Restaurants in Orlando
Running after Mickey, shopping and sunbathing can be hungry work. Here's where to replenish the reserves.
Classic American cuisine
If Cajun-style cooking, Creole cuisine and traditional American fanfare are among your
favourite things to dine on, then Orlando serves up the satisfaction in massive portions.
Plaza Park Gardens on Park Avenue is the perfect mix of casual and upscale dining. Enjoy lunch or dinner
al fresco on the pavement while watching passersby, or opt for inside dining under the fiscus tree. Nine18
on Grand Cypress Boulevard has a formidable wine list featuring 500 variations from the world's premier
wine regions. The seafood and grills on the menu deliver on value and excellent taste, while the golf
course and beautiful natural surroundings make for a luxurious dining experience. Emeril's Orlando on
Universal Boulevard is manned by famed gourmand Emeril, who specialises in Creole and Cajun dishes.
Disney restaurants
Make a plan to experience at least one of the restaurants dedicated to a Disney classic. Liberty Tree
Tavern in the Magic Kingdom is bedecked in colonial-style decor and serves up American classics like cornbread,
apple pie and roasted turkey. Chef Mickey's in Lake Buena Vista is a great place for the kids. Here they can meet
the Disney characters, while parents can enjoy a dinner at the prime rib carvery and the assorted pasta dishes at the
pasta station. Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom is where the kids will find Winne the Pooh while tucking into the
delicious buffets. Live an island experience at 'Ohana, an Hawaiian-style restaurant with a giant fire pit where the copious hunks of
meat are roasted to perfection.
French
Go to Orlando, eat as if you're in Paris or Bordeaux. Enjoy the incredible lake vistas from La Coquina in Lake Buena Vista.
The fixed-price menu means that you go in, sit down and enjoy your meal without worry or indecision. Les Chefs de France at
the Epcot Centre is reminiscent of the old-style brasseries in Paris and offers an exciting menu of French favourites like escargo,
coq au vin and a selection of pates. Bistro de Paris is located just upstairs and offers a more elegant dining experience with
slightly more expensive menus. For more brilliant French cuisine, try Chez Vincent on Hannibal Square or Cafe de Paris on Park Avenue.
Italian
Antonio's La Fiamma and Antonio's Cafe in Maitland are two parts of one enterprise that offer different dining options:
the upstairs La Fiamma is a more upscale pricey affair, while the downstairs Cafe is a casual, easygoing venue with reasonable
priced menu options. La Fiamma is a treat for eyes, ears and the tastsebuds with its authentic pastas. seafood dishes and selection
of fine wines. Go out to Lake Fairy in Longwood and soak up the beautiful surroundings of Enzo's on the Lake, where a host of Italian
cuisine classics are served. Bravissimo Wine Bar Cafe on Shine Avenue serves copious gourmet pizzas and delicious pastas.
A lot for a little
Get a lot more than you bargained for at Orlando's favourite value-for-money culinary establishments. Try Bubbalou's Bodacious BBQ
on Challenger Parkway for the biggest, most succulent cuts of barbequed meat. Viet Garden on Colonial Drive is an excellent Asian-food
restaurant that serves big portions without the price tag to match. Cafe Tu Tu Tango on International Drive is an artist's haven with
tapas-style dining perfect for large groups. Thai Thani on International Drive is the best you'll find for Thai cuisine, while Numero
Uno on Orange Avenue is number one for traditional Cuban fanfare.
