Miami, FL

Inside Mother Wolf Miami, Evan Funke’s Ode to Roman Cuisine

Published

1 year ago

October 7, 2024

Inside Mother Wolf Miami, Evan Funke’s Ode to Roman Cuisine

Evan Funke, the Roman cuisine pro behind LA’s perpetual hotspots Felix and Mother Wolf, has brought his latest venture, Mother Wolf Miami, to the Miami Design District in partnership with Ten Five Hospitality, known for its high-profile restaurant projects like Baia Beach Club. The new outpost showcases Funke’s traditional approach to Roman cooking, blending age-old culinary techniques with Miami’s sleek, modern vibe.

Funke, a two-time James Beard nominee who also happens to star in the latest season of Chef’s Table on Netflix (focused, of course, on pasta), tells Eater Miami he’s not interested in opening just another Italian restaurant—something Miami has plenty of. “Mother Wolf is not an Italian restaurant. It’s a Roman restaurant,” he explained. “Roman food is very strict, almost dogmatic. There’s one way to make cacio e pepe, there’s one way to make amatriciana.”

Mother Wolf shot to national fame in 2022, attracting a 1,500-person waitlist before it even opened and quickly becoming a hotspot for A-list celebrities like Mark Wahlberg, Chrissy Teigen, and Vanessa Hudgens. The buzz only intensified with the expansion last year, adding a second location inside the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

The main dining room of Mother Wolf Miami.

In this newest outpost, Funke’s signature “pasta lab” takes center stage as guests walk into the space, offering diners a view into the daily pasta-making process. Alongside his staple dishes—like cacio e pepe and rigatoni alla carbonara—Funke introduces new Miami-inspired items like spaghetti Ricci di Mare, with sea urchin, and a seafood-heavy Fritto Misto di Mare. “We’re moving toward coastal Roman,” Funke said of the Miami location. “Italian food is very much environmentally driven, and here we’re cooking as Italians would—leaning into what’s available around us.”

At Mother Wolf, Funke aims to transport guests straight to the streets of Rome. Fired in a wood oven, the pizzas stay true to Roman tradition with thin crusts and simple ingredients like the classic Margherita and spicy Diavola. Beyond the pizza and pasta, diners can expect dishes like fried squash blossoms and short rib-filled meatballs, while mains like whole roasted branzino, lamb rib chops, and dry-aged ribeye round out the offerings.

The private dining area at Mother Wolf Miami.

Designed by London’s Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, Mother Wolf blends Roman influences with Miami’s art deco style. Murano glass chandeliers hang from a custom fabric ceiling, while terrazzo floors and Horus gold marble tables fill the dining room. Timber-framed banquettes and a 30-foot bar add a touch of old-school glamour, mean to balance the rustic nature of the food. “The space is really over the top while the food is extremely rustic,” Funke says. “I like that juxtaposition.” Oak paneling, brass accents, and glazed ceramic details can be found throughout the space, while the open kitchen offers a front-row seat to the action, with bar seats in front saved for walk-ins.

In keeping with the Italian theme, servers wear tuxedo jackets, while sommeliers provide rare Italian wines by the glass, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. The wine list, featuring over 400 bottles, highlights producers from Italy’s Piedmont, Tuscany, and Sardinia. Drinks are no afterthought either. The cocktail list balances Italian classics with local twists. The San Lorenzo mixes gin, sage, and black pepper, while the R&R plays with whiskey and Italian herbs.

opulent bar. — The bar area at Mother Wolf Miami.

However, Funke admits that Miami wasn’t always on his radar. “I don’t really target markets like, ‘I want to open here,’” he said. “I like to go where there’s great people, where I can get good products, where people want to cook this food. And Miami—there’s no shortage of Italian restaurants, so I knew there would be a set of cooks I could possibly work with.” Funke found himself pulled in by the Design District’s mix of art and fashion, which he felt aligned with the restaurant. “The space and energy just felt right,” he said.

For Funke, creating a connection between Miami and Rome is key. “If you eat cacio e pepe here and then go to Rome, I want you to remember that time at Mother Wolf Miami,” he said.

