This Italian Restaurant in Orlando Comes From a Family With Deep Culinary Roots

Step inside Nonno’s Italian Restaurant in Orlando, and you’ll feel the warmth of a family’s culinary legacy. With recipes and techniques passed down through generations, every dish tells a story of tradition, care, and flavor.

From hand-tossed pastas to rich, savory sauces, the menu reflects decades of experience in Italian cooking, making it a favorite not just for locals but for anyone seeking an authentic taste of Italy in the heart of Orlando.

1. Roots That Run Deep, and Taste Even Deeper

History doesn’t just linger at Nonno’s, it fills the room. The story began more than thirty years ago when chef Stefano LaCommare, already known for Il Pescatore and Stefano’s Trattoria, opened something truly personal. He named it Nonno, meaning grandfather in Italian, to honor the role of family in his life and in his cooking.

Nonno’s feels less like a new arrival and more like a longtime neighbor. The LaCommare family brought recipes and traditions from Sicily and New York, and they have shaped an atmosphere where history is woven into each plate. Guests notice small touches that give the restaurant character, like old photos and keepsakes displayed on the walls, reminders that this is not just a business but a legacy.

What sets the restaurant apart is the way stories accompany the food. Servers often share the origin of dishes, tracing flavors back to kitchens in Palermo or family gatherings in New York. Regulars chat easily with staff who greet them by name, making the restaurant feel as familiar as home. Nonno’s roots run deep, and that depth is felt in every meal.

2. A Hands-On Grandfather

Some chefs step aside once the kitchen finds its rhythm, but Stefano is not one of them. He arrives early, often the first person through the door, and begins preparing sauces himself. Every batch is tasted before service, a ritual that ensures consistency and keeps standards high.

Throughout the day he moves between the kitchen and dining room. It is not unusual to see him pulling up a chair to swap stories with guests or explaining how a recipe was passed down. I overheard one couple thank him for a dish that reminded them of their own grandmother’s table, and his smile said it all.

Stefano’s presence shapes the mood of the restaurant. He greets diners warmly, checks on dishes, and treats regulars like family. Many guests return as much for his hospitality as for the food. It is rare to find a restaurant where the owner knows your favorite dish and asks about your family, but at Nonno’s that is part of the experience.

3. The Family Recipe Lives On

Family is not a theme at Nonno’s, it is the foundation. Stefano often works side by side with his son, Lenny, in the kitchen. Their collaboration shows in the flow of the work, one stirring sauces while the other plates pasta. The laughter and teamwork make it clear that this is more than just a restaurant, it is a family tradition in motion.

The recipes themselves carry stories. Many trace back to Stefano’s mother in Sicily, others took shape during his years in New York, and now they are prepared in Orlando with the same care. Lenny occasionally introduces small refinements, always with his father’s blessing, which keeps the menu both rooted and evolving.

Stefano’s daughter Antonella continues the legacy with her own pizzeria across town, creating another branch of the family’s culinary presence. Together, they preserve and adapt a heritage that stretches across generations, inviting guests to share in the journey one plate at a time.

4. Sicilian Roots, New York Flair

The menu reflects both of Stefano’s culinary worlds. Dishes carry the soulful depth of Sicily and the bold personality of New York, a combination that gives each plate its own character. A ragù might remind you of a Sicilian kitchen, while seafood pastas recall the vibrancy of a Brooklyn trattoria.

This blend gives Nonno’s a style that Orlando Magazine once described as “legacy with nuance.” It captures how the food honors memory without being stuck in the past. The dining room reflects the same mix, with locals enjoying hearty classics while visitors and snowbirds recall flavors from their own backgrounds.

Every dish feels purposeful, with flavors tied to personal stories. Behind each recipe there is either a nod to Stefano’s Sicilian childhood or an echo of his years in New York. This balance of roots and flair makes the food both familiar and distinctive, an experience that feels authentic to its place and time.

5. Signature Dishes with Personality

The menu is rich with dishes that carry the family’s name and story. Pollo di Stefano layers chicken, sausage, and prosciutto in a recipe inspired by celebratory meals. Tortellini di Leo and Gnocchi di Nonno honor grandchildren, keeping loved ones close to the table. Each dish reflects a commitment to food that connects family and tradition.

Seafood is another highlight, a reflection of Stefano’s early years fishing in Sicily. A shrimp scampi I tried came with a sauce that clung to each noodle, bright yet rich, the kind of balance that speaks of both skill and memory. Even the smallest details show care, like breadcrumbs made from leftover house bread instead of buying them ready-made.

Specials change with the season or the inspiration of the kitchen, but every plate feels crafted with intention. Locals return again and again for these family-named dishes, drawn by more than flavor. They return because each meal feels like part of a story that keeps growing, one dish and one guest at a time.