Macaluso’s
1747 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL, 33139
Macaluso’s Menu
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Address :
1747 Alton Rd
Miami Beach, FL, 33139 - Phone (305) 604-1811
- Website https://www.macalusosmiami.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
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.
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Andres E.
Are these impostors still open? And I just L-O-V-E the 5 star fake "family and friends" reviews here on Yelp. Or did they just shamelessly pay for them ? Hahahaha.... This clown is a real joke.
(1)edgar o.
Best Meatball I ever had!!
(5)Lisa A.
One of the best Italian restaurants I've been to. Food is always amazing, wine amazing, and service is usually on point. Wine list has prices on it, and yes, the menu is presented verbally. I'd go into it thinking $50 to $75/person, plus alcohol. I mean, it's not the Olive Garden. The meatball on salad is just the best, but I know if I tried to make that at home it would be gross. I'll leave it to the chefs at M to get it right! When we go, we always get the same dishes, and they are always so delicious! The taste never changes, and that's what brings us back. If I lived in MIA I'd weigh 900lbs! Haha They don't take reservations for parties less than 8 (I believe it's 8 people). Oh and don't worry, I'm not related to anyone at Macalouso's, I just love the food!!
(5)Noah B.
Buyer Beware! As other reviewers have noted, this restaurant's menu is "verbal only". This, combined with high prices and with our waitress' aggressive pushing of what turned out to be more expensive items on the menu resulted in an unhappy surprise when the bill came. It started when our waitress asked if we wanted flat or bubbly water. We told her "flat," and she said, "oh, so a bottle of flat water." We needed to repeat several time, "regular water," to make sure we got Miami's finest instead of a bottle of Evian. Most egregiously, we asked our waitress if our party of three (two of us were smaller women) should order the salad and the escarole or just one of these appetizers. "You should order them both," she said assertively, "It's not that much food." She then brought a massive salad and a hearty bowl (for an appetizer) of white bean and escarole. When the bill came, we were charged for three salads ($33 in total) and the escarole appetizer was $19, a hearty price for some leaves, white beans, and broth. Unlike food, there is a menu for drinks, however our waitress suggested a glass of cabernet not listed on the menu. She neglected to mention that it was more expensive ($18) than any other glass on the menu. When she went over the pasta options, she said the fusili comes with a meatball and a sausage. When the bill came, we were billed for the fusili ($18), the meatball ($8) and the sausage ($8) - there was no mention that the meatball and sausage were optional. Our waitress also tried to sell us a bottle of their salad dressing. Clearly, we could have asked the waitress how much eat item was, but there is a social dynamic at play: it feels uncomfortable to repeatedly ask how much different items cost, and it seems this restaurant capitalizes on this dynamic. The end result was we left feeling taken advantage of. We did argue being charged for three salads, and the woman (not our waitress) immediately took off two of the salads. Interestingly, this other woman told us she would talk to us about the bill because our waitress was "busy". We suspected they had a system where the server who pushes you to buy is different than the person who talks to you when you have complaints. A word about the food: It was mixed. The salad was great if you like garlic. The escarole was too salty. The pasta was good. One of us loved the meatballs. I found them soggy. The vanilla cake (which our waitress said was "amazing") seemed like a cake you make from a mix and left out for a few days. It was obscenely priced at $14.
(1)Kamal H.
Italian American at its finest. It's the meatballs that get me but the tuna is also exceptional. Great date place and easy parking
(5)Brian G.
Excellent service and food combining the best of US Italian style with European quality... we had the veal broccoli and chicken parmigiana and both were excellent. However we felt deceived at the end as a simple double espresso was $10. -- taking advantage we felt.
(4)Larry D.
Disappointing on several levels. I still don't understand why they were so rude to us. Food was ok, nothing special. I will not be back.
(2)Olivia C.
It is unfortunate that yelp does not allow you to give negative stars, because that is what this restaurant deserves. My husband and I are local Miami Beach residents and have spent considerable time exploring fine restaurants throughout the area. We were hopeful Macaluso's would live up to its positioning as a higher class establishment that offers great service and attention to local residents. We could not be more wrong. The food was simple, but generally tasty. And while we could get past the undisclosed and extremely overpriced menu, we could not get past this restaurant's attention to detail in aggressively taking advantage of its guests. Tricking people into expensive bottles of water is one thing, albeit unexpected for a restaurant west of Ocean. But taking advantage of a family with a baby is despicable. As a perfect example...after asking for a "few pasta noodles" for our infant we were warmly assured this was "no problem." Fast forward to a very confusing check, they charged us $16 for the few noodles our baby daughter played with. Ok...maybe this was a simple mistake? Absolutely not. Waiter informs us they refuse to make "side dishes" and there was nothing they could do. All without any notice or warning that they would charge us $16 for roughly $1-2 worth of plain pasta, on a bill where we spent well over $100 on our meals plus drinks. Then the manager arrives with an abrupt and rude attitude telling us too bad. Please take our advice and spend your time and money at a more respectable restaurant. There are plenty of great options in Miami Beach and we are glad to share our list of favorites where you will never be disappointed or insulted in this way.
(1)Rory G.
Just tired of the attitude. 2 pounds of salt on a salad is just not something anyone should be eating and to refuse to go lite on the salad??? Who do you think you are?? Well I guess you know who you are. Sub 4 stars on yelp. Good luck but you lost another local
(1)Danielle S.
One of my favorite local places on Miami Beach. The food is amazing. The service is always exceptional. It's the perfect place for an intimate dinner, for business or pleasure. This place gives you an old school classic Italian feel with all the class and allure you would expect. Highly recommended.
(5)Briann D.
BEST MEATBALLS IN TOWN! If you want to try the best italian food in miami dade, you have to go to Macaluso's. They have a verbal menu, i didnt get it at first, but the server was friendly and explained everything. So overall great food and service!
(5)Alex R.
This is one of the worst Italian restaurants ever in terms of value for money (average food for exorbitant prices) but most importantly of the service and the staff's unfriendly, almost arrogant attitude. You will be requested (ordered) to wait at the bar, although most of the times there will be available tables (wonder why-rhetorical). Most of the menu is presented verbally, including some of the wines, thus no prices (wonder why-again rhetorical). As for food, just an average trattoria with 'ristorante' prices. (No wonder) Overall, a very badly managed restaurant. Perhaps I should have read all the other reviews before going there. Never going back though.
(1)Nn O.
go find tiramisu--it moved from lincoln road back down to its roots in SoFi (so. of 5th) this place was recommended to me by a friend who is a total foodie. on the beach and elsewhere around town. one of her favorite places. i have to wonder if she got some sort of special treatment we were not privy to. when we (my mother and i) arrived we were met by a snobby "hostest" (with the leastest) with the annoying "do you have reservations" around 5-6pm not on a weekend mind you, to which i overlooked onto a practically empty two dining rooms. she walked us over to a table right beside the kitchen to which i replied, no thank you, which earned us a scoff and a re-seating to another tight-teeny two top--again in an empty restaurant which never filled up the whole time we were there. there were issues with service staff (took 15 minutes to get drink orders) with apologetic but hands tied (surely chef tyranny) service for a really mushy $12 meatball and mushy penne pasta as part of a $20 something chicken parm meal. i refused the pasta knowing full and well it wasn't al dente and the server appeared terrified to do anything about it. shortly thereafter the chef, also the owner at the time i did not know, proceeded over to our table to dispute each and every one our concerns in a rude, hostile, righteous, and entitled approach. in my life i have NEVER seen anyone argue with a customer like this. for the first time in my life, after that scene, i got up and walked out--and without paying. left the entire dinner on the table. there was no way i was paying for soggy food, muchless after being scolded and argued with by the chef/owner. I WOULD NEVER EAT HERE AGAIN. EVER. overpriced, rude, snobby and crummy food. and an @$$hole owner/chef
(1)Samantha G.
