50 Best Italian Restaurants near Sand Lake

“Went to Anthony’s today with a super old gift card and had Andrew as our server. Had no idea if that thing would even swipe at this point and he helped us out and made sure it was good to go. Chill guy and easy going, we sat and yapped for probably too long but he took care of us so well. We appreciate not being rushed, and appreciated him dealing with a gift card older than the Toast app itself lol. I’m from miami so I love Anthony’s and my experience in Orlando didn’t disappoint:)“

“We are from Lakeland and always drive up here to enjoy the food and atmosphere. Our waiter Moe this evening was very nice and Ethan, the host, was also kind and great to talk to. The food here is delicious and the people are nice. We got the 4 for $40 deal which is an amazing promotion going on for the summer. I highly recommend this place! Shoutout to both Moe and Ethan! Definitely tell Moe I say dankje, which is thank you in Dutch. We will be back soon.“

“The best Italian restaurant in central Florida!“

“Great Thanksgiving dinner experience while in Orlando. Jose was excellent!!!!“

“Absolutely wonderful, fine dining Italian dinner at Epcot! It’s a gorgeous and classy dining room with incredibly kind and gracious hosts who checked us in and then led us to our table. Gian Marco was our very nice server who took great care of us. We started with good rolls dipped in olive oil, bread sticks, and the fried calimari appetizer. The squid rings were the most tender and tastiest we’ve ever had. For dinner, my wife had the Italian “surf and turf”, Mare e Monti, which was a delicious braised beef short rib and lobster ravioli. I had the Salmone, which was a nice piece of grilled salmon served atop mashed potatoes over diced tomatoes, capers, olives and anchovies. It was fantastic! We finished this gourmet meal with the tastiest Tiramisu and a Cannolo. The perfect end to a perfect meal. We spoke with Sarah, one of the managers, and she explained that much of the staff are actually from Italy and are working here and gaining experience at a resort style restaurant. They all work together to provide the hospitality and dining experience that must be savored and celebrated!“

“Good food! Nice staff. Pizza and chicken parmigiana absolutely delicious“

“Sam (our server) and Angeline (our Sommelier), along with a very nice young man (been there about 8 months) who brought us in (sorry I didn’t catch his name) made sure we wanted for nothing. We asked for suggestions and they delivered all the way through dessert!! Professional, engaging, and genuinely nice people! Oh, and the food!!!!“

“Big rave to this restaurant. An honest mistake was made and a few items were missing from our Uber Eats delivery. I contacted the restaurant and they immediately admitted to the error. Their asst manager personally drove the missing items directly to our hotel and even threw in some free dessert! They went over and above to quickly address and fix the issues! Would highly recommend them and the food was great.“

“We always enjoy lunch at this I-Drive location. The food is delicious and May, our server, is always amazing. May is extremely attentive and personable. Good job Carrabbas and May! Can’t wait to go back.“

“Rica la pizza, cómo me gusta. Amplió el restaurante y el servicio súper especial“

“Great food and great service“

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

“Visited Orlando for the weekend golfing at Bay Hill. Fresco's was recommended by the folks at the Lodge. Glad we stopped in for dinner. The food is excellent. It will be my goto on future Orlando visits.“

“Excellent service and food. We asked to be seated in the bar area as it was crowded Sunday lunch time. We ordered drinks and food. Sara gave excellent service and great conversation while waiting on everyone at the bar. I am a server and that is a big compliment from me. Kudos for hiring such great staff. I will visit this location again even though I have 2 that are closer.“

“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“

“I recently had the pleasure of dining at Maggiano's Little Italy in Orlando on International Drive and it was an experience worth sharing. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly by the hostess, who promptly seated us at a cozy table that perfectly set the tone for the evening. The waitstaff was exceptional—attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. They made sure our glasses were never empty and checked in just the right amount to ensure we had everything we needed without being intrusive. For the main course, we chose the Chicken Parmesan, which was cooked to perfection with a crispy exterior and tender, juicy chicken inside. The pasta was al dente, and the meat sauce was rich and savory. It was really enough for two people to share. To top it all off, they brought two plates of their famous lemon cookies to our table, to celebrate our third anniversary. Overall, our experience at Maggiano's was nothing short of excellent. The combination of outstanding service, a welcoming atmosphere, and delicious food made for a memorable evening. I highly recommend Maggiano's for anyone looking to enjoy a wonderful Italian meal with top-notch service.“

