Ciao Italia Ristorante
The Best Risotto in Orlando
Slow-stirred Arborio rice, fresh seafood, and a recipe that has been a guest favorite for over 35 years.
Orlando's Most Talked-About Risotto
If you have spent any time reading restaurant reviews in Orlando, you have probably seen it mentioned: the risotto pescatore at Ciao Italia Ristorante. It is one of those dishes that people go out of their way to recommend. Guests who visited years ago still talk about it. OpenTable reviewers call it the best risotto in Orlando, and after tasting it, most people understand why.
Risotto is one of those dishes that separates a real Italian kitchen from one that is just going through the motions. You cannot rush it. The rice has to be stirred slowly, the broth added gradually, and the timing has to be right. At Ciao Italia, the kitchen has been making risotto the same way since 1991, and that experience shows in every plate.
What Makes the Risotto Pescatore Special
The risotto pescatore at Ciao Italia is loaded with fresh seafood: shrimp, mussels, clams, and calamari, all folded into creamy Arborio rice that has been cooked with white wine and a rich seafood broth. Every portion is made to order, which means it takes a little longer to arrive at your table, but the wait is part of what makes it worth it.
This is not the kind of risotto that comes from a pre-made batch. The kitchen starts from scratch every time, which is why the texture is always right: creamy without being gummy, rich without being heavy. The seafood is fresh, not frozen, and the flavors are clean and balanced.
More Than Just Risotto
While the risotto pescatore gets most of the attention, the rest of the menu at Ciao Italia is just as strong. The pappardelle with wild boar ragu is a standout for pasta lovers. The veal piccata has its own loyal following. And the tiramisu is the kind of dessert that makes you reconsider skipping the last course.
Ciao Italia is a family-owned restaurant that has been on Westwood Blvd for more than 35 years, just minutes from SeaWorld and the Convention Center. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the service is attentive, and the portions are generous. It is the kind of place where you walk in as a tourist and leave feeling like a regular.
A Risotto Worth Seeking Out
Orlando has no shortage of Italian restaurants, but very few of them make risotto the way it is supposed to be made. Ciao Italia does, and they have been doing it long enough that the recipe is essentially perfected. With free self-parking, a location that is easy to find, and a menu that has something for everyone, it is one of the most reliable dinner spots in the Orlando area.
If you have never tried a properly made Italian risotto, or if you have been disappointed by versions at other restaurants, Ciao Italia is the place to go. The risotto pescatore alone is worth the visit, but you will find plenty of reasons to come back.
