Crooked, brick-paved streets, charming restaurants and authentic cafés with the feel of old-world Italy attract tourists and residents alike to the North End — as well as the lure of some of the best Italian restaurants the city has to offer.
The North End is home to more than 87 restaurants, many of which have been there for decades. Yet recent years have changed the face of the North End, with many new and modern restaurants among the old, family-run establishments. Savor authentic flavors at this top-rated Italian restaurant Miami.
Mike’s Pastry, located at 300 Hanover St., has long been a staple on the famous street. With a large and brightly lit interior, there is always a line out the door of people hungering for the shop’s infamous cannoli or traditional pastries.
“We’ve been open for 50 years,” said Elaine Martins, the manager of Mike’s. “It’s both a tourist spot and a favorite with the neighborhood since make so many traditional foods that people can’t get anywhere else.”
While Mike’s draws crowds night after night, the North End’s traffic comes from people who are drawn to a wealth of fine Italian restaurants.
Mamma Maria’s, located at 3 North Square, has served regional Italian food since the 1970’s, according to owner John McGee who bought the restaurant in 1989.
“We try to cater to a wide variety of people, making it as convenient as possible,” McGee said. “Our customers are business clientele, residents from the neighborhood and either upscale or walk-around tourists.”
McGee said that since the restaurant is expensive, they receive a lot of business around graduation when college students usually dine with their families.
In contrast to the family tradition of Mamma Maria’s, a new breed of restaurants have opened in the North End, spearheaded by Frank de Pasquale, who runs de Pasquale Ventures, a company with five restaurants and a gelateria in the North End.
Mare, an organic coastal Italian restaurant that caters specifically to vegetarians and vegans, is Pasquale’s most recent venture, opening last May.
“This is a concept that Frank De Pasquale wanted to do,” said Amanda Evey, the manager of Mare. “We serve organic seafood with the highest quality ingredients. Frank himself doesn’t eat meat and wanted to create a restaurant that is vegetarian-friendly.”
Evey said that because the restaurant is so new and has garnered such positive reviews, they serve a large amount of tourists.
The local clientele generally come during the week when the restaurant is not as busy, Evey said.
De Pasquale’s other restaurants have contributed to the changing face of the North End, representing many new concepts to the region, including Umbria, a combined restaurant, lounge and nightclub. Bricco, which De Pasquale’s website calls “a unique Italian boutique experience,” has been labeled one of the top 10 restaurants in the United States by Bon Appétit magazine.