11th Annual Foodie Awards

[wayneg]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/dining/orl-foodies-2009,0,7702450.htmlpage

Every year we say we will try Bubbalou's, will have to try in May.
Bahama Breeza is listed, still not tried there.

Thought I would post, might give a few more options to try.

 

[juliebro]

Bubbalou's is on our list to try at Easter!

 

[poggs]

They are almost all far to far north to go to. Pity really. I cant justify $50 each way in a taxi for a meal. I could drive, but then there is no wine or beer!

Nah, just stick to the 192 and surrounds. This list is far to pretentious for me!

 

[wayneg]

They are almost all far to far north to go to. Pity really. I cant justify $50 each way in a taxi for a meal. I could drive, but then there is no wine or beer!

Nah, just stick to the 192 and surrounds. This list is far to pretentious for me!

Luckily I don't drink when dining, I like a drink (or 3) but not with food.
When we 1st started going to Florida we ate at Ponderosa, Golden Corral etc, 16 years on and over 20 visits later its very rare we go to places like this, like to try new places and don't mind a 20-30 mile drive if its worth it.

 

[juliebro]

Whe we first went, we had no idea there were so many dining options. We hadn't even thought about it.

Now we are aware of all the different options, we like to try somewhere different each time.

I certainly wouldn't call Steak & Shake pretentious either.

 

[wilma-bride]

Bahama Breeze is great Wayne, you really must get round to trying it.

Must admit, we have fancied going to Bubbalou's but never got round to it - maybe next time

 

[natalielongstaff]

Must admit, we have fancied going to Bubbalou's but never got round to it - maybe next time

I want to go there....for the name alone

 

[Frances999]

Thanks for posting, Wayne. We don't usually eat off-site, but it looks like there are some good choices.

 

[Claire L]

Antonio's at Celebration is well worth a visit, we had a lovely meal there last month Also Victoria and Albert's is a one fof experience

Claire

 

[UKDEB]

Whilst I miss Scott Joseph's authoritative (if somewhat pompous) reviews, Heather McPherson could never be accused of being wet behind the ears and writes with (almost) equal credibility and I've been enjoying her reviews since she took over as Sentinel Dining Critic. I can't help feeling, though, that she's been trying a bit too hard for her first stint in the Foodie Awards chair. Texas de Brazil is undoubtedly a class operation, with quality meats and a more than pleasant dining room, but the top steakhouse in Central Florida? Not in a million years.

 

[UKDEB]

They are almost all far to far north to go to.

I agree with you that most of the choices (both Readers' and Critics') tend to be in and around Orlando proper, but, of course, the votes are primarily those of locals, so I suppose that's inevitable.

This list is far to pretentious for me!

At the last count, I've eaten at over 150 restaurants in Central Florida (although, for the reason you've already identified - I don't eat out without a drink - only 18 of those mentioned in this list). None of them could be described as remotely pretentious (some might accuse one or two of them as being so, but that's a perception issue rather than a reality). I'd be generally interested to know which of these restaurants you've visited and found to be pretentious. Or are you saying you find the list itself pretentious because it's dominated by eateries which aren't on your radar?

 

[lxh11]

When Bubbalous is #1 for bbq and Sony's is the reader's choice - that tells you right there something is off. Sony's is a belly up eat as much as you want trough, that use plastic tumbers!!!

Orlando is the chain restaurant capital of the world, and any dining experience better than your standard chain fare, is suprising and certainly not the norm.

As a Brit who has lived in this town for 14 years, would prefer to cook at home. The locals get sick of being treated as tourists (read dish up anything, cause the Brits typically don't complain), that standards in service and food have dropped significantly.

There are a couple of restaurants I like:

Mimi's Cafe for breakfast (Millenium Mall and near The Loop on Osceola Pkwy)
Ruth's Crist - Steakhouse
Le Coq au Vin - Orange Avenue

Bahama Breeze has really gone downhill in the last few years, it was the only decent chain restaurant when it opened about 7 years ago, but now there food is terribly hit or miss.

 

[UKDEB]

I disagree with much of what you say, lxh11. Thanks to the infrastructure which has grown up around WDW, Central Florida boasts an impressive variety of restaurants including national chains, local chains and independents.

Brits account for less than 1% of visitors to the area so, if standards really have fallen (and I don't concur with your assessment that they have), then the blame can't be laid at our door.

"Chain" doesn't equate to "poor". There are some really dreadful chains and some pretty fabulous ones. The Oceanaire at Pointe Orlando is widely acclaimed as being one of the best restaurants anywhere. The Capital Grille is top notch, too. Ruth's Chris - one of those on your own list - never disappoints. Seasons 52 is a beautiful space with fresh, tasty food and well deserves its consistently good reviews. Texas de Brazil has put churrascaria on the map. Chains, every last one.

Victoria and Albert's is one of only 4 restaurants in the entire state of Florida to hold the coveted AAA 5 star rating - an accolade it achieves year in, year out. And let's not forget Normans, Emeril's, The Plantation Room, The Boheme, Todd English's bluezoo, Roy's, Hue, David's Club, Cala Bella, A Land Remembered, Forte, Old Hickory Steakhouse, Shulas, not to mention those at WDW itself which are good by any standard - Calfornia Grill, Jiko, et al. I could go on.

It's interesting that you should pick out Le Coq au Vin of all places as one deserving praise. Despite its rave reviews, it managed to rack up nearly 50 health violations in 2007 and even faced an emergency closure for 2 days due to rodent activity.

 

[lxh11]

The difference in our posts UKDeb is our perception - yours of being a visitor, mine in being a resident.

Also, it's an individuals perception of good and value for money vs. another's opinion. A "good" restaurant should be so much more than just the food - it should incorporate fair price, excellent service, and pleasant ambience.

The average Orlando resident would not visit many of the restaurants you mention (Jiko, V&A, Seasons 52 etc), as they would not remotely fit into their budget.

Spending foreign currency gives one a very very different slant on things. Crikey, even I'd think Chilli's was great if I was paying in Pounds!

 

[Lizzybear]

Surprised at a few of the places on the list.. Olive Garden, PF Changs and Jiko mainly but maybe our experiences were different from the majority. IMO independent restaurants tend to be better (in any country i've visited, UK included) but there are exceptions to this. We ate at Bahama Breeze in Las Vegas and enjoyed it but I think the best chain i've eaten at in the US was Claim Jumper, though not sure if they have restaurants in Florida.