Fantastic Italian food. I got pasta with red sauce. My wife got the pizza. The small pizza is a good size for one person. 1/2 carafe of cab sav. The owner seated us himself and we chatted a bit. Nice guy. He said really busy Nov-April then it tapers off. They could easily seat big groups. Good prices for the high quality (not fancy tho) Italian dinner.
(5)
P K.
Hmm, what can I say about this place? I had a scallop dish that was so bad I couldn't even finish it. I was angry at myself for not sending it back. The other three people in my party seemed to enjoy their food. The fried calamari was not bad. Maybe stick with the pizza or classic Italian dishes. It was close to our hotel and we needed to eat something quickly.
(2)
Scott G.
I arrived late on a Thursday night and was seated immediately. My waitress, Penelope, was very nice and truly enthusiastic. I had the eggplant parmigiano. The restaurant offered whole wheat pasta for an extra charge. That was a nice option. My food came out piping hot. It's not fancy but it is good. My sole complaint was the bill. It was hand written and not clear to me. I dont think there was any deliberate overcharge, I just couldn't tell if it was accurate.
(4)
Jack L.
Food was excellent. Service great. Will definitely return. Many interesting dishes to try.
(4)
Kathe Pâmella D.
Uau, such a flavor here! I love the place, very nice! Really good price, I choose chicken parmigiana, was amazing!! But the bread before was the one that I follow in love!!! Yummy!!
(5)
Linda O.
Great neighborhood authentic Italian restaurant. We had osso buco, spaghetti and meatballs, and lasagna and split it 4 ways. It was perfect!! House dressing was zesty and flavorful (each entree came with a salad) plus we ordered burrata cheese salad with mixed field greens drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It was wonderful. Highly recommend it. Only negative - didn't care for the bread and pizza wasn't my style. Both too thin and too much cornmeal (old style)
(4)
Sheila X.
We were staying at the Sonesta, and our bar tender Anthony, suggested this place. We walked to the restaurant from our hotel. Very close and convenient. It was a Sunday evening about 830 pm. Pretty busy when we got there, but we still got seated right away. It cleared out pretty fast after we got our food. We ordered one small mushroom and sausage pizza and shrimp scampi. I'm from Minnesota, and this shrimp was so fresh and so good, and so big. The scampi sauce was really good. A citrus zing to it. I've never ordered shrimp scampi before... I thought it was really good. The pizza was pretty good too. Thin crust, but soft. Quality ingredients. Omg, the bread and butter that goes with dinner order was so good too!! It was about $40 for both our dishes. I would definitely recommend this place! I didn't get a chance to visit the restroom... The mister did and he said it was pretty tight. Other than that, we had a great experience.
(4)
Christopher G.
We did a quick yelp search looking for a nice restaurant, family friendly, and someplace close to my wife's Aunt's hotel. Franco & Vinny showed up . . .and i'm glad it did. Living in Denver, we have a real weakness in the Italian cooking area. My guess is Italians stopped in St Louis then decided California or bust. This restaurant hit the Italian/American spot. Everything was loved . . from the Chicken Parma, the kids pizza, to the pasta dish my wife got. Not a plate went home empty. . The restaurant allowed us to call ahead (which was a life saver with a 2 year old and a 5 year old). The service was average. . .but nothing bad (or like wow). Just decent service at a good restaurant. On a saturday night it was packed, so calling ahead may be a great option for your family.
(4)
Gay W.
Great service. Baked clams were very good as were the mussels. Lasagna was very tasty however it was mostly sauce and cheese with very little pasta. Beer and wine only which left me wanting a cocktail as I don't drink either of those beverages.
(3)
Donald H.
Nice atmosphere and good service but the food is average and not good. Further, I was sick all night so something was NOT right there. Don't go, a night and day in bed is not a vacation
(1)
Dallas C.
Absolutely amazing Italian food. We have been here numerous times. Everything we have tried has been excellent. We recommend this place without reservation.
(5)
Adam C.
Wow if there was a way to have negative stars the award would be bestowed to Franky & Vinnies. First off we have family in town and we searched for good Italian food. After driving about 30 minutes out of our way we find this place - with quite miserable parking. The decor was nice with plenty of celebrities on the wall with who I imagine would be one of the owners. So we were excited being foodies and bringing two young kids with us and they were looking forward to the great pizza which came with too much corn meal on the bottom and plenty of black soot on the bottom of the really well done pizza. (Please clean your bricks)!!! Nevertheless we had ordered garlic bread - never came, chicken parm subs which were tough and stringy to eat... Not freshly made or recently pounded out... Nor cooked at that time - again like the miserable excuse for the Clams Oreganata - which we ordered well done. They were dark but still mushy. Very similar to a play dough consistency. Really bad - no flavor, rubbery to eat and just overall disgusting! Shrimp Parm was really odd - not overall bad just weird breading - not allot of sauce and cheap on the mozzarella (part skim - not whole milk either)... Side of meatballs were (eh) looked frozen and the only thing that was good was the hot chibatta bread that was served as soon as we sat down. Waitress was pissed to have to return one of the chick parm subs as one was so tough it was like chewing on lightly breaded shoe leather. So overall save your time and money and go elsewhere... In hindsight all of those pictures on the wall had to be Photoshopped!
(1)
Jo D.
This place is amazing - beacuse.... it is ran like a New York establishment food is great the chicken marsala is amazing! bread is good, salads are good. house wine is good, and good atmosphere. not a nursing home like a lot of places around the area. pizza is great. love this place.
(5)
GB M.
I have been to Franco and Vinny's three or four times during visits to Fort Lauderdale. Five stars for what it is... really decent food for a reasonable price. I like several different styles of pizza and Franco and Vinny's doesn't disappoint with fresh toppings and a perfectly zesty-tangy sauce. A special note on the service-- it is welcoming, super friendly, fairly quick and I always feel well taken care of and that my business is appreciated.
(5)
Daniel K.
We were looking for REALLY GOOD PIZZA and decided to give FRANCO & VINNY'S a try. We had a take out pizza and it was EXCELLENT, thin crust and very tasty, just perfect. If you like pizza the way it should be...this is it...as close to Italy as possible in South FL.
(4)
Bridget O.
Very friendly and attentive staff! I had Penelope as my waitress and she seemed to manage my table along with others very well. All the servers had a smile and looked very polished. I got the fettuccine Alfredo and it was amazing! The fettuccine wasn't too delicate and but was perfectly tender. The Alfredo sauce wasn't dry, runny, or powdery, it was beyond excellent and had creamy taste. My friend a got the rigatoni and it was good. I would've liked it with a little less tomato and more meat but either way it was very nicely seasoned. I found the garlic bread to be a challenge because of how much there was, but it was pretty tasty! Altogether, I enjoyed my dinner, the service was stellar, and I will be back!
(4)
Matt D.
Excellent! As a NYC Italian, it is important that, even away from home on vacation, Sunday dinner is a must. The bread of the garlic bread was so fresh and soft it was as if it was baked when ordered. The mussels in white; superb. The rigatoni in meat sauce was exactly like my favorite restaurant home in NYC. Staff was extremely polite and the decor was old-world charm and clean! A must if visiting the area or in need of a local Sunday Italian dinner.
(5)
KJ B.
I have been coming to this place for YEARS. The last year we moved to the neighbor - so we were coming even more often. WE take several friends with us each time we go. Friday night we had a BIG problem. My spouse was just diagnosed with diabetes, and cannot eat any carbs. He requested any vegetable rather than the small side of pasta. They charged $3.50 extra for 3 twigs of broccoli. After dinner, AND after we paid the bill, we asked to talk to the owner. He was not the least bit gracious. He said he has to pay $35 for a case of broccoli. What does that have to do with a medically necessary subsitution ??? Shame on them. I wonder what the ADA is going to think when I call them in Washington DC Monday morning?
(1)
narisa s.
Family owned authentic delicious restaurant/food. Great atmosphere friendly service and ideal location. Must try!
(5)
Freddy C.
An amazing place to eat Italian food. I had the fresh fish. They offered a grilled calamari app that should everyone to try. Penelope was an awesome waitress. Nothing but praise for the food and staff.
(5)
Fred S.
This is Italian cooking at reasonable prices at its finest. This is actually Italian cooking that's the best regardless of price! Great menu, every dish was probably the gold standard by which to judge other restaurants by. Great service, great atmosphere, and truly great food. I really love this place!
(5)
Tanya L.
I love this place! We have been here several times for family dinners. We know it as "Pizza Shack". We always come here with a big group and they always accommodate us. When you walk in the entrance is a bit small but they have a bar with TVs so you can watch the games. On the end you can see kitchen area. The place is super clean. The waiters here are always in a good mood and very friendly. Bread and butter is distributed about the table. It is warm and delicious. You have the choice of a house salad or Caesar salad. Every time I come here I try to convince myself to order something different but I am addicted to the Shrimp Parmigiana. At first I was a bit hesitant to order "shrimp" Parm but thank goodness I tried it. It is AMAZING. My favorite! I don't think I can ever go back to chicken parm. It comes with a side of pasta and sauce. I choose the spaghetti with marinara sauce. I have also tried the pizza and it is great as well. They have great dessert to choose from. My favorite is the cannoli. Yummy. Over all, this is a great place. Service & Food get two thumbs up from me! Can't wait to come back.
(4)
Ed D.
Great place,I haven't been here in over a year but they still got the garlic! Glass of vino and broccoli rabe with Italian sausage... Yum! Good prices, friendly service, warm bread and great homemade dinner! Great spot!
(4)
Sol S.
Best bruschetta and draft beer in the world
(5)
Sean S.
love this place, great food, great service, can't beat it!
(5)
Gaby F.
If you want really average " red sauce central' 1973 Italian go here. A coackroach walked out of restaurant as we were waiting. .no joke..but we should have followed.
(1)
C. M.
For someone used to eating at New York City's renown Italian joints, this place was a pleasant surprise on a recent trip to FL. High marks for good food, attentive service, and pizza as-authentic-as-it-can-be without being made with NYC tap water!
(5)
Bob E.
This is a place I have been going to for years. It used to be just a pizza shack but has always had great food. The garlic bread is amazing and mussels clams and linguini the best I've ever had. The only down side is the fact I no longer live in Ft Lauderdale.
(5)
Eric H.
Busy, but thats what good food gets you. They treated me and my son terrifically well, even stopping to chat on our way out. Wish we lived here, but this restaurant really helps guide us back to stay at some of the hotels in the area next visit...it was that tasty.
