Bar crawl
Bar Bucce, best MIA restaurants, Venetian Islands listings, Magie Wine Bar, Rimowa, Pasta e Basta, MORE
BARS • First Round
Wine & chill
The Skinny: Open since April in Little River by the team behind Macchialina, Bar Bucce is a choose-your-own-adventure Italian market, bottle shop, and casual restaurant.
The Vibe: Peruse the shop, where you’ll find Italian goods ranging from pasta to canned tomatoes and olive oil, plus rows and refrigerators filled with wine. Place your order at the counter, take your number, and grab a seat. The indoor-outdoor spot is lively (and family-friendly before the sun goes down) as people gather to share pizzas, snacks, and wine. It was an ideal setting for a recent birthday dinner where a casual, come-and-go-as-you-please vibe was essential. Our table was always filled with various pies, charcuterie, and bottles of wine. If it’s vibes you’re after, the outdoor patio is where they’re at, with string lights, plants, a retractable awning, and large fans.
The Drinks: It’s a bottle shop, and as such, owner/wine wizard Jacqueline Pirolo has curated a fun selection organized from “quaffable reds” to “tannin bombs,” all ready to either take home or drink in the restaurant for a $20 corkage fee. The cocktail menu is short and features beverages made with Italian spirits.
The Food: Given the Macchialina lineage, it’s no surprise that the menu is perfect. The antipasti and grill menus are filled with small plates like zucchini scapece, razor clams, and caponata, all winners. But the real star is the shrimp pie made with tomato, cream, rock shrimp, sweet onion, and tons of stracciatella. During lunch hours, you can snag a slice, or one of the many freshly made mortadella sandwiches. Everything goes with the housemade spicy calabrese oil and Pirolo’s Italian Everything Spice found on each table. I can’t stress this enough: use them on everything. Cap the meal off with pistachio and strawberry sundae.
The Verdict: From quick, no-fuss dinners and wine to take home to birthday celebrations — Bar Bucce does it all with panache. –Amber Love Bond
→ Bar Bucce (Little River) • 7220 N Miami Ave • Sun-Mon 12-10p, Thu-Sat 12-1030p • Walk-ins only.
MIAMI RESTAURANT LINKS: The Shutter: Itamae AO to close after service Saturday in Midtown, seeks new home… Coral Gables’ lauded Italian Erba to close • South of Fifth, Okap Caviar restaurant to open at One Ocean condo • Yes, really: credit cards at Duffy’s • Florida lobster mini-season is back • Is Parkland Florida’s unexpected next foodie hotspot?
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties on the Venetian Islands that came to market in the last 30 days:
→ 9 Island Ave #514 (Venetian Islands) • 3BR/3BA, 2388 SF condo • Ask: $2.595M • renovated with north-facing views of Belle Island Park and waterways • Days on market: 7 • Annual tax: $27,002 • Agent: Daniel Fisker, One Sotheby’s.
→ 114 3rd San Marino Ter (Venetian Islands) • 4BR/4BA, 3019 SF house • Ask: $6.25M • double lot with potential for 7200 SF build (or two) • Days on market: 7 • Annual tax: NA • Agent: Dina Goldentayer, Elliman.
→ 126 W San Marino Dr (Venetian Islands, above) • 5BR/5.2BA, 7890 SF house • Ask: $38.0M • 90’ of frontage with multli-vessel IPE dock • Days on market: 16 (and earlier) • Annual tax: $156,205 • Agent: Dora Puig, Luxe Living Realty.
MIAMI WORK AND PLAY LINKS: More workers now employed in Miami-Dade construction than ever before • 24-story Excel Miami tower tops off • Coral Gables’ Art Cinema unveils expansion plans • Why are managers so miserable at work?
WORK • Thursday Routine
Over-indulging
CAROLINE STRAUSS • owner • Magie Wine Bar
Neighborhoods you work in: Little River & Coconut Grove
Neighborhood you live in: Little River
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Thursdays are hot and sweaty! I usually start with a double workout at Legacy Little River (intel). It’s always a great challenge, and pushes me throughout the day. After the workouts, my partner (in life and business) Ivan Barros, and I usually grab coffee at Imperial Moto and check on Magie and The Citadel. I’m also the director of operations at The Citadel, a food hall across the street from Magie Little River.
