REVIEW: Why You Should SKIP This EPCOT Lounge

We all know there are a lot of places to eat in EPCOT.

With 11 countries to choose from, which all have dining options, there is so much to explore foodwise here. Not to mention, if you are visiting during an EPCOT festival, there will be food booths for you to also choose from. Today, we’re taking you with us to a place you have probably walked by tons of times without ever walking inside. 

Background

Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar is located in the Italy pavilion right next to Tutto Italia Ristorante. They are actually connected. The wine cellar will transport you to a tiny wine cellar in Italy with stone alcoves and a brick ceiling.

Atmosphere

It’s quaint, and there are lovely little alcoves around the space that you can sit in to wine and dine.

It is dark and cozy with wooden tables and chairs. This lounge feels more intimate, special, and comfortable than the restaurant next door.

As you walk to your table, you’ll pass by the centerpiece of the lounge, the large bar. We were impressed by all of the wine on display.

There are standard tables and chairs, along with some half booths. But, there are also high-top tables in the middle of the wine cellar. There is a QR menu stand that you can scan that will bring up the menu on your phone. They offer paper menus, as well.

Now let’s get down to the food and drinks we tried on our last visit.

Drinks

First up, we started with the Bellini for $16. This is a classic drink with Peach purée and Prosecco. The peach is very flavorful here, and we loved this light and refreshing drink. We think this is a great option to cool off on a warm day. 

Now, we also had to order a wine flight because, well, can you go to a wine cellar and not try some wine? We went with the Crisp Italian Whites Flight for $22. The flight included Sauvignon Terre di Bacco, Pecorino Il Feuduccio, and Gavi Batasiol. 

The Sauvignon was dry, crisp, and slightly fruity. The Pecorino used grapes grown in Southern Italy and was slightly less dry than the sauvignon. The Gavi is also a dry white wine, and we found it to be the least sweet out of the three. 

We think the wine flight is a great option to try a few different wines, especially if you are unsure what wine to order.

Eats

Now, it was time to order food.

First up, we tried the Mare e Monti for $48. This is a Slow braised chuck short rib, and Maine lobster ravioli with rosemary butter. 

The lobster ravioli was the highlight. It was well-seasoned and SO creamy. We could have had a whole plate of just this. The lobster taste was fresh, which is so important. The short rib was savory, but it was chewy. I would have loved it to be cooked longer for the fat to break down. But it was still good in flavor. 

Next, we went with a traditional pasta of Lasagne alla Bolognese. This is a traditional preparation from Emilia-Romagna with beef and pork ragù, béchamel, and parmesan. 

Unfortunately, this fell flat for us. It tasted like a store-bought lasagna. We would have loved to have more seasonings and herbs used to help add more flavor. While it was a decent lasagna, we just had more hopes for pasta at an Italian restaurant, and since it was $29, we weren’t very impressed. 

Next, we tried the Salmone. This dish is a pan-seared filet of salmon, green asparagus, and herb sauce for $34.

This dish was not our favorite. The salmon had a good texture but was dry. We wished there was a sauce to go with it. If you are looking for a healthy option, it’s a good choice. The mashed potatoes were bland. So overall, we would not recommend ordering this. 

Now on to dessert. We wanted to try the Tiramisù. This classic coffee-flavored Italian dessert is created with ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cheese topped with fresh cocoa powder for $13. 

We LOVED this. It was a classic Tiramisù with the perfect combination of sweet and richness. It was moist, but not soggy. The layers were a perfect balance. We cleaned this plate and would highly recommend ordering it if you are a fan of tiramisu. 

Finally, we ordered the Limoncello Float. This dessert is a Sicilian limoncello over homemade limoncello gelato and fresh raspberry for $19. The limoncello comes in a shot glass on the side and you can add as much as you would like to your gelato. 

We found the limoncello to be very strong and unfortuately, that flavor overwhelmed the dessert. The gelato itself was creamy and smooth. We wish we had just had the gelato solo and left the alcohol out of it. If you are a fan of strong limoncello, just be sure to taste it before adding to the dessert.

Should You Go?

Alright, so you might not like our answer. We have mixed feelings. We think that you should go here if you are looking for a sit-down experience to take a break from the park and can’t snag a reservation somewhere else.  If you can’t get a reservation at Tutto Italia, this is a great option, because it’s practically the same menu and since it’s a lounge, it’s first come, first serve, so you might have a better chance grabbing a table here. We think that if you enjoy wine, this is would be a great place for you.

However, not everything we had was great. While we loved a few things, we weren’t impresed by most of the dishes. It was also a bit pricey for us not to love everything. If you are wanting Italian food, head to Via Napoli for pizza or try Trattoria al Forno over at the Boardwalk. Our readers are also mixed on this, while it is recommended by 71% of our readers, it only has a 6.41 rating.

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What is your favorite place to eat in EPCOT? Tell us below.