Nice little place. Service was great and everyone was friendly. Food was average I thought their sauce was lacking. If I went back id get the pizza. Looked amazing
(3)
Tom S.
I've never had anything but a delicious here. Very professional staff. Clean as a whistle. I can see stuffy customers being chapped about other patrons in casual wear, but they're never loud or rowdy. Takeout pizza is also a home run.
(5)
Daisy P.
I've driven by this place so many times and I'm so glad I finally stopped by. It's a casual Italian restaurant with great food. They offer pizza but we opted for the entrees. Plentiful portion that come with salad and hot mini-ciabatta breads. The linguine with clams was very good and tasted fresh. The veal Marsala was super tender and enjoyed by my partner. Dessert was delish. Owner stopped by to check in on our meal and let us know that dessert was made by his wife daily using an old grandma recipe. I believe it's called Pastiera (looks like a cheesecake but so much more delish)... Will be back with family!
(5)
Peter M.
We've been here several times over the last 4 years it's still terrific. Great, well trained and warm staff and excellent, unpretentious Italian food. The owner is very active around the dining room being appropriately social and talking with his regular customers. House salad dressing is sublime. Look at the specials menu for more truly special dishes - tonight a beef braciole And a prosciutto artichoke and cheese stuffed chicken in a Marsala reduction. Prices are reasonable. You'll love it.
(5)
Todd B.
First timer here and wasn't disappointed! They begin with the house salad and bread. The salad is served with the house dressing which is an Italian type. I had the Pasta Carbonara which was very good...very rich which Carbonara is! Chicken Parmiagiana was delicious, served with spaghetti. A side order of meatballs allow me to say they were fantastic, as is their red sauce! Tonight we returned for pizza. We had their "shack special" without the green peppers. Very good pizza too. I'd recommend it here...shorts, T's and flip flops are acceptable.
(4)
John M.
AVIOD. This company doesn't deserve to make it. Delivery terrible - told 45-1 hour. It's an hour and 45 until see the food. Called back to check order status was sent to voicemail 4 times. On the 5th time, they answered after talking for 3 minutes that lady answering the phone says oh I had the wrong order. I WOULD AVIOD. Terrible customer service. No remorse after realizing they were beyond late...just told traffic is bad (I checked traffic..all green between my hotel and this wait until tomorrow for your pizza restaurant. Much more but I'm tired of writing.
(1)
Laura H.
We came back. Manicotti for me lasagna for him. One beer one glass of red and a shared dessert. Heaven. The salad dressing is TO DIE FOR. Waitress was awesome and for a Sunday night the place was hopping. It felt like a Friday. Loved it AGAIN. :)
(4)
Michael P.
A good find for dinner near the A1A in Ft. Lauderdale. I chose the cannelloni, which was done nicely. The red sauce is flavorful and thick. The tiramisu for dessert was fantastic. Ambiance was nice for a casual dinner as well as a special occasion. Only downside is that pasta is not made in-house. Overall, great meal and great service!
(4)
Gina W.
Great food and super nice staff. We've lived near it for years and had never tried it until a few months ago and so glad we did. Haven't had a dish we haven't liked. Their sauce is so good. Really like their seafood specials too. Don't let the outside mislead you this place is a gem.
(5)
Stephen G.
This is a truly authentic and amazing Italian-American restaurant. We went here twice on our vacation. We split a pizza as an appetizer, the crust was thin, stiff and tasty. I wish I could find crust like this in California. Add the perfect amount of sauce (which is not just a thin spread but an amount appropriate for the pizza), and cheese, with great toppings. Get meatballs on your pizza. They put actual meatballs, the same they use in their pasta, sliced thin, on the pizzas. Amazing. And the pasta, it comes with a salad that has a dressing that I can only describe as a pesto mixed with oil, vinegar, and cheese, for a truly amazing experience. And the portions are generous. I wish I had room for the desserts. My only issue is some of the tables could use a bit more space around them. But the service is excellent, they will make you whatever you want. People in Ft. Lauderdale don't know how good they have it. Franco & Vinny's is the place to get spoiled off a true Italian-American expereicen.
(5)
Gurkan C.
Went in there today for the first time. Best pizza I had in a long time, i could tell everything on it was very fresh
(5)
Nick S.
We had dinner with 12 friends last night. The food was excellent and the service was superb
(4)
K A.
Great location. The food is amazzzzzzing. Every time we visit FL we always make time to come to this place. Service is excellent. great atmosphere. Highly recommend this place!!!
(5)
Tylena A.
LOVE the pizza shack special pizza!! I went once a week with my husband just for this pizza! All the food is great but it is more pricey than most Italian restaurants. The wait staff can be rude too but the food makes up for it!!
(4)
Kay C.
Great service. Food was good. Broccoli rabe was good... Sausage and shrimp were bland but the pasta sauce made up for that. We would go back. Ate too much no room for dessert!
(3)
Gina M.
Best pizza ever, pasta too. We visit here ever trip to Ft Lauderdale. Been here like 30 years, truly is wonderful food.
(5)
Sola M.
Ducked in for a quick snack (Caesar salad) after visiting the nearby park. Penelope was a great waitress, full of spunk and personality. The bruschetta and garlic bread with cheese were tasty.
(4)
Erik S.
Found this place using Yelp. All we had was the pizza so it's hard to judge the overall food. The area seems a little sketchy since a homeless man was sitting in the chair out front while we were eating. The restaurant seemed a little tired and could use some updating. The plastic glasses were cloudy and the tables felt sticky. Judging from the clientele I assume the locals like this place for the food which is always a good sign.
(3)
Charles E.
Down in Ft. Lauderdale Condo hunting, Used Yelp monocle to help pick this place.Very surprised. Never expected Italian this good. Place is a bit dated, old wood, looks like it was a seafood place at one time. Food makes up for the decor. Staff was extremely nice, knew the menu, made some good suggestions. Good bread, which is very important with pasta and the pasta's were outstanding. Worth a visit.
(4)
Tomas B.
Let me first start out by saying that giving a restaurant a 5 Star Review doesn't mean it's 5 Star Dining Establishment. It is a star review based on the type of food it serves and atmosphere it appeals to. With that said if a Sports bar is given 5 stars it is a 5 Star review for a Sports Bar not comparing it to Le Cirque. If a 5 Star Pizza type restaurant is reviewed it is not compared on the same lines as other places it is about category. I hope that is clear as I have been sent messages how can you give this place 5 Stars when it is not being compared on a Zagot survey. OK on to this evenings review. Will keep this as brief as possible after my lengthy preamble. Been coming here periodically for the last 25 years and the place truly has not changed much. In Fact you can still see the owners behind the bar helping in the kitchen and making sure that everyone is taken care of in this family owned and very friendly "Pizza Shack" although it's much more than that. Typical layout of the pizza Italian American casual dining establishment with beer & wine only. Kid Friendly and that is a good thing as we had 19 of us in tow tonight 10 adults and 9 kids ranging from 3 to 15 years of age. 8:30PM Arrival on Tuesday night and tables were laid out and waiting for us. Some house wine carafes were ordered some draft beers, and some pitchers of soda for the non drinkers and kids. Two GIANT salads in large mixing bowls with various house dressings were provided as a warm up. Good for what they are trying to establish with nice tart dressing and abundance of vegetables in the salad. A wide array of food was ordered I'll hit on the Goods and greats. Baked Ziti good large portion with abundant amounts of cheese could have used more sauce so they simply provided a side dish and it was perfect. Penne ala Vodka: Good tasty pasta not al dente, but still very rich and satisfying. Chicken Parmigiana: Excellent Large platter made as it should be loaded with sauce and side of pasta Eggplant Parmigiana see above only eggplant instead another winner House special Braciole: Italian rolled flank steak with herbs cheeses hardboiled egg like Momma makes covered in marinara sauce over pasta Excellent. Last but not least, PIZZA, PIZZA, PIZZA. Forget the Wood Fire, the Coal fire, the bonfire. If you want simply stated the best NY STYLE REAL PIZZA and the best in the state of Florida that I have had then Go to Franco & Vinny's. My interpretation of real pizza is a large round dough with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese with minimum amounts of toppings.. 1 max sausage, pepperoni etc. I hear people say Oh I had this great Arugula pizza with ricotta cheese. Folks please that is not pizza its dough with toppings on it. NY STYLE PIZZA as it should be hot, not dripping incredible rich taste and the best crust this side of NJ. Mouthwatering come back for more pizza. Service by Daniela and her helpers was excellent and 19 of us walked out of there stuffed to the gills for a price point that was shall we say inexpensive to say the least. No deserts or coffees were tried. Attentive to the kids at the other table, adults enjoyed it immensely and this place is still going strong after 30 years. Good Food & Service consistent will make you last in this business. For a "PIZZA" type establishment its 5 Stars for this place! Enjoy!
(5)
AM B.
We had the veal francaise and grouper special this evening and we thoroughly enjoyed both. I didn't want to finish my veal quickly, it deserved to be savored and enjoyed. Visiting from a town with dozens of very good Italian restaurants this food was excellent. The fish was wonderfully fresh, we can't get grouper like that up north, and I could only coax a single bite from my husband. We took desserts to go and I am looking forward to enjoying them later! Our waiter was attentive and considerate which only made our experience that much more enjoyable.
(5)
Sydney G.
My absolute favorite Italian restaurant! All of the food is yummy! And they have large portions. The staff is always nice and they have been there for years. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone!
(5)
Tiffany P.
Loved, loved, LOVED everything about this place. For starters the Pizza Shack salad was amazing!!! It only got better from there - ckn & veal parm, pizza were delicious! Visiting from Austin, TX and only stopped in because of the yelp reviews - exceeded our expectations!
(5)
Erica H.
A solid four stars. The place is a classic with charming interior and delicious food. Dishes are priced to sell in this touristy area at $20 a plate or so. I ordered veal which was meh at best but had a slice of my boyfriend's pizza and nearly went to heaven. I'd stick with pizza at this pizza shack! Service was decent but waitress was a little too chatty and a bit clumsy. She spilled an entire soda on my boyfriend and I.
(4)
John T.
