Tucked into the base of the Plaza residences at 931 Brickell Avenue, Mamo Restaurant is one of those places that feels like it has quietly existed just out of reach. Despite opening in Miami in 2025, it somehow escaped my radar until recently. A little digging reveals its origins in New York’s SoHo, where it first opened in 2015, named after Michael “Mamo” Manmoliti, an Italian grandfather raised along the French Riviera. Today, the restaurant is helmed by partners Chef Salvatore Marcello and Steven Fruman.
Arrival is slightly unconventional. You valet at the Plaza on 10th Street and enter around the corner on Brickell Avenue, a subtle approach that gives way to a surprisingly chic and elegant interior. The room is softly lit, with cream-toned interiors, crisp tablecloths, and a lovely bar that anchors the space. Large Italian film posters line the walls, softened by touches of greenery, while a thoughtfully curated playlist hums in the background—lively enough to set the mood, yet restrained enough to allow for real conversation. There is also a charming, quiet patio tucked along the side of the building, facing a courtyard. First impressions are, without question, strong.
We were seated at a lovely corner table with a full view of the room, always my preferred vantage point. The menus read beautifully: a daily specials offering, a thoughtfully priced four-course tasting menu at $60, and a broader à la carte selection with additions such as pizza, focaccia, pastas, fish, contorni, and meats. As first-time diners, the tasting menu felt like the right approach, allowing us to sample eight dishes between us.
I often say that bread sets the tone, and unfortunately, this is where things began to falter. The bread served was hard and stale, though the accompanying salami and eggplant offered a welcome note of flavor. Cocktails followed a similar trajectory—promising on paper but underwhelming in execution. My Bellini lacked finesse, while my husband’s Hugo Spritz was not a version we would revisit.
The opening course featured two variations of burrata. One, paired with mango and red shrimp, was notably lacking in flavor. The other—mine—was more successful, dressed with toasted hazelnuts, honey, and a generous shaving of black truffle (an additional $15). While more balanced, it was served ice cold, which muted the richness of the cheese, and would have been far better accompanied by fresh focaccia rather than toasted, stale bread.
The pasta course was perhaps the most disappointing. An angel hair with shrimp and pistachio arrived overwhelmingly salty to the point of being inedible. A cacio e pepe bore little resemblance to the classic Roman preparation, lacking both depth and proper emulsification. A rigatoni all’Amatriciana followed, serviceable but uninspired, with a middling tomato sauce, bacon, and pecorino.
For mains, the halibut was unfortunately both overcooked and overly salted, again rendering it difficult to enjoy. The veal Milanese, however, was the standout of the evening—tender, generously portioned, and well executed, served with a simple arugula and tomato salad. At an additional $15, it was worth the supplement and easily shareable.
Desserts were pleasant, if not memorable. A classic tiramisu held its own, while the affogato—vanilla ice cream paired with a warm strawberry compote—was the stronger of the two. The wine list deserves mention, offering an impressive selection of global labels that would satisfy even the most discerning diner.
With so many excellent Italian restaurants across Miami, Mamo Restaurant does not rise to the top tier. That said, for those living or working in Brickell, it may still serve as a convenient and attractive option, particularly given its polished setting and accessible hours—it is open for both lunch and dinner, seven days a week.
Happy dining,
Shanea
04/11/2026
