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$$$ | Central Orlando |
Talented chefs bring big city sophistication to Downtown Orlando at this casual eatery with a French-American fusion menu and craft cocktails. Everything that can be made in-house—pickles, condiments, bread—is, and although the chicken, steak, and seafood entrées are fantastic, the frites (fries) alone are worth the trip. Coffee and pastries are available in the morning, and a very prolonged happy hour fills afternoons. There's complimentary valet parking in the evening.
390 N Orange Ave., Orlando, Florida, 32801, USA
Known For
- Handcrafted charcuterie and cocktails
- Raw bar with Florida oysters
- Braised short ribs with trumpet mushrooms
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun. Morning hours vary
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$$ | Sand Lake Rd. Area |
Sleek and stylish, Dragonfly is a bit of everything the young and beautiful people want: a pretty space featuring sushi, colorful martinis, and modern, izakaya-style small plates. Groups of dressed-up twenty- and thirtysomethings gather indoors and out to share plates of robata-cooked meats and vegetables, along with tempura, rolls, noodle dishes, and salads, all beautifully presented. The daily happy hour is hugely popular with locals.
7972 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, Florida, 32819, USA
Known For
- Modern takes on traditional Japanese
- Robata charcoal-grilled specialties
- Daily happy hour specials
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | |
Eleven, highly thought of in an area of town dominated by fast food and golf clubhouse eateries (including the ones at Reunion), features high-class small plates crafted around seafood from Maine and Florida, house-made charcuterie, and shareable dishes. The location high atop the resort affords panoramic views of still-forested Florida and, in the right weather, theme park fireworks 10 miles away.
7593 Gathering Dr., Celebration, Florida, 34747, USA
Known For
- Well-crafted small plates and cocktails
- Wagyu beef and New England mussels
- Views of pristine Florida and theme park fireworks
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Wed. and Fri. (but check). No lunch
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$ | Thornton Park |
Noisy and visually loud (commissioned graffiti makes up the decor), casual and astoundingly popular Graffiti Junktion holds the burger/wrap/sandwich crowd in thrall. Burgers run large and juicy, with hand-formed patties bursting from the bun in varieties like the Iron City (Angus beef, Canadian bacon, cheese, and a fried egg), and all three of the Orlando locations are open until 2 am.
700 East Washington St., Orlando, Florida, 32801, USA
Known For
- Late hours and noisy sports bar atmosphere
- Fresh-formed burgers with inventive toppings
- Hand-cut french fries
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$ | Downtown Orlando |
A local favorite since 1947, this down-home steak house serves good cuts of meat, expertly cooked and reasonably priced. Butchery is done on premises, and there are no TVs over the bar to distract from a pleasant conversation over a great steak. The menu is short and to the point, including about a dozen steaks (most of them different sizes of top sirloin strip, filet mignon, or T-bone) and just enough ancillary items to fill a single page. Among the fish selections is the 12-ounce blackened red snapper. The chicken, veal, or eggplant parmigiana topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella is good for nonsteak lovers. With every entrée you receive a salad plus a choice of spaghetti (which isn't particularly noteworthy), baked potato, steak fries, green beans, or broccoli. There's even an old-fashioned early bird special for seniors before 6 pm.
4721 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando, Florida, 32803, USA
Known For
- An Orlando classic
- Hand-cut, house-aged steaks
- Seafood and pasta entrées
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$ | Downtown Orlando |
A holdover from when neighborhood restaurants were actually in a neighborhood, award-winning Maxine's is casual, hip, local, and friendly. The menu ranges from sophisticated seafood to brisket burgers and Black Angus filet mignon. The wine list is unique and special, and the bar rivals the extended outdoor seating for popularity. There's live music several times a week, an unusual Friday brunch, and special events feature wine dinners and drag cabaret nights.
337 N. Shine, Orlando, Florida, 32803, USA
Known For
- Lively, neighborhood atmosphere
- Outdoor dining
- Seafood dishes from a veteran local chef
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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$$$$ | Sand Lake Rd. Area |
This fine choice among Orlando's many steak houses looks like a sophisticated private club, and youngsters with mouse caps are not common at the nationwide chain's local outpost. Center stage in the kitchen is a huge broiler, kept at 900°F to sear in the flavor of the porterhouses, sirloins, rib eyes, and other cuts of aged beef. For true value, nibble on "bar bites" in the lounge area during happy hour, when they're half price, and you'll enjoy top-quality sliders and such for $6 to $7 a plate. The wine list has about 350 vintages from around the world.
