FLORIDA - South Florida's dining scene continues to draw big names in cuisine, and the latest addition is a much-anticipated Italian import. La Pecora Bianca, a well-known restaurant group from New York, has just opened its first location outside New York at The Shops at Merrick Park in Coral Gables.
Since opening its flagship NoMad location in 2015, the brand has expanded to nine locations across Manhattan. It's now bringing that same buzz, the house pastas and aperitivo-style cocktails to the Miami area.
A Deliberate Expansion to South Florida
Founder and owner Mark Barak chose Coral Gables for La Pecora Bianca's first major out-of-state venture, citing the area's vibrant, upscale nature as the ideal location. The aim was to create a space that was truly La Pecora Bianca at its core, while also welcoming the distinct South Florida character.
The much larger site is designed to be fully integrated into the lives of the Coral Gables residents. It's a beautiful venue with 300 seats in its indoor and outdoor dining areas. There's a lovely 20-seat wrap-around bar and a separate dining room, perfect for private events. It can cater to everything from a simple weeknight dinner to a large-scale event.
What to Order: NYC Classics and Miami Exclusives
Culinary Director Ed Scarpone runs the kitchen, and the menu blends NY fan favorites with new dishes created specifically for the Miami market.
Familiar with the Manhattan locations? You'll be very pleased to see the usual suspects on the pasta menu: the Vodka Rigatoni (a rich one), the Whipped Ricotta, the Chicken Vodka Parmesan (a very indulgent one) and, of course, the massive dessert known as Too Much Fried Mozzarella. The pasta menu is very strong with the cacio e pepe arancini, the linguine vongole, the campanelle al limone and the fusilli giganti. If you're after Pizza, then the kitchen is churning out the Neapolitan-style pies (the black truffle and ricotta Pizza being a particularly good one) and the Diavola (vodka sauce and hot honey).
For the Coral Gables exclusives (if you're up for it), there's a huge carbonara raviolo, a very good tomato and melon carpaccio, and a superb lobster spaghetti fra diavolo. Leave room for dessert, of course, as the famous tiramisu for two is the ideal way to finish.
The Spritz Bar and Elegant Atmosphere
La Pecora Bianca's drink program in itself is a big draw. The wine list is very much Italian in its orientation, which is of course the perfect match for the food. The cocktails are all aperitivo style with a very focused Spritz bar. The Portofino Spritz is a particular favorite (gin, cucumber, St. Germain, and prosecco). If you're after something to finish the meal, then the affogato espresso martini is already a hit.
Location and Hours
La Pecora Bianca is located at The Shops at Merrick Park (360 San Lorenzo Ave., Coral Gables). The restaurant is currently open for dinner service only, operating from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM Sunday through Thursday, and from 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. The team plans to eventually expand their hours to include full lunch and brunch services.
