Greeted quickly. Staff was great. These garlic rolls are really great! We ordered a Hawaiian pizza with side salads. Salad was great. There is a taste of mint in the salad I really liked. Overall for a side salad, it was great. I never make statements lol this but probably the best pizza I've had in years, if not my life. Just saying wow. Heard it gets crowded at rush hours! Make reservations with larger groups or you will be waiting. Not the largest space. Great experience. Definitely coming back.
A big bowl of soup and salad for $4.99! Whoop whoop! I love a bargain, always have and probably always will, but this deal is cheaper than McDonald's. We had a business meeting not too far from this location and I asked a friend who works in the area where we should go to lunch and she suggested Carlucci's. It was quick, inexpensive, and very tasty. The Pasta Fagioli (see pix) had a ton of beans and was thicker then most broth based soups. Definitely sticks to your bones and fills you up. I also ordered some garlic rolls with a side of marinara sauce and they were delicious! Would definitely go back if I was in this neck of the woods.
(4)
Jodi W.
Charming authentic style neighborhood Italian joint. Recommend by our hotel on an unexpected night in Fort Lauderdale. Busy but friendly servers. Big portions of hearty Italian food. Meatballs served with ricotta were delicious. Chicken Francese and Veal Godfather were both delicious. Too full for the tiramisu which looked great!
(4)
Natalie S.
The server was great, the food was good. There was a mistake with the check that I caught after they charged my card. They would not fix it, it was a large difference. Bummer would have gone back here but never again. Poor decision by management.
Excellent little place. Started with fresh garlic knots and fresh mixed green salad with house dressing. My sister had eggplant parmesan which she said was great, the eggplant was nice and crispy. I had a dish with tri-color tortellini in a sauce with sundried tomatoes and garlic it was delicious. Finish the meal with a cannoli, beautifully plated with whipped cream on the side. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable and we had our garlic knots and salad just minutes after ordering. Can't wait to eat here again.
(5)
JA M.
The staff and food and always top notch. Sometimes we get a take out pizza, sometimes we take out of town family here for a sit down dinner.....it's always pleasant to eat here.
(5)
Lloyd W.
The food was excellent! Our group ordered eggplant parmesiam, the Godfather's Special (veal, eggplant, mushrooms, cheese, over a bed of spinach), roasted and rolled eggplant in a red sauce, pasta florentine. The soups and salads were very good also. However, the service was inattentive although very brusque when our waiter did show up. It took quite some time to get our check after one server said it was the other server's responsibility to bring our check but finally brought it anyway.
Came back for another visit while I was staying nearby. Had a good laugh that the Christmas Icicles still adorned the windows, but the place does have a cozy feel. A bit cheesy but not a deterrent for a casual meal. I had the meatball and (separate) homemade mozzarella apps. Both were very good. The red gravy was a little too sweet but the meatballs were delicious and the mozzarella did indeed seem fresh. My chicken Marsala entree offered a generous portion for the price ($16.95). They offered a soup or salad will the entree, but I declined. Here too the (Marsala) gravy was too sugary The service was excellent. All female servers this time. All were pleasant and efficient. The rest room was ok. Clean but not sparkling. The tv with a basketball game on (silent) was a positive and the Tom Jones CD fits well with the cheesy decor. Overall, it is a good local choice for casual Italian. I will come back when in the area.
(4)
Kat K.
Food and service is 4 stars. Being open on a Sunday is another 2 stars. Garlic bread was warm, garlicky and fresh out of the oven. Would totally come back!
(4)
Tim M.
Service was ok, took about 15 minutes for the waiter to take our drink order after being seated. Food was very bland. Ordered baked Ziti menu says 9.99 was charged 12.99. Very disappointing, will not return.
(1)
Natasha P.
The Garlic rolls here is absolutely incredible. I am still thinking about the garlic rolls so yummy. I wished I purchased more. I love the look inside, it reminds me of a small village in Italy and has a very romantic feel and atmosphere. Good place to take a date. This is very reasonable, our meals was only 21 for 2 people. Why I give it a 4 star and not a 5 star rating. Service was ok, server did forget our Garlic rolls and we got the half way into our meal. The server was a little pushy for us to get our orders in but that's because he had a table with 10+ people and I guess he was doing us a favor by putting our order first. This was my first time here so I had a little trouble figuring out what to order and his pushiness was not helping. I would love to visit again when I back to visit my family
(4)
Tricia S.
This place isn't bad. The service was friendly. Food was just ok. Spinach ravioli was good, but I added shrimp and it was overcooked and funny tasting. Friend had penne vodka with chicken and shrimp. Sauce was good, but chicken and shrimp were so overcooked he couldn't eat much of it. Not much else to say...still better than olive garden.
(3)
C M.