Mother Wolf Miami is now open at 3841 NE 2nd Avenue in the Miami Design District from Tuesday through Sunday, from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

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Miami, FL

1 dead, 9 injured in 3-vehicle crash in southwest Miami-Dade

Published

1 hour ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

1 dead, 9 injured in 3-vehicle crash in southwest Miami-Dade

Published: March 28, 2026 at 9:39 PM

WPLG WPLG

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A three-vehicle crash in southwest Miami-Dade triggered a large emergency response Saturday night, leaving 10 people injured, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

MDFR units responded around 8:03 p.m. to the area of Southwest 28th Street and Southwest 107th Avenue after receiving reports of a massive crash.

Officials said 13 units arrived on scene and found a total of 10 adult patients.

Three people were taken to a local hospital with injuries. One of the passengers, a woman, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

No additional details have been released.

Pablo Hernandez

Pablo Hernandez is a Digital Journalist at WPLG. He was born in Cuba and has lived in Miami, Florida since 2002.

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Miami, FL

Mock Draft Roundup: Miami Defensive End Is Popular Pick For Lions

Published

13 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Mock Draft Roundup: Miami Defensive End Is Popular Pick For Lions

It’s time for the 13th Detroit Lions OnSI mock draft roundup for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Over the last week, the Lions have increasingly prioritized finding an EDGE to complement Aidan Hutchinson at No. 17 overall.

Let’s take a look now at who the draft pundits have Lions general manager Brad Holmes selecting in the first round.

Offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)

Mauigoa is presently being projected by the following:

Pro Football Network (Alec Elijah)

EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)

Mesidor is presently being mocked by the following:

A to Z Sports (Mike Payton; Lions trade down to No. 26 overall); NFL.com (Bucky Brooks); Pro Football Focus (Jordan Plocher); CBS Sports (Garrett Podell)

As Plocher pens, “The Lions are finally able to add a consistent pass-rush threat opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Only one time since Hutchinson has been in Detroit has another Lions defender topped 50 hurries in a season, and that was Al-Quadin Muhammad in 2025 (53), but he left in free agency.

Mesidor was one of the most productive pass rushers in college football in 2025, amassing 13 sacks, four quarterback hits and 50 hurries on 445 pass-rush snaps. He finished the 2025 season with a 94.2 PFF pass-rushing grade against true pass sets, the second-best mark in the draft class.”

EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)

Bain is presently being selected by the following:

FOX Sports (Joel Klatt)

As Klatt pens, “I think the Lions could really use another pass rusher, even if they already have Aidan Hutchinson. Putting Bain with Hutchinson would give Detroit two members on the All-Motor Team. They would wear offensive tackles out. How would opposing teams shift their protections? One of them would get a one-on-one matchup that they would win.”

Offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, Utah

Lomu is presently being selected by the following:

Pro Football Network (Jacob Infante); Pro Football Network (T.J. Randall)

As Infante explains, “Few expected the level of regression the Detroit Lions experienced in 2025. After the release of long-time starting left tackle Taylor Decker, they find themselves with a big hole along an offensive line that already took a step back after key departures the previous offseason.

Caleb Lomu is a smooth, polished left tackle who didn’t allow a single sack in 382 pass-blocking reps during the 2025 regular season. His hand timing, balance, and range in pass protection make him a top offensive tackle prospect and a worthy first-round selection in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft.”

Offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, Georgia

Freeling is currently being mocked by the following:

Detroit Lions On SI (Christian Booher); FOX Sports (Ben Arthur); Sports Illustrated (Daniel Flick)

As Flick writes, “The Lions released starting left tackle Taylor Decker and now need a replacement in the draft. Freeling, who’s risen from unheralded to likely first-round pick, is an athletic mover with plenty of bend and agility. He needs to keep getting stronger, but Freeling could be a tremendous blindside blocker at the next level.”

