Local Italian Restaurant in Orlando
Orlando locals have been coming to Ciao Italia since 1991. The neighborhood Italian.
The Local Italian Restaurant Orlando Keeps Coming Back To
There are hundreds of Italian restaurants in the Orlando area. Most of them are chains. Some of them are decent. But when Orlando locals want a real Italian dinner, the kind where the pasta is handmade and the owner might stop by your table, they drive to Westwood Boulevard.
Ciao Italia Ristorante has been the local Italian restaurant in Orlando that people tell their friends about since 1991. It is not on International Drive. It is not in a shopping plaza with a neon sign. It is tucked into a neighborhood near SeaWorld, and it has built its reputation entirely on word of mouth and consistently excellent food.
What Makes a Restaurant Truly Local
A neighborhood restaurant in Orlando earns that title by showing up every single day. Ciao Italia has been open seven days a week for over 35 years. The same family runs it. The same standards apply to every plate. The regulars know the staff by name, and the staff knows what the regulars like to order.
That kind of relationship does not happen at a restaurant that opened six months ago or one managed by a corporate office in another state. It happens when a family commits to a neighborhood and stays there long enough to become part of the fabric of the community. That is what Ciao Italia has done on Westwood Boulevard.
The Food That Built the Reputation
The menu at Ciao Italia reads like a tour through the family's southern Italian roots. The Risotto alla Pescatora is loaded with fresh seafood. The Pappardelle with Wild Boar is slow-cooked until the meat falls apart. The Vitello Piccata with capers and artichokes has been on the menu since day one. The tiramisu is made in-house daily.
Everything is prepared from scratch. The sauces, the pasta, the desserts. There are no shortcuts, no heat lamps, and no frozen entrees. That commitment to scratch cooking is the reason locals keep coming back and the reason the restaurant has accumulated over 3,000 reviews across Google, OpenTable, and TripAdvisor.
Location and Details
Ciao Italia is located at 6149 Westwood Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32821, 3 minutes from SeaWorld, Aquatica, and the Orange County Convention Center. The restaurant offers free self-parking and is open seven days a week from 5 PM to 10 PM.
Reservations are recommended for weekend evenings and can be made by calling (407) 354-0770 or booking through OpenTable. Whether you have lived in Orlando for thirty years or just moved here last month, this is the kind of local restaurant that makes a city feel like home.
Practical Details
Cuisine
Zagat-rated Italian. Handmade pastas, fresh seafood, veal, lamb, and classic preparations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best local Italian restaurant in Orlando?
Ciao Italia Ristorante on Westwood Boulevard is widely regarded as one of Orlando's best local Italian restaurants. Family-owned since 1991, it has earned Zagat ratings, OpenTable Diners' Choice awards, and over 3,000 guest reviews.
Is Ciao Italia a local restaurant or a tourist restaurant?
Ciao Italia is a local restaurant that also happens to be near Orlando's major attractions. While tourists love discovering it, the restaurant's core following is Orlando locals who have been dining there for years and even decades.
Does this local Italian restaurant take reservations?
Yes. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (407) 354-0770 or through OpenTable. Walk-ins are also welcome based on availability.
What are the hours for Ciao Italia?
Ciao Italia is open seven days a week from 5 PM to 10 PM. The restaurant is located at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821, with free self-parking available.
Does Ciao Italia make their pasta in-house?
Yes. Pasta, sauces, and bread are all made fresh daily in the Ciao Italia kitchen. This has been the standard since 1991.
More From Ciao Italia
The Local Choice
Orlando's favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant. Open tonight, 5–10 PM.
Published by Ciao Italia Ristorante, family-owned by the Navarra family on Westwood Boulevard since 1991. Over 35 years of authentic Italian hospitality in Orlando, Florida.