The New Park Deserves a Legendary Dinner
Universal's Stella Nova Resort opened in 2025 alongside Epic Universe, and the excitement around the new park is unlike anything Orlando has seen in decades. Everything is brand new: the attractions, the hotels, the dining. But brand new does not mean tried and tested. While Stella Nova's restaurants are still building their reputations, Ciao Italia Ristorante has had 35 years to build theirs.
The Navarra family opened Ciao Italia in 1991 and has been serving authentic Italian food ever since. Handmade pasta, fresh seafood, veal, lamb, and chicken prepared with the care and precision that only comes from decades of practice. Over 3,000 reviews, 9 awards, and a Zagat rating are the proof.
You Found the Best Dinner Spot Before Everyone Else
Millions of visitors will flood Epic Universe in its opening year. Most of them will eat at whatever is closest to the park gates. You will be the one who found the award-winning Italian restaurant ten minutes down the road, the one that has been quietly serving some of the best food in Orlando since before most of these visitors were born.
The kids menu is $13 and includes gelato. The adults get handmade pasta, fresh seafood, and a wine list curated over three decades. Free parking, no theme park prices, and the warmth of a family restaurant that treats every guest like they are coming home for dinner.
A Quick Drive from Stella Nova
Ciao Italia is at 6149 Westwood Blvd, about 10 minutes from Universal's Stella Nova Resort. The drive is straightforward, parking is free, and you will be seated quickly. After the excitement of a brand-new theme park, Ciao Italia is the perfect place to decompress over a great meal.
