A delicious tasting menu that left me delighted with my entire restaurant experience. We sat at the bar getting a first hand look at what was going on in the kitchen. A well oiled machine, this kitchen is ran flawlessly by chef Giovanni, and each dish that was presented had passion and skill in every bite. The octopus was perfectly cooked, delicate and simple it was a great way to start the meal. The foie gras was devine, melting in my mouth and surprising me with a roitbeer crust. THE Duck, THE beets, THE wine, All Of It WAS ON Point AND SHOULD Not Be missed, and leave room for dessert. Their pastry chef daniela is creative and her desserts is the perfect end for an amazing meal. This Is A True Gem IN FORT LAUDERDALE and I can't wait to return
OMG, This place is amazing! My fiance Danielle Yvette DeVore and I had the pleasure of eating here last night! We were beyond impressed. From the food, wine and staff, all top marks! Thank you so much Kerry Fasanelli for turning me on to this! You are awesome!
With friends and readers in Fort Lauderdale, and the fact that I often go to the NSU Museum (the Frank Stella show is well worth a visit) and sometimes to the Broward Performing Arts Center, I’m always on the lookout for really good restaurants. When told about two restaurants in one, my interest was piqued, especially since one is Italian and the other Asian fusion. Walk in the front door to the hostess stand and to the right, find Valentino Fort Lauderdale, and to the left, One Door East. These are places I’ll return many times. Since you have to see the dishes in their glory, I’ve made this into a two part series. Day one is Valentino.
Spirited South Florida
+5
Literally 'One Door East' of the stellar Valentino's Cucina Italiana is my new favorite downtown rustic bar and restaurant. Upon entering, the dark wood with teal accents and cement floors transport you right out of South Florida.
The minimalistic setting (virtually no signage) features a large bar--- good thing because the diverse cocktail menu is one of the highlights. We were greeted with a warm reception, and an international themed cocktail list. A visit to our table by the bartender was a great touch.
We tried four cocktails, all unique and spot on. Bartender Tiffney Allen is the real deal. She blends creative ingredients with old school favorites for perfectly balanced cocktails. They paired well with the Chef's tapas style menu. The bites of food were as interesting as the cocktail menu. I admire the collaboration between the bar and kitchen. My favorites included the Grilled Peach Burrata, Burnt Ends, Pork Belly and Dates. We will definitely be back to try more combinations. Bellisimo.
This restaurant is fantastic. I've eaten at fine restaurants around the world, and not many can compare to the caliber of Valentino. Everything from the ambiance, to the staff, and of course the food and drinks is spot on. You can't go wrong with this place.
Have been coming here for several years, and each and every time has been a grand experience. You can tell that "chef" thoroughly enjoys what he does. The staff is extremely helpful and courteous and they wine list is diversified
I am not one to post pictures as it does no justice
My suggestion is to share plates and a bottle of wine with your date so that you can appreciate the menu
Have read some of the other so called negative reviews and thinking maybe they are at the wrong place!!
First time here... It's an amazing experience!!!
Great food, great service and a very small menu, which to me is a plus. Small menus are a true tell of a strongly independent chef and who is confident in the quality of his food. Also, with such a small menu the turnover is much faster, fresher and always tastes better. I will most likely go back...soon.
My husband and I both cook professionally so we were referred here to eat by a former colleague who is now cooking there. We were pleasantly surprised and thoroughly impressed with the food. Everything was well seasoned, properly cooked- well balanced and delicious. The food is authentic Italian in spirit with sone seasonal , local Ingredients. Great experience and swanky atmosphere. Bravo!
Authentic italian feeling, liked it
Absolutely the best restaurant of its type in fort lauderdale. I have lived in the local area for nearly 30 years and must say that this ranks #1 of any upscale dining establishment within a 30 mile radius. go with an open mind and willingness to pay a little extra for a quality experience. must try the spaghetti al frutti di mare. if they have the 'ham and egg" appetizer (usually a special), its an absolute must. enjoy.
Expensive and pricey, small place with tables very close togther, but the food is well worth it. Service staff is very attentive and expect to dine at a relax pace. A very good experience, recommend reservations.
