Mother Wolf
Restaurant · Design District
3841 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137
Highlights
Handmade Roman pastas, crisp pizzas, and striking decor.
Handmade Roman pastas, crisp pizzas, and striking decor.
"Pasta is on display at Mother Wolf before you even sit down. You can see them rolling it out by hand inside a windowed room, like a spaghetti-obsessed zoo animal. There are nine pastas on the menu, and their prices are all over the place, from $25 up to $42. But they’ve got fresh, al dente noodles and sauces that stay pretty true to the original Roman recipes. Stick with the tonnarelli cacio e pepe and fettuccine al limone. Not only are they the most affordable pastas on the menu, they’re also our favorites. 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." - virginia otazo, ryan pfeffer, mariana trabanino
"LA import Mother Wolf is yet another out-of-town Italian restaurant with a reputation for impossible reservations and famous noodles. But it does make perfect sense in the Design District. A white grand piano (only occasionally in use) greets you at the entrance, and you’ll turn the corner to see a frantically red dining room covered in mirrors, chandeliers, and enough clashing patterns to make your vision go blurry. 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 inside. 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, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino
"Mother Wolf is another entry into what’s quickly becoming Miami’s most bloated dining genre: the imported famous Italian restaurant. But at least the point of this LA spot is as much about the food as the hype. That menu doesn’t bend over to accommodate a Design District crowd with unforgiving pants. If you’re doing it right, at least 75% of what you'll eat here involves pizza and pasta. Ending with gelato is essential, too. Mother Wolf is a scene—but at least the pasta matters (almost) as much as the marginally famous person you’re sitting next to. 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, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino
"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
"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 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. 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, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino
