New Moody Miami Beach Seafood Joint Opens in Macchialina

Just weeks after the team behind one of Miami Beach's most popular Italian spots, Macchialina, opened Bar Bucce in Little River, they're diving into seafood.

Fluke Martini & Crudo Bar has opened inside of Macchialina's original indoor space at 820 Alton Rd., bringing raw fish, fried snacks, and proper martinis to an area that somehow lacks oyster joints.

The brick-walled, original cozy space that housed Macchialina for its first 12 years will now serve as Fluke — no reservations, just walk-ins for seafood and stiff drinks. But how did it come about? You can thank the pandemic.

From Pandemic Pivot to Permanent Restaurant

When restaurants scrambled for outdoor space during COVID, Macchialina grabbed the adjacent hostel's patio. When the hostel permanently closed, the restaurant team took over the entire building, renovating and expanding their footprint to a whopping 5,600 square feet.

But instead of trying to make the original dining room and the new expansion function as one massive restaurant, they decided to split the concepts.

"When we were looking at the initial design plans and kind of coming up with how to incorporate the two spaces, it always felt disjointed," co-partner Jacqueline Pirolo says. "This other room is so far from the new dining room. Even if we connect the two spaces, who would want to sit there?" That's when the idea for Fluke was born.

A Crudo Lovers Dream...With a Fire Burger

The menu emphasizes fresh seafood, with crudo preparations like fluke, branzino, and Japanese sea bream (Madai). Expect a proper raw bar with oysters and fried snacks like salt-dusted hand-cut fries with senape sauce, fried mussels marinara, and fried shrimp with artichoke remoulade.

"This will be like, you're on the beach all day, quite literally in the sand, and now you can go home and put on something simple and come on over and enjoy some oysters and a martini," Pirolo says.

The most surprising menu star? The "Big Macch Burger," which started as an off-menu special at Macchialina, now has a permanent home at Fluke. The burger features Fontina cheese and mushrooms, and according to the press materials, "absolutely no ketchup." "It's like the burger started as a thing in the summertime when we're quiet," Pirolo explains. "All of a sudden, we're selling 100 to 150 burgers a night. We knew we had to put it on the menu."
Oren Drori, formerly of Beaker and Gray, handles the cocktail program, which focuses heavily on martinis with savory twists. The bar will also feature something you don't see often: a dedicated dry Marsala list alongside sherries. "Marsala never gets spoken about," Pirolo points out. "But there's some awesome dry Marsalas out there."

The wine selection breaks from Macchialina's all-Italian approach, embracing French whites, light-bodied reds, and bubbles. A "Lucky $7 Martini Happy Hour" will run from 5 to 7 p.m., offering a selection of martinis for just seven dollars.
Chef de cuisine Trevor Swan (formerly of Uchi) leads the kitchen alongside executive chef Michael Pirolo, while Samantha Harris manages day-to-day operations.

Meanwhile, in Little River, the team just opened Bar Bucce, their long-awaited bottle shop, pizzeria, and market concept. Bar Bucce offers wine, select spirits, artisanal products, fresh pasta, jarred sauces, and a kitchen serving pizza by the slice and simple grilled items.

Fluke Martini & Crudo Bar. 820 Alton Rd., Miami Beach; macchialina.com/fluke.