Best Appetizers Near International Drive

Start Your Meal the Right Way

A great Italian meal starts before the entree arrives. The appetizers set the tone, and at Ciao Italia Ristorante, the tone is set high. Located 2 minutes from International Drive on Westwood Blvd, Ciao Italia offers a selection of Italian starters that are all made fresh in the kitchen, not pulled from a freezer.

The bruschetta is built on toasted bread rubbed with garlic and topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. The burrata is creamy, rich, and served with house-made pesto that brings out the sweetness of the cheese. The calamari is sautéed until tender and golden, with a delicate seasoning that lets the natural flavor come through. And the meatballs, made from the Navarra family recipe, are slow-simmered in house marinara and served as a starter that many guests say could be a meal on its own.

Every Appetizer Made from Scratch

The lobster bisque at Ciao Italia is smooth, rich, and made from scratch each day. It is the kind of soup that gets better with every spoonful. For guests who prefer something lighter, the insalata caprese with fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and basil is a clean, simple starter that lets the quality of the ingredients speak for itself.

What sets the appetizers at Ciao Italia apart from the chains along International Drive is that nothing comes from a box. The calamari is cut fresh and sautéed to order. The bruschetta tomatoes are chopped that afternoon. The burrata is real, creamy Italian cheese, not a processed substitute. These are small details, but they are the kind of details that turn a good meal into a memorable one.

2 Minutes from I-Drive, a World Away from Chains

Ciao Italia sits at 6149 Westwood Blvd, just a few 2 minutes from the International Drive corridor. The restaurant has been family-owned since 1991, and the appetizer menu reflects the same care and consistency that has earned over 3,000 guest reviews and nine culinary awards. Free self-parking, a warm dining room, and the kind of hospitality that makes you feel welcome from the moment you walk in.

Whether you are starting with bruschetta before a risotto, splitting calamari with your family before the pasta arrives, or making a meal out of three or four starters, the appetizers at Ciao Italia are the best you will find near International Drive.

About Dining Near I-Drive

If you have spent any time on International Drive, you know how it works. Bright signs, loud music, and restaurants that look better from the outside than they taste on the inside. The tourist corridor is designed to keep you spending, not to give you a memorable meal.

That is why the best dining near I-Drive is not actually on I-Drive. Ciao Italia Ristorante is tucked on Westwood Boulevard, 2 minutes from the main strip, in a quiet plaza where the Navarra family has been serving authentic Italian cuisine since 1991.

Everything at Ciao Italia is made fresh daily. The pasta is rolled by hand. The sauces simmer for hours. The tiramisu is made in-house. With over 4,000 reviews and 9 awards, it is one of the most consistently praised restaurants in the Orlando area.

Visitors staying at I-Drive hotels, attending conventions at the OCCC, or spending the day at nearby theme parks all converge here for the same reason: it is the real thing. Free parking, open nightly, and no tourist-trap pricing.

How to Get to Ciao Italia from I-Drive

Getting to Ciao Italia from International Drive could not be simpler. The restaurant sits on Westwood Boulevard, one block off the main I-Drive corridor. Whether you are coming from the north end near ICON Park or the south end near the outlets, you are looking at a 2-minute drive. Free self-parking is available for all guests.

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