Gioia Hospitality Group Set To Open La Sponda on September 19 in Coconut Grove at Vita at Grove Isle

Building on the success of Daniel's Miami, recently named the highest-ranked Florida steakhouse on the World's Best 101 Steak Restaurants list, and Daniel's, A Florida Steakhouse, which has earned Michelin Guide recognition, Gioia Hospitality Group founders Thomas Angelo and Kassidy Angelo will open La Sponda, an elegant waterfront Italian restaurant inspired by their family's heritage, this September at CMC Group’s recently delivered luxury condominium Vita at Grove Isle.

Marking the hospitality group's first Italian concept, La Sponda represents a natural evolution for Gioia Hospitality, whose reputation has been built on exceptional cuisine, warm hospitality, and thoughtfully designed destinations. More than a restaurant, La Sponda is a deeply personal expression of Thomas Angelo's lifelong connection to Italy, drawing from his family's roots in Puglia and decades spent exploring the country's regional cuisine, artisans, wineries, and traditions.

"I grew up in a family deeply rooted in southern Italy, where some of my favorite memories were made in the kitchen and my travels with my children to Puglia,” said Thomas Angelo, Co-Founder of Gioia Hospitality Group. "Those memories became the foundation for La Sponda, and our hope is that every guest who walks through our doors feels that same sense of warmth, connection, and hospitality."

"This restaurant is incredibly personal to us because it brings together our family's traditions with everything we've learned while building Gioia Hospitality. We can't wait to welcome guests into a place that feels as warm and memorable as the homes and restaurants that inspired it,” said Kassidy Angelo, Co-Founder of Gioia Hospitality Group.

“Grove Isle has long held a special place in Miami, with a history as one of the city’s most celebrated waterfront destinations,” said Ugo Colombo, Founder of CMC Group. “With Vita, our vision has been to honor that legacy while introducing a new expression of luxury and waterfront living. La Sponda is a natural extension of that vision bringing exceptional dining, hospitality and design together to create a destination that enhances the lifestyle at Vita and once again establishes Grove Isle as a place for the broader Miami community to experience and enjoy.”

While Daniel's introduced guests to one of the country's most celebrated steak programs, La Sponda continues Gioia Hospitality's culinary legacy, complementing that steak-driven foundation with handmade pasta, pristine seafood, exceptional wines, and genuine hospitality that come together around the table. Leading the culinary program is Chef Danny Ganem, who has worked alongside Thomas and Kassidy to bring the family's vision to life. Fresh pasta is made in-house daily, alongside an evolving selection of crudo, antipasti, and seafood, with signature specialties inspired by the founders' favorite dishes and family traditions, alongside dishes drawn from different regions across Italy. Highlights include Spaghetti alla Chitarra al Tartufo with Burgundy truffles, cultured butter, and Parmigiano espuma; Paccheri al Campagnolo with Aquanaria Branzino, Datterini Tomatoes, Capers, Olives; Branzino alla Vernaccia with Taggiasca olives, potatoes, tomatoes, and basil; and an Australian L'Grow Ranch Wagyu Bistecca Fiorentina, a Wagyu porterhouse finished with rosemary, Balsamico di Modena, and Gioia olive oil.

Complementing the culinary program, Wine & Beverage Director Daniel Bishop will curate a globally influenced wine collection anchored by Italy’s most celebrated regions and inspired by the Angelo family’s Italian heritage. The list will showcase benchmark reds, including Barolo and Barbaresco from Piemonte, celebrated Tuscan selections, lighter-style Etna reds from Sicily, and wines from Puglia that pay homage to the Angelo family’s roots. Bright, mineral-driven coastal whites of Italy will complement the collection, evoking the seaside regions and destinations of the Amalfi Coast, Taormina, and Cinque Terre. French, Spanish, and California wines will further round out the program, alongside select vintages spanning up to 20 to 25 years. The collection will continue to evolve over time, shaped by seasonality and guest preferences.

Signature cocktails include the refreshing Summer in Amalfi Spritz with Martini & Rossi Prosecco, St-Germain, Italicus Aperitivo, Condesa Gin Clásica, and cucumber; Zio Tony, a tropical riff on the Paper Plane, with Angel’s Envy Daniel’s Cask Bourbon, Sarti Aperitivo, Amaro Nonino Riserva, passion fruit, and lemon; and Garibaldi Fresca, a playful take on the Italian classic with Campari and fluffy pineapple and orange juices.

