La Dolce Vita

Absolutely delicious. Nothing else to say. Oh and great customer service. You won't regret it.

I brought my mom here for her bday. The food was amazing, as was the service. Our server, Bella, was amazing and made our night enjoyable.

Very very good!!! Fresh pasta, and great atmosphere.

+1

I just LOVE this place...the food is off the charts amazing, solid wine list, SERVICE IS FANTASTIC.

I should share with you, the fact that I have been to the most expensive restaurants all over the world, sampled the most amazing cuisines in Italy! That said this restaurant is my number one Italian restaurant ever!!! I Challenge anyone to share a better dining experience than the one I continuously have at this restaurant. I’ve had the pleasure of sampling many dinners at different times and enjoyed every single one, every time! I’ve had dinner parties at this restaurant and everyone at my table enjoyed everything they ordered. I’d like to also give a five star review on the amazing customer service and dining experience.! Don’t hesitate, make your reservation early as they get filled quickly I would like to thank Favio for the amazing birthday dining experience. We had last night! The wine was amazing and will have it again the next time we come. Keep up the good work you’re doing great!

The food was absolutely delicious, and wonderful service! Definitely will be coming back.

First time here and wow! Great wine, service and such authentic and fresh food. Grilled octopus was fantastic, as was the home made pasta. Bravo!! We will definitely be back soon.

The experience was exception, service outstanding, and the food to die for!! I was in Tuscany in 2021 and the food was as good or better than the native Italian food I enjoyed while there. What a delightful surprise. Serving size perfect. Great wine list, homemade pasta, reasonably priced… I could go on and one! Highly recommend.

Due to a recommendation from a friend, my girlfriend and I had dinner last night at La Dolce Vita in Fort Lauderdale. The service was phenomenal and it stood out from the moment we arrived. As we approached the doorway, one of the gentleman at the restaurant opened the door for us and escorted us to our table where he then continued to untucked our chairs for us and hand us menus. The excellent service and ambiance really gives this place an upscale feel. We ordered the soup of the day which was an onion soup and the insalata adriatica for appetizers which were both awesome. Then for our main courses we ordered the Garganelli Alla Bolognese and the Chitarrina La Dolce Vita. Both of these meals were absolutely delicious and had a very fresh taste. After we finished our meals we were both stuffed and so we informed our server that we would skip dessert. About 5 minutes later he returned with a fresh slice of tiramisu and insisted that we try it on the house. Wow! Overall, we had an amazing experience and will be sure to both return and recommend this place to our friends and family.

+1

Yes. Where the locals go. Authentic Italian home cooking. Pasta made daily. This place has been around for a long time. It’s about time I reviewed. It’s not on OpenTable, doesn’t have to. Located in a quaint area near the beach. We had octopus which was excellent, Spaghetti Chitarrina al rag and Penne daily special with 3 meat bolognese. Local review by a local for over 50 years.

I come here once a year, every year for 6 years while on vacation. This place is always fantastic. The owners are authentic Italian and they keep the traditions from home alive. The place parking close by and costs 2 dollars to park there. The restaurant is nice and elegant inside, with dimmed lighting. They also have a patio to enjoy the warm Florida nights. The staff is all professional and mostly Italian. Very welcoming and polite. The service is quick, even during busy times. You can call in advance and make a reservation. Make sure you try the burratta cheese, arugula salad, lasagna and truffle ravioli. It is absolutely delicious. The coffee is also perfect and the lemon Cake and tirimisu is also so delicious. This place is consistently amazing every time we go.

+1

If you love real Italian cooking, La Dolce Vita is a must! We were welcomed with a warm greeting and had excellent service. Thank you Christian! The dinner menu had plenty of choices and they also had some specials of the day. We enjoyed the burrata and prosciutto salad, mushroom risotto, grilled branzino, and veal chop in truffle sauce. Every portion was more than generous, so we shared the salad and risotto. The burrata was the best we’ve had. The branzino was cooked to perfection, tender, flaky with the skin grilled so crispy that you want to eat it all. It was covered with thinly sliced zucchini that not only kept it moist during cooking but made for a beautiful presentation. And the veal chop!!!...oh my! Cooked perfectly, surrounded with a wild mushroom black truffle sauce and roasted potatoes that were creamy and crispy on the outside. They have a well priced wine list with a nice variety of Italian wines. We like full bodied wines, so we enjoyed a Barolo. Do yourself a favor and enjoy a meal there. Don’t forget to save a little room for dessert...homemade tiramisu. You will not regret it!

Absolutely amazing every time. The owners go above and beyond to make you feel like family. The best Italian food I’ve ever had.