Westin Hotel receommended it for close by and reasonable for families. This place was peaks and valleys. First, if the menu say "homemade pasta" then I expect it to be homemade. it isn't. the sauce is and at least that is something. we had several and they were indeed good but nothing beats fresh pasta and this was not it. second they would not make any substitutions or special orders. we asked for a kids cheese tortalini... no, we asked for a side of gnocci instead of spagetti... no. come on. local place and needs to be flexible!! Overall food was good, house dressing was nice, pizza looked good (although we did not have it) and reasonaably priced but atmosphere was strip mall and staff was chippy. Make your own pasta !!
(3)
Alan P.
NOT EVEN CLOSE TO NEW YORK PIZZA! My 1/2 pepperoni 1/2 plain was below average. You have so many other options. I would skip this place for pizza. I can't comment on other dishes. But I did get a tossed salad which consisted of a bunch of iceberg lettuce topped with shredded carrots, one black olive and one tomato slice. Nothing special here. SKIP IT
(2)
Missy F.
Excellent service. Ask for Penelope. She was so sweet and personable. The fettuccine was delicious!!! Could of used a dinner roll or a piece of bread with it, was told it was extra :-/ seemed strange to me. Also, there was rap music playing in the background, seemed out of place in an Italian restaurant.
(3)
Brent G.
I had my fifth visit to the Shack tonight! The restaurant is far beyond pizza...and theirs' is excellent. The success of this restaurant is all about the food and the service. The price point is very good especially on the veal dishes. They are generous in my book. I grew up cooking Italian food and I am still studying this cuisine. I am very particular about my food! For what most folks think of as Italian, this is the place. Pasta perfectly cooked. Veal dishes very well done and generous. Pizza terrific. Braciole made traditionally...excellent! Dinner includes bread and a house salad. As I said, I cook Italian and am restaurant trained. This is excellent no frills Italian...go in your shorts and a tee if you wish...and eat well! I always tell Vinny what I think about my meal on the way out...It always goes like this: "Hey Vinny! Thanks again for an excellent meal and thanks to your crew!!!" I am very happy! Just go, relax, eat and smile!
(5)
Sal G.
I love coming to Franco and Vinnies. The service is usually spot-on and the food is always good. Our typical meal here is usually the same thing and consists of: Bread Meatballs Cheese Sticks Tri-Color Tortellini with Marinara Sauce Baked Ziti The bread comes to the table in the shape of triangles. There is a bit much semolina on the outside, but as long as it is fresh it is fairly decent. There is only butter for your bread, but that is fine. The meatballs come in pairs and have marinara draped over. There is not a lot of filler and you can taste the meat -- a staple. The cheese sticks are a bit inconsistent. There are times when they are over-fried and other times when it is a yellow cheese inside. More often than not, they are cooked properly and mozzarella; they are always served with marinara sauce. I am not a big fan of the Baked Ziti mainly because of the fact that I don't care for too many baked pastas. My friend loves it though and I shall continue to take his word for it. My dish, the tri-colored tortellini, is always good. The noodles are always cooked al dente and filled with ricotta cheese. I enjoy the firmness of the noodle juxtaposed with the softness of the cheese. Add in the marinara sauce, and it is a perfect wedding. My only gripe is the unpredictable inconsistancies that occur with the marinara sauce and chees sticks. The marinara sauce is usually very tangy with pieces of spinach, garlic clove and tomato throughout it. On several instances, though, it has had a burnt undertone to it. The food was still good, but that flavor knocked off a star in my mind. I will continue to return.
(4)
Debby B.
Visited the night before our cruise and found the staff super friendly and the food very good! We ordered 2 pizzas and the baked ziti (big enough to share). Fast service, everything was piping hot and delicious! Would definitely go back!
(5)
James D.
Best pizza in Florida! The owners oversee every thing ! Get a medium well done plain cheese pizza and enjoy perfection!
(5)
Michael V.
This place apparently has a really loyal following. I didn't think it was anything spectacular however. Hearty Italian food with sizeable portions and good prices for the area.
(3)
Paul C.
The bread and butter were good. The pizza was ordered half plain and half pepperoni with a request to go light on the peperoni, which clearly got lost in translation somewhere after the waitress left the table with the order. We've had better and worse pizza and would say the pizza was ok. My perception on the pizza may have been skewed by virtue of it swimming in peperoni. They say the pie here is thin crust, but it looks like its a hybrid between a regular and thin crust, as opposed to the typical skinny mini crust. We also had a baked ziti. I can't say when I had an enjoyable baked ziti last. It didn't look or taste all that great. The restaurant is roomy, adequately staffed, has a robust menu selection, appeared to be reasonably kept and was not overly crowded. If you find this review helpful click on the: useful, funny or cool rating below or compliment and follow by clicking on the top right.
(2)
Jennifer N.
Woohoo is right! This place is delicious. We made the long walk from the Fort Lauderdale strip to this pizza place based no Yelp reviews. We were sat right away and quickly looked around at the delicious looking pizza. Great service- the waiter made us feel like family rather than the occasional tourist. We are spoiled by Boston's Pizzeria Regina but this pizza is definitly the next best thing. Great cheese and sauce, great flavor, and my favorite type of crust, crunchy but not too crunchy. Also had the garlic cheese bread which was HUGE and also delicious. Super garlicky which was just fine with us (note to self: bring toothbrush next time). Will definitly be back when in FLL.
(5)
Thea M.
Don't go there if you want to be treated like a human being and not a jerk! One star for the guy in the parking lot. I went there with a coworker and after standing around by the door, simultaneously gawked at and ignored by staff the host reluctantly came over and DEIGNED to seat us. The gentleman I was with is a big guy but this jerk of a host tried to shove us to a tiny table in a dark corner. When my dining companion asked for a bigger table we were told there weren't any; "too busy." Meanwhile almost the whole restaurant was open and it was a Thursday at 6pm not Friday night at 8!!! What an ass hole!!! We just said BUH-BYE!!!!! Apparently you have to meet certain physical criteria to eat there, the high standards of the host won't be compromised.
(1)
Mark C.
I think if I had been in a different waiter's section, I would likely have given this place 4 stars, and maybe even the 5th. Watching other people get good service is what dropped me to 3 here. The lasagna was nothing to write home (or randomly on the internet about), and the calamari was definitely not special in anyway. The winner on the evening was my wife's gnocchi with "Aurora" sauce. This food alone would have put me up in the 4-5 star range with a good waiter. I would definitely order that again if I came back. Having said that, nothing else about the evening was memorable, other than waiting forever for the bill.
(3)
Dixon S.
We ate here last year on our vacation and were not dissapointed. The food and setting was very traditional Italian. I had the Fetticunni Alfredo with Chicken and it was really good, some of the best I have ever had. The sauce was creamy and rich and tasty and the pasta was cooked just right. The chicken was juicy and cooked perfectly. The ambiance of the restaurant was low key and cozy and the wait staff was friendly and helpful. Very recommended and the prices weren't bad either.
(4)
Marci B.
I was pleasantly surprised with our dinner last night at Franco & Vinnie's. I am gluten intolerant so I thought I would be extremely limited. The staff was gluten knowledgeable and made me a yellowtail snapper with mushrooms and artichokes with a wonderful lemon wine sauce. The fish was so fresh and delicious. Their house salad dressing was phenomenal. They served me a huge plate of broccoli to replace the pasta that comes with the meal. Our server, Cintia, was exceptional. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Lucia C.
This place has been around since my grandfather moved to Florida - and I don't think much has changed! The decor is 'authentic,' by which I mean it looks like it has never been updated, but that's not really a bad thing. The place has some character. I like that the tables were decorated with old coins and money from various countries. I always find mirrors in restaurants strange, but it seems to suit Franco and Vinnie's. The chairs need to be replaced, period. The staff were all friendly and attentive. Our food came out quickly and was very hot, which I like. We were all satisfied, just not wow'd like the other reviewers. The food is typical Italian American - nothing special. We shared a pizza and some calamari, and in both cases the dishes were A-OK, nothing more, nothing less. I consider this the type of food that appeals to most and is generally good, but is not something I would go out of my way to eat. I am glad I visited this 'historic' Florida haunt by the beach. Its location is awesome, and it would be a good place to check out while visiting Fort Lauderdale Beach. I just think it needs a facelift.
(3)
Mark B.
This is the first five star review for me. I love real italian and this is the best I have had, including New York. The pizza crust is perfect, sauce is the best, perfectly baked pie. Got the linguini with clam sauce, chopped it was perfect. The sauce was just right and pasta al dente. The best I have ever had. House chianti was great. Notice other dishes looking great and everyone happy. And the price very reasonable. Service great with Vinny overseeing everything. Small and intimate Italian just like it is supposed to be. Must go when in Ft Luderdale if looking for real Italian cuisine.
(5)
Casey Ã.
Nice, calm, casual environment. Great food, fair prices, big portions. A favorite of my wife, she is a HUGE fan of the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo and I must admit I have a big weakness for their Vodka Sauce. I was surprised at the high quality ingredients for reasonable prices. Don't forget to try their pizza, it is a great size to share with another person and is awesome.
(4)
Kevin G.
Huge portions, excellent authentic NY style italian food. If you want to leave full and satisfied with delicious food, go here. Get the chicken francaise.
(5)
Thoko X.
Was there for dinner with the family last night. Food and service was great. My daughter had the chicken parmagiana, and I will be ordering that the next time we visit. Our server was really nice and funny.I liked the decor, had an old-world feel to it.We will be back. Had no room for dessert, was so full after the entrees.
(5)
Christy H.
I'm not really a fan of pizza but when I am it's Franco & Vinnie's I love! Excellent crispy crust, great service and affordable prices, i've also tried many of the other items on their menu never to be disappointed (well the salads aren't the best but their soups are superb!). Family friendly atmosphere and most importantly clean bathrooms!! If you're local and haven't eaten here you're missing out. If you're a tourist this is a great place to catch a bite. (Just remember beer and wine only).
(5)
Andrea M.
This is my spot when I go to my second home in ft Lauderdale. Been going to ft Lauderdale since I was 4 weeks old and have always gone to Franco and Vinnies. My father loves this place, everything is phenomenal. Just the spaghetti and meatballs are delicious and perfect. My boyfriend got a pizza last time we went there and it was amazing, got enough toppings including anchovies. My mom got the chicken francese and is always amazing. The chicken caccitore is my dads favorite, has only eaten this here and is extremely flavorful and filling! Believe me, I'm Sicilian, You'll be happy to eat here.. it's perfect.
(5)
Nicole S.
