Cafe Italia Fort Lauderdale Italian Restaurant
3471 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33306
Cafe Italia Fort Lauderdale Italian Restaurant Menu
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Vegetarian
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Vegetarian
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Address :
3471 N Federal Hwy
Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33306 - Phone (954) 561-3900
- Website https://cafeitaliafortlauderdale.com/fort-lauderdale-cafe-italia/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 11:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Mary T.
This is a great find! Food was excellent, service was great and prices are reasonable. Highly recommend!!!
(4)Sarah G.
Wow this place is great, we had the antipasto mixto, the snapper and the veal Marsala. Everything was delicious and very reasonability priced. The bread was the best I have had in south Florida and so was the house wine. On top of all those positive thing the staff was super attentive and friendly and the owner Francesco was the cutest thing ever!!!! He makes you feel right at home, can't wait to return.
(5)David Z.
We love this place! We've been coming here for years! The man at the door/owner is the back bone and familiar face that is great to see. I've never had a bad meal there. We come from palm beach every time we're in Fl! Btw I'm a vegetarian and they always accommodate! They always have great bread!! On our way there now..,
(5)Maryann C.
So I've lived in Fort Lauderdale over 43 years and I have to say this was the best yellowtail and red snapper preparation I've ever had. It's a tiny storefront restaurant with maybe 10-12 tables? Run by an Italian couple that have been there 23 years. How did I miss this gem? If it hadn't been for a groupon coupon I never would have found it. We started with muscels.. they were big, plump and delicious and spicy the way I like them. We each had Fish and it was cooked to perfection. Amazingly fresh as the tail was still on it so it was a nice small size yellowtail snapper or red snapper and the sauce was perfect. We ordered a side of broccoli cooked in garlic and oil and pasta done the same. It reminded me of what I cook at home and I'm a real foodie. We had the Tartuffo with pistachio ice cream covered in chocolate and whipped cream yum! It reminded me of a little Italian restaurant I went to growing up in New York. This is definitely our go-to Italian restaurant from now on. It is beer and wine only ...we had Prosecco for a very reasonable $25 a bottle. This whole dinner cost is $90 which was amazing in itself for a five-star restaurant in my book. I would make reservations if you go on the weekend, during the week it seems good but we went early....love this place!
(5)donald a.
This is a really great, well done Italian place in a town with a lot of pizza joints, and those that are a step above super market frozen Italian.The place is mostly black and white, nice music, attentive waitresses and a charming owner.The bread from Il Forno bakery is excellent.We had the Caprese salad as they were out of the bufalo and big enough to share which we did.I had a tuna steak, cover in mushrooms and onions, very well done.My partner the eggplant Parmigiana , The portions are large enough to take home for lunch the next day.The food was almost on par with Casa DE Angelo but at least 1/2 the price , without the mob scene and nouveau clientele.The owner, from a small town on the Adriatic adds a Continental charm.We shall return shortly.
(4)Joe H.
Great food but the worst service we have ever had. We waited 90 minutes for our food. When we complianed we were told it was because we choose to sit outside. The waitress told us the delay was due to the health dept being there.
(2)Nick P.
We really enjoyed our meal at Cafe Italia this evening. The muscles were terrific to start. I highly recommend the carbonara as well. Service was good as was the authentic atmosphere. I would certainly recommend.
(4)Luis T.
Nice experience
(4)Dyannah C.
Cafe Italia is in my top 3 favorite authentic italian restaurants and has been consistently good throughout the years. I'm perplexed by some of the bad reviews as we have been coming here since we first came to FTL and each and every dining experience has been exceptionally good. We have brought friends and family as well as clients and many of them have become repeat customers. The food is always fresh, seasoned and presented with care. The pasta is imported from Italy, perfectly cooked al dente. My constant fave is the Papardelle Mare di Monti with Shrimp and Porcini Mushrooms; it is divine. The menu selection is ample and everything is homemade. It is a family owned business and it's obvious that they care about the food. The portions are good as are the prices. Aside from the classic parmigianas, there are quite a few fish entrees as well as several specialty risotto dishes. Even the bread which is from Gran Forno on Las Olas, one of the best bakeries in town, is delicious. Although I'm not much of a wine afficionado, the selection is good. Each and every dessert is superb! The ambiance is soothing and casual and on the weekends there is live music. I love this place. I wish there were more stars to give.
