Located in Miami's Little River neighborhood, La Natural has earned a coveted spot among the top 100 pizzerias worldwide, as recognized by the 2025 Best Pizza Awards held on June 25 in Milan. Owned and led by Venezuelan chef Javier Ramírez, the establishment proudly claimed the 35th position, marking it as Florida's sole representative on this distinguished list.
As the restaurant faced a decline in bookings at the onset of summer, this international acclaim arrived at a pivotal time. "This award has been a blessing in disguise. We're now doubling our business compared to this time last summer," Ramírez told the Miami Herald, highlighting the immediate boost in customer traffic following the announcement.
Previously honored for four consecutive years with the Bib Gourmand distinction by the Michelin Guide for its outstanding quality-to-price ratio, La Natural has now solidified its standing on the global culinary stage. Ramírez, a culinary entrepreneur with past ventures like Alter and Palmar, began his pizza-making journey through self-education. He experimented with different flours and techniques, testing his creations with friends in his backyard.
The result is a signature cold-fermented sourdough crust that takes 48 hours to prepare, so revered that it is offered as a standalone dish. His favorite pizza, as shared with the Herald, features Calabrian chiles, provolone, and oregano. "It has salt, fat, acidity, and spice," explained the chef, who even sports a tattoo of Calabrian chiles on his arm.
Cooked in a wood-fired oven, the menu emphasizes fresh ingredients and balanced flavors. Since opening La Natural in December 2020 with his then-wife Andreina Matos, Ramírez has witnessed a transformation in Little River. Once a quiet area, it now hosts several notable eateries, including Boia De, Sunny’s Steakhouse, and Bar Bucce. "Opening here was a risk; there was nothing around," Ramírez recalled. "Today, it's truly a place you want to be."