So I went back... I had to. I could hear the pasta calling to me... Plus we are still in the hotel, so no cooking for me! I really miss it! Anyway, decided to try something different and went with the tricolor tortellini with cream sauce and baked ziti. The tortellini was cooked to perfection and I loved the cream sauce... It was a tad bland, though... Maybe next to the red sauce which offers so much... I don't know. Still amazing though. Baked ziti was ok. I'm not a huge fan of baked ziti anyway, so I'm not the best judge. Lasagna is still the winner... The place still received 5 stars in my book! Also, I tried the garlic bread - YUM! Also, I ordered a couple meatballs too. DELICIOUS! 3 people eating... still a TON of leftovers!
(5)
Nina C.
Great customer service but ugg the food kinda sucks but my husband loves it (refer to Eric T's review) the only thing I have found on the menu that I like is the veal piccata, I mean it s tolerable! But I'm a dago and umm I don't know any Italian that cooks this way except for this joint :(
(2)
Lenore B.
Bring a BIG appetite, awsome grouper with pasta, I loved it, but I could only eat about 1/3, mmmmmmmmmm good. Good waiter, name of Rick I think, just go, and enjoy!
(4)
Becky G.
Excellent food and service . Family owned by 2 brothers. Celebrity visited. Casual attire, fair prices
(5)
Priscilla k.
We went to this place twice during our visit to Ft. Lauderdale, because it is walking distance to where we stayed. Prefacing my review with the note that this place specializes in old-school italian-american food (lots of tomato sauce and cheese). Also, I'm rating this in relationship to the other places I went to during our stay in Ft. Lauderdale, not my overall lifetime dining experience. This one gets 4 stars for Ft. Lauderdale, probably 3-ish stars in reality. What's on the menu here? Chicken and veal parmesan, fettucine alfredo, pizza, baked stuffed shells, etc. Both times we went, service was very good, even though it was crazy-packed. Our waitress, who was really fun and relaxed despite how busy it was, kept checking in on us, so even though the food took a little while, we felt attended to. Food was very fresh...I had a fettucine carbonara one night (it was OK...but I compare all carbonara dishes to the first time I tried it in Rome as a teenager, so nothing can compare to that). On another night, I had the veal parmesan. Portions are ENORMOUS here. I had enough left over for another meal, and I'm a hungry gal. I like that it is a neighborhood style place. I like the old-school vibe. They even have an old menu framed on the wall. Wish I had tried the pizza...
(4)
Charlie T.
This is a great place. Great menu, and I look forward to eating here whenever I'm in Fort Lauderdale.
(5)
Janine W.
This is an old school type of place. Mom and pop place, very busy but not so busy as to have to wait for a table! my son has the kid size cheese ravoli which he loved so much he had a second order. This is basically a full size order! I had the eggplant parmesan. It was well done and I enjoyed the spaghetti on the side. All meals came with bread and salad. So I was very full and couldn't even finish my meal. Hubby finished it and he had the manicotti stuffed with cheese. maybe it was the smaller tubes, but you know what I mean. Lots of meat on the menu with seafood options.
(3)
Eric T.
great italian food. I typically sit at the bar and the owner is very friendly and waits on us himself. Friendly atmosphere, good fresh food. Definitely recommend if your in the mood for italian.
(4)
Kevin L.
Great food, decor is dated but comfortable and the staff is very friendly.
(4)
Michael B.
Fantastic given the price and what else is around this beach area! Very good service, reasonable prices (less than $25/plate including wine) and the food was great! One of the few gems in this area full of beach trash restaurants!
(4)
Arthur B.
Be aware seafood in this place is NOT fresh!!!! I went with my husband and he had the fruit de mare and has been sick with food poisoning that whole night and day! Don't make the same mistake, go to a place where they care about the well being of their customers.
(1)
Peter F.
We had a group of 7 on Saturday night... some family and friends from Chicago - we were all first-timers to this place. Made a reservation a few days before. Old school place, the "anti-chain" restaurant... reminds me a little of Tufano's in Chicago. Excellent, unpretentious, friendly service - the waiter engages all of us in friendly banter like we've known him from the South Side of Chicago our entire life. Very good food, I had the Chicken Parmesan. It came with side of pasta and salad - all very good. I loved the house dressing on the salad. My girl had soup - the waiter says the soups are made fresh, they are not from a can, nor are they sitting around in a pot all night. Everyone loved the appetizer Calamari and the delicious, fresh bread that came to the table. I heard a lot of unsolicited positive food comments from my group - everyone left happy. I will definitely go back to Franco & Vinnie's.
(4)
Peter F.
I always use Yelp when traveling on business and have yet to be disappointed, here is another example of a great local restaurant I would have missed if I did not check yelp. Great food at a great price in an area where it's easy to just get less than mediocre room service. I had take out and will definitely dine in next time. Great local flavor that would have made the night.
(5)
Mark M.
Wife and I in Ft lauderdale for I night . Found Franco and Vinnie's on Yelp. Had Linguini White Clam Sauce. Wife had Spaghetti , both delicious , along with salad simple oil, vinegar Parmesan dressing also fresh very good. That with bread and 1/2 carafe Cabernet- $46...Wow. A restaurant filled with 80% regulars as told to us by regulars always a good sign
(5)
M W.
The food here is just okay--a bland Italian fare that you could cook for yourself at home. The atmosphere is loud. It's definitively not bad, but definitely not worth writing home about. I've been here several times, and it's always the same. If you're looking for delicious (and cheaper) Italian food, check out Giuliano's on the other side of the bridge. It blows this place away.
(2)
Helene S.
Been coming here for years and never a disappointment. Vinnie is always there to great you. Went last night with some friends. Rick, our waiter was awesome. Food is always good. Try Vinnie's Special!
(4)
Kevin P.
Great food great service, get the half carafe of wine it's practically a bottle. Had the lasagna italian wife had chicken picatta, she said da-vine!!! The canoli was great. Cheap dinner for two.
(5)
Janice A.
The most outstanding garden salad I have ever had in my life! The dressing was so good I wanted to lick the plate clean, I couldn't believe the flavor. Delicious. Our garlic cheese bread ($4 or so) followed the amazing salads, and it was exactly what garlic cheese bread should be. And they didn't go easy on the cheese either, that bread was drowning in its gooey tastiness. I had the carbonara ($16) and was satisfied though not blown away. It was a solid attempt at my favorite dish, but I'm not a fan of fettuccine noodles so that kinda spoiled it for me. Next time I'll ask for ziti noodles or just order something else. The bacon was also a bit off, though I think they might make it themselves, like pan fry pieces of ham or something. It was good, just not what I'm used to. The boy had the baked ziti ($13ish), which was decent, but I think he was hoping for more baked less pasta. It was really just a regular pasta dish with red sauce and ziti. Good, but he'll try something else the next time around. The service was outstanding, our waitress was very nice and gave a homey feel without being too invasive. She made sure we felt comfortable to continue our conversation in peace after the plates were cleared. It's a very friendly environment while still maintaining an intimate feel. Oh, and another huge plus was the leftovers, my dish gave me two more meals while the boy finished his off the next day for lunch. And honestly, I think mine was better reheated.
(4)
Barbara M.
Just get the Cheese Pizza and you're back in NY!
(5)
Michael B.
Good food, lots of garlic. Excellent service.
(4)
Philip D.
Wonderful lasagna, delicious salad served with a tasty Italian bread. Service was excellent.
(5)
Brad L.
Amazing food, wonderful service that's friendly and fast. Great place you have to check it out!
(5)
Sarah H.
Got a recommend so went to check it out. Weren't sure as we walked up but opened the door and knew we were in an old school joint and we's be's happy! Casual though some were dressed up. Mix of couples and groups. The place was packed and we found out why: Great service, good food and dang cheap.
(4)
Franklin H.
First off, I want to say the service was very good and people were friendly. Bread was late arriving but that was not a big deal. Problem has to do with lack of seasoning in the sauce and lack of flavor for the lasagna that I ordered, and lack of flavor and seasoning for the veal parm that my gf ordered. No oregano, no garlic, too salty of a sauce. Pasta was good though. Salad was ok but nothing special. Maybe the cook had an off night. Maybe we should have ordered the pizza.
(2)
Logan D.
Fantastic - best bruchetta I have ever eaten. The Carbonera was as good as my dad made it - highly recommend this place. Even the dinner salads were outstanding!
(5)
Bek B.
Always a great meal at Vinny's! As a customer for more than 8 years, I recommend very highly. Be sure to try the pizza, chicken piccata, veal Marsala. It's all good!
(5)
Eric S.
Tried the pizza per other yelp recommendations, it was great! The place was packed with lots of regulars and had very friendly waitstaff and a family-run feel.
(5)
Kim N.
We just ate at Franco and Vinny's for the first time. Food & and service were great! Especially the Fettuccine Alfredo. Service was fast & the waitress was very polite. We recommend it highly :-)
(5)
Bruce S.
We go here 5 times a year, it's always good. Everything is good, not phenomenal, but good. I always leave satisfied.
(4)
Chris F.
I'm from Boston, where the pizza is awesome. We have classic famous places like Santarpio's and Pizzeria Regina in the North End, and i think that Franco & Vinnie's BLOW THEM AWAY!!!! Every time I fly down to Florida, I land at the airport, take a cab to my parents house, drop off my suitcase and jump in the car and i'm on my way to Franco & Vinnie's. The pizza has the perfect crunch to the crust, the sauce is amazing, and they use a certain blend of cheeses that is the best i've ever tasted. It's cooked perfect. Not too well done and not undercooked at all. I've only gotten the plain cheese when i've been there because i don't want to change the flavor of the pizza!!! I've even had some outstanding entree's there. The broccoli rabe and sausage over ziti is amazingly good. Usually sausages are not that good outside of Boston but they are good there. I will be back every time i'm in the southern part of Florida. good job guys!!!
(5)
Charlie T.
I love Franco and Vinnie's. There's a lot of good Italian food in my hometown of Boston, and Franco and Vinnie's is the best I've had in Florida, hands down. Looking forward to visiting again later this month! To Franco and Vinnie, you guys ROCK.
(5)
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Address :2884 E Sunrise Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33304
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Jeremy B.
Fantastic Italian food. I got pasta with red sauce. My wife got the pizza. The small pizza is a good size for one person. 1/2 carafe of cab sav. The owner seated us himself and we chatted a bit. Nice guy. He said really busy Nov-April then it tapers off. They could easily seat big groups. Good prices for the high quality (not fancy tho) Italian dinner.