This is the most disgusting restaurant in the world. The owner is terrible and if you have any allergies there are no accommodations. My brother ordered the pasta that the waitress specifically said there is no dairy in because he is allergic. The waitress brought it out with of course cheese all over it and my brother explained that the reason he ordered it was because she told him there was no dairy. She not only lied to the chef that my brother called him a fucking moron (which he did not) but then when my brother got up to talk the owner(the chef) cursed him out and said get the fuck out of my restaurant. we were shocked and disgusted and were forced out. Besides from that the food fucking sucked and I will be working off the pounds of salt they put in my food that I ate prior to being thrown out for weeks.
(1)Eric B.
Rude staff. Rude owner. As a new resident of south beach I purchased food from carrot express next door and unknowingly sat at one of Macaluso's outdoor tables. I was interrupted by the owner and an employee who told us to leave and stated "You know proper etiquette, you shouldn't be eating someone else's food at my tables." Considering it was noon on a Wednesday and the restaurant doesn't even open until 6pm I would expect a friendly owner to come out and let us know these seats are for his restaurant but ask us to please come back and visit them in the evening for dinner. I guess I'll need to lower my expectations for hospitality and kindness in Miami. Needless to say I will NEVER be coming to Macaluso's and will be sure tell everyone I know to avoid it at all costs as well.
(1)David C.
I am posting to describe the worst experience I have ever had in a restaurant Tonight I came in as a group of six to this highly recommend restaurant, I am not posting to complain about the lack of printed menu or the high prices, this is about the incredibly rude behavior by the owner/chef Michael D'Andrea. I ordered the wild salmon on a bed of bowtie pasta. They brought a jar of red pepper flakes as seasoning. When I turned over the red pepper flakes to season the pasta, the top fell off and all the red pepper flakes dumped on my plate, at least two tablespoons. I asked the waitress over and showed her what happened and she apologized and took it away. When she brought it back a few minutes later, they had simply pushed off the pasta that was totally covered in red pepper and so half the plate was empty. It was a horrible presentation. I wish I took a picture, but the best way I can describe it is how you would take the peas off your child's plate if he refused to eat them. It was insulting. Nonetheless I held my tongue. I called the waitress over and showed her the plate and simply asked her for more of the pasta that had been ruined and removed. (I didn't complain about the red pepper that was still everywhere including on the salmon, where it was not intended). She came back a few minutes later and said that she could replace the pasta, but I would have to pay for it! I was flabbergasted. I requested to speak to the owner/chef. She told me that he was unavailable to speak with me. So I asked her who decided that I would need to pay to fix the pasta and she said the owner/chef. So I confirmed that he made that (incredibly rude) decision, but that he was not available to discuss it! I kept my cool but I politely insisted that in that case, she not only replace the pasta but furthermore that I wanted the whole dish at no charge. She came back a few minutes later and told me that was not possible but now the owner/chef would come out after all. When he came out I introduced myself and shook Michael's hand. I offered to walk over the bar to discuss this privately with him. But he insisted on staying at the table. He said "what is the problem with the salmon?" and I said there was not a problem with the salmon, that maybe he wasn't aware of the facts, so I proceeded to tell him the story. Before I could get three sentences in, he said, in front of everyone, "I know what you did, you deliberately poured the dried red pepper on the salmon so you wouldn't have to pay for the food!" I was amazed, I couldn't even process that paranoid statement, I couldn't even imagine how that could be helpful. I somehow kept my cool and continued to attempt to politely explain the facts. He wouldn't listen to reason, and he stormed away from the table. I tried to stop him, telling him that he didn't hear the whole story, and he said "we are done". I was so angry and shocked I was shaking. I sat for a few minutes and told my dinner companions, who were equally shocked, that I couldn't stay at the restaurant a moment more, and that though I felt that we shouldn't pay for my salmon, I didn't want them to fight my fight for me. I left, and a little while later they finished and paid the $829.27 check in full. After the treatment I received I feel entitled to speculate on this abusive and bizarre behavior. I have only seen this before in people with significant emotional/substance abuse problems. I hope he seeks help. Meanwhile, stay away from this restaurant.
(1)Aman S.
This is just an average "fancy" Italian restaurant. But compared to some of the finer Italian places in the country, this is sub-par. Service was pretty good, but food was just okay and the menu options were limited - along with the combinations that you can ask for (for a cook to oder type of place).
(2)Eric V.
Meatballs are Awesome. Sausage and peps are on point. Spicy shrimp on garlic toast was good. Pasta is ok. The Chicken Parm was AWEFUL! I really didn't understand it. How the hell can you mess up a chicken parm plate? Well they found a way to do so! I had better chicken parm as a teen in the mall food courts (sbarro's). The chicken was dry and didn't taste organic at all, the breading was bland and soggy and its wasn't because of the sauce or cheese that was on top. The chef/owner was there in the beginning of our meal during the appetizer potion of it. He gave us this "spicy pasta" which was complimentary and the best thing out of our entire meal. If there will be a next time I will make sure to ask him to stay and cook our entire meal as the apps were great and the entrees were terrible.
(2)Yolanda L.
We were unwelcome with my service dog they badly discriminated all of us and even didn't want to see the dog certificate we asked to talk with the Maneger they didn't tell us he wasn't there and let us waiting 15 min to say they spoke with him by phone and if we want to eat at there restaurant we have to sit outside actually sitting outside was what we asked for on the first place any way this place is so pretentious no MENU SO YOU DONT KNOW HOW MUCH THINGS COST TILL YOUR BILL COMES The waitress mumbles can't barely understand. The food not bad but the experience was terrible. Not coming Back
(1)Anna C.
The food was amazing! My co-workers and I were in town for a conference, and after a late flight, we hopped into Macaluso's for a meal. My friend got the meatballs, the other friend got the pancetta and chick pea pasta, and I got the sea bass over spinach risotto. Absolutely delicious! The fish was cooked perfectly - flaky, tasty crust on top, and just the right amount of seasoning. The risotto was smooth and flavorful. For dessert we got the cannolis, coffee ice cream, and shot of Bailey's - you can't go wrong. One of the best meals I've had in Miami. While the attire is mostly casual, the atmosphere lends itself to nicer attire.
(5)Todd S.
Tried again but don't know why I bothered. listen to the REAL reviews here not the fake friends and family reviews. The owner is a clown who is beyond rude and disgusting. He is verbally abusive to his staff and even more shockingly to his customers. Please, I beg of you, do not go here and support this "tyrant" in the kitchen. Oh and his food tastes like crap. As an aside who wants to eat in a run down strip mall next to a dry cleaner and a hardware store. Go to Ossetia del teatro or il mulino for great Italian with even better service.
(1)Jay L.
Great little place in Miami Beach, and it had free parking! Service was amazing, and we had a group of 7. Really unique that they don't have physical menus, the wait staff tell you what they have. All the food was great, priced accordingly I'd say. Our Waitress Carla was awesome. Shrimp appetizer is excellent, and the Sweat and Spicy pepper Veal was a popular choice for dinner. Drinks are over priced, but that seems like it's standard in Miami Beech ($16 for Captain Coke). Sorry forgot take pics.
(5)Emile W.
Not good experience for seating overpriced For the quality and portion will not return !
(2)Matt J.
By far the snobbiest place I have ever been to. When we were not even done eating, the waitress told us to hurry up because there were people waiting for our table. I've been to many restaurants in my life time and this has never happened to me. The hostess was also extremely rude. The only nice worker I encountered was the bartender. They also don't take american express. I have never heard of a restaurant not taking AMEX. All in all, this was an extremely expensive place with no menu to look at and very rude service. It's definitely not worth it. I will never be returning here.
(1)Lisa B.
This is a great little Italian restaurant. I had never heard of the restaurant before but I came to find that it was a very cute hidden restaurant that serves great food, freshly made by the owner/chef. The meatballs were delicious! And the freshly made pasta was also good.
(4)Nathaly L.
