Papa Lozzi Italia — Restaurant in Florida

I am going to be honest, I was kind of boycotting this place on the principle that I was a huge fan of Rice & Beans Cocina Latina Friday Nights for the music and dancing. Rice & Beans is still next door but it is not the same & was feeling type of way over Papa Lozzi taking over. BUT, a full day of running errands on Saturday, starving and needing/wanting good food, filling a delicious, I opened my Yelp app and Papa Lozzi pops up, hmm, maybe. I read the reviews and fellow Elite John C, has visited multiple times & all his reviews rave about the quality of the food and the service. So we decided to give it a try. Papa Lozzi is located on Alafaya Trail on the side where the Post Office and Michaels is located. It shares the strip with Castaways and the smaller Rice & Beans Cocina Latina. They have added about 4 tables to accommodate outside dining. Upon entering there is a host stand with a giant bottle of hand sanitizer. I looked around to check out the table arrangements and seating. I noticed that the booths had plastic divider, the middle tables were not used. The fully stocked bar only had one couple sitting and the other stools seemed separated. A masked server greeted us & directed us to a booth, we opted to keep one booth separated from everyone else. We were offered bread and small dish of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese, really good. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which was absolutely amazing, I loved that it included eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms & served w/a tasty red sauce. My husband ordered the salmon in sauce dijon mustard, served with roasted potatoes and spinach. I ordered chicken marsala served w/roasted broccoli, cauliflower and roasted potatoes that were sprinkled with rosemary. Let me tell you, that marsala plate was amazing. So flavorful. Chicken was tender & juicy, the mushrooms that topped it were yummy and that marsala sauce like none I have tasted. Deep developed flavors, soooo good. The veggies were perfectly roasted, still had a nice bite to them and buttery. The salmon dish was delicious, the salmon flaky, the sauce smooth and tasty. He asked for the dijon on the side because he is not much of a fan and said he was happy he did. The spinach was sooooo good. This dish, the only negative is that I felt it needed more seasoning & the spinach, I bit into what looked like a piece of cardboard. They made up for it by offering us a free desert. I chose the house made tiramisu, incredibly creamy mascarpone and perfectly soaked lady fingers. This is my favorite dessert and order it everywhere it is served and this was tops, so good that my husband tried it, enjoyed it and he does not like coffee. The only iffy experience is the bartender, I think, that was going around to greet and his mask was not covering his nose, he was leaning into speak and that made us uncomfortable. Overall, we truly enjoyed our meal and the service. I will return to try the pizza, a negroni and have...

Unforgettable Italian Flavors at Papa Lozzi Italia If I could give more than 5 stars to Papa Lozzi Italia, I would! This spot has quickly become one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Orlando. The passion for quality and authenticity is evident in every bite, and it’s clear they take immense pride in making everything from scratch.

From the moment we sat down, the warm, attentive service set the tone for an exceptional meal. We started with fresh bread, served hot from the oven, which was a delightful beginning. The bruschetta was next—crisp, flavorful, and bursting with the freshness of tomatoes and basil. We then indulged in the Carbonara and Vodka Pasta, each expertly crafted and packed with rich, satisfying flavors. The creamy sauces and perfectly cooked pasta made both dishes unforgettable.

For pizza, we tried the Quattro Formaggi and the classic Pepperoni. The crust was light yet crispy, with that perfect golden char, and the toppings were so fresh that each bite was like a journey through Italy. Papa Lozzi has truly mastered the art of pizza.

To finish, we couldn’t resist the desserts. The Tiramisu was everything you’d want: creamy, balanced, and with just the right amount of espresso. The Chocolate Soufflé was the showstopper, baked to order and worth every extra minute. The warm, molten center was a chocolate lover’s dream!

We visited on a Sunday afternoon, and the restaurant was pleasantly calm, allowing us to enjoy an intimate and relaxed experience. The entire meal felt like a warm embrace from Italy, and I can’t wait to return. Highly recommend Papa Lozzi Italia for anyone craving authentic Italian...

This place has some delicious options, but it’s a bit of a gamble—kind of like rolling the dice at a Vegas buffet. Sometimes the food is on point, other times it feels like the salt shaker had a personal vendetta against my taste buds.

Now, let’s talk ambiance. While they seem to love posting celebrities on their social media, I humbly suggest they redirect some of that energy toward fixing the holes in the benches and upgrading the cleanliness. I’ve lost count of how many times my family and I have been seated at a booth with mystery splatters decorating the walls—ironically, right under framed photos of famous faces. It had me wondering, “Is this the very booth Nick Anderson himself dines at?” Because if so, I have questions. I even dared my husband to call him and ask if his visits are responsible for the sunken-in seats, but he refused. (Coward.)

Service? It’s a mixed bag. Sometimes great, sometimes it feels like our server went on a side quest and forgot to return. And while I can tolerate a little wait, what I can’t tolerate is eating at a table that looks like it just survived a food fight.

In all seriousness, I don’t say this to be mean—just honest. The celebrity hype is strong, but the restaurant itself needs some TLC. Hopefully, they clean up their act (literally), and maybe we’ll give it another shot in the future. But for now, we’re...