Mardi Gras is a well-known celebration that traces its roots to New Orleans. A similar celebration takes place each year in Italy. It’s called Carnevale, and this year they are celebrating Carnevale at Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante at Disney Springs. It’s a perfect fit.
On Monday, February 25, my adult daughter and I were invited by the restaurant to enjoy a meal and join in on the celebration. I love the atmosphere at Maria & Enzo’s, and was excited to see what they planned for the festivities. They did not disappoint, the staff at Maria & Enzo’s went all out to make sure that it was a fun time for all.
There is extra entertainment for Carnevale. This was close to perfect. There was always something going on, but it was never too much. The entertainment included strolling musicians, jugglers, stilt walkers, and dancers. Sometimes the entertainment took place on the balcony that is partway down the stairs, sometimes it was in the front of the restaurant, and other times the entertainers wandered and mingled with the diners. The entertainment really created the festive atmosphere that the restaurant was going for.
There were also extras for diners. Masks are part of the celebration. Not only were there masks on the tables, there was a mask painter on the side who was decorating masks for people to take home. There was also face painting for the kids. There were not all that many children there while we were dining, but those who were there were receiving special attention. One little girl had a great time with the dancers, dancing with them and playing a borrowed tambourine. This celebration is family friendly, it was a shame that there weren’t more kids there.
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There is a special menu for Carnevale, but the restaurant’s regular menu is also available. You can order the Feast of Carnevale for $45. That is a five course meal, and wine recommendations are available. Maria & Enzo’s features classics from Italy. There’s a great mixture of familiar dishes and those that you might not have tried before.
We decided to go with the prix fixe menu instead of the Feast because my daughter has a non-life threatening food allergy. Our server was fantastic, he talked to the chef for her to see what she would be able to safely eat. My entree was Melanzane Alla Parmigiana (eggplant parmesan). The chef created an allergy-friendly penne pasta dish for my daughter. The food was delicious, and the portions are huge. You will not go away hungry.
You will not want to skip dessert. There are some special treats on the menu that were created for Carnevale. I chose the Torta Di Pistacchio, while my daughter had Gelato E Sorbetto. We were also served Bugie E Chiacchiere, which is a thin fried pastry that is covered with powdered sugar. These were a perfect ending to a fabulous meal.
Carnevale takes place nightly at Maria & Enzo’s through March 5. The fun runs from 5:00 until 10:00 each evening. Reservations are highly recommended. There were walkups available when we were there, but the restaurant was mostly full by the time that we left. You can find more information, see the menu, or make your reservation at https://www.patinagroup.com/maria-enzos/carnevale. You can also call 407-560-8466.
I’d like to thank the staff at Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante for hosting us, and for offering us such a great time. I highly recommend this celebration. The decorations are fun but not overdone, the costumes are incredible, and the food is delicious. The entertainment made a great experience even better. If you’re looking for a meal that you won’t soon forget, check out Carnevale. Just remember that you don’t have much time, since it ends on March 5.