(5)P K.
Hmm, what can I say about this place? I had a scallop dish that was so bad I couldn't even finish it. I was angry at myself for not sending it back. The other three people in my party seemed to enjoy their food. The fried calamari was not bad. Maybe stick with the pizza or classic Italian dishes. It was close to our hotel and we needed to eat something quickly.
(2)Scott G.
I arrived late on a Thursday night and was seated immediately. My waitress, Penelope, was very nice and truly enthusiastic. I had the eggplant parmigiano. The restaurant offered whole wheat pasta for an extra charge. That was a nice option. My food came out piping hot. It's not fancy but it is good. My sole complaint was the bill. It was hand written and not clear to me. I dont think there was any deliberate overcharge, I just couldn't tell if it was accurate.
(4)Jack L.
Food was excellent. Service great. Will definitely return. Many interesting dishes to try.
(4)Kathe Pâmella D.
Uau, such a flavor here! I love the place, very nice! Really good price, I choose chicken parmigiana, was amazing!! But the bread before was the one that I follow in love!!! Yummy!!
(5)Linda O.
Great neighborhood authentic Italian restaurant. We had osso buco, spaghetti and meatballs, and lasagna and split it 4 ways. It was perfect!! House dressing was zesty and flavorful (each entree came with a salad) plus we ordered burrata cheese salad with mixed field greens drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It was wonderful. Highly recommend it. Only negative - didn't care for the bread and pizza wasn't my style. Both too thin and too much cornmeal (old style)
(4)Sheila X.
We were staying at the Sonesta, and our bar tender Anthony, suggested this place. We walked to the restaurant from our hotel. Very close and convenient. It was a Sunday evening about 830 pm. Pretty busy when we got there, but we still got seated right away. It cleared out pretty fast after we got our food. We ordered one small mushroom and sausage pizza and shrimp scampi. I'm from Minnesota, and this shrimp was so fresh and so good, and so big. The scampi sauce was really good. A citrus zing to it. I've never ordered shrimp scampi before... I thought it was really good. The pizza was pretty good too. Thin crust, but soft. Quality ingredients. Omg, the bread and butter that goes with dinner order was so good too!! It was about $40 for both our dishes. I would definitely recommend this place! I didn't get a chance to visit the restroom... The mister did and he said it was pretty tight. Other than that, we had a great experience.
(4)Christopher G.
We did a quick yelp search looking for a nice restaurant, family friendly, and someplace close to my wife's Aunt's hotel. Franco & Vinny showed up . . .and i'm glad it did. Living in Denver, we have a real weakness in the Italian cooking area. My guess is Italians stopped in St Louis then decided California or bust. This restaurant hit the Italian/American spot. Everything was loved . . from the Chicken Parma, the kids pizza, to the pasta dish my wife got. Not a plate went home empty. . The restaurant allowed us to call ahead (which was a life saver with a 2 year old and a 5 year old). The service was average. . .but nothing bad (or like wow). Just decent service at a good restaurant. On a saturday night it was packed, so calling ahead may be a great option for your family.
(4)Gay W.
Great service. Baked clams were very good as were the mussels. Lasagna was very tasty however it was mostly sauce and cheese with very little pasta. Beer and wine only which left me wanting a cocktail as I don't drink either of those beverages.
(3)Donald H.
Nice atmosphere and good service but the food is average and not good. Further, I was sick all night so something was NOT right there. Don't go, a night and day in bed is not a vacation
(1)Dallas C.
Absolutely amazing Italian food. We have been here numerous times. Everything we have tried has been excellent. We recommend this place without reservation.
(5)Adam C.
Wow if there was a way to have negative stars the award would be bestowed to Franky & Vinnies. First off we have family in town and we searched for good Italian food. After driving about 30 minutes out of our way we find this place - with quite miserable parking. The decor was nice with plenty of celebrities on the wall with who I imagine would be one of the owners. So we were excited being foodies and bringing two young kids with us and they were looking forward to the great pizza which came with too much corn meal on the bottom and plenty of black soot on the bottom of the really well done pizza. (Please clean your bricks)!!! Nevertheless we had ordered garlic bread - never came, chicken parm subs which were tough and stringy to eat... Not freshly made or recently pounded out... Nor cooked at that time - again like the miserable excuse for the Clams Oreganata - which we ordered well done. They were dark but still mushy. Very similar to a play dough consistency. Really bad - no flavor, rubbery to eat and just overall disgusting! Shrimp Parm was really odd - not overall bad just weird breading - not allot of sauce and cheap on the mozzarella (part skim - not whole milk either)... Side of meatballs were (eh) looked frozen and the only thing that was good was the hot chibatta bread that was served as soon as we sat down. Waitress was pissed to have to return one of the chick parm subs as one was so tough it was like chewing on lightly breaded shoe leather. So overall save your time and money and go elsewhere... In hindsight all of those pictures on the wall had to be Photoshopped!
(1)Jo D.
This place is amazing - beacuse.... it is ran like a New York establishment food is great the chicken marsala is amazing! bread is good, salads are good. house wine is good, and good atmosphere. not a nursing home like a lot of places around the area. pizza is great. love this place.
(5)GB M.
I have been to Franco and Vinny's three or four times during visits to Fort Lauderdale. Five stars for what it is... really decent food for a reasonable price. I like several different styles of pizza and Franco and Vinny's doesn't disappoint with fresh toppings and a perfectly zesty-tangy sauce. A special note on the service-- it is welcoming, super friendly, fairly quick and I always feel well taken care of and that my business is appreciated.
(5)Daniel K.
We were looking for REALLY GOOD PIZZA and decided to give FRANCO & VINNY'S a try. We had a take out pizza and it was EXCELLENT, thin crust and very tasty, just perfect. If you like pizza the way it should be...this is it...as close to Italy as possible in South FL.
(4)Bridget O.
Very friendly and attentive staff! I had Penelope as my waitress and she seemed to manage my table along with others very well. All the servers had a smile and looked very polished. I got the fettuccine Alfredo and it was amazing! The fettuccine wasn't too delicate and but was perfectly tender. The Alfredo sauce wasn't dry, runny, or powdery, it was beyond excellent and had creamy taste. My friend a got the rigatoni and it was good. I would've liked it with a little less tomato and more meat but either way it was very nicely seasoned. I found the garlic bread to be a challenge because of how much there was, but it was pretty tasty! Altogether, I enjoyed my dinner, the service was stellar, and I will be back!
(4)Matt D.
Excellent! As a NYC Italian, it is important that, even away from home on vacation, Sunday dinner is a must. The bread of the garlic bread was so fresh and soft it was as if it was baked when ordered. The mussels in white; superb. The rigatoni in meat sauce was exactly like my favorite restaurant home in NYC. Staff was extremely polite and the decor was old-world charm and clean! A must if visiting the area or in need of a local Sunday Italian dinner.
(5)KJ B.
I have been coming to this place for YEARS. The last year we moved to the neighbor - so we were coming even more often. WE take several friends with us each time we go. Friday night we had a BIG problem. My spouse was just diagnosed with diabetes, and cannot eat any carbs. He requested any vegetable rather than the small side of pasta. They charged $3.50 extra for 3 twigs of broccoli. After dinner, AND after we paid the bill, we asked to talk to the owner. He was not the least bit gracious. He said he has to pay $35 for a case of broccoli. What does that have to do with a medically necessary subsitution ??? Shame on them. I wonder what the ADA is going to think when I call them in Washington DC Monday morning?
(1)narisa s.
Family owned authentic delicious restaurant/food. Great atmosphere friendly service and ideal location. Must try!
(5)Freddy C.
An amazing place to eat Italian food. I had the fresh fish. They offered a grilled calamari app that should everyone to try. Penelope was an awesome waitress. Nothing but praise for the food and staff.
(5)Fred S.
This is Italian cooking at reasonable prices at its finest. This is actually Italian cooking that's the best regardless of price! Great menu, every dish was probably the gold standard by which to judge other restaurants by. Great service, great atmosphere, and truly great food. I really love this place!
(5)Tanya L.
I love this place! We have been here several times for family dinners. We know it as "Pizza Shack". We always come here with a big group and they always accommodate us. When you walk in the entrance is a bit small but they have a bar with TVs so you can watch the games. On the end you can see kitchen area. The place is super clean. The waiters here are always in a good mood and very friendly. Bread and butter is distributed about the table. It is warm and delicious. You have the choice of a house salad or Caesar salad. Every time I come here I try to convince myself to order something different but I am addicted to the Shrimp Parmigiana. At first I was a bit hesitant to order "shrimp" Parm but thank goodness I tried it. It is AMAZING. My favorite! I don't think I can ever go back to chicken parm. It comes with a side of pasta and sauce. I choose the spaghetti with marinara sauce. I have also tried the pizza and it is great as well. They have great dessert to choose from. My favorite is the cannoli. Yummy. Over all, this is a great place. Service & Food get two thumbs up from me! Can't wait to come back.
(4)Ed D.
Great place,I haven't been here in over a year but they still got the garlic! Glass of vino and broccoli rabe with Italian sausage... Yum! Good prices, friendly service, warm bread and great homemade dinner! Great spot!
(4)Sol S.
Best bruschetta and draft beer in the world
(5)Sean S.
love this place, great food, great service, can't beat it!
(5)Gaby F.
If you want really average " red sauce central' 1973 Italian go here. A coackroach walked out of restaurant as we were waiting. .no joke..but we should have followed.
(1)C. M.
For someone used to eating at New York City's renown Italian joints, this place was a pleasant surprise on a recent trip to FL. High marks for good food, attentive service, and pizza as-authentic-as-it-can-be without being made with NYC tap water!
(5)Bob E.
This is a place I have been going to for years. It used to be just a pizza shack but has always had great food. The garlic bread is amazing and mussels clams and linguini the best I've ever had. The only down side is the fact I no longer live in Ft Lauderdale.
(5)Eric H.
Busy, but thats what good food gets you. They treated me and my son terrifically well, even stopping to chat on our way out. Wish we lived here, but this restaurant really helps guide us back to stay at some of the hotels in the area next visit...it was that tasty.
(5)Marqus R.
