Elia on the River

Elia is a great new addition to the Miami River dining scene, with an atmosphere that truly feels very Miami. The vibe is lively and upscale, with a DJ setting the mood and a violinist performing live (watch my videos!) a fun and energetic experience that makes this place stand out, especially for a night out. Let me be clear: this is not authentic Italian cuisine, but the food is still very good and well executed. We ordered two pizzas : the Diavola and the arugula “pizza,” which was more of a flatbread than a traditional pizza. The Diavola had great flavor with a nice kick, while the arugula flatbread was light, fresh, and enjoyable, even if it leaned more toward a flatbread style than classic pizza. We did have a reservation for 8PM, but we weren’t seated until 8:50 PM, which was a bit disappointing. That said, once seated, the overall experience was enjoyable thanks to the vibrant ambiance, music, and attentive energy of the place. Overall, Elia is a solid choice if you’re looking for good food, a trendy Miami vibe, and live entertainment by the river. It’s more about the experience than traditional Italian authenticity and for the right night, it delivers. When you go tell them Flavia Sent You!

The food was incredible, but what truly stood out was the atmosphere. We went on a Sunday and the live music was fantastic, it added so much to the overall vibe. The décor has a cozy, coastal vintage feel that makes the space warm and inviting🩷 The service was a perfect 10/10. Even though we had requested outdoor seating and they weren’t able to accommodate us due to a large party, the way it was handled was exceptional. The manager/owner personally came over to apologize, which really shows how much they care about their guests. Such a great experience We’ll definitely be back!

I visited Elia Restaurant on the Miami River, and overall the experience was spectacular. The food was excellent, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. The decor is stunning, the view of the river is amazing, and the overall atmosphere — from the people to the music — creates a very vibrant and enjoyable vibe. Our server, John, was outstanding. He provided excellent service, was attentive, friendly, and made sure everything was perfect throughout the meal. Truly top-notch service from him. Regarding management, Moe, the manager, initially approached us in a way that we did not feel very comfortable with. However, to his credit, he later apologized and addressed us in a much more professional and respectful manner, which we appreciated. Despite that initial moment, the experience ended on a very positive note. I would definitely recommend Elia for its food, ambiance, location, and great service. We truly enjoyed our time there and would return. 100% recommended

I really enjoyed the weekend jazz brunch at Elia on the River. The environment was very pleasant to be in - it is a beautifully decorated restaurant and the live music added to the experience. While the food and beverages are on the pricier side, I felt like the ambience made up for it and I felt like it was worth it! The staff were all super friendly and accommodating!

VERY GOOD! My friends and I went for lunch. I had Chicken Milanese. It was delicious but was served with a salad instead of pasta which was disappointing. My friends had spicy rigatoni, rustic salad and paglia e fiend. They all loved their entrees as well. The hummus appetizer, bread and pistachio bliss dessert and Hugo spritz were all very good. We wish the menu had more entree options and that the establishment didn't charge $5 for a coke refill and didn't charge for extra servings of bread. Our server was very friendly and nice. It was his first day and he was AWESOME! The staff needs to smile more and give off a more welcoming vibe. The establishment is beautiful!

Coming to Elia for my sisters birthday celebración was a good choice, the atmosphere was excellent and service was on point. Drinks where amazing as well. The started we got hummus and the Bruschetta these dishes were gorgeous. For the main dish the pastas in my opinion didn’t have flavor at all it’s I ended up returning one of the plates and eating the filet mignon of the other plate. I wish I would have gotten pasta. To finish up we got 3 different dessert an they are not to died for. Sorry but I won’t be coming here again.

Every time I come to Elia everything is so perfect! This time we came for our daughter 18th birthday with her friends, the food the ambiance and the service were incredible! Fabio was our server he was so professional and welcoming at the same time he made my daughter ls night amazing!

