Disney World’s Underrated Italian Restaurant
The argument could be made that Walt Disney World has too many Italian restaurants. Several resorts plus Disney Springs, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom all have Italian eateries. There isn’t just a surplus of these dining options, but too many that are mediocre and aren’t memorable.
In fairness, the same could be said about spots serving basic burgers or ordinary frozen chicken nuggets, and yet there’s also an abundance of those. This is for good reason: they’re crowd-pleasers that are popular among guests. No matter how much pleading we do, Pizzafari and Restaurantosaurus will always draw huge crowds.
It’s the same deal with Italian food at Walt Disney World. The cuisine is familiar, comforting, and universal appealing. There’s a reason the Italian restaurant lineup has grown at Walt Disney World in the last several years, while Sanaa and other ambitious restaurants have languished. Samaki Wa Kupaka and Zanzibari Vegetable Curry may cause kids and picky eaters to cringe, but just about everyone loves Fettuccine Alfredo or Chicken Parmigiana.
We’ve had some questionable meals at Tony’s Town Square over the years, but even we recognizable why so many Walt Disney World guests love the place. Heck, it’s even easy to see the appeal of the Italy booth during Epcot’s festivals. Despite serving up elementary school lunch room caliber cuisine for the last decade-plus, the infamous Italy booth draws long lines because its food is approachable. (Literally. You could prepare similar versions in your microwave at home.)
The purpose of this post isn’t to bash the Italy booth or any other Italian restaurants at Walt Disney World. We’re simply pointing out that Tony’s Town Square, Mama Melrose, Tutto Italia, and others aren’t exactly ambitious but still fulfill a role. In fairness, they’re also not awful. That is sort of the point–we’ve more or less come to expect Italian cuisine at Walt Disney World to be safe but middling. It won’t be your most memorable meal, but hopefully, also not your worst or most disappointing.
And that’s what brings us to a recent scene from an Italian restaurant at Walt Disney World…
We were at Epcot and getting hungry, and it had been a bit since we’d done a table service meal. In perusing same-day availability in My Disney Experience, several options jumped out.
However, we felt like we should have a productive meal–and by that, I mean something bloggable–so we eliminated all of our standard go-to options that didn’t “need” to be covered again. This left us with a trio of choices: Il Mulino, Turf Club, and Trattoria al Forno. It seems like that last one has come up several times recently in the comments and, crucially, it was the easiest commute, so we headed over.
For those who are unfamiliar with it, Trattoria al Forno is a table service restaurant at BoardWalk Inn at Walt Disney World. It’s a mid-tier family-friendly Italian restaurant for breakfast and dinner. During normal times, it’s also home to Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast, a royal meal with a bunch of princes and princesses from places other than Italy.
We’ve reviewed Trattoria al Forno for dinner before–and have given it reasonably high marks–but there have been a lot of menu additions of late. Given that and the ease of scoring Advance Dining Reservations here–at a time when ADRs can be difficult–we figured it’d be worth revisiting…
Trattoria al Forno is wedged between the BoardWalk Pizza Window and BoardWalk Bakery on one side, and AbracadaBAR and Flying Fish on the other side. They’re all interconnected, whether via the kitchens behind the scenes or the shared facilities for guests.
Speaking of which, we’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend ducking into AbracadaBAR to check out the restrooms. There are some fun tricks (sorry, illusions) outside the toilets and you’ll probably have time to kill before Trattoria al Forno seats you. (Disney Tourist Blog, bringing you the best bathroom banter and toilet tips since ’11.)
Although you couldn’t tell from this photo of the waiting area, Trattoria al Forno was packed the evening we dined here. The host indicated they were running about 20 minutes behind, which I suspect is pretty common and by design.
