Yes, Pasta! Trattoria Italiana brings an authentic taste of Italy with approachable prices to North Miami. Serving much more than just pasta, the family friendly neighborhood eatery presents Italian specialties made only with fresh local and imported Italian ingredients, along with healthy dining options including whole wheat and gluten-free pasta, and several vegetarian dishes.
Executive Chef Paolo del Papa, who apprenticed under the famous Chef Antonello Tagliabue and describes his cooking “as fresh and genuine Italian as it gets,” pulls inspiration from his Italian background to create a menu that offers appetizers, soups & salads, paninis, pastas and a variety of specialty entrees. Owner Flaminia Morin, a native of Rome, also brings many of her family recipes to the menu including her grandmother’s special marinara sauce, Sugo della Nonna.
Signature starters include the Parmigiana di Melazane (eggplant parm), Suppli Romani (fried risotto balls with mozzarella, beef sauce, served with marinara) and Ravello Salad (baby spinach, almonds, goat cheese, green apples, lemon dressing).
The fettuccine, linguine and gnocchi are made fresh and the dried traditional rigatoni, penne, spaghetti and capellini pastas are high-quality imports from Italy. Guests can select a pasta type and then customize their dish with a choice of 15 traditional — and nontraditional – sauces. Standout sauces at Yes, Pasta! Trattoria Italiana range from simple Aglio e Olio (garlic and olive oil with crushed chiles) to Funghi e Tartufi (dried porcini and fresh cremini mushrooms in buttery truffle sauce). The Frutti di Mare, a mix of calamari, mussels, shrimp, baby clams, tomato, garlic & chili, pairs well with linguine, while the spicy Arrabbiata sauce is a perfect complement to penne. Beef up the dish with broccoli, fresh mozzarella, meatballs or a variety of other additions.
Chef Paolo del Papa also presents signature entrees to rival any Italian restaurant from the Saltimbocca alla Romana (veal scaloppini with parma ham and sage severed with broccoli) to the Dentice al Forno con Gamberi, Cozze e Calamari (Red snapper with shrimp, mussels and calamari), to Lasagna Rossa and daily specials that change with the availability of fresh ingredients. Finish the experience with the Crème Brule or the Zabaione al Rum (cold zabaione and mascarpone cream with fresh berries). The restaurant also offers an array of Italian and local wines by the bottle or the glass.
For lunch, the attention is on light soups, fresh salads and delicious innovative paninis including the Palermo (homemade focaccia with albacore tuna, sundried tomatoes, red onions, mixed greens, extra virgin olive oil) and the Siena (with grilled chicken, tomato, lettuce, avocado, wasabi mayo). The lunch special offers all the favorites at great value, along with quick friendly service.
The sleekly designed space with high trey ceilings is set in a palate of white and blues with walls adorned with custom commissioned china from Caltagirone and black & white photos of Italian and American stars indulging in pasta. Shelves are arranged with bottles of wine, olive oil, and artisan products such as wildflower honey, white fig jam and chocolate-hazelnut spread. The open kitchen allows guests a voyeuristic look at the Chefs, while the outdoor seating area is a great spot for people watching.
Yes, Pasta! Trattoria Italiana is located at 14871 Biscayne Blvd., North Miami Beach, FL |305.944.1006 | www.yes-pasta.com. Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11am-10pm; Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm. Yes, Pasta! Trattoria Italiana also delivers. Prices: Appetizers start from $5, paninis $7.50, pastas from $10, entrees from $13.50, dessert from $5.