New York’s La Pecora Bianca Is Opening Its First Restaurant Outside NYC, and It’s in Coral Gables

New York has had La Pecora Bianca for a while now. Coral Gables is about to find out what that means.

The beloved New York Italian restaurant, known for its housemade pastas, ingredient-driven cooking, and all-day dining format that turns a restaurant into a neighborhood institution, opens its first South Florida location this November at The Shops at Merrick Park. It is the brand’s first expansion outside New York, and the Coral Gables address was chosen deliberately.

Photo Credit: La Pecora Bianca

“We’ve been very deliberate about where La Pecora Bianca goes next, and Coral Gables felt right,” said Mark Barak, Founder and Owner of La Pecora Bianca. “There’s a real appreciation here for restaurants that are beautiful and energetic but also become part of people’s everyday lives. We wanted this restaurant to feel unmistakably like La Pecora Bianca while creating something that really belongs in South Florida.”

The 300-seat indoor-outdoor restaurant was designed in collaboration with Miami-based design firm Urban Robot, which drew on Italian influences while embracing the light, color, and indoor-outdoor lifestyle of South Florida. Handmade terracotta and artisanal tile, hand-painted ceramic plates, graceful arches, and glowing globe chandeliers are layered with honeyed oak, patinated brass, and soft white marble.

La Pecora Bianca’s signature sage green has been reinterpreted for the Coral Gables location in a lighter, mintier shade, appearing in striped ceiling treatments, arched doors, tilework, and architectural details throughout, alongside warm whites, coral, and sun-kissed yellow.

Outside, a lush palm-shaded garden extends the restaurant into Merrick Park, creating an open-air setting with the feeling of a neighborhood piazza. The restaurant moves naturally from bright, relaxed lunches and weekend brunches to aperitivo hours and lively evening dinners, an all-day dining room with the easy warmth of an Italian trattoria and the vibrant spirit of Miami. The full indoor-outdoor space also features a wraparound bar with approximately 20 seats and private and semi-private dining options, including a dedicated private dining room accommodating up to 20 guests.

The Coral Gables kitchen is led by La Pecora Bianca Culinary Director Ed Scarpone, who developed the opening menu alongside the culinary team. Guests will find signature La Pecora Bianca dishes including Vodka Rigatoni, Too Much Fried Mozzarella, Whipped Ricotta, and Tiramisu for Two, alongside new dishes created specifically for South Florida: a giant Carbonara Raviolo, Lobster Spaghetti Fra Diavolo, and Tomato and Melon Carpaccio.

The broader menu features Cacio e Pepe Arancini, a selection of crudi, seasonal salads, and more than ten housemade pastas including Linguine Vongole, Campanelle al Limone, and Fusilli Gigante. Neapolitan-style pizzas include a Truffle Pizza with black truffle and ricotta and the Diavola with vodka sauce and hot honey. Larger plates range from the signature Chicken Vodka Parmesan to a Pork Piccata.

The beverage program follows the restaurant’s approachable style with an Italian-focused wine list and a rotating cocktail menu built around the Spritz Bar. Standout drinks include the Portofino Spritz with fresh cucumber, gin, St. Germain, and prosecco, the Affogato Espresso Martini with vodka, Mr. Black, crème de cacao, and vanilla, and the Arancia Sour with gin, blood orange, and lemon.