Cafe Vico

Recently planned a lunch for 11 people. The food was excellent, the service was exceptional, and the management could not have been more helpful!
They also have the coolest ladies’ room on the East Coast.

Had an excellent server the food was great but overpriced for the portion size you get but the next morning wasn’t so good for me… if you catch my drift. won’t be going back there

Ah… St. Valentine’s Day! And just who is this St. Valentine… I believe the CEO of Hallmark Cards… or something like that… I mention this only because we decided to try this highly touted eatery on St. Valentine’s Day… usually NOT a good day to judge an establishment i.e. over-​crowded, poor staff service, receipt errors and on and on… but not this time! No… excellent from the minute we walked in! (I should mention that the 4 stars vs the 5 stars was because of parking! I had to park on the other side of the strip mall… dark and eerie walk to the place!)…Nonetheless…reservations were honored within 5 minutes of walking in… taken to a great table in the back… intimate, cozy and romantically lit… comfortable chairs and a table big enough to handle the plates of an over-​eating robust patron… The place was packed to the rafters yet quiet and designed to allow traffic, both staff and patrons, to move comfortably about. We were afforded a reasonable amount of time to settle in, examine the photos on the wall and see who was ‘joining’ us in the room for the evening. We were then greeted by our waiter for the evening, Kyle, who although humble, was extremely polite and knowledgeable without pushing any one menu item… He left a wine list and 2 menus and said he’d return shortly… and he did! Took our cocktail order (2 very well made Negroni’s!) and asked if we wanted to hear the specials for the evening… there were 3… the sign of a great restaurant. no over-​abundance of ‘specials’…three…a good number indicating special attention to the… well…‘specials’…We decide on a mozzarella appetizer that we would share and some time to think about the main course order. I must point out that I always order a ‘special’ and shy away from the typical fare of the menu… and typical it was… not that that’s bad (and I understand expected) but there was nothing on the menu that ‘floated my boat’ Basically ‘red-​sauce’ fair i.e. veal parmigiana, eggplant parmigiana, macaroni alla bolognese etc, etc… OK…I get it, many consider this what to expect in an Italian restaurant… I don’t…Actually to be fair, I was going to order one of 2 risotto dishes had a special not captured my eye… Better half ordered veal ossobuco and I ordered sea-​food stuffed, heart shaped (Valentine’s Day?) home-​made ravioli. We enjoyed our drinks and conversation while waiting… appetizer finished at this point… Main course arrived… excellent presentation, Kyle politely disappeared after offering us a ‘buon’ appitito’.Food was GREAT! I truly was not expecting such great fare as I’ve given up finding a really good Italian restaurant here in South Florida (Hey, have you ever been to Buco di Pepe? We went last night… GREAT! You really have to try them… yeah…right).Enjoyed a leisurely dinner having Kyle make an appearance periodically to assure all was well… An interestingly chosen dessert (Chocolate brownie with ice-cream…leave plenty of room or do as we did… left half of it… huge!)…Paid bill (worth every penny!) and retreated to the lounge where we enjoyed a lounge band who proved to be a very pleasant surprise… real musicians… great soft sound allowing us to continue our St. Valentine’s Day conversation…2 drinks later and a rose from management for my sweetie and we left… basically closed the place without being rushed out… Several kind words from the owner (nice as well as smart!)…will return… FOR SURE! I am looking forward to dinner on an ‘off’ weekend! Highly recommend this place… oh…as far as the parking, I get it… it is what it is… stay in the lit areas and you’ll be just fine! Thanks for a great evening!

This place is great! Very nice people, you are greeted by the owner when you walk in the door who is an upstanding guy! The service was great, with constant refills of water (they sell the bottled, either sparkling or flat for a nominal fee, its worth it)… I went with three other friends, two who have never been there before so they could give it a try. Needless to say they were very impressed! We all ordered the lasagna and i will tell you it was made with Amour! So tender and layered to perfection that I would not hesitate to say it is probably the best around… Give it a try and you wont be disappointed!

