One of the most difficult decisions you’ll make in Disney World is where to eat in EPCOT. There are SO many great places to try, and not enough time to try them all! To help you pick the best restaurant possible, we’ve got reviews of ALL of them with information about the prices, food, and quality of each. Today, we’re visiting Tutto Italia Ristorante — should this spot make your must-try list? You’re about to find out.
Tutto Italia is located in the Italy pavilion of EPCOT’s World Showcase. The restaurant has a rich history and is known for serving hearty Italian food in an upscale atmosphere. The vibes here really can be immaculate, but we need to decide whether the food is worth the price and stomach space. Let’s go in!
Tutto Italia is one of the more expensive restaurants in EPCOT. It’s a sit-down restaurant, and you will need reservations to eat here. It’s pricey, but we’ve had some really great Italian food here — some of the best in Disney World, in our humble opinion. Whether that’s worth the cost could be up to you!
Remember that rich history we mentioned? This restaurant’s backstory is fascinating. It opened with EPCOT in 1982, and at the time it was called L’ Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante (affectionately nicknamed “Alfredo’s”). Yes, it was named after Fettucine Alfredo, and that’s because this restaurant was owned and operated by the creator of that famous pasta dish!
If you were looking for authentic Italian food in Disney World, it didn’t get any more authentic than that. In 2007, however, the restaurant closed and then later reopened as Tutto Italia. The ownership changed to the Patina group, and the famous Fettucine recipe was gone. However, it still serves authentic Italian food — just not the original recipe of that particular dish.
For those who want some similar eats without a reservation or who want just a quick snack rather than a full meal, Tutto Gusto is located right next door. This lounge has some of the same menu items as Tutto Italia along with a full wine bar.
Atmosphere
As we mentioned previously, Tutto Italia is a fairly upscale place. There’s a full dining room that tends to be pretty dark, but that low lighting makes it a great option for an intimate meal on date night.
Inside, there are options for tables and chairs or booths.
If you want a more casual vibe, ask to be seated outside on the patio. This patio is covered, but it has a lot more light than the dining room.
Sitting here really feels like you’re at an outdoor café in Italy. You can hear the music from the pavilion, watch people walking by with gelato, and look at the Italy-inspired architecture all around.
Now that we’ve got the lay of the land, let’s take a look at what’s available here.
Menu
You’ll find authentic Italian dishes on the menu here, including selections for Antipasti, Pasta, Secondi course, and Dolci (desserts). The menu is the same for lunch and dinner. Antipasti, or appetizer, options include Tagliere, Calamari, salad, and other shareable starters.
For the Secondi course, there are dishes like Salmon, Parmesan Chicken, Steak, and Beef Short Rib.
The pasta dishes are a bit less expensive than most of the Secondi meals. You can find classics like Ravioli, Spaghetti, Gnocci, Fettuccine, and Lasagna here.
A few kids’ meals provide more familiar choices for the little ones, like Mozzarella Sticks, Pizza, Chicken Tenders, and Spaghetti.
For desserts, you can choose a classic Italian treat like Tiramisù, Cannoli, or Gelato.
The menu is rounded out with a few different options for wine flights.
We got a little something of everything — let’s dig in!
Eats
We’ll start with a couple of drinks and then get to all the tasty food.
Drinks
To drink, we got the Frizzante cocktail. It’s not listed on the normal menu, but you can ask your server for a cocktails/drinks menu when you arrive.
The Frizzante is made with Campari, Blood Orange Purée, and Prosecco. This drink is NOT for people who like sweet or fruity cocktails! It was very bitter because of that Campari, although a hint of sweetness could be detected from the orange.
The main taste was definitely that bitterness, so this drink wasn’t our favorite. However, if you like bitter flavors in your drinks, we think you’ll enjoy this one.
Next, we tried the Italicus Spritz. This one is made with Italicus Rosolio Befgamotto, Prosecco, and a Cerignola Olive.
This drink was much more our style. It was very light and well-balanced, and we could taste notes of citrus. It almost reminded us of Sprite, but with more of a kick of course.
We’re dining at #tuttoitalia in EPCOT tonight and starting with the Italicus Spritz! 🥂
Italicus Rosolio Bergamotto, prosecco and Cerignola olive 🫒 pic.twitter.com/CKV4gGzaE1
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) August 23, 2022
Food
Starting out on the Antipasti menu, we got the Tagliere, which was basically a charcuterie board! Anytime someone offers us a plate of bread, meat, and cheese, you know we’ll say yes. This one is made with Prosciutto di Parma, Salametto, Asiago, Gorgonzola, Fontina, Artichoke Hearts, Grissini, and Cerignola Olives for $39.
That’s a pretty hefty price for a cheese board, although we have to admit that everything on it tasted great. The cheeses were all smooth and creamy, and that bleu cheese really packs a punch. The portion is large enough to serve a few people, although the menu says it’s meant for 2. We think 3-4 people could easily share this as an appetizer, though.
Still — you can get a different (and still super tasty) charcuterie board over at BaseLine Tap House for $10. 😬 So is this one really worth $40? Probably not — but if you’re willing to spend the cash, you won’t be disappointed by the quality.
Next, we had the Calamari Fritti, which is served with a Marinara Piccante for $23.
This dish was SO good! There are only rings on the plate (not tentacles) because the chef prefers the rings, so that’s all they make. The breading on the outside was buttery and crispy, and the meat itself was cooked perfectly.
