North Italia — Restaurant in Dr. Phillips

North Italia is by far one of the very best restaurants in Orlando, and it’s not even close! The level of service, quality of food, and atmosphere this place provides is truly one-of-a-kind. This is NOT your standard Italian restaurant - they have unique dishes you don’t find anywhere else! They have a wide range of pastas, pizzas, salads (all of which, amazing selections), incredible appetizers, top-notch entrees and desserts, and wonderful drinks! They also have an extensive list of gluten-free options, so this restaurant has something for everyone. All of the food in my pictures is gluten-free, if you can believe it! My new favorite Italian restaurant!!!

I want to give a very special nod to our waiter - Marcus W. - for giving us wonderful service this evening. My fiancée is gluten-intolerant, and he far surpassed what most restaurants do for us. He walked us through the entire menu and told us each and every dish that was either gluten-free or could be easily modified, and it was awesome. He really walked us through the menu well and helped us create the ultimate meal! To top it off, he even brought us a complimentary cup of their soup of the day, and I can’t even BEGIN to describe how good it was!! It was a butternut squash soup with celery, fennel, garlic, vinegar, nutmeg, and a bunch of other spices, and it was one of the best soups I’ve ever had.

We also tried two zero-proof cocktails: pomegranate mule and la dolce vita - both incredible and highly recommended. We got the beef carpaccio, burrata di stagione, and wild shrimp scampi for appetizers - they were all beyond amazing! Everything was so fresh and flavorful, hitting all the right notes, and I would recommend all of them as starters. For our entrees, we got the braised short rib lumache and spicy rigatoni vodka. They both were also INSANELY good - some of the best pasta dishes we ever had. The braised short rib lumache was quite light and a perfect shareable pasta, and the spicy rigatoni vodka was a nice, spicy and rich pasta with a creamy red sauce. They complement each other well!!

All in all, this was an incredible dining experience because of the wonderful food and amazing service. Again, Marcus W. was awesome - massive thanks to him!! Many restaurants get one of those two things (food or service) right, but North Italia does them both. If you’re looking for a perfect place for a date night, look no further! We will be coming back here MANY more times!!!

EDIT: We have since come back and tried many more things off the menu. Everything is wonderful! The white truffle garlic bread is WITHOUT question a MUST TRY. Best garlic bread I’ve ever had. And everything else - from the chicken parmesan, burrata di stagione, grilled branzino, and braised short rib to gluten-free The Pig pizza and gluten-free chicken pesto pasta, to even the tiramisu, dark chocolate torta, and pistachio gelato, you just can’t get better than this! I love this...

this is the new Italian hotspot in the Dr.Phillips/Orlando area! it’s a really great location with indoor and outdoor seating and a private room for occasions. service was a little slow for it not really being busy but a manager came by to chat with us which and the staff is super friendly. personally, i don’t think the music that was playing really fit the vibe but the decor is beautiful! the food and drinks are delicious! i started with a rosemary and lime mocktail- sweet, tart, and earthy. for appetizers, we got the Grilled Bread and Good Olive Oil ($5) + the Crispy Calamari ($15). the bread was perfectly toasted and drizzled in a good quality olive oil with a little bit of balsamic glaze too. the calamari were crispy and even better with the arugula and a squeeze of lemon juice. we then shared th Margherita Pizza ($16)- truly the best pizza I’ve ever had at a restaurant. The dough was thin but not soggy, the crust was doughy, the sauce was perfectly seasoned, and there was a drizzle of good olive oil over it all that made it that much better. for my entree, i had the Chicken Pesto Pasta ($19)- a creamy pesto sauce over a fun pasta shape with grilled chicken, toasted pine nuts, and crispy capers. it was a little salty for my preference and i think it could’ve used a little spice but it was delicious. i also tried the Squid Ink Mafaldine ($21) and the Strozzapreti ($21). The mafaldine was another fun pasta dish with squid ink pasta, seafood, and a spicy red sauce. The strozzapreti was a creamy parmesan-based sauce over pasta, grilled chicken, mushrooms, and toasted pine nuts. the prices are pretty reasonable for each dish, given the quality and portion size.

for brunch, we had the Short Rib Hash ($16), the Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast ($16), and the Crispy Potato Hash ($5). The shirt rib hash was so delicious- two fried eggs on a bed of peppers, onions, and potatoes, served with grilled bread. the smoked salmon laid over avocado toast and was paired with a variety of flavors that really elevated it. the potatoes were like crispy potato balls that were full of flavor. overall, everything was super good. i was happy to hear they have a variety of milk substitutes so i ordered a cappuccino with oat milk to pair with my breakfast. the atmosphere is open and airy with lots of greenery around. the staff is very friendly and the service is quick so overall a...

Went with my dad on a Saturday night. Made a reservation using OpenTable at 8:30pm. When we arrived around that time, it was pretty crowded, but we were seated immediately at a small corner table. For our drinks, I had a sfumato, which was a nice smoky and citrusy drink with mezcal and lemon. While it wasn't as strong as the veni vidi vici, it had enough booze to provide a nice buzz. My dad mojito was on the lighter side, but was still good with the added mints on top. For my entree, I went with the Tuscan chicken. The host did warn that it will take about 20 to 25 minutes to cook, which I didn't mind. It came within scheduled and was worth the wait. The chicken was perfectly roasted and moist, with some of the juices on top. I also loved the vegetables that came with it. The broccolini was crispy and flavorful. The squash was on the sweeter side being caramelized. But I enjoyed the cauliflower the most with the roasted flavor. I savored every bite of that. I also did try a little of my dad's salmon, which was fresh and cooked perfectly. For dessert, we shared the caramel pudding, which was sweet, a bit rich, and delicious. A perfect way to end a nice meal.

The service was nice and attentive. Our host was able to provide recommendations and answer any questions we had. He also came to the rescue when another guest accidentally broke a plate on the floor. The vibe is pretty hip and loud. There was a crowd when we were there, so lots of people were talking. When the crowd died down, I was able to hear the hip club music in the background. There is a bar with ample seating as well, and a show kitchen in the back too.

North Italia is located in Rialto plaza in the restaurant row area. Parking can be a challenge during the weekend, especially at night. But I heard there is complimentary valet parking next to the Ocean Prime restaurant. Since North Italia is owned by the Cheesecake Factory, don't expect healthy food here. Most of the main plates were over 1000 calories with the chicken parmesan being almost 2000. The prices on the higher side, with 2 drinks, 2 entrees, and a small dessert being a little over 100 after tax and tip. But with the great service, hip vibe, and delicious food, it is well worth the cost of money and calories, making it one of the better chain Italian...