Serafina | Italian Restaurant

Went for our anniversary dinner, and overall it was just okay. I was expecting something a bit nicer. We sat outside by the water, but the view wasn’t great and I kept getting bitten by mosquitos, which made it less enjoyable. The food had some highs and lows. The meatballs were good but could use a bit more seasoning. The seafood especially the lobster was fantastic. The short rib and risotto were good as well, though the meat was a bit fatty. The ricotta cheesecake, unfortunately, was not good at all and tasted powdery, definitely something that should be reworked or removed from the menu. The cannoli, on the other hand, was good. Service was okay but could have been more attentive, and the drinks could use some improvement. Overall, the experience was fine, but I just had higher expectations for an anniversary dinner.

Lovely location, on the water, giving just the right romantic vibe. Leo, our server, was amazing! He remembered our last visit and made us feel at home. Food is delicious, and truthfully Italian cuisine. We had Mozzarella in Carroza, Ravioli del giorno ( seafood with pink sauce), Milanese, and Gnocchi. Superb. One of my favorite restaurants in Fort Lauderdale.

Let’s start with the space: it’s cramped inside, so do yourself a favor and grab an outdoor table if you can. This place is busy, loud, and clearly popular. The staff is efficient and friendly, and judging by the number of regulars, this place is doing something right. Our wobbly table was fixed instantly — a good start. We went straight for the carpaccio, which unfortunately was drowned in oil and had a slightly slimy texture. For me, that’s a miss. Carpaccio should be delicate, clean, and fresh — not swimming. The vongole pasta had great flavor, and the clams were massive compared to Europe — impressive. But here’s the issue: too much sauce. When pasta starts edging toward soup, someone in the kitchen needs to put the ladle down. Now, the bolognese — and in any Italian restaurant, this is a must-have on the menu. This one actually delivers: rich, well-balanced, and satisfying without being messy or over-sauced. Big portion, American-sized for sure, but done right. The tiramisu was more of a cake-style interpretation rather than the classic soft mascarpone version. True tiramisu should naturally sink and melt — that’s authenticity. Still, it had a good kick and solid flavor, so credit where it’s due. We weren’t blown away — but we had a good, honest meal. And yes, it’s mildly ironic that most of the staff is Polish in an Italian restaurant… but in the end, what matters is what’s on the plate — and most of it worked. Bottom line: Loud, busy, sometimes heavy-handed — but solid where it counts.

I would like to mention the service. The waiter was also very smiling, the owner of the place came to the table to check that we were satisfied. The location on the river, the atmosphere with pleasant music . I recommend the place and will come back here again. We ate sea bass with vegetables and mashed potatoes, pasta

Intimate and cozy restaurant.very friendly and warm staff. Our sever, Milan was very sweet. Our orders were ready in no time although the restaurant was very busy and the food was delicious!! The short rib ravioli delish!

Wonderful experience. Street parking was close. Greeted warmly and seated quickly. Our waiter was fantastic. He had great recommendations. All courses were quick, hot and very tasty. The wine and beer were good. Espresso was great. Sitting next to the water was very nice. I would highly recommend.

We were able to make same day reservations on a Wednesday through Open Table. Pretty much all of the seating is out door, on the water. Which was nice. We started with the grilled octopus, which reminded me of Italy. It was delicious! My wife had the lasagna for dinner, which she liked very much. I ordered a special, which was the lamb ravioli. Wow was it good!! I would go back just for that. Our waiter was good. I did have to ask for more water one time. But everyone was very friendly despite it being the end of the evening. The music was the perfect volume. A great mix of Italian opera, Rat Pack, Michael Bublé, and various others.

My wife and I had a beautiful date night at Serafina while on vacation. The ravioli chef’s special was a house made seafood stuffed with a lobster bisque sauce that’s was AMAZING. My wife had the lasagna which was also delicious and house made. We finished off with a HUGE tiramisu. Everything was very reasonably priced, fresh and all the food that came out of the kitchen made it almost impossible to choose. We could not recommend this place more!

