To familiarize us with their dining options and spa, we were given a tour of some of their spaces (some are still under construction but will be completed August 3 or later in September) and samples of some of the amazing cuisine that will be offered. Here I’ll share my thoughts and photos on the first place we visited on our tour, Ravello.
Ravello is the Italian restaurant at the lobby level of the Four Seasons. To the right of the front lobby, you come to the Ravello lounge, tastefully decorated in modern design and colors, not giving a hint at all to the type of cuisine awaiting downstairs. You can enjoy lovely water views from Ravello’s large windows and there is comfortable outdoor seating for both the lounge upstairs and the restaurant downstairs. The lounge is open from 5pm – midnight and seats 70 inside and 88 outside, offering a full bar, appetizers, and pastry creations from the chef.
A beautiful set of stairs take you downstairs to Ravello’s main dining area, which features an open kitchen concept (as all their dining locations do), dark wood and light colors for a warm but elegant feel. This modern Italian kitchen offers a fresh pasta bar with housemade pastas, pizza with housemade dough and brick ovens, along with regional specialties from resident chef Fabrizio Schenardi, who has an extensive high-end hotel resume of experience and it definitely showed in the items we sampled that evening.
Ravello also offers two private dining rooms, where they will have cooking demos for adults and children as well as 114 seats outside. I have no doubt that Ravello will be a wonderful meeting place for friends to get together and share a great meal and enjoy some amazing cuisine at the same time. The seared tuna we tried is on the menu as Tonno – Pan Seared Tuna | Eggplant Caponata | Saba | Basil Oil, I have to admit, I have avoided tuna in the past because I thought I wouldn’t like it, but I tried this and loved it. It tasted more like melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon than fish. I would order it again in a heartbeat. We also sampled the Veal Ravioli – Veal, Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed | Wild Mushrooms | Truffle Essence, which left me wanting more. The pasta was so light and fresh, with just the right amount of cheese and sauce, an excellent combination of flavors. I will definitely be back to sample the full menu.
Ravello is open now at the Four Seasons Orlando Resort. You may book a reservation using Open Table. Parking at the Four Seasons is Valet only, but can be validated for a lower amount. I’ll have a full review when I experience the entire menu in a couple of weeks. I’ll also have upcoming posts on the PB&G pool area restaurant, Lickety Split dessert and coffee shop, and The Spa.
Disclaimer: Thank you to the Four Seasons for inviting us out and offering us some tastes of what’s to come at the Four Seasons Orlando. My opinions and thoughts are my own.