Lush life

La Màrtola, Surfside, Belize, Casa de Campo, best pizzerias, Vic Garcia World, personality hires, Panthers parade, MORE

Jun 27, 2024

RESTAURANTS • First Person

Mediterranean escape

Sardinia, perched in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, is a long way from South Florida. Buena Vista, however, is considerably closer, even in the worst Miami traffic. There, the restaurant La Màrtola — which opened its doors in March — offers a worthy short-term Mediterranean fix.

The new spot is no tribute act, but rather the work of local Italians — co-founder Martino de Rosa owns the upleveled Erbusco pizza spot La Filiale — who put their attention into replicating Med-vacation vibes. The entrance is a lush collection of trees and flora, while inside, illuminated holes in the wall display custom ceramic artwork from Greek artist Daphne Leon.

While the menu is filled with fresh seafood crudos and grilled meats — the kind you’d find all over the Mediterranean — go straight for the the wood-fired pizzas, the stars of the show. The Neapolitan-style pies are straight from the La Filiale playbook, and if you’re the type who judges a place by its most basic pie, the Libretto (tomato, garlic, oregano, EVOO) will more than prove La Màrtola’s worth. For those looking to branch out, order the Moderna, where a basil and San Marzano emulsion comes in quarter-sized dobs atop the cheese.

Otherwise, this is Mediterranean food, and it’s always summer somewhere: seafood is in order. Opt for the orata crudo with tomatoes, olives, and arugula, which hits the right silky, citrusy notes with lemon and olive oil smoke from the grill adding warm notes to the cool tahini and dill cream that comes on the side.

Servers keep with the Italian ethos, letting guests linger to enjoy their last glasses of wine or after dinner espressos, before facing that Miami traffic again. –Matthew Meltzer

→ La Màrtola (Buena Vista) • 4702 NE 2nd Ave • Tue-Sun, 12-1030p • Reserve.

RESTAURANTS • The Nines

Pizzerias

Old Greg’s (Design District), premium ingredients used to craft square and round pies
Steve’s Pizza (North Miami), longtime local favorite with distinctive, slightly sweet sauce
Fratesi’s Pizza (Downtown), ultra-thin bar pies layered with cheese from edge to edge; Sundays only
Miami Slice (Downtown), meticulously crafted slices and pies with dips for crust
O’Munaciello (Upper Eastside), 48-hour dough rise yields authentic Neapolitan-style pies, wood-fired to perfection
Mister 01 (South Beach & other locations), renowned for star-shaped pizza with 72-96 hour crust fermentation
Lucali (Sunset Harbour), Brooklyn import, stylish Sunset Harbour mainstay
Eleventh Street Pizza (Downtown), New York-style round and Sicilian pies, limited edition caviar pie (above) available through this weekend
Pizza Tropical (Wynwood), serving slices and pies in Gramps’ backyard

Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@itsfoundmiami.com.

MIAMI RESTAURANT LINKS: Shock shutter: Allapattah’s Leku Fish & Garden closing for good on Sunday, seeking new location • Edgewater standby Mamma Leone Bakery also shuttering this weekend • Casa Neos, sister restaurant to Mila and Ava, opened last night along the Miami River • Jaguar Sun team opens Italian cocktail bar ViceVersa Downtown • What the fuck is an Oklahoma martini?

REAL ESTATE • On the Market

Surf’s up

This week brought news of a big deal in Surfside: a buyer dropped $15.5M on a 7000-SF spec house at 919 92nd Street, securing it for $1.4M less than the $16.3M asked when the waterfront property hit the market in March.

For those seeking new construction in Surfside at a lower yet still premium price point above what’s listed as the neighborhood’s median $1.1M sale price (per Redfin), the market has a fair bit to offer. Consider these three listings, two new construction, the other older, but — teardown alert — offered with plans for a new 8500 SF modernist house to be built on the same waterfront lot. Bring your backhoe!

→ 608 88th St (Surfside) • 4BR/3BA, 5341 SF house • Ask: $8.9M • 1960s-era modernist house w/plans for 2x larger new construction property • Days on market: 104 • Agent: Dina Goldentayer, Douglas Elliman.

→ 9264 Dickens Ave (Surfside) • 6BR/5BA, 4050 SF house • Ask: $4.59M (reduced from $4.69M) • newly built modernist house • Days on market: 148 • Agents: Sara Medalie and Esther Medalie, LoKation.

→ 9000 Abbott Ave (Surfside, above) • 6BR/6BA, 3808 SF house • Ask: $4.695M • new construction with covered patio, pool, and jacuzzi • Days on market: 153 • Agent: Allen Davoudpour, Compass.

WORK • Culture

Staffing up

We’ve added a handful of new folks to the FOUND team this month. It feels good — especially since, during our first year, we’d been doing most of the work ourselves (except for our group of excellent regular editorial contributors — love you guys!).

The staffing plan was on purpose, because 1) we wanted to be as hands-on as possible in the earliest stages, 2) media is weird right now and we’re being careful not to get over our skis, and 3) it takes a little while to figure out what you really need. It’s the same idea as living in a house for a year or two before undertaking any renovations.

New work culture memes suggest that, in their own recruitment efforts, some employers are currently focusing mostly on vibes. Per the WSJ:

Skill was king during the talent war of 2021 and 2022, but recent layoffs suggest a lot of companies believe they have enough, or even too many, capable employees.

