At the far corner of Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, a 1938 Mediterranean-revival building serenades a culinary getaway to Italy’s coastal Forte dei Marmi. A popular summertime beach town in Tuscany’s Lucca province, the restaurant beckons with its arched front terrace leads facing the seafront promenade. Inside, a glam dining room awaits with bleached wood floors, muted whitewash walls and creamy stones. Décor mixes mid-century silhouettes with a beachy Italian vibe compliment of Milan-based designer Henry Timi.
The Food
Two-star Michelin chef Antonio Mellino and son Raffaele deliver a menu of Tuscan coastal cuisine defined by seasonal, local ingredients and slow food. The result is dishes like homemade burrata with Sicilian tomatoes and wild arugula, tuna tartare with citrus gel and platters of Parmesan and prosciutto. Pastas impress with a sublime zucchini linguine, stone crab tagliolini, lobster risotto and red prawn gnocchi. Main course meddles in land and sea with a Florentine-style T-bone, Branzino and Red Snapper with zucchini puree.
Last Word
Upstairs, the private FDM Arts Club is a private member’s lounge offering art offerings, design, music, and food experiences.