Miami Italian Spot Expands Empire to Coral Gables with New Location

For more than 25 years, Basilico Ristorante has been a quiet powerhouse in Miami Springs and Doral, drawing loyal diners from Hialeah to Brickell with its comforting Northern Italian fare.

Now, the beloved restaurant is finally making it easier for its biggest fans who have long trekked across town just to twirl their forks into its signature linguini frutti di mare. Basilico has officially opened in Coral Gables at 2312 Ponce de Leon Blvd., expanding its legacy into one of Miami's most celebrated dining neighborhoods.

A Miami Springs Staple Since 1998

The story of Basilico begins in May 1998, when friends Rodrigo Gonzalez and Carlos Loya teamed up with a simple vision: to bring authentic Northern Italian cuisine to Miami at prices that wouldn’t intimidate. According to the restaurant, Rodrigo had spent a decade working in restaurants, while Carlos trained as a sous chef at Bice Ristorante, one of the city's most refined Italian kitchens at the time. Together, they opened the first Basilico in Miami Springs, naming the restaurant after the first task Carlos was ever given in a professional kitchen — chopping basil. Rodrigo's brother Luciano soon joined the project, and the three built Basilico into a destination where food, wine, and friendship came first.

From the start, Basilico struck a chord with Miami diners. In 2002, it earned an "Excellent" rating from Zagat (in the media company's heyday). That same year, New Times crowned its linguini frutti di mare in our Best of Miami issue, a dish that remains the restaurant's calling card. Piled high with mussels, clams, shrimp, and squid over perfectly cooked pasta, the dish captures Basilico's ethos: simple, fresh, and unforgettable. The restaurant's extensive wine list, boasting more than 60 labels from around the globe, only deepened its reputation as a neighborhood gem.

Doral Fell in Love With Basilico — the Gables May follow Suit

As word spread, expansion followed. Basilico opened its Doral outpost in June 2010, serving the growing community west of the airport with the same warmth and consistency. Both locations became fixtures where families celebrated milestones, business lunches were sealed over tiramisu, and travelers returning from Miami International Airport made one last stop before heading home.

The Coral Gables move feels like a natural evolution. Located in the heart of the city's dining district along Ponce de Leon, the new restaurant places Basilico within reach of fans in Coral Gables, South Miami, Brickell, and even Pinecrest. Even better, it lands on a stretch of Ponce de Leon Boulevard that has quietly transformed into one of Miami's most dynamic restaurant rows, already home to Italian heavyweights like Graziano's, chef Giorgio Rapicavoli's Luca Osteria on Giralda Avenue just blocks away, and a growing roster of international flavors. Now Basilico joins the mix, bringing its three-decade reputation to a neighborhood that knows good food and demands it nightly.

What's On the Menu

Inside, the team has created a modern yet vibrant atmosphere, designed to echo the warmth of its original Italian bistros while embracing the sophistication of the Gables. The menu, however, remains faithful to its roots: housemade pastas, daily fresh-caught seafood, Black Angus beef, imported cold cuts and cheeses, and the desserts that regulars insist are nonnegotiable.

For the family-owned restaurant, the expansion seems like more than just a new address; it's a thank you to the generations of diners who made the local restaurant chain what it is today. Now, Coral Gables has a little slice of that heaven, too.

Basilico Ristorante Coral Gables. 2312 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables; 305-381-5604; basilicomiami.com.