Amici Trattoria Italian — Restaurant in Miramar

My wife and I went to a funeral west of where we live. Afterwards, we decided to look for an Italian Restaurant around that area. I found Amici Trattoria Italian 11338 Miramar Pkwy, Miramar, FL 33025. When we arrived, they sat us quickly and brought our menus. That is when we noticed it was Argentinian Italian. This is no big deal for me; I have been to Argentina many times and they have a large Italian community with great food. I ordered a glass of Malbec, and we decided to each have a cup of Pasta Fagioli and we were going to split the Rib Eye Steak with fettuccine alfredo and mixed vegetables. Along with the wine came 2 garlic rolls. The rolls were very very good. While placing our entrée order, I asked for 1 order more of rolls and if they could bring us a little marinara sauce to dip the bread in. The waiter then asked if we wanted homemade pasta or the other type. My wife asked, “What is the other type?” and he responded, “I don’t know.” They returned with 2 more rolls and a very small shot glass of marinara, the size of 2 tablespoons of sauce. We figured, well we can at least see how the sauce is since this is our first time here. When the entrée arrived, it was not a ribeye, and instead was a half piece of churrasco? I advised the waiter that they brought the wrong cut of meat. He responded that they don’t have ribeye and that Argentine churrasco was better anyways. It was a long day, so I just figured let’s eat and go, it had already gotten a little weird already. Now for dinner, the churrasco was less than half of a churrasco and had not been spiced with anything; just raw meet flash grilled. The “Homemade” pasta was 3 balls of glued together pasta dough, the fettuccini was just watery soup-like heavy cream, and a little butter melted in. At that moment, we knew this was a one and done dinner. Note: the steak was to come with pasta and soup or salad. When the bill arrived, they charged $2 for the 2 extra bread rolls, $2.50 for 2 tablespoons of marinara in a shot glass, $3.50 up-charge for the Homemade pasta, and $2.50 for fettuccine. As I was paying the bill, I again mentioned to the manager that we ordered a ribeye, and they should have advised us while ordering that it was not available. She responded that they are from Argentina and the Churrasco was a better option in their opinion anyways. I did not want to argue stupidity, so I paid the bill and left. BUT I want to let the LEOSF crew know...

I’ll admit – I was a strip shopping center food snob. But I have since found several great restaurants in shopping centers and the latest one was Amici Trattoria an Italian/Argentine restaurant in Miramar. The moment you walk through the door, and you’ll forget all about the nail shop next door. The atmosphere inside Amici is warm, charming, and surprisingly homey—like your Italian nonna opened a cozy trattoria and let her artsy Argentine cousin decorate.

We started with a salad appetizer (large enough to share), and soup was included with the entrees. For mains, we ordered two pasta dishes. I had the pasta alla ruota (which is kind of trendy these days), which they finish tableside by swirling fresh pasta in a glorious cheese wheel. The pasta was homemade, cooked just right, and perfectly coated in rich, melty goodness.

My fiancée went with the spaghetti Bolognese, but the server, Oscar (who was friendly and professional) suggested swapping the spaghetti for their fresh fettuccine. Game changer. The dish was hearty, savory, and felt like something you’d find a high-end restaurant.

But the real star – and that’s saying a lot because the food was so good - came at dessert: a ricotta and pistachio cake that was light, nutty, and subtly sweet. It was authentic and refined but still had that made at home feel with some dulce de leche garnishing along the plate.

With some drinks (two cocktails, one wine, and a limoncello to end the meal), our total came to about $130 for two—solid value considering the quality, service, and portions.

I walked in skeptical—and left planning my next visit.

Pro tip: This place fills up late compared to other restaurants, so if you’re heading there on a weekend, a reservation is your...

★★★★★

We live in Miami, and we visited Amici, a special restaurant run by its owners, Flavio, Yanil, and their two sons, Joaquín and Juan Martín. From the start, they welcomed us warmly, introducing themselves and making us feel at home. They speak both Spanish and English perfectly, which makes the experience even more inviting.

The atmosphere is beautiful, with elegant furniture, art covering the walls, and excellent music that creates a cozy and refined setting. Every detail feels chosen with care, giving the place personality and charm.

We ordered a seafood risotto that was perfectly cooked, two empanadas (one beef and one ham and cheese), and gluten-free pasta for our daughter, which was thoughtfully prepared. For dessert, we shared a cheesecake with dulce de leche that was outstanding. The portions are generous, and everything arrived at the perfect temperature—something rare, as in many restaurants food often comes cold.

What makes Amici truly stand out is the personal attention of the family. They interact with guests naturally, creating an atmosphere where you feel more like a guest in their home than a customer.

Without a doubt, Amici is a gem in Miami. We will return many times and strongly recommend it to anyone looking for authentic food, a beautiful atmosphere, and genuine...