This Florida Italian Eatery Might Be The Only One You Need To Try In 2026
Florida has plenty of Italian restaurants, but here is the real question for 2026. What if one dinner could ruin every other pasta place for you?
Some spots serve good food. A few serve great food.
And then there are the rare ones that make you pause mid-bite, stare at your plate, and immediately start planning your next visit before you even finish the first.
This is that kind of place.
From the moment the meal begins, it is obvious this is not an ordinary night out. The energy is lively, the flavors are bold, and every dish arrives with the kind of confidence that says it knows exactly how good it is.
It feels less like dinner and more like an experience you accidentally discovered before everyone else.
In a state full of dining options, finding one restaurant worth planning your night around is impressive. Finding one that might be your only Italian stop of the year is something else entirely.
The Bold Philly-Born Vision Behind Every Plate
Some restaurants are built by committees and consultants. Cafe Martorano was built by one man with a very clear idea of what great Italian food should taste like.
Steve Martorano grew up in South Philadelphia, where red-sauce cooking is practically a religion, and he brought every ounce of that upbringing to Fort Lauderdale.
His approach is refreshingly straightforward: cook the food the way it was meant to be cooked, use real ingredients, and never cut corners. The result is a menu that feels deeply personal rather than generic.
Every dish carries a sense of ownership that you can actually taste.
Steve is known to keep a close eye on his kitchen, and that hands-on involvement shows in the consistency of every plate that leaves the pass. Whether you order a classic pasta or a carefully prepared protein dish, the cooking reflects someone who genuinely cares.
That kind of authentic, owner-driven passion is increasingly rare in the restaurant world, and it is one of the biggest reasons Cafe Martorano stands apart from every other Italian spot in South Florida.
A Location That Is Easy To Find And Hard To Forget
Finding a great restaurant should never feel like a treasure hunt, and Cafe Martorano makes it easy. The address is 3343 E Oakland Park Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308, sitting right along one of the area’s most well-traveled commercial corridors.
Getting there from most parts of Fort Lauderdale takes under fifteen minutes.
Parking is available on-site, and the restaurant offers valet service for ten dollars, which is a genuinely convenient option on busy Friday and Saturday nights when street parking fills up fast. Just a heads-up: the lot is paid parking, so arriving prepared saves you an unexpected surprise later.
The building itself has a presence. Even before you walk in, the energy outside signals that something lively is happening within.
The exterior gives off a confident, established vibe that tells you this is not a casual pop-up or a flash-in-the-pan spot. It has been here long enough to become a genuine Fort Lauderdale landmark, and the steady stream of arriving guests on any given evening is all the proof you need.
For first-time visitors, arriving a few minutes early to get oriented is always a good idea.
Operating Hours That Reward Night Owls
Not every great restaurant keeps late hours, but Cafe Martorano practically celebrates the evening. The kitchen opens at 5:30 PM Tuesday through Saturday, giving you plenty of time to wrap up your day before heading out for a proper dinner.
On Fridays and Saturdays, the fun runs all the way until midnight.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday service closes at 11 PM, which still leaves a solid window for a relaxed multi-course meal without feeling rushed. Sundays and Mondays are rest days, so planning your visit around the Tuesday through Saturday schedule is the key to securing a table.
One insider tip worth knowing: after 10 PM on weekend nights, a DJ takes over and the atmosphere shifts into a higher gear. If you prefer a slightly calmer dining experience with full focus on the food, arriving right at 5:30 PM when doors open gives you the best of both worlds.
Early seating means quieter conversation, attentive service, and full menu availability before the crowd builds. Either way, the experience is memorable.
The hours are generous enough to fit almost any dinner plan, making Cafe Martorano one of the more flexible upscale dining options in Fort Lauderdale.
The Nightclub-Meets-Trattoria Atmosphere
Walking into Cafe Martorano for the first time is a genuinely surprising experience. The space combines the warmth of a classic Italian dining room with the energy of a nightclub in a way that should not work as well as it does.
Classic movies play on a large screen, the music pumps at a confident volume, and the lighting gives everything a cinematic glow.
The vibe is loud, intentional, and completely unapologetic. Steve Martorano has described his concept as a disco Italian spot, and that label fits perfectly.
It is a place where the atmosphere is treated as seriously as the food, and both are delivered with full commitment.
Tables are set with care, staff move with purpose, and the overall energy in the room feels celebratory from the moment you sit down. Whether you are marking a special occasion or simply treating yourself to a great Thursday night out, the room makes everything feel like an event.
After 10 PM on weekends, a DJ elevates the energy further, turning the later hours into something that genuinely blurs the line between fine dining and nightlife. There is simply nothing else like it in South Florida.
Classic Italian-American Dishes Done With Precision
The menu at Cafe Martorano reads like a love letter to the Italian-American kitchen. Dishes like linguine and clams, chicken Parmesan, veal Marsala, and braised short rib pasta anchor a menu that honors tradition without being stuck in the past.
Each preparation is executed with the kind of precision that only comes from years of cooking the same dishes and genuinely caring about getting them right.
The chicken Parmigiana deserves its own spotlight. Guests consistently find it perfectly crispy on the outside, tender within, and finished with just the right balance of marinara and melted mozzarella.
It is the kind of dish that reminds you why the classics became classics in the first place.
Pasta dishes are cooked to a proper al dente texture, which is a detail that separates serious Italian kitchens from casual ones. The seafood pasta is another standout, with fresh ingredients that make every forkful feel vibrant.
