Fine Dining Table Team: We’re here today with Javier Ramírez, founder of La Natural Miami. Javier, tell us a little about yourself, how you got started, and how the idea for La Natural came about. Take us from your beginnings to where you are today.
Javier Ramírez: Sure. I’m from Venezuela, and I studied economics in college. I worked in the financial sector for 20 years. I moved to Miami in 2010 to continue working in finance, but five years later, the company I was working for had to close. I’ve always been passionate about cooking and enjoying food, so I decided my next step would be to open a restaurant.
Fine Dining Table Team: Was that the beginning of Alter?
Javier Ramírez: Exactly. In 2015, I opened Alter. Although it no longer exists in Miami, it was once a very prominent restaurant; it gained a lot of fame, and many considered it the best in the city. This success motivated me to continue in the restaurant industry. Later, I opened Palmar, a small Asian street food restaurant located in Downtown Miami. Both Alter and Palmar were projects I led, but I always worked closely with fellow chefs in the kitchen.
While working on these projects, I started making pizzas in the wood-fired oven in my backyard. I developed my own formula and recipe. There came a point when it was clear that this would be my next restaurant. I decided not to partner with another chef and to take on that role myself. That’s how La Natural was born, which I opened at the end of 2020, three and a half years ago.
Fine Dining Table Team: Tell us more about the menu and what makes your pizzas special.
Javier Ramírez: Our main focus is sourdough pizzas. The recipe combines Italian flour with North American whole wheat flour. It’s a very tasty pizza, made with simple but high-quality ingredients. I don’t like to overload pizzas; we have exceptional red and white sauces, which we complement with cheese, herbs, and some spices. Most of our pizzas follow this philosophy.
In addition to pizzas, the menu features a section of dishes that focus primarily on vegetables. These were developed in collaboration with a consulting chef from New York. Our wine list focuses on natural wines—that is, those without artificial additives.
Fine Dining Table Team: How has La Natural been received since it opened?
Javier Ramírez: It has been very rewarding. In our first year, Esquire magazine named us one of the 50 best restaurants in the country in 2021. In 2022, when the Michelin Guide came to Florida for the first time, we were awarded the Bib Gourmand, which recognizes high-quality, good-value casual restaurants. We have maintained this recognition for three consecutive years: 2022, 2023, and 2024. We are located in Little River, an up-and-coming neighborhood in Miami, about 10 minutes north of Wynwood.
Fine Dining Table Team: Moving from finance to gastronomy is a radical change. Do you think your background in economics has contributed to the success of your restaurants?
Javier Ramírez: Definitely. La Natural got off to a very strong start, thanks to great word of mouth. It became the place everyone wanted to be. We had a lot of customers, especially from New York, who had moved to Miami after the pandemic. These customers appreciated our take on sophisticated pizza, which was different from what you’d find at conventional pizzerias.
The first two years, 2021 and 2022, were particularly good. Although summers in Miami are usually slower and we've noticed a decline in customer traffic during those months, we continue to see a steady flow of customers, and people continue to appreciate what we have to offer.
However, given the success of La Natural, especially with audiences in cities like New York and Los Angeles, I would be willing to consider opening in another city if the opportunity arises.
Fine Dining Table Team: Don't you think that Miami's growth also brings with it a boom in the food scene?
Javier Ramirez: Yes and no. Miami has grown a lot, with many people moving here and a real estate boom. Many restaurants from New York, Europe, and South America have opened here in recent years. But for a small, independent restaurant in an up-and-coming neighborhood like Little River, this can be counterproductive because of increasing competition. I think commercial growth has outpaced population growth and the growth in purchasing power.
Fine Dining Table Team: Let's talk about your pizzas. Which one is your favorite at La Natural?
Javier Ramirez: Without a doubt, the one with Calabrian peppers. It has tomato sauce, Calabrian peppers, provolone cheese, and oregano leaves. I highly recommend it.
Fine Dining Table Team: You mentioned the importance of the dough, but what about your tomato sauce? Is it unique as well?
Javier Ramirez: Yes, but I chose to keep it simple. Instead of making a sauce from scratch, we use high-quality canned tomatoes. Specifically, we use Bianco DiNapoli, a brand founded by Chris Bianco, a renowned pizza maker from Phoenix, Arizona. It’s an extraordinary canned tomato that needs virtually nothing more than a pinch of salt. When you have a product this good, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel.
Fine Dining Table Team: Finally, why should Five Dining Table users visiting Miami try La Natural?
Javier Ramirez: We offer truly unique, high-quality pizza. Many customers have told us it’s the best they’ve ever had. Plus, our restaurant has a special atmosphere; many feel like they’re in someone’s home, perhaps in Southern Europe. We also offer one of the city’s most outstanding natural wine lists, perfect for those seeking authentic dining experiences.
Fine Dining Table Team: Tell us a little more about these natural wines.
Javier Ramírez: Most commercial wines contain additives to stabilize them or alter their color or flavor. Natural wines, on the other hand, are made just as they were a thousand years ago: fermented grape juice without additives. They are younger wines, typically from 2021, 2022, or 2023, and offer authentic flavors. Although some people believe they don’t cause hangovers, that depends on how much you drink, not on the quality of the wine. We offer a diverse selection of natural wines from Chile, Oregon, and Austria, among other regions.
Fine Dining Table Team: Thank you very much, Javier, for sharing your story and vision with us.
Javier Ramírez: Thank you for the opportunity.
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