Best Pasta Near Sand Lake Road

Handmade Pasta That You Can Actually Taste

Most restaurants near Sand Lake Road use dried pasta from a box or pre-made pasta shipped from a distributor. There is nothing criminal about it, but there is a noticeable difference when you eat pasta that was made fresh that same day. The texture is different. The way it holds sauce is different. The flavor is different.

At Ciao Italia, the pasta is made by hand every day before dinner service. The Fettuccine is cut fresh for the Alfredo. The lasagna sheets are rolled for the Bolognese. The Pappardelle is hand-cut for the wild boar ragu. The Sacchetti is filled and shaped by hand. This is not a marketing claim. It is the way the Navarra family has run their kitchen since 1991.

The Pasta Menu at Ciao Italia

The pasta section of the menu covers a range of traditional Italian preparations. The Fettuccine Alfredo is made with real butter, cream, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. The Spaghetti con Polpette uses homemade meatballs with a slow-cooked meat sauce. The Lasagna Bolognese layers handmade pasta with beef ragu and mozzarella. The Spaghetti Pesto e Burrata combines fresh basil pesto with creamy Burrata and cherry tomatoes.

For more distinctive dishes, the Pappardelle al Cinghiale features wild boar ragu with porcini mushrooms and pecorino. The Tortellini con Brasato is filled pasta with braised beef and truffle cream sauce. The Ravioli di Pesce is stuffed with seafood in a light tomato cream. And the Risotto alla Pescatora, while technically not a pasta, rounds out the carb offerings with arborio rice, clams, mussels, shrimp, and sauteed calamari.

Pasta on Restaurant Row: What's Available

Restaurant Row offers Italian pasta at several locations. Olive Garden, Carrabba's, and Brio are the main chain options along Sand Lake Road. Each serves pasta in a corporate Italian style, with menus designed for consistency across hundreds of locations. The pasta is typically dried or pre-made and the sauces are standardized.

Independent Italian restaurants in the Dr. Phillips and Sand Lake Road area are less common but do exist. Ciao Italia stands out because of its commitment to making everything from scratch. When the Navarra family says handmade pasta, they mean pasta that was made by hand that day in their kitchen on Westwood Boulevard.

The result is a dining experience that chain pasta cannot match. The Fettuccine has a texture that holds the Alfredo sauce differently. The Lasagna has layers that are distinct and tender. The Pappardelle has the rough edges that catch every bit of the wild boar ragu. It is Italian cooking the way it is supposed to be done.

How to Get to Ciao Italia from Sand Lake Road

From Sand Lake Road (Restaurant Row), drive south on Westwood Boulevard toward SeaWorld. Ciao Italia is at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821. About 5 minutes with free parking in the private lot.

More About Pasta Near Sand Lake Road

About Dining Near Pasta Sand Lake Road

When you are visiting Pasta 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 Pasta Sand Lake Road

Ciao Italia is about 5 minutes from Pasta 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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