BARS • First Round
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.