4,000+ reviews · Google 4.5 · OpenTable 4.7 · TripAdvisor 4.3
From Surfside Inn, skip CityWalk. Real Italian on I-Drive, just minutes south.
4,000+ reviews · Google 4.5 · OpenTable 4.7 · TripAdvisor 4.3
“We are locals who eat out weekly. Vincenzo is consistently our best meal. The salmon is hormone-free, the pasta is handmade, and the bar program is legit.”
Andrea & Tom, Winter Park • 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
Surfside Inn Universal guests looking for dinner beyond the Universal campus are finding Vincenzo Cucina Italiana — a family-owned Italian restaurant at ICON Park on International Drive, minutes from the resort area.
The kitchen at Vincenzo is a scratch operation. Pasta is made by hand. Sauces simmer for hours. Steaks are hand-cut from USDA Prime Creekstone Farms beef. The scallop risotto is stirred to order with truffle, parmigiano, and caramelized shallots. The linguine frutti di mare is loaded with shrimp, scallops, grouper, and clams in cherry tomato sauce.
For something simple and satisfying, the chicken parmigiana is breaded in-house and served with spaghetti marinara. For something more refined, the Chilean sea bass with fried artichoke and prosecco butter is a plate worth savoring.
Desserts include homemade tiramisu, Nutella cheesecake, limoncello cake, and chocolate mousse. Nothing comes from a freezer. Everything is made here.
Where Every Plate Tells a Story
Hand-rolled gnocchi, slow-simmered sauces, steaks cut fresh daily. Real Italian cooking.
The story of Vincenzo is the story of a family that chose to build something personal in one of the most commercial corridors in America. The Navarra Group opened this restaurant in 2014 with one kitchen, one dining room, and a commitment to serving food that their own family would be proud of.
Ten years later, the restaurant has accumulated over 4,000 reviews, earned OpenTable's Diners' Choice recognition, and hosted more than 1,500 private events. The kitchen still rolls pasta by hand. The sauces still simmer for hours. The bread is still baked fresh.
The Amalfi Room accommodates groups of 15 to 50 for rehearsal dinners, birthday celebrations, corporate gatherings, and milestone events. Full buyouts handle up to 150 guests. Every event includes custom Italian menus and complimentary valet parking.
In a city where restaurants come and go with the tourism cycle, Vincenzo has stayed because the Navarra family treats it not as a business to operate, but as a home to share.
My gluten-free options were treated with care and tasted amazing. The staff asked about allergies proactively. That level of attention is uncommon and appreciated.
Catherine B., Oklahoma City • OpenTable
Black Angus from Creekstone Farms
Hand-cut, cooked to order, served with truffle butter and fresh sides every evening.
Surfside Inn Universal to Vincenzo is about 5-8 Min on International Drive. The restaurant is at ICON Park — 8255 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819 — and complimentary valet parking eliminates any parking concerns.
The I-Drive corridor has hundreds of dining options, but most are chains or tourist-oriented restaurants with inflated prices. Vincenzo stands apart because it is family-owned, makes everything from scratch, and has earned over 4,000 genuine reviews from guests who choose to come back.
For guests using rideshare, the pickup and dropoff at ICON Park is clean and easy. For drivers, the valet is included with your dinner — a detail that Surfside Inn Universal guests consistently mention as a pleasant surprise.
After dinner, ICON Park offers shopping, attractions, and entertainment for guests who want to extend the evening. Or head back to your hotel with the satisfaction of having found the best Italian dinner in the area.
My gluten-free options were treated with care and tasted amazing. The staff asked about allergies proactively. That level of attention is uncommon and appreciated.
Catherine B., Oklahoma City • OpenTable
Dishes That Define Vincenzo
Ossobuco over saffron risotto. Lobster ravioli in cream sauce. The plates that built our reputation.
At Vincenzo, the bar is not an afterthought — it is a reason to arrive early. Classic Negronis, refreshing Aperol Spritzes, and rich Espresso Martinis are crafted by bartenders who know their way around Italian spirits. The wine list spans Italian regions and California appellations.
Happy hour pricing runs Monday all night and Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 7 PM: $4 bottled beers, $7 wines by the glass, $10 cocktails. On Wine Down Wednesdays, all wines by the glass are half off for the entire evening — a deal that draws wine lovers from across the I-Drive corridor.
For groups and events, the Amalfi Room provides private dining for 15 to 50 guests. Full restaurant buyouts are available for parties up to 150. Custom Italian menus and AV support are included, and the Vincenzo events team has coordinated over 1,500 gatherings.
From a solo cocktail at the bar to a 100-person corporate dinner, Vincenzo scales gracefully without sacrificing quality or warmth.
The ossobuco melted off the bone. I have been to Italy three times and this was as good as anything I ate in Rome. Incredible restaurant.
Marco P., Brooklyn • TripAdvisor
Italian Tradition, Orlando Location
Spaghetti and meatballs. Chicken parmigiana. Lasagna. The dishes you grew up loving, made from scratch.
What brings Surfside Inn Universal guests to Vincenzo — and what brings them back — is the sense that this restaurant is different from everything else on International Drive. It is not a chain. It is not a franchise. It is a family-owned restaurant with a real kitchen, real recipes, and a real commitment to hospitality.
No dress code. Shorts welcome. Kids welcome. Business dinners welcome. Celebrations welcome. The only requirement is an appetite.
In a city that runs on tourism, Vincenzo has built something lasting because the food is honest, the service is genuine, and the experience is worth repeating.
Vincenzo is about 5-8 Min from Surfside Inn Universal. The restaurant is at ICON Park on International Drive, 8255 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819. Complimentary valet parking is available every evening.
Yes. Book on OpenTable or call (407) 745-4030 any time, even last minute. We are open 7 days a week from 5 PM to 10 PM. Walk-ins are welcome too.
Yes. We welcome families every night. Kids 10 and under have their own menu starting at $13. The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed, not stuffy.
Yes. Show your Epic Universe theme park ticket and receive 10% off your dinner. Valid for dine-in guests during your visit.
Casual to smart casual. You are welcome to come straight from the parks. No dress code enforced, but many guests enjoy dressing up a bit for dinner.
Yes. Complimentary valet parking every evening. Just pull up and we take care of the rest.
Yes. Happy hour Monday all night, Tuesday through Friday 5 to 7 PM. Wine Down Wednesday offers half-price wines by the glass all night.
Yes. Show your Epic Universe theme park ticket and receive 10% off your dinner. Valid for dine-in guests. This offer cannot be combined with other promotions.
Vincenzo offers gluten-free and vegetarian options. The kitchen can accommodate many dietary needs — just let your server know. The Faroe Island salmon is hormone-free, and many pasta dishes can be adjusted.
Handmade pasta, craft cocktails, complimentary valet. Open nightly 5 to 10 PM.
Vincenzo Cucina Italiana is a family-owned Italian restaurant on International Drive, open since 2014. Menu items and prices subject to change. Reservations recommended.