The team behind Zucca, the Italian restaurant that has been serving in Coral Gables for more than nine years, now runs a second, much larger place a few blocks away. Zuccaly is a food hall at The Plaza Coral Gables, at 111 Palermo Ave., built around six separate kitchens and a bar, and it is open seven days a week. It comes from Da Silva Hospitality, the group led by owner and chief executive Erasmo da Silva.
The idea is the Italian market hall: walk in, pick a counter, eat there or take it home. Each station has its own specialty.
The six stations
The Pasta and Risotto hall makes fresh pasta. The menu lists rigatoni alla Zuccaly, paccheri with braised short rib or with tuna and shrimp, bucatini as cacio e pepe or amatriciana, and tagliatelle with Bolognese or mushrooms. There are Milanese and wild mushroom risottos, plus baked lasagna and spinach and ricotta cannelloni.
LaBiga, the pizza hall, works from a dough that gets a 48-hour pre-ferment and 96 hours of bulk fermentation. Whole pies run from a Margherita to mortadella with pistachio, a pepperoni-style pie finished with spicy honey, a squid ink pie topped with seafood, and one topped with caviar. Slices come on four doughs (classic, pumpkin, basil and charcoal), and the counter also makes baguette sandwiches.
The Grill and Fish hall covers the main courses: citrus-marinated half chicken, chicken paillard and chicken Milanese; strip, skirt and ribeye steaks and a cheeseburger; and whole roasted sea bream, cedar-plank salmon, grilled branzino with caponata and grilled tuna. Sides include truffled polenta fries.
Il Giardino handles salads and lighter plates, among them farro and lentils with marinated salmon, a Caesar, quinoa with beets and feta, seafood over fregola and kale with roast chicken.
Portavia is the market counter, selling house-made products, pantry goods and ready-to-eat dishes such as fresh lasagna, pasta sauces, antipasti and salads to take home.
Dolci and Gelato rounds it out with desserts and gelato.
The bar and happy hour
The bar is built on the Italian aperitivo habit, with classic cocktails, Italian wines, craft beer and house drinks. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., with cocktails and spirits at half price.
Thanksgiving, Italian style
Zuccaly is also taking orders for Thanksgiving meals to go, sized for four, eight or 12 people. Preorders close Nov. 24, and pickup is at the food hall on Thursday, Nov. 26, from noon to 3 p.m.
How to go
- Where: Zuccaly, 111 Palermo Ave., at The Plaza Coral Gables (2811 Ponce de Leon Blvd.).
- Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Reservations: through OpenTable or the contact form on the Zuccaly site. Large groups can book for celebrations and company events.
- Takeout: pickup only for now; the restaurant says delivery partners are in the works.
- Follow: @zuccaly on Instagram.

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