PHOTO CREDIT HOT CHEFS

By: Andrea Becerra

Rigatoni alla vodka, veal parmigiana and everything else you’ll want to eat at Casa Isola.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Over the last year, Miami has seen a new wave of Italian restaurants. Some are brought to you by locals while others are transplants from cities like New York. There are those putting a spin on regional Italian cuisine while others are all about the red sauce. That slow-cooked sauce straight out of scenes from Goodfellas, The Godfather and of course, Lady and the Tramp.

We thought that this saucey experience was only possible in New York, specifically in Brooklyn. But guess what? It’s now only a drive away. And we can thank a native Puerto Rican and a Brooklynite that made Miami home, many moons ago. 

PHOTO CREDIT CASA ISOLA

THE CHEFS BEHIND CASA ISOLA

Chef Jose Mendin and Chef Santo Agnello have embraced Italian American cooking in their latest restaurant, Casa Isola. You’re probably familiar with their Sunset Harbor location. It was once home to Chef Mendin’s first restaurant, Pubbelly. And after eleven years, the plan was to rid themselves of the lease.

Luckily for us, that changed.

Chef Mendin and Chef Agnello had known each other for some time. They were restaurant neighbors that met while Mendin was at Pubbelly and Agnello at Lucali. Previous to forming a partnership at Casa Isola, together they created The Pie Father, a food truck serving pizza inside of The Wharf in Fort Lauderdale.

Mendin had dabbled with the idea of opening up an Italian restaurant. But it wasn’t until he tasted Agnello’s cooking that their palettes aligned.

Growing up in Brooklyn with a Sicilian background inspired Agnello to create the foundation of flavors at Casa Isola. From the early age of nine, Agnello was in the kitchen cooking Brooklyn-based recipes with his grandmother and mother.

Mendin’s path to Italian cooking was distinctively different. Italian food wasn’t the norm in his Puerto Rican household. However, he’s a sucker for a good carbonara and throughout his career, he picked up a thing or two leading the kitchens of restaurants such as Pubbelly Sushi with five locations (including Mexico City), Rivertail, La Placita, Moloko in Paris and more.

Mendin was sold the first time he tasted Agnello’s simple yet equally delicious Spaghetti Aglio e Olio. And let’s just say, to wow Mendin is a biggie in our humble opinion.

Casa Isola is the chance for Agnello to take us on a journey down memory lane and Mendin understands that. Agnello recalled his family’s “Sunday Sauce” or “Sunday Gravy” (if you’re from Jersey). The aromas of onion and oregano would escape through the kitchen into his bedroom.

Dinner was ready.

This wholesome dish is quintessential in Italian American cooking and now you can make it yours at Casa Isola. An unforgiving 8 oz short rib meatball, with pork, Italian sausage cooked for eight hours. The meat falls off the bone, slips onto your plate and is served with ricotta on a bed of rigatoni.

If you’re craving red sauce, this is it.

PHOTO CREDIT CASA ISOLA

Their dynamic is a beautiful thing. Mendin loves, “cooking food that people are going to remember and striking people with flavor”. And it certainly helps when, “this mother fucker [Agnello], can’t stop cooking”.

We hope he never stops and they continue to do more together.

THE CONCEPT & MENU 

At Casa Isola, it’s all about Italian-American cooking with a little Miami pazzazz. Mendin and Agnello aren’t trying to reinvent anything. It’s home-cooking in an island restaurant setting that pays homage to Siciliy, Puerto Rico and Miami Beach. Which coincidentally, are all islands and represent that feeling of being en casa.

The menu is not light but it is refined. And the old-time favorites are all here. 

WHAT TO ORDER 

You’re sharing because there’s no better way to enjoy Italian-American cooking. 

We’d start off the meal with the Pane al Proscuitto which was inspired by New York City’s lard bread dating back to the 1800s. The variation at Casa Isola has a focaccia-like consistency and is stuffed with prosciutto. It’s airy, salty, with notes of rosemary and goes hand in hand with a parmesan honey butter and a side of eggplant caponata for your spreading needs.

PHOTO CREDIT HOT CHEFS

Next on our list is the Milanesa Carpaccio. Thinly sliced short rib, with balsamic of modena, black truffle and juicy heirloom tomatoes.

PHOTO CREDIT HOT CHEFS  

The Burrata Panzanella will always be a crowd-pleaser. It comes with Florida tomatoes, roasted peppers, olives, agrodolce with rustic bread crumbs for that crisp factor we know you love.

Moving on to the macaroni section of the menu, you’re obviously getting the Rigatoni Alla Vodka. Our personal favorite version of this pasta in Miami with Calabrian chiles for a calculated kick of spice and Agnello’s vodka sauce. 

PHOTO CREDIT HOT CHEFS  

Ravioli lovers can choose between the Raviolini ai Funghi with porcini mushrooms and a zesty pinenut gremolata or the rich Ravioli Bianconeri with short rib, Taleggio cheese, truffle, and balsamic jus. Bonus: add fresh black truffle shaving for an additional $15.

Off the menu if and when available go for the Sea Urchin pasta. Lots of garlic and olive oil on this one. 

For heartier dishes, we already told you about the Sunday Sauce. But we repeat, it’s an absolute must.

The Veal Chop Parmigiana is not your average veal parm. Agnello’s take on it is inspired by a pizza he would have at Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn. The mozzarella goes straight on the slab of veal followed by an excess amount of that tasty red sauce. Nice and saucey with the bone. Yes, bone included. 

There’s nothing else you need to know, you just need to go. 

HAPPY HOUR

We lied. There’s one more thing. For those looking to disconnect after work, Casa Isola recently launched Happy Hour. From Tuesday to Friday from 5-7PM, they’ll have half-off all cocktails, beers, and wines by the glass. You’ll obviously get hungry so make sure to get some $10 bites.

The menu includes Arancini Isola, risotto riceballs with taleggio cheese, arborio rice, tomato sauce; Spaghetti Aglio e Olio, Rigatoni alla Vodka, Meatball Parm Sliders and more.

HOW TO SCORE A TABLE

To book your table click HERE.

THE HUNGRY POST

Casa Isola