Offensive tackle Blake Miller, Clemson

Miller is presently being mocked by the following:

The Detroit News (Nolan Bianchi); NFL.com (Mike Band); The Draft Network (Jaime Eisner)

As Eisner opines, “The Taylor Decker era is over in Detroit and a new left tackle is needed. Enter Blake Miller, a name that is rising up draft boards as we inch closer to April. Miller has a phenomenal college resume with good size and a ton of power. He’s played mostly right tackle, but he should have no issues moving over to the left side if needed or sticking at right tackle with Penei Sewell moving over. Miller and Sewell can form a formidable bookend tandem in Detroit.”

Offensive tackle Spencer Fano, Utah

Fano is presently being selected by the following:

CBS Sports (Pete Prisco)

Offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Proctor is presently being selected by the following:

ESPN (Field Yates); NFL.com (Charles Davis); USA Today (Google Gemini); CBS Sports (Josh Edwards); WalterFootball (Charlie Campbell)

As Yates opines, “Left tackle is a sizable need for Detroit with the departure of Taylor Decker after 10 seasons. Proctor is a sizable answer to the problem — literally — at 6-7, 352 pounds. He has power when he gets his hands on defenders in the running game as well.

Proctor’s tape had up-and-down moments during his final college season, as sometimes his foot quickness was overmatched by edge rushers. But the upside is immense for the 20-year-old left tackle, who started all 40 games he appeared in at Alabama.”

EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

Faulk is currently being mocked by the following:

USA Today/Touchdown Wire (Alyssa Barbieri)

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Miami, FL

As Ultra Music Festival kicks off, Miami residents living nearby are expressing concerns about traffic, noise

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

As Ultra Music Festival kicks off, Miami residents living nearby are expressing concerns about traffic, noise

As tens of thousands of electronic music fans descend on downtown Miami for the Ultra Music Festival this weekend, some residents living near Bayfront Park say the celebration comes at a cost they bear year after year.

Visitors from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the three-day festival. While organizers and city leaders tout the economic and cultural impact of the event, nearby residents say road closures, limited park access, and high noise levels disrupt daily life in an area that has grown increasingly residential.

“It’s kind of stressful, and it’s definitely an imposition,” said Laura Okamura, who lives along Biscayne Boulevard near the festival grounds. “The people who suffer the most are the people who live at 50 Biscayne.”

Newer residential towers now surround Bayfront Park, a shift neighbors say city leaders and festival organizers must account for as Ultra negotiates its next contract with Miami.

A Miami commissioner visited residents to hear their concerns

District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo visited Okamura’s building Friday night to hear concerns from residents firsthand. He said a public meeting scheduled for April 2 will allow surrounding neighbors to voice their grievances as the city considers the festival’s future.

“It seems doable,” Pardo said. “People really like this event. People in this building, people on the street, enjoy the event, but they also want to be heard. And they want to be sure their basic needs are met.”

Noise remains one of the biggest issues for nearby residents. Colby Leider, a sound engineer, said early-evening readings near the festival hovered between 80 and 85 decibels. Historically, neighbors say volumes increase as the night goes on.

“Eighty-five is a very important number in human hearing,” Leider said. “It’s the level above which exposure begins to potentially cause hearing loss.”

Residents say they want stricter noise controls and traffic mitigation plans written into Ultra’s new agreement with the city. They stress they are not pushing to cancel the festival, but want accommodations that reflect how downtown Miami has changed since Ultra began in the city.

“It’s about understanding how a neighborhood has grown and how an event that has existed for 26 years can harmonize over time,” Pardo said.

Okamura echoed that sentiment, saying neighbors are asking festival organizers to act responsibly. “We are not asking Ultra not to have the concert,” she said. “We are asking them to be a good neighbor. This is our home. This is where we live.”

Representatives from Ultra Music Festival and the Bayfront Park Management Trust are expected to attend the April 2 meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss potential changes to the festival’s contract with the city. The meeting will take place at Live Arts Lab Theater, building 1, room 1101. Ultra Music Festival runs through the weekend at Bayfront Park, with road closures and traffic expected throughout downtown Miami.

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