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Miami Herald

This popular Italian restaurant from New York is now open at Miami Worldcenter

The latest culinary addition to the downtown Miami Worldcenter is now open for your (pasta) pleasure. Founded in 1995 by Fabio Granato and Vittorio Assaf in New York City, Serafina Italian restaurant is now taking reservations at the sprawling 27-acre downtown development. The new restaurant joins other new concepts like Earls from Vancouver, which also recently opened a spot in Fort Lauderdale, and the famous Maple & Ash steakhouse and overall hot spot from Chicago. The second Serafina in South Florida — there's another location in Aventura — will be run by Benny Shabtai and his son David Shabtai, who grew with loving the New York version. 'The first Serafina opened the year I was born, a block away from my childhood home,' he said. 'It was where we'd gather for family meals. It's where I had my first date. As the restaurant expanded throughout New York, it was the obvious choice for my friends and I to grab drinks and share good times. It was the office lunch of choice at least two days a week, sometimes four.' 'It embodies a restaurant ambiance that I feel Miami has perhaps lacked in the midst of its rapid growth over the last few years — a true high-end yet comfortable neighborhood establishment,' he added. 'I believe the community will embrace it with open arms. ' Serafina, which will serve pasta and a variety of meat and seafood dishes, will seat 283 diners indoors and outdoors on a covered patio. There's also a striking bar and a private dining and event room available. The menu will be similar to what you'll find in Aventura, but there are a few Worldcenter-exclusive dishes, such as salmon and tuna crudo, arancini, steak tartar, prawn fettucine, short rib ravioli and steak frites with ribeye. One of the highlights of the new restaurant is the Marana Forni pizza oven, which means — yes! — pizza is also on the menu, including the only-in-Miami pizza a la vodka. The wine program features half-bottles, with 60 percent of the full bottles coming from Italy. Serafina Where: 652 NE First Ave., Miami Hours: 5-11 PM daily; lunch hours coming soon Reservations: OpenTable More information: