Authentic Italian Cuisine on the BoardWalk- Dining at Trattoria al Forno

Disney’s BoardWalk is a beautiful area at the Walt Disney World Resort just steps from EPCOT’s International Gateway and World Showcase. Featuring a wraparound wooden boardwalk reminiscent of those found on the Eastern seaboard at the turn of the century, the area surrounds Crescent Lake which is a calm and beautiful body of water.

Guests who take the time to wander Disney’s BoardWalk can enjoy Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, shopping locations, live entertainment, water taxis, quiet pathways, and charming lighting at night that reflects beautifully off the water. There are also several very popular eateries and lounges found on Disney’s BoardWalk including Flying Fish, AbracadaBar, and a delicious authentic Italian trattoria called Trattoria al Forno.

Trattoria al Forno first opened in December 2014, replacing Kouzzina by Cat Cora which focused on traditional Greek cuisine with a modern flair. Moving across the Mediterranean, the current restaurant focuses instead on a menu of traditional Italian cuisine from all regions, including seafood favorites from the south and rustic options from the north.

The interior of Trattoria al Forno is designed to feel relaxing and welcoming, and Guests are immediately charmed by warm touches like exposed brick, dark wooden accents, pops of deep red, beautiful tile, and traditional cooking items like wooden pizza peels and copper pots lining the walls.

Comfortable seating can be found throughout the dining area including traditional wooden tables as well as classic booth seating with bright red upholstery. Each table is nestled underneath vaulted ceilings, where the same red color scheme is echoed next to large wooden beams and ornate, modern chandeliers.

One of the most homely aspects of the dining room at Trattoria al Forno is an open kitchen where Guests can watch some of the wonderful chefs at work preparing everything from fresh pasta and polenta to decadent proteins including steak and chicken.

Trattoria al Forno is a table service restaurant that is open daily for both breakfast and dinner, and each meal features its own unique menu, with breakfast focusing more on American favorites infused with traditional Italian ingredients and flavors. Dinner is pure authentic Italian cuisine with an array of mouthwatering options that Guests are sure to love.

Before digging into the food options at Trattoria al Forno, Guests should spend some time checking out wonderful beverage options including traditional soft drinks as well as the Trattoria al Forno Press Pot Coffee Roasted by Joffrey’s Coffee, San Pellegrino Sparkling Fruit Beverage, and Iced Coffee. Guests can also enjoy traditional Italian beverages, including Aranciata which is orange-flavored, and Limonata which is a refreshing lemon-flavored sip.

Guests who are looking to enjoy a specialty cocktail or alcoholic beverage at Trattoria al Forno can indulge in imported Italian beer as well as options including the Menta Espresso Martini, Tuscan Sour, Old Fashioned, Aperol Spritz, Sicilian Iced Tea, Italian Manhattan, and Molto Bello.

The wine menu at Trattoria al Forno is also an impressive list that is exclusively from Italy, and Guests can choose from over sixty options by the bottle or glass that showcase the wonderful flavors and grapes found throughout the Mediterranean country. Some popular types of wine that are available include Pinot Grigio, Moscato, Chianti, and Prosecco.

Once Guests are settled in with their beverages, they can begin to focus on the food options at Trattoria al Forno and breakfast has some incredible light and hearty options to start each day with. The menu is broken down into several categories with traditional entrees, lighter options, and egg-based options.

Guests who are looking for a light beginning to their day can order the plant-based Avocado Toast which features a chickpea scramble paired with bell peppers, cremini mushrooms, and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette. Other light options include the Florentine Frittata which combines egg whites, baby spinach, goat cheese, fresh herbs, and seasonal fruit, and the Freshly Harvested Fruit Plate, which is served with yogurt, honeycomb, and house-made granola.

Eggs are obviously a traditional breakfast food, and Trattoria al Forno features several flavorful breakfast options that Guests definitely will enjoy. The Caprese Omelet is a taste of Italy for breakfast with mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and breakfast potatoes with the choice of bacon, ham or sausage, and the Two Eggs Your Way offer Guests the chance to customize their meal with breakfast potatoes and choice of side.

The Al Forno Eggs are a delicious entrée option with cage-free eggs that are brick oven-roasted and served with a spiced tomato sauce and crispy country bread for a rustic and hearty option. The final egg entre available for breakfast at Trattoria al Forno is the Poached Eggs which are served with fennel sausage, creamy polenta, Pomodoro sauce, parmesan, and toasted crostini.

