Acquolina Ristorante Italiano (Weston)
***** Acquolina Ristorante Italiano, 2320 Weston Road, Weston, Florida 33326 (954) 389-1880.
Just finished eating dinner at an Italian joint…Acquolina Ristorante Italiano, located in Weston…and I got to tell you, that it was one of the best Italian meals that I have had in a very-very long time. Other than having to throw 2-pinches of salt over an “individual- 1/2 order” of fried zucchini, the food was absolutely delicious. Let me send you to Acquolina’s website www.acquolinaweston.com for menu/prices
Acquolina’s has white table-cloths, but your tee shirt/shorts ensemble will do just fine…there is indoor seating and out-door patio seating overlooking a man made shopping center lake.
Let’s talk food…trust me on this one, the food is outrageously good. The menu has “individual-1/2 order” and “family style” portions. Fried zucchini, baked clams oreganata, chopped salad, penne alla vodka, bone-in chicken campagnola, veal chop parmigiana, shrimp fra diavolo…all, as tv-food personality Guy Fieri would say “off the chart.” The service is real-good, with a group of waiters who “chat with customers” and keep a close eye to make sure that water and beverage glasses are never empty. Prices… maybe a “buck-or-two higher” than neighborhood pizza joint prices. A little heads-up…a lot of the “individual-1/2 order” portions are enough to feed 2-people, so ASK the waiter about portion size when ordering…besides saving money, you’ll have more than enough food to stuff your face real good with.
Personally, I don’t care for the name Acquolina…it sounds like it has something to do with water and fish…but it ain’t my joint. What I do know, is Acquolina’s menu is loaded with top-notch appetizers, salads, pastas, meat/seafood/chicken entrees.
Let me sum Acquolina up for you this way…I drove 72 miles round-trip to eat in this joint…and I can’t wait to make the trip again. The food is that good.
Acquolina is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.
Hi Jeff, we were the couple sitting at the next table. Our food was REALLY good too and we had the angel hair pasta with red clam sauce. And if you ever go back to Acquolina, you HAVE to try their tiramisu, it was the best we’ve had and the presentation was great too 🙂
susan: Just had a chance to read your post. It was nice meeting you guys. The next time I am at Acquolina, I will try the stuff you mentioned.
Take care…
I understand that Julio who at one time or another help manage Matteo’s in Boca Raton and Hallandale and owned Julio Caesar in Lighthouse Point and managed Saratoga in Hollywood is running this new restaurant. Friends of mine told me this and said that they had tried Acquolina and the menu had many of the same dishes that the other restaurants featured. They thought that the food was delicious and the service very good.
Norman (N. Miami): Just had a chance to read your post. Your friends are correct on Julio’s Acquolina connection. I found a number of the dishes on Acquolina’s menu to be very similar to those served at Matteo’s. I also found a number of dishes that Matteo’s doesn’t have. I really enjoyed Acquolina. I also love the food at Matteo’s. Good for us!!
Thanks for reading…
Dinner this past Sunday at Acquolina. Very good. Like you I am big Matteos fan. I eat at either Hallandale or Boca spots at least once every 5 or 6 weeks. Julio is in charge at Acquolina. Still like Matteos better. But this new place is a good substitute for those who live in Weston and points south and don’t want to make the haul to eat in Hallandale. I was in Sawgrass Mall so it was a 15 minute ride away.
I eat at Acquolina at least once a week.
This is as good as it gets in Florida.Being a transplanted NYer,this food is FANTASTIC and as good as any of the establishments back in NY.
Family Style,Great service, Good Price and Exeptional quality food make this a winner.
hey Rich, glad that you found Acquolina. i agree with you that it is a very good restaurant. have eaten there twice. as a fellow native new yorker, i think that you should try matteo’s which has 3 spots in florida, jupiter, boca and hallandale. julio who is in charge at Acquoilina use to be with matteo’s and much of his menu is just like matteo’s. give matteo’s a try. it is also really good.
michael f.: Just had a chance to read your post.
I read the Sun Sentinel review…personally, I think that the food/service in this casual joint is close to 4 stars.
Just some information…this restaurant is operated by a fellow named Julio who for years opened and managed restaurants for Matteo’s which in my opinion serves the best Italian food in S. Florida. If you look at Acquolina’s menu it is very similar to Matteo’s menu…by the way, Matteo’s has joints in Hallandale Beach, Jupiter and Boca Raton. As for Acquolina’s food…very similar to Matteo’s.
Thanks for reading…
I see that the Sun Sentinel finally found this restaurant and gave it 3 out of 4 stars. The food is topshelf there and 4 stars is what it should have gotten.
One of the best Italian restaurants in Florida.
Hidden in a Weston shopping center. Look for it.
Absolutely phenomenal food.
This is a terrific restaurant. Excellent food and service. Food is is similar to Matteo’s but there are many different dishes as well.
jeff, a new acquolina just opened where frankie’s pier 5 use to be.
second location just opened in hallandale by racetrack
Ate in new location in Hallandale, food was terrific. As good as Matteo’s which is a 1/4 mile away and the prices are lower. This restaurant is run by Julio who use to open Matteo’s new sites. He runs a great restaurant. I also love the one in Weston.
terrific food, i also love matteos, two really good ones.
Big tossup here between Matteo’s and Acquolina in Hallandale. I like them both. Menus are similar. Can’t go wrong with either one.
Last night my party of 5 ate at Acquolina’s in Hallandale. I have also eaten in the one in Weston.
Jeff, I know that you like both Acquolina’s and also like Matteo’s. I am sure that you know that Julio who is one of Acquolina’s owners use to work for Matteo’s. That’s why the menu is almost identical to Matteo’s.
I have also eaten in Matteo’s at least 20 times, both in Hallandale and Boca.
I have friends who rave about Acquolina’s and say that Matteo’s isn’t as good.
Let me tell you, that Acquolina’s is no match for Matteo’s.
Last night, every dish that we had compared to Matteo’s was a poor imitation.
I know that imitation is the ultimate compliment. Well Acquolina’s is just a imitator of Matteo’s.
IS:
Matteo’s is far superior to Acquolina’s.
I have eaten in Matteo’s Hallandale and Acquolina’s Hallandle. A–is like an old ladies home while M is a hip crowd. On the food side, Matteo’s has great food while A cquolina’s food is fair. There is no match service wise, M I much better.
For those who think that A is better or at the least equal to M, you really don’t know what good food and srvice is all about.
I have eaten in Acquolina’s and Matteo’s numerous times. I have friends who think that one is better than the other.
There is no question that Acquolina’s menu is a copy of Matteo’s.
As for the food, Matteo’s on the whole is much better. I think that Matteo’s uses better quality food.
As for price, Acquolina’s is usually cheaper for the same dish. However, I have noticed that the portions aren’t as big as Matteo’s.
If I had to pick one over the other, Matteo’s in Hallandale is better than Acquolina’s in Hallandale.
julio is out.
this draws an old crowd.
try luca bella.
Jeff I just heard Julio will be opening another restaurant in Boca Raton where old Matteos used to be, also heard he will open in November. I think its worth checking it out, I’ve followed Julio for a long time and love his food. I dont know the name yet but as soon as I find out I will let you know!