Good restaurant, hidden in a shopping center just off of Alton you wouldn't notice it if you did not know about it. Locals have been coming here for years and customers must be happy because they are still in business, never seen an advertisement there is no foot traffic it's not in a prime location so it's the food that has people coming back. NO MENU, waiter brings you selection of pastas and recites the menu orally, I like the Macaluso salad very much and they bring plenty, the dressing sort of taste like a lighter, less creamy, salty version of Cesar dressing, and it is homemade just like all their pastas. 2nd time here and now as vegetarian I had my options narrowed down to a few choices. I ordered the orichete pasta with pomodoro sauce and peas, I liked it, pasta was al dente and tasted like homemade pasta. Partner in crime had ravioli with ricotta and pomodoro sauce and his was good too. I tried their famous meatballs the first time, their gigantic and juicy. It's a very small place, and very intimate. If you are going with someone who you may get into an argument with I dont suggest this place everyone will be able to hear! Romantic, nice place if you like italian, on the pricey side so if your on a budget dont come here. ONE NEGATIVE: Since there is no menu you don't know the prices to whatever it is you're ordering and when the check comes it doesn't say either. So I didn't know if tip was included and none of the copies broke down the bill for you. So there is a chance I double tipped or not. I will never know.
(4)Risky B.
Extortion. There is no menu, and while that's not necessarily bad, refusing to share prices immediately establishes a NATO/Soviet style of negotiation, and you're the Ukraine. Surprise and little delight awaits you. Food is ok, but don't ask for any alteration since it's "impossible". Sound like Beijing politics, perhaps - maybe go for Chinese instead.
(2)Susy M.
The food was excellent however very overpriced, no menu or prices posted. The host was unwilling to accommodate our party almost as if they weren't interested in our business, they were borderline rude.
(3)Joe S.
You will never find a better meatball. The ricotta and marinara makes me smile. I would eat there every day if I could! Highly recommended.
(5)Sylwia H.
Eating at Macaluso few days ago was not an experience worth the price. Speaking about the price , you have no idea what to expect since menu comes verbally delivered by your server. You can also feel like you are inconveniencing the waiter in case if you would like to return and review your choices since in that case he needs to repeat it. What a silly idea. The pasta introduction platter does not include any wheat or spinach, or such choices, so you can only pick your white flour shaped pasta. It kind of misses the point of "giving" client the choice. The salad was crispy enough and interesting enough, meatballs as well. My husbands dinner came as boring, and with as minimal seafood serving as it could. My veal was covered with tasty red gravy , but most likely the toughest piece of veal I ever had. Our friends were also far away from impressed with their dinners. Desert brought piece of white cake with heavy , boring , white cream , totally not worth it , and piece of cheesecake that was tasty, but way overpriced. I don't believe we will be coming back soon.
(2)Alexia E.
The broccolini salad is amazing! The pasta of course was too... service was on point.. manicuring the table needs a little work.. overall great experience. . We will return!
(4)Carlos M.
Arrived and were seated. Bread was really good but there is no menu, and the waitress tells you the entire menu from memory. Impressive, but after a long day after the third Item she stated I zoned out and only remember meatballs.... Got the meatball and ravioli. Prices were too high for italian food, I think this is why they don't have a menu. It was $25 a plate for 1 large meatball and pasta! The meatball wasn't even properly seasoned! the outside was good but the inside was bland and required the sauce to give it a taste other than broiled ground beef... The salad with the mother's special dressing was nothing special. I will not repeat.
(1)elynn w.
This is my favorite go to place! Michael is an amazing chef! I recommend this place to everyone that wants someplace special. I love the Escarole and Beans soup. I am the vegan in my family and there are still plenty of options to choose from. We always take home the homemade sauce and the Italian dressing. My husband loves it! I will be going back again soon.
(5)Julie G.
Expectations exceeded and beyond! Whenever anyone suggests Italian food anywhere outside of the NY/NJ area (not including Italy) I tend to cringe inside. They always preface it with "There is the AMAZING Italian place..." and to be honest, it's always a giant let down. So, when my friend stated that she wanted to go to Macaluso's for dinner one night during our weekend in Miami I was admittedly a little skeptical, even though she has never let me down with her restaurant choices in NYC. We arrived at Macaluso's close to 20 minutes late due to not factoring in the Miami traffic. We called and alerted them and everything was A-OK. Once we arrived (10 ladies) we were immediately seated. I was actually really impressed with the ambiance and decor here. We did get a few stares because my friend was wearing a cute white cocktail dress with a vail (no penises or anything tacky), but that is to be expected. The diners here seemed to be locals who appreciate NY style Italian food because this place is located in a strip mall so I am doubting many tourists are aware of its existence. Our waiter was pretty laid back, so much so that after a while we were like, ok just take our orders already! So maybe they can work on being a little more attentive, because too much slack can be a little annoying. I did, like the other reviewers find the lack of a physical menu to be a little overwhelming so make sure that you pay close attention. We split a bunch of appetizers with the table, but the meatballs stood out in my mind. They were enormous and full of flavor - definitely moist and juicy. For an entree I had the Chilean sea bass special which was served over spinach, which was as delicious as anticipated. Everything was outstanding and although we were there for over 2 hours, it was a wonderful dining experience.
(5)Kate M.
Amazing. Cannot say enough good things about this place. Came here with my mom on our trip to Miami. It's out of the way, so it's not touristy at all, and the food is effing phenomenal. Everything is homemade, and the service was impeccable. As others have mentioned, there isn't a printed menu, but you really cannot go wrong with anything you order here. GET THE MEATBALLS. Will 100% be back on my next trip to South Beach.
(5)MICHELLE C.
Have been meaning to update my review. Have been back several times and it just seems like it is not what it use to be. The service has gone down hill, before it was exceptional now it is just mediocre. They still have great meatballs. But for the prices and type of service we have gotten the past few times it no longer deserves a five star rating.
(3)Alexandra M.
One of my favorite places for Italian food. Great ambience and best meatballs in Miami.
(4)Jenny Q. V.
Great meatballs!! Small place but cute and romantic.
(4)Katie M.
A nice, but casual Italian restaurant that is slightly hidden off of Alton, and the sign visible from the street requires a close look to be sure you're in the right place. A friend and I had dinner here ~7:30pm on a Saturday night. Perhaps reservations are needed different days or times of day, but we walked in with no problem. I think during the course of our meal there were only 4 other tables in use at any point, and at least 4-5 available. Regarding the lack of menus - I understand and appreciate the focus on fresh food that changes weekly, but perhaps a nicely done 1-page paper menu that could be swapped weekly would help customers remember all of the details of the options. It could be presented on seating, then followed up with the same description/presentation of the pasta that the server currently does. This way, people also have some clue about the prices (my assumption on the prices did affect what I selected, but I have no way of knowing if I was correct or not). Our server was good, but a bit rushed in reviewing the menu ... and was even quicker when repeating portions. Someone at another table asked if the pasta type could be switched & had an answer sort of similar to "yes, but the chef **really** recommends it as stated." It was almost a flat out no to their request. The wine list leaned strongly towards bottles and was pretty limited. I'm not a tremendous drinker, and my friend doesn't drink, so I only had 3 reds by the glass to choose from. 1 merlot, 1 chianti, and 1 something else. The merlot was okay, not great, and $15. The $16 meatball appetizer was the highlight for me. 2 large, tennis ball-sized meatballs with red sauce and ricotta(?). The meatballs were light, not dense, and a good appetizer size. The sauce was incredible & we finished it with some extra bread. My $26 veal orecchiette with peppers was good, and utilized the same marina as the appetizer, but it didn't wow me like the meatballs. To summarize: good food, but the presentation/menu could be modified to be more customer-friendly. I really liked that it was good food without the need to get "nicely" dressed.
(4)Jose H.
Overpriced and mediocre. Will not return. No menu to see prices and sticker shock when the bill came. $14 for a small piece of cake? Rip off. Tasted and looked like it came from Publix. $8 bottle of water and half way through my glass, the water boy filled my glass with tap water. Nice. If you charge exorbitant prices, train your staff. Good to know I can cross this hole off the list. Came highly recommended but I don't understand why. Even at half the price, the food wasn't worth it. All about presentation but food failed. Sorry.
(1)Linda G.