Some classic American breakfast items are given an Italian twists at Trattoria al Forno including the Tiramisu-style French Toast which tops a cinnamon brioche with mascarpone cream, cocoa powder, and the choice of bacon, ham, or sausage. Also available are classic Buttermilk Pancakes which are topped with a seasonal compote for some delicious, fresh flavor.

The Sunrise Breakfast Pizza is a unique option at Trattoria al Forno that tops a traditional crust with scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, bell peppers, and cheese for a savory start to the day. Also available are Traditional Pastries for Guests who love to kick off their day with carbs and the meal is served with a variety of jams, spreads, and whipped butter.

The final breakfast option at Trattoria al Forno is the hearty Oak-grilled Steak and Eggs which pairs a juicy piece of meat with sunny-side-up eggs, breakfast potatoes, crispy onions, and classic hollandaise sauce.

Moving on to dinner, the menu at Trattoria al Forno focuses on authentic Italian cuisine from many different regions, resulting in an indulgent and extensive menu that features appetizers, entrees, pizza, sides, and dessert.

A light beginning to dinner can be enjoyed with several appetizer salads and soups including the Tuscan Salad which tops countryside greens with almonds, gorgonzola, blackberries, and a lemon vinaigrette. Also available is a Kale Caesar Salad with parmesan-anchovy dressing and Minestrone Soup.

Traditional Italian appetizer options continue with Insalata Caprese featuring house-made burrata paired with ripe tomatoes and olive oil and the plant-based Roma Tomato Bruschetta which tops grilled ciabatta with basil and aged balsamic. Charcuterie lovers must enjoy the Salumi which serves up an assortment of cured meats, cheeses, and pickled harvest vegetables.

The final two appetizer options are for the seafood lovers who can dig into Coastal Mussels with vino bianco, shaved fennel, chiles, and pesto cream and classic Calamari served with lemon, parsley, and romesco sauce.

Pizza lovers have several mouthwatering options to enjoy at Trattoria al Forno, all of which are prepared in the wood-fire oven. Classic options like Pizze Margherita, Pizze Sicilian, and Pizze Pepperoni are available in addition to Pizze Carni with prosciutto, sausage, salami, and capicola and Pizze Bianco with ricotta, Italian oregano, and garlic.

The main entrees served for dinner at Trattoria al Forno feature several decadent fresh pasta options beginning with the Lasagna al Forno featuring a blend of Italian cheeses, beef, veal, pork, and herb ricotta. The Truffle Gnocchi is also a house favorite with parmesan, fontina, and pecorino cream.

The Shrimp Papardelle is a wonderful option for Guests who enjoy seafood and the plate combines fresh shrimp with artichokes, golden tomato, capers, and a white-wine butter sauce. The final pasta option at Trattoria al Forno is the Plant-based Rigatoni Bolognese with features a semolina rigatoni with a slowly braised ragu bursting with flavor.

Guests who are looking to enjoy a protein-based entrée for dinner at Trattoria al Forno can dig into the Parmigiana di Pollo featuring classic breaded chicken breast with parmesan-Reggiano, provolone, and a rustic tomato sauce. Also available is the Veal Osso Buco with gremolata, creamy polenta, and arugula and the Oak-grilled Strip Steak Florentine with hearth-roasted vegetables, olive oil potatoes, and amarone butter.

The final two menu options available for dinner are seafood entrees with the Rosemary-Tuna Carpaccio plated over a Panzanella salad and the Grilled Swordfish Salmoriglio with pancetta, bell peppers, zucchini, cipollini onion, and cannellini beans.

After so many hearty appetizer and entrée options, it can be hard to save room for dessert, but the men at Trattoria al Forno features truly decadent Italian favorites that Guests will not want to miss out on. Guests can indulge in Tiramisu, Panna Cotta, House-made Gelato in a variety of flavors, a Chocolate Semolina Torta, or the plant-based Affogato al Caffe.

Trattoria al Forno is an incredible table service restaurant on Disney’s BoardWalk where Guests can enjoy an array of light and hearty options bursting with flavor or both breakfast and dinner each day. With a welcoming dining room packed with old-world charm and a menu of authentic Italian favorites, no Guest should miss out on an incredible meal at Trattoria al Forno at the Walt Disney World Resort!