Cafe Martorano Description
 “Absolutely no changes or substitutions. This is how I cook. Please enjoy and don’t break balls!” This caveat on the menu only hints at the kind of unforgettable evening you’re in for at Cafe Martorano, the newest restaurant at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Frank Sinatra did it his way, and chef Steve Martorano has achieved culinary acclaim the same way – by breaking all the rules. What would you expect from a chef who caters for the cast of The Sopranos? |
• Hours: 6pm - 2am; Daily
• Cuisine: Italian
• Average Cost: $25-$40
More Information
Hailing from South Philadelphia by way of Fort Lauderdale, Martorano serves simple, old-school Italian-American home cooking in a chic after-dark environment. After peak hours, Martorano moves from behind the stove to behind the turntables, where he shows off his DJ skills, playing hip-hop and R&B as dinner turns to dancing.
Freshness makes the difference in Martorano's market-inspired dishes. You buy the food today, he philosophizes, which is to be eaten today. “I pick out the food I prepare whenever I can,” Martorano explains. “The rest, brought by purveyors, are not accepted unless they meet my standards ... I prepare what I believe is the freshest and the best each day.”
The freshness of the food and the vibrancy of the atmosphere have made Cafe Martorano’s original Ft. Lauderdale location incredibly popular. Diners would gladly wait hours for a table, during which time Martorano presents amuse-bouche treats like slices of pizza and meatballs.
When seated, diners enjoy everything from Philly cheesesteaks and pork Sunday gravy to lobster Francaise and seafood Fra Diavolo. Sauces are prepared in individual portions for each dish and an employee in the kitchen is dedicated to cooking pasta al dente – again, to order, a process that Martorano describes as “dinosaur cooking. The steps we take ... once we’re gone, that era’s done. We’re old school.”
