Miami has no shortage of beautiful places to dine, but a new Italian restaurant on Grove Isle is giving waterfront dining an especially elegant twist. La Sponda Ristorante & Grill has opened at Vita at Grove Isle, bringing handmade pasta, premium steaks, fresh seafood, and sweeping views of Biscayne Bay to one of the city’s most distinctive island settings.
The restaurant comes from Gioia Hospitality Group, the family-run company behind Daniel’s steakhouses. With a menu inspired by Italy’s regional traditions and a dining room designed to make the most of its waterfront location, La Sponda offers plenty of reasons to plan a special evening.
1. La Sponda Brings Italian Dining To Grove Isle
La Sponda officially opened in September 2026 at Vita at Grove Isle, a luxury residential development just off Coconut Grove. Located at 4 Grove Isle Drive, the restaurant introduces an upscale Italian dining experience to the small island overlooking Biscayne Bay.
The concept comes from Thomas and Kassidy Angelo, the father-and-daughter team behind Gioia Hospitality Group. Their restaurant portfolio includes Daniel’s, a Florida steakhouse known for its emphasis on premium ingredients and hospitality.
La Sponda marks the group’s first Italian restaurant developed together, bringing a more personal culinary direction to the waterfront property. The result combines the elegance of fine dining with the warmth and generosity associated with traditional Italian meals.
2. The Waterfront Views Are A Major Attraction
The setting is one of La Sponda’s biggest draws. Grove Isle sits just offshore from Coconut Grove, offering a quieter perspective on Miami’s waterfront than the city’s busier dining districts.
Inside the restaurant, large windows frame views of Biscayne Bay, allowing the surrounding water to become part of the dining experience. The scenery creates a memorable backdrop for everything from romantic dinners to special celebrations.
The island location also gives La Sponda a sense of separation from the usual city bustle. Guests can enjoy the atmosphere of a waterfront escape without traveling far from central Miami.
For diners who appreciate a beautiful setting as much as a thoughtful menu, the combination of bay views and Italian cuisine makes this newcomer particularly appealing.
3. The Restaurant Was Inspired By Travels Across Italy
Rather than focusing on just one Italian region, La Sponda draws inspiration from culinary traditions throughout the country. The Angelo family spent years exploring Italy, developing relationships with producers and learning about regional ingredients and preparations.
Those experiences helped shape the restaurant’s menu, which reflects influences from southern Italy as well as other parts of the country. The family’s connections to Puglia are especially meaningful, bringing a personal element to the concept.
Culinary director Daniel Ganem worked with the owners to translate those inspirations into dishes that balance familiar Italian flavors with carefully sourced ingredients.
The result is a menu that moves comfortably between comforting pasta dishes, delicate seafood preparations, and more elaborate plates designed for special occasions.
4. Handmade Pasta Takes Center Stage
Pasta lovers will find plenty to explore at La Sponda. The menu includes ricotta cavatelli al pomodoro, prepared with Datterini tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and ricotta salata.
For something richer, the restaurant offers caviar carbonara made with rye fettuccine, dill, and Petrossian caviar. It’s a luxurious interpretation of a familiar Italian favorite.
Another standout is the orecchiette Pugliese, featuring fennel sausage, broccoli rabe, Calabrian chili, and crispy breadcrumbs. The dish brings together savory, bitter, and spicy flavors in a combination rooted in southern Italian cooking.
Diners looking for seafood pasta can consider linguine with Maine lobster, while the wagyu cannelloni combines short rib, Burgundy truffles, unagi, and béchamel for an especially indulgent option.
With so many different preparations, the pasta selection offers a way to explore several sides of Italian cuisine during a single visit.
5. Seafood Gets Plenty Of Attention
La Sponda’s waterfront setting makes its seafood offerings feel especially appropriate. The menu features raw preparations, seafood appetizers, and larger dishes that highlight carefully selected fish and shellfish.
The orata crudo combines sea bream with citrus and Italian olive oil, allowing the delicate flavor of the fish to remain the focus.
