Trattoria La Gondola, Miami

Classic Italian gets a contemporary take at Trattoria La Gondola (formerly Trattoria Dolce Vita), where chef-owner Omar Morillo draws on the culinary skills he perfected during his years in Italy. His innovative, housemade pasta dishes are light and full of surprising ingredients; the black-calamari-ink ravioli stuffed with crab swims in a pink vodka sauce, and a creamy gorgonzola sauce with a hint of truffle hides ravioli bursting with pear and ricotta.

Main courses include meatier options too, such as the salmon in a honey-mustard glaze and prosciutto- and buffalo-mozzarella-stuffed chicken. House wines and enthusiastic but tasteful exclamations of “Mamma Mia!” are ideal finishes to meals.