About Macch

Italian soul, Miami heart.

Opened in June 2012, Macchialina, located at 820 Alton Road in the heart of South Beach’s residential west side community, has quickly become a favorite Italian restaurant among critics, locals and in-the-know tourists, who flock to the casual neighborhood eatery to indulge in chef/owner Michael Pirolo’s rustic yet sophisticated Italian fare.

Macchialina began racking up accolades almost immediately, such as a 3½ star Excellent rating from The Miami Herald, a stellar review, as well as Best Restaurant 2013 by the Miami New Times, all in its first year. Pirolo and his team at Macchialina have taken the city by storm. Recognized in 2016 by the James Beard Foundation, Chef Pirolo was a semi-finalist for Best Chef South. Now heralded as the most starred chef working in Miami, Chef Pirolo continues to garner praise for his soulful Italian cooking.

Under owner and sommelier (and younger sibling to Chef Pirolo), Jacqueline Pirolo, Macchialina has been awarded a Wine Spectator Award as well as being named one of their Small but Mighty wine lists in 2018, the same year she was bestowed a Pineapple Award (Spirited Miami) for Miami’s Best Sommelier. Most recently, in 2025, Jacqueline was named the MICHELIN Guide Florida Sommelier Award Winner, a prestigious national honor that recognizes her as one of the country’s top voices in wine.

Michael Pirolo

Born in Queens and raised in Avellino, Italy, Chef Michael Pirolo grew up in a food-loving family that led him to culinary school in Torino and Michelin-starred kitchens across Italy. After refining his skills in French cuisine in New York and Philadelphia—where he met his partner, Jen Chaefsky—he earned two Michelin stars at Gilt and later joined Scott Conant’s Scarpetta, eventually relocating to Miami to lead the kitchen at Fontainebleau’s Scarpetta.

Pirolo’s honest, soulful cooking quickly made waves in Miami, earning a rare four-star review from The Miami Herald. In 2012, he launched Macchialina alongside Chaefsky and his sister Jacqueline, creating one of the city’s most beloved Italian spots. With accolades from The Daily Meal, The Miami Herald, and the James Beard Foundation, Macchialina continues to thrive as a neighborhood favorite and culinary standout.

Jacqueline Pirolo

Born in Italy and raised in an Italian household in the U.S., Jacqueline Pirolo didn’t set out to join the restaurant world—but quickly made it her own. After co-founding The Saint Austere in Brooklyn with her brothers, she brought her sharp eye and passion for wine to Macchialina, where she now serves as Owner and Beverage Director, overseeing both the beverage program and day-to-day operations. Her accolades include the 2025 MICHELIN Guide Florida Sommelier Award, a Pineapple Award for Best Sommelier, and a Wine Spectator Award—along with national recognition for curating one of the country’s most memorable “small but mighty” wine lists.

Jennifer Chaefsky

Raised in Philadelphia, Jen Chaefsky found her footing in the restaurant world under acclaimed restaurateur Stephen Starr, where she developed a deep understanding of operations and hospitality. Her career continued alongside industry greats like Alfred Portale and Masaharu Morimoto before she partnered with Chef Michael Pirolo—her longtime partner in life and business—to open Macchialina in 2012.