The dining scene in Miami has had more than a few defining eras. The 1990s brought us the Mango Gang, when chefs filled menus with sauces that made every dish taste like sunshine. Then came the age of the glittering clubstaurant, where sushi rolls, crudos, and steaks fueled martini-soaked nights that blurred the line between dinner and dance floor. More recently, Michelin arrived, and with it a wave of polished tasting menus and chef-driven sophistication that became de rigueur. But now one hospitality group is asking a provocative question: what if we toss the traditional lengthy menu out entirely?
London-based 84 Magic Hospitality arrived to Miami with a trio of restaurants that celebrate the art of simplicity, each one designed around the idea that fewer dining choices can create more joy.
The group’s first Miami project, Cotoletta, opened in Coconut Grove with a menu inspired by the iconic Cotoletta alla Milanese, that golden veal chop on the bone. The set menu, $80 per couple, is a parade of antipasti—think bruschetta with basil and stracciatella, truffle arancini, and Italian olives—followed by the star of the show. The Cotoletta itself is served with spaghetti al pomodoro, a bright arugula salad, and fries that rival any in town. Dessert is à la carte, but regulars insist the tiramisu is the move.
Next door is Si Papa, a tiny offshoot that proves a single dish done well can inspire devotion. For $15, diners can choose between a hearty Lasagna Bolognese or a vegetarian version. For dessert, they can wander right back to Cotoletta’s tiramisu, imported directly across the plaza.
The jewel in the crown is San Lorenzo, the group’s newest project. Here, the concept is bold: there is no menu. Guests are greeted with one question—carne o pesce—and from there the evening unfolds like a culinary choose-your-own adventure. For $140 per couple, the experience feels equal parts dinner party and performance, with each course arriving as a surprise.
Antipasti appear in waves: arancini filled with cheese or meat, bruschetta crowned with burrata and sweet tomatoes, veal tonnato, and paper-thin beets dotted with goat cheese. A giant raviolo stuffed with Bolognese might follow, or a sizzling tagliata steak perfumed with lemon and rosemary. For seafood lovers, there’s linguine tangled with lobster or prawns, or a perfectly grilled European fish, depending on the day’s market treasures.
“San Lorenzo is all about letting the ingredients shine,” says Chef Giulio, Executive Chef of San Lorenzo. “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.”
San Lorenzo
The cocktails and wine list follow the same philosophy: narrow, intentional, and deeply Italian. A Negroni made with Miami’s Harris Blus gin or a martini built on Kastra Elion vodka distilled from Greek olives capture the balance of local and global. The wine program, meanwhile, is devoted entirely to reds that complement the dishes.
The design mirrors the concept’s elegance. Indoors, the 44-seat dining room glows with lighting from Venice. Outdoors, terracotta tiles and candlelit tables overlook the Miami River, offering a setting that feels straight out of Lake Como.
Andrea Fraquelli, a third-generation restaurateur whose grandfather co-founded London’s beloved Spaghetti House, believes in the beauty of trust at the table. “Our mission has always been to make people feel better when they leave than when they arrived—guests and team members alike,” he said. “What San Lorenzo does, more than any other restaurant in Miami ever has, is transport guests to another world. Italian flavors and recipes, made and served by Italians full of passion for what they do.”
With Cotoletta, Si Papa, and San Lorenzo, 84 Magic Hospitality is rewriting the rules of dining in Miami, reminding us that sometimes less truly means more.
84hospitality.com 