I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND IT!!! I was there for my friend's birthday on Saturday (12/06/2025). I was responsible for delivering the birthday cake to the restaurant. I delivered it to the two girls at the door and gave them the birthday person's name. I asked them to be extra careful, as it was a very special cake. They said don't worry, there's only a $100 cake-cutting fee, so I said okay. We ate and drank, and when it came time for the cake, I noticed my friend's anxiety. When I asked why, I learned the restaurant had served the cake to someone else. I was shocked. I didn't understand how such a huge mistake could have been made. Yes, after all, I was responsible until the delivery, but I was incredibly upset. I was upset. They sent us a ridiculous cake instead. You can see it in the photos. I asked for coffee to go with my cake, but they told me they didn't serve coffee. I couldn't believe they would even tell me that after making such a huge mistake. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND IT.

So the restaurant is beautiful and the ambiance is really nice. The staff was polite and attentive but the food was very mid. I was with a big party and 90% of us didn't enjoy our food, unfortunately. The cocktails were good, though! If they up their food game, it'll be so worth it to go again and for the prices. It is a little pricey for what it is offering at the moment. But the live music was really nice and we still enjoyed our time

The water views here made for a superb afternoon lunch on the patio. Everything we had was delicious, light and flavorful with clearly fresh ingredients. Stick with wine or your own custom drink as the cocktails on the menu tasted like juice. The asparagus on the branzino looked lack luster but was cooked PERFECTLY I was impressed. Well seasoned and balanced with the capers and sauce. I recommend the meatballs as it was a bit filling but you really only need 1 - I think it's a good shareable app. They took away our carpaccio before we could finish lol kind of annoying but it was also very well balanced with the fresh salad on top. I'd return!

Couple things kept our group from liking this place more than three stars. Food is above average, but can be pricey on some items. Example: daily special Branzino (Mediterranean Sea Bass) was "market priced" at $46. Typically this should be $30-$40, so make sure you ask unless you don't care what you pay. Cocktails are expensive at $27 w/ tax & tip added. Menu doesn't state prices for these, so wonder if they make them up based on what they think you can afford. An Aperol Spritz should not be $27 when including tax & tip, even in Miami. The glass was filled entirely with ice... Disappointing... The Elia Bellini, @ $27, was above average and with a good amount of liquor (see pic). Another negative is the "forced" 20% "service charge". Typically this is charged for large groups, not for two or four people. Service was good, but this is not something you see at nice restaurants. Anytime a restaurant does this I don't leave anything more regardless of how good the experience was. And what happened to the tipping standard of 15%? High cost is why people are eating out less and less... Ambiance is very "Miami" looking. Inside seating is quaint even though you can see everyone across the restaurant. Some tables have couches on one side. Outside seating is completely covered with a pretty view of the Miami River. Restaurant is located on the ground floor of the River Landing retail center. Parking in the attached garage is free for the first two hours. Then $5 for the third hour. Nice to do some walking around after dinner with TJ Maxx, Ross and Burlington. There are stations to charge electric vehicles, although several non-EV vehicles were parked in these up front spots and not charging...

Came here for a work Happy Hour. I wanted to love this place because it's so close to work and the location and view in the restaurant is amazing, but the service was lacking. First the positives... the location was the best part! Easy parking and beautiful river view. The food was very tasty and the happy hour selection had a good variety! Now for the not so great... the service. While the waitress was super nice , the service was slow. It wasn't just her, even the bussers were slow. They would bring one thing and then disappear. I asked for water at least 3 times. We didn't get water until practically the end of the meal and the drinks did not come out in the order we placed them. It was not so busy. In fact we went early to beat the crowd but all wait staff moved at a snail's pace and did not seem communicate with others. We were in a big group so we laughed it all off but had I been in a time crunch or something , I would not have been happy. All in all, I think the location and food quality were good enough that I will definitely be back but service needs some work.

I've been to Elia twice now and both times I've been blown away at the quality of food, the phenomenal decor and vibes, as well as the friendliness of the staff. For Dinner - highly recommend the lamb or steak. The octopus appetizer is also to die for - cannot go wrong! The real treat is to stop in during their weekday happy hour - fantastic bites (including the meatballs and burrata), fantastic drinks! Free 2 hour parking in the River Landing garage, also accessible by boat. Indoor and outdoor seating available, as well as their bar - reservation recommended for dinner.