Whenever we walk past Trattoria al Forno, it seems like there are guests waiting around outside. While it’s possible this has become a popular loiterin’ spot for Floridians and I just haven’t gotten the memo, it’s more likely that Trattoria al Forno is trying to serve as many guests as possible, turning over tables as efficiently as possible. That would explain the wait and crowds coupled with the walk-up waitlist and same-day ADR availability. Just something to keep in mind if you’re planning on arriving early to an ADR in the hopes of being seated early.
Trattoria al Forno is inviting on the inside. There’s an abundance of warm colors, rich woods, brick features, and paneling. It’s not the pinnacle of themed design, but very much conveys the theme of upscale Italian restaurant.
From the upholstery to the light fixtures, there’s a good amount of depth and detail. Plenty of texture, variety of materials, and light touches that you’d expect from a family-run Italian restaurant.
The star of the show is the open kitchen, which is visible from the far reaches of the seating area. We were seated right next to it, yet for some reason, I didn’t take any photos. You’ll just have to take my word for its existence or, ya know, Google “Trattoria al Forno open kitchen” and confirm for yourself.
The goal here being a bloggable meal, we watched what was coming out of the open kitchen, cross-referenced that with our server’s recommendations, and ordered accordingly.
Dinner at Trattoria al Forno started with ciabatta.
The bread was paired with olive oil swirled with a balsamic, and a heavy olive tapenade. Don’t let its ordinary appearance deceive you: this bread was surprisingly tasty, with the exterior having a good crunch. The tapenade was freshly-made, salty, and rich. Fairly heavy and savory for a bread course, but we were fans. So much so that “we” (read: me) ate a couple loaves of this.
For our appetizer, we started with the Roma Tomato Bruschetta: Grilled Ciabatta, Genovese Basil, Aged Balsamic.
The grilled ciabatta pieces were incredibly crisp and didn’t lose any of their ‘structural integrity’ under the weight of the moist tomatoes. If anything, this skewed a bit too much in the direction of crunchiness–a bit more tomato juice soaking into the bread might’ve been a good thing.
The aged balsamic provided a tartness while the tomatoes brought a good piquancy. All things considered, it was a refreshing appetizer that offered a light, fresh start to a meal.
With that said, nothing about this bruschetta is anything special. It is not a standout dish. My appetizer recommendations at Trattoria al Forno are the calamari and caprese, but we’ve done both of those before. (In the case of the calamari, many times.)
For my entree, I had the Lasagna al Forno: Blended Italian Cheeses, Beef, Veal, Pork, Herb Ricotta.
This came highly recommended by our server, who was straightforward with what he recommended–and did not recommend. He called this an inventive twist on a classic dish, which is absolutely spot-on.
This lasagna is served with a mix of three different sauces–red pepper, marinara, and alfredo–all of which blend together shockingly well. As you can see, it’s presented as little “lasagna volcanoes” (for lack of a better term) rather than the traditional layers.
These volcanoes are bursting with beef, veal, and pork plus ricotta and Italian cheeses. They’re seasoned, filled with herbs, and topped with crispy breadcrumbs for texture. The presentation is unique and the flavor is fantastic. Like a traditional lasagna, it’s incredibly heavy and rich, but there’s more nuance. I absolutely loved this–it’s one of the best lasagnas I’ve ever had. (It also knocked me out. Perhaps a ton of bread plus a heavy pasta wasn’t the ideal approach.)
For her entree, Sarah ordered the Truffle Gnocchi: Parmesan, Fontina, Pecorino Cream.
This was downright light as compared to my lasagna.
The gnocchi was perfectly-prepared: pillowy and light with just the right amount of chewiness.
The cream had a pronounced truffle flavor, adding a deep umami quality to the dish. The combination of textures was superb, as were the flavors. While not particularly heavy, this dish was savory and richly satisfying. It hit the same high notes as the lasagna, but in a very different way. Another highly recommended dish.
We also ordered the side of Garlic Bread, which came out with our main courses.
This was the only thing our server didn’t enthusiastically endorse, which in part because he might’ve been thinking, holy cow these two are loading up on bread and carbs. And we were. I thought the presentation here was fun, and the garlic bread offered a good mix of flavor and texture, but it was definitely a carb overload at this point. Maybe a good way to finish a meal if you’re preparing for a runDisney event?
I really wanted to try the Tiramisù (which has been changed significantly since we last dined at Trattoria al Forno) and Chocolate Semolina, but that was absolutely out of the question. It was a small miracle that I could walk out of the restaurant after all of that.
Overall, this was yet another good-to-great meal at Trattoria al Forno. While superficially similar, we’ve found this to be satisfying and ambitious unlike any other standard Italian restaurant at Walt Disney World. Trattoria al Forno “plays the hits,” so to speak, but does so in a way that subverts expectations. Yes, you’re eating crowd-pleasing comfort food, but you’re also getting a shockingly multifaceted meal.
Not to oversell it, but this meal at Trattoria al Forno firmly establishes its spot as one of the mid-tier resort restaurants that punches above its weight, delivering approachable and quality cuisine. To be sure, it’s not a Signature Restaurant or the epitome of fine dining at Walt Disney World, but I doubt that’s what anyone is expecting.
If you find yourself in Epcot or Hollywood Studios without an Advance Dining Reservation for one of those parks’ top tier restaurants, Trattoria al Forno is a good consolation prize that often has same-day or last-minute ADR availability. In other words, don’t feel like you’re “settling” if you book a reservation here. For a family-friendly table service option with something for everyone, Trattoria al Forno truly delivers and delights.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What do you think of Trattoria al Forno? Where does it rank in terms of Italian restaurants at Walt Disney World for you? Have any favorite dishes here? Any questions? Hearing your feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts or questions below in the comments!
Our family thinks it’s a hidden gem!!!
“Disney Tourist Blog, bringing you the best bathroom banter and toilet tips since ’11.”
This should be your tagline on every post. ;-D
Any word on when the character meal at Trattoria might return?
Somehow my family always ends up here at least once a trip! A few years back we even ate here twice! Could it be because my Chinese grandpa just loves Italian food? Was it because it was the only place with a reservation for 10 on the same day? Probably! But we have always enjoyed it as a solid dining option. On a recent trip, I chatted with the pastry chef (I’m also a pastry chef) and she made a little magic and treated my 3 year old to some sorbet on the house. Tasty, but holy cow, will it fill you up!
Ate there in December and agree with your review. Loved the bread they serve to start, had to force myself to stop and save room for the rest of my meal. The lasagna was delicious. They have outdoor dining, which was nice to enjoy the views and people watch along the boardwalk.
Clearly who wrote the article doesn’t know what are Italian dishes. Mentioning Fettuccine Alfredo and Chicken Parmigiana that are NOT real Italian recipes…
Let’s not get into the menu reviewed in the article like Truffle Gnocchi etc…
HISTORY OF ALFREDO DI LELIO CREATOR IN 1908 OF “FETTUCCINE ALL’ALFREDO” (“FETTUCCINE ALFREDO”), NOW SERVED BY HIS NEPHEW INES DI LELIO, AT THE RESTAURANT “IL VERO ALFREDO” – “ALFREDO DI ROMA” IN ROME, PIAZZA AUGUSTO IMPERATORE 30
With reference to your article I have the pleasure to tell you the history of my grandfather Alfredo Di Lelio, who is the creator of “Fettuccine all’Alfredo” (“Fettuccine Alfredo”) in 1908 in the “trattoria” run by his mother Angelina in Rome, Piazza Rosa (Piazza disappeared in 1910 following the construction of the Galleria Colonna / Sordi). This “trattoria” of Piazza Rosa has become the “birthplace of fettuccine all’Alfredo”.
More specifically, as is well known to many people who love the “fettuccine all’Alfredo”, this famous dish in the world was invented by Alfredo Di Lelio concerned about the lack of appetite of his wife Ines, who was pregnant with my father Armando (born February 26, 1908).
Alfredo Di Lelio opened his restaurant “Alfredo” in 1914 in Rome and in 1943, during the war, he sold the restaurant to others outside his family.
In 1948 Alfredo Di Lelio decided to reopen with his son Armando his restaurant in Piazza Augusto Imperatore n.30 “Il Vero Alfredo” (“Alfredo di Roma”), whose fame in the world has been strengthened by his nephew Alfredo and that now managed by me, with the famous “gold cutlery” (fork and spoon gold) donated in 1927 by two well-known American actors Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks (in gratitude for the hospitality).
See the website of “Il Vero Alfredo”.
I must clarify that other restaurants “Alfredo” in Rome do not belong and are out of my brand “Il Vero Alfredo – Alfredo di Roma”.
The brand “Il Vero Alfredo – Alfredo di Roma” is present in Mexico with a restaurant in Mexico City and a trattoria in Cozumel on the basis of franchising relationships with the Group Hotel Presidente Intercontinental Mexico.
The restaurant “Il Vero Alfredo” is in the Registry of “Historic Shops of Excellence – section on Historical Activities of Excellence” of the Municipality of Roma Capitale.
Best regards Ines Di Lelio
IN ITALIANO
STORIA DI ALFREDO DI LELIO, CREATORE DELLE “FETTUCCINE ALL’ALFREDO” (“FETTUCCINE ALFREDO”), E DELLA SUA TRADIZIONE FAMILIARE PRESSO IL RISTORANTE “IL VERO ALFREDO” (“ALFREDO DI ROMA”) IN PIAZZA AUGUSTO IMPERATORE A ROMA
Con riferimento al Vostro articolo ho il piacere di raccontarVi la storia di mio nonno Alfredo Di Lelio, inventore delle note “fettuccine all’Alfredo” (“Fettuccine Alfredo”).
Alfredo Di Lelio, nato nel settembre del 1883 a Roma in Vicolo di Santa Maria in Trastevere, cominciò a lavorare fin da ragazzo nella piccola trattoria aperta da sua madre Angelina in Piazza Rosa, un piccolo slargo (scomparso intorno al 1910) che esisteva prima della costruzione della Galleria Colonna (ora Galleria Sordi).
Il 1908 fu un anno indimenticabile per Alfredo Di Lelio: nacque, infatti, suo figlio Armando e videro contemporaneamente la luce in tale trattoria di Piazza Rosa le sue “fettuccine”, divenute poi famose in tutto il mondo. Questa trattoria è “the birthplace of fettuccine all’Alfredo”.
Alfredo Di Lelio inventò le sue “fettuccine” per dare un ricostituente naturale, a base di burro e parmigiano, a sua moglie (e mia nonna) Ines, prostrata in seguito al parto del suo primogenito (mio padre Armando). Il piatto delle “fettuccine” fu un successo familiare prima ancora di diventare il piatto che rese noto e popolare Alfredo Di Lelio, personaggio con “i baffi all’Umberto” ed i calli alle mani a forza di mischiare le sue “fettuccine” davanti ai clienti sempre più numerosi.
Nel 1914, a seguito della chiusura di detta trattoria per la scomparsa di Piazza Rosa dovuta alla costruzione della Galleria Colonna, Alfredo Di Lelio decise di aprire a Roma il suo ristorante “Alfredo” che gestì fino al 1943, per poi cedere l’attività a terzi estranei alla sua famiglia.
Ma l’assenza dalla scena gastronomica di Alfredo Di Lelio fu del tutto transitoria. Infatti nel 1948 riprese il controllo della sua tradizione familiare ed aprì, insieme al figlio Armando, il ristorante “Il Vero Alfredo” (noto all’estero anche come “Alfredo di Roma”) in Piazza Augusto Imperatore n.30 (cfr. il sito web di Il Vero Alfredo).
Con l’avvio del nuovo ristorante Alfredo Di Lelio ottenne un forte successo di pubblico e di clienti negli anni della “dolce vita”. Successo, che, tuttora, richiama nel ristorante un flusso continuo di turisti da ogni parte del mondo per assaggiare le famose “fettuccine all’Alfredo” al doppio burro da me servite, con
l’impegno di continuare nel tempo la tradizione familiare dei miei cari maestri, nonno Alfredo, mio padre Armando e mio fratello Alfredo. In particolare le fettuccine sono servite ai clienti con 2 “posate d’oro”: una forchetta ed un cucchiaio d’oro regalati nel 1927 ad Alfredo dai due noti attori americani M. Pickford e D. Fairbanks (in segno di gratitudine per l’ospitalità).
Desidero precisare che altri ristoranti “Alfredo” a Roma non appartengono e sono fuori dal mio brand di famiglia.
Il brand “Il Vero Alfredo – Alfredo di Roma” è presente in Messico con un ristorante a Città del Messico e una trattoria a Cozumel sulla base di rapporti di franchising con il Group Hotel Presidente Intercontinental Mexico.
Vi informo che il Ristorante “Il Vero Alfredo” è presente nell’Albo dei “Negozi Storici di Eccellenza – sezione Attività Storiche di Eccellenza” del Comune di Roma Capitale.
Grata per la Vostra attenzione ed ospitalità nel Vostro interessante blog, cordiali saluti
Ines Di Lelio
Breakfast here is fantastic; easily the best on property for food quality. Their poached eggs over polenta is the best I’ve had in any restaurant, not just at Disney.
Had a great meal in August that included the lasagna and gnocchi and wholeheartedly agree with this review. We also ordered a side of the pancetta arancini as an app, excellent as well.
Had a great meal in August that included the lasagna and gnocchi and wholeheartedly agree with this review. We also ordered a side of the pancetta arancini as an app, excellent as well.
I want to use this wonderful opportunity to thank Dr Obadan for for restoring my marriage, after 3years of separation contact him directly for any kind of relationship problem am 100% sure he will help you out, don’t waste more time or cry over lover he/she, with him you can get your lover back, contact him on wasup +2348109506451 or mail [email protected]
We were hoping to take advantage of the To-go option while staying at BoardWalk Inn earlier this month, but on all 4 nights, the option was unavailable. I also stopped by the host stand to inquire and was told they had to focus on reservations. Bummer!
Good to hear! If this is one of the Epcot processional restaurant options this year, it would be my number 1 choice. My husband is Italian so fingers are crossed!
Have dined here several times. Always been great, ambience and food. But, I still miss when it was Kat Kora’s Kouzzina. Back then, it was a favorite restaurant! Fishermen’s Stew was amazing!
We ate here on a recent trip and it was the best meal of the trip. The swordfish dish is excellent. It was better than Space 220 at 50% of the price. Best Italian at Disney and even loved by the kids.
They have order to go Mickey Waffles – bring them back to the room or the innkeepers club or eat them on the boardwalk. They are excellent.
This restaurant also provides a lot of the food served at the innkeepers club – including the Sunday Mickey waffle brunch (fresh made in the club with mimosa and blood Mary bar – which is by far the best club level meal we’ve had.
Trattoria is in our Top 10 favorite restaurants at WDW and a must do every trip. It’s easy to access from HS which is limited in reservation availability. It’s easy to walk, boat or ride the skyliner to it. It is so yummy!
This has become our family’s go to meal for arrival evenings. At first I was disappointed that they had a new and different lasagna on the menu, but I tried it and loved it! We have always had awesome service, too, including great options for our child with food allergies.
I loved the lasagna there. I think it is one of the best I’ve had. Great restaurant.
Turf Club Bar and Grill – this legendary intimate hideaway tucked into the back of Saratoga Springs Resort absolutely needs a proper review here. There is only one Turf Club. And it now has a new menu and a refreshed aesthetic for your dining pleasure! ;D