The menu is designed so that ordering anything feels like a safe bet, which is a rare and reassuring quality in a restaurant operating at this price point. Portions are generous without being wasteful, and presentation is clean and confident.
Signature Appetizers That Steal The Show
First impressions matter, and Cafe Martorano’s appetizer lineup makes a strong one. The fried mozzarella is a standout: shatteringly crispy on the outside and molten on the inside, served in a way that feels elevated without being fussy.
It is the kind of starter that sets the tone for everything that follows.
The meatball salad is another signature that has earned serious attention. It is an unexpected combination that works beautifully, pairing the richness of generously sized meatballs with the brightness of fresh greens.
The balance between hearty and refreshing makes it one of the more interesting appetizers on any Italian menu in Fort Lauderdale.
Garlic bread arrives at the table early, accompanied by a spicy dipping oil that is worth savoring slowly. The eggplant tower is another appetizer worth exploring, layered with care and full of flavor.
What makes the starters here particularly impressive is that none of them feel like afterthoughts. Each one is clearly considered, portioned thoughtfully, and finished with the same attention that goes into the main courses.
Starting with two or three appetizers to share is genuinely one of the best ways to experience the full range of the kitchen’s talent.
Fresh Seafood Dishes That Highlight Florida’s Best
Being in Fort Lauderdale means access to exceptional fresh seafood, and Cafe Martorano takes full advantage of that geographic gift. The grouper dish is one of the most talked-about items on the menu, and for good reason.
It arrives at the table with a clean, confident preparation that lets the quality of the fish speak for itself.
The seafood pasta is another highlight, combining fresh shellfish and tender pasta in a sauce that feels both rich and bright at the same time. The kitchen understands that great seafood does not need to be buried under heavy flavors.
Instead, the preparations here are calibrated to enhance rather than overpower.
For diners who lean toward lighter main courses, the seafood options provide a welcome counterbalance to the heartier meat and pasta dishes. The kitchen sources with care, and that commitment to ingredient quality is evident in every bite.
Florida’s coastal location gives Cafe Martorano a distinct advantage when it comes to the freshness of its seafood offerings, and the cooking style honors that advantage fully. Ordering a seafood dish alongside a shared pasta is one of the smartest ways to experience the range of this kitchen in a single sitting.
Desserts That Give You A Reason To Save Room
Skipping dessert at Cafe Martorano would be a genuine mistake. The dessert menu carries the same level of care and intention as everything that comes before it, and several of the offerings have developed a loyal following among regulars.
The cannoli is a particular standout, filled to order with a smooth, lightly sweetened ricotta filling and finished with a satisfying crunch.
The dessert selections feel rooted in Italian tradition rather than trend-chasing, which is exactly what you want at a restaurant built on authenticity. Each option is portioned generously enough to share, though sharing requires real willpower once you take the first bite.
Ending a meal here on a sweet note feels like a natural conclusion to an evening that has been building in flavor from the very first appetizer. The kitchen clearly views dessert as a meaningful final chapter rather than an obligatory afterthought.
For first-time visitors, asking your server what is freshest that evening is always a reliable strategy. The dessert program at Cafe Martorano is the kind that makes you sit back, take a slow breath, and feel genuinely satisfied with how you spent your evening.
It earns its place at the end of every meal.
Service That Feels Personal And Attentive
Great food deserves great service, and Cafe Martorano delivers on both fronts. The staff is trained with visible thoroughness, dressed sharply, and carries themselves with a professionalism that suits the restaurant’s elevated price point.
From the host stand to the table, the experience feels coordinated and thoughtful.
Servers here are known for giving genuine menu recommendations rather than defaulting to the most expensive options. That kind of honest guidance builds trust quickly and makes first-time visitors feel comfortable navigating a menu that can feel extensive.
The team moves with purpose without ever making guests feel hurried.
Bar seating is also a strong option for solo diners or couples who want a more interactive experience. The bartenders are attentive and knowledgeable, and the bar itself has an energy that feels social without being chaotic.
Long-tenured staff members bring a familiarity to the room that regular guests appreciate deeply. Some servers have been with the restaurant for over a decade, and that continuity adds to the sense that Cafe Martorano is a place people genuinely want to work.
For newcomers, arriving with a reservation and treating the server as a guide rather than just an order-taker will elevate the entire experience considerably.
Price Range And Practical Tips For First-Time Visitors
Cafe Martorano sits firmly in the higher price range for Fort Lauderdale dining, with the experience reflecting that investment at every turn. Expect appetizers to range from the mid-teens to the thirties, with entrees priced accordingly for a premium Italian dining experience.
Sharing a couple of starters before moving to individual mains is a smart way to sample broadly without overextending.
Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for Friday and Saturday evenings. The restaurant books through OpenTable, and popular time slots can fill up more than a week in advance.
Securing a reservation early in the week for a weekend visit is the most reliable approach for first-timers.
Walk-ins are sometimes accommodated, particularly early in the evening right at the 5:30 PM opening, but availability is never guaranteed. Valet parking is available for ten dollars, which is worth factoring into your evening budget.
The restaurant can be reached at +1 954-561-2554, and more details are available at cafemartorano.com. Going in with realistic expectations about the price point and energy level will set you up for a genuinely memorable night.
Cafe Martorano is not an everyday restaurant for most people, but it absolutely delivers an experience worth every dollar spent.