From Scratch-Made Pasta to Craft Cocktails, North Italia Fort Lauderdale Delivers

Chef Ryan Smith Dishes on What Keeps Diners Coming Back for More

Situated in downtown Fort Lauderdale lies North Italia, a restaurant brand celebrated from coast to coast for scratch-preparing both modern and classic Italian meals every single day … all executed with delicious precision. With a range of choices to satisfy any craving—from traditional pasta dishes and creative pizzas to delightful small plates crafted using the freshest ingredients— the menu has amassed numerous fan favorite dishes.

The trendy yet inviting layout of the restaurant, with both indoor and outdoor seating options as well as an expansive bar, makes it makes it well-suited for nearly any lunch or dinner occasion. The open, visible kitchen setup allows guests to observe chefs in action as they meticulously prepare each dish with care and enthusiasm. While both the interior dining room and the outdoor terrace are each adorned with lighting and modern furnishings, the al fresco option is ideal for savoring South Florida’s delightful climate.

Must haves fundamentals for dining devotees include these dishes from across the varied menu categories. Fabulous starter options include small plates like the Cacio e Pepe Arancini, which features crispy risotto balls with pecorino Romano cheese, a crushed pepper blend and pesto aioli for a delightful combination of textures and rich flavors. The Black Mediterranean Mussels with Calabrese salami, white wine, garlic butter, fresh herbs and grilled bread provides a savory and aromatic start to your meal … also showcasing the restaurants skill with seafood-driven dishes.

No afterthought, salads here are dressed to impress. The Seasonal Vegetable Salad includes butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, radicchio, pecorino, fregola, pistachio, date and a white balsamic vinaigrette, creating a vibrant and nutritious dish. The Italian Farm Salad combines salami, speck, provolone, pepperoncini, olive, heirloom cherry tomato, cucumber, pickled red onion, roasted pepper, herb breadcrumb, and oregano vinaigrette for a hearty and flavorful option.

At this locale, pizzas are paramount. The delectable Prosciutto Pizza topped with smoked prosciutto, mission figs, goat cheese arugula leaves—all garnished with a drizzle of honey—proffers the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. The Margherita Pizza is a classic choice, of course, with house-made ricotta, mozzarella, grana padano, and fresh basil, delivering a clean and simple, yet delicious, flavor profile.

Of course, the homemade pasta is here are a stellar standout. Two dishes exemplifying why include the Lumache alla Norcina includes fennel sausage, rapini, grana padano crema, herb breadcrumbs, and black truffle, creating a rich and indulgent dish. The house specialty Bolognese features traditional meat sauce, pappardelle, grana padano, wild oregano, and EVOO, offering a comforting and satisfying meal.

Pizza and pasta aside, other entrée options are an equitable epicurean delight. The Braised Short Rib Marsala with beech mushroom, brussels sprout, heirloom carrot, black truffle risotto, and affinato—and the Grilled Branzino replete with roasted fennel, brussels sprout, rapini, romanesco, fingerling potato, cipollini and lemon caper butter—further exemplify the restaurants culinary ingenuity.

Beverages here are also built different. While Italian restaurants understand the importance of perfectly matching a beverage with a meal, North Italia adds its unique flair. Their cocktail selection boasts an array of creative cocktail concoctions like the Just Peachy with white peach, raspberry, lemon and ginger beer; and the Limonata Rossa featuring black cherry, fresh lemon and soda, The restaurant’s curated wine list offers a blend of Italian, local and other options to perfectly accompany any dining experience.

Below, North Italia’s Chef Ryan Smith offers a few other tasty insights as to why this eatery has gained—and sustained—its popularity in SoFlo:

LLR: What makes the Fort Lauderdale location of North Italia unique compared to other locations the U.S.?

CRS: Fort Lauderdale is different than, let’s say, Miami where it’s all about the new restaurant openings that everyone wants to go to. Locals in Fort Lauderdale love going to their staple restaurants that have been around for 30 to 4-plus years … and it’s the generations of locals that keep them alive. Although North Italia is new, I believe it will become the local Italian restaurant for generations to come.

Our broad menu lends itself to our guests exploring numerous options.  North Italia is not a “traditional” Italian restaurant, therefore we offer much more than just pizza and pastas. We also continually update our menus so new and returning guests alike can experience a variety of dishes including appetizers, salads, and entrees, in addition to our pastas and pizzas.