Beautiful restaurant and great ambiance. The staff were all friendly and attentive to our needs. We sat at the bar and ordered some drinks and the hummus app. The drinks were good, I wouldn't say they are amazing for the price but that could just be my preference, they were beautiful and you could tell the bartenders were passionate about their jobs. The app was great- the hummus was amazing and the presentation was beautiful. For the amount of hummus, it came with 3 pita breads which in my opinion wasn't quite enough, it would be nice to see 1-2 more pieces of pita especially if you're sharing between 2+ people.

Elia omg such a gorgeous restaurant on the river. The live music from the violinist was the perfect vibe and the food was so delicious. Our server Lenny was so great and attentive and everything we order came out in a timely manner. The drinks were my fav. Lenny made us feel so welcome. I can't wait to come back.

**Restaurant Review: Elias** We visited Elias on a Saturday afternoon and had a mixed experience. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful, with stunning decor both inside and outside. The patio, which overlooks the river, offers a lovely view of rental yachts passing by, making for a relaxing and picturesque dining atmosphere. The food was delicious! I had the seared salmon, which was perfectly cooked, while my husband enjoyed the grilled octopus, which was tender and flavorful. However, I tried the Red Sicilian Cocktail and found it rather underwhelming--it didn't quite live up to the quality of the food. One downside is the location. Despite the restaurant's beauty, it's situated in a somewhat empty mall, which detracts from the overall experience. Parking costs $5 for the first three hours, which felt a bit inconvenient. Another negative was the automatic inclusion of a 20% tip on our bill, despite us being a party of two. While the service was fine, I would have preferred the choice to determine the tip myself. Overall, Elias is worth a visit for the food and ambiance, but there are a few things to be aware of regarding location, parking, and tipping policies.

The restaurant is beautiful and I would say it is more for visitors and tourists. Prices are on the higher side for sure. My friend and I decided to share the lobster pasta and an arugula salad. They were both very tasty. We also ordered sparkling water, a mocktail and a cappuccino. I would also say the restaurant is new and you can tell they are still working their kinks out. Our server was very sweet and kind. She did forget to bring out our bread but it was no problem, since I reminded her :) Overall we spent about $108 on the items stated above and a service charge which the server said that if we left her a tip, it would go directly to her. So the service charge I'm guessing is devided between the staff. Either way, it was a nice one time experience.

Came her here for dinner and I had an amazing experience. I order the calamari and lamb chops which were amazing , and the creamy pasta and it was delicious.I loved that it's by the river and the decor is very classy and upscale with the right touch . I didn't have time to take pictures because I enjoyed my dinner but the service and recommendations by Lenny was amazing . I will be back to try out brunch !

Really great meal. It's beautiful as well. The seats are comfy and you're sitting on the river. I had the octopus which I highly recommend. I also had the ceasar salad with shrimp. The table had the chicken and were big fans !

BE AWARE!!!! I had a disappointing experience at this restaurant, particularly with the bartender. She attempted to scam me by claiming they didn't have Glenlivet 12 Years and tried to sell me the 18 Years for $33 instead. When I sat down with my server, he confirmed that they did have the 12 Years 18$ available and it was significantly cheaper. I felt deceived and hustled by the bartender, which really tarnished my visit. Other than the bartenders side hustle, the place, the music, the vibes, everything was great. I just felt robbed by this one bartender, one of the younger ones there don't have her name. Oh and last thing the octopus was a little burnt.

The restaurant, the atmosphere, the occasion, and the food were wonderful. I wish I could say the same about the service. Our server was very inattentive to us there were some girls in front of us, and he seemed more focused on them than on my partner and me. When it was time to order drinks, I felt like he was only trying to sell us the most expensive options without respecting our choices. Hopefully Rafa, next time, we might change our minds

Upon arriving, the place is beautiful! The indoor decoration is great for some IG pictures. You have indoor and outdoor seating to choose. It is located next to the river where you can see yachts dock and get a nice breeze while you enjoy your meal. The food was great! I started with a white wine, they have many drink/wine options. I ordered the lobster pasta-Devine! It was not spicy, very flavorful and an ample amount of lobster meat. My friend ordered the pizza and the manager himself ensured it was prepared properly. They have different flavor options but my friend had allergies to be cautious with. The food is 10/10, the location and decor is 10/10. The service was 6/10. The server took a while to take the order. My wine arrived after my food did. The main dish was placed in front of me without any utensils and the food got cold as I waited for some. The ambiance was 10/10.

