Louie and Maria's Italian Restaurant: The Italian Gemstone Masterpiece of Central Florida

Listen to me closely.



Very closely.

Forget anything you think I may have said about Italian food in Florida. Honestly, forget it all. Even though I have had some killer Italian food over the years in this blog (My first stop was amazing), none of them compare to the absolute perfection that I have discovered with the help of some good friends. There is a location in Central Florida that has Italian food that matches the best of New York with pizza that matches the best from the north, pasta that could have flown in from Italy, and even seafood that makes Floridians take notice. Unlike most spots in which I visit 1-2 times before writing a review, I have been to this place at least 12 times before finally deciding to type this love letter for the world to see.

Louie and Maria’s Italian Restaurant is a gem and hands-down one of the best restaurants in the entire spectrum of Florida. Pretty much every item I have had on their menu was top-notch, and with the ever-changing dinner (and dessert) menu no two dinners could ever be the same unless you decide to make it that way. Even though there’s definitely cheaper food out there, this spot deserves every penny you spend on them and then some.

The concept isn’t unique: it is a small cozy spot that is lightly-lit, compact in size, and has a slight New York Italian flair that makes Northern Transplants feel right at home. The servers and managers are very accommodating, very friendly, and always with a smile. Of course, the place is also quite busy—especially since it has transitioned to a temporary two-days-a-week stint. This little treasure is very well-known amongst the neighborhoods close by, but to very few outside the radius.

I am not going to review one food item here specifically, because it is all absolutely spectacular. We can start with their pizzas, which are always fresh, always cheesy without being overbearing, and hits the right spot no matter what size you order it in. We can mention their breads and appetizers, which start out the evening in fine form whether its their cheese bread or their cheese sticks. We can mention their calzones, which are infused with so much flavor you couldn’t possibly compliment it with anything else since you’ll run out of room. Their pastas are always light, always fresh, and their sauces are incredible; from the alfredo to the meat sauce.

The seafood is even impressive, with their mahi-mahi cooked in lemon white wine sauce will bring you down to your knees with its thick texture, hearty flavor, and buttery pasta to run alongside it. But of all the amazing dishes, their cheese ravioli/spicy sausage combination is quite possibly the best pasta I’ve ever had, extremely up there with the best of Little Italy in the good ol’ NYC. This dish is a powerhouse punch of hearty, creamy, savory, and that little kick of heat to ensure that you are alive. It is a phenomenal work of cuisine.

Now, we go right to the dessert. Their dessert menu changes pretty much daily. And it doesn’t matter what you get, whether it’s their cheesecake, their chocolate rum cake, their lemon cake, their gelatos, it’s all fantastic and a superb way to round out the evening. The cooks there definitely love their craft, and it shows from the freshness of the product to the final delivery, when you start dancing through the dinner. And yes, you will probably be crying tears of joy too.

Bottom Line: There is nothing unique, nothing really Florida-ish about the place. It is just a piece of perfection that is quietly drawing in new fans on a weekly basis in the East Orlando corner. Everything here is phenomenal, and as long as you are a fan of good food you need to come here and engage in quite a cuisine experience for the ages. And not to insult the past Italian places that also moved me to tears, but this is Legendary status we are talking about (Mazzaros is my only other Italian example of earning this status). There’s good food, great food, and then Louie and Maria’s food. This is hands-down one of the best, if not the best, places to eat in Orlando. It must be visited to truly understand why I praise this place so highly.


Final Verdict: Strongly Recommend


Louie and Maria’s Italian Restaurant
9728 E Colonial Dr.
Orlando, FL 32817
(407) 277-7755