Trattoria Romana
Four Hundred Labels Deep, Old World Soul
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 1, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Four hundred-plus labels at a Boca Raton red-sauce institution is not what most people expect when they walk through the door. The list skews heavily Italian — Brunello, Barolo, Amarone, Super Tuscans — and it means business. This is a serious cellar wearing a casual dining shirt.
Selection Deep Dive
The Italian backbone here is genuinely impressive: Sassicaia and Tignanello anchor the Super Tuscan section, Brunello di Montalcino and Barolo give the list real Old World credibility, and Amarone rounds it out for those who want something rich and brooding. There's domestic coverage too, though Italy is clearly where the heart is. Gaps show up when you look for under-the-radar producers or anything from emerging regions — this list celebrates the classics, not the adventurous. It's a hits album, not a deep cut playlist, but the hits are genuinely good ones.
By the Glass
With somewhere in the 15-to-25-glass range, the pour options are above average for a South Florida Italian spot. We'd like to see more rotation and a clearer focus on value pours, but the breadth means you're not stuck choosing between two forgettable house wines. The by-the-glass program earns its keep even if it doesn't push any boundaries.
Amarone della Valpolicella — null
Amarone at an Italian restaurant with a serious cellar is almost always a better deal than ordering it at a modern American spot with no context for it. Here, where the kitchen actually understands big, rich Italian reds, you're getting the full experience the wine was built for — worth every dollar more than the equivalent spend on a domestic cult Cab.
Brunello di Montalcino
Most tables here gravitate toward the Super Tuscans because Sassicaia has name recognition. Brunello is the smarter order — more complexity, longer finish, and it belongs on this menu in a way that feels earned rather than trophy-ish. Most diners walk right past it.
Sassicaia
Sassicaia is a great wine, full stop. But at a restaurant operating in the $$$ tier in South Florida, the markup on a name this famous is going to hurt. You're paying for the label as much as the liquid. Spend those dollars on Brunello or Amarone and drink just as well for less ego.
Barolo + Veal Chop Romana
Barolo's firm tannins and tar-and-roses structure are built for exactly this kind of rich, savory Italian veal preparation. The wine cuts through the fat, the dish softens the wine's edges — it's the kind of match that makes you understand why these things evolved together in the same country.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Trattoria Romana is the rare South Florida Italian spot where the wine list actually matches the food's ambition. Markups run steep and there's no special programming to soften the blow, but if you're eating Veal Chop Romana, you should be drinking Barolo — and they've got it.
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