A Taste of Liguria: Riviera Focacceria in Midtown
Midtown is a busy place. Anchored by Target, Marshalls and Nordstrom Rack, it continues to grow as a walkable dining, shopping, living destination.
As far as food goes, it is equally busy with some top restaurants, Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, Salumeria 104 , and BlackBrick on one side, and Five Guys, My Ceviche, Carrot Express, and many popular Sports bars cropping up almost daily one block over.
Parking is great, with both street and garage parking and Midtown is pretty accessible to I-95/195 and both downtown and the beach.
So on a rainy Saturday of shopping, I returned to Riviera Foccaceria for lunch, revisiting a place I first reviewed in 2016.
It was early, but Riviera was already well-staffed and the open kitchen was buzzing for the handful of diners seeking fresh and authentic Ligurian cuisine.
Ligurian cuisine?
I love Italian food... Northern Italy with its cream-based meat dishes, Southern Italy with its red sauce heavy items, but Liguria? Yes, it has its own cuisine, although not as well known as other regional cuisines.
Liguria is a narrow, mountainous coastal strip of northwestern Italy that includes the famed Italian Riviera resort towns of San Remo and Portofino as well as the iconic Cinque Terre, a collection of five small villages situated in one of the most beautiful stretches of the Mediterranean coastline. Liguria's main city is Genoa, the hometown of Christopher Columbus and a melting pot of Southern French and Northern Italian culture, history, and architecture…and cuisine.
Ligurian cuisine is all about the Focaccia. And not the doughy thick focaccia offered as Panini sandwich bread, but a very light and airy mix of flour, olive oil and water stretched thinly into a pan and topped with a number of delicious toppings. This is not a pizza, repeat not a pizza. It is a flavorful, light dish perfect as a starter or main course.
After consuming almost singlehandedly, Focaccia di Recco “Pizzata”, with homemade tomato sauce, imported stracchino cheese and capers, I did not feel full or like I had eaten an entire pizza.
Molto Bene!
Our server encouraged us to also try the simple focaccia, lightly dusted with olive oil, and the thinly sliced zucchini and Parmesan cheese focaccia and basic tomato topped. All were flavorful and light and easily consumed in a matter of minutes.
We decided to try to fresh daily-homemade pastas. These are made daily with all imported ingredients by Chef and Mastro Focaccere, Massimo Travaglini. Again, no angel hair, bow ties or linguini here, but, Spaghettini al Pomodoro, authentic thick spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce, Tagliatelle ai Funghi, green pasta with Porcini mushrooms, Mandilli di Seta al Pesto, homemade handkerchief style pasta with a fresh basil pesto-like one I had never had before. A special pasta Gran Piatto di Mare featured fresh seafood over pasta. All are available as Gluten-Free options.
Everyone beamed with pride when I asked about the pesto. While the basic recipe is straightforward, basil, pine nuts, parmigiano cheese, EVOO and garlic, he explained that it was the quality of the basil that made the difference. Riviera’s owner had sampled basil from all over the country and Florida and had selected a special organic basil from a “secret” ( wink wink ) location. Order this dish and see for yourself.
Other dining options include Main Entrees, Branzino all Grigio with sauteed artichokes, Pollo Milanese, and Scallopine di Vitello ai Funghi.
Wine and beer are available and the best news of all is that Riviera’s focaccia, pasta and sauces can be also be purchased to take home for enjoyment with your family and friends.
After paying my $2- to park, I drove home having thoroughly enjoyed my unexpected return visit to Liguria.
3252 NE Buena Vista Blvd/ The Shops at Midtown
Miami, FL 33127
786 220 6251