Bice Ristorante

Location

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

Selections

Seafood, pasta, salad, desserts, wine, cocktails.

Entrée Range

$19 - $49

Summary

This is part of a chain of very upscale and quite impressive restaurants found in New York, Tokyo, Las Vegas, and other international locales. The food is incredibly fresh, well prepared, and elegant, and the service is top-notch. But be prepared: Even a modest meal will put a dent in your wallet, and even though the food and service are definitely worth it, it may be too expensive for many vacationers. If you want to try a variety of things on the menu, split a salad, appetizer, or pasta dish between two people for a starter; portions are large enough for sharing, and the staff is more than happy to accommodate.

The appetizers, mostly salads and antipasti of meats and cheeses, aren’t bad, but you’ve probably had something similar already.

We rate Bice as one of the best restaurants in all of Universal Orlando Resort, and it compares favorably to any of the similar restaurants at Walt Disney World. Because the Portofino gets a lot of business-convention traffic, it’s probably easier to get a reservation at 5:30 p.m. than 7:30 p.m.

Setting and Atmosphere

Cedarwood and marble floors, crisp white linens, opulent flower arrangements, and waiters in black suits give Bice (“beachay”) the feeling of a formal restaurant, but there is nothing stiff or fussy about the space or the staff. It’s immaculately clean, beautifully lit, and relatively quiet even when crowded. Outdoor seating overlooking the bay is lovely on spring and fall evenings.

House Specialties

The menu changes seasonally. Selections may include prosciutto with fresh melon and baby greens, homemade braised beef short rib ravioli in mushroom-Marsala sauce, veal Milanese with an arugula and cherry tomato salad, or risotto of the day.

Menus

• Bice Dinner Menu
• Dessert and Cordials Menu
• Specialty Drinks and Wine Menu

Details

Requires Credit Card to Reserve: No
Requires Pre-payment in Full: No

Photos