This place is beautiful! I was looking for a place to celebrate my mom's bday and this fit the bill. The decor is phenomenal. You walk into the bar area and it's a showstopper. Our reservation was at 6:15 so there were only like 2 or 3 other groups there so we got to appreciate the whole restaurant. The seating was so so comfy and supportive which is great if you're coming with an older person who has trouble getting up from seats. THE FOOD: Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. We all were raving about our dishes. Very good, so good that my mom spoke very highly about her Lamb dish. I always joke that if my mom speaks highly about the food then the place should get a Michelin star. She's that selective (aka picky) . If you get the lamb dish, don't get a side dish, it's a good size and comes with its own mashed potatoes. We got her a side of truffle mashed potatoes and she really like it but the ones that her dish brought were better. She ended up taking the truffle mashed potatoes home because it was a lot of food. All the plates were good sizes. We left very satisfied. THE SERVICE: First of all... everyone was beautiful and very nice. The hostess was impeccable, gorgeous dusty rose colored satin dress, beautifully done hair and makeup. She really gave you the vibe that you were about to have a luxurious experience. Our waitress was so beautiful, sweet, and attentive. Everyone was on top of their game. THE PRICES: Pretty pricey but compared to other high end places it was doable. We ordered 3 plates, 1 side dish, 1 still water, 1 dessert, no drinks, no appetizers and it came out to $160 with the 20% service charge included. It seems that most trendy restaurants want to include the 20% service fee on there so here's a tip, keep your bill low like we did. Here's another tip, they only give you the option of still or sparkling water. You'd think they'd only charge for sparkling water but they charge for both. Ask for tap water. They do charge for the birthday surprise dessert as if it were a dessert ordered at the end of the meal. The waitress added my mom's name on the dessert plate so that was a cute detail and birthday wishes in the back of the check. I don't know if they do that for everyone or if it was her own added touch. THE PERKS: They have a parking garage at the building and the first 2 hours are free. That gives you plenty of time to eat and walk along the river. They have gorgeous outside eating. It's very pretty and right off the river. There were boats passing by and a nice yacht there which made it more fun. CONCLUSION: I do recommend this place, probably more suited for a special occasion or if you want to pamper yourself and splurge a little it's a good place. Definitely come. It's a must see.

I want to say that this place is located in a beautiful area , in front of the river . The place has a nice ambiance. We loved most of our plates except for the lamp chops and the tiramisu. The lamp chops lack flavor and the tiramisu was too bland. On the other hand we loved the charred octopus and and the lobster linguine. Also all our drinks were delicious. Additionally our waitress Mercedes was impecable , she treated us really well super attentive and helpful . Our favorite about this restaurant was the service and the location .

New coastal Mediterranean and Italian restaurant right in the heart of River Landing. The ambience is well-lit and staff members dress in white, playing off the decor perfectly. I thought it would be too bright at first, but as soon as the lights were dimmed, it set an intimate atmosphere. Food choices were excellent. We started with a hummus that was served at first with crostini with some basil flavored oil, which was a unique touch. The hummus had strong tahini flavors, a plus in my book. Afterwards they brought a pita which was puffed up, and we saw the steam leaving it after we punctured it. It was blissful. We had the charred octopus as well, which was delicious, but in my opinion, that dish was about the tapenade that was served as a side. I am not usually a fan of olives and capers, but the combination with the sun dried tomatoes and feta cheese was a match made in heaven. We tried three of the main courses: lamb chops, Tuscan sliced ribeye, and the grilled branzino. I thought the Ribeye was spectacular. The sauce that came on the bottom was decadent, and we finished the rest of the pita by smothering it with it - it was that good. The lamb chops were excellent. The meat was not gamey in taste, and it was beautifully presented with half a head of roasted garlic. The branzino was equally as good, and cooked to perfection. As it is a whole fish though, check your bites to ensure you don't eat a spine. I am already looking forward to coming back soon.

