Tutto Italia Ristorante at EPCOT: Classic Italian Food – Is it Worth the Cost?
With the World Showcase featuring cuisine from renowned chefs around the world, there’s certainly no shortage of dining options at EPCOT.
You’ll likely want to experience at least one of these EPCOT dining experiences for yourself. The question is – which one?
If you’re a fan of Italian food and looking for an authentic experience, Tutto Italia Ristorante at the Italy Pavillion might be the place for you! But before you make that reservation, let’s take a look at what this restaurant has to offer.
Benvenuta! – Welcome to Italy
The entire Italy pavilion at EPCOT is beautifully designed. The replica statues, beautiful fountain, and overall ambiance make it a fantastic spot to visit during your trip. Similarly, Tutto Italia Ristorante leans into that authentic Italian experience with its design and décor, inviting you into a space that’s truly elegant with being gaudy.
The dining room features wall-length murals depicting Roman arches and outdoor spaces, large chandeliers, and dark wood. It’s a warm, welcoming space that lets you forget you’re even in Walt Disney World. Indeed you’ve just stepped into an establishment located in Lombardy or Tuscany.
One side of the restaurant is lined with large windows that provide pleasant natural lighting and a lovely view of the Italy Pavilion. The Ristorante’s outdoor patio is a popular spot to eat in nice weather. The patio isn’t as lavishly decorated as indoors, allowing it to be a more laid-back location. Eating outside also cuts down on the noise, giving you a more intimate dining experience.
Located adjacent to Tutto Italia Ristorante is Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar, and it shares a kitchen (and wine selection!) with the restaurant. The décor and theming are primarily the same (except with a greater emphasis on wine than full-service meals), but it offers a cozier, more intimate experience than the main dining room. They also only offer small plates.
Pasta and Plenty More!
Unlike some restaurants, Tutto Italia Ristorante doesn’t boast a specialty dish that’s considered a “must try.” You can order any dish from the menu and feel satisfied knowing you’ve had the whole Ristorante experience.
(Photo: Unsplash)
While pasta is certainly a highlight (as it is with most Italian restaurants), there’s plenty more to the menu. Tutto Italia Ristorante offers a nice variety of dishes with fish, chicken, and beef entrees. The bread service is included in your meal, and the hard, crusty rolls go well with the olive oil dipping sauce. Bread is served with green olives…which may or may not be seen as a bonus, LOL.
The dishes have impressive Italian names, but don’t let them intimidate you – they aren’t actually that fancy. Most of them are American takes on Italian favorites and are served up in generous portions so you won’t leave hungry. Given that Disney cuisine is made to appeal to as many patrons as possible, this fare isn’t unusual. While you won’t find any surprises on the menu, you will have a selection of yummy classics.
In addition, the Ristorante also offers a vast selection of authentic Italian wines at various price points. The wine selection – over a hundred options! – may appeal to some parkgoers, especially those who enjoy hard-to-find vintages or like exploring new flavors. We recommend trying a wine flight so you can sample several selections for an affordable price.
Dining at the Ristorante
Before you book a family dinner at Tutto Italia Ristorante, make sure you know what to expect from the meal.
Good for Date Nights
To be frank, this isn’t really a place we’d recommend taking the whole family. While children would absolutely be welcome, it doesn’t have many options that appeal to younger palettes or much excitement for the little ones. The ambiance, however, is perfect for a date night at EPCOT. It’s elegant without feeling too kitschy and manages to maintain an intimate feeling when you’re seated. That’s not always easy on Disney property! (Plus, as the Lady and the Tramp have proven, spaghetti is the most romantic dish out there.)
Disney restaurants often cater to large crowds so that the dining rooms can get loud. Tutto Italia Ristorante is no exception, but when it’s not too crowded, it is a lovely spot to relax. Nevertheless, if possible, you may ask to be seated outside for a quieter experience.
Reservations Recommended (But Not Always Necessary)
These days, it’s more difficult than ever to find good walk-up options for table service restaurants at Walt Disney World. We always recommend booking a dining reservation in advance if you want to secure your spot at a favorite restaurant. That being said, Tutto Italia Ristorante is easier to book than Via Napoli (the other full-service restaurant in Italy) or other signature dining on this side of the EPCOT World Showcase.
Minimal Disney Ambience
For us, this restaurant doesn’t feel like Disney – which can be good or bad, depending on what you’re after! You won’t find anything overtly kitschy or celebrating Mickey and his friends. There are no characters to meet or bright colors that harken back to Disney classics. In fact, you won’t find any references to Disney other than on the menu and the occasional specialty dessert menu. As we said, the kid’s menu is minimal and not terribly exciting (even by picky eater standards). It may not be the best choice if you want to experience that signature Disney Magic with your meal.
Overall Experience
Ultimately, the food is decent but not necessarily worth the Disney price tag – unless you’re missing an excellent Italian restaurant back home. They don’t offer any specialty dishes that make the place a must-visit, and the cannoli – while promising – isn’t worth the cost of a full meal. Even mediocre Disney food is still delicious, but this just lacks the flair we expect when dining at EPCOT. This isn’t even the best Italian food at the Italy Pavilion! For that, we recommend snagging a reservation at the coveted Via Napoli nearby for excellent pizza and a few other dishes. For even better Italian cuisine, we suggest visiting Enzo’s Hideaway at Disney Springs.
Still, Tutto Italia Ristorante is delicious theme park food! (This is Disney, after all!) The biggest drawback is how expensive it is for traditional American Italian dishes. It’s hard to really recommend this restaurant when EPCOT has so many unique options. However, we’d love to know what you think! Is Tutto Italia Ristorante a hit with your family? Let us know in the comments below!
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Photo: Unsplash
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