(5)Daniel K.
We had forgotten about CAFE ITALIA having been there a few times some years ago. Our Veal dish was just as I remembered it...excellent. We'll definately be back soon
(5)Alan L.
Surprised this place wasn't busier on a Saturday night. The owner spent some time talking to us, and actually told me he wanted to prepare my swordfish differently than on the menu, and it was a great choice. All in all, it was an enjoyable and tasty dinner, in a friendly and comfortable environment.
(4)Eldiva S.
We made reservations and walked into a packed restaurant last Saturday night but our table was ready and we were seated promptly by the owner. We took our family and friends for dinner-there were 8 of us and we were very pleasantly surprised to see the space had been renovated since the last time we were there a few months ago now the great atmosphere and decor of this space matches the great food! Service was better than it has been in the past-he has new wait staff-very hard working young ladies that are efficient, prompt and friendly. Everything was done at a good pace-brought bread, took our orders, brought the food, filled water glasses,etc. -everything went smoothly as it should have. Food was still top notch-had some antipasti veggies in what seemed to be a sweet and sour sauce, the spaghetti with lamb meatball and the lasagna -all were delicious! We finished off with some capuccinos at the end and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves! Another great experience! Oh and they had a lovely piano player for the evening - a very nice touch! Overall everything tasted great as usual but our experience was better than ever because the restaurant niw has a nice ambience due to their upgrades and renovations and the service was great-thanks ladies! My only complaint is he has still not added that sausage pasta to the menu-please add it, its so good! If I could give them 6 stars -I would - thank you Francesco!
(5)Elisa D.
Been in a search of an authentic Italian restaurant, I found it! Delicious lasagna! The Italian owner convinced me sold!
(5)Jim G.
This place is inconspicuously nestled between titty clubs to the south and the Mai Kai to the north, in the ground floor of a commercial building. For awhile this summer, it looked like it had closed but they were doing some remodeling. Like the last reviewer, I'm mystified with some negative reviews. It's a nice family-run place with good servings of quality food at fair prices. With Mama at the stove (literally) and papa out front, this is a nice contrast to the chain restaurants which populate this Coral Ridge area location. I don't want to say too many good things, because I can dependably get in on a Friday or Saturday (even in season) and I don't want to start waiting in line to get in.
(4)Marqus R.
Café Italia is a really nice, pleasant little Italian Restaurant that has been located in the Roselli Building for the past 15 years or so with its daily dinner operations carefully watched over by its most friendly, polite and personable owner/operator. The wait staff is friendly, kind, efficient, professional and well trained. The menu offerings are rather typical of local Italian restaurants offering the usual pasta, veal, chicken, fish and so forth with nothing particularly unusual or exotic. I had their house salad which contained a good mixture of fresh tomato, onion and arugula with their house what I found to be a very good house dressing. For entrée, the veal Marsala which was served heaping with plenty of veal and mushroom in a Marsala sauce, which though to me was too much on the sweet side, proved to be very good. One thing, speaking of the size of the portions, there is no skimping at Café Italia. Matter of fact I overhead several customers complain that their servings were too large. Naturally I would liked to have punched them in the nose for making such a stupid complaint as maybe too large for them, but not for me. I may have rated Café Italia three star plus but the owner, who insures the comfort of every dinning guest is such a nice person and so pleasant to deal with deal with, the fact that I tend to be overly critical when it comes to Italian food and because of the more than reasonable prices, there is not way I would go less than four stars.
(4)Robert S.
