Tripadvisor Just Named This Miami Restaurant the Best Casual Dining Spot in the U.S.

It’s that time of year again. No, we aren’t talking about fall foliage season or back to school. Rather, we’re focused on all those spectacular “best of” lists that tend to pop up at the end of the year. Tripadvisor released its annual 2024 Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best Restaurants list, which showcases the top spots for dining across the nation. While the whole list is spectacular, there’s one destination in Miami that topped both the casual dining and hidden gems categories, which also has us buzzing. 

As for how the website determines its rankings, it revealed it is based on the “quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings posted on Tripadvisor over the 12-month period between June 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024, as well as an additional editorial process.”  

“There’s something special about the way food brings people together. Some of my fondest travel memories are gathering the people I care about the most around a table and sharing a meal,” Kristen Dalton, the president of Tripadvisor, shared in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure. “From discovering hidden local favorites to unique dining experiences, our Tripadvisor community is here to guide travelers to meals worth remembering.”

After looking at that data and considering editor approval, Tripadvisor named Miami Beach’s That’s Amore – Italian Restaurant as the No. 1 spot for casual dining and hidden gems. 

“One visit to this relaxed, homey restaurant and you’ll understand why they chose the name,” Tripadvisor wrote in its description of the double-winning destination. “The pizzas are top notch — go for the Margherita paired with a glass of the house red — the staff is attentive, and the desserts are *chef’s kiss*. Now that’s amore.” 

As for Tripadvisor reviewer notes, nearly 1,000 people have given it a five-star rating, with diners specifically calling out its “cozy” ambiance, its service, and its divine pasta.

“Excellent pasta and service. If I didn’t say it clearly, the pasta is worth trying. The Pizza and bruschetta were great too,” one reviewer noted. “Sam was a wonderful waiter and gave us a spectacular show making the Cacio E Pepe Pasta. We started with the Calamari, which was delicious, along with the complimentary bread and olive oil mix. We will definitely be back,” another gushed. 

Though really, that’s just the start of the menu. The restaurant also serves homemade Angus beef and veal meatballs, grilled octopus, lobster ravioli, risotto, lamb chops, chicken parmesan, and every kind of pizza you could ever want. And sure, yeah, there are salads too, in case you need a green. Just make sure to snag a reservation before your next trip to Miami because, odds are, after appearing on this list — twice — this restaurant won’t stay a hidden gem for long. 

See the full list of winners at tripadvisor.com.