appetizers ware good loved the garlic rolls i ordered chicken marsala looked pritty good but had no…read moretaste no salt or any other spice absolutely no taste of marsala vine not to happy just a liquid brown sauce

Consistently great food and fabulous service…read more The whole staff was wonderful. Friendly and welcoming. Our server Stephanie was amazing. They gave great lunch specials.

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.

It's intimate, well appointed, and you can actually hear the person your with. I think many people…read morethere, customers speak Italian, as there's a friendship between them, and Mario, and the help. The service is excellent, and the servers do a fine job. I tried to book online for 6:30, but couldn't, so called, and was told there's on table of two. Now the food: We had a lobster bisque, with a cream and light. Tomato taste, and some real lobster. Excellent. Mussels were large, and a bit gamey, nice light sauce. good. Had a sausage, finely cut up, and made with a pan fried topping and cheese and nice red sauce. Good I wanted pasta and garlic oil and butter. Also wanted veal and eggplant parmigiana . Neither on the menu. And no can have. Had a cannoli to go. Excellent wine menu. Two of us about $100. I'll come back because nice atmosphere

Sea Mario has been bookmarked on my Yelp for over a year. While trying to make some Valentine's…read moreplans, my husband asked where I wanted to go, and I immediately thought of this restaurant. Even a few weeks in advance, Valentine's Day was already booked, so we made a reservation for Valentine's eve. This is not a restaurant I would come to without a reservation because I saw people get turned away. Located in an unassuming little strip mall, you would never know that there is a sparkling gem of a place tucked in the middle of the shops. Parking can be a little tricky, but we were able to snag a spot in front. Inside, this quaint restaurant has such welcoming decor in black-and-white with some accent colors. There are lots of little knickknacks and decorations from Italy. When we entered, we were greeted by one of the owners, Nadia. We had a short wait before our table was ready. When seated, Nadia went over all the specials and answered our questions regarding her recommendations on the menu. Her husband, Mario, also assists with serving. He also greeted us later during our dinner to check in about our meal. Now let's get to the heart of this review...the food. As someone with Sicilian heritage, I have been fortunate to visit Italy and have had some pretty amazing fresh seafood and pasta dishes there. And of course, I've had wonderful Italian restaurant experiences here as well. But I have to say, Sea Mario tops the list. Before I discuss the food menu, I just want to point out they have an extensive wine list. The menu offers several selections whether one is vegetarian, wants steak/lamb instead of pasta, or has come here for the dishes 'di mare.' We started off with an appetizer. Arancini rice balls with mushrooms and cheese. The Arancini balls flanked a bowl of stracciatella cheese. This was a special appetizer not on the regular menu. It was fantastic and dare I say luxurious? (Please put in on the regular menu!) For our main courses, my husband had the Fettuccini Florida Golden Crab & Scallops. It was Caribbean Italian fusion inspired with a flavorful, but not (hot) spicy, pasta sauce. I opted for the Maine Lobster Catalana. I have had my share of seafood pasta dishes throughout my life, but when this entree was placed in front of me, the aroma was so fragrant that I knew I was in for something special. The pasta sauce was made with high-quality tomatoes and caramelized onions (which I think really aided this sauce and made it different). The dish had clams and, of course, succulent lobster tail and the claw meat. The lovely aroma was not a tease because the dish tasted excellent. If having freshly made pasta with lobster sounds appealing to you, this is the dish to get. (They make their own pasta and the seafood is very fresh.) We ended our meal by sharing a fresh cannoli. The shell was not hard like a typical cannoli, rather it had the consistency of a doughnut. The ricotta filling with pistachio was absolutely out of this world. The plate was beautifully decorated with a berry drizzle in the shape of a seahorse. As you can tell, I'm pretty smitten with Sea Mario. I definitely want to return to this romantic restaurant for our anniversary later this year. Thank you for the incredible service and dishes.

