This is the second location of La Strega Bistro (the original is in Debary, Florida) and a great addition to the culinary scene on the east side of Orlando, Florida. Since it is in a shopping plaza, parking will not be an issue. This is in the former Papa Lozzi location and the inside is certainly attractive and I liked the bright and upbeat vibe of the place. I got takeout from here, but the young woman who helped me was very friendly and my food was ready at the promised time. My only complaint that I would have is that they did not include bread with their takeout orders, though for in-house dining they give two complimentary rounds of bread. A small issue, but still worth mentioning. The arancini appetizer was good, though a bit high in price. The eggplant rollantini was another appetizer and was very good and a good size. For the main course, I had the veal parmigiana and found that to be very good, as well. I would definitely recommend La Strega Bistro. I toyed between four and five stars, but will level up to five stars considering that east Orlando once desperately needed a good Italian restaurant and now we have three (here and two in Avalon Park). read more

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The restaurant is beautiful and cute! The service is attentive but needed us to remind for spoon and little things multiple times but it's ok The food was great! We enjoyed our food very much! Will def come back! read more

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Taste: 4/5 Value: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Really nice, authentic Italian spot! We ordered takeout, but even just stepping inside to pick up our food, the atmosphere felt warm, welcoming, and really nicely done. Some of the dishes we tried were absolutely amazing, super flavorful and definitely something I'd order again. A couple others didn't stand out as much, but were still good overall. Prices felt fair for the portion sizes, and the host was very friendly when I came in. Definitely a place I'd be interested in trying again, maybe dining in next time. read more

La Strega Bistro - Bar area - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

First visit to La Strega and overall, we really enjoyed our experience. We arrived just in time for happy hour (which ends at 6 PM) and started with cocktails and a few appetizers: Bocconi d'Aglio and Polpette Buffalo, along with complimentary bread service served with marinara. The bocconi d'aglio were presented like elevated garlic knots -- nicely crisp on the outside, though a bit drier than expected and missing that fully saturated garlic-butter richness. Thankfully, the marinara helped balance things out. The Polpette Buffalo were the standout starter: tender meatballs served over toasted bread and topped with a creamy sauce reminiscent of a carbonara. Not a drop went to waste -- we happily soaked up the extra sauce with both the bread service and the knots. For mains, our table ordered Linguine alle Vongole, Tagliatelle al Limoncello, Rigatoni Vodka (with added chicken), and Bucatini Carbonara. All pastas were cooked perfectly al dente and showed solid execution across the board. * The Tagliatelle al Limoncello had a bright, fresh lemon flavor enhanced by grated lemon zest -- refreshing and well balanced. The shrimp cooked well. * The Rigatoni Vodka was good but lacked some of the rich creaminess I typically expect from a vodka sauce. * The Linguine alle Vongole featured plenty of delicate small clams in a garlic wine butter sauce, though I would have welcomed a slightly stronger garlic presence. * The Bucatini Carbonara delivered a rich, yolky sauce with crisp guanciale; flavorful overall, but a touch salty for my personal taste. The restaurant itself is clean, stylish, and thoughtfully laid out. Service was friendly and professional, though our server seemed stretched thin at times. She was managing several larger tables while also handling bartending duties for a full-service bar -- impressive effort, but it occasionally impacted attentiveness. Adding a dedicated bartender or additional server during busy periods could really elevate the experience. Pricing felt reasonable, especially taking advantage of happy hour cocktails. Overall, a strong first impression with good food, a lively atmosphere, and plenty of reasons to return. Looking forward to round two. read more

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New Italian place at Waterford Lakes Towers. This specific strip is turning into its own restaurant row now! La Strega touts to be authentic Italian and the menu certainly has plenty to offer. I've never been to Italy but this certainly has a pretty good menu of pasta dishes and entrees. The dining area is light and airy, not stuffy at all. And they've got a nice maybe 8 seat bar with a pretty well stocked wall of liquors. I got the Bucatini Amatriciana with a side of meatballs. It's hard to judge size from the pic, but it was enough for one for me, but not a huge portion. If you need more, get an appetizer. Or go family style and get some pastas and entrees. I found the dish to be pretty tasty with a nice sauce and delicious cooked down cherry tomatoes. One nit is they went heavy handed on the crushed red pepper. I didn't mind but I could see this blowing out someone who wasn't expecting it. I also got the side of meatballs which was good but only 2 was disappointing. 3 feels like the right amount for the price. Oh, and the meals come with bread and a side of marinara. Nice touch going that way instead of olive oil and herbs. Place loses one star due to the prices. They are a bit high for the quantity you get. A bigger plate for some leftovers and 3rd meatball would have been just right for what I paid. The prices aren't bad given the quality, it's more the portion size. Finally, the service was perfect. read more

La Strega Bistro - Bucatini Amatriciana with Side Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

