During a quick trip to Miami, your friends here at Taste of Reality ventured to Villa Casa Casuarina, better known as the former Versace Mansion, to have lunch at Gianni’s Restaurant.
The property was featured on Real Housewives of Miami during season 4, episode 11, Versace and Venom. The cast stayed the night at the Versace Mansion to celebrate Alexia’s bachelorette party. The Versace Mansion was also featured in the following episode, No Wedding and A Funeral.
Location and ambiance
The mansion is on the coast, with only a small street – with no through traffic – between the property and the sand.
The interior of the mansion looks exactly as one would imagine. Hallmark Versace gold accents were abundant throughout, as were various sculptures and a fountain at the heart of the entryway.
While the atmosphere was vintage chic, the mansion could use a renovation to zhuzh it back to its full glory … while respecting Gianni Versace’s signature aesthetic, of course.
Lunch was served poolside. While the heat was overwhelming, there were plenty of large fans to help keep the customers cool.
Food and beverage
Imani and I enjoyed the lunch Prix Fixe menu, which offers an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $39.50. Thanks to our server, Natalia, for taking such good care of us!
Cocktails
Imani ordered the Lychee Martini, which featured ALB Premium Vodka Soho Lychee Liquor, Fresh Lychee Juice, and was topped with Bisol Jeio Prosecco.
While the drink was light, and refreshing, it was barely chilled. It didn’t feel like the martini was shaken enough before the prosecco was added.
Per the menu description, the 24K Golden Margarita features Corazon Blanco Tequila, fresh lime, a splash of orange juice, topped with Cointreau and gold flakes with a salted rim.
The drink was better than the description, and the devil (the good kind) was in the details. Replacing sour mix with orange juice was a fun twist on a classic and made the drink appear golden. The salt added to the rim was gold, and the lime wheel in the cocktail was gold. STUNNING!
Appetizers
The tempura shrimp appetizer offered 5 shrimp, so it was perfect for sharing. The shrimp were flash-fried with a side of spicy mayo. The shrimp were light and crispy. Unfortunately, only 4 of the 5 shrimp were deveined.
The crispy eggplant was served under a sweet, delicate tomato sauce, and was finished with basil and Parmesan cheese.
This was a delicious appetizer, but it was a little heavy for an al fresco lunch in the summer. With that said, I’d still recommend the dish.
Entrees
The filet was perfectly grilled to medium, as requested, and a perfect lunch portion. The potato puree was made with truffles (YAY!), not truffle oil, and was finished with beef jus & roasted garlic.
The 1/2 lobster was served with a side of homemade pasta (which was delicious and prepared al dente, which I love), and was served with cherry tomatoes and basil.
Despite the lobster being slightly overcooked, it was still very sweet and tasty … but not juicy. The chef added starter cuts to the claw, which made it easier to eat. All in all, it was a solid dish. I’d definitely order it again!
Desserts
The dessert du jour was Strawberry Shortcake, which started with fresh strawberry puree at the bottom layer of the coupe glass. There were layers of sweet cream and soft cake before being finished with whipped cream and crunchy gold beads.
I may be a tad on the overdramatic side here, but this strawberry sorbet was out of this world. Made from the sweetest strawberries, the flavor of the sorbet packed a major punch … and it was served in an edible waffle bowl!
We would absolutely recommend dining at Gianni’s during your next Miami getaway. Put on your favorite Versace (or Versace-inspired) lewk and tell them that Taste of Reality sent you!
