"Longwood's lakeside Italian institution since 1980, with bucatini alla Enzo and the best sunset in Orlando. Book the terrace for a proposal."
About Enzo's on the Lake
Enzo and Jo Anne Perlini turned a lakeside house in Longwood into an Italian restaurant in 1980, and more than forty years later the sunset over Lake Fairy is still the reason to book the terrace. New owners John Khalil and Logan Berkowitz took over in 2022 and kept the kitchen and the menu intact. The cooking is made-from-scratch Italian: the bucatini alla Enzo, veal scaloppine, and a Chilean sea bass that regulars order on sight. It anchors the romantic end of our Orlando dining guide and our guide to the best Italian restaurants worldwide.
The Kitchen
Enzo's has no celebrity chef, and that is the point: the recipes were set by Enzo Perlini, who opened the lakeside house in 1980, and the kitchen has held them steady through a 2022 change of ownership to John Khalil and Logan Berkowitz. The signature is the bucatini alla Enzo, thick hollow pasta in a robust sauce of prosciutto, peas, bacon, mushrooms and parmesan; the veal scaloppine all'agrodolce, sauteed with peppadew, prosciutto and Pinot Grigio, is the other dish regulars order. The antipasto della casa, the meatballs and a Chilean sea bass with risotto round out the table. Mains run roughly $30 to $50, so a full dinner with antipasti and wine lands higher. The cooking is generous and traditional rather than modern, the kind built for a long evening. The setting is the address: 1130 South US Highway 17-92, in a converted house on Lake Fairy, with a terrace that catches the sunset. Reservations are taken on OpenTable, and the terrace tables go first.
The Room
Enzo's is a converted house, so dinner happens across small dining rooms and, in good weather, a terrace right on Lake Fairy. The terrace is the seat to request: water on one side, the sunset ahead, and enough space between tables to talk. Indoors the sound level is a warm hum, the lighting low, the feel old-Florida rather than modern. Dress is smart-casual, with most diners dressed for a special evening. It seats over a hundred across the house and terrace. Service is attentive and unhurried, and the staff are used to engagements and anniversaries, so they know how to handle a moment.
Best for a Proposal
Book Enzo's for a proposal for three reasons: the lakeside terrace at sunset is among the most romantic seats in greater Orlando, the staff will help with timing and a cake if you call ahead, and the room has carried local couples through engagements since 1980. A typical scene: a terrace table as the sun drops over Lake Fairy, the bucatini alla Enzo between you, and a server who knows when to step back. It works just as well for an anniversary. Book the terrace at sunset and tell the team what you are planning.
Not for
Skip Enzo's if you want modern, plated fine dining or a quick bite: this is traditional, generous Italian in a converted lakeside house, built for long, old-school dinners.
Frequently Asked
Is Enzo's on the Lake worth it?
Yes, for a romantic, traditional Italian dinner with the best lakeside sunset near Orlando. Open since 1980 in a converted house on Lake Fairy, Enzo's trades on its setting and its from-scratch cooking rather than on trends. The bucatini alla Enzo and the Chilean sea bass are done well, and the terrace at sunset is the reason to come. See more in our Orlando dining guide.
How hard is it to book Enzo's on the Lake?
Moderate, with the terrace the bottleneck. Enzo's takes reservations on OpenTable and by phone, and indoor tables are usually available a few days out. The lakeside terrace at sunset is the prize seat, so book it a week or two ahead for a weekend or a proposal. For a large group or a special request, call the restaurant directly.
What is the dress code at Enzo's on the Lake?
Smart-casual, with no jacket required. This is a special-occasion Italian restaurant in an old lakeside house, so a collared shirt, trousers or a dress are right, and most diners dress up a little, especially on the terrace. Neat resort wear works in the Florida heat; beachwear and flip-flops read as too casual for the dining room.
What is the average meal price at Enzo's on the Lake?
Mains run roughly $30 to $50, with the veal, the Chilean sea bass and the daily fish at the top of that range. With antipasti, pasta, dessert and wine, expect $70 to $110 a head. It is a generously priced room rather than a bargain, but the portions, the lakeside terrace and the long-running kitchen back up the bill.
What should I order at Enzo's on the Lake?
Order the bucatini alla Enzo, the signature pasta in a prosciutto, pea and mushroom sauce, and start with the antipasto della casa. The veal scaloppine all'agrodolce and the Chilean sea bass are the other dishes to get. For more Orlando Italian, see our best Italian restaurants guide.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Enzo's on the Lake on OpenTable
Book on OpenTable or by phone. The lakeside terrace books first, especially at sunset; call ahead for a proposal or a large group.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address1130 S US Hwy 17-92, Longwood, FL 32750
NeighbourhoodLongwood, on Lake Fairy
CuisineItalian
PriceMains $30–$50
Dress CodeSmart-casual
Seating100+ · house & lakeside terrace
ReservationOpenTable or phone
Phone+1 407-834-9872
HoursDinner Tue–Sun (seasonal)
DietaryVegetarian options; ask about gluten-free pasta
