Pizzarello Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Florida

It was Friday night and we wanted to try a different Italian restaurant that we haven't been to. Someone recommended this place, so we went. We did have to wait for a table as it was busy. We sat and ordered our drinks, a glass of wine and an iced tea ( canned ) as well as water. We were hungry so we looked over the menu and was ready to order so we ordered the garlic bread along with the drinks. The waitress continued to go through the menu and was pushing the appetizers and the daily specials, which didn't have prices. I asked for the Chicken Marsala, and she continued without marking my order. She continued in Spanish and spoke directly to my partner, not paying any attention to me. When the waitress came back to take the order. I was finally able to make my order for the Chicken Marsala. We also ordered the Pasta allá Puttanesca with Salmon. The garlic bread came and it looked great, however it was a bit chewy with light garlic. The side salad came and it was good. Then the food came and the Chicken Marsala was good, the other dish was very salty, yes it comes with kalamata olives, capers and a hint of anchovies. It should be more balanced. We sent it back and they redid it, it was still a bit salty, but better. We decided to order dessert and ordered the Cannoli, which was good.

Overall, the food was ok. I was turned off by the pushy sales of the appetizers and daily specials as well as the lack of attention towards me. Maybe this place is a better Pizza restaurant than an...

So I saw all the nice reviews and I figured I would try this new Italian restaurant. I called the restaurant for a pickup. A lady answers the phone in Spanish. I speak Spanish but what if I didn't? I didn't really like that. So then I tell her that I want to order 2 Baked Zitis and she stays quiet for a few seconds and then she asks me what is that? She says, is that pizza? I was shocked that she didn't know what a Baked Ziti is. What restaurant that calls itself Italian doesn't know what a Baked Ziti is?? So l asked to speak to a manager or someone that knows the menu there. So then a guy comes to the phone and tells me that Baked Ziti is not on their menu. (It shows that it is on their online menu). So I was getting one bad vibe after another. He says it's ok it's in the system. Whatever that means. So he tells me that they come with side salads. So I said that I would like them as Caesar salads. He says that they would need to charge extra for that. That's when I said, forget it. It's a shame because I was going to place a huge order because it was for a party and if I had liked the food I would have kept coming back but the phone experience was so bad that I definitely won't ever try them again unfortunately. Never has any Italian restaurant I've ever been too charged extra for having a side Caesar salad (that comes with the food). That phone experience gave me a bad impression of this place. I definitely won't ever...

After ordering their food a few times, I can safely say that Pizzarello is a delicious and genuinely Italian experience for those who want great food in South Miami. The staff have never been anything but friendly and welcoming since my very first visit, so the place is worth checking out even if it's just for the atmosphere.

On the pizza front, their Pere e Gorgonzola is a must-try. They've refined it down to an art, giving you gorgonzola's bold flavors without the sharp funkiness you might expect. Couple that with pears, figs, and some impeccable balsamic, and you've got an excellent combination of salty and sweet.

I myself am more of a pasta kind of guy. The chicken parmigiana is well-baked and their marinara is distinctly tomato-ey, lacking the odd sweetness you might encounter in places that use premade sauces. Chicken parm is a run-of-the-mill staple of Italian take-out, however; for something more unique, I definitely recommend the Fiocchi di Pera al Tartufo, since pear pasta in four-cheese sauce is not the most common dish to enjoy on this side of Miami.

Finish off your night with the panna cotta, though do keep in mind that it's about the size of a supermarket pudding cup, so consider getting more than one!

Thank you to Pizzarello for all the delicious food! Looking forward to the next time I'm in your...