La Cucina

Adam Bennett

Don't let the size of this restaurant intimidate you. It is classy, romantic, high quality Italian food from a great staff. I can't even name most of the fancy pastas we ordered, but everything we got was wonderful. The staff will also talk with you and teach you how to pronounce each one. So fell comfortable in asking about them. The home made bread appetiser would have been worth paying for, but they bring it for free. Which dips perfectly into whatever pasta dish you decide on. Nearly all pasta is made in house on site. Outside of the pear filled one that's imported (definitely order this if you're unsure!). There is also a great wine list available. They serve sparkling and still water and offer it once you sit down, but a note of advice, be ready to pay for each bottle ($4-$6 I believe).

DaBoss Robert

We are regulars here. Food is as close to Italy food as you can get. Great pizza and esp. their dough. They use superior olive oil with their bread they give. I am not a pasta guy but I do eat it here. Look forward to returning back for my pizza fix.

Louis

La Cucina exemplifies how Italian should taste. The pasta is homemade, the bread freshly baked. The buttery sage sauce was so good, I could have bathed in it. The service was informative with specials, pleasant and efficient. You value fiends might scoff you don't get two pounds of dinner generating a week of leftovers. Being a value fiend myself, the quality was so high, the sauce so rich, I was very full on 9 forkfuls and bread. They don't have the variety typical of most Italian places. The menu is smaller. However, the quality is sky high, and you'll find yourself not caring - wow, try it.

Mark

We generally make regular visits to La Cucina in Lauderdale by the sea. The food is genuine Italian and delicious! They offer take out but the owners/staff are so lovely it's always nice to visit with them. If you're looking for an excellent meal (especially their pizza) this is the place in LBTS! Can't wait to go back again soon.

We grew up in Lauderdale in the 60’s and 70’s and love coming back! We had a lovely dinner here on our last night staying in Lauderdale By The Sea. Owners were so welcoming and gracious and food was excellent! We had the Butternut Squash Soup, shared a pizza with prosciutto and caramelized onions, and also shared the ricotta stuffed ravioli with bolognese. Absolutely homemade and delicious. Make a reservation so you can be sure to get a table! Will visit again!

Fort Lauderdale has a new must-try destination: Cucina Moderna. From the elevated vibe to the incredible food and impeccable ambience, this place delivers on every level. What truly sets it apart, though, is the exceptional staff. When you visit, be sure to ask for Nicole, she’s outstanding. And don’t miss the drink specials, they’re some of the best in all of Fort Lauderdale.Fort Lauderdale has a new must-try destination: Cucina Moderna. From the elevated vibe to the incredible food and impeccable ambience, this place delivers on every level. What truly sets it apart, though, is the exceptional staff. When you visit, be sure to ask for Nicole, she’s outstanding. And don’t miss the drink specials, they’re some of the best in all of Fort Lauderdale.

Another amazing evening! It's so much fun being at an authentic Italian restaurant owned by Italians, with many guests around us speaking Italian! We love ordering their specials. They are heaven! We loved the eggplant parmesan for an appetizer. The homemade pasta and shrimp were to die for! And the wine was superb!

Absolutely loved this restaurant! Best in Fort Lauderdale (Lauderdale-by-the-Sea) Amazing, fresh authentic Italian cuisine. Food was mouthwatering delicious and the owners Claudia and Enrico were beyond welcoming and hospitable! Truly made us feel like family! I will be going back again and again! I plan on recommending this little Italian gem 1000% to everyone I know. Thank you Claudia and Enrico for an unforgettable experience! Bravi 👏🏻

Absolutely fantastic Italian restaurant! I’ve been to Italy numerous times, and this is by far the closest I’ve found in North America to truly capturing the authentic flavors of Italy. Every dish was outstanding, and the wine selection was excellent. The owners were incredibly warm and welcoming, which made the experience even better. I don’t live in Florida, but I’ll be sure to visit every time I’m here, an absolute gem!!

