Hidden In A Strip Mall, This Florida Italian Spot Makes Handmade Pasta Diners Call The State’s Best
Wild boar pappardelle and a whole menu page devoted to truffles. Both live behind a plain storefront in a Florida strip mall, which still makes me grin every time I think about it.
The pasta gets made by hand in-house, and the kitchen leans hard into Northern Italy. Think agnolotti stuffed with rabbit, pork, and beef, plus squid ink pasta loaded with seafood.
Specials can bring elk, pumpkin flan, or a gnocchi worth chasing.
I like how the outside gives away absolutely nothing. Inside, white tablecloths and little pockets of tables turn an ordinary parking lot into date-night territory.
Reservations matter here, and so does a decent outfit. So how did a place this serious end up next to everyday errands, and why do so many diners call its pasta the best in the state?
A Plain Plaza Hiding A Very Serious Kitchen
Strip mall parking lots rarely hint at truffles. Yet that’s exactly the setup at Pasta And…, an Italian restaurant in Margate that looks like just another storefront from the road.
The name even ends with an ellipsis, like a sentence the kitchen plans to finish for you. Pasta and what, exactly?
The answer turns out to be quite a lot. Pasta And… focuses on homemade pasta and traditional dishes rooted in Northern Italy, with the Piedmont region as its guiding star.
Margate sits in Broward County, a short drive northwest of Fort Lauderdale. That makes the trip easy for anyone in South Florida craving something more ambitious than a basic spaghetti night.
The contrast between outside and inside is part of the fun. Some diners compare the reveal to finding a speakeasy behind an ordinary plaza door.
It’s a dinner-only operation, and the menu rewards people who show up curious. Expect handmade noodles, regional specialties, and a kitchen that clearly treats its craft like a calling.
The plaza setting stops mattering the moment the bread lands on the table. Still, it helps to know what you’re looking for, so you don’t circle the lot twice wondering if you missed it.
Noodles Rolled By Hand, Every Single Day
Fresh pasta is the whole point here, and the restaurant’s name practically shouts it. The noodles are made in-house, and some diners note they’re handmade the same day they hit the plate.
That matters more than it sounds. Fresh pasta grabs sauce differently, so every ribbon carries more flavor than the dried stuff ever could.
The kitchen pairs that pasta with ingredients brought over from Italy. It’s a simple formula on paper, but executing it night after night takes real discipline.
Shapes rotate across the menu in satisfying variety. You’ll find pappardelle, linguine, agnolotti, and ravioli, each matched to a sauce that suits its personality.
A classic ragu bolognese holds down the traditional end of things. Meanwhile, pumpkin ravioli shows how gently sweet flavors can work inside a delicate pasta pocket.
Plenty of diners call this the best pasta they’ve had in South Florida. A few go further and claim it’s the best anywhere in Florida, which is a bold statement in a state packed with Italian kitchens.
I can’t imagine a better reason to skip the boxed spaghetti for a night. If pasta is your love language, this menu speaks it fluently and with a proper accent.
Wild Boar And Other Bold Choices
Wild boar on a weeknight? At this kitchen, that’s not a dare, it’s a menu staple.
The Wild Boar Pappardelle ranks among the most talked-about dishes in the house.
Gamey meats are a big deal in the part of Italy that inspires the menu. Servers sometimes share that background, which turns dinner into a mini geography lesson.
The agnolotti take the idea even further. Each little pocket gets filled with rabbit, pork, and beef, then finished with a rich braised sauce.
Hearty is the word that keeps coming up with that dish. It’s the kind of plate that feels built for slow bites and long conversations.
Specials sometimes push the adventure dial higher. An elk linguine has shown up before, giving some diners their very first taste of the meat.
None of this feels like showing off for its own sake. The bold proteins simply reflect how Northern Italian cooks have eaten for generations, especially in cooler mountain regions.
So if your usual order is chicken parm, consider this your gentle nudge. Try something with antlers or tusks just once, and your regular dinner rotation might never look quite the same again.
The Truffle Page Deserves Its Own Fan Club
Flip to the last page of the menu, and things get earthy fast. That’s where the truffle dishes live, and they’ve earned a loyal following.
The ravioli trufatta leads the charge. Diners describe the truffles as fresh, balanced, and carrying a subtle woody finish rather than an overpowering punch.
Chef Luigi has a reputation for being generous with truffles. Shavings land on plates in amounts that make truffle fans feel genuinely spoiled.
Timing plays a role here too. Truffles have seasons, and their aroma and flavor tend to peak during certain months of the year.
That makes a return visit tempting for anyone who enjoyed the first round. Asking your server what’s in season is a smart move before you order anything.
Truffle dishes do sit at the pricier end of the menu, which is no surprise. These prized fungi rarely come cheap anywhere, whether in Florida or in Piedmont itself.
Still, I believe a truffle splurge belongs on every food lover’s list. Save it for an anniversary, a birthday, or simply a Tuesday that needs rescuing, and let that final page do the heavy lifting for the whole table.
