cecconi's - soho beach house

first and foremost, plan a late evening dinner here, you want to see the contrast between the stars and the white lights wrapped around the sprouting trees and veranda. the atmosphere is dolce. a great wine list, and a full bar as you wait, because thefoodis not fast serve and expect a little slower service. but the waiters are knowledgeable and can recommend a killer full course on your behalf. my only qualm was there is perhaps a little too much simplicity to their chicken dish, which was just chicken and broccoli, no pizazz, while many other dishes' complexities were just well hidden in the dish. the dessert should be the hazelnut ice cream stuffed donuts, let the waiter pour the chocolate syrup and feel your mouth water. a great experience, for a lasting memory, and a pleasant date night.

some seriously goodfoodhere. fresh pastas, complex sauces, and a bar that knows how to make perfect manhattans. fairly romantic - the tables of bachelorettes on the prowl kind-of detract from the experience, as do the pompous men of a certain age demanding "better" tables. happily, thefoodtransports you away

whether it be london, nyc, miami or a slew of other locations, usually you need a membership to set foot in soho house . lucky for all, you can still grab some amazingfoodat cecconi's in the soho beach house miami without one. the restaurant is open air (as most miami restaurants are) and is beautifully lit. i love dim lights and candles, both of which this place has: with some amazing chefs , i expected cecconi's to offer up some delicious italian fare, of which it did: kale salad w/ ricotta salada, mangos & radishes (glutenfree) : being a recent addition, this salad is not currently shown on the online menu , so i was pleasantly surprised when i saw it. i love kale and usually dislike making it at home since the stalks you buy are so huge! throw in some mangos and this was a perfect app. ahi tuna tartare, chili & mint (glutenfree): they actually make this tartare table side, similar to how you get some guac made table side at mexican spots. honestly, i wasn't too impressed. i was h

not blown away by thefoodso far still waiting for main course but no expectations. service is also very slow.

what is it you are looking for?. are you looking for an open atmosphere and decor - check. are you looking forfoodthat is above average or original ? you won't find it here. there is absolutely nothing imaginative or unique about the dining experience - foodwise or from a service perspective. i do think the bar area is a pretty nice place to grab a drink after your meal.

very much a "ny" crowd here - even by miami standards.