Vincenzo Cucina Italiana

My fiancé and I have had our eye on Vincenzo Cucian Italiana for a while now and finally decided to check it out. We ordered off the happy hour menu which takes place every day from 4−7pm. We ordered and loved the following items, the BRASATO –Braised Grass Fed Angus Boneless Short Rib, mushroom in a masala sauce. This dish came with three pieces of short rib and we were very surprised by how big the pieces were. The meat was tender and the masala sauce was delicious. Our second dish was the Piadina di Manzo — Flat Bread grass fed beef, organic mushrooms, mozzarella, arugula, and truffle oil. I’d say this one was my favorite mainly because I love truffle oil. I’d also say it was the best flat bread I’ve ever had. The last dish we ordered was the calamari Fritta. The calamari is different than any others I’ve tried at other restaurants because it is lightly fried. This didn’t bother me but don’t be disappointed if you have crispy fried calamari in mind because that’s not what you will get. Overall the food was great, we will definitely be coming back to try the veal off their dinner menu. The service was great and the restaurant is beautiful. The only down fall I’d say is that sitting outside in their patio area may not be your best option since the restaurant is right next to Kings Bowl. The music and the people next door interrupt the mood of Vincenzo so I would not recommend outdoor dining.

Very good, great atmosphere, much better than the chains, like Olive Garden. Reminds me of being on a cruise. Everything came out hot and fresh, and the timing between courses was just right.

Absolutely amazing food and a wonderful dining experience! Arnoldo and Fernando were our servers and they were absolutely fantastic. You would do yourself a great disservice to not done here while in Orlando.
I highly recommend the tiramisu and Crème brûlée for dessert, they are a dream!

EXCELLENT! Very pleased from the bartender to our waiter. The food was excellent. We tried the meatball with polenta for and appetizer which was the best meatball we have ever eaten and we have had some really good ones. The Caesar salad which was fresh and just the perfect amount and flavor of dressing. Plus the croutons were homemade.
My husband had the Sea Bass and it was out of this world. I had Pasta Fagioli soup as I was so full.
Wine suggestions were perfect.
We hope to visit before we leave.

Nice clean place. Empty on Sunday night.
Seated promptly and waiter came right over. Glass of Italian red not bad but $ 12.
Ceasar salad pretty good but pasta terrible. Ragu would have been major improvement. Sorry would not return.

Ate at Vincenzo’s for the 1^st time this evening. Geno was our waiter and he did a superb job. We had the carpaccio and bruschetta for appetizers. Both were delicious. I had been jonesing for spaghetti carbonara and it was exactly what I had anticipated, rich and creamy. The wife had the pasta special with scallops and filet in a rich lobster sauce. It was awesome. We finished off the meal with a cannoli and a fruit tort. Both were great tasting. We also had an excellent bottle of chianti that went well with everything we had. They had live entertainment also. We will definitely be returning.

Visited Orlando for a quick weekend get away and was craving Italian after going to Magic Kingdom so I found on Unilocal and called to confirm that there was no wait for dinner and headed over.
Location: Located right off of international drive pretty much next to variety of restaurants/​bars shops. It’s inside a strip mall and has free valet parking.
I did not get to part-​take due to a spot coming open right in front of the restaurant in the parking lot.
Décor: Very clean and classy. Nothing over the top. Tables were spread out I thought with plenty of space. You aren’t sitting next to or on top of others.
Food:
Noticed all the other tables had bread, but we didn’t get any for a bit. So was wondering whether we were going to get it. It finally came out with the plate of balsamic vinegar/​oil with some pepper flakes. The bread was nice and crunchy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside possible delay due to it being freshly baked?. Consistency was that of sourdough but tasted like italian bread. Definitely felt like it was made in-​house and it was absolutely delicious.
Ordered Zuppa di Pesce to start and it came out minutes after the bread. Perfect timing as we used the extra bread to soak up the sauce. It was absolutely amazing. Probably one of the best tasting appetizers I’ve had in a really long time. There was italian bread right in the center of the bowl as well to suck up the sauce and it just made it that much more tastier.
For Entrees we ordered Pollo Alla Parmigiana, Orecchiette Con Salsiccia, and Fettuccine All ‘Ortolana.
Portion sizes were all just right the pasta was cooked perfectly. Everything was tasty. My wife and sister in law agreed that it was one of the better Italian food we had in a while.
Drinks we had a glass of prosecco, 2 beers (moretti) and a glass of malbac.
Overall it’s a great restaurant. Very spacious and Food is amazing. When we go back to Orlando, we’ll definitely grab dinner here again.

Pretty disappointed, after the glowing reviews. The food, though expensive, was just so-​so in quality. The server, though high energy, was remarkably inattentive. We had to wait more than five minutes to get his attention several times. In one instance I finally gave up and grabbed another fellow! We should have gone to the nearby Carrabba’s.

