South Florida's Elite Meet at Cafe Martorano

3343 E. Oakland Park Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33308
954-561-2554
www.cafemartorano.com


Ok, so this is the place to see and be seen. Even standing out front of this swaky Italian joint gives you the feel of being in some celebrity magazine, or at least watching one in motion. The front of the restaurant is lined with Bentley's, Rolls Royce's, Masaretti's, and any other extremely high end car you can think of. But it doesn't stop there. Inside you have a grouping of the most elite and wealthy people South Florida has to offer. Just to give you an example: Shaq, Al Pacino, and Dan Marino are patron saints of this joint.

The inside of the restaurant is like Soprano's meets well, Soprano's. And there is a reason for that as the owner Steve Martorano is actually "the" chef for Soprano's events. Each table is set back in little cove like places, so that you and your party get their own personal section to do whatever you want in privacy. Food is served family style, and your best bet is to let the chef choose you meal for you, as you will not be let down. If possible, get the Fried Calamari. This is hands down the best dish I have EVER had in a restaurant.

The only downside is that this night out will set you back quite a lot. Prepare to spend at least $100 per person for dinner and maybe a drink or two, and possibly more depending on what the menu for the night is. When we went, the bill was over $1200 for ten people with drinks, PLUS tip which at 18 percent is a whopping $214. Oh yeah, come hungry, as the portions are huge, but be ready to wait sometimes two hours or more.

Here's a few interesting things you should know about this place, all found in a review from Chef to the Stars found on the restaurant's website:

**There are no menus. What is served is decided each day by the owner based on what type of produce he can find. He boasts to have a very high standard, and will only serve the freshest of fresh.
**The restaurant is only equipped to seat 85 people at any one time.
**Sauces are prepared fresh and sauteed for each plate, not made in masses like most restaurants.
**No cheese will ever be served with any seafood. Martorano thinks it takes away from the taste of the dish.
**With that said, the customer is not always right. Martorano believes in the power of the chef. If you demand cheese for your linguine and clams, they will remove your plate at no charge.