Italian

Stasio’s Italian Deli & Market

Address
City
Phone
Price

210 N. Bumby Ave.
Orlando
407-277-7755
$

I sort of get the impression that Stasio’s Italian Deli & Market is a work in progress and that the people doing the work aren’t exactly sure themselves what the final product will be.

But for all the tentativeness in the air, the food that I’ve sampled so far is solidly good.

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Stefano’s Trattoria

Address
City
Phone
Price

1425 Tuskawilla Road
Winter Springs
407-659-0101
$$

Stefano and Marie are gone and the restaurant continues under new ownership. The food is every bit as good as it always was, maybe even better. And it’s one of the best dining bargains in town.

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Tartini Pizza & Spaghetteria

Address
City
Phone
Price

6321 S. Orange Ave.
Orlando
407-704-8011
$$

Tartini, the “Pizza & Spaghetteria” in the unofficially designated SoSoDo district, near Belle Isle on South Orange Avenue, has gone through several changes in its nine years, including ownership and, at one point in 2016, a closing.

But today, Tartini is back and serving some of the best Italian food around, and not just in this culinarily starved part of town but in all of Orlando.

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Terralina Crafted Italian

Address
City
Phone
Price

1650 Buena Vista Drive,
Lake Buena Vista
407-934-8888
$$$

Former Portobello, which was the former Portobello Yacht Club, now with an Italian Lake District focus with a menu under the direction of Chicago’s Tony Mantuano and directed by Justin Plank. Just about anything you choose on the menu is going to be first rate.

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Terramia Wine Bar and Restaurant

Address
City
Phone
Price

1150 Douglas Ave.
Altamonte Springs
407-774-8466
$$

This Terramia recently moved around the corner to this new address. Although the word pizza does not appear in this restaurant’s name, pizza was the best of what I sampled here. I ordered the quattro formaggi, which featured a perfectly honed crust topped with just the right amount of cheesy goodness. This is not for the people who expect a red sauce to be part of a pizza pie’s base, nor for the lactose intolerant, but I liked it just fine.

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Tony’s Town Square

Address
City
Phone
Price

Magic Kingdom
Lake Buena Vista
407-939-3463
$$$

I wonder how many people try to recreate the scene from Lady and the Tramp where the two dogs meat in the middle of a strand of spaghetti for a kiss. That scene from the classic animated Disney movie was the inspiration for this full-service restaurant. How much nicer it would be if the inspiration had been good food.

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Tornatore’s Cafe & Pizzeria

Address
City
Phone
Price

3818 Edgewater Drive
Orlando
407-292-2248
$

Formerly Caffe Positano, this charming neighborhood restaurant changed its name after it was featured in an episode of Food Network’s “Restaurant: Impossible.” It’s basic Italian/American fare, but it’s all done well. Pizza slices are New York perfect. Most dishes are pasta centric, but they’re all good.

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Turci Panino

Address
City
Phone
Price

2122 Edgewater Drive
Orlando
407-636-2211
$

Vinicius Turci and Nathalia Kalil, the husband and wife owners of Turci Pasta in College Park, have opened Turci Panino in the former China in College Park space next door. With Turci Panino, they’re bringing the same high quality they feature in the full service restaurant to this quick-serve sandwichery.

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Turci Pasta

Address
City
Phone
Price

2120 Edgewater Drive
Orlando
407-985-2577
$$

Vinicius Turci and his wife, Nathalia Kalil, understand the importance of fresh pasta to a good dish. Fresh pastas are the centerpiece of their College Park restaurant, Turci Pasta.

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Tutto Gusto

Address
City
Phone
Price

200 Epcot Center DRive
Lake Buena Vista
407-939-3463
$$

Once the lobby and restroom area for the larger restaurant inside the Italy pavilion at Epcot, this new wine bar is small, and reservations are not accepted, but it offers some pretty good “small plates” and a robust list of wines to go with them.

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