We've been here on two separate occasions. Both times the food was delicious. The first time was an office luncheon of 26 people. Service was excellent-water was always filled. Second time was just as good. We've had the salmon, greek salad with chicken, hummus, and the tiramisu. All were absolutely delicious. There is seating both inside and out. The times we've been there, we sat inside and it was quite nice, not too loud.

-EXCELLENT DECIRATIONS -Very polite staff! - Their happy hour menu is full of so many GREAT options at low prices!!!

Food, ambience is good. Portions are small but prices definitely could be better, I also like the spot next door Asian

e came to have lunch at Elia today on New Year's Eve. Upon arriving we were received by the owner or manager (wearing red glasses ) he seemed extremely flustered and bother to have to seat two people. The restaurant was not packed although the outside tables were all seated. We said it was ok to be seated inside. He looked down and go on the phone with a table of eight cancelling their reservation for dinner and left us standing there. When another worker arrived, he finished his phone called and proceeded to tell her in an extremely rude manner how everyone needed to be out of the restaurant by 6pm no matter what and kept on lecturing her as to how he didn't care and everyone sitting needed to leave. We asked if we could be seated as we were still standing there looking at this spectacle. His answer well yes but wait because I might not want to sit you. That's all I have to write.

First time at Elia! Had the absolute best service and best vibes! Raffi our server was so resourceful and took amazing care of us!

The place is nice in a very hidden area of Miami. The food is ordinary, I don't know that I would come back. Very Miami vibes type of place. You don't go for the food or drinks you go to be seen lol. Note: They ad ladies night who drink free after 9 pm on Thursdays but it was still a $17 drink. What a joke.

Food was amazing, the ambience is BEAUTIFUL, but my only complaint was the service.. Rafael was not nice, he was coming off really strong, pushy, made no recommendations just felt so much impatience from him it was the only unpleasant part of the experience.

Amazing 21st celebration for our daughter and friends...complete with the most amazing spicy rigatoni and a candle lit desert! Cocktails were fun and beautiful too! There was music playing, the river atmosphere...magical night!

I dined tonight at Elia and it was wonderful. I highly recommend going at night because of how beautiful it was. Our server was Yand and he was so welcoming and friendly. He gave great recommendations and we really enjoyed it. The wine pour was weak for a nice restaurant, but once we inquired, Yand fixed it immediately and made it right. Had a wonderful evening. Will go again!

Great night at Elia, food was delicious. Went on a Thursday and had an amazing night, my baby danced as if he was an adult and Melanie and the dancers were lovely with him. Will be back soon bc i super loved the vibe !

For $21 they can make this a little bigger... compared to other tartares, this one was rather tiny

Beautiful intercoastal waterfront view, the meal was exceptional and surpassed expectations. I'm a person that really hates bad service.And I really appreciate it when the service is great. Our server, Will, was very warm and personable, and made it a dining experience.

Sitting was quick, no waiting. Our server, Ryan, was very attentive and serviceable. Food was fresh and excellent. Beautiful atmosphere, decoration.

Came with my girlfriend for dinner, the place is gorgeous, friendly staff, beautiful water view and great ambiance. Dissatisfied with the food, we ordered CHICKEN CUTLET DIAVOLA, flavor was ok, it was overcooked and it felt like pizza overdone pizza. We also ordered LOADED TRUFFLE MASH, sadly it was flavorles, we couldn't tell if there was any smell or taste of the truffle, mash potato was missing some salt. We might come back for the drinks only.

Great place on the water. The food was exceptional and the service was even better. We enjoyed the nice quiet atmosphere as well.

La comida muy buena, el ambiente espectacular. Muy bueno para sentarse a conversar y tomar algo en la terraza.