Di Farina - A True Hidden Gem!…read more Visited Di Farina for a company dinner tonight, and I am so glad I did! This is one of those hidden gems you almost don't want to share, just so there's always a table waiting for you. We started with a spread of appetizers: grilled octopus, garlic shrimp, fried burrata with arugula, and perfectly layered potatoes topped with braised short rib and fonduta. Every single dish was incredible--I honestly can't pick a favorite, though the short ribs stole my heart. For mains, I had the osso buco with pappardelle (their pastas are all freshly made in-house, and you can taste the difference). Our table also enjoyed the branzino, which was deboned tableside, the massive squid ink seafood linguini (so loaded with seafood you could barely see the pasta), and a rich, creamy carbonara that was perfectly balanced. Desserts were the perfect finale: tiramisu, cheesecake, and a refreshing lemon sorbetto, each as good as the last. The service was flawless, and the entire staff is Italian, adding to the authentic charm of the experience. Di Farina has officially become my new go-to spot for Italian nights. 10/10 on food, service, and atmosphere--can't wait to return!

Is this a pasta shop? A restaurant? Well it tuns out it is both! This unassuming place on…read moreAtlantic is home to some really good Italian food and excellent service. You park in the back and enter along the bar. The intimate seating area faces the street. On this night I was late in joining some of my friends so I ordered simply, spaghetti carbonara which is always my Italian "go to". Combined with a lovely Cabernet, my dinner was like eating in a small trattoria in Italy. I like that they give you a choice of handmade pasta and toppings to choose from. We also got some complimentary cannolis which made me smile. Oh, and if you want some pasta to take home? Go to their attached shop and pick it up. Your restaurant receipt will give you 10% off if you use it within 7 days. Di Farina is that place that you need to add to your regular rotation of restaurants. It's just that unique of a place!

The restaurant is pretty, inside and out but if it was like yesterday, you're gonna deal with the…read morelack of breeze if you sit outside. Our group of 10 or so started outside but it was hot and there wasn't any breeze, so we relocated inside. Our server, Fadi, followed us and provided excellent service. He was personable and really set the tone for friendly and professional service. My husband enjoyed their pinot noir and I loved the Don Julio 1942. We each had salmon - it was juicy and well seasoned. I had the spinach as the side and both were good just know that the spinach is generously dressed with oil. We split carrot cake with our friends - we ordered a slice for each end of the table and people who didn't want to have any were having fork fights with others! The cake is served with ice cream and whipped cream. Definitely have a bit with the ice cream. Their espresso is fresh and strong. We both wanted to lick the inside of the cups but restrained ourselves! Just know that the ambiance, service and food quality ain't cheap. You can self-park, so that'll save ya money, but seriously, every once in a while you want to have your high expectations met and Miraggio can easily do it.

Hey SoFlo, look at this gorgeous Italiano. I'm taking about Miraggio!…read more @miraggioitaliangrill is a beautiful waterfront restaurant serving delicious Italian food in the Pompano Beach neighborhood. Not only the view is amazing but their food is simply appetizing from the bar bites, apps, main course to dessert. We started with their popular Eggplant Stack, crispy Coconut Shrimp, and tender Hand Rolled Meatballs then followed by a flavorful Chicken Marsala and delectable Linguini & Clams and ended with their signature Tiramisu. Everything was prepared with love and passion and truly delicious! In addition, whether you sit inside, outside or at the bar (which we loved), the service was second to none but do take advantage of the views!

We have been eyeing this place for years, we vividly remembering wanting to order from them back…read moreduring the pandemic and never did so I always made a mental note when I saw the name to come in once we wanted some good Italian. I remember looking up local places that had freshly made Italian way way back and this was one of the spots. What a joy to have homemade authentic Italian pasta nearby! Tonight we came in during the Labor Day holiday weekend on Sunday night with our toddler. Judging by the reviews I was on the fence about this being a date night or trying to bring the kiddo but I was feeling adventurous. We lucked out- no reservation; walked in with a toddler and it they sat us in one of the back rooms with a big party table- perfect. Bring on the large group who will be living it up family style and louder than us. A beautiful interior, with winding rooms to section off different areas. The front area more well lit, a mid section with the bar and the back room for a large party. Every space separated with rows of wine which they are very well versed in. That must be why they aren't just called 'Pasta...' The actually ended up being super toddler friendly but I wouldn't recommend to any ol' kids. It's intimate and very date night style restaurant- but they were more than accommodating. Our daughter got a high chair, a gold chalice for water and even a plate of homemade pasta with butter. The staff was very friendly to her and everyone said 'ciao bella' which she loved. On to the adults, my husband and I got cocktails- both of them were outstanding- my husband got an old fashioned and I got a gin drink with rosemary infused gin with a bubble on top. It was beautiful. They were so delicious. My dish was the Pappardelle al Sugo di Cinghiale. Pasta with wild boar sauce, outstanding- perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. Meat just fell apart. The kiddo also loved it.