The food is great, especially the garlic sauce on the table! Marco and his entire staff do a great job as well. The recent update to the space was done beautifully. They have lots of healthy options as well. I highly recommend!

Excellent food, excellent wait service, very nice bar area with live music. I recommend this restaurant for good home style Italian food.

had a 22 person family dinner at Café Vico just before the holidays. They put us all in a separate room and everyone couldn’t have been more pleased by the service and food. They served all 22 of virtually at the same time, which could not be easy for a group that size and everyone ordering off the regular menu.
The food was awesome as usual. I hate to rave too much, otherwise, it might get harder and harder to get a table.
Keep up the great job Café Vico!

We loved our dinner. Reminiscent of old fashioned new york Italian restaurants of days gone by. Clams casino amazing as was seafood ravioli. Lasagna also excellent. The place is charming and cozy.
Service friendly. With no reservation we happily waited at the bar and enjoyed excellent martinis. Looking forward to returning soon.

Horrible experience. We walked in to the hostess desk and she looked at us, didn’t greet us, and 10 minutes later an older woman comes to the desk and talks with the hostess and then looks up and asked if we had a reservation. We said no and she responded she could seat us outside in the heat and with the beautiful view and odor of cars pulling in and out of the strip mall parking lot. We were not even offered any of the open seats at the bar. As a Marketing Director of a major chain of high end retail pet stores I do a lot of networking over lunches and dinner, none which will ever be done at this rude place. Happy New Year. Went to Christina Wan’s instead and we were greeted with a friendly smile, seated right away and received stellar service and delicious food that’s not overpriced!

Not sure what I walked into one Friday night when the mostly-​60-​something crowd at the glowing bar was rocking out to a one-​man-​band singing tunes from the last four decades, but the atmosphere was fun and they seated us quickly, despite the absolutely packed house that evening (which I tend to think is the cast mostly every weekend).
Overall, it was a pretty good Italian experience in a land that is peppered with a million mediocre Italian restaurants. The wine and beer list is comprehensive and runs the gamut from cheat to not-​so-​much. The pours on the wine were massive and the Peroni I had at the bar was ice cold.
We went with eggplant rolentine to start, which was very light and delicious. My companion had their tortellini in a cream sauce, while I had the signature lasagna. It was touted as the «Best Lasagna in Broward County» and I’d agree that it’s up there with some of the best that I’ve had. It had a great balance of pasta, meat, red sauce and a light bechemel — all delicious. We skipped dessert due to overfilled bellies.

Ok
Not cheap
But hey
Well worth the money
I had the shrimp scampi and I have z big appetite
It was awesome
$ 30 for a bottle of wine that you can get from publix for $ 10 is reasonable in the restaurant business
I was overwhelmed with my meal
My girlfriend was disappointed with hers
Not near enough food
And she’s only 125 lbs not a monster
So 3 stars from me
Very clean
Great bar tender we had

