Steve Martorano

Tim Petrillo of the Restaurant People Wants to See Edgier Restaurant Concepts

When it comes to downtown Fort Lauderdale restaurants, many have come and gone. If it wasn't lack of interest, it was the recession. If that didn't kill their business, changing trends did. Point being: it's a fickle business and you have to be on top of your game to stay relevant. In terms of the ... More >>

Steve Martorano Wants More Great Italian-American Places

A little over 20 years ago, Steve Martorano -- number seven on our Tastemaker countdown -- was on his way back up north. His dreams of opening a restaurant in Fort Lauderdale didn't work out and the cook (he doesn't like the word chef) was at the airport, waiting for a flight to Philadelphia. Then, ... More >>

Mo'Nique Dances the Night Away at Cafe Martorano

Academy Award winner Mo'Nique is quite the energizer bunny. After finishing two back-to-back shows at the Fort Lauderdale Improv last weekend, most people would just want to curl up in their hotel room and send for a burger. But the star of Precious, The Parkers, and The Mo'Nique Show has her sights ... More >>

Cafe Martorano Now Offers Blackjack Inside the Restaurant

Maybe you're thinking that Steve Martorano was afraid his meatballs weren't enough to pull the hungry gamblers from the blackjack tables. This is a ridiculous thing to think because (a) his meatballs are delicious and (b) Cuz ain't afraid of nothin'. Cafe Martorano is offering blackjack inside the ... More >>

Michael Phelps, DJ Steve Aoki, and Shaq Dine at Cafe Martorano

What do an Olympic athlete, a basketball legend, and a star DJ have in common? If you said meatballs, you win! Actually, it's not just any meatball. It's Steve Martorano's meatballs that have been attracting celebrities from the sports and music world this week.Earlier this week, Clean Plate Char ... More >>

Ryan Lochte Dines at Cafe Martorano, Parties at Shore Club (Pictures)

Olympian Ryan Lochte was in South Florida this past weekend to film scenes for his new E! reality show, What Would Ryan Lochte Do?Although the swimming sensation and 11-time medalist seemed to be less than happy with the weekend's cool breezes, Lochte managed to enjoy himself with a visit to one of ... More >>

Steve Martorano and Paula Deen:Tutti Mangiare, Y'all

It's absolutely no secret that my favorite Food Network celebrity is Paula Deen. Warm, funny, and homey -- I could look into her dancing blue eyes forever as she teaches me how to incorporate butter into almost everything under the sun. I love Deen's sincerity and infectious laugh.  I also have ... More >>

End of The World: Last Meal Suggestions From Clean Plate Charlie

It's still December 21, 2012, so the world might yet end today. You've only (possibly) got a few hours left. How would you like to spend them? Sure some people might give lame answers like spending time with their loved ones. Whatever. Everyone knows the only real pleasure in life is food. Even you ... More >>

Seminole Hard Rock Wine and Food Festival in Pictures

Poor President Barack Obama. Obama was stumping to would-be voters on one of his last campaign events before the Tuesday election at nearby McArthur High School when he could have been among the thousands of happy people enjoying a gorgeous Sunday afternoon at the Seminole Hard Rock Wine and Food Fe ... More >>

Dear President Obama: You're in Hollywood Sunday; Let's Do Lunch

Dear President Obama:With less than a week to go before the presidential election, I am so pleased that you've chosen Hollywood to be the location for one of your last public rallies before the big day.I love that you've picked one of our local high schools for the venue and I'm hoping you run with ... More >>

South Florida's Best Hotel Restaurants

Want access to our Best Of picks from your smartphone? Download our free Best Of app for the iPhone or Android phone from the App Store or Google Play. Don't forget to check out the full Best of Broward-Palm Beach® 2012 online. Hotel restaurants; they're the bane of any food lover's existence, no? ... More >>

Yom Kippur: Five Places to Break the Fast

Unlike some of our Judeo-Christian brethren who apologize for their wrongdoings throughout the year and flagellate themselves accordingly, we Jewish people condense all of that into one depressing day of fasting, prayer and spending time with extended family: Yom Kippur. The best part of this holi ... More >>

Cafe Martorano Reopens With Full-Liquor License

Nearly 20 years ago, Steve Martorano was on his way to the airport. After moving to Coral Springs to start fresh in Florida, he decided the palm trees and early bedtimes of Coral Springs just weren't for him. The plane taking him back to Philadelphia was already on the tarmac when he called a restau ... More >>

Meet Chef Steve Martorano Saturday in Fort Lauderdale

What's better than a plate of huge, tender meatballs? A side of hunky muscle?Here's your chance to meet the Steve Martorano, the man behind Fort Lauderdale's celebrity-frequented eatery, Cafe Martorano in Oakland Park. He also runs a Martorano's in Las Vegas and another here at the Seminole Hard Roc ... More >>

