ameryhm

Ok...

I am simply looking for the best seafood or steakhouse in and around WDW that would NOT require park admission. This would immediately rule out anything in the parks themselves such as Le Celiier or Coral Reef.

My wife and mother in law will be down there during the 1st week of December this year and had intended to go to Emeril's (been to both) but the MIL got spooked after seeing their menu online.

So......need an exceptional replacement.

Thanks

NeoPatrick

got "spooked" by what? If it's prices, that will eliminate any good steakhouses in the area beyond Outback and similar. Or was it something else?

Orlando_Vic

According to Scott Joseph, Restaurant Critic for the Orlando Sentinel, the "Critics Choice", 2006 Foodie Award for best steakhouse (high-end) is:

Morton's the Steakhouse
7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd.,
Orlando
407-248-3485

This is not on Disney property, per se, but reasonably close by. It's probably closer to Universal though, but not an unreasonable drive from WDW.

stumpworks73

If you enjoy salmon, halibut and NW seafood, Artist's Point at Wilderness Lodge is a great restaurant. You don't need to do park admission. In Downtown Disney, also no admission, is Fulton's Crab House that has an extensive seafood menu.

Orlando_Vic

I agree! Artist Point, while not a seafood restaurant, has many very good seafood entrees.
Check out their menu: <http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_ap.htm>.

This restaurant, along with California Grill, are my two favorite Disney restaurants and are among the best that Orlando has to offer.

samschack

Assuming your MIL was "spooked" by the menu choices and not price I would suggest you consider the following, all of which are on Disney property but not in any of the parks:
Flying Fish at Boardwalk (seafood mostly)
Concourse Steakhouse (Contemporary hotel}
Todd English Blue Zoo (seafood) at Dolphin
Shulas steakhouse at the Dophin hotel
Yachtsman steakhouse at Yacht Club resort
Any of these would be good choices for steak and/or seafood at WDW.

gmoney

Fultons crabhouse (downtown disney)
Yachtsmans steakhouse (Yacht club hotel)
Shula's steakhouse (Dolphin hotel)
Bluezoo seafood (Dolphin hotel)

ameryhm

Fabulous responses everyone and I appreciate the quick turnaround.

To clarify one readers comments and re-affirm another, the MIL got spooked at the menu choices at Emeril's (the thought of seeing a quail egg served with anything turned her off real quick).

Having said that, my wife and I have eaten at some pretty good places over the years (Bern's, Emeril's) and did eat at Fulton's 2 years ago. Sadly, it was a pretty bad experience from the service to food to experience.

I have heard many good things about most of the places recommended so far and have actually eaten at a Shula's in Cleveland so can at least vouch for how good their cuts are. I am not overly concerned about prices because after all, it's still a WDW vacation and we were expecting at lease one really expensive meal but so long as it is worth the price, I don't care.

sweet_polly

I like Charley's in Kissimmee...about 10 minutes from WDW.

http://www.talkofthetownrestaurants....kiss_menu.html