Italian Seafood Restaurant in Orlando

Italian Seafood the Way It Should Be

Southern Italian cooking is rooted in the sea. The Navarra family brought that tradition to Orlando when they opened Ciao Italia Ristorante in 1991, and the seafood menu has been a cornerstone of the restaurant ever since. Fresh shrimp, mussels, clams, calamari, and daily fish selections prepared with the same techniques their family used on the Italian coast.

The signature dish is the Risotto Pescatore, a creamy risotto loaded with fresh shrimp, mussels, clams, and calamari in a light tomato broth. It is cooked to order and takes about 25 minutes, but every minute is worth the wait. This is not a seafood restaurant that relies on deep fryers. This is Italian seafood, where the ingredients are respected and the preparation is precise.

The Seafood Menu

Beyond the Risotto Pescatore, the seafood offerings at Ciao Italia include Linguine Vongole with fresh clams in white wine and garlic, Shrimp Scampi sauteed in lemon butter, and Lobster Ravioli filled by hand and served in a delicate cream sauce. The Zuppa di Pesce brings together the best of the sea in a rich Italian fish stew. And there is always a fresh fish selection that changes based on what the market has that day.

For guests who want to mix seafood with other Italian classics, the menu also features lamb chops, braised short rib, Chicken Marsala, and Veal Piccata. But for those who came specifically for Italian seafood, Ciao Italia delivers with a level of freshness and authenticity that seafood chains simply cannot match.

Fresh Seafood, Family Tradition

The Navarra family's commitment to fresh seafood is not a marketing gimmick. It is a family tradition rooted in southern Italian coastal cooking. The fish is never frozen. The shellfish is sourced fresh. The preparations honor the ingredients rather than masking them with heavy sauces. This is seafood as the Italians intended it: simple, fresh, and unforgettable.

Ciao Italia is located at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821, minutes from SeaWorld, International Drive, and the Convention Center. Open seven days a week from 5 PM to 10 PM with free self-parking. Call (407) 354-0770 for reservations.