So nice to go back to Macalusos after a hiatus and find that nothing has changed and that is good. It's like going home. Fresh faced, knowledgable servers, spot on service and delicious food in a comfortable, unpretentious setting. Of course, meatballs amazing , either grilled or in yummy red sauce with ricotta . Great pastas for vegetarians , wonderful fish and my children( 26 &14) fought over the moist chocolate cake and ice cream. Can't wait to go back!!!
(5)Barbara R.
This place is so pretentious. We were received by a condescending Maitre D who gave us menus and took our orders. He didn't come back, apparently miffed that we didn't take any wine and our plates were delivered after a very long time by a young female server, who looked positively comatose. The prices are very high and the portion quite small. I was attracted the mozzarella, but I refused to pay $21 (twenty-one) for that, so I had the spinach salad instead. It consisted of a meager handful of spinach leaves, a quarter of unripe tomato, two pieces of cheese about 1/4 inch big, five small chickpeas, two olives and a mound of red onion. All of this for $12 only. I was hungry and left angry. My husband had the Veal Parmigiana Sandwich. The sauce was good, the meat tough and the portion puny. For $19 one would expect a couple of fries or some kind of decoration, but no: just a tiny sandwich on a large empty plate. They brought bread only because we asked, a couple of flimsy slices with a sample of (good) olive oil on a little dish. At the end of the meal, which didn't take long as everything was gone in a couple of bites, the waitress asked: Would you like some dessert? We said; No, thanks. To which she went: Are you sure? We were indeed . She wouldn't believe it, so she felt compelled to ask again. Again we declined. So she started asking if we wanted anything from the market. We bought a jar of sauce and asked for the bill. She probably hoped we were going to ransack the market and disappeared for what it felt like an eternity. When she came back, the check wasn't ready, so we went to the register with the tomato sauce waiting to leave. She was incredulous: Anything else? Any pasta? Olives? Bufala? Sausages? Tiramisu? Any olive Oil? It took a while before we got out. Adding the items didn't seem like a simple matter: the check out lasted about ten minutes. The service is painfully slow. They use high quality ingredients, but the vibe is very carnivore, the salad selection borderline non-existent and the attitude not particularly nice. Besides, Frank Sinatra in the background makes me want never to go back.
(2)Andrew K.
The rigatoni bolognese is amazing! I've never had such a tasty meat sauce. Also, the bread was quite good. I find it strange that such a quality Italian restaurant does not make its own pasta. They do this little spiel in the beginning and show you the pasta they use, and it's pasta you can get at Publix. We ordered the house salad and it was a bunch of iceburg lettuce with a few vegetables thrown in. The salad definitely was a cheap-o salad which again was surprising for such a nice place.
(4)michael g.
Went in to their cafe with a friend for a little dessert and coffee. Bill came to $38 for two pieces of cake, and a few espressos. The single was $5 and the double espresso was $10. You kidding?! A very ordinary double espresso should never be $10. On principle alone, I won't go back.
(1)Roberto V.
If it wasn't for the overpriced food I'd put an extra star but our experience was a 2 star overall. This is NOT for actual Italians, who know what Italian food tastes like. This is for those who like American-italian food. The oral menu was not a success for us. It was hard to understand what the waiter was mumbling and, for those who are not familiar with Italian cuisine, not having an actual menu in front of you is quite a challenge. The tomatoes used with the mozzarella di bufala was pretty much green and disappointing. We liked the meatball appetizer a lot but the hair we found in it was not too exciting! The worst part was with the spaghetti with clams. It might be OK for Americans but you do NOT put oregano in this dish. At least that's what it tasted like. I like the parsley in it and I was OK with the basil but there was something that seemed to be oregano. Ouch. Apetizer + Pasta + 1 bottle of wine @ $45 ended up to $95 each including tip. Really not worth it.
(2)Julie E.
Best meatballs in SoBe
(4)Elaine D.
A Must Eat!!! The best meatballs on earth. Regular or sautéed. Favorites also include tuna, mushroom chicken pasta and any salad. Dressing is phenomenal! Clean great atmosphere! Sinatra tunes...On the walls lots of pictures of famous people eating there. I once saw Leonardo dicaprio under a baseball cap eating next to me. Whenever I'm in Miami-/it's my first and last stop!
(5)Jeff J.
I can't even imagine that people eat at this place. The owner makes the soup nazi look like a cream puff. My family showed up for an 8:30 reservation for 6 people and an infant. . Table was not ready. 8:45, table not ready. However, there were plenty of open tables and a few six tops. We asked if we could sit at one of the six tops. They said we can not leave the sleeping baby on the floor in a car seat because she counts as a person and the owner doesn't allow 7 at a 6 top. It was now 9 pm. Our table not ready and we ask to speak to a manager or owner. We saw the hostess speak to the owner and he told her to tell us if we are looking to cause trouble we should leave. I went over to him and told him he didn't deserve our business and we left. BTW, another family who made a reservation for 9 was fighting because the owner would not seat them together. Made them split up 5 and 4. I HAVE NEVER BEEN treated so poorly. While I was leaving the owner barked at me that he has been in business 14 years. I have no idea how. Not worth it. Life is too short.
(1)Jessica L.
This place is yummy!! Everything is made fresh so if you are in a hurry this is not the place for you. They have a very extensive menu BUT they will not alter any dishes or make accommodations for special requests. The wine of the day will run about $24/glass...a little pricey overall but definitely a good choice if you're in the area. - NOTE - they do NOT take Amex.
(4)Gisela C.
What a spectacular dining experience. My gf grew up in Queens so this is the kind of home cooked Italian-American cooking she is used to. The meatballs were so good, I've craved them a few time since... The food was great, the only gripe we had was that we (well, she) ordered fusilli with tomato sauce (not one of the choices that day, but the accommodated).. and the tomato sauce was very watery :-/ but I must stress that it was still really good... just not as amazing as the meatballs. We also had a salad with their yummy house dressing (had their market next door been open, I would have bought a jar, it's THAT good). Go here if you want to impress someone, go here if you want a real Italian American dining experience. *dont judge this place by the not-so-nice looking shopping center it it located in...
(5)Chris A.
Call ahead. They don't keep the market open during the hours they say they do but the food is great
(3)R N.
My new favorite Italian spot in Miami - especially since I hadn't found a good one previously. The meatballs were a huge hit & took the yelpers recommendation w/the Macaluso salad - def a winner. I wouldn't order if you aren't a salt addict, though. Our waiter, Dennis, was amazing & I didn't mind the menu being given orally. He answered our questions & was polite, cheerful & helpful. We had the chicken rigatoni, veal w/peppers & veal parmigiana at our table. All meals were fine but next time, I'll stick w/the meatballs, the special salad & bread to devour the marinara sauce & ricotta with. Ate too much to have dessert but the tiramisu & cannoli cake looked delicious. Bought a jar of salad dressing & marinara sauce to bring home. I agree about pricing - you definitely don't know how much things cost until the bill comes. We didn't ask but for those interested, you might want to ask what items cost before you order.
(4)Robb F.
Love this place. Hate that they stopped offering a menu. Whoever came up w that idea needs to have their head examined. Quite possibly the dumbest idea I have seen a restaurant do ever and I eat at nice places for work 4-5 times a week.
(3)Yanely C.
We will NEVER go back to this restaurant. First of all-- no menu! No price list! And the food was not good!! My husband ordered the grilled veal-- it tasted like charcoal! When the plate came you could not see the veal but you saw huge pieces of peppers. The sauce was tasteless. My brother ordered ricotta chicken with rigatoni, dry cutlets, oily pasty sauce. Not good either! I guess I was the lucky one because I had the chicken parmigiana with ravioli and it was pretty good. After the waiter had taken out order, we never saw him again. We were a party of 3, ordered 1 glass of wine and 3 entrees. Our bill was $150 and the tip was included at 18%!!!!!!!!!! Wtf! Will NEVER go back!!!!
(1)Alex g.