Italian food and me equals happiness! Give me some good pasta and great wine and I am sure to have an awesome evening. We were celebrating an early Birthday for my dear friend Goldie. Michael had made reservations for last Saturday evening. When we arrived they told us it would just be a few minutes for our table so we went over to the lounge/​bar area to grab some drinks.
What a really pretty restaurant. As soon as we walked in I noticed a large private room surrounded by the wine cellar. When we asked about it the manager told us there are two rooms one for twelve people and the other for around 20. Such a great room for a large party. The bar area is large and they have quite a few tables and booths to sit at. I looked over the wine menu which was quite lovely. They had some very nice selections and reasonably priced. We each brought our own bottle with a corkage fee of $ 25. Since it was a special celebration we wanted some nice wines that were not on the menu.
We all ordered some bubbly from the lounge area when the manager told us our table was ready. He walked us over to a quaint table in the corner which I was thankful for because they were packed. Immediately oil with herbs and fresh bread was brought to the table and water.
Disclaimer: I am a huge CARBAHOLIC, and this was some of the best bread ever! Large soft dinner rolls that had the most amazing taste. The oil for dipping made it that much more heavenly. Not gonna lie I would go back just to have the bread!!!
We started with some appetizers, Goldie had cocktail shrimp that looked wonderful. Very large shrimp, then we tried the meatballs which were good, no red sauce, not bad. The guy’s had artichoke that they seemed to really enjoy.
Throughout the evening service was very good. As we sat there, I thought what a comfortable very pretty restaurant, soft lights, cozy, elegant, but I am not sure this restaurant would be romantic. They really don’t have any area where the tables are all not very close to each other. And it is so crowded it is far from quiet. To come here with friends is fine but for a romantic date I would say nah.
We took our time enjoying our fine wines and then ordered our entrée’s. Hubby had the Bolognese, which IMO was not very good at all. It was very heavy and the flavor just got lost. He was not thrilled with it and to bad I felt like he ordered the wrong thing. I asked if they could make me Penne Arrabiatta and add Italian Sausage. The server kindly said yes. I really had a taste for spicy sauce and could not wait to see if they knew how to make it.
Our entrée’s arrived and my pasta dish was excellent. Very spicy which is exactly how I love it. They did forget my sausage but I did not say anything as it was not a big deal. I happily ate my pasta with more of the delicious bread. Really loved the spice of the great tasting marinara sauce. Everyone enjoyed their dishes except hubby.
We had a great evening and I was thrilled to have finally made it here. I will go back maybe even for their happy hour, that sounds nice.
I look forward to trying more dishes and visiting again.
Food — 4, Service, 4, Décor 5, Wine list –5
Grazie!

Found this place by accident and what a hidden treasure. Went for their wine, dinner, movie event for ppl in the know (better bring your wine bib, lol.) Beautifully setup, excellent service and the food – PHENOMENALLY paired course by course. A must try if staying in the Ft Lauderdale area. Can’t wait for next months tasting. :o)

If you haven. t been to Café Vico in awhile… the place looks great… new bar area with live music. expanded dining areas… but same good food and same owner. really enjoyed our evening there… oh and the beef carpaccio was the bomb!

The hostess looks like she wouldn’t have even cracked a smile even if she was being tickled. The waiter was nice and attentive. We ordered calamari to start. They were rubbery. The rolls were good. The garlic oil for dipping the bread was amazing! So garlicky. I ordered the chicken Parmesan without cheese. It was tasty.

Since the first time so many years ago we have been to CAFE VICO numerous times.
I felt that I had to write an update after we had a really great HAPPY HOUR there.
You MUST try the HAPPY HOUR, it’s the best on Fort Lauderdale, great apps, drinks and a wonderful piano man…

Restaurants are very often the combination of service and taste and atmosphere. They may have failed slightly on taste but the atmosphere is outstanding. Expect a classy Italian joint with plenty of space, low lighting, a great bar (horrible bar tender) and a family atmosphere. Dress your best. Even the servers spoke Italian
The meatballs and eggplant app, calamari were average for the price and the sauce, while flavorful wasn’t something to write home about. The muscles were ok.
The saving grace was the seafood ravioli. Creamy and well cooked shells with a soft crab inside that melted in the mouth. I was a little dissappojnted with the flavor profile of the dish as a whole, compared with most bold Italian dishes.
Quite possibly they focus on simplicity of Italian dishes which may be some peoples thing but it’s not mine. The service was fantastic at one point and not well at others. Overall it wS a good meal

