The Miami dining scene has welcomed a significant new addition to its luxury waterfront portfolio with the official opening of La Sponda. Opened on September 19, 2026, the elegant Italian concept marks the inaugural venture into Italian cuisine for the Gioia Hospitality Group. Founded by the entrepreneurial husband-and-wife duo Thomas Angelo and Kassidy Angelo, the restaurant is situated within CMC Group’s newly delivered residential masterpiece, the Vita luxury condominium development on Grove Isle.
La Sponda arrives on the heels of major accolades for the hospitality group’s existing portfolio. Notably, Daniel’s Miami was recently named the highest-ranked Florida steakhouse on the prestigious World’s Best 101 Steak Restaurants list. Furthermore, its sister concept, Daniel’s, A Florida Steakhouse, has earned coveted recognition from the Michelin Guide. Building upon this established reputation for high-end dining, flawless execution, and warm hospitality, La Sponda seeks to capture a distinct segment of Miami’s discerning culinary market by blending coastal Italian traditions with the relaxed yet sophisticated lifestyle of Coconut Grove.
A Personal Journey Rooted in Southern Italian Heritage
While Daniel’s introduced diners to one of the country’s most sophisticated steak programs, La Sponda represents a deeply personal evolution for the Angelo family. The restaurant is not merely a commercial expansion; it is a heartfelt expression of Thomas Angelo’s lifelong connection to Italy, drawing heavily from his family roots in Puglia. Over the decades, the founders, alongside key culinary team members, have immersed themselves in the cultural and gastronomic landscape of Italy, exploring regional kitchens, partnering with local artisans, and cultivating relationships with boutique winemakers and agricultural producers.
The conceptualization of La Sponda was born from years of research and personal travel. Thomas, Kassidy, Executive Chef Danny Ganem, and Wine and Beverage Director Daniel Bishop traveled extensively throughout the Italian peninsula. They absorbed the nuances of regional cooking traditions, sourced specialized kitchenware, and hunted for imported stones and handcrafted furnishings to authentically recreate the ambiance of an Italian home.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind the project, Thomas Angelo shared insights into his formative memories. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in southern Italy, some of his most cherished experiences occurred in the kitchen and during travels with his children through Puglia. Those foundational memories ultimately inspired La Sponda, with the overarching goal of ensuring that every guest who walks through the doors experiences a genuine sense of warmth, connection, and generational hospitality.
Kassidy Angelo echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the emotional resonance of the new venue. She noted that the restaurant brings together family traditions and everything the founders have learned while building the Gioia Hospitality brand. The executive team aimed to create a space that feels just as warm, inviting, and memorable as the private homes and historic eateries that served as its primary inspirations.
Architectural Elegance Meets Waterfront Sophistication on Grove Isle
The physical setting of La Sponda is as integral to its identity as its menu. Grove Isle has historically maintained a reputation as one of Miami’s most exclusive and celebrated waterfront destinations. Ugo Colombo, the founder of CMC Group, explained the vision behind the integration of the restaurant into the Vita condominium development. According to Colombo, the overarching objective with Vita was to honor the rich legacy of Grove Isle while introducing a contemporary expression of luxury and waterfront living.
Colombo views La Sponda as a natural extension of that real estate and lifestyle vision. By combining exceptional dining, sophisticated hospitality, and world-class interior design, the restaurant enhances the residential lifestyle at Vita while re-establishing Grove Isle as a premier gathering place for the broader Miami community.
The interior architecture and design of La Sponda were masterminded by the internationally renowned Martin Brudnizki Design Studio. The design team successfully bridged the gap between timeless European elegance and the laid-back, tropical sophistication characteristic of Coconut Grove. Demonstrating a rigorous commitment to authenticity, nearly every decorative and structural element within the space was imported directly from Italy. This includes handcrafted furnishings, custom-built dining tables, specialized architectural stone, and intricate artisan finishes.
Upon entering the 120-seat dining room, patrons are greeted by an intimate atmosphere defined by crisp white tablecloths, hand-painted architectural details, and a striking baby grand piano. For private gatherings and special occasions, a secluded private dining room has been tucked away from the main floor.
Despite its heavy reliance on Italian craftsmanship and aesthetic traditions, the design incorporates subtle, localized nods to its South Florida home. Most notably, the space features custom lamps that were individually hand-painted by a local artist. These unique lighting fixtures incorporate illustrations inspired by Coconut Grove’s iconic peacock population and lush tropical surroundings, grounding the international concept firmly in its Miami context.
