Best Shrimp Scampi in Orlando

Shrimp Scampi That Gets the Garlic Right

A great shrimp scampi is deceptively simple. Garlic, butter, white wine, lemon, and shrimp. Five ingredients. But the difference between a forgettable version and one you will think about for days comes down to execution, and that is where Ciao Italia Ristorante excels. The jumbo shrimp are sauteed just until they curl and turn pink, never a second longer. The garlic is golden, not burnt. The butter and white wine create a sauce that is rich but not heavy, and a squeeze of lemon ties everything together.

The Navarra family has been making their shrimp scampi this way since 1991 at their restaurant on Westwood Blvd. It is served over linguine, and the pasta soaks up every bit of that garlic butter sauce. It is the kind of dish that makes you drag the last piece of bread through the plate to get every drop.

Simple Done Right

The beauty of shrimp scampi is its simplicity, but that also means there is nowhere to hide. If the shrimp is overcooked, you know. If the garlic is burnt, you taste it. If the sauce is too heavy, the dish falls flat. At Ciao Italia, the kitchen has been executing this dish consistently for over 35 years. The shrimp are always plump and tender, the garlic is always fragrant without bitterness, and the sauce has a clean, bright flavor that comes from quality white wine and real butter.

The linguine underneath is cooked al dente and absorbs the sauce beautifully. It is one of those plates where every bite is as good as the first, and the portion is generous enough that you leave satisfied without feeling weighed down.

A Seafood Menu Worth Exploring

If you love shrimp scampi, Ciao Italia's full seafood menu will keep you coming back. The risotto pescatore is the restaurant's signature dish, loaded with shrimp, mussels, clams, and calamari. The linguine alle vongole is a classic with fresh clams in garlic and white wine. The lobster ravioli is handmade with real lobster meat. And the fresh fish of the day is always prepared simply and beautifully.

Located 3 minutes from SeaWorld, 4 minutes from Aquatica, and 5 minutes from the Convention Center. Free self-parking, open seven nights a week from 5 PM to 10 PM. More than 4,000+ reviews and 9 awards over 35 years of serving Orlando.