Delicious authentic Italian here! We compared it to the North end’s Food in Boston until dessert! 🙏👍🏻🥰 Best we’ve had in awhile!

This place is THE HIDDEN GEM If you don’t like their Pasta then you don’t like Pasta!!! Probably the best pasta made on the planet! Try the Bolognese you will not be disappointed

This is the best Italian restaurant in Fort Lauderdale! I've been coming here for about two years now and every time has been just as great as the first. I need to update this review with a picture of the food, but I dig in every time the food is in front of me so there's not much time for a picture...... Many of their pasta dishes are made with homemade pasta, the tiramisu is homemade, so it's a must! If you're planning to go on a holiday make sure to call ahead of time and make a reservation.... It will be worth it!

Food., wine, and atmosphere was great . But the staff was the most amazing. We were greeted as welcomed guests, no pressure to over order, witnessed a very drunk 1st time patron at the bar and the staff handled it perfectly. But I walked out without my pocketbook and the fabulous waiter walked the streets to find me. We were flying home the next morning and the restaurant closes on Sunday so it would have been a disaster. Thank you to my friend who also shared the secret to the amazing chicken dish. We try to make it once or twice a year to Fort Lauderdale and will 100% be back.

Try to envision the most ideal authentic italian restaurant: freshly made pasta, unique, flavorful ingredients, personalized service from the owner himself, amazing desserts. La Dolce Vita has it all. The antipastas including the artichoke, the truffle ravioli, prosciutto and burrata. And the pasta was incredible - my favorite was the Cacio e Pepe was the best I’ve had. The spaghetti with Ragu of lamb, and ravioli with short rib. And for desserts, get the tiramisu, amaretto mousse? And lemon cake all were so good.

This is true authentic Italiano food! As soon as I entered I saw fresh salads and food being served with pride! The owner is personable and wants you to enjoy and have a great dinner. I really enjoyed the atmosphere it was classy and space was spacious and uncrowded even though it was liveley and warm ambiance! The food was outstanding: Penne bolognese was the best I wver had so good i bought a to-go plate for leftovers!!! The Lamb ragu was fantastic I havent had anything like it I loved it! The lentil soup was delicious!!!Probably the best i ever had. I have to come back asap! Vito approved ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love this little spot. It’s been around forever and updates are minimal. As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted in Italian and made to feel like family. The food is excellent. Pasta is handmade in house and melts in your mouth. Great prices on wine and food alike. Highly recommend for quality, Italian food.

A MUST when in Fort Lauderdale! Please do not pass up the opportunity to try this place. The owner is a delight. Makes you feel right at home. Food is to die for. Prices are great. I cannot say enough 💚🤍❤️

Wow what an incredible restaurant! Couldn’t be happier finding this place and trying it out. It’s been on my list of places to try for around a year already and so glad I finally came. The service was incredible. Christian and Fabio were amazing hosts, also had great service from Augustina. The polenta was delicious, the octopus was great as well. Highly recommend the carbonara pasta and their signature dish dolce vita. Looking forward to coming back.

What can you say...these people LOVE food and their customers. How great it is when you read reviews as you cross alligator alley and your mouth waters as you move through all the great comments on the homemade pasta, the truffle dishes, the specials, people just raving about the entire experience. This team of professionals gets it, from the moment I walked through the door I was back in little Italy NY. The atmosphere is great,quiet, low key, beautiful surroundings. The service impeccable, sweet, and attentive. And the food....not since my wife's grandmas homemade Italian dishes have I tasted food like this..just amazing. We had the gnocchi with black truffle, the ravioli with wild mushrooms and black truffle finishing with Tiramisu, wow, and pistachio crusted tartufo. My mouth is still watering!

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Ft Lauderdale! For an evening it feels like being transported to Italy. Everything is amazing.... the ambiance, the food, the wine list, the service, the presentation. Fabio and his staff make you feel like family. So when my friend and I decided to throw a Bridal luncheon for my niece, of course this was the only choice. Everything exceeded our expectations and those of our guests. Fabio was hands on choosing the menu and the wines. He offered a prosecco as guests arrived. He worked with us on presentation and seating arrangements. It was perfect! Everyone had a fabulous time and are still talking about the food, wine and service. What made it even more special was having the restaurant all to ourselves for a private party. Thank you to everyone at La Dolce Vita for a memorable afternoon!

The best around Fort Lauderdale. Wish they had a location near Chicago. The pasta melts in one’s mouth. The owner is present, very welcoming and personally attends to the clientele. The staff, over the top polite, the service was just incredible. Top notch all around.