If I could give Macaluso's 6 stars I would. This is the most authentic Italian food south of New Jersey. It is so good, when a homeless man on Alton Road asked for a handout, I gave him and his cats twice as much money as I normally would because I was not giving up any of the leftovers. The menu is simple yet complicated. Simple because it consists of your traditional Italian foods and ingredients - pasta, bread, veggies, meats. Complicated because when you think you've made a decision, you read further and change your mind. Atypical for me. There is no menu. The server, in this case Ashley - who is great, reads the menu to you and shows you which pasta is going to be in the entree. I like this as it shows you how the menu doesn't change often and the food is always consistent. Being first generation Italian, and the son of a father who cooked at many famous restaurants and a mother who cooks almost as well as he did, growing up eating at many Italian tables and noting the differences in regional foods, I know a little something about good Italian cooking, and eating. For starters, the bread is so NY/NJ. Crispy on the outside, not flaky like a baguette, but crispy. The inside of the bread is perfectly doughy. I wanted to eat it all, and did. I ate it with the red peppers and cheese provided. I used the bread to clean the plates of the wonderful meat and marinara sauce. Get the Macaluso's Meatballs appetizer. You get two meatballs the size of tennis balls and a dollop of fresh ricotta. I have never had meatballs as tender and tasteful at any restaurant in the 40 years I'd lived in NY/NJ. If you get nothing else but meatballs and bread, you will be happy. We also ordered the Sinatra Shrimp, which consists of 4 perfectly seasoned and cooked shrimp each on a piece of garlic bread. There is a robust garlic flavor between both the shrimp and bread. For the entree, we shared, yes, shared, because I've been told that I eat like a supermodel, and sometimes I do, the Baked Rigatoni Chicken Parmagiana. This is sensational. A perfectly stacked serving of Baked Rigatoni with sauce, cheese, and ricotta, accompanied by a fried Chicken Parm smothered by a stringy, delightful mozzarella cheese. It was so good, but I didn't eat it all. I have leftovers. Lastly, I had a cappuccino and shared 2 small cannoli. The cappuccino was good. As a self-described cannoli snob, I was not very pleased with the cannoli. Although, the cream was similar to that of some of the best NY/NJ cannoli, and much better than most others, the shell wasn't crispy enough for my liking. The shell was somewhat moist and didn't crack like it should. I'll pass on dessert next time. So, to recap: If you want Italian dining and not brick oven pizza, MACALUSO's RESTAURANT is the place to go! TIP: Get two appetizers and you can easily share an entree, if you don't want to stuff yourselves, or have leftovers. UPDATE: The leftovers were delicious and the waitress gave us a good amount of bread to enjoy...which I definitely did!
(5)Tina S.
I enjoyed a dinner here with friends on a recent trip to Miami. The salads, meatballs and dishes were all very good. A few things to comment on: They do not have a menu online/in the restaurant. The waiter recites the menu to the table and brings a basket displaying the different pastas available. It is a little overwhelming to try and remember all of the menu items. Also, while the food is good here the price is too high for what you get. Our table shared one bottle of wine, salad, and entrees. The meal cost an average of $80/person.
(4)Anya R.
PREFACE: Out of my almost 200 reviews, this is only my 11th 2-star review and I have only 1 1-star review so this negativity and dissatisfaction is VERY out of character for me. Oh my, where do I start? This meal was doomed from the beginning. We were coming here before a 9:30pm flight in FLL so we made a 6pm reservation (the earliest available). We arrived a few minutes early and they would not let us wait inside but instead expected us to stand outside in the Miami summer heat. And it was not as if they were actually doing anything to prepare; everyone was just standing around. Come 6:05, I knock on the door. Not only does the hostess stare at me, she then decides to ignore me. Once we are finally permitted to enter, they don't have any record of our reservation and insist on making us wait EVEN LONGER for them to try and locate it. Mind you, we are literally the only people in the restaurant. They could have just sat us. When the finally seat us, they seat us at a table for 5 (there were 4 of us) so that there's an akward extra chair) when there were many, many 4 people tables. I finally just placed the chair in the aisle, which they ignored for a while. Alright, so we're seated... Then... THERE'S NO MENU. NONE. Their excuse is that they change the menu weekly. They used to write the menu on a chalkboard. They couldn't just print out weekly menus like every other restaurant? Are they that strapped for cash? The menu is way too long to remember everything. ALSO, THEY DON'T TELL YOU PRICES! And it could be embarrassing to ask the price of every single dish. Ironically, when I took some of my food to go, there was a full menu in there! Why couldn't they give me this at dinner and just say the specials like every other restaurant in the world?!?!?! They make a huge deal about how authentic the food is because the chef is from Staten Island. I am from NYC and went to middle and high school in Bayridge, Brooklyn, where many of the Italian immigrants live in NYC and I have had equally good food at a number of places. The food WAS good (why I gave it 2 stars and not 1 star) but it wasn't special at all. It was simple, Italian food. And the chef is so arrogant that he won't alter his menu at all. I know that this is typical of Italian restaurants, but they take it to a whole new level. One person in my party likes to get the meatballs but can't eat cheese. They would put the cheese in a corner of the dish...what a waste! The people I was with used to bring people here but had to stop because so many of their friends simply couldn't eat off the menu. Our main waiter was trying really hard since he could tell that we were all pissed off, but the service overall was just so-so. He tried hard to get us out for our flight but basically told us we couldn't get any of the pasta dishes if we wanted to make it out on time. Who goes to an Italian restaurant and wanted the entire pasta menu to be off the table? WE WERE ONE OF TWO PARTIES THERE. The other one had only 2 people. You're telling me you can't serve pasta to us in an hour? We practically had to fight to get our bill and get our leftovers to go. And we had the PLEASURE of receiving our leftovers from the horrid hostess who wouldn't let us in to begin with. Not only would I not return here, I would absolutely tell you to never go either. There are plenty of better Italian restaurants in Miami. GO TO OSTERIA DEL TEATRO!
(2)Jim E.
I loved the meatballs and sausage. It's a must
(4)Maria A.
Cause its witchcraft, wicked witchcraft And although, I know, its strictly taboo - Frankie 'Old Blue Eyes' Sinatra Yes, that is what I heard for most of my lunch at Macalusos. It was the perfect soundtrack for a lunch of Long Island Italian goodness. Although, I was feening (craving) some pasta and meatballs. So I headed to this semi-hidden spot known for it's classic Italian-American fare. I was informed there is no pasta on their lunch menu. Once I stopped crying "Noooooooooo" in my head, I went ahead and settled for the meatball appetizer, consisting of meatballs and ricotta cheese. I had the garlic bread to go with it figuring I needed some carby condolence. The meatballs and garlic bread were so good that I quickly got over my dispastapointment. The meatballs were large and perfectly seasoned. The garlic bread was good enough and somehow addicting. For dessert I settled on ricotta cheesecake. The consistency was nice as there was enough of a creamy/crumbly mix. Lunch is served in the adjacent cafe not in the restaurant itself. This was fine as the cafe is charming, complete with a deli and bakery. As far as price, well don't expect it to t be your next budget buddy resto. But hey sometimes you need to spurge a little and do it your way.
(4)Michael B.
Let me start my review by mentioning one of the most obnoxious things I have ever encountered dining out. We were dining with friends and one friend is lactose intolerant. She asked if there was any dairy in the meatballs before ordering and they refused to say. She wasn't asking to have them divulge the ultra super secret meatball recipe (my grandma made better ones in her sleep), she just wanted to know if they were going to make her sick. The salad and pasta were good, but the pasta should be more al dente, especially for a place claiming to be so authentically Italian. The service was terrible and slow. The waitress hardly ever came to check in on us. We were there to celebrate a birthday and the experience could not have been more lackluster. I thought the food was good, but the slow, unresponsive service and uppity attitude makes me very skeptical to return.
(2)Mark D.