THE FOOD - 5 STARS ALL THE WAY. THE WAITER - a minus 5. I've eaten here a few times, and believe me, the food does not let you down. Each and every time I've gone, I have left very happy with the food. The restaurant has been there for some time and it is a nice, little quaint atmosphere where you go to relax, have some great food, sit back and enjoy the ambiance. HOWEVER, and this is a deal breaker for me, there is a waiter that who is treating this place as if he owns it. On my last visit, it was quite slow when we went in (however, it was early). We sat in this waiter's station (and that made him having 2 tables to serve). The other side of the restaurant was also slow with about 4 tables being taken care of by a female waitress. So our guy comes over, acts like he's hanging with the family, speaking very loudly and basically taking over the whole dining experience between myself and my date. Then the table next to us in his station is seated. He comes up, apparently became aware he waited on them before when he worked elsewhere, and at that point started walking down memory lane with them. Then he breaks into song - literally - he has an EXTREMELY LOUD voice (even when talking and even twice as bad when singing) - but he starts singing some VERY high notes for them, and he is "holding" the notes, if you will for 30-45 seconds each. Then he tells them he'll sing a song for them (to which we hear him saying and think to ourselves, oh God, help!), so he asks if we'd mind, to which I replied, well, actually, we kinda do (after all, we're not on the other side of the restaurant - we're right next to this LOUD, OBNOXIOUS waiter). Do you think this made a difference that he asked? Of course it didn't. He broke into song anyways, for about 5-10 minutes (did one or two songs - OPERA, no less), and then delivered 1 glass of wine to our table saying "that glass of wine is on me". Then he was totally rude and short to us the rest of the evening, making us wait forever to get our meals. I'm pretty sure if I'm ever in that neighborhood again and want to go there for lunch or dinner, I'll make sure the guy isn't working. He is a gay fella (he told us), about 5'9", extra pounds, with brown wavy hair and glasses. Do not remember his name.
(3)
Jon K.
First visit here last night before a movie. Have walked by here a million times, but never could decide to try it. Glad we did. Its not a huge place, but we didn't have any wait. The staff was helpful and friendly. They give you warm garlic rolls with every meal. They are good, not the best in town, but still, warm and garlicky. I order the house specialty salad and it was enough for my meal. Lots of chicken, tomatoes and a good Italian dressing. Served with a side of pizza dough bread. Lots of bread eaten, but all good. My friends enjoyed their meals, eggplant parm and one of the other salads. We didn't have time for dessert, but I would bet we will return to Carlucci's. Not fancy, not overpriced, but decent food, good service in a nice environment.
(4)
Qinyi Y.
The food was good, especially pizza which was freshly made and cheaper than other pizza places. Garlic rolls are amazingly tasty. Other dishes seem to be overpriced. However, the service was not the same level as food quality. The service guy rushed us to order then never showed up again. We came as a group but only one order came at a time. My order seemed to have been forgotten since the waitress asked what I ordered after other orders were served. My friends pizza slice came a long time after he finished his sandwich. The two items were supposed come together I guess, since they were called 'lunch special'. This place won't be my frequent visit.
(3)
Maggie S.
food is good. even though they say they are open till 11:00 they are not!!!! do not attempt to go to this establishment after 10.
(2)
Brent S.
Great value, great Italian food. My personal favorites are the pizza, chicken Alfredo and the garlic rolls. The pizza has a thinner crust and the sauce is perfect! The chicken Alfredo is think and creamy! The garlic rolls are one of the best made in the area.
(4)
Kimberly S.
I have eaten here several times and the service is good as well as the food. It's not the best Italian place I have eaten but they satisfy my cravings.
(4)
Syed I.
This place was near the hotel and it did not disappoint. Ordered the shrimp/mussels/clam dish and each was huge and fresh. The marinara sauce was spicy but delicious. Definitely recommend it and will go back again!
(5)
Juan A.
This place is a great place to eat, you really get your money's worth. Their pasta fagioli soup is really tasty, they also have excellent pizza, honestly it is one of the best pizzas I've had in Florida. Their lunch specials are awesome, you can get loads of real good food for like $7.00.
(4)
Ken T.
Great value and surprisingly honest good food cooked with flair and care. I got the Godfather special with tender lots of veal beautifully done. I was very impressed with this unassuming strip mall place.
(4)
Trina R.
After staying across the street for a while, I decided to check out the reviews and try it out. I ordered take out and chose the gamborino scampi (jumbo shrimp scampi) which came with soup or salad and garlic rolls. I noticed good reviews for the garlic rolls so I was craving one. Anyway, I had the house salad, which was ok. The shrimp were jumbo and the linguini was pretty good. After seeing the previous pictures, I decided to ask for extra garlic for my garlic rolls which to my disappointment the rolls were dry (see picture). Anyhow, maybe next time I will try something different but not sure if I'll come back as my time here is limited and was not too impressed.
(3)
Sara M.