If you enjoy more authentic Italian food, you need to try this place. Food was very reminiscent of time spent in Tuscany. This is a hidden gem that I hope those that appreciate a higher quality Italian food, than the worn out chains will give a try. read more

La Strega Bistro - Main dining room. Light airy and fresh. - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I have to say I was anxious to try this place after it changed names. I was encouraged by the menu that seemed to not only spell everything correctly it also seemed to have the proper traditional ingredients. Service was great. Server was pleasant and it was not too busy. We were informed that their ingredients were imported from Italy so I was really expecting to be "wow ed". I went for the carbonara since it used Bucatini which is traditional. The food took a bit longer than expected to arrive but that's fine as I was excited to try it out. Unfortunately, I was disappointed as the guanciale seemed to be not cooked enough as it did not have a crispness to it. The bucatini was on the softer side and definitely not al dente. My dinner companions ordered the lasagna which they said tasted fine but it was warm and not really hot. I understand it's imported so the price should reflect that premium quality food but I feel the preparation and execution was not on par. I might have to go try the pizza or something different. I did notice they are doing a "tour of Italy" where they are going to be having specials from each of the different regions in Italy. I might have to see what offerings they have and give that a shot. read more

La Strega Bistro - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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This place was an OK place to visit. It seemed like the server was a little bit new. We had a little bit of issues with our plates, for example, I asked for a protein on my gnocchi and it did not come with it and then some stuff we asked for it to be removed, and it was still on there, but it was too much of a hassle to remove since the plate had already come out and it had been a while. The ambience is OK it's kind of modern based. It's a really small place. I think it's more of a one and none kind of deal. It was definitely delicious but I don't know if the service was worth it. read more

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This restaurant is fantastic. I went there for lunch and the food was tasty and generous. I had a Caprese salad. The dressing and pesto were fresh and great. We completed the meal with a Margherita pizza. It was one of the best out there. They have a full bar and the menu offered many signature Cocktails. Do not hesitate to try this restaurant. read more

I wanted to try La Strega after hearing the new owner claim they serve real Italian food, but unfortunately my experience was disappointing. I ordered the pasta pesto, and it arrived as a very white, creamy pasta that tasted more like Alfredo. When I asked why it wasn't green, I was told that it's "supposed to be creamy." While I understand variations, this did not resemble traditional pesto at all--it felt like Alfredo with a small amount of pesto added. I still gave it a try, but it wasn't what I was expecting. The burrata was very fresh, which was a highlight of the meal. The pizza was enjoyed by my son, but when I tried it, the crust was quite saggy and lacked the structure I usually expect. Both of my parents are Italian, so I grew up with authentic Italian food and flavors. Because of that, the dishes here didn't reflect the Italian taste I'm accustomed to. They've only been in this location for about three months, and this was my first visit. Overall, the food didn't meet my expectations, but I hope with time they improve and continue to grow their business. read more

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I ordered the lasagna. It was good. It wasn't hot enough for me, but it was very tasty. The customer service is great the way it was very attentive. Explain the specials and asked if we had any allergies before he even proceeded to take our order. The ambience is quiet. It's a small place. Very nice and clean. read more

I loved the decor. When I arrived, it was empty. I like to eat early. The colors are white and blue, and it actually reminded me of Greece. It was a very impressive menu. The server was attentive, pleasant, and helpful. We started with the fried calamari appetizer which actually included Calamari, mushrooms, zucchini, and fried shrimp. We also ordered the rice bowls which were delicious. The bread was warm and came with a side of yummy marinara sauce. I don't drink alcohol, but the bar looked very well stocked and there was a large selection of wines. Another thing I liked was the music that was playing it was all in Italian. Even though I don't understand the language, some of the selections were really lively and some sounded very romantic. I enjoyed the whole experience and was very pleasantly surprised. I am a bit of an Italian food snob because I grew up in Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge New York when it was primarily Italian so I know what good Italian food tastes like. I highly recommend read more

La Strega Bistro - My MIL enjoying linguini frutti di mare - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Went here with two of my friends and the experience was definitely memorable. When first sitting down we asked for waters for our drinks and he tried to upsell us on his premium water instead of just tap. And we had to ask at least 3 times for the water and the third time the waiter just blamed another waiter for the water debacle so I was a bit confused. I ordered the spaghetti with the add on with the meatballs which they forgot to put on so I had to ask. My friend added eight dollar shrimp to hers and they only gave her four which was pretty insane. The food was pretty solid though, really tasty. The service was just pretty lackluster. One more thing that rubbed me wrong was the waiter staring directly at me when presenting the tip screen. I wanted to tip less but felt pressured not to. Just uncomfortable in general. read more

This was my first time going to La Strega, and the food was delicious. I went with my family. I highly recommend the Massimiliano pizza. For the appetizer, we got the calamari misto, and it was tasty, especially the mushroom. For pasta, we got the linguini frutti de mare, which was very good with lots of seafood. The sauce in the pasta was amazing. There was barely anyone there when we went, and the inside and bathrooms were very clean. The staff were helpful and recommended what to get. The portions were alright, but it was expensive so I think if I do go again, it would be for a special occasion. read more

Didn't know this place was here. Really great gnocchi dish and Torino old-fashioned. Very good pizza and bread items.