Joe was our waiter. He was wonderful. The bread and butter were excellent (snob in me wishes the bread was served warm) Appetizers : fried mozzarella... superb Arancini - pretty good I got lobster ravioli. Lots of seafood inside. (Ravioli was a little under cooked and on the chewy side?) Hubby got spicy chicken ziti, he said it was excellent. The intercostal views are wonderful. The atmosphere is spectacular

I've been coming to Serafina for 4 years and have never been disappointed with anything they put in front of me. Portions are large and flavorful. When you go, parking on the street is usually available.

This is a cute little place right on the water/ kind of in a hidden area. Everything we had was very good. This was an authentic Italian feel and the food matched that.The one thing I'll note is you need to walk through the kitchen to go to the bathroom which isn't my favorite .

This place was absolutely amazing! Went there for my wife's birthday and it was such a nice place. The front is somewhat misleading but when you get inside that's where it gets you. Inside is small and cozy but outside is the place to be. Right on the water, covered with nice views. We started off with Burrata, meatballs and eggplant special. Added side of Caesar salad and Broccoli Rabe. Each was perfect. Main courses were Short Ribs, Linguine Puttanesca, Pear Pasta and Orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe. Big portions perfectly cooked. Tiramisu and Gelato with coffee to top it off. This was also the first time I ever brought my own wine and their $40 cork fee was well worth it. Two bottles later we were all smiling. Great place to eat! Intimate but loud! Loved it!

Located on the picturesque Las Olas waterfront, Serafina Italian Restaurant is the epitome of a perfect date night destination. The Ambiance is just out of this world. Enjoy breathtaking views, intimate seating and live music even on weekdays. We got the Meatballs as appetizer. They were so tender, flavorful and expertly prepared. We went with the Pasta Special of the day which was the Carbonara , generously portioned and irresistibly delicious. Serafina is an absolute must-visit for a romantic evening out and amazing authentic Italian food.

Amazing!! Sat on the water and had a lemonchello martini! The food was unbelievable. Lemonchello and tiramisu to finish it off. Highly recommend !!

We came here for my husband's birthday. I saw it was homemade and a classic. So glad I tried this. The decor and the music was amazing , it was Christmas themed We ordered the octopus, the meatballs, short rib, chefs special pasta, made with peas, tiramisu, cheesecake, and a beet salad to eat. Everything was amazing. My husband didn't like his pasta much, I couldn't taste it because it had shrimp, but regardless it was pretty. Our server was wonderful. In the beginning it took some time to get us waters and get started but nevertheless we will return. Best Italian food I've had in south Florida so far.

We had dinner here with a reservation for four. My husband and I were meeting my mom and stepdad, who were visiting from out of town, we hadn't seen them in months, so this dinner meant a lot to us. The food was excellent. My husband and I split the snapper special and the Burrata Per Due -- both were absolutely delicious. The fish was cooked perfectly with a flavorful crust, and the burrata was fresh and creamy. Our server was fantastic. He was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. We sat outside and enjoyed beautiful views of the water and passing boats, which really added to the experience. Unfortunately, the evening ended on a disappointing note. Toward the end of the meal, the manager (or possibly the owner) came over and thanked us for coming. Then, just after we paid the check, she came back, started clearing the table, and made a comment about needing to turn it over because people were waiting, all while my mom was still finishing her wine. We had arrived at 6:30 and were being rushed out by around 7:50 -- not even two hours. We had just spent over $200 and were still within a completely reasonable amount of time for a reservation. For a restaurant at this level, that kind of behavior is rude and unprofessional. If reservations aren't being managed properly, that's on the restaurant -- not the guests. My advice to upper management: handle table turnover better and let people enjoy their time without being rushed. That moment really soured an otherwise lovely evening. The food and service were great, but the way we were pushed out is the reason this isn't a five-star review.

Visited Serafina for my birthday and was very pleased! Food was delicious and service was perfectly attentive! We had a bottle of red wine, the grilled octopus appetizer, the sacchetoni pesto and the osso buco. Serving sizes are perfect, especially the pasta. The bread was delicious and fresh as well. Beautiful location on the water but unfortunately it was very windy so we opted to sit inside instead. Inside is quiet and lacking ambiance. Also, the table was far too small (small table for 2) for the amount of food and drinks we ordered and we were constantly having to reorganize things on the table. Overall a great experience!

Lovely waterfront setting and great service! The baked brie appetizer was one of the chefs weekly specials which was to die for!

Quaint very unassuming spot. I will always and forever judge every Italian restaurant by the quality of Scusa! in South Tahoe (might be unfair), but that's the standard of food, service and ambience I'm always looking to achieve. The food here was good but super rich and after a few bites we were full. I was extremely happy that although we were a party of two they sat us at a four seater. My wife enjoyed the Pear and Gorgonzola Sacchetoni Pesto. I had the veal Milanese and it was as expected. We ended the night with the tiramisu which was very fluffy but not as boozy as we typically like. Not a bad place for a date night. We will be back!

We were excited to try Serafina because several friends indicated they had a good experience. The setting was very nice on the water. Staff were very professional and responsive. Cocktails were quite small and very expensive Pork Special was very expensive for a thin chop that was dry. The chop should've been much thicker to prevent some of the dryness for the cost. The other pasta dishes were very good. Disappointed the food was not exceptional

I had the veal farm which was ponded thin and had too much bread crumbs. It was tasty but would have preferred less breading. The pasta with seafood was good and the zucchini flowers were amazing. We Ali had the baratta which was also good with tomato's and salad. We ate outside with a view of water and it was very nice. The service is great and only enhanced by the valet service and the gentlemen there sho greets you. Reasonable and good eating.

Service was great and so was the food. Atmosphere is peaceful and the restaurant is spotless

The food was okay, the portion sizes were good, the atmosphere was lovely, and the service was efficient and good. My biggest qualm was that we sat at a two top that was squished between all the others with barely any room to stretch our legs. When we first sat down we practically had to slide in because we couldnt pull our chairs out.

I wish the hostess was more honest with the guests... we stood by the host stand and heard her lie to everyone checking in about their reservation. It's unfortunate bc I don't like to leave a bad review, but when you intentionally mislead people it's very poor form. They kept saying "a couple of more minutes" to everyone, when they knew it would be longer - I don't mean a few minutes more, I mean lots of parties standing outside for 45-60mins and they were all told "a couple of minutes, maybe 10". Very poor form. Again, I hate to leave a bad review but it's not cool to impact people's nights like this. This is a reflection only on the hostess and manager i interacted with - the floor staff seemed very friendly.

Outstanding, authentic Italian food cooked to perfection. Beautiful atmosphere with water views. Loved the valet parking since it's hard to find a spot on street.

Food is amazing. Professional servers They make their own pastas and desserts. Valet is nice but he is only there based on reservations so make a reservation to keep the.valet

Had a really great dinner at Serafina the another night! We were a little unsure what to expect walking in but the outside seating where we were sat was beautiful and on the water. The service was great too! We ordered the stuffed tomato with burrata and pesto special for an appetizer and I am still thinking about it! It was SO good. I then had the orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage, a favorite dish of mine, and it did not disappoint! If we lived in the area I would definitely make this a go to spot!

Been living in Ft. Lauderdale for 20 years and never been to this restaurant. Service was impeccable, made dinner more amazing. Our waiter, forgot his name was from Crotia, was the bomb. Professional and on point. Food was delicious. I would highly recommend ans I'll be back...

Nice outside patio on the water. The food is good if you like Italian food.Really liked their lemon drop cocktail.We went out with friends and kids, so were busy to take pictures of the food.Kids friendly, nice quiet music

First time dining at Serafina and it was overall - wonderful. The hostess was all smiles and our waiter, Tom was excellent! He read us the specials and I chose one with snapper and other seafood over squid ink pasta. Tom said a few times that they feed us at Serafina, meaning you get a lot to eat and it all tasted superb. With a choice of indoor/outdoor, we chose outdoors and it was lovely. We are definitely going back and asking for Tom again. Try it. You'll love it!

Four of us had a spectacular birthday dinner at Serafina. We sat on the water and the ambiance was beautiful. Our entrees were nicely prepared, delicious and had large portions. Prices were extremely fair. We all took leftovers home. Wednesday is wine night. Our bottle of wine was half price! Our server was on top of it and very attentive. No complaints. See the food photos.

