat here or some well informed tourists) The pizza dough is amazing, that in its self I could eat alone! But my wife's pasta was amazing too. We'll always return here for a nice romantic evening.
(5)Robby F.
As others have said...as authentic Italian as you will find in Miami Beach. Pizza was really good but the gazpacho had little chunks of onion that were a bit distracting and overpowered the surpisingly fresh tomato Cholate Almond torta was not only tasty, but has a great texture
(4)Naman P.
We loved the fried cheese balls stuffed with tomatoes and basil. Pizza was perfect....reminiscent of naples. Andrea was fantastic!
(5)Camille W.
Wow I'm still dreaming about the food we had here last night. The most delicious mozzarella cheese I've ever tasted and the pizza we had was to die for. Free glass of Prosecco with yelp check-in is definitely a plus and good for business. Not only was the staff great but the owner was very welcoming and made sure everything was ok. Prices are worth it and 17% gratuity is included in the bill but that's not a problem being that service was phenomenal we happily gave more. Love love love this place! Will be back when in south beach.
(5)Laure M.
I loved it! it was packed and loud inside but after the rush it was much better. The smell of wood-fire pizza hits you right when you enter. A real smell of Italy! They offer white pizza!!! I ordered the smoked bufala mozzarella, mushrooms and ham: delicious, i ate the entire thing, even the crust! I usually don't like the crust but theirs is so good, fluffy and light. We asked for spicy pepper oil to drip on the pizza. We ordered a nutella crepe each to finish and had a glass of chianti. Service is good and fast and it was a great dinner, real taste of Italy in Miami!
(4)Hulk I.
The food was average and the wait staff seem to ignore us even though there many of them. Pizza was a bit under cooked, too soggy. The cheese was great and the prosciutto was decent. The bread was just too soggy, couldn't hold it's structure. We also had the bolognese, it was average and nothing special. Please turn ac higher, it was pretty warm.
(3)Neda M.
Stumbled upon this place during a recent visit and loved almost everything about it: the gracious service, the fresh ingredients and delectable food, the cozy ambiance. Will happily return on subsequent visits to South Beach.
(4)A P.
Place to go if you want very bland Italian food. They use no garlic and hardly any spices or herbs. Hospital food comes to mind! Otherwise service and prices are fine (always promoting with coupons). Good if you're under 10 or over 65!
(2)Anna-monet H.
I've been hearing about this place and been wanting to try their food because of their rave reviews but was so disappointed. Really I wanted to it be good but the service was just horrible. I felt disrespected and talked down. I don't even remember the food because the experience was so negative. I never judge a restaurant off of just one time and one waiter so I believe in giving places a second shot but I don't even want to waste my time or money if the same thing will happen again.
(2)Fiorella A.
Another favorite pizza spot. We go there a lot to practice our Italian ! Ha ha My favorite is the genuine pizza and some white wine on the side. I always have the pannacotta Dessert or the Nutella crepes. Ciao!
(5)Krystal O.
Love love love to bring people here. I found Fratelli a few years ago on Groupon and since then I haven't stopped talking about this place. The pizza is thin, the sauce is light and the buffalo mozzarella is top notch. My favorite pizza is the Diavola. Also, you can't go to this place and not have the Canolli, it's a sin if you do. The canolli shell is fresh and crispy and the filling is cold and velvety... they drizzle some chocolate on that bad boy and send you home happy. On a seperate note, I enjoy the authenticity of this place, everyone is legit italian and very friendly and if your lucky to catch them sing happy birthday to someone you are in for quite a sparkler show. If you know me and you know how I feel about some sparklers then you can see why this place tops my list of favorites!
(5)Ramzi Z.
PERFECT! I LOVE this place and love how the pizza tastes just like it does in Italy. It doesn't get any better than this folks! We get a free prosecco (most of time when the staff recognize us ;), and I normally order my favorite Pizza the Diavola!! (delicious). The staff / waiters are mostly friendly and great. Management is always around and they are on top of it. We love this place and it's on our top 5 places in South Beach...Oh and have to get the tiramisu!! it's Amazing!
(5)Joe F.
Super fast service, great pizza and even better dessert! Well staffed and very welcoming.
(5)Jeanette H.
I give 4.5 stars to their Margherita pizza and their Caprese Special pizza. Their 4pm shift pizza maker tends to be better than one working an earlier shift. Ingredients (including and esp the flour and tomatoes) come from Italy, and they use San Marzano tomatoes. Cooking staff are also from Italy. Their seafood pasta is yummy 80% of the time, esp when they come out perfectly al dente. One of my favorites. (The other 20% of the time, it comes out "American" style al-dente (ie near well-done :( I have tried some other dishes at times... but I keep coming back mainly for the 2 pizzas I mentioned. I had tried other kinds of pizza here. Prosciutto Arugula --not bad but I've had far better quality prosciuttos. There's also a NYC location, but I heard they're not as great..... oh I usually love their Tiramisu w/ a scoop of vanilla ice cream-- and I usually don't like Tiramisu. 9 out 9 times it was yummy. Well the very last time, it came out too soggy. I gently mentioned it to my server, so hopefully this little glitch is fixed :) Highly recommend those 2 pizzas, but remember, 4p shift pizzamaker, and don't let them skimp on the sauce... (which happened just once w/ me).
(3)Caroline C.
Love this place. The food is great. The pizza is the best in Sofi and the wine is yum. I'm not giving it a 5 because the waitstaff was less than pleasant.
(4)Ernie G.
When I walked in Fratelli La Bufala for a nice New Year's Eve dinner, I was at first a little disappointed. The place has the look and feel of a regular pizza shop. But never judge a book by its cover. But I was pleasantly surprised by both the service and the food. My date and I shared an appetizer of cheese (borata?) that was delicious, as well as the focaccia and pizza. The dough was delicious and flavorful and they actually knew how to put cooked veggies on a pizza. The waitress was attentive and very polite. If it wasn't for the too-casual feel of the place I would give it five stars. Excellent!
(4)Scott L.
South Beaches dining scene is one where I plan on being disappointed. For one, it's a churn and burn industry and for two there is a certain level of ambivalence from the latin locals. I was drunk and hungry and this place had the best reviews for its price-point on yelp. It's atmospheric, but what isn't in south beach, even when tacky. This place is off the beaten path, dark, sexy with outside dining, approving locals ate next to me, and it's definitely better than it has to be. Definitely not your typical rip off south beach joint, but on the other hand while the pizza attempted to be special, it almost did seem to have a true Italian aspect, the excellent crust, slightly charred, was a bit sogged by the overly sweet thick and chunky sauce, which might not have been very italian. Che no. In an attempt to be healthy, I asked for no cheese with some regret. I would have assumed that the cooks would have altered the recipe to balance out the lack of cheese, but alas something truely seemed missing. Bufallo mozzerella is the style of cheese dominating on the pizza's here, but from looking at my neighbors, it just looked like overly glooped. That's not Italian either. Beinvenido a miami. When all else fails, drink some wine. Sultry European cafe ambiance and sidewalk sweetness - 5 stars Food - 3 on my experience
(3)Natalya K.
Our party of four had a very late dinner at this restaurant just a couple days ago. The outdoor patio looked very nice, so we asked for a table outside. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are not small. We ordered a small white pizza with mozzarella , fresh tomatoes, basil and prosciutto as a starter. Delicious! As a main course I had homemade cannelloni - excellent. Definitely try tiramisu! The service was very good as well. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgable of the menu. Definitely will be back when we are in the area again !
(5)Cal C.
Pretty good food, would come back here again. service is ok but slow, waiters are cordial enough to get the job done, because it's busy no personal touch.
(4)Maria J.
Delicious! It was obviously fresh, quality produce. We were recommended to go there, and did not regret it. Food was great, service equally good, so nice and attentive. Would recommend it to anyone.
(5)Manu G.
Very sweet people went there yesterday to have a small surprise for my husband's birthday and it was one of the places open after midnight. They were super sweet our server was awesome and the pizzas were delishhh!! They bring out our small cake and they were too cute I did not expect that. Thank you guys! :)
(5)Robert A.
There isn't much to saw about this place except is was AMAZING!!! This has to be one of the best brick oven pizzas I have ever eaten. Went there twice and got a total of three different types of pizzas. (two red sauce and one white sauce). Wish there was something bad I could say but everything was great. The food, the ambiance, the service. The pizzas were perfectly cooked with the crust nice and crunchy on the outside and soft and tender on the insdie. There were plenty of toppings of cheese, meats and veggies (and egg like we got) without being to much to hinder cooking or making the crust soft even if you take it home to eat later. Everything, even the deserts are made using the Bufala cheese which was extremely flavorful. Nothing overpowered anything else on the pizza. All was well balanced. You can watch the guy make the pizza and you can tell he knows what he is doing. If you enjoy your meal as much as I did be respectful and thank him for a great meal. The service has to be especially noted. In Miami tip is automatically included at most places so normally the service not very good. That is not the case here....Ciro was our server and he was great. He made perfect suggestions for our pizzas and even gave us two glasses of wine with our Yelp unlock. Becuase the pizza was so good and even though I was stuffed, I had to try to the dessert. We opted for the "sample platter". 2 cannoli, tiramisu, 2 servings of ricottina. Everything on this tray was just expected. Delicious. My gf had a bad experience at an Italian restaurant and was not a fan of cannoli, but this was so good she enjoyed and learned what a well made cannoli should taste like. If you are staying on the north end of South Beach its a little walk to get here, but there is plenty to do and see on the way. We liked this place so much we went back for lunch before our flight out. This place is a MUST DO on your next trip to Miami.
(5)Dre B.
