You do not need a boarding pass to enjoy the golden age of travel at Maria & Enzo’s. Located inside a former airline terminal reimagined with 1930s glamour, this Disney Springs restaurant pairs big Italian flavors with an equally big setting.
And “big” is not an exaggeration. The dining room rises to 50-foot ceilings and opens toward views of Lake Buena Vista, giving lunch or dinner an unexpected sense of occasion. Aviation-inspired details keep the restaurant’s playful story alive, while the First-Class Lounge offers a calmer adult dining space for guests who might prefer their pasta with a little less terminal traffic
The Sicilian-inspired menu is built for the kind of meal where everyone says they will order separately and then immediately begins passing plates. Start with house-made focaccia served with roasted garlic and Nonna’s Sunday gravy, or add calamari with hot cherry peppers, spicy marinara and garlic aioli. The meatballs arrive with whipped ricotta and Parmigiano, which is exactly the sort of detail that turns a familiar starter into something worth fighting over.
Pasta is the main attraction. The rigatoni alla Bolognese combines a pork, beef and veal ragù with whipped ricotta. The rosetta di lasagna layers fresh pasta, multiple cheeses, béchamel and a short-rib and pork ragù. For something lighter, the gnocchi alla caprese pairs pomodoro with sun-dried tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil pesto. The menu also includes a cauliflower ragù, and gluten-free pasta is available upon request.
Those who are not in a pasta mood still have plenty of options, including chicken Parmigiana, grilled salmon, braised short rib and New York strip. At weekday lunch, the menu expands into panini filled with combinations such as mortadella and burrata, porchetta, sausage with peppers, chicken Parmigiana and roasted vegetables.
Cocktails lean into the fun. Enzo’s Fedora is a bourbon-and-amaro drink with serious lounge energy, while the Italian Margarita adds amaretto to tequila and Cointreau. Wine and sparkling flights make sharing easy, and the menu also includes zero-proof and alcohol-free functional cocktails, welcome options for anyone who wants something more interesting than another soda.
Save room for dessert, because four cannoli flavors are better than one. The Quattro Cannoli includes classic, pistachio, chocolate and hazelnut. There is also tiramisu, lemon olive-oil cake with mascarpone and strawberries, and the Coppa di Maria, a wonderfully over-the-top combination of three gelato flavors, Italian cookies and Amarena cherries.
Maria & Enzo’s works for families, couples and groups of friends who want a Disney Springs meal with personality. It is theatrical without feeling like a theme-park attraction and polished without losing the warmth of Italian comfort food.
Most importantly, it gives diners an excuse to slow down, share a plate and pretend, at least for one meal, that their next destination is somewhere fabulous.
Maria & Enzo’s is located at 1560 East Buena Vista Drive in Disney Springs. It opens daily at 11:30 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reservations are recommended. Visit mariaandenzos.com for current menus and information.
