Family Dinner Near the Orlando Convention Center

Family Dinner During a Convention

You are in Orlando for a convention. The family came along for the vacation. The kids spent the day at the pool or the parks while you sat through presentations. Now it is dinner time and the family needs a restaurant that works for everyone — something real, not a hotel buffet or a chain in the convention center food court.

Ciao Italia is 5 minutes from the Orange County Convention Center. The Navarra family has been serving convention families since 1991. The kids menu is $13 with gelato. The adult menu has handmade pasta, fresh seafood, chicken, veal, and lamb. Wine and beer. Free parking. Walk-ins welcome.

Close to OCCC, Far from Convention Food

Convention center restaurants are designed for convenience, not quality. Ciao Italia is designed for both. It is 5 minutes from OCCC with free parking. The pasta is handmade. The sauces are made from scratch. The bread is baked fresh. And the atmosphere is casual enough for kids in flip-flops and nice enough for adults coming from the show floor.

Open every night from 5 to 10 PM. Call (407) 354-0770 for groups of 6 or more. Private dining room available for larger family gatherings.

Why Families Choose Ciao Italia

Finding a restaurant that works for the whole family near the Orlando theme parks is harder than it sounds. Most places on International Drive are chains with microwaved food and 45-minute waits. The sit-down spots inside the parks charge resort prices for average quality. What parents actually want is a place where the food is real, the kids are welcome, and the bill does not require a second mortgage.

Ciao Italia has been that place for over 35 years. The Navarra family opened the restaurant in 1991, and they raised their own children here. The kids menu is $13 and includes gelato for dessert. Highchairs are available. There is no dress code — guests come straight from the parks in shorts and sandals. Walk-ins are welcome every night.

The difference is the food. While chain restaurants heat up pre-made pasta and pour sauce from a bag, Ciao Italia makes everything from scratch. The spaghetti and meatballs are handmade. The chicken parmigiana is breaded and fried fresh. The lasagna is layered and baked daily. Parents eat dishes like Risotto alla Pescatora or Pappardelle with Wild Boar while the kids enjoy pasta with marinara and finish with gelato.

What Is on the Kids Menu

The kids menu at Ciao Italia is designed for children 10 and under. Every kids meal is $13 and includes gelato for dessert. Options include Spaghetti Marinara, Spaghetti and Meatball, Penne alla Vodka, Kids Cheese Ravioli, Chicken Fingers, Fettuccine Alfredo, and Kids Steak Bites. Parents can add an extra meatball or side sausage for $4. Apple juice and orange juice are available for $4.

The portions are sized for children, not adults. The food is the same quality as the adult menu — handmade pasta, fresh sauces, real ingredients. This is not a kids menu designed to keep children quiet with fried food. It is Italian food made properly, in smaller portions, at a fair price.

Getting to Ciao Italia

Ciao Italia is located at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821. The restaurant is on International Drive, 3 minutes from SeaWorld, and 5 minutes from the Orange County Convention Center. There is a free parking lot right in front — no garages, no meters, no valet required.

The restaurant is open seven days a week from 5 PM to 10 PM. Walk-ins are welcome. For groups of 6 or more, calling ahead at (407) 354-0770 is recommended. Reservations can also be made through OpenTable.