I'm a born-and-raised American who grew up on the type of food we as a people have recently found to be not-so-healthy -- fried chicken, pizza hut, mcdonalds etc... i have cleaned up my lifestyle but that type of eating doesnt change in one year after 30 years of conditioning. That being said, I don't yet have the palette for this place. But the food is quality and every friend I've been here with -- 3 different people -- all love and swear by Fratelli. The pizza is non-greasy and the desserts -- though I abstain -- look delicious. The service is excellent too. I think I'll eventually come to love this place, maybe in 5 years of "good" eating. Haha
(4)G B.
Rich taste of authentic Italy in middle of Miami. Great service.
(5)Monica L.
PROS: Good ingredients, good flavor CONS: Pricey, crusts are a bit soggy Fratelli La Bufala might make authentic pizze, given the vast number of Italian customers who eat here, but my Puttanesca pizza was tasty and a bit... soggy? The crust was not as crispy as I would like it. All the toppings, including the tomato sauce, pretty much dribble off when you pick up a slice. I'm not quite sold.
(3)Mike M.
Phenomenal service! Come here just for that! Ok, come for the food too. We had the white pizza with cheese only. Good, but a little plain for me. I would go with a red pizza next time. We started with a glass of Prosecco and a basket of foccia. By the time the pizza came we were starting to feel full so one pizza between us both was just right. Maybe even done room for coffee and dessert!
(5)Lalla D.
The pizza is very good, and every meal is made using "bufala" cheese, as the name recall. They have a great variety of pizza, pasta, and appetizer. The desserts are very good too. Cannoli are great. The place is nice and there is the possibility to eat outside. The only bad thing is that they, as many places in South Beach, add 18% tip on the check.
(4)Tony T.
we ate the pizza. the dough was great and the pizza was as good as most in Napoli. Since I lived in southern Italy, I always yearn for good french fries to complement my pizza ... this was not the case here, so I'm a bit disappointed. the fries were coated and fried twice or something i don't desire. I'll eat there again and hope they read this review and improve the patatini situation.
(3)Meg r.
Super fantastic pizza dough. A little chewy n crispy. Great attentive service and loads of italian being spoken all around. Close enough to Collins to make a walk away from hustle n bustle of shoppers. Excellent suggestion from the concierge at the Dream.
(5)Yanessa E.
Free glass of prosseco for checking in was great (they could have filled the glass a little more though) My friend ordered the fresh buffalo mozzarella as an appetizer and it was amazing. I paired it with some balsamic vinegar and bread, together with the arugula and tomatoes it was exquisite. Mozzarella was super fresh. Then I ordered the reale pizza and a ripienone calzone. The calzone I wouldn't go back for but the pizza, oh yes! The pizza had tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, ricotta and was topped with prosciutto. The crust is not too thin but not thick and it has that lovely Italian oven crunch to it. I felt the calzone could have had more tomato sauce on top and inside as it was lacking in taste a little even with the Neapolitan salami. The restaurant is small so it can get pretty loud, and I think it's not a place for a romantic date night, it is a cool place to go with a group of friends for some delicious pizza (make a reservation!)
(4)Rose S.
Always a stable of our visits to Miami Beach! Service is friendly and efficient and the pizza is always consistent and delicious! Pasta is good too.
(5)Bo M.
Absolutely amazing! From their service, to appetizers, then to the main course, this place nailed it. Well done! I'm already looking forward to my next visit. Thanks again for a most enjoyable evening! Bo
(5)Casey W.
I live in the South of Fifth neighborhood and have been coming to FLB since it opened in the mid 2000s. This is our favorite Italian restaurant in Miami Beach for the following reasons: fresh, delicious food, all made on premise, great service, many of the staff we have gotten to know over the years (low turnover is a good thing). Their managers also do a good job, evident by the quality of staff they hire & retain. Their location allows them to cater both to South of Fifth residents (like us) and tourists staying on Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th. Their pizzas are fabulous, very thin crust, fresh dough; lasagna is excellent, minestrone soup is a great healthy option. Very good wine options as well as draft beer, Peroni being my favorite. You really can't go wrong at FLB. Pablo from Argentina is one of our favorite waiters but they are all very good. They have a television which allows them to showcase soccer matches and other popular sporting events.
(5)Bruno F.
My second time in Miami and I drove past this place. Located on a corner of an intersection. I walked in and immediately I saw the old fashion pizza oven. I instantly giggled like a little school girl. I knew I was in for some amazing food. I started with the carpaccio. Amazing flavor on top of a bed of arugula. Nice chunks of cheese on top. Pile this on top of bread, EVOO and a little bit of pepper. Amazing! The pizza was so delicious. Jam packed with so much flavor. If you close your eyes and take in the wonderful aroma, you'll feel like your in Italy enjoying your pizza. The staff made me feel like family, it felt like they knew me for years. I really appreciate that. It is a bit pricey, but I don't mind paying for really good food. Keep it up! Perfecto! Thank you,
(5)Frank R.
First time here. Strangely, the restaurant uses Spanish symbols and icons yet it's an Italian restaurant. The waiter explained that it was a special buffalo that they use and it's from Italy so maybe that's the deal. Had a pizza and a pasta. Servers were nice, prices reasonable. Pizza was great but soggy crust. Pasta was good. Not too memorable really. Great place to practice your Italian as all servers appeared to speak it.
(3)Lara B.
Used to love this place because the food is great Had an online deal voucher and went with a friend. The waitress messed up the wine order and when I said that it was wrong, she just shrugged, never fixed it. So we sat there with one glass of wine. When I ordered another glass I took three times to have it delivered to the tables AFTER our appetizer was gone and entrees were already at the table Then we were charged for the original wrong glass of wine I would normally tip on full price of the bill but the waitress was so rude and apathetic that she's lucky she got any tip at all in order to work at this place you must speak fluent italian, apparently that is also the case if you want to receive good service now as well very disappointing
(1)Igor P.
The food was impeccable! We started out with the bruschetta, I had the Bucatini alla Carbonara and my friend ordered the Linguine ai Gamberi. I loved my dish, it was creamy and cooked so perfectly. The noodles were nice and thick. My friend enjoyed his dish too, though I thought it was a little too "seafoody", but that's how it's supposed to be I suppose- not my thing. The atmosphere was also lovely, nice and quite and cozy. We had a seat near the window looking at the LED tower behind us. Overall a very enjoyable experience, can't wait to come back.
(5)Alfredo H.
Today our pizzas were over cooked which made them very dry, with almost no sauce on them. That was very disappointing.
(2)Hameed J.
Excellent service and fantastic food. The linguine with shrimp was one of the best pasta dishes we've had at any italian restaurant globally!
(5)Ingrid Y.
Loved this place so very Italian, linguine-ai-gamberi was delicious and the ripienone pizza was excellent!
(5)Anita G.
Authentic italian food! Been coming here since they opened and they never disappoint. The pizza is amazing and the mozzarella is pretty much just like in Italy. Off course their tomato sauce is also amazing. That's how you know they are authentic; you have to taste the tomato sauce, always.
(5)Natalia M.
Good, but not great. The pizza was a bit soggy, but didn't have a lot of sauce, so I'm not sure how that happened. The crust was good, reminded me of Indian naan bread. We also had their meat and cheese platter, which came with veggies as well. Can't go wrong with cured meat and cheese! Overall it was just an OK experience though. If I go back to Miami, I most likely wouldn't eat here again.
(3)Antonio B.
This place is absolutely phenomenal. Came here with girlfriend and ordered the buffalo mozzarella which was on point. We then had a pizza which was made with buffalo mozzarella and it was better than any pizza I've had in New York. Next time I'm in Miami I will definitely be coming back.
(5)G S.
Love love this restaurant! The most authentic Italian food outside Italy. All of their menu items are fresh, delicious and light. After eating both their pizza and pasta we didn't feel full or heavy. It is one of the best places in south beach and all of Miami!
(5)Tamara J.
Amazing food & wine pairing! I was impressed for our one night stay in Miami to have found this gem. Our hotel guy gave us a coupon so that was even better! I ordered something not off the menu and they created a piece of pesto perfection. Will hunt and find this place again when I'm visiting.
(5)Isabel B.
This place is great!! The service is very "authentic" for an italian restaurant :) The pizza is absolutely phenomenal... that dough is baked to perfection! The wine list is not gonna let you down. The pasta is deliciously seasoned. And the cannoli is very yummy! I haven't posted a place/restaurant review for a while, but I had to get this one out. If you are in South Beach looking for delicious food... you know what to do now. ;)
(5)Michele S.
Amazing buffalo cheese. Doesn't have lactase, easy to digest. Margheritana is wonderful. Eggplant cooked to perfection. You may have to wait for a table if the Italian team has a football game scheduled.
(5)Dan R.
Authentic Pizza Napolitana and a great location with outdoor dining. Great food and friendly staff; attentive and efficient. We will definitely be back!
(5)Jenn A.
Heard from a friend that this was a must try in South Beach. As a tourist the 1st meal or 2 I had in the area was horrible. It's such a touristy area that most establishments aren't concerned with quality or customer service. However, definitely not the case here. It was nice to be greeted and seated with friendliness. Our server was prompt and helped us pick a few things to try on the menu. The food was incredible, we devoured every bite of it. My only regret was not having room left for desert.
(5)Michelle W.
Such good pizza! The boyfriend was raving about this place and all he wanted to do in Miami was come here. Clearly, nothing beats the pizza you find in NYC, but this place definitely was a good comparison to what one would find in the City. The crust wasn't thin, but wasn't thick. Just the right thickness and it wasn't extremely chewy. The toppings were great and you could tell they use quality ingredients. Besides the pizza and the great service, this place is also in a great location. If you're a tourist and looking to get great food and explore the area, this is a great place to start. I would definitely stop by this place again if and when I come back to Miami.