The South Florida cliché is that all the best restaurants are in strip malls. The truth is that all the worst restaurants are also in strip malls because almost ALL the restaurants are in strip malls. Café Vico happens to be one of the best. The fact that they continue to grow each time we visit is a testament to how great a restaurant this is. Their food is fantastic and the service is impeccable. The décor is a bit tacky but it seems to work for this classic Italian spot. It is priced as a special occasion restaurant (at least for my budget) but I know that every time I go there they will provide a special occasion.
The bread service at Café Vico is the «Radio Free Europe» of bread services (an amazing song that launches an unforgettable album). It is fresh warm bread with the most unforgettable olive oil with roasted bits of finely chopped garlic and herbs. It is hard to believe that they are giving away the best part of the meal but that garlic oil is unimaginably great. It is soon followed by the delightful surprise of complimentary bruschetta toast bursting with fresh tomato and basil flavor. All the entrees’ there are fantastic but I think the thing that truly sets this restaurant apart is the homemade pasta. My favorite dish is the papardelle which is a green and white ribbon pasta that they serve with garlic oil (with chunks of roasted garlic, yep, more garlic), delicious Italian sausage and sauteed broccoli rabe. If I choose a meat entrée over the pasta entrees they usually still come with a side of pasta and they are happy to switch out the standard spaghetti for the papardelle. For dessert they also have a fantastic Italian style ricotta cheesecake. The portions here are substantial, especially for fine dining and I almost always end up with leftovers. If there are leftovers they are always kind enough to send me home with some extra bread and the insanely great garlic oil (upon request) so that I can have another delicious meal the next day.

This is the type of restaurant you hope of finding. Where the owner greets you as you come in like he knows you and the food is superb every time you go.
To be fair and honest, my boyfriend and I have only ever ordered (several times mind you) the seafood ravioli and the black spaghetti. But here’s the thing… those two meals are so amazing, so fantastic, so dreamy, so freakingly consistently delicious that we have no want to explore the rest of the menu. I know, it’s sad. But it’s SO good, I will admit that I have literally licked my plate and I am not ashamed. And that’s the beauty of this place — how consistent the food is. This is the place where that great meal you had and dream of, is truly just as great the next time you order it.
Once you’re seated you’ll be served warm rolls with garlic infused olive oil and bruschetta. While both are good, be warned that the garlic olive oil, although yummy is VERY strong. Make sure your date is into garlic or remember to bring some gum.
Since my first time here, the restaurant has expanded to provide more tables, a private room and a piano bar. It’s a beautiful restaurant that is clean, cozy with a romantic feel. If you’re worried about the price, check out the 2 for 1 lunch deals or the happy hour which are just as good.

Elizabeth loves Italian food, so we decided to make a reservation here for Valentine’s day. I made it far in advance on open table just to be sure that it wouldn’t be an issue.
It is tucked away in the corner of a small plaza on US-​1 and I definitely don’t think I would have found it on my own without recommendations from some of Elizabeth’s friends or Unilocal.
It had romantic lighting and live music. +1 star! Perfect for Valentine’s Day.
The wait staff was friendly and attentive, refilling my drink at least five times. Having a good waiter definitely can make or break a dining experience.
I should also add that because it was valentine’s day, they gave Elizabeth (as well as all of the other women dining that night) a rose. I thought that this was a nice touch! Very thoughtful.
We had the Clams Casino for an appetizer. They describe this dish as
«Baked & Stuffed w Peppers & Red Onions, Topped w Crispy Bacon.» If you crossed out everything on that list but the bacon I probably wouldn’t have noticed. Don’t misinterpret what I’m saying here, I love bacon. Would I order this again? Definitely not. To be fair this was somewhat of an experimental order as neither of us have tried clams casino in the past.
For my entrée, I had the Veal Saltimboca, «Sauteed with prosciutto on top, melted mozzarella and brown sauce.» It basically ruled. I am a big fan of veal, but typically I’m not one to really dish out the extra cash. But hey, it was Valentine’s day. Why not splurge a bit. The meat was tender, the prosciutto was excellent. I love cheese, and the mozzarella was delicious. To top it off, the brown sauce, whatever it was, was great. I’m guessing it had some sort of red wine base, but the taste didn’t linger.
I was at about 3.5 stars at this point… until they brought out the dessert tray. I did not have one inch of room left in my stomach. However, Elizabeth has an interesting concept, that we each have two stomachs. A regular stomach, and a dessert stomach. The dessert stomach is enormous and can fit just about any dessert. Even though I was stuffed full to the point of discomfort, I let Elizabeth pick a dessert for us to share. We had the tiramisu, which the waiter explained was completely home made. I believe it. This tiramisu was insanely good. We ended up fighting over the last bite and I couldn’t help but feel like I had reverted back to a primordial state of man. I lost the ability to use words, instead just grunting and making hand motions, until the tiramisu was gone.
Moving on, the espresso was good. The biscotti and lemon peel garnish were a nice touch.
Over all, I was impressed with the overall dining experience. This is definitely a good restaurant for special occasions. If I wasn’t so obsessed with trying new restaurants I may have even committed to coming back soon.