I was there 6 months ago and everything was ok so I bought few $ 40 for $ 20 coupons. This time, I went back to use the coupon and ordered their pork shank and salmon. To my surprise, the pork is dry and salty and there is no way for me to recommend. The more surprise is that they refused to redeem my coupon and only considered it as $ 30 instead of $ 40. Now I have to call Unilocal to cancel my coupons because the food is no good and they can’t honor their coupon.

We had a lovely evening — relaxed and with attention and beautiful timing. One of my daughters really loved her food and the rest of us found it a bit tasteless but we still had a great time. Our waiter was the slowest of the slow but a very nice man. I don’t think I’ll be heading back but we did enjoy ourselves.

Following a business conference on ¹⁄₇ we hosted our dinner at Vincenzo Cucina Italiana. From the start to end the owner Josie was an absolute delight to work with. The entire event was the perfect flow. She even helped arrange transportation, the moment we entered the restaurant we were greeted & started having our glasses filled. The servers were very experienced in fine dining & friendly. Not only is the food authentic so are the people! There were over 60 people — some wine aficionados & they were please with the selections.
The food — so delicious! We had many courses served family style & everything was amazing. Josie even made me a vegetarian option. I highly recommended this place!

We took our three adults kids out to dinner and to ride the Orlando Eye. Since I had read here that this restaurant was good, we decided to try it. Well… First it is VERY expensive! My husband order the linguini in white sauce with fish, which was very good. I had order the chicken caprese and that was TERRIBLE! The chicken was dry and fill of gristle. It was actually nasty tasting!. My son order chicken parmigiana which he stated it was okay. My step son and step daughter order spaghetti and meatballs… and u really can’t go wrong with that dish. I also had two glasses of wine… no dessert, one bottle of sparkling water, two sodas costs us…$ 189. I guess we paid for the location verses having good Italian food. I give this place 2 stars. I’m not having good luck finding a good Italian restaurant!!!

Early arrival to Orlando today had us seeking a nice dinner a bit earlier then normal and our choice came very highly recommended by our concierge. After all it was an important dinner with my love celebrating his 50^th birthday. That and his love of basic good homemade Italian food. We arrived early and were welcomed at the bar where we had perfect drinks served by a nice guy friendly and the bar was spotless.
After a few drinks we were escorted to a table of our choosing for dinner. A robust, neat and well presented gentleman was our server. He was excellent. Covered all the details and cared for us very well.
The salads were fresh, crisp, nicely chilled and delicious. The Caesar was basic with warm homemade croutons and a nice shaved cheese garnish. I enjoyed the Pear and Gorgonzola salad. It was very nice, fresh lite and I finished every bite. Something has me thinking I will be thinking about that salad again on this trip!
Our entrees were delivered in a perfectly timed spaced fashion. My partner enjoyed Meatballs, Spaghetti with Marinara. He loved it. The meatballs were well made. Juicy flavorful and delicious. I ordered what I missed yesterday… That’s right the Turkey Dinner. I was asked if I preferred white meat or dark. I said both and I was served a very large drum stick with perfect skin and juicy awesome meat. There were also a generous portion of white meat slices. Fresh carved then stacked on a large football platter with a mountain of mashed potatoes, obviously homemade and seasoned to perfection, smooth & creamy. There was a generous portion of a sausage sage stuffing that was without a doubt the best I’ve ever had. The platter has a nice amount of awesome turkey gravy. On the side there were three 2″ pinwheels of roasted corn on the cob. Very good!
During our early dinner we were able to watch a well appointed professional staff prepare for a busy evening. They were paying attention to every detail. Shining the silverware and glasses. Setting perfectly delightful tables.
If your in Orlando and near the Eye between International Drive and Universal don’t miss out on not just dinner but a dining experience.

I’m a big fan of Unilocal so I went looking for a place in Orlando. On vacation here this week so we didn’t have a clue as to where to go. Anyway, we decided to try this place.
It was after 9 pm and the waiter didn’t look to happy to see us. I guess he saw the 8 year old and figured we wouldn’t be spending enough money. Long story short. The food was good and the wine was just as good. I would have given them a 4 star review but the waiter just didn’t seem happy nor did he want my wife to ask anymore question. Bill was 217.00 and still gave him a 44.00 tip. I shouldn’t have but I did. I would go back and next time request somebody else.

