Best Italian Restaurant Near Sand Lake Road

Why Ciao Italia Is the Best Italian Near Sand Lake Road

Sand Lake Road has no shortage of restaurants. It is one of the busiest dining corridors in Central Florida, packed with chains, steakhouses, and fast-casual concepts. But the best Italian food near Sand Lake Road is not on the road itself. It is one block south, on Westwood Boulevard, at a family restaurant that has been here since 1991.

Ciao Italia Ristorante has been serving the same neighborhood for over 35 years. While chain restaurants along Restaurant Row rotate through ownership changes and menu overhauls, the Navarra family has kept things consistent. The pasta is made fresh daily. The sauces are slow-cooked from scratch. The bread is baked every evening before service. That level of consistency is what separates a neighborhood institution from a corporate concept.

What Makes This Restaurant Stand Out

Ciao Italia has earned 4,000+ reviews and 9 awards by focusing on what matters: quality ingredients, traditional preparation, and personal service. The sauteed calamari is prepared in olive oil with garlic, not battered and deep-fried. The veal comes in multiple preparations, from marsala to piccata to parmigiana. The Risotto alla Pescatora is loaded with clams, mussels, shrimp, and calamari in a saffron broth.

The dining room is warm and comfortable without being pretentious. You can bring your family, celebrate a birthday in the private dining room, or enjoy a quiet dinner for two. Kids eat for $13 with gelato included. The wine and beer list is curated to complement the Italian menu. Open nightly from 5 to 10 PM, seven days a week.

Sand Lake Road and the Restaurant Row Dining Scene

Sand Lake Road, often called Restaurant Row, runs through the Dr. Phillips neighborhood of Orlando and connects to International Drive. It is home to dozens of restaurants representing cuisines from around the world, from Brazilian steakhouses to Japanese izakayas. The corridor attracts tourists from nearby hotels and theme parks as well as locals from the surrounding communities.

Ciao Italia sits just south of this corridor on Westwood Boulevard. The location means you are close to everything on Restaurant Row but away from the strip mall congestion. Free parking, no valet fees, and a quiet street. The restaurant is also 3 minutes from SeaWorld, 4 minutes from Aquatica, and 5 minutes from the Orange County Convention Center.

With over 35 years in business, Ciao Italia has outlasted most of the restaurants that have come and gone along Sand Lake Road. The Navarra family's commitment to fresh, made-from-scratch Italian cooking is the reason locals keep coming back and visitors make return trips year after year.

Directions from Sand Lake Road to Ciao Italia

From Sand Lake Road (Restaurant Row), head south on International Drive or Westwood Boulevard toward SeaWorld. Ciao Italia is at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821. The drive takes about 5 minutes. Free self-parking is available in the restaurant's private lot.

More About Italian Dining Near Sand Lake Road

About Dining Near Italian Restaurant Sand Lake Road

When you are visiting Italian Restaurant Sand Lake Road in Orlando, finding a genuine Italian dinner can feel impossible among the chains and tourist traps. Ciao Italia Ristorante has been the answer since 1991 — a family-owned Italian restaurant on Westwood Boulevard where everything is made from scratch.

The Navarra family runs the kitchen personally. Handmade pasta, fresh sauces, bread baked daily, and housemade desserts. The menu includes classics like lasagna and chicken parmigiana alongside refined dishes like pappardelle with wild boar ragu and risotto alla pescatora.

With 4,000+ reviews, 9 awards, and over 35 years of service, Ciao Italia is one of the most trusted Italian restaurants in the Orlando area. Italian wine and beer are available with dinner. Kids eat for $13 with gelato. Free parking. Walk-ins welcome nightly 5 to 10 PM.

How to Get to Ciao Italia from Italian Restaurant Sand Lake Road

Ciao Italia is about 5 minutes from Italian Restaurant Sand Lake Road. Head toward International Drive and continue to Westwood Boulevard. The restaurant is at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821, with free parking right in front. Open nightly 5 to 10 PM.

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