50 Best Italian Restaurants near Longwood

“Delicious and fresh classic Italian paired with amazing service is a win win!! We are always are greeted with a smile and welcoming vibe. Love this place so much!“

“Get to Cafe Paisano immediately! My wife, daughter, and I found Cafe Paisano while we were staying in Longwood on vacation. I had already eaten, they got some takeout, and when I tasted the food, I knew we would be headed back before we left. Cafe Paisano is a smaller, cute place with indoor and outdoor seating. We brought 12 people and they were happy to accommodate us in no time. Our group ordered a variety of entrees and EVERYONE loved their meal. Pizza, lasagna, pasta, everyone was happy and the portions were large. Our server was a young lady, but she was amazing! She handled our large, rowdy group very well with the skill of someone who had been serving for decades. She is probably the best server I have ever had. Upon arriving and before leaving I spoke briefly with the owner and he makes you feel right at home. Living close to New Orleans, it's hard to find a restaurant that will beat our favorite places in the city, but this little spot right here is an absolute hidden gem. Whenever I am in Orlando I will be stopping in to dine with these great people. Longwood is lucky to have them.“

“Food was excellent tonight!! We did take-out“

“Great dinner tonight. First time customer but it won’t be the last time. Great service and food.“

“The Staff is the best! They were accepting of the needs of the Customer. They went above and beyond. The food was delicious. We will definitely be back.“

“this place is great! never had a bad meal, my favorites are steamed shrimp and the baked ravioli! never had a bad server, but, Katey is our favorite!“

“Took me back to Bklyn the freestyle music playing. The pizza was off the hook,the sauce is the boss me and my daughter enjoyed lunch together there. I recommend everyone to try them out. Their sauce is top tier will definitely be stopping by there again“

“Shop with local vendors first“

“The best Italian restaurant in central Florida!“

“Absolutely phenomenal! This has got to be the BEST pizza I’ve had in ages. We stumbled upon this gem and completely fell in love. The menu may be short, but they excel in every single thing they serve—and I’d argue they do it better than anyone else out there. We kicked things off with the Burrata with white truffle oil and Prosciutto, and it was beyond delicious—a perfect start. Then came the pizzas: the Meat Lovers and Star Luca. Unreal! Every bite was bursting with flavor, and it’s hard to believe that each pizza could be as exceptional as the last. And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, we ended the meal with the Nutella Pizza with Bananas. How is it even possible for every single item to be this amazing? But it’s not just the food; the atmosphere and staff elevate the experience to a whole new level. Katherine, our server, was outstanding. She made us feel completely at home and had spot-on recommendations for everything. We even got to meet Marco, who may be the owner or GM, and either way, he’s clearly got a gift for running an extraordinary establishment. This place has officially won us over—we’re not just fans; we’re now loyal customers for life!“

“Antica Pizzeria Paul and Pam have an amazing ristorante…wonderful people from New Hampshire. Tim was [server] was top notch and customer focused. Eric is the pizzaiolo and he got real SKILLS 🍕 We had the pesto sampler-appetizer, Rigatoni IDA and the Angry Goat pizza. ALL of it was fresh, flavorful and high quality. Go today!!“

“Love Prato! So much fun! Great food! ❤️🍷“

“Today we found this gem ! The food and staff are superb! Portions are big and delicious!!We found our new lunch spot!! Best Italian food we found in Florida!“

“Just left there for my first visit and I found it to be slightful. My windiw seat was perfect, the jazz music , the cheese playecwas lovelybandvour waiter Leah was so carefulbtokeep us hapoy and cared for. I will be back very soon“

“We had my sister’s college graduation dinner/party here and we had the best server, Nick!! The room was nicely set up and the service was incredible. Nick welcomed us like family, he was funny, energetic, engaging, and very helpful with our large party (26 people) even after having a long day. Also he served our party all by himself! The food was delicious and came out in a timely manner and it was all correct. The drinks and bread came out so quick and the refills kept coming (I think I drank at least 6 diet cokes and so much bread) all thanks to Nick! This dinner was amazing and a great memory and way to celebrate my sister. Thanks Carrabba and Nick! Can’t wait to have another party here!“

“This is our favorite pizza! My son won’t eat pizza from anywhere else unless he has no choice. The staff is wonderful and manages to give it a small- business feel without compromising quality. We tell everyone about it to make sure they are supported.“

“We love Stefanos. We have never had a bad dish and the service is always on point. They’re amazing at accommodating large groups. Stefanos is my very picky Italian mom’s favorite spots to hit when she visits. :)“