(4)Bill B.
I grew up in an Italian family in the northeast where food matters and it better be good. I was hoping for the same from here but I was sadly disappointed. An eggplant appetizer was bland and nothing special. The Margharita pizza was small and bland as well. It's as though they have no idea how to make a great pizza. I will say the cheese was good but that's it. Everything about the place was bland. No flavor to the sauces. Where is the garlic? Herbs? They were nonexistent. There is really no reason to return to this place and I would not recommend it to anyone else.
(2)Alexandra C.
Great service, even though the place was packed up to our eyeballs. I didn't make a reservation, so my fault. The pizza was AMAZEBALLS and the wine was flowing the whole time!
(4)Julio H.
Fratelli La Bufala is another franchise that landed on Floridian soil, and as such, provides sufficient information on what to expect when you sit down to have lunch or dinner. It is a place that has a "tried and true" approach to cooking and that is fool proof yet doesn't necessarily cater to South Beach. Or does it? The challenge is to walk by this SoFi locale and not want to take a bite of the pizza after seeing the brick oven tender a pie with bubbling cheese, covered in hues of red and pale yellow and sprinkled with burnt spots . The brick oven pizza is the best advertisement Fratelli La Bufala uses. The taste, far from being an abrupt stop to your reverie, is a simple proceed with caution, or an attenzione! for a slippery road ahead. I mean, the pizza is not the best pizza in the beach, but it is good. The pasta dishes, on the other hand, are a bit generic and made to fit in a mold. They are still good, but something that would tire even the less demanding palates. The ambiance, on the other hand, is where Fratelli La Bufala wins you over. The space is modest, but well decorated with their flagship icons, the most notorious being the entirely Caucasian waiting staff composed of, but not limited to, former Abercombrie & Fitch models of both sexes. Add to that a different language and Fratelli La Bufala is giving us Napoli nella nostra bella citta di Miami. It is just chic, exciting and, eh .... profitable. For those reasons, I have no inclination to hate Fratelli La Bufala or to diss it. It is a cool place where nobody really cares if you are there an hour or two, even three, with a decent view and with OK food. Yes, the pizza could taste like Indian bread with cheese on top, yes the pasta could be generic, but hey! it is fast food a l'italiana, and for the privilege to enjoy it, an extra 20% has been added to the cost. It is not a great destination for food, but it is a fun one. Arriverderci, Andiamo, Buona Sera and Cin Cin, or chin chin, whatever.
(4)Elizabeth G.
Appetizer was not delicious. Small and $16. Ridiculous. I had pasta with zucchini. The cream sauce was delicious but the pasta was hard. Both entree plates are small. We were seated right by the entrance so lots of people walked in and out and we were bumped into a lot. Our waitress was a hawk. He would stand beside us and watch us at everything we do... The water boy spilled water on my foot which isn't a big deal but he never came back to refill my water nor clean the spot??? They rushed us. Will never go back there again.
(1)Ben C.
Excellent, authentic Italian food. Simple and amazing. Wonderful service. Reasonably priced. We will be back.
(5)Max B.
Went on this past Sunday after years of simply driving by. We sat ourselves and started to order appetizers and our entrees. I had the bufala mozz and prosuitto. Prosuitto was great and the bufala was fine. I ordered the roasted sausage and potatoes but should have probally ordered something else. Tried my sons pizza which was good. A little to thin and the crust was soggy in the middle. My other son had the gnocci bolognese which was actually pretty good. Would probally eat there again if I was in the neighborhood but wouldnt go out of my way to eat there again. Check in and get a free prosecco.
(3)McKayla M.
My babe made reservations here for Valentine's day after his coworker told him we had to go there. It was definitely busy as expected and very loud. It was not very intimate and talking to one another was difficult. Lots of Italians around here so it's got to be pretty authentic. We started off with one of their pizzas, it was tasty. I loved the crust and the cheeses. Then I had their lasagna which was very creamy and delicious. And the Nutella crepe for dessert was heaven, we almost ordered another one. Why this post didn't get more stars: Our waitress was not on her game. We had to find her for refills on our beverages, and ask her for things we shouldn't have had too. Like parmesan cheese and bread. Also their gratuity is included, which our waitress is lucky because she definitely didn't earn all of that tip. Overall, good authentic place for pizza. Pretty pricey for such small portions. Nothing to go crazy about. And we probably won't be dying to go back there now that we've crossed it off our list...
(3)Archana B.
A great, simple, no fuss Italian restaurant. Love the freshness. Great pizzas! Thin crust and oh so good. Perfect go to meal for a nice afternoon. Airy, bright and cosy. And so nice for a cosy dinner too. Simple yet effective menu. I love that there aren't a gazillion options. Pizza oven in plain view. Nice touch. Definitely one of my favorite Italian spots. Service is always good to. Highly recommend this place.
(4)Jim D.
Pizza was white and chewy, not brown and crispy. Sauce was nice and bufala mozzarella was very tasty. Crust just didn't do it for me. Wait staff was very friendly.
(3)Sarah M.
By far the best Italian food I've ever had! Convenient, friendly & authentic. Stumbled upon it while looking for a great sushi restaurant so glad we stopped! Wish there was more locations in the US
(5)Jonathan P.
Amazing pizza. Unlike any other pizza in Miami. Thin crust (crispy on the edges) with fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella. The pastas are also perfect. Try the scarparellio
(5)Zack L.
Paleo pizza hack: Add extra buffalo mozzarella and olive oil. The fat will slow down the carb digestion so it doesn't spike your insulin level. Best pizza in Miami!
(5)Honest G.
Had a plain Margherita pizza... I have eaten this Bufala pizza in Italy and purchased the cheese myself to make my own. There was no Bufala on my pizza. It is sad that this is what they are serving.
(1)Jonathan P.
So big tip.......check in. Both FourSqaure and Yelp. You will get free stuff.........and that just really makes people happy... and more likely to get more stars. But this place is good. Good pizza! I like to have it cooked a bit extra. It's worth trying the buffalo meat too. It tastes like regular meat but it's healthier....so why not??? I went with one of the stuffed pizzas (calzone basically). It's was large and very good. *** Make sure you ask for the spicy olive oil. And add it to everythin!!
(4)Samantha L.
Came here for lunch with a group of four friends and they were surprisingly slow for a Saturday lunch. Seated quickly and had our orders put in quickly, but servers seemed a little unattentive, especially considering that we were one of only a few tables. Almost our entire party ordered La Parma, and we all LOVED it. Prosciutto was generous, the sauce was delicious, and the cheese lived up to the hype. Only thing I would have liked was for the slices to be cut through all the way because it's tough to cut through prosciutto with a butter knife. After our food came out, business picked up a bit, and pretty soon it was a packed house and it was difficult to grab a server's attention to pay our bill. We had a bit of trouble splitting the bill, but it got fixed eventually. Overall, a great experience, and I thought it was a nice touch that almost all the staff spoke Italian. Definitely recommend coming by if you're in the area. (Weird thing I also noticed was that there was no music playing, and their huge TV wasn't even turned on)
(4)Briana R.
THE BEST! I had the salami calzone and I can't stop thinking about it! I ate here right before I had to fly back to LA and I almost ordered an extra one to go so I can bring it with me. I wish I did! The salami was cut very thin and full of flavor with delicious water buffalo mozzarella. It was the perfect combination of sweet and salty. I highly recommend it!
(5)Luis N.
Great service and great food. We recently went to Rome and had the food there ruin all other pizza and pasta for us because of how good it is there. BUT we did devour the pizza here because it does match the quality of authentic Italian pizza. We ordered the Diavola and some bufala cheese appetizer with salad. We probably wouldn't order the appetizer again but the pizza was devine. Not huge but quality. I also checked in with Yelp and that allowed us to get two free prosecco glasses--sweet surprise. Would I go back?? Yes although it is slightly pricier than other places.
(4)Mike M.
Wife had pasta and her pasta was hard I had lasagna and it was horrible. Taste no pasta , meat and cheese. So soft. Their dinner plate is like starter size.
(1)Sergio F.
How good an Italian restaurant is is determined by how my carb-ivoreal cravings are satisfied. Other than one of the ingredients in their caprese, then, Fratelli La Bufala is a very good Italian restaurant! Lettuce is an evil thing. Regardless the restaurant, I dont eat it -even when I order at Mickey D I take the lettuce out of my sandwich. That being said, the lettuce in my caprese is the only knock on FLB. Going back to said caprese, I'm digging the tomato pieces baked into the mozarella ball and the fresh cherry tomato pieces nestled among the "evil green thing". The Yelp check-in free Prosecco was a good start for a late Sunday lunch. Pizza is in the name, and I was hungry so I went for their margherita pizza. Visible mozarella balls nestled in a delcious sea of marinara sauce balanced on a thin crust which had a slightly poofie back crust which I like and usually the only reason I subject myself to an occasional regular crust pizza. Then there's a Nutella crepe full of delicious chocolate...food coma kicking in :) Despite a 17% automatic tip, staff was cool and pleasant, and as enthusiastically into the soccer game on the TV as the audience. Certainly a fun pizza spot on the beach!
(4)Amanda D.