Enter the “personality hire,” deliverer of sunshine and good times (except when other employees have to do their work). Maybe we’ll get there someday! But for now, there’s enough work to go around, no office to put the vibes in, and a general wariness about building capital-C culture.

All that said, we’re still and always on the lookout for talent. Like more contributors to write about shopping and the retail scene here in Miami. If that’s you, reply to this email or drop us a line at found@itsfoundmiami.com. Vibes not required. –Josh Albertson

MIAMI WORK AND PLAY LINKS: Vertical construction begins on Downtown 100-story supertall Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Residences • JP Morgan Chase to double its Miami office • How Panthers wrote a hero’s finish (victory parade in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday!) • Whatever happened to ‘smart cities’? • Supreme Court doesn’t close door on wealth tax • Why is LinkedIn so unfunny?

WORK • Thursday Routine

What a world

VIC GARCIA • creator • Vic Garcia World
Neighborhood you live in: Coral Gables

It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Every day in Vic Garcia World is different. From murals, to designing new collections, to working on my animation, to commission projects, or just working on some canvas or plotting what’s next, I’m either on the streets or locked in, creating. The magical part of what I do is that my job is full of surprises, for me and for everyone else. I get to do what I love and that’s a dream come true.

What’s on the agenda for today?
I’m currently working on commission canvases for clients, having recently created a mural with Puma for F1 Miami. I just dropped a new Create Love collection, and I’m simultaneously designing new murals that will be executed very soon. I also recently designed a VGW Miami Police Department Car representing the LGBT community for Pride.

Any bar or restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
It depends on what’s on my agenda, but I do have some go-tos. If I’m staying local with the family, Shadow Wagyu always does it right. For breakfast, Sadelle’s is the best. I’m loving RedFarm, recently opened in the Grove. Plus, Baby Jane for a great night at the bar or La Otra if I’m trying to get my Spanish dancing on. For great music, find me at Komodo Lounge and Gala Miami.

How about a little leisure or culture?
Of course, this is my thing! I love the Museum of Graffiti, The Art Of Hip Hop and The Private Gallery In Wynwood — all must-sees. I'm a big sports fan, too, so any chance to catch a Marlins, Dolphins, Heat or Panther game is a good time for me. Pier 5 Market is a vibe! If I can’t make it to a game, watching them at Black Market (in Brickell or Bayside) is always fun. And we’re in Miami, so just hanging out with the family or heading out on the water with friends.

Any weekend getaways?
Visiting my friends in Key West. Key Biscayne is magical — there’s nothing like key life! The Bahamas, specifically Bimini, Cat Cay and Harbor Island are always great too — there’s nothing not to like about The Bahamas. If I can get down a little farther, Casa De Campo in the Dominican Republic never fails.

What was your last great vacation?
I went to visit some friends in Paris and the United Kingdom. I was able to witness Paris Fashion Week while I was there. Seeing Pharrell & LVMH shut it down was definitely historical for me.

CULTURE & LEISURE • Sweet Science

Argentina vs Peru • Copa America 2024 • Hard Rock Stadium (Davie), Sat @ 8p, section 118, $791 per
Top Rank Boxing: Lopez vs Clagett, James L. Knight Center (Downtown), Sat @ 4:45p, section 108, $181 per
Sofia Niño de Rivera • The Fillmore (Miami Beach) • Sat @ 8p, orchestra, $89 per

GETAWAYS • Belize

Oh, caye

Belize feels a million miles away, but still has familiar comforts. English is the national language, the U.S. dollar is an accepted form of currency, and it’s a two-and-a-half hour direct flight from Miami.

Another 15-minute flight from the mainland sits Belize’s largest island, Ambergris Cay, home to Alaia Belize, the country’s first Marriott International resort. Alaia Belize spans over 20 acres right off the Belize Barrier Reef (the second largest in the world, behind Australia's Great Barrier Reef), with 155 guestrooms and suites with balconies and kitchens. The resort boasts significant amenities, including a suspended rooftop pool and lounge with 360-degree views, six dining options, a full-service K’In Spa & Wellness Center, and a dive shop.

The most ambitious dinners on the property are at the Chef’s Table in the Cellar, helmed by executive chef Alejandro Alcantara, featuring freshly caught seafood along with vegetables from the property’s hydroponic garden. For an off-property excursion, find rental golf carts for the (slightly rocky and long) drive to Secret Beach, home to several great beach bars with oceanside table service just 100 feet offshore. –Amber Love Bond

→ Alaia Belize (Ambergris Caye, Belize) • Seagrape Dr, San Pedro Town.

GETAWAYS LINKS: Revived 11-room boutique hotel Potlatch Club opens in Eleuthera • Jamaica eyes major Ocho Rios redevelopment • In San Francisco, Waymo opens robotaxi service to anyone.

ASK FOUND

First, a quick primer on how this works: You send us the pressing questions of the day (on dining, services, living in Miami and surrounds). We all put our heads together (us at FOUND, + you, FOUND subscribers, who are also FOUND) in search of truth and beauty.

Today, three FOUND subscriber PROMPTS for which we are seeking intel:

What is your favorite flower shop (or flower delivery service)?
Where will you be drinking outside this summer?
I need a wardrobe update. Can you recommend the best women’s boutiques?

Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or email found@itsfoundmiami.com.