Ditch the Hotel Lobby and Eat Like a Local
The Aloft Orlando at SeaWorld puts you right in the middle of the International Drive action, but that also means you are surrounded by chains. If your idea of a great dinner is not a microwave reheated entree at a restaurant with 47 locations, Ciao Italia Ristorante is waiting for you just minutes away on Westwood Blvd.
The Navarra family has been cooking authentic Italian food here since 1991. That is more than three decades of handmade pasta, fresh seafood, and sauces built from scratch every single day. Over 3,000 reviews and 9 awards later, the approach has not changed: real food, real hospitality, every night.
What Makes Ciao Italia Different from the I-Drive Chains
There is no shortage of places to eat near the Aloft. Olive Garden, Carrabba's, and a dozen other chains line International Drive. Ciao Italia is something else entirely. This is a family-owned restaurant where the owner is often in the dining room, the pasta is rolled by hand, and the recipes go back generations.
The menu covers everything from veal piccata and chicken marsala to lobster ravioli and risotto pescatore. The seafood is fresh, the portions are generous, and the wine list is curated to match. It is the kind of meal that turns a regular vacation night into a memorable one.
