Hi, going to Orlando in Sept with 3 & 5 year old. Coming from NY, we want to get recommendations on good restaurants (tired of chains), any type food, Italian, american, that's just good home cooking, nothing extravagent. We are staying at the Radisson Celebration and will have a car to get around. Doesn't have to be in the Disney parks, but just want some good home cooking. We were pretty disappointed on our last trip to Orlando.

You're right- food in Orlando is a major issue. Most of it is chains which seem to have the sole objective of massive stoking of high fat food and maximum calories.

Unfortunately the few places I know that are decent are mostly for adults. You might want to try Hemingway's at the Hyatt Grand Cyprus resort if you eat early. Hotel grounds are nice to see too.

I'm not sure how home cooking in Orlando is really defined (I'm in Tampa), but if you are staying in/near Celebration, you might consider the Columbia Restaurant which has Spanish food. The original is in Tampa but I know there is one there. It is not a kids place per se but it might be worth your consideration.

YOu say it doesn't have to be in the Disney parks - does that mean that you are going to Disney? If so, I recommend the Trail's End Buffeteria at Disney's Fort Wilderness campground. It was good "normal" food. I really like Mama Melrose in Disney-MGM Studios. And I love Flame Tree Barbeque at Disney's Animal Kingdom park. Boma at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (hotel) is really tasty.

Are you going to Orlando, or are you going to the theme parks? They are two different things and recommendations will differ accordingly.

yikes, going in September and you didn't get booked during the "free dining at Disney" promotion???? Gotta keep an eye out for these things!

Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom serves a great turkey & ham dinner spread that everyone seems to like. Have also heard good things about the 50's Prime Time Cafe at Disney/MGM and Chef Mickey's Buffet.

Did you see that there is a new discount code for "room only" reservations at Walt Disney World for 8/19/2006 - 9/30/2006? When you call, ask for discount code BPN. Discounts are a flat amount off rack rates per night.

$15 off Value resorts. $40 off Moderate resorts. $70 off Deluxe resorts.

There are a limited amount of discounts available and may be blocked over Labor Day Weekend.
This is a new promotion and cannot be combined with the earlier dining promotion. It is for room reservations - you do not have to book a whole package.

If you already have a reservation during this time, you can call and ask about the discount. Reservations can be cancelled without penalty up to 45 days prior to arrival but they may be able to just change the reservation without cancelling it first.

Your kids will LOVE The Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney. Reasonable Prices.

Er, Rainforest Café?

It's a chain.

And the food is singularly awful at all of them.

Actually, there are tons of places to get really good food in Orlando that are locally owned, not chains. The problem is that you have probably previously stayed in a very "touristy" location (as you are going to in Sept.) and inevitably you are bound to run into endless chains in those areas.

I suggest going to the downtown area where you will find many restaurants with really good food. In particular, Anthony's Pizzeria in Thornton Park and Wildside BBQ's in Thornton Park. If you are looking for Mexican food, Taquitos Jalisco in Metrowest is delicious and very kid friendly. On Fridays they have live mariachis, which are very entertaining.

Also, Bubaloo's Bodacious BBQ off of Hiawassee (close to Universal Studios and Int'l Drive) is very good and kid-friendly. There's also O'Boys BBQ off of Colonial Drive which is very good.

If you are looking for Cuban or Puerto Rican food, there are tons of restaurants on South Semoran Drive. I would recommend Panchos. If you are willing to take the trip, Habana Grille in Winter Park is very good. It has a combination of Spanish, Puerto Rican and Cuban Food. It was previously known as Don Pepes and they have a website. They also offer live entertainment throughout the week.

I hope this helps. If you need further suggestions, please let me know.

Oh, I know it's a chain, but the food is really good and it's away from the parks. Bucca di Beppo is a family-style Italian restaurant. There's a location at the Florida Mall. Very kid-friendly and very reasonably priced.

Go eat at the Celebration Tavern. right across from the Celebration Hotel. Also, Columbia Restaurant for spanish food, also in Celebration. For a "good chain" try "Mimi's Cafe'" just across from Mall at Millenia. enjoy.

I don't like chains either, especially Italian ones, but we actually liked Carrabba's. We were also looking for family dining, non-chain places and weren't having the best luck. We ended up go to Carrabba's twice because we were have some bad luck with our other choices.

Going to Orlando witn kids and trying to avoid chains is a little like going to Orlando with kids and trying to avoid The Mouse. It can't be done. Accept that you are in the cheesiest place on earth with your kids and enjoy.

We were pleasantly surprised w/ Wolfgang Puck's Express at Downtown Disney. There was no wait whereas the other restaurants were crowded.

WOW!! I didn't expect to get so many wonderful responses... thank you so much!

As far as the Spanish Colombia Restaurant in Celebration... would you say the prices are reasonable? thanks again.

Fat Boys in Saint Cloud, Just go east, once you get to Saint Cloud its on the left about a half mile past the Wal Mart. Its a local place where the locals eat.

http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/default.asp

Depends on if you go lunch or dinner. You can get reasonable sandwiches (probably about $7) or get more expensive. We ate lunch there for 2 adults, 1 child, came to about $35. We each had a beer, so that increased it. It was VERY good and nice presentation of food.

If you go to Columbia, try their white sangria. Fabulous. Their chopped salad is very good too.

For good Italian, consider Mama's at the Portofino hotel. Good family style Italian and I bet the kids would enjoy running around the harbor of the recreated Portofino, Italy.