Great place, I've spent my anniversary here. Staff is nice, waiter knows his business. Totally recommended.

My husband and I opted for dinner with his parents, selecting an Italian restaurant by the water. The entrance was tight and narrow; they could have benefited from an additional person for seating. Despite a reservation for 8:30 pm, our table wasn't ready on time, requiring a 10-minute wait, understandable given the small size of the place. Luckily, we secured a good table by the water. Our server was competent, though some of his recommendations missed the mark. The food arrived warm, but my short rib was dry and hard, indicating it might have been sitting for a while. They replaced it, but the second serving had excessive fat. The overall presentation of the dishes could be improved. The desert was good. Tasted very fresh. While I wouldn't return, I might recommend it to family and friends. In hindsight, I regret not choosing my initial option, the bolognese pasta, instead of following a recommendation. Trust your instincts if you decide to dine here.

By far one of the best Italian Restaurants around. The food is phenomenal with multiple fish options. We enjoyed a bottle of Pinot Noir from California that was wonderful. The Cesare and Caprese salads were fantastic and everyone's meals were truly prepared with absolute attention to the smallest details. Sitting on the water or inside gives the diner a choice. We loved the waitstaff and felt as if we were family as opposed to random diners. We love Serafina's, and come back whenever we are here.

Food, service, authenticity of Italian food was outstanding!!! 10/10 I could not have asked for a better atmosphere and better service!! Well done Serefina!!

Just an update - who are these people that complain about a narrow passage? Never been to Venice I guess. The food is amazing (I don't love the American red sauce traditional). Service is great. The service is even better than the food...plus, sitting by the water and watching the boats is just nice. I live practically within walking distance and I'm so happy this is my neighborhood restaurant. I still like Il Mulino...but this place is even better.

I ordered for take out. So disappointed in the entire order. We decided to splurge as this is not a typical take out restaurant as it's pricey. I will list all the issues 1. Chicken Milanese - asked for garlic pasta instead of arugula- the smallest portion imaginable - for a $36 dish. No veggies served either 2. No bread came with this order! For an expensive meal - how can it not have any bread?? 3. The chicken Franchese - asked for sauce on the side - received NO SAUCE. Also asked for the garlic pasta instead of mashed potatoes. Again a very SMALL SIDE AND NO VEGGIES!!! Another $36 meal? It's completely dry and tastes terrible 4. The Caprese - which was the only good deal ( buy one get one free) was delicious but I asked for dressing on the side- it was not. So unless eaten right away it will be soggy! Im just amazed for $133 plus the uber tip this is what we received. If the restaurant doesn't want to do takeout then don't. Because they did an absolute lousy job. How disappointing and frustrating - the portions and the lack of attention to the notes.

It's a very quaint little restaurant. It was too warm to eat outside,it's on the water and I'm sure it's great to eat out there. We were a party of six. We ordered some appetizers (octopus and calamari). We ordered our entrees , with me having Bucatini All'amatriciana ,my fav meal, and it was by far one of the best. Everything was so fresh and absolutely delicious .Everyone enjoyed their meal. The service was very good . No complaints! Definitely will go there to share it with friends!

So we came here for dinner on Sunday night. Service was great; the server we had was great; she suggested the Arancini which was the highlight of the meal. A really good appetizer. Would come back just to eat that again. Where it kind of fell off was the other things we ordered. I had the fettuccine and it was very basic; like it was missing something. The lasagna was ok better than the fettuccine. I truly think the Arancini set the bar to high for everything else. But I would come back and try something different next time.

Fantastic experience! Truly authentic Italian food, super fresh and delicious. The servers were all super professional and very nice. The lasagne, short rib, and carpaccio were phenomenal. For dessert we had the cannoli and it was amazing! I highly recommend coming here. The view was so pretty being on the water!

