No, the charismatic chef is not inviting you to Haulover Beach. That’s the slogan of his well-liked and ever-growing household of Naked Taco eating places.
Pagano opened his newest Naked Taco in South Miami-Dade on the Falls procuring middle. The chef explains his foray into the neighborhood. “The truth of the matter is that Pinecrest, as a city, is phenomenal. The individuals have nice palates, and there aren’t sufficient eating places for the individuals which can be hungry for good meals. It’s a home-run place to be.”
Pagano says that his new neighbors have already embraced the 8,000 square-foot restaurant that is embellished with neon signage and Day of the Dead Catrina — all with their particular person personalities. “One is Buffy (named after his spouse), the Catrina with the gun is the “Smoking Gun,” and the one with a tattoo with “Dada” on her forearm has “Daddy Issues.” Besides the colourful and intriguing murals, the restaurant is supplied with one indoor bar and an out of doors bar, excellent for completely happy hours and a post-spending spree margarita or two.
The first Naked Taco opened in South Beach in 2014 on the Dream Hotel and celebrates its ninth anniversary on February 21. Pagano notes that the proximity to nationwide margarita day (February 22) wasn’t accidentally. “Naked Taco is all about my love affair with margaritas,” he tells New Times.
Pagano additionally owns and operates Naked Tacos in Boca Raton and Coconut Creek, and plans to open extra places in Wellington and Naples. Pagano says that the flagship South Beach location is his favourite. “Even although I stay in Boca, I say it on a regular basis. I like Miami.”
Miami additionally loves Pagano. In June 2017, Pagano was set to open a restaurant in Bimini when an explosion occurred throughout a coaching session. Pagano pushed an worker out of hurt’s means and sustained life-threatening accidents that might finally lead him to spend 59 days at Miami’s Ryder Trauma Center. At the time, all the metropolis was rooting for the chef’s restoration.
Nearly six years after the accident, Pagano embraces his journey, branding himself “fireproof.”
The chef, nonetheless, turns into humble when speaking concerning the professionals on the Ryder Trauma Center who helped save his life and rehabilitate him. “The individuals from the burn unit all got here right down to the opening of Naked Taco. I’m having a tough time not changing into emotional. I do know what care and energy they put into placing me again collectively.”
Pagano additionally credit his employees together with his success. “The individuals I’ve working with me are one of the best. I’ve an important crew that permits me to open these eating places.”
The chef can be planning to open a brand new restaurant this fall named Shabibi. Pagano explains that he is half Italian and half Lebanese and the restaurant will discover his Lebanese roots with recipes impressed by his mom’s household. “My mom simply visited for the weekend, and in her suitcase, there was one outfit and tons of grape leaves and tabouli. I child you not,” he says, including that the restaurant will provide wood-fired meats in an open kitchen idea eating room. “Sumac and pomegranate — they’re in my blood. The ardour for the delicacies shall be evident within the dishes,” he says.
Pagano’s ardour for meals could also be evident in his dishes, however there’s one other ardour that is plain: his ardour for all times. “My children are superior. My spouse is superior. There are lots of people who do higher than me, however no person’s happier.”
“I’ve a fortune cookie taped to my cellphone that reads: ‘Soon you should have the present of time.’ At the tip of the day, there’s nothing extra vital.”
Naked Taco. 8888 SW 136 St., Miami; 786-250-3399; ilovenakedtaco.com.