Macchialina Taverna Rustica

• Hours: Dinner Sun and Tue-Thu 6 pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 6 pm-1 am
  Price: $$$ $$$
  Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards
• Attire: Casual
  Features: Kid Friendly, Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Wheelchair Accessible
  Serving: Dinner
• Alcohol: Beer/Wine
  Reservations: Accepted
  Parking: Meters

Description

Macchialina trumpets the same attractive attributes as its sister South Beach Pubbelly venues: pleasing, well-priced fare, craft beers and wines, and an amiable neighborhood-restaurant vibe geared toward the contentment of locals. A selection of salumi and cheeses, all Italian imports, is just one way to start off with this concise but versatile menu. Fried olives with Gorgonzola, or stromboli (rolled, stuffed pizza) with mortadella and fontina are other light-bite options. But Macchialina is mostly a combination of antipasti and pasta. One of our favorite antipasti features a custardy polenta with sausage and cipollini onions. Margherita pizza is a pure and simple rendition boasting a salted crust crowned with mozzarella di bufala and a purée of fresh tomatoes like you would find atop a Spanish pan con tomate. Pastas include a rich and filling lasagna layered with short ribs and Taleggio cheese; cavatelli with meatballs, porchetta, and Pecorino; and cannelloni around burrata and eggplant. There are three big plates offered; if you choose the 14-ounce pork Milanese, be prepared to share it. Peroni beer is on tap, and a concise all-Italian wine list is composed of mostly midrange bottles (starting at $36). Finish with the coolest tiramisu in town: a mason jar of creamy mascarpone pudding capped with chocolate crumbles and espresso granita.