Giuseppe Zuozo learned how to cook, like many Italians do, from his mother. Born in Anacapri, a small comune above the island of Capri in Naples, Italy, Zuozo brought his love of good Italian cooking to the Sunshine State in 1990. After visiting Florida for a number of years, and tasting Italian cuisine available here, Zuozo said “I felt I could do better.”
He opened his first restaurant, Anacapri, in Pinecrest in 1990. While looking to expand his business he came across Miami Lakes, a town he noted for the active family involvement which is what he was searching for. Launching the second Anacapri location at 6125 Miami Lakes Drive in the Lake Katharine shopping center, Zuozo hit the ground running with an opening on Friday, May 20.
The restaurant, which is already seeing a number of guests filling up the intimate space, is also a concept for an Italian market and wine bar in addition to fine dining. Guests find racks of wine from all over the world immediately to their left as they enter, and further down a small market that houses meats, cheeses and pasta imported directly from Italy, many items, Zuozo notes, are from his own hometown.
“These are not items you can find in any store,” he said. “I’m hoping to introduce a variety of wine to the community.”
The wine bar offers a variety of wine and certain selections of beer which will expand in the future. As part of the concept, guests are able to peruse the wine available in the market sold at reduced rates and for a small corking fee can enjoy it with their meal.
Additional concepts such as wine-tasting evenings and happy hour are to be announced.
The menu offers Italian classics and some lesser known dishes, most of which are Zuozo’s own creations. Meals are cooked with fresh ingredients, locally sourced or imported directly from Italy. When the head chef, who has been working for Zuozo for the past 25 years, takes a night off, guests can find Zuozo cooking the meals. He notes the importance of consistency in creating the dishes.
When asked which dishes are his favorite he chuckles and ponders for a moment before admitting “That’s like asking which child I love the most!” He settles on seafood risotto and fiocchi, a pasta filled with four different cheeses and pears.
Anacapri is open Tuesdays through Thursday for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays evening hours are extended to 11 p.m. and Sundays are open from 4 to 9 p.m.