Dustin Tate

Try to envision the most ideal authentic italian restaurant: freshly made pasta, unique, flavorful ingredients, personalized service from the owner himself, amazing desserts. La Dolce Vita has it all. The antipastas including the artichoke, the truffle ravioli, prosciutto and burrata. And the pasta was incredible - my favorite was the Cacio e Pepe was the best I’ve had. The spaghetti with Ragu of lamb, and ravioli with short rib. And for desserts, get the tiramisu, amaretto mousse? And lemon cake all were so good.

Certified Reviews

This is true authentic Italiano food! As soon as I entered I saw fresh salads and food being served with pride! The owner is personable and wants you to enjoy and have a great dinner. I really enjoyed the atmosphere it was classy and space was spacious and uncrowded even though it was liveley and warm ambiance! The food was outstanding: Penne bolognese was the best I wver had so good i bought a to-go plate for leftovers!!! The Lamb ragu was fantastic I havent had anything like it I loved it! The lentil soup was delicious!!!Probably the best i ever had. I have to come back asap! Vito approved ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kourtney Bourbina

A MUST when in Fort Lauderdale! Please do not pass up the opportunity to try this place. The owner is a delight. Makes you feel right at home. Food is to die for. Prices are great. I cannot say enough 💚🤍❤️

Kara K.

I love this little spot. It’s been around forever and updates are minimal. As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted in Italian and made to feel like family. The food is excellent. Pasta is handmade in house and melts in your mouth. Great prices on wine and food alike. Highly recommend for quality, Italian food.

Jordan Eckardt

Wow what an incredible restaurant! Couldn’t be happier finding this place and trying it out. It’s been on my list of places to try for around a year already and so glad I finally came. The service was incredible. Christian and Fabio were amazing hosts, also had great service from Augustina. The polenta was delicious, the octopus was great as well. Highly recommend the carbonara pasta and their signature dish dolce vita. Looking forward to coming back.

Visitivity Inc.

What can you say...these people LOVE food and their customers. How great it is when you read reviews as you cross alligator alley and your mouth waters as you move through all the great comments on the homemade pasta, the truffle dishes, the specials, people just raving about the entire experience. This team of professionals gets it, from the moment I walked through the door I was back in little Italy NY. The atmosphere is great,quiet, low key, beautiful surroundings. The service impeccable, sweet, and attentive. And the food....not since my wife's grandmas homemade Italian dishes have I tasted food like this..just amazing. We had the gnocchi with black truffle, the ravioli with wild mushrooms and black truffle finishing with Tiramisu, wow, and pistachio crusted tartufo. My mouth is still watering!

Jackie K

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Ft Lauderdale! For an evening it feels like being transported to Italy. Everything is amazing.... the ambiance, the food, the wine list, the service, the presentation. Fabio and his staff make you feel like family. So when my friend and I decided to throw a Bridal luncheon for my niece, of course this was the only choice. Everything exceeded our expectations and those of our guests. Fabio was hands on choosing the menu and the wines. He offered a prosecco as guests arrived. He worked with us on presentation and seating arrangements. It was perfect! Everyone had a fabulous time and are still talking about the food, wine and service. What made it even more special was having the restaurant all to ourselves for a private party. Thank you to everyone at La Dolce Vita for a memorable afternoon!

R C

The best around Fort Lauderdale. Wish they had a location near Chicago. The pasta melts in one’s mouth. The owner is present, very welcoming and personally attends to the clientele. The staff, over the top polite, the service was just incredible. Top notch all around.

Matthew Kenan

Due to a recommendation from a friend, my girlfriend and I had dinner last night at La Dolce Vita in Fort Lauderdale. The service was phenomenal and it stood out from the moment we arrived. As we approached the doorway, one of the gentleman at the restaurant opened the door for us and escorted us to our table where he then continued to untucked our chairs for us and hand us menus. The excellent service and ambiance really gives this place an upscale feel. We ordered the soup of the day which was an onion soup and the insalata adriatica for appetizers which were both awesome. Then for our main courses we ordered the Garganelli Alla Bolognese and the Chitarrina La Dolce Vita. Both of these meals were absolutely delicious and had a very fresh taste. After we finished our meals we were both stuffed and so we informed our server that we would skip dessert. About 5 minutes later he returned with a fresh slice of tiramisu and insisted that we try it on the house. Wow! Overall, we had an amazing experience and will be sure to both return and recommend this place to our friends and family.

OB1

Yes. Where the locals go. Authentic Italian home cooking. Pasta made daily. This place has been around for a long time. It’s about time I reviewed. It’s not on OpenTable, doesn’t have to. Located in a quaint area near the beach. We had octopus which was excellent, Spaghetti Chitarrina al rag and Penne daily special with 3 meat bolognese. Local review by a local for over 50 years.