The BEST ITALIAN food…I’m Italian and I love coming here for authentic food…. we have a lot of experience with food and this is top notch five tier 👌🏼must try thank you for always being delicious authentic and just like MaMa use to make God bless you guys.❤️✌️

A hidden gem! Food was outstanding! I had the rigatoni arrabiata sauce and the veal was over the top! The homemade meatballs were delicious, they were big and the sauce was outstanding!

This restaurant is so lovely. The owners are friendly and the atmosphere is cozy. The food was very good and authentic. One of the best italian spots in the area :)

Had a lovely dinner here- delicious food, lovely wine, no rush at all. We look forward to coming back soon!

From the moment you arrive, the service is warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. You feel like a valued guest, striking the perfect balance between professionalism and hospitality. Every detail is thoughtfully handled, making the entire experience relaxing and enjoyable. The food is outstanding—authentic, flavorful, and clearly made with care. This isn’t just a meal—it’s a feel-good experience you’ll want to repeat. Highly recommended.

We were not sure about what an authentic Italian restaurant might be like, but it was fantastic!! We would highly recommend La Cucina. The wine, the service and the food - we just so enjoyed everything.

Leia Ficks

This restaurant is so lovely. The owners are friendly and the atmosphere is cozy. The food was very good and authentic. One of the best italian spots in the area :)

G

The BEST ITALIAN food…I’m Italian and I love coming here for authentic food…. we have a lot of experience with food and this is top notch five tier 👌🏼must try thank you for always being delicious authentic and just like MaMa use to make God bless you guys.❤️✌️

Teresa Zarzano

A hidden gem! Food was outstanding! I had the rigatoni arrabiata sauce and the veal was over the top! The homemade meatballs were delicious, they were big and the sauce was outstanding!

AJ

Fort Lauderdale has a new must-try destination: Cucina Moderna. From the elevated vibe to the incredible food and impeccable ambience, this place delivers on every level. What truly sets it apart, though, is the exceptional staff. When you visit, be sure to ask for Nicole, she’s outstanding. And don’t miss the drink specials, they’re some of the best in all of Fort Lauderdale.Fort Lauderdale has a new must-try destination: Cucina Moderna. From the elevated vibe to the incredible food and impeccable ambience, this place delivers on every level. What truly sets it apart, though, is the exceptional staff. When you visit, be sure to ask for Nicole, she’s outstanding. And don’t miss the drink specials, they’re some of the best in all of Fort Lauderdale.

Peggy Ann McConnochie

Another amazing evening! It's so much fun being at an authentic Italian restaurant owned by Italians, with many guests around us speaking Italian! We love ordering their specials. They are heaven! We loved the eggplant parmesan for an appetizer. The homemade pasta and shrimp were to die for! And the wine was superb!

K Philip

Absolutely fantastic Italian restaurant! I’ve been to Italy numerous times, and this is by far the closest I’ve found in North America to truly capturing the authentic flavors of Italy. Every dish was outstanding, and the wine selection was excellent. The owners were incredibly warm and welcoming, which made the experience even better. I don’t live in Florida, but I’ll be sure to visit every time I’m here, an absolute gem!!

Lina Cianciullo-Birch

Absolutely loved this restaurant! Best in Fort Lauderdale (Lauderdale-by-the-Sea) Amazing, fresh authentic Italian cuisine. Food was mouthwatering delicious and the owners Claudia and Enrico were beyond welcoming and hospitable! Truly made us feel like family! I will be going back again and again! I plan on recommending this little Italian gem 1000% to everyone I know. Thank you Claudia and Enrico for an unforgettable experience! Bravi 👏🏻

Rosary Prayers

We were not sure about what an authentic Italian restaurant might be like, but it was fantastic!! We would highly recommend La Cucina. The wine, the service and the food - we just so enjoyed everything.

Alejandra A. K.

