Best offsite, mostly non-chain, dining

[mickeyluv'r]

There used to be a great LONG old thread on this topic, but it's a bit outdated now. I was hoping we could revive it with updated info.


If you know of any great offsite dining please list it.

As far as chains, exceptional or local ones are fine. It's just the last thread got clogged with listings of things like Golden Corral, Denny's and the like. Certainly, if a certain branch of these chains is excetional please list it with it's location. Like some of the McD's in Orlando used to be pretty cool.

Sweet Tomatoes was a noteworthy chain. I'm not sure if it's still there.

My favorite offsite dining was La Forchetta in Kissimmee on John Young Parkway a little past the intersection of 192. Looks like nothing from the outside, family owned place on the inside. Excellent food and service! About 15 minutes from WDW.

 

[MadamMim]

Well just off the top of my head in the immediate area there's places like:

Jungle Jim's
Kobe
Orlando Ale House
Bahama Breeze
Black Angus

Then there's all the restaurants over on International Drive and on Universal's property, plus the ones further afield from Disney on the other side of Orlando and down along 192. (I don't know if I'd suggest anything on 192 that wasn't a chain, and even then. It's a bit dodgy down there.)

 

[Huff]

Well just off the top of my head in the immediate area there's places like:

Jungle Jim's
Kobe
Orlando Ale House
Bahama Breeze
Black Angus

Black Angus and Bahama Breeze are national chains. Both decent but not noteworthy. There are Jungle Jims indoor amusement centers that have food courts here in AZ, is this one something totally different and unrelated?

Kobe's not far from DTD is excellent. One of the better Tepanyaki places I've been too. Nothing special about atmosphere but food was supurb.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I think this is a chain not sure. But how about Tony Roma's. It good there.

 

[DISNEY1975]

There used to be a great LONG old thread on this topic, but it's a bit outdated now. I was hoping we could revive it with updated info.


If you know of any great offsite dining please list it.

As far as chains, exceptional or local ones are fine. It's just the last thread got clogged with listings of things like Golden Corral, Denny's and the like. Certainly, if a certain branch of these chains is excetional please list it with it's location. Like some of the McD's in Orlando used to be pretty cool.

Sweet Tomatoes was a noteworthy chain. I'm not sure if it's still there.

My favorite offsite dining was La Forchetta in Kissimmee on John Young Parkway a little past the intersection of 192. Looks like nothing from the outside, family owned place on the inside. Excellent food and service! About 15 minutes from WDW.

Mings Court on International Drive....Delicious!

 

[THUNDERMOUNTAINMOMMA]

I loved Seasons 52. Very nice upscale atmosphere. Delicious food. Everything on the menu was low cal, but you'd never know it by the taste!

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

But how about Tony Roma's.

Chain, and not a very good one based upon my first and last experience.

 

[Chelley00]

I think there are a couple of threads like this on the Orlando Hotels and Attractions boards.

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

If you're looking for some nicer, I would recommend Tchoup Chop - Emeril's restaurnant over at the Royal Pacific resort at Universal. For something more casual and fun, I'm a HUGE fan of Cafe Tu Tu Tango on International Drive. They had artists and dancing and delicious food.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We enjoyed the steakhouse next door to Cafe Tu Tu Tango even better than the cafe: Vito's Chop House. It was pricey to be certain, but excellent. The first time we went I had a rare Tuna steak that was crusted with sesame and peppercorns. It was the best tuna I've ever had. Our food took a long time coming out (we weere talking and hardly noticed actually) but teh staff offered a free dessert. Without seeing the dessert tray, I asked if they had chocolate cake. WE said one slice would be fine. WOW! It was a slab of cake. WE saved the rest and had it twice more.

A year later, they no longer had the tuna, but eh steak and kid's hamburger were excellent. (Skip the braised tips in tomato sauce though). Again, we ordered the chocolate cake without seeign the dessert tray. It was again huge and five people could not finish all of it! It was not the very best cake I've ever had, but it was quite good and rich.

Alas, I haven't been back there since that trip though, which I think was 2005.

 

[Kae]

love Cafe Tu Tu Tango.

Kae

 

[MadamMim]

Black Angus and Bahama Breeze are national chains. Both decent but not noteworthy. There are Jungle Jims indoor amusement centers that have food courts here in AZ, is this one something totally different and unrelated?

Apologies for offending you with my inclusion of Bahama Breeze and Black Angus. I'd never seen them anywhere else, but maybe I should get out more. The Jungle Jim's by Disney is just a restaurant.

 

[suedaisy]

This is a longer than a 15 minute drive, but I love Bubbalou's Bodacious BBQ. It is pretty cheap, casual and great BBQ! There are a few locations, but it seems they are only in FL.

 

[HappyCamper87]

My husband cannot go to Orlando without going to the Boston Lobster Feast. It is all you can eat Lobster and most seafood you can think of along with some red meat choices and veggies.

We like the one on the corner of Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road in front of the Florida Mall the best. There are BLF on I drive and in Kissimmee also. Here is the link:

http://www.bostonlobsterfeast.com/RestaurantIndex.cfm

 

[kwelch10377]

Apologies for offending you with my inclusion of Bahama Breeze and Black Angus. I'd never seen them anywhere else, but maybe I should get out more. The Jungle Jim's by Disney is just a restaurant.

Bahama Breeze only has about 20 locations nationwide, so I'm sure alot of people have never heard of them or seen them anywhere else. I also have never heard of Black Angus.

 

[La2kw]

We like BJ's Brewhouse near Mall at Millenia, Bahama Breeze, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Romano's Macaroni Grill, and Whataburger. These are all chains, but with the exception of BJ's, we don't have any of these restaurants in my town. We have a BJ's, but we love it too much not to go there.