Brian Nagele
Italian food is so amazing and full of variety that it has got to be one of our favorite cuisines in the entire world, especially when we’re going out to eat at a nice Italian restaurant here in Fort Lauderdale.
We think there’s nothing quite like fresh pasta and homemade tomato sauce on a heaping plate of lasagna, or a savory dish of veal ossobuco on a bed of buttery risotto, so we went ahead and scoured the city to find the best Italian restaurants for delicacies like those, and many more.
You’ll never have to worry again about finding that perfect Italian restaurant whether you’re in the mood for a romantic night out or just a casual pasta lunch, these places are to sure have exactly what you’re craving.
Serafina
926 NE 20th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Phone: (954) 463-2566
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Taking the number one spot on our list of best Italian restaurants in Fort Lauderdale is Serafina, a classy riverfront Italian restaurant that has quickly become one of our all-time favorites. You can come to Serafina for lunch, dinner, and even a delightful brunch menu that offers bottomless mimosas and Bellini’s! Our favorite dish, however, comes from their dinner menu and it’s their salt-crusted and oven-baked branzino fish that they filet right at the table in front of you.
Cafe Vico Restaurant
1125 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Phone: (954) 565-9681
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Next up is a place called Café Vico Restaurant, located off of North Federal Highway near the Lake Ridge neighborhood, and we think they’re one of the best Italian restaurants in Fort Lauderdale. They have amazing veal scaloppini here at Café Vico Restaurant, but their menu is filled with other mouth-watering options like a roasted rack of lamb, fettuccine carbonara, and much more.
Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Bar Pizzeria
1032 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (954) 356-6699
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Next up is Louie Bossi, one of Fort Lauderdale’s best Italian restaurants, in our opinion, that you can find right on the corner of Southeast 11th Avenue and East Las Olas Boulevard. What we always order when we head to Louie Bossi is one of their incredible paninis. They have a multitude of different panini options, but we prefer one called “The Italian Job” that comes with salumi, cheese, tomatoes, arugula, and giardiniera.
La Dolce Vita
3331 NE 33rd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
Phone: (954) 565-5707
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La Dolce Vita is the next one on our list of best Italian restaurants in Fort Lauderdale and you can find them right on the gorgeous Fort Lauderdale Beach, off of Northeast 33rd Street and North Ocean Boulevard. One of our favorite things about La Dolce Vita is that they have charming outdoor seating on their patio for taking in the fresh air on those beautiful Fort Lauderdale nights while you eat, but the indoor seating also offers a delightful ambiance.
Reggiano’s Italian Cuisine
2724 E Commercial Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
Phone: (754) 779-7995
Reggiano’s Italian Cuisine is another one of our personal favorite places to eat, and not just because they have some of the best Italian food in Fort Lauderdale, but because of their convenient location near the Landings neighborhood and the Knoll Ridge neighborhood. Their chicken piccata is simply unbelievable here at Reggiano’s and it’s pretty much the only thing we ever order, although they have many, many more delectable dishes available like chicken parmesan and shrimp with linguini.
Cafe Italiana Authentic Italian Restaurant
3471 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306
Phone: (954) 561-3900
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Be sure to look out for Café Italiana Authentic Italian Restaurant off of North Federal Highway, just south of the Coral Ridge Country Club golf course, because they’re easily one of Fort Lauderdale’s best Italian restaurants, we think. We strongly recommend trying their penne alla vodka here at Café Italiana, but if you’re not in the mood for pasta, then we would suggest ordering their Chilean sea bass because it is to-die-for.
Sapido
111 SE 8th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (954) 488-8000
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Up next is Sapido, one of the best Italian restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, by far, and you can find them off of Southeast 8th Avenue and Southeast 1st Street in the Las Olas neighborhood. We always recommend ordering their lobster ravioli or their porcini ravioli, but if you’re looking for something a bit heavier, then we recommend the carne arrosto; slow-cooked beef with Italian wine sauce and either baked potatoes or a salad.
Zuckerello’s
3017 E Commercial Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
Phone: (954) 776-4282
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Zuckerello’s is located off of East Commercial Boulevard and Bayview Drive right across the street from the entrance to the Landings neighborhood, just over the bridge from Fort Lauderdale Beach. We think Zuckerello’s is easily one of the best Italian restaurants in Fort Lauderdale because we are massive seafood-lovers and they have some of the freshest fish and shellfish in the whole city, so be sure to try their yellowtail snapper.
Casa D’Angelo Ristorante
1201 N Federal Hwy #5a, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Phone: (954) 564-1234
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This next place on our list of best Italian restaurants in Fort Lauderdale is called Casa D’Angelo Ristorante, and we think that they have some of the best penne vodka we have ever tasted. You can find Casa D’Angelo Ristorante off of North Federal Highway in the Laudergate Isles district, so be sure to stop by the next time you’re in the area!
Il Paesano Italian Gourmet Food Cafe, Deli and Wine Market
2645 E Oakland Park Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306
Phone: (954) 396-1700
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This next place is called Il Paesano Italian Gourmet Food Café, Deli and Wine Market and they are one of the top destinations for the best Italian food in Fort Lauderdale, by far. You’ll find Il Paesano off of East Oakland Park Boulevard, just down the street from the Coral Ridge Mall shopping center, so it’s perfect for a lovely dinner of Italian cuisine after a day of shopping.