Came here for dinner with my family. We had no reservations, but they were able to accommodate us…read morein their outdoor seating area. The restaurant feels intimate and has fine dining vibe. Despite sitting outside, they put a cooling fan pointed toward us which felt nice. Our sever did a great job and he was friendly. The food came out quickly. We ordered Caprese di burrata - Burrata mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, fresh basil. This was good. Burrata was fresh. $19 Ravioli di porcini alla crema tartufata -Porcini mushrooms, creamy Truffle Sauce. Tasted nice but such a small portion. $35 Veal cotoletta milanesa - Veal Shank classic ''milanese'' style, Saffron Risotto. Apparently. Taste nice and fresh, but again a small portion. $56 Honestly, I'd rate this place a 3.5 because of the high prices and small portions. The chef is good, food is fresh, that's the only reason I'm being generous and rounding up to 4. I probably wouldn't come back. I've given them two shots and felt the same way both times. If you're close by and want a nice atmosphere and aren't very hungry, I'd swing by.

Rocca Trattoria is on my watch list for 2025. 1st order was excellent. A Perfect pizza! Meat…read morelovers! I even ate the crust. That good.!Nothing is going to waste at this spot. Everything was perfect. The chicken parmigiana sandwich was one of my best. The chicken tasted great on the fresh roll , gooey cheese. Delivered hot to my home. Looking forward to trying more options. Happy New Year! Check them out.

Came here this evening because a friend suggested it. It's a very intimate setting. There are…read moreseveral small tables. You can see where the pizza is as well. We started with arancini & grilled octopus. Both really good. We were then given a sample of their cream of carrot soup. Very smooth & yummy. Hubby ordered the grouper special & I ordered lobster ravioli in a cream sauce. Very tasty & filling. We took some home for another meal. Definitely worth coming back to check out their lunch specials.

Oh Em Gee!! I just tried this small, local restaurant for the first time for lunch today and…read moreWOWEEE!!! It was one of the best lunches I've had in a very long time!! So delicious, so much food, such a great price!!! They have a new regular customer as of this afternoon. Thank you, Rocca Trattoria for making me smile all the way through my lunch today!!

Went for lunch today , first time here . Adorable little…read morespot . Great size menu with good lunch options . All of the entrees came with soup of the day and focaccia with a side of pickled veg. We had linguine vongole and eggplant parm . Gravy was good. Service was non existent . I would definitely go again .

I came here on a recommendation for the homemade pasta, and I'm so glad I did. As soon as I walked…read morein, the cozy vibe hit me -- and Celso greeted me with such a warm smile that it felt like visiting family. Off to the right, Geran was behind the bar mixing drinks with the kind of charm that makes you want to stay awhile. Start with the escargots. Trust me. They're plump, tender, and swimming in a mild garlic sauce that begs to be soaked up with their warm homemade bread. Pure comfort. For my entrée, I went with the Pappardelle Boscaiola -- wide, silky pasta coated in a rich, hearty Bolognese. Absolutely delicious. The space itself is full of surprises: a quaint dining room, a lively back room with a band and dancing, and a veranda lit with soft garden lights that feels like a tiny Italian village tucked away in the city. Just lovely.

Whether you're looking for romantic patio dining, or inside dining with weekend entertainment, a…read morecasual drink at the bar or a scrumptious Italian cousine, La Veranda covers it all and in style. On a most recent dinning experience, the staff at La Veranda was fantastic, especially jovial Selso (spelling?) who greeted us upon our arrived and never failed to impress throughout our stay. He was especially instrumental when told one of us was celebrating a birthday and desired their best Tiramisu ever. We got just that along with cannolis and birthday music while waiters and fellow patrons sang along. It was a truly memorable experience. Our patio table was nicely situated in the courtyard adorned with trees and Bougainvillea. Their Clams Posillipo in white sauce, along with toasted bread and garlic was a good start to our meal, followed by their wonderful tasting Brazino and the Cioppino Di Pesce which included scallops, clams, fish, calamari and giant shrimp in a garlicky light fish broth. T'was a lovely dining experience in all ways and needs repeating.