What a great experience. We attended a hosted wine tasting there and couldn't of been treated better. The food was fresh and hot, authentic and enough to feed an ARMY!! LOL.... I as nice, not overly crowded, seating nicely arranged so you don't feel cramped, noise level at a minimum so you can enjoy meal and conversation and wonderful service... Another little hidden GEM that we will definitely return to.... DID i mention the food was Phenomenal and HOT....
(5)Miranda P.
Where's Gordon Ramsey when you need him? Everything we experienced here should have earned this place an episode on Kitchen Nightmares. Based on our experience, it is unfathomable to me how it earned such praise from other patrons. Maybe they've just gotten complacent after so many years. (Yelp let me down this time.) We stopped out front to look at the menu, and the owner immediately approached us like a used car salesman and started his pitch on why we should claim a table inside. The owner then hovered at our table for too long. Most other reviewers found this attention endearing; we found it annoying and a bit awkward. He was also kind of a jerk to his waitstaff. We were brought "the best focaccia bread in Ft. Lauderdale" - which had no seasoning and a burnt crust. We also each got a plate with three separate piles of vegetables, which I had to spend several minutes making into a salad by cutting up and combining large chunks of tomato and cucumber and spiny romaine lettuce. But at least it seemed fresh. Neither of us finished even half our meals. The boyfriend ordered the salmon since it is in season. Apparently it was extra fishy despite the oil and veggies piled on top of it and as he put it "You can't fake fresh fish." (He worked on a salmon fishing boat in Alaska so he knows fresh fish.) Oh, and its worth mentioning that the woman at the table next to us sent back her fish as well. This place claims to be authentic, but my pasta tasted like it could have been from Publix, was undercooked and was mysteriously gritty like sand. (I've had authentic pasta from Arezzo, Italy and it was the polar opposite of this im-pasta-er.) I'm no foodie but I've had several dishes with truffle oil, and this tasted like it was made with a cheap substitute. At over $20 an entree, this should have been a delicious place that we reserve for special occasions. BOTTOM LINE: $52 lesson learned.
(1)Liz C.
Just had a great dinner here. We are visiting my Husbands Grandfather and Step-Grandmother for a few days. They are snow birds and very Italian!! They frequent this place at least once a week so we were treated like royalty! My husband and I had gone deep sea fishing that morning and we called ahead and asked if they would be willing to cook the Mahi Mahi we caught for us. I'm pretty sure they only said yes because of their relationship with our family, however we asked them to prepare it similar to their chille sea bass and it was amazing! We also split the Bucatini all' Amatriciana which was very very flavorful and probably one of our new favorite pasta dishes! We have a one year old and they accommodated him well which is always a plus in my book for nice restaurants especially since our son is actually very well behaved in public.
(4)Kenneth F.
Veal was tough, don't waste your time
(1)John B.
I have driven by the office building containing this gem a hundred times and never knew that Cafe Italia was holding up the structure. I am on a quest for the best risotto and did a Google search, which landed on Cafe Italia. I was apprehensive at first, because the front door was locked to keep the strong wind from Hurricane Ike from blowing it open. The owner greeted us and sat us at a table, the only diners at 6:30 this evening. This worked to our advantage because we both ordered risotto which takes at least 20 minutes of constant attention by the cook to make. I had risotto with porcini mushrooms while my friend had risotto with shellfish. Both were excellent, out of this world! The flavors and aromas were so delicate and well-stated that I would inhale the aroma of each bite before devouring it. There was just enough broth in my bowl to keep the rice moist throughout, and every bite was as rewarding and delicious as the first. I have prepared risotto about 5 times and each time it comes out different, so now I have a gold standard against which to measure mine. There is a reasonbly diverse wine list, we had a pinot grigio which complemented the meal nicely. For dessert, of course it had to be tiramisu, which was delicate, not too sweet. The coffee flavor did not dominate but accented it. The whipped cream imparted a delicious freshness to round out the dessert. Service was attentive, but not intrusive (we were the only guests there after all). Now, when we were seated I was in a sedate frame of mind, not too talkative. But the (Italian) owner loves to engage his guests in conversation so I obliged and learned a few things while our meals were prepared. His conversation only added to our enjoyment. So looks are deceiving in this case. Cafe Italia is a gem in the rough. Look for the Pure Platinum "gentlemen's club" to the south, then look north to find the Roselli Building. Cafe Italia is on the ground floor of the Roselli Building. You can't go wrong. We will definitely be back!