On the side of their building it says "Pizza Shack" and lordy knows we have so many of those I was at first leery, but since the front also read "Seafood" I thought it worth a try and I'm glad I did. To my delight I discovered Franco & Vinny's to actually be much more than a pizza shack, though I did try a slice (ok, three slices), finding it to be some of the best in the area. I also had a full plate of their veal francaise which came served in three good sized pieces, nicely breaded, perfectly done and with a fresh, zesty lemon flavor. They have a rather complete menu offering plus a sizable array of daily specials listed on a blackboard. The atmosphere is rather café like with quick, attentive professional service, nothing at all fancy about the place and with some decent wines ($7.00/glass) poured full measure. It's kind of a family or gathering of friends' type of restaurant with a very causal atmosphere about it, easy on the wallet and a place I found immediately to be to my liking. By the way, the name is really "Franco & Vinny's", not Franco & Vinnie's.
(4)Tom B.
Nice little place. Service was great and everyone was friendly. Food was average I thought their sauce was lacking. If I went back id get the pizza. Looked amazing
(3)Tom S.
I've never had anything but a delicious here. Very professional staff. Clean as a whistle. I can see stuffy customers being chapped about other patrons in casual wear, but they're never loud or rowdy. Takeout pizza is also a home run.
(5)Daisy P.
I've driven by this place so many times and I'm so glad I finally stopped by. It's a casual Italian restaurant with great food. They offer pizza but we opted for the entrees. Plentiful portion that come with salad and hot mini-ciabatta breads. The linguine with clams was very good and tasted fresh. The veal Marsala was super tender and enjoyed by my partner. Dessert was delish. Owner stopped by to check in on our meal and let us know that dessert was made by his wife daily using an old grandma recipe. I believe it's called Pastiera (looks like a cheesecake but so much more delish)... Will be back with family!
(5)Peter M.
We've been here several times over the last 4 years it's still terrific. Great, well trained and warm staff and excellent, unpretentious Italian food. The owner is very active around the dining room being appropriately social and talking with his regular customers. House salad dressing is sublime. Look at the specials menu for more truly special dishes - tonight a beef braciole And a prosciutto artichoke and cheese stuffed chicken in a Marsala reduction. Prices are reasonable. You'll love it.
(5)Todd B.
First timer here and wasn't disappointed! They begin with the house salad and bread. The salad is served with the house dressing which is an Italian type. I had the Pasta Carbonara which was very good...very rich which Carbonara is! Chicken Parmiagiana was delicious, served with spaghetti. A side order of meatballs allow me to say they were fantastic, as is their red sauce! Tonight we returned for pizza. We had their "shack special" without the green peppers. Very good pizza too. I'd recommend it here...shorts, T's and flip flops are acceptable.
(4)John M.
AVIOD. This company doesn't deserve to make it. Delivery terrible - told 45-1 hour. It's an hour and 45 until see the food. Called back to check order status was sent to voicemail 4 times. On the 5th time, they answered after talking for 3 minutes that lady answering the phone says oh I had the wrong order. I WOULD AVIOD. Terrible customer service. No remorse after realizing they were beyond late...just told traffic is bad (I checked traffic..all green between my hotel and this wait until tomorrow for your pizza restaurant. Much more but I'm tired of writing.
(1)Laura H.
We came back. Manicotti for me lasagna for him. One beer one glass of red and a shared dessert. Heaven. The salad dressing is TO DIE FOR. Waitress was awesome and for a Sunday night the place was hopping. It felt like a Friday. Loved it AGAIN. :)
(4)Michael P.
A good find for dinner near the A1A in Ft. Lauderdale. I chose the cannelloni, which was done nicely. The red sauce is flavorful and thick. The tiramisu for dessert was fantastic. Ambiance was nice for a casual dinner as well as a special occasion. Only downside is that pasta is not made in-house. Overall, great meal and great service!
(4)Gina W.
Great food and super nice staff. We've lived near it for years and had never tried it until a few months ago and so glad we did. Haven't had a dish we haven't liked. Their sauce is so good. Really like their seafood specials too. Don't let the outside mislead you this place is a gem.
(5)Stephen G.
This is a truly authentic and amazing Italian-American restaurant. We went here twice on our vacation. We split a pizza as an appetizer, the crust was thin, stiff and tasty. I wish I could find crust like this in California. Add the perfect amount of sauce (which is not just a thin spread but an amount appropriate for the pizza), and cheese, with great toppings. Get meatballs on your pizza. They put actual meatballs, the same they use in their pasta, sliced thin, on the pizzas. Amazing. And the pasta, it comes with a salad that has a dressing that I can only describe as a pesto mixed with oil, vinegar, and cheese, for a truly amazing experience. And the portions are generous. I wish I had room for the desserts. My only issue is some of the tables could use a bit more space around them. But the service is excellent, they will make you whatever you want. People in Ft. Lauderdale don't know how good they have it. Franco & Vinny's is the place to get spoiled off a true Italian-American expereicen.
(5)Gurkan C.
Went in there today for the first time. Best pizza I had in a long time, i could tell everything on it was very fresh
(5)Nick S.
We had dinner with 12 friends last night. The food was excellent and the service was superb
(4)K A.
Great location. The food is amazzzzzzing. Every time we visit FL we always make time to come to this place. Service is excellent. great atmosphere. Highly recommend this place!!!
(5)Tylena A.
LOVE the pizza shack special pizza!! I went once a week with my husband just for this pizza! All the food is great but it is more pricey than most Italian restaurants. The wait staff can be rude too but the food makes up for it!!
(4)Kay C.
Great service. Food was good. Broccoli rabe was good... Sausage and shrimp were bland but the pasta sauce made up for that. We would go back. Ate too much no room for dessert!
(3)Gina M.
Best pizza ever, pasta too. We visit here ever trip to Ft Lauderdale. Been here like 30 years, truly is wonderful food.
(5)Sola M.
Ducked in for a quick snack (Caesar salad) after visiting the nearby park. Penelope was a great waitress, full of spunk and personality. The bruschetta and garlic bread with cheese were tasty.
(4)Erik S.
Found this place using Yelp. All we had was the pizza so it's hard to judge the overall food. The area seems a little sketchy since a homeless man was sitting in the chair out front while we were eating. The restaurant seemed a little tired and could use some updating. The plastic glasses were cloudy and the tables felt sticky. Judging from the clientele I assume the locals like this place for the food which is always a good sign.
(3)Charles E.
Down in Ft. Lauderdale Condo hunting, Used Yelp monocle to help pick this place.Very surprised. Never expected Italian this good. Place is a bit dated, old wood, looks like it was a seafood place at one time. Food makes up for the decor. Staff was extremely nice, knew the menu, made some good suggestions. Good bread, which is very important with pasta and the pasta's were outstanding. Worth a visit.
(4)Tomas B.
Let me first start out by saying that giving a restaurant a 5 Star Review doesn't mean it's 5 Star Dining Establishment. It is a star review based on the type of food it serves and atmosphere it appeals to. With that said if a Sports bar is given 5 stars it is a 5 Star review for a Sports Bar not comparing it to Le Cirque. If a 5 Star Pizza type restaurant is reviewed it is not compared on the same lines as other places it is about category. I hope that is clear as I have been sent messages how can you give this place 5 Stars when it is not being compared on a Zagot survey. OK on to this evenings review. Will keep this as brief as possible after my lengthy preamble. Been coming here periodically for the last 25 years and the place truly has not changed much. In Fact you can still see the owners behind the bar helping in the kitchen and making sure that everyone is taken care of in this family owned and very friendly "Pizza Shack" although it's much more than that. Typical layout of the pizza Italian American casual dining establishment with beer & wine only. Kid Friendly and that is a good thing as we had 19 of us in tow tonight 10 adults and 9 kids ranging from 3 to 15 years of age. 8:30PM Arrival on Tuesday night and tables were laid out and waiting for us. Some house wine carafes were ordered some draft beers, and some pitchers of soda for the non drinkers and kids. Two GIANT salads in large mixing bowls with various house dressings were provided as a warm up. Good for what they are trying to establish with nice tart dressing and abundance of vegetables in the salad. A wide array of food was ordered I'll hit on the Goods and greats. Baked Ziti good large portion with abundant amounts of cheese could have used more sauce so they simply provided a side dish and it was perfect. Penne ala Vodka: Good tasty pasta not al dente, but still very rich and satisfying. Chicken Parmigiana: Excellent Large platter made as it should be loaded with sauce and side of pasta Eggplant Parmigiana see above only eggplant instead another winner House special Braciole: Italian rolled flank steak with herbs cheeses hardboiled egg like Momma makes covered in marinara sauce over pasta Excellent. Last but not least, PIZZA, PIZZA, PIZZA. Forget the Wood Fire, the Coal fire, the bonfire. If you want simply stated the best NY STYLE REAL PIZZA and the best in the state of Florida that I have had then Go to Franco & Vinny's. My interpretation of real pizza is a large round dough with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese with minimum amounts of toppings.. 1 max sausage, pepperoni etc. I hear people say Oh I had this great Arugula pizza with ricotta cheese. Folks please that is not pizza its dough with toppings on it. NY STYLE PIZZA as it should be hot, not dripping incredible rich taste and the best crust this side of NJ. Mouthwatering come back for more pizza. Service by Daniela and her helpers was excellent and 19 of us walked out of there stuffed to the gills for a price point that was shall we say inexpensive to say the least. No deserts or coffees were tried. Attentive to the kids at the other table, adults enjoyed it immensely and this place is still going strong after 30 years. Good Food & Service consistent will make you last in this business. For a "PIZZA" type establishment its 5 Stars for this place! Enjoy!
(5)AM B.
We had the veal francaise and grouper special this evening and we thoroughly enjoyed both. I didn't want to finish my veal quickly, it deserved to be savored and enjoyed. Visiting from a town with dozens of very good Italian restaurants this food was excellent. The fish was wonderfully fresh, we can't get grouper like that up north, and I could only coax a single bite from my husband. We took desserts to go and I am looking forward to enjoying them later! Our waiter was attentive and considerate which only made our experience that much more enjoyable.
(5)Sydney G.
My absolute favorite Italian restaurant! All of the food is yummy! And they have large portions. The staff is always nice and they have been there for years. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Tiffany P.
Loved, loved, LOVED everything about this place. For starters the Pizza Shack salad was amazing!!! It only got better from there - ckn & veal parm, pizza were delicious! Visiting from Austin, TX and only stopped in because of the yelp reviews - exceeded our expectations!
(5)Erica H.