For the past 20 years, since college (Johnson & Wales - Hotel/Restaurant Management) I have traveled alone on business about 60 days a year. When I arrived (alone), they didn't want to seat me because they didn't want to waste a table on a single diner. I could understand this, even though it's never happened to me before. I asked to sit at the bar. They wanted to know how long I would be. They explained that they needed the bar space for people who would be coming in and waiting for tables (not me). There were 4 occupied tables at that point, and nobody at the bar. I turned to leave, and they reluctantly gave me a seat at the bar. The waitress came over and explained the menu. I'm not going to get into how rediculous the verbal menu concept is, and how unpolished the waitress was at the presentation. So... after I had to beg to be a customer, I decided that I would have the meatballs, since that's what I came for. I had the meatballs, and ordered a salad. The meatballs were great. I wish I could enjoy them every day. The salad (with the chef's mother's special dressing) was average; The Romaine lettuce was nothing special, there was 1/8 of a very unripe tomato and a couple of black olives that tasted faintly like the can they had been in. The cheese and Italian salami were good. The dressing was similar to Ken's Caesar. Food having been eaten, I got the hell out of there. It was just too hard to shake the "unwelcome" feeling. The place is pretentious and expensive for no reason. Unfortunately Macaluso's will probably survive, because there are plenty of people who think paying too much makes it good food.
(1)Ed K.
Have to say ...look up overrated in the dictionary and you'll see a picture of this place. Recommended by a friend. Has to be THE WORST RESTAURANT IN ALL OF MIAMI. Can't even describe how awful this sad joint is. Meatballs awful. Salad...lets just say Panara bread is light years ahead of this place. Really ruined a great night in a great city.
(1)Amelia G.
Nothing I say will do justice on how delicious the food is here. You just have to go and try it for yourself. They have a restaurant and a market (both are GREAT). Try the meatballs, sausage, tomato sauce (you can by it by the jar to take home), Macaluso's salad and cannolis. The best part about the market is that if you don't want to eat out, you can pick it up, take it home and make a delcious meal in the comfort of your house. Restaurant is small, but feels like you're in someone's home. A must go to spot. It's absolute perfection.
(5)Christina C.
This place is absolutely amazing! Friends and I went here during the summer for a late lunch and I am dying to return for dinner and take my parents who love Italian food. I believe we had a few different plates between all of us... we ordered a pizza with sausage on it and we had some of their AMAZING meatballs. I don't even like meatballs all that much, but these were great. We left their very fulfilled and stuffed with food. Prices weren't all that expensive for it's location on the beach. And, I believe you can buy sauce and other goodies to take home. Great place, will definitely be back...
(5)José Castillo B.
Disappointing. First, no menus. Those of us on my side of the table had to do a 180 torso twist to check out a chalk board mounted above the kitchen. That was followed by a very silly little presentation from the wait staff on the menu, illustrated show-and-tell style with a wicker basket filled with boxes of supermarket quality dried pasta. Purpose? Who knows? The food reminded me of a New Jersey neighborhood place. Hearty, but basically a 1970s American interpretation of Italian food. I would have been fine with that, but the prices suggested we'd get something much better, much more creative. I went with the Sinatra Shrimp and the Staten Island Sausage which were fine, but not worth the price. And $68 for a bottle of mediocre Chianti? We passed on that. I have eaten much better fare for much less cost in presumably much more expensive New York. Decor. Fine for our guests facing south, toward the kitchen. Very warm and bistro-like. Facing north I felt as if I were in a strip mall retail space, which, of course, I was. The drop down acoustic tile ceilings did not help the ambience -- like something out of an old Macy's store. The service. A little slow and a little sullen. No smiles, no engaging the guests. All in all, forgettable.
(2)John R.
I live not far away from Staten Island and could not tell you what exactly is Staten Island Italian, however, I can tell you the food is amazing here. The Sinatra Hot Shrimp is both outstanding and unique, the Macaluso's Vito Salad is a great share for the table, and my entree of Grilled Tuna Over Spinach was awesome. My youngest son had a simple pasta dish that is not on the menu -- olive oil and garlic and even that was amazing as well. We will certainly come back here the next time we visit the area.
(5)Lisa C.
FINALLY Authentic NEW YORK style, top quality Italian Food. Not sure why people are turned off by the no menu, daily preperations listed on a chalk board. That means freshness! Whatever I guess to many people are used to Oilve Garden. Well if you have ever eaten there your taste isn't sophisticated enough for Macalusos. But...if you are from NY or NJ, know what it means to sit at a table for a 4-hour Sunday Dinner, have grown or have relatives who have grown their own basilico, have made fresh tomato sauce and know I mean REALLY know of good Italian food then Macalusos will be your comfort. I walked in and immediately felt I was in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. The place is simple, nice decor but nothing over the top which tells me they don't charge for fancy decor but for amazing food. We ordered the famous meatballs. WOW! Do not leave here without having the meatballs. They are famous and I can totally see why. They are about the size of baseballs. They come two to an order along with the most heavenly dollop of ricotta cheese. I am not usually a fan of meatballs AT ALL so I knew I would have to be pretty impressed. Put it this way... the only place I'd ever get meatballs is at Macalusos. WOW! Heavenly. Then came the Sinatra Shrimp. It comes served on bread and is spicey and good. Then came the sausage and peppers. DEVINE! The entire meal was like eating at someone's home. FANTASTIC and no hoshy poshy scene (you want that go to Prime Italia). Oh and this is an EXCELLENT date spot, especially mid week. Not crowded, easy to talk, not to loud, and causal dress is okay. Perfect way to bond over great food because portions are made for sharing. Family style is the way to go which makes this a great date spot because you can order 3 things and share. Buon Appetito!
(4)Daniel C.
I just went to Macaluso's Restaurant on Friday night. I had no clue it was there, it is such a hidden location but the place came highly recommended by a good friend. The place is very small and intimate with an open kitchen. The owner/chef was present and is very active at the establishment. As many people have pointed out the menu is written on a black board and also presented verbally by the staff. After the first few entrees I did get a bit lost and needed the blackboard to make my final selection. The appetizers we had were wonderful the meatballs and the Buffalo Mozzarella. the entrees were just OK. I found the linguine with clam sauce a bit too garlicky and the Chicken Parm was a bit bland. The portions were large at least. For dessert we tried the Ricotta Cheesecake. It was sensational. It was cool, creamy, and very fresh. A nice delicate finish to the meal. The espresso was of good quality as well. I would recommend having appetizers and dessert and maybe sharing an entree.
(4)Ivette R.
Nestled in the most unremarkable of places, Macaluso's is a most welcomed surprise. An elegant spot decorated with photographs that catapult you back to the heart of Italy. Authentic Italian at its best! Reminiscent of the quaint little Italian venues I frequented during my month long trip in Italy. What was even more delightful was their presentation of the menu as recited by the most knowledgeable of waiters/waitresses. I was most impressed with Macaluso's famous meatballs. Needless to say, DELICICIOUS AND SAVORY, a great start to a fantastic meal. My taste buds will definitely enjoy upcoming trips.
(5)Ericstevenc T.
Great food
(5)Jessica P.
Although the location kinda sucks the meatballs here are outrageous! Came here for lunch and split a salad and the meatball sub. The bread was soft and broke easily with every bite. The meatballs are tender and covered in sauce and cheese. The place is not cheap but worth if if that's what you're craving.
(4)Zack C.
I had the meatball salad that was just amazing , the best meatball I have ever had !!! For desert I got the ricotta cheesecake it was perfect . This place is a gem. Great Italian food.
(5)D. G.
What a disappointment. Why all the hype? The simple Italian food should more tasty. (I tried it twice) Too expen$ive...
(2)Michael S.
I really want to like it. The food is very good, bordering on great but the attitude is overwhelming. It is not the typical Miami Beach attitude about you not being good enough to get in the place, it is the condescension. I don't need to see a basket of pasta. I don't need to listen to the menu especially since it is written on the wall. They should just add another black board so it could be seen everywhere in the room or move the stupid flowers off the counter at the kitchen. And I don't need to pay the outrageous prices. The Vito salad is good but $18.00? The pasta vongole is OK (the version at Tiramesu is usually much better and about half the price) but $25.00? The ricotta cheese cake is the best that I have outside of Rome but $12.00 a slice??? The prices are completely out of line with the type of food they are serving even if the portions are a little bigger than usual. It is a checkered table cloth joint with lots of pretensions.