So, here's the thing. I've never been to Italy. I can only compare the pizza I've had here in the U.S. However, if I had to guess what pizza is like in Italy, I would say this would be it. The pizza here was amazing! This is the real deal, real Italian pizza. So, where do I begin? Our waiter, Ciro, was a total sweetheart; he was really attentive and super nice. Once we were seated, he gave us the menus. A simple glimpse thought the menu and I knew right off the bat the food would be amazing. They served us focaccia, which was really good. We decided to order Carpaccio as an antipasto. Topped off with bufala mozzarella and arugula, it was one of the best Carpaccio I've ever had! It was large enough to share between 2 or even 3 people, depending on how hungry you are. I decided to order la margaritana and my boyfriend ordered the Primo Bambino. And again, the pizza was absolutely amazing. Why you may ask? First off, the pizza was baked perfectly: the crust was crispy, but light and airy. Completely different than any other type of crust I've had in the U.S. Second, you can taste the freshness of the ingredients. You could tell they use high quality ingredients. But most importantly, the food wasn't heavy. The tomato sauce was fresh and the bufala mozzarella made the pizza stand out. The pizza itself wasn't greasy, which is something I loved. I was actually able to eat about half of the pie (don't judge me) and didn't go into food coma for the first time ever! Also, the pie is definitely smaller than your average pie, more like a personal pie. As for the primo bambino, it was also amazing. The pasta was cooked perfectly. The simple ingredients gave the pasta the perfect flavor without overpowering it. And again, the pasta (surprisingly) was light and refreshing, and not heavy at all. Of course, since our main entrees were so amazing, we had to try the dessert! We ordered the nutella crepes and we were not disappointed. All I can say is it was delicious! Again, I didn't feel heavy after I ate it. To finish off, I had a nice espresso that only a real coffee drinker could enjoy. Overall, I'd definitely come back again when in Miami Beach. Arrivederci!
(5)Tanna C.
Great service, great food, and decent prices! The pizza was amazing and they gave me a free proseco for checking in.
(5)Heather S.
So excited to find an authentic Italian pizzeria in South Beach. The restaurant was packed even at 10:30pm, but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table. The service was very quick and efficient and the waiter was very friendly. We plan to go again for lunch this week and may even have our rehearsal dinner at FLB.
(5)Steve R.
Overall great dining experience. Seated without reservation immediately in a Saturday evening. Margherita pizza as an appetizer for the table was excellent. Pasta dishes were all fresh and served hot. Veal was very good. Will dine here again next time in Miami Beach.
(4)Laura R.
Really great italian pizza restaurant! Amazing pizza and the Burratta is a must!
(5)Bianca H.
I had dinner at Fratelli la Bufala while vacationing in Miami and it was the best restaurant we visited during our entire stay. First of all, we appreciated the location slightly distanced from the epicenter of the hustle and bustle of South Beach. Secondly, the pizza was the best I have had in the United States to date. Having lived in Italy for several years, I can be picky about my pizza. Everything about the pizza at Fratelli La Bufala was perfect. The dough was baked to perfection and the ingredients were the freshest and most delectable I have ever tasted on a pizza here in the U.S. The tomato sauce is fresh and all the mozzarella and other cheeses are just mouth watering. The service was fabulous as well, very friendly and attentive. A surprisingly high quality eating experience in Miami for a really fair price!
(5)Johanna G.
Didn't live up to the other reviews. Lasagna looked like it had been put in a blender, pizza was undercooked and just not great. Wasn't the worst I have ever had but it failed to impress.
(2)Jose G.
Best Italian food south of Philli.
(5)Jordan N.
An Italian chain that follows the mozzarella di bufala theme serving reasonably priced pizza. Pizza is good, not the best in the world. But still, pretty good & Italian-style. Had the margherita - wish they used more basil but it was still good pizza. And I was amused by how many ways they can come up with a dish using mozzarella di bufala. I'm interested in trying other plates.
(4)Candace C.
Came here on a Groupon. Like many have said, the check-in on Yelp got me and my friend a free glass of Prosecco, so thank you Yelp! We got the Parmigiana for an appetizer and I got the lasagna for a meal. Both of which have the tomato sauce which was very bland. I was surprised, it was almost like someone forgot to put any salt in it. I'm not sure if that's the authentic Italian style? My friend got the pizza, the crust was pretty burnt on most of the bottom. It was packed the night we came for dinner. It was raining outside but they do have outdoor seating.
(3)Stephanie L.
My favorite restaurant south of Fifth! I am biased since I live next door but I just love this place. Very nice location, great menu, good service...I always have a nice evening when I go eat there with friends. Not only the food is delicious but the atmosphere is quite nice. I feel like am back in Italy with all those waiters chatting in Italian. The decoration is colorful and artistic, I like it at the exception of the weird painting with the kids faces on the right wall. I never had a bad meal. The pizzas are exquisite with fresh ingredients, it feels like home! I would recommend: "La Filatina" as antipasto - Bufala mozzarella filata, with cherry tomatoes, basil, extra virgin olive oil, black pepper and oregano. For pasta I liked the "Scarpariello"- Paccheri mantecati with cherry tomatoes, parmesan cheese, red peppers and basil. My favorite pizza is "La reale" - Tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, ricotta and prosciutto, and for the grill "Il file": the steak di Bufala, is so yummy! Everything is so tasty, the mozzarella di Bufala is the best you can have. A great restaurant. Do not forget to order your Tiramisu for dessert!
(5)Michelle C.
It really is as good as it gets. The pizza is so delicious and every bite brings me back to Italy. The tiramisu is delicious. The pastas are tasty too. Everyone is so friendly. Matteo is the best server and Roberto is great too! I love that you get prosecco when you check in on yelp. Everytime I come, I leave overly satisfied by the food and service. This is one of my regular stops and will always be as long as they are around! I will always bring out of town friends here, and they always are very happy I bring them here. miss the free valet parking though! $5 isint bad though. A++
(5)Kenny P.
We went here for dinner with a group of 6 and a baby. Table arrangement was perfect and overall service quality was fair. We were able to obtain a free bottle of wine with a Foursquare check in which was a great gesture but I would personally stay away from this next time as the wine quality was very poor and extremely acidic. Not sure if this was due to our particular bottle or just the batch was overheated in transport. But my guess would be that since the bottles are stored next to the kitchen and the temperature of the restaurant is close to 85 degrees or more, this is actually ruining the wine. We had the bruschetta for appetizers, which was average - looks like they prepare the tomatoes and spices prior to the dinner service then store in the fridge for the rest of the night. We then ordered about 5 different pizzas of which our favorite was the one with fresh bufala mozzarella and fresh tomatoes. This is really the reason to come here, the quality of the pizza including the sauce, dough, cheese, sauce is probably one of the best on the beach. I would return here, only for the pizza, and avoid the free wine.
(3)B S.
We had dinner here this evening for my birthday. My wife made the reservation through Open Table, and told them it was my birthday through that. They were so welcoming and attentive and the food was the closest I've had to "Italian, Italian" food in the USA. Delicious food, fab wine, warm and courteous staff. Our server, Cirgo, was the greatest!!! Thank you for a wonderful birthday celebration!!!
(5)Geraldine T.
Delicious Italian restaurant, even though it is in a very touristic area. Kind of expensive, but what do you expect in Sobe! At least you are eating great food in a great place. Their pizzas are amazing and order La Mozzata with their incredible Mozzarella cheese. It is to die for.
(5)Kathy C.
I LOVE this place ! I've been coming for a while now and the pizza tastes just like it does in Italy (my fiancée is from Napoli and he agrees with me). After a long day of drinking at the Brickell Octoberfest this place really hit the spot. Pizza and Peroni, it doesn't get any better than this folks! We got the free prosecco for checking in, and ordered the diavola pizza (delicious). I am not sure if this is new but valet used to be free if you were eating there now it's $5. Our waiter was from Rimini, I didn't catch his name but he was a total sweetheart. Oh and btw the tiramisu is amazing!
(5)Logene P.
Yes I try to go there once a month, I don't usually do restaurant in south beach, but I like it there...The best Bufala mozzarella I've had since in Los Angelels..amazing pizzas and amazing staff as well. If you are on a BUDGET you might have to consider other places, because it is a tourist area and no love for locals lol.. My friend and I usually ended up paying $200 bills for two pizzas, Mozzarella and a bottle of wine. Love from ALERTTRENDS.COM
(4)Sarah H.
Best pizza ever tasted
(5)Joe P.
Since my last visit, things seem a bit broader for me. We went in today, and the menu seemed slightly different, or maybe its different for lunch vs dinner. Anyways, I was a bit disappointed as this establishment does not bring you bread unless you ask for it. I find this kinda cheap, considering they charge a steep price for a small plate of pasta. Another thing I did not like is I saw the guy making the pizza, pulled out some pizza out the oven, and the waiter grabbed some topings out the toppings box with his bare hand and placed them on the pizza, and then brought them out to the customers. They should of cooked the pizza with the toppings, and the waiter shouldn't be putting his hands in your food, since they handle cash. Pizza we had very plain tasting (margarita), sauce had no taste. Also, I'm not a fat ass, but my portition of pasta served on my 17.00 plate was more or less equivalent to HALF a kids portition served at the olive garden. (yuck) They seem to be doing things half ass, and because they are an established place, they don't care anymore about quality.
(2)Mike R.
Fantastic burrata and pizza. Make a reservation!
(5)Pratik M.
If you want good Italian food do yourself a favor and stay away from Ocean drive. This place is for real. Had some awesome pasta, some misnistroni soup and my wife had some kind of salad. The food was simply awesome, the service was quick, the dining space is small so you might have to wait, but its worth the wait. Highly recommended.
(4)Amanda F.
Highly recommend! We were in south beach for one night and stumbled into this amazing Italian eatery. Sat out on the patio, free glass of prosseco with yelp check in, service was a tad slow but food was divine!! I got the garganelli and it blew me away - served in some sort of Parmesan crisp bowl with a delicious Parmesan sauce - everyone at the table was sneaking bites! My friend got the eggplant Parmesan app but they upped the size to entree portion for her. We had a bottle of wine with dinner and the waiter kept our glasses full the entire meal! Definitely recommend this place!