Food was excellent. It's authentic Italian cuisine. Everything we ordered was fresh and delicious. The service was very good and fast. The restaurant decor is lovely. You feel like you're in Europe. read more

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One day on Valentine's Day I understand they had a busy house. But it took our waiter to 20 minutes to get to our table just to order our drink drinks. We ordered our food and the food was very good until I had a piece of plastic in my lasagna. We bought it to the attention of our waiter and the manager came by and apologized and asked me if I wanted a new plate and I said no this was fine so she said she was gonna comp it. And what she did she gave me $2.99 off of a meal. My daughter asked for a second class of wine, which she never got. He offered us lemon shots and we said yes we would like that and we never got it. But wold I go back there again no. My meal should've been comped completely, and the waiter was at every table that he was assigned to several times, but never came to our table. read more

The positives of the experience were the kind staff and the newly renovated interior, which gave relaxed Santorini or Positano vibes. The extreme negative was the food. I was enjoying myself when I was first served a delightful glass of Sauvignon Blanc from Puglia. But the pasta dishes my husband and I ordered were bad in truly special ways. I ordered the ravioli alla Strega, butternut squash ravioli in a butter sage sauce, which I assumed was meant to be a signature dish. What arrived instead was food-service ravioli smothered in a salty gravy. And I mean gravy--they'd made a roux and salted it like sawmill gravy. The sauce-to-ravioli ratio was roughly two to one; I couldn't even see them in there. My husband's spaghetti in tomato sauce was also oversalted, though his house salad was good. The bread came with a marinara dipping sauce, which was confusing because the restaurant bills itself as "authentic Italian," not Italian-American (it was neither). The ravioli seemed prepared by people who had never even seen photos of what these dishes are supposed to look like. This new restaurant opened in the space where Papa Lozzi used to be. The previous chef was actually from Italy--he had customized his approach somewhat for the American market, but the food varied from pretty good to sometimes great. The decor, on the other hand, was the weak spot. The new owners clearly spent the necessary money on the build-out, but the food... read more

We visited this great Italian restaurant 2 weeks ago. The owner Adrian is very nice to speak with. The food had a homemade taste. Chef is straight out of Rome, Italy. Highly recommend!!! read more

Truly authentic with Italy's regional food. All our dishes were excellent and plentiful. The server was very attentive. For a few moments, we felt being in Italy. Exquisite ambiance. The name of La Strega Bistro is not to be missed. read more

We were passing through this area on our way to St. Augustine and was lucky to find this fine bistro in the Waterford Lakes Plaza on Alafaya Trail. Our server was prompt, and friendly and the food was fabulous! The pasta I was told is homemade and I was very happy with the Rigatoni Vodka and my boyfriend had the lasagna with bolognese. We enjoyed it so much, we made a point to stop again on our return to SW Florida. Our waiter, JJ was so pleasant and provided excellent service. Nice to find a great place for lunch in an area that seems overrun with chain restaurants. Highly recommend!!! read more

Outstanding new Italian restaurant. The calamari misto is outstanding, as is the Frutti de Mare. Food quality was outstanding, restaurant was super clean, and staff was attentive. Everything was great! read more

I frequent LaStrega Debary - but now they have recently opened one in Waterford. Across the street - by Home Depot . Same chefs, as Debary -food is wonderful. Today was my first visit to this location. Best chicken parm anywhere! Great food, location is too hidden- no big sign on Alafaya, but seek it out! It's definitely worth it!! And they are on Door Dash too!! Attentive and professional server. Chef visited my table. The bread and marinara for dipping is amazing! yum yum ya gonna luv it!! read more

Food great ! Service super ! Almost as good as the DeBary La Strega !! Check it out ! You won't be disappointed !!!

Great food and service. The Ossobuco was excellent, fall off the bone. Service was friendly and we felt like family read more

La comida estuvo riquísima y Alejandro fue un excelente mesero! Vuelvo definitivamente

this is an amazing place! amazing food and perfect service! they had a very traditional authentic ItalIan food! the waiter Jay Jay was so kind. and catered to our large group! 10/10 read more

Very approachable and friendly restaurant/ bar experience. Great options on food and drink alike. Shopped here since the previous name and they have yet to let me down. Almost every visit, I grab a nice single from a their wide arrange of liquor and either a pizza or pasta dish. I always leave with a super reasonable price and thoroughly satisfied. Can't praise this place enough! read more