Luigi's Coal Oven Pizza — Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale

Alright, this is going to take a minute everybody take a seat.

Luigi’s coal oven pizza is the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life. It truly feels like an enigma as to why it is so perfect.

Some of the finer details of their craft is how it’s made: the pizza is in my mind the absolute perfect thickness; the pizza is 1/4” of an inch thick with a perfect 50/50 split of dough and cheese. In life Symmetry is beauty and they achieve this. The whole feeling of the actual pizza is perfect, the dough is almost soft and leather like when it comes to how chewy it is, it’s as if the dough and cheese become one, if you’re a texture / feel person when you eat this is important.

Pulling a slice apart from the pizza is another way I test the quality of my pizza. I Kid you not, one one occasion I pulled a slice off of a whole Pie and had the cheese stretch 2 ft!!!! Before it actually came apart from the pie!

Now all the people talking about parking… if you forgot; we’re here for pizza and Italian food, not a parking lot. Remember what you’re eating? Maybe park the car down the road and take a walk for once in your life, what’s going to happen? Are you afraid of gaining a bigger appetite? I digress…

The other food items on the menu are exceptional as well. I’ve actually wondered how can one place have so many A list items on their menu and not have the quality of food centered around one main dish, example: pizza. The salads, the calamari, the octopus, absolutely second to none. I think the the secret to this place is what I mentioned before, proper ratios in their ingredients.

I saw some reviews about drinks on here as well, once again you’re dining at a tier 1 pizza place, if drinks are what you’re after walk down los olas and figure it out. For things not related to the quality of the food, service has always been exceptional and quicker than I ever expect, I’m Never in a rush when I eat so this isn’t important to me however it’s something I’ve noticed.

Overall: best pizza I’ve ever had, every time I’m in Fort Lauderdale I’m at this place about 3 times during my stay. Absolutely beautiful to be sitting outside and dining as well the aesthetic and set up is perfect. This is an absolutely quality state of the art unadulterated pizza eating experience. Hats off to...

(January 2025)

Seeing this location as I was making my way to the hotel, I made a mental note to check out the reviews and try out the pizza and food while staying in Fort Lauderdale.

The reviews were glowing for this place, so I happily made my way to Luigi's Coal Oven Pizza.

Once I got here for lunch, I was immediately seated, and unsurprisingly, as a single diner, was sat near the kitchen exit/entrance. After a look at the menu, I selected an 8 inch margherita pizza, fried buffalo cheese, and fried calamari with a blueberry lemon martini.

The fried calamari was supposed to be served with a spicy marinara sauce; the fried buffalo cheese was supposed to be served with (regular?) marinara sauce. When these two came out, the sauce was exactly the same-- and it tasted like it came straight from a cane of watered down tomato paste. The calamari was indeed cooked, but it was certainly the palest I've ever seen fried calamari.

The fried buffalo cheese was another surprise. As you can see in the picture, there were three pieces. The first was not cheese, but a battered and fried slice of tomato; the second was half tomato and half cheese, and the third was all cheese.

Remember I had ordered the 8" pizza? I finished the two dishes and waited. And waited. And waited. I honestly thought the server forgot to put in the pizza order. After all, the two men in the kitchen were standing around and talking. I figured I would ask for the ticket when suddenly the pizza came out. The pizza was a smaller size - no trouble there - but again, this was the blandest pizza I've ever had. The dough was tasty, but tasted more like a toasted pita then coal-fired pizza crust.

The servers were not particularly over or under attentive- something I like. I didn't park a car, so I can't attest to an experience there.

Based on my experience at lunch, I would not recommend visiting Luigi's Coal Oven Pizza. There are so many more places in Fort Lauderdale around the same price point with better...

To respond to "mgshouldice", I was that guy at the bar that originally sat next to you. I find it in bad taste & disrespectful to try to bring race, age & gender into a review. To make things clear, "mgshouldice" sat at the bar for 2.5 hours with headphones on. Then this person listened & laughed to the private conversation I was having with the lady I met there & the two workers. Which is fine. We all sat the bar. But the woman I met there felt uncomfortable because of "mgshouldice" so she asked to move down to the corner of the bar. We didn't complain, we just carried on with our own business away from the problem.

The particular bar tender working tonight has been there closing in on 5 years. As a frequent customer, we have become friends just as I have with other employees of many of the great restaurants in downtown Fort Lauderdale. There were times this afternoon that she was busy, making drinks for not only the seats at the bar but for all the people eating at the tables inside & out. She couldn't be a nicer person who works hard & does all she can for this establishment. I had to wait sometimes for a drink refill because she was busy. "mgshouldice" ordered a pizza to go, which seemed like dinner, then started slamming things around when this individual decided to leave. Sitting at a bar for 2.5 hours, then sitting in one of the few parking spots, blocking off other paying & tipping customers was unnecessary & disrespectful. I also made up for the lack of tip this person provided on top of my usual generous tip.

As for the food, this is the first restaurant I ever went to a decade ago after moving down here. A quick walk from the isles, everyone was so friendly, the pizza is the best in Fort Lauderdale & the wine selection is great! I come here very often & have never been let down! Want to eat healthy, try the fish of the day & add a side salad! One of the many great places this city has to offer that makes you feel...