Since opening along Commodore Plaza in 2013, there has always been something uniquely comforting about the Italian gem. From its vast wine collection, including boutique labels from every region of the world, to its great Italian brunch and lunch menus, it has always been a mainstay for families and couples in the area. When news of its sudden closure came to fruition in 2024, residents grew worried. However, as luck would have it, its future lay directly across the street.
A Tale of Two Grove Restaurants Coming Together
Strada in the Grove was forced to close in February 2024 after its landlord declined to renew the lease at its original location. Owner Javier Uribe and his family faced a pivotal decision."We had to shuffle and see where we were going to locate Strada in the Grove," Uribe explains. "We looked at a bunch of places that we thought might be suitable, but weren't able to find anything that matched what we were looking for." Rather than settling for an imperfect spot or enduring a lengthy build-out, the family-owned business hatched a plan to combine their two restaurants. The solution? Move Strada's menu to Farinelli's location while keeping Farinelli's popular pizzas in the mix.
"We decided to kill two birds with one stone and join the concepts," says Uribe. "It would be Strada's menu with a liquor license, the cocktails from Farinelli, the pizzas, the best sellers from Farinelli—and in what, in my opinion, is one of the better locations, especially outdoor locations in Coconut Grove."
Booze, Burrata, and a Brand New Bar
The transformation demanded far more than swapping out some signage. The team completely overhauled the kitchen to accommodate Strada's more extensive menu, which required a much bigger space compared to Farinelli's more modest setup.
The bar moved from the right side to the left, creating a wraparound indoor-outdoor space that's quickly becoming the spot's signature feature. The cocktail menu doesn't skimp, featuring Italian-inspired drinks like the Negroni Congelato, a frozen spin on the classic with Bombay gin, Martini & Rossi vermouth, and 1872 Reserva bitters. For something lighter, the Limoncello Spritz combines Pallini limoncello, prosecco, and homemade basil syrup.
The team completely overhauled the kitchen of the former Farinelli to accommodate Strada's more extensive menu, which required a much bigger space compared to Farinelli's more modest setup.
Strada in the Grove photo
New Space, Same Faces, and Menu Favorites from Both Strada and Farinelli
The menu now reads like a greatest hits album from both restaurants. From Strada come the housemade pastas like cacio e pepe with pecorino romano and the risottos, including the classic alla Milanese with saffron. From Farinelli, the wood-fired pizzas remain stars of the show, with options like the "Margherita" and "Prosciutto e Fichi" topped with gorgonzola, prosciutto crudo, caramelized onions, and figs.The "Lasagne Classiche" was carried over from Farinelli, while the branzino alle erbe—fresh Mediterranean striped bass roasted in the wood-burning oven with herbs, lemon, and olive oil—was also a Farinelli specialty that made the cut. The antipasti section features standouts from both restaurants, including the burrata with heirloom tomatoes and the polenta fritta with truffled fondue.
Perhaps most remarkably, despite closing for about a year, the restaurant retained its entire staff—a point of pride for Uribe. "All of our staff came back—front of the house, back of the house. We have the same servers, the same chefs," he says. "A lot of our regulars have been very happy to see familiar faces in the front when they have stopped by since our reopening."
Strada in the Grove. 3197 Commodore Plz., Coconut Grove; 305-444-1312; stradainthegrove.com.