I am all about second chances, so I decided to give Carlucci's another go after my first experience here which was more or less an epic lunchtime failure. The first go around, the place was packed with busy business people taking their lunch break and there was a 15-20 min wait. Well, when you only have an hour to dine and get back to the office, that's pushing it. So for my second visit to Carlucci's, I made a reservation for 3. Upon arrival, the restaurant was much less crowded than our first visit which turned out to be a great thing since they never seemed to put down our reservations. No big, we were seated right away and promptly attended to. I, as well as my company, ordered the lunch special for 8$ which comes with a soup or salad, slice of pizza and choice of sub. When the salads came out, my lettuce was brown. The other two looked fine for the most part, but mine was pretty unappealing. I ate what I could of it, and all 3 of us made mention that our salads were really wet and that as a result, the dressing was diluted to a flavorless juice. It is pretty hard to mess up a simple side salad but Carlucci's champions in this. The slice of pizza was good, no complaints. The chicken parm sub was decent too. I opted not to get the baked ziti again, it didn't leave a great impression after my first experience so I figured I'd give something else a shot. It's all just okay. The chicken parm sub is strips of chicken cutlets with sauce and cheese toasted on a hoagie roll. It is the same food you can get from the lunch time deal at Sal's, Rotelli's and the like, I'm talking identical. So this is a give away that it's frozen stuff. Not a fresh piece of chicken parm. I guess you get what you pay for. I do have to commend their service. This restaurant is located in a predominantly commercial area and I would say a good majority of weekday diners are business people on their lunch break and Carlucci's does accommodate. However, the food is just not worth it. It's cheep, fast and convenient, but I'd rather skip it. I think I would rather pack a turkey sandwich from home if I'm being honest.
(2)
Tianni B.
Love this place! They have the best veggie pizza and the house salad dressing is one of a kind! If you are in the area, this is a must try!
(5)
Rosalie R.
Rosalie R. Last night we had a wonderful meal at this restuarant. We eat there about every couple of weeks and have never been disappointed! I believe we have tried most everything on the menu and every one has been equally as delicious. Ross, the owner works very hard to make sure all of the clients leave his restuarant fat and happy! If you are lucky James will sing you a nice Italian song and Michael will run around like a chicken with his head cut off to make sure you get the best service in town. If you haven't eaten there you are missing out on a great meal!!
(5)
David P.
I got a small Americana pizza. Service was good, food was hot and timely.
(4)
David M.
Dave, Dale, and I went over to Carlucci's Italian Restorante on N. Andrews Ave and Cypress Creek for lunch. They have some great tasting lunch specials at cheap prices. Our server, Mike, was on the ball and after bringing our drinks he dropped off a basket of some of the best garlic rolls I have ever eaten. He told us to be careful because they were addictive. I tend to agree........ After a few minutes the food appeared. Dale got a salad to start. Dave had a piece of pizza and I had a cup of deliciously creamy pasta fagioli. When we finished the first course the main dish promptly arrived. Dave had a half meatball parmigiana; Dale had the penne and sausage; and I had an off the menu special recommended by Mike, a half muffaletta. The muffaletta was great. Grilled cold cuts topped with fresh mozzarella cheese, tomato, and creamy vinaigrette dresssing (with a little extra on the side). I'm sure I'll be coming back to Carlucci's for another dose of their fine frugal fare. Good food, good prices, and good service all add up to a great experience. Check out Carlucci's the next time you need some Italian food.
(4)
MaryBeth O.
The food and service was amazing! The garlic rolls were simply wonderful- garlic, parmigiano cheese on top. Yummy! We all had different food and everyone loved their dishes. We had the early bird special that came with salad and desert. The house dressing was great and the chocolate cake was delicious. I plan on going back.
(5)
Beth G.
We ate here last night for the first time and we were very peasantry surprised. The food was excellent as was the service. We started with crusty and hot garlic rolls, then on to the fabulous lentil soup. It was honestly one of the best lentil soups I've ever had and I was pleased that it was vegetarian since I do not eat meat. The Greek salad was very fresh with lots of ripe tomatoes, and the portion size was larger than I could eat by myself. We also had the mushroom pizza which everyone loved. It had just the right amount of sauce, spices and cheese, and the crust was delicious. Other entrees that were enjoyed were zuppa di pesce, eggplant rollatini, fried calamari, and a mixed seafood appetizer. All dishes came out piping hot, and they were very generous portions. We were unable to finish and brought lots of food home. I would highly recommend this restaurant and will will look forward to coming back. The decor may be a little outdated, but for a casual lunch or dinner spot this is an excellent choice.
(4)
Bernardo A.
Not bad for a red sauce, Italian joint. 3.5 stars, so I'll err on the side of kindness. Have not tried the pizza so I can't comment on it. The restaurant is small and seems to be busy all the time without being mobbed. Service is good. Prices are reasonable: $7- $8 appetizers $14 - $18 main pasta courses. The portions are too large so I recommend sharing. The osso bucco was surprisingly good although the risotto on which it sat was just OK. Never had dessert there (did I mention the dinner portions are too large?) so can't comment on those either. Stay away from the coffee; it's terrible.
(4)
Jeremy B.
I work around the corner and I've seen this place so many times visiting other establishments in the shopping center, but never had the urge to try it. On the suggestion of a coworker, a few of us went there for lunch the other day. The restaurant is kind of small and dark inside, and we waited about 5 minutes before being seated in a booth "upstairs" that had just opened up. We laughed at them calling it upstairs because it was like 1 foot higher than the main floor LOL. Once we sat down, service was pretty good and the food all-around was decent to slightly above average. I tried a daily special Italian muffaletta sandwich, which was pretty good although with crispy flatbread and nothing like the New Orleans-style one I've had before. It was still good with tasty ham & cheese, etc inside. It also came with a nice house salad on the same plate. This place gives you really large portions. I don't think anyone finished their food and others had to bring a box home. All in all it was pretty solid. Nothing amazed us, but at the same time nothing disappointed. I will probably go back for a sit-down Italian lunch the next time we're up for that.
