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Fresco Cucina Italiana at Turkey Lake Rd | Photo by Dave Vanz, The Orlando Life
Fresco Italian to open second location in downtown Windermere
Published on August 19, 2025
Windermere’s dining scene is set to welcome a new addition this winter. Fresco Pizzeria, owned by Achille Scialoia alongside his mother, Teresa, and brother, Luigi, will open a second location inside the new development project on Main Street on Dec. 1st, 2025.
The family has operated Fresco Cucina Italiana on Turkey Lake Road for 18 years, building a loyal following for its handmade pastas, pizzas, and fresh mozzarella. Achille Scialoia said the move to Windermere is both a long time goal and a natural extension of their story.
“We’ve always been a close-knit Italian family,” he told The Orlando Life. “Our Sunday dinners with friends and relatives are where the dream of opening a restaurant started. Now we get to share that same feeling with the Windermere community.”
That tradition of food and family stretches back decades. The Scialoias moved from Boston to Orlando in 1989, where Achille and Luigi’s parents opened Mondi Salon near the Florida Mall, a business still serving clients today. Luigi later attended culinary school in Miami, and by 2006, the family opened Fresco Cucina Italiana on Turkey Lake Road. Since then, they have built a reputation for fresh pastas, handmade mozzarella and a welcoming atmosphere that has made their restaurant a favorite in Southwest Orlando.
Achille Scialoia stands next to his mother, Teresa Scialoia at Fresco Cucina Italiana restaurant off Turkey Lake Rd. | Photo by Dave Vanz, The Orlando Life
Luigi Scialoia in the Kitchen at Fresco Cucina Italiana restaurant off Turkey Lake Rd | Photo by Dave Vanz, The Orlando Life
The new restaurant will occupy 527 Main St., part of a newly developed downtown project owned by the Jim Gissy Family and Jim Karr Family. Jim Gissy, CEO of Westgate Resorts, said Fresco is the kind of tenant that brings real value to the town.
“Our families think Fresco’s is the best value for family Italian dining in Southwest Orlando,” Gissy told The Orlando Life. “It’s authentic, it’s done right, and it’s a place people already love. Having them in Windermere is going to be great for the community and for the people who work there.”
Jim Karr agreed, pointing to Fresco’s reputation and community ties. “They’ve always had great food and service,” he told The Orlando Life. “Windermere doesn’t need a big corporate brand. It needs something special, something local. Fresco fits that perfectly.”
Fresco Pizzeria will open on the corner of Main and 6th Avenue on December 1, 2025 | Photo by Dave Vanz, The Orlando Life
Originally envisioned as a smaller, fast service spot, the project grew when a larger unit became available. The additional space allowed the Scialoias to expand the concept to include baked goods such as cornetti and bomboloni, paired with cappuccinos and lattes during morning hours.
The menu will feature pizza with a 48 hour proofed dough, fresh pasta made in house, and a range of salads and entrées. Cheese will be sourced from a South Florida producer, with gluten free options also planned. Fresco will also partner with Windermere Brewing Company to create an Italian style ale, strengthening its ties to the community.
With this new restaurant, the Scialoias continue to build upon the growing local cultural identity taking shape in Orlando.
“Windermere has such a great community,” Scialoia told The Orlando Life. “Everyone looks out for one another, and it feels like the perfect place for us to grow.”
Fresco Pizzeria will officially open its Windermere location Dec. 1, 2025.
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Customers fill the bar at Fresco Cucina Italiana for dinner and drinks | Photo by Dave Vanz, The Orlando Life