Small restaurant, with a nice outside seating area. We had reservations, and when trying to check in thought the process was a bit awkward. The entrance is in a hallway, small area to talk to the hostess, and no real waiting area. So while you wait for your table to be ready, you either have to cram up around the inside seating area or go back out. Also, while waiting for the table, realized the one of the bathrooms is right by the kitchen and prepping stations. Which I found very inconvenient and weird. As mentioned, the outside are is nice, with some water view. We did have to wait a bit for our server to come. We got waters, and then had to wait some more to place our orders. I do have to mention she did advise us to buy a bottle of wine instead of individual glassed to save money. Other than that service was just ok. Food took a while to come out, so did the wine. When food was brought out, we were never offered grated Parmesan cheese or pepper or anything. We did get het once more for a second bottle of wine but then had to flag her down to get our check. The food and wine were good, and the reason they get the 3 stars.

Really good experience! Food was great, service was top notch, and views were wonderful. If you are in the area, I highly recommend.

Serafina is business in the front and party in the back - well, more like intracoastal waterway views in the back. This is a nice, small spot to have some delicious Italian food on the water. We share two of their specials of the day - the salmon and the truffle parppadelle and both we're delicious. The salmon was not too heavy and the parppadelle had just the right amount of sauce that was not overpowering. Also, the noodles were cooked to perfection. I had their old fashioned which my boyfriend raved about. Although I did enjoy the fact that the cherry was inside an ice cube, I was as expecting more. My boyfriend probably hyped it up too Much and expectations were high. Very much looking forward to returning and trying more of their pasta dishes.

Such great food and amazing service!! They make such great food! We love this place! Make sure you make this a stop next time you are hungry!

We visited Serafina Italian with some friends on a Friday, the place has a cosy ambiance. They sat us down on a table for 4 outside overlooking the water. It was a nice and cool night, and they were busy. The service was attentive and we got our food within a reasonable time. We got a couple of bottles of wine and our four main dishes. Everything was great. My wife loved her Octopus appetizer and her Salmon Dinner. My Ossobuco was delicious and the meat fell of the bone. Our friends look very happy with their dishes and they looked very tasty. We had a great night at Serafina and would definitely return. If you are looking for good italian food and a cozy relaxed dinning experience, give this placed a try.

MII did a little Yelp surfing and found this waterfront Italian spot in Fort Lauderdale - reviews were pretty good so I made a reservation. First off - I recommend a reservation and select outdoor seating. Indoor just isn't the same...I am so glad I made the reservation because I would have been bummed to spend such a beautiful afternoon/evening inside. Second - Be prepared to valet - $5 valet or $10 to have your car parked up front. Third - I would say this spot is on the higher end $$$ wise of our typical budget, so just be aware. I knew what I was getting into since I love surfing menus so I saw all the pricing up front. We were seated quickly at a small 2-top - One thing I would recommend is maybe have a few 2-tops at the rail right by the water instead of just 4-tops...My husband and I were on a romantic date and directly by the water would have been nice:) No points taken off as I didn't request it, but it just seems like something nice for people on an intimate date. I started with a glass of house pinot grigio and my husband had a Stella Artois and the Charred Octopus...The pinot was yummy...my husband said the octopus was pretty good. For entrees, my husband had the rigatoni a la vodka with shrimp added ($12 for 4 shrimp - they were gigantic!). I had the Sacchetoni Pesto...Mine was divine and my husband loved his as well. Then we did both opt for dessert. We ordered a tiramisu (my fave) and a cannoli. The tiramisu is housemade and delicious...the cannoli was just meh - My husband had never had one so we just ordered it for him to try. I also ordered a cappuccino - very yummy as well! All in all - I really liked this spot and I would definitely come here again for a special occasion or date night!

Service was excellent. Emma was above and beyond expectations. We arrived without reservations. Seated immediately. Emma took excellent care of us. From moving our table to a spot away from the rain to constantly refilling our wine glasses. Food was outstanding.

If you're looking for a nice romantic spot to have a memorable dinner with canal views and great service then this is the place to go. Service is always on point with valet parking and street if needed, full bar with the very best Italian food to please your taste buds. I've evening coming to this restaurant for years now and haven't been disappointed once yet. Tonight we had the calamari for apps, I had the Osso Buco D'Angello - Slow braised lamb shank. served in a demi-glace bola sauce over a bed of wild mushroom risotto and my wife had the Ravioli Del Giorno - Raviolo pasta stuffed with lobster. To drink we had the lemon drop martini and I had the Italian Mule, as usual no complaints and everything was just delicious. Will be back again soon!

