If you've been following along, this isn't the first time the North Bay Village spot has announced its closure. Last fall, owner Gilbert Gonzalez broke hearts with a goodbye letter blaming sky-high food costs, inflation, and the moral dilemma of cutting wages to stay afloat. The email he sent to his customers sparked an outpouring of love from loyal diners, including a bankruptcy attorney who offered to help keep the restaurant alive. For a moment, it looked like the place had been granted a second life, and by Christmas 2024, the restaurant told New Times that our coverage helped create what we named "A Christmas Miracle on 79th Street."
This time, however, there's no talk of rescue plans, new investors, or dramatic movie-scene reenactments. Just a brief message, followed by dozens of comments from loyal customers mourning what's now looking like the final final goodbye.
Photos of Gilbert Gonzalez posing outside of the original Osteria del Teatro in South Beach with musicians who have visited the restaurant, including Billy Joel, Jamie Foxx, and Emilio Estefan.
Osteria del Teatro photos
A Tremendous Run
Originally opened in 1987 on Española Way, it was the kind of spot where the maître d' knew your name, your drink order, and your kids' birthdays. It relocated to North Bay Village in 2023, but the spirit stuck around: old-school service, Northern Italian flavors, and a steady stream of celeb cameos, from Billy Joel to Jamie Foxx and Emilio Estefan, tucked into cozy booths like locals.For now, Gonzalez has not shared the reason behind the closure. But one thing is clear: a piece of old Miami just disappeared, and this time, it does not appear to be coming back. Longtime customers took to the comments, writing, "This is terrible! We’ll miss you," and "No! We loved this place..."
Owner Gilbert Gonzalez (middle) poses with his family at the opening of Osteria del Teatro's newest location in North Bay Village.
Photo by City of North Bay Village
A Short-Lived Second Chance: "A Miracle on 79th Street"
The initial New Times story announcing Osteria del Teatro's closure back in October 2024 sent shockwaves across South Florida. The article, which detailed owner Gilbert Gonzalez's emotional farewell and the economic challenges that led to the decision, quickly went viral, striking a nerve with loyal diners and fellow restaurateurs alike.
Within hours, the comments section on Instagram turned into a digital vigil, with longtime patrons sharing memories, offering to help, and begging the restaurant to stay open.
The wave of attention didn't stop there. Customers showed up at the restaurant in droves, some just to eat one last plate of linguine, and others just to say goodbye. What was supposed to be Osteria's final weekend turned into a full-blown, pasta-fueled lovefest for one of Miami's longest-running Italian joints.
And then, a longtime regular and small-business bankruptcy attorney offered to help Gonzalez reorganize and stay open. Just like that, the restaurant went from closing to surviving. The comeback made headlines again, and for a while, it felt like Miami had pulled off the impossible: saving a legacy restaurant through sheer community willpower and marinara-soaked nostalgia.
Osteria del Teatro was located at 1666 79th Street Cswy. in North Bay Village.
Within hours, the comments section on Instagram turned into a digital vigil, with longtime patrons sharing memories, offering to help, and begging the restaurant to stay open.
The wave of attention didn't stop there. Customers showed up at the restaurant in droves, some just to eat one last plate of linguine, and others just to say goodbye. What was supposed to be Osteria's final weekend turned into a full-blown, pasta-fueled lovefest for one of Miami's longest-running Italian joints.
And then, a longtime regular and small-business bankruptcy attorney offered to help Gonzalez reorganize and stay open. Just like that, the restaurant went from closing to surviving. The comeback made headlines again, and for a while, it felt like Miami had pulled off the impossible: saving a legacy restaurant through sheer community willpower and marinara-soaked nostalgia.