(5)Kim L.
Our family went here and the food and service were fantastic. We started off with a a huge portion of bufala mozzarella which was served in a bed of arugula and two kinds of tomatoes. It was amazing!! We ordered 3 pizzas which the kids devoured. We loved the crust, cheese and the toppings. We had one with prosuitto that was scrumptious. We finished off with 4 canollis that were crispy on the outside and deliciously smooth in the inside. Great place to eat for a families with young kids!!
(5)Juan K.
Best pizza ever..thin crust! it just melts in your mouth! This is truly an AUTHENTIC Italian restaurant..If you want to try the best pizza ever..DO NOT HESITATE to come here!! Bring your date..she will love it!
(5)Kim S.
While visiting Miami last month, a friend and I were walking down the street and we were STARVING! As we passed Fratelli La Bufala the smell coming out of this place beckoned us to stop. OMG it smelled sooooo good. Upon entering, we found the wait staff very rude. I felt like we were putting them out. EXCUSE me for wanting to be seated. Anyway... after we were sat, it took another 10 minutes for anyone to even come and take our drink order, and they only did it then because we flagged down a waiter. Who was not very happy about having to get us anything. We reviewed the menu and decided to split a buffalo burger. Both of us being small eaters thought it would be better to split something than to let 1/2 a meal go to waste. The waiter was NOT the least little bit happy about that. I could swear that he looked down his nose at us. That would be STRIKE TWO. We waited for what seemed like FOREVER for the food to get ready... I would have been more understanding if the restaurant was crowded, or if we had ordered our burger well done, but neither of those factors played in. When our meal arrived, they didn't bring an extra plate. I asked the person that brought our meal if they could bring us an extra plate and they acted like they didn't even hear me. Waited another 10 minutes for the waiter to walk by so that we could flag him down again and ask for another plate. We finally got our plate, split our meal... ate and got out of there as quickly as we could. I must admit that I'm a pretty good tipper, this night... I was NOT. I do not believe in rewarding TERRIBLE service. As far as the burger was concerned... it was a good burger, just not good enough to put up with that kind of service. Needless to say... I WILL not be going back.
(1)Laura C.
So the owner of Fratelli contacted me about my previous review... But not to ask me to come back as to improve my impression, but, to edit my review because I suppose they felt it was too harsh. Obviously, if you want a better review, improve your issues and don't ask me to edit mine.
(1)Bradley R.
First the good, the hostess greeted us with a smile and sat us quickly. The sauce on the lasagna was savory and sumptious. Bright and fresh tasting. The pizza crust was flaky and charred and the sauce was not standard american heavy pizza sauce but light and flavorful. The waiter took our order promptly and though at a small cafe table, we could have had a good meal However.......... First, this is not a place to go when it is busy. The charming layout of the dining area is cramped when full. The pizza prep station take up a portion of restaurant and is a gathering place for servers and customers. The Hostess stand is also a gathering place for servers. Our lasagna was served cool either it was not reheated thoroughly or stayed on the counter too long. Either is possible considering that it took 20 minutes to get our appetizer. Again, it was very tasty I can only imagine how much more I would have enjoyed it at the proper temperature. After another 20 minutes the waiter noticed that we had not been served our pizza and said that it would be right out. After another 20 minutes and noticing that most of the tables had turned over, I said to the waiter that it was obvious that our pizza was missed. He assured me that that was not the case. Of course it really was the case and, after it was prepared, we had our pizza delivered in another 10 minutes. It was fresh and hot so we did not have the problem with the soggy crust that some people have written about.. It was tasty and I could see coming back but, If you see people in line outside waiting for a table , I suggest that you drive past this place until they get the service part down. They can't handle the crowd
(2)Daniella B.
I absolutely love this place. It is truly Italian! None of this Italian-American cuisine and somehow makes sauces really heavy and gives you heart burn. I've been a big fan of this restaurant since the first time I was introduced to it by some Italian friends. The staff is Italian and you truly feel welcome. The food is spectacular, and when anybody asks me of a good Italian restaurant Fratelli La Bufala is always my answer.
(5)Linda H.
This place came highly recommended, and once I looked at the menu I could see why! This kind of place is right up my alley...genuine Italian, yay! The decor is interesting, and they have some really cool artwork...not your typical Italian joint. We were seated and waited on promptly. I ordered a Peroni and perused the menu. We ordered an antipasto (or is it antipasti?) plate with cheeses, meats and veggies to start. Bread was delivered, along with olive oil and a nice balsamic vinegar. The waiter was rather monosyllabic, but the service was good, so it wasn't a problem....somehow we communicated our order to him. Our antipasto was delivered, and oh my, was it ever good. The fresh veggie components were really excellent and different than any other antipasto I have ever had. There were a couple things that were warm on the plate, including a delicious caponata. The meats and cheeses were also excellent, including the bufala mozzarella (one of my favorite things on the planet). At this point we ordered a margherita pizza. Ok, so beer #1 was delivered in a room temperature, heavy glass mug. I kind of assumed I would be getting a bottle, which was my preference. Not only did the mug weigh 100 pounds, but the temperature of the beer was immediately warmed when poured into it. So when I ordered a second beer, I asked for a bottle, stating that I didn't care for the heavy glass mug. This is where the language barrier became a problem. The waiter returned with my bottle, AND another heavy glass mug, which he began pouring the beer into. I stopped him mid-pour and said I would drink out of the bottle (maybe they don't do this in Miami Beach, but I'm a South Side Chicagoan and I'm gonna drink out of the bottle, dammit). This seemed to anger him, and he stormed off. I apologized as he was leaving and he wouldn't even acknowledge that I was talking! Anyhoo, I drank the (warmish) beer that was in the mug, and the remainder of what was in the bottle. In the meantime, the pizza was delivered and it was probably the best wood-burning oven pizza I've ever had (and I've had a LOT lately!). The waiter came by several times, and would take things off the table as we finished, and never uttered another word, and absolutely REFUSED to touch the empty mug, even though I pushed it to the side of the table, and I was obviously not going to use it. The food was really excellent, and I wish I could have eaten more or fit another visit into our trip. So 5 big stars for the food.....only deducting one because of the weird beer/waiter incident. Oh, and this was my first experience with the check having the tip added on, which I later found to be a common practice in Miami Beach (at first I thought it was because the waiter was irritated with me, haha). Oh well, guess they gotta do what they gotta do. If I'm ever in Miami Beach again, I will be back!
(4)Pat M.
Where do you go in Homestead for real Mexican food? Wherever the Mexicans are going! Where do you go in SoBe for authentic Italian?? Wherever the Italians are going, of course!! Been here twice and both times came the closest you can get to experiencing dinner in a Roman trattoria without getting on an airplane or a transatlantic gondola. Get there early. By 8pm the place is packed, not with locals or Brits or survivors of Hip Hop weekend, but actual Italians who are gonna think they never left home. The service is unique in that everybody speaks Italian (keepin' it real), and they take good friendly service seriously, which in Miami is worth the price of admission. Not once did we want for a refill of soda, bread, or smiles. The food: The mozzarella they fly in from the boot every week is so fresh you can taste what the cow had for breakfast that morning. La Bufalata is a hefty platter of cured meats, cheeses, and marinated vegetables fit for a Gladiator. Il Pignatiello is prosciutto and mozzarella baked with honey and walnuts. The humble calzone? Unlike any calzone you've ever had, and the Meditarraneo salad is like a three day weekend on the Amalfi coast. Then there's the pizza; hand-crafted by a seriously-focused dude in whites, and baked in a wood oven right before your eyes. When you taste that crust you'll understand why he takes his job so seriously. Important tip! Whatever you order, be sure to ask for a little side of pesto, which they make fresh. Trust me, you're going to want to drizzle it on everything. That thing was so good I was mixing it in my water. Grazie! A TAVOLA NON SI INVECCHIA!
(4)Sherry S.
We came here at 8:30 on a Saturday night. Upon arrival, we asked the host to be seated. He told us that if we were only 2 people, we'd have to sit outside. It was pouring down rain outside. We said "ok" anyway, and he said he'd be back in a minute to seat us. 5 minutes go by. We are still standing in the rain. We check back with him, and he says "ok one minute"... After waiting for 30 minutes, and seeing people that came after us go ahead of us, we walked inside and asked to speak to the manager. The manager informed us we had been forgotten (we weren't even written down on their list). He sat us right away. The waitress comes to take our order. We order an appetizer and a bottle of wine. She informs us that they ran out of said wine. Ok, we order another bottle. 5 minutes later, she brings the wine and some COLD STALE bread. And here is where it gets good... we wait, and we wait, and we wait. We finish our bottle of wine. 25 minutes later, still no appetizer. Once again, I walk up to the manager. I tell him we've been waiting 25min for an app. He says "it hasn't been 45 minutes!" and starts arguing with me. I never said 45, I said 25, but whatever. They bring out the app 5 minutes later, and the waitress rudely tells us, "It only took 10 minutes" and throws the plate on our table. Wow... REALLY?! Now what was the app? Canned RAGU-like tomato sauce, watered down, UNRIPE GREEN tomatoes (raw) and a BLOB on mozzarella cheese melted in the middle. I got up and asked the waitress for the check, there was no way I was staying here to eat. She brings us the check, $55 PLUS 17% added gratuity. Haha, like there's a way in HELL I'm gonna tip these people after arguing with me - the customer - forgetting about us - and being rude about it. I paid my $55 and left. Will never come back. These people need to learn to be HOSPITABLE. Just because their main business is from tourists that are never gonna come back doesn't mean they should treat everyone like CRAP. And learn to make new food, because that soggy mess they brought us was NOT a $15 appetizer.
