Best/Authentic Italian

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I just returned from a trip to Germany, and we went to several little Italian restaurants and my German friends assured me that they were run by Italians and that it was what real Italian food tasted like. I fell in love with every dish I had at all the Italian restaurants, and I just don't think any Italian restaurants I've eaten at in the US can compare. Can anyone tell me if any of the Italian restaurants at WDW might be able to match my experience in Germany? I'm thinking maybe the Epcot ones...

I appreciate any response, I am just dying to have food that tastes like that again.

 

[mrspopeye]

Well, I have been to the real Italy and Epcot Italy, and there is no better food on the planet than the real thing. I have had pizza in Naples, bruschetta in Rome and spaghetti in Florence, and gelato in all three. I have only eaten at Via Napoli, and it was better than your average Epcot fare, but still not that good.

 

[Irish_Mike]

Nowhere will be as good as the real Italy. It's just fact.

Tutto Italia is great though. I love the atmosphere, service and the food is nearly as great as the real stuff in the homeland.

 

[Mmmitrani]

being married to an authentic Italian family, I've had my fair share of amazing Italian food.

For sure, this is not the "real" thing...but our lunch at Tutto Italia on our honeymoon was one of our best of the trip. The food and setting just swept us away for a wonderful experience.

Definitely worth a try in my opinion!

 

[JimmyV]

Bear in mind that trying to squeeze "Italian Food" into a box is like trying to squeeze American food into a box. Is it a cold lobster roll with mayo like in Maine, or is it a warm lobster roll with butter like in Connecticut. Is it vinegar based barbecue from Carolina, sauced ribs in KC, dry rub from Memphis or brisket from Texas. All of these regional differences that we have here are found in Italy in spades. What I am getting at is that we have no way of knowing what you had in Germany and fell in love with. Was if the food of Naples?, Amalfi?, Rome?, Bologna?, Genoa?, Venice?, Milan?, Abruzzi?, Palermo?

I'm not sure that any of the Italian food at WDW is "authentic" in a way such that one could uproot the restaurant, move it to Italy, and find instant success. That said, in order of overall quality, authenticity aside, I would rate them:

Worth trying:
Il Mulino
Via Napoli
Tutto Italia

Avoid:
Mama Melrose
Tony's

 

[vettegirl]

Our lunch at Tutto was the highlight of our last trip.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Bear in mind that trying to squeeze "Italian Food" into a box is like trying to squeeze American food into a box. Is it a cold lobster roll with mayo like in Maine, or is it a warm lobster roll with butter like in Connecticut. Is it vinegar based barbecue from Carolina, sauced ribs in KC, dry rub from Memphis or brisket from Texas. All of these regional differences that we have here are found in Italy in spades. What I am getting at is that we have no way of knowing what you had in Germany and fell in love with. Was if the food of Naples?, Amalfi?, Rome?, Bologna?, Genoa?, Venice?, Milan?, Abruzzi?, Palermo?

I'm not sure that any of the Italian food at WDW is "authentic" in a way such that one could uproot the restaurant, move it to Italy, and find instant success. That said, in order of overall quality, authenticity aside, I would rate them:

Worth trying:
Il Mulino
Via Napoli
Tutto Italia

Avoid:
Mama Melrose
Tony's

That is a very good point about the different regions. And thank you to everyone else as well, I knew I probably wouldn't be able to replicate how incredible the food was...I guess I'll just need to go back to Europe

Sounds like the consensus may be Tutto or Il Mulino.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have been to every Italian place in WDW and the most authentic is Il Mulino at the Swan followed by Tutto Italia and then Via Napoli

Mama Melrose and Tonys in MK is more like Olive Garden or Carabbas

 

[Pakey]

Although I enjoy Il Mulino's food, it doesn't taste anything like the wonderful dishes I had in Italy (which tasted nothing like the food made by my American Italian family). I do not care for the food at Tutto at all. I think Via Napoli, for a wood fired pizza, is okay but I didn't go there expecting authentic food.

 

[WalterWhite]

Via Napoli pizzas are absolutely to die for.

 

[RMulieri]

Epcot is good for AMERICANIZED italian food.If you want real ,authentic Italian, go to Italy

 

[TheTurners]

Eating at Pizzafari in AK is like feasting on authentic canapés in Tuscany.

 

[tinacaplan]

We've had excellent meals at Tutto and Via Napoli...as for authenticity... well the PPs have summed that one up pretty well. What I do know is that the food that I had both Tutto and Via Napoli tasted fresh and delicious, not like chain-restaurant food, but was it transcendent? No.

 

[FireDancer]

I grew up with family off the boat from Sicily and nothing has come close to what they made or what I ate in while in Italy. Nothing at WDW will even really compare with some of the places in Cleveland's Little Italy.

The closest I've had was at Portobello at WDW.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Yeah I think I get the picture now, authentic food can't really be replicated but you guys have given me some good choices that I may be able to enjoy on their own merits.

Also, I live in Columbus so I might have to go to Cleveland to try some of these Little Italy places, especially if they come the closest to real Italian food.

 

[BLTLDZ]

Well I seem to be in the minority here, and maybe I am spoiled from my grandmother that lived in Italy, BUT Il Mulino, in both my & my DH's opinion, was awful

We are trying Tutto for dinner in october, and we really enjoyed Via Napoli for lunch in december.

 

[FireDancer]

Yeah I think I get the picture now, authentic food can't really be replicated but you guys have given me some good choices that I may be able to enjoy on their own merits.

Also, I live in Columbus so I might have to go to Cleveland to try some of these Little Italy places, especially if they come the closest to real Italian food.

Here is a list. You can't go wrong anywhere but I prefer Trattoria on the Hill and Mia Bella.

 

[TDC Nala]

No way you are going to find anything that authentic at WDW. But try Il Mulino. Although no matter where you go at WDW I think you might be disappointed if you are expecting things to taste the way they taste in Europe.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Well I seem to be in the minority here, and maybe I am spoiled from my grandmother that lived in Italy, BUT Il Mulino, in both my & my DH's opinion, was awful

We are trying Tutto for dinner in october, and we really enjoyed Via Napoli for lunch in december.

I know! Everyone has different opinions its hard to choose!

Here is a list. You can't go wrong anywhere but I prefer Trattoria on the Hill and Mia Bella.

I am definitely going to try out some of these places next time I go to Cleveland, thank you

No way you are going to find anything that authentic at WDW. But try Il Mulino. Although no matter where you go at WDW I think you might be disappointed if you are expecting things to taste the way they taste in Europe.

I agree with this, I was just so desperate before to taste something comparable to what I'd had. Its tough though to pick Il Mulino when I'm at the Swan and Dolphin because I reeeally love Kimono's over there.

 

[mama03]

Our kitchen in a 1 bedroom DVC

I married an italian and learned not only from his momma but family in sicily.
Sorry really can't help since I rarely go out for italian food. Did try pizza at Via Napoli, not bad.