Best Calamari in Orlando

The Calamari That Starts Every Great Meal

There is a reason the fried calamari at Vincenzo Cucina Italiana is the most ordered appetizer on the menu. It arrives at the table golden, crisp on the outside, and impossibly tender on the inside. No rubber. No grease. Just perfectly fried calamari the way it should be done, served with a slow-simmered marinara sauce that has been a house recipe since the restaurant opened on International Drive. If you are searching for the best calamari in Orlando, this is where that search ends.

Most places overcook their calamari until it turns into chewy rings that could double as rubber bands. At Vincenzo, our kitchen treats calamari with the same respect it gives a veal chop or a fresh pasta dish. The squid is cut to order, lightly dusted in a seasoned flour blend, and fried at the precise temperature needed to create a delicate golden crust while keeping the inside soft and tender. It takes less than two minutes in the fryer, and there is zero margin for error. Our chefs have been doing this for years, and they get it right every single time.

What Makes Our Fried Calamari Different

• ✦ Fresh squid, never frozen, cut and prepared to order
• ✦ Light seasoned flour coating for a delicate golden crunch
• ✦ Fried at precise temperature for tender, never rubbery results
• ✦ Served with house-made marinara from San Marzano tomatoes
• ✦ Garnished with fresh lemon and Italian parsley
• ✦ Generous portion, perfect for sharing or keeping to yourself

The Perfect Way to Start Dinner

Every table at Vincenzo has a rhythm to it. You sit down, you look at the menu, and then someone at the table says what everyone is already thinking: we need the calamari. It is the appetizer that bridges the gap between arrival and the main course, the dish that sets the tone for everything that follows. The golden rings hit the table still sizzling, the marinara arrives warm on the side, and suddenly the whole table is reaching in before anyone has even ordered an entree.

This is Italian dining the way it was meant to be. Start with something simple, something perfect, and let the meal build from there. Follow the calamari with one of our handmade pastas, a USDA Prime steak, or fresh branzino, and you have a dinner that covers every corner of what Italian cuisine can be. But it all starts with that first bite of calamari.

More Than Just Appetizers

Vincenzo Cucina Italiana has been Orlando's number one Italian restaurant since 2014, and the calamari is just one reason guests keep coming back. Our menu features handmade pasta rolled daily in the kitchen, ocean-fresh seafood, USDA Prime cuts, and a curated wine list with over fifty Italian and domestic selections. Whether you are here for a quiet date night, a family celebration, or a business dinner, the experience starts the moment you walk through the door at Vue at 360.

Find Us on International Drive

Vincenzo Cucina Italiana is located at Vue at 360, 8255 International Drive, Suite 112, Orlando FL 32819. We are steps from ICON Park and minutes from the Orange County Convention Center, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and the new Epic Universe. Complimentary valet parking is available every evening. Open seven days a week from 5 to 10 PM. Call us at (407) 745-4030 to reserve your table tonight.

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Vincenzo Cucina Italiana is a proud member of the International Drive Chamber of Commerce.