7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando, Florida, 32819, USA
Known For
- House-aged steaks
- Seafood towers
- Mixed grill assortments with steak and lobster
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | Lake Nona |
Part tavern, part bistro, and part sports bar, Nona Blue has a little something for everyone. Kettle chips smothered in blue cheese or Buffalo chicken wings, check; burgers and salads, check; filet mignon or a 16-ounce, $44 Delmonico rib eye, also (very much) check.
9685 Lake Nona Village Pl., Orlando, Florida, 32827, USA
Known For
- Casual atmosphere with high-end steaks
- Signature burgers
- Bar with craft beers and single-malt whiskeys
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$$$$ | Sand Lake Rd. Area |
From the Berries & Bubbles martinis that start off the meal to the chocolate peanut butter dessert draped in bittersweet chocolate ganache, Ocean Prime wows. This local outpost of an upscale chain holds its own with consistently good food, if uneven service. The jumbo-lump crab cake with pickled fennel is a good way to begin, as are the white truffle caviar deviled eggs, ahi tuna tartare, and goat cheese ravioli. Follow with a simple grilled steak, sea scallops with Parmesan risotto and citrus vinaigrette, or the teriyaki salmon. Locals find the daily happy hour to be a bargain.
7339 W. Sand Lake Rd., Orlando, Florida, 32819, USA
Known For
- Great lakeside view
- Inventive seafood selections
- Gluten-free menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$$ | International Drive |
Don't let the 1930s-era ocean-liner interior fool you: as theme restaurants go, this place is a good one. The straightforward preparation—grilled or broiled, brushed with lemon butter—is welcome. The chefs change the menu every day based on what's fresh. Lobster bisque is a standout, as is the chilled shellfish platter and the day's fish specialties. Save room for the baked Alaska, which is flamed at the table.
9101 International Dr., Orlando, Florida, 32819, USA
Known For
- Exceptional fresh seafood
- Large wine menu
- "Grand Shellfish Tower" raw bar offering
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$$ | |
The bright, shiny, and oh-so-hip ette hotel is home to this eatery, created by celebrated chef Akira Back, who has 22 restaurants worldwide and a Michelin star to his credit. The menu delights with Mediterranean-Asian (emphasis on Asian) dishes that might include miso black cod with pickled cauliflower or garlic maple soy chicken. The hotel and restaurant are strictly nonalcoholic, so drinks from the creative mixology menu won't trigger any breathalyzers.
3001 Sherberth Rd., Kissimmee, Florida, 34747, USA
Known For
- Menu from an international chef
- Sophisticated surroundings in a very hip hotel
- Alcohol-free establishment
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Mon. and Tues., Reservations required, Afternoon tea also served Sun. (noon–5 pm)
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$$$ | International Drive |
At this authentic Spanish restaurant, Iron Chef celeb Roberto Treviño uses unique grills to prepare inventive dishes, including seafood, chicken, lamb, or vegetarian paella. The tapas menu features a great gazpacho soup and fiery patatas bravas (home fries with a spicy tomato sauce). Flamenco dancers visit the dining room hourly at night.
8441 International Dr., Orlando, Florida, 32819, USA
Known For
- Family-style tapas and entrées
- Several varieties of paella
- Live entertainment
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$$$ | International Drive |
Hampton Social covers many bases with its menu of "coastal inspired food." With options ranging from California-style pizzas and lobster rolls to steak or seafood tacos and crispy calamari, there's likely to be something for everyone in your party. Weekend brunch adds boozy and non-alcoholic bevs, as well as live music.
9101 International Dr., Orlando, Florida, 32819, USA
Known For
- Free parking with $25 purchase
- "Rosé all Day" lounge
- Weekend brunch with live music and kids' choices
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$$$ | |
Using locally sourced ingredients, the chef at this small, independent redbrick eatery on Sanford's main drag creates Southern-fusion dishes. His house-made biscuits and gravy are renowned, the Saturday brunch menu includes a BLT with house-cured bacon and heirloom tomatoes, and dinner choices include pan-seared Florida trout with bacon from Tennessee and the ever-popular shrimp and grits with corn from Zellwood, Florida.
125 W. 1st St., Sanford, Florida, 32771, USA
Known For
- Saturday brunch
- Great Southern-inspired food
- Shrimp and grits
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Wed.
