In Epcot’s Italy Pavilion at Walt Disney World, guests have a few dining options.

Via Napoli, located at the rear of the pavilion, is the most well-known — and rightly so. Via Napoli tosses fantastic pizzas using ingredients that come very close to what’s used in Naples, making it one of our favorite places to get pizza in all the World (find out why here!).

Tutto Italia is a lovely Italian restaurant on the left side of the pavilion as you enter. Here diners twirl pasta and enjoy Italian specialties.

And there are two snack stands from which to purchase frozen treats, too: the Gelato Stand and the Donkey Cart. (The Donkey Cart is a particular favorite because of its fun design and (most recently) wine pops!)

But the last option might be the biggest hidden gem of the pavilion: Tutto Gusto. It’s here that diners enter an Italian wine cellar, dine on small plates, and just generally escape the chaos of Epcot’s World Showcase.

There’s a reason we say Tutto Gusto is a hidden gem. In fact, there are several reasons. Let’s head back into the wine cellar to see if Tutto Gusto is still pouring out a special wining and dining experience.

Atmosphere

Tutto Gusto isn’t intentionally hidden from view. In fact, its sign hangs just below the sign for Tutto Italia on the exterior of the space between the two restaurants.

But you’ll have to walk a little deeper into the Italy Pavilion (and ignore the magnetic (or is it mozzarella?) pull of Via Napoli at the back!) to find Tutto Gusto on the left-hand side. Look for the red awning, menus posted outside the entrance, and cast members who are typically stationed there.

Once you enter, leave your Epcot troubles behind because you’re in the wine cellar; and it truly looks like you are. In fact, the lighting is dim in here, and away from the main entrance it can be borderline dark.

But this is intentional. You’re in a wine cellar. Ceilings and some entryways are arched, stone and brick are exposed, and many of the light fixtures resemble candles.

Tables and chairs are done in dark wood tones, and the decor is relatively free of bright colors.

Wine has inspired the light fixtures near the bar, which feature dozens of bottles hanging in rows that disperse light in this space.

The bar itself, with its heavy wood beams and rows of shiny bottles, dominates. Seating at the bar is somewhat limited, but given the overall diminutive size of the restaurant, this makes sense.

Wine is used elsewhere in the decor, too, and if you’re a connoisseur, you’ll likely enjoy perusing the options.

But if you’re not a wine drinker, fret not! You, too, shall hydrate deliciously! There are beers on tap (including Italian options), and there’s a cocktail menu, too.

Tutto Gusto also serves up a tight menu of small plates and desserts, making this a wonderful place to commune with a friend or two, sharing bites and clinking glasses in saluti. Ingredients and more are on display in this case.

Eats

We began our meal as we have in the past: with The Grand Tour. This wine flight is “more than a tasting… [it’s] a journey.”

Specifically the journey includes six wines from around Italy that give the sipper an “in depth” overview. The wines include Prosecco, Verdicchio, Soave, a red from Toscana, and Passito. You receive a small card with information about the wines so if you find one (or six!) you love, you can look for them out in the real world.

The wines are served beautifully on two wooden stands carved with the restaurant’s name.

We thoroughly enjoy The Grand Tour. It’s incredibly relaxing to rest in the air conditioned semi-darkness sipping on lovely wine. It’s a peaceful way to unwind in the middle of a theme park…because it in no way feels like you’re in the middle of a theme park.

And if you want to dine with your wine, there’s a menu for that, too. It consists of Gusto Plates for Two or More, Carne e Pesce, Gusto Specialties, Panini, and Dolci.

We ordered items from both Panini and Gusto Specialties to complement The Grand Tour. (And, as you can see below, we also requested a little extra Parmesan Cream (served in a gravy boat!) because, you know, cheese sauce.

The Parmesan Cream sauce is the same used in our first dish: Petto de Pollo. Petto di Pollo is grilled chicken breast and fettuccine served in the cream sauce.

This verrrrrrry cheesy pasta dish is so high quality you might imagine that a dear chef friend prepared this by hand just for you a la minute. The pasta is al dente and a good vehicle for the sauce. And the chicken is prepared well with a golden sear and plenty of moisture.

Pardon the sun’s over-excitement in this next pic (it loves a good cheese sauce…), but can we get a minute for all that grated Parmesan? Cheese is truly the star of the dish here, and if you love Parm, you may well want to stick a fork in this.

The Panini (“small bread”) come in duos or trios (diner’s choice), making them easily shareable (or not — we support your panini eating unconditionally), and there are five options: Prosciutto di Parma, Fior di Latte Mozzarella & Pomodoro, Carciofi & Fontina, Gorgonzola Cremificato, and Fontina & Salametto.

We went with a duo (served with a wedge salad) that included Prosciutto di Parma and Carciofi & Fontina. The panini rolls are a little different now than in the past (they were pointy and a bit crustier). But these were softer and a little easier to eat (and seemed to be more whole grain), so we aren’t complaining.

Both paninis were simple in their ingredient lists but flavorful. The fontina is one of our favorite cheeses (we followed our fontina with more fontina on a previous visit!), so we really enjoyed the vegetarian preparation of the Carciofi & Fontina, while the Prosciutto packed lots of savory meat flavor.

Whether you go pasta or go panini (or go both or go one of everything), Tutto Gusto retains its hidden gem crown. Which reminds us, we should stop telling everyone how terrific it is… .

Nosh or Not?

Raise a glass in Tutto Gusto if: 

• You love Epcot-ing but not people-ing, so this little getaway is perfect for you.
• Wine is your thing, and you want to enjoy a relaxed setting surrounded by it.
• You’re on a mission to try every iteration of Italian restaurant in Disney World (a noble quest, indeed!).

Walk on by Tutto Gusto if:

• Wine doesn’t do it for you, and the menu isn’t compelling enough otherwise.
• You’re not a big fan of Italian food and ingredients.
• You want to be where the people are, walking around on those Epcot streets and not holed up in a cavern of wine.

Overall

Tutto Gusto is one restaurant in Walt Disney World that serves up consistently good food (and wine!) and that serves as an oasis in the otherwise busy Park. For these reasons, we heartily recommend Tutto Gusto. It’s molto buona, and while we hope it maintains its status as a relatively hidden gem, we also think more people need to know about it! So bring your wine- and pasta-loving self to Tutto Gusto, and enjoy your escape to the cellar.

Want to know more about the eats and drinks in Epcot’s Italy pavilion? Click below for the DFB Guide Epcot Italy Food Tour!

Have you tried Tutto Gusto? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!