Deserves full review and I’ll modify this later. I want to get in a big 4.5-STAR positive.
In short: One of the much better Italian in the greater Orlando area that I can find, and I’ve hit them all by now. Culinarily nearly untouchable in the Italian meat classics — they’re all here, and all good. The pastas are fresh and delicious.
Service is not perfect, but this visit was a weeknight and my (older, experienced) waiter did know his stuff. He just wasn’t attentive enough, and forgot things that should not be forgotten in ordinary service for this level of restaurant (4-​star, medium-​fine dining).
Atmosphere: I’m an outside diner, but here it’s a view of a parking lot. Yeah. Only bummer.
Pasta is so fresh you can’t believe it, and perfectly cooked, stuffed with the finest ingredients and topped with the perfect sauces — never over– or under– topped.
Bread and salads good. Caesar has just the right amount of anchovy — just enough to barely taste.
Desserts near perfection, properly prepared in traditional fashion.
I do recommend Vincenzo. It’s among the top of my list for Italian.

The highest quality food and service I have yet to have here in Orlando.
The food is exquisite! The serving sizes are reflective of real Italian eats. The gnocchi was life altering, and the cannoli had tastes reminiscent of Sicily. The owners are the sweetest and the wait staff accommodating and personable. When I came it was very busy and there was a wait for the main meal to arrive but the wait staff was very good about communicating the delays, and even were surprised with a dessert tray from the owner as a thanks for being patient with the unusual long wait for food. The owners and staff also demonstrated the utmost class in handling an arrogant customer who at one point in his rudeness grabbed his waiter violently. The owners still tried to do everything they could to meet the disrespectful guest’s request. I wish I weren’t just here on vacation because I would come here on a weekly basis. IT’S A MUST for any Italian cuisine lover!

Gutes Essen echt Italienisch. Carbonara hat einen seltsamen Nachgeschmack, könnte am Speck liegen. Ist aber sicher Geschmacksache.

A true hidden gem in the center of city beautiful! This Italian restaurant is nothing short of superb. From their seasonal menu to their decadent appetizers, this whole place is off the charts.
Our server Joey was excellent and did a great job serving us. All of the staff was fantastic. We will be back very soon.
Indoor and outdoor sections of the restaurant look spectacular. The bar is stunning.
The gnocchi was fresh, the veal was soft, the cheeses melted in your mouth, and the dessert was mind-​blowing.
All in all, I can’t believe I had not been here before. Dreaming of our next visit.

When you love Italian cuisine as much as I do, how could you resist not having the honor of doing the 100^th review for the absolute BEST Italian restaurant in your home city of Orlando?
First, there’s been a lot of hubbub and big reps thrown around alot of restaurants. If you want to take advice from a guy who travels the world on business 7 months a year, I can tell you, Vincenzo’s deserves the mantle most say. Big time.
This place does so many things right, that you realize it’s not an accident how thoughtfully they have designed their interior, exterior, and of course, their food.
The first thing that you notice upon arrival is that the parking lot fills up quick. No problem, complimentary valet provided by VCI (Vincenzo’s) .
When you walk up to the door, you already notice a nice café like area outside that is covered, so people can enjoy eating outside without being sunburned. There is also a outside lounge with comfortable couches. Thoughtful probably for those who smoke (which I don’t btw) or want to relax with a date and have a nice drink.
The interior of Vincenzo’s is contemporary and has a feel on the elegant side, but not too stuffy.
The owner Josie is usually the first person to greet you and seats you. She is a real Italian as is her husband. In fact, it seems everyone that works there from the chefs to the wait staff are Italian. So, you know they have no excuses for not making great Italian food.
For starters, the Zuppa Di Pesce is a delicious concoction of seafood. All fresh and served on top of Italian bread. Be careful, it’s almost like a meal in itself.
I’m a sucker for Caprese and their’s is amazing. The tomatoes are extraordinary and the fresh Bufala mozzarella is so tasty. This is not ordinary ingredients you get at wal-​mart grocery. It was explained later that all their veggies come from local farmers. Wow.
On my second visit I decided to experiment on the appetizer, so I tried the Polpo (baby octopus). I admit I was a bit nervous, but the Grilled and wrapped in cucumber dish was very tasty and they don’t go skimpy on the amount. A very fresh, nice tasting dish, even for me who is a not so keen seafood eater.
Entrée: pasta of course. The definition of Italian food. If a place can’t make a good Italian pasta dish, then what’s the point of going further, right?
I tried the Pappardelle Al Cinghiale. Braised wild boar (wonder if from the local farmers, too) with Porcini mushrooms in cherry tomato sauce. A gorgeous dish. I love it that they put just the right amount of sauce where it’s not soupy and not too dry. I like being able to taste my pasta. And so filling! Barely could finish this.
Of course you can’t leave here without dessert. (I’ll burn it off at the tennis courts tomorrow. Promise.) They have a separate dessert chef. So duh. You have to have one. I can’t remember the fancy name but it was a lemon like cake and very light and refreshing taste. Every bit of it made from scratch on site. The head master chef, Chef Vincenzo, recommended it himself as he came by my table. How could I refuse? And of course, the presentation was gorgeous and the taste as good as you’d expect.
Josie came by once more to check up on us. I love that even though it’s a fine dining atmosphere, you still have that personal Italian family feel. How can you beat that?
They also have a beautiful bar that looks like it belongs in an upscale night club. And it always has people there. I’m going to have to go back and try it next time while eating whatever Italian dish I choose to devour that night.
Little known fact is the owners here (all family), also own another highly rated restaurant named Ciao Italia down the street (which I’m dying to try). They have been in business 24 years. Which explains why Vincenzo’s is so far ahead of the curve compared to most fine dining restaurants, whether Italian or not.
Let you in on a secret, if you eat there at least once and ask if they do anything for regulars, they will bring you a VIP card. 15% off your food bill. For EVERYTIME you come back! Say what?! I’m suspicious how long these cards will be given out so I’d go there sooner than later to become a member. (kinda cool like a secret Italian handshake club where even Asians are allowed in. yes I’m Korean. Look at my profile :))
Anyhoot, in conclusion, Vincenzo was voted the #1 Italian restaurant by the Orlando Sentinel as well as being top rated here on Unilocal and many other accolades now, and I suspect, many more in the future. And you know what? They deserve them all.
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under Charlie Dragon