(3)Stephen F.
A wonderful, surprising, and unexpected experience. I have tried before to come here, years ago, and couldn't seem to make it while there were open. My partner and I parked nearby and just on a whim decided to walk over and see if we could be seated. Without reservations, they made space and sat us, at what seemed to be the best seat in the house! The only table with a full window view and whole centered view of the entire dinning room. The atmosphere is comfortable and cozy without being cheap. I really felt a family vibe with the pictures on the wall. Then our waitress Ashley was so nice and helpful. She came to the table with a plate of different pastas and explained each dish to us that go with each type of pasta. I was enthralled by this, although my partner seemed a little overwhelm trying to keep up with all the information. This could be a problem for dinner who maybe in a rush to order, but thankfully we were able to adjust to the atmosphere and go with the flow. We ordered, I had an amazing jumpo shrimp scampi appetizer that could be a lunch size meal in itself. The lemon sauce was perfectly balanced wit the garlic. Then I had the ravioli dish with read sauce with the expressed intent of being able to try their famous meatballs, as one is served with this dish. It was great! The meatball didn't disappointing, and I am one who doesn't like meat dishes. Classic Italian, wholesome, filling. I left stuff and so happy and pleased. We had just earlier in the week attempted to dine at Quattro on Lincoln and were turned away for not having a reservation with attitude from the hostess who works there. I will personally share this experience with all my friends who seek great Italian food! Kudos guys! Cheers to Ms. Ashley for making our night and being so friendly.
(5)Sb J.
Macaluso's restaurant prides itself on its famous meatballs. We went there exactly for the purpose of trying out their amazing meatball, but were rather disappointed. The meatballs are okay. I've had much better. I'd give the restaurant three stars for the meatball. The reason I'm giving it two stars is its terrible service. We went there for lunch recently and I had asked the waiter, a young Italian? man, whether I could change the sauce on the pizza from olive oil to Marinara/tomato sauce (a reasonable request). Instead of asking the chef or owner whether that was possible, he flat out said he couldn't make any changes. There was no attempt to be helpful. Now, had he actually made an effort to see whether this was possible, I would have felt much better, especially since we are paying a good amount for the food. On top of this, the pizza itself was terribly salty. I can't imagine returning to this restaurant again. We eat out almost everyday, and it's too bad that Macaluso's will not be one of the restaurants we will ever frequent.
(2)Talisha M.
4.5 stars to be exact! Cute small place w/Sinatra music! The house salad was very tasty, the meatballs were great (not the best still think cafe Matorano & Timpano's baseball meatball are better), and the most incredible pasta with chicken, mushrooms, artichokes, and this funny ovalish pasta called cavatelli (looks like a hotdog bun). One of my most favorite pastas ever!! I also tried the white and chocolate cakes...I am not a cake girl so my opinion doesn't matter. It was a lengthy dinner, could have been faster all the way around so thats what keeps it from being a 5 star plus the meatball. Can't wait to come back and try something else!
(4)NORI R.
This is a hole in the wall, you would never see the place and so I think people who come here are locals who hear it from other locals. The food is excellent, the ambiance is a little weird, its like you expect casual when you see where its located but when you walk in its like a formal italian restaurant. Nevertheless the food is worth it, and the cheese is amazing ! The service is first class, they check on you every so often not to the point that it becomes annoying but just enough that you feel like you are the only table they are serving. I highly recommend this place. Its not cheap, its a bit pricey but if you want an excellent Italian experience try it. Limited parking its in a little strip plaza and there's only like 12 parking spaces.
(4)Jinny B.
I love this place. It was great the first time I went here years ago and it's actually better now. I discovered this place when Citysearch voted it as one of the best "value" restaurants but that was years ago and now the prices have caught up with the rest of the world. It's not super expensive but it's definitely not some place you would go for a value meal. The last time I went here I had pasta with meat and peas. Sounds weird but I am drooling just thinking about it. It is pasta with meat sauce with peas thrown in. So simple. My husband had the rigatoni with sausage and meatball. Oh my God-- como se dice 'heaven'??? They have a great menu of pasta but they also have great chicken and fish dishes. I had chicken scarpiello one time I was here and it was amazing. The atmostphere is laid back and slightly swanky with Frankie playing at a good volume and the dim lights, but what makes this place amazing is the food. Whenever I'm in Miami I always make it a point to go here. The food is amazing-- homestyle Italian food at it's best. All the pasta dishes are delishhhh. Don't leave without trying the vanilla cake. It's so simple but unbelievably good. Once you try it you will never forget this vanilla cake. Definitely give this place a try.
(4)Michael J.
While the whole no menu thing is annoying I can get past it. What I cannot get past is the slow service and cold food. The funny part is we weren't looking for ambiance, as a matter of fact we wanted to sit outside but were told we couldn't. We ordered Vito salad to start which was mediocre at best, very little cheese and almost no salami. Entrees were Chicken Parm rigatoni and Ravioli with meatballs on top. The chicken was cold and the ravioli was somewhat warm but not hot. The meatballs I must say were good. Service was friendly and knowledgeable but slow.
(2)Casandra P.
Italian American perfection. This is the only place that competes with Cafe Martorano and because it is 10 mins from my house, doesn't blast 90s music and doesn't make me wait 2 hours, I say it wins. Really the meatballs are amazing, perfectly seasoned, with the best sweet sauce, and creamy fresh ricotta. All the stuff on that blackboard is good. And then, there's the chocolate cake - it's a crime scene.
(5)Francisco S.
Tried the shrimp scampi and meatball & sausage dish... they were pretty decent. Well, nice little ambient spot. It's annoying that they have only the menu on the board and the waiter starts to talk about the dishes while I don't even care half of what he said.... 1+ for the parking lot and they pretty much left us alone.
(4)Mike M.
4.5 stars for food, 1.5 stars for their pretension. As other reviews have mentioned, they don't have printed menus, only a chalkboard that can't be seen by half of the customers. Seeing that there were 6 of us, 5 of us never having been there before, I thought it would be logical to go snap a photo of the chalkboard with my phone so everyone could think about what they wanted. However, according to head douchebag in the kitchen, "I don't allow photos of my menu." Oh, really? Then why don;t you fucking print some up? You make enough money from your $28 plates of pasta to afford a few menus. Or, here's a thought, write up another chalkboard. I was informed that the waitress would tell us what is o the menu. She did, by bringing over a basket showing the varieties of pasta they used. Unhelpful and annoying, since (a) it is dry pasta that you can get in Publix, so I really don't need to be shown what it looks like and (b) I know what Rigatoni looks like. And if, say, I was not at all Italian (or I was retarded,) and didn't, it wouldn't matter anyway and finally, (c) she didn't name everything on the menu. Once that annoyance was over, and we were fully informed as to the shape of fusilli, we ordered and started eating, and it was generally very good. The two salads we had were excellent, and the appetizers, meatballs and some kind of shrimp, were awesome. For entrees, I had rigatoni in a Bolognese sauce with ricotta cheese, and the sauce was fantastic. My wife had linguini in clam sauce and it was the most pedestrian of the offerings we tried. My friend's wife had some kind of fish (I think monkfish but I am not positive) on a bed of spinach that was absolutely outstanding. Everyone else was pleased with what they ordered. Though I think it's a bit overpriced, it is no more so than Scarpetta, for example, and I think it is better anyway. Overall, I can envision myself going back, getting annoyed again and again being satisfied by the food.
(3)Jen M.
Meatballs good ! Pasta mushy! Salad good ! Veal Parm over cooked ! Overrated try grazie !
(2)Andrew P.
The meatballs are everything they say they are. Tied with Toscana for best italian in Miami.
(4)Franky A.
One of my favorite places to eat. It has a great down home feel with outstanding friendly service. I highly recommend getting the meatballs. It's a great place to pig out.
