Not Wanting to Wait Any Longer, Much-Anticipated Erba Debuts in a Pop-Up Space

Not wanting to withhold Miami of the debut of Erba any longer, the long awaited eatery from Ghee Indian Kitchen’s Niven Patel and Tim Piazza debuts in a temporary space next door to Ghee on October 1, in the former Harry’s Pizzeria location (8975 SW 72nd Place). It’ll open in its permanent outpost, also on the same street, in the next few months once construction is complete.

For this new venture, Patel has teamed up with Piazza, who was mostly recently served as chef de cuisine at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink and has worked under Tom Colicchio and Justin Smillie making pastas. And while Patel is best known for his James Beard nominated run at his Indian powerhouse Ghee, he also has a strong background in the world of Italian cuisine.

“When I started this career of mine I always had a fascination for pasta, and a lot of people who don’t know me perceive me as the Indian chef,” Patel told Eater Miami last year. “My passion for pasta and all things farm-to-table and things out of the wood oven is actually even far greater than Indian food has been.”

The menu at Erba features six and eight options available daily — like tortellini with wagyu beef and brodo broth or pasta al limone with shaved pistachio over top. There is also a rotating variety of proteins including branzino, half-chicken and lamb. Smaller plates like focaccia with Calabrian chilies and rosemary, artichoke and mushroom salad, octopus with celery root, and a selection of charcuterie and cheeses round out the menu.

“We were ready to bring the flavors of Erba to the Miami community in advance of moving into our permanent home in Downtown Dadeland,” adds Patel. “Tim and I are very much in harmony in the kitchen and we are excited about serving up our unique take on classic Italian.”

Erba is open Tuesday to Thursday from 5 to 9:30 p.m. and Friday and until 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Call 305-395-6365 for more information or reservations.