Lovely small family restaurant located in Lauderdale by the sea. Food was absolutely delicious, we shared several appetizers: burrata, calamari, meatballs, green salad. For the mains: fish, veal, pasta with mushrooms and others. Their tiramisu is amazing. Service is superb, the owners are incredibly attentive. There is a paid parking lot right by the restaurant.

Todd Smith

This evening I ordered takeout as I was returning home from work late. I have eaten at this restaurant before a couple years ago and it does not disappoint! My dinner was absolutely fantastic! So fresh and full of flavor, it reminded me of a meal we would have when at our home in Sicily. Grazie mille! Cena perfetta!

Alvaro Alba

From the moment you arrive, the service is warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. You feel like a valued guest, striking the perfect balance between professionalism and hospitality. Every detail is thoughtfully handled, making the entire experience relaxing and enjoyable. The food is outstanding—authentic, flavorful, and clearly made with care. This isn’t just a meal—it’s a feel-good experience you’ll want to repeat. Highly recommended.

I’ve always loved Italian restaurants that make you feel like family — the kind of place where the food is good, the atmosphere is warm, and the people know your name. And for about six months, that’s exactly what this restaurant was for me, my wife, and our 2-year-old. We went every Sunday. We loved the food, the chef, the vibe. One day the owners even told me, “Don’t ever stress — there will always be a table for you and your family.” That meant something to me. But then Valentine’s Day came. We showed up early, around 6 p.m., before the rush. The restaurant was basically empty. And out of nowhere, we were told they couldn’t seat us without a reservation. No exception. No memory of who we were. Just a flat “no.” And I know what you’re probably thinking: Well, you didn’t have a reservation. But that’s the whole point — the owner literally told us not to worry, that we’d always be taken care of. Two weeks later, we went from feeling like family to being treated like complete strangers, turned away from an empty dining room. I didn’t argue. I didn’t make a scene. I just walked out with my family and never went back. But the truth is, it stuck with me. It’s a bad feeling when a place that once felt warm suddenly makes you feel like you don’t belong there at

I’ve been wanting to try this place for some time, and today I finally decided to go. Knowing it’s a small spot, I called ahead to ask about the wait time. Unfortunately, the woman who answered the phone was very rude and spoke as if she was trying to rush me off. Since I’ve never been here before, I had a few general questions, but she was not welcoming at all. That interaction left a bad taste in my mouth. There are so many great reviews, but unfortunately, this experience has made me no longer want to visit.

Desiree molina

I’ve been wanting to try this place for some time, and today I finally decided to go. Knowing it’s a small spot, I called ahead to ask about the wait time. Unfortunately, the woman who answered the phone was very rude and spoke as if she was trying to rush me off. Since I’ve never been here before, I had a few general questions, but she was not welcoming at all. That interaction left a bad taste in my mouth. There are so many great reviews, but unfortunately, this experience has made me no longer want to visit.

Jamie

I’ve always loved Italian restaurants that make you feel like family — the kind of place where the food is good, the atmosphere is warm, and the people know your name. And for about six months, that’s exactly what this restaurant was for me, my wife, and our 2-year-old. We went every Sunday. We loved the food, the chef, the vibe. One day the owners even told me, “Don’t ever stress — there will always be a table for you and your family.” That meant something to me. But then Valentine’s Day came. We showed up early, around 6 p.m., before the rush. The restaurant was basically empty. And out of nowhere, we were told they couldn’t seat us without a reservation. No exception. No memory of who we were. Just a flat “no.” And I know what you’re probably thinking: Well, you didn’t have a reservation. But that’s the whole point — the owner literally told us not to worry, that we’d always be taken care of. Two weeks later, we went from feeling like family to being treated like complete strangers, turned away from an empty dining room. I didn’t argue. I didn’t make a scene. I just walked out with my family and never went back. But the truth is, it stuck with me. It’s a bad feeling when a place that once felt warm suddenly makes you feel like you don’t belong there at