(3)
Irina L.
Really enjoyed this place! Me and my boyfriend were new to the area, and we decided to give it a try. It was one of the best meals ever. Pastries are super fresh, as everything else as well. It does take a little longer to get your food - but it's so worth it! Nothing compares to freshly made dough - that's for sure. Service was great and it's a lot of good for your money. Really happy we visited this place!
(5)
Michael y.
Been coming here for 9 years Well executed "FLoridatalian"each visit. First the garlic rolls fluffy and chewy crusty exterior warm butter, flaky insidei with lots of garlic to soak. Missus and I had the half hawaiian and half cheese. Perfect. Good service, seated easily on a full friday.
(4)
Lena L.
Not worth it. Bland soup, bland sauce. Only three busy tables, three waiters and we still didn't get our drink order for 15 minutes. You're better off cooking at home.
(1)
Carlos L.
Good "Italian diner" restaurant, quick service, great for lunch. The salads are huge, I don't think I have been able to finish the antipasti salad, very yummy too!
(3)
Diego M.
This place is your typical "American Italian" neighborhood food. The service has always been average at best, but what else can you expect.. The quality of the food is good, although certain dishes are loaded with garlic! Pretty good lunch spot if you're trying to get away from the fast food joints.
(3)
Leo G.
Met a colleague for lunch here, the staff was friendly and pizza was great!
(4)
Henry P.
Excellent lunch today. Penne w/ sausage, pasta faggioli, garlic rolls, all for $7.99! Home made taste, fast and friendly service, and large portions. Must go back.
(4)
David A.
My wife and I were staying at a nearby hotel (Marriott = wonderful!) and wandered over to the mall that has this Carlucci's (there are three Carlucci's I believe). Wife is from Jersey and is always on the lookout for a real, authentic New Jersey Italian restaurant experience. She said this place has it! Our waiter was from upstate New York and was very nice--New York style talkative and friendly. As the previous reviewer mentioned, the flaky large garlic buns are amazing. I ordered chicken francese and it's three good-sized pieces were excellent: thin, tasty, hot, great sauce. The accompanying large portion of spaghetti and tomato sauce was exceptional. It's a mild, not flashy flavor, that might not appeal to some, but we found it SO fresh and natural tasting. My wife had the stuffed shells (I tried some too) and there was just too much to finish. They tasted so good--texture, flavor all highly rated. No room for dessert unfortunately. If we lived near a Carlucci's we would return to try every dish.
(5)
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Address :6351 N Andrews Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33309
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Cliff E.
Greeted quickly. Staff was great. These garlic rolls are really great! We ordered a Hawaiian pizza with side salads. Salad was great. There is a taste of mint in the salad I really liked. Overall for a side salad, it was great. I never make statements lol this but probably the best pizza I've had in years, if not my life. Just saying wow. Heard it gets crowded at rush hours! Make reservations with larger groups or you will be waiting. Not the largest space. Great experience. Definitely coming back.
(5)Marqus R.
I stopped by Carlucci's Italian Ristorante as it had some good Yelp reviews and I was wanting some really good Italian food. Unfortunately, I can't say that I was very impressed. Though the interior décor is warm and inviting with its darker woods and brick, the seating comfortable and things looking rather upscale, the menu offerings and food don't seem to match up. Indeed, the menu struck me as one more for the budget minded than for anything near to or approaching upscale dining. The only veal dish I noted on the menu wasn't even a veal dish, but merely a veal parm sandwich and the rest basically appearing to be run of the mill rather typical variations of pasta. I ordered a Miller Lite beer, they didn't have so switch to a Heineken and since there was no veal francese, piccata or marsala ordered a chicken marsala which came with a side salad. The salad was a pretty simple concoction of rather small chopped up iceberg lettuce, one thick diagonal slice of cucumber and a small wedge of tomato accompanied by a small thumb size bowl of a house vinaigrette dressing. The lettuce was crispy and nice, but the salad overall pretty much like you'd find in any diner; certainly nothing of note. The chicken marsala came on a large square plate, good in appearance, mixed in with a spaghetti and a good looking dark marsala rich in mushroom sauce. The marsala sauce had an exceptionally good totally fine and rich marsala flavor about it, but I found its consistency to be on the watery side causing it to quickly drain off instead of cling to the food as you ate; basically rather soupy. The chicken was good large cut of breast, nicely done, but the spaghetti somewhat overcooked and soggy as not being al dente or clean to the bite. My service was pleasant, very good, totally polite, professional and the bill more than reasonable for what I had. However, with so many very good Italian restaurants in the area, I can only say that for Italian food and Italian menu selections there are better choices albeit somewhat more pricey but in my opinion worth it.
(2)Danielle R.