Stunning restaurant located in near Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale. I have been here twice, once with a couple of friends and once with a large group where we had the private dining room and on both occasions the food was amazing, everything was beautifully presented and tasted delicious. The menu is excellent however I almost always go for something from the specials list as these are things you probably won’t get again. Wine is always very good with an extensive selection to pick from, I can also recommend the cocktails (we always start with one at the bar).
The service was impeccable with the staff being very attentive but not overbearing. I would definitely recommend this restaurant if you are in Fort Lauderdale
The most innovative Italian restaurant in South Florida Food is distinctly different type of Italian cuisine the ambience is so beautiful bright and open and airy the waiters and the waitresses are excellent and work very hard to please the Valentino clientele and chef Giovanni always has made his pasta from scratch! The desserts are so amazingly delectable and the wine selection I have never seen such wine selection so unique I have tried many different ones there and let’s also not Forget about chef David and Sous chef Tommy Coombs the most amazing chefs in Fort Lauderdale area!!!! I look forward to celebrating every occasion at this distinctly unique Italian restaurant and yes it’s a bit pricey but it’s well worth it!!!!!!! You should definitely get there!
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I should have checked before going here for a romantic date, but that's one thing it isn't for. It's crowded and loud and the seating is kinda far to talk to your date. But that's not even why I'm giving it 4 stars. My rating mostly has to do with the service. It was OK, but what I did not like was that they only explained how items were "not traditional" until after I received it. One was a bad "not traditional" and the other was a good "not traditional". The bad was their pasta carbonara. I love carbonara and I had heard such great things about this place that I wanted to try this dish once I saw it. Well, underwhelmed doesn't say it right. When I asked about it, another server said it wasn't traditional. Hmm... You could say that again! I don't even recall it saying there were veggies in it (not that I cared, but it was more about their lack of explanation). It was runny, not cheesy, and barely seemed to be made of any egg. The sauce was herbed and just not what a typical carbonara is so it was disappointing. My date like her dish though, so that was a plus. We had a special appetizer of wild mushroom goat cheese gnocchi, which was fantastic. Their wine selection is great and they made a solid recommendation. The dessert was also good and this is the "non traditional" item. Their tiramisu was great, but not what you're expecting if you want tiramisu. Still, I would get it again. I just would have liked to know this since the menu didn't explain it. So... That's the reason for my 4 star rating.
Absolutely phenomenal .Chef Gio is a genius rarely
have I ever tipped 100% for a meal. Just spectacular!
2nd visit was also stunning. Eric was a great .
A very stylish restaurant with a highly innovative menu. A one-of-a-kind experience in the South Florida cuisine world that needs to be in the bucket list of anyone who really appreciates when love, passion, and art is put into cooking.
Excellent Italian food and service. We had the burrata and ceasar apps, and for dinner the branzino and the pasta with ossobuco rago. All outstanding. Their wine steward helped us choose the perfect pairing to go with our meal! Sitting at the chef's bar made for a lively and entertaining evening.
Lovely place, will come here again and again, i bringe my buisness partners here, have a very nice ambiance, never sit in the bar, because i always on time for my reservation l, hopefully i will go there, the bar seems a place i can relax, my favorite here is the selection of wines, there are amazing, and my server Guillermo was amazing, how he knows about the specials, is amazing, my favorite is the pasta, so good, oh and the mussels so fresh! I from California so i know fresh mussels, and here they have super fresh mussels, what i love is the espressos martini they make, is superb! Amazing! Plus the support staff are very polite and knowledgeable, will come here as much as i can while i'm in Florida.
Chef Giovanni always takes our palettes to the next level with his incredible food!!! A work of art filled with lots of love and delicious!! Thank you to you and your staff...beyond 5 stars😍😍
Best service I had in a long time. The food was superb. It's a great dining experience in the Ft. Lauderdale area. It's very pricey but worth every dollar.
Amazing food, excellent staff and a great decor. This is my favorite restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale! I highly recommend sitting at the chef's table.
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