La Pecora Bianca Opens First Non-NYC Location in Coral Gables
The 300-seat Manhattan restaurant brings housemade pastas and a redesigned interior to The Shops at Merrick Park.
By Kwame Silva ·
La Pecora Bianca, a well-known Italian restaurant in Manhattan, opened its first location outside New York City on November 2 at The Shops at Merrick Park in Coral Gables. The 300-seat dining room marks the brand’s initial expansion beyond its home base in the Northeast.
The Coral Gables site operates under the leadership of founder Mark Barak, who built the original restaurant’s reputation around ingredient-driven cooking and a specific aesthetic style. Barak stated that the team was deliberate in selecting its next location. He noted that Coral Gables offered a local appreciation for venues that are both visually distinct and energetic enough to function as part of daily routines.
The interior design for the new space was completed by the Miami-based firm Urban Robot. The design adapts the brand’s traditional Italian architectural cues to the South Florida climate. The signature sage-green color palette has been adjusted to lighter mint tones, accented with coral and yellow. The space features handmade terracotta tiles, arched doorways, honeyed oak wood, marble surfaces, and brass fixtures.
An outdoor area serves as a central component of the layout. A palm-shaded garden is designed to mimic an Italian neighborhood piazza. This space connects to a wraparound bar with approximately 20 seats, private dining rooms, and a large terrace. The configuration allows for varied dining experiences, from quick aperitivo service to extended weekend brunches.
The menu retains the core identity of the Manhattan location, featuring more than ten types of housemade pasta. The Coral Gables branch also serves several dishes created specifically for that market. These include a giant carbonara raviolo, lobster spaghetti fra diavolo, and a tomato-and-melon carpaccio.
The restaurant is located at 360 San Lorenzo Avenue. It operates within The Shops at Merrick Park complex. The establishment is named after the Italian phrase for 'the white sheep.'
The opening follows a period of growth for the New York brand, which has maintained a consistent presence in Manhattan. The new location represents the first physical step in bringing that specific dining model to a South Florida audience.