(1)Andreea O.
When I found a $10 for $25 worth of food coupon on LivingSocial we decided to give this place a try. The server greeted us with "Are you ready to order?" and when we asked for waters he turned around angrily to dissapear for another 10 minutes. Meanwhile the bus boy brought us water. After Gianluca, our waiter, comes back we place the order and soon after the bus boy brings us bread and then the food. He also refilled our waters and brought us everything we asked for. The server didn't come back for the duration of our stay until he decided we should get our check. We told him we wanted dessert so we ordered and then 15-20 minutes later we got it. Gratuity was included on the check, so that explains his attitude, I just hope he gives most of that to his busser :)) I guess that's one of the problems with most restaurants in Miami Beach, them adding gratuity to all their checks makes the service very poor. Best thing we had there was this appetizer of bufala mozarella in a tomato sauce. Very tasty!! The calzone was just okay.
(3)Yamie E.
What can I say....... the wait was long, the food was good not amazingly good but yes it was good definitely pricey. Would I go here again probably yes, Would I go often definitely not....
(3)Att A.
My partner really really wanted to have pizza on our last day in Miami. I was determined not to step into any of the pizza chains or any of the tourist trappy places. On top of that I was rather fascinated by the concept of eating buffalo-based products. They offered everything from buffalo burger to fresh mozzarela made from fresh water buffalo to buffalo carpaccio. I mean here is the opportunity to be able to say I have eaten raw buffalo meat! That said, I ordered the bufala carpaccio much to my partner's chagrin. But much to both of our surprised, we both ended up cleaning the plate. The buffalo meat was cut really thinly and was served with a heapful of the mozzarella di bufala and fresh basil in the middle as well as a generous sprinkle of really really good olive oil. We also had the pizza special of the day - Margherita with fresh mozzarella di buffalo. The pizza was made right in front of us. The dough was superb! The pizza was not as thin as I hoped it to be but the dough was chewy in the inside and crunchy on the outside. I am normally not a fresh mozzarella fan but this mozzarella had amazing texture and taste. I even asked if they sold just the mozzarella for me to bring back (they did!).
(4)Adriano M.
This is a gourmet pizza restaurants in south beach, overall I think they make a great brick oven pizza, my favortite is the white piazz's. I really enjoyed the mixed antipasto with eggplant,fresh mozzarella, prociutto and other deli meats and chesses. I also tried the pasta dish topped cherry tomates, the sauce was fresh and good tasting. My only concern here is the prices charge seem to be alittle steep, I'm the sure the location has alot to do with it but a 12" pizza should not cost $16 bucks and the antpasto was $25. Other then price the restaurant is very good, I would definelty come back (if someelse is buying)
(4)Alex G.
In a nutshell, good but not great. I actually didn't like the menu, as I felt it didn't have "modern" Italian dishes, and it was a bit stuck in the past. Without going into specifics regarding our whole meal, everything was made to order but lacked a certain "something." Meat sauce didn't have to usual Italian sweetness, and the pasta was a bit overcooked. Other dishes followed the same path. We did not try the pizza, which may have been a mistake. Still, I don't know if I would come back. Not bad, just not great...
(3)Steven M.
I'm from NY so I'm a little biased. But I think this place is way over rated. We went there for dinner tonight. First. It was about 90 degrees in the restaurant which made for a very uncomfortable experience. Food was ok, nothing special. Service was slow and they never refilled my water which would have been appreciated since the heat was unbearable. I saw other reviews mention the same issue so you would think they would address their AC issue. Sorry, but I would pass on this place.
(2)Nico B.
!!
(4)Eugenio F.
I love this place! Not only because they speak to me in Italian every time i go there.... This is the most authentic pizza you can find in Miami (and possibly in the U.S.) My order is simple: 1) small mozzarella di bufala; 2) pizza caprese.
(5)Joshua M.
One of my Favorite Pizza / Pasta in miami beach The Good *Indoor - "good feel" Decor *Friendly staff and atmosphere *Good use of fresh ingredients & consistently delivering good tasting food *Staff always has been friendly * Clean place Pizza's are a good choice so was the steak .... the pasta was good but the portion size reminded a small appetizer rather than something that can qualify as a meal ... this is the only reason why this place does not get the 5th star
(4)Anae' G.
This place was right around the corner from the hotel so we decided to give it a shot. It's a little small but it's not too cramped. The staff was everywhere though. It had me wondering why so many of them were working tonight if they were going to be running over each other like this lol. The food was great. We ordered pizza and fries. I'm a sucker for a brick oven pizza and it was pretty tasty. For all of my people who've never been to Miami before, listen up. MIAMI LIES ABOUT PORTIONS. SHARE EVERYTHING. lol I'm serious though. We asked the waitress how big the pizzas were and she said it was a nice personal size pizza. We asked her how big the bowl of fries were and she held up one hand and made a small "c" with it to show the bowl size and said it was that big. Because me and my friend weren't too hungry, we split the pizza and fries. Too bad for my other friends who ordered their own because you can literally only finish half. That waitress was a liar lol. From that point on, we shared everything we got down there. But very nice staff and the food was good so they're a-ok in my book.
(3)Trina R.
Excellent! I went here last night with my best friend because I had a livingsocial deal that was going to expire and wanted to try it out. I'm glad I did. First we got to the valet which seemed pretty crazy and had to wait about 5 to 10 min for the driver. To be fair it was a friday night and the drivers were very efficient, there were just a lot of cars. Valet was free but make sure the restaurant validates it. We had reservations but since we were late due to the valet lol we had to wait like 5 minutes, no biggie! The restaurant was packed and a little crazy but it fit the scene. My friend and i got a table all the way to the back near the hall to the kitchen, it was a little hectic but it really didn't bother too much, I had my back to it. Apparently the table before us spilled olive oil on the floor and they did their best to clean it but it was funny when one server slipped and almost fell on my lap but he didn't. Anyway, our server was fantastic! His name was Stefano, he was really hot....I mean efficient and very attentive! Lol. Now for the food. We each had a glass of wine. For appetizer we had the bruschetta which brought four sliced pieces of bread with the bruschetta on top. It was really good. For our entree, we split a pizza "La Parma" which had prosciutto on top, it was to die for. The pizza is pretty big, some people can probably eat the whole thing but both of us were full after splitting it. Of course there is always room for dessert, so we opted for the Tiramisu. It was fantastic for all you Tiramisu lovers. That's my friend's favorite dessert and she said it was her new number 1. So there you go. I also noticed a lot of people getting take-out, I can see why. I will definitely come back here, hopefully soon.
(4)Fernando S.
Pizzas were tasty but I felt there wasn't enough time allowed for the sauces to settle. Everything basically slipped off when you grabbed a piece. The ingredients were on point. The ambience was very tight but surprisingly tolerable. The decor was interesting. I saw a tub of Nutella the likes I've never seen before; it was huge! The free prosecco with a yelp check-in was a nice added touch. Waiter was prompt and attentive.
(3)Tal T.
I've visited Fratelli la Bufala twice. The first time I was underwhelmed by the lack of cheese (and flavor) on my pie. The second was seriously better, and another time I had carry-out pizza that was tasty as well. It breaks down like this. The service is competent, if a little slow. Don't expect American-style friendliness and smiles. The pizza is different from what most of us think of when we think "pizza." Crust is very thin, ingredients are high-quality, and the made-to-order pies are cooked in a coal-fired oven. La Collinara is my favorite: bufala mozzarella, pancetta & basil, topped with a nice runny egg. It is a bit pricey, with most of the small pizzas in the $14-$18 range. Bottom Line: Order well in this true Italian pizza & pasta joint and you can fall in love with its unique offerings.
(4)Sarah G.
Disappointed, the service was good however the food was quite tasteless and the pizza was undercooked. We did enjoy the buratta but it was overpriced at $23. Had such higher expectations ;(
(2)Alfredo K.
After a hard day working the Design Miami event, my co-workers and I were craving pizza, lasagna and chicken parm. We asked a local store owner, who moved here from the Bronx, of a good pizza place and he recommended Fratelli's. We usually eat at another place close to our hotel, but it was Friday night in Miami and there was over an hour wait. The restaurant is located on the corner and we could see that it was packed with patron, a good sign. i am on a constant quest for good pizza in Florida. We were seated right away and I was a little disappointing in the service. The seating was tight and the legs on the table made us want to straddle the table because you could not sit naturally unless you are 4 years old. it reminded me of the SOHO restaurants in New York where 3 people have to share one chair and you are privy to everyone's hipster conversation about skinny jeans and the newest iPhone. It took a little while to get to us and we had to ask for bread (cold and straight out of the fridge), and olive oil. Maybe they thought I should lay off the bread...and they are right. We searched the menu far and wide, we looked under the table, at the walls and could not find the chicken parm...come on now! An Italian restaurant in a tourist area and no chicken parm? Ok, I told myself it must be a mistake. After waiting for the waiter to come over (he was busy), he told us no chicken parm..ugh. They did have the lasagna so I decided to try it. We ordered a pepperoni pizza because you can always throw down a slice..right? The pizza was pretty good, the sauce was good and the pepperoni thin and spicy. The lasagna arrived and it was great. Lasagna at 10 pm at night is not advisable, but what the heck it was worth it. If you are near South Beach I would try this place out. It's decent pizza and excellent entrees.
(4)David P.
This is an authentic Italian place, best Pizza and Pasta in Miami. Service is amazing as well. I go to this place at least once a week
(5)Eva L.
