From-Scratch Italian on International Drive
For guests looking for an independent Italian restaurant alternative to Carrabba's in Orlando, Vincenzo Cucina Italiana is a family-owned restaurant where everything is made from scratch. The kitchen is run by the Navarra family, not a corporate office. Every pasta is handmade daily. Every sauce is built from whole ingredients. USDA Prime steaks sit alongside Italian classics on a menu that has never cut corners.
If you enjoy Italian food and want to try an independently owned restaurant on International Drive, Vincenzo offers fresh pasta made by hand every morning, a full craft cocktail bar, and the kind of personal service that comes with family ownership. The food reflects that attention to detail from the first course to the last.
Vincenzo is open 7 days a week, 5 to 10 PM, at 8025 International Drive with complimentary valet parking every evening.
Handmade Pasta Every Single Day
Pasta is the foundation of Italian cooking, and at Vincenzo the foundation is built fresh every morning. Potato gnocchi, lobster ravioli, pappardelle with braised short rib, rigatoni bolognese, lasagna, and tortellini are all made by hand in the restaurant kitchen. The kitchen team rolls, cuts, and shapes each variety daily. For guests who enjoy the Italian flavors at Carrabba's and want to explore a kitchen that makes every pasta from scratch each day, Vincenzo provides that experience.
USDA Prime Steaks
Vincenzo is one of the few Italian restaurants in Orlando that serves USDA Prime beef. Prime is the top grade, representing the highest level of marbling. The menu includes filet mignon, bone-in ribeye, and New York strip, all hand-cut and cooked to order. For guests who want Italian atmosphere with a steak that stands on its own, Vincenzo delivers both on the same menu.
Why Guests Choose an Independent Kitchen
- ✦ Handmade pasta made fresh daily, not shipped from a warehouse
- ✦ USDA Prime steaks, hand-cut in the restaurant kitchen
- ✦ Sauces built from whole ingredients, simmered on-site
- ✦ Owner-operated since 2014 by the Navarra family
- ✦ Craft cocktails, Italian wines, Prosecco, and a full bar
- ✦ Fresh seafood including Chilean Sea Bass and calamari
- ✦ Private Amalfi Room for group dining and celebrations
- ✦ Complimentary valet parking every evening
Happy Hour and Weekly Specials
Happy hour at Vincenzo runs Monday all night and Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 7 PM. The bar features craft cocktails including Negroni, Espresso Martini, Aperol Spritz, and Old Fashioned. Italian wines are poured by the glass and bottle. Martini Tuesday offers martini specials. Wine Down Wednesday features wines by the glass at a special price. Start the evening with drinks at the bar before settling into dinner.
Menu Highlights
- ✦ New York Strip — USDA Prime, hand-cut, cooked to order
- ✦ Pappardelle — Handmade daily, braised short rib ragu
- ✦ Branzino — Mediterranean sea bass, fresh daily
- ✦ Burrata — Creamy Italian cheese, prosciutto, arugula
- ✦ Lobster Ravioli — Handmade, butter sage sauce
- ✦ Osso Buco — Slow-braised veal shank, gremolata
- ✦ Tiramisu — House-made, espresso-soaked ladyfingers
- ✦ Espresso Martini — Fresh-pulled espresso, craft cocktail