La Masseria

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Three Italians from Capri and Puglia, One Table in Palm Beach Gardens

La Masseria on PGA Boulevard is the product of a friendship that started in childhood on the island of Capri. Co-owners and executive managers Peppe Iuele and Enzo Ruggiero grew up together there before eventually building a group of Italian restaurants along the East Coast. The third pillar of the kitchen is Executive Chef and co-owner Pino Coladonato, who spent fourteen years cooking at Sette Mezzo before joining the team. Pino grew up on a farm in Puglia, where meals were built around whatever was at hand — fava beans, chickpeas, lentils. Those same ingredients remain at the core of his cooking today, grounding a menu that is regional and personal rather than generically Italian.

A Menu That Knows Where It Comes From

The Italian cuisine at La Masseria moves confidently from antipasti through pasta, pizza, and secondi without losing its sense of place. Neapolitan-style pizzas are made with DOP San Marzano tomatoes and Fior di Latte mozzarella sourced directly from Italy — the Tartufo Nero, finished with black truffle and four cheeses, sits at one end of the spectrum; the straightforward Margherita at the other. Housemade pastas are a particular strength: the Scialatelli Quattro Passi — thick-cut short fettuccine with eggplant and smoked mozzarella — and the Tortelloni al Profumo di Limone, stuffed with caciocavallo and lemon zest in a butter-sage sauce, both reflect Chef Pino's instinct for combining simple ingredients with precision. Among the entrées, the braised rabbit alla Caprese and the oven-roasted whole Mediterranean sea bass speak to the kitchen's range.

Enzo's childhood memories of stomping grapes at his grandfather's vineyard translated into a wine program that has earned the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year since 2018, reaching the Best of Award of Excellence in 2022 — recognition that reflects genuine depth and curation rather than a list assembled for appearance.

The Room and the Experience

The interior was designed by Libby Langdon, whose residential and commercial work is known for an easy, elegant sensibility — the space feels considered without being stiff. Valet parking is available, outdoor seating is on offer, and the kitchen accommodates private parties and events. Lunch runs daily with prix fixe and specials options; happy hour runs every afternoon from 3 to 5 PM. The overall feel is one that Peppe Iuele has described simply: "food was an important way to bring people together." At La Masseria, that philosophy is evident from the first plate to the last.