I decided to give this place 5 star even though I once swore to god that I'm not gonna have Italian food whenever there's an option. haha.. not i change my mind ;) This place tastes amazing, looks amazing, and feels amazing. I ordered the Exotic salad with mix greens, hearts of palm, walnuts, diced pineapple & cheese buffalo cheese. That was the only time that I actually finished my dish!!! Love love it. My friend ordered something like steak pizzaiola. Oooo that was nice! Service and price both rock. Totally recommend this place to y'all.
(5)Shaun U.
We were in the mood for some take out or delivery pizza after arriving in South Beach. This seemed to be the best option based on yelp reviews plus it was right around the corner from our place. We got a manachina and wurstel pies which were both quite average at best. It wasnt too expensive but also wasnt cheap. So by definition of a 2 star rating, Ive most definitely had better.
(2)William O.
I first had buffalo mozarella a few years ago, so when I found a coupon online for this place, I felt a tickle in my belly button. I couldn't WAIT to go. The place is on the beach, which I dig, so big ups there. It's not overly trendy or anything. Just a nice little pizza restaurant. Nothing overly unassuming, which, once again, is greatly appreciated by my grungy-Chuck-Taylors-wearing-self. The food, well, I mean... that's a different story. Fratelli La Bufala proved to be another one of those places with a fantastic appetizer and a mediocre main dish. As a starter, my then lady friend (how often do I use that term?) and I ordered an eggplant lasagna-type deal that was very, very good. Molded into a sizeable mound, drenched in marinara, sprinkled with parmesan. It was fantastic. In fact, if ever I venture to this place again, I may just spend an afternoon eating eggplant lasgna and drinking red wine through a silly straw. For the main dish, we ordered an artichoke pizza with buffalo mozarella that left oodles to be desired. My biggest issue was the arrangement of the toppings. I know it sounds like i'm nitpicking, but it really sucks to take a slice that is just absolutely loaded with artichokes only to follow it with a slice that was essentially nothing more than a sauce and cheese sammie. No, scratch that. It's not nitpicking. It really isn't too much to ask to have the toppings on your pizza evenly distributed. If Pizza Hut can take the time to layer its Meat Lovers with something tantamount to a veil of pepperoni, then a place on South Beach can certainly find a better way to go about presenting its product. Still. I won't sit here and tell you that the pizza was awful. It really wasn't. In fact, nothing about this place was awful, but nothing was really exceptional either. Between a very satisfying appetizer and an awkwardly configured pie, this place averages out to a respectable -- albeit disappointing -- three stars.
(3)Kathleen J.
Took my parents and fiancée here for the first time. We shared 2 pizzas and a carbonara. In the carbonara's defense, it was good, but we had a run in with our server which completely tainted our experience. Our margarita pizza came out with cold cheese. It seemed like it had been siting out for awhile, so we notified our waitress who immediately became defensive and went into a very long rant about how pizza in Italy has an undercooked crust, it's supposed to be soggy etc. We couldn't get a word in and she entirely missed our concern. A misunderstanding is fine but she went about everything loudly which made my company and myself embarrassed. First off you should never cause a scene when a customer politely asks you a question and secondly, she didn't listen to us before going off on us. We weren't concerned about the crust- my fiancée is from Italy and have eaten pizza in Naples- we are very aware of how the pizza is different than American pizza and enjoy it. We tried explaining this to no avail. Crust = not an issue. Our pizza cheese was just cold. Won't be back as we felt uncomfortable. Not a feeling I want myself or my guests to have when looking for a nice dinner out.
(2)Katie G.
My husband and I like this place a lot. It is a nice place to go with friends - think double date night. They will often give you a free glass of prosecco if they are busy and you have to wait more than 2 minutes. I like their salads and pasta, and my husband always orders a custom pizza. The food is solid and the atmosphere is nice. Valet parking is available right out front for a few dollars.
(4)Paul M.
Having been to Naples on a Med cruise and not being able to try authentic Napoli pizza has always bugged me. So, I was happy to finally check out FLB. However, I think it may be easier to fly to Naples than to find parking around FLB. My selective amnesia was in full effect as I apparently have forgotten how bad it is to park around there. We went for lunch on a Sunday, and the only places to park were $25 flat rate garages/lots or the valet in front of Love/Hate. There was a free valet booth in front of FLB, but the guy must have been at church as I drove around for more than 20 minutes and there was no one there. I miraculously found parking 4 blocks away when someone pulled off the street. Ok now for the good news. After a healthy walk to the restaurant, we were surprised to see that we had free prosecco just for checking in on Yelp. You can always rely on Yelp for the hookup.... We started with a La Millefoglie which is very similar to an eggplant parmigiana. It was delicious, although a bit on the smaller side. I was hoping to taste more of the famous mozzarella, but since it was melted I didn't get too much of the flavor. We shared a pizza diavolo which was a red pizza with spicy pepperoni and cheese. It was definitely on the spicy side, but absolutely delicious. The crust was thin and tear away soft. They also have italian beers here - Peroni and Moretti. I had the Moretti La Rossa (dark) and it was great. Overall I would say that the food is great here. I don't think it is the best pizza in Miami, but definitely very good. The parking situation here though is HORRENDOUS and FLB would probably get 4 stars if it wasn't for that.
(3)Jeanette T.
great meal and intimate atmosphere, very friendly staff . we had the esotica salad. . fresh ingredients and great flavor! we tried the casertina, white pizza with sausage and broccoli rabe... delicious! my husband who is Sicilian couldn't stop raving about it! love the wood burning pizza oven! We would definitely return!
(5)Patrick B.
This was one of the best Italian Restaurants I have ever been to. Garganelli was simply amazing, especial with the Parmesan cheese shell dish.
(5)Lauren D.
Awesome, amazing, fabulous! Best restaurant in town hands down! They're authentic Italian servers with a vast knowledge of their ingredients and what extras they have to offer! I went there 4 times in 4 days! Pizza margarita is just WOW! I would marry that place!
(5)Robert C.
I don't know if we just came on an off day or what, but we didn't get the experience we thought we would. There were only a handful of people in the restaurant to start off. We were offered to sit wherever we wanted. After that, it was a very slow lunch... First off, we did use our free glass of prosecco thanks to YELP!! We were so hungry so we decided to try the bruschetta. I have to say it was so very hard, the bread was burnt and it was a very messy dish overall. Our pizza arrived, we chose the prosciutto and mozzarella with mushrooms added. I would say it was good, but not overly superb! It was very fresh, in fact so fresh that there was hair in the cheese!! YUMMY!! Oh and how nice of them to add gratuity for me...ho hum!
(2)Erick S.
Me and my GF ordered a Margherita pizza and a plate of "Bucatini alla Carbonara". The Bucatini was delicious, the pizza no so much, it was not cooked to its entirety and came out a little under cooked, did not enjoy it all. Over all good service, good price, but the pizza did not cut the deal. Just being honest.
(3)Adam S.
This place has some really fresh and really nice pizza and calzones. I feel like this place is a 4 1/2. The good: the caprese salad was probably the best I've ever had. The mozzarella was really amazing and the tomato was so fresh and flavorful. Amazing. The pizza tasted great. I had the one with spicy salami and it was plenty spicy without being overpowering. The service was polite and attentive (which is an accomplishment in itself on Miami beach). The bad: The pizza was so flimsy I couldn't eat it until it cooled and even at that point I had to kind of roll the pizza up to eat it. Also, this is a pricey pizza joint. $65 for a caprese, a calzone, and a pretty small pizza is a lot of cash (but it is really tasty stuff). There's a reason this place gets a lot of hype.
(4)Sandra N.
I went here recently with my family and boyfriend. My brother had been here a couple of times already. I liked it! The food was delicious and I really appreciated the fact that the waiters were actually Italian and had accents. Awesome. We shared 4 plates. The Diavola, the Margherita, a canelon and a pasta a la bolognese. All. Delicious! Plus, if you check in here you get a free glass of prosecco!
(4)Joseluis A.
yay, practice everything you learned and forgot when you took italian 101 because you thought the teacher was cute. buonasera! antipasto! panettone! fyi, i did not pass this class. i came here with a friend who was craving italian. ive heard good things about fratelli la bufala. ive also heard its a chain thats all over europe. one evening, this man approached me in italian, at the corner of washington and 10th, asking me for directions to FLB. naturally, i was inclined to think, hey, this guy is italian, this restaurant must be good. i cant say i was impressed. we got carpaccio and bruschetta. it was just ok. i cant quite remember the name of the pasta dish i had cause, it was all in italian, of course and i thought we already established i did not pass this class. all i remember was that it was a bit too heavy on the cream. the chain smokers sitting next to us ordered pizza which looked promising. perhaps ill be back and update this review if it merits. otherwise, 3 stars seem fair to me, if we account for location, service, prices and their menu.
(3)Jorge C.
Best authentic pizza made from buffalo. One of the best pizza places in south beach! Tiramisu is amazing! Great service and great pasta dishes as well. I always see a lot of Italians eating there.
(5)Christoph S.
This was awesome. Stopped here after a road trip. Starving. Complementary prosecco (for each of us 2) with the Yelp checkin. Slammed a Peroni before the red wine came (chilled in a bucket as requested, it was warm). The Prosciutto and Buffala Mozzarella appetizer was very good. I ordered the Prosciutto (see a trend, hmm??) Pizza with Ricotta and a side salad. The pizza was fantastic, the dough all blistered and stuff, you know, as you would expect out of a wood-burning oven (which, by the way, you should check out..). I didn't care for the ricotta making the pizza soggy in the center, but it was still very good. It was late September, we were given the last table on the patio, it was super nice out, we had a fantastic dinner. Wood-burning ovens are tough to find in Chicago, it was a joy to eat dinner here. I would return if I was back in the area.