Great food. Rolling the dice on service and outside views. Good Italian restaurant. Mainly come here for the view on the dock which is why it loses some points. They recently added more tables, it seems, to get more people in and on the dock but the additional seats/tables are squeezed in/ obstructed/ located close to major walk/traffic ways and the chairs are placed in awkward positions. Every time someone walks by the chair starts rocking or people bump into you. Honestly there shouldn't be tables at these spots. When we ask to be relocated the waiter seemed slightly upset/annoyed. It was the body language and face he made, like he was annoyed as he relocated us. My reasoning for relocating is that if I'm paying on average $23-30 an entree and ordering appetizers, cocktails, and bottles of wine, you know, wanting to have a nice night, and spend my hard earned money in this inflated economy , moving shouldn't be a problem. After that moment passed the rest of the dinner was fine and I had no other problems. I've been here many times and usually the service is better and a pleasure. They should just remember customers should be comfortable and come first.

We had the most incredible birthday/anniversary experience at Serafina. Our waitress, Alessandra was fantastic, she had great recommendations and made an incredible Old Fashion ! We had the pork chop special and the chicken piccata and both were out of this world. The charred Octopus and Seafood Ravioli were unmatched. We sat on the water with the romantic lighting a waterfront breeze and a perfect Florida night.

Nona is amazing , she is always working really hard and making sure everyone is happy. Had the Branzino Friday night , sat by the water , enjoyed every minute. Food is exceptional . Service was excellent.

It could be easy to miss this place, but sitting on the water is peaceful. The carpaccio was delicious, with a hint of truffle oil on the arugula salad. The osso bucco was fantastic, as was the chicken parm. Our server was very kind and attentive, and clearly knew the food and drink menus very well. The bartender was distracted so our drinks took a while but they were very good.

We had a lovely dinner seated outside regardless of the weather! The screens go up and down as the rain came and went. Emma was our gracious server and we enjoyed the bread, appetizers, drinks, entrees and desserts! We had calamari and eggplant for appetizers. Both were delicious and very generous portions to share! We had lasagna, linguine alla vongole, mahi mahi with capellini and rigatoni ala vodka with sausage. For dessert, profiteroles and tiramisu, cappuccinos and espresso martini! Table of four so very satisfied customers who have dined here in the past and will continue to dine here again! Serafina never disappoints! Thank you again!

We are from the North East and Italian food anywhere else is hard to beat, however Serafina's was perfect. My boyfriend made the reservation for dinner this past Saturday and I was delighted with the ambience and the outside patio was so romantic! The view, the lights were so peaceful. We had the Arancini balls and they were fantastic! The Bolognese sauce was so delicious. Next we shared the beet salad and it was so fresh and dressed perfectly. I had the Chicken Franchise and he had the stuffed Red Snapper, both were so yummy! I hope we get the opportunity to come back. It has become one of my favorite restaurants in Florida. The service was great and was one of the best experiences I've had. Such a perfect choice to share with someone very special! Thank you Serafina ! Anna and Bob

The winner is the outside tables on the Middle River. Food was average; servings are large. I think Serafina aims to be fine dining, and it's just a decent Italian restaurant with water views. Cutlery and plates are more like what we get at our neighborhood diner. Bread was good. They need to plug all their tiny tabletop lights into chargers so they'll work.

I have been to this restaurant maybe 15 to 20 times over the past 3 years. I live the ambiance and the wait staff is great. Unfortunately the front of the kitchen staff is about as rude as you can get. Never a good experience. I guess I'll keep coming back but be warned not the best service and be prepared to experience a very rude front of the restaurant

We visit this area from Ct. Twice a year. We make this one of our stops every time. The food is amazing. The staff are wonderful. I usually have the Italian Mule for a cocktail. This time I had the lemon drop martini, I could have drank a dozen it was so good. Thanks to our server's recommendation. Sitting waterside just makes it all the more enjoyable. Even better when they have live music. This is a must for us every visit. Thank you,