A big bowl of soup and salad for $4.99! Whoop whoop! I love a bargain, always have and probably always will, but this deal is cheaper than McDonald's. We had a business meeting not too far from this location and I asked a friend who works in the area where we should go to lunch and she suggested Carlucci's. It was quick, inexpensive, and very tasty. The Pasta Fagioli (see pix) had a ton of beans and was thicker then most broth based soups. Definitely sticks to your bones and fills you up. I also ordered some garlic rolls with a side of marinara sauce and they were delicious! Would definitely go back if I was in this neck of the woods.
(4)Jodi W.
Charming authentic style neighborhood Italian joint. Recommend by our hotel on an unexpected night in Fort Lauderdale. Busy but friendly servers. Big portions of hearty Italian food. Meatballs served with ricotta were delicious. Chicken Francese and Veal Godfather were both delicious. Too full for the tiramisu which looked great!
(4)Natalie S.
The server was great, the food was good. There was a mistake with the check that I caught after they charged my card. They would not fix it, it was a large difference. Bummer would have gone back here but never again. Poor decision by management.
(2)Jeanne M.
We were looking for something different for dinner last night and decided to go back to a place that we hadn't visited for the last 5 years. As we walked in, there was hardly anyone there, but it was early. There was one group of 5 that were making quite a bit of noise, but the gentleman who greeted us, took us to another room, which was nice and quiet. That was something that I really appreciated. The decor was very homey, dim lighting, dark brick walls and nice dark wood tables with an inlaid cityscape. It smelled like a good Italian restaurant should - like garlic and tomato sauce. I ordered the Linguini Ala Trattoria. It came with either soup or salad and garlic rolls. I decided to try the Pasta E Fagioli soup. The broth was much heavier than I had expected. It was more or less a heavy bean soup with a few bits of pasta. The flavor was hearty, but one-note. The garlic rolls were nice. They were a bit overcooked, but that's not a problem for me. I wish they had used roasted or at least slightly sautéed garlic. Raw garlic is too strong and has too much of a bite. It was a large bowl of properly cooked linguini, swimming in a light wine sauce. There were bits of tomatoes and spinach along with a good amount of nicely grilled chicken chunks. I do like my pasta served at the proper temperature, but this was scalding hot. Even if I waited between each bite, blew on the fork for a while, and whistled a short tune, it was still at mouth burning level. I didn't know that pasta could hold it's temperature for that long! The flavor was nice, but could have used more depth and layering of flavors. I wouldn't order this dish again. We finished what we could, but still had more than enough to take home. While there is nothing really wrong with the food, it also wasn't anything unique. Since the prices were about average, we would probably choose to go elsewhere the next time we are looking for Italian. ***I'm adding a postscript. We just ate the leftovers from this dinner and this is definitely a "second day dish." It reheated really well. The sauce had thickened and the flavors had developed. It was much better than yesterday! Now, I would order it again as a take-out dish for the following day.
(3)Michelle S.
Excellent little place. Started with fresh garlic knots and fresh mixed green salad with house dressing. My sister had eggplant parmesan which she said was great, the eggplant was nice and crispy. I had a dish with tri-color tortellini in a sauce with sundried tomatoes and garlic it was delicious. Finish the meal with a cannoli, beautifully plated with whipped cream on the side. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable and we had our garlic knots and salad just minutes after ordering. Can't wait to eat here again.
(5)JA M.
The staff and food and always top notch. Sometimes we get a take out pizza, sometimes we take out of town family here for a sit down dinner.....it's always pleasant to eat here.
(5)Lloyd W.
The food was excellent! Our group ordered eggplant parmesiam, the Godfather's Special (veal, eggplant, mushrooms, cheese, over a bed of spinach), roasted and rolled eggplant in a red sauce, pasta florentine. The soups and salads were very good also. However, the service was inattentive although very brusque when our waiter did show up. It took quite some time to get our check after one server said it was the other server's responsibility to bring our check but finally brought it anyway.
(3)Katie M.
I've been here once before but it's been a while. I remembered the food being really good and the garlic knots were amazing. However this time it just wasn't what I remembered. The service was good and the waiter was attentive to what we needed. The meal came with garlic knots and we remembered them to be amazing and they came out nice and hot but with raw garlic on top. The garlic made them a bit spicy since it was uncooked. If it had been roasted or sautéed more they would have been better. My meal also game with either a salad or soup. I got the salad and it was just a basic salad but the lettuce and tomato was actually fresh and didn't look like it had been sitting out for forever and the tomato was identifiable as an actual tomato. I ordered a Linguini Ala Trattoria which was a pasta dish with a garlic cream sauce. It was ok but I couldn't really taste the garlic (and I'm a big garlic fan), so it was a bit disappointing. The portion size was fairly large so I ended up taking half home along with a couple of garlic knots. The price point is pretty average for the food, which would lead me to try some other places that are along the same price point for Italian. ---LEFTOVER NOTE: So eating the leftovers the next day was like eating a different dish. With the pasta and sauce getting to sit and basically marinate overnight, the garlic flavor really came through and the dish really came together. If I ordered this dish again, I just know to maybe split something different at the restaurant and then take this dish home because it's a great "leftover" dish. If I'm in the area, I would venture back to this place and try some of the other menu items.
(3)Geirge G.
