You Are Closer to Great Italian Food Than You Think
You are standing in Orlando, phone in hand, searching for places to eat near you. The results are full of chains. Olive Garden. Carrabba's. Maybe a Bonefish Grill if you are near I-Drive. They are familiar, they are predictable, and they are everywhere. But if you are within 15 minutes of the International Drive area, there is a family-owned Italian restaurant at 6149 Westwood Blvd that has been quietly serving the best Italian food in Orlando since 1991.
Ciao Italia Ristorante is the Navarra family's restaurant. They opened it over 35 years ago and they are still running it today. Over 4,000 reviews, 9 awards, and a reputation that was built on handmade pasta and fresh ingredients, not marketing budgets. If you are near SeaWorld, the Convention Center, I-Drive, or any of the major Orlando hotels, you are probably 5 to 10 minutes from the best meal you will have this trip.
What You Will Actually Eat Here
This is not a place that hides behind fancy descriptions. The food speaks. The fettuccine is rolled and cut by hand every morning. The chicken parmigiana is pounded, breaded, and fried to order. The veal piccata comes with a lemon caper sauce that tastes like someone's Italian grandmother made it, because that is essentially what happened. The seafood risotto, the lamb chops, the eggplant parmigiana, all of it is made from scratch.
Portions are generous. You will not leave hungry and you will not leave angry about the bill. The price range sits at $$-$$$, which for the quality and quantity you are getting is a genuine deal compared to what most Orlando restaurants charge. Especially the ones near the theme parks.
