At Mother Wolf in Miami's Design District, Chef Evan Funke reinterprets Roman culinary traditions with handmade pastas, blistered pizzas, and a strikingly chic decor that buzzes with energy.
"Anyone tracking LA-to-Miami restaurant moves needs has been tracking Mother Wolf’s Design District arrival for some time now. Evan Funke’s Roman destination delivers dramatic archways and jewel-toned banquettes in a perpetually packed room. The pastas shine — especially the cacio e pepe and wild boar pappardelle — while twin ovens turn out blistered Roman-style pizzas. And make sure to start with the supplì al telefono (rice croquettes with melted pecorino) and crispy artichokes. Reservations are difficult to secure, but the sleek marble bar accepts walk-ins for those craving a spritz and a slice of pizza bianca." - Olee Fowler, Eater Staff
"After establishing itself as one of LA’s hottest Italian restaurants, Mother Wolf brings its Roman cuisine to the Design District with dramatic flair. Evan Funke’s menu excels with handmade pasta classics like perfectly executed cacio e pepe and rich wild boar pappardelle. Twin ovens produce crisp, Roman-style pizzas, while appetizers like the supplì al telefono (rice croquettes filled with melted pecorino) and crispy artichokes set the tone. The striking dining room features soaring archways and jewel-toned banquettes, though diners without hard-to-secure reservations can try their luck at the marble bar, which only seats walk-in diners." - Eater Staff, Alona Martinez
"The big reason Mother Wolf reservations are tricky is because they only accept reservations seven days in advance. So the short window of tables fills up quickly. Check availability daily (and early in the morning). If you can't find a table, there's a pretty big bar area that's open to walk-ins. Go a little earlier and you should be fine." - Ryan Pfeffer
"Verdict: Miami has every right to be sick of out-of-town Italian restaurants with reputations for impossible reservations, over-the-top interiors, and famous noodles. Mother Wolf is absolutely one of those restaurants. But the food makes the LA import more palatable than the rest. Even though the Roman menu isn’t unanimously excellent, there are enough delicious must-orders to have a very good meal—namely bread and pasta, so come in comfortable pants. " - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino
"Miami has every right to be sick of out-of-town Italian restaurants with reputations for impossible reservations, over-the-top interiors, and famous noodles. Mother Wolf is absolutely one of those restaurants, but the food makes this LA import more palatable than the rest. Even though the Roman menu isn’t unanimously excellent, you can easily build a great meal out of bread and pasta. Get la mortazza, a folded-in-half pizza with a bouquet of mortadella and a smear of ricotta inside. If you can tolerate a $58 pasta, the excellent spaghettini ai ricci di mare comes with a glob of uni on top and enough cultured butter to make each individual noodle shine. Mother Wolf has the kind of reputation and wallpaper to guarantee this place will be slammed through snowbird season. So if you're very curious, try to get in now. " - mariana trabanino, ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo
