real italian food

[dmen]

normally, i do not "try" italian restaurants unless they come highly recommended. having grown up in nj and benefitting from italian restuarants in nyc as well as northern nj and being italian, i am usually cautious in the italian restaurants i choose to visit while on vacation. however, this next trip to wdw, i find myself pondering going to a few:

palio's at the swan
portobello yacht club at DD
delfino riviera at Portofino Bay Hotel
Mama's at Portofino Bay Hotel

i have only been to delfino and it was very good. but i was curious about the others. i would appreciate any honest feedback on this places, from true lovers of italian food!

thank you so much!

 

[KittyCat76]

dmen
Okay, so I've never actually been there, but friends who live in Orlando have told me that PALIO'S is the best, most authentic Italian food you can get in all of WDW. They've been several times, and they've never had a bad meal. I plan on going in December to see what they're raving about. If you haven't already, check out the menu at www.wdwig.com/menu/menu_p.htm
Have a great time!

 

[dmen]

thank you! i was hoping to hear that. i am interested in trying palio's, perhaps the most of the listed restaurants.

 

[cindala]

We are also from the NJ/NYC metro area, and we are use to great Italian restaurants, plus my DH is Italian. We had dinner at Palios twice, and were very pleased. The food is authentic, and about the best you can get in that area of Florida.

Sorry, but we haven't tried the others on your list.

 

[DeeP]

Another Italian from NJ/NYC area checking in here, I have only eaten at Palios from your list but have loved every great meal I have ever had there.

 

[juliesue]

Well, I'm not Italian and not from NY, so I hope I'm not disqualified! LOL

We have eaten at Portobello Yacht Club and thought it was very good. The food and service were very good and the sangria was awesome. Now, keep in mind that we don't get out without the kids much - so we are happy just to be "free", so maybe we are a little optimistic - but we had a great time there.

The waiter was very helpful and recommended some excellent dishes. He also recommended a delightful dessert.

 

[imbe@aol.com]

Originally posted by dmen
normally, i do not "try" italian restaurants unless they come highly recommended. having grown up in nj and benefitting from italian restuarants in nyc as well as northern nj and being italian, i am usually cautious in the italian restaurants i choose to visit while on vacation. however, this next trip to wdw, i find myself pondering going to a few:

palio's at the swan
portobello yacht club at DD
delfino riviera at Portofino Bay Hotel
Mama's at Portofino Bay Hotel

i have only been to delfino and it was very good. but i was curious about the others. i would appreciate any honest feedback on this places, from true lovers of italian food!

thank you so much!

For me, who is also used to really good
Italian food, it's a toss up between Palio's and Portobella Yacht Club.

 

[DeeP]

I just went back and read the orginal post and realized Portobello Yacht Club was also listed, I missed that the first time. I have also eaten here and it was also excellent! Enjoy!

 

[madcoco]

IMHO Palios gets a slight edge food wise for Northern Italian and it is not a chain.But we like Portobello(Levy family) also.If you like wine PYC has one of the finest wine lists in the area.This coming from a Czech Italian who's pap thinks anyone else's sauce doesn't come close to his own.Man it's hard to get him to eat out.LOL

 

[SamSam]

I don't think you can go wrong with Portobello's Yacht Club. I can hardly wait to go again.
I haven't tried Palio's yet, but am anxious too after all the good reviews on this board.

 

[Princess49]

Also a NY Italian with a NJ boyfriend who is even MORE italian-- will barely eat it if its not his moms cooking. (off the WDW subject but for great italian in ny do Manetta's in Long Island City or Parkside in Corona mmm!! --sorry had to squeeze that in!) Portabello's is our FAVORITE! Its not your typical Italian restaurant when it comes to spaghetti & meatballs I would label it more Italian Cusine than Italian food. We LOVE it & there is no where else in the world that makes Sangria like they do! We go every time & are looking forward to going again. PYC is the ONLY place I will eat fried calamari & I'm a Long Islander-- I wont even eat it in a restaurant on the water here! Thats how good it is there! Definately go there we highly reccomend it!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Palios is a fine spot--good food, strolling muscians, excellent wine list.
Portobello, however, is also a great spot--perhaps not quite as "romantic", and probably a bit more in the way of seafood. Here's a link to a Portobello site:

www.geocities.com/johncombs2000/english

John is a server at Portobello--.

 

[idors8]

Add another Italian from NY to the list. My DH cooks Italian food for a living, so we generally steer clear of Italian restaurants while on vacation. He's a meat and potatoes kind of guy, give him a good steak and he's in heaven! We definitely steer clear of pizza, except for my DS who will eat anything.

I do have to say, that from everyone's great reviews of it I am tempted to give the Portobello yacht club a try. (To Princess49, I agree, Parkside is great! My DH gets his Italian ices from Lemon Ice King across the street).

 

[wdisneelvr]

I had an excellent dinner at Palios while dining and listening to the strolling violinist. The italian food their is very good and authentic, even the menu was in italian, had to have the head waiter describe most of it for me as I do not read italian...lol Would have loved to try everything on that terrific menu. We had just gotten married and they brought out a complimentary dessert...with a huge heart made out of chocolate on it...yum!

 

[dmen]

great! thank you for so many great replies! hubby and i will definitely go to palio's. and we will try portobello with 2 other couples! i am looking forward to both after such great reviews!