4,000+ Reviews Since 1991
Discovery Cove Food Review
The park food is what it is. The real dinner is 5 minutes away at Ciao Italia.
The park food is what it is. The real dinner is 5 minutes away at Ciao Italia.
When the Navarra family opened Ciao Italia on International Drive in 1991, Orlando looked nothing like it does today. But the mission was simple: serve real Italian food, made from scratch, every single night.
35 years later, that mission hasn't changed. The pasta is still handmade. The sauces still simmer for hours. Over 4,000 guests have left reviews. Zagat rated, highly awarded, and the same family still greeting you at the door.
This is not a chain. This is the real thing.
Handmade pasta • Fresh seafood • Prime cuts • Every plate from scratch
Ciao Italia Ristorante is a family-owned authentic Italian restaurant located at 6149 Westwood Blvd on International Drive in Orlando, Florida (32821). Established in 1991 by the Navarra family. Open for dinner 7 nights a week from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Serves scratch-made Southern Italian cuisine including handmade pasta, fresh seafood, veal, chicken, and classic Italian dishes. Wine and beer only — no cocktails or full bar. Casual dress welcome — no dress code. 4.6-star average rating with over 4,000 reviews. SeaWorld Orlando is 1.4 miles away, Orange County Convention Center (0.9 miles / 3 minutes), and Epic Universe (10 minutes). Free self-parking. Reservations recommended. Phone: (407) 354-0770.
Discovery Cove food reviews are mixed. Ciao Italia is 5 minutes away with 4,000+ consistently positive reviews, handmade Italian food, 35+ years.
No coupon. No app. No promo code. Just show your ticket.
Kids menu with gelato included. Homemade pasta. Free parking. 3 minutes from Discovery Cove.
If you search for Discovery Cove food reviews, you will find a mixed bag. Some people say the included lunch is fine for a theme park. Others say it is forgettable. The truth is somewhere in the middle — it is buffet food designed to feed thousands of people in a tropical setting. It works for lunch. But dinner is a different conversation entirely. Ciao Italia has earned more than 4,000 reviews over 35 years, and the consistency is what stands out. Families come back year after year. They recommend it to friends. They post about it unprompted. That kind of track record does not come from luck. It comes from making the pasta by hand every day, cooking every dish to order, and treating every guest like family. Show your Discovery Cove ticket and save 10% on dinner.
Ciao Italia looks elegant — arched columns, Italian pottery, wine racks. But there's no dress code. Shorts and flip-flops are welcome. Kids are welcome.
$13 kids menu with gelato included. Highchairs available. Walk-ins welcome every night from 5 to 10 PM. Free parking lot right in front.
Reserve a Table
"We host our company dinner here every year during the convention. Private room, great wine, and the lamb chops are always perfect."
"Came here after SeaWorld with the kids. No dress code, free parking, incredible food. My daughter loved the gelato."
Zagat-rated Italian. Handmade pastas, fresh seafood, veal, lamb, and classic preparations.
Open 7 days a week, 5 PM to 10 PM. Walk-ins welcome.
Free self-parking lot right in front. No meters or garages.
6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821. On International Drive, near SeaWorld and the Convention Center.
Book online via OpenTable or call (407) 354-0770.
Private room seats up to 60. Full venue buyout up to 110.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando — across from the DoubleTree by Hilton |
| Aquatica | 0.5 miles |
| OCCC | 0.9 miles / 3 min |
| SeaWorld | 1.4 miles |
| Discovery Cove | 2 miles |
| Hours | Open nightly 5–10 PM |
| Parking | Free on-site |
| Dress Code | Casual — no dress code |
Ciao Italia Ristorante on Westwood Boulevard is one of the top-rated restaurants near Discovery Cove. It is about 5 minutes from the park and has been family-owned since 1991. Homemade Italian food, highly awarded, free parking, and a casual atmosphere perfect for post-park dining.
Ciao Italia Ristorante offers 10% off dinner when you show a valid Discovery Cove ticket or reservation confirmation. The discount applies to your entire table. The restaurant is about 5 minutes from the park at 6149 Westwood Blvd.
Discovery Cove offers an all-inclusive lunch that gets mixed reviews. For dinner, Ciao Italia is 5 minutes away with handmade Italian food and 4,000+ consistently positive reviews.
More than 4,000 reviews across major platforms, with a track record spanning 35+ years of service.
About 3 minutes by car at 6149 Westwood Blvd.
Yes. Casual, welcoming, with a $13 kids menu including gelato. Highchairs available. Families are the majority of our guests.
Yes. Show your ticket to your server for 10% off dinner for the whole table.
Yes. Show your valid Discovery Cove admission to your server and receive 10% off dinner for your entire table.
On International Drive, near SeaWorld and the Convention Center. Free parking right in front.
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5 minutes from Discovery Cove. Show your ticket. Save 10%. Taste the difference.