Giorgio V

I come here once a year, every year for 6 years while on vacation. This place is always fantastic. The owners are authentic Italian and they keep the traditions from home alive. The place parking close by and costs 2 dollars to park there. The restaurant is nice and elegant inside, with dimmed lighting. They also have a patio to enjoy the warm Florida nights. The staff is all professional and mostly Italian. Very welcoming and polite. The service is quick, even during busy times. You can call in advance and make a reservation. Make sure you try the burratta cheese, arugula salad, lasagna and truffle ravioli. It is absolutely delicious. The coffee is also perfect and the lemon Cake and tirimisu is also so delicious. This place is consistently amazing every time we go.

Everyone in our party of five thoroughly enjoyed our leisurely, delicious dinner here. We had appetizers and drinks, and we all chose seafood and fish specials accompanied by a bottleof wine, followed by coffee and dessert. Everything was top-notch and all agreed it was a memorable meal. We will return soon!

Hands down the best, freshest homemade pasta dish I've had since touring Italy. Treated like family as soon as we arrived. Just an amazing hidden gem. Wasn't my first visit, definitely won't be my last. Grazie Mille!

Hands down the best Italian food I've ever had! Small place, very cozy. Owners seemed to know a lot of people that came in. I just can't say enough about how delicious the food was!

Might move here just for this restaurant. Great atmosphere, staff is super friendly, food is just better than you've had Italian. If they seem a little slow it's because they're making it better than you've ever had.

A true authentic Italian restaurant. You will not find chicken Parmesan, spaghetti and meatballs or Alfredo sauce here. Fabio and Christian are the owners and waiters, they were born in Italy. Excellente, the best Italian restaurant in Fort Lauderdale.

Christian and his brother Fabio treated us like family. It was my girlfriend‘s birthday party and they made it extra special. Food is outstanding!!

I just had dinner at La Dolce Vita in Fort Lauderdale, and it was such a treat! I started with my favorite eggplant appetizer, which hit the spot with its warm, comforting flavors that reminded me of home-cooked goodness. For the main, I went with the carbonara—my absolute favorite Italian dish—and it was spot on, creamy and satisfying over the top deliciousness. What really elevated the experience was the warm, friendly ambience. The owner and staff have that charming Italian accent that adds so much personality to the service—they made me feel right at home, like I was having dinner at a close friend's house. It's cozy, inviting, and the kind of place where you want to linger over a glass of wine. If you're in the area and craving genuine Italian cuisine, La Dolce Vita is a must-visit. I'll definitely be back!

My wife and I travel a lot and dine with the same frequency. I rarely ever post reviews. But our experience at La Dolce Vita requires me to post. In sum, it was fabulous. The food was excellent. The homemade pasta itself sets its apart, but every bite from the soup to the eggplant to our entries was delicious. And Fabio, one of the owners, from Italy, engages in the table service. It shows his care and dedication to elevating your experience and making you feel welcome. It is not a big restaurant. Not loud. It is intimate. This was a wonderful dining experience.

If you are looking for an Authentic escape, this is it. Yes, it was valentines night, we sat outside And the atmosphere was magic - it truly felt like sitting at a piazza in Italy. The food Exceeded my expectations. Service was equally great. I highly recommend this place five stars all the way around.

Bud Fox

A true authentic Italian restaurant. You will not find chicken Parmesan, spaghetti and meatballs or Alfredo sauce here. Fabio and Christian are the owners and waiters, they were born in Italy. Excellente, the best Italian restaurant in Fort Lauderdale.

Joseph Vavala

Christian and his brother Fabio treated us like family. It was my girlfriend‘s birthday party and they made it extra special. Food is outstanding!!

Linda Ferrini

Delicious authentic Italian here! We compared it to the North end’s Food in Boston until dessert! 🙏👍🏻🥰 Best we’ve had in awhile!

Maureen Mackin

Everyone in our party of five thoroughly enjoyed our leisurely, delicious dinner here. We had appetizers and drinks, and we all chose seafood and fish specials accompanied by a bottleof wine, followed by coffee and dessert. Everything was top-notch and all agreed it was a memorable meal. We will return soon!

Mauro Parete

Hands down the best, freshest homemade pasta dish I've had since touring Italy. Treated like family as soon as we arrived. Just an amazing hidden gem. Wasn't my first visit, definitely won't be my last. Grazie Mille!

Good cosy food, though a tad on the salty side for my taste. Very nice, friendly service ... Felt well taken care of. The amaretto cake was excellent!

