Martorano's Italian-American Kitchen

Steve Martorano, Fort Lauderdale's favorite Italian-American bad boy, is back with this, his third restaurant, set in Seminole Paradise at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. At his palatial new digs, which is so glitzy it practically sparkles, the beats are louder and the crowd is rowdier than ever. The 7,400-square-foot restaurant feels like a club, but the food is every bit as good as the stuff that made Cafe Martorano famous among locals and celebrities. To keep the kitchen flowing properly, Martorano has halved the menu, but mainstays like fried galamod (calamari) and South Philly meatballs are back. So is pitch-perfect rigatoni with Sunday gravy, spaghetti carbonara complete with runny egg yolk, and thin-crust pizzas topped with homemade mozz. You'll need to take out a second mortgage to eat there, but the food -- and atmosphere -- is worth it.

• Cuisine(s): Italian, Pizza

  Hours: Sun-Thu 5pm-12am, Fri-Sat 5pm-5am

  Price: $$$$

  Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards

• Attire: Smart Casual

  Features: Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Private Party, Wheelchair Accessible

  Serving: Dinner, Late Night

  Alcohol: Full bar

• Reservations: Highly Recommended

  Parking: Free, Garage, Lot Available