Ciao Italia Ristorante
The Best Pasta in Orlando
Handmade fresh pasta served every evening from a kitchen that has been doing it the same way since 1991.
Why Orlando Locals Keep Coming Back for This Pasta
There are plenty of Italian restaurants near the Orlando attractions. But if you ask the locals where to find the best pasta in Orlando, the answer is usually the same: Ciao Italia Ristorante on Westwood Blvd. This family-owned spot has been serving handmade fresh pasta since 1991, and the recipes have not changed because they did not need to.
The kitchen at Ciao Italia takes pasta seriously. Sauces simmer for hours. Ingredients are sourced carefully. The result is a plate of pasta that tastes like it was made in someone's grandmother's kitchen in southern Italy, because in many ways, it was. The recipes came from the family's roots in Italy, and they still guide everything the kitchen does today.
Handmade Pasta Worth Driving For
Whether you are staying near SeaWorld, visiting the Convention Center, or coming from the other side of Orlando, Ciao Italia's pasta is worth the trip. The pappardelle al cinghiale, a wide ribbon pasta with slow-braised wild boar ragu, is one of those dishes that guests talk about for weeks afterward. The fettuccine Alfredo is made to order, creamy and rich without being heavy. The linguine with fresh clam sauce is simple and perfectly balanced.
What makes it different from the tourist-facing chains along International Drive? Every dish is made fresh. No shortcuts, no pre-made sauces from a bag. The kitchen runs the same way it did in 1991, and the consistency shows in the more than 3,000 guest reviews that back it up.
A Pasta Menu That Covers Every Craving
Ciao Italia offers a wide range of pasta dishes. If you want something hearty, the rigatoni Bolognese delivers. For seafood lovers, the linguine alle vongole or the pasta with shrimp and garlic are standout choices. Lighter appetites can go for spaghetti pomodoro, where the quality of the tomato sauce speaks for itself.
Portions are generous. That is something reviewers mention over and over. You will not leave hungry, and you will probably be taking something home. The prices are fair for the quality you get, especially compared to the resort-area restaurants just down the road.
The Setting Matches the Food
Ciao Italia feels like walking into an Italian family's dining room. The atmosphere is warm, the service is attentive but not rushed, and the whole place has a comfortable, lived-in quality that comes from more than three decades in the same location. There is free self-parking, no valet hassle, and the restaurant is open seven days a week from 5 PM to 10 PM.
If you are visiting Orlando and want a real Italian meal instead of a chain restaurant experience, or if you are a local who has somehow not tried it yet, Ciao Italia's pasta belongs on your list. Over 35 years of doing it right speaks louder than any advertisement.