Over the past several years, Thomas, Kassidy, Danny Ganem, and Daniel Bishop have traveled extensively throughout Italy, immersing themselves in regional culinary traditions while building relationships with producers, winemakers, artisans, and suppliers. Every journey helped shape La Sponda, from discovering family-run wineries and sourcing exceptional ingredients to selecting handcrafted materials and finding inspiration in the timeless hospitality that defines Italy's most beloved destinations.

Designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, the restaurant blends timeless European elegance with the relaxed sophistication of Coconut Grove. Nearly every element throughout the space was thoughtfully sourced from Italy, including handcrafted furnishings, imported stone, custom tables, and artisan finishes. Guests are welcomed into an intimate dining room anchored by crisp white tablecloths, hand-painted architectural details, a baby grand piano, and a private dining room tucked away for special occasions. While the restaurant is rooted in Italian craftsmanship, subtle nods to Coconut Grove can be found throughout the interiors, including custom lamps individually hand-painted by a local artist with illustrations inspired by the neighborhood's iconic peacocks and tropical surroundings. With seating for approximately 120 guests, La Sponda was designed to feel both grand and welcoming, bringing together refined luxury and the warmth of an Italian home.

True to Gioia Hospitality Group's philosophy, service will remain at the heart of the La Sponda experience. Led by an experienced front-of-house team, guests can expect warm, attentive hospitality inspired by the traditions of Italy, where every meal is treated as an occasion and every guest is welcomed like family.

La Sponda will initially open for dinner on Wednesday – Sunday. Reservations will be available on Resy.

Images via The Louis Collection

Past PROFILEmiami articles about Vita at Grove Isle and Gioia Hospitality Group:

For more information about Vita at Grove Isle please fill out the form below:

THE SOUTH BEACH SEAFOOD FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THEIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY

South Florida’s highly anticipated South Beach Seafood Festival is back for its 10th anniversary with a celebration that is gearing up to be the best yet with special programming, including a $10,000 chef prize and popular live musical guests. From Wednesday, October 19 through Saturday, October 22, the four-day festival is a curated culinary showcase that couples South Florida’s bounty of seafood with the region’s most notable chefs and restaurants.

The South Beach Seafood Festival, which also kicks off Miami Beach’s famed stone crab season, consists of four separate ticketed events taking place throughout the week. The festival begins on Wednesday, October 19th with “An Evening at Joe’s Stone Crab.” The already-sold-out five-course meal showcases Executive Chef Andre Bienvenue’s cuisine paired with fine wines curated by master sommeliers.

Next up, “Crabs, Slabs & Cabs,” takes place the following evening and offers a formal sit-down, five-course dinner highlighting ‘Surf n’ Turf’ reimagined by some of the Magic City’s leading chefs. The event is hosted by GOYA Foods’ Executive Chef Fernando Desa and includes participation from celebrated restaurateur and Pubbelly Sushi partner José Mendín; Fiola Miami’s Executive Chef Danny Ganem; Meat Market Executive Chef and Owner Sean Brasel; and a final chef to be announced on July 1st. On Friday evening, the gloves come off as 16 of Miami’s top chefs go head-to-head in eight competitive seafood rounds during the annually sold out “Chef Showdown,” coined the ultimate beach bash on South Beach.

To commemorate the festival’s 10-year anniversary, one participating chef with the most points of the night will take home a grand prize of $10,000. The series of nightly events builds up to the main celebration, the “South Beach Seafood Festival,” an all-day affair taking place on Saturday, October 22, showcasing a selection of pop-up-cafés by prominent South Florida restaurants, complimentary open bar stations, and packed with live musical performances, interactive experiences, and much more for guests to enjoy.

“It’s a momentous 10-year celebration for the South Beach Seafood Festival, and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue to support and shine a spotlight on South Florida’s talented chefs and restaurant community every year,” said Valerie Roy, Director of Marketing and Client Strategy at CI Management, the team behind the South Beach Seafood Festival. “We are amplifying our programming and doing things in a more significant way for year #10 to celebrate the heart of what makes South Florida a not-to-be-missed culinary destination, highlighting local culinary talent in a unique manner, adding a $10,000 prize for one lucky chef champ of our Chef Showdown event, as well as bringing in some amazing entertainment to ensure this is our best festival yet.”

Touted in previous years by USA TODAY as one of the “Top 5 Specialty Festivals in The Country;” by Forbes as the “Top 5 Things to Do This Fall;” and by the Travel Channel as the “Best Seafood Festival in the US,” the South Beach Seafood Festival is the place to be for the ultimate ‘sea foodies’. In addition to celebrating regional culinary talent, the festival annually supports CI Foundation’s EAT SMART program, a 501 ©(3) nonprofit program that provides healthy meals and nutritional guidance to the local community and Florida’s youth through programs in Miami-Dade County public schools.