I'm traveling to Orlando next week and I want to eat at some non-chain restuarants. I want to try places with local dishes, and interesting yummy food, but they also need to serve normal stuff like chicken fingers and burgers (for my less than adventurous friend and bf). I'll be there for 5 days so I need breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas pls. Oh and nothing too fancy or expensive...I do have reservations for Arabian Nights :)
2006-10-15 12:56:05 · 14 answers · asked by ladypersephone21 3 in Dining Out ➔ United States ➔ Orlando
It sounds like you'll be staying on the attractions side of town and while there are some nice restaurants over there, they're hard to find because the chain restaurants really stick out. At WaltDisneyWorld, they have several restaurants at Downtown Disney and the resorts that are really nice. CityWalk at Universal also has some good places too. I would look into the restaurants they have there, which are listed on their website.
Although it's usually very busy, International Drive is also a good place to find restaurants. http://www.internationaldriveorlando.com/ has a map of this area of town. One restaurant in particular that is good is Cafe TuTu Tango.
If you want some more suggestions, go to http://www.orlandoweekly.com It's the local alternative press and they have great restaurant reviews and suggestions. You can search by cuisine and location, in order to find some great ideas.
Have fun!
2006-10-17 02:19:26 · answer #1 · answered by ralphwaldo45 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are mostly chains in the Orlando area, but a few are not all over the place. I live about 45 min from Orlando and I enjoy the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain, but I don't think they are everywhere in the US and since I don't know where you live its kinda hard to say. Also Checkers its a fast food place but I prefer them to McDonalds. There is one place and I enjoy but would not consider it local food. Its at Pointe Orlando in International Drive called Lulus Baitshack and it had Jambalaya and crawfish eitoufee ( I know I spelled that wrong) and more dishes on that line. Also DownTown Disney has The RainForest Cafe that is very cool your kids will love it there, they have fishtanks ( HUGE ONES ) and animals that move and make sounds, it also has thunderstorms yes thunderstorms like I said its very cool. My best advice to you would be when you get settled at your hotel or where ever your staying look in the phone book, some phone books will show a partial menu and you can get a better idea of what they have, you should also ask the front desk if they can give you some suggestions. Good Luck and Enjoy your visit. KG
2006-10-15 14:55:05 · answer #2 · answered by kgreives 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can try Dan Marino's Town Tavern. Awesome seafood and salads there. A little more on the pricey side, but not horribly so. Cafe Tu Tu Tango is AWESOME on I-Drive. And Texas De Brazil is good too... expensive, but it's all you can eat. :-) I'd stay away from ANY AND ALL restaurants in and around the theme parks, unless you're stuck there for a day or two. The food is not neccessarily "all that" and is way too expensive. You can get the same meals, for better prices with better service in town. :-)
2006-10-20 07:42:00 · answer #3 · answered by rocknrobin21 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love tea at the Peabody, don't miss the ducks. Mainly chains in Orlando but the best are Checkers, Perkins, Sonic, Papa Jonh's, Ben and Jerry's, Just drive down International Drive that's good also City Walk in Universal Studios.
2006-10-22 12:25:37 · answer #4 · answered by OldMovieFan12 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My favorites in Orlando is Texas de Brazil. It's on International Drive. It's a little expensive, but so worth it. It has a killer salad bar and they serve every kind of meat you can imagine. Their wine selection is outrageous. Going there is more of an event then a meal. http://www.texasdebrazil.com/
Bahama Breeze is another one of my favorites. It's very reasonable, and has both Caribbean and American food. They usually have live entertainment and their mixed drinks are great! http://www.bahamabreeze.com/
If you are looking for a restaurant, just take a drive down International Drive. You will find everything you are looking for and more, from international cusine to casual deli's and fastfood.
2006-10-16 05:42:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ditto on the Peabody tea. We were there in December and it was very nice.
There are some cool places inside some of the Disney Hotels without actually going in the Parks. My favorite is Ohana.
For wings and burgers you must try the Ale House- sort of a chain, but only in florida.
2006-10-15 14:03:24 · answer #6 · answered by Jen 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For several years by far the best Chinese restaurant in the Orlando area was Yen-Yen in Winter Springs. It has now closed. Our second choice was The Eastern Pearl on SR436 in Altamonte Springs.. Still open. Sorry about that 436 with publix super
2016-05-22 05:00:37 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are interested in vietnamese cuisine there is a nice restaurant called Viet Garden in Little Saigon. It is near the Orlando Fashion Square Mall. It is a nice and casual restaurant. I hope you have a good time there. Enjoy hope this helps.
2006-10-18 05:23:49 · answer #8 · answered by Gina Beana 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's kind of a chain but there's not that many of them. At CityWalk next to Universal Studios, there is a Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville and it is AWESOME!!! Live bands and a beach feel. I got the Cheeseburger in Paradise and the whole ticket was $10 or $15 bucks...
2006-10-16 09:13:49 · answer #9 · answered by bamaboy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I loved tea time at the Peabody Hotel. They parade the ducks through the restaurant while they serve English tea and pastries.
2006-10-15 13:15:49 · answer #10 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