“Food is amazing, will definitely try again!“

“DINNER REVIEW: LIL VINNY’S PIZZA 2200 Winter Springs Blvd Oviedo, FL 32765 I moved away from Oviedo for a few years, and during my somewhat lonely time living at the beach I decided to write restaurant reviews for every beachside restaurant in Flagler County. Now that I’m back home, I decided to continue writing reviews of the places I eat in Central Florida. For the first time in my life, I have a job where I can walk to nearby restaurants on my lunch break—and Lil Vinny’s Pizza and Pasta is just around the corner. I know real locals hate when Northern transplants talk about missing the pizza we grew up with—but the good news is, the pizza at Lil Vinny’s does remind me of New York pizza—it’s absolutely delicious. Also, I’ve lived in the South since the nineties so I’ll say whatever i want. I didn’t want to write a review that just says “the pizza is good,” so I expanded my menu exploration and tried their cold Italian sub. I’m even pickier about subs than I am about pizza, but this one passed the test. It contained ham, salami, prosciutto, and provolone cheese topped with lettuce, tomato, and onions. I cheated a little bit because I took it home and added the cherry pepper relish I pretend to import from Philly but actually buy in the condiment section of Publix. Anyway, the sandwich is just about perfect and the best part about it is how fresh their rolls taste. Anyone can throw a salad on some deli meat and call it an Italian sub—but it takes attention to detail to get the bread right, and Vinny nails it. Sunday night I went wild and treated myself to a meat lover’s Stromboli—and maybe I said “with extra cheese” when i placed my order—and it was by far the best decision of my three day weekend. Their Stromboli is probably not meant for a single guy to eat alone, and so let’s pretend I cut it into three parts and savored it for several different meals. It was FANTASTIC. I went to the gym afterward maybe. Lil Vinny’s is the perfect hometown pizza place, where the servers know many of the customers by name, where teenagers want to go after the game, and where families push three tables together and order a ton of food to share. I ordered a stack of pizzas to treat my students during a long rehearsal at OHS, and the boss delivered them himself and refused a tip. “It’s for the kids,” he said. Lil Vinny’s knows how to make you feel welcome in your own hometown.“

“We wanted to compare this place to what we experienced in Rome. It’s not Rome but it captures the essence. Enjoy.“

“My server was Camila for valentine’s day she truly was the best server I’ve ever had. She recommended me so many good dishes we shared appetizers a pizza and a pasta. The environment was so good, she also recommended me a drink that she specifically made I will be coming again and asking for her as a server.“

“I have been craving chicken piccata, but too lazy to make it. I ordered directly through them for delivery and it arrived piping hot and perfect. I got it with added mushrooms and extra sauce and a side of the antipasto salad. It also came with garlic knots. The sauce was exactly how I wanted it. And the salad had the perfect amount of toppings and dressing. I called the order in and the woman that answered the phone was polite and helpful- as was the person who delivered it. I will definitely be visiting the restaurant in person, but can’t imagine it tasting better than it did delivered.“

“As a parent of a student at East Lake Elementary, I am thrilled to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Giovanni's who contributed to our 5th grade graduation party. Your generosity has not only brought joy and celebration to our children's significant milestone but has also deeply touched us all. Your donation was a beacon of support that allowed us to create an unforgettable experience for the graduates. It's community-minded individuals like you who reinforce the spirit of giving and community engagement. Your willingness to contribute to our children's future is a testament to your outstanding character and benevolence. We are incredibly thankful for your contribution and want you to know that it made a real difference in making the graduation party a success. Your kindness has left a lasting impression on our hearts and will be remembered for years to come. On behalf of all the parents, teachers, and especially the 5th graders at East Lake Elementary, we award you with five stars for your exceptional generosity. Thank you for being a part of this special occasion and for helping us celebrate the achievements of our young graduates.“

“Mila was our server and she was very kind, professional, efficient and poised. She took great care of our group. Our food…amazing. The servings were HUGE and flavorful. A big plus: Darryl (host) was so kind and fun as he volunteered to take many pics of our group in front of the ristorante. He and Mila are great ambassadors of your business. We will return. Grazie !! 🇮🇹“

“This is my absolute new favorite if you are anywhere near Lake Mary or the Orlando area. We ordered three appetizers. Had wine and cocktails and everything was delectable. The service was beyond amazing and the staff made us feel like family. I am usually extremely picky and always find at least one fault….i could not find one and this place. It makes me want to move to Florida. I can’t wait to go back!“

“Elizabeth was AMAZING! She was super attentive, always checking on us and offering things. The food was great. I had the red snapper special. Massive portion - I had to take home half in order to have dessert.. Had their tiramisu and espresso for dessert. Highly recommend. Ask for Lizzy!! Will definitely come again.“