For a more substantial starter, the fritto misto brings together branzino, calamari, shrimp, zucchini, and squash blossoms. It’s a classic Italian approach to fried seafood, with several textures and flavors on one plate.
The restaurant also serves Mediterranean octopus with gnocchi, Datterini tomatoes, and cipollini onions.
Larger seafood selections include whole tiger prawns with rosemary and lemon, Dover sole with capers and preserved lemons, and whole salt-crusted branzino.
These dishes give guests an alternative to the steakhouse-style offerings while maintaining the restaurant’s focus on premium ingredients.
6. Premium Steaks Add Another Reason To Visit
Although Italian cuisine defines the concept, La Sponda also draws on Gioia Hospitality Group’s experience with high-end steakhouses.
One of the menu’s most striking offerings is a 42-ounce Australian Wagyu bistecca Fiorentina. The substantial porterhouse is served with rosemary, balsamic vinegar from Modena, and olive oil.
Other options include an Australian Wagyu filet mignon and an 18-ounce Wagyu rib eye, both prepared with relatively simple accompaniments that allow the beef to remain the star.
The kitchen’s emphasis on live-fire cooking adds another dimension to the experience, bringing depth and character to the grilled selections.
For groups with different preferences, the combination of steaks, pasta, and seafood makes La Sponda especially versatile. One diner can choose a classic Italian pasta while another enjoys a premium cut of beef.
7. The Dining Room Has A Distinctive Italian-Inspired Design
La Sponda’s interior was created by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, the internationally recognized firm behind numerous luxury hospitality spaces.
The approximately 120-seat restaurant features imported Italian stone, custom furnishings, white tablecloths, and a baby grand piano. Together, these details create a sophisticated setting that feels designed for lingering over a meal.
Local touches keep the space connected to Miami. Custom lamps feature hand-painted illustrations inspired by Coconut Grove’s peacocks and tropical surroundings, bringing a playful regional element into the polished interior.
The overall atmosphere combines European elegance with the warmth of South Florida, creating a setting that feels appropriate for celebrations, romantic evenings, and memorable dinners with friends.
Rather than relying on waterfront views alone, the design gives guests plenty to appreciate inside the restaurant as well.
8. Italian Wines Complete The Experience
A carefully developed wine program is another important part of La Sponda’s identity. The selection places particular emphasis on Italian producers, reflecting the restaurant’s commitment to the country’s regional traditions.
Guests can explore wines from Piedmont, Tuscany, Sicily, and Puglia, with options suited to everything from seafood and pasta to richly flavored meat dishes.
The restaurant’s beverage program also includes cocktails inspired by Italian classics. Spritz-style drinks and other aperitif-inspired selections provide a lighter starting point before dinner.
For diners interested in wine pairings, the variety creates opportunities to explore how different Italian regions complement the kitchen’s dishes.
Whether the evening begins with a refreshing cocktail or a glass of red wine, the drinks are intended to be part of the larger dining experience rather than an afterthought.
9. Here’s What To Know Before Visiting
La Sponda Ristorante & Grill is located at 4 Grove Isle Drive in Miami, inside the Vita at Grove Isle development. The restaurant opened in September 2026 and currently lists dinner service from Wednesday through Sunday.
According to its published schedule, Wednesday and Sunday dinner runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., while Thursday through Saturday service continues until 11 p.m. Additional lunch and brunch service has been discussed, but guests should check the latest schedule before planning a daytime visit.
Reservations are available through Resy, and advance booking is especially sensible because Grove Isle is a private, guard-gated island. The restaurant also lists valet-only parking, so guests should plan their arrival accordingly.
La Sponda maintains a dress code that excludes shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, and baseball caps. Checking these details before leaving home can help ensure the evening goes smoothly.
With its Biscayne Bay views, regional Italian menu, and carefully designed dining room, La Sponda brings a distinctive new option to Miami’s upscale restaurant scene. For anyone looking to combine waterfront scenery with a memorable Italian meal, this Grove Isle newcomer is worth knowing about.
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