A solid four stars. The place is a classic with charming interior and delicious food. Dishes are priced to sell in this touristy area at $20 a plate or so. I ordered veal which was meh at best but had a slice of my boyfriend's pizza and nearly went to heaven. I'd stick with pizza at this pizza shack! Service was decent but waitress was a little too chatty and a bit clumsy. She spilled an entire soda on my boyfriend and I.
(4)John T.
Westin Hotel receommended it for close by and reasonable for families. This place was peaks and valleys. First, if the menu say "homemade pasta" then I expect it to be homemade. it isn't. the sauce is and at least that is something. we had several and they were indeed good but nothing beats fresh pasta and this was not it. second they would not make any substitutions or special orders. we asked for a kids cheese tortalini... no, we asked for a side of gnocci instead of spagetti... no. come on. local place and needs to be flexible!! Overall food was good, house dressing was nice, pizza looked good (although we did not have it) and reasonaably priced but atmosphere was strip mall and staff was chippy. Make your own pasta !!
(3)Alan P.
NOT EVEN CLOSE TO NEW YORK PIZZA! My 1/2 pepperoni 1/2 plain was below average. You have so many other options. I would skip this place for pizza. I can't comment on other dishes. But I did get a tossed salad which consisted of a bunch of iceberg lettuce topped with shredded carrots, one black olive and one tomato slice. Nothing special here. SKIP IT
(2)Missy F.
Excellent service. Ask for Penelope. She was so sweet and personable. The fettuccine was delicious!!! Could of used a dinner roll or a piece of bread with it, was told it was extra :-/ seemed strange to me. Also, there was rap music playing in the background, seemed out of place in an Italian restaurant.
(3)Brent G.
I had my fifth visit to the Shack tonight! The restaurant is far beyond pizza...and theirs' is excellent. The success of this restaurant is all about the food and the service. The price point is very good especially on the veal dishes. They are generous in my book. I grew up cooking Italian food and I am still studying this cuisine. I am very particular about my food! For what most folks think of as Italian, this is the place. Pasta perfectly cooked. Veal dishes very well done and generous. Pizza terrific. Braciole made traditionally...excellent! Dinner includes bread and a house salad. As I said, I cook Italian and am restaurant trained. This is excellent no frills Italian...go in your shorts and a tee if you wish...and eat well! I always tell Vinny what I think about my meal on the way out...It always goes like this: "Hey Vinny! Thanks again for an excellent meal and thanks to your crew!!!" I am very happy! Just go, relax, eat and smile!
(5)Sal G.
I love coming to Franco and Vinnies. The service is usually spot-on and the food is always good. Our typical meal here is usually the same thing and consists of: Bread Meatballs Cheese Sticks Tri-Color Tortellini with Marinara Sauce Baked Ziti The bread comes to the table in the shape of triangles. There is a bit much semolina on the outside, but as long as it is fresh it is fairly decent. There is only butter for your bread, but that is fine. The meatballs come in pairs and have marinara draped over. There is not a lot of filler and you can taste the meat -- a staple. The cheese sticks are a bit inconsistent. There are times when they are over-fried and other times when it is a yellow cheese inside. More often than not, they are cooked properly and mozzarella; they are always served with marinara sauce. I am not a big fan of the Baked Ziti mainly because of the fact that I don't care for too many baked pastas. My friend loves it though and I shall continue to take his word for it. My dish, the tri-colored tortellini, is always good. The noodles are always cooked al dente and filled with ricotta cheese. I enjoy the firmness of the noodle juxtaposed with the softness of the cheese. Add in the marinara sauce, and it is a perfect wedding. My only gripe is the unpredictable inconsistancies that occur with the marinara sauce and chees sticks. The marinara sauce is usually very tangy with pieces of spinach, garlic clove and tomato throughout it. On several instances, though, it has had a burnt undertone to it. The food was still good, but that flavor knocked off a star in my mind. I will continue to return.
(4)Debby B.
Visited the night before our cruise and found the staff super friendly and the food very good! We ordered 2 pizzas and the baked ziti (big enough to share). Fast service, everything was piping hot and delicious! Would definitely go back!
(5)James D.
Best pizza in Florida! The owners oversee every thing ! Get a medium well done plain cheese pizza and enjoy perfection!
(5)Michael V.
This place apparently has a really loyal following. I didn't think it was anything spectacular however. Hearty Italian food with sizeable portions and good prices for the area.
(3)Paul C.
The bread and butter were good. The pizza was ordered half plain and half pepperoni with a request to go light on the peperoni, which clearly got lost in translation somewhere after the waitress left the table with the order. We've had better and worse pizza and would say the pizza was ok. My perception on the pizza may have been skewed by virtue of it swimming in peperoni. They say the pie here is thin crust, but it looks like its a hybrid between a regular and thin crust, as opposed to the typical skinny mini crust. We also had a baked ziti. I can't say when I had an enjoyable baked ziti last. It didn't look or taste all that great. The restaurant is roomy, adequately staffed, has a robust menu selection, appeared to be reasonably kept and was not overly crowded. If you find this review helpful click on the: useful, funny or cool rating below or compliment and follow by clicking on the top right.
(2)Jennifer N.
Woohoo is right! This place is delicious. We made the long walk from the Fort Lauderdale strip to this pizza place based no Yelp reviews. We were sat right away and quickly looked around at the delicious looking pizza. Great service- the waiter made us feel like family rather than the occasional tourist. We are spoiled by Boston's Pizzeria Regina but this pizza is definitly the next best thing. Great cheese and sauce, great flavor, and my favorite type of crust, crunchy but not too crunchy. Also had the garlic cheese bread which was HUGE and also delicious. Super garlicky which was just fine with us (note to self: bring toothbrush next time). Will definitly be back when in FLL.
(5)Thea M.
Don't go there if you want to be treated like a human being and not a jerk! One star for the guy in the parking lot. I went there with a coworker and after standing around by the door, simultaneously gawked at and ignored by staff the host reluctantly came over and DEIGNED to seat us. The gentleman I was with is a big guy but this jerk of a host tried to shove us to a tiny table in a dark corner. When my dining companion asked for a bigger table we were told there weren't any; "too busy." Meanwhile almost the whole restaurant was open and it was a Thursday at 6pm not Friday night at 8!!! What an ass hole!!! We just said BUH-BYE!!!!! Apparently you have to meet certain physical criteria to eat there, the high standards of the host won't be compromised.
(1)Mark C.
I think if I had been in a different waiter's section, I would likely have given this place 4 stars, and maybe even the 5th. Watching other people get good service is what dropped me to 3 here. The lasagna was nothing to write home (or randomly on the internet about), and the calamari was definitely not special in anyway. The winner on the evening was my wife's gnocchi with "Aurora" sauce. This food alone would have put me up in the 4-5 star range with a good waiter. I would definitely order that again if I came back. Having said that, nothing else about the evening was memorable, other than waiting forever for the bill.
(3)Dixon S.
We ate here last year on our vacation and were not dissapointed. The food and setting was very traditional Italian. I had the Fetticunni Alfredo with Chicken and it was really good, some of the best I have ever had. The sauce was creamy and rich and tasty and the pasta was cooked just right. The chicken was juicy and cooked perfectly. The ambiance of the restaurant was low key and cozy and the wait staff was friendly and helpful. Very recommended and the prices weren't bad either.
(4)Marci B.
I was pleasantly surprised with our dinner last night at Franco & Vinnie's. I am gluten intolerant so I thought I would be extremely limited. The staff was gluten knowledgeable and made me a yellowtail snapper with mushrooms and artichokes with a wonderful lemon wine sauce. The fish was so fresh and delicious. Their house salad dressing was phenomenal. They served me a huge plate of broccoli to replace the pasta that comes with the meal. Our server, Cintia, was exceptional. Highly recommend this place.
(5)Lucia C.
This place has been around since my grandfather moved to Florida - and I don't think much has changed! The decor is 'authentic,' by which I mean it looks like it has never been updated, but that's not really a bad thing. The place has some character. I like that the tables were decorated with old coins and money from various countries. I always find mirrors in restaurants strange, but it seems to suit Franco and Vinnie's. The chairs need to be replaced, period. The staff were all friendly and attentive. Our food came out quickly and was very hot, which I like. We were all satisfied, just not wow'd like the other reviewers. The food is typical Italian American - nothing special. We shared a pizza and some calamari, and in both cases the dishes were A-OK, nothing more, nothing less. I consider this the type of food that appeals to most and is generally good, but is not something I would go out of my way to eat. I am glad I visited this 'historic' Florida haunt by the beach. Its location is awesome, and it would be a good place to check out while visiting Fort Lauderdale Beach. I just think it needs a facelift.
(3)Mark B.
This is the first five star review for me. I love real italian and this is the best I have had, including New York. The pizza crust is perfect, sauce is the best, perfectly baked pie. Got the linguini with clam sauce, chopped it was perfect. The sauce was just right and pasta al dente. The best I have ever had. House chianti was great. Notice other dishes looking great and everyone happy. And the price very reasonable. Service great with Vinny overseeing everything. Small and intimate Italian just like it is supposed to be. Must go when in Ft Luderdale if looking for real Italian cuisine.
(5)Casey Ã.
Nice, calm, casual environment. Great food, fair prices, big portions. A favorite of my wife, she is a HUGE fan of the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo and I must admit I have a big weakness for their Vodka Sauce. I was surprised at the high quality ingredients for reasonable prices. Don't forget to try their pizza, it is a great size to share with another person and is awesome.
(4)Kevin G.
Huge portions, excellent authentic NY style italian food. If you want to leave full and satisfied with delicious food, go here. Get the chicken francaise.
(5)Thoko X.
Was there for dinner with the family last night. Food and service was great. My daughter had the chicken parmagiana, and I will be ordering that the next time we visit. Our server was really nice and funny.I liked the decor, had an old-world feel to it.We will be back. Had no room for dessert, was so full after the entrees.
(5)Christy H.
I'm not really a fan of pizza but when I am it's Franco & Vinnie's I love! Excellent crispy crust, great service and affordable prices, i've also tried many of the other items on their menu never to be disappointed (well the salads aren't the best but their soups are superb!). Family friendly atmosphere and most importantly clean bathrooms!! If you're local and haven't eaten here you're missing out. If you're a tourist this is a great place to catch a bite. (Just remember beer and wine only).
(5)Andrea M.