Time for some Calamari Fritti at #tuttoitalia in EPCOT ✨ #mediaevent pic.twitter.com/iy4CacgIAO
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) August 23, 2022
We loved this dish as well. The eggplant was amazing — it tasted fresh and it was sliced very thin. Our only complaint is that we could have used more cheese on this dish (but we’ll say that about almost everything).
For our Secondi course, we had the Salmone, which is a Pan-seared Filet of Salmon, served with Green Asparagus and an Herb Sauce. It was $34.
The salmon was cooked very well. The meat was very flaky and the crust was crispy and flavorful.
Salmon fans, this one’s for you!
Salmone — pan-seared filet of salmon, green asparagus, herb sauce ✨#tuttoitalia #mediaevent pic.twitter.com/zIdl5i4M0C
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) August 23, 2022
We also had the Manzo Brasato, which is Braised Beef Chuck Short Rib served with Portobello Mushroom Ravioli in a Red Wine Sauce for $42.
This was one of our favorite things that we tried! The beef was so tender that you didn’t even need a knife to cut it. It had a perfect savory flavor, and it doesn’t hurt that the portion size was very large as well.
Manzo Brasato at #tuttoitalia in EPCOT 😋 Our reporter said this was so tender that they didn’t need a knife to cut it — and that the flavor was PERFECT!
Braised beef chuck short rib, portobello mushroom ravioli, red wine sauce. #mediaevent pic.twitter.com/PTbLgpV5eK
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) August 23, 2022
Our last savory dish was from the Pasta menu. It was the Gnocchi Sorrentina, which is Potato Dumplings served with Roasted Tomatoes, Pomodoro Sauce, and Burrata Cheese for $29.
This was pretty good! The burrata cheese on top was our favorite part, and we could’ve used more of it. The red sauce was nice and bright, but we felt that the dish could have used more salt in general.
Gnocchi Sorrentina ✨ at #tuttoitalia in EPCOT!
Potato dumplings, roasted tomatoes, pomodoro sauce, burrata cheese — would you try it? ⬇️#mediaevent pic.twitter.com/XbK7UjM33v
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) August 23, 2022
At the event we attended, they brought in dessert from the nearby Gelateria Toscana.
First, we had the Coppa Amarena for $11.75, which is made with Vanilla Gelato, Amarena Cherry, Amaretto Cookies, Whipped Cream, and Shaved Chocolate.
This dessert was fantastic! We’ve had it recently and really enjoyed it, and it was still very tasty. There’s a strong cherry flavor throughout, so if you like cherries then you’ve got to try this. The vanilla balances that flavor well, and we think it’s refreshing, flavorful, and definitely very sweet.
Next was the “Affogato” Al Cioccolat for $11.75. This is Homemade Hot Chocolate over Vanilla Gelato, Whipped Cream, and a Pizzelle Cookie.
This was basically like frozen hot chocolate! The gelato is made in-house at Gelateria Toscana, and you can tell it’s authentic. If you’re craving a taste of the holidays when it’s still 80+ degrees outside, we think this is the perfect option.
And finally, we rounded out the meal with some Zeppole, which are Ricotta Cheese Fritters for $9. They were topped with a Chocolate Sauce and some Whipped Cream.
These were great! They weren’t super sweet so that chocolate sauce was absolutely a good addition.
The texture of these balls is more like cake, so don’t expect a beignet-type texture (although they certainly look like little beignets from the outside).
Nosh or Not
Spend a luxurious evening at Tutto Italia if:
- You are looking for high-quality, authentic Italian food. This spot has some great options, and everything we tried tasted fresh and well-balanced.
- You need a good date night spot. As we mentioned before, the low lighting and fancy atmosphere make this ideal for a date.
- You have lots of time in EPCOT and want a break inside and away from the heat. You can spend a pretty long time here, as it’s a sit-down meal with options for several courses.
Choose a different place to grab a bite if:
- You’re trying to keep the budget down. Although the food here is great, it’s also pretty expensive. You can find cheaper options at the quick service (fast food) restaurants around EPCOT. Some of our favorites are the Yorkshire County Fish Shop, Regal Eagle Smokehouse, and La Cantina de San Angel.
- You don’t have a lot of time in EPOCT. Again, you’d probably want to opt for a fast food meal so that you don’t spend too much time at the table when you might rather be getting to the rides and shows around the park.
- Italian food is not your favorite. If you’re not a big fan of Italian food, the options here won’t justify the prices. There’s SO MUCH good food in EPCOT, that you can definitely find something that’s more appealing to you. Craving Chinese? Head to Nine Dragons! Looking for some hearty German eats? Biergarten is for you. Want French food so good that Remy himself might have cooked it? We recommend Chefs de France. Just know that there are plenty of options for whatever kind of food you like.
Overall
We had a great time at Tutto Italia in EPCOT. Everything tasted good, and there were a few stand-out dishes that we’ll for sure be back for. We loved the Manzo Brasato and Calamari Fritti, but although we really enjoyed the Tagliere charcuterie board, we think you can get a better deal elsewhere.
If you’re looking for a date night spot in Disney World, this could be just the right choice. However, remember that there are lots of good Italian restaurants around — within walking distance to this spot, in fact. We love Via Napoli for some tasty pizza, and Trattoria al Forno is not a bad option either. Make sure you check out those spots before making your final decision.
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Have you eaten at Tutto Italia Ristorante? What did you think? Tell us in the comments!
Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media event at Tutto Italia Ristorante. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ
jan says
we use to love it here for lunch and you didnt need a reservation, they gladly always accepted us. I guess those days are over since they no longer sadly serve lunch which is a real shame.