A Masterclass in Regional Italian Gastronomy
At the core of La Sponda’s appeal is its meticulously crafted culinary program, spearheaded by Chef Danny Ganem in close collaboration with Thomas and Kassidy Angelo. The menu pays homage to the diverse culinary regions of Italy while maintaining a strong foundation in scratch-made preparation and premium ingredients.
Fresh pasta is produced in-house on a daily basis. The menu is structured to offer an evolving selection of crudo, antipasti, seafood, and signature pasta dishes that reflect both family recipes and regional Italian discoveries.
Among the standout pasta offerings is the Spaghetti alla Chitarra al Tartufo, which features rich Burgundy truffles, cultured butter, and a delicate Parmigiano espuma. Another notable dish is the Paccheri al Campagnolo, prepared with Aquanaria Branzino, sweet Datterini tomatoes, capers, and olives. Seafood aficionados can also enjoy the Branzino alla Vernaccia, which incorporates Taggiasca olives, potatoes, tomatoes, and fresh basil; the Skull Island Gamberoni, featuring whole tiger prawns accented with rosemary, lemon, and proprietary Gioia olive oil; and the Linguine all’Astice, highlighting fresh Maine lobster, fennel, ginger wine, and pomodoro.
For heartier appetites, the menu features the Australian L’Grow Ranch Wagyu Bistecca Fiorentina—a decadent Wagyu porterhouse finished tableside or in the kitchen with aromatic rosemary, aged Balsamico di Modena, and Gioia olive oil.
Complementing the food menu is a globally influenced, Italy-centric beverage program curated by Wine and Beverage Director Daniel Bishop. The wine list showcases benchmark reds, including esteemed bottles of Barolo and Barbaresco from Piemonte, celebrated Tuscan selections, and mineral-driven, lighter-style Etna reds from Sicily. Wines from Puglia occupy a prominent place on the list, serving as a direct nod to the Angelo family’s ancestral roots.
The white wine collection focuses on bright, mineral-driven coastal selections that evoke the seaside cliffs and fishing villages of the Amalfi Coast, Taormina, and Cinque Terre. To ensure broad appeal, the cellar also features select French, Spanish, and California labels, alongside rare vintage bottles aged between 20 and 25 years. The program is designed to be dynamic, evolving continuously based on seasonal availability and guest preferences.
The cocktail menu balances classic Italian aperitifs with inventive, modern mixology. Highlighted libations include the La Sponda Bellini, made with white peach and Martini & Rossi prosecco; the Bellagio, featuring Grey Goose, Bordiga Bianco, Italicus Vanilla, and grapefruit; and the Summer in Amalfi Spritz, which blends St. Germain, Condesa Gin Clasica, fresh cucumber, bay leaf, and prosecco.
More playful additions include the Zio Tony, a tropical riff on the classic Paper Plane cocktail crafted with Angel’s Envy Daniel’s Cask Bourbon, Sarti Aperitivo, Amaro Nonino Riserva, passion fruit, and lemon; and the Garibaldi Fresca, an effervescent take on the Italian staple combining Campari with fluffy pineapple and orange juices.
Operational Hours and Future Outlook
True to the foundational philosophy of the Gioia Hospitality Group, front-of-house service is treated as the cornerstone of the guest experience. Managed by a seasoned hospitality team, the service model is modeled after traditional Italian culture, where dining is treated as a social ritual and every visitor is welcomed with familial warmth.
La Sponda is currently open for dinner service on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. In November, the restaurant plans to expand its operating schedule to include lunch and brunch services. Reservations are managed through the Resy platform.
Broader Economic and Culinary Implications for Miami
The debut of La Sponda at Vita on Grove Isle signifies more than just another high-end restaurant opening in a competitive market; it highlights a broader shift in Miami’s luxury real estate and hospitality ecosystem. Real estate developers like CMC Group increasingly rely on world-class, chef-driven culinary concepts to anchor luxury residential properties, transforming private condominiums into vibrant lifestyle destinations.
Furthermore, the expansion of Gioia Hospitality Group demonstrates the scalability of homegrown Miami culinary brands. Having proven their operational excellence and culinary precision with Daniel’s Miami and its Michelin Guide recognition, the Angelos are successfully diversifying their portfolio across distinct culinary categories—moving seamlessly from high-end American steakhouse fare to refined, region-specific Italian dining.
As Miami continues to solidify its status as a premier global gastronomic hub, destinations like La Sponda illustrate the growing demand for authentic, narrative-driven dining experiences that combine meticulous interior design, deeply personal storytelling, and uncompromising product sourcing. The early success and community reception of La Sponda suggest that Gioia Hospitality Group has successfully translated its high standards of excellence into a compelling new chapter for the city’s dining scene.
