4,000+ reviews · Google 4.5 · OpenTable 4.7 · TripAdvisor 4.3
Family-owned since 2014. Handmade pasta, Prime steaks, 4,000+ reviews. 5-8 Min Drive from Dockside Inn. Free valet at ICON Park.
4,000+ reviews · Google 4.5 · OpenTable 4.7 · TripAdvisor 4.3
“We came straight from the parks with three kids still in park clothes. They didn’t bat an eye. The pasta was incredible and valet made it so easy. Best dinner of our trip.”
The Morrison Family, Connecticut · Google
The Menu
Housemade pasta, steaks, seafood, chicken parmigiana, lasagna, cocktails, wine, desserts, and a kids menu — all served in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
Keep reading to learn more about Vincenzo
Families staying at Universal's Dockside Inn know the drill: long park days, tired kids, and nobody wants to wait an hour for a table. Vincenzo Cucina Italiana gets it. The kitchen moves efficiently, the kids menu keeps young ones happy, and the food is the kind of Italian that parents actually look forward to eating.
Chicken parm, fettuccine alfredo, and lasagna for the kids. Lobster ravioli, ossobuco, shrimp scampi, and fresh grouper for the adults. Everyone orders what they want, and every dish is made from scratch.
Homemade tiramisu at the end of the meal turns tired park families into happy ones. It is a small thing, but it works every time.
This is not theme park dining. There are no character appearances or plastic trays. Just real Italian food served in a warm, comfortable restaurant where flip-flops and park clothes are completely welcome.
Handmade Pasta & Italian Classics
Every dish is made from scratch, every night. This is what dinner at Vincenzo looks like.
Vincenzo has been family-owned by the Navarra Group since 2014. That family feel is exactly why Dockside Inn guests keep finding their way here, often returning multiple nights during the same trip.
The staff treats kids like guests, not inconveniences. High chairs are ready, the kitchen can adjust portions, and nobody rushes you out the door. Families eat at their own pace, which after a day at Universal is exactly what everyone needs.
With 4,000+ reviews and over a decade on International Drive, Vincenzo has become the restaurant that Universal families recommend to each other in hotel lobbies and online forums.
It is not a chain pretending to be Italian. It is a real Italian restaurant run by a real family who happens to be located near the best theme parks in Orlando.
Hands down the best Italian spot in Orlando. The service was impeccable, the food was absolutely incredible. The lobster ravioli was out of this world.
Jennifer, Orlando • OpenTable
Black Angus from Creekstone Farms
Hand-cut, cooked to order, served with truffle butter and fresh sides every evening.
Vincenzo is at ICON Park on International Drive, a short drive from Universal's Dockside Inn. After a day of rides and walking, you do not have to go far. Complimentary valet parking means you pull up, drop the car, and walk straight in.
The restaurant is casual enough that you never have to change out of your park clothes. Shorts, sandals, sunburned shoulders, it all fits here. No one judges what you are wearing, and the kids can be kids without anyone giving you a look.
Inside, the atmosphere shifts from the chaos of the parks to something calmer. The lighting is warm, the music is low, and the table is set properly. It feels like a real dinner out, even if you are still wearing your wristband.
Dockside Inn families who discover Vincenzo almost always come back. The combination of proximity, quality, and a family-friendly attitude makes it an easy repeat choice.
We came after the parks and it was the perfect way to end the day. The gnocchi was unreal and the valet made everything so easy.
Mike & Sarah, New Jersey • Google
The Dishes People Come Back For
Chicken parmigiana with spaghetti. Fettuccine alfredo with jumbo shrimp. Made fresh, every night.
Parents deserve a drink after a full day at the parks. Vincenzo's full bar has Aperol Spritzes, Negronis, Espresso Martinis, Italian wines, and draft beer ready when you sit down.
Happy Hour runs Monday all night and Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 7 PM: $4 bottled beers, $7 wines by the glass, $10 cocktails, and small bites. Families arriving right after the parks can catch the tail end and start dinner with a deal.
For larger family gatherings, reunions, or birthday celebrations during your Universal trip, the Amalfi Room seats 15 to 50 with custom menus. Full restaurant buyouts accommodate up to 150 guests for bigger events.
Whether it is a casual Tuesday dinner or a milestone birthday during vacation, Vincenzo makes it easy. The staff has coordinated over 1,500 private events and knows how to make a family night feel special without overcomplicating it.
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.
Dockside Inn families looking for real Italian food do not need to drive across Orlando. Vincenzo is right on International Drive, open nightly from 5 to 10 PM, with a menu that works for picky kids and adventurous adults alike.
No dress code. No attitude. Bring the stroller, bring the teenagers, bring the grandparents. Everyone fits.
After a day of rides and lines, Vincenzo is the dinner that actually feels like a break. That is why Dockside families keep coming back.
Vincenzo is at ICON Park on International Drive, 5-8 min drive from Dockside Inn Orlando. Address: 8255 International Drive, Suite 112, Orlando, FL 32819. Complimentary valet parking every evening.
Vincenzo is a casual Italian restaurant serving handmade pasta, USDA Prime steaks from Creekstone Farms, fresh seafood, craft cocktails, and Italian wines. Guest favorites include penne Verona (chicken, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, prosciutto, and basil tomato cream) and lobster ravioli (stuffed with Maine lobster and ricotta, finished in creamy lobster sauce).
Yes. Complimentary valet parking every evening. Drive to 8255 International Drive at ICON Park and hand your keys to the valet. No charge.
No dress code. Shorts, park clothes, flip-flops, casual wear — all welcome. Upscale vibes, casual comfort. Come as you are.
Yes. Monday happy hour runs all night 5-10 PM. Tuesday through Friday, 5-7 PM. $4 bottled beer, $7 wine by the glass, $10 craft cocktails. Wine Down Wednesday: half-off wines by the glass all night.
Very. Kids 10 and under eat for $13 with a beverage. Options include spaghetti with meatballs, chicken tenders, fettuccine alfredo, cheese ravioli, pizza, and filet tips. No dress code.
Handmade pasta, craft cocktails, complimentary valet. Open nightly 5 to 10 PM.
Vincenzo Cucina Italiana is not affiliated with Dockside Inn Orlando or any theme park, hotel, or convention center properties. Vincenzo is a family-owned Italian restaurant on International Drive, open since 2014. Menu items and prices subject to change. Reservations recommended.