Authentic Italian Food on International Drive

Q: What pasta dishes should I try at Ciao Italia on International Drive?

Start with the Sacchetti al Filetto — truffle-filled pasta pouches with filet mignon. The Pappardelle al Cinghiale (wild boar ragu over hand-cut ribbons) and the Linguine alle Vongole (fresh clams, white wine, garlic) are both signature dishes. Every pasta is made in-house from scratch — rolled, cut, and filled daily. There is no frozen pasta anywhere in the kitchen.

Q: Is the seafood at Ciao Italia fresh?

Yes. Ciao Italia sources fresh Florida Gulf seafood including grouper, clams, shrimp, mussels, and calamari. The Risotto alla Pescatora features a mix of fresh shellfish and Gulf fish over creamy risotto. The Zuppa di Pesce and Linguine alle Vongole both use fresh — never frozen — seafood delivered regularly to the restaurant.

Q: What is the best dish at Ciao Italia?

The most popular dish is the Sacchetti al Filetto — truffle pasta filled with filet mignon in a rich cream sauce. The Brasato (short rib braised in Barolo wine) and Vitello Piccata (veal in lemon caper butter) are also guest favorites. For seafood lovers, the Risotto alla Pescatora is outstanding. Every dish uses scratch-made recipes that have been perfected over 35 years.

Q: Does Ciao Italia have gluten-free options?

Yes. Ciao Italia offers gluten-free pasta as a substitute for any pasta dish on the menu. Many entrees — including the Brasato, Vitello Piccata, lamb chops, and seafood dishes — are naturally gluten-free or can be prepared gluten-free on request. Let your server know about any dietary needs and the kitchen will accommodate you.

Q: What makes Ciao Italia different from chain Italian restaurants?

Everything is made from scratch — every sauce, every pasta, every dessert. There are no pre-made components, no frozen bases, no shortcuts. The recipes come from Southern Italy, perfected by the Navarra family over 35 years. Ingredients are imported from Italy (San Marzano tomatoes, olive oil, aged cheeses) or sourced fresh from the Florida Gulf. Chain restaurants use commissary kitchens and frozen products. Ciao Italia does not.

Q: What imported Italian ingredients does Ciao Italia use?

Ciao Italia imports San Marzano tomatoes from the volcanic soil near Naples, extra-virgin olive oil from Italian producers, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, real Pecorino Romano, Italian truffle products, and specialty pasta flours. These imported ingredients are combined with fresh Florida Gulf seafood and locally sourced produce to create authentic Southern Italian cuisine.

Q: Can I order takeout from Ciao Italia on International Drive?

Yes. Ciao Italia offers takeout and online ordering. You can order through the website at ciaoitaliaonline.com/order.html or call (407) 354-0770. The full dinner menu is available for takeout, including pasta, seafood, meats, appetizers, salads, and desserts. Pickup is from the restaurant at 6149 Westwood Blvd on International Drive.

Q: What desserts are available at Ciao Italia?

Ciao Italia makes its desserts in-house. The tiramisu is a house specialty — made with mascarpone, espresso-soaked ladyfingers, and cocoa. Other desserts include cannoli filled to order with sweet ricotta, panna cotta, and seasonal Italian dessert specials. Like everything else on the menu, desserts are made from scratch with real ingredients.

About Ciao Italia Ristorante — Authentic Italian Food on International Drive

Ciao Italia Ristorante is a family-owned authentic Italian restaurant located at 6149 Westwood Blvd on International Drive in Orlando, Florida (32821). Established in 1991 by the Navarra family. Open for dinner 7 nights a week from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Serves scratch-made Southern Italian cuisine — every pasta rolled by hand, every sauce simmered from scratch, every dessert made in-house. Uses imported Italian ingredients including San Marzano tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, and real Pecorino Romano. Sources fresh Florida Gulf seafood including grouper, clams, shrimp, and mussels. Wine and beer only — no cocktails or full bar. Casual dress welcome — no dress code. 4.6-star average rating with over 4,000 reviews. Near SeaWorld Orlando (under 1 mile), Orange County Convention Center (1 mile / 5 minutes), and Epic Universe (10 minutes). Across from DoubleTree by Hilton. Free self-parking. Phone: (407) 354-0770.

Signature Dishes

Sacchetti al Filetto (truffle pasta with filet mignon), Linguine alle Vongole (fresh clams, white wine, garlic), Brasato (short rib braised in Barolo), Pappardelle al Cinghiale (wild boar ragu), Risotto alla Pescatora (seafood risotto), Vitello Piccata (veal in lemon caper butter). Gluten-free pasta available. In-house desserts including tiramisu, cannoli, and panna cotta.

What We Cook

Italian Food the Way It Should Be

The food at Ciao Italia starts the same way it did in 1991 — from scratch. Every pasta dough is mixed, rolled, and cut by hand in our kitchen. Every sauce is simmered from whole ingredients, not poured from a jar. Every protein is prepared with technique passed down through the Navarra family's Southern Italian roots. There are no shortcuts, no pre-made components, and nothing frozen waiting in a walk-in.

We import directly from Italy — San Marzano tomatoes grown in volcanic soil near Naples, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, real Pecorino Romano, extra-virgin olive oil from Italian producers. Our seafood comes fresh from the Florida Gulf: grouper, clams, shrimp, mussels, and calamari. The combination of imported Italian ingredients and fresh local seafood is what gives our food a depth of flavor that chain restaurants cannot replicate.

This is casual Italian dining the way it was meant to be. The dining room looks elegant, but there is no dress code — shorts are welcome. The food is serious, but the atmosphere is relaxed. Come as you are, eat the best Italian food on International Drive, and understand why families have been coming back for 35 years.