South Florida Dining Events This Weekend: Hang With Steve Martorano and More

It's the calm before the storm of season; a relatively quiet weekend in the South Florida dining scene. But if your appetite for entertainment won't be satiated by sitting home and watching the 2012 Olympics (Still with that?) there are a few reasons to head out the door. After the jump, find a list ... More >>

South Florida's Best Restaurant When Someone Else is Paying

The New Times' annual Best Of issue debuted this week and Clean Plate Charlie will continue to examine the best of the best in Broward and Palm Beach counties throughout the year. This week's list looks at some of the best places to steer the evening should someone else offer to pick up the check. T ... More >>

89. Meatballs from Cafe Martorano

We're counting down to New Times' Best Of Broward/Palm Beach 2012 issue in June by serving up our top 100 favorite dishes. Click here for a full archive. If you have any nominations of your own, please add them to the comments or visit our Facebook page.​89. Meatballs ... More >>

Boca Raton Versus Fort Lauderdale: Pick Your Favorite Dining Scene

​Clean Plate Charlie is pitting our eight best dining areas against each other in a March Madness-style bracket. Later this month, we'll crown a winner -- an undisputed champion city that can boast to have the best food scene in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Below, read up on No. 4 seeded Weste ... More >>

Broward/Palm Beach County Noteworthy Chefs of 2011

chef Angelo Elia of Casa 'd Angelo​Being a chef has never been a glamorous job as anyone who's made it her life work will tell you. The rise of cooking shows and the fetishizing of food has ushered the profession in the limelight. As restaurants garner attention, it's natural to become more aware ... More >>

Martorano's Masters Meatball Eating Championship: One Meaty Challenge

Yo! Steve Martorano is hosting a meatball eating competition.​If you've always wanted to see grown men and women scarf down copious amounts of meat for a cash prize,  then the Martorano's Masters Meatball Eating championship at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is your opportunity to ... More >>

Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival, Beer Events, and Other Food & Drink Happenings This Week in South Florida

Drink up: Both PBC World of Beer locations are hosting special events this week. ​In some ways, this is a relatively quiet week in terms of events, but with a few big names on the bill -- the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival and Steve Martorano's battle of the meatball, to name a few -- there' ... More >>

Steve Martorano's Meatball Secrets (Video)

Laine DossYo! Steve Martorano and his chef, Big Country, make meatballs​Yo! Listen up! Cousin Steve Martorano's got something important to teach you - how to make the best meatball ever!In this video, taken at the Seminole Hard Rock Wine and Food Festival, Steve shares his secrets for making the b ... More >>

Seminole Hard Rock Wine and Food Festival In Pictures

All photos by Laine DossAs the sun peeked through the clouds, thousands enjoyed food and wine at the first Hard Rock Wine and Food Festival​Thousands of people flocked to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's inaugural Wine and Food Festival yesterday. As the sun broke free from late morning c ... More >>

Seminole Hard Rock Wine and Food Festival Features More Than 300 Wines

Yo! Steve Martorano's gonna make you a meatball at the Seminole Hard Rock this weekend!​This Sunday, we all gain an hour of sleep when daylight-saving time ends and we set our clocks back one hour. Which means, technically, we can start drinking at the Seminole Hard Rock Wine and Food Festival ear ... More >>

Yo Cuz! Steve Martorano on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Steve Martorano makes Philly cheese steak and wins our heart.​I have a new food-related crush. It could be because he reminds me of my first boyfriend, Eddy Marsala (that's his real name, I swear), who worked in the pizzeria close to the 7 Train in Queens. It could be because he talks like everyon ... More >>

Martorano Launches Video Cooking Series

​Cook, restaurateur, cookbook author, businessman, buddy to the stars. . . now Steve Martorano has one more title to add to his resume: cooking teacher.  In a series of nine videos entitled Yo Cuz: The Italian-American Cook, Martorano mixes a bit of Oprah-esque self-esteem building with his p ... More >>

'Yo Cuz!' Steve Martorano Stars in Web TV Cooking Show

Steve Martorano cooks on new 'Yo Cuz' web show​Steve Martorano, the larger-than-life Italian restaurateur from South Philly, is starring on a computer near you. Starting July 20, nine webisodes of his cooking show, "Yo, Cuz: The Italian-American Cook" is on his web site, cafemartorano.com.Martoran ... More >>

Top Five Restaurants Even Randy Moss Wouldn't Snub

​Yesterday it was revealed that Randy Moss' exclusionary attitude wasn't the only reason he was cut from the Minnesota Vikings just four weeks after being traded there. Apparently, his finely developed sense of taste was to blame as well.During a team meeting Friday, Moss blew up on play ... More >>