I spent a wonderful evening having dinner at Vincenzo. As expected, I wasn’t disappointed. The food, people, and the ambiance equate to one happy patron!
Tonight, the restaurant had a private party of 95 people. As one would expect, it was busy. The waiters were busying tending to the group. I sat at my usual corner at the bar watching tv, talking to the bartender, and having a quiet meal. Even though it was packed, the patrons at the bar and outside on the patio were not ignored. It is what I would call top-​notch customer service that Disney would envy.
I had couple glasses of the house Chianti and my dinner consisted a bowl of soup and classic Bruschetta. The main entrée was pollo alla caprese. I ended my dinner with a double espresso. Each dish was fantastic. I even went to the owner to say compliments to the chef. It doesn’t get any better than that.
My friends, there is no fluke. This is a fantastic authentic Italian restaurant that an Italian nonna (grandmother) would be very happy and give her blessings eating here.
Buon Appetito!

This is based solely on our experience with Magical Dining Month. We came here on a Saturday afternoon on a triple date with 2 other couple friends of ours. Both noobs to the whole MDM experience so we were excited. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the excitement.
The food was delicious. I opted for the caprese salad and my lady had the lobster bisque. Caprese had fresh buffalo mozzarella and a freshly picked sprig of basil. The bisque was creamy with subtle chunks of lobster in it! Amazing! The main course, I had the surf and turf with a filet and the lady had the gnocchi. The gnocchi was pretty good, nice zesty sauce. Mine however, was a little forgettable. It might have been because I just had an amazing filet from Ruth’s Chris a few days ago, but this was served not exactly sizzling hot on my plate. And not exactly as delicious. A solid steak, but not amazing. Dessert was the poached pear which was standard and the trio of gelato… also good. The strawberry flavor tasted like sorbet and the the macadamian was my favorite.
So on to the bad part. Unfortunately, where this place fell short was the service. Maybe it was our expectations that this was a little bit of a fine dining place, but our waiter was not exactly a good one. Maybe it’s because we asked for the MDM menu that he felt like he didn’t need to turn on the waiter charm. But he instantly cleared away the wine glasses without giving us a chance to order wine. When he would serve he was always in our personal space without apologizing. If i didn’t move, he would’ve elbowed me in the eye when he was packing our leftovers. He didn’t really ask us how the food was. I’ve read reviews where people had amazing waiters, but unfortunately we didn’t this evening.
Maybe next year, I’ll give it another chance, but for now, I won’t be making the special trip to I-​drive to grab Italian…

Essen gehen ist in den USA im Normalfall anders als bei uns. Restaurants zu finden, die keiner Kette angehören, ist nicht ganz so einfach. Das Vincenzo war ein Tipp aus dem Hotel, wo wir nach einem guten Italiener gefragt haben. — Die Einrichtung: etwas ungemütlich, wie meistens ziemlich kalt, weil in den Restaurants die Klimaanlage immer sehr niedrig eingestellt ist (warum eigentlich???). — Das Essen: wirklich gut, auch das Brot vorweg. Der Salat ist wie üblich klein und nicht als Mahlzeit geeignet, der Fisch war richtig gut, die Nudeln sehr schmackhaft. — Der Service: sehr freundlich, aufmerksam und unprätentiös. Äs mir gefiel: vom Wein, den wir ausgesucht hatten, wurde uns abgeraten. Und ein sehr sehr guter anderer empfohlen, übrigens im der gleichen Preislage. — Fazit: gerne wieder. Nur ein Abzug, weil es tatsächlich zu teuer war.