“We had a wonderful experience at Christini's. From the time we walked in the door until we left we found the whole staff was extremely attentive and took the time to review our choices and make suggestions as we enjoyed our evening. The Bar Team worked well together and kept the mood light and fun. They anticipated our needs and usually met them with what seemed like no effort at all. The owner, Ellie spoke to us numerous times and made us feel welcome. We felt like we must return quickly. I highly recommend this as a dining experience with Italian cuisine like you would find in the home country. Looking forward to my next visit.“

“The People are very nice and give great customers service!!! Pedro was cool when I ordered my food he make sure it was correct and fresh before I left cause it took me a little longer to pick up..and I appreciate that. I would recommend them to anyone... Stop by and get one of the best pizzas in Orlando FL“

“Had the most delicious pizzas and drinks tonight!! A definite try if you’re looking for great pizza!! Angela was amazing!!“

“My favorite restaurant in Winter Garden. Decided to do Italian for Thanksgiving and it was outstanding. My favorite is their Pork Osso Bucco and they did not disappoint. Service and owners are always on point. Thank you for enjoying my first Thanksgiving being waited on. Always recommend this place, never a bad meal. Thank you Dorina“

“Great service and quality food!“

“Fantastic food and friendly but professional staff. We had tiramisu and wine one night and then the meatball appetizer and lobster ravioli the following night. All was delicious but the meatballs with the polenta was a delicious new twist.“

“The staff fulfilled every request with efficiency and a smile 😊.“

“They Best italiano fotos I loved si good“

“Great family dining experience, highly recommend!“

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

“Joh H was our server. We got the best service you could ask for. The food was amazing and he was on point with recommendations. All the other Staff helping with our service were friendly and professional as well. Thank you Jon and Staff for a wonderful dining experience.“

“Always great food and service. Salad always fresh, their dressing is so good I buy it Publix for home use. The soup and entrees are always perfect. There was a big Italian family sitting next to us speaking Italian. You can’t get a better endorsement than that!“

“Cute Italian spot in a great location! The bruschetta was INCREDIBLE and my favorite appetizer at the table. My other favorite dish was their chicken dish! I forgot what it was called but it was one of chef’s specials. This place does not have their liquor license so I would advise against their wine-based cocktails, and just get wine instead. Overall was pleased with my meal and the service“

“DINNER REVIEW: ANTHONY’S THORNTON PARK PIZZERIA 100 N. Summerlin, Orlando For my first meal in a restaurant after moving back to Orlando, I happily chose Anthony’s Pizzeria in Thornton Park, at the heart of downtown Orlando, which means you can eat your delicious meal and then walk around Lake Eola to cancel those calories. When I first moved to Florida in the 1990s, I went downtown looking for a hole-in-the-wall video rental store called Angel Heart, which reputedly rented John Waters movies which weren’t available anywhere else. The bad news when i arrived was that Angel Heart was having a going-out-of-business sale; the good news was that I bought their John Waters VHS collection for less then ten dollars. As I walked back to my car, I saw a pizza place on the corner of Washington & Summerlin, and it soon became my go-to restaurant in Orlando. All these years later, Anthony’s has grown into a large and beautiful place—though I still like dining on the street side patio, and I still order my mushroom Stromboli even though the expansive menu offers a full range of Italian dinners and of course their outstanding pizza. This time I treated myself to a caprese salad Anthony’s has one of the best physical locations in the city—walkable to all of the major attractions downtown, yet still having a quiet neighborhood feeling and even having its own free parking lot, which is rare these days in the city beautiful. The food meets my exasperatingly snobby northern expectations of what Italian food should taste like, and the service is excellent. I recommend Anthony’s to everyone everywhere always.“

“We were recommended to try this pizza place that we had not yet been to. It was very good! Had a great hometown feel, with a cozy atmosphere. Our waitress was so warm and welcoming and gave us great recommendations. We went with a cheese pizza and garlic knots as those are our go to’s when trying a new pizza place and they did not disappoint. The knots were true knots which believe it or not can be hard to find these days, and the pizza crust was light and airy with a nice crisp. Definitely would recommend checking out if you’re looking for a great place for some NY style pizza!“

“Delicious! Recommend highly. 5 stars!“

“So I went to this location for the first time last week. We went after being at a theme park. First I'd like to mention this store is huge, very clean and organized. The host sat us rather quick being be had a big party. The server didn't show up for a few minutes, not too long really, but before it became an issue the floor managers had multiple people at our table to get our orders started. Once our server arrived I could tell her was overwhelmed but not rude. I watched him at his other tables, they were all big groups. Another manager came to check in on us to see if we were ok. There was a highlight to our night. A young lady that helped while she also had her own tables. I can't remember her name but she was very helpful and saw the importance of helping her coworker who was in the weeds. This location has great leadership and it shows through their staff. I highly recommend this location in a busy area of I Drive.“

