Don't let the location fool you. This place was delicious. The iced Cafe con Leche was great, but…read morelet me tell you about the food. We had 3 different sandwiches: The Famous Cubano, the Monte Cristo, and the Media Noche. They were all very delicious, but the Media Noche was the best out of the 3. We have ate many Media Noche sandwiches and this is definitely top 3 easily. The service was also great. The portions of the sandwiches are big too, definitely not snack size. Everything is made fresh, so be patient.

Disappointed in the Cuban Sandwich -- But Some Bright Spots…read more I came here based on the stellar 4.6 rating and 150+ reviews, but most of the rave reviews seem to be from 2-6 years ago, before the place changed hands. I ordered the Cuban sandwich, and unfortunately, it was a miss -- maybe a 3/10 at best. The meat was lukewarm, the cheese wasn't melted, and the bread wasn't buttery or crisp -- just a bit hard from the panini press. The pickles were solid, and the mustard was tangy and balanced, but those were the only highlights of the sandwich. I did have a cortadito while waiting, and that was excellent. The coffee, croquetas, and baked goods looked promising -- I might come back to try those instead. But if you're coming specifically for the Cuban sandwich, I'd head to Sanguich in Little Havana -- that one's a 9/10 in my book.

I found this restaurant on yelp by typing in "Italian restaurants" since I had been wanting to find…read morean authentic Italian spot in Fort Lauderdale. I went through the reviews and pictures extensively! Let me just say, not a single lie was told about the greatness that is La Perla! This is going to be a long review! Let's start with the service since that's a huge dealbreaker for me regardless of food taste. We had one main server, but another was assisting as well. I hate that I didn't ask their names again to include it in this review. Both women were extremely helpful, they checked on us the perfect amount, made sure we were satisfied, and even helped in our decision making. Not only were they extremely professional but they were super kind and honestly, both of them were very funny and made the night quite enjoyable without even trying; I could tell it was just their natural personality shining through their commendable service. Now on to the food. We ordered appetizers, entree, and dessert. We wanted help choosing our wine, and based off a couple questions, the selections of red our server recommended was very nice. The bruschetta was the absolute best I have EVER had! I am talking about an explosion of flavor that I didn't expect! I don't like fried foods but I did still enjoy my boyfriend's calamari/zucchini appetizer. He himself devoured it and said it was amazing. Our entree's were delicious and the ingredients were so fresh. Dessert was fantastic! I ordered the cannolis since they're a favorite of mine, however it is my birthday so they also brought out a cream puff and to my absolute surprise I loved it more than the cannoli (which was still super tasty). The restaurant is small and intimate. I saw a review saying it was noisy, but honestly you can't go to an Italian restaurant and expect it to be quiet. They foster an atmosphere where you want to eat, chat, and be merry. The "noise" was sounds of happy patrons enjoying their meals and their company. Nothing to complain about at all! As we ate I noticed that the staff turned over the tables very quickly. That was actually interesting to witness; as a group leaves, the staff ensures to promptly clean the table and reset it and as soon as you turn your head it's as if no one had dined there yet. Loved that, because who wants to be seated next to someone's leftovers? Haha. Overall, I loved my time here as well as my meal. I would 100% recommend this restaurant to others and I want to thank the staff for the amazing dinner experience!

La Perla was a great find, and I would definitely return. The restaurant is charming and feels very…read moreauthentic, with several standout dishes. The bruschetta was excellent, honestly some of the best I've had, and the molten lava cake was absolutely to die for. The flounder special was also loved by everyone at our table who ordered it. That said, there were a few misses. My mom had called a week ahead to let them know her husband was vegan, and the person she spoke with was very kind and said they would speak with the chef and be prepared. When we arrived, the waitress acknowledged they knew we had a vegan guest, but the option offered was simply spaghetti with vegetables. When it came out, it was just plain pasta without vegetables. They apologized and corrected it, but after the advance call, we expected something a bit more thoughtful. The restaurant was also very loud and crowded, and with our larger table, people on opposite ends had to practically yell to hear each other. The staff seemed stretched thin, so service was not as attentive as it could have been, though we did appreciate that we never felt rushed. Food-wise, the bruschetta and desserts were excellent, the meatballs were just okay, and while my mom loved the rack of lamb, I found mine a bit overdone and overpowered by the sauce. We were also disappointed they were out of branzino, since several people in our party had planned to order it. Overall, La Perla has a lot of charm, very good food, and a warm, authentic feel. I'd happily go back, but probably with a smaller party and maybe on a less busy night.