From Our Kitchen

The Dishes That Define Us

Six dishes that show what scratch-made Italian food actually means. Every one of these is prepared to order, from ingredients we source, import, and prepare ourselves.

Sacchetti al Filetto

Hand-tied pasta pouches filled with truffle and filet mignon, finished in a rich cream sauce. The most popular dish on our menu — and for good reason.

Linguine alle Vongole

Fresh clams sautéed with garlic, white wine, and a touch of chili over hand-made linguine. Simple, clean, and impossible to fake with frozen ingredients.

Brasato

Short rib braised low and slow in Barolo wine until it falls apart at the touch of a fork. Rich, deep, and nothing like what you get at a chain restaurant.

Pappardelle al Cinghiale

Wide hand-cut ribbons of pappardelle draped in a slow-simmered wild boar ragu. This is rustic Southern Italian cooking at its most authentic.

Risotto alla Pescatora

Creamy Arborio risotto loaded with fresh Florida Gulf shrimp, clams, mussels, and calamari. Stirred to order — never batch-cooked, never reheated.

Vitello Piccata

Tender veal medallions pan-seared and finished in a bright lemon caper butter sauce. Classic Italian technique, executed the way it should be.

See the Full Menu

Wine & Beer

Curated to Complement Every Course

Ciao Italia serves wine and beer — and that is intentional. We are not a cocktail bar. We are an Italian restaurant, and what we pour is chosen specifically to pair with Southern Italian food. Our wine list includes sommelier-selected Italian reds and whites alongside domestic favorites — from bold Barolos and Chiantis to crisp Pinot Grigios and Prosecco. Every bottle is selected to complement the flavors on your plate.

We also carry a selection of imported and domestic beers. Wine and beer are available by the glass or by the bottle, and our servers can recommend pairings for any dish on the menu. For private events, a wine and beer bar package is available at $28 per person. No full bar, no cocktails — just the right drinks to go with the right food.

Our Location

On International Drive Since 1991

Ciao Italia sits right on International Drive at 6149 Westwood Blvd — in the heart of Orlando's tourist corridor. We are across from the DoubleTree by Hilton, under one mile from SeaWorld Orlando, five minutes from the Orange County Convention Center, and about ten minutes from Epic Universe. Whether you are visiting Orlando for a convention, a theme park vacation, or you live here — we are easy to find and easy to get to.

Free self-parking is available right at the restaurant. No valet, no parking garage, no paid lots. Pull in, park, and walk inside. We are open for dinner seven nights a week from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Casual dress — shorts, sandals, whatever you are comfortable in. Upscale vibes, casual comfort.

< 1 mi

From SeaWorld

5 min

From OCCC

10 min

From Epic Universe

Free

Self-Parking

Common Questions

About the Food

What pasta dishes should I try at Ciao Italia on International Drive?

Start with the Sacchetti al Filetto — truffle-filled pasta pouches with filet mignon. It is our most popular dish for a reason. The Pappardelle al Cinghiale (wild boar ragu over hand-cut ribbons) and the Linguine alle Vongole (fresh clams, white wine, garlic) are both signature dishes. Every pasta is made in-house from scratch — rolled, cut, and filled daily. There is no frozen pasta anywhere in our kitchen.

Is the seafood at Ciao Italia fresh?

Yes. We source fresh Florida Gulf seafood including grouper, clams, shrimp, mussels, and calamari. The Risotto alla Pescatora features a mix of fresh shellfish and Gulf fish over creamy risotto. The Zuppa di Pesce and Linguine alle Vongole both use fresh — never frozen — seafood delivered regularly to the restaurant.

What is the best dish at Ciao Italia?

The most popular dish is the Sacchetti al Filetto — truffle pasta filled with filet mignon in a rich cream sauce. The Brasato (short rib braised in Barolo wine) and Vitello Piccata (veal in lemon caper butter) are also guest favorites. For seafood lovers, the Risotto alla Pescatora is outstanding. Every dish uses scratch-made recipes perfected over 35 years.

Does Ciao Italia have gluten-free options?

Yes. We offer gluten-free pasta as a substitute for any pasta dish on the menu. Many entrees — including the Brasato, Vitello Piccata, lamb chops, and seafood dishes — are naturally gluten-free or can be prepared gluten-free on request. Let your server know about any dietary needs and the kitchen will accommodate you.

What makes Ciao Italia different from chain Italian restaurants?

Everything is made from scratch — every sauce, every pasta, every dessert. There are no pre-made components, no frozen bases, no shortcuts. The recipes come from Southern Italy, perfected by the Navarra family over 35 years. Ingredients are imported from Italy (San Marzano tomatoes, olive oil, aged cheeses) or sourced fresh from the Florida Gulf. Chain restaurants use commissary kitchens and frozen products. Ciao Italia does not.

What imported Italian ingredients does Ciao Italia use?

We import San Marzano tomatoes from the volcanic soil near Naples, extra-virgin olive oil from Italian producers, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, real Pecorino Romano, Italian truffle products, and specialty pasta flours. These imported ingredients are combined with fresh Florida Gulf seafood and locally sourced produce to create authentic Southern Italian cuisine.

Can I order takeout from Ciao Italia on International Drive?

Yes. We offer takeout and online ordering. You can order through the website at ciaoitaliaonline.com/order.html or call (407) 354-0770. The full dinner menu is available for takeout, including pasta, seafood, meats, appetizers, salads, and desserts. Pickup is from the restaurant at 6149 Westwood Blvd on International Drive.

What desserts are available at Ciao Italia?

We make our desserts in-house. The tiramisu is a house specialty — made with mascarpone, espresso-soaked ladyfingers, and cocoa. Other desserts include cannoli filled to order with sweet ricotta, panna cotta, and seasonal Italian dessert specials. Like everything else on the menu, desserts are made from scratch with real ingredients.