Tucked between hotels and restaurants on Ocean Drive, you will find one of the most iconic spots in Miami, The Versace Mansion. On our recent visit to Miami, we decided to check out order residence by making reservations at what is now the famed Villa Casuarina Gianni's Restaurant. The unique atmosphere makes Gianni's a must do at least once in Miami.
We made reservations for lunch, which I highly recommend for several reasons. They offer a prix fix option for lunch which is $34. It includes an appetizer, entree and dessert. That is a great price. Secondly, you really get to see the splendour or the mansion in the daylight. You can also get some really great photos during the day which just do not translate at night. I have heard the ambience is quite romantic at night though so don't rule that out if you are going for a super romantic vibe. No matter what day or time you plan to visit, a reservation is a must. We saw people getting turned away.
What we ordered. We both got the prix fix menu which had several options. For drinks we ordered the 24 Karat Golden Margarita and Gianni's Spritz. To start we got one burrata and one artichoke salad. For entrees Ted got the grilled Branzino and I opted for the spinach and ricotta ravioli. For dessert we split a cheesecake and chocolate puff pastry. The people across from us opted to order from the main menu instead of the prix fix menu and their pasta came out on a giant wheel of parmigiana cheese. They also ordered a tiramisu that was made table side. Everything was quite tasty and the service was good, always offering refills, clearing plates and asking how we were doing. I did however find that everything was rushed. Because it is so busy, I kind of got the feeling that they want to get you in and out as quickly as possible.
We took some photos by the pool and watched others do the same. It is definitely a very unique dining experience that I would recommend doing as a bucket list thing. Would I dine here regularly? No. Do I think it offers the best quality and most delicious food in Miami, also no. However it does offer a unique glimpse into the life of Gianni Versace and you can just imagine how fabulous the space was as his home. I was happy to have had the opportunity to see the inside and enjoy a delicious meal alongside the magnificent pool.
