What do you think when I say Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem? Two NBA champions, completing their 15th and final season for the Miami HEAT together. Right? Thing is, basketball legends and long-time friends turned businessmen recently teamed up with Chef Anthony Carron to open 800° Woodfired Kitchen in Aventura and win the hearts of their fans and customers off the court too.
Located at 2956 Aventura Boulevard, Aventura, FL 33180, this full service restaurant dismantles any celebrity-owned eatery’ stereotypes - expensive menus, memorabilia décor, fancy environment, to name a few. In fact, when I was invited to a complimentary meal with my family, I was wondering if this was another celebrity vanity project, I was not expecting culinary delights here and by the time I got there I was pleasantly surprised.
 |  |
The light and airy, 4,000 sq. ft. space, with a large open kitchen, high ceilings and an industrial decor, is not a sport bar (there are no autographed shirts and jerseys on the wall) or just another pizzeria. Don’t get me wrong…the big screens, the bar area and the local craft beers make this establishment a great place to catch any sporting event (the US Miami Open’s final was on TVs when we were there). And if you are after a traditional pizza, 800° Woodfired Kitchen has you covered with all of the expected meats and vegetables toppings, as well as with their gluten-free and vegan options. However, with a family-friendly, laid-back and warm atmosphere, this is a full table-side service restaurant with an impressive culinary and service pedigree that brings a unique and innovative approach to the art of wood-fired cooking, providing guests top-quality dishes that stretch beyond the traditional pizza offering.
Menu includes items influenced by the NBA players, like Pre-Game Warmup (Bombay, Lemon, Honey, Strawberries, Champagne); UD’s Woodfired Wings (with Calabrian chile, creamy gorgonzola dip), and DWade’s Woodfired Burger (Dry-aged beef, bacon jam, caramelized onion, aged white cheddar, roasted garlic aioli, served with Yukon Gold french fries). But they also serve craveable woodfired rotisserie meats, healthy salads and bowls, woodfired appetizers and more. Starting with the purest ingredients - scratch dough, fresh produce and artisan-quality meats and cheeses - 800° Woodfired Kitchen creates an offering that is authentic, delicious and diverse. There is certainly something for everyone, whether it is meat, fish, pizza, pasta or vegetables.
 |  |
Pictured above: Key West Pink Shrimp | Pictured above: Burrata |
We started with Key West Pink Shrimp - Woodfired “scampi” in a casserole dish with cherry tomatoes, garlic, basil, white wine, grilled bread - for an appetizer. They were delicious and vanished quickly. We ordered the Burrata which we were told is a must-try. Being Italian, I was curious about the taste of local burrata and prosciutto di Parma (my hometown). To be honest, I didn’t have high hopes on the flavor of the cheese but it was my lucky day and even this appetizer turned out to be amazing! Signature item, Honeycomb Lasagna was the entree for me and my daughter. Oven-baked mezzi paccheri (large tube shaped pasta) stacked together to create a beautiful honeycomb shape, and filled with layers of bolognese, castelmagno-cheese bechamel, and tomato. They say it serves 2 but this is a family (of 4) size dish. We took the left-over home and my husband had it at work the next day. My husband decided on the DWade’s Woodfired Burger, “One of the best burgers I ever had” he says, and he is a black-belt in eating burgers. My son had the Pizza Margherita, with a relatively thin but risen crust, cooked to a light crispiness, and with a good balance of cheese and sauce. We all ended up trying and loving it!
 |  |
Pictured above: Honeycomb Lasagna | Pictured above: Tres Leche Bread Pudding |
As for the kids, they also have a nice coloring menu with always-winning options like chicken fingers & fries, cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza and past - all for only $6 each.
Failure to save room for dessert at 800° Woodfired Kitchen is a significant end-of-game blunder you don’t want to make when homemade Tres Leche Bread Pudding (our choice - to share!), Key Lime Pie and a selection of Wynwood bakery Fireman Derek’s pies and cakes are on the menu.
Guest service was A++. General manager John Garcia, a hospitality veteran who has worked at luxury hotels such as St Regis Bay Harbor, Trump National Doral, Loews Hotels and Mondrian South Beach, the hostess and our server…they were all very personable, knowledgable and efficient. We went there on a Saturday for lunch. The restaurant was busy but not packed. As soon as we arrived, we were welcomed and seated inside overlooking the al fresco dining area. We were right next to another table of four with whom we agreed that what makes this place extra special, besides of the delicious food, is the welcoming and super hospitable atmosphere.
Bonus: We all know about how important location is for a restaurant, but what about parking availability? At 800° Woodfired Kitchen eating out with the family is made even easier with free parking, and when I say parking, I mean a lot next to the restaurant. Are parking lots beautiful? No. Are they necessary when we are going out with our kids? Yes! Plus, Aventura Mall is just across the street, giving us a chance for a post-meal window shopping spree.
800° Woodfired Kitchen in Aventura
Address: 2956 Aventura Blvd - AVENTURA, Florida 33180
Phone: 305-902-4363
Opening Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11am-11pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-12am
Disclaimer: The author and her family were invited to a complimentary meal for the purpose of this review, but all opinions are those of the author.
Did you like this article? Sign up for Macaroni Kid North East Miami and Miami Beach weekly e-newsletter to receive news, events and special offers.
