Diners who enjoy poring over a menu to strategize their order before dining will be in for a surprise at San Lorenzo, the newly opened Italian restaurant in Miami. The restaurant serves a $140 prix-fixe meal for two, with just one question preceding service: “carne o pesce?”
Once diners choose between meat or fish — and whatever they’d like to drink — they can sit back and relax.
Meals begin with a basket of house-made bread, followed by three antipasti dishes, one entrée portioned for two people, and sides. Desserts are an additional charge, with options including tiramisu and flourless chocolate cake.
The no-menu approach is twofold.
“San Lorenzo is all about letting the ingredients shine,” said executive chef Giulio Rossi. “By narrowing the focus, we ensure that every dish is a standout. We want guests to feel a sense of excitement and trust, knowing they’re getting the very best.”
The bar stocks just one spirit per category, and serves a small collection of food-friendly wines.
The menu will change occasionally to maintain the element of surprise, but certain staples will be in regular rotation, including Lorenzo Linguine, a seafood pasta featuring lobster, king crab, and prawns.
The restaurant’s founders also believe in the power of sharing a meal with someone, and they want to capture the essence of dining in an Italian home. The two-person format is meant to encourage diners to bring in a friend, family member, or significant other, and to enjoy dinner without distractions.
San Lorenzo cofounder Andrea Fraquelli said that he wanted to eliminate the time guests spend worrying about what to order and replace it with time being present and catching up with one another.
Though San Lorenzo’s prix-fixe format is meant for two, the restaurant will accommodate solo diners and odd-numbered parties by adjusting portion sizes.
The restaurant seats 44 inside and 30 more on the terrace.
The drink menu is equally focused. Other than its selection of digestivos, the bar stocks just one brand per spirit category. Cocktail options include classics like the Negroni, Martini, and Bellini. The wine list is also deliberate, featuring just a few reds and whites meant to accompany the day’s dishes.
When creating the concept, the San Lorenzo team enlisted designer Eduardo Suarez and Milan’s Alessio Bernardinito to bring the space to life. The interior seats 44 guests and has a standing bar area, and 30 more guests can be accommodated on the terracotta terrace.
All of the lighting was sourced from Venice, Italy, and the mixture of white tablecloths, light woods, and fresh flowers give the waterfront restaurant a coastal feel.
San Lorenzo is the second project from 84 Magic Hospitality, the Miami-based group that opened Cotoletta, another Italian restaurant, last fall. Cotoletta’s menu is centered around one main dish, veal Milanese, supplemented with a few antipasti, sides, and desserts.
In another nod to the group’s belief in the importance of interpersonal skills, reservations at both restaurants are only available by phone.
