I’ve lost track of how many Italian restaurants have opened in Miami this year. In a city brimming with culinary competition, standing out requires more than good intentions- you need exceptional food and impeccable service to impress today’s discerning diners. Otto & Pepe, located at 126 NW 26th Street in a newly bustling section of Wynwood, aims to carve a niche focusing on pasta and natural wines. Opening just one block south of the beloved Pasta Wynwood is a bold move, but boldness alone isn’t enough.
The space itself is appealing—a distinctive layout featuring a front enoteca for wine sales, a sleek 28-seat pasta bar, a main dining room with an open kitchen, and one of the prettiest garden patios in the area, perfect for pre-dinner drinks or nightcaps. The menu starts with items like pistachio and basil salad or gazpacho with stracciatella, which were mediocre. Still, when it comes to pasta, the supposed centerpiece of the restaurant, Otto & Pepe falters badly.
The pastas ranged from underwhelming to outright disappointing: over-sauced, clumpy, and lacking finesse. From the lasagna to the carbonara, Bolognese, and even a tasteless black truffle sauce, nothing rose to the occasion. The food wasn’t just uninspired—it was outright subpar. And the much-touted natural wine selection? A letdown.
Service didn’t fare any better. Despite the restaurant being nearly empty, staff were inattentive and failed to replace plates after a messy egg appetizer. Details like this were glaringly ignored.
My prediction? Otto & Pepe won’t last another year. With so many superior options available there’s no reason to spend your time or money here.
Not recommended.
Happy dining,
Shanea
02/08/2025