“If you appreciate fresh chef-inspired and chef-created Italian cuisine, then you MUST dine here. Truly authentic from the ambiance, the cozy intimate setting, to the tiramisu and espresso finale! Only wish we’d found this gem sooner!“

“Great service and quality food!“

“I've visited almost every Olive Garden in and around Orlando, and this one is definitely one of the best. The service and the chef at this restaurant are excellent. They just need to improve the sangria; I usually go for a bottle of wine, but yesterday I wanted to try the sangria and I was really disappointed. It wasn't really sangria; it was more like a cocktail loaded with too much sugar.“

“Sue and I have not been to this place since they converted to sit-down and order. Finally joining the real restaurant world. We have eaten here about 20 times in the last few years and have always enjoyed the food, but felt strange with the get-your-own-drink aspect of it. Anyways, we are seated at our favorite booth, Perry Como, Elvis, Dean Martin, and Sinatra (the usual suspects) crooning at a comfortable level, with decent speakers. Oscar greeted us and took our drinks order, leaving a couple of rather impressive menus with us. We spent some time looking at the menu, as the format has changed somewhat. I ordered the shrimp marsala on linguine, Sue ordered the same on some other pasta noodle (You choose). After a reasonable interval, our food arrived. 2 huge bowls of deliciousness thick enough that it could have been called a stew. Lrt me tell you, I've been to restaurants that the orders contained little meat, little mushrooms, and a LOT of broth. Not here! These bowls were crammed with a ton of food. Shrimp, portobella mushrooms and pasta that was not overcooked. I gotta tell you, Sue and I dine out a LOT...various venues all over WG/Ocoee/Windermere/Clermont. This was probably the finest meal I ever had. The improvements the restaurant made are A+ Definitely worth dropping a hundy on.“

“Thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at the Olive Gardens with Abbigail as our server. She was exceptional in her service....personable, pleasant, and prompt with the meal. She made our whole experience so pleasurable and the reason we returned for a second meal on our last night in Kissimmee before heading home to Canada! Thank you!
Carolyn Robertson“

“Delicious food and amazing service !!“

“Peperoncino’s was absolutely amazing! The menu offered such a fantastic variety, and every dish was cooked to perfection. The desserts were a true delight, and the service couldn’t have been better. Our server, Daniel, was a joy—his menu descriptions were spot on and made the experience even more enjoyable. We can’t wait to come back, and I highly recommend you visit too!“

“Last night me and my wife had a great time here. The server was great, very attentive, it was busy last night so we still got our food fresh and on time. We really enjoyed it thanks olive gardens for the hospitality and the amazing food and staff.“

“it was a Great experience friendly staff and and great food and went home stuffed“

“This restaurant is located in the renovated food court of Florida mall. I usually have reservations about mall food, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good our meals were. My caprese sandwich was DELICIOUS, and my spouse's pasta was fresh and flavorful. If I had to nitpick, I would suggest that the price for the pasta plate should be around $13.50 instead of $15.“

“Amazing food and service! I real gem to have here in Windermere!“

“We came rolling into Orlando after a long day of traveling! We were all very hungry for some good pizza! V Pizza did not disappoint us! Our 13 year old granddaughter kept saying it was some of the best pizza she'd ever eaten! As previous owners of a pizza restaurant, we thought our pizzas were pretty amazing! The staff was very friendly and eager to serve us. The restaurant was clean and had very modern decor. We will probably go back before returning home!“

“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!“

“The hotel is beautiful, huge, rooms were great, lots of choices on places to eat. HUGE DOWNSIDE…. Parking!!! There was a cheering competition here(no I didn’t know when we booked or we wouldn’t have!) so we had to park about a mile away from the hotel every time we wanted to come and go, even though we have handicap parking they didn’t have any spots only a couple that have been taken since we got here. And don’t forget anything you need. Lol Hubby ran out of cigarettes, ran down to the little market downstairs. $18.00 a pack.“

“Amazing setting, music, and food. Everything is very presentable, and fresh.“

“The food is amazing.The bartenders are friendly and efficient. My friends and I try to go at least once a month for happy hour .“

“I consider myself a ‘Chicken Marsala’ connoisseur and I have to tell you, this place is outstanding. If Francisco is in the kitchen, your food is going to be out of this world. I come here 2-3x/week, that’s how much I love it. I also highly recommend their Bucatini Bolognese, my children love it. Very large portion sizes (big enough that I split 1 Bolognese into two bowls and my 8 + 5 year old can hardly finish it) , friendly staff and small restaurant vibes, 10/10 for me! - Elizabeth Woollcombe-Clarke“