Italian Restaurant Near Restaurant Row

Authentic Italian Near Restaurant Row

Finding Italian food near Restaurant Row is easy. Finding authentic Italian food is harder. The corridor has Olive Garden, Carrabba's, and Brio, all of which serve Italian-American food in a corporate format. They are fine for what they are, but they are not what you get when a family from Italy runs a kitchen for 35 years.

Ciao Italia Ristorante is one block south of Restaurant Row on Westwood Boulevard. The Navarra family opened it in 1991 and has been serving traditional Italian cuisine every night since. The recipes are family recipes. The pasta is handmade. The sauces are slow-cooked from whole ingredients. It is the kind of Italian restaurant where you taste the difference in every bite.

Traditional Italian Preparations

The menu at Ciao Italia covers the full range of traditional Italian cuisine. Antipasti include sauteed calamari in olive oil with garlic, Burrata with prosciutto di Parma, and the Zuppa di Pesce with clams, mussels, calamari, and shrimp. The pasta section features 13 handmade dishes, from classic Fettuccine Alfredo to the more distinctive Pappardelle al Cinghiale with wild boar ragu and porcini mushrooms.

The secondi section includes multiple preparations of veal (parmigiana, marsala, piccata), chicken parmigiana, pan-seared salmon, Gulf grouper, and Australian lamb chops. Everything is prepared to order. The wine and beer list features Italian selections chosen to complement the food. There is no curated wine and beer selection or cocktail menu. The focus is entirely on the food and wine.

Italian Options Along Restaurant Row

Restaurant Row offers several Italian-themed restaurants. Olive Garden is the most recognizable chain, with standardized pasta dishes and unlimited breadsticks. Carrabba's Italian Grill offers wood-fired cooking in a casual chain format. Brio Italian Grille provides a more upscale corporate Italian experience. Each serves its market effectively.

Ciao Italia occupies a different space. It is not a chain. It does not have a corporate test kitchen or standardized recipes. The menu reflects the Navarra family's Italian heritage and three decades of cooking for the Orlando community. The handmade pasta, the from-scratch sauces, and the personal service create an experience that corporate Italian cannot replicate.

At 6149 Westwood Boulevard, the restaurant is five minutes from Restaurant Row with its own free parking. It is also 3 minutes from SeaWorld and convenient for guests at hotels along International Drive. With 4,000+ reviews and 9 awards, Ciao Italia has earned its place as one of the best Italian restaurants near Restaurant Row.

How to Find Ciao Italia from Restaurant Row

From Restaurant Row (Sand Lake Road), head south on Westwood Boulevard. Ciao Italia is at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821. The drive is about 5 minutes. Free self-parking available.

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About Dining Near Italian Near Restaurant Row

When you are visiting Italian Near Restaurant Row in Orlando, finding a genuine Italian dinner can feel impossible among the chains and tourist traps. Ciao Italia Ristorante has been the answer since 1991 — a family-owned Italian restaurant on Westwood Boulevard where everything is made from scratch.

The Navarra family runs the kitchen personally. Handmade pasta, fresh sauces, bread baked daily, and housemade desserts. The menu includes classics like lasagna and chicken parmigiana alongside refined dishes like pappardelle with wild boar ragu and risotto alla pescatora.

With 4,000+ reviews, 9 awards, and over 35 years of service, Ciao Italia is one of the most trusted Italian restaurants in the Orlando area. Italian wine and beer are available with dinner. Kids eat for $13 with gelato. Free parking. Walk-ins welcome nightly 5 to 10 PM.

How to Get to Ciao Italia from Italian Near Restaurant Row

Ciao Italia is about 5 minutes from Italian Near Restaurant Row. Head toward International Drive and continue to Westwood Boulevard. The restaurant is at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821, with free parking right in front. Open nightly 5 to 10 PM.

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