(5)Chantal G.
Yummy, but expensive. Cheese should not be that much money... However I appreciated the free glass of prosecco with a Yelp check-in! We ended up ordering a huge mound of cheese. That's exactly what it was... A HUGE mound of cheese. It was nevertheless delicious, but so expensive for just that.Additionally, I enjoyed the outside seating and the waiters were very attentive. The atmosphere was fun and clearly had a spot for people about to head out for the night.
(3)Syuzanna S.
Food is amazing and I mean it! affordable price, friendly and quick stuff, the only minus is that place is very noisy. I understand it's an Italian restaurant but still...:)
(4)Ute L.
If you plan on coming here on a Saturday night for dinner, make a reservation. The place is always packed with people waiting for tables. The food is good but in my opinion overpriced so I am not really sure why it's always so crowded. It seems to be a popular family place, so between the kids misbehaving and the parents yelling at them the noise level can be high. Also not a good choice if you're claustrophobic, the tables are a little to close for comfort. The parmigiana appetizer was delicious, eggplant layered with mozzarella cheese and baked into a creamy, gooey treat. It is large enough to share. I ordered the cornettone, a home made pasta shell stuffed with ricotta and topped with mozzarella and marinara sauce, good but bland. BF ordered the pasta with olives and artichokes. Neither of us liked it as it was drowned in olive oil, way too greasy. The pizzas here are good, the best part is the crust. It is a thin crust and they give it a wonderful smoky char on the grill. Pizzas are big but they skimp on the toppings considering what they charge. The sausage on the pizza also was not fully cooked. We like it browned, not pink. The tiramisu was one of the best I've had, not too soggy and not too creamy, perfect. Large enough to share. The "cheese pie" dessert was A-OK. Sort of a dry ricotta cheesecake, the flavor reminiscent of cannoli filling but I didn't care for the grainy texture. The portions are just right but you definitely won't need a doggy bag. If you're really hungry better order an appetizer. The prices aren't that great, you can expect to pay $80 for two people with a shared appetizer and dessert.
(3)Melissa K.
An Italian themed restaurant with Spanish overtones?! They claim to have Naples-inspired pizza but everything inside is Spanish themed from the pizza taste to the waiters' outfits. The pizza is just okay. Thin crust with decent ingredients but nothing special. The service is typical South Beach - apethetic and poor. It's in a busy location and seems to do lots of business. There's a ton of families so make sure you enjoy eating next to children before you head here.
(2)Suzana U.
Really good Italian place, lots of Italian working there and crowd... Pizza was amazing.. gnocchi was good too. But the pizza,.. YUMMMMM!!
(4)Rachael H.
I went there last night. HOLY COW WAS IT DELICIOUS! My sister and I saw this place on a food channel show and made reservations that night. When we arrived it seemed pretty empty and as if we didn't need them, but hey, you get points on open table, so whatever. We got a free bottle of wine from a four square promotion and we started off with the beef carpaccio. It's served with Parmesan cheese shavings and arugula. The beef is thin enough to like and thick enough to not fall apart and the cheese was amazing! I had a pasta with artichoke hearts and panchetta. I can't remember the name but it was really tasty. I wanted more to magically appear on my plate when I was done. My boyfriend had the marinara pizza, which for having none of the infamous buffalo cheese, was pretty darn good. My sister had the gnocchi which was fantastic and is served with actual buffalo cheese cubes. Her boyfriend had the calzone which we saw being made and finished in a matter of seconds. He said it tasted like it did when he visited Italy. Yes, It's THAT good. We finished off with the tiramisu, which wasn't out of this world, but still good.
(5)Michelle E.
We went to FLB three times in one week...That's how good this place is. From the bufala carpaccio to the Reale pizza, we were wowed with every bite. We often go to Fratelli la Bufala when we are visiting Miami and we dream about those meals for weeks after we get back to NY. I hear there is a NYC branch, but the reviews are not so good for some reason. If you're in town I suggest you give this place a try. Making reservations on OpenTable is a good way to secure a table inside, as crowded nights only leave the hot tables outside open for patrons to use. Unfortunately none of their desserts were notable enough to recommend, so skip the desserts and go to Gelato-Go around the corner on Ocean Drive instead. FYI, this place is packed with authentic Italians who know good food, which should be even more confirmation that this place is the real deal.
(5)Elizabeth H.
Amazing pizza!! Small restaurant but we loved the food and the service!
(5)Pete M.
Excellent true Neopolitan pizza - the certified high end stuff just like they do in Naples. The crust chewy, a little underdone intentionally and superb. Nice local fresh ingredients. Great salads and reasonable wine list. Great for family. Very nice pasta too. Should be more places like this.
(4)Toy L.
Checked out Fratelli La Bufala while in South Beach on the recommendation of Yelp. Buffalo cheese appeared to be a main item in most of their dishes. Therefore I ordered the buffalo cheese ball as a starter. It was ginormous. It had a crispy outer layer and a gooey inner layer. Delicious. Next I split a margarita pizza with a friend. All of their pizzas are prepared in a brick oven, and you can taste it. It was very good. Best pizza I've had in Florida.
(4)Gisela C.
It's been a while since I have been here and I am compelled to review the dish I had tonight. I will begin by saying that i love cheese. I probably love cheese more than i love some people I am related to... with that in mind, the Cornottone is officially my favorite dish here. If you like cheese, try it. It will not disappoint. The service is still strong here (a rarity for an affordable place on Miami Beach)... Check in on Four Square and get a free bottle of wine... its actually pretty good. Enjoy!
(4)Alex O.
Coming from NY, we always have low expectations of Italian/ Pizza Restaurants elsewhere. Everything was amazing, service, food, cost were all on point. Calzone was NY brick oven-esque. Proscuitto with the bufala was one of the best I've had. Excellent Job!!! Highly recommended. Came back in May and it's consistently good. I'll be back again soon hopefully!!
(5)Michelle C.
Casual Italian food. I'm not a big pizza person so I had a pasta with buffalo cheese & sausage. It was quiet good. My brother got the lasagna and boy was the sauce good! I like the bold, fresh taste, and I'm usually not a huge red sauce fan. And this is a nice SOBE spot too, complete with cute atmosphere, people watching and close to Ocean Drive.
(4)Anne W.
Delicious!
(5)Stephanie G.
After years of wanting to visit Fratelli La Bufala I finally did tonight because it's Mother's Day and my mom loves pizza. I thought for certain we'd have a fabulous experience and that my siblings would pat me on the back for my great choice. Alas, it didn't turn out so well. The good thing is, this place is easy to find and parking is readily available since there's so much street parking in the area. We arrived about 15 minutes late for our reservation but were seated immediately. Also good is their wine less which is chockfull of good and affordable options. To start we shared La Mozzata which was very fresh but could have used some basil. My mother, my sister and I shared the La Reale pizza and a lasagna because we wanted to try it. The pizza was just ok and the lasagna was ice cold in the middle. My brother Il File which he says he enjoyed, but let's face it the kid will eat anything. For dessert we had the the tiramisu which was decent. Overall, I was disappointed with the experience but it may have had something to do with my expectations which were heightened by reading so many great Yelp reviews, coupled with the fond memories I have of the pizza in Naples. My favorite part of the meal was the bottle of Super Tuscan we shared but I could kick myself for not remembering what it was called!
(2)Estefano C.
Excelent pizza for those who loves a real fresh ingredients. Brazilians will love this place
(5)Jane A.
Excellent food and service. The prices were reasonable for what it was.
(5)Michael D.
Ciao! I love the pizza here. Honestly haven't had anything else. I wish the outdoors was non smoking so bad though. Real Italian place :)
(5)Alejandra R.
An authentic Italian place I have been client of this restaurant for five year and never disappointed me and my husband just love this restaurant .... Pizza is delicious and pasta too and the service is really good went you go ask for Larry one of the manager he knows how to make feel clients welcome .....
(5)Kellie P.
The spicy prosciutto pizza is out of this world.
(5)Nakia O.
First of all, if you're planning on going on the weekend and past 9:00pm, I would strongly recommend to get a reservation. The place gets packed and the waiting can be over 30 minutes if you don't have a reservation. We made the reservation at 9:00pm through open table for 9:45pm. The restaurant has free valet parking with validation. As soon as we spoke to the hostess we were immediately seated, because we had reservations. The place is small but cozy. IT is one of the few south beach restaurants that are worth going. It has good quality food and good service. We had the beef carpaccio for appetizer and boy was it yummy. It differs from beef carpacicio's from other restaaurants because the beef is sliced a bit thicker. I was a bit doubtful at first, but once I tried it it was OHHHHHHHH MY delicious! Never going back to the thinner sliced, now that I've tasted this one. It is served with arrugula and fresh parmesan cheese. Put some olive oil, vinegar and some salt and it is to die for! You HAVE to order at least one of their pizza's, they are one or if not the best I've had in Miami. We had the Diabola pizza. It is a bit spiy but tasteful and delicious. We also had the carbonara pasta. IT was great as well. The pasta is homemade and very tasteful and the sauce was delish too. I would've put a bit more salca to the pasta but oh well it was still yummy. For dessert we ha the nutella crepe and it was delicious as well. Go check this place out and remember to make reservations if going on a Friday or Saturday night!
(5)Thomas S.
Possibly the best pizza I've ever had. It's everything one could look for an a traditional, Neapolitan-style pizza: very thin crust, delicious sauce, and the freshest mozzarella. We finished off with the Nutella crepes were were as good as the pizza! The sweetened whipped cream was amazing! We can't wait to go back.
(5)