(5)Bruce B.
Absolutely the best Italian food in Fort Lauderdale. Very reasonable prices considering the large portions. The owner is right there to greet you and make sure everything is perfect. Chilean sea bass or snapper - the best! While the physical space is not impressive - the ground floor of the Roselli building - don't judge this book by it's cover. Once you discover it, you'll be a regular!
(5)Siri Y.
To be honest, my boyfriend and I meant to check out the other Italian restaurant next door, but they were closed so we decided to give cafe Italia a try. I'm glad we did! Service - The owner greeted us very kindly outside and showed us to our table. Cute place with a homey Italian decor. He came over to talk with us a lot and asked many questions to try and get to know us. I can see how other reviewers found that awkward or annoying, but I didn't mind. I like it when owners seem to care about their patrons. Kirstie was our server and was very prompt and friendly. Food - The bread was good, but I wish there was an olive oil dip of some sort rather than packets of butter. We ordered the carbonara, it was excellent! Had the perfect amount of bacon flavor for all you bacon lovers. We also had the lasagna, and it was very good. The sauce tasted homemade and had a nice flavor. The third dish we ordered was the seafood risotto. This is where they lose a star or else it would have been a 5 star home run. The clams and mussels in the risotto were very sandy, but the actual risotto itself, was cooked properly, had a very good flavor, and was pretty tasty. The dishes were large so we did not have room for dessert. The wine list didn't have a large selection but I was still able to find a yummy chianti. And a plus is that they let me taste a few first before making my choice. All in all the atmosphere was quaint, the food was great, and the service was awesome. Forgot to mention that the prices were very reasonable. It's a shame they aren't busier but hopefully this review helps. I will be back!
(4)Doris L.
Eating here is like going to your Italian uncle's house - the uncle with 1001 great stories about the mother land, the Rat Pack and his beautiful grandchildren. Oh - and the food is great, too. The menu has the usual fare - but everything is fresh, made to order and prepared with love and care. Everything melts in your mouth. Highly recommend for a quiet dinner with friends or family or anyone who appreciates the simplicity of classic Italian food in a warm, inviting, talkative Italian uncle kind of setting.
(4)c d.
4 of us went there last night first let me start with the waitress she was miserable through out the whole meal . to start with took 30 minutes for her to take our order, the salad was tiny,but the dressing was good thats the one star waited hour and half for our food said they cook everything fresh if there were 8 of us it would have taken us 3 hours the lamb meatballs horrible ,eggplant parmigiana a glob of cheese no eggplant, the tres seafood platter the fish was fresh but zero taste. I eat out often this the first time i have written a review.
(1)Niki W.
OMG!!! Worst experience EVER! First sign to run should have been the place was empty at 730pm. Then the owner, his tuned out wife and 2 horrific children under age 2 arrived. The kid started yelling and proceeded to run over by our table and flipped the lamp on and off while the parents zoned out and the waitress tried to deter him. The baby started banging the table screaming. We thought they would settle down and we could enjoy dinner...WRONG! The kid got louder so we actually told the waitress we were going to leave, she apologized and offered to box our $60 meal. We opted for a table outside, the food was terrible...we were told the usual chef was out, and as we were eating the brat child actually came outside being loud! The waitress came out at least 2 times to lure him back in to sit with his "parents" if you call them that. She has had to do this before for other dinner guests...ARE YOU F'ing kidding??? We were given one of the dinner plates free and apologized to but how this place keeps its doors open is a mystery the owners should be ashamed.
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