Wynwood is on a roll when it comes to Italian food lately. From the longstanding dōma to NYC-transplant Rosemary’s and natural wine-focused Otto & Pepe, there’s no shortage of great Italian food in the area. Joining that formidable list now is Novatore Cucina & Bar in Miami, led by a couple of vets from a famed MICHELIN-Starred restaurant in the Spanish Canary Islands.
Fernanda Fuentes-Cárdenas, and her partner in life and work, chef Andrea Bernardi are best known as the pair behind NUB Restaurant, a Tenerife spot celebrated for blending Mediterranean and Latin American flavors. At Novatore, they’ve brought on Marco Rama—an alum of Italy’s MICHELIN-Starred Andreina—as the executive chef.
You can expect a focus on Italian cooking, inspired by Bernardi’s grandfather, after whom the restaurant is named. “For my grandfather, food and gathering around the table meant more than anything else,” Bernardi says. “He was an elegant man who loved playing the mandolin and sharing meals with loved ones.”
Read on to see how the couple’s vision comes to life at Novatore Cucina & Bar in Miami, and then book your spot on OpenTable.
What to eat
Roman-inspired dishes are the stars of the relatively compact menu at Novatore. “Classic Roman dishes like cacio e pepe, carbonara, and carciofo alla Romana [are] all reimagined with our own distinctive touch while honoring the flavors that make them timeless,” Bernardi says.
That means dishes like the cacio e pepe are finished in a pan over charcoal, giving it a delicate smokiness. The artichokes are brined, seasoned with herbs and lemon, and then grilled before coming to the table with a creamy Taleggio fonduta. And don’t miss the aragosta e midollo, which pairs lobster with bone marrow. Order it with one of the housemade breads that are created from a 30-year-old starter brought over from Italy.
Come back later in the year when Fuentes-Cárdenas and Bernardi plan to introduce an ice-cream cart to the restaurant.
What to drink
Sommelier Leonardo Asensos has curated a collection of 130 different wines from Italy and beyond, many of which you can see from the wine room at the center of the restaurant. The restaurant is only doing beer and wine for now, but mixologist Cristian Novelli has created a menu of Italian classics like Aperol spritz, Milano-Torino, and a range of negronis that will all be available soon. Novelli will also add cocktail flights and a cocktail cart in the dining room complete with tableside preparations.
Where to sit
The interiors keep the Roman theme going with large white columns, intricate molding, and an earthy color palette throughout. Request a seat in the main dining room for views of the kitchen or the wine room. Pull up to the bar when you’re looking for a more intimate, cozy evening. And when the temperatures allow for it, make sure to request a table at the restaurant’s plant-lined, covered outdoor terrace.
When to go
Novatore is open Tuesday to Sunday from 6pm to 10pm, and until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations are available for the following 60 days and open daily at 12 am.
Amber Love Bond is a Miami-based food + beverage writer who can typically be found somewhere delicious with her laptop in tow and a cocktail in hand. See what she’s sipping and follow her adventures on Instagram.