Came back for another visit while I was staying nearby. Had a good laugh that the Christmas Icicles still adorned the windows, but the place does have a cozy feel. A bit cheesy but not a deterrent for a casual meal. I had the meatball and (separate) homemade mozzarella apps. Both were very good. The red gravy was a little too sweet but the meatballs were delicious and the mozzarella did indeed seem fresh. My chicken Marsala entree offered a generous portion for the price ($16.95). They offered a soup or salad will the entree, but I declined. Here too the (Marsala) gravy was too sugary The service was excellent. All female servers this time. All were pleasant and efficient. The rest room was ok. Clean but not sparkling. The tv with a basketball game on (silent) was a positive and the Tom Jones CD fits well with the cheesy decor. Overall, it is a good local choice for casual Italian. I will come back when in the area.
(4)Kat K.
Food and service is 4 stars. Being open on a Sunday is another 2 stars. Garlic bread was warm, garlicky and fresh out of the oven. Would totally come back!
(4)Tim M.
Service was ok, took about 15 minutes for the waiter to take our drink order after being seated. Food was very bland. Ordered baked Ziti menu says 9.99 was charged 12.99. Very disappointing, will not return.
(1)Natasha P.
The Garlic rolls here is absolutely incredible. I am still thinking about the garlic rolls so yummy. I wished I purchased more. I love the look inside, it reminds me of a small village in Italy and has a very romantic feel and atmosphere. Good place to take a date. This is very reasonable, our meals was only 21 for 2 people. Why I give it a 4 star and not a 5 star rating. Service was ok, server did forget our Garlic rolls and we got the half way into our meal. The server was a little pushy for us to get our orders in but that's because he had a table with 10+ people and I guess he was doing us a favor by putting our order first. This was my first time here so I had a little trouble figuring out what to order and his pushiness was not helping. I would love to visit again when I back to visit my family
(4)Tricia S.
This place isn't bad. The service was friendly. Food was just ok. Spinach ravioli was good, but I added shrimp and it was overcooked and funny tasting. Friend had penne vodka with chicken and shrimp. Sauce was good, but chicken and shrimp were so overcooked he couldn't eat much of it. Not much else to say...still better than olive garden.
(3)C M.
THE FOOD - 5 STARS ALL THE WAY. THE WAITER - a minus 5. I've eaten here a few times, and believe me, the food does not let you down. Each and every time I've gone, I have left very happy with the food. The restaurant has been there for some time and it is a nice, little quaint atmosphere where you go to relax, have some great food, sit back and enjoy the ambiance. HOWEVER, and this is a deal breaker for me, there is a waiter that who is treating this place as if he owns it. On my last visit, it was quite slow when we went in (however, it was early). We sat in this waiter's station (and that made him having 2 tables to serve). The other side of the restaurant was also slow with about 4 tables being taken care of by a female waitress. So our guy comes over, acts like he's hanging with the family, speaking very loudly and basically taking over the whole dining experience between myself and my date. Then the table next to us in his station is seated. He comes up, apparently became aware he waited on them before when he worked elsewhere, and at that point started walking down memory lane with them. Then he breaks into song - literally - he has an EXTREMELY LOUD voice (even when talking and even twice as bad when singing) - but he starts singing some VERY high notes for them, and he is "holding" the notes, if you will for 30-45 seconds each. Then he tells them he'll sing a song for them (to which we hear him saying and think to ourselves, oh God, help!), so he asks if we'd mind, to which I replied, well, actually, we kinda do (after all, we're not on the other side of the restaurant - we're right next to this LOUD, OBNOXIOUS waiter). Do you think this made a difference that he asked? Of course it didn't. He broke into song anyways, for about 5-10 minutes (did one or two songs - OPERA, no less), and then delivered 1 glass of wine to our table saying "that glass of wine is on me". Then he was totally rude and short to us the rest of the evening, making us wait forever to get our meals. I'm pretty sure if I'm ever in that neighborhood again and want to go there for lunch or dinner, I'll make sure the guy isn't working. He is a gay fella (he told us), about 5'9", extra pounds, with brown wavy hair and glasses. Do not remember his name.
(3)Jon K.
First visit here last night before a movie. Have walked by here a million times, but never could decide to try it. Glad we did. Its not a huge place, but we didn't have any wait. The staff was helpful and friendly. They give you warm garlic rolls with every meal. They are good, not the best in town, but still, warm and garlicky. I order the house specialty salad and it was enough for my meal. Lots of chicken, tomatoes and a good Italian dressing. Served with a side of pizza dough bread. Lots of bread eaten, but all good. My friends enjoyed their meals, eggplant parm and one of the other salads. We didn't have time for dessert, but I would bet we will return to Carlucci's. Not fancy, not overpriced, but decent food, good service in a nice environment.
(4)Qinyi Y.
The food was good, especially pizza which was freshly made and cheaper than other pizza places. Garlic rolls are amazingly tasty. Other dishes seem to be overpriced. However, the service was not the same level as food quality. The service guy rushed us to order then never showed up again. We came as a group but only one order came at a time. My order seemed to have been forgotten since the waitress asked what I ordered after other orders were served. My friends pizza slice came a long time after he finished his sandwich. The two items were supposed come together I guess, since they were called 'lunch special'. This place won't be my frequent visit.
