Italian

Italian

*Antonio’s 611 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland 407-645-5523; The Fountains, 7559 West Sand Lake Road, Dr. Phillips 407-363-9191; 691 Front Street, Celebration 407-566-2233. antoniosonline.com L-D daily. Greg Gentile oversees four Antonio’s restaurants—two fine-dining establishments and two casual trattoria—in three parts of town, each offering high-quality Italian meals. Price: $$-$$$$ Credit cards: All hn

Bice Portofino Bay Hotel, Universal Orlando, 5601 Universal Boulevard, Orlando 407-503-1415. biceorlando.com D daily. Tucked into an upstairs corner at the Portofino, Bice brings Orlando the seductive pastas, risottos and entrées that have made the chain an Italian favorite in 50 other locations around the world. Price: $$$-$$$$ Credit cards: AE DC MC V hn

Brio Tuscan Grille Winter Park Village, 480 North Orlando Avenue, Winter Park 407-622-5611; Mall at Millenia, 4200 Conroy Road, Orlando 407-351-8909. brioitalian.com L-D daily; BR Sat.-Sun. With a grand, sophisticated design and an up-to-date Tuscan menu of dishes prepared on the grill or in the wood-burning oven, Brio buzzes with the sounds of happy, well-dressed diners. Price: $$-$$$$ Credit cards: AE DS MC V h

Cala Bella Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando 407-996-9939. calabellarestaurant.com D daily. Chef Dan Nester’s inspiring Italian fare, including great risotto and lamb chops, is served in a beautiful dining room at this convention hotel. The desserts are great, too. Price: $$$$ Credit cards: All hn

*Christini’s Ristorante Italiano Dr. Phillips Marketplace, 7600 Dr. Phillips Boulevard, Dr. Phillips 407-545-6867. christinis.com D nightly. Talk quietly about your anniversary to your dining companion and the gracious staff at this service-savvy elegant Italian will surprise you with a special dessert. Meanwhile, the strolling musician will serenade you with extra attention. Price: $$$$ Credit cards: All hn

*Enzo’s Restaurant on the Lake 1130 South 17-92, Longwood 407-834-9872. enzos.com L Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. Antipasti of freshly roasted vegetables, marinated seafood and imported salamis begin the feasting at Enzo’s, a long-time family-owned Italian in a sprawling lakeside house. Dover sole is a specialty. Price: $$-$$$$ Credit cards: All hn

Gargi’s Lakeside Italian Ristorante 1414 North Orange Avenue, Orlando 407-894-7907. gargislakeside.com L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. The Panora family offers old-time Italian dishes with impressively gracious service at this waterfront restaurant. Especially good are the lobster fra diablo and the chicken cacciatore. Price: $$$ Credit cards: All hn

Juliana’s 2306 Edgewater Drive, College Park 407-425-1801. julianasorlando.com L-D Mon.-Sat. Carl and Juliana Cherkaoui run a sophisticated, somewhat Tuscan, somewhat Mediterranean dining room on College Park’s main drag. Price: $$$ Credit cards: All

Il Mulino Walt Disney World Swan Resort, 1200 Epcot Resort Boulevard, Lake Buena Vista 407-934-1610. swandolphin.com/ilmulino D daily. New York’s Il Mulino has cloned itself, and the Orlando version is on Disney property. The restaurant brings the flavors of chefs/founders Fernando and Gino Masci to the subtropics. Price: $$$ Credit cards: AE DS MC V hn

*Nonna Trattoria ed Enoteca 1710 Edgewater Drive, College Park 407-649-9770. nonnawinebar.com D Tue.-Sat. Chef-owner Kevin Fonzo takes a modern approach to authentic Italian favorites at this College Park newcomer. Exceptional calamari, fontina and prosciutto fiocchi pasta, and “deconstructed” eggplant parmesan are among the specialites in the warm and casual space. Price: $$$ Credit cards: All n

Primo JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, 4040 Central Florida Parkway, South Orlando 407-206-2300. primorestaurant.com D nightly. After winning the coveted James Beard Award for her Italian-organic cooking in Maine, chef Melissa Kelly, and her pastry-chef husband, Price Kushner, began serving similar foods in the Grande Lakes Marriott here—ably executed by Kathleen Blake. The warm, woodsy restaurant provides creative items such as grilled duck breast with roasted beets, wilted greens, quinoa pilaf and wild Maine huckle-berry jus. Desserts are the very best in town, including honey-lavender crème brûlée. Price: $$$-$$$$ Credit cards: All hn

Ristoranté Tuscany Orlando World Center Marriott Resort, 8701 World Center Drive, Lake Buena Vista 407-239-4200. marriottworldcenter.com D daily. The culinarians at this impressive Italian hotel restaurant use hormone-free meats, sustainable fish and organic produce wherever possible, and import several ingredients from Italy. The delightful menu features the likes of seared scallops over a luscious chicken puree and exceptionally good risotto. Price: $$$ Credit cards: All hn

Silvano’s Ristorante Italiano Ethan Allen Plaza, 249 West Highway 436, Suite 1105, Altamonte Springs 407-862-2551. L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. From-scratch traditional Italian meals—gnocchi with a fresh tomato sauce, tender veal scaloppini sautéed with white wine, lemon and capers, plus a showstopper homemade cheesecake—draw a faithful clientele to this homey space. Price: $$$ Credit cards: All hn