Osteria Acqua E Farina

There are disappointments in life so profound they do not simply fade. My visit to a place audaciously called Italian Restaurant was one such disappointment.

From the moment I entered, I was met with an atmosphere so desperate to appear cultured that it nearly begged for applause. Dim lights, clinking glasses, and the faint murmur of confusion not sophistication. Just trying far too hard. The space was far too small for the amount of servers darting about, each unsure of whether they were there to serve, perform, or simply exist as part of the décor.

The bread, I will admit was fairly good, as i had hope only to be squandered. I ordered an unsweetened tea to play safe, last thing i want to hear from a (traditional) restaurant was pepsi or Coke products only. and i decided for something they would be well accustomed too by now a simple red-sauce pasta. The waiter stared at me as though I had said it in german. He eventually suggested meatballs over linguine. I agreed, simple as can get. not his fault they don’t educate there waiters, of the very food they serve,

What arrived was a dish so devoid of care, it might have been assembled by a man with no care for his craft. But more interested in video games. The sauce carried the unmistakable tang of tin can tomatoes,
metallic, and sour. It had not been grazed with seasoning, nor comforted by garlic, nor given the dignity of a slow simmer to remove the unbearable sour taste of uncooked tomatoes. What i was served was anything but traditional.
The pasta itself was undercooked not al dente, but al insulto. Each bite an unwelcome reminder that effort and understanding are not the same thing. And yet, the waiter stood beside me with the pride of an artist unveiling a masterpiece,
Never have I felt so estranged from the concept of Italian food. To call this cuisine is to call a cat a lion. I sat there, bewildered that the other patrons could even stomach it.

Even Outback Steakhouse, a place more famous for its ability to give burnt stakes than any Italian ambition, could teach these “chefs” a thing or two about cooking. I suspect the kitchen is staffed by Italians that prefer the word Gravy,

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 3

I ordered sea bass bronzeano
It was a whole fish with assorted vegetables. Wonderful food

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Celebrated a birthday dinner . Love this hidden gem . Front the wonderful customer service. Delightful full menu ! Loved the veal Marsala and chicken liver pasta. A perfect romantic evening !

Last night we had takeout and the food superb! The restaurant is very inviting and the Staff was great, look forward to returning to dine-in.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Tasty food. Every thing we ordered was good. Meat balls are a must.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

🔥 Wood Oven Pizza = Perfection 🍕🇮🇹

This place owns the pizza game. Legit wood-fired goodness — thin, crispy crust, bubbly edges, melty cheese, and fresh toppings that hit every time. If you're a pizza lover, this is your holy grail.

But don’t sleep on the rest — the branzino (also wood-fired!) is amazing, the lasagna + gnocchi = comfort food heaven, and the pasta e fagioli is like a warm hug. Oh, and the arancini? Addictive. You’ve been warned. 😅

Minutes from FLL Airport, so it’s my go-to pre/post-flight feast. The vibe is warm, the staff speaks Italian, and the owner is a true pizza wizard.

Pro tip: Make a reservation on weekends — this spot fills up fast!

✨ Real Italian food. Wood oven magic. Zero regrets. ✨

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is an excellent Italian restaurant with excellent service, interesting specials and standard menu. It is in Ft Lauderdale but easy access.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Having just returned from Italy, we were suggested to give this place a try and all was so delicious. What a gem! Outstanding food and warm friendly service at this restaurant. The picture we took does not do it justice but believe me the taste and flavor were phenomenal. So glad it was recommended to us. Definitely will be returning customers.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

What a hidden gem
Authentic Italian in a quaint intimate no nonsense setting.
The servers are all personable and knowledgeable, specials galore. Even though our first time here evident that it's a local spot because patrons are friendly sharing stories and looking for interaction with one another.
The food- pastas, you can't go wrong. Homemade gnocchi, Pasta ala Norma, plus all the usual suspects. Fresh seafood options also can be prepared in the wood fired oven.
There's only so much room so regrettably didn't try any pizza but snagged a photo for this review.
Overall great spot.
Cons- no bar. So if you're waiting for a table you are probably pacing around outside !
Pros- authenticity and hospitality

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

We were skeptical originally - solely based on the basic sign outside saying “Italian restaurant” but read the reviews so trusted the people. It was a fantastic decision! We had 2 pizzas and meatballs for starter. The meatballs were pricier than we expected, but they were very good so pleased we ordered them. The pizza was also very good! We couldn’t finish it so took the remainder in a takeaway box. Would definitely recommend coming here. Service was also super fast - we were in and out within 45mins!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Cute little family-run bistro (and it feels that way too, in the best possible way) serving really excellent wood-fired pizzas. The kale caesar and the tiramisu were both top notch as well! Our server was lovely and gracious and attentive. Will definitely be back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I don’t know what else you could want from a local Italian spot. Amazing food. Must get the grilled corn salad. This place is a gem.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Diavola was amazing, got it to-go just was in the mood for an authentic brick oven pizza ,$30 for a chicken parm idk but pizza $18 I’ll pay that any day, peaceful ambiance there

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Absolutely delicious. What a great find.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5