(3)Maggie S.
food is good. even though they say they are open till 11:00 they are not!!!! do not attempt to go to this establishment after 10.
(2)Brent S.
Great value, great Italian food. My personal favorites are the pizza, chicken Alfredo and the garlic rolls. The pizza has a thinner crust and the sauce is perfect! The chicken Alfredo is think and creamy! The garlic rolls are one of the best made in the area.
(4)Kimberly S.
I have eaten here several times and the service is good as well as the food. It's not the best Italian place I have eaten but they satisfy my cravings.
(4)Syed I.
This place was near the hotel and it did not disappoint. Ordered the shrimp/mussels/clam dish and each was huge and fresh. The marinara sauce was spicy but delicious. Definitely recommend it and will go back again!
(5)Juan A.
This place is a great place to eat, you really get your money's worth. Their pasta fagioli soup is really tasty, they also have excellent pizza, honestly it is one of the best pizzas I've had in Florida. Their lunch specials are awesome, you can get loads of real good food for like $7.00.
(4)Ken T.
Great value and surprisingly honest good food cooked with flair and care. I got the Godfather special with tender lots of veal beautifully done. I was very impressed with this unassuming strip mall place.
(4)Trina R.
After staying across the street for a while, I decided to check out the reviews and try it out. I ordered take out and chose the gamborino scampi (jumbo shrimp scampi) which came with soup or salad and garlic rolls. I noticed good reviews for the garlic rolls so I was craving one. Anyway, I had the house salad, which was ok. The shrimp were jumbo and the linguini was pretty good. After seeing the previous pictures, I decided to ask for extra garlic for my garlic rolls which to my disappointment the rolls were dry (see picture). Anyhow, maybe next time I will try something different but not sure if I'll come back as my time here is limited and was not too impressed.
(3)Sara M.
I am all about second chances, so I decided to give Carlucci's another go after my first experience here which was more or less an epic lunchtime failure. The first go around, the place was packed with busy business people taking their lunch break and there was a 15-20 min wait. Well, when you only have an hour to dine and get back to the office, that's pushing it. So for my second visit to Carlucci's, I made a reservation for 3. Upon arrival, the restaurant was much less crowded than our first visit which turned out to be a great thing since they never seemed to put down our reservations. No big, we were seated right away and promptly attended to. I, as well as my company, ordered the lunch special for 8$ which comes with a soup or salad, slice of pizza and choice of sub. When the salads came out, my lettuce was brown. The other two looked fine for the most part, but mine was pretty unappealing. I ate what I could of it, and all 3 of us made mention that our salads were really wet and that as a result, the dressing was diluted to a flavorless juice. It is pretty hard to mess up a simple side salad but Carlucci's champions in this. The slice of pizza was good, no complaints. The chicken parm sub was decent too. I opted not to get the baked ziti again, it didn't leave a great impression after my first experience so I figured I'd give something else a shot. It's all just okay. The chicken parm sub is strips of chicken cutlets with sauce and cheese toasted on a hoagie roll. It is the same food you can get from the lunch time deal at Sal's, Rotelli's and the like, I'm talking identical. So this is a give away that it's frozen stuff. Not a fresh piece of chicken parm. I guess you get what you pay for. I do have to commend their service. This restaurant is located in a predominantly commercial area and I would say a good majority of weekday diners are business people on their lunch break and Carlucci's does accommodate. However, the food is just not worth it. It's cheep, fast and convenient, but I'd rather skip it. I think I would rather pack a turkey sandwich from home if I'm being honest.
(2)Tianni B.
Love this place! They have the best veggie pizza and the house salad dressing is one of a kind! If you are in the area, this is a must try!
(5)Rosalie R.
Rosalie R. Last night we had a wonderful meal at this restuarant. We eat there about every couple of weeks and have never been disappointed! I believe we have tried most everything on the menu and every one has been equally as delicious. Ross, the owner works very hard to make sure all of the clients leave his restuarant fat and happy! If you are lucky James will sing you a nice Italian song and Michael will run around like a chicken with his head cut off to make sure you get the best service in town. If you haven't eaten there you are missing out on a great meal!!
(5)David P.
I got a small Americana pizza. Service was good, food was hot and timely.
(4)David M.
Dave, Dale, and I went over to Carlucci's Italian Restorante on N. Andrews Ave and Cypress Creek for lunch. They have some great tasting lunch specials at cheap prices. Our server, Mike, was on the ball and after bringing our drinks he dropped off a basket of some of the best garlic rolls I have ever eaten. He told us to be careful because they were addictive. I tend to agree........ After a few minutes the food appeared. Dale got a salad to start. Dave had a piece of pizza and I had a cup of deliciously creamy pasta fagioli. When we finished the first course the main dish promptly arrived. Dave had a half meatball parmigiana; Dale had the penne and sausage; and I had an off the menu special recommended by Mike, a half muffaletta. The muffaletta was great. Grilled cold cuts topped with fresh mozzarella cheese, tomato, and creamy vinaigrette dresssing (with a little extra on the side). I'm sure I'll be coming back to Carlucci's for another dose of their fine frugal fare. Good food, good prices, and good service all add up to a great experience. Check out Carlucci's the next time you need some Italian food.
