Quick Bites: Pasta

One of the unique pasta dishes at Bugatti Bistro is its penne al salmone ($25). This generous portion of penne pasta is smothered in a rich, creamy sauce and topped with a healthy helping of smoked salmon chunks and fresh dill. The salmon is spectacular, but the dill takes the dish to new heights with a grassy and refreshing element that helps round everything out. 

2504 Ponce de Leon
bugattirestaurant.com

Half the fun of eating at Fontana is its courtyard at the Biltmore Hotel, with its Venetian fountain. The other half is how well they do pasta. Our favorite is the traditional Fettuccine Carbonara ($25), with heavy cream, free-range eggs, Parmigiano Reggiano, and the all-important cured pork cheek bits, which are salty and crunchy. A rich and satisfying dish, slightly sinful, which makes it even better.

1200 Anastasia Ave
biltmorehotel.com

Tullio’s Linguine di Gragnano con Vongole, EVO e Pioggia di Taralli ($31) offers more than its modest appearance suggests. The pasta is properly al dente, lightly coated in olive oil with a clean, briny aroma from the clams. A dusting of taralli adds a faint crunch without overshadowing the dish’s natural balance. Everything tastes fresh, simple, and intentional — the kind of Italian cooking that trusts you’ll get the message after the first bite.

160 Andalusia Ave
tulliomiami.com

There’s nothing we love better than a Cacio e Pepe pasta done right, which, for us, means with a healthy dose of pepper. Lucky for us, Salumeria 104’s version ($28) is not only well-seasoned, but comes tossed in a cheese wheel tableside, which gives it extra creaminess. After serving up a nicely sized portion, our waitress even sprinkled another dash of pepper on top. Perfection.

117 Miracle Mile
salumeria104.com

We’d give Erba’s Wagyu Beef Cheek Agnolotti pasta ($36) a solid 9.9/10, with our only complaint being there’s not more of it. The beef melts away with mouthwatering tenderness and is balanced by pillows of agnolotti stuffed with Robiola Bosina cheese and caramelized onions. All comes in a red wine-based sauce that’s a little sweet, but mostly savory. Head to Erba before 7 pm for Pasta Happy Hour, when all pastas are half-off.

227 S Dixie Hwy
erbamiami.com