Review Valentino Cucina Italiana - Fort Lauderdale

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!

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.

The special appetizers were fabulous. The entrees were amazing. I am a pescatarian and the seafood pasta was one of the best I have ever eaten. Our wait staff was above fabulous. Mark was attentive and mad our visit and my birthday truly special. Highly recommended.

Absolutely incredible! Every dish that came out of the kitchen was beyond divine. I personally felt like I was eating in Italy. Please note that the dishes tend to be on the smaller side, but at this establishment it is definitely quality over quantity. The service was some of the best I have ever experienced. The atmosphere of the restaurant was gorgeous, a very modern “LA” look. I am already planning my next visit to the best restaurant in South Florida!

Although the wait was 2.5 hours, we ended up getting a spot at the bar - which is actually arguably better. The food was out of this world! Amazing flavours and very fresh. The service was fantastic. Our server was incredibly attentive. The open kitchen really gives you a good glimpse into how the food was prepared, and the cooks will strike up a conversation with you as well. The bartender will make any drink you wish and the drinks are excellent. I definitely suggest checking out this place.

Food and service were excellent. Beautiful place. Nice athmosphere. The one big knock against this place: Tiny portions on entrees. The rack of lamb is not really a rack. It's basically the size of 3 or 4 small lamb lollipops. So that's disappointing. But is it delicious? Absolutely.

Our bartender slash server Eric was excellent. We had a group of 27 people and he took care of us to perfection. I knew Eric was great from.the last time I came down to South Florida with a couple dozen of my employees but this time was just spectacular. Thank you. Food was good but service was great.

By far one of the most overrated restaurants in Broward. Had dinner last Saturday night there and I was embarrassed when I left with my client. The service was terrible and the food was mediocre at best. Upon asking for a manager the server said it could take a while. Well it took an hour just to be acknowledged again. I would never recommend this place.

First time there. We are new to the area and thanks to Open Table omitting the S for South Federal Hyw in the address we went North first! Anyway, even though we were 15 minutes late they had 2 tables for us to choose from. Food is expensive, but amazing. Dave our waiter was also great, very attentive and detailed. Unfortunately for us, the place is defining, between sitting across from the kitchen and the loud music. Thus the 4*. We will try it again and try for the side away from the kitchen.

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

I don't recommend this place at all Very price and very poorly And food that's not have a flavor at all

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!

If you have ever thought about finding the best Italian food in South Florida , this is the place to be . My recommendation: the butternut pumpkin squash wrapped in a delicate tortellini finished with tiny crumples of savory sweetness . Also I recommend the sweet beat juice ,tomato juice ,fresh squeezed lemon and lime ,antioxidants with a smooth touch of Hendricks gin , cracked black pepper , and just a hint of fresh mint to top it off . Next time dessert !

Went there to celebrate a friend’s birthday, we were all disappointed with the poor service. Server was inattentive and at times, quite rude. He did not even mention about the daily specials until I have asked, nor did he even cracked a smile throughout our interaction. The food was mediocre at best. My pasta was salty and my partner’s risotto was undercooked and watery. Perhaps those who rave about this restaurant have lower expectations than us, and they certainly do not deserve 5 stars, as some of the reviewers claimed.

It doesn't matter it was Valentine's Day, we had a reservation for 8 pm, it took them more than an hour to find us a table. We started eating after 10 PM! This is ridiculous. And food wasn't even that good. My dish was extremely salty. For this type of restaurant I would expect a service much, much better.

The best Italian food anywhere. The food is innovative and stunningly deliscious. The wine list is fantastic and the service impeccable. There is no experience in food like this anywhere let alone Ft Lauderdale/Miami. Koodos to the chef and staff!!

This is an amazing spot to have some craft cocktails or a finely prepared meal. If you're looking for something different and exquisite, this is the place to dine!

Great food and great service! Love the atmosphere! It is on the expensive side but is well worth it. The lobster risotto was delicious!

A great ambience and very cozy. I loved the open kitchen. The best Italian food in Fort Lauderdale. I had an amazing time. I highly recommend it. �

Can't find the words to describe this amazing place. The food is definitely over the top. My cocktail was the best I've had and love the service.

My 1st time here! Love this place! Cody hooked me up with the best table for my party of 16. Our waitress Kaylee was awesome! The food was so fresh & delicious! Looking forward to coming back again.

Great ambience and awesome cuisine. The grilled octopus, beef tartare, and rack of lamb were delightful. One of the top restaurants in the world and definitely one of my favorites!

Amazing!!!! Service was over the top and the food was creative and some of the best I have experienced. Price in line with most upscale restaurants. It is a true dining experience.

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.

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. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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<br/>I am not one to post pictures as it does no justice <br/>My suggestion is to share plates and a bottle of wine with your date so that you can appreciate the menu<br/><br/>Have read some of the other so called negative reviews and thinking maybe they are at the wrong place!!<br/><br/>

Over Rated Under Served. We had dinner last night. Valentines has become very popular as of late, but the overcrowded bar is far to small to allow for a drink while you wait for a table. The bar crowd spills over into the dining area and patrons waiting for tables are rudely standing behind you bumping your seat back. The noise level and acoustics make conversation almost impossible. Our French waiter was sassy enough to be enjoyable and charming. We had to wait over 45 minutes after an appetizer for our entre. No apologies except for the adorable hostess who asked how we were all doing. The food was ok. YES JUST OK cold plates, etc. We have had better times previously, however the charm was lost this time. Hopefully service will improve. Love the place.

First time here... It's an amazing experience!!!

