Best Non-Chain Restaurant

[figment814]

Considering eating off site for one or two meals during an October trip. When I am on vacation or on multiple business trips each year. What are some of the good non-chain restaurants in the area?

A steak place (mid to high end) and/or Italian place would be preferred, but any recommendation is welcome!

Thanks in Advance!

 

[dolphingirl47]

Bergamos (Festival Bay) is fantastic Italian restaurant. We ended up there more or less accident in November and loved it so much that we went back later that week.
For the best steaks that I have tasted, we head for Salt Island Fish Market and Chop House on International Drive just north of Sandlake Road.

dolphingirl47

 

[Figment22]

I think the best steakhouses are the higher end chains:

The Palm which is on Universal Orlando property at the Hard Rock Hotel
Morton's Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris
And, for one that combines steakhouse with Italian:
Timpano Italian Chophouse

For Italian:
Christini's
Ciao Italia

Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Detailor]

Considering eating off site for one or two meals during an October trip. When I am on vacation or on multiple business trips each year. What are some of the good non-chain restaurants in the area?

A steak place (mid to high end) and/or Italian place would be preferred, but any recommendation is welcome!

Thanks in Advance!

I'm not sure if the restaurant is part of the Del Frisco chain or not, but Del Frisco's on Lee Road in Orlando is the choice of the locals as the best steakhouse in Orlando according to the Orlando Sentinel's annual reader poll. And even better, the newspaper's food critic agrees with the readers. In the same poll readers chose Circosta's in Oviedo and the food critic chose Rocco's Italian Grille in Winter Park as the best area Italian restaurant.

Dick Taylor

 

[figment814]

Thanks so much. I am going to have a hard time picking just one or two! I guess I'll eliminate Morton's and Ruth's Chris right off the bat. Morton's is my favorite ! But I can go to both in my hometown.

Again, thank you for taking the time to reply!