Italian Restaurant Reviews - Cafe Italia Fort Lauderdale
Owner Francesco Lapi doesn't try to fool anyone because he doesn't have to at this intimate 50-seater located in the shadow of an adult strip club. Lapi delivers the goods with expertly-prepared dishes that turn simple ingredients into memorable meals. The risottos are as good as they come, the Chilean sea bass and other seafood entrees exude just-caught freshness, and the al dente pastas are served with a variety of richly-flavored sauces. Lapi keeps his loyal clientele company with amusing chit-chat, making Cafe Italia a place with a personality to match the food.
Cafe Italia Restaurant Fort Lauderdale is one of the most authentic, if not the most, authentic restaurant in the Tri-County Area. Voted one of the Top 500 restaurants in all of Florida Golden Spoon Awards, Cafe Italia does what it does best, serve authentic Italian cuisine in the heart of Fort Lauderdale.
- Cafe Italia brings charm to Old World to Lauderdale - Sun Sentinel
- The Charm and taste of the Old World - CityLink
- Straight from the heart - Sun Sentinel
- Warm welcome makes Cafe Italia special - The Herald Dining Section
- Best Kept Secret in Town - Fort Lauderdale Dining Guide
Bote M. in Fort Lauderdale...
I have driven by the office building containing this gem a hundred times and never knew that Cafe Italia was holding up the structure. I am on a quest for the best risotto and did a Google search, which landed on Cafe Italia.
I was apprehensive at first, because the front door was locked to keep the strong wind from Hurricane Ike from blowing it open.
The owner greeted us and sat us at a table, the only diners at 6:30 this evening. This worked to our advantage because we both ordered risotto which takes at least 20 minutes of constant attention by the cook to make. I had risotto with porcini mushrooms while my friend had risotto with shellfish. Both were excellent, out of this world!
The flavors and aromas were so delicate and well-stated that I would inhale the aroma of each bite before devouring it. There was just enough broth in my bowl to keep the rice moist throughout, and every bite was as rewarding and delicious as the first. I have prepared risotto about 5 times and each time it comes out different, so now I have a gold standard against which to measure mine. There is a reasonbly diverse wine list, we had a pinot grigio which complemented the meal nicely. For dessert, of course it had to be tiramisu, which was delicate, not too sweet.
The coffee flavor did not dominate but accented it. The whipped cream imparted a delicious freshness to round out the dessert. Service was attentive, but not intrusive (we were the only guests there after all). Now, when we were seated I was in a sedate frame of mind, not too talkative. But the (Italian) owner loves to engage his guests in conversation so I obliged and learned a few things while our meals were prepared. His conversation only added to our enjoyment. So looks are deceiving in this case.
Cafe Italia is a gem in the rough. Look for the Pure Platinum "gentlemen's club" to the south, then look north to find the Roselli Building. Cafe Italia is on the ground floor of the Roselli Building. You can't go wrong. We will definitely be back!
A diner from Fort Lauderdale, FL
Although I have lived around the corner from this restaurant since it opened (the owner told us 14 years ago), I had never eaten there...in fact, I didn't know it existed. My boyfriend and I stopped in on Sunday night before seeing a movie. We were greeted by the owner. He suggested a few dishes (which were wonderful)and sent me home with a box of pasta, which he imports from Italy, to try out in my own kitchen. We plan to make it one of our regular mid-week dinners out. Great authentic food, reasonably priced, excellent service. Definitely worth a visit.
Sarah in Fort Lauderdale...
My boyfriend and I decided to try something different from our usual Cafe Vico or Kitchetta. We decided on Cafe Italia, just blocks from our home. Wonderful authentic food, excellent service from both the staff and owner (in fact he sent me home with a box of imported pasta to try out in my own kitchen.) I don't know how we missed it! Definitely worth a visit. Delicious and reasonable.