“Highly recommended. Great food and great service!“

“Delicious! Recommend highly. 5 stars!“

“Kristin was a fantastic waitress. She took care with our order. All the food came out fresh and hot. The cooks served food that was outstanding and fresh. Thank You for an awesome dinner!!“

“My family had my grandsons birthday party at what i call Rosarios!!! It was being home again with his welcome and also his entire staff . Had not been there in a while . OMG He put out a antipasti fit for a king. All the entrees where all served Big Al style. Big Al is my nickname. Thanks for a memory for the entire family . Best food in Seminole County“

“We eat here at least once a week. The Gino's special pizza is our absolute favorite. The service is beyond description. Wanda, Karen, Jordan and the owner (I assume Gino) make us feel like we're in Cheers, where everybody knows your name. Its a neighborhood restaurant where you feel and are treated like family. We love this place. We usually sit at the bar and inevitably we meet wonderful people who make our meal that much more enjoyable. LOVE THIS PLACE.“

“First time ordering food here. It left me regretting all the times I'd ordered pizza/pasta from other vendors- so very, very fresh & tasty😋 The quality of the pie & whatever cheese they used was so very delicious👌 It's several rungs above that of what other vendors use. We ordered veggie cheesebread, veggie pizzas, & an Alfredo pasta. Perfectly roasted & cheesy. Thoroughly loved it. Though our order was takeout, I was waiting a little bit in the restaurant for my order to be ready. During that time, I felt the ambience for a dine-in was very good too, & the staff were very cheerful & friendly. I'm sure we'll be ordering from here again😊“

“Awesome food !“

“Good food, value and service!“

“Came in for the first time last night. Service and food were phenomenal. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!“

“These guys do a really great job! A few times a month they offer tastings.. We've done a couple of wine tastings and the bourbon event and both were great. Andrew is a great host and knows his stuff! Destin and Anthony keep up with the large group these events bring in and everyone is incredibly friendly.“

“Nikki She is amazing, Our experience was incredible. She recommended amazing sauces, the food was great, but without that service, I don't know if it would have been as good. Thank you, you were amazing; on a difficult day, you made our day incredible.“

“We had a celebration for my folks’ 50th anniversary here and it was so great. We really enjoyed the food and the staff were some of the kindest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.“

“Opening night at Grappolo Cucina Italiana, an authentic Italian restaurant. The food was a-mazing! I’ll be dreaming about it. The atmosphere was welcoming and vibrant! A beautiful evening to enjoy a great meal with family and friends!“

“Wonderful food, owners and staff! Calzones and the anti pasta are my favorites! keep up the great work!“

“Their are clearly mark take out and delivery. Do you feel the same way when you go papa johns or Dominos and there is no sitting.“

“Great food I ordered the 3 different pasta it was delicious!!“

“The food is always prepared perfectly. Chefs Tony and Ryan do an awesome job making sure everything is cooked to your liking. Annmarie and Amy make sure the customers are taken care of as far as drinks and service are concerned. Always friendly and accommodating. A very friendly atmosphere, great for a night out with friends or a date night.“

“Our server Destiny was absolutely AMAZING! We came in with a party of 7, and she handled everything flawlessly. She was attentive, funny, and so personable. She truly made the whole experience better. Our drinks and food were always taken care of, she kept us laughing, and never once made us feel rushed or overlooked despite our large group. This was hands-down some of the best service we’ve had at Olive Garden. Destiny deserves major recognition, and we’ll definitely be asking for her again next time we come!“

“Thanks so much for accommodating our large party of 25 during a very busy lunch hour. Fabulous food Great service…“

“This was the busiest Olive garden I've ever been to, but the service was really good. It was a little delayed because of how busy it was, but that was explainable. The waitress was awesome and the food was all tastingly good prices were normal for Olive garden and I would recommend it!!“

“The food was Fantastic (garlicky) and the service was prompt and attentive, and portion sizes were Huge. Only concern, when you order appetizers they shouldn’t come out with the meal ; as we both looked at each other and thought WTF. But we discovered a new yummy Italian restaurant.“

“Celebrated my 65th birthday lunch with some good friends - our serviced was amazing and the food was fresh and delicious!“

“We catered some food for a gender reveal & it was amazing ! Everything came fresh and on time . The delivery drive Evan was amazing and Katherine ensured all of our needs were met when taking our order. We all enjoyed, for sure will do this again ! Thank you Olive Garden .“

“My experience here was absolutely amazing! Our server, Landon, was cool, funny, and always checking in to make sure everything was perfect. The food was incredible, and the portion sizes were unbelievable! Thank you for treating us like family.

Yours truly,
Don Pepperoni 🍕“