IT! Italy Ristorante & Cafe & Bar — Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale

Honestly from start to finish this place was a huge let down. I called earlier in the week to make a reservation for my wife's birthday and the hostess who answered was very dry and unenthusiastic. She answered with a "IT Italy.". And I responded asking if I can make a reservation for 2 and she responded "you have to do it online" very bluntly. Not the best first impression to a business, you're going to spend money on.

When you make a reservation online it requires a credit card on file and not to mention the place auto grats... regardless of party size. That screams lazy service and desperate to make a dime. They ask you if you are celebrating an occasion but don't do anything special....so why ask?

Fast forward we get to our reservation and we order draft beers but the taps are broken. So we got with 2 bottles of modelo.

We start with the caprese salad and the meatballs. You only get 3 meatballs in an order and it's $20... they are tiny too. The salad the same $18 for 3 slices of tomato and 3 slices of mozzarella. Tasty...but not worth the price of almost $40 for appetizers.

We order our entrees, my wife got the penne with vodka sauce and added chicken and I got the seafood pasta. Again the food was tasty, but the experience was horrible and not worth the price. For $33 I don't want to have to stick my hands in my pasta to peel shrimp tails off, and dig clam or mussels out of their shells. Not to mention that a handful of the mussels in my pasta weren't even open. Just a hunk of closed mussels and some pasta... Huge red flag for seafood... why serve something no one can eat.

We brought it to the waiters attention, he didn't apologize, no chef or manager came to the table to table to speak to us. The check came, and we were presented with a $6 discount for the mussels and a 15% auto gratuity.

Safe to say we won't be coming back. For a business in the hospitality industry... the meal was served with zero love or passion and the experience was anything...

I had the pleasure of dining at IT! Italy last night, and it was a truly impressive experience from start to finish. To kick things off, I had an espresso martini, which was smooth and flavorful, setting the tone for the evening. What stood out immediately was the service—insanely fast and attentive, even for an upscale establishment. I was amazed at how quickly everything came out without feeling rushed.

We started with the Bruschetta di Bufala, which was beautifully crafted. The ingredients were perfectly cut into bite-sized pieces and presented over crisp toasted bread bites. A nice touch was the basil sprouts, which were also present on both the appetizer and the entrees, adding a fresh, aromatic quality to each dish.

For the main courses, we had the Short Rib Papardelle and Rigatoni a la Vodka. Both were absolutely delicious—subtle yet rich in flavor, creamy without being overwhelming. The balance of flavors was impeccable. The timing of the meal was another highlight. The appetizer arrived promptly, and we were able to savor it at a comfortable pace before the entrees followed, both served piping hot and fragrant from the fresh basil.

To finish, we had the Volcano de Chocolate. At first glance, it seemed small, but once I dug in, I was impressed by how rich and indulgent the flavor was. The dish was perfectly complemented by a scoop of ice cream, making it the ideal ending to a meal for one or two people.

Overall, IT! Italy delivered on every front—quick and attentive service, mouthwatering flavors, and meticulous presentation. A commendable dining experience that I would...

Genuinely a horrible experience. Disappointing Anniversary Dinner – Wouldn’t Return

We visited this restaurant last night for our anniversary, expecting a quality Italian dining experience, but unfortunately, it was a complete letdown.

We started with the bruschetta, which turned out to be crackers overloaded with watery tomatoes, diced mozzarella, and balsamic. The excess liquid made the crackers completely soggy, and the mozzarella was drowned out by everything else. Not a good start.

For the main course, we ordered chicken parmesan, which took about 30 minutes to arrive—not an issue if the food is good, but it was far from it. The chicken was overcooked to the point of being jerky, with soggy, burnt-tasting breading that seemed fried in old oil. Worse, the plate was filled with water, leaving the chicken to sit in a pool of liquid. We couldn’t even eat it and had to send it back.

In the end, we paid $30 for the worst bruschetta we’ve ever had.

On top of the bad food, the atmosphere didn’t fit an upscale Italian restaurant. They were blasting techno and hip-hop, which completely clashed with the setting.

On top of the bad food, the service setup was bizarre. You have to hit a button to get your server to come to the table, yet there are staff constantly walking past, watching you like a hawk every 30 seconds. It felt uncomfortable and didn’t make any sense—why not just check in like a normal restaurant?

In the end, we paid $30 for the worst bruschetta we’ve ever had, left disappointed, and won’t be coming back....