What’s on the agenda for today?
We’re currently working on two super fun new projects, another Magie Wine Bar up the East Coast, and a casual restaurant here in Little River. Ivan is a chef and we work really well together. Between design, leasing, and construction, we’re pretty busy. We’re very lucky that our two venues have fantastic teams, and day-to-day operational check-ins and fixes allow us time to work on new things.
Any bar or restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Anyone who knows me knows they can find us at Bar Bucce (intel above) most days of the week. A slice for lunch or a margarita and meat and cheese plate for dinner are a weekly staple. This weekend we’re in South Beach checking out The Joyce (intel) and you'll probably find us Sunday at The Citadel or Bar Kaiju (intel)
Any weekend getaways?
Charleston. In a 90-minute flight, you can be in a little slice of Southern paradise. With incredible food and a great up-and-coming bar scene, Charleston has become our second home. It’s such a clean and walkable city, great for a relaxing getaway with plenty to do and see. Alternatively, if you don't want to deal with MIA, a quick drive to Keys Fisheries in Marathon for stone crab upstairs while watching the sunset is a true privilege.
What was your last great vacation?
I spent my birthday this year in Barcelona with my bestie — it never disappoints. I love finding new neighborhoods off the beaten path and over-indulging in tapas and vermouth. The Barcelona EDITION made my trip super special, going above and beyond.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
The Rimowa Cabin Essential Sleeve… OMG.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Skn Elements in Little River. Skin care became a huge focus for me after I left my corporate life behind. I felt like I looked 10 years older after all the travel and early calls. Skn Elements does such a great job at naturally working on your skin and helping you be consistent in a routine.
Where are you donating your time or money?
We have a big partnership with Rethink Food that I’m incredibly proud of. It’s a non-profit dedicated to supporting local communities struggling with food insecurities.
GETAWAYS LINKS: New Cartagena Four Seasons hotel, with two rooftop pools, aims for late ’25 opening • JetBlue growing presence at FLL this winter to serve as Caribbean gateway • Is bread in Europe better for you? • When in Rome, do as the runners do.
CULTURE & LEISURE • A Little Fun
Taylor Dayne & Lisa Lisa • Au-Rene Theater (Ft Lauderdale) • Sat @ 8p • ORCHC, $112 per
Shania Twain • Hard Rock Live (Hollywood) • Fri @ 730p • sec 104, $271 per
Mo Amer • The Fillmore (Miami Beach) • Sat @ 7p • ORCHL, $98 per
RESTAURANTS • FOUND Table
That’s it
The Backstory: Opened in midtown in November 2023, Pasta e Basta offers cozy, straightforward dining centered on Italian classics. Created by an Italian chef eager to bring the true flavors of home to Miami, the menu keeps it simple with three focused categories — pasta, wine, and dolci.
The Experience: The white-washed space is clean and orderly, with framed black-and-white photos of 1960s Italian summers and Sophia Loren. There’s also a stylish patio. Here, you can start where a meal often ends — la scarpetta, bread served with your choice of cacio e pepe or bolognese sauce. Pasta options range from rigatoni carbonara, made with pasture-raised egg yolks, Pecorino Romano, and crispy guanciale, to gnocchi ai quattro formaggi e speck.
Why it’s FOUND: Simple, genuine, and satisfying, its name says it all: just pasta, and that’s enough. –Katelin Stecz
→ Pasta e Basta (Wynwood) • 30 NW 34th St • Sun-Thu 12-10p, Fri-Sat 12-11p • Reserve.
GETAWAYS • The Nines
Restaurants, MIA International
The Nines are our roundups of the best of Miami and surrounds. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@itsfoundmiami.com.
Half Moon Empanadas (North Terminal, gate D29), hearty, warm empanadas, freshly baked daily