Authentic Fort Lauderdale Italian Restaurant

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With its friendly, attentive staff and a nice, reasonably priced wine selection, Café Italia is a neighborhood Italian restaurant that will win you over with its high quality, well prepared... read more

Eddiemack
8/14/2019
We were the first ones to arrive on a Saturday and when we left the place was very busy. They cook to order and the only waitress was kept... read more

Donna Marie D
8/13/2019
The owners/chef couple take pride in the food and service they provide. Food is authentic, very tasty. Love the bread and olive. Every pasta dishes we ordered was outstanding.... read more

WEBinHarmony
7/07/2019
This was an Italian joint with a big menu. We didn't get a chance to try their pizza but it looked to this former NYer to be the real... read more

Steve P
7/02/2019
You want real Italian food? this is it! Owners are the chefs and the food, wine and service were outstanding. great pasta, veal, meat and seafood dishes with a wide... read more

Jack G
5/07/2019
Not bad at all. Warm bread served with olives and olive oil (Bread from Gran Forno, I believe) started us off. Nice glass of cabernet at 6 seemed like good... read more

michaelaT8138GW
4/08/2019
Not bad at all. Warm bread served with olives and olive oil (Bread from Gran Forno, I believe) started us off. Nice glass of cabernet at 6 seemed like good... read more

Michael A
4/08/2019
This restaurant is amazing. The food is just perfect. The owner is there with you while you dine and is very friendly. He's been running restaurants for... read more longer than I've been alive.

Sherpa16711582609
1/28/2019
Dinner for 8. Impeccable service, wonderful menu and wine list. Reasonably priced. Great value. Wonderful atmosphere with Pavarotti and in the background.

Mike L
11/06/2018
This is very popular restaurant with locals. Very good, solid food. Service was okey but need improvement. My only complaint it was very , very cold inside.

258beatak
9/26/2018

Very nice ! Sat outside Staff welcoming and food was delicious. Meet staff Valerie and owner Francesco !

Geoff L.
9/24/2020
I was watching the Food Network today and they showed a restaurant featuring Spaghetti Carbonara. Having had a particularly rough week, it was just the comfort food I wanted. It is one of my favorite pasta dishes but I rarely have it because well it's pasta, and I have yet to find a good version of the dish in South Florida. I did a search
on Google for restaurants that have it. Cafe Italia came up as being one of the top 10 restaurants in Fort Lauderdale for the dish. So I made plans to order it. I found I could order for curbside pick up through their web site. I placed my order and went to pick it up. It wasn't quite ready when I got there, but it did not take long. I pulled up and a nice lady brought my order out. Having not eaten anything, I was pretty hungry. I got home and put my pasta on a plate. It came with some nice crusty bread and extra grated cheese. The pasta was delicious! The pancetta was crispy, the pasta cooked perfectly and a good amount of cheese. The only thing I would have liked a little more of was the black pepper. It was a generous portion and I had enough left over for another meal tomorrow. I will definitely be going back to Cafe Italia for the Carbonara, but now I want to try the other dishes too. Absolutely wonderful Carbonara!

Patricia K.
7/10/2020
In a pre-COVID 19 world, today was the day that we were scheduled to go to Italy. We were flying to Rome and had plans to go to Praiano and the Amalfi Coast. Needless to say that did not happen so we wanted to have an authentic dinning experience. After looking through Yelp for just a spot we landed on Cafe Italia. Wow. Hands down the best Italian food I have ever had.

It's that simple.

Nestor L.
4/30/2020
My roommates bday while in quarantine... I asked her what she wanted and it was linguini and clam sauce.... no Italian restaurant in Ft Lauderdale had clams!! Next option Snapper livonese ... ok found it... for me pappardelle mare con fungi... take out of course! This place is in a business building, small and I'd never have found it if I hadn't been looking for something specific because there are tons of good Italian restaurants in this area. Seriously, I've lived in this area for over 30 yrs and only had one Italian restaurant that I believe was their equal, closed... I had a good feeling when I placed my order when the gentleman taking my orders had such a thick Italian accent it was a bit hard to understand...and when I picked it up he was the most charming elderly man that made me laugh during a tough lockdown time! But that being said... this food was AMAZING... my roommate was in heaven with her livonese and I with my pappardelle... and a free bottle of red wine for spending $40 buck!! Quarantine special of course. But I promise you I will be back for take out many times before our lockdown is over and I'm crossing my fingers that they remain open so I can enjoy this restaurant in a civilized manor once this is all over!

June C.
4/08/2020
Excellent food! It reminds me of Rome, plus they have warm toasty bread, great service and wine

Eric M.
3/22/2020
What a perfectly fantastic restaurant. We dine here once a week and it always exceeds our expectations. Francesco , the owner, is such a charming old world Italian host. Greets us at the door and makes sure we are happy with the service and the food. Valerie, his wife is the chef and what a fabulous job she does in the kitchen...food is perfectly executed, delicious and hot. I spent a lot of time in Rome and am familiar with exceptional Italian food. Cafe Italia delivers that exceptional quality ,flavor and taste.Dine at this restaurant and you will not be disappointed.You Will fall in love with Francesco and with Valerie's dishes.

Patricia F.
3/12/2020
We have found our spot for THEE BEST lasagna my husband and I have ever had. I feel a little guilty writing that, as my Italian aunt does make a delicious one as well, but the lasagna we ate at Cafe Italia was absolutely incredible. I ordered the risotto which had lots of mussels and clams and three large shrimp. Some of the mussels were a bit tough, but the flavor of the dish was outstanding, perfect combination of white wine and garlic. The portions are very generous for the price. Francesco is a perfect gentleman, opening the door and talking with guests as they arrive. It seems like a lot of regulars come by, and with good reason- I haven't had authentic Italian food like this in a restaurant in a very long time, and never in south Florida. We will be back for sure!

Jaimee L.
2/23/2020
Have been living in Fort Lauderdale for 15 years looking for a New York style Italian restaurant. Finally found it. The owner Francesco greets you at the door with a handshake and a smile. Can't wait to come back

Lauri H.
2/03/2020
Absolutely incredible food here!!! The cheese, house wine, eggplant Parmesan, dessert... Everything. The price is so reasonable too. You must try this place!

Alex M.
1/27/2020
This place is amazing! Went with a group of friends and everyone's meal was outstanding. The service was great too!

Niki C.
1/11/2020

4.5 146 reviews

Daniel Rentroff ★★★★★ 3 weeks ago
Delicious food
Jill Reschop ★★★★★ 4 months ago
Amazing delicious authentic Italian food for fair prices. Great service where they bring out the food to your car right now. … More I can highly recommend this place!!
T J ★★★★★ 7 months ago
Such great food. Cozy atmosphere. Greeted warmly by the restaurant patriarch. Felt like family. Wonderful staff. Loved this … More place. Would come back. Highly recommend!!! You won't be disappointed..
jangchuna kate ★★★★★ 3 years ago
Italian is not my first choice, but whenever I want Italian foods I would come here. This 23 years old restaurant is highly … More recommended. Real mom&pop place. The owner, Francesco, has such a warm heart. He made us feel like eating at our grandparents house. He and his wife kept feeding us wonderful and tasty foods. The price is reasonable.