Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano
A Gulf Coast restaurant truly embodying the word “authentic” is Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano located in Destin, getting its namesake from the owner and chef, Mimmo La Innusa. Born and raised in Sicily, Mimmo came to the United States in 2006 with a passion for real Italian cooking.
He grew up watching his family create beautiful home-cooked dishes every day. Mimmo recalls the captivating smells and flavors of the foods prepared in his family’s kitchen. Often, he would sit and watch his mother and grandmother cook, paying close attention to the techniques they used.
Mimmo uses his childhood in South Italy as everyday inspiration for running his restaurant. Every aspect of each dish is prepared in-house, down to the bread that welcomes each person as they sit down to enjoy a meal. He believes in the importance of creating every menu item from scratch and refuses to cook any other way!
Everything from the menu items to the way Mimmo conducts business operations reflects family and tradition. You will find Mimmo’s younger brother, Federico, and friend, Junior Divaldo, working within the restaurant as well as many other family members and friends. Mimicking how he would watch his family in the kitchen, Mimmo would not want it any other way!
He prides himself on authentic Italian-style cooking with simple ingredients like those pictured on his menu, never skimping on the extra-extra virgin olive oil or the freshest mozzarella.
Mimmo uses sauces made from scratch, including the sauce on their brick oven pizza. He believes that using fresh ingredients and recipes passed down from his family is what sets his restaurant apart.
You will also find a full bar and authentic Italian inspired cocktails. Aperol Spritz, which is prosecco, Aperol, and soda water as well as, Mimmo’s Sgroppino, which is prosecco, vodka, lemon, and the ever so popular, limoncello are crowd favorites.
While Mimmo’s Ristorante is authentic Italiano, it is so much more. Mimmo created an atmosphere that is chic and elegant while remaining a comfortable homestyle venue. Perfect for a family dinner, business lunch, or date night, Mimmo’s is a vibrant yet homey experience that locals (and out of towners) have been raving about since its opening in 2015.
In 2020, Mimmo will open a second location in Blue Mountain Beach, Florida, alongside 30A. He hopes to continue sharing his authentic Italian-style cooking with the Gulf Coast one plate at a time.
Whether or not you are local to the Destin area, make the trip to Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano. It is worth it. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. See you there.