Nice Italian restaurant, good food and service. Real Italian cuisine, pasta Carbonara and pasta Amatriciana are a "must" here (just ask for less black pepper in Carbonara if you want be really able to eat it). To try!

Food is excellent. Good wine list. My only quibbles are the bathroom and bread. There’s some great bread in Italy, so I know that you can do better. The house salad was ok. The prosciutto and buratta was fantastic. Branzino and lobster ravioli specials were done perfectly. Tiramisu was amazing, as was the Lemon sponger cake. Highly recommend. We’ll be back.

Delicious food and staff were wonderful. Very pricey, but they were extremely kind and efficient, wonderful ambience outdoors on the street. The octopus was much smaller than expected, but the lobster ravioli was on point!

La Dolce Vita is a quaint Italian restaurant with a very nice atmosphere along with caring excellent service. They also offer some limited outdoor seating but we ate inside. After seating we were provided a nice basket of sliced small bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The server described the various specials and was available to answer questions. Typical of many restaurants while describing the specials they did not provide the item cost but if asked the server gave the cost. We (4 people) basically stayed with the menu items. I did order the evening's Caprese Salad which was fine with a big ball of mozzarella but the tomatoes were just okay. I didn't ask but was surprised to see a charge of $26 for the salad when the other menu salads were half the price. Everyone enjoyed their meals -- I ordered the Garganelli Alle Verdurine. Other item ordered were Insalata La Dolce Vita, Chitarrina "La Dolce Vita", Lasagna Classica, and Ravioli Ai Funghi Tartufati. We did not order desserts but 2 espressos and no wine ordered with a total check of $192.49. La Dolce Vita is definitely worth a visit.

My first time eating at La Dolce Vita was good the atmosphere was not that good the temperature was perfect though. The food was amazing the appetizers were great and the meals were also very good. But if your coming to drink there is no bar! The service was pretty decent it the people were nice and fast. Also the food came out hot and fast.

Nathaniel Saad

Delicious food and staff were wonderful. Very pricey, but they were extremely kind and efficient, wonderful ambience outdoors on the street. The octopus was much smaller than expected, but the lobster ravioli was on point!

Greyson Olive

My first time eating at La Dolce Vita was good the atmosphere was not that good the temperature was perfect though. The food was amazing the appetizers were great and the meals were also very good. But if your coming to drink there is no bar! The service was pretty decent it the people were nice and fast. Also the food came out hot and fast.

Jeffrey Kraskin

La Dolce Vita is a quaint Italian restaurant with a very nice atmosphere along with caring excellent service. They also offer some limited outdoor seating but we ate inside. After seating we were provided a nice basket of sliced small bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The server described the various specials and was available to answer questions. Typical of many restaurants while describing the specials they did not provide the item cost but if asked the server gave the cost. We (4 people) basically stayed with the menu items. I did order the evening's Caprese Salad which was fine with a big ball of mozzarella but the tomatoes were just okay. I didn't ask but was surprised to see a charge of $26 for the salad when the other menu salads were half the price. Everyone enjoyed their meals -- I ordered the Garganelli Alle Verdurine. Other item ordered were Insalata La Dolce Vita, Chitarrina "La Dolce Vita", Lasagna Classica, and Ravioli Ai Funghi Tartufati. We did not order desserts but 2 espressos and no wine ordered with a total check of $192.49. La Dolce Vita is definitely worth a visit.

Jen Garone

Food is excellent. Good wine list. My only quibbles are the bathroom and bread. There’s some great bread in Italy, so I know that you can do better. The house salad was ok. The prosciutto and buratta was fantastic. Branzino and lobster ravioli specials were done perfectly. Tiramisu was amazing, as was the Lemon sponger cake. Highly recommend. We’ll be back.

The atmosphere in this restaurant is cozy and special. Our food was not. We came here because some of us had been here before and had an outstanding dining experience, which at the time Concurred with the many outstanding reviews here. I ordered the eggplant appetizer and it came out at the bottom of a soup type bowl totally submerged in red sauce. When I attempted to pull it out the eggplant was as soft as mush, the slices were cut so thick that the black skin separated from the eggplant and wide tasteless ribbons twisted up in the sauce. Another companion’s diner was the lobster ravioli and he said the filling was lumpy and not good. My other 2 diners had a pasta bolognese special Which they said was ok.I sent back the eggplant because it was atrocious and ordered another pasta dish which was ok. Nothing special. When I ordered a bottle Of Pellegrino I had asked for lime, but was told By the waiter they only had lemon. Any bar should have lime, but my guess is that this is the low season of Summer here in Florida and the restaurant is not operating up to their normal standards and kitchen staff. We were so disappointed considering previous meals and such outstanding reviews.