Fusilli Genovese
Spicy Lobster Capellini a nod a glass of Sancerre
The beautiful dining room at Contessa!
Dining Room
Margherita Pizza
Chandelier
Outdoor seating
The Gatsby ambience with a elegant twist
Interior
Inside
Second Floor
Second floor dining room
Squash Carpaccio
Main Floor
Bar
Fusilli Genovese
Contessa Miami
Inside
Interior
Second floor interior -- glimpse at balcony
Inside
Paul W.
Sep 23, 2024
From the moment we arrived, Contessa reminded me a bit of Carbone on Miami Beach. The interior decor, color scheme, chandeliers, lighting fixtures, wall and ceiling treatments and the bar are all designed to evoke a classic restaurant from a bygone era, and are reminiscent of what one might have found in a high-end supper club back in my grandparents' day - possibly earlier. Once I got home and checked their website, it made sense; Contessa is one of 8 Miami-area restaurants operated by the Major Food Group. Carbone is indeed one of theirs as well.We'd come here for a special occasion later on a Tuesday night without reservations. We were seated right away and though there was no one seated at the bar, many of the tables in the dining area were occupied. We were offered waters and our server was there almost immediately with menus and he, the food runners and the rest of the staff were outgoing and attentive throughout our meal. We started with the tuna crudo to share which was very good, but would've been even better with some bread for the table, which we had to request and it took them a bit of time to warm and toast. When our bread arrived, it was served with small dipping vessels filled with olive oil and saba, which is a syrup made of cooked grape must. For our main courses I ordered the corn ravioli and my husband the branzino; we also selected a bottle of wine to share with our meals. Both our entrees were good, but my dish came with 5 or maybe 6 small raviolis and his branzino wasn't terribly large. We really wish the server had described the true sizes of the dishes we'd ordered and suggested we include a side or two, as we'd have done that from the beginning had we known. We requested an order of grilled mushrooms which our waiter put a rush on. For dessert we shared the crema inglese, which was sort of a deconstructed tiramisu, but with chocolate ganache. Everything we had here was very good, service was on-point and prices weren't out of line considering what this place is. If you were set on Carbone and didn't make your reservation a month in advance as that restaurant can sometimes command, you might consider Contessa as an alternate.
Read MoreBarbara G.
Jun 29, 2024
First things first this is a beautiful vintage yet modern chic atmosphere. Absolutely great service, we walked in on Saturday 12:45ish and no reservations and were sat in 5 mins. We asked to move to a larger table and they immediately accommodated. The food we ordered: The tuna crudo The meatballsAvocado toast Tortellini Fusilli And brazino with a side of potatoesThe tuna very fresh with a lemon aioli and capers (4pieces) , the meatballs (3pieces) with pickled cabbage was such a delight we loved it!! Avocado toast was a large portion, the bread was a bit hard according to my mother in law.Both pastas were nice but nothing special. Brazino was the highlight perfectly cooked and so fresh and accompanied by olives and fennel salad. The potatoes were terrible unfortunately extremely hard on the outside and dry on the inside. Overall get the brazino and get the meatballs!our server was lovely very attentive!
Read MoreAnisah G.
Apr 14, 2024
What an absolutely charming restaurant. Upon arrival you notice the beautiful decor, the music, it certainly sets a great ambiance for a lovely dining experience. Service was excellent, our waitress walked us through the menu, provided great recommendations and answered any questions that our party had. Food also came out very quickly, and the quality was superb! We started with the octopus agrodolce, cooked to perfection, served with roasted red peppers which highly complimented the dish. Now let's talk about the meatballs, hands down the BEST meatballs I've ever had! This is a must try, seriously, don't skip it! I got the spicy lobster capellini, that was incredibly delicious, and the portions are large! My husband had the lamb, very well seasoned and cooked to perfection! We shared a carciofi salad which consisted of artichoke, almonds, Parmesan, and lemon, a great compliment to the dishes. We ended with some pretty spectacular desserts as well, first, the Torta de Baci, a chocolate hazelnut cake, this was heaven! We also tried the Crema Inglese, it was a vanilla custard with other chocolate ganache, so light and delicious! This was a perfect dining experience, definitely five stars! Highly recommend if you want to experience great food and service in Miami Design District!
Read MoreMarcela P.
Oct 3, 2024
Good food, ambiance, and service! Highly recommend if in the design district. I've gone a few times now and it never disappoints.
Read MoreAlexa M.
Sep 10, 2024
Had the branzino and was blown away. The pasta was amazing as well. Our server was great and the ambiance was definitely a vibe. Will be back!
Read MoreAngela N.
Mar 2, 2024
Shopping in DD with a friend but we were both famished and decided to pop in. Definitely had the Carbone feel walking in. Beautiful restaurant - was surprised by the faux flowers.Food was pretty good - the lamb chops and garlic broccoli were my fav. The squash carpaccio was good. Because we popped in at an odd hour, service was slow. I felt like he was very attentive when we arrived and when food was delivered, but then dropped off the map. We had to flag someone down eventually for a bill. Seems like the dinner menu might be worth coming back for.
Read MoreMarlene R.
Aug 27, 2024
We try enjoyed the cocktails- martini yum! We had the lamb chops they are A+. The mushrooms are a must. We also had the calamari, it was delicious. The service was outstanding, we enjoyed the music and the ambience was fantastic! Definitely a location you want to visit although it is a little pricey.
Read MoreSarai R.
Aug 7, 2024
this place is SOOO aesthetically pleasing, which is what prompted us to walk in and try it in the first place. i had the most delicious cucumber mocktail and my friend and i shared their lobster pasta 4/5 and their margarita pizza 6/5. I can't wait to come back just to have two pies all the myself lol !
Read MoreNicholas G.
Nov 16, 2023
I read some mixed reviews, but I found this place to be unexpectedly great. Service was top notch. From the friendliness to the attention, it was spot on. Ambiance was phenomenal. Beautiful decor and great music playing in the background. As far as food, we went heavy apps. All were great. The two that I would def recommend, the squash carpaccio and the spicy lobster pasta. Can't recall the name of the dessert (it was like a tiramisu, but without the coffee) but that was amazing. We celebrated a birthday for lunch and I would highly recommend.
Read MoreLily H.
Apr 18, 2024
Pleasantly surprised by contessa. I had low expectations due to the limited menu and long wait times. Happy to report the spicy lobster capellini and squash+sweet potato carpaccio changed my mind. Service was still slow but the fun old school classy interior supported much to look at.
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