My husband made reservations for Valentine’s Day a week ahead of time. We were a little bit late due to traffic, but it was not a problem. We were seated right away, and the bread arrived almost immediately. The garlic dip for the bread was good, but VERY strong. The drink orders were taken and delivered quickly. We ordered from the special Valentine’s menu. The meatball appetizer with mushrooms was excellent, as was the salad with mixed greens and various fruits and almonds. The heart-​shaped pasta (cute for the holiday!) came in two varieties: a seafood mix (crab and shrimp) and chicken with an interesting dark cherry sauce. Desserts were generous and excellent. We chose the tiramasu and the mixed berry pie which my husband raved about for hours afterward.
The staff was pleasant and effecient. The service was a little off, but I ascribe that to the fact that it was busy for the holiday. We will defiantly return for another meal or several!!!

Café Vico. I’ve been going there since I’ve moved to Florida. It’s probably my favorite Italian restaurant in South Florida. I was going there when it was just one small little restaurant. It is now expanded to practically the entire strip mall and a newly added piano bar. When you first get there you kind of think where am I? It’s inside of the strip mall where there is a Supercuts there is a melting pot there are other random little stores. And right there in the corner is Café Vico.
It is a very intimate setting. Dark lights beautiful paintings. And then there are thousands of photos of celebrities all strewn throughout the entire restaurant. And if you happen to go into the third room and look at a photo of someone that looks remotely like Elvis Presley on a motorcycle, you’re looking at my dad. No I’m being serious it’s literally a picture of my dad. The owner, Marcos, has become of close family friend of ours. Don’t worry you will meet him too. He greets all of his customers at the door when he is at the restaurant.
They have been extensive wine list they also now I have wine on tap. They also had this great new full bar where the piano bar is. So what do you order? Their menu is fantastic. But I always order from the specials. They have the freshest fish and they have amazing meat dishes. Their fish piccata is one of my all-​time favorite. They serve it with a side of pasta, broccoli and also carrots. Their raviolis are killer too! Their chicken ravioli with cherry sauce used to be a special only… But sure enough, it got added to the menu. You can even ask for half and half of ravioli. So I sometimes get half the chicken ravioli and half the seafood ravioli.
I rarely make it to dessert, but when I do, the ricotta cheesecake or the blueberry crème brûlée.
Definitely go. Make reservations as it gets packed!

Great place for a weekday lunch. All entrees are 2 for 1!!! The new expansion has doubled the size of this restaurant. The bar is huge! They offer ½ price drinks and apps at happy hour.
They start you off with warm white rolls and a delicious garlic/​herb/​olive oil dip. Expect to smell like garlic for awhile!
I ordered the lasagna which has been voted as the best lasagna in Broward! I agree. It is made with rich béchamel sauce. The lunch portion is a perfect size… I finished it. Any side or salad is extra. My friend had the flank steak covered in a brown sauce and cooked mushrooms. It was served with a small amount of mashed potatoes and broccoli. All of this food for $ 16! That is a deal.
As always I was greeted by the owner. He likes to shake ladies hands and usually say hello bella and give you a kiss on your hand!
Parking is easy in the attached parking lot. They also have outside dining. I will be going back to check out the happy hour.