LLR: What sets North Italia Fort Lauderdale apart from other dining options in the area?

CRS: Our handmade pastas, beautiful patio, bar spaces and elevated hospitality set the restaurant apart from others.  We pay attention to what our guests are seeking in a dining experience. For one, we change our menu twice a year to allow for the freshest ingredients with the most flavor. This also ensures we are staying current with different culinary and bar trends. Our open kitchens display our commitment to freshness where you can see our team hand rolling our doughs and stuffing our pastas for our guests. We also work personally with people planning special private events and can cater to whatever they are looking for when hosting a party.

LLR: For first-time visitors, what tips or advice would you offer a guest to ensure they have an unforgettable dining experience?

CRS: Come in to relax with friends or family, enjoy some wine, share some small plates or pizza … and don’t leave without trying a pasta!  Amid our commitment to freshness, we produce our pizza dough and pastas in-house daily, paying close attention to technique. Each pasta—from our Tortelloni Al Pomodoro to our Squid Ink Tonnarelli—is made with simple, fresh ingredients to create a flavorful dish.

LLR: Do share a bit more about how North Italia’s fresh-made pastas elevate the guest experience—also having become a signature of the brand at large.

CRS: The art of making pasta is more than just a recipe. It is a technique passed down from generation to generation. Each region has its own unique shape that is a celebration of Italian culture. We bring that culture into every pasta we make. We want our pasta to reflect the regionality from which it comes. When creating new menu items or updating existing dishes, we intentionally pair the specific type of pasta to the accompanying components of the dish, including the sauce, cheeses, and garnish.

Another key element that elevates this guest experience is taking the time to train our staff to assist with wine pairings that best compliment each pasta—or any—dish, ensuring we are also taking the guest’s preferences into consideration.

LLR: Does the restaurant cater to diners with dietary preferences or restrictions, such as vegetarians or gluten-free guests?

CRS: Yes, we can accommodate all guests with any dietary restrictions by modifying any of our dishes, as necessary. In fact, we have many dishes that are inherently vegetarian on our menu. Some examples include the Zucca Chips, Cacio E Pepe Arancini, Burrata Di Stagione, our Seasonal Vegetable Salad, the Funghi Pizza, and our Tortelloni Al Pomodoro. We also offer gluten-free pasta and pizza crusts by request, with a handful of dishes that are naturally gluten-free.

LLR: What is the approach to the beverage offerings?

CRS: We try to stay current with trends in the industry. For example, we continually introduce new and unique Italian wines, enhance classic cocktails by adding Italian ingredients and we recently added a “mocktail” section on our menu as we are seeing them become more and more popular. We use Italian liquors to create our own twist on classic cocktails. Our Sicilian margarita topped with our house made sangria is a must try, along with our cold-served “Jump Start” double expresso martini shaken with chocolate and cream.

In all, North Italia Fort Lauderdale provides a dining experience that combines extraordinarily fresh and robust flavors with a refined yet unpretentious atmosphere—all underpinned by exemplary staff service. Be it a meal on-the-go, A foodie-forward lunch or dinner experience, or a memorable celebration, this restaurant serves up an authentic slice of Italy in the vibrant heart of South Florida.

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Co-Authored By Merilee Kern & Devyn Kern

Devyn Kern is a hospitality reviewer, reporter and Senior Editor with The Luxe List International News Syndicate, founded by Merilee Kern, MBA.  As a prolific lifestyle, travel, dining and leisure industry voice of authority and tastemaker, The Luxe List keeps a finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme. This includes field experts and thought leaders, brands, products, services, destinations and events. Merilee, an internationally-regarded brand strategist and analyst, reports on cultural shifts and trends as well as noteworthy industry change makers, movers, shakers and innovators across all categories, both B2C and B2B.  Her work reaches multi-millions worldwide via broadcast TV (her own shows and copious others on which she appears) as well as a myriad of print and online publications. Connect with her at www.TheLuxeList.com and www.SavvyLiving.tv / Instagram www.Instagram.com/MerileeKern / Twitter www.Twitter.com/MerileeKern / Facebook www.Facebook.com/MerileeKernOfficial / LinkedIN www.LinkedIn.com/in/MerileeKern.

***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided or arranged at no cost to accommodate if this is review editorial, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***

Photos Courtesy of North Italia; Some Copyright Jill McNamara Photography