Where to Eat After Epic Universe

The Answer to Your Post-Park Question

Everyone leaving Epic Universe faces the same decision. You are tired, you are hungry, and the easy option is the nearest chain restaurant with a forty-five minute wait. The smart option is a five-minute drive to Ciao Italia Ristorante, where a real Italian dinner is waiting. No lines. No theme park prices. No regrets.

Ciao Italia is where to eat after Epic Universe if you want food that was made by hand by a family that has been cooking since 1991. The Navarra family brought their recipes from southern Italy, opened on Westwood Boulevard, and built one of the most respected Italian restaurants in Orlando. After a day of simulated worlds, this is the real one.

What Makes It Worth the Drive

The pasta is made fresh every day. Not reheated, not frozen, not pulled from a bag. The Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu is slow-cooked for hours. The Risotto alla Pescatora is loaded with fresh seafood and cooked to order. The Gnocchi alla Sorrentina is baked with mozzarella until golden. The Lobster Ravioli is filled and sealed by hand. After a day of standing in lines, sitting down to this kind of food is transformative.

The wine list is entirely Italian. The tiramisu is made in-house every morning. The bread is baked fresh. The service is warm, attentive, and paced for people who actually want to enjoy their meal. This is not a restaurant that rushes you out the door.

Plan Ahead

Ciao Italia is located at 6149 Westwood Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32821, 10 minutes from Epic Universe. Free self-parking is available. The restaurant is open seven days a week from 5 PM to 10 PM, which means you can come straight from the park or head back to the hotel first and come fresh.

Reservations are recommended, especially during peak season. The best move is to book before your park day so the table is waiting when you are ready. Call (407) 354-0770 or book through OpenTable.

About Dining Near Epic Universe

Epic Universe is Universal Orlando's newest and most ambitious theme park, featuring immersive worlds inspired by beloved franchises. The park is massive, and most visitors spend the entire day exploring its themed lands, riding attractions, and watching shows.

Epic Universe is located south of the original Universal complex, in a part of Orlando that is still building out its dining and entertainment options. While the park itself has restaurants inside, the surrounding area is developing. Visitors looking for dinner after the park need to plan ahead.

Ciao Italia Ristorante is about 10 minutes from Epic Universe via International Drive. The Navarra family has been running this Italian restaurant since 1991, well before Epic Universe existed. The menu features homemade pasta, fresh seafood, veal, lamb chops, and a curated Italian wine list.

After a day of next-generation theme park rides, the quiet dining room at Ciao Italia feels like a reset. Free parking, walk-ins welcome, and kids eat for $13 with gelato included. It is the kind of dinner that turns a great park day into a great vacation day.

How to Get to Ciao Italia from Epic Universe

Ciao Italia is about 10 minutes from Epic Universe, roughly 5 miles south via International Drive. When you leave the park, head south on I-Drive toward the SeaWorld area and turn onto Westwood Boulevard. The restaurant is at 6149 Westwood Blvd with free parking. If you prefer a rideshare, the trip is quick and avoids highway traffic during most hours.

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