Starters That Quietly Steal The Show
Bread service sounds like a throwaway detail until you taste it. Here, the fresh bread and olive oil get almost as much love as the pasta.
One diner admitted to wanting to sip the olive oil straight from the dish. That tells you plenty about the quality sitting on the table before dinner even starts.
Beef carpaccio is a popular way to open the meal. It arrives thin, rich, and full of flavor, setting a refined tone for everything after.
Burrata brings creamy freshness to the lineup. The caprese leans into simple, bright flavors that let quality ingredients carry the dish.
Polenta also gets frequent mentions, which fits the Northern Italian focus perfectly. Corn-based dishes like polenta are a cornerstone of cooking in that part of Italy.
Daily specials sometimes reach the appetizer list as well. A pumpkin flan has appeared before, proving the kitchen likes to play with seasonal ingredients.
Here’s a tactic worth stealing: share a couple of starters across the table. Portions follow Italian sizing rather than supersized American habits, so sharing lets everyone sample more without running out of room before the pasta course shows up.
Daily Specials Worth Interrupting Your Server For
Ask about the daily dish before you even glance at the menu. Some of the most memorable plates here never appear in print at all.
A gnocchi special once had a diner declaring it the best gnocchi they’d had anywhere in the country. They openly hoped it would land on the permanent menu someday.
Risotto shows up on the specials rotation too. One version paired prosciutto with asparagus, a classic combination done with real care.
Seafood lovers aren’t left out of the fun either. Squid ink pasta comes tossed with clams, shrimp, and calamari, and the dramatic black color makes quite an entrance.
The servers know these dishes thoroughly, which makes asking worthwhile. They describe specials with enough detail that choosing becomes the hardest part of the night.
Specials change, so the exact lineup on your visit will likely differ. That unpredictability is part of the charm for diners who come back again and again.
My advice is simple: listen to the full list before deciding. Then pick the one that sounds the least familiar, because this kitchen tends to reward that kind of bravery with something you’ll keep thinking about all week.
Little Pockets Of Tables And White Tablecloths
Once inside, the room feels like a small maze in the best possible way. Tables sit in little pockets, giving even groups a surprising sense of privacy.
White tablecloths set a classic, upscale Italian mood. The lighting and layout lean intimate, which explains why couples love it for anniversaries and Valentine’s Day.
There are two dining rooms to choose from. One suits a quiet dinner for two, while the other works for a livelier evening with friends.
Outdoor seating is available as well. Thoughtful screening keeps that space from feeling like it overlooks a parking lot, which is a clever touch.
The team includes owner Gian Marco and Chef Luigi, along with an Italian staff that adds to the authentic feel. The chef sometimes stops by tables to make sure everything is going well.
Despite the polish, the service carries a warm, family-run feel. Servers stay attentive without hovering, and many diners mention feeling welcomed from the first minute.
The restaurant has also been described as pet-friendly, which is a nice bonus for animal lovers. Check ahead before bringing a four-legged companion, just to confirm the current setup and seating options.
Save Room For Tiramisu, Seriously
Tiramisu might be the most famous Italian dessert on earth. At Pasta And…, it has diners calling it the best they’ve ever had.
The portion is described as creamy and generous. That’s a happy surprise, since main courses here follow more modest Italian sizing.
Ferrero Rocher gelato is another crowd favorite. Picture hazelnut and chocolate in frozen form, and you’ve got the general idea.
Pistachio ice cream also earns praise from the sweet-tooth crowd. It’s a classic flavor that feels right at home after a Northern Italian dinner.
Celebrating something? Desserts sometimes arrive beautifully plated and decorated for birthdays, a small gesture that guests clearly remember.
The non-alcoholic drink menu deserves a mention too. Creative mocktails offer a refreshing option for anyone who wants something festive without the extras.
Here’s my favorite strategy for this course. Order one tiramisu and one gelato for the table, then split both, because choosing between them feels unnecessarily cruel after such a fine meal.
A shared spoon also makes the evening feel a little more like a Florida date night and a little less like a dinner reservation.
Book Ahead, Dress Sharp, And Enjoy The Ride
Walk-ins rarely get lucky here, so treat reservations as essential. Booking ahead saves you from a disappointing drive home.
A dress code is in place too. Smart casual is a safe bet, and many diners suggest dressing up a bit to match the setting.
The kitchen serves dinner only and closes on Mondays. Schedules can shift, so check the current hours before heading out.
Pricing lands on the higher end, especially for truffle dishes. Most diners still feel the care and quality justify the splurge for a special night.
You’ll find the restaurant at 4990 W Atlantic Blvd, Margate, Florida 33063. It’s an easy drive from Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, and much of Broward County.
Parking comes with the strip mall setup, which is one perk of the humble location. No valet maze, no downtown garage, just a regular lot and a remarkable meal waiting inside.
So is it worth the trip? For handmade pasta, gamey Northern Italian classics, and a truffle page that refuses to quit, I’d say yes.
Just bring a reservation, a nice shirt, and an appetite for something genuinely different.
