Excellent Options for Italian Dining in Oviedo

If you are like me and love all things pasta and carbs, then you are in luck in Oviedo.  We are fortunate to have some really great places to satisfy that craving for Italian food.

First up is Circosta's (website here), a small family owned joint located in a small strip mall on State Road 426 by a Shell gas station.  The parking lot is enough for the patrons of the tony strip mall, and you won't regret venturing into this place.  The restaurant is small, maybe 12 to 15 tables.  But there are plenty of people who come in to pick up call in orders, especially for their pizza (which is REALLY good).  If you walk in on a Friday or Saturday night, there may be a wait for a table, but it's usually not a terribly long wait, as the service is pretty good.  The kitchen pumps out the meals quickly and the servers get them to the table efficiently (and with a smile).  They've got it down to an art here, so don't be discouraged if there's a line.  If your server is a female, odds are it's either the wife or one of the daughters of the owner (and head chef).  You really get the family feel here, which is one of the reasons I like going.

As for the food, I've already mentioned how good the pizzas are.  But the baked pasta dishes are also very good (anything with their house made sausage is highly recommended).  The meatballs are also excellent, and I suspect they add cheese to them.  And if you like garlic, I would also recomment the pasta fagioli.  Yes, you will taste garlic for a while after eating this soup, but isn't that a good thing? ;)    And save room for dessert, which they get from a local bakery (same one as Cavalaris).   Now, the portions are pretty big, and most entrees come with a salad and their amazing warm bread, so I recommend reserving half of your entree for a to-go box so you have room for dessert.  My only complaint might be that there aren't a lot of light dishes.  But, quite frankly, I don't come here to count calories.  I come for the warm atmosphere, reasonable price, and to indulge in pasta covered in delicious red sauce, bubbling cheese, and stuffed with wonderfully spiced meat, and then I have creme brûlée cheesecake (with berries on top, so it's healthy, right?)

There's no changing table in the clean bathroom, but the place is child friendly.  If you come around more than a couple times, they are likely to remember you and your family, even asking how the kids are doing.

Is it the best Italian food you've ever had?  Probably not, but it's good, and you won't regret going.

In my next entry, I'll talk about Steffano's Trattoria, which is techinically Winter Springs, but it's so close to the border being at the intersection of Tuskawilla Road and Red Bug Lake Road, then it really deserves to be mentioned.