Coastal Themes Meet Italian Cuisine At Scusi Trattoria

Modern and coastal meet Italian dining at Scusi Trattoria, a restaurant in PGA Commons that opened in November.

Owned and created by world-renowned chef Laurent Tourondel, Scusi has an after-work, beach-casual vibe with fine-dining, mouth-watering morsels. It’s a delightful combination that allows for easy conversation and a relaxed atmosphere without sacrificing the most important aspect of any restaurant: the cuisine.

Outside, guests can choose between tables hidden under white-and-blue-striped umbrellas or a bar with heaters for chillier Florida evenings.

Inside the more than 5,000-square-foot restaurant the seating options are more bountiful. There’s an indoor bar and a lower-lit, intimate dining area, but we recommend a seat next to the open kitchen that buzzes with activity. Watch as fresh macaroni pops from its machine, fire dances in the wood-burning pizza oven and dish after dish appears at the counter, each more colorful and aromatic than the last.

“[The restaurant] is very coastal by the looks, by the way the dishes are designed,” Tourondel says. “There’s a variety of dishes… You can come to eat at Scusi three times a week, and you’ll be fine.”

The veal and pork meatballs and burrata are a great way to start. The meatballs are tender and expertly seasoned, while the fresh burrata bursts onto its bed of chilled arrabbiata, cherry tomatoes, basil and filone, a classic yeast bread.

The pasta is made fresh daily, and it shows through its taste and incredible texture. Options range from a succulent spaghetti to a spicy bucatini lobster “fra diavolo.” Carb-cutters will find that Scusi offers a delectable selection of fish and filets.