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In South Miami-Dade, where people and tastes are
constantly changing, it is rare to find a restaurant that can stand
the test of time.
Il Pappagallo offers a wide variety of Italian specialties prepared by
a master chef
Il Pappagallo, at 16999 S. Dixie Highway, has not only
met this challenge, but has become one of the most popular dining
spots in the area.
Loyal patrons consider Il Pappagallo more than just a
restaurant. To them it's a place where they can enjoy lunch or dinner,
meet their friends or arrange catering for a wedding reception, a baby
shower or a graduation celebration.
It takes more than just good food and pleasant
surroundings for a restaurant to achieve this status. It takes the
kind of management that knows not only how to prepare and serve
cuisine people will return to enjoy again and again, but also how to
treat patrons so well that they will feel they are part of the family.
Il Pappagallo's owner-manager Marcello Santucci has
this rare gift. He and assistant manager-hostess Karen Carver know
many of their customers by name. They also know how to make a new
customer welcome and have trained their staff to provide attentive,
unobtrusive service.
Tucked away on the east side of South Dixie Highway,
Il Pappagallo is an oasis of quiet and beauty in one of Miami-Dade's
most active areas. It has a charming, relaxed ambiance that is warm,
intimate and romantic. Soft lighting, brick walls, terracotta tiled
floors and rosewood paneling are complimented by original art and the
recorded mastery of legendary Italian tenors playing softly in the
background. Large picture windows look onto a well-lit, private garden
with a European-style sculpture fountain.
The garden offers more than just beauty. Here Marcello
grows many of the herbs -- such as rosemary, basil and oregano -- that
give the restaurant's salads and other dishes their distinctive aroma
and flavor. He travels to Italy each year to replenish the seeds,
scout out new recipes and keep the spirit of his native Florence alive
and well in south Miami- Dade.
All it takes is one meal at Il Pappagallo and you will
know that he has succeeded magnificently!
Marcello's interest in wine is reflected by an
extensive wine list, with many selections that you simply wouldn't
expect in a "neighborhood restaurant."
The food must be tasted to be appreciated. There is a
wide variety of soups, from the delicate such as Stracciatella (an
Italian egg drop soup made with veal stock) to hearty traditional
favorites such as Minestrone, Zuppa di Vongole (clam soup) and Zuppa
di Cozze (mussels with white or red sauce). As an appetizer you may
choose from fried zucchini, fried calamari, stuffed baked clams, fried
mozzarella, escargots or an amazing assortment of salads including
antipasto, Caesar, tomato & basil, an Italian tossed salad and a
cold conch salad.
If you crave pasta you may select from the usual such
as spaghetti, linguine, manicotti, cannelloni, lasagna, ziti, ravioli
or tortellini. You may also choose from some that aren't usual, such
as Tortellini or Fettuccine Alfredo, Pasta with Pesto Sauce,
Marcello's "Cosa Nostra Special", Fettuccine Carbonara,
Rigatoni with Broccoli, Pasta Paganini, Agnellotti Scarpariello,
Gnocchi Scarpariello and others.
Veal is served in many different styles; Saltimbocca
(sautéed with broccoli or spinach), Parmigiana, Piccante, Francese,
Marsala and Pepperoni (with green peppers, mushrooms and mozzarella
cheese). In addition there's Salcicce con Pepperoni (sausage with
green peppers and mushrooms), New York Strip Steaks, Veal Chops and
Chicken prepared in the full range of traditional Italian recipes.
Seafood specialties include Cozze (mussels) Marinara,
Shrimp Scampi, Shrimp Marinara or Diavolo, Conch or Squid Marinara in
red or white sauce, Fettuccine alla Diana (lobster and shrimp in
Alfredo sauce over fettuccine) plus Lobster Diablo or Francese.
And for dessert, you may choose from Tiramisu, Italian
Cheese Cake, Banana Flambé or Banana Foster or Sherbet, followed by
Espresso or Cappuccino.
Of course there are also many specials each day, even
an occasional three course "Surprise Dinner" especially
selected by Marcello and "Specials of the Month" at modest
prices, such as Chicken Parmigiana for $6.95 at lunch and $9.95 at
dinner.
You may enjoy lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 4 to 11
p.m. and on Sunday and Monday until 10 p.m. For more information or
reservations, please call 305-253-5300.
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