"Italian cuisine"

With very few waterfront restaurants in Miami, Antica Mare is a very welcome addition to our dining options! Authentic Tuscan food and water views, how can you go wrong? Let’s get straight to the food which is no pretensions or pomp, just cozy, home cooking is what you’ll get at Antica Mare on the Bay. It’s inside the new luxury ShoreCrest Club complex with a huge indoor and outdoor dining area with 224 seats, oh my! There’s also a private room for 60 if you want to hold social or business events.

1 Antica Mare Interior_Photo Credit Alissa Dragun — Antica Mare Interior-Photo Credit Alissa Dragun

Antica Mare Exterior Horizontal_Photo Credit Alissa Dragun — Antica Mare Exterior – Photo Credit Alissa Dragun

Marco Betti, the chef/owner started this Miami restaurant based on recipes from his mom, with a flagship, award winning restaurant, Antica Posta in Atlanta run by his brother, Chef Sandro. I enjoyed hearing Marco’s stories about how the three brothers grew up working in their Dad’s butcher shop in Reggello, Italy. There’s nothing more endearing than a chef who wants to be a part of the community he lives and works in and I love to support these kinds of restaurants.

AnticaMare-appetizers — 4 appetizers started off the evening! The patio light, the breeze and the views were stunning!

My favorite appetizer was of course the Octopus, so tender and pure heaven, I’m a huge fan. I helped polish that one off, no problem.

AnticaMare-4appetizers — Our media tasting started with four appetizers, clockwise: Marco salad; meatballs in tomato sauce; the Best Octopus in the World garnished with arugula; Brushetta with fresh tomatoes and basil.

Many of the servers were Italian who really knew how to make you feel right at home, you might even hear some singing if you’re lucky, it’ll make you feel like you’re in Italy!

AnticaMare-MarcoBetti — If you get a chance to meet Marco, please notice his beautiful, crisp linen shirt!

We all agreed we’d never have ordered the chicken dish, Chef Marco Pollo arrosto alla toscana but it was very tasty and tender, and the roast potatoes were crispy and flavored with the chicken juices, yummy. Marco mentioned this is one of the restaurant’s signature dishes. Everyone’s favorite main was Filetti di maiale alla mostarda, tender pork medallions with the creamiest, tastiest lentils ever. Even the carnivores in our group couldn’t stop eating those lentils. And the sauteed veggies of broccoli and what looked and tasted like mustard greens were fantastic. For me, I would have preferred no tomato sauce on the salmon.

AnticaMare-Seafood-pasta — Special Seafood pasta with olives.

Chef Marco Pollo arrosto alla toscana - Chef Marco slow roast free range chicken with Tuscan herbs and roast potatoes. — Chef Marco slow roast free range chicken with Tuscan herbs and roast potatoes.

Salmone alla Livornese - salmon sauteed with cherry tomatoes, olives & capers with asparagus. — Salmon sauteed with cherry tomatoes, olives & capers with asparagus.

Ravioli al ragu toscano - spinach and ricotta cheese ravioli with traditional Tuscan meat sauce — Spinach and ricotta cheese ravioli with traditional Tuscan meat sauce.

Pork filet medallions sauteed with whole grain mustard sauce, lentils and sauteed broccoli.

Of course, you’ve got to end your dinner with Italian desserts which are some of the most wicked around…tiramisu, layers of Marscapone cream and Pavesini cookies dipped in expresso coffee; panacotta with wild berry sauce; cannoli stuffed with house made chantilly cream.

So, go, enjoy and support Antica Mare, this wonderful new waterfront restaurant with a constant breeze! If you live in Normandy Isle and North Miami, it’s a nice walk there to work up your appetite and then to work it off after you’ve eaten!

Antica Mare
7999 Northeast Bayshore Court
serves dinner Tuesday through Sunday, from 4PM to 11PM
On ground level of the Shorecrest Club high rise apartment complex on the Northeast corner of 80th and Bayshore. From 79th Street heading east, make U-turn before bridge and take right on Bayshore Court. Discounted valet parking.
Telephone: (305) 398-1001

Congratulations Pietro Morelli, Francesco Belcaro and Marco Toderti! You’ve succeeded in setting the highest standards in Miami with Made In Italy Gourmet, there’s NOTHING like this. All the superlatives couldn’t describe what you’ve created, a hip hangout for foodies to linger, sip wine, taste real Italian paninis and take home delicacies to continue the experience. For me, it’s always about the EXPERIENCE, and you’ve nailed it, 10 out of 10!

The high ceilings and loft like space spans 3,500 sq. ft. and will open to the public from 10-8pm TODAY, so get yourself over there to experience this mini Eataly. There’ll be daily wine tastings and food sampling as well as private VIP gatherings, chef presentations and cooking classes. Visit Made In Italy Gourmet for latest updates!

I’m so honored and thrilled to be invited to make Italian dishes in my wok, a challenge I’m excited about, stay tuned!
For more, check out Eater Miami, Digest Miami.
Taste, Live, Share a little bit of Italy…Made In Italy Gourmet is at 10 NE 27th street, Wynwood, FL 33137, click here for map.

My absolute favorite was sitting at this community table made of wood with Murano chandeliers overhead, it makes you feel so grand!

I love your slogan, Taste, Live, Share! My brother in law is Italian and this is definitely somewhere he’d feel right at home, hanging and having a glass of wine, reading his papers, chatting and people watch.

Look at the details!

Down to the tray with wine glass clipped with a peg to steady it and slots for containers and even a place for cutlery, I absolutely love it.

The salads had a nice delicate dressing, not overpowering. The chacuterie was melt in your mouth tender and tasty. These were served during a VIP preview.

Very cute idea: 5 sandwiches created by 5 different chefs will be judged by their popularity and will get “chopped” off the menu on a monthly basis, find out more here!