(5)Crystal B.
The food and ambience are great (you may even see a few celebs.) The food is so rich and you have to get some meatballs. However, while sitting at the bar to have a glass of wine and maybe an appetizer one night I saw a waitress wearing and talking on her huge blinking Bluetooth ear piece. I would have never expected this from such a quality establishment. I made a joke to the bartender and he did not seem amused. Such a let down:(
(3)Bette Ann S.
Eating here seriously reminded me of the time when I ate in a hole in the wall Italian restaurant in Brooklyn and felt like I was surrounded by the mafia. This place is no joke- authentic as can be and DELICIOUS. The Frank Sinatra music in the background adds a classy touch. I dinned here with a group of 6. The chef, Michael, prepared his top recipes for us. We didn't even order, he just surprised us, which was AMAZING. To start we had a tomato and mozzarella salad, which was made with the freshest mozzarella, the Sinatra Shrimp, which were absolutely OUT OF THIS WORLD, Michael's famous meatballs, which were phenomenal, and a delicious salad. The Sinatra Shrimp were so spicy that my nose started running--THE SIGN OF GOOD SPICE! I loved them. I think I had about 4. They are served on a garlic toast and there are spicy peppers all over them. The meatballs that everyone raves about are a MUST. These meatballs are not like those at Prime 112/Prime Italian. There is no need for a knife with these meatballs, they just fall apart with your fork. So tender and so delicious. The mounds of ricotta cheese on the sides were just decadent. I was in heaven. I was already full after the apps, but onto the main course we went! Michael made us a delicious Panzenneti pasta with chickpeas and chopped ham, grilled tuna, chicken Parmesan, and something like a baked ziti (except it was not ziti pasta). The pastas were AMAZING. The sauces were just to die for. The chicken Parmesan was pounded so thin, it just melted in your mouth. When I thought I was going to have to be rolled out in a wheelbarrow, dessert was brought out! We had a sample platter of everything. The Ricotta cheese cake was like nothing I have ever had. It was beyond amazing. As I am writing this, I am craving some. The yellow cake with icing and sprinkles was also so moist and delicious. Who knew that such a simple dish could be so amazing!? I cannot wait to bring my dad who was born and raised in Brooklyn to this little slice of heaven in SoBe. I definitely will be back!
(5)Vanessa S.
I loved this restaurant!!! The meatballs are incredible!!!
(5)tme s.
SICK! OH. MY.GOSH. I ate at Macaluso's over the weekend, expecting a nice, hearty Italian meal to satisfy my appetite....and what I got was anything but that. It's now Tuesday and I am finally able to hold down actual food. The service was horrendous (we ordered after the waiter came back in from a cigg break apparently- 30 min after sitting). The food was COLD (cold meatballs?!) and to top it all of, the GM came over to our table and further worsened this experience by proving his arrogance, inconsideration and rudeness. I will never return as there is much better Italian on Miami Beach.
(1)Summer L.
I used to eat at Macaluso's frequently, often more than once per week, and was on a first name basis with everyone at the restaurant. Everyone, that is, other than Michael, who refuses to speak to anyone or even acknowledge their presence except on the not-so-rare occasion that someone drives up in a Ferrari or happens to be a movie star, in which case he fawns over them shamelessly. Eventually, his unacceptably obnoxious attitude and gargantuan ego were just too much for me and I had to vow never to give him another dime. Besides being incredibly obsessed with himself, to the point that he makes his servers say his name an average of 12 times in the 3 minutes they stand there reciting the menu (which, as other reviewers have complained, is not available in paper form), he actually goes so far as to reserve for himself most nights the best table in the house, nestled in the corner. Paying customers are left to sit bewildered as they are told there are no tables, while "Michael's table" often sits open for hours on end! When he does grace the place with his presence, he usually has a couple of hooker-looking blondes with him and sits ignoring them and playing with his iPhone. I'll forego the food, which has declined in quality anyway, so that I never have to patronize that arrogant jerk's restaurant again.
(1)andrew s.
Fantastic Italian American food. Great service and staff. The cafe durring the day is a hidden gem as well. I recommend the sausage and peppers sandwich and pizza.
(5)Debra P.
I am not huge meatball fan, but I cleaned up the plate upon which Macaluso's served their tennis ball sized meatballs, pasta, and Marinara. This followed a shrimp scampi that was so good it required our asking for extra bread with which to soak up every drop of the sauce. It is pricey, yes, but the food was superb as was the service. No menu? No problem. The waiter was well informed about each item on the menu, each sauce, each pasta, each entree and was patient when answering questions and allowing customization of dishes. What more could one reasonably ask for?
(5)John B.
Interesting place, no menus are handed out. Instead the servers tell you the entire menu verbally. We had quite a treat as three waiters successively came to our table to repeat the entire story about the restaurant and the menu. I guess all the waiters each thought we were their table or they all wanted to check my girlfriend out. Lucky we had at the three into's because the first waiter's accent was so strong we hardly understood anything. The third waiter helped us remember some of what the second waiter said. Nice experience, but I would still prefer a menu in hand. Food was very good, but the prices are high for pasta. Atmosphere was pleasant and quiet. Location is nicely hidden away from the busy street. Parking generally available in front of the restaurant.
(3)Chris S.
My girlfriend and I have been going here almost every month over the last 2 years. We have always loved the food, but the service is usually lacking. We have our favorite - chicken button mushroom pasta. We went there last night and again the service was lackluster (as usual), but something had changed. The serving sizes. They have apparently reduced their serving sizes, but kept their slightly inflated prices the same. I love the food, but come on, lackluster service paired with smaller portion sizes is not a good thing. Will we go back - yes, will we go back as often - no.
(3)Rob C.
3.5 star. Chef Michael is passionate about his cooking. the Lucky 13 commandments add to the charm, at least if u see it that way. It's hard to find a menu online for this place b/c all they do is list the apps and entrees on the chalkboard. they do show u their pasta (during the menu explanation phase) -- since i'm not a dry pasta fan, i really came for the homemade meatball experience. first off, they do start you with something complimentary, which is nice -- we had a piece of sausage pan pizza which was delicious decided to try the meatball salad, which actually worked. the hearty marinara was good and the meatballs are large with a dense texture instead of chunky. I had the sausage with hot and sweet peppers -- bold flavors portions are large -- this is a red sauce place, though they do have a cheese ravioli and a chickpea pasta entree prices $24-30s pasta favored include fusilli, cavatelli, penne
(4)Liz T.
macaluso's is not italian food as many think. it's staten island italian. and for those of you who don't know, staten island is one of the 5 boroughs of NYC. it's the little island off the southern tip of manhattan. most of my family is from staten island and this is sooo the food of my childhood! rich sauces, spicy sausages, cheese filled meatballs. everything is VERY rich... so be prepared. i could die! the owner is from staten island, so the food super authentic. not like when pizza places are like "NY Pizza" and i want to throw back at them and yell "liar face!"... this is real staten island italian. it's kind of an experience going there. it's very small inside. pretty romantic. darkly lit. there's no menu. the waiters come over and tell you verbally. which can be pretty overwhelming and confusing. the last time i went, i brought some friends who had never been. our waitress had a very thick accent and none of us could really understand her... which made for an interesting experience. they also bring visuals for the different types of pastas, which is fun. visuals are always fun! best thing on the menu... the giant meatball. god love my grandmother, but macaluso's giant meatball kicks my grandma's meatball's butt. it can be pricey if you have drinks... otherwise be prepared to spend in the $20 - 35 range.
(5)John C.
Disappointing service, food and experience. I have lived on the beach for over 10 years and am loyal to local restaurants; however for this place, my loyalty has ended. They are rude, obnoxious and have zero concern for the customer. The food is both bland and salty. One one recent occasion, we had a bad/tough piece of Veal. We never requested the meal for free; however the waitress refused to let us dislike our meal. She was condescending and argumentative. The chef does nothing to make you feel welcome. It is very very very overpriced as well. Save your money ... go up to Prima Pasta or even Tiramisu on Lincoln Road.
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