Dinner. Went to Valentino's for my birthday dinner. My boyfriend made a reservation 2 weeks prior for Saturday August 3rd. The hostess called and confirmed the reservation Saturday afternoon. We arrived at the restaurant at 7:40 for our 8:00pm reservation. They had my boyfriends name in the book but not assigned to a table. They told us to go to the bar and a drink and then at 8pm they would find us. While we had our drink we watched them pull apart a table for four with hardly any room between them. At 8:05 they came to seat us at the table they pulled apart. We were next to the rod iron separator and another table made for 2. Our waiter was disinterested and not very good. I listened to the waiter of the table next to us and was very impressed by him. Wished he was our waiter. When we tried to order our appetizer without our meal our waiter said we had to order everything together. Found out listening to the other waiter that they like to put the whole order in at once because it can get busy. Our waiter never offered an explanation but instead took off from our table before we could inquire about it. Our waiter was not attentive to us at all. When we ordered coffee which is as easy as ordering water he brought my boyfriend the wrong thing. It was ashame that the service was so poor and the management because the food was wonderful! The octopus was delicious and the pasta dishes were wonderful. When management messes up a reservation they should do everything to please the customer, not do things that please themselves!!

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.

Will I return? Probably not.. First time and I was not impressed. The noise level was extremely loud; the acoustics is non-existent. The tables are crammed together, less than a foot apart, and hearing your "new best friends" conversations at the next tables is simply rude. The bench seats with pillows is not comfortable and very hard on the back and if you are unlucky and sitting there, you must scoot up to the table to eat.<br/><br/>The food was good, small portions and large prices. The gnochi with lobster appetizer had two pieces of lobster although the sauce was quite good. The king crab pasta dish had three small pieces of king crab. The chocolate mousse dessert was very good. <br/><br/>Overall, this restaurant is charging large city prices for the food and the atmosphere and comfort of the customers is ignored.

Rude service, food served cold, wine served warm. Overall very poor experience.

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!

Going...Going Gone!. I had reservations and re confirmed the time for dinner last night only to learn the rude Hostess had "lost" them. <br/>I been a frequent patron at their old location and expect great service. I have never been treated so poorly in my life. Funny thing is , just two weeks ago I went to their new restaurant in their old location Osteria Acqua & Farina arrived for lunch at 12:20 and my first two entree choices were "not available" the owner Giovani was there and let me walk. Arrogant or what? Gordon Ramsey, help his employees out before he goes bankrupt and sends them to the unemployment line.

Authentic italian feeling, liked it

It's truly my favorite place to eat in ft lauderdale, the most amazing food, it's outstanding. Ham and egg ravioli is something I crave , also the best service

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.

Best Italian in Fort Lauderdale. I have heard on so many occasions about the experiences and the food at Valentino's from my Chef because this is his absolute favorite place to go out and eat. I took my girlfriend here a few weeks ago for our first time; needless to say I was not disappointed. We were seated very quickly and the server was prompt with telling us the specials. He remembered all of the specials in full detail and never once had to go back and ask the kitchen about ingredients or method of preparation. We started out with the sweetbreads that were served with an onion tart and a tangy butter sauce. The sweetbreads melt in your mouth and leave a lingering sweetness from the tart. We also had the lamb with chick pea fritters, and the ravioli stuffed with pears and a beet reduction. The chef insisted on sending us out one more course, and I have to say it was the best of all. The ham and egg ravioli is packed with bold flavors and little shaved black truffles garnish the plate. I recommend this restaurant to anybody, especially couples looking for a night out and a great evening afterwards!

Fabulous food & superb service. This is our favorite Italian restaurant in town (and we have many here in Fort Lauderdale). The staff is always attentive and accommodating, the food is off the charts creative and delicious. I highly recommend this hidden jewel.

Appetizers were excellent. Entrees were poor. We had to return the pork entree to have it cooked more as it was too rare. It came back the same. You could tell they had done nothing to the pork. They ran out of the wine they recommended. We spent over $350.00 for 3 people. We will never return.

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.

FFF! Freaking fantastic first time. With 20 appetizers in addition to their menu, and a bunch of entrees, imagination is the limit to your tastebuds. Small and cozy. We hope it stays that way

Best Italian restaurant. Ask for Stefan, Serge, Robert. Wierd, but know their stuff

Love it.. Valentino's continues to delight every time I go. The food is fabulous. Compared to the outrageous prices and poor service at Casa D' Angelo this is a treasure to savour.

Expensive and crowded. Saturday, February 28, 2009. Food was good but very expensive. Wine list overpriced with very few reasonably priced options. Poorly decorated and noisy. Booth we sat in was uncomfortably low. Service very slow and spotty. Water glass never refilled. Tables incredibly close together. Wouldn't go back

Great Inventive Pastas. I've only eaten here once, but had the opportunity to sample five different dishes, including several inventive pastas. What I sampled was very good, mostly not traditional Italian fare, but imaginative ingredients, fresh homemade pastas and elegant gourmet presentations. If you're looking for a different take on Italian food, this is worth a try. However if you want authentic Italian food (not Italian American or Cal Ital) Casa D'Angelo is the place. Unfortunately most Americans accustomed to "Italian American" style food, i.e. the Olive Gardens and Macaroni Grills of the world, will not appreciate the authenticity and quality of Casa D'Angelo. As far as Valentino's goes, the negatives are it's a small and crowded restaurant and the wine list is very overpriced.

Valentinas has gone South. A once great restaurant - friendly staff, tasty dishes and average decor was gone south ever since Jan. 2007. Ever since then, the food lacks flavor, staff is rude, and the place is unclean. A once happening place is now a has been...go somewhere else - even Olive Garden is better