Best Appetizers Near International Drive

Start Your Meal the Right Way

A great Italian meal starts before the entree arrives. The appetizers set the tone, and at Ciao Italia Ristorante, the tone is set high. Located just minutes from International Drive on Westwood Blvd, Ciao Italia offers a selection of Italian starters that are all made fresh in the kitchen, not pulled from a freezer and dropped in a fryer.

The bruschetta is built on toasted bread rubbed with garlic and topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. The burrata is creamy, rich, and served with house-made pesto that brings out the sweetness of the cheese. The calamari is lightly breaded and fried until crispy, tender on the inside and golden on the outside. And the meatballs, made from the Navarra family recipe, are slow-simmered in house marinara and served as a starter that many guests say could be a meal on its own.

Every Appetizer Made from Scratch

The lobster bisque at Ciao Italia is smooth, rich, and made from scratch each day. It is the kind of soup that gets better with every spoonful. For guests who prefer something lighter, the insalata caprese with fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and basil is a clean, simple starter that lets the quality of the ingredients speak for itself.

What sets the appetizers at Ciao Italia apart from the chains along International Drive is that nothing comes from a box. The calamari is cut fresh, not pre-breaded. The bruschetta tomatoes are chopped that afternoon. The burrata is real, creamy Italian cheese, not a processed substitute. These are small details, but they are the kind of details that turn a good meal into a memorable one.

A Short Drive from I-Drive, a World Away from Chains

Ciao Italia sits at 6149 Westwood Blvd, just a few minutes from the International Drive corridor. The restaurant has been family-owned since 1991, and the appetizer menu reflects the same care and consistency that has earned over 3,000 guest reviews and nine culinary awards. Free self-parking, a warm dining room, and the kind of hospitality that makes you feel welcome from the moment you walk in.

Whether you are starting with bruschetta before a risotto, splitting calamari with your family before the pasta arrives, or making a meal out of three or four starters, the appetizers at Ciao Italia are the best you will find near International Drive.