Moye, a new regional Italian restaurant from restaurateurs Tony Gallo and Chef Pietro Vardeu, has opened at 80 SW Eighth St. in the Brickell District.
Vardeu and Gallo believe that Moye will strike all the right chords with diners, presenting moderately priced, healthy cuisine in a warm, welcoming environment.
Featuring classic Italian fare from Puglia, the area located in Southern Italy that’s prized for its cuisine as well as great wines, olive oils, and significantly as the birthplace of burrata, Moye will showcase this distinct Italian cuisine with a hand-crafted menu of regional specialties.
Gallo and Vardeu, known to Miami diners as the team behind Sunset Harbour’s charming and highly acclaimed Italian eatery Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante, look forward to sharing another genuine dining experience with South Florida food enthusiasts.
“We’ve found success in offering locals authentic, rustic Italian dining at Sardinia, which is what motivated us to bring the beloved traditional cuisine of another region in Italy to Miami. With a menu that truly reflects the fresh products and flavors of Puglia, we feel that Moye (which means “this is the time” in the Bari dialect) will transport locals with every dish,” offers Gallo.
Open daily for lunch and dinner, Moye boasts a rotating seasonal menu that showcases locally sourced, fresh ingredients and is overseen by Chef Pietro. To take guests on a gastronomic tour of Puglia, the restaurant has imported chefs from Italy, where Moye currently has locations in Florence and Milan.
Guests can graze on sharing plates such as the Polpo – pan seared octopus sautéed with fava beans pureé and cherry tomatoes ($14) and Bruschettone – bruschetta with capocollo, artichokes and mozzarella ($10). Diners also can feast on savory meat and cheese boards including the Tagliare di formaggi – cacioricotta, pecorino, caciocavallo, scamorza, served with spicy homemade jam ($16), and the Tagliere di salumi – prosciutto crudo, salame, capocollo, with bruschetta ($16).
Mozzarella lovers can indulge in Burrata Moye, which as the name implies is made inhouse and topped with white anchovies and oranges ($14), as well as Apulian Sushi – rolls of mozzarella Moye, shrimp, vegetables, tuna and tomatoes ($16).
For their entrée, guests can choose from Apulian staples like the Tartare d’orata – sea bream tartar with carrots and zucchini pinzimonio ($14); Carpaccio di salmone with fennel, orange and radish ($12), and Orecchiette pasta with broccoli rabe Apulian style ($14).
There also are from the oven entrées including Parmigiana with zucchini, tomato, basil and mozzarella ($16) and Branzino baked with zucchini and potatoes ($26), and traditional meat plates like the Stufato – lamb stew with fava beans ($24) and Bombette – stuffed veal rolls with vegetables and baked potatoes ($24).
Rounding out the menu are delectable deserts like the Spocamuss – a puff pastry with Nutella and custard cream; Tortino di Cioccolato – chocolate soufflé, and Classic Tiramisu, all priced at $8. Guests can toast their meal with a great selection of moderately priced wines and beer, with a heavy emphasis on regional Italian favorites.
With an open kitchen design that will offer guests a glimpse behind the curtain, Moye has embraced a sleek décor that is bathed in white much like the restaurant’s name-sakes in Milan and Florence. Floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the bustling avenue and whimsical mozzarella-shaped lamps that hang from the ceiling illuminate the restaurant, creating a light and airy atmosphere. An intricate wall of shelving showcases Moye’s extensive wine collection as well as products inspired by Puglia, which will be for sale.
Guests will be able to enjoy an al fresco dining experience when the restaurant debuts its patio seating later this year, to compliment the intimately set 70-seat main dining area inside. Locals will be able to order takeout from the restaurant, so that they can enjoy Moye’s simple yet distinctive Italian cuisine whether at home or at the office.
Moye is located at 80 SW Eighth St. facing First Avenue. Lunch and dinner are served daily from 11:30 a.m. to midnight, with both reservations and walk-ins welcome. Valet will be available with the first hour free in addition to ample street parking. Call 305- 372-5168 or visit www.moyemiami.com.
