Orlando Has a Lot of Restaurants. Most of Them Are Chains.
Let us be honest. When you search for restaurants in Orlando, you get pages of results. Olive Garden, Carrabba's, Maggiano's, Bonefish Grill. They are everywhere. They serve the same menu in Orlando that they serve in Ohio. And there is nothing wrong with that if you want consistency. But if you came to Orlando and want to eat something that was actually made today, by people who care about what they put on your plate, you need a different kind of restaurant.
Ciao Italia Ristorante is that restaurant. The Navarra family has been running this place since 1991. Every pasta is handmade. Every sauce is made from scratch. The menu reflects what Italian cooking actually is, not what a corporate kitchen decided it should be. Over 4,000 people have left reviews, and the reason is simple: this place is real.
The Restaurant Orlando Locals Keep Coming Back To
Here is the thing about the best restaurants in any city. Locals eat there. Not just tourists on vacation looking for whatever pops up on their phone. Ciao Italia has regulars who have been coming for decades. People who had their first date here, then their anniversary dinner, then brought their kids. That does not happen at chain restaurants.
The menu covers everything from classic Chicken Parmesan and Fettuccine Alfredo to dishes you will not find at your local Italian chain. Pappardelle with Wild Boar. Risotto Pescatore loaded with seafood. Brasato, slow-braised beef that falls apart. The wine list is entirely Italian. And the kids menu is $13 with gelato, so your little ones eat well too.