This is my spot when I go to my second home in ft Lauderdale. Been going to ft Lauderdale since I was 4 weeks old and have always gone to Franco and Vinnies. My father loves this place, everything is phenomenal. Just the spaghetti and meatballs are delicious and perfect. My boyfriend got a pizza last time we went there and it was amazing, got enough toppings including anchovies. My mom got the chicken francese and is always amazing. The chicken caccitore is my dads favorite, has only eaten this here and is extremely flavorful and filling! Believe me, I'm Sicilian, You'll be happy to eat here.. it's perfect.
(5)Nicole S.
So I went back... I had to. I could hear the pasta calling to me... Plus we are still in the hotel, so no cooking for me! I really miss it! Anyway, decided to try something different and went with the tricolor tortellini with cream sauce and baked ziti. The tortellini was cooked to perfection and I loved the cream sauce... It was a tad bland, though... Maybe next to the red sauce which offers so much... I don't know. Still amazing though. Baked ziti was ok. I'm not a huge fan of baked ziti anyway, so I'm not the best judge. Lasagna is still the winner... The place still received 5 stars in my book! Also, I tried the garlic bread - YUM! Also, I ordered a couple meatballs too. DELICIOUS! 3 people eating... still a TON of leftovers!
(5)Nina C.
Great customer service but ugg the food kinda sucks but my husband loves it (refer to Eric T's review) the only thing I have found on the menu that I like is the veal piccata, I mean it s tolerable! But I'm a dago and umm I don't know any Italian that cooks this way except for this joint :(
(2)Lenore B.
Bring a BIG appetite, awsome grouper with pasta, I loved it, but I could only eat about 1/3, mmmmmmmmmm good. Good waiter, name of Rick I think, just go, and enjoy!
(4)Becky G.
Excellent food and service . Family owned by 2 brothers. Celebrity visited. Casual attire, fair prices
(5)Priscilla k.
We went to this place twice during our visit to Ft. Lauderdale, because it is walking distance to where we stayed. Prefacing my review with the note that this place specializes in old-school italian-american food (lots of tomato sauce and cheese). Also, I'm rating this in relationship to the other places I went to during our stay in Ft. Lauderdale, not my overall lifetime dining experience. This one gets 4 stars for Ft. Lauderdale, probably 3-ish stars in reality. What's on the menu here? Chicken and veal parmesan, fettucine alfredo, pizza, baked stuffed shells, etc. Both times we went, service was very good, even though it was crazy-packed. Our waitress, who was really fun and relaxed despite how busy it was, kept checking in on us, so even though the food took a little while, we felt attended to. Food was very fresh...I had a fettucine carbonara one night (it was OK...but I compare all carbonara dishes to the first time I tried it in Rome as a teenager, so nothing can compare to that). On another night, I had the veal parmesan. Portions are ENORMOUS here. I had enough left over for another meal, and I'm a hungry gal. I like that it is a neighborhood style place. I like the old-school vibe. They even have an old menu framed on the wall. Wish I had tried the pizza...
(4)Charlie T.
This is a great place. Great menu, and I look forward to eating here whenever I'm in Fort Lauderdale.
(5)Janine W.
This is an old school type of place. Mom and pop place, very busy but not so busy as to have to wait for a table! my son has the kid size cheese ravoli which he loved so much he had a second order. This is basically a full size order! I had the eggplant parmesan. It was well done and I enjoyed the spaghetti on the side. All meals came with bread and salad. So I was very full and couldn't even finish my meal. Hubby finished it and he had the manicotti stuffed with cheese. maybe it was the smaller tubes, but you know what I mean. Lots of meat on the menu with seafood options.
(3)Eric T.
great italian food. I typically sit at the bar and the owner is very friendly and waits on us himself. Friendly atmosphere, good fresh food. Definitely recommend if your in the mood for italian.
(4)Kevin L.
Great food, decor is dated but comfortable and the staff is very friendly.
(4)Michael B.
Fantastic given the price and what else is around this beach area! Very good service, reasonable prices (less than $25/plate including wine) and the food was great! One of the few gems in this area full of beach trash restaurants!
(4)Arthur B.
Be aware seafood in this place is NOT fresh!!!! I went with my husband and he had the fruit de mare and has been sick with food poisoning that whole night and day! Don't make the same mistake, go to a place where they care about the well being of their customers.
(1)Peter F.
We had a group of 7 on Saturday night... some family and friends from Chicago - we were all first-timers to this place. Made a reservation a few days before. Old school place, the "anti-chain" restaurant... reminds me a little of Tufano's in Chicago. Excellent, unpretentious, friendly service - the waiter engages all of us in friendly banter like we've known him from the South Side of Chicago our entire life. Very good food, I had the Chicken Parmesan. It came with side of pasta and salad - all very good. I loved the house dressing on the salad. My girl had soup - the waiter says the soups are made fresh, they are not from a can, nor are they sitting around in a pot all night. Everyone loved the appetizer Calamari and the delicious, fresh bread that came to the table. I heard a lot of unsolicited positive food comments from my group - everyone left happy. I will definitely go back to Franco & Vinnie's.
(4)Peter F.
I always use Yelp when traveling on business and have yet to be disappointed, here is another example of a great local restaurant I would have missed if I did not check yelp. Great food at a great price in an area where it's easy to just get less than mediocre room service. I had take out and will definitely dine in next time. Great local flavor that would have made the night.
(5)Mark M.
Wife and I in Ft lauderdale for I night . Found Franco and Vinnie's on Yelp. Had Linguini White Clam Sauce. Wife had Spaghetti , both delicious , along with salad simple oil, vinegar Parmesan dressing also fresh very good. That with bread and 1/2 carafe Cabernet- $46...Wow. A restaurant filled with 80% regulars as told to us by regulars always a good sign
(5)M W.
The food here is just okay--a bland Italian fare that you could cook for yourself at home. The atmosphere is loud. It's definitively not bad, but definitely not worth writing home about. I've been here several times, and it's always the same. If you're looking for delicious (and cheaper) Italian food, check out Giuliano's on the other side of the bridge. It blows this place away.
(2)Helene S.
Been coming here for years and never a disappointment. Vinnie is always there to great you. Went last night with some friends. Rick, our waiter was awesome. Food is always good. Try Vinnie's Special!
(4)Kevin P.
Great food great service, get the half carafe of wine it's practically a bottle. Had the lasagna italian wife had chicken picatta, she said da-vine!!! The canoli was great. Cheap dinner for two.
(5)Janice A.
The most outstanding garden salad I have ever had in my life! The dressing was so good I wanted to lick the plate clean, I couldn't believe the flavor. Delicious. Our garlic cheese bread ($4 or so) followed the amazing salads, and it was exactly what garlic cheese bread should be. And they didn't go easy on the cheese either, that bread was drowning in its gooey tastiness. I had the carbonara ($16) and was satisfied though not blown away. It was a solid attempt at my favorite dish, but I'm not a fan of fettuccine noodles so that kinda spoiled it for me. Next time I'll ask for ziti noodles or just order something else. The bacon was also a bit off, though I think they might make it themselves, like pan fry pieces of ham or something. It was good, just not what I'm used to. The boy had the baked ziti ($13ish), which was decent, but I think he was hoping for more baked less pasta. It was really just a regular pasta dish with red sauce and ziti. Good, but he'll try something else the next time around. The service was outstanding, our waitress was very nice and gave a homey feel without being too invasive. She made sure we felt comfortable to continue our conversation in peace after the plates were cleared. It's a very friendly environment while still maintaining an intimate feel. Oh, and another huge plus was the leftovers, my dish gave me two more meals while the boy finished his off the next day for lunch. And honestly, I think mine was better reheated.
(4)Barbara M.
Just get the Cheese Pizza and you're back in NY!
(5)Michael B.
Good food, lots of garlic. Excellent service.
(4)Philip D.
Wonderful lasagna, delicious salad served with a tasty Italian bread. Service was excellent.
(5)Brad L.
Amazing food, wonderful service that's friendly and fast. Great place you have to check it out!
(5)Sarah H.
Got a recommend so went to check it out. Weren't sure as we walked up but opened the door and knew we were in an old school joint and we's be's happy! Casual though some were dressed up. Mix of couples and groups. The place was packed and we found out why: Great service, good food and dang cheap.
(4)Franklin H.
First off, I want to say the service was very good and people were friendly. Bread was late arriving but that was not a big deal. Problem has to do with lack of seasoning in the sauce and lack of flavor for the lasagna that I ordered, and lack of flavor and seasoning for the veal parm that my gf ordered. No oregano, no garlic, too salty of a sauce. Pasta was good though. Salad was ok but nothing special. Maybe the cook had an off night. Maybe we should have ordered the pizza.
(2)Logan D.
Fantastic - best bruchetta I have ever eaten. The Carbonera was as good as my dad made it - highly recommend this place. Even the dinner salads were outstanding!
(5)Bek B.
Always a great meal at Vinny's! As a customer for more than 8 years, I recommend very highly. Be sure to try the pizza, chicken piccata, veal Marsala. It's all good!
(5)Eric S.
Tried the pizza per other yelp recommendations, it was great! The place was packed with lots of regulars and had very friendly waitstaff and a family-run feel.
(5)Kim N.
We just ate at Franco and Vinny's for the first time. Food & and service were great! Especially the Fettuccine Alfredo. Service was fast & the waitress was very polite. We recommend it highly :-)
(5)Bruce S.
We go here 5 times a year, it's always good. Everything is good, not phenomenal, but good. I always leave satisfied.
(4)Chris F.
I'm from Boston, where the pizza is awesome. We have classic famous places like Santarpio's and Pizzeria Regina in the North End, and i think that Franco & Vinnie's BLOW THEM AWAY!!!! Every time I fly down to Florida, I land at the airport, take a cab to my parents house, drop off my suitcase and jump in the car and i'm on my way to Franco & Vinnie's. The pizza has the perfect crunch to the crust, the sauce is amazing, and they use a certain blend of cheeses that is the best i've ever tasted. It's cooked perfect. Not too well done and not undercooked at all. I've only gotten the plain cheese when i've been there because i don't want to change the flavor of the pizza!!! I've even had some outstanding entree's there. The broccoli rabe and sausage over ziti is amazingly good. Usually sausages are not that good outside of Boston but they are good there. I will be back every time i'm in the southern part of Florida. good job guys!!!
(5)Charlie T.
I love Franco and Vinnie's. There's a lot of good Italian food in my hometown of Boston, and Franco and Vinnie's is the best I've had in Florida, hands down. Looking forward to visiting again later this month! To Franco and Vinnie, you guys ROCK.
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