Table Talk: Prima Pasta

Café Prima Pasta
414 71st St
Miami, FL 33141
(305) 867-0106

This warm and super-friendly restaurant is Argentinean owned these days, but still has the taste of Italy. The cozy, family-friendly establishment is a favorite of Miami insiders and a staple for many locals—they even have VIP cards for the most dedicated regulars. The decor is laced with picture frames of the numerous celebrities that frequent the eatery. Which celebrities you ask? Well, we won’t tell because it’s part of the restaurant's charm for these megastars. Another part of the charm is Argentinean-born owner, Gerry Cea, who makes you feel as if it were his own home while his parents cook up the dishes in the kitchen.

The Salmon Carpaccio ($13) is a must-have with its fresh arugula, tomatoes, and lots of capers that burst with flavor. Another house favorite is the Veal Piccata ($20) served in a delicious white wine sauce and paired with mash potatoes. You can taste that everything is made from scratch—from pasta to Limoncello. And lastly, the sinfully delicious home-made Dulce de Leche ice cream. One spoonful and I was in heaven! I don't know how these Argentinean-born chefs were able to capture the taste of Italy but the packed crowd was proof that they most certainly did.

www.primapasta.com