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Dining in Orlando ranges from fast food and national chains to celebrity chefs—both international and local—serving locally sourced foods, creative preparations, and clever international influences. The theme parks now have some of the best restaurants in town, although you may opt for a rental car to seek out the local treasures.
The signs of Orlando's dining progress are most evident in the last place one would look: Disney's fast-food outlets. Every eatery on Disney property offers a tempting vegetarian option, and kiddie meals come with healthful sides and drinks unless you specifically request otherwise. Chefs at Disney’s table-service restaurants consult face-to-face with guests about food allergies. And big-name chefs are now well represented in Disney Springs, though less so at Universal's CityWalk.
Around town, locals flock to the Ravenous Pig, the Rusty Spoon, and other gastropubs where the menu changes regularly; Luma on Park, a suave home of thoughtfully created cutting-edge meals; and any number of dining establishments competing to serve the very finest steak. Orlando's culinary blossoming began in 1995, when Disney's signature California Grill debuted, featuring farm-to-table cuisine and wonderful wines by the glass. Soon after, celebrity chefs started opening up shop. Disney has since completely revamped California Grill so it's a trendsetter once again.
Orlando's destination restaurants can be found in the theme parks, as well as in the outlying towns. Sand Lake Road is now known as Restaurant Row for its eclectic collection of worthwhile tables. Here you'll find fashionable outlets for sushi and seafood, Italian and chops, Hawaiian fusion, and upscale Lebanese. Heading into the residential areas, the neighborhoods of Winter Park (actually its own city), Thornton Park, and College Park are prime locales for chow. Scattered throughout Central Florida, low-key ethnic restaurants specialize in the fare of Turkey, India, Peru, Thailand, Vietnam—you name it. Prices in these family-owned finds are usually delightfully low.
The gift shop of the Modernism Museum across the street is attached to this tearoom-turned-restaurant, which helps to explain its striking and sublime decor. The menu changes daily featuring dishes from Florida and elsewhere in the South that are made using local ingredients whenever possible; roasted oysters, slow-cooked octopus with Japanese eggplant, or barbecue lamb shank are just some of the possibilities.
What started as a tiny business in a former tire-repair shop has turned into a 15-location dynasty, with an urban farm and educational center. The popular 4 Rivers turns out slow-cooked barbecue standards like pulled pork and Texas-style brisket, as well as more unusual items such as bacon-wrapped smoked jalapeños, the Six Shooter with cheese grits, and a sausage-filled pastry called kolache. Old-time soft drinks such as Frostie Root Beer and Cheerwine are for sale, along with desserts like the Chocolate Awesomeness—an indulgent layering of chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, Heath Bar, whipped cream, and chocolate and caramel sauces. Some branches have Sweet Shops that sell whole oversize cakes.
The Grand Bohemian, a luxury boutique hotel, is the setting for this sleek city-center restaurant. Start with the calamari or the porcini flatbread followed, perhaps, by a selection from the famed Angus beef menu, the Chilean sea bass, or the Hunter's Board of handcrafted charcuterie. The Sunday Jazz Brunch here is legendary, with stations for omelets, seafood, and carved prime rib, as well as an expansive dessert selection. Local politicians favor this place for power breakfasts, and local jazz stars perform in the Bösendorfer Lounge most evenings.
This chic, modern, Michelin-starred dining room atop the luxury Four Seasons resort highlights the culinary culture of Spain, starting with authentic tapas and continuing with exceptional steaks, among them dry-aged strip and Wagyu. A range of caviar or oysters is available, and everyone will enjoy the Madrid churros.
At this restaurant, award-winning, James Beard–nominated chef Braden McGlamery emphasizes innovative American dishes. Sophisticated barbecue might find a place on the menu next to Florida redfish as well as some of the best burgers in the area. The bar serves creative cocktails crafted with house-made tinctures, and the Sunday brunch is a must.
James Beard Award–winning chef Melissa Kelly's ode to her Italian-American roots and farm-to-table sensibilities received a Michelin Recommended award in 2022. The homemade pastas and breads, Florida meats, and offerings from the pizza oven are essential; locally caught fish is served with Florida clams; and the chicken from nearby Lake Meadow Naturals is, yes, primo.
Standing out in a town saturated with taco places, Reyes brings authentic (meaning real Mexican) cuisine to Orlando. Michoacán-born chef Wendy Lopez honors the food of her homeland while adding inventive modern touches; Yucatán pork ribs, duck enchiladas, and a mixed grill of NY strip, chicken, and shrimp are just a taste. An extensive variety of agave-based liquors and the one-of-a-kind mezcal-soaked chocolate cake ends the meal on an alcoholic peak.
Trina Gregory-Propst and her team of bakers and cooks make the biggest and most satisfying breakfasts, lunches, and sweet treats in town. Try a from-scratch chicken potpie, which has the most glorious crust; the mile-high meat loaf sandwich; or the "7th Trimester" of buttermilk garlic biscuit, over-medium egg, and smoked bacon, smothered in five-cheese mac and cheese. Look for the "Let us fill your pie hole" mural.
Open from early breakfast to dinner and desserts in the Hyatt Regency, this slick modern diner is not exactly cheap, but the salads, sandwiches, and griddle foods are tops. The classic B Line Burger is done beautifully. And there are lots of selections you'd never expect to find here, like a stuffed avocado salad and a portobello quesadilla entrée.
With nine permanent food and drink vendors, all housed in colorful repurposed shipping containers, Boxi Park is like a big, stationary, food-truck park, just with more alcohol. Three of the venues serve microbrew beers and margaritas or other mixed cocktails to go with burgers, chicken sandwiches, tacos, lobster rolls, and more.
The food here is served tapas-style, and although everything is appetizer sized, it's plentiful and relatively inexpensive. The restaurant is designed to resemble an artist's loft, so painters work at easels while diners take a culinary trip around the world with dishes such as Cajun-chicken egg rolls or Moroccan turkey meatballs. Thanks to a patio, diners can also share their small plates alfresco. The drinks list includes 50-plus craft beers and more than 35 wines from several countries, with most offered by the bottle or the glass. Belly dancers, flamenco dancers, Bolivian dancers, and African drummers are among the entertainers who perform on weekends.
The big draw here is fondue, and the bubbling pots of bouillon, cheese, or chocolate on offer give fans of food on skewers a chance to share plates with friends. It might seem like an old idea, but Melting Pot continues to draw families and dating couples for a surprisingly fun meal. Lunch is available weekends, and there are midweek and date-night specials, too.
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, $54 Delmonico rib eye, also (very much) check.