(4)MaryBeth O.
The food and service was amazing! The garlic rolls were simply wonderful- garlic, parmigiano cheese on top. Yummy! We all had different food and everyone loved their dishes. We had the early bird special that came with salad and desert. The house dressing was great and the chocolate cake was delicious. I plan on going back.
(5)Beth G.
We ate here last night for the first time and we were very peasantry surprised. The food was excellent as was the service. We started with crusty and hot garlic rolls, then on to the fabulous lentil soup. It was honestly one of the best lentil soups I've ever had and I was pleased that it was vegetarian since I do not eat meat. The Greek salad was very fresh with lots of ripe tomatoes, and the portion size was larger than I could eat by myself. We also had the mushroom pizza which everyone loved. It had just the right amount of sauce, spices and cheese, and the crust was delicious. Other entrees that were enjoyed were zuppa di pesce, eggplant rollatini, fried calamari, and a mixed seafood appetizer. All dishes came out piping hot, and they were very generous portions. We were unable to finish and brought lots of food home. I would highly recommend this restaurant and will will look forward to coming back. The decor may be a little outdated, but for a casual lunch or dinner spot this is an excellent choice.
(4)Bernardo A.
Not bad for a red sauce, Italian joint. 3.5 stars, so I'll err on the side of kindness. Have not tried the pizza so I can't comment on it. The restaurant is small and seems to be busy all the time without being mobbed. Service is good. Prices are reasonable: $7- $8 appetizers $14 - $18 main pasta courses. The portions are too large so I recommend sharing. The osso bucco was surprisingly good although the risotto on which it sat was just OK. Never had dessert there (did I mention the dinner portions are too large?) so can't comment on those either. Stay away from the coffee; it's terrible.
(4)Jeremy B.
I work around the corner and I've seen this place so many times visiting other establishments in the shopping center, but never had the urge to try it. On the suggestion of a coworker, a few of us went there for lunch the other day. The restaurant is kind of small and dark inside, and we waited about 5 minutes before being seated in a booth "upstairs" that had just opened up. We laughed at them calling it upstairs because it was like 1 foot higher than the main floor LOL. Once we sat down, service was pretty good and the food all-around was decent to slightly above average. I tried a daily special Italian muffaletta sandwich, which was pretty good although with crispy flatbread and nothing like the New Orleans-style one I've had before. It was still good with tasty ham & cheese, etc inside. It also came with a nice house salad on the same plate. This place gives you really large portions. I don't think anyone finished their food and others had to bring a box home. All in all it was pretty solid. Nothing amazed us, but at the same time nothing disappointed. I will probably go back for a sit-down Italian lunch the next time we're up for that.
(3)Irina L.
Really enjoyed this place! Me and my boyfriend were new to the area, and we decided to give it a try. It was one of the best meals ever. Pastries are super fresh, as everything else as well. It does take a little longer to get your food - but it's so worth it! Nothing compares to freshly made dough - that's for sure. Service was great and it's a lot of good for your money. Really happy we visited this place!
(5)Michael y.
Been coming here for 9 years Well executed "FLoridatalian"each visit. First the garlic rolls fluffy and chewy crusty exterior warm butter, flaky insidei with lots of garlic to soak. Missus and I had the half hawaiian and half cheese. Perfect. Good service, seated easily on a full friday.
(4)Lena L.
Not worth it. Bland soup, bland sauce. Only three busy tables, three waiters and we still didn't get our drink order for 15 minutes. You're better off cooking at home.
(1)Carlos L.
Good "Italian diner" restaurant, quick service, great for lunch. The salads are huge, I don't think I have been able to finish the antipasti salad, very yummy too!
(3)Diego M.
This place is your typical "American Italian" neighborhood food. The service has always been average at best, but what else can you expect.. The quality of the food is good, although certain dishes are loaded with garlic! Pretty good lunch spot if you're trying to get away from the fast food joints.
(3)Leo G.
Met a colleague for lunch here, the staff was friendly and pizza was great!
(4)Henry P.
Excellent lunch today. Penne w/ sausage, pasta faggioli, garlic rolls, all for $7.99! Home made taste, fast and friendly service, and large portions. Must go back.
(4)David A.
My wife and I were staying at a nearby hotel (Marriott = wonderful!) and wandered over to the mall that has this Carlucci's (there are three Carlucci's I believe). Wife is from Jersey and is always on the lookout for a real, authentic New Jersey Italian restaurant experience. She said this place has it! Our waiter was from upstate New York and was very nice--New York style talkative and friendly. As the previous reviewer mentioned, the flaky large garlic buns are amazing. I ordered chicken francese and it's three good-sized pieces were excellent: thin, tasty, hot, great sauce. The accompanying large portion of spaghetti and tomato sauce was exceptional. It's a mild, not flashy flavor, that might not appeal to some, but we found it SO fresh and natural tasting. My wife had the stuffed shells (I tried some too) and there was just too much to finish. They tasted so good--texture, flavor all highly rated. No room for dessert unfortunately. If we lived near a Carlucci's we would return to try every dish.
(5)