Homemade Gnocchi
Potato gnocchi, pomodoro, burrata, basil oil
$30
Drive north on I-Drive for handmade Italian that outperforms every chain nearby.
Keep reading to learn more about Vincenzo
Aloft and Element properties on south I-Drive put you in the SeaWorld and convention corridor. The restaurants nearby cater to the budget-conscious tourist crowd. Vincenzo, a few minutes north at ICON Park, caters to anyone who wants real food.
The gnocchi is the proof. Made from potatoes — not a box — and tossed in a slow-simmered pomodoro sauce with fresh burrata and basil oil. It is a dish that takes time and skill, which is why most I-Drive restaurants do not attempt it.
The fettuccine alfredo is equally honest: cream, butter, and Romano cheese tossed with fresh pasta. Simple. Authentic. Delicious. Add jumbo shrimp for $14 and it becomes a showpiece.
USDA Prime steaks from Creekstone Farms — filet mignon, NY strip, bone-in ribeye — are hand-cut and cooked to order. The quality of the beef is evident from the first bite.
Handmade Pasta & Italian Classics
Every dish is made from scratch, every night. This is what dinner at Vincenzo looks like.
While chains rotate managers every eighteen months, Vincenzo has had the same family behind it for over a decade. The Navarra Group opened the restaurant with 30+ years of hospitality experience and has been refining the operation ever since.
That continuity shows. The menu evolves thoughtfully. The staff stays for years. The quality is consistent night after night. Guests who visited three years ago and return today find the food as good as they remember — often better.
Aloft and Element guests who value authenticity will appreciate what family ownership means at Vincenzo: the food is personal, the service is genuine, and the experience is not replicable by a corporation.
Over 4,000 reviews across Google, OpenTable, TripAdvisor, and Yelp tell the same story.
We come to Orlando every year and eat here every time. The consistency is what keeps us coming back. Same great food, same warm service, same genuine hospitality.
The Torres Family, Houston • OpenTable
Black Angus from Creekstone Farms
Hand-cut, cooked to order, served with truffle butter and fresh sides every evening.
The drive from south I-Drive to Vincenzo at ICON Park takes 5 to 8 minutes heading north. International Drive connects the two areas directly. Complimentary valet at the restaurant eliminates the parking challenge.
ICON Park adds evening entertainment options around the restaurant. The Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds, and the SEA LIFE Aquarium are all within walking distance after dinner.
The restaurant opens at 5 PM. Early arrivals catch happy hour pricing. Later arrivals enjoy the full dinner experience in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Open every evening until 10 PM. Reservations on OpenTable or call (407) 745-4030.
Drove from south I-Drive specifically for happy hour. $10 Aperol Spritz and the meatball polenta appetizer. Best $27 I spent all vacation.
Kevin, Annual Passholder, Orlando • Google
The Dishes People Come Back For
Chicken parmigiana with spaghetti. Fettuccine alfredo with jumbo shrimp. Made fresh, every night.
The happy hour at Vincenzo is one of the best values on International Drive. Monday all night, Tuesday through Friday 5 to 7 PM: $4 beers, $7 wines, $10 cocktails. Wine Down Wednesday drops wines by the glass to half price.
The cocktail program features Negronis, Aperol Spritzes, Espresso Martinis, and an Italian and California wine list. The bar is a comfortable place to start the evening before moving to a table.
For groups, the Amalfi Room provides private dining for 15 to 50 guests. Full restaurant buyouts for up to 150.
Kids menu at $13 makes the drive worthwhile for families who want a real dinner without the resort price tag.
This place is a hidden gem on I-Drive. Not a chain, not overpriced tourist food. Real Italian with real heart. The tiramisu alone is worth the trip.
David, Atlanta • TripAdvisor
Made the Way It Should Be
Homemade lasagna. Meatballs with San Marzano sauce. The Italian food you remember, done right.
The restaurants near south I-Drive serve a purpose — quick, convenient, affordable. Vincenzo serves a different purpose — memorable, handmade, and worth a short drive north.
Every guest who makes the trip wonders why they did not come sooner. The food quality, the family atmosphere, and the value create a combination that chains cannot match.
Reserve on OpenTable. Call (407) 745-4030. Walk-ins welcome. Open nightly 5 to 10 PM.
Element Hotel Guest Exclusive
Staying at Element Orlando Universal Blvd. by Marriott? A great Italian dinner is just a short walk away. As our neighbor, enjoy 10% off your food at Vincenzo Cucina Italiana. Simply show your Element hotel room key when dining with us.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Element Guest Discount | 10% off food — show your room key |
| Distance | Same plaza — 2-minute walk, no car needed |
| Hours | 5–10 PM, 7 days a week |
| Happy Hour | Mon all night 5–10 PM, Tue–Fri 5–7 PM |
| Happy Hour Prices | $4 bottled beer, $7 wine, $10 cocktails |
| Wine Down Wednesday | Half off all wines by the glass, all night |
| Avg Per Person | $25–$45 |
| Kids Menu | $13 with beverage (ages 10 & under) |
| Private Dining | Amalfi Room 15–50 guests, buyout up to 150 |
| Location | ICON Park, 8255 International Dr, Orlando FL 32819 |
| Parking | Free valet every evening (or walk from Element — no car needed) |
| Reviews | 4,000+ on Google, OpenTable, Yelp, TripAdvisor |
| Phone | (407) 745-4030 |
| Fine Print | Dine-in only. Cannot be combined with other offers. |
| Style | Upscale vibes, casual comfort. No dress code. Shorts welcome. |
Handmade pasta, craft cocktails, complimentary valet. Open nightly 5 to 10 PM.
Vincenzo Cucina Italiana is not affiliated with Aloft Hotels, Element Hotels, or Marriott International.