Hungry Posted: AQ Chop House by Il Mulino

Written By: Sarah Dunn

What to expect: At the sister restaurant of Il Mulino New York in the famed Acqualina Resort, you can expect nothing but the best. Right next door to its more formal namesake, you will find a more relaxed version of the restaurant nestled into the lobby and bar area of the resort. The Chop House is a bit quieter but equally elegant with deco style design, luxe furnishings, and a veranda with arguably one of the best al fresco dining vistas in Miami. The veranda is decorated in the resort’s signature white and red style and overlooks the pool and the beach. After a few glasses of rose, one could easily forget that they’re not on the Italian Riviera.

The Menu: The menu has a Mediterranean focus, with a fusion of Italian and steakhouse offerings. Hungries are also in for a special sushi surprise: a full sushi and raw bar menu from the sushi chefs of Hiro’s Yakko-San.

What to order: 

The Burrata, Watermelon & Mint is a wonderful start to the meal. A generous, mouthwatering dollop of Burrata cheese is served on a base of watermelon, a refreshing alternative to the traditional tomato. The balsamic drizzle and Mint leaves add a bit of Mediterranean flair to the dish.

From the “Sushi by Yakko-San” section, we recommend the AQ Roll with spicy tuna, avocado, crunch, salmon, spicy sauce, and jalapeno pepper. We loved every spicy bite!

The Chop House features several pasta dishes reminiscent of Il Mulino, and we enjoyed the Cavatelli, Sausage & Broccoli Rabe.In true Il Mulino fashion, the pasta was perfectly al dente and the Italian sweet sausage was juicy and well seasoned.

We were impressed with the steak and chop selections, notably the Bone-In Ribeye.  Each bite was flavorful and tender, and the Rosemary garnish transported us to Tuscany. All steaks and chops are served with a choice of potatoes or fries, and we opted for the Truffle French Fries, which had an ideal balance of salt and truffle.

The dessert menu is filled with Italian treasures, which makes it very difficult to choose. If you run into the same problem we did, order and try a few! Our favorite was the Bomba, a cousin of the tartufo. We had the pistachio version, cased in dark chocolate and served with strawberries, blackberries, and a rich whipped cream. We also delighted in the Torta Della Nonna, an Italian classic: lemon pastry cream topped with powdered sugar, cream and berries.

How to score a table: We recommend calling ahead for a reservation and requesting an outside table. Even the Miami heat doesn’t stand a chance against the oceanfront breeze!