Restaurant Revival: This Past Year Has Seen Several New Dining Gems

Steve Martorano Sues Copycat Restaurant in Rhode Island for Stealing Theme

Martorano, working the turntables at his Oakland Park location, has sued to protect the concept he created 30 years ago.​If you've been to Café Martorano, you know there's no restaurant like it. The white walls, the huge bar in the center, the booming music, the videos of old gangster movies -- n ... More >>

Cafe Martorano Claims To Have a Copycat in Rhode Island

C. Stiles​Tan and muscular Steve Martorano, owner of Cafe Martorano in Fort Lauderdale, is claiming someone stole his restaurant's idea. As The Juice reported yesterday, Martorano filed a lawsuit against Cafe Longo in Rhode Island for "unfairly copying Cafe Martorano's concept."That concept? White ... More >>

Doggie Bag: This Week in Charlie

Steve Martorano makes fresh mozzarella in his new Hard Rock digs.​The new World of Beer in Coconut Creek has made quite a splash since opening. Check out our inside look into the place, and read about how its lack of a proper kitchen is making a big impact on Promenade businesses. Cheap lunch is j ... More >>

Steve Martorano's Italian Kitchen at the Seminole Hard Rock: Believe the Hype

Order Up: Martorano's Italian-American Kitchen

​This week in Dish, we take a look at the maestro of meatballs that is Steve Martorano and his latest restaurant in Seminole Paradise at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. This third incarnation of his restaurant is bigger and glitzier than the original Cafe Martorano on Oakland Park. But the party ... More >>

Food Events on the Radar

​• The old phrase, "Take me out to the ball game" is going to have to be changed to "Take me out of the ball game" after Sunday's Marlins vs. Mets game. That's the Marlins are offering discounted "All You Can Eat Seats" for the throw down. This Club Level section of seats will offer fans complet ... More >>

SoLita on Las Olas Merges Clubland With Italian-American Cheese

Doggie Bag: This Week in Charlie

C. StilesA pint of Grizzly Red from Big Bear Brewing Co. in Coral Springs.​This week on the blog:Danish meatballs with a rock and roll heritage in this week's The Meatist.Two longtime SoFla restaurants Las Olas Cafe and L'Anjou close shop.Our 100 Favorite Dishes continue with an unconventional ups ... More >>

First Temptation at the New Martorano's in Seminole Hard Rock

You don't mind if Frank and Dean watch you eat, right?​"Hey, no photos taken inside the restaurant, okay?" we were told as we sat down in a cushiony white booth to dine at the new Martorano's in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. It seems someone near the entrance must've ratted me out onc ... More >>

Martorano's Kitchen to Make Seminole Hard Rock Debut

​Steve Martorano may have had humble beginnings running a one-man sandwich delivery business out of the basement of his mother's South Philly home, but there's nothing humble about his newest restaurant venture, set to debut later this month in the gaudy Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.  ... More >>

Updated: Gloria Estefan to Open Bongos Cuban Cafe in Seminole Hard Rock Casino

​Well, the fate of the old Jazziz space in Seminole Paradise Hollywood has finally been determined: (Correction: Bongos will debut in a new space across from Paradise Live/Opium.)Update: Word on the street is that Fort Lauderdale bad boy Steve Martorano will be the one to move into the Jazziz Spac ... More >>

Thank God It's Over, but 2009 Does End With the Promise of Better Things to Come

Joey Chestnut Chokes Down Victory at Martorano Meatball Championship

Martorano: The man has balls.​It was a balls-to-balls battle, with Joey "Jaws" Chestnut squeezing out a victory over Pat "Deep Dish" Berletti at Sunday night's Masters Meatball Eating Championship in Las Vegas. The competitive-eating marathon was sanctioned by Major League Eating and hosted by Bro ... More >>

Making a Hard Guy Soft at Café Martorano

Photos by C. StilesIt's crazy that I've eaten my way through Fort Lauderdale on dates for nearly a half decade and never tried Café Martorano. That is, until a few weeks ago. But hey -- it's not easy to sucker many guys into shelling out a few pretty pennies for a meal far away from the Atlantic Av ... More >>

Café Martorano, Broward's Most Successful Restaurant, Goes Global

Cafe Martorano Media Blitz

Ft. Lauderdale's Cafe Martorano and its owner Steve Martorano exert the media-industry equivalent of gravitational pull. He and his restaurant attract attention. Da guy's a star yaknowwhadamean? He's got his landmark South Florida headquarters, a joint in Vegas, national tv spots cookin meatballs, ... More >>

Big Cheese

Say what you will about Café Martorano. It's all ours.

Best Restaurant When Someone Else Is Paying

Café Martorano

Great Food, Major Attitude

Hey you, famous person! You'll have to wait in line with the rest of us to get into Café Martorano