Real Italian From a Real Italian Family
Italian Near Me in Orlando
You typed "Italian near me" because you want the real thing. Not a chain. Not microwaved lasagna. Actual Italian food from an actual Italian family.
This Is Not Olive Garden
Let us get this out of the way. If you are looking for unlimited breadsticks and pasta that was boiled in bulk an hour ago, there are plenty of places on International Drive that will take care of that. But if you searched "Italian near me" because you actually want Italian food the way it is supposed to taste, keep reading.
Ciao Italia was opened in 1991 by Josie and Antonio Navarra, who came to Orlando from southern Italy. They did not learn to cook from a corporate training manual. They learned from their parents and grandparents. The recipes at Ciao Italia are the same ones the family has been cooking for generations.
The pasta is handmade. Not shipped in from a factory. Made here, by hand. The sauces are prepared fresh every single day. The proteins are cooked to order. There is no shortcut and no microwave involved. This is the Italian food you were hoping to find.
What Real Italian Looks Like on a Plate
The Pappardelle with Wild Boar is a slow-cooked ragu that takes hours to develop. You will not find this at a chain. The Risotto alla Pescatora is a traditional seafood risotto with fresh shrimp, clams, and mussels stirred slowly until the rice is perfectly creamy. The Veal Piccata is light, bright with lemon and capers, finished with artichokes.
Then there is the Linguine alle Vongole. Fresh clams, garlic, white wine, and perfectly cooked linguine. This dish is the test of any Italian kitchen, and Ciao Italia passes with flying colors. The Sacchetti, handmade pasta purses, are filled and finished table-side in a way that reminds you someone actually made your food with their hands.
The Imported Difference
Real Italian cooking depends on real Italian ingredients. The olive oil, the cheeses, the cured meats. When you use the right ingredients and follow the right techniques, the food tastes different. It tastes honest. That is the word people use most when they describe Ciao Italia. Honest food.
Every Night, Right Near You
Open 5 PM to 10 PM, seven days a week at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821. Minutes from SeaWorld, I-Drive, and the Convention Center. Free self-parking. Takeout available through Uber Eats and DoorDash. Call (407) 354-0770 or book through OpenTable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Ciao Italia different from Olive Garden or Carrabba's?
Ciao Italia is independently owned by the Navarra family, who immigrated from southern Italy. Every dish is made from scratch using traditional family recipes. The pasta is handmade, sauces are prepared daily, and nothing comes pre-packaged. Chain restaurants use standardized recipes and pre-made ingredients from corporate kitchens.
Is Ciao Italia actually run by an Italian family?
Yes. Josie and Antonio Navarra came from southern Italy and opened Ciao Italia in 1991. Their family continues to run the restaurant today, using the same traditional recipes and cooking methods they brought from Italy over 35 years ago.
Does Ciao Italia make fresh pasta?
Yes. The pasta at Ciao Italia is handmade fresh. Dishes like the Sacchetti (pasta purses) and Pappardelle with Wild Boar are made in-house. The kitchen uses traditional Italian techniques for all pasta preparations, and every dish is cooked to order.
Where is Ciao Italia located?
Ciao Italia is located at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821. It is just minutes from SeaWorld, International Drive, and the Orange County Convention Center. Free self-parking is available for all guests. Open nightly 5 PM to 10 PM.
