Upscale Italian eatery with glamorous decor, signature Bistecca Fiorentina











"Dead set on visiting a Major Food Group restaurant—and preferably one that serves pasta? Contessa is your best option. It’s more accessible and mature than Carbone. Reservations are almost shockingly easy to find and the quieter crowd isn't as migraine-inducing. Almost everything in here is pink: the walls, the ceilings, the bathrooms, and the round bell-shaped sofas. There’s patio seating on the first floor and an upstairs terrace that overlooks the Design District. Just know that you will still be overcharged for your perfectly fine fusilli in pesto sauce or clam pizza." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo

"Northern Italian cuisine takes center stage at the two-story restaurant in the Miami Design District, brought to life by the talented Major Food Group team behind Carbone, Sadelle’s, and Chateau ZZ’s. Indulge in generous portions of pasta dishes and hearty Italian entrees such as grilled branzino and veal Milanese. The restaurant’s ambiance, reminiscent of Lake Como circa 1960, is a blend of jewel-toned Art Deco marble flooring, Italian Murano light fixtures, and an ideal spot for people-watching." - Juliana Accioly

"As part of Major Food Group's Miami footprint, Contessa is mentioned as one of the city's packed restaurants." - Beth Landman

"Clad in pastel pink hues, this spot—another from Major Food Group (Carbone, Sadelle’s, and Dirty French are among the repertoire), is a pretty and glamorous spot serving Northern Italian dishes that include meatballs with whole grain mustard sauce, spicy lobster capellini, seared scallops with caper lemon sauce, and a massive 40-ounce Bistecca Fiorentina that is their signature dish. Pizza lovers will enjoy the varied selection of pies, from a classic margherita to the truffle pizza with prosciutto." - Alona Martinez, Olee Fowler

"A Major Food Group outpost in Miami that exemplifies a pandemic‑era seating strategy: banquettes and booths flood the floor rather than hugging walls, creating plentiful, comfortable semi-private nooks that encourage people-watching and make dining out feel like the main event of an evening." - Laura Neilson