After two years running Holy Schnitzel in Aventura, Florida, and with decades of restaurant experience under their belt, Leo Ainisman and Eduard Zavulunov saw a need for an authentic Italian kosher place in Miami. They wanted to do something for the community, so they opened Milano’s, and the rest, as they say, is la storia.

Milano’s has a clean and casual atmosphere. The owners are going for a touch of Italy in the midst of America. They play Italian music. The booths are comfortable and offer a good view of the television, which plays images of the food and how it’s made. It’s the perfect family place to sit down and order a slice from the pleasant waitstaff.

The setting may be casual, but the food is gourmet. All the kinds of pasta, sauces and pizza dough are handmade every day by two talented chefs: Vito Russo and Floriano Rama. Both are from Italy, and the owners encourage them to explore their culinary skills and experiment with bringing authentic Italian flavors to a kosher environment. Chef Rama’s family is from Milano, Italy, the city that the restaurant gets its name from.

Rama and Russo’s homemade marinara sauce is so good that people come in to order just the sauce by the quart to use in their own dishes. The lasagna is incredibly popular with noodles made from scratch, as are the fettuccini alfredo and the ravioli. They make their own fresh homemade mozzarella and zucchini sticks using the finest mozzarella cheese and freshest ingredients. The mozzarella in the pizza is homemade as well. There is a wide variety of pizza options and toppings, by the slice as well as pies. More than anything else on their menu, pizza is where Milano’s shines. It’s their specialty, and they have specialty pizzas such as Neapolitan, Cheese Lovers, O.M.G pizza, and their own Milano’s Pizza, which has mozzarella, zucchini, roasted peppers, spinach, sautéed broccoli, and cherry tomatoes.

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Soon, the owners plan to offer alcoholic beverages. They also plan to expand to outdoor seating. For now, customers can top off their meals with one of the delectable desserts, such as the chocolate mousse cheesecake, or the zeppelli, traditional mini Italian doughnuts, served with chocolate sauce and powdered sugar.