Appetizers were good, the meat balls were a bit dry. Manager replaced them with another dish. Service was good. The pasta with truffles was DELICIOUS! Also generous portion that you could share. Beautiful view of the river!!

Tiko and Vanessa we're amazing attentive and very amazing attentive people with a lot of exciting spirit

Food was great, a little pricey but they serve big portions. the service was terrible. our waiter Did not pass by the table nearly enough and was rude, telling us "well if you don't ask me I can't get it for you" he's the tall puerto rican guy, watch out for him.

Bad food and horrible service. Won't come back because we saw them being racist to the Asian table next to Us.

Food was excellent wasn't a dish I didn't love. The pasta all the appetizers salmon. All great. Cocktails were also great. Chef came out and offered a new desert along with others that had been ordered. Also delicious. Our Server Lenny was attentive on point and had a Tide pen. Highly recommend

We came to celebrate my daughter's birthday, and Lenny. A great server took care of us, and honestly one of the best parts of the celebration was his attention to detail and Photographer skills.. of course dinner and the Ambien was awesome . It was a great experience overall.

It was our first time at elia's restaurant. The place looks amazing and very clean. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding. Our waiter was Lenin A. He was great, very professional, respectful, and knowledgeable regarding the menu and what to recommend. He should be recognized for performing a great job. We will definitely come to elia's restaurant and hope to have Lenin as our waiter again.

Very special place. They also lowered the volume of the music when I requested it. Highly recommended.

Our lovely server Taisa took great care of us. This is perfect for a girls dine out. Waiting to see how Thursday ladies night is! The food was amazing and the ambience of this place is impeccable. Definitely recommend!

The food was great!! Service superb!! Beautiful atmosphere Music a bit loud Definitely going back

The food and the portions of the food were amazing. The restaurant was really pretty and it has good view I would definitely recommend going here. This is one that I will definitely go back to.

I had visited the restaurant yesterday with my boyfriend to celebrate my birthday. I would rate it 3/5 as there were some positive thing and definitely some that could be improved for the future. I know this is a brand new restaurant and they are working the details out. First the positives, absolutely beautiful location, decor and our server was very enthusiastic and nice. We also ordered lobster pasta, which presentation wise I have nothing bad to say and taste wise it was good. Now things that could improved. They did not have a drink menu, i know that the signature cocktails are probably in making but they did not even have wine and beer list. I am usually the person that chooses drinks based on how they sound to me to this made me not even want to drink simply because I didnt know what to order. The second thing that rubbed me the wrong way was that they were out of the lamb meatball appetizer. Since this is my go to order at any Italian restaurant I asked if I could order side order of meatballs that come with spaghetti and meatballs. The waiter nicely informed me that he is not sure and will ask, which is totally understandable. The order came which was definitelly on a smaller size, which I didnt mind since I knew that this usually comes as part of entree. However, they did not charge us for side of meatball nor meatball appetizer, they charged us for full spaghetti and meatballs entree, without giving us a heads up, which was honestly pretty upsetting. The last thing was we ordered rustic pizza, which in my opinion was more like a flatbread than pizza. I was definitely craving pizza and prosciutto and burrata sounded amazing, so when it came I was a little disappointed. I am not sure if all of the pizzas are like that but if I would had know it was a flatbreat I would definitely went with different direction. This is my honest opinion, I only did it at length since it is a new restaurant and I think it has potential.

They advertise Thursday ladies night, free flowing prosecco. When in fact upon arrival the say its only one glass. The server tatiana has a terrible attitude. She should not be in the hospitality business.

Incredible food, good portions and Jose's service was fantastic. The restaurant is beautiful inside.

They charged me a $5.00 fee for ice on a drink. They also charged my friend $5.00 to mix a dirty martini on top of the $25 charge. I will never go back there again. They will not be open for long with these add on fees.

I had delightful experience at Elia. the food was excellent with the octopus being particularly well prepared and tasty the pasta ware incredibly delicious the sauce was perfect